T PITIES; “TA,” JEWELS

Mr. T is giving up his gold, out of respect for Katrina’s victims.

“As a spiritual man, I felt it would be a sin against my God for me to wear all that gold again...”



[...]

The former star of “The A-Team” said he’s about more than his rough-and-tough image.

“Yes, I am qualified to beat people up. But I am pretty intelligent,” he said. “That’s what throws people off. If you’ve been through something, that gives you an authority that you can speak on certain things. That’s why people relate to me. I pull no punches.”

Due to the aforementioned qualifications, mind you.

Me, I’m still on my learner’s permit.

Today's FOCR: "Fat Gold Chain," Schoolly D, Best of Schoolly D

[Non-iTunes]

Friday’s Five O'Clock Rock (a bit late)

Begetter late than never.

“Cat's in the Cradle,” Ugly Kid Joe
”Surrender,” Cheap Trick
(#) “Dancin' Papa,” The Kleptones
“Papa Was Too,” Joe Tex
“Someday Never Comes,” Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More,” Steely Dan
“Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 1,” Pink Floyd
“Mama and Papa,” Supergrass
“Dear Father,” Yes
“Kooks,” David Bowie
“Memo to My Son,” Randy Newman
(#) “Daughter, You're Still Your Daddy's Child,” Carla Thomas
(#) “Your Daddy Loves You,” Gil Scott-Heron
“Papa Was a Rodeo,” The Magnetic Fields
“Father and Son,” Johnny Cash & Fiona Apple
“Cheerios on the Floor,” Black Eyed Snakes

This Friday's iMix: The Old Block
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Wouldn’t it just go great right now?

“Hello, I Love You,” The Doors
“Wednesday,” Drive-By Truckers
“Valentine,” The Replacements
“Go With the Flow,” Queens Of The Stone Age
“Rock 'n' Roll,” The Sounds
“Can I Get Down 1x,” Coolio
“Popsicle,” Talking Heads
“The You I Created,” Of Montreal
“Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues),” Three Dog Night
“Build a Levee,” Natalie Merchant
“Like Suicide,” Soundgarden
“From the Heart Down,” The Pretenders
“Theme to Pinata,” Bright Eyes
(#) “Something Sweet,” Run On
“Come Over Here,” Sarah Bettens
“Sock It to Me, Baby!” Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

This Friday's iMix: Something Sweet
(#) = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

From the land of Lakes ‘n Lakes.

”Kids Don't Follow,” The Replacements
# “Chemistry Set,” The Suburbs
“Ship Of Fools,” Soul Asylum
“Toolmaster Of Brainerd,” Trip Shakespeare
# “Love Is All Around,” Husker Du
“Empire Builder,” Mason Jennings
# “Ballad of the Opening Band,” Slim Dunlap
“All The Rock Star Jobs Are Taken,” Dylan Hicks
“I Remember Romance,” The Flamin' Oh's
“Red Dye No. 40,” Honeydogs
# “Cowbell,” Tapes 'n Tapes
“The Land of Clear Blue Radio,” The Soviettes
# “Pink Turns To Blue,” The Blue Up?
“Funkytown,” Lipps, Inc.
“Cry 4 Help,” Har Mar Superstar
“Hot Thing,” Prince
“Something For Nothing,” Heiruspecs
“Safety In Speed (Heavy Metal),’ P.O.S. (feat. Craig Finn)
“Always Coming Back Home To You,” Atmosphere
# “Minnesota,” Northern Light

This Friday's iMix: Duck Duck Grey Duck
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

That's My Boycott

Unfortunately, it is impossible for me to skip work today. So I can't participate in today's Day Without Immigrants. However, I can do the next best thing and initiate the Day Without Foreign Words.

For one day, this Day Without Foreign Words, I shall struggle to write and talk using only bland American English words. By doing so, I will highlight how people from other countries have enriched America and its language throughout our history.

I urge you to join me in this effort. Today, we can honor the struggle and the enterprise of our compadres by...

Oh, merde on a baton rouge.

Today's FOCR: "Wooly Bully," Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs

Today's Five O'Clock Rock is a repeat of sorts.

Taxes and travel have kept me from squeezing out the rock for the past couple of weeks. I have been, shall we say, a bit rockstipated.

However, I do have a mix that is somewhat timely today. As of this week, we now have fewer than a thousand days left of the Best President Ever.

