February Meeting (Work Day)

We don’t have an official meeting this month. Instead you’re invited to Fred’s house on the 20th at noon for a social. Don’t be late or you’ll miss lunch! Please think of those ten songs you want played.

BTW we may do a little work preparing for our CD & Record Show.

Is Recorded Music Whale Blubber?

Most of you are familiar with Brian Eno. Here’s an interesting quote from Brian’s interview with The Guardian (U.K.) "I think records were just a little bubble through time and those who made a living from them for a while were lucky. There is no reason why anyone should have made so much money from selling records except that everything was right for this period of time. I always knew it would run out sooner or later. It couldn't last, and now it's running out. I don't particularly care that it is and like the way things are going. The record age was just a blip. It was a bit like if you had a source of whale blubber in the 1840s and it could be used as fuel. Before gas came along, if you traded in whale blubber, you were the richest man on Earth. Then gas came along and you'd be stuck with your whale blubber. Sorry mate – history's moving along. Recorded music equals whale blubber. Eventually, something else will replace it." The full article.

Should we change our name to The Alabama Whale Blubber Collectors?

Vinyl Rarity - Bobby Keys

What do Dion's Runaround Sue and the Stones' Brown Sugar have in common? Saxman Bobby Keys, who, in addition to having a standing gig with the Rolling Stones for the past 40 years, has shared stages and studios with everyone from Barbra Streisand to Lynyrd Skynyrd. It started at age 14, touring with fellow Texan Buddy Holly. That's Bobby you hear on the baritone sax on Elvis Presley's Return to Sender. He joined the Stones about the same time as Mick Taylor with the Let It Bleed album. In the Stones' 1972 concert movie, politely known as CS Blues, you can see Bobby and Keith throwing a television set from a hotel window.

But for all his sessions and tours for other artists, Bobby Keys has only two solo LPs, one of which is the subject of this, the first Vinyl Rarity offering in the ARCA blog. The all instrumental LP was released in 1972 on Warner Brothers in the UK only. Titled as simply Bobby Keys, it featured, uncredited, Jack Bruce, Jim Gordon, George Harrison, Nicky Hopkins, Dave Mason, Felix Pappalardi, Jim Price, Ringo Starr, Klaus Voormann, Eric Clapton and Leslie West. If you happen across this one, snatch it up quickly. There is no US pressing, no CD release, and you'll pay $100-$200 IF you can find one online. Watch for more Vinyl Rarities served up semi-regularly on the ARCA blog.

January Meeting

Our next meeting is January 17th. Jay Michaels, currently a DJ with WZZK in Birmingham will be speaking to us. Jay has been in the radio business for many years. Some of us also remember him as the drummer with the Townsmen. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings! We meet at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. Our meetings are in Room 110 in the lower level (social starts at 2 P.M. and official meeting at 3 P.M.).

A New Year

2009 was a good year for ARCA. We had several interesting speakers, held our 28th consecutive CD & Record Show and enjoyed fellowship with other members at both our summer picnic and Christmas party.

2010 promises to be even better. We will get a great start with our January 17th meeting when we have a special guest. He is none other than Jay Michaels. Jay is currently a DJ with WZZK in Birmingham and has been in the radio business for many years. However, before that, he was a drummer with the Townsmen. Jay should have a lot of stories, not only with being a member of the band, but also from his many years in radio.

Christmas Party At The Hoover Lake House

There is no meeting this month. Instead we’ll be gathering for food, fun and fellowship at our annual Christmas party on December 19th. Specific details are in the ARCA newsletter (both November and December). We hope to see everyone there!

Thank You Dale!

The special guest at our November meeting was Dale Aston. Influenced by early rock and roll, Dale taught himself to play the guitar. He and a friend, Wendell Colbert, who also played guitar formed a band in 1963. They took the name Torquays after a town in England and a song by The Ventures of that name. The initial band had several members, but eventually dwindled down to five, Dale on guitar and lead vocals, Wendell on bass, Barry Bicknell on trumpet, Eugene Hayes on drums and Steve Salord on sax. The Torquays made two records. The first, “While I’m Away” written by Aston backed by a great Doo Wop sounding “Pineapple Moon.” These were recorded in Muscle Shoals at Fame Studios. Both sides got significant air play in the Birmingham area. The second record, “You’re The One Who Loves Me” (also written by Aston) was recorded in Memphis. The Torquays often backed artists like Travis Wammack, Chuck Berry, Billy Joe Royal and Bobby Goldsboro. They played steadily all throughout the southeast, but disbanded in 1968. Dale went on to play a short stint with the Distortions, another popular Birmingham band.

November 15th Meeting

Dale Aston will be speaking to us at this month’s meeting. Dale was the lead singer and lead guitarist of the Birmingham band, The Torquays. He also penned both of the hits, “While I’m Away” and “You’re The One Who Loves Me." Both of these songs are available for playing from this blog (see left column). He was later with the Distortions. We gather at 2 pm for refreshments and music conversation. There will be a short meeting at 3 p.m. preceding Dale’s talk. Visitors are welcome to drop by! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.

Mark Your Calendar!

Our Christmas party is December 19th and our annual CD and Record Show is April 30 & May 1, 2010. Hours for the show are:
Friday, April 30, 2010, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (early birds 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m)
Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Annual Christmas Party Returns To Hoover Lake House

Plan to finish your Christmas shopping at the Galleria and then join us at the Hoover Lake House on December 19th. As always, there will be food, fun, fellowship and of course music! It's a great time for our out-of-town members to join us. More details on the party will be in the November and December newsletters.

October & November Meetings

For our October meeting (10/18) we have a Birmingham legend. Honorary ARCA member, Ed Boutwell, will come and talk to us about the glory days of music producing in Birmingham. There are so many artists that Ed produced and recorded that I can’t list them here. He is very enthused about coming and loves to talk about those days. Let’s have a big turn out and bring your questions. The meeting will be this Sunday, October 18th. As always we’ll gather at 2 pm for refreshments and music conversation. There will be a short meeting at 3 pm and then we’ll go straight into the program. Don’t miss it!!!

We have a special guest lined up for the November meeting (11/15). Dale Aston will be speaking to us. Dale was the lead guitarist and vocalist with the Torquays. He also wrote their two hit songs that were put on vinyl. He was later with the Distortions. More on this next month.