Other Arms (2006 Remaster)

Besides the fact that I find this album an (almost) masterpiece, and that this piece makes me want to wag my tail, what will forever remain in my karma is the coup de foudre that struck, indeed, at first sight.

I fell in love with HER at first listen; and the most devoted fans - I mean me - know my very personal, almost hieratic ritual that precedes it.

Without having ever seen her before, I was already jealous, seeing her possessed by that brute Robbie Blunt (a genius, in my opinion). But she had to be MINE!!! So, knowing that these high-class ladies don’t give themselves away easily, I made a thousand sacrifices just to scrape together enough credit to bring her home and make her MINE forever.

For months I sweated like a coal shoveler in the hold of a ship; and the comparison is apt, given that at the time I was working in a brick factory making a million two a month, with two shifts—morning and afternoon, respectively from 5 AM to 12:30 PM and from 3 PM to 12:30 AM (because of the dryers, you know).

You've certainly understood that I’m talking about MY Fender Lead II.

We are still together, in love like on the first day, and even though her more Noble sisters, the Stratocaster and Telecaster, sometimes throw us jealous glances, we don't pay them any mind.