Protracted war. Nuclear threats. Rage in the Middle East. Soaring gas prices. Abuse of the Constitution. Improvised presidential powers. Surveillance of the citizenry. This guy. That guy. Hell, they're as great today as they were back in 1972.

At least these songs are, too.

"Political Science," Randy Newman
"Hercules," Aaron Neville
"Things Could Be Better," Ernie & the Top Notes
# "The Lonesomest Lonesome," Mac Davis
# "It's Alright To Cry," Rosie Grier
# "Poor Make-Believer," Brook Benton
"Little Ghetto Boy," Donny Hathaway
"Torn & Frayed," The Rolling Stones
"99 Year Blues," Hot Tuna
"The Breakdown," Rufus Thomas
"Baby Let Me Kiss You," King Floyd
# "That's Understanding," Tami Lynn
"You and Me," The Stylistics
"Les Fleur," Minnie Riperton
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)," Looking Glass
"Mellow," Elton John
"Place To Be," Nick Drake
"Water Song," Hot Tuna
"Tryin' Times," Roberta Flack

This Friday's iMix: 1972: Damn Straight
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

No Lackawanna here...

“I Wanna Rock,” Twisted Sister
“I Wanna Be Sedated,” The Ramones
# “I Wanna Know About You,” The International Noise Conspiracy
# “I Wanna Be,” Fu Manchu
“I Wanna Be Your Dog,” Stereophonics
“I Wanna Make It Wit Chu,” Desert Sessions
“I Wanna Make It Alright,” Paul Weller
“I Wanna Be Your Pants,” Huffamoose
“I Wanna Know Girls,” Portastatic
“I Wanna Be Your Lover,” Prince
“I Wanna Dance With You,” Nathaniel Mayer
“I Wanna Be Like You,” Pizzicato Five
“I Wanna Get High,” Cypress Hill
“I Wanna Be Committed,” Sweet
“I Wanna Drive You Home,” ZZ Top
# “I Wanna Live,” Nashville West
“I Wanna Die,” Jolie Holland
# “I Wanna Roo You,” Goldie Hawn
“I Just Wanna Stop,” Gino Vannelli

This Friday's iMix: Merely Wanna
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Why, yes, my refrigerator is running. Why do you ask?

"Chain of Fools," Paul Revere & The Raiders
"You're Fooling You," The Dramatics
# "Schoolin' And Foolin'," Don Julian and the Larks
"A Fool in Love," The Levon Helm Band
"Ship of Fools," World Party
"Like A Fool," Superchunk
"When I Was A Fool," Concrete Blonde
"King of Fools," Social Distortion
# "Fools Gold," Rachel Sweet
"What Kind of Fool Am I?" Rick Springfield
"River of Fools," Los Lobos
"Fool," Cat Power
"Who Will the Next Fool Be," Charlie Rich
"Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You," Wilson Pickett
"My Foolish Heart," The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group
"Genitalia Of A Fool," Glenn Tilbrook
"Sentimental Fool," Lloyd Cole
"Only A Fool Would Say That," Ivy
"Fools Gold," The Stone Roses

This Friday's iMix: Fool Frontal
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Once upon a time, they were "funky" and "caused dancing," before they were "carriers" and "caused fleeing"...

"Chicken Payback," A Band Of Bees
"Mansize Rooster," Supergrass
”Chicken Little Was Right," The Turtles
# "Finger Licking Chicken," The Radars
# "The Hen (Pt. 1)," Louis Chachere
# "Crazy Chicken," Graham Central Station
"Do the Funky Chicken," Rufus Thomas
"Chicken Pox," Booker T. & The M.G.'s
"Memphis Women and Chicken," Dan Penn
"Chicken Shack," Charlie Musselwhite
"Chicken Shake," Stereo MC's
"Chicken," Devendra Banhart
"Chicken Grease," D'Angelo
"How Funky Is Your Chicken," Jackson 5
# "White Feathers In The Coop," Dan Del Santo
"Sweet Rhode Island Red," Ike & Tina Turner
"Egg Man," The Beastie Boys
"A Chicken with Its Head Cut Off," The Magnetic Fields
"Chicken Talk," Yma Sumac

This Friday's iMix: Chicken!
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's** Five O'Clock O'Rock

It might backfire, but will nevertheless aspire.

