A Little Bit of Me

On this day in music history: August 12, 1991 - “Metallica”, the fifth album by Metallica is released. Produced by Bob Rock, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, it is recorded at One On One Recording Studios in North Hollywood, CA and Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, B.C., Canada from October 6, 1990 - June 16, 1991. Impressed with his work on label mate Mötley Crüe’s “Dr. Feelgood” album, the veteran metal band hire producer Bob Rock to produce the follow up to their successful fourth album “…And Justice For All”. Musically, it differs from previous Metallica albums, with many of the songs having slower tempos than the band’s trademark high velocity “thrash metal” style. The recording sessions with Rock are often tense as he pushes the band members outside their normal comfort zone within the studio. The intense atmosphere spills over into their personal lives as well, with Hetfield, Ulrich and bassist Jason Newsted all winding up divorced from their spouses by the time recording is completed. In spite of all of the turmoil, the album is a huge critical and commercial success, launching Metallica into the mainstream on a worldwide basis. Nicknamed “The Black Album” by fans (for its stark black cover featuring the bands logo and a coiled snake in dark grey print), it spins off six singles including “Enter Sandman” (#16 Pop, #10 Mainstream Rock), “Sad But True” (#98 Pop, #15 Mainstream Rock), “The Unforgiven” (#35 Pop, #10 Mainstream Rock) and “Nothing Else Matters” (#34 Pop, #11 Mainstream Rock). The album wins a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1992. Available on vinyl only sporadically since its original limited run in the format in 1991, the album is issued equally limited pressings as a four LP set mastered at 45 RPM in 2008, and a two LP set by Simply Vinyl in 2000. It is remastered an reissued again as a double vinyl 180 gram LP set in 2015. “Metallica” spends four weeks at number one on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 16x Platinum in the US by the RIAA, earning a Diamond Ceritification.

Today, hundreds of Native Hawaiians and supporters gathered in front of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol to oli, dance, hold signs, and peacefully protest the construction on Mauna Kea. #Maunakea #moomeheu #kukiaimauna

Everything in me wanted to go for a long run but the way that the humidity is set up in NYC for this entire weekend, I opted to take on day two of powerlifting training.

Let’s see how tonight will pan out for my running adventures. Fingers crossed for a girl.

P.S. This disclaimer is going up until I don’t have say it anymore – No advice on my training.

Nourishment. Endurance. Balance. Acceptance. Peace.

My family is my zen. Out of all of the crazy adventures that I embark on, the love of my family provides the most unpredictable, entertaining and rewarding experience that a woman can ask for.

We thoroughly enjoyed our beach day in Coney Island as Satan’s underbelly deep fried us at 90 to 97 degrees.

On this day in music history: July 8, 1989 - “Keep On Movin’” by Soul II Soul hits #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for 2 weeks, also peaking at #11 on the Hot 100 on September 9, 1989. Written by Beresford Romeo, it is first US chart topper for the British sound system/musical collective. Led by Jazzie B. (birth name Trevor Beresford Romeo) and Nellee Hooper, the duo meet four years earlier in 1985 when Hooper’s group Massive Attack hires Jazzie B’s DJ sound system for a gig in London. A misunderstanding over who will be spinning causes the two to argue, but they soon settle their differences and decide to join forces. Gathering together a loose group of musicians and singers, they begin to record as Soul II Soul. Signed to Virgin’s 10 Records subsidiary in the UK, they quickly score two club hits with the singles “Fairplay” (featuring Rose Windross) and “Feel Free” (featuring Do'reen). “Keep On Movin’” is the bands third single release in the UK, with former background vocalist Caron Wheeler (Afrodizak) featured on lead vocals. After reaching #5 on the UK singles chart, it rapidly becomes a dance floor sensation in the US as an import release, prompting Virgin Records to release it domestically. Issued in tandem with their debut album “Club Classics Volume One” (re-titled “Keep On Movin’” for its US release), it becomes a staple on R&B radio stations, following suit on Top 40 pop radio. The songs down tempo, Hip Hop flavored rhythm (said to be inspired by Biz Markie’s 1986 rap hit “Pickin’ Boogers”) augmented with lush strings and piano, revolutionizing and changing the face of dance and R&B music for the next several years. “Keep On Movin’” is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.