Standing Together
Dedicated followers of this quiet corner of the Internet might have found the site down for the past week. What happened? Well, it got attacked by hackers, infesting it with malware. I like to blame the spraytanned sphinctermouth’s agents for it, but it might just have been a coincidence that it followed the post of songs about orange.
Fixing the damage was quite expensive, and due to my current circumstances (thanks, 2020!) beyond my immediate possibilities. I posted of my woes on Facebook, and a number of followers came through in a big way, chipping in with contributions that enabled me to pay a service that removes malware and — importantly, as it turns out — protect me from Sphinctermouth’s agents.
This awkwardly-named mix is my thanks to the people who contributed so generously. It tells of friendship and solidarity. And, in good halfhearted fashion, it’s absurdly eclectic. So we have Syl Johnson covering The Beatles in funky fashion on an LP titled Is It Because I Am Black?, and eight tracks later a Beatle sings a kids’ song. And… I wasn’t aiming for irony. Yes, I’ll say it: I like We All Stand Together. It’s cute, it has a nice melody, and it is highly satisfying to sing along to it. Try it if you don’t believe me.
The reaction of people who came out to save this site has lifted me. They came from different places. They came from JB, who really wants Biden to win next week, and from TG, who supports Sphinctermouth. Music brings us together. Big support came from old friends from the early days of music blogging, and from some people unknown to me, but whom I shall love as I love my old compadres.
The support of kind people on Facebook — monetary and moral — has ensured the survival of the Any Major Dude With Half A Heart in more than technical ways. I was toying with the idea of retiring this blog, albeit with no firm plans of doing so. Their love showed that my work is actually appreciated, and thus has validated and encouraged me. I shall lock that in my heart, and draw from it every time a post gets no comments.
As ever, CD-R length, home-begged covers, PW in comments.
1. Big Star – Thank You Friends (1975)
2. Steely Dan – Rikki Don’t Lose That Number (1974)
3. The Undisputed Truth – With A Little Help From My Friends (1973)
4. Rosetta Hightower – Friendship Train (1971)
5. Frederick Knight – Lean On Me (1973)
6. The Persuasions – He Ain’t Heavy / You’ve Got A Friend (1971)
7. Carole King – We Are All In This Together (1974)
8. Buzzy Linhart – Friends (1971)
9. The Kinks – All Of My Friends Were There (1968)
10. The Kingston Trio – Let’s Get Together (1964)
11. Wilbert Harrison – Let’s Work Together (1969)
12. Syl Johnson – Come Together (1970)
13. Leon Haywood – You Need A Friend Like Mine (1975)
14. Arrival – Friends (1969)
15. Andrew Gold – Thank You For Being A Friend (1978)
16. Randy Travis – Heroes and Friends (1990)
17. Garth Brooks – Friends In Low Places (live) (1998)
18. Barenaked Ladies – If I Had $1000000 (1992)
19. Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis Jr. – Me And My Shadow (1963)
20. Paul McCartney – We All Stand Together (1984)
PW = amdwhah
Welcome back. Glad you didn’t let them beat you. We’ve already lost too much this year.
@Rol Hirst
Well, a lot of good people joined me in the trenches, including you.
So glad it all worked out. Don’t ever doubt how much love and appreciation we all have for all you do. p.s…. Any list that includes Wilbert Harrison’s ‘Let’s Work Together’ is a classic in my book!
Welcome Back.
What is your Facebook account?. I have been looking but I couldn’t find it (but must say I am not a Facebook Member). I would gladly help you out as you share lots of great music which I never heard of.
What about that Buy me a coffee idea?? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/
Or posting a Paypal link here on the site?
Sorry this happened to you.
One of my favorite blogs EVER.
So glad you’re back.
I just love your Labour Of Love.
Nice collection of music……as usual. Glad that you are still here.
Here’s another one if you have a similar playlist down the road,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqIbbrq5SQk
I echo every word of Jack’s comment above. Also, this is the first time I’ve commented, but I’ve read and enjoyed each post here for many years—and I’m sure I speak for others as well. Please never retire this blog!
Hooray! The good guys win! Sorry I had nothing to contribute, but I’d already contributed every spare simoleon I had towards ejecting Mango Mussolini and his minions from office, so hopefully this will never again be an issue for you.
I check your blog regularly…and suddenly, there you weren’t. Lovely to hear you beat the bastards.
So sorry you had to deal with that. Welcome back. Thank you for all you do for all of us.
Oh yes, that should have run!
Thanks, I’ll investigate the coffee idea. My Facebook is http://www.facebook.com/amdwhah/
Cheers!
Well, I set up a Buy Me A Coffee account…. and WordPress, for reasons unknown to mere mortals, gives me no option of adding it to the site. It’s like the IT world has conspired against me…
About the “Buy me a coffee”
Can’t you just add a link manually somewhere. Else post it together with the PWD ;)
@iammike
Donated ;) Works like a treat that “Buy me a coffee”
Link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amdwhah
Thank you so much. But how did you know where to find me?
So glad you’re back! Don’t let the sphincter’s get you down!
Good to see you back.
Glad to see all this support! I was worried there for a while.
So good to see you back…I don’t download these days…so little opportunity to listen…but love to check things out.
Keep the faith, always.
Regards
@halfhearteddude
I guessed and searched on the “Coffee site” ;)
So happy you’re back! I was afraid the man took your site down permanently.
Took a while to track you down, but I just sent you five cups. Please keep doing what you’re doing. I’m not one of your most vocal fans, but I am one of your fiercest. I was abjectly miserable when I saw the site was down. I also shared the link on my own Facebook account. Hopefully that will land you a few more hits.
Thank you so much for the coffees! I see somebody by the same surname bought more coffees. Please thank them from me!
@amdwhah That’s the missus, and I didn’t know she had done that!
Took a while to track you down, but I just sent you five cups. Please keep doing what you’re doing. I’m not one of your most vocal fans, but I am one of your fiercest. I was abjectly miserable when I saw the site was down. I also shared the link on my own Facebook account. Hopefully, that will land you a few more hits.
Thank you so much, Sarah, for the caffeine, the support, and the kind words. You can’t imagine how that encourages me!!!