And of course, the immortal Big Dipper. Taken from the wharf, August 15.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, August 2007
And of course, the immortal Big Dipper. Taken from the wharf, August 15.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The 50 Music Project: The El Lay Sound
XVII. The El Lay Sound
There was a time when I probably would have said that of the artists in this group, Linda Ronstadt was my favorite. I still own quite a few of her albums (mostly on vinyl), but they haven't held up particularly well, the exceptions being Heart Like A Wheel and Simple Dreams. What surprises me now is how well-regarded she was at the time for her interpretations of others' songs; since she wasn't a writer, that was just about all of them. Some of her covers are classics, but when she took on bigger game, like Buddy Holly, Warren Zevon (with the exception of "Carmelita;" her version is beautiful even if it doesn't quite match the original), Elvis Costello or The Rolling Stones, the results could be embarrassing. Both of the songs below made an appearance on her first Greatest Hits album, and if everything she did was this good, she'd might still be on the charts today.
After that I would have said Jackson Browne, who enjoyed a burst of creativity in the mid- to late-1970s that eventually would land him in the Hall of Fame. Late for the Sky and Running on Empty are both great albums, and the high points of The Pretender are arguably the best work he ever did. Since then he's never made a bad album, and his recent works have been criminally underrated, but nothing he's done since 1978 has quite matched what came before.
The Eagles? A great band; an incredible greatest hits album; the great Hotel California, and beyond that, a lot of inconsistency. I'm looking forward to their upcoming album, but frankly will be surprised if it matches up with the best stuff from their heyday.
Finally, anyone who's read this blog at all knows that there's no doubt in my mind today that Warren Zevon is the class of this class. One of my all-time favorites, no doubt about it.
Take it Easy, The Eagles
We gave Glenn Frey a nickname, The Lone Arranger. He had a vision about how our voices would blend and how to arrange the vocals and, in many cases, the tracks. He also had a knack for remembering and choosing good songs. Jackson Browne had shelved “Take It Easy” because he couldn’t complete it, but it was Glenn who remembered the song from some time earlier and asked Jackson about it one day. • Don Henley
Doctor My Eyes, Jackson Browne
The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, they gave us California as paradise and Jackson Browne gave us Paradise Lost. Now I always imagine, what if Brian Wilson, long after he’d taken a bite of that orange the serpent offered to him, what if he married that nice girl in “Caroline?” No, I always figured that she was pregnant anyway, and what if he moved into the valley and had two sons? One of them would have looked and sounded just like Jackson Browne. Cain, of course, would have been Jackson’s brother in arms, Warren Zevon. We love ya, Warren. But, Jackson to me, Jackson was always the tempered voice of Abel. Toiling in the vineyards, here to bear the earthly burdens, confronting the impossibility of love, here to do his father’s work. Jackson’s work was really California pop gospel. • Bruce Springsteen, speech inducting Jackson Browne into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, March 2004
Love Has No Pride, Linda Ronstadt
Already Gone, The Eagles
Late for the Sky, Jackson Browne
You’re No Good, Linda Ronstadt
Desperados Under the Eaves, Warren Zevon
As Cain to Jackson Browne’s Abel, Warren Zevon became, and remained until the day he died, one of the great unsung heroes of rock ‘n roll. His lyrical and musical brilliance was apparent from his very first album, on which this song appeared. One of the great lyric moments of all time: “And if California slides into the ocean/like the mystics and statistics say it will/I predict this motel will be standing/Until I pay my bill.”
One of These Nights, The Eagles
We made a quantum leap with “One of These Nights.” It was a breakthrough song. It is my favorite Eagles record. If I ever had to pick one, it wouldn’t be “Hotel California”; it wouldn’t be “Take It Easy.” For me, it would be “One of These Nights.” • Glenn Frey
The Pretender, Jackson Browne
Carmelita, Warren Zevon
Hotel California, The Eagles
Lawyers, Guns and Money, Warren Zevon
Running On Empty, Jackson Browne
The lines that made the song:
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running too
Clearly, the seventies were taking their toll.
I Can’t Tell You Why, The Eagles
There was a time when I probably would have said that of the artists in this group, Linda Ronstadt was my favorite. I still own quite a few of her albums (mostly on vinyl), but they haven't held up particularly well, the exceptions being Heart Like A Wheel and Simple Dreams. What surprises me now is how well-regarded she was at the time for her interpretations of others' songs; since she wasn't a writer, that was just about all of them. Some of her covers are classics, but when she took on bigger game, like Buddy Holly, Warren Zevon (with the exception of "Carmelita;" her version is beautiful even if it doesn't quite match the original), Elvis Costello or The Rolling Stones, the results could be embarrassing. Both of the songs below made an appearance on her first Greatest Hits album, and if everything she did was this good, she'd might still be on the charts today.
After that I would have said Jackson Browne, who enjoyed a burst of creativity in the mid- to late-1970s that eventually would land him in the Hall of Fame. Late for the Sky and Running on Empty are both great albums, and the high points of The Pretender are arguably the best work he ever did. Since then he's never made a bad album, and his recent works have been criminally underrated, but nothing he's done since 1978 has quite matched what came before.
The Eagles? A great band; an incredible greatest hits album; the great Hotel California, and beyond that, a lot of inconsistency. I'm looking forward to their upcoming album, but frankly will be surprised if it matches up with the best stuff from their heyday.
Finally, anyone who's read this blog at all knows that there's no doubt in my mind today that Warren Zevon is the class of this class. One of my all-time favorites, no doubt about it.
Take it Easy, The Eagles
We gave Glenn Frey a nickname, The Lone Arranger. He had a vision about how our voices would blend and how to arrange the vocals and, in many cases, the tracks. He also had a knack for remembering and choosing good songs. Jackson Browne had shelved “Take It Easy” because he couldn’t complete it, but it was Glenn who remembered the song from some time earlier and asked Jackson about it one day. • Don Henley
Doctor My Eyes, Jackson Browne
The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, they gave us California as paradise and Jackson Browne gave us Paradise Lost. Now I always imagine, what if Brian Wilson, long after he’d taken a bite of that orange the serpent offered to him, what if he married that nice girl in “Caroline?” No, I always figured that she was pregnant anyway, and what if he moved into the valley and had two sons? One of them would have looked and sounded just like Jackson Browne. Cain, of course, would have been Jackson’s brother in arms, Warren Zevon. We love ya, Warren. But, Jackson to me, Jackson was always the tempered voice of Abel. Toiling in the vineyards, here to bear the earthly burdens, confronting the impossibility of love, here to do his father’s work. Jackson’s work was really California pop gospel. • Bruce Springsteen, speech inducting Jackson Browne into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, March 2004
Love Has No Pride, Linda Ronstadt
Already Gone, The Eagles
Late for the Sky, Jackson Browne
You’re No Good, Linda Ronstadt
Desperados Under the Eaves, Warren Zevon
As Cain to Jackson Browne’s Abel, Warren Zevon became, and remained until the day he died, one of the great unsung heroes of rock ‘n roll. His lyrical and musical brilliance was apparent from his very first album, on which this song appeared. One of the great lyric moments of all time: “And if California slides into the ocean/like the mystics and statistics say it will/I predict this motel will be standing/Until I pay my bill.”
One of These Nights, The Eagles
We made a quantum leap with “One of These Nights.” It was a breakthrough song. It is my favorite Eagles record. If I ever had to pick one, it wouldn’t be “Hotel California”; it wouldn’t be “Take It Easy.” For me, it would be “One of These Nights.” • Glenn Frey
The Pretender, Jackson Browne
Carmelita, Warren Zevon
Hotel California, The Eagles
Lawyers, Guns and Money, Warren Zevon
Running On Empty, Jackson Browne
The lines that made the song:
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running too
Clearly, the seventies were taking their toll.
I Can’t Tell You Why, The Eagles
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The 50 Music Project: American...Top 40!
