Author: Randy Wells

12-1-22

CHRISTINE MCVIE OF FLEETWOOD MAC PASSES AT AGE 79

One of my all-time favorite female singers and songwriters passed away yesterday at 79 after a brief illness. It’s a shock to all who loved her and the rest of the group known for their amazing run on the pop charts in the late 1970s.

Christine Perfect joined Fleetwood Mac after being with the group Chicken Shack in the late ’60s. In the new band, her then husband, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood had already produced some great albums in the UK with Peter Green, among others. However, Christine, Jeremy Spencer and the brilliant Danny Kirwan provided an additional sound that some feel is still the band’s best with Christine’s early songs included: “Show Me A Smile”, “Morning Rain”, and “Spare Me a Little of Your Love”. Those albums are still some of my favorites.

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WHY IS PERSONAL WORK SO IMPORTANT FOR THE CREATIVE?

Challenging assignments provide the creative artist with the confidence to accomplish increasingly complex tasks based on previously comissioned work. It can also provide a good income.

Personal work is when you only need to please yourself. In addition to being set free to do whatever you wish, you’ll still need a disciplined work ethic to repeatedly go beyond your previous experiences to achieve what you may not have thought was possible. That’s a powerful thing, even if you may never receive monetary compensation for it. Continue reading “”

THE ARGUMENT FOR GOPRO CAMERAS

No, the image quality is not the very best, even with the latest GoPro 11 action camera. Yet, sometimes you must be willing to sacrifice a camera to get the shot. For cars, that usually means disposable cameras mounted to areas where they could be damaged or lost.

Just be thankful we’ve come a long ways since the 1960s! Continue reading “”

Walter Becker passed away 5 years ago.

November is the 50th anniversary of the band that he was an integral part of, Steely Dan.

Their song “Doctor Wu” is part of me, and something I cannot ignore.

So, I’m proud to announce my buddy Chad Kassem at Acoustic Sounds is producing SACDs and high resolution LPs of their entire catalog beginning this month. Not cheap, but available.

Acoustic Sounds

Steely Dan Top 20 Songs

I HAVE VERY FEW REAL FRIENDS, AND HARDLY ANY OF THEM ARE ON FACEBOOK

Does that make me a bad person? I don’t think so. Am I the only one who feels this way?

I don’t know. All I know is there are only three I have to answer to: God (aka The Universe), myself and my wife, who happens to be my best friend and is on Facebook.

Oh well, no one’s perfect (don’t tell her that though).

R.I.P. Greg Fordahl. Sleep well my friend.

PORSCHE 356 REGISTRY STORY

Thanks to Harvey Kanter and the crew at Porsche 356 Registry Magazine for the assigned feature on a beautiful Silver 356 B Special Sunroof coupe completed by John Willhoit Auto Restoration of Long Beach, CA. One of the nicest examples I’ve photographed and written about.

Harvey, congrats for you and your car being published in the latest issue of the Porsche 356 Registry magazine!

Porsche 356 Registry Magazine

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CAROLE KING – HOME AGAIN

Everybody needs to feel needed. When you have that, everything feels right.

Yes, I repeated myself, because positive repetition is important to our well-being.

It could be a pet or a significant other. They can help to get you through the tough times.

Of course, you already know that. So, why don’t artists still make songs like this?

P.S. The original vinyl of Tapestry is best. Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, held the record for most weeks at No. 1 by a female artist for more than 20 years – That was 50 years ago.

MORE PORSCHE PHOTOS IN LATEST PANORAMA

Every once in a while I am treated to great sunrise. Here’s one from my hotel window at PCA Porsche Parade in June overlooking the Poconos site in Pennsylvania!

A Leica Q can just fit outside the swinging glass window… This is straight out of the camera. No manipulation.

STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES AND CARS

A Carrera GT Speedster built by Porsche in the 1950s is still one of my faves. I’ve been given the opportunity to do another of these rare hot rods for a feature, and it will be coming out soon. Here’s the opening spread of the last one I photographed back in 2012. Love this stuff!

FACES

Released in 1971, A Nod Is As Good As a Wink… to a Blind Horse remains The Faces definitive album. While “Stay With Me” is their all-time rocker, I’m a bit partial to “You’re So Rude”.

Not politically correct today, or perhaps ever, but their songs sure worked during the closing credits of Sahara, one of my fave movies with Penolope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey. Continue reading “”

NEW COVER THIS MONTH

Everyone knows Porsche is my favorite marque. So, it’s with much pleasure that I announce my latest cover for the Porsche Club of America’s national magazine Panorama. It’s about the people with this club. That’s why I love working with them so much.

Austin Urfer and his father decided to buy a 944 Turbo together. “All in the Family” is my September 2022 cover feature, where they share their journey together, with a bit of my personal journalistic slant added in. Enjoy this PCA “Youth Issue”, lots of good stuff!

INTENTION, OBSTACLE, CONSCIENCE, OUTCOME

Doing it right takes more than just talent and attention to detail. It also helps if you have the experience to pull off the job under any conditions.

That’s why a major car manufacturer hired me last week, and why you should too (shameless plug).

(Photo of Randy – Andrea Wells, circa 2021)

WILLIAM KLEIN PASSES AT AGE 96

William Klein was an American-born photographer and filmmaker noted for his ironic approach and use of unusual photographic techniques in the context of photojournalism and fashion photography. He was ranked 25th on Professional Photographer’s list of 100 most influential photographers. Along with Robert Frank, Klein is considered among the fathers of street photography.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died today at age 96. I was in London the week Princess Diana was killed in Paris. If this next week is anything like what I saw then, and it surely will be, it’ll be something to experience. The English have always had a special relationship with the queen mother, and it will on full display everywhere.

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