My Own Top 40 (Influential Music...at least to me)

Someone has created an "app" on Facebook regarding their idea of the 100 Most Influential Records of All Time. I disagreed with most of it. That said, what influences who is a matter of personal taste. I didn't find the list to be overly influential by genre either...but that again is a matter of personal point of view. As a musician/songwriter/producer, I see things one way...not necessarily the only way.

After a few messages back and forth with the person behind the app, I decided to come up with my own list. I'm admittedly too lazy to come up with my Top 100 of anything...let alone go through my entire music collection...so here's my own unfluential Top 40...right off of my head. You may agree, disagree, or just scratch your head in wonder. It's my list and it's in no particular order. I've written notes about some of it. See what you think:

1)The Blasters - “Over There: Live At The Venue, London”
This record knocked me on my ass the 1st time I heard it. I remember I was helping out at a neighbor's wedding reception and the DJ played this while we were getting things set up. Anyone who knows me knows what I think of The Blasters...and this is what started it all.

2)The Beatles - “Introducing The Beatles”
3)Jimi Hendrix - “Electric Ladyland”
An old friend of the family, Bacon, gave me these 2 records when I started to learn how to play guitar. I was hooked immediately. The Beatles have always been faves and when I heard Hendrix for the 1st time, I was amazed that a guitar could sound like that!

4)The Sex Pistols - “Never Mind The Bullocks”
The greatest electric guitar sound ever recorded! This album is nothing but pure energy! I've worn out so many copies...vinyl, 8 track, cassettes, and CDs. This led me in search of more sounds like it.

5)BB King - “Live At Cook County Jail”
I stole this off of my oldest brother. "The Thrill Is Gone" is the first song I ever remember hearing...I was maybe 3. When I heard my brother playing this record, I recognized that sound! I was just a kid and knew I had to have it! Sorry bro...I'll buy you a CD copy if you want.

6)Johnny Cash - “Greatest Hits”
Grand Master JC...nuff said.

7)Buddy Holly - “Greatest Hits”
I'd heard Buddy Holly my entire life and always enjoyed his stuff but it wasn't until I was about 20 and bought a Best Of collection that I realized just how good he was. He helped define rock and roll in so many ways.

8)Isaac Hayes - “Shaft, Black Moses, Joy”
Our mum was a huge Isaac Hayes fan. I was maybe 4-5 when I figured out how to work the record player and these 3 records got a lot of spin time from me. Here was this bald, black man with cool shades and this low voice. It was hypnotizing to me.

9)Scott Joplin - “The Sting Soundtrack”
Again, mum's record collection. She loved ragtime, especially Joplin. When 'The Sting' came out, we went to see it at the movies and withing a few days, she had the soundtrack. It became a large part of the soundtrack of my own childhood.

10)Tom Waits - “The Heart of Saturday Night”
The 1st record I ever got by the genius himself. He can do no wrong in my book. This record merely opened the door for me.

11)The Ramones - “The Ramones”
Buzzsaw guitars and quasi-bubblegum songs...it shouldn't have worked but it did. And it gave birth to my love of their music. I saw them nearly 30 times.

12)The Clash - “London Calling”
This was the 1st record I heard by these guys and it's still the best. THIS is what a rock and roll record should be!

13)Pere Ubu - “The Modern Dance”
A friend's dad lived in the same building as Ubu keyboardist Alan Ravenstine, so my friend always had their latest record. This was the 1st one he loaned me. One listen to "Modern Dance" and I was hooked! Nothing sounded like this before or since. And that's saying something...especially considering these guys hailed from Cleveland!

14)Link Wray - “Rumble”
The birth of loud, nasty, electric guitar! Without Link, there would've been no garage/heavy metal/punk rock.Nuff said.

15)Sanford Clark - “The Fool”
A friend made me a tape of Sanford Clark songs once and this was the 1st song on it. I've been a lifelong fan since then. That dark, brooding, meloncholy sound...none better.

16)Duane Eddy - “Rebel Rouser”
TWANG!!!!!!! Nuff said.

17)Henry Mancini - “Peter Gunn Theme”
Mancini wrote so many cool songs and riffs but this, to me, stands out as his masterpiece. It's the ultimate spy/detective theme!