XVI. “Keep Your Feet On the Ground, and Keep Reaching For the Stars”
I can’t remember exactly when it started, but at some point around 1971 or 1972, I became absolutely obsessed with American Top 40, the weekly countdown of Billboard’s Top 40 hits by Casey Kasem. I began keeping lists of the number one songs, and to this day if someone asks me, for instance, “what was the number one song in the third week of June in 1973?,” there is a good chance that I’ll be able to name it.
This section was also a lot of fun to put together - there were a lot of songs here that I didn't own (at least not on CD), which necessitated numerous perusals through the used bins at Dimple Records in Elk Grove and The Beat on J Street in downtown Sacramento.
American Pie, Don McLean
When I was in the sixth grade, this was one of the most exotic songs I’d ever heard. It was fascinating; at the time, I had no idea what it meant, and no idea of the meaning of “the day the music died.” While McLean went on to have other hits, this was truly a one-shot. Glorious, but unique.
Sunshine (Go Away Today), Jonathan Edwards
This was one of the very last songs added to the collection, thanks to heavy rotation on the commercial in which it now appears.
Let’s Stay Together, Al Green
Heart of Gold, Neil Young
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Roberta Flack
Lean On Me, Bill Withers
Alone Again, Naturally, Gilbert O’Sullivan
Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl), Looking Glass
Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress), The Hollies
In June of 1972, my family took its first trip to Southern California, visiting Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, the Japanese Deer Gardens, the Hollywood Wax Museum, and other highlights. We ended up spending a lot of time in the old reliable Kingswood Estate, and nearly always had the radio on. These four songs comprised the soundtrack of the trip, along with “Take it Easy,” which appears later in this collection. In particular, Gilbert O’Sullivan’s lament was in heavy rotation; it was quite possibly the most depressing huge hit in the history of modern pop music. But I have to say that it still works, even today.
Probably the biggest find of the entire search while I was putting the collection together was finding three of these four songs on an old collection, Billboard Hot 100 Hits of 1972, at Rasputin Records in San Francisco. It's a great store - five stories high, and to get to the top two stories, you have to be taken up in an elevator, run by an elevator operator who stands there listening to music on a portable CD player on his headphones. Too cool.
Rocket Man, Elton John
The very first album that I bought with my own money was “Honky Chateau” by Elton John, on which this song appears. It remains one of his very greatest songs.
Burning Love, Elvis Presley
One last blast of greatness from the King, before the rot really began to set in.
I’ll Be Around, The Spinners
Thom Bell was a genius; the true heir to Burt Bacharach. His production and arrangements for The Spinners, The Stylistics, and others, was never less than sublime.
I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash
You’re So Vain, Carly Simon
Superstition, Stevie Wonder
These three were all #1 songs, either in late 1972 or early 1973. All remain as vital today as they were then, and can be heard on just about any given day on your typical oldies station.
Love Train, The O’Jays
I often wonder what the O’Jays must think of their great song of world peace and harmony having been turned into a light beer commercial.
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, Jim Croce
Jim Croce was, without question, one of the most unpretentious stars ever to come down the pike. I never saw him wear anything but jeans, and rarely saw him without a cigar nearby. Were it not for his untimely death, I suspect he would have remained popular even today.
Reeling in the Years, Steely Dan
Back when Steely Dan was still a band, and had yet to morph into the Fagen & Becker show. One of the all-time great “roll the windows down, turn the radio up, put the pedal to the gas” songs.
Betcha By Golly Wow, The Stylistics
One of the great, classic rock quotes of all time: “James Taylor is merely a wimp – Russell Thompkins, Jr. is a Wimp God," Robert Christgau
Cover of the Rolling Stone, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
So Very Hard to Go, Tower of Power
Kodachrome, Paul Simon
Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight & The Pips
Hello It’s Me, Todd Rundgren
Ramblin’ Man, The Allman Brothers
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
I Got A Name, Jim Croce
Knocking On Heaven’s Door, Bob Dylan
Show and Tell, Al Wilson
Takin’ Care of Business, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Come And Get Your Love, Redbone
Rock Your Baby, George McRae
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Steely Dan
Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd
I can’t remember exactly when it started, but at some point around 1971 or 1972, I became absolutely obsessed with American Top 40, the weekly countdown of Billboard’s Top 40 hits by Casey Kasem. I began keeping lists of the number one songs, and to this day if someone asks me, for instance, “what was the number one song in the third week of June in 1973?,” there is a good chance that I’ll be able to name it.
This section was also a lot of fun to put together - there were a lot of songs here that I didn't own (at least not on CD), which necessitated numerous perusals through the used bins at Dimple Records in Elk Grove and The Beat on J Street in downtown Sacramento.
American Pie, Don McLean
When I was in the sixth grade, this was one of the most exotic songs I’d ever heard. It was fascinating; at the time, I had no idea what it meant, and no idea of the meaning of “the day the music died.” While McLean went on to have other hits, this was truly a one-shot. Glorious, but unique.
Sunshine (Go Away Today), Jonathan Edwards
This was one of the very last songs added to the collection, thanks to heavy rotation on the commercial in which it now appears.
Let’s Stay Together, Al Green
Heart of Gold, Neil Young
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Roberta Flack
Lean On Me, Bill Withers
Alone Again, Naturally, Gilbert O’Sullivan
Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl), Looking Glass
Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress), The Hollies
In June of 1972, my family took its first trip to Southern California, visiting Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, the Japanese Deer Gardens, the Hollywood Wax Museum, and other highlights. We ended up spending a lot of time in the old reliable Kingswood Estate, and nearly always had the radio on. These four songs comprised the soundtrack of the trip, along with “Take it Easy,” which appears later in this collection. In particular, Gilbert O’Sullivan’s lament was in heavy rotation; it was quite possibly the most depressing huge hit in the history of modern pop music. But I have to say that it still works, even today.
Probably the biggest find of the entire search while I was putting the collection together was finding three of these four songs on an old collection, Billboard Hot 100 Hits of 1972, at Rasputin Records in San Francisco. It's a great store - five stories high, and to get to the top two stories, you have to be taken up in an elevator, run by an elevator operator who stands there listening to music on a portable CD player on his headphones. Too cool.
Rocket Man, Elton John
The very first album that I bought with my own money was “Honky Chateau” by Elton John, on which this song appears. It remains one of his very greatest songs.
Burning Love, Elvis Presley
One last blast of greatness from the King, before the rot really began to set in.
I’ll Be Around, The Spinners
Thom Bell was a genius; the true heir to Burt Bacharach. His production and arrangements for The Spinners, The Stylistics, and others, was never less than sublime.
I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash
You’re So Vain, Carly Simon
Superstition, Stevie Wonder
These three were all #1 songs, either in late 1972 or early 1973. All remain as vital today as they were then, and can be heard on just about any given day on your typical oldies station.
Love Train, The O’Jays
I often wonder what the O’Jays must think of their great song of world peace and harmony having been turned into a light beer commercial.
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, Jim Croce
Jim Croce was, without question, one of the most unpretentious stars ever to come down the pike. I never saw him wear anything but jeans, and rarely saw him without a cigar nearby. Were it not for his untimely death, I suspect he would have remained popular even today.
Reeling in the Years, Steely Dan
Back when Steely Dan was still a band, and had yet to morph into the Fagen & Becker show. One of the all-time great “roll the windows down, turn the radio up, put the pedal to the gas” songs.
Betcha By Golly Wow, The Stylistics
One of the great, classic rock quotes of all time: “James Taylor is merely a wimp – Russell Thompkins, Jr. is a Wimp God," Robert Christgau
Cover of the Rolling Stone, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
So Very Hard to Go, Tower of Power
Kodachrome, Paul Simon
Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight & The Pips
Hello It’s Me, Todd Rundgren
Ramblin’ Man, The Allman Brothers
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
I Got A Name, Jim Croce
Knocking On Heaven’s Door, Bob Dylan
Show and Tell, Al Wilson
Takin’ Care of Business, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Come And Get Your Love, Redbone
Rock Your Baby, George McRae
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Steely Dan
Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd
End of Session Must Be Near...
