A Sampler of Just ONE of Leftover Salmon's "Dimensions" -- Bluegrass -- This is the list of bluegrass tunes and descriptive notes that Jeff Wall <whome@ezdial.com> 0f Virginia Beach, VA, (self-proclaimed Guitar & Mandolin Plunker, Part-time philosopher, Defender of the Free World, Full time bad speller, Professional Slacker, and Illiterate Writer) (AND writer of great humor, I might add - see below) posted on the bluegrass discussion list, bgrass- l, in late '96. He had originally planned to make tapes of these tunes for newbies to bluegrass but then thought better of it in view of the obvious legal problems. Nonetheless, it makes for good reading and will give you some great ideas for exploring the world of bluegrass on your own. Many of the artists listed here are gods to Leftover Salmon -- especially folks like Sam Bush, Dave Grisman, Bela Fleck, John Cowan, Vassar Clements, Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Peter Rowan, John Duffey, John Starling, Mike Aldridge, Ben Eldrige, Tom Gray, and Bill Keith, just to name a few of the folks you'll see below. If you're coming to Leftover Salmon from your love of the Grateful Dead, you might just want to start with one of the Old and In the Way albums. Now, you KNEW Jerry Garcia played the banjo in a bluegrass band BEFORE the Grateful Dead, right? He wasn't too bad at it either! Check out Vassar Clements' fiddle work on the O&iTW album below -- heavenly! If you like more of a smooth jazz sound, any of the Seldom Scene's albums will make you smile. The Dave Grisman Quintet triple album, DGQ 20, is one of the LoSers' favorites. There are lots of artists on it that'll give you a chance to expand your horizons a bit too. If the banjo is your thing, Bela Fleck is a MUST hear. We've also recommended Alan Munde, Tony Furtado, Tony Trischka, and Tony Rice, as well. (Looks like we're into "Tonies," doesn't it?) If you want to hear one of the first bands to take bluegrass in a new direction -- toward where Leftover Salmon is today -- check out any of the Newgrass Revival albums. If you're looking for a wide range of artists to explore and like the festival festivities, don't miss Merlefest in NC in late April and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in CO in June. This ought to be enough to get you started! -------------------------- Howdy Friends and Neighbors, Welcome to the wonderful world of Bluegrass. I put together a little sampler for you that I hope you enjoy. I went through my cd collection and tried to pick out an eclectic range of stuff for your listening pleasure. Have fun and let me know what you think. Side One. 1. New Grass Revival- White Freightliner Blues. From New Grass Revival-When the Storm is Over. Flying Fish 90032 Sam Bush- Mandolin, Slide Guitar, Vocals John Cowan- Bass, Vocals Courtney Johnson- Banjo Curtis Burch- Guitar w/ guests Kenny Malone- Congas,Percussion Chuck Cochran-Piano A Townes Van Zandt song. New Grass Revival is my all time favorite band. Courtney died recently from lung cancer. Sam and John are touring. More later. 2. Jimmy Martin- Freeborn Man From Jimmy Martin's- 20 Greatest Hits, Highland Music DCD 7863 I got this disc from a truck stop for $10. Jimmy has been making music since the '40s. He is a past member of Bill Monroes Bluegrass Boys. 3. Bill Evans- Native and Fine From Bill Evans- Native and Fine, Rounder 0295 Bill Evans- Banjo Stuart Duncan- Fiddle Mike Compton- Mandolin David Grier- Guitar Missy Raines- Bass Bill Evans is a Musicologist. That is he is an expert in Ethnic Music from around the World. He is also the Banjo player in Dry Branch Fire Squad who richly deserve to be awarded IBMA's Entertainer of the Year. 4. Strange Rangers- Purple Hay From Planet Bluegrass- PB 1001 Sandy Munroe- Banjo Dan Sadowsky- Guitar,Vocals John Sommers- Fiddle Mark Simmons- Mandolin Chris Phillips Guitar Tom Paxton- Bass Recorded live at the 1992 Telluride Music Festival. Strange things happen on stage at Telluride. These guys look a lot like a band known as Hot Rize. Doing a Bluegrass parody of Jimmy Hendrix's Purple Haze. 5. Ralph Stanley- Bootleg John from Ralph Stanley- 50th Anniversary Collection, Rebel 1996 Ralph Stanley- Banjo, Lead Vocal Keith Whitley- Guitar, Baritone Vocal Danny Marshall- Lead Guitar, Bass Vocal Curly Ray Cline- Fiddle Jack Cooke- Tenor Vocals Ed Farris- Bass 50 years. That's how long Ralph's been playing Mountain Music. He started off with his brother Carter. A lot of Bluegrass Standards are actually Stanley Brothers songs. And yes that is Keith Whitley who had a bright Country career going up until his death. Like a lot of Country artists, Keith learned his chops playing Bluegrass. 