“On Fire,” Van Halen
“Sultans Of Swing,” Dire Straits
“The Daze,” Backyard Tire Fire
“Let's Groove,” Earth Wind & Fire
“Desire,” En Vogue
“Vampire,” Black Uhuru
“Yellow Sapphire,” Smoke & Mirrors
# “Light My Fire,” Astrud Gilberto
“Ire,” The Strawberry Smell
“No Cars Go,” Arcade Fire
“The Queen of Ur and the King of Um,” Wire
“Spitfire,” The Spinanes
“Hotwire,” The Flesh Eaters
“Misfire,” Neko Case & Her Boyfriends
“Haywire,” The Jayhawks
“Backfire,” Aimee Mann
“Tonight I Will Retire,” Damien Jurado
“Concrete and Barbed Wire,” Lucinda Williams
“Goodnight Irene,” Bryan Ferry

This Friday's iMix: Ire Land
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

** To be more exact, "Yesterday's." This week's installment was delayed due to conceptual difficulties. I mean, how would YOU spell "My Kind of Lover" musician Billy Sq____? Well, me too, until about 4:55 PM.

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

You've got something on your lip. Right... there.

"Look at This Face (Oh My God They're Gorgeous)," Handsome Boy Modeling School
"Roller Derby Queen," Jim Croce
"Disco Lady," Johnnie Taylor
"Disco Boy," Frank Zappa
"Stuck on You," Lionel Richie
"Reconsider Me," Narvel Felts
"Up From The Skies," Jimi Hendrix Experience
"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)," Hall & Oates
"Just One More Day," Otis Redding
"The Other Woman," Ray Parker, Jr.
"Don't Look Back," Boston
"Stay Clean," Motorhead
"Cowboy Movie," David Crosby
"Sold American," Kinky Friedman
"Te Na Na (Mama's Got a Baby Named)," Leon Redbone
"I Wish," Stevie Wonder
# "Jeopardy!" (theme from the TV show)
"Atlantic City (My Old Friend)," Robert Goulet
"Lydia The Tattoed Lady," Groucho Marx

This Friday's iMix: Mustache Day
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

(SNORT) Hoo-huh-wha?!

"Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night," The Hold Steady
"Sleepwalk Capsules," At The Drive-In
"Sleepless Night," King Diamond
"Sleepy Vampire," Supersuckers
"Fear of Sleep," The Strokes
"You Can't Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)," the Go-Go's
# "Restless," Cobras
"Sleepless," Rick Derringer
"Sleepless Night," The Kinks
"I Don't Sleep, I Dream", R.E.M.
"I Can't Go to Sleep," Wu-Tang Clan
"Tired Out," Buck 65
"Sleepwalkin',"Tom Verlaine
"Sleepless," Soul Coughing
# "I'm So Tired," the Beatles
"Tired Eyes," Neil Young
"We'll Never Sleep (God Knows We'll Try)," Rilo Kiley
"Sleepy California," Her Space Holiday
"Enter Sandman," Pat Boone

This Friday's iMix: OMG IM SFT
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

No other place like it. Now or ever.

"Native Stepson," Sonny Landreth
"Hot Tamale Baby," Buckwheat Zydeco
"Something's Wrong With This Picture," Galactic
# "Stretch Your Rubber Band," The Meters
# "Here Come the Girls," Ernie K-Doe
# "She's Taking My Part," Irma Thomas
# "Check Your Bucket," Eddie Bo
"I've Been So Lonely," Cookie & The Cupcakes
"Walking To New Orleans," Fats Domino
# "My Darlin' New Orleans," Lil’ Queenie & The Percolators
# "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further," Lee Dorsey
"On Your Way Down," Allen Toussaint

This Friday's iMix: Do You Know What It Means...?
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes.)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

I cannot tell a lie. This one was a rush job before the long weekend. But it's still cherry.

"Don't Lie to Me," Big Star
# "Love is Lies," the Buzzcocks
"I Can Tell (When You're Telling Me Lies)," John Wesley Harding
"Lyin' Eyes," the Eagles
"What a Fool Believes," the Doobie Brothers
"Lies," J.J. Cale
"Lie Like a Rug," Kix
"You Lie," the Muffs
"Was It a Lie?" Sleater-Kinney
"That's a Lie," Too Much Joy
"Liar," Rollins Band
# "To Tell the Truth" (Theme from the TV Game Show)

This Friday's iMix: I Can't Not Tell a Lie
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Here's how I roll.

