Best Driving Music?

Creedence Clearwater Revival

The Concert

1980, Fantasy Records

produced by Russ Gary

John Fogerty - guitars, vocals, harp (harmonica)

Tom Fogerty - guitars, vocals

Stu Cook - bass, vocals

Doug Clifford - drums

Creedence received much radio play on classic rock stations around the time I started buying music for myself. I went to the record store to purchase something that had Fortunate Son on it, and since I had an aversion to "best of" albums at the time (something to do with wanting to seem like a "genuine fan", whatever that meant) I passed on the Chronicles album, which has some of my favorite Creedence songs like Looking Out My Backdoor, and Long as I can See the Light, and instead bought this one.  

Performed and recorded at the Oakland Coliseum in 1970, this show is actually one complete show, unlike some other "live" albums of the late '60s and early '70s that were a mash up of several dates (see Live Dead by the Grateful Dead, Roxy and Elsewhere by Frank Zappa, and Bless Its Pointed Little Head by the Jefferson Airplane, among others).  

I like the sound of this album. Being a live performance, the recording is not so crisp and clean as studio tracks, which is excellent for experiencing the southern roots rock blues sound of one of the pioneers of country and blues inspired rock and roll. Although some of my favorites are not on this set list, all of the tracks are great songs.  

Did it Eat the Basketball? Charlotte Part two

The Charlotte NBA basketball team recently petitioned to rename their team the Hornets, after a team that played there in the '90s but had since moved to New Orleans.  The New Orleans club abandoned the Hornets name and colors before this season.  Since the Hornet mascot is unused, and far more suited for a team in the famous Hornets Nest of the American Revolution, the club was granted the requested rebranding.

Next of course came debates about what the new rebrand would look like.  The club chose to use colors from the past (teal and purple), but there had been no consensus as to the logo.  I wrote about concepts in an earlier post, which took research of the highest caliber.  I came out of that surprised to discover how many people were fond of (truly loved) the old "Hugo" logo.  In my opinion it may actually be the worst logo in modern sports (the last 30 years).  It is a minor league mascot at best, a cartoon worthy of the Kid's Corner fan club, and yet it was the primary logo of two major sports clubs.  So, I am happy to see it (finally) retired, and relegated to throwback nights and nostalgic fans.

The other day, the Charlotte Bobcat/Hornets released their new primary logo, which is below.  While it is definitely an improvement over Hugo, it is still pretty frustrating.  I'm sure seeing it for yourself will tell you why.  Also, the title of this post is a pretty good clue.  According to press releases that accompanied the release of the logos, the club seemed pretty committed to not only including a basketball into the logo, but making said basketball part of the insect.

primary

secondary logo

mascot logo

On my Fascination with Insects: Part Two

I found one of these guys on my walk the other day.  I had thought they were mostly a southern North America thing, but apparently mole crickets can be found on every continent but Antarctica.  In Australia they have an arch enemy, the Blue Ant wasp, which uses the mole cricket as food for its larva.  The Blue Ant is actually far more interesting, but I didn't come across one of those.  This particular mole cricket is the Gryllotalpa Monanka, found in North America.  It is also known as the Dark Night Mole Cricket, which is actually the coolest thing about this particular insect, aside from the fact that it looks horrifying.

The mole cricket usually is a subterranean species, which means it isn't seen very often above ground.  So, I guess I was pretty lucky to see it in the first place.  My picture isn't very good, for example, you can't tell that this thing is nearly two inches long.  Also, its front legs aren't visible, and they are pretty cool looking; hooked and claw-like for tunneling.

Back to Charlotte

 To expand on my other logo design posts, the Charlotte Bobcats (i.e. worst expansion team in the history of the NBA) will be allowed to change their name to the Hornets after this season, as that name was abandoned by the New Orleans club.  This makes perfect sense for a team that has struggled for identity since it's debut in 2004.  The original Hornets franchise left Charlotte in 2002 for New Orleans, and although the city of Charlotte was awarded a new franchise, the fan base hasn't been the same.

So, the Hornets will return to Charlotte next year.  The club has already pledged to bring back the original teal and purple colors.  The question I have is whether the club will use a new logo, or just bring back the old cartoon logo used by the original Charlotte Hornets, and then by the New Orleans Hornets.  Just in case everyone forgot... the old logo looks like this:

The hornet's name is Hugo, and he looks a little jittery.  Too many sodas, perhaps?  I hate logos like this for professional teams.  It's the mascot.  The Red Sox don't have a picture of Wally the Green Monster as a primary logo.  Minor league teams have cartoony logos like this.  Worst logo in NBA history?  probably.  I'm glad it's currently retired.  

Here are some concepts that I consider far more respectable and professional for a major league club: 

vote here

a more abstract hornet that has more of an insect-like vibe as opposed to a saturday morning disney cartoon from thje '90s feel.  This one also alludes to a representation of the basketball without actually showing a basketball.

source

This is part of a concept that promotes the use of the old logo as a primary, and this logo as a secondary, and patch.  However, I think it would do nicely as a primary.  It bridges the old Bobcats identity with the new Hornets rename and colors.  

full concept

Hornets are pretty difficult for designers to do without looking like comic books, apparently.  But if the club really felt it necessary to have a logo that sells to children, then I'd rather go with this modernized and toughened up hornet.  He's sleeker and dangerous looking, and not as minor league as Hugo.

original

This is another one from a bigger concept that focuses on the Hugo logo.  Also pitched as a secondary and patch, the honey comb shape idea is intriguing, even though hornets don't make honey.  But it is a departure from the circle logos used by everyone else.  

99 Designs submission

99 Designs showcases design contests.  This one is from designer Eren G.  Also submitted was the same design with an orange basketball replacing the purple one above.  The design concept incorporates the Queen City and Hornets Nest nicknames for Charlotte and puts to rest the ridiculous Hugo logo, replacing it with an elegant insect design that can be taken seriously, and still appeal to children.  Best design so far, sure.

Of course, they could revert back to the true original logo, used only for the 1988 draft.  It is similar to the Canadien's red and white Canadian Hockey logo, but I think it is different enough to not have to worry about copyright infringement or brand confusion.  The original original logo looked like this: 

It's a Mania!

The Beatles

(White Album)

1968 Apple

produced by George Martin, Chris Thomas

John Lennon - guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards, percussion, harmonica, saxophone

Paul McCartney - bass, guitars, vocals, keyboards, percussion, flugle horn

George Harrison - guitars, bass, vocals, organ, percussion

Ringo Starr - drums, percussion, piano, vocals

singles:

• Hey Jude/Revolution
• Ob la Di Ob la Da/While my Guitar Gently Weeps

This may not be the "best" Beatles album, but it may be my favorite. The diversity in this project is incredible. It has rock n roll, it has the blues, it has folk and country, and big band. Apparently the turmoil in the band caused all four member to create individually, as infighting led to seclusion. Ringo even quit the band for quite some time during the sessions. 16 of the 30 tracks actually featured all four members. Much like Jefferson Airplane's live performances later in their career, this album brings some of the best of the band's material because it is created in such dischord and chaos.

Being a double album, there are many songs to experience. This particular album has many of my favorite Beatles songs such as While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Rocky Racoon, Happiness is a Warm Gun, Black Bird, Why Don't we do it in the Road, and Helter Skelter.