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This might not quite count, because officially it's the soundtrack to a made-for-HBO mockumentary about a singer or something played by Bruce Willis. But let's be honest. This album is clearly the Main Event. It's recorded to sound like it is a live Bruce Willis concert (either that or it was recorded in a studio with like 6,000 saxophones and Bruce in the back of the room with an echo-y microphone.
The Return of Bruno definitely belongs in the pantheon of Inevitable Vanity Albums. Throughout Moonlighting, Bruce Willis would find opportunities to sing, usually when he entered a room wearing sunglasses (who gave him those sunglasses, you guys?). I have to believe that this was written into the show because Bruce himself would enter the production offices of the show singing R&B standards and hinting at his musical aspirations.
Vocally, this album leaves a lot to be desired. Bruce Willis is that kind of singer who's just brave enough to start singing too loud for public places, but too nervous to really commit to the songs, so he ends up being too cool to enunciate, and almost every song sounds like he forgot that words include consonants. One notable exception here is the Standout Track Under The Boardwalk, in which Bruce drops the facade of being the fake-black-Bob Seger and kind of tries to sing. It's really not great, and doesn't compare to the original, but it does show some promise, though I hear his second album was pretty weak. There's some room for Bruce to grow, but the potential is definitely there.

Thu 26 Feb – Metallica, Machine Head, The Sword
Well this was only the 2nd time that I'd seen Metallica live, having only become a fan with the 'Black album' and then having not had much time for them post-Load. The previous time was at Donnington in '95 when I was a million miles from the stage in the middle of a crowd of 70,000 people. This time around I seemed equally far from the stage, stuck up in the upper tier of this 20,000 seater arena, though with arguably a much better view of the stage.

I skipped The Sword (who i do plan to see next month at the London show) and of course Machine Head who I have never been a fan of. My youngest brother came along with me. He likes his Led Zeppelin, AC/DC & Thin Lizzy etc but is not such a fan of anything heavier and I reckoned that Metallica might be at his limit, so we just got to our seats minutes before the 4 horsemen hit the stage at 9PM.

The Death Magnetic tour is 'In The Round', so the huge rectangular stage is situated in the middle of the arena. The speakers and coffin-shaped lighting rigs were suspended above the stage and they delivered an excellent show visually - though the sound (at least from where I was seated) was rather muffled. When the band started playing I have to admit that I was grateful that the sound was not too loud, but James's vocals got rather lost in the whole mix. I thought that maybe it might improve after a few songs, but sadly it didn't - but it was at least consistent throughout the set.

The guys were all really into the show and made full use of all areas of the stage, with there being mike stands placed all around the edge of the stage. The crowd in response were on their feet from pretty much the moment that the lights went down and there was tremendous energy around. The setlist featured a number of tunes from Death Magnetic but these were nicely broken up with a lot of classic old tunes that the crowd were clearly there to hear - especially Master of Puppets and the material from the 'Black' album.

After a few songs James asked the audience to raise their hands if they were witnessing the band for the first time and I was astonished to see (what seemed to me to be) about half of the auditorium raise their hands - so clearly the fanbase is still growing. I must admit that the crowd were great throughout the show and it was fantastic to hear so many people singing along too - really loudly, especially during the likes of Enter Sandman.

All the same the set did have its lower points. The crowd did get a bit quiet during the trio of Turn the Page and the following two songs, all of which were a bit dull and lacking in energy. Similarly, during the first two of the 3 encores, the crowd (many probably way too young to know the songs) were left rather dumbfounded by the choice of covers though I'm sure that many fans would have loved to witnessed them playing such tunes. Personally, I had been hoping for Breadfan and in view of it being Manchester (where Phil Lynott's family was from) - I think that Whisky in the Jar might have gone down well.

Anyway, overall it wasn't a bad show and probably worth the money (the tickets not being anything like as outrageously priced as those for some popular artists).

Setlist:
That Was Just Your Life
The End of the Line
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Wherever I May Roam
One
Broken, Beat And Scarred
Cyanide
Sad but True
Turn the Page (Bob Seger cover)
The Judas Kiss
The Day That Never Comes
Master of Puppets
Blackened
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman

Encore:
Blitzkreig (Blitzkrieg cover)
The Prince (Diamond Head cover)
Seek & Destroy

TOP 500 SONGS (My Personal Favorites of All-Time)


106. Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits
105. The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd
104. All These Things That I've Done by The Killers
103. Buddy Holly by Weezer
102. Happiness Is a Warm Gun by The Beatles
101. Fortune and Fame by The KGB
100. One of These Nights by The Eagles
99. Burnin' Sky by Bad Company
98. Smokescreen by Flying Blind
97. Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band
96. Respect by Aretha Franklin
95. Call Me The Breeze by Lynyrd Skynyrd
94. Fool in the Rain by Led Zeppelin
93. Backwater by Meat Puppets
92. Supermassive Black Hole by Muse
91. Moondance by Van Morrison
90. Jenny Don't Be Hasty by Paolo Nutini
89. Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics
88. Change Your Mind by The Killers
87. Second Hand News by Fleetwood Mac
86. Shout by The Isley Brothers
85. Blue Moon by The Marcels
84. Where The Streets Have No Name by U2
83. Into The Mystic by Van Morrison
82. Old Brown Shoe by The Beatles
81. Build Me Up Buttercup by Foundations
80. Laid by James
79. Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum
78. With Or Without You by U2
77. Maggie May by Rod Stewart
76. Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen
75. La Cienega Just Smiled by Ryan Adams
74. Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf
73. Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
72. Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses
71. Cold As Ice by Foreigner
70. The Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin
69. Desire by Ryan Adams
68. Blackbird by The Beatles
67. Time by Pink Floyd
66. Swingtown by Steve Miller Band
65. Badlands by Bruce Springsteen
64. Cry On Demand by Ryan Adams
63. I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown
62. Crazy On You by Heart
61. Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
60. Hallelujah by Ryan Adams
59. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
58. Every Breath You Take by The Police
57. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
56. Thundercrack by Bruce Springsteen
55. Psycho Killer by Talking Heads
54. I Can't Win by The Strokes
53. More Than Words by Extreme
52. Reelin' In The Years by Steely Dan
51. Squeeze Box by The Who
50. Creep by Radiohead
49. I've Just Seen a Face by The Beatles
48. One by Three Dog Night
47. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
46. Kitty's Back by Bruce Springsteen
45. Round Here by Counting Crows
44. I Wish I Had a Girl by Henry Lee Summer
43. Witness by The Wallflowers
42. Dance, Dance, Dance by The Steve Miller Band
41. Rockin' Pneumonia by Johnny Rivers
40. Down Together by The Refreshments
39. A Murder Of One by The Counting Crows
38. What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
37. Going Up The Country by Canned Heat
36. Posters by Jack Johnson
35. Don't Do Me Like That by Tom Petty
34. London Calling by The Clash
33. The Kids Aren't Alright by The Offspring
32. Prisoner of Society by The Living End
31. Baba O' Riley by The Who
30. You're Missing by Bruce Springsteen
29. Hook by Blues Traveler
28. Burnin' For You by Blue Oyster Cult
27. Roxanne by The Police
26. Do You Remember by Jack Johnson
25. You Got What It Takes by The Dave Clark Five
24. A Lack of Color by Death Cab for Cutie
23. Love Shack by The B-52's
22. Stickshifts and Safetybelts by Cake
21. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
20. Lithium by Nirvana
19. The Greatest Man That Ever Lived by Weezer
18. Dream On by Aerosmith
17. Dear Chicago by Ryan Adams
16. Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
15. You Got Lucky by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
14. Time of the Season by The Zombies
13. Life Is A Highway by Tom Cochrane
12. Better Together by Jack Johnson
11. Bang the Drum All Day by Todd Rundgren
10. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp by Led Zeppelin
9. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N' Roses
8. Man in the Box by Alice in Chains
7. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out by Bruce Springsteen and The E-Street Band
6. Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas
5. Locomotive Breath by Jethro Tull
4. Night Moves by Bob Seger
3. Heartbreaker / Living Loving Maid by Led Zeppelin
2. Saving All The Love by Joe Firstman
1. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

106. Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits
105. The Great Gig In the Sky by Pink Floyd
104. All These Things That I've Done by The Killers
103. Buddy Holly by Weezer
102. Happiness Is a Warm Gun by The Beatles
101. Fortune and Fame by The KGB
100. One of These Nights by The Eagles
99. Burnin' Sky by Bad Company
98. Smokescreen by Flying Blind
97. Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band
96. Respect by Aretha Franklin
95. Call Me the Breeze by Lynyrd Skynyrd
94. Fool In the Rain by Led Zeppelin
93. Backwater by Meat Puppets
92. Supermassive Black Hole by Muse
91. Moondance by Van Morrison
90. Jenny Don't Be Hasty by Paolo Nutini
89. Sweet Dreams by The Eurythmics
88. Change Your Mind by The Killers
87. Second Hand News by Fleetwood Mac
86. Shout (Pts. 1 and 2) by The Isley Brothers
85. Blue Moon by The Marcels
84. Where the Streets Have No Name by U2
83. Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
82. Old Brown Shoe by The Beatles
81. Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations
80. Laid by James
79. Spirit In the Sky by Norman Greenbaum
78. With Or Without You by U2
77. Maggie May by Rod Stewart
76. Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen
75. La Cienega Just Smiled by Ryan Adams
74. Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf
73. Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
72. Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses
71. Cold As Ice by Foreigner
70. The Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin
69. Desire by Ryan Adams
68. Blackbird by The Beatles
67. Time by Pink Floyd
66. Swingtown by Steve Miller Band
65. Badlands by Bruce Springsteen
64. Cry On Demand by Ryan Adams
63. I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown
62. Crazy On You by Heart
61. Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
60. Hallelujah by Ryan Adams
59. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
58. Every Breath You Take by The Police
57. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
56. Thundercrack by Bruce Springsteen
55. Psycho Killer by Talking Heads
54. I Can't Win by The Strokes
53. More Than Words by Extreme
52. Reelin' In the Years by Steely Dan
51. Squeeze Box by The Who
50. Creep by Radiohead
49. I've Just Seen a Face by The Beatles
48. One by Three Dog Night
47. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
46. Kitty's Back by Bruce Springsteen
45. Round Here by Counting Crows
44. I Wish I Had a Girl by Henry Lee Summer
43. Witness by The Wallflowers
42. Dance, Dance, Dance by The Steve Miller Band
41. Rockin' Pneumonia by Johnny Rivers
40. Down Together by The Refreshments
39. A Murder of One by The Counting Crows
38. What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
37. Going Up the Country by Canned Heat
36. Posters by Jack Johnson
35. Don't Do Me Like That by Tom Petty
34. London Calling by The Clash
33. The Kids Aren't Alright by The Offspring
32. Prisoner of Society by The Living End
31. Baba O' Riley by The Who
30. You're Missing by Bruce Springsteen
29. Hook by Blues Traveler
28. Burnin' For You by Blue Oyster Cult
27. Roxanne by The Police
26. Do You Remember by Jack Johnson
25. You Got What It Takes by The Dave Clark Five
24. A Lack of Color by Death Cab For Cutie
23. Love Shack by The B-52's
22. Stickshifts and Safetybelts by Cake
21. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
20. Lithium by Nirvana
19. The Greatest Man That Ever Lived by Weezer
18. Dream On by Aerosmith
17. Dear Chicago by Ryan Adams
16. Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
15. You Got Lucky by Tom Petty
14. Time of the Season by The Zombies
13. Life Is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
12. Better Together by Jack Johnson
11. Bang the Drum All Day by Todd Rundgren
10. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp by Led Zeppelin
9. Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses
8. Man in the Box by Alice In Chains
7. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out by Bruce Springsteen
6. Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas
5. Locomotive Breath by Jethro Tull
4. Night Moves by Bob Seger
3. Heartbreaker / Living Loving Maid by Led Zeppelin
2. Saving all the Love by Joe Firstman
1. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

*Last Updated April 18, 2009

Some major shake-ups at the top of the artist chart this week. A handful of stellar singles on the tracks chart, and one new member this week. A great big 9513 howdy and welcome to TheHagMan. So, let's get started, shall we?

King George - George Strait rises to the top of artist chart this week fending off the mighty Sugarland who drop to #2. The Dixie Chicks, Brad Paisley, and Trace Adkins make up the rest of the top 5. Other artists finding their place in the playlists of 9513 group members include LeAnn Rimes, Reba McEntire, John Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, and old-time rock and roller Bob Seger.

The mighty Sugarland hold 2 of the top 5 albums this week. Their 2005 debut Twice The Speed Of Life is the #1 album with 9 listeners. The Dixie Chicks' Fly is #2 with the same number of listeners. Sugarland's Enjoy The Ride is #3 followed by albums from Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood. Mostly albums from this millenium dot the rest of the album landscape, with few exceptions to 90s albums.

