RANDOM RICK-NESS

Eric Clapton says his work with Cream on “Strange Brew” and the album “Disraeli Gears” was inspired by this guy. Joe Walsh spoke at this guy’s funeral in 1992. “This guy” is the blues guitar legend Albert King. His playing also inspired Stevie Ray Vaughn who died 18 months prior to King, but those two got to play together and it was an inspiring mutual love fest. I saw them on a PBS fundraiser hour simply titled “Albert King” and I highly recommend watching it if you can find a repeat airing. Vaughn never tried to ‘one-up’ King after Albert’s lead riffs, and if you get to see this recording, you can’t help but notice how Albert was impressed with Vaughn’s leads. Albert smiles, says things like ‘wow’ and enthusiastic ‘yeahs’ when Stevie Ray bends the strings. You can tell that it inspired King to dig in his heels when it was his turn to do the blues riffs. King seemed to want to show that he deserved the accolades that so many other guitar greats have expressed about him. This show wasn’t taped before a live audience. It’s just Stevie Ray and Albert sitting on stools on stage, accompanied by bass and keyboards and drums while an engineer records them in a sound studio setting. Yes the playing is amazing, but it was the mutual appreciation of each others talent that impressed me most. Hope you get a chance to see it.

MORNING MUSINGS

Morning Show Musings for Friday, December 3rd

Rick's been talking all week about amazingly talented actors like Johnny Depp and Hugh Jackman. He continued that theme by starting the show today discussing the work of Jaleel White. You know Jaleel. Urkel from "Family Matters." His catchphrase was "Did I do that?" You know him! No? Well, he's shedding the mantel of the skinny nerd, and he's buffed up for his next big masterwork, "Crocosaurus." Mega Shark survived his brutal battle with Giant Octopus, and now he faces Crocosaurus, with help from Jaleel. Mark your calendars for the December 21st DVD release. Now I know what I'm getting everyone for Christmas!!!!

HERE'S the trailer:

Some people have no sense of humor... A DJ who worked as a part-time staffer at the University of Alabama playing songs before and during games, was fired for choosing to play two songs apparently aimed at Cam Newton (the player who's preacher man dad has been accused of a pay-for-play scandal). DJ Jason Adlman played "Take the Money and Run" and "Son of a Preacher Man" while Newton and the Tigers warmed up, and the university bigwigs were not happy about it. A university spokesperson said the part-time jock was fired for not getting those songs approved by a senior athletic administrator. The AP reported that a full-time employee participated in selecting those songs but was NOT fired. Click HERE

So, you know you need to drink more water, but what you REALLY want is more bacon. Your wildest dreams have come true!!! Make room in your pantry for Effervescent Bacon Drink Tablets. You drop 'em in water, and let that H2O fill with bacony goodness. But you don't have to limit yourself to just boring old water; bacon up your soda, juice or milk, too! A tin of 15 tablets will cost you $3.50; what a deal.

Enjoy:

Click HERE for Bacon Drink Tablets

And if bacon flavored beverages just aren't enough for you, take a look at the bacon lip balm, band aids, dental floss, gumballs, soap and more: Click HERE

Lennon fans, don't forget CNN's premiere of a new documentary "Losing Lennon: Countdown to Murder" tomorrow night (Saturday, December 4th at 7pm central).

www.cnn.com

And you may want to check out today's sports section of "USA Today" for the story on how Howard Cosell became the man who broke the news of John Lennon's death to America. Alan Weiss, a news producer for ABC's New York station, had a motorcycle accident and was in the same hospital where Lennon was brought. Weiss heard efforts to revive Lennon cease, so he knew the legend was gone. Weiss called his local station, but they knew they had to pass the story on to a big name at the network. Cosell was announcing a Monday Night Football game and told the country about the tragedy seconds before New England missed a kick, sending that game into overtime.

HERE'S Cosell making that sad announcement:

Sir Paul McCartney gets yet another honor this weekend. Sir Paul is among the elite celebrated at the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors tomorrow at a State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. And on Sunday, the President and First Lady will receive the honorees at the White House then enjoy a star-studded gala performance at the Kennedy Center. Along with McCartney, Merle Haggard, Oprah Winfrey, composer and Lyricist Jerry Herman and choreographer and director Bill T. Jones will be honored. If you don't have your tickets, CBS will broadcast taped highlights on Tuesday, December 28th at 8pm.

Who'll be part of the entertainment? Steven Tyler will perform sans Aerosmith, doing the end section of the Beatles' "Abbey Road."

