Happy 75th Birthday John Fogerty

Just want to take a quick second to recognize the 75th birthday of musician John Fogerty. We are mostly baseball here but we are also dabble in pop culture. Occasionally these two interests intersect.

John Fogerty "Centerfield" (1984)

What baseball fan is not familiar with the title cut from John Fogerty's 1984 Album "Centerfield". Blogger doesn't like the single word spelling but I do - strictly based off of Fogerty's use of it on this album cover. Everything about it is beautiful, the Beat Up Glove, the Baseball Style lettering and the classic tone.

"Centerfield" is such an iconic piece of Fogerty's catalog that he had a custom guitar made just for the song:

"Slugger" 

The guitar was on display when I last visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. If you expand the photo you can read the display card that credits Philip Kubicki as the craftsman who created the guitar which is named Slugger. 

Happy Birthday to Musician and Baseball Fan John Fogerty

Sources & Links
VittlesTunes

discogs - Centerfield 
imdb
Kubicki - Factor

Bucket or Chuck-it: Team Phungo on the Road - Scotland, Manchester, Liverpool

You may have noticed there hasn't been a post here in a few weeks, that is because Team Phungo has been abroad travelling across the United Kingdom.  We were fortunate enoughed to be invited to a friends Wedding in a castle outside the Scottish town of Stirling. It was a great idea and a good time was had by all involved.

Bucket or Chuck-It

BuckChuck is yet another attempt at a review feature I want to add to Phungo.  Bucket refers to something being bucket list worthy, while Chuck-It is the opposite - stuff that really doesn't need to be on your bucket list (something like building a full 660 Topps Wal-Mart Paralllel set)

To start of BuckChuck I am going to look at our trip to the UK - I hope to return to some of these items in more detail eventually but who knows

Scotland
Inverness - Bucket - cool little down on northern tip of Loch Ness, appears to have a vibrant night life.

2013 05 25 Loch Ness Sunset (10:23 pm)

Loch Ness - Bucket - I don't know any of my European Geography, but this lake is huge, there is also a significant cool factor in checking out the home of an iconic real or mythical creature.
Nessie Shops - Chuck-It - stuff for the amatuer tourist.
Highland Club, Ft Augustus - Bucket - Monastary on the bottom side of the lake.  Rented out a few suites with friends and had a great time.
Glascow - Bucket - like Inverness a lively town with a decent music scene and some noteworthy cultural landmarks
Stirling Castle - Meh - Ok I am adding a third category, Meh.  Stirling Castle is interesting but I don't think it is necessary.  Regardless an enjoyable afternoon can be spent in Stirling
Weather - Meh - mixed a little colder and ranier then I would of liked

England
Manchester - Bucket - great town. I have no concept of how bit Manchester is, but it had entertainment value that rivals a town the size of Philadelphia.

Cavern Club with John Lennon Statue - 2013 06 01

Liverpool - Bucket - All Beatles all the time. Had a great afternoon here checking in on the early haunts of the fab four

Travel
Destination Wedding Europe - BUCKET and BOTTLE IT - if you have the resources and are fortunate enough to get invited to a Dstination Wedding, I strongly urge you to consider it.  
Driving in the UK - Chuck-It. Other side of the road, Shifting w/ the left hand, and roundabouts, it is the hat trick of driving hassles
UK Gas Prices - Chuck-It - 1.33/Litre - Dothe math and you will find out that petrol here is practically free
GPS in the UK - Bucket - If your driving I highly recomend it, and check out how your insurance works when travelling abroad.
UK via train - Bucket - great scenery, efficient, care free
Citizen M Hotel - Bucket - rooms may seem a bit tight to some but staying in these newer Eurostyle hotels was pretty cool.
Vittles Scotland/UK - Bucket - with a little resarch there is a lot of intersting stuff to find here. Big Bonus big push for everything natural/organic
Libations Scotland/UK - Bucket - they have ALWAYS craft beer here
Sundays in Europe - Chuck It - I can never figure out what places are going to be open on a Sunday when travelling abroad.  Most of this is ok, except figuring out the whole eating thing.
US Airways - Meh - Didn't have an issue this time through, but they how me for to many shoddy experiences in the past - they were adequate.  
Jet Lag - Bucket - Parts of Scotland are as far north as Alaska - the sunset goes on forever and twilight remains till near 11 pm.

Movies - When travelling I get to see a lot of stuff I may not ever watch otherwise....
This is 40 - Bucket - good enough or an inflight movie - and cameos Philadelphia Flyer Scottie Hartnall.
Identity Thief - Chuck-it - not even good enough for inflight
Jeff who lives at home - Chuck-it - not good anytime ever
Spies Lies and Naked Thighs - Meh - Late 80s Harry Anderson/Ed Begley Jr Vehicle - this was pretty bad and we didn't make it thru the whole movie but it may have some unintentional humour.
New Girl reruns - Bucket - show is better than I had thought originally

Trading Cards - Unknown - but I got a few packs of stickers (UEFA I think) and we will be checking them out.

Hope to get some more pix up and more details on the above eventually.  Had a great time abroad, but am glad to be back home.




 

1975 Topps Rocks at Rolling Stone!

Author, Music Reporter, and Baseball Fan Dan Epstein is hosting an interesting feature on the Rolling Stone Magazine website revolving around Baseball's Great Questions.  

