Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (4/28/13)

In the middle of the crazy Spring weeks.  Still a couple weeks away from Finals and Graduation Week but it was Jazz Fest in Denton - so that made for a busy Friday and work last night.  On top of that - Christian finished up his JV Baseball season with a last inning comeback victory on Friday.  Now it's on to Spring Football!!  And Caleb's soccer team is in a tournament this weekend in Plano - victory on Friday night, win and loss yesterday and now a game here in a few minutes.  There was a baseball loss in the middle of that yesterday.  So, I'm trying to lineup the schedule for next week, pay some bills and get ready to get out to his game while listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

THE DAMNED - ELOISE.   I didn't know until a few years ago that this is a cover version of a pop song from 1968.  This 1986 version is really one of the great tunes of that year.  This is the formative years still of Goth rock and this song is a great illustration of this era.  Glad to hear it come up again because I often don't think to play their songs until iTunes brings them up randomly.

JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS - EVERYDAY PEOPLE..  Yep, this 1983 song off her "Album" album is a cover of the Sly and the Family Stone song.  Joan made a name for herself with some good cover songs - "Crimson and Clover" and this album had "Tossin' and Turnin'" and the Stones "Star Star".  Normally I think I'd go into a Sly cover with quite the negative attitude.  But maybe I was more open to it in 1983 when I heard this version and now it's kinda quaint.  Not the best version of the song and it doesn't improve the original but for a rock version, I'm quite satisfied.  Even today.

PINK FLOYD - SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND.  I've been on a bit of a Pink Floyd kick lately and it's no surprise that iTunes took that lead and brought me another song on random play.  From the "Wish You Were Here" album, it's impressive to remember that this is from 1975.  "Remember when you were young / You shone like the sun."    Roger Waters is at a high point here on vocals.  This tribute to Syd Barrett is very striking.  Good call, iTunes.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . 

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . His Woodstock performance of "Freedom" was great but his best song for my money was his interpretation of "Here Comes The Sun".  Richie Havens played a mean guitar and always looked like he was serious about his music . . . Chrissy Amphlett was the lead singer of the Divinyls - known more for "I Touch Myself", they should be famous for better songs like "Boys In Town" and "Pleasure and Pain". . . Allan Arbus was the memorable Dr. Sydney Freedman on "M*A*S*H".  He also had an unforgettable part in COFFY and was married to the great photographer Diane Arbus . . . Cordell "Boogie" Mosson was a bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic going back to 1971 and still performed as late as last year when I saw them . . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST PETER SELLERS FILMS OF ALL-TIME

10.  AFTER THE FOX.  Generally a confusing crime film that's really a parody of early American film directors.  As I've grown older, I see the influences.  Funny film that jumps all over the place.  You have to seek this out these days.

9.  MURDER BY DEATH.  Neil Simon spoofs Agatha Christie with a huge cast.  Sellers is almost hidden within the huge cast including Peter Falk and Alec Guiness.  Wonderfully funny film.

8.  THE MOUSE THAT ROARED.  Peter Sellers in three roles that feels like a warm up for future films when he'll play multiple roles.

7.  THE PINK PANTHER.  The 1964 film introduced the cartoon character and the Sellers film character.  It is more of a David Niven vehicle to me.  And the plot makes it much more serious than the future films will be.  But it's a solid film that holds up as well as any of the films in the series.

6.  THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT.  George Roy Hill directs and Peter Sellers stars in this fun little film.  I saw it for the first time in the mid-80s and it rarely shows up in stores or on TV anymore.  Feels dated now but shows off his talent at getting into a single character.

5.  THE PARTY.  I thought at first that this Blake Edwards film mikght be my #1 Peter Sellers film.  There are some scenes here that rank among the best of his career or any other in the past 40 years.  There are so many influences from French films of the 60s that reward the viewer.  If you haven't seen them, it may seem out of place.  Can't recommend this film enough.

4.  THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN.  This 1976 film is the 5th entry in the franchise and is similar to RETURN OF.  The two almost need to be taken as one long film but this one is probably my favorite.  It's the first one I remember seeing in the theater.  It's also the whole crew at the top of their game - combination of great sight gags and wordplay worthy of classic comedies.