One of the things that used to raise my blood pressure when I worked in a governmental affairs office was when one of the houses of California’s Legislature would drop everything, and spend a few hours on a ridiculous, pointless debate on some non-binding resolution memorializing either Congress or the President to take action on an issue of foreign policy.
Well, the State Assembly has really outdone itself this time, voting yesterday to place a measure on the statewide ballot that would urge President Bush to “achieve the immediate, complete, safe and orderly withdrawal of United States forces” from Iraq. OK, whatever. Would there really be any doubt on the outcome of such an initiative in this, the bluest of blue states? And for that matter, does anyone outside of California care what we think about foreign policy issues?
What moves this from being a complete and total waste of time into the realm of shameful acts is the fact that California has numerous pressing problems of its own, problems that the Legislature has shown an increasing inability to grasp and/or deal with in recent years: education, health care, retiree benefits, the list goes on…
Yet, as we stand here today, with a little more than two weeks left in this year’s legislative session, this is how the Legislature spends its time – on a pointless and meaningless debate on Iraq.
Well, the State Assembly has really outdone itself this time, voting yesterday to place a measure on the statewide ballot that would urge President Bush to “achieve the immediate, complete, safe and orderly withdrawal of United States forces” from Iraq. OK, whatever. Would there really be any doubt on the outcome of such an initiative in this, the bluest of blue states? And for that matter, does anyone outside of California care what we think about foreign policy issues?
What moves this from being a complete and total waste of time into the realm of shameful acts is the fact that California has numerous pressing problems of its own, problems that the Legislature has shown an increasing inability to grasp and/or deal with in recent years: education, health care, retiree benefits, the list goes on…
Yet, as we stand here today, with a little more than two weeks left in this year’s legislative session, this is how the Legislature spends its time – on a pointless and meaningless debate on Iraq.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Defending Harry Potter!
This is something that, eventually, I would have gotten around to writing myself (but probably not until my next lifetime), so I'm very happy that EscutcheonBlot from the Liverputty site has gone ahead and done it for me. (Hat tip to The House Next Door).
Titled "Harry Potter and the Snarky Reviewer," the piece defends the Potter series, and takes on those who felt the need, not only to criticize the books (which I have no problem with), but to imply that anyone who read them or enjoyed them was dim-witted and obviously quite uncapable of enjoying "real" literature. Even some of my favorite bloggers, linked on this site, engaged in some Potter-bashing, and the tone of superiority that characterized those comments and pieces was annoying as hell. [Warning: there are dozens of spoilers in the piece, so it should not be read if you've missed any of the books.]
My favorite section of the piece, one of those things I wish I'd written myself:
J.K. Rowling may not be a mistress of elegant prose, but Henry James is considered one of the all-time prose geniuses, and he often lost the plot before he finished a sentence. There is, of course, the pleasing narcissism of being able to pooh-pooh all that is popular in order to appear sophisticated and intellectual; but I don't think this explains either the undercurrent of supercilious praise of Rowling as a children's author, or the outright condemnation (as in the recent review in the Christian Science Monitor or the faux review in the Guardian) of the central character as having made no moral journey.
Kudos to Mr. Blot for a job well done.
Titled "Harry Potter and the Snarky Reviewer," the piece defends the Potter series, and takes on those who felt the need, not only to criticize the books (which I have no problem with), but to imply that anyone who read them or enjoyed them was dim-witted and obviously quite uncapable of enjoying "real" literature. Even some of my favorite bloggers, linked on this site, engaged in some Potter-bashing, and the tone of superiority that characterized those comments and pieces was annoying as hell. [Warning: there are dozens of spoilers in the piece, so it should not be read if you've missed any of the books.]
My favorite section of the piece, one of those things I wish I'd written myself:
J.K. Rowling may not be a mistress of elegant prose, but Henry James is considered one of the all-time prose geniuses, and he often lost the plot before he finished a sentence. There is, of course, the pleasing narcissism of being able to pooh-pooh all that is popular in order to appear sophisticated and intellectual; but I don't think this explains either the undercurrent of supercilious praise of Rowling as a children's author, or the outright condemnation (as in the recent review in the Christian Science Monitor or the faux review in the Guardian) of the central character as having made no moral journey.
Kudos to Mr. Blot for a job well done.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The 50 Music Project - AM Radio Rules!
Last night was the party for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I'd been nervous about it for a while, because the expectations were so high, but as it turned out I needn't have worried. It was a wonderful night, one of those that remains with you for a lifetime. It was emotional, because in all likelihood, it was the last time that this particular group of people will ever be in the same place, at the same time. There were moments of sadness for those people you wished could have been there, and those for whom age has taken a toll. But all of that was outweighed by the sheer joy that you could feel in the room. A wonderful night.
Right up to the last minute, I was putting the finishing touches on the "liner notes" to accompany my present for my parents, the 50th Anniversary Music Project. In a way, I'm almost sad that it's over - it was a lot of work, but it was truly a labor of love, in all respects.
This next section was one of my favorites to put together, because it was really the first time where my memories of these songs and the role that they played in our lives was crystal clear.
XV. AM Radio 1969-72: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous, and Back Again
For a kid growing up in Sacramento in the late 1960s, AM Radio meant 1240 KROY, and if you were a budding music freak like me and some of my buddies, that meant that you went so far as to have arguments about which disc jockey was the best – was it Bob Sherwood, Chuck Roy, Gene Lane, or the Wonder Rabbit? And why in the world was he called the Wonder Rabbit? And why did he always say “eat a banana?”
There’s no doubt in my mind that listening to AM radio for as long as I did – even when the “cool” 8th graders (if there is such a thing) were defecting to KZAP on the FM side of the dial, I stuck with AM – contributed to the diversity of my tastes. Because on any given day during the heyday of AM radio (at least the heyday as far as I was concerned), you could hear everything from some of the greatest rock songs ever created to some of the worst crap ever released on vinyl. Nothing in this section falls into the truly, hideously awful category, but I tried to include several songs, mostly one-hit wonders, that skirted the edges. But the great thing is that, mixed with all of the greatness, those songs sound great as well. In the end, it’s up to the listener to make up his/her mind.
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, The Fifth Dimension
The Fifth Dimension record on which this song appeared was in heavy, heavy rotation at the Vaca household for more than a year. I also remember sitting at the radio on Friday afternoons, breathlessly waiting for it to appear on that week’s Top 5.
Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley
Spirit in the Sky, Norman Greenbaum
Yummy Yummy Yummy, Ohio Express
So…dad walks in after work one day, and starts talking about this song he heard for the first time on the radio: “I swear to God, they were saying, ‘yummy yummy yummy, I got a baby in my tummy.’” Close, but no cigar.
Incense and Peppermints, Strawberry Alarm Clock
Man, when I was in 4th grade, we thought this song was as cool as you could possibly get.
Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell was a ‘rilly big thing’ for a few years, and what ended up getting lost in his cornpone vaudeville act was the fact that he was a hell of a musician. This is one of several songs that Jimmy Webb penned for Glen, and it became the huge hit that it deserved to be.
Good Morning Starshine, Cast of “Hair”
Nearly forty years later, it’s hard to imagine that anyone took Hair – billed as “The first American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” – seriously. But at the time, there were nine simultaneous productions in U.S. cities, followed by an extensive national tour. According to producer Michael Butler, the reason for this was to “try and influence public opinion against the Vietnam War and end it as soon as possible.” O-kay; try to read that one out loud and keep from laughing.
Dumb as many of them may seem now, the songs remain wildly entertaining, though it would be difficult to find a more patently ridiculous lyric sheet. This song is probably the worst offender; for the bridge alone the lyricists (Rado and Ragni) should probably have been found guilty of a misdemeanor:
Gliddy glub gloopy
Nibby nabby noopy
La la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba
Nooby abba nabba
Le le lo lo
Tooby ooby walla
Nooby abba naba
Early morning singing song
But I defy anyone to listen to this song, and be able to get it out of their mind. Try it. Good luck!
Lay Lady Lay, Bob Dylan
How he got his voice to sound like this, we may never know. It certainly never happened before this, nor since.
