999
999
Released: March 1978
United Artists Records
Produced by Andy Arthurs

Nick Cash – Guitar, Vocals
Guy Days – Guitar, Vocals
Pablo Labritain – Drums
Jon Watson – Bass, Vocals

1. Me and My Desire – 3:48
2. Chicane Destination – 2:43
3. Crazy – 3:39
4. Your Number Is My Number – 2:59
5. Hit Me – 2:56
6. I’m Alive (Cash/Days/Jon Watson) – 2:35
7. Titanic (My Over) Reaction – 3:34
8. Pick It Up – 2:44
9. Emergency – 2:53
10. No Pity – 2:00
11. Direct Action Briefing – 2:21
12. Nobody Knows (Cash/Days/Pablo Labritain/Watson) – 3:14

In England the phone number for emergency service is 999, or at least is was when these guys chose the name. I know there have been efforts made to create one worldwide number.

999, the bands debut album of the same name, was released during the height of the British punk era, contained singles “I’m Alive”/”Quite Disappointing” and “Nasty Nasty”/”No Pity”

The album also contained “Emergency”, which was the start of the band’s more distinctive approach to their previous punk sound.

The standout cuts are Emergency, and I’m Alive.

If you can find it, buy it!

Rating: *** three out of three stars

On to the story . . .

On October 31, 2009, I took my son to breakfast at McDonald’s on Vanowen and Balboa. It was empty, quiet and the playground was open for him.

As a regular breakfast consumer of McDonald’s I get used to people panhandling. If I eat deeper into Van Nuys most people bypass me, thinking I don’t know Spanish, so they walk on.

I give change, or on occasion they just want my coffee cup before it’s thrown away.

On Sunday, I see a guy walk in; he looks like the mountain man from The Oak Ridge Boys. A little roughed up, but not dirty. Boots seemed clean. He didn’t seem to order; he placed his travel roll in a booth, and kind of walked around.

At this point my son had finished his food, and wanted to play outside. So, we went to play.

After, about, a half an hour my son was done, and wanted to head home. Right as I was starting to stand-up. The bearded Mountain Man came walking into the play area. I reached into my pocket, and pulled out a dollar. Before I could hand it over, the Man said I want you to have these. He proceed to give me two coupons for a free cup of coffee, one coupon for a free breakfast sandwich, and a gift card that he said “might only have forty cents on it, but use it to buy your little one an ice cream.”

I told him I couldn’t accept it, that he should keep it. Use it for tomorrow’s breakfast. He said, you keep it, I’m fine.

I pocketed my dollar, his coupons, and the gift card. Before I could look up, he was making his way out the driveway, pulling his travel roll. I called out to him, “let me drive you somewhere.”

He said no, I’m fine. He pointed to the bus stop, and said, “There are things I want to see.”

Turned left out of the driveway, and looked at him waiting for the bus, puzzled.

He stood looking up at the sky smiling.

LAST ONE TO DIE is officially out, order at: https://www.createspace.com/3669330