The "Better Late Than Never" Friday Random Ten

Friday was a blur for me-- a ton of errands, including reporting a stolen front license plate for my car. I didn't realize it until I got a ticket for it. I can get out of the ticket by sending the city the police report, and have to apply to the Secretary of State for a new plate, and get a "temp" plate so that I don't get any more tickets until the new one arrives. A big pain in the ass.

The good part of my day was getting ready for my son's 16th birthday this weekend. We celebrated last night by having barbecue from a local place that I'm hearing raves about, Smoque Barbecue. The raves are justified. He opened his presents afterward. He got a Spinal Tap set from me-- dvd, cd and concert t-shirt. Also, economist John Maynard Keynes classic "A General Theory of Employment," plus a book I spotted at my old friend Ric Addy's book and record store, the late Deedee Ramones' autobiography, "Lobotomy: Surviving The Ramones." Also, his sister got him two t-shirts-- one with Mr. T. and another with our former governor Blagojevich on it. Both buffoons in their own way. Then I watched "A Fish Called Wanda," one of my favorites, with my kids, who loved it. All in all, a great evening.

1. Citadel- The Rolling Stones
2. Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now- Billy Bragg
3. Photographs and Memories- Jim Croce
4. Revolution Rock- The Clash
5. Ripples- Genesis
6. Love Will Find A Way- Pablo Cruise
7. Forever Young- Bob Dylan
8. Let Her Cry- Hootie and the Blowfish
9. Dance Away the Heartache- Roxy Music
10. Just Like Candy- The Jesus and Mary Chain


Notes:
1. From "Her Satanic Majesty's Request," the Stones' answer to Sgt. Pepper.
2. "Talking To The Taxman About Poetry" was one of my favorite albums of the eighties.
3. I'd forgotten about Croce for years, and have been rediscovering his music lately.
4. London Calling is tied with Dylan's Highway 61 as my favorite-ever album.
5. A guilty pleasure from Genesis' mid-seventies "Trick of the Tail" album.
6. Another guilty seventies pleasure. I actually saw these guys perform at "Chicagofest," a summer festival the city of Chicago would throw at Navy Pier.
7. Funny hearing this song in a commercial lately. This is a demo acoustic version from the terrific "Biograph" box set.
8. Yet another guilty pleasure, this one from the nineties.
9. Roxy sounds so dated, yet so good. Loved the scene in "Lost In Translation" with Bill Murray singing "More Than This."
10. Speaking of "Lost In Translation," loved hearing this song in that great final scene.