18)Albert Collins - “Crosscut Saw”

19)Albert King “I’ll Play The Blues For You”
When I was 19, I joined my first blues band. All the other guys were much older and seasoned vets. The singer, Don, had an amazing blues collection. He made me a cassette of Albert Collins on one side and Albert King on the other. MINDBLOWING is the only word I have to describe it. These two songs have always stood out among the rest. I was privileged to become friends with Albert Collins the last few years of his life and even more privileged to have had him teach me a few things on the guitar....even if it took me 20 years to make sense of it.

20)Madness - “One Step Beyond”
In my teens, this record opened the doors to ska and reggae for me...and I've never looked back. Ska/reggae became the soundtrack to my college days.

21)The Cars “Candy-O”
In the late 70s/80s, synthesizers found their place in rock and roll...and no one used them better than The Cars. Until their last album, guitar and synth weaved a brillaint interplay on all of their records, especially Candy-O. Sadly, their last record (which was also their biggest hit) SUCKED. Too much synth...not enough guitar.

22)The Byrds + “Turn Turn Turn”
Electric 12 string jangle. Nuff said.

23)Kiss - “The Originals”
At about age 10, my cousin Petey and I discovered Kiss. It was like a comic book came to life and played rock and roll! I tried to steal this 3 record set from K-Mart! LOL It didn't happen! Still one of the best rock and roll bands ever. Nothing serious....just loud, crazy R&R!

24)Chuck Berry - “Johnny B. Goode”
How to play Rock & Roll Guitar 101!

25)Elvis Presley - “Baby Let’s Play House”
The ultimate rockabilly song....ever!

26)Elvis Costello - “Armed Forces”

27)Tom Petty - “Damn The Torpedoes”
I got into Costello and Petty about the same time and for the same reasons. It struck me as rock and roll for intelligent people. Well-written, well-crafted songs with hooks for days!

28)Webb Wilder - “Town & Country”
A genius album by a sadly underrated performer. As WW describes it, imagine a mix tape where we play all the songs. This record shows just what a good, tight band can do...even with other people's music.

29)King Crimson “Discipline”
I don't remember why I bought this record...all I know is I'm glad I did! This wasn't your typical rock and roll! It wasn't overblown and boring like Yes. It was interesting, catchy, and sometimes just downright weird...and I love every second of it! It led me in search of many other sounds.

30)David Bowie - Some weird “Best of” record from Japan
I always enjoyed Bowie but not really enough to buy any of his stuff. He got enough radio play to negate having to do that. But...a crazy gal I dated briefly, one summer in my high school days, gave me this crazy Japanese "Best of" cassette. The cover was in Japanese so I have no idea what it's called. It had songs like "Amsterdam" and foreign language versions of some of his hits. Kinda blew my mind at the time.

31)Joe Negri - No recordings…just live/TV
To my dying day, whenever I think of guitar, I'll think of Joe Negri first.

32)Marvin Gaye - “Heard It Through The Grapevine”
This song taught me how important production is and just how important a good bass line is!

33)Parliament Funkadelic - “Mothership Connection”
My brothers and sister really loved P-Funk. At the time, I claimed to hate it (typical little brother brattishness) but I took in every note. I would often sneak into my brothers' room and "borrow" this one.

34)Buck Owens - “Act Naturally”

35)Hank Williams Sr. - “Lovesick Blues”

36)Slim Whitman - “Indian Love Call”
Dad loved country music. He would force us to watch Hee Haw every Saturday night. Somehow in my teens, these songs stuck in my head. They each had their own unique sound...a sound that still has yet to be duplicated...not for lack of trying.

37)Ennio Morricone - “The Good, Bad, and Ugly”
If God Himself ever wrote a guitar song, it would sound like this.

38)Elmore James - “Dust My Broom”
Elmore's slide guitar on this is like the gates of Hell opening up. Scary at first...but you'll stick around. Probably for eternity.

39)Motown/Stax/Volt
Probably the soundtrack of my childhood. Mom liked it all. Dad liked it all. Heard it on the radio all the time. Too many killer songs and too many killer grooves to pick just one.