Spinning Wheel, Blood, Sweat and Tears
Sugar, Sugar, The Archies
Hitchin’ A Ride, Blues Image
Little Green Bag, Norman Baker Selection
In the Year 2525, Zager & Evans
The greatest one-hit wonder in the history of Top 40 radio. Difficult though it may be to believe, their follow-up single, “Mr. Turnkey,” was a song about a rapist who nails his own wrist to the wall as punishment for his crime. I can’t imagine why that one failed to chart.
Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye, Steam
Dizzy, Tommy Roe
What’s Going On, Marvin Gaye
Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel
I Think I Love You, The Partridge Family
Imagine, John Lennon
This group of songs absolutely epitomizes what was so wonderful about the AM era. Conceivably, you could have heard these five songs in succession on any given day. One absolute soul classic, one of the great crooner songs of all time, and one of the most legendary songs ever written. And two pieces of glorious, fun, dreck. Yet, those songs absolutely belonged. And that, folks, was AM radio.
Maggie May, Rod Stewart
Fire and Rain, James Taylor
It’s Too Late, Carole King
If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot
Theme from “Shaft”, Isaac Hayes
Joy to the World, Three Dog Night
Brown Sugar, The Rolling Stones
Truckin’, The Grateful Dead
Right up to the last minute, I was putting the finishing touches on the "liner notes" to accompany my present for my parents, the 50th Anniversary Music Project. In a way, I'm almost sad that it's over - it was a lot of work, but it was truly a labor of love, in all respects.
This next section was one of my favorites to put together, because it was really the first time where my memories of these songs and the role that they played in our lives was crystal clear.
XV. AM Radio 1969-72: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous, and Back Again
For a kid growing up in Sacramento in the late 1960s, AM Radio meant 1240 KROY, and if you were a budding music freak like me and some of my buddies, that meant that you went so far as to have arguments about which disc jockey was the best – was it Bob Sherwood, Chuck Roy, Gene Lane, or the Wonder Rabbit? And why in the world was he called the Wonder Rabbit? And why did he always say “eat a banana?”
There’s no doubt in my mind that listening to AM radio for as long as I did – even when the “cool” 8th graders (if there is such a thing) were defecting to KZAP on the FM side of the dial, I stuck with AM – contributed to the diversity of my tastes. Because on any given day during the heyday of AM radio (at least the heyday as far as I was concerned), you could hear everything from some of the greatest rock songs ever created to some of the worst crap ever released on vinyl. Nothing in this section falls into the truly, hideously awful category, but I tried to include several songs, mostly one-hit wonders, that skirted the edges. But the great thing is that, mixed with all of the greatness, those songs sound great as well. In the end, it’s up to the listener to make up his/her mind.
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, The Fifth Dimension
The Fifth Dimension record on which this song appeared was in heavy, heavy rotation at the Vaca household for more than a year. I also remember sitting at the radio on Friday afternoons, breathlessly waiting for it to appear on that week’s Top 5.
Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley
Spirit in the Sky, Norman Greenbaum
Yummy Yummy Yummy, Ohio Express
So…dad walks in after work one day, and starts talking about this song he heard for the first time on the radio: “I swear to God, they were saying, ‘yummy yummy yummy, I got a baby in my tummy.’” Close, but no cigar.
Incense and Peppermints, Strawberry Alarm Clock
Man, when I was in 4th grade, we thought this song was as cool as you could possibly get.
Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell was a ‘rilly big thing’ for a few years, and what ended up getting lost in his cornpone vaudeville act was the fact that he was a hell of a musician. This is one of several songs that Jimmy Webb penned for Glen, and it became the huge hit that it deserved to be.
Good Morning Starshine, Cast of “Hair”
Nearly forty years later, it’s hard to imagine that anyone took Hair – billed as “The first American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” – seriously. But at the time, there were nine simultaneous productions in U.S. cities, followed by an extensive national tour. According to producer Michael Butler, the reason for this was to “try and influence public opinion against the Vietnam War and end it as soon as possible.” O-kay; try to read that one out loud and keep from laughing.
Dumb as many of them may seem now, the songs remain wildly entertaining, though it would be difficult to find a more patently ridiculous lyric sheet. This song is probably the worst offender; for the bridge alone the lyricists (Rado and Ragni) should probably have been found guilty of a misdemeanor:
Gliddy glub gloopy
Nibby nabby noopy
La la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba
Nooby abba nabba
Le le lo lo
Tooby ooby walla
Nooby abba naba
Early morning singing song
But I defy anyone to listen to this song, and be able to get it out of their mind. Try it. Good luck!
Lay Lady Lay, Bob Dylan
How he got his voice to sound like this, we may never know. It certainly never happened before this, nor since.
Spinning Wheel, Blood, Sweat and Tears
Sugar, Sugar, The Archies
Hitchin’ A Ride, Blues Image
Little Green Bag, Norman Baker Selection
In the Year 2525, Zager & Evans
The greatest one-hit wonder in the history of Top 40 radio. Difficult though it may be to believe, their follow-up single, “Mr. Turnkey,” was a song about a rapist who nails his own wrist to the wall as punishment for his crime. I can’t imagine why that one failed to chart.
Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye, Steam
Dizzy, Tommy Roe
What’s Going On, Marvin Gaye
Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel
I Think I Love You, The Partridge Family
Imagine, John Lennon
This group of songs absolutely epitomizes what was so wonderful about the AM era. Conceivably, you could have heard these five songs in succession on any given day. One absolute soul classic, one of the great crooner songs of all time, and one of the most legendary songs ever written. And two pieces of glorious, fun, dreck. Yet, those songs absolutely belonged. And that, folks, was AM radio.
Maggie May, Rod Stewart
Fire and Rain, James Taylor
It’s Too Late, Carole King
If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot
Theme from “Shaft”, Isaac Hayes
Joy to the World, Three Dog Night
Brown Sugar, The Rolling Stones
Truckin’, The Grateful Dead
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The 50 Music Project: Homestretch of the Sixties
XII. “We’re More Popular Than Jesus”
Depending on one's point of view, this was either the period of the Beatles’ greatest work, or the time when they evolved (or dissolved) into four separate entities from the true collaborative band that they began as. There is probably some truth to both opinions, and ultimately it doesn’t really matter, because during their last four years together, they produced an amazing body of work. They stretched themselves, and they stretched the boundaries of rock and roll beyond what any single artist or band had accomplished, or even contemplated. They truly were one of a kind.
Here, There And Everywhere
With A Little Help From My Friends
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
All You Need Is Love
Hey Jude
Something
Come Together
Let It Be
XIII. Beyond the Summer of Love
This was one of the most fertile periods in rock history. And it was the time that “rock ‘n roll” began to evolve into something more accurately called “rock,” defined roughly by Robert Christgau as any music derived from the work and influence of the Beatles. In retrospect, this was when the first seeds of audience fragmentation were sown, as AM radio playlists tightened up, FM radio attracted an audience, and performers like Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel paved the way for the singer-songwriter boom that would commence in a few years.
Like A Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
Light My Fire, The Doors
The Weight, The Band
The Sound of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel
I’m A Believer, The Monkees
Son of A Preacher Man, Dusty Springfield
Born to Be Wild, Steppenwolf
Piece of My Heart, Big Brother and the Holding Company
In the Ghetto, Elvis Presley
Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
For What It’s Worth, Buffalo Springfield
Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell. When I was in the 4th grade, one of our teachers (Mrs. Dotters was her name) organized a singing event where groups of kids sang popular songs of the day – and this was the song that my group sang. Alas, some numb-nut parent complained about our brains being poisoned by the devil’s music, and that put an end to that.
Mrs. Robinson, Simon & Garfunkel
Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash
XIV. The Greatest American Rock and Roll Band
Creedence Clearwater Revival was nothing less than a miracle. For a period of approximately 3 years, there literally was never a time that a Creedence song wasn’t in the top ten. And none of them were flukes – these were all absolutely classic rock ‘n roll songs, and completely different than most of what was hitting the airwaves at the time. Unlike most bands, who were following the example of the Beatles and moving towards a more “psychedelic” sound, Creedence was patently and transparently modeled on the sounds of Elvis and Buddy Holly, updated to sound absolutely modern and vital. It was a creative explosion that, aside from the likes of the Beatles and Stones, has never been matched.
