First, let me say, I was thrilled by the macabre, sensationalistic news that the body of the Big Bopper has been exhumed to rule out foul play in the February 1959 plane crash that killed him, Buddy Holly and Richie Valens. Forensics anthropology and rock 'n' roll are always a good pairing. Now, where's his rock 'n' roll biopic?

Today's pick is Del Shannon's "Mind Over Matter," just one of the heart-breakers on Andrew Loog Oldham-produced Home And Away. The album was shelved by the record label for years, finally released (leaked?) for the collector's market, and then remastered and reissued last fall by EMI.

Here are some gorgeous pictures of Del in the studio during the "Home And Away" sessions.

This whole album makes me want to go back in time and be his girlfriend. (Only without the heart-breaking).

Here is a video of him playing an earlier hit on Top of The Pops.

There are only 8670 items in iTunes today - did I delete some? Shuffle brings me:

The Charles C. Leary from Oh Me Oh My... by Devendra Banhart

I dragged myself through pouring rain to see Devendra at some crummy Lower East Side club shortly after this album came out. For whatever reason, I never actually saw him perform. Then he came out with another album and another and earned accolades and people started calling him king of the freak folk scene and he was dating half of CocoRosie and hanging out with Lindsay Lohan. And though I continued to buy his albums, I kind of turned my back on him.

Two weeks ago, I saw him perform at Carnegie Hall as part of the David Byrne curated series. He was magnetic. I saw how he could pull music-making people to him. I wanted to kick off my shoes and join the melodic cacophony on tambourine.

Though the tape hiss and weirdly doubled, slightly detuned vocals place this song in exactly the space it deserves, I am glad Devendra has a recording budget now. I will drag myself out in rain or snow to see him perform again.

Two things radio announcers can say to annoy me:

1. "On a Telarc compact disc..."

A compact disc? Is that like a long-playing vinyl record? A digital audio tape? Come on.

2. "Meeyoooooosic... for discerning/independent/snooty listeners"

Meeyoosic? Is that what I listen to while my butler serves me tea as I recline supine on a divan in a parlor? Ma'am, in your attempt to sound all professional and hide the fact that you're a 20 year old media production student, you have turned into Lovey "Millionaire's Wife" Howell.

On the other hand, the offender of #2 did just play new releases by Lily Allen and Lee Hazlewood back to back.