3.  A SHOT IN THE DARK.  The 2nd entry in the Pink Panther franchise is by far the best.  And often the most forgotten.  Elke Sommer is quite the find.  She's beautiful and Sellers is finding just the voice for Clouseau.  The plot is actually much more detailed than the future films would be and Clouseau feels like just one of the supporting characters.  But ultimately it's what the other Pink Panther films strived to be - clever on so many levels and brilliantly acted.

2. BEING THERE.  I consider this to be the last Peter Sellers film - ignoring the ones released after his death - and for any other actor, this would be their best role.  "Life is a state of mind" sticks with me as much as the message of any movie of the 1970s.  Chance the Gardner is a perfect vehicle to show us our foibles.  I think this is ripe for a remake - turn the images we see back on ourselves.

1. DR. STRANGELOVE.  A near perfect comedy.  The 1964 Kubrick directed film is a bit of chaos wrapped around an anti-war black comedy.  And who's constantly upping the ante?  Peter Sellers plays 3 roles, all of which seem destined to bring out the craziness not of his characters but up the chaos for George C. Scott and the other supporting characters.  Sellers is incredible and I can't think of another actor pulling this off.  Brilliant.

Peter Sellers is interesting in that I think he's a forgotten character actor.  For a decade or more, there are few actors who could get into a character more than Sellers.  I think his comedy is genius and I don't even know if I can find a comparison among current actors.  The list was easy to make but I'm not sure I can make much of a "worst" list because even in bad films, Peter was usually pretty good.  Bad ones - I LOVE YOU, ALICE B. TOKLAS tries so hard that it isn't very good, TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER came out two years after his death - you tell me how good it could possibly have been, and THE BOBO should have been excellent with Sellers as a matador but it just falls apart quickly.  Just off the list - the other Pink Panther films and CASINO ROYALE (he's great, as is Woody Allen, but the whole film doesn't hold up well).

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . .  for those of you born decades after myself, I know you love DROP DEAD FRED and it's available to watch over and over now . . .  HEMLOCK GROVE has been receiving mixed reviews but I've found the first few episodes to be tremendous.  It's just the type of horror genre show that doesn't get a chance on cable anymore . . .  DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE is a Science Channel show that tells a number of true stories that are really interesting even if the reenactments aren't as fun as they should be.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#352 - True Romance
#1101 - End of Days
#1116 - We Were Soldiers

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The HARRY POTTER project.  Just an update to say I've picked up "Deathly Hallows" again.  I keep almost not wanting to finish the book and have to say it's over.  I opened it and read another 30 pages last week and put it right back down.  I could open it now and finish the book in a few more hours.  What the heck is wrong with me?

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#38  Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (1973)

It was two full years after "What's Going On" and after the social awareness of that album and the Soul years at Motown - Marvin went full funk and romantic love.  I came to this album probably in 1983 or 1984.  It was quite a change from the Motown sound that I was used to.  I love this move that the label made in 1973 to feature a more cutting edge Funk sound.  And this was the leader in that move.  Marvin is brilliant on every tune.  The Funk Bros. create a layered sound that pulled from both the best of funk and soul and incorporated the classic vocals of the past.  And after saying all of that, the experience of the album is "Distant Lover" which is completely experimental compared to the sound of the rest of the album.  It's a classic lost love song - Marvin practically wails the lyrics.  It's haunting still and you need to chase down live versions to really appreciate it.  I'm loving this album even more as I write about it.

Let's Get It On 

Distant Lover

You Sure Love To Ball

Previous Rankings

#39 - Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)

#40 - Peter Gabriel - So (1986)
#41 - Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
#42 - Prince - 1999 (1982)
#43 - James Brown - The Payback (1973)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS)  Guest star name sticks out for me - Ralph Macchio.  Dude!!!

WAREHOUSE 13 (SYFY)  The "mideason premiere" makes me once again ask the question - this show is still on???  I'm all for James Marsters being on TV but I'm coninually surprised that it's this show.

TUESDAY
MINDY PROJECT (FOX)  Glad this show is finishing on a strong note (better than fellow Tuesday nighter "New Girl").  And even better is the appearance of Danny's ex-wife played by the wonderful Chloe Sevigny.

SPLASH (ABC)  And I live in a world with a diving show with Greg Louganis?  Unbelievable.

WEDNESDAY
THE AMERICANS (FX)  The season ends and that means I start looking for it to show up on Netflix so I can watch it.  Enough good reviews at the start of the season for me to start it up.