6. Old and In the Way- Catfish John From Old and In the Way- High Lonesome Sound, Acoustic Disc ACD-19 Jerry Garcia- Banjo, Lead Vocals Peter Rowan- Guitar, Vocals David Grisman- Mandolin, Vocals Vassar Clements- Fiddle John Kahn- Bass One of the world's first known Hippie Bluegrass Bands from out California way. You might have heard of Jerry Garcia. He was a promising Bay Area Banjo picker who threw it all away to make a decent living playing that Rock and Roll Devil Music. Vassar and Pete had both served time with Bill Monroe. Garcia said that was his major goal in life. To be a Bluegrass Boy with Monroe. David Grisman has branched off into the world of Acoustic Jazz or Dawg Music. This album was recorded live in San Francisco Oct 8th, 1973. 7. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band- Nashville Blues w/ Earl Scruggs From Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Will the Circle be Unbroken, EMI America CDPB 7 46589 In the 1971 a bunch of Long Haired Hippie Country Rock Musicians decided to come to Nashville and make a record. While they were there they thought it would be cool to have the Old School meet the New School of Country Music. At first people were suspicious. These boys had a lot of hair and were rumored to be dope smoking Hippies. Whether that was true or not doesn't matter. What matters is they made one hell of a double album. Earl Scraggy, Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clemently, Mother May belle Carter, Roy A cuff, Bashful Brother Oswald, Merle Travis and others. This should be the Dick and Jane Primer CD of Traditional Country Music and Bluegrass. This is a Dm tune featuring that Gap toothed wonder from Carolina. (Not Letterman, he's from Indiana) Earl Scruggs. Member of Bill Monroes Bluegrass Boys, Flatt and Scruggs, Earl Scruggs Review and more. 8. Run C & W- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) From Run C & W- Row vs. Wade, MCA Records. Rug Burns- Guitar Side Burns- Bass G.W. "Wash" Burns- Washboard Crash N. Burns- Banjo w/ "Fiddlin" Roame Burns- fiddle Run C&W aka The Burns Brothers are the Worlds Premiere Rythym and Bluegrass Band playing that Sweet Soul Music the way God intended it to be played....Bluegrass style. They made a couple of really fun albums. 9. Bill Monroe- Uncle Pen From The Music of Bill Monroe From 1936-1994, MCAD 11048 Bill Monroe- Mandolin, Lead Vocal (verse), Tenor Vocal (Chorus) Jimmy Martin- Guitar, Lead Vocal (Chorus) Rudy Lyle- Banjo Joel Prise- Bass, Baritone Vocal (Chorus) Merle "Red" Taylor- Fiddle The Mac Daddy of Bluegrass. He is in the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, The Country Music Hall of Fame, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yeah Buddy. Mr Bill started it all. He knocked the Opry on it's butt. He did it his way for 50 years and those that didn't like it could kiss his ass. Am amazing writer, instrumentalist, arranger, and band leader. He defined the Music that takes it's name from his Band. "The Bluegrass Boys". Bill demanded perfection. Everybody worth a damn in Bluegrass has been fired from his band at one time or another. It has been said that when Rock and Roll started in Memphis that all it was was a cross between Bill Monroe's Bluegrass and Black Blues Music. You can't touch that. This was recorded around 1949. Bill is gone now, But before he went he left us with something beautiful. Bluegrass. 10. Seldom Scene-Rider From Seldom Scene- Live at the Cellar Door, Rebel 1103 John Duffey- Mandolin, Vocals John Starling- Guitar, Vocals Mike Aldridge- Dobro,Vocals Ben Eldrige- Banjo Tom Gray- Bass This is the band that brought Bluegrass to town. They were all city folk who loved the music. They performed in a more Hip style that made Bluegrass Cool for urban and suburban audiences. John Duffey was a wizard on Mandolin. He brought Jazz, Blues, and Rock licks to Bluegrass. His sharp wit, playful spirit. and outrageous fashion sense made him unique in Bluegrass. We recently lost him to a heart attack. 