Thanks for waiting

Hi. I just wanted to let you know that I will be returning to blogging soon. I don't really have a lot of extra time these days, but fear not... yer ol' Cap'n will be back with the best vans and album covers and the few odd bits from hither and yon before too long. Talk to you soon!

New arrival!

This morning at 6:52 am we welcomed our new child into the world!

His name is Van Patrick. He is 8lbs 13.2 oz, and 23.5 inches long. He is about 1 hour old in the picture.

HUZZAH!!

WELCOME BACK, POTTER

Enjoy.

Coolest Belt Buckle ever!

I got my new belt buckle the other day I won on eBay. I love it! I had to retire my old one (VW Beetle) as it broke after 15 years. THis is an awesome replacement, and I have wanted one for a long time. Wheels look goofy, but what the hell...

Not a one. Nay nay nay.

ONly Mel Brooks could turn something like the Spanish Inqisition into a Busby Berkley style musicql number complete with synchronized swimming.
THis is one of my favorite movie clips ever, so I thought it would be a good post for a Friday. Enjoy.

Album Covers: After Bathing at Baxter's

Last time I posted a cover by Jefferson Airplane founder Paul Kantner. This time it's a cover by the band itself...Jefferson Airplane. 1967's After Bathing at Baxter's was the follow up to their breakthrough record "Surrealistic Pillow".

After having chart the topping hits "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" the band took a step away from the mainstream and decided to to make an album the way they wanted, and were given full artistic freedom on the record. The result is a album that is fun to listen to as it sprawls all over the place, and captures the experimentalness, and newness of the times. The record executives must have literaly crapped themselves when they heard some of this album like the psychedelic mash-up "A Small Package Of Value Will Come To You Shortly", the piece inspired by Joyce's "Ulysses" titled "ReJoyce" (a track which really showcases the incredible bass playing of Jack Cassady) and the nearly 10 minute instrumental "Spare Chaynge". The album itself is divided up into 'suites', each containing 2 or 3 tracks.
The cover, which depicts the house at Foulton St. where the Jefferson Airplane lived, was done by cartoonist Ron Cobb. He made the house into a most insane flying machine, and from the first time I saw this cover when I was 12, I knew it was something I had to hear. As a result it has been one of my favorite albums, one I have enjoyed for 20 years now, and it still sounds just as exciting to me as it did the first time I heard the feedback intro to "The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil".

Here's a few tracks from the album to enjoy:
Wild Thyme(H)- Jefferson Airplane

Rejoyce- Jefferson Airplane

Also in my Box widget on the side of my blog is the tune "Young Girl Sunday Blues" also from this album.

Watery Tarts

Granted they're not hurling scimitars about, but here are two very beautiful pictures I found over at Shorpy's.

These beautiful pictures were both taken by Toni Frissel. The first is taken in 1947 at Weeki Wachee Springs, FLA, where they have a "mermaid" show. I'd love to make a stop there someday. It was also featured as the cover of "Undercurrent", a 1962 Jazz album by Bill Evans, and Jim Hall. (making this a partial album cover post!)

Shorpy's photo blog is a great site, and I urge you to visit it if you are a fan of vintage photo's. I especially love the old railroad ones on there, but it's just an incredible site overall.
The second, taken in 1939 in the dolphin tank at Marineland in FLA, and was featured in the Oct. issue of that year's 'Vogue' magazine.