NATURE: LEGENDARY WHITE STALLIONS (PBS) The history of the Lipizzaners.  Pretty horses that I didn't know were almost extinct during WWII.

THURSDAY
ELEMENTARY (CBS)  It's about time - Holmes restarts his search for Moriarty.  It's where the season has been pointed - we must be down to the last few episodes.  Plus a guest appearance by the brilliant F. Murray Abraham.

PARKS AND RECREATION (NBC) It's the season finale of what's been a really great season.  It's been a year since Leslie won the election and April gets some "big" news.  Are we going to see a baby next season???

FRIDAY
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (TCM)  This is the slightly off-putting 1933 version with Charlotte Henry and Gary Cooper, Cary Grant and W.C. Fields.  There's some odd casting and they do skip over some important plot points.  But it does stick to the weirdness of the material.

IRON MAN (FX)  Either you just saw Part 3 or you're going later this weekend.  This will make good background noise for a Friday night.

SATURDAY
MR. HOCKEY: THE GORDIE HOWE STORY (HALLMARK)  It's about his time with the Aeros when he came out of retirement in 1973.  Guess it was too expensive to license the Red Wings jersey.  Some "Stargate" actor plays Gordie.

GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (TCM)  Just an excuse for some great Busby Berkeley productions - highlighted by some Ginger Rogers dancing.


SUNDAY
VEEP (HBO)  The season is off to a great start.  Julia Louis Dreyfus is really into the role now.  This week Selina is caught looking at her cell phone while everyone is watching a hostage rescue.  Great stuff.

AMAZING RACE (CBS)  And my Sunday nights start to become a little freer after tonight's finale.  My team has been out for weeks with the stupidest move in AR history.  I don't have a favorite left but anyone but Caleb's team (because he'll simply pick Subway for his lunch reward).

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  with the NFL draft behind us finally - this Deion ad as Leon Sandcastle is inspired . . . 

These new KFC ads where people eat the chicken so fast that they think they ate the bones, are killing me right now   . . . 

And here's Dad thinking he ate the bones . . . 

"Girl, I know you've been gone a long time
You nearly blew my mind, baby
Girl, you've been gone so long."  - Marvin Gaye

 Come here.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (4/21/13)

With other stressful news happening in the world - it was a typical Spring week for us.  Christian had a couple baseball games (I never seem to get to see him play) - both losses but he is fielding very well.  Caleb had one game rained out and played another baseball game - he started at pitcher, only gave up a couple runs and did a great job at catcher and at bat for another victory - our team is 3-1 on the season now.  Saturday was relatively light with just a soccer game - another victory.  But that just means we got a crazy couple of weeks ahead through the end of May.  Hope I can keep up with everything.  You might see me go a little off the rails keeping up with it.  Today I've got a rare break - time to get a nice lunch, workout here soon and maybe even consider a nap to make it through the day.  Until then, I'm playing some Candy Crush Saga, getting ready to write and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

NEIL DIAMOND  - PORCUPINE PIE.  This 1972 album and the "Hot August Nights" album are the first two Neil Diamond albums that made me love his music.  This "Moods" album had the great "Song Sung Blue" song to lead it off.  This song is one that never gets played on the radio but it's a favorite of all Diamond fans that I know.  No real insight as to the name of the song from me . . . "Vanilla soup, a double scoop please."

PLUMP DJ's - CREEPSHOW.  A very catchy dance tune from 2003 by this DJ duo from their "Eargasm" album.  I love this Kool & the Gang interpolation / sample.  I wish I knew more about the group - but this is the only album I appear to have on my iTunes and it looks like I haven't got nearly enough plays out of this song.

ELVIS COSTELLO - EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK.  Too, too often I forget how much I love Elvis Costello.  And this album in particular, from 1983, gives me lots of pleasure.  That "Punch The Clock" album has a number of great songs but this one was the biggest hit.  A song that compares falling in love to writing a book is a great comparison.  "Chapter Two, I think I fell in love with you."   Going to go sing along for another go through . . . 

SOMETHING RANDOM . . .  Reading reviews of Twitter Music makes me anxious for it to come to Android . . . and Cat and Sloth have forbidden love.

