World Wide Woozle - Albums that matter episode #5

Hello music fans, and welcome back for episode #5.

Album # 5: Johnny Cash - American III: Solitary Man (2000)

In the early 2000s I bought this album, on cassette, from a clearance bin, on a whim. I thought the cover looked cool. At the time I knew who Johnny Cash was but had never listened to him, at least not knowingly. Here's what happened...

If the Pogues were the gateway into one type of music then this Johnny Cash album was another. After the initial jaw dropping moment of how he covered Tom Pettys', I Won't Back Down, this long player seeped into my bones and it's still there around twenty-five years later.

This is a dark album which I imagine reflects that Cash was quite unwell at the time of recording. Johnny, with producer Rick Rubin, took some of his originals along with a wide range of covers and turned them into a statement. Later on I would learn that Cash, always clad in black, sang songs for the downtrodden, the poor, the "lonely old", and the outcasts. If you've ever felt left out then listen to this album and, for at least 42 minutes, you won't be alone.

American III introduced me to Will Oldham's music, made me go back and listen to some old Nick Cave, and beckoned me down a path towards country music. Without this album I doubt I would have got to Kris Kristofferson, The Chicks, Steve Earle, or Gillian Welch.

Years later, in the band, we'd do a version of I Won't Back Down. I'd introduced it to them because I loved the Cash version. I don't think anyone ever listened to it though and, apart from the intro, it was much more Tom Petty. Still, it will always be a Johnny Cash song for me.

Over the years I have enjoyed reading and hearing stories about this album being recorded. From Tom Petty dropping in to sing backing vocals on his song and doing another into the bargain, to the buffalo that didn't like the air conditioner on the cabin the studio was in...they'd butt into it so it had to be turned off to record!

Not long after getting this cassette I saw a collection of Cash's songs on CD. That collection was called Murder, and all the songs were about that. Later I'd discover that there were also great related anthologies called Love and God. Murder is an exception, in that it's a compilation worth listening to. It's sad, angry, and full of people looking for redemption.

Nowadays I have a lot of Johnny's albums. It can be a bit overwhelming trying to sort through the multitude of compilations but there are great CD versions of his early long players out there for only a few bucks. Still, if you've never listened before, or only know Ring of Fire, then grab a copy of American III: Solitary Man, and settle down for quite the experience.

Johnny Cash - Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) - https://youtu.be/F5LMaF6ThOs

Thanks for reading this,

The Woozle

World Wide Woozle episode #666

Welcome back. 

The one on the left was - in the middle, and the one in the middle was - on the right
Did you watch the Super Bowl? After having the amazing experience of attending an NFL game with DJ DJ in late 2024, and the associated research I did prior, I understand a bit more of the game. From an outsider's point of view, the NFL is a spectacle totally made for television. Comparing it to other forms of football, I often reflect that it would be improved with less fluffing around between plays as well as coaching players to be able to tackle and catch. To be fair, it's a sport with a lot of the team having almost no skill other than being able to run into each other. It is also a multi-billion-dollar industry so someone must be enjoying it. The entertainment was amusing to say the least. We had Green Day who either censored themselves (unlikely) or were told which verse of American Idiot wouldn't cut the mustard. Then at halftime there was Bad Bunny, admittedly not my thing, with the requisite not so casual misogyny of a million dancers shaking their rear ends at the camera. My mate DJ DUG alerted me to the fact that the alternative halftime show was live via YouTube. One guy singing about how anything that wasn't old, or that he didn't like wasn't ok, Kid Rock doing half a song, and some cookie cutter country music. Dreadful. Let's hope that the AFL weren't watching. Remember when Prince played at half time? Now that was a show. 

Little River Band – Playing To Win - https://youtu.be/GbtiUrHUhRw

U2, and Blondie, and music still on MTV
Van Halen's album, 5150, was released in 1986. You can shove your David Lee Roth vs Sammy Hagar arguments where the sun doesn't shine. They are both excellent, and very different singers. This was Hagar's first album with the band, and it is an absolute ripper. I was excited to see that we are getting a 40th anniversary version with a whole lot of stuff including the concert, Live Without a Net. Seeing them play Summer Nights was the first time I remember seeing a headless guitar. For a short time, I had one but sold it. Never sell guitars folks, 99% of the time you'll regret it! Live Without a Net was the first VHS concert I owned and now having it available on BluRay will be pretty much worth the price of admission. I better keep an eye out for a deal!

Van Halen – Summer Nights - https://youtu.be/coDVcuVoINU

Across the universe
I remember the excitement in the late 70s that TVNZ managed to create around their broadcast of the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. I know I didn't watch it all the time, but I do have some memories of it and how cool it was. Seeing those Colonial Viper spaceships punch out from the launch tubes was just awesome. Yep, I've watched the more recent version as well, it has its moments. A while ago I was interested to see that Amazon Prime has the original twenty-four episodes available. I've been slowly working my way through them, and it's been a lot of fun. Yes, there are some seriously cheesy moments including the bicycle helmets painted gold, but the overall story generally holds up well. I'm almost at the end and I must say that if you enjoy sci-fi then you should have a look at this. It's a classic for a reason.

