Book Review: Bread Bags and Bullies

Bread Bags and Bullies: Surviving the '80's

Everyone who knows me and knows this blog understands how big of an influence the 1980's were in my life. For a bulk of this decade, I was in high school and college. The music, the TV shows, the comics, and everything are touchstones for me. So, when I heard about my Twitter author-friend Steven Manchester's upcoming book, I was very excited to check it out.

Rest In Peace, Aretha Franklin

Rest in peace to the Queen of Soul - Aretha Franklin.

Born March 25th, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Louise Franklin got her start singing in her father's church. Her earliest recordings were part of the soundtrack of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. She lived much of her life in Detroit, Michigan, where she died today at age 76.

She left behind over six decades of musical performances and history. Truly, she was and always will be a legend.

For more from Aretha Franklin, click here.

The Stranglers - Feline (35th anniversary)

Today (January 1st) back in 1983, the English rock band the Stranglers released Feline, its seventh studio album. The record charted at number 52 in Germany, 39 in the Netherlands, number 18 in New Zealand, number 16 in Norway and number 4 in the UK.

For the complete review, click here.

Book Review: Ashes

Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life – and death – has a robust sense of irony. When they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other’s company. It’s either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he’s left with his lawyer.

Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind (35th anniversary)

Today (February 28th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson. The 1982 album spent ninety-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album charts, including three weeks at the peak spot of number 2. On the US Billboard Country charts, it spent an impressive 253 weeks on the charts, which included a total of 22 weeks at the number 1 spot.

For more on this album, click here.

Alabama - Mountain Music (35th anniversary)

Today (February 25th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Mountain Music, the third studio album from Alabama. This 1982 release peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Country Chart and number 14 on the US Billboard Album chart (it spent a total of one hundred fourteen weeks on that latter chart).

For my full review of this album, click here.

John Denver - Seasons of the Heart (35th anniversary)

This month marks the 35th anniversary of the release of John Denver’s sixteenth studio album. 1982’s Seasons of the Heart went to number 39 on the US Billboard Album (with thirty-three weeks total on the chart) and number 18 on the US Country Album charts.

For the full album review, click here.