I am not in the habit of endorsing products unless I can eat or drink them.\u00a0 And I am even less likely to praise something that is part of a large enterprise.\u00a0 So let’s pretend that I am real new to this internet stuff, and I thought “Yahoo” was something that cowboys shouted when they had to go to the bathroom. \u00a0 <\/p>\n
Well… you’re never too old to learn a thing or two.\u00a0 It’s all a matter of surrounding yourself with the right people.<\/em>\u00a0 You know… George Steinbrenner has his baseball people<\/em> who help him decide whether to give Alex Rodriguez 85 Million and the key to the executive john over the next 10 years. \u00a0 <\/p>\n I have my music people.<\/em>\u00a0 So when one of my chief scouts (Zack) emailed me in June to “check out” Yahoo’s LAUNCHcast music feature… I had to pay attention… even though my initial reaction was Yahoo?\u00a0 <\/em>Isn’t that “The Man”? \u00a0 <\/p>\n As I say… you’re never too old to learn a few things… even if it is from some rapscallion… and even if the rapscallion is your son.\u00a0 He was not wrong.\u00a0 If you love music you gotta <\/em>love LAUNCHcast… and it matters not what type <\/em>of music you love. \u00a0 <\/p>\n The idea is to create your own “radio station” based on your personal musical preferences.\u00a0 Step one is to\u00a0establish a musical profile.\u00a0 What type of music do you enjoy?\u00a0 I am all over the lot: blues, classic rock, classical, Broadway & screen plays… and then you further select artists within the genre. \u00a0 <\/p>\n Now it’s time to listen to music. \u00a0 <\/p>\n Tunes start to come your way based on genres and artists that you have rated favorably.\u00a0 When a song plays you see the title, the artist and the album.\u00a0 Then you can rate each category — one star: it’s OK<\/em>; two stars: I like it<\/em>; three stars: I love it<\/em>; four stars: can’t get enough; <\/em>and a circle with the diagonal line in it: kill it for all time.<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n Each time you rate music positively, you will get music from the same artist, or from the same album, or music that in some way relates to your likes… ferinstance<\/em>… if you give Willie Dixon’s “Spoonful” three stars, LAUNCHcast will give you Howlin’ Wolf’s “Sitting on Top of the World.” \u00a0 <\/p>\n Makes sense. \u00a0 <\/p>\n Sometimes the songs seem a stretch for my musical preferences… but I figure it’s OK… give that song a quick “kill” (there is a skip button for your convenience) and move to the next tune. \u00a0 <\/p>\n Meantime, after nearly six months of listening to my LAUNCHcast “radio station” I have been exposed to an ever increasing variety of artists and music… things I probably never would have picked “off the shelf”.\u00a0 And the more I would rate, the more I would get.\u00a0 It’s wonderful!\u00a0 I love music… \u00a0 <\/p>\n Today I get an exciting blend of music that I have rated, plus new things to rate. \u00a0 <\/p>\n I sit in front of a computer nigh all day.\u00a0 I think I would go nuts without music. \u00a0 <\/p>\n Yes, LAUNCcast has my unqualified approval.\u00a0 I am a full convert<\/em>… and sometimes there is nothing\u00a0more obnoxious as a convert, because we carry our new belief on a banner into battle against the non-<\/em>converted… and we take no quarter. \u00a0 <\/p>\n Just ask Sandy about this… I have not only put her into LAUNCHcast… I have made sure that my <\/em>preferences are on her <\/em>“radio station”… in my book, my musical book that is, trust only goes so far… \u00a0 <\/p>\n And here for your consideration is the play list from my “radio station” this morning.\u00a0 I have added a comment\u00a0 here and there if the spirit moved me. \u00a0 <\/p>\n P.S.<\/u> I don’t answer the phone or email during Brandenburg Concerto #5 or Dire Strait’s “Sultan of Swing”.