Divinyls – Science Fiction - https://youtu.be/AiCv9F_GRBA

My name it is a number, it's on a piece of plastic film
It might be time to consider upgrading the World Wide Woozle computing facilities. This Macbook Air is almost 10 years old and is just starting to slow down. I remember being given it, as a gift, and worrying if I'd enjoy computing on the dark side! I think it's been awesome but now I want to be able to use more up to date music recording software as well as having more than a couple of applications at once. I've discovered that an iPad can be used as a secondary monitor with most recent Mac products which is cool and I think I'll stay on this side of the divide. There may be a new Mac Mini in my future, but, being full of Scots blood, I do like to overthink major purchases!

Petra - Computer Brains - https://youtu.be/HpqCgnq_bAU

Don't need no credit card to ride this train
Nostalgia can be a lot of fun. It's 40 years since the first Back to the Future film was released. I may have mentioned before not being able to justify, or afford, the replica that Gibson has produced of the guitar that Marty plays at the Enchantment Under The Sea dance. Or indeed the specially released Casio calculator watch. So I was happy to find out that my mate Bing has the movies on BluRay and was happy to loan them to me. It really hit me how many pop culture references come from this film as well as how much fun it is. There is also a small LEGO version of the DeLorean which is now sitting in my place. I find LEGO is absolutely excellent for mindfulness as when I'm concentrating on a build, my mind rarely wanders. It seems to be a good tool in training my brain to focus for longer. The only downside is that there is only so much shelf space at HQ World Wide Woozle!

The Ramones – I Don't Wanna Grow Up - https://youtu.be/JtKEvR3qspM

Looking forward, looking back
Goodness me, there's a lot of looking into the past in this episode. I am also looking forwards, but physical limitations mean that a lot of what I might like to plan is on pause. A few months ago, I thought that it was on a permanent stop but now I see some light at the end of the tunnel. It's still a long tunnel, but there is hope. My bike might get to do more than sit in the spare room! There is so much good, new music around if you can wade through the AI slop and overly processed rubbish. For instance, Aussie prog band Karnivool have released their first album in thirteen years, Sleaford Mods have new stuff out, Megadeth's final album has hit the stores, and Meg Mac has a new long player coming in about nine days. It's not the best of times for me, but it's not the worst.

Meg Mac - Outdone - https://youtu.be/Pu73qmFywWo

Please don't forget these playlists that I have available:

• 365 days with the Woozle – Spotify or YouTube - I'm adding a song a day for all of 2026 (I hope)
• World Wide Woozle current listening playlist

Keep smiling,
The Woozle

"This can't go on, I must inform the law
Can this still be real, or just some crazy dream?
But I feel drawn towards the chanting hordes

Seem to mesmerize, can't avoid their eyes"

Iron Maiden, The Number of the Beast, 1984

World Wide Woozle - Albums that matter episode #4

Music fans, stalkers, groovers, here we are again.

Album # 4: The Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray (1992)

In 1992 I had never heard of The Lemonheads other than perhaps their 1989 cover of the Suzanne Vega classic, Luka. It was also a pivotal year in my life for many reasons. I ran away from the Army (I don't recommend this but it worked out in the end), and Alison and I got engaged. 

In the olden days, there were a couple of ways to get exposure to new music. Of course, at this time in Australia, Triple J radio had not long gone national and was essential listening. One could read the local music press which even in the relatively small market of Canberra was a significant influence via the free publication, BMA. Record shops were king, and here it was Impact Records. I spent a lot of time, and money, in this fantastic shop which sold every kind of music imaginable. I'd go in, knowing that two of my idols, Matt and Lucy from Armoured Angel, worked there, but was initially too shy to talk to them. I've only ever purchased two albums on the strength of hearing them playing in a shop. One was Sacred Reich's, The American Way and the other, well, keep reading. Oh, and I had to wait for Sacred Reich to finish on the store CD player because it was the only copy.

In 1991 Impact Records moved away from their original location close to Electric Shadows Cinema and The Terrace Bar. The new spot, in what is now the Civic Bus Interchange, was definitely more central, and larger, and for a while it was awesome until JB HiFi took it over.

Impact Records was fabulous. I remember calling them, from a payphone, during a holiday, to ensure that they would keep a limited edition Metallica box set aside for me. 

One fateful day in 1992 I was in the shop doing one of my favourite things, browsing. I was playing in an indie band by this time and the Canberra music scene was such that you were likely to meet someone you knew and then discuss what they were listening to. On this day, It's A Shame About Ray was playing and I remember being transfixed. Acoustic guitars mixed with a bit of grunge, folky melodies, and the energy. So I bought it and took it home. 

I was excited. No-one I knew had heard of this band and the album was magnificent. Then it happened. They released a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's, Mrs. Robinson, and hit the charts. My version of the album does not have this song on it, they added it a bit later. Suddenly everyone knew about them! We saw them live in March 1993 at the ANU Refectory. They played plenty of songs from the album, but to the crowd's disappointment, not that huge single. And they ended with a wall of noise that took the shine off a good evening.

It's A Shame About Ray was re-released in 2022 and it still stacks up in my opinion. One of my favourite all time lyrics is on this LP; "she's the puzzle piece behind the couch, made the sky complete".

For me, this album is about time and place as much as it is about the music and lyrics. At the time it was the kind of music I wanted to play in a band and we sort of got there with Lovesmudge.

The Lemonheads - Confetti - https://youtu.be/SOiTkEfNAPU

Thanks for reading this,

The Woozle

For those that came in late, the first three episodes are:
AC/DC - Blow Up Your Video
Jason Isbell - Southeastern

The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God