Wax is where it's at, baby!

Yep. Got caught red-handed doing what I love best -- digging through vinyl records.

I'm delighted that records are hip again. I never got rid of mine. Always preferred the sound. Any audiophile worth a damn will tell you it's superior to tape, disc and digital downloads.

Oh, sure. I've got plenty of those, too. But as my buddy Ross Southerland says, "Wax is where it's at, baby!"

I read an article in one of the papers the other day that said vinyl sales were up something like 130 percent (how do you do anything more than 100 percent?) in 2013, although it still only counts for a few percentage points of overall music sales.

Anyway. I love it. Have two turntables in two different rooms and too many records to count.

Headed over to Happy Holler yesterday and ducked into Raven Records and Rarities. Found a few. Dino Martin. Elvis Himselvis. Billy Joel. It's a terrific treasure hunt. The initiated know what I mean.

We've got several great record stores in town. Lost and Found is another. I hear Basement Records is back in business. And my buddy Spencer has told me about a small store in Sequoyah Hills. Gotta get over there someday soon.

After roaming 'round the records, I ducked into Central Taps and Flats for a pint of stout. The sign out front said, "Happy Hour -- All Day -- Screw it, let's drink!"

Methinks Dino would approve.

Nights in white satin, never reaching the end...

Quarter to six in the a.m. and I've yet to slumber.

Could have something to do with the migraine meds I took at midnight. Caffeine in it, you know.

Whatever the case, it put me in mind of a Moody Blues tune. You know it, no doubt.

Nights in white satin, never reaching the end...

Thought about it so long that I finally dug out the vinyl. Boy, does it ever sound good, pops and cracks and all.

Actually, if you're careful and clean, vinyl holds up pretty well. And we all know it's the superior sound for any serious audiophile.

Anyhow, the song also brought back memories of the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp "Dark Shadows."

Purists hated it. Audiences went to see some big budget comic book blockbuster that opened in the same cycle. Dime a dozen, they are, and I can't keep track.

I wanted to despise the Burton/Depp "Dark Shadows" but I didn't. The reason I bring it up is because the scene that's stayed with me is the main title sequence. That haunting Moody Blues melody plays as Victoria Winters travels (by train, of course) to Collinsport.

I felt chills during that moment. Not sure why, but I knew then that I would like the movie. And I did. No, it wasn't "Dark Shadows." But it was fine, fun, visually stunning, and threw enough bones to the longtime fan to make one smile.

So now it's almost six and I guess I should get to bed, eh?

Just what I'm going through, they can't understand...

The King conquers New York -- again!

Yes, I always get myself a little something for Elvis Week.

Cause, well, you know.

This year's item (finally!) arrived today. It's the rereleased 40th anniversary vinyl version of "Elvis As Recorded at Madison Square Garden," taken from the June 10, 1972, evening performance, one of four shows The King performed that summer at MSG, shattering box office records at the time.

Beautifully remastered in the HQ-180 RTI Premium vinyl pressing, the show has never sounded better. It is MUCH livelier than the original release, which failed to capture the excitement of the quivering crowd.

Elvis and the TCB Band were at the top of their game for The King's first concert appearance in New York since the "Ed Sullivan Show" heyday of the 1950s. This is the best of the officially released live albums from Elvis' 1970s RCA catalogue.

From the bombastic "Also Sprach Zarathustra" straight into a hard-driving "That's All Right" to favorites like "Suspicious Minds" and a funky version of "Hound Dog," you simply can't beat it. If you are a casual fan who only wants one Elvis live album for your collection, this is it.

"Boy, the band was on its toes then and Elvis put so many songs in that set and sounded incredible," says Elvis fan and guitarist extraordinaire Ross Southerland, who knows of what he speaks.

I must also mention the CD rerelease as well because it contains a DVD of rare 8mm footage from this engagement. Don't miss it.

But, when it comes to sound and ambience, as Ross says, "Wax is where it's at, man!"

A great get well gift

Talk about a great "get well" gift.

My friend Charles Robert Davenport, former teacher at the old Brickey Elementary and a long-time librarian (now retired) in the Knox County Schools, called me last week.

"I've got some vinyl records here if you'd like to have them," he said in his trademark laconic tone.

I did not meet Mr. Davenport until briefly working in public relations for Knox County in late 2002/early 2003 until illness forced me to resign the position. "Mr. D" had left Brickey long before I became a student there.

So, I met him for lunch today just before going to the medical center to receive my CPAP machine. He pretty much let me take my pick of a variety of vinyls, including country, classical, gospel, and Broadway and film soundtracks.

As I type this, I'm listening to the late and great Eddy Arnold sing "Faded Love" and "The Tennessee Waltz" and (on another album), one of my favorites, Eddy's excellent cover of "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye," performed in the crooner style that became his trademark. Every time I hear Eddy, he always makes me think of Marshal Andy Smalls, who has to be Eddy Arnold's biggest fan.

Next up is either Glen Campbell or "South Pacific." We'll see when I summon the energy to get up.

Wish me luck on this CPAP, y'all. I think it might make me a new man.