11. Larry Sparks- Tennessee 1949 From Larry Sparks- Silver Reflections, Rebel 1654 Larry Sparks- Guitar, Vocals David Harvey- Mandolin Barry Crabtree- Banjo Art Stampe- Fiddle Tim Sargent- Dobro Larry D. Sparks- Bass Larry Sparks is known as having hair shaped exactly like the pick guard on his guitar. He started out in Bluegrass when he joined up with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mtn Boys after Carter Stanleys death. He has a style all his own. This is a Pete Goble song that reminds me of the old courthouse square in Lebanon, Tennessee. When I stayed with my Grandpa during the summer, on Saturdays we would go to town. All these old men would sit out in front of the Courthouse whittling. 12. Gene Parsons- Drunkards Dream From Gene Parsons-The Kindling Album, Sierra 6007 Gene Parsons- Guitar, Lead Vocals Ralph Stanley- Tenor Vocals Clarence White- Mandolin, Low 3rd Vocals Vassar Clements- Fiddle Roger Bush- Bass Gene and Clarence were in the Byrds together. This song was written by Carter Stanley about his battles with Alcoholism. When Gene decided to cover this tune he asked Ralph to sing Tenor. He also knew that he needed Vassar's bluesy fiddle to get the feeling that the song needed. Vassar is a tremendous fiddle player. He is also an ex-Bluegrass Boy. Side Two 1. Sam Bush- Stingray From Sam Bush- Glamour and Grits, Sugar Hill 3849 Sam Bush- Mandolin John Cowan- Bass Jon Randall- Guitar Larry "Larue" Atamanuik- Drums Sam founded New Grass Revival of which John was a member. Recently he has been the Band leader for Emmylou Harris's Nash Ramblers which also included Jon and Larry. Yes this is the same Jon Randall who recently married Lorrie Morgan. John Cowan is now the vocalist/Bass Player in the Sky Kings. Sam has been referred to as the Ted Nugent of Bluegrass. He brings a Rock and Roll attitude to the music. This tune, an instrumental, is not straight bluegrass. It is more a hybrid of Bluegrass, Jazz, and Classical. But it ROCKS! 2. Osbourne Brothers- Hillbilly Fever From Osbourne Brothers- Hillbilly Fever, CMH 6269 Bobby Osbourne- Mandolin, Vocals Sonny Osbourne- Banjo, Vocals Raymond Huffmaster- Guitar Terry Eldridge- Guitar Steve Thomas- Fiddle Terry Smith- Bass The Osbourne Brothers have been playing Bluegrass for 40+ years. They have never been afraid to experiment with the music to keep it sounding fresh. They are members of the Grand Ole Opry, but in no way can you consider them to be playing yesterday's music. Having influenced generations of Bluegrass Musicians they are still doing it. Bobby's piercing Mandolin, Sonny's driving Banjo coupled with such killer vocals. They are as hot today as they were 40 some odd years ago. Sonny is also an Ex-Bluegrass Boy. The Bros also worked with the Stanleys and Jimmy Martin before striking out on their own. They have a groovegrass tune which is a remake of their hit Rocky Top called Rocky Top96 3. Marty Stuart- The Bluebirds are singing for me From Marty Stuart- Once Upon a Time, CMH 8000 Raymond Lester Flatt- Guitar, Vocals Marty Stuart- Mandolin, Vocals Curley Seckler- Guitar Pete Corum- Bass Kenny Ingram- Banjo Charlie Nixon- Dobro Clarence "Tater" Tate- Fiddle Once upon a time......Yes this is the same Marty Stuart. The Country Rocker. He started off playing Bluegrass with the great Lester Flatt. When he was 12 years old! He is about 13 here. Lester was also one of the Bluegrass Boys as well as being part of Flatt & Scruggs. These were Lesters last days. But what an education Marty got! He went on to work with Doc Watson and later Johnny Cash before striking out on his own. 4. Del McCoury-Highway of Pain From RockyGrass BP 1002 Del McCoury- Guitar, Vocals Ronnie McCoury- Mandolin , Vocals Rob McCoury- Banjo Jason Carter- Fiddle Mike Bub- Bass This is from a Various Artists CD Called RockyGrass that was recorded at the Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Lyons, Co. Aug 5,6,7 1994. Del McCoury learned his chops as a member of Bill Monroes Bluegrass Boys. Del can sing higher than you can get without wearing wings and carrying a harp. He is also a killer rythymn guitar player. Voted IBMA's Group of the year. Del and Ronnie are also on the Groovegrass Macarena album. Ronnie is singing lead while Del, Doc Watson, and Mac Wiseman are doing the chorus. 