Each installment features a inquiry or subject for which several Pop/Rock musicians comment upon.  The panel of musical artist varies a bit in age, peak era, and musical significance.  but they do have some things in common they all appear to be good baseball fans and all are male. 

The column is called "High and Tight" for more background click here.

Of interest to card collectors is that each panelist is also portrayed on a  "card" inspired by the 1975 Topps design.  On the heels of our visit with Night Owl Cards, I think it is very appropriate to have a  post referencing 1975 Topps since NOC did such a great job chronicling the set.

 

 

Faux 1975 Topps George Thorogood. 

I am not real familiar with about half of the musicians, but there were a few that were on my radar.  None of the Musicians on the panel represent the Phillies.  I am a bit miffed that Delawarean George Thorogood is a Mets fan.  

As noted above there is a variety of musicians are part of the feature.  There are a variety of subjects covered,  All-Star Games, Pitch Counts, No-Hitters, Memorabilia, and Opening Day are among the items that have been discussed.  Really it is pretty similar to the old Blog Bat Arounds,

Here are some of the cards for musicians that I recognize to some degree.  Some younger or hipper folks may know a few of the other artists.  There are about a dozen contributors.

Faux 1975 Topps Pete Yorn

Yorn covered a song for the Warren Zevon tribute album "Enjoy Every Sandwhich" 

Faux 1975 Topps Steve Earle

the man who gave us Copperhead Row,

Faux 1975 Topps Steve Wynn 

Wynn leads an outfit called The Baseball Project that has put together a couple of fun albums composed of nothing but baseball related songs. 

To check out the complete set of 75 Topps Rockers check out High and Tight.

A new MNF theme song??

As you may know, Monday Night Football has dropped Hank Williams Jr as their pitch-person for their opening credits.
 

This has created an opening that I would love to see filled by one of my favorite songwriters.
 

Prior to his solo career Steve Poltz fronted the Rugburns, a lively bar band based out of San Diego.  One of their tunes was an energetic rocker named "Football Tonight"

Poltz along with DMC of Run-DMC have re-recordes the Rugburns song with a modified lyric in the hopes of getting the MNF gig.  Here is a Link for more information on the song.
 

1988 Topps #596 John Kruk (signed by Steve Poltz)  

You may know Poltz from his song "You Were Meant for Me" which was recorded by Jewel in 1996.  Baseball is a bit of recurring theme in Poltz's music - His first solo album included the song "Silver Lining" which mentions Phillies and Padres Alum John Kruk.  One of his lesser know songs "Brief History of My Life" is an homage to a childhood spent listening to both music and baseball on the radio - Poltz mentions Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell, Jack Buck, and Jerry Coleman in the Song.
 

Poltz also counts one time Padres Infielder Tim Flannery (who also now records and performs music during the off-season) as one of his friends.
  

If you like the song, Steve Poltz, the Rugburns, or DMC spread the word - Anytime I have seen either Mr Poltz or the Rugburns they had great shows, and always good enough to hang out and chat with after the shows. 

VittlesTunes

This is an Index of our Music and Concerts Related Postings

1993 Collect-A-Card American Bandstand #98 Devo

Concerts and Tickets
Dewey Beach Music Conference 2008
Performance for the Planet (Earth Day 1990)


The Grateful Dead - RFK Stadium 1993 06 26 (Dead Farewell Posting)
Jerry Garcia Band - The Spectrum 1993 11 16 (Dead Farewell)
Jim's Big Ego - Milkboy Coffee 2009 01 24
Nila Kay - Milkboy Acoustic Cafe 2009 02 21
Erin McKeown - Ardmore Music Hall 2013 12 04
Phish - HersheyPark Stadium 2009 09 15 (Dead Farewell)  
Steve Poltz - Ardmore Music Hall 2014 10 18
Prince - Wachovia Center 2004 08 23
Lou Reed - DAR Constitution Hall 1992 05 16
the Rolling Stones - 1st Mariner Arena 2006 02 01


Cards & Profiles 
Dick Clark
Bob Casale  - Devo
Bob Dylan (Nobel Prize Award/1963-2003 Topps Custom)
John Fogerty (75th Birthday / Centerfield)
Hall and Oates
Bruce Hornsby
BB King
Live Aid
Ray Manzarek 
Paul Revere and the Raiders
Paul Simon (75th Birthday / guest card = Joe DiMaggio)
Ringo Starr
The Sounds of Music
Rolling Stone Cards that Never Were (Pete Yorn, Thorogood, Steve Earle, Steve Wynn)

Chorus: Music cards on other blogs

Chronicles of Fuji - A fun review of the American Bandstand Set.  
Dime Boxes - Mikes Music Pantheon Series 1

Philadelphia Area Music Links

Waykool Music - Hake and Jarema, Bender and others
John and Dave

XPN Concert Calendar

Rusty Nail
Milkboy Coffee
Steel City Coffeehouse

Phillie Phanatic Boogies!!!

Phils are enjoying a few days off before Starting the Playoff Push on Wednesday. This is another related music post -- check out the Phanatic letting his hair down. Stay with it, the Phanatic doesn't come in until the 2:50 mark.

I love this - The guy with the biggest feet in the room dancing around with "Little Feat"

Go Phils!