TNT ‘Tell No Tales’

You know, I still don’t understand how this particular musical title got into my collection. I never really cared for TNT although they were a talented band. The singer did his job with vocal gymnastics that would make a lot of opera singers a little jealous. The cover of this CD is marred with scratches of other CD’s around it being put in and pulled out. I think this is probably the third time that I’ve ever played the thing since it’s release in 1987.

I may have gotten it when a girlfriend broke up with me. We had put together our collections and anything we received during our relationship was community property unless we purchased it. She used to work here at Rock 92 and I worked at Peaches Music & Video, so promo copies were flowing constantly. We rarely let anything pass without listening to it. It’s the curse of a true music lover.

I’m hazarding a guess that she got it somehow and no longer wanted it. She got the original Masters Of Reality self-titled release with the better artwork. I remember that we discussed and bartered for that damn CD. She won and I got the re-release with a bonus track. The artwork on the first press was much better and as far as I can tell, the sound went untouched.

But as I sit here and type up this entry, I must admit that the TNT is growing on me. I don’t know if it’s a nostalgia kind of thing or what. Typically, this is the type of “hair-metal” that I turned my nose up at back in the day. It does remind me of simpler times and constantly bickering with a Peaches coworker by the name of Blake.

Blake had the taste for most everything “hair-metal” related. He adored Poison, Trixter, and Tora, Tora, Tora. I found the music to be simpleminded crap. It was always fun disagreeing with him and often times, enlightening. Sometimes, I really miss those days at Peaches #36.

Within the last 24 hours, I did something that scared me to death. I acted upon an impulse and hunch. Although things didn’t exactly work out the way I had hoped, I feel that I’m a better man for it. As the old cliché goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. Sure, I’m a little down about it, but it’s out there and it’s done. There’s no more worrying or second-guessing.

Last night, I watched a very interesting DVD from Netlfix called C.S.A.. It’s a docudrama/comedy about the Confederate Army winning the Civil War. Instead of the United States of America, it’s the Confederate States of America and slavery is still in effect. Racism runs rampant even through the media. There are parody commercials for toothpaste called “Darkie Toothpaste”, Gold Dust Twins washing powder, and even a commercial for an insurance company that protects your family (the camera pans over to a young black male tending to the yard) and your “property”.
And when I watched the special features on the disc, most of these products existed. I was shocked! I had no idea that racist symbols are still used today. Darkie Toothpaste is still produced and sold in parts of Asia under a different name. Yet Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben products are still flourishing here in the United States.

I remember when the Aunt Jemima people gave her a makeover to look more modern. Folks were still calling it racist and I never realized it or even cared.

When they gave the dates as to when they were still producing these racist products, it brought it all home to me. It’s not ancient history because it’s still happening today. We still have a long way to go. Hell, the Sambo’s chain either closed up shop or changed their name back in the 80’s. Even if those days were simpler times for me, they weren’t for anyone of a different race.

I’m of Cherokee descent, but I am a Washington Redskins fan. I’ve never been offended by the use of Indians or Native Americans for team mascots. I view it as something to be reminded of because it can easily be forgotten. In my mind, it was a way of preserving a history of people and culture.

Perhaps I am wrong.