Ladies and Gents,

Welcome to this blog about all things "Old Times, Good Times, A Rock and Roll Story" -- the book you all are helping me write about our lives and times back in that amazing rock and roll era. Entry onto this blog site will be intentionally more restrictive than onto my Facebook page, which should eliminate a number of distracting posts with subjects like college football, potty training and government conspiracies. Just those of us who want to talk about our rock and roll music and its ancillaries.

Please feel free to "Ramble On" (Hey, Shackett!) at any length about any topic pertinent to our mutual salad days or the book. I plan to ask some fairly specific questions about people, places and bands, as part of my research, that I am certain you contributors will be able to assist me with.

After two whiffs at a blog title -- Old Times, Good Times (taken) and All Along The Watchtower (taken), I hit it out of the park on the third pitch with the title to the terrific Tracks tune penned by Dr. Russell Pinkston, who also needs to get the credit for revving me up to start this blog when I was initially reluctant. Sample the final verse as I exit this initial post:

"If someone is lonely, we'll sing you the blues.
And if someone wants to boogie, got a lot of songs for you.
The one thing I ask, is to have a good time.
And I'll try to sing your songs, if you let me sing mine.
I just dig our music, on it I stand,
with a Mexican Bird in my hand."