So R.E.M. releases "It's the End of the World" in 1987 and two years later Billy Joel releases a very similarly stylized song with "We Didn't Start the Fire". In their songs, R.E.M. talks about the apocalypse starting with "an earthquake" and Billy basically lists a bunch of influential/famous people from Harry Truman to Bernie Goetz and explains that societal turmoil has and will always exist.

I just wish Billy Joel threw a line in his track about how he ripped R.E.M. off and made a #1 single out of the idea that only got R.E.M. a slot at #16 in the U.S.

Brett Smiley

Live on Russell Harty 10/29/74

Also: Interview with Smiley and Stones producer Andrew Oldham

Smiley stopped into my record store this week and told me his life story. A sad story for sure. Ask me about it.

I really want to attend some of these goth dance parties again but lately I've preferred experiencing my sadness privately.

1971 David Bowie project and precursor to his 1972 Ziggy Stardust concept. Yesterday was the first time I ever heard or saw a copy of this record. [Krazy Kat Records]