5. Hot Rize- You don't have to move the Mountain From Hot Rize- Untold Stories, Sugar Hill 3756 Tim O'Brien- Mandolin, Vocals Nick Forster- Bass Pete Wernick- Banjo Charles Sawtelle- Guitar w/ Jerry Douglas- Dobro A Keith Whitley tune. Hot Rize played Hard Core Traditional Bluegrass. They have since gone their separate ways. Tim O'Brein recently released a CD of Dylan covers done Bluegrass style called Red on Blonde. These guys were great to see live. They put on a great show. Often they would be followed on stage by a Western Swing band called Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers who seemed to follow them around where ever they went. Their live show has been caught on disc and even Red and the Boys put out a disc. 6. Muleskinner-Opus 57 in G Minor From Muleskinner-Popouri of a Bluegrass Jam, Sierra Bill Keith- Banjo Clarence White- Lead Guitar Peter Rowan- Rythym Guitar Richard Greene- Fiddle David Grisman- Mandolin. John Kahn- Bass Named after a Bill Monroe adaptation of a Jimmie Rodgers tune called Muleskinner Blues, Bill, Peter, and Richard are all past alumni of Bill Monroes Bluegrass Boys. Clarence at one time had been offered a job with Bill but turned it down to join the Byrds. David always wanted to be a Bluegrass Boy. This band formed for a scheduled television appearance of Bill Monroe in Los Angeles. It was supposed to be a The Master and his Disciples kind of thing. Bills bus broke down and he didn't make it. Muleskinner played the gig anyway. Rock and Roll meets Bluegrass. This is an original instrumental by David. Listen to the arrangement. Bills Banjo, Clarence's Amazing Guitar work, Grisman's jazzy Mandolin, Richard's soaring fiddle work. A really wonderful tune. 7. Here Today-Lonesome River From Here Today, Rounder 0169 Vince Gill- Guitar, Vocals Herb Pedersen- Banjo David Grisman- Mandolin Jimmy Buchanan- Fiddle Emory Gordy Jr- Bass Back before Vince Gill was walking away with all the CMA awards, he had hair. a lot of hair. And he was a Bluegrasser. He played with Bluegrass Alliance, Sundance, and others. Like a lot of Hot New Country stars, Vince learned his chops playing Bluegrass. Listen to him here on this beautiful Carter Stanley song. 8. Lynn Morris-You'll Get No More of Me From The Lynn Morris Band, Rounder 0276 Lynn Morris Marshall Wilborn Tom Adams Ronnie McCoury Bluegrass Music, like most music seems dominated by males. But there are plenty of talented female performers out there. Claire Lynch, Laurie Lewis, Sally Van Meter, Hazel Dickens, Allison Brown, Allison Krauss and more. I love Lynn Morris's version of this Hazel Dickens song. She nails it. 9. Doc & Merle Watson- Hesitation Blues From Doc & Merle- Down South, Ryko 10008 Doc Watson- Guitar Merle Watson- Guitar *T. Michael Coleman- Bass *=I think thats who it is! *Sam Bush- Fiddle *=I think thats who it is! Doc Watson, a blind Guitar Picking wizard from North Carolina, was "rediscovered" during the great folk scare of the 60's. He along with his son Merle were known for flatpicking difficult fiddle tunes. They covered Bluegrass and Country Blues equally well. Doc plays Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica, and Piano. Doc has even recorded a rockabilly album. Merle played Guitar and acoustic slide guitar. Sadly Merle lost his life in a tractor accident. Doc is still picking. Doc is also one of the Groovegrass Boys who recently recorded a version of Deep River Blues with Funk Pioneer Bootzy Collins. 10. Pyschograss-3rd Stone From the Sun From Pychograss- Like Minds, Sugar Hill 3857 Darol Anger- Fiddle Mike Marshall- Mandolin Tony Trishka- Banjo Todd Phillips- Bass David Grier- Guitar An eclectic supergroup whose all instrumental album explores the jazzier side of Bluegrass. Here they do a wild cover of Jimi Hendrix's 3rd Stone from the Sun. 11. New Grass Revival-Great Balls of Fire From New Grass Revival, Hollywood 307 Sam Bush- Mandolin, Vocals Courtney Johnson- Banjo Curtis Burch- Guitar Ebo Walker- Bass This is the original lineup of Newgrass Revival. They burst on the scene in 1972 playing Bluegrass differently than had ever been done before. Fiery Improvisations, long Allman Bros type jams. Their album cover looked like a rock album. Four young musicians with long hair and beards. Quite a departure from the clean cut tradition Bluegrass Musician. They were able to attract a younger audience to Bluegrass Music. They covered Rock tunes done Bluegrass style with the same ease that they played traditional Bill Monroe tunes. It was because of this band that the term Newgrass was formed. Here they do a Newgrass version of the great Jerry Lee Lewis tune. 2. Bela Fleck- WhiteWater From Bela Fleck- Drive, Rounder 0255 Bela Fleck- Banjo Sam Bush- Mandolin Tony Rice- Guitar Jerry Douglas- Dobro Stuart Duncan- Fiddle Mark Schatz- Bass Bela Fleck is a Banjo Superman. Past member of the Newgrass Revival and now playing with his jazz group the Flectones, he still does the