Music

Why “Exile On Main Street” Gets My Rocks Off

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Music, Pop Culture/Film/Literature, RMWMTMBM Archive 2 Comments

There’s a contest going on over at No Depression (the greatest music magazine EVER this side of Rolling Stone) that they’re calling the “Exile On Main Street vs. The White Album Smackdown.” As the title suggests, they want readers to weigh in on which is the better of two of the greatest albums of all…

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Rainy Days and Sunday

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Dr. J's Lists, Music, RMWMTMBM Archive 4 Comments

Nothing particularly profound to say today, readers. It’s the second day of spring, and after an absolutely beautiful day yesterday, Mother Nature has delivered us a cold and rainy Sunday here in Memphis. So, I thought I’d share my favortie “rainy day” albums. If you click on the album covers, it will take you to…

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Americana the Beautiful

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Music, RMWMTMBM Archive 1 Comment

Apologies, readers, for the paucity of new material here on the blog of late. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be back with more regularity. In the meantime, however, I have re-added a link (in the column to your right) to the archive site for my now-defunct old Rhodes Radio program “Americana the Beautiful,” which…

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The Burnin’ Love Band Premiere

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Memphis, Music, RMWMTMBM Archive 0 Comments

I don’t often recommend specific shows to see in Memphis on this blog, but I’m making an exception this time for Brad Birkedahl. For years, Brad was the lead guitarist of The Dempseys, a smoking-hot rockabilly trio, perennially voted one of Memphis’ Best Bands. Even if you’ve never been to Memphis, you’ve probably seen The…

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Guess Things Happen That Way

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Music, Pop Culture/Film/Literature, RMWMTMBM Archive 0 Comments

I’ve often said that if God speaks to humanity, he does so through Johnny Cash. Unfortunately for the rest of us, Cash passed away in 2003, officially of diabetes-related complications, but more likely because he was unable to stand this world any longer after the death of his wife, June Carter Cash, a few months…

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Happy Holidays, Blogosphere!

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Music, RMWMTMBM Archive 1 Comment
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Dr. J’s Top Stories of 2009

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Dr. J's Lists, Human Rights, Memphis, Music, Obama, Politics, Pop Culture/Film/Literature, RMWMTMBM Archive 7 Comments

What a long, strange trip it’s been! It’s almost time to bid adieu to the last year of the first decade of the new millineum. In case you weren’t paying attention, here are a dozen of the highlights (and lowlights) of 2009: 12. Sarah Palin Goes “Rogue” The Grand Dame of the Illiterati wrote a…

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Listening While Grading

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Dr. J's Lists, Music, RMWMTMBM Archive, Teaching 1 Comment

This following is the soundtrack of my life these days: Ennio Morricone’s The Mission: This is the soundtrack to the movie of the same name. Quite simply, some of the most breathtakingly beautiful music ever composed. This album made me love the oboe. The emotional rise and fall of the compositions carries its listener from…

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Beyoncé Wins Fight Between Kanye and Taylor

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Music, Pop Culture/Film/Literature, Women and Gender Issues 3 Comments

For all the hype about big, mean bully Kanye West and his poor, innocent victim Taylor Swift, you’d think that somebody died at the VMA’s a few days ago. But, alas, it was just a bit of garden-variety entertainment drama. No real biggie. Even still, since everyone else in the Universe, including the President, feels…

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“Heart of Stone” Music Video

June 9, 2024 Dr. J Music, Weak Humanism 2 Comments

You may remember my mentioning a couple of months ago on this blog (“Video Killed the Philosophy Professor“) that I had my first experience shooting a music video for one of my original songs. Well, here’s the final product. Directed by Dana Gabrion and Chris Morgan. Photography by Chris Morgan. Starring: Max Maloney, Marlinee Iverson,…

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