40)Jesus Christ Superstar Original Cast Soundtrack
Basically a 2 record workshop on how to be a creative songwriter. I mean really, who goes from an F chord to a B???? It shouldn't work...but it does. Beautifully. Not a bad song on here. Filled my dreams and nightmares up to my teens.

There are so many more I could list here. I'm still hearing new sounds every day. I'm influenced, in some way, by everything I hear. This is just a rough list. Hopefully this list will get you to think about the music that has influenced you...and how.

My Father's Son

A friend and I have been discussing (on Facebook, where such important issues are discussed) what it must be like to be a son of a Beatle.

I queried that it must be Hell to be a Beatles' child. No matter what they do, they will always be known, first and foremost as the son/daughter of one of The Beatles.

In my own small way, I understand this. My own childhood relegated me to being "Dr. Metzger's son". In fact, until I finally left Ohio for good, I was frequently asked if that's who I am or I would be referred to as such. My ego didn't like it...but it also taught me a lot about who my dad is.

Unless you lived in Steubenville, OH (or the surrounding areas) in the 70s/80s/90s/early 21st century, my dad's name probably means nothing to you. But, if you did, you've heard of Dr. Clyde Metzger. He was, for years, the only cardiologist in the area. If you or your loved one had any type of heart condition, from high blood pressure to cardiomyopathy to being in need of a transplant, you saw my dad.

I wouldn't even want to try to count the number of lives he has saved, or at the very least, made better. People often would tell me that my dad saved their life...or the life of a loved one. Hearing this, on almost a daily basis, was at times humbling, awe-inspiring and ultimately irritating. How was I ever supposed to live up to that?

I was always asked if I was going to be a doctor and follow in dear old dad's footsteps. Socially, I was expected to be a doctor. Luckily, I knew by age 5 that I wanted nothing to do with being a doctor. The long hours, never seeing the family, the exhaustion, the personal heartache of losing a patient...I knew early on that I wanted nothing to do with that. I wanted a life where my world wasn't dictated by my career. I have learned in my 46 years, that if one does something they love, it will always dictate their life.

I opted to work in the mental health field, as well as be a musician/writer/photographer. For 25 years I worked, primarily, with adults with retardation and other developmental disabilities. I loved this! I like to think that I had a positive influence on the lives of the individuals I worked with. I still hear from many of my former clients, so I'll assume that I did.

Somewhere along the way, my music became somewhat popular...locally and regionally at first. The Rowdy Bovines were very popular and kept me out and making music many nights a week. The nice thing was, I wasn't referred to as "Dr. Metzger's son" anymore. I was making my own name. As time went on and The Bovines split up, I kept on making music. I started my own band and eventually adopted a nickname (given to me by a club owner) as my professional stage name. Memphis Mike was born. The great thing about this was that Memphis Mike could be whoever you or I wanted him to be - wild man with a guitar, sensitive lyricist, drunkard, brawler, lunatic on the streets. I was able to play Jekyll & Hyde. I was able to be Mike Metzger, the guy who works with special needs folks by day, and this wild man by night. I loved it. I was finally free and clear of my father's shadow. Or so I thought.

In 2007, I had a massive heart attack. As I lay on a gurney in a hospital, about to have a stent put in, one of the nurse's asked me, "Hey! Aren't you Dr. Metzger's son?".  I just laughed. I hadn't heard those words in years.  I believe I said something crude to her...but I've been told I was no longer making much sense by this point. I knew that part of my life was over. The big question was...which part?

I spent the better part of the next year recuperating in mind and body. My life did change. I slowed down. I found myself in a happy and healthy relationship (a first for me...and trust me, my wild side fought it). I think I may have (GASP!) grown up. Being faced with one's own mortality tends to open one's eyes to reality.

More than that, I came to terms with just who my dad is. I've grown very proud of the old man. Mind you, he and I had, at best, a tenuous relationship for years. We're very much alike...and we see in each other the parts that we wish we could've accomplished in our own lives. Dad always wanted to play music and be a writer. He's always claimed to want to write the great American novel. I've often asked him why he doesn't just sit down and do it. In him, I see my own desires to help people...to save their lives, to make their lives better. I still have no desire to be a physician though.