occasional Bluegrass Album. Here he is joined by the Big Guns of Bluegrass for a spirited Romp. If you close your eyes you can feel yourself unmercifully being carried down the raging river toward the rocks waiting below. I hope you've enjoyed this tape. I also hope you have gained a little more insight into the music. Bluegrass is not just Great Grandpa's Music. It's not all singing thru your nose either. It's sweet pure music that will tug at your heartstrings. It will also kick you dead square in the ass as well. -------------------------- Here's some more stuff from Jeff: Subject Help a poor picker out! From Jeff Wall <whome@EZDIAL.COM> Date Sat, 29 Mar 1997 09:33:28 -0500 Newsgroups bit.listserv.bgrass-l I really want me one of those nice Gibson F-5L Mandolins. But I don't make enough money to be able to afford one. And anyone who knows me well won't lend me any money Acoording to List Daddy Frank we now have around 5 or 6 gazillion subscribers to this list Plus 2 or 3 who read it thru the bit.Listserve on the UseNet. I consider all of you my friends and family. And if you can't rip off your friends and family, who can you rip off? SO here is what I need. After visiting my local music store, I priced a new F5L. I figure if ALL my friends will send me $2200, I will soon have enough money to buy one. If I had more friends I could lower the price per friend. But once people hear me play, I don't see them around much anymore. So you need to dig deep and send me that money. I got the Mando on hold for a week. As an added bonus, if you send me the cash, I promise not to play anywhere around you. That might be one of the reasons I don't have more friends. Impoverished Jeff +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jeff Wall whome@ezdial.com Guitar & Mandolin Plunker Part-time philosopher Defender of the Free World Full time bad speller Professional Slacker Illiterate Writer -------------------------- And for his pièce de résistance, his trip report from his recent stint at sea with the U. S. Navy (Jeff's full time active duty): Subject Yer Tax dollars at work. From Jeff Wall <whome@EZDIAL.COM> Date Sun, 30 Mar 1997 21:42:42 -0500 Newsgroups bit.listserv.bgrass-l Greetings Friends and Neighbors, Here be the semi regular update of my sad pitiful life. I got home from the big waters on friday. here is what has happened since I been gone. We left. we went east then turned south. cool huh. real exciting so far? It gets better!! We headed down to Florida to play war games. Now I am riding around on a US Navy Oiler. The only lethal weapons we have are served up for lunch and dinner. What in the hell are we doing playing war games? If ya want me to fight, ya should of let me bring the wife along! Then you would of seen war! We was told that we didn't get to fight. Our job was to give both sides gas. That means fuel, not food. we save that gas for ourselves. While we was out we were playing around Cape Hatteras. And a storm came up. Won't nothing get you close to Mr Jesus like a storm off of Cape Hatteras. 60 mph winds and 15 foot seas. yeah buddy. We came across this 40 foot sailboat out in this crap. Now my ship is 700 feet long. We were getting tossed all over the durn place. This sailboat was taking a beating. The cat had already lost 3 sails. His diesel engine wouldn't diesel, and he had no lights. it is getting dark. and this bonehead is stuck out in the shipping lane where a boatload of Toyota's is gonna end up running over his ass. We call him up on the radio. Platte is the name of my ship PLATTE "this is Navy warship getting ready to run over yer ass" (I'm paraphasing) PLATTE "y'all got you one of them lifeboats on board " SAILBOAT "No, we are complete boneheads and came out here 45 miles from land in a little ass sailboat with a busted motor without a lifeboat" PLATTE "yall want us to rescue you or something?" SAILBOAT "Nosir, we are complete Morons and we think we should try to ride this storm out" PLATTE "Do yall realize that this storm is supposed to get worse?" SAILBOAT "We do not wish to abandon our vessel" PLATTE "Have you considered the fact that yer vessel might be getting ready to abandon you?" SAILBOAT "Thank ye Navy, but we are total and complete morons and we are gonna stay out here in this crap as long as possible" PLATTE "Where are you headed" SAILBOAT "Nearest Possible land" PLATTE "Do you realize that with the way you are headed, the nearest possible land is South Africa on the other side of the