Proud Mary
Bad Moon Rising
Lodi
Down on the Corner
Green River
Fortunate Son
Up Around the Bend
Who’ll Stop the Rain?
Lookin’ Out My Back Door
Depending on one's point of view, this was either the period of the Beatles’ greatest work, or the time when they evolved (or dissolved) into four separate entities from the true collaborative band that they began as. There is probably some truth to both opinions, and ultimately it doesn’t really matter, because during their last four years together, they produced an amazing body of work. They stretched themselves, and they stretched the boundaries of rock and roll beyond what any single artist or band had accomplished, or even contemplated. They truly were one of a kind.
Here, There And Everywhere
With A Little Help From My Friends
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
All You Need Is Love
Hey Jude
Something
Come Together
Let It Be
XIII. Beyond the Summer of Love
This was one of the most fertile periods in rock history. And it was the time that “rock ‘n roll” began to evolve into something more accurately called “rock,” defined roughly by Robert Christgau as any music derived from the work and influence of the Beatles. In retrospect, this was when the first seeds of audience fragmentation were sown, as AM radio playlists tightened up, FM radio attracted an audience, and performers like Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel paved the way for the singer-songwriter boom that would commence in a few years.
Like A Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
Light My Fire, The Doors
The Weight, The Band
The Sound of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel
I’m A Believer, The Monkees
Son of A Preacher Man, Dusty Springfield
Born to Be Wild, Steppenwolf
Piece of My Heart, Big Brother and the Holding Company
In the Ghetto, Elvis Presley
Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
For What It’s Worth, Buffalo Springfield
Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell. When I was in the 4th grade, one of our teachers (Mrs. Dotters was her name) organized a singing event where groups of kids sang popular songs of the day – and this was the song that my group sang. Alas, some numb-nut parent complained about our brains being poisoned by the devil’s music, and that put an end to that.
Mrs. Robinson, Simon & Garfunkel
Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash
XIV. The Greatest American Rock and Roll Band
Creedence Clearwater Revival was nothing less than a miracle. For a period of approximately 3 years, there literally was never a time that a Creedence song wasn’t in the top ten. And none of them were flukes – these were all absolutely classic rock ‘n roll songs, and completely different than most of what was hitting the airwaves at the time. Unlike most bands, who were following the example of the Beatles and moving towards a more “psychedelic” sound, Creedence was patently and transparently modeled on the sounds of Elvis and Buddy Holly, updated to sound absolutely modern and vital. It was a creative explosion that, aside from the likes of the Beatles and Stones, has never been matched.
Proud Mary
Bad Moon Rising
Lodi
Down on the Corner
Green River
Fortunate Son
Up Around the Bend
Who’ll Stop the Rain?
Lookin’ Out My Back Door
Business As Usual
The California State Senate is leading the latest crusade to excoriate the state's public universities for not being in compliance with Title IX, which governs gender equity in collegiate athletics.
I worked for the California State University system's Office of Governmental Affairs for 13 years, and because it quickly became apparent when I was hired that I was the biggest sports fan among the staff, the college sports/athletics assignment was given to me. Title IX was a huge issue for CSU at the time, because the California branch of the National Organization of Women had sued the system for non-compliance. In a decision that was correct but controversial, then-Chancellor Barry Munitz agreed that CSU would enter into a Consent Decree, stipulating that after a period of several years (If I recall, it was somewhere between 5 and 7), CSU campuses would achieve certain benchmarks in demonstrating progress towards achieving gender equity in athletics in a wide variety of categories, including opportunities for student athletes, funding for facilities, salaries for coaches, etc. When the term of the Consent Decree was completed, both sides agreed that its requirements had been met.
In my mind, CSU was way ahead of the game in terms of meeting Title IX requirements, both then and now. At the same time, it didn't take long for me to realize that this was one of the classic "loser" issues of all time, because no matter what CSU did, it was going to be lambasted by a significant constituency. If campuses were unable to achieve requirements because there was simply insufficient interest in women's athletics (which was and probably still is the case at some campuses), Democrats were outraged. And if the only thing that some campuses could do to achieve gender equity was to cut men's programs such as football or wrestling, Republican members (and many alumni) were outraged.
The 900-pound gorilla, as one of my colleagues called it at the time, is men's football. For a campus where men's football rules, such as Fresno State, it becomes next to impossible to achieve many of Title IX's requirements. And the sad fact of the matter is that, until and unless there is equivalent interest in women's athletics, interest that generates sufficient revenue to justify the existence of the programs in the first place, football (and at some schools, basketball) is always going to skew the statistics.
There's no doubt that Title IX is sound public policy, as well as the right thing to do. But at least as often as not, public universities (at least those in California) get little credit (and a raw deal) from state policymakers for their efforts.
I worked for the California State University system's Office of Governmental Affairs for 13 years, and because it quickly became apparent when I was hired that I was the biggest sports fan among the staff, the college sports/athletics assignment was given to me. Title IX was a huge issue for CSU at the time, because the California branch of the National Organization of Women had sued the system for non-compliance. In a decision that was correct but controversial, then-Chancellor Barry Munitz agreed that CSU would enter into a Consent Decree, stipulating that after a period of several years (If I recall, it was somewhere between 5 and 7), CSU campuses would achieve certain benchmarks in demonstrating progress towards achieving gender equity in athletics in a wide variety of categories, including opportunities for student athletes, funding for facilities, salaries for coaches, etc. When the term of the Consent Decree was completed, both sides agreed that its requirements had been met.
In my mind, CSU was way ahead of the game in terms of meeting Title IX requirements, both then and now. At the same time, it didn't take long for me to realize that this was one of the classic "loser" issues of all time, because no matter what CSU did, it was going to be lambasted by a significant constituency. If campuses were unable to achieve requirements because there was simply insufficient interest in women's athletics (which was and probably still is the case at some campuses), Democrats were outraged. And if the only thing that some campuses could do to achieve gender equity was to cut men's programs such as football or wrestling, Republican members (and many alumni) were outraged.
The 900-pound gorilla, as one of my colleagues called it at the time, is men's football. For a campus where men's football rules, such as Fresno State, it becomes next to impossible to achieve many of Title IX's requirements. And the sad fact of the matter is that, until and unless there is equivalent interest in women's athletics, interest that generates sufficient revenue to justify the existence of the programs in the first place, football (and at some schools, basketball) is always going to skew the statistics.
There's no doubt that Title IX is sound public policy, as well as the right thing to do. But at least as often as not, public universities (at least those in California) get little credit (and a raw deal) from state policymakers for their efforts.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The 50 Music Project: Stones and Soul
IX. Would You Let Your Daughter Marry A Rolling Stone?
I'm sure that I heard "Satisfaction" and some of the other great early Stones hits when I was a kid, but the first one I really remember hearing - and remember dad letting me turn up the radio when it came on - was "Honky Tonk Women." At that time, I had no idea about the Stones' image as the bad boys of rock, and I kinda doubt that my dad did either. By the mid-seventies, I was convinced they were the greatest rock band of all time. I'm not sure I'd go to the mat on that today, but they're certainly up there near the top. And you have to give them credit; after years of releasing what frankly were pretty terrible albums, just a couple of years ago they came out with one that was right up there with their best. Not quite at that level, but certainly close enough to justify their ongoing existence as a performing entity.
