I Feel Blue In The Night

RIP, Phil.

Linger On

Countless Too Poppy favorites were clearly influenced by The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed. May he rest in peace.

The Day, It Will Abide

Man, it's been a tough year for us Big Star fans.

R.I.P.
Andy Hummel, 59 years young
story link

You're Covered in Roses

Rest in Peace, Will Owsley.

I was saddened to wake up this morning and read that Owsley died Friday of what apparently was a suicide. You can read more details here. Obit here.

His self-titled debut album finds a welcome place in the Too Poppy permanent collection and if anything, his death will bring his fantastic music to a slightly wider audience. It shouldn't take such a tragedy, though.

Terrible.

Owsley @ iTunes, Amazon.com

UPDATE: From the Will Owsley Appreciation Society on Facebook: Donations in honor and memory of Will Owsley can be made to: The Will Owsley Family Fund c/o Christ Community Church 1215 Hillsboro Road Franklin, TN 37069 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH. He left behind two young sons and every dollar donated will be greatly appreciated by his grieving family.

I Never Travel Far Without a Little Big Star

No!

R.I.P. - Alex Chilton (via)

The singer and guitarist, best known as a member of '60s pop-soul act the Box Tops and the '70s power-pop act Big Star, died today at a hospital in New Orleans. Chilton, 59, had been complaining of about his health earlier today. He was taken by paramedics to the emergency room where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death is believed to be a heart attack.

Terrible.

Goodbye, My Friends

R.I.P.

Eric Woolfson, Alan Parsons Project
1945-2009

Thanks For Turning Me On

RIP

Dic Youngs
Iowa Radio Legend

I had the pleasure of working with Youngsy during my college days at KIOA radio. He had his quirks and a great traditional radio personality. They don't make 'em like him anymore. He will be missed.

And She's Gone

RIP

Lucy "in the Sky with Diamonds" Vodden
46 years young

And He Told Us of His Life

RIP
Heinz Edelmann (Yellow Submarine Art Director)
1934-2009

A World Without Love

RIP
Gordon Waller
1945-2009

The idea that I shall never get to sing those songs with him again, that I shall never again be able to get annoyed when he interrupts me on stage or to laugh at his unpredictable sense of humour or even to admire his newest model train or his latest gardening effort is an unthinkable change in my life with which I have not even begun to come to terms.

-Peter Asher

Then Every Head Turned

Too Poppy is a Michael Jackson-free zone on every single day... except today. He was a creep who likely did very bad things with his celebrity and I am far from being a fan of most of his music, but NPR picked the one moment of his career that captured a transcendent moment in the history of pop culture that forever changed pop music. Sure it was a contemporary redux of the showmanship of Elvis and Little Richard and it opened the door for much lesser talent that still won't go away, but like it or not it was iconic for my generation. That is worth some reflection.

Indeed, "this is the moment Generation X realizes [we're] grown up."

Some Are Dead and Some Are Living

Another big Beatle name passes...

"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man," the statement said.

RIP: Neil Apinall

All you fellows, you can look all you like

Canadian blind rock artist Jeff Healey passed away of a rare form of cancer which he has battled since birth. He was 41.

I'll admit that I haven't really heard of him before. His big hit was the 1988 album "See The Light" with the hit single being Angel Eyes. Upon listen you'll recognize it.

His first album in 8 years, Mess of Blues, is set to be released this month in North America.

What was truly interesting about Jeff Healey was the way he played guitar - across his lap. See his rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps":

They Get a Kick Out of My Misery

I've been holding this one in all day.
Sigh...

RIP
Kurt Vonnegut
1922-2007

Breakfast of Champions is required reading
... absolutely required.