lake?" SAILBOAT "Really? Our navigation stuff kind of got wet and don't work no more" PLATTE "Lets see if I understand, you are 45 miles off shore, yer sails are getting ripped to pieces, your motor don't want to run, you got no lights, no lifeboat and no clue. Is that correct?" SAILBOAT "That's about correct" PLATTE "Are you sure we can't rescue you?" SAILBOAT "No Sir, we do not wish to abandon our vessel" PLATTE "Is this a Congressional Junket? Are you a Senator?" We had to follow this LOSER for 2 days until he got close enuf to land for the Coast Guard to come pick him up. We couldn't just leave him. If we did, CNN would of been all over us. I recommended that we run over the guy. Just to improve the gene puddle. While we was out we stopped in Mayport Florida. OH BOY, OH BOY, OH BOY! Then we got word that we all had to be back on board by Midnite, and we had to take a buddy with us. I'm 35 years old. And I have to be home by Midnight? And I have to have a buddy escort me? What are they afraid of? I might have a good time? I been cooped up on this ship with these people for 2 weeks. I don't really care to spend anymore time with them than I have to. I am a highly trained Electronics Technician, A skilled leader with 17 years of active service. I let my 12 year old go outside without a babysitter, but I have to have one! Captain? Can I go pee by myself at least? Or do I need an escort? My gun mount broke while we were out there. Me and my compadre went and looked at it and said "yep, it's broke" he said "yep, we broke it good this time" it was fairly evident that it was broke. a gun that shoots 6000 rounds a minute, when it breaks, it's pretty easy to tell it's broke. We found all the mangled parts and told our Department head we need to replace them. He said how did it happen. ME "It broke" BOSS "How?" ME "This screw sheared off inside the gun" BOSS "Ain't there some way to test these screws to make sure thaey are good?" ME "sure, put em in a vise ands smack them with a hammer seven or eight times. if it breaks it was a bad screw. if it only bends, it was a good screw" BOSS "Did y'all break it on purpose?" ME "Sure did. while it was spinning really fast and spitting out bullets, I made Danny here stick a screwdriver in the top. It killed him, but I gave him an asprin and he is felling better today" BOSS "Well I want a Tech Rep to look at it" ME "What do ya want him to tell ya? That it's broke?" BOSS "I want a Tech Rep to look at it" ME "You're the Boss" The Tech Rep comes out. I show him a bucket full of mangled parts. he says "DAMN You broke it good didn't you?" Order the parts. We tell the Boss what the Tech Rep says. The Boss calls for another Tech Rep. This one comes on and says "DAMN, You broke it good, didn't ya?" While the Tech Rep was looking at my bucket of mangled parts, the BOSS left to go play golf. I find out Monday what he wants to do. If any of you out there want to come by and look at my bucket of mangled parts and give yer opinion as to whether it is broke or not, come on out. The wife, Alesia, has a new job. She is a pet pimp. That is she is working in another pet store selling fish. She is nuts about fish. I go in to visit and all I see are expensive minners. To me the only good fish is one that's flopping on the end of a hook. One of these days I gonna want to go fishing, the bait store is gonna be closed and I will end up raiding the aquariums. She ain't gonna like that. The son, Marc, is growing like a weed. he is already 7'2" and weighs about 310. He's only 12 years old. If anyone needs a good plow mule, I'm renting him out. That's about it. Life is good. Everyone is sucking air. And John Delgotto at Sierra Records swears to me that Clarence Whites Nashville West album will be out in two weeks. He's lying. I love him anyway, but he's lying. He has it ready to go. the only reason he is waiting is because he knows how much I want it. It is pure hatefulness on his part. Write him and tell him I said so. Sierra@sure.net for those of y'all who care, and those of ya'll that want to send me money, our address is...... Jeff & Alesia Wall 727 Alder Circle Va Beach Va 23462 (757) 467 3764 Bye for now GoonDaddy +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jeff Wall whome@ezdial.com Guitar & Mandolin Plunker Part-time philosopher Defender of the Free World Full time bad speller Professional Slacker Illiterate Writer -------------------------- If you'd like more of Jeff's humor, check out his new website.