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . the same man wrote "Old Time Rock and Roll" that Bob Seger made famous and "One Bad Apple" by the Osmonds.  His name was George Jackson and he passed away this week . . .Frank Bank was "Lumpy" on "Leave It To Beaver" . . . Chi Cheng was bassist for the underrated Deftones . . . John Galaradi founded the original Der Wiernerschnitzel (logo designed by Saul Bass) in California.  I didn't know them until I got to California and there aren't too many left in this area of Texas. . . Michael France was a good screenwriter that isn't really a known name among many film fans - GOLDENEYE, HULK (2003), CLIFFHANGER and FANTASTIC FOUR. . . Storm Thorgerson is best known for his album covers - especially that of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon".  I'd also nominate his covers of Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy" and Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here". . .Pat Summerall is one of my favorite announcers of all-time.  He was the perfect compliment with John Madden but I also will miss him and his work on tennis and The Masters. . . Richard LeParmentier had a small but memorable role in the STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE as Admiral Motti who was choked to death by Darth Vader.  He was confusingly (to my young brain) also on an episode of "Space 1999".  He was British but died on a trip here to Austin, TX . . .

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST WHISTLING IN SONGS OF ALL-TIME

10. JOHN LENNON - JEALOUS GUY.  He has a line here "I was swallowing my pain" and the whistling here seems to cover that emotion.  Just like he lyrics have eluded him.

9.  BONES MCKINNEY - SWEET GEORGIA BROWN.  The Harlem Globetrotters theme is still really catchy and I can't think of it in any other situation than people passing basketballs around.

8.  SEVEN DWARVES - WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK.  Seems like a natural - I was just figuring out where to put it on the list.  Best little note on the song is that it's at the end of the Smith's "How Soon Is Now?".

7.  PETER GABRIEL - GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS.  A song based on a Hunger Games-ish TV show in Europe.  Kate Bush on backing vocals and some catchy whistling that makes me feel like we're about to go on a march.

6.  OTIS REDDING - DOCK OF THE BAY.  Not enough Soul songs with whistling.  And the whistling here is at the end as if he couldn't remember the last verse and was whistling to waste the time until the song was over.

5.  SUPERTRAMP - GOODBYE STRANGER.  Awesome piano through the song and then throw in some subtle but cool whistling that doesn't seem forced or out of place.

4.  BLACK KEYS - TIGHTEN UP.  There seems to be something about love songs and pain that make whistling work well in the song.  This whistling under the music is perfectly catchy.  Hard not to whistle the whole song once you get started.

3.  GUNS N ROSES - PATIENCE.  "Shed a tear cause I'm missing you."  Axl's little dance and whistle are infectious.  Still one of my favorite slow rock jams of all-time.  And unlike many of the songs here - the whistling makes important solo appearances throughout the song.  It takes "patience" sometimes to get through them but this is one of the band's high points - heartbreak be damned.

2.  MONTY PYTHON - ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE.  Eric Idle's song from LIFE OF BRIAN is one of my favorite Python songs.  Really clever lyrics and whistling that fits perfectly as a happy refrain against the bad of the world.  "Some things in life are bad / They can really make you mad."  This is a great singalong for almost any occasion.  

1.  ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW - THE FISHING HOLE.  Not sure that more songs make me feel happier than this song.  A great show but the full song is just happy.  They should have included the song with lyrics on the show.  Can't stop moving when it plays.

The whistle can be very annoying in songs.  And yet when done correctly - it's irresistible and you just have to whistle along.  I was surprised that it was actually very easy to come up with ten great whistle songs.  But the list of annoying ones seems just as easy.  The most annoying?  Start with Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and that new Flo Rida song.  But the worst ear worm of the bunch has to be the Colonel Bogey March from THE BRIDGE OVER The RivER KWAI.  That one sits in my brain for days at a time after hearing it.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . .  there's something enjoying about seeing the early work of two actors that ended up on NBC Thursday night sitcoms - BAD INFLUENCE (1980) stars Rob Lowe and James Spader in one of the better thrillers of the decade that few people seem to remember . . . I said I'd watch HATFIELDS & MCCOYS when it came to Netflix - here it is and I've kinda lost momentum on this show - might add it to the queue anyways . . . BULLY seems like a documentary that they would show my kids at school but it also seems like something big folk should watch too . . . 