"Seven Nation Army," The White Stripes
"Ten Year Plan," Therapy?
"Seven Day Weekend," New York Dolls
"Ten Lbs.," The Delta 72
"Seven Seas of Rhye," Queen
"Ten Percenter," Frank Black
"Seven Seas," Echo and The Bunnymen
"Ten to One," The Bats
"Seven," David Bowie
"Ten Men," Morcheeba
"Seven Long Years," The Guess Who
"Ten O'Clock," ? & The Mysterians

Then straight into the gutter.

This Friday's iMix: Seven-Ten Split

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

The big game calls for a D12-pack.

“High School,” MC5
“Down On The Street,” The Stooges
“Meet the Creeper,” Destroy All Monsters
“Mesmerizer,” The Come Ons
“Hey Sailor,” Detroit Cobras
“C'mon C'mon,” The Von Bondies
“Eat This City,” Thunderbirds Are Now!
“Dance Commander,” Electric Six
“Livin' for the City,” The Dirtbombs
“Hey Baby,” Ted Nugent
“Life In the D,” Brendan Benson
“I'm Bound to Pack it Up,” The White Stripes

This Friday's iMix: D-fense!

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

"Gimme My Mule," The Commodores
"Give Me Some Skin," James Brown
"Gimme What You Got," Keb' Mo'
"Give Me the Night," Randy Crawford
"Gimme Shelter," Merry Clayton #
"Give It to Me Baby," Rick James
"Gimme One of Those," The Brand New Heavies
"Give It to Me Two Times," Anders Osborne
"Give Me a Kiss," Van Morrison
"Give Me an Inch," Robert Palmer
"Give Me Strength," Eric Clapton
"Gimme a Pigfoot," LaVern Baker
"Gimme Some of That Yum Yum Yum," Johnnie Temple

This Friday's iMix: I've Got Needs
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock(s)

"Somebody Get Me a Doctor," Van Halen
"Calling Dr. Love," Kiss
"Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)", Robert Palmer
"Dr. Feelgood," Mötley Crüe
"The Doctor Is Calling," Megadeth
”I'm the Doctor," Motörhead
"Doctor Doctor," UFO
"Doctor, Doctor," The Who
"Dear Doctor," The Rolling Stones
"Doctor Wu," Steely Dan
"Doctor My Eyes," Jackson Browne
"Call the Doctor," J.J. Cale

This Friday's iMix: Five O'Clock Doc

And because it's been a long time, there was too much rock for just one twelve-pack:

"Bad Medicine," Bon Jovi
"Gimme Stitches," Foo Fighters
"Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine," The White Stripes
"National Health," The Kinks
"Hospital Bed," Ben Kweller
"Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out," The Replacements
"Sick and Tired," Alex Chilton
"Night Nurse," Gregory Isaacs
"Medicine Show," Big Audio Dynamite
"Anna Stesia," Prince #
"Emergency," Kool & The Gang
"Mr. Ambulance Driver," The Flaming Lips

This Friday's other iMix: Five O'Clock Doc 2: The Quackening
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

"Everybody, Everybody," Homestar Runner #
"Working for the Weekend," Loverboy
"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35," Bob Dylan #
"Hungry Heart," Bruce Springsteen
"Heartache Tonight," The Eagles #
"I've Got a Feeling," The Beatles #
"C'mon Everybody," Humble Pie
"Everybody Wants You," Billy Squier
"Everybody Wants Some!!" Van Halen
"Truth Hits Everybody," The Police
"Everybody Knows," Leonard Cohen
"Everyone's Gone to the Movies," Steely Dan
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World," Tears for Fears
"Everybody's My Friend," Kansas
"Everybody to the Limit," Homestar Runner #

This Friday's iMix: Everybody, Everybody
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

"Quest for Fire," Iron Maiden
"Lost In America (Live Version)," Alice Cooper
"Some Kind of Wonderful," Grand Funk Railroad
"Colors," Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes
"Strange Brew," Cream
"Running On Empty," Jackson Browne
"Fame," David Bowie
"Tightrope," Stevie Ray Vaughan
"Firestarter," .38 Special
"Back to School," Ace Frehley
"No Way Out," Electric Light Orchestra
"All the Right Moves," David Hasselhoff

This Friday's iMix: Yellowed VHS Cases