Mick Jagger was never a rocker. He wasn’t a mod, either. He was a bohemian, an antiutopian version of what Americans called a folkie. That is, he was attracted to music of a certain innocence as only a fairly classy – and sophisticated – person can be. Unlike John Lennon and Paul McCartney (and Bob Dylan), his ambitions weren’t kindled by Elvis Presley; his angry, low-rent mien was no more a reflection of his economic fate than his stardom was a means for him to escape it.” • Robert Christgau, The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll
I don’t know how Mick Jagger became the symbol of rock and roll but he did and I’ve had to think about him and his band and his music more than I’ve had to think about anything else in rock. • Simon Frith, Stranded: Rock and Roll For a Desert Island
Satisfaction
As Tears Go By
19th Nervous Breakdown
Get Off Of My Cloud
Paint It Black
Let’s Spend the Night Together
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Honky Tonk Women
X. Sweet Soul Music
What can you say? Music that sounds as fresh today as on the day it was released. They really don't make them like this anymore.
Night Train, James Brown
I’ve Been Lovin’ You Too Long, Otis Redding
“Majestic” is the only word that adequately describes this song, Redding’s best if not best known. The tension builds from the first note, and the release comes in the final verse, when the horns and the piano complement the pained vocal – a man pleading, on his knees, literally begging for the relationship to continue. J.V.
Soul Man, Sam & Dave
Ice-cold truth, told as much by trumpet and guitar as by the fabulous interplay of voices. In the history of braggadocio, few have been so convincing. • Dave Marsh, The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made
Respect, Aretha Franklin
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, James Brown
With the possible exception of Little Richard, no one has ever made a rock or rhythm and blues record this extreme. At a time when Motown had made comparatively ornate records seem the wave of the future, Brown posited the most radical alternative: a record so totally immersed in rhythm that you barely noticed ornamentation at all. No record before sounded anything like it. No record since – certainly no dance record – has been unmarked by it. James Brown is entitled to every bit of his vanity, because in 1965, he invented the rhythmic future in which we live today. • Dave Marsh, The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made
In the Midnight Hour, Wilson Pickett
Stag-o-lee in a mohair suit, he promoted a sly carnal urgency, but it was “In the Midnight Hour,” more plea than brag, that made him immortal. Pickett climbed mountains, crossed rivers, braved storms, all within his room, until the door opened and love came tumbling down. • Greil Marcus, Stranded: Rock and Roll For a Desert Island
Try A Little Tenderness, Otis Redding
I only saw him perform once, at a revue in Boston. The audience was overwhelmingly black and sat through two and a half hours of mediocre soul music before Redding made his appearance. The crowd was growing restless, having heard too many singers say, “Let me see you clap your hands.” Then Redding came on. The first thing he did was say, “Let me see you clap your hands.” I immediately forgot the preceding two and a half hours and clapped my hands. The audience knew instantly it was in the presence of an absolute master. The band still had not played a single note yet every person in the hall was standing. • Jon Landau, The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll
When A Man Loves A Woman, Percy Sledge
Beginning with “When A Man Loves A Woman” – Sledge never matched it, no one could have – this was soul so deep it seemed to rise slowly from the bottom of the sea, and, as each song ended, to return from whence it came. • Greil Marcus, Stranded: Rock and Roll For a Desert Island
Hold On I’m Comin’, Sam & Dave
I Got You (I Feel Good), James Brown
It’s All Right, The Impressions
Land of 1000 Dances, Wilson Pickett
Knock On Wood, Eddie Floyd
I’ve Never Loved A Man (the Way I Love You), Aretha Franklin
Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
I'm sure that I heard "Satisfaction" and some of the other great early Stones hits when I was a kid, but the first one I really remember hearing - and remember dad letting me turn up the radio when it came on - was "Honky Tonk Women." At that time, I had no idea about the Stones' image as the bad boys of rock, and I kinda doubt that my dad did either. By the mid-seventies, I was convinced they were the greatest rock band of all time. I'm not sure I'd go to the mat on that today, but they're certainly up there near the top. And you have to give them credit; after years of releasing what frankly were pretty terrible albums, just a couple of years ago they came out with one that was right up there with their best. Not quite at that level, but certainly close enough to justify their ongoing existence as a performing entity.
Mick Jagger was never a rocker. He wasn’t a mod, either. He was a bohemian, an antiutopian version of what Americans called a folkie. That is, he was attracted to music of a certain innocence as only a fairly classy – and sophisticated – person can be. Unlike John Lennon and Paul McCartney (and Bob Dylan), his ambitions weren’t kindled by Elvis Presley; his angry, low-rent mien was no more a reflection of his economic fate than his stardom was a means for him to escape it.” • Robert Christgau, The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll
I don’t know how Mick Jagger became the symbol of rock and roll but he did and I’ve had to think about him and his band and his music more than I’ve had to think about anything else in rock. • Simon Frith, Stranded: Rock and Roll For a Desert Island
Satisfaction
As Tears Go By
19th Nervous Breakdown
Get Off Of My Cloud
Paint It Black
Let’s Spend the Night Together
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Honky Tonk Women
X. Sweet Soul Music
What can you say? Music that sounds as fresh today as on the day it was released. They really don't make them like this anymore.
Night Train, James Brown
I’ve Been Lovin’ You Too Long, Otis Redding
“Majestic” is the only word that adequately describes this song, Redding’s best if not best known. The tension builds from the first note, and the release comes in the final verse, when the horns and the piano complement the pained vocal – a man pleading, on his knees, literally begging for the relationship to continue. J.V.
Soul Man, Sam & Dave
Ice-cold truth, told as much by trumpet and guitar as by the fabulous interplay of voices. In the history of braggadocio, few have been so convincing. • Dave Marsh, The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made
Respect, Aretha Franklin
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, James Brown
With the possible exception of Little Richard, no one has ever made a rock or rhythm and blues record this extreme. At a time when Motown had made comparatively ornate records seem the wave of the future, Brown posited the most radical alternative: a record so totally immersed in rhythm that you barely noticed ornamentation at all. No record before sounded anything like it. No record since – certainly no dance record – has been unmarked by it. James Brown is entitled to every bit of his vanity, because in 1965, he invented the rhythmic future in which we live today. • Dave Marsh, The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made
In the Midnight Hour, Wilson Pickett
Stag-o-lee in a mohair suit, he promoted a sly carnal urgency, but it was “In the Midnight Hour,” more plea than brag, that made him immortal. Pickett climbed mountains, crossed rivers, braved storms, all within his room, until the door opened and love came tumbling down. • Greil Marcus, Stranded: Rock and Roll For a Desert Island
Try A Little Tenderness, Otis Redding
I only saw him perform once, at a revue in Boston. The audience was overwhelmingly black and sat through two and a half hours of mediocre soul music before Redding made his appearance. The crowd was growing restless, having heard too many singers say, “Let me see you clap your hands.” Then Redding came on. The first thing he did was say, “Let me see you clap your hands.” I immediately forgot the preceding two and a half hours and clapped my hands. The audience knew instantly it was in the presence of an absolute master. The band still had not played a single note yet every person in the hall was standing. • Jon Landau, The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll
When A Man Loves A Woman, Percy Sledge
Beginning with “When A Man Loves A Woman” – Sledge never matched it, no one could have – this was soul so deep it seemed to rise slowly from the bottom of the sea, and, as each song ended, to return from whence it came. • Greil Marcus, Stranded: Rock and Roll For a Desert Island
Hold On I’m Comin’, Sam & Dave
I Got You (I Feel Good), James Brown
It’s All Right, The Impressions
Land of 1000 Dances, Wilson Pickett
Knock On Wood, Eddie Floyd
I’ve Never Loved A Man (the Way I Love You), Aretha Franklin
Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Favorite Movies, A to Z
The A to Z idea comes courtesy of Tom the Dog, but rather than general obsessions or albums I decided to give movies a whirl. There were some tough choices, and on some letters, very slim pickings. Here goes:
American Graffiti – Watching this movie makes me wonder what happened to George Lucas’ ability to work with actors. The performances are all so natural; so believable. Of course, the real star of the movie is the soundtrack, which remains the best available compilation of late fifties/early sixties rock ‘n roll.
Blade Runner – Amazing when it was released, even better with the tweaks that have occurred over the years on various VHS and DVD editions. Harrison Ford is excellent, but the movie’s strength comes from the performance of Rutger Hauer.
A Christmas Story – I’ve never gotten tired of it, and never will. Every year, it feels like we find a new favorite moment. But the all-time highlight has to be Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon as the parents.