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#46  -  Mary Poppins

#325 - Frankenstein (1931)

#557 - 300

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The BREAKING BAD project.  I'm getting along a little further on this project.  I'm not sure I'll be caught up by the time the new season starts.  I just never seem to be able to knock out a substantial number of episodes of a show.  The exception being my lunchtime "Castle" run last Summer.  I'm making a good run into Season Two - just finished with "Down" means that I'm a third of the way into the 2nd season and enjoying the way the Jesse and Walt relationship is developing.  The Tucco story was creepy and made a good connection with the viewer.  I"m as impressed as I thought I would be - I'll try to keep it going.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#39  Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)

This isn't a list based on sales or this would certainly be #1.  This is a list based on what these albums as a whole meant to me.  When this hit in 1982 - it would be with me all through 1983 (one of the most important years of my life).  It was the soundtrack to that year for everyone that lived through it.  The whole album is widely known - it's not like there's a track on here that you haven't heard on the radio.  There's not a clunker on this album.  I can't complain about even one song.  It was a perfect soundtrack for the days but having an album of all good songs isn't like having an album with two to three really great songs and a few mediocre ones.  The legacy of this album is deserved and while I don't listen to it as much - it has won over my kids and they love it like I did 30 years ago.

PYT - 

Wanna Be Startin' Something - 

Human Nature  - 

Previous Rankings

#40 - Peter Gabriel - So (1986)
#41 - Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
#42 - Prince - 1999 (1982)
#43 - James Brown - The Payback (1973)

#44 - Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

RECTIFY (SUNDANCE)  Man wrongly convicted of rape and murder at age 18 and finally having his sentence overturned at age 37, returns home in this drama.  It looks like a nice slow burn drama.  It's just a few hours - a mini-series in effect.  Been getting really good reviews, perfect to add to the Tivo queue until after Sweeps.

CASTLE (ABC)  I have almost caught back up.  And I'll be fair and say that the past few episodes are almost redeeming the whole season .  The REAR WINDOW episode was derivative but cool, as was the Irish Mafia episode.  

TUESDAY
AWKWARD (MTV)  My daughter caught up on "Pretty Little Liars" and has started this show now.  As a truly irresponsible father, I haven't checked out either series.  I should probably be more wary of this one, right?    Although it does have a woman from "iCarly" . . . 

TEEN TITANS GO! (TOON)  I've been waiting for a new Teen Titans for years.  This is the fun side of Young Justice and I gotta believe it's going to be my favorite new show of the Spring.

WEDNESDAY
DUCK DYNASTY (A&E)  Is the show over the shark?  They go to Hawaii this week.  You tell me.

ARROW (CW)  Dang.  I keep thinking I don't like this show.  Don't want to like it.  But when it's not on, I miss it.  And when an episode airs, I don't go a day without watching it.  More Deadshot, more murder investigations and even more of the boring flashbacks.

THURSDAY
COMMUNITY, THE OFFICE, PARKS & REC (NBC)  Three of four shows filling the two hours are new.  But not for long.  I'm not sure what Thursday nights will look like in the Fall but I have a feeling that this will be the last gasp of the comedy run of the past 25 years.  Enjoy.  There are still laughs to be had.

THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES (TCM)  This 1965 film is one that I recommend to many.  It can be a bit slow, I know.  But the story of the 1910 air race is quaint and makes me long for better days.

FRIDAY
HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC)  I don't watch this show - Season Finale tonight - but it did catch my eye to see Megan Mullally and Michael McKean as guest stars.  Yes.  Any good?

THE EXORCIST (BBC)  It's a slow night across the dial.  If you don't want NBA Playoffs, the NFL Draft or a musical chairs show - this is by far the best thing waiting for you.

SATURDAY
DOCTOR WHO (BBC)  The strongest group of shows since Matt Smith came on board?  I'll say it.

GIANT (TCM)  Before I head out to Marfa, need to watch this excellent Texas film - Rock Hudson, James Dean, Dennis Hopper and Elizabeth Taylor at her most gorgeous.

SUNDAY
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)  This season has lived up to all my expectations.  Very impressed with Diana Rigg as Queen of Thorns.  I've been down on the Lannisters going into this season but Jaime is becoming much more interesting and I can see that you never should doubt a Lannister.

VEEP (HBO)  Haven't watched an episode this season yet - anyone have a review?

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  This ad has been dominating my week.  I shipped my drawers . . . 

And that reminds me of this "cut the cheese" ad . . . 

