by Gene Mahoney

A Few Memories From My Simple Mind...

Simple Minds have a new CD out called “Cry” and it’s pretty darn good. You know a band is good when you listen to one of their CD’s and like it, then realize it’s probably their weakest effort in twenty years. Kimberlye Gold tried to get us in to see them at the Saratoga Winery but they weren’t giving away free passes to the press.

Oh well, I did manage to see them when they played the Warfield back in ‘91. That was to promote their “Real Life” album, which was good, but not as good as “Street Fighting Years” which came out in ‘90 but sunk like a rock on the charts, probably due to a luke warm review in Rolling Stone. Their American career never recovered after that. Let’s see, what was the album before that one? I think it was a double live album, “Live in the City of Light” or something. Then before that they had one called... I forget. I think it was called “Once Upon a Time” or something like that. It’s in my vinyl collection but I haven’t got time to look it up as I’m racing to finish this column and get the boards to my printer. Anyway, that was the album that had “Alive and Kicking” on it. Oh, and “All the Things She Said”. Before that, I think they released “Sparkle in the Rain”, which was the one that gave them that Poor Man’s U2 tag. Actually, at around that time they were better than U2 because Bono and the Boys had just released the forgettable “Unforgettable Fire”.

Just before I left New York and moved to Oklahoma (Don’t Ask) I saw Simple Minds warm up for lead singer Jim Kerr’s then-wife Chrissy Hynde and The Pretenders at Jones Beach near my former home on Long Island. It was the summer of ‘84 and I was about to turn 19. I remember getting into a shouting match with some asshole who was booing them. I remember going to the show with this friend of mine named Hank. We were friends then but now we hate each other’s guts. I remember that Hank (not exactly Cary Grant) actually met some girl there, but was too afraid to ask her out. They met at a record store or something weeks later and started dating. Man, why couldn’t he have kept going out with her instead of that awful person he’s married to now?

Oh well, that’s his problem.

Where was I? Oh yeah. Before that, in ‘82, they released my favorite Simple Minds album, “New Gold Dream - ‘81, ‘82, ‘83, ‘84”. I forgot if it was called that or just “New Gold Dream”, but on the title track he sings “‘81! ‘82! ‘83! ‘84! New Gold Dream!”

The album really was gold, too. It was the only time I can think of when you made out by getting the domestic version instead of the import, which was on plain old black vinyl. Musically, this album was different -- a lot more mellow. Kind of like “Avalon”, Roxy Music’s final album, released around the same time. “Avalon” -- what a great album to get laid to. But I digress. “New Gold Dream” was less romantic. Not quite an album you would pork somebody to, but one of my all-time favorites. I used to listen to it lull me to sleep each night during my senior year of high school.

I could go into their earlier works I’m not too familiar with, but I’m running out of space and time. I’ll make it quick. Their earlier albums were really good, except for their first one, “Life in a Day”. Fun fact (or rumor): Their original name was Johnny and the Self-Abusers.

News and Notes, This and That...

Speaking of music, Menlo Park police officer Ron Safarzo and his wife Maryann have released a CD titled “America Our Country... America Our Home”, which has received accolades from many people, including some former U.S. presidents. You may have seen an article about them recently in the San Jose Mercury News. Danny Hull, the former Doobie Brother, plays harp on it! For more info check out www.americaourhome.net.... I ran into this guy I haven’t seen in years. He’s still pushing his Bagel Beer, which is now available at Mollie Stone’s, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and a few other places. I forgot his name, but I recommend the beer. Pick some up today.... The next time you’re in Marin County, stop by this delightful semi-casual restaurant called Rosetti (909 Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael). They have a great Italian lunch buffet for, I forget, something like 7 bucks. Victor, the guy who owns the place is so nice, when he found out it was my birthday he gave me a free slice of cake to go. Go there and see for yourself....

Okay, pretend I’m getting all teary-eyed like Sammy Davis, Jr. used to when he was about to kiss someone’s ass on a talk show or during his act: Hey. It’s not often that I get emotional when I talk about Intenet Service Providers, but those cats at Web Intellects are something else. I’m making some changes in my web site now and I’ve been calling up with a lot of stupid questions. I’m probably bothering the hell out of them. They probably don’t want to pick up the phone in tech support because they’re afraid it’s me. But they do. And they provide great service at a low price. Hell, it’s a family-owned business way the hell out in the desert. So listen to me, this is what you have to do. Drop your present corporate fascist ISP and sign up with these guys. Go to www.webintellects.com today. You’ll be glad you did. I love you, guys! Sniff, Sniff.

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Gene can be emailed here