The Dead Zone – Still one of the best movie adaptations of a Stephen King novel, and my favorite performance from Christopher Walken. The scene where Tom Skerritt tells Walken that his power is a “gift from God,” and Walken's reaction, never fails to send chills down my spine. And a truly chilling performance from Martin Sheen, as a very different presidential candidate from the one he would go on to play 20 years later.
The Empire Strikes Back – Hands down, the best of the Star Wars films. I saw it, either alone or with my brothers, 8 times during the summer of 1980. Favorite moment? “The force is with you, young Skywalker…but you are not a Jedi yet.”
Fargo – Just thinking about William H. Macy’s performance makes me want to stick binder clips on the ends of my fingers. And yes, Frances McDormand deserved her Oscar.
The Godfather – Perfection in every frame.
Hannah and Her Sisters – My favorite Woody Allen movie. Wonderful performances from Mia Farrow, Michael Caine, Dianne Weist, Barbara Hershey, and Allen himself. I’ve always enjoyed the fact that the story is built around Thanksgiving, and I always try to watch it in November.
The Incredibles – This isn’t just a great Pixar film – this is a great film, period. Maybe you have to have grown up reading comic books to think so, but I hope not.
Jaws – When this came out, who knew what was to come from Steven Spielberg? But the moments are all there; little ones, like Brody making faces at his young son, who knows that daddy is upset but is not sure why. And…Robert Shaw!
Kill Bill, Vol. I – Truth be told, I don’t even think this is Tarantino’s best film (Pulp Fiction wins that contest, hands down), but it’s included here because it filled a very special need at a very important time. I was going through a particularly frustrating and depressing time at work, and skipping out and taking a long lunch to watch Uma Thurman wreak havoc on the world was just the medicine I needed.
L.A. Confidential – One of my all-time favorite books, and even though the movie made some very important deletions and changes, it was absolutely true to the Ellroy spirit. Coming generations who watch this movie and see Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce will be envious of those who saw the movie when those two were but little-known actors.
Moulin Rouge – Incandescent; transcendent; wonderful. The moment when Nicole Kidman is lowered, seemingly from the heavens, and the camera zooms in on her face is one of the great moments in cinematic history.
North by Northwest – Cary Grant, at his most debonair. Need more be said?
Ordinary People – Great performances all around, but especially from Timothy Hutton. I’ve seen this film scorned because it “robbed” Raging Bull of a Best Picture Oscar, but that scorn is wholly undeserved. This too is a great film.
Prince of the City – It kills me to leave Pulp Fiction off, but I’ve got to go with my heart – This is the great unsung American drama of all time, and thankfully it is now available on DVD. Incredible, incredible cast, and masterful film-making from the great Sidney Lumet.
Quiz Show – With a performance from John Turturro that rivals William H. Macy’s “Fargo” turn in its twitchiness.
The Right Stuff – It’s two completely different movies rolled into one – the Chuck Yeager sections are completely different in tone and feeling than the Mercury astronaut sections. But it all works, and in the end they all feel like heroes.
Some Like It Hot – Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, and Billy Wilder; all at their best. A perfect movie.
To Kill A Mockingbird – An iconic performance from Gregory Peck, and from Mary Badham, the all-time best performance by a child actor. Elmer Bernstein’s beautiful score should also be lauded and appreciated.
The Usual Suspects – Contrived? Sure. Fun? Absolutely.
Victor/Victoria – Blake Edwards was on a roll when this one came out, and in my mind it is much underappreciated by the masses. A great comedic performance from James Garner.
Working Girl – There are so many great lines in this movie, it’s hard to know where to start. Who would’ve thought that Harrison Ford could pull it off? But he does, and Melanie Griffith is just as good.
X-Men 2 – The best comic book movie ever made, with the possible exception of Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins.
The Year of Living Dangerously – You don’t hear people talk about this movie much anymore, but I stand by my original opinion that it’s a great movie.
Zelig – Sorry, folks. I just haven’t seen that many movies starting with “Z.” But I really did enjoy this one.
American Graffiti – Watching this movie makes me wonder what happened to George Lucas’ ability to work with actors. The performances are all so natural; so believable. Of course, the real star of the movie is the soundtrack, which remains the best available compilation of late fifties/early sixties rock ‘n roll.
Blade Runner – Amazing when it was released, even better with the tweaks that have occurred over the years on various VHS and DVD editions. Harrison Ford is excellent, but the movie’s strength comes from the performance of Rutger Hauer.
A Christmas Story – I’ve never gotten tired of it, and never will. Every year, it feels like we find a new favorite moment. But the all-time highlight has to be Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon as the parents.
The Dead Zone – Still one of the best movie adaptations of a Stephen King novel, and my favorite performance from Christopher Walken. The scene where Tom Skerritt tells Walken that his power is a “gift from God,” and Walken's reaction, never fails to send chills down my spine. And a truly chilling performance from Martin Sheen, as a very different presidential candidate from the one he would go on to play 20 years later.
The Empire Strikes Back – Hands down, the best of the Star Wars films. I saw it, either alone or with my brothers, 8 times during the summer of 1980. Favorite moment? “The force is with you, young Skywalker…but you are not a Jedi yet.”
Fargo – Just thinking about William H. Macy’s performance makes me want to stick binder clips on the ends of my fingers. And yes, Frances McDormand deserved her Oscar.
The Godfather – Perfection in every frame.
Hannah and Her Sisters – My favorite Woody Allen movie. Wonderful performances from Mia Farrow, Michael Caine, Dianne Weist, Barbara Hershey, and Allen himself. I’ve always enjoyed the fact that the story is built around Thanksgiving, and I always try to watch it in November.
The Incredibles – This isn’t just a great Pixar film – this is a great film, period. Maybe you have to have grown up reading comic books to think so, but I hope not.
Jaws – When this came out, who knew what was to come from Steven Spielberg? But the moments are all there; little ones, like Brody making faces at his young son, who knows that daddy is upset but is not sure why. And…Robert Shaw!
Kill Bill, Vol. I – Truth be told, I don’t even think this is Tarantino’s best film (Pulp Fiction wins that contest, hands down), but it’s included here because it filled a very special need at a very important time. I was going through a particularly frustrating and depressing time at work, and skipping out and taking a long lunch to watch Uma Thurman wreak havoc on the world was just the medicine I needed.
L.A. Confidential – One of my all-time favorite books, and even though the movie made some very important deletions and changes, it was absolutely true to the Ellroy spirit. Coming generations who watch this movie and see Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce will be envious of those who saw the movie when those two were but little-known actors.
Moulin Rouge – Incandescent; transcendent; wonderful. The moment when Nicole Kidman is lowered, seemingly from the heavens, and the camera zooms in on her face is one of the great moments in cinematic history.
North by Northwest – Cary Grant, at his most debonair. Need more be said?
Ordinary People – Great performances all around, but especially from Timothy Hutton. I’ve seen this film scorned because it “robbed” Raging Bull of a Best Picture Oscar, but that scorn is wholly undeserved. This too is a great film.
Prince of the City – It kills me to leave Pulp Fiction off, but I’ve got to go with my heart – This is the great unsung American drama of all time, and thankfully it is now available on DVD. Incredible, incredible cast, and masterful film-making from the great Sidney Lumet.
Quiz Show – With a performance from John Turturro that rivals William H. Macy’s “Fargo” turn in its twitchiness.
The Right Stuff – It’s two completely different movies rolled into one – the Chuck Yeager sections are completely different in tone and feeling than the Mercury astronaut sections. But it all works, and in the end they all feel like heroes.
Some Like It Hot – Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, and Billy Wilder; all at their best. A perfect movie.
To Kill A Mockingbird – An iconic performance from Gregory Peck, and from Mary Badham, the all-time best performance by a child actor. Elmer Bernstein’s beautiful score should also be lauded and appreciated.
The Usual Suspects – Contrived? Sure. Fun? Absolutely.
Victor/Victoria – Blake Edwards was on a roll when this one came out, and in my mind it is much underappreciated by the masses. A great comedic performance from James Garner.