And that reminds me too of "where do you take a sheet?"

"I don't need no dreams when I'm by your side
Every moment takes me to paradise
Darlin' let me hold you
Warm you in my arms and melt your fears away."  - Michael Jackson


 Be mine.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (4/14/13)

The sports are piling up on us.  Christian had a couple games this week but he missed them both because of a lower back injury.  Best to not push it with Spring Football less than a month away.  Caleb had a couple games this week - both victories and he's been doing a great job at catcher this season.  It's a crazy week of games and activities and work next week.  So, today should be relaxing.  But it might not be - have to get in my workout, grab a lunch and take Dee to Dallas for a study group for her AP History.  Oh, Sundays.  See you next week if I'm able to make it.  Sitting here now, looking over some bills that aren't paying themselves and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

PUBLIC ENEMY - WAR AT 33 1/3.   I've come to realize this is one of the more intense PE raps.  The song flows at and incredible speed - even for PE - and the lyrics are very important.  Another song off "Fear Of A Black Planet" about Black Power and Pride.  I don't hear this song nearly enough - great to have it back on my radar again.

MOODY BLUES - SITTING AT THE WHEEL.  This was never a favorite Moody Blues song of mine.  It was actually in the time that I was listening to lots of Moody Blues tunes but when this was a hit at the end of 1983 - I just wasn't into it.  And today I'm reminded that it's a pretty middle of the road song - surprised it was even as big as it was.  A big Moody meh from me today.

BASEMENT JAXX - DO YOUR THING.  From the awesome 2001 "Rooty" album - this is currently my Basement Jaxx jam.  I've had many of their songs be my "jam" but this one seems to have come up on my playlists lots recently.  It's the song that's getting me fired up for my workout this morning.  Need to break this out more mornings and even more nights.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . .  I predicted these articles a few years ago - is Facebook destined to become the next MySpace?

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . the beautiful Annette Funicello was one of my first crushes on the reruns of "The Mickey Mouse Club".  And don't discount the entertainment value of the Beach Party films . . . I always respected Margaret Thatcher through the 80s.  I didn't know too much about her politics and I didn't really like them much in the late 80s when I knew more about them.  But I've become a huge supporter of her as a tough, strong willed woman.  The world needs more of them . . .few people do I describe as "comedic geniuses" - Jonathan Winters was definitely one.  I first knew of him through his Maude Frickert and then through his awesome role in IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD.  He was later in "Mork & Mindy" but he also had some great serious roles in shows like "The Twilight Zone".  His quick wit and characters will be missed. . .

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

TOP TEN BEST SONGS OF 1973

11.  THE STOOGES - DEATH TRIP.  There's no way I would have appreciated this album in 1973.  I didn't even appreciate it enough in 1990.  It's only been in the past decade or so that I've learned to respect what Iggy was doing here.  It's Punk Rock before we even had any idea what to call it.

10.  GEORGE HARRISON - GIVE ME LOVE.  I had to have something from "Living In The Material World" - also an album I've appreciated more in the past four years than any album I can recall.  A genius.  "Give me hope, help me cope with this heavy load."

9.  FRED WESLEY & THE J.B.'S - DOING IT TO DEATH.  What a great year for funky good times.  And this ten minute song is a party starter.  This song may have Fred's name and James Brown's name on it but it's the Maceo sax that makes it go.  Still one of the very best.

8.  WINGS - LIVE AND LET DIE.  This is one of the songs on this list that I would have loved even in 1973 - it was my first Bond film in the theaters.  And this song stuck in my memory as much as the tarot cards.

7.  STEVIE WONDER - LIVING FOR THE CITY.  A story song that has a real "story" - something important.  Still love that bass line.
6.  JOHN LENNON - MIND GAMES.  Fell in love with this song in the mid-80s.  Still one that I fall back on after Midnight.  "Love is the flower, you got to let it, you got to let it grow."

5.  DAVID ESSEX - ROCK ON.  Few songs make rock n roll seem so cool.  I still listen to this classic - at top volumes only.  Not a song to play in quite moments.
4. BOBBY WOMACK - ACROSS 100th STREET.  It was the year after the best Blaxploitation films debuted.  But in 1973, there were some awesome soundtracks to these films.  This is still one of the classic funk and soul pieces to come out of that era that isn't from Curtis Mayfield and James Brown.  
3.  MARVIN GAYE - LET'S GET IT ON.  Find me a better funk, sexy, romantic song.  No one comes close - even Prince comes in second.
2.  ELTON JOHN - DANIEL. "I can see Daniel waving goodbye"   On the Greatest Hits album - this was the one song I started with every single time.  And only a few years ago did I realize the Texas tie to the song.  This might still be in my favorite songs to sing in the car.

