Trying Not to Murder the Cat While Listening to Gospel Music

My cat Heather, the H Bomb, has had a bad week. First, she ate part of a lilly and got really sick for a few days. This, plus several extra nightshifts (and a night out of town) kept me from giving her usual amounts of insulin shots--thus her diabetes has been acting up. And you know what that means: peeing on the bed. So, early this morning at 1:30 I had to wash the bedding. Didn't get to sleep until 3 a.m. Then, when I got home feeling exhausted from work, I discovered that she'd done it again. But my neighbors in the building are using the washer and dryer. Super annoying! Ah, the joys of aging cat ownership.

Anyway, it's probably good that I'm listening to a collection of gospel quartets from New Orleans called sensibly enough, New Orleans Gospel Quartets 1947-1956. Good stuff, man. I love African-American gospel quartets from this time period. I'll be spinning quite a few of them on vinyl over the next few days.

Concidentally, on CD I recently listened to a Dixie Hummingbirds' compilation called Move On Up a Little Higher. Their rendition of "Get Away Jordan" is sublime. One of the best gospel groups ever.

Also on CD: Eric Dolphy's Iron Man. A moving version of "Come Sunday" and a stimulating originial composition called, "Burning Spear." A notable group of musicians are backing up Mr. D on this session, including Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, "Sonny" Simmons on alto, Clifford Jordan on soprano, Prince Lasha on flute. Post hard boppers on the verge of Out.

The Dictators' Go Girl Crazy! It's silly, great stuff: "Master Race Rock," "Teengenerate," and so on. The greatest of the Jewish garage rock, proto-punk groups.

I guess you could say that my cat is a bit of a "Teengenerate," since she's going on fourteen. And a real punk to boot!