Working Girl – There are so many great lines in this movie, it’s hard to know where to start. Who would’ve thought that Harrison Ford could pull it off? But he does, and Melanie Griffith is just as good.
X-Men 2 – The best comic book movie ever made, with the possible exception of Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins.
The Year of Living Dangerously – You don’t hear people talk about this movie much anymore, but I stand by my original opinion that it’s a great movie.
Zelig – Sorry, folks. I just haven’t seen that many movies starting with “Z.” But I really did enjoy this one.
California Hall of Fame
Governor Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver have announced this year's inductees into the California Hall of Fame:
photographer Ansel Adams
comedian Milton Berle
computer entrepreneur Steve Jobs
former San Francisco Giants great Willie Mays
wine magnate Robert Mondavi
actress and dancer Rita Moreno
civil rights figure and baseball legend Jackie Robinson
medical pioneer Dr. Jonas Salk
author John Steinbeck
actress Elizabeth Taylor
governor and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren
actor John Wayne
golfer Tiger Woods
Well, it certainly is an eclectic list. Makes me wonder what the criteria for selection are, or indeed if there are any criteria at all. It certainly doesn't look as if all the choices are based on any kind of unique contribution to California.
In any event, for the full list of inductees, check out this page.
photographer Ansel Adams
comedian Milton Berle
computer entrepreneur Steve Jobs
former San Francisco Giants great Willie Mays
wine magnate Robert Mondavi
actress and dancer Rita Moreno
civil rights figure and baseball legend Jackie Robinson
medical pioneer Dr. Jonas Salk
author John Steinbeck
actress Elizabeth Taylor
governor and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren
actor John Wayne
golfer Tiger Woods
Well, it certainly is an eclectic list. Makes me wonder what the criteria for selection are, or indeed if there are any criteria at all. It certainly doesn't look as if all the choices are based on any kind of unique contribution to California.
In any event, for the full list of inductees, check out this page.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Overheard From Upstairs
Son #2: Mom, do you think Jerry from ER could beat up dad?
Mom: I think so. He'd probably just sit on him.
Mom: I think so. He'd probably just sit on him.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
The 50 Music Project: Into the Mid-Sixties
VII. Mid Sixties Melting Pot
Now we move into a period where I actually remember hearing some of these songs as a kid, either on the radio or in the house. "Bang Bang" was a big favorite of my dad's, although the version I remember hearing was the Sonny & Cher rendition. After listening to that version on a used CD that I found, I decided instead to include the (superior) Nancy Sinatra version, which made an appearance in Kill Bill Vol. 1.
The "stereo" we had in our house was little more than a torture device designed to inflict pops and scratches on vinyl records upon each playing. Of course, the turntable was a multi-record changer, so most often dad would just throw five records on, and the sound that it made when one record landed on top of the other could be heard throughout the entire house.
Now we move into a period where I actually remember hearing some of these songs as a kid, either on the radio or in the house. "Bang Bang" was a big favorite of my dad's, although the version I remember hearing was the Sonny & Cher rendition. After listening to that version on a used CD that I found, I decided instead to include the (superior) Nancy Sinatra version, which made an appearance in Kill Bill Vol. 1.
"Born Free" and "Georgy Girl" were also played a lot in our house. I like to think that my own tastes had not yet developed to the point where they could have an impact on that of my parents. But after all, I was only six or seven years old.
Bang Bang, Nancy Sinatra
Dirty Water, The Standells
Whipped Cream, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
California Sun, The Rivieras
Georgy Girl, The Seekers
Born Free, Matt Monro
Cherish, The Association
Do You Believe In Magic, The Lovin’ Spoonful
Wild Thing, The Troggs
Turn, Turn, Turn, The Byrds
Higher and Higher, Jackie Wilson
The Letter, The Box Tops
Nobody But Me, Human Beinz
What the World Needs Now, Jackie DeShannon
California Dreaming, The Mamas and the Papas
VIII. A Tale of Two Divas
Dirty Water, The Standells
Whipped Cream, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
California Sun, The Rivieras
Georgy Girl, The Seekers
Born Free, Matt Monro
Cherish, The Association
Do You Believe In Magic, The Lovin’ Spoonful
Wild Thing, The Troggs
Turn, Turn, Turn, The Byrds
Higher and Higher, Jackie Wilson
The Letter, The Box Tops
Nobody But Me, Human Beinz
What the World Needs Now, Jackie DeShannon
California Dreaming, The Mamas and the Papas
VIII. A Tale of Two Divas
The "stereo" we had in our house was little more than a torture device designed to inflict pops and scratches on vinyl records upon each playing. Of course, the turntable was a multi-record changer, so most often dad would just throw five records on, and the sound that it made when one record landed on top of the other could be heard throughout the entire house.Two records that withstood this torture were "Petula Clark's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1" and Dionne Warwick's "Golden Hits, Vol. II." The latter I have as part of my record collection, and can attest to the fact that it is barely listenable. Not because the music is bad, mind you - just the fact that the record sounds as if it was used for home plate a few times.
In fact, the music is brilliant - the music, lyrics, and arrangements of Burt Bacharach and Hal David have stood the test of time, and in Dionne Warwick they found their perfect foil. This is great, great stuff. Petula didn't have the benefit of a genius at her helm, although at his best, songwriter/producer Tony Hatch came reasonably close. And with "Downtown," he was able to create one of the great pop singles of the era, one that sounds as great today as it did in 1965.
Anyone Who Had A Heart, Dionne Warwick
You’d Better Come Home, Petula Clark
Walk On By, Dionne Warwick
Downtown , Petula Clark
Are You There With Another Girl, Dionne Warwick
My Love, Petula Clark
I Say A Little Prayer, Dionne Warwick
I Know A Place, Petula Clark
You’d Better Come Home, Petula Clark
Walk On By, Dionne Warwick
Downtown , Petula Clark
Are You There With Another Girl, Dionne Warwick
My Love, Petula Clark
I Say A Little Prayer, Dionne Warwick
I Know A Place, Petula Clark
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Tiger to PGA: Thanks, but no thanks
Geoff Shackelford wraps it up nicely. Essentially, Tiger Woods' decision to skip the first tournament of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup is a public relations disaster that can't be spinned. Think Titanic. Think Hindenburg. That bad.
I don't blame Tiger, and I believe him when he says that he needs a week off. And the whole idea was ludicrous to begin with. I mean, come on - if Jim Furyk wins the FedEx Cup, how many people are going to think that he is the best golfer in the world? Show of hands, please?
Trying to generate interest in golf at just the moment baseball's pennant races heat up and the NFL season kicks off was a dumb idea from the get-go. If the PGA brass had any brains, they would shorten the tour, thereby making it more likely that the best players would appear from week to week.
I don't blame Tiger, and I believe him when he says that he needs a week off. And the whole idea was ludicrous to begin with. I mean, come on - if Jim Furyk wins the FedEx Cup, how many people are going to think that he is the best golfer in the world? Show of hands, please?
Trying to generate interest in golf at just the moment baseball's pennant races heat up and the NFL season kicks off was a dumb idea from the get-go. If the PGA brass had any brains, they would shorten the tour, thereby making it more likely that the best players would appear from week to week.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Max Roach 1924-2007
On the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis, another musical titan passed away. Max Roach was likely known to but a small fraction of those who loved and enjoyed Elvis, but his importance to jazz music - to American music - may be just as lasting. He wasn't the flashiest drummer of all time, just the best. From his contributions to the major works of Charlie Parker to the legendary Freedom Now Suite, his brilliance and passion were always readily apparent.
Undercover Black Man has posted a nice tribute, including links to some amazing pieces of music and some breathtaking video of a live performance of Freedom Now.
Undercover Black Man has posted a nice tribute, including links to some amazing pieces of music and some breathtaking video of a live performance of Freedom Now.
Patty Griffin sings Springsteen
On the day I found out a new Springsteen (with E Street Band) album is to be released, a tribute: the great Patty Griffin singing "Racing in the Streets."
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