A new U.K. survey by PRS for Music (and organization that collects and pays royalties to songwriting and composing members in Britain) found the top 10 songs that make guys cry the most. Some of these are great songs, some are okay, but, dude NONE of them should make you cry!

1 - Everybody Hurts - R.E.M

2 - Tears in Heaven - Clapton

3 - Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

4 - Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor

5 - With our Without You - U2

6 - The Drugs Don't Work - The Verve

7 - Candle in the Wind - Elton John

8 - Streets Of Philadelphia - Springsteen

9 - Unchained Melody - Todd Duncan

10 - Angels - Robbie Williams

Cardinals holiday ticket packs for the 2011 season go on sale today. Here's the schedule:

- Friday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m. - La Russa and Pujols Packs on sale.

- Tuesday, December 7 at 10:00 a.m. – Party Suites on sale.

- Friday, December 10 at 10:00 a.m. – Single-game All-Inclusive Tickets on sale.

Two Pujols packs feature 10 games for the price of five while three of the Pujols packs include seven games for the price of five.

The La Russa Pack consists of 12 games including the Home Opener on March 31 versus the San Diego Padres. Other highlights include six weekend games, and other great matchups including the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants.

Two of the Pujols Packs have games tied to specific days of the week including an all Friday pack (Pujols Pack #4) and an all Sunday pack (#5). Pujols Packs #1 thru #3 each offer three Cubs weekend games among the seven total games.

The Pujols Value Pack # 1 features weeknight dates and the Pujols Value Pack # 2 features all weekday games. Both value packs feature 10 games for the price of five.

With All-Inclusive tickets, food and beverages are included in the price of the ticket. The Bank of America Club, Champions Club, Coca-Cola Rooftop Deck and Patio, Commissioner’s Box, Homer’s and Leftfield Landings are among the options for fans wishing to purchase individual game tickets with all-inclusive food and beverage service included.

For more information on any of these upcoming ticket on-sales, fans can access the Cardinals website at www.cardinals.com, or call 314-345-9500.

But if you're too caught up in Rams football, we understand. Here's hoping Arizona QB Derek Anderson is so cowed and embarrassed by his recent post-game tirade that he blows Sunday's game against the Rams! He apologized this week, saying, quote, "My mom and dad didn't raise me to act like that in times of diversity." (So, does that mean he was taught to act like that in GOOD times?) He added, quote, "Obviously, I was very frustrated by what had happened during the game, and I let my emotions get away from me."

Did you miss the outburst? Here ya go:

Is your dog a star, waiting to be discovered? The Humane Society of Missouri and PurinaONE® dog food are searching for the next Official Bark in the Park Mascot! If you think your furry friend is paws down the best dog on the block, submit a photo of you and your dog and a 300 words or less testimonial to the Bark in the Park website at www.hsmo.org/bark. Tell the Humane Society why your dog is special and how he/she has helped your family through a “ruff” spot or overcome a great obstacle.

All entrants should be spayed or neutered. They should have good manners with people and with other dogs. They should enjoy walking on a leash and should be comfortable and calm in new situations.

Three finalists will be selected and featured on the Bark in the Park website. The public will vote online for the Official 2010 Bark in the Park Mascot. Five runner-up candidates also will be featured on the website and will take their place of honor in the Mascot’s entourage at Bark in the Park on May 21, 2011.

The deadline for entries is next Friday, December 10, 2010 at 5 p.m.

For more information about the Bark in the Park 2011 Mascot Contest or to register online for Bark in the Park, visit www.hsmo/bark. For questions about the mascot contest, call the Humane Society of Missouri at (314) 951-1506.

I know this is a classic rock station, but, think Eagles or Skynyrd... And also, Gwyneth Paltrow is hot...

Our pals at Allied Integrated Marketing are giving away $500 to the best singer in St. Louis in honor of the new film, COUNTRY STRONG starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw. The contest is happening this Saturday, December 4th at the Bass Pro Shop in St. Charles beginning at 1pm. The St. Louis winner will then have the chance to win a VIP trip to Nashville to meet with a Sony Music executive and have a spot on Country Music Television! If you're interested, send an email to [email protected] or call 314/266-1100 to pre-register. There are a limited number of entry spots available so please RSVP ASAP. For more details, visit www.countrystrong.cmt.com

Are you dying for a new pool table? Are you dying to have pros deliver and install it? Are you dying to help out the Salvation Army, but you also need to buy gifts for your family? Well, you're in luck! Click on the Salvation Army link on our homepage and see how you can bid for a fabulous pool table from Cue and Cushion AND give that money to the Salvation Army!!