<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/p>\n Bryan Adams; Flying<\/u> ** \u00a0 <\/p>\n Peter, Paul & Mary; Leaving on a Jet Plane<\/u> **** Deep Blue Something; Home<\/u> newly rated <\/em>* \u00a0 <\/p>\n Bright Eyes; First Day of My Life<\/u> ** New Riders of the Purple Sage; <\/em>Dirty Business<\/u> **** The Darkness; One Way Ticket (radio edit)<\/u> newly rated **\u00a0 John Mellencamp; Suzanne and the Jewels<\/u> ***\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n Michael McGoldrick; Buain Na Choirce<\/u> ** Bad Company; Here comes Trouble<\/u> newly rated **<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n Matchbox 20; If You’re Gone<\/u> *** \u00a0 <\/p>\n Simon and Garfunkel; Cecilia<\/u> *** \u00a0 <\/p>\n Steve Miller Band; So Long Blues<\/u> newly rated — this is a kill.\u00a0 Paul Simon; Mother and Child Reunion<\/u> **** \u00a0 <\/p>\n Sarah McLaughlan; World on Fire<\/u> newly rated <\/em>* \u00a0 <\/p>\n Dire Straits; Romeo and Juliet<\/u> **** \u00a0 <\/p>\n Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Handel Suite #1 in F Adagio e Staccato<\/u> newly rated ***<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n Dave Mason; Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave<\/u> **** \u00a0 <\/p>\n Marianne Faithfull; As Tears Go By<\/u> newly rated<\/em> *** Trey Anastasio; Invisible<\/u> newly rated <\/em>* \u00a0 <\/p>\n James Taylor; Shed a Little Light<\/u> newly rated ***<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n Justine Sane; The Critical Writing Assignment<\/u>\u00a0 newly rated\u00a0 Phantom of the Opera; Wandering Child<\/u> *** \u00a0 <\/p>\n Neil Young; Cowgirl in the Sand<\/u> **** The Faders; No Sleep Tonight<\/u> newly rated *<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n Hot Tuna; Death Have No Mercy<\/u> ****<\/em> Uncle Kracker; Drift Away<\/u> **** Traffic; Feelin’ Alright<\/u> **** \u00a0 <\/p>\n The Who; Overture<\/u> **** The Shangri-La’s; Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand)<\/u> ** Harry Belafonte; Pastures of Plenty<\/u> newly rated **<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n Clannad; Two Sisters<\/u> ****<\/em> more Celtic<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n Blindfaith; Presence of the Lord<\/u> **** \u00a0 <\/p>\n Cream; Spoonful<\/u> **** Madonna; Forbidden Love<\/u> newly rated *<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n Kinks; A Well Respected Man<\/u> **** Andrea Bocelli; L’Ultimo Re<\/u> ***<\/em> I am not in the habit of endorsing products unless I can eat or drink them.\u00a0 And I am even less likely to praise something that is part of a large enterprise.\u00a0 So let’s pretend that I am real new … Continue reading
I also rated this 4 stars with John Denver<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
probably liked the theme<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
Off one of my favorite albums. Jerry Garcia on pedal steel.<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
I like the cow bell<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
I am in my Celtic period.\u00a0\u00a0It must be\u00a0my heritage.<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
Live track introducing band members and thanking the audience and saying goodnight<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
A great Stones’ tune, that she actually released first… I guess you get to do these things if you sleep with Keith Richard<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
This is a kill.\u00a0 I think I could sing closer to key<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
Off one of my favorite albums with Crazy Horse<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
Off a near perfect album<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
This has to be a new cover… I forgot who did the original; but I love this, too<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
This is from the original Tommy… great instrumental<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
I am not keen on these groups… but I dig this one… also I have a soft spot for “Leader of the Pack”<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
I just saw them perform this Live in MSG!<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
Terrific group and a marvelous tune from their early days<\/em> \u00a0 <\/p>\n
Dani tipped me on Bocelli 4+ years ago.\u00a0 I thought he was a Renaissance painter.\u00a0 Well, you know a Liberal Arts education only carries you to a certain point<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"