I do it because I have a lot of old records that are not available on CD or for download, so it’s my way of preserving them. Plus I now get to load em’ onto my trusty iPod or use elsewhere.

So you get a sense of what I’m talking about, here’s a song I digitized today. It’s a version of a song Nina Simone made famous, “My baby just cares for me.”

Anyone want to take a stab at who this is? 2 stalwarts in their fields…and that’s a hint.

Thought so. Well he is the Elvis Presley of Mexico’s traditional ranchera music. Vicente Fernandez is the King of this genre, El Rey, and is still very much alive and touring.

I was turned onto him by my good pal and Taco Blogger extraordinaire, Armando Rayo. He brought some great vinyl over, including Vicente, and I liked it all so much, I ended up digitizing it all for myself and Mando.

But here’s a taste of Vicente in action. I love this video. Not just for the music, but the irony and surreal nature of the set up in the bar. The 2 mustachioed ranchero’s exuding gruff machismo, but sadly singing a tender song about lost love while sitting at a bar table, drinking tequila seemingly unperturbed by the presence of a ….visiting horse. Yep, its all in there. Marvelous stuff, at so many levels. Well worth 3 minutes of your time. …IF the video is blocked or down, you can find it here.

Post your answers and I shall reveal all in a couple of days…enjoy!

It was Noel Coward singing one of his own songs “I Like America”, from this 1956 LP.

Have another one lined up that is fiendishly hard…..Happy 2009!

I’m almost positive you haven’t heard before. I should use this as my theme song.

Any ideas who it is? Here’s a hint…….he’s a brit too.