The tracks chart is what I find most interesting this week. Jamey Johnson's In Color is #2 followed by chart stalwart Lee Ann Womack's latest. Toby Keith's God Love Her, Dixie Chicks' Not Ready To Make Nice, and Sugarland's Take Me As I Am complete the top 5. Other notable songs with multiple listeners include Alabama's Song Of The South, Little Big Town's A Little More You, Loretta Lynn's weeper Miss Being Mrs. and many, many more great tracks. But for the entire chart listing, you'll have to go here.

riccardo1985's top albums
1. Blue Öyster Cult - Agents of Fortune (57) 2. Radiohead - Pablo Honey (55) 3. Blue Öyster Cult - Mirrors (48) 4. Stars Underground - Soundtrack to a Suicide (48) 5. The Black Keys - Attack & Release (47) 6. Silverchair - Neon Ballroom (46) 7. Rainbow - The Very Best of Rainbow (44) 8. On Wave - VODKA BEAR MATRESHKA (41) 9. KISS - The Very Best Of Kiss (40) 10. AC/DC - Black Ice (40) 11. The Duel - Lets Finish Wot We Started (21/07/2006 00:27:27) (36) 12. Pearl Jam - Vitalogy (36) 13. Blue Öyster Cult - Spectres (35) 14. Queen - Greatest Hits II (35) 15. Jethro Tull - Stand Up (34) 16. AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip (34) 17. Zwan - Mary Star of the Sea (34) 18. Big Cock - Year of the Cock (33) 19. R.E.M. - Accelerate (33) 20. Sting - The Very Best Of Sting And The Police (30) 21. Cyndi Lauper - Collections (29) 22. The Clash - London Calling (28) 23. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (28) 24. Cream - Fresh Cream (27) 25. Bob Seger - Greatest Hits (27) 26. Steppenwolf - At Your Birthday Party (27) 27. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Soup (26) 28. Pearl Jam - No Code (26) 29. Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me (26) 30. David Bowie - Best Of Bowie (26) 31. Derek and the Dominos - Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (25) 32. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Platinum (25) 33. B.B. King & Eric Clapton - Riding with the King (25) 34. Brian May - Another World (25) 35. Pearl Jam - Ten (25) 36. Pearl Jam - Binaural (25) 37. Thin Lizzy - Dedication (25) 38. The Police - Message In A Box (24) 39. Iggy Pop - American Caesar (24) 40. Boston - Greatest Hits (24) 41. Brian May - Back to the Light (24) 42. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (23) 43. Saliva - Back Into Your System (23) 44. Lenny Kravitz - Greatest Hits (23) 45. The Who - Who's Next (23) 46. Tora Tora - Surprise Attack (22) 47. The Who - Tommy (22) 48. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Greatest Hits (22) 49. U2 - Zooropa (22) 50. Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton (22)

Further to my journal entries of September 24, 2007, January 26, 2008 and September 1, 2008, the October 4 edition of Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper, once again under the title "This week in history", ran a copy of the CHUM Radio Top-10 charts for Saturday, October 7, 1978: 30 years ago.

As this was about a month since the last time the G&M had looked back at 1978, I was interested in seeing what had changed in the five weeks.

Here is the list:

1 Kiss You All Over (Exile)
2 Whenever I Call You "Friend" (Kenny Loggins (with Stevie Nicks, of course))
3 Hot Child In The City (Nick Gilder), which CHUM lists is "Holt Child In The City"
4 Reminiscing (Little River Band)
5 Come Together (Aerosmith)
6 Hopelessly Devoted To You (Olivia Newton-John)
7 Don't Look Back (Boston)
8 Fool (If You Think It's Over) (Chris Rea)
9 Right Down The Line (Gerry Rafferty)
10 Hollywood Nights (Bob Seger)

Notes
The only song to appear on CHUM's September 2 and October 7 lists? Olivia Newton-John's "Hopelessly Devoted to You" from the soundtrack of that epic motion picture Grease. "Hopelessly Devoted to You" had peaked at 3 the week before, and was starting its slow descent.

This chart contains two one-hit wonders: Exile and Chris Rea, neither of whom ever appeared again in the CHUM charts.

See also
http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1134

Step 1: Put your iPod on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 50 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.
Step 3: Let everyone guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Bold the songs when someone guesses correctly.
Step 5: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!

