Tonight, a few songs from Social Distortion’s self titled third album.
A quarter of a century ago, punk firebrands Social Distortion modded out their sound with country swagger and rock & roll looseness on their influential self-titled, major-label debut. Songs like “Story of My Life,” “Ball and Chain” and “It Could Have Been Me” found bandleader Mike Ness parsing past relationships and abandoned addictions, while the group’s cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” showed how far they were willing to push. The risk earned Social Distortion a gold plaque from the RIAA and their first record on the Billboard chart. — Rolling Stone
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So Far Away [1990]
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What was going on in your life around the time you wrote this record?
I was still early in recovery, so I was reflecting on almost going to prison, almost dying, my drug use. And then at the same time, I was realizing all of the things I liked in my life: cars, old music, tattoos and motorcycles. It was just wanting to express that.
How autobiographical was "Story of My Life"?
One hundred percent. But what I didn’t know when I was writing it was that it was also universal. I don’t know how but I captured a simple human emotion in a song that is universally relatable. I try to write songs like that today, but it doesn’t come around that often. — Rolling Stone interview
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Story Of My Life [1990]
(there’s a bit of flashing in this video — beware)
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Story of my life
Well high school seemed like such a blur
I didn't have much interest in sports or school elections
And in class I dreamed all day 'bout a rock 'n' roll weekend
And the girl in the front of the room
So close yet so far you know she never seemed to notice
That this silly schoolboy crush wasn't just pretend
Life goes by so fast
You only wanna do what you think is right
Close your eyes and it's past
Story of my life
And I went down to my old neighborhood
The faces have all changed, there's no one there left to talk to
And the pool hall I loved as a kid is now a 7-11
And I went downtown to look for a job
I had no training, no experience to speak of
And I looked at the holes in my jeans
And I turned and headed back
Life goes by so fast
You only wanna do what you think is right
Close your eyes and it's past
Story of my life
Yeah, good times come and good times go
I only wish the good times would last a little longer
I think about the good times we had
And why they had to end
So I sit at the edge of my bed
I strum my guitar and I sing an outlaw love song
Thinkin' 'bout what you're doin' now
And when you're comin' back
Life goes by so fast
You only wanna do what you think is right
Close your eyes and it's past
Story of my life
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Ball And Chain [1990]
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WHO’S TALKING TO WHO?
Jimmy Kimmel: Larry David, David Chang, Phoebe Bridgers (R 10/12/21)
Jimmy Fallon: Maluma, Michael Gandolfini, Givēon (R 9/29/21)
Stephen Colbert: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya
Seth Meyers: Colin Jost, Michael Gandolfini, Nick Baglio (R 9/30/21)
James Corden: Larry David, Coldplay
Trevor Noah: Michael Pollan
SPOILER WARNING
A late night gathering for non serious palaver that does not speak of that night’s show. Posting a spoiler will get you brollywhacked. You don’t want that to happen to you. It's a fate worse than a fate worse than death.
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Think we’ll have more Cramps rockabilly next week for Halloween too.
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The Cramps :: What’s Inside A Girl [1986]
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LAST WEEK’S POLL: CLUE (GAME) ROOM
Ballroom 0% 0 votes
Billiard Room 15% 2 votes
Conservatory 46% 6 votes
Dining Room 0% 0 votes
Hall 0% 0 votes
Kitchen 0% 0 votes
Library 8% 1 vote
Lounge 23% 3 votes
Study 8% 1 vote
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Collectively, we SAY IT WAS...
Miss Scarlett with the Candlestick in the Conservatory.
PICKS
NCAA: Grizzz, tOSU, Oregon, Ole Mizzz, Air Force (embrace the Mountain West chaos)
NFL: KC, ATL, BLT, Ramzzz, Naptown (Indy)
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The Epoxies (featuring Roxy Epoxy) from Portland. Part of the Pacific Northwest new, new wave spirit of the early aughts. The Epoxies, the Briefs, the Spits and others. A lot of it released by Portland’s Dirtnap Records. Good stuff!
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The Epoxies :: Need More Time [2002]
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