My father and I have a pretty decent relationship these days. It only took 40 years. We're still not as close as we'd like to be...but that's just who we are. Stoic Germans. Dad is going in to the hospital next week to have a 2nd hip replacement, and I'll be there. He'll tell me not to show up and that it's no big deal...but I know he wants me there. We'll hang out for a while. I'll warn the nurses about what a pain he's going to be as a patient. (doctors and nurses, Hell, anyone in the health field, make the worst patients)  For that brief bit of time, I'll happily be Dr. Metzger's son. Some of the nurses will know me from my music. Some might know me from my years in the mental health field. Some might not know me at all...but while dad is in the hospital, I'll just be Dr. Metzger's son...come to visit the old man in the hospital.

I've come to terms with life in my father's shadow. I know how to step in and out of it these days. I just hope The Beatles' kids have learned that trick.

Cancer

Cancer...aka The Big C.

I saw a post on Facebook today saying something to the effect of "How many people out there wish cancer didn't exist". As a 2 time survivor, I have to admit, I chuckled. I, for one, have found cancer to serve a few purposes in my life.

First off, just what exactly is cancer? Simple:

can·cer

/ˈkansər/

Noun The disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. A malignant growth or tumor resulting from such a division of cells.   That's really all it is. You don't catch it like the flu, it doesn't miraculously appear out of nowhere...you have cells, sometimes they do things you don't want them to. Sometimes it's controllable and/or treatable...sometimes it's not.   Since my initial diagnosis in 2000, I've come to know a lot of people who have or have had cancer. Each one of them amazes me. One friend developed spinal cancer as a baby and had at least one surgery per year well into her 20s. She is an amazing woman and one helluva fighter! Just TRY telling her she CAN'T do something!   Another friend beat cancer while studying nursing. She's another amazing woman and fighter. As a nurse, I think she will excel at working with cancer patients...as she knows from firsthand experience what the patient is experiencing.   Another friend was diagnosed with lung cancer. After a lobectomy, he's doing pretty well. He gets winded easier...but his outlook is good...both medically and personally. Every time I talk to him, he sounds happier than he has in years.   I've lost a number of friends to cancer. I think that most of us have known someone touched by cancer in some way. As a survivor, cancer has taught me some valuable lessons. It has taught me to live life on my own terms. It's my life and no one else's. It has taught me to accept each person for who they are. I don't judge. I've made some amazing friends thanks to this...friends that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. Having had cancer has taught me to appreciate the little things in life and to truly be passionate about the things that mean something to me...whether it be music, art, friends, family, food, politics, etc. Cancer has taught me to respect other people and their opinions. I may not always agree but I'll give anyone the respect to have their own point of view.   Cancer has taught me to slow the hell down! Why does everyone feel the need to rush so much? What's the big hurry? The journey should be enjoyed...savored...not rushed through. Need to get somewhere faster? Leave earlier. Or change your ETA. Many of you will say that you can't. Fact is, you've probably never tried.   Oddly enough, I got rid of cable TV around the time I was first diagnosed. I didn't realize it at the time but in retrospect, I, like many of us, wasted so damned much time in front of the boob tube/idiot box. Let's be honest, there's rarely anything good on there.   I started writing more at that time. Music, essays, you name it...I started writing...creating! I got back in to photography again. Since then, I've taken thousands of photos all over the world. I seriously think that had I not been diagnosed with cancer, I might not have done much of what I've done this century. I took some big chances. Some paid off, some didn't. That's life...it's a gamble.   Cancer has taught me to pay attention to my body. It tells me what it wants and needs. When I go to the doctor, I don't ask him what might be wrong. If something is wrong, I tell him! Makes his job easier and my day less stressful. Sure, my doctors would much rather I not smoke or drink...but I remind them often that I'll probably dance on their graves. I might not...but I live each day like there's no tomorrow, all the while planning so far ahead that I may never reach the finish line! Cancer taught me that too!   So really...why wish for something as silly as there being no cancer? Why not wish for someone to find the causes of cancer or even cures? Why not wish for a cure for diabetes or heart disease or AIDS? I'll tell you why: each of these things happen for a reason. Just because we neither know nor understand the reason is irrelevant. They happen. Humans are fallible. We breakdown just like any other mechanism.   If you really want to wish for something, wish someone a nice day. That's really the one thing we all really want anyway.