1. Last day of the rest of my life. "Youth of the Nation"- Pod
2. I'm sorry for what I said about you.
3. Every night is a saturday night, and it makes me sick.
4. Are there no shadows where you are, I can see everything as day.
5. You're in for some trouble, she's got a body, and you've got the answers to all of her problems.
6. I've been waiting for an invitation, a beautiful creation.
7. Why at 15 you want someone to call your own, sweet 16 you couldn't see straight.
8. You never think about anybody but yourself, I was wanting more from you.
9. We broke down the walls one brick at a time.
10. I remember standing on the corner at midnight, trying to get my courage up.
11. She's got a smile that it seems to me reminds me of childhood memories.
12. Face to face, with out eyes closed, I've been thinking that we should leave this town.
13. They say live, live and learn, but you'd rather crash and burn.
14. It's been far too long, we've known all along, this is going on, can't seem to respond to anything so we carry on.
15. Looks like the holy ghost is gone, now you're afraid of yourself.
16. I've spent my life waiting for that favorite final scene, I believe you know the one, where she falls in love with me.
17. Are you aware of what you make me feel, baby, right now I feel invisible to you.
18. As time went on I opened up my eyes, never really knew me, you don't know what's deep inside.
19. It's like a pencil with erasers at both ends. "Studying Politics"- Emery
20. I will not forget the day when the sides were chosen.
21. We've got a lot to learn, why do we always run away.
22. The waves are crashing down on me, but I know this cannot be the end.
23. Saw you there, smile at you, but didn't care.
24. To every heart that's growing darker, colder, and colder.
25. Force me to open my mouth again, cause you know I don't want to.
26. And if I only had a notion to complement this sky, I'd pull it down, I'd paint it for you.
27. You can't resist her, she's in your bones.
28. It's such a beautiful day, now I'll be ok, now that you're not away.
29. Dear God, it's me again down here, don't want to sound insincere.
30. Well the sweetness is still yet to come to a sorrow that still is so young.
31. I'm sitting in my chair watching the tv, it's not even on, but there's plenty for me to see.
32. yeah I'm not angry, and no I'm not upset, it's taken me awhile but this is what I've learn, emotional attachment is really not a threat. "Apathetic Way to Be"- Relient K
33. Dear loved one, please listen, this might be the last chance I get.
34. Tonight, tonight we're fighting for our lives, and all we know that's right inside.
35. Another lonely night in Amsterdam, the stars are coming out in waves.
36. You took me home, I drank too much, because of you my liver turns to dust.
37. Another lifeless party, another empty stare, another line upon my face, and another greying hair.
38. Another day, another clean break, another cigarette, and I think I'm going to be ok.
39. I have, I have you breathing down my neck, breathing down my neck, I don't, don't know what you could possibly expect under this condition. "Dark Blue"- Jack's Mannequin
40. You're building the case against me, prosecutor, judge, and jury.
41. Whisper softly softly in my ear, say all the things I want to hear.
42. Here I am, tonight, I can't stand to fight this feeling of despair, I hide.
43. I'm 15 for a moment, caught inbetween 10 and 20. "100 Years"- Five For Fighting
44. Well I'm just a fool for you, and I think I'm going crazy, I can't control myself.
45. Rain falls outside, I think the sky must know what's happening tonight.
46. I'm racking my brain, trying to comprehend how for some unknown reason our status will remain as friends.
47. Beat the drum, shoot the gun, what do you want, I'm not home, just go away.
48. Tell me what do you believe in, does your life have rhyme or reason?
49. Stand up, I just saw you, like a shadow in the distance.
50. All we've done is we've undone ourselves.

List of artist (In alphabetical order)
Further Seems Forever(X2)
My American Heart(X2)
Sanctus Real(X2)
Warrant(X2)
Across Five Aprils
Adam Sandler
A Dream Too Late
Anberlin
Atreyu
Avril Lavigne
Blindside
Bob Seger
Everything
Farewell to Arms
Fireflight
Forever Changed
Forever the Sickest Kids
Guns N' Roses
heretoday
John Davis
Just Surrender
Kids in the Way
Krystal Meyers
Nevertheless
Our Lady Peace
Pillar
Poison
Project 86
Ratt
The Rocket Summer
Seventh Day Slumber
Something Corporate
The Spill Canvas
Staple
Stellar Kart
Superchic[k]
Thousand Foot Krutch
Upside Down Room
Weezer
Zebrahead

Another few weeks, another few gigs...

The Mighty Boosh

I don't even know how to begin to describe it. Surreal, hilarious madness. The first half was just an introduction to the characters and a chance for them to mess around mostly unscripted. The second half, Howard's story about a bleak future which then gives way for a Boosh rock concert towards the end.

The band the Boosh had with them were pretty good, as was Julian Barrett's guitar playing. Great gig, even if there were a few too many screaming fan girls, who'd laugh insanely loud and high-pitched at even the smallest joke, though I suppose you can't blame them for being excited. I was.

Sun Kil Moon

I initally only considered going because the hedge schools were playing. The Hedge Schools were pretty amazing, can't wait for their album to come out.

As for Sun Kil Moon, I was very impressed. I'm not that familiar with their stuff, but after that performance it got me wanting to listen to their stuff. It was a very mellow gig though, even for the type of music they play. Probably would have been better if it were seated...

And his impression of Bob Seger was hilarious.

So, that's the last few weeks... Next up, Elbow, but that's not for a good while, so there'll probably be something before then. Who knows...?