1.  PAUL SIMON - LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK.  It was this or "Kodachrome".  And I kinda link them together.  Paul was on a run, much like Elton during these years.  And it was this music that turned me on to more pop music than just the Beatles.  The songs are illustrative of the awesome singles that came down the pike in that key year.  And I love them all.

I've maintained that 1972 was the pinnacle year for albums and movies in the 1970s.  I've defended both of those categories before.  But I've noticed over the last decade or so that I've leaned heavily on songs - more than albums - from 1973 also.  I think I could put together a Top 50 easily. I've narrowed it down to 11 here.  That leaves off quite a few great songs.  Also, this list is made with my musical tastes of 2013 in mind.  I'd hate to see my list if I was doing my Best Of lists when I was six years old.  It all would have come from K-Tel albums and the Sesame Street soundtrack.  The worst?  Well, the worst of the songs that were popular starts with - Tony Orlando and Dawn - Tie A Yellow Ribbon (that has been so overused in the decades after that it's a joke song now).  And sadly, I've become very tired of Jim Croce's "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown".  Just off the list . . . Ohio Players "Funky Worm", Rolling Stones "Angie" and Roberta Flack "Killing Me Softly".

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . .   a few movies for you to chew on this week . . . KING KONG (1976) was always a favorite of mine when it aired over two nights on TV - Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges . . .  and I still have more of those Cartoon Network shows to recommend - such a wealth of fun - ADVENTURE TIME and JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED are both great choices if you aren't already up on them.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#183 - Some Like It Hot
#196 - The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
#827 - My Geisha

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The STAR TREK project.  In anticipation of the new movie - I've been slowly making my way through the Original Series (more so as I've had such little sleep these past few nights).  I've watched the series at least 3-4 times but I still get new items out of it.  I finished "The Menagerie Pt. 1 and 2" - a nice retelling of "The Cage" episode with Capt. Pike.  An interesting way to try to pull in continuity that many series wouldn't make the effort to do.  And then it's followed with the truly terrible "The Conscience of the King".  This is one of the random episodes that seem to drop in the Original Series and even the Next Generation that come out with an uninspired plot of Shakespearean actors (in this case) and terrible dialog.  This follows up with the equally highly amusing "Balance of Terror" and the White Rabbit.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#40  Peter Gabriel - So (1986)

In the middle of a run of very eclectic soundtracks to BRIDY and the songs of "Passion", Peter Gabriel released his breakthrough album.  After hearing his first few albums, Peter is the least likely person I would have picked in 1986 to become a pop star.    And the minute I heard "Sledgehammer" and saw the video - I knew this was a whole different thing.  The album played a huge part in my college years.  I would play this album for naps, studying and parties.  For years, this was an album that all the roommates could agree upon.  I still love all the songs - but the duets really stand out - "Don't Give Up" with Kate Bush and "This Is The Picture" with Laurie Anderson are still amazing pieces.  Nine tracks and they all are a great balance of Gabriel's weird artsy side mixed with easily accessible music that plays well on the radio.  Don't believe me - look beyond the catchy music to the interesting lyrics of "Red Rain".  Out of nowhere this album is easily a Top Forty album.

Previous Rankings

#41 - Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
#42 - Prince - 1999 (1982)
#43 - James Brown - The Payback (1973)

#44 - Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)
#45 - The B-52's - The B-52's (1979)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

INDEPENDENT LENS (PBS)  Always a good show, but this week is the history of Wonder Woman.  Great documentary subject.

OH SIT! (THE CW)  Only on the CW does a musical chairs show get a second season.  But then again, only on the CW does Jamie Kennedy get work.

TUESDAY

THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE (PBS)  A good week for documentaries!  Ken Burns made this doc on wrongly convicted teens in a 1989 New York City rape case.

STORAGE WARS (A&E)  Another show with a new season.  There are a few changes coming along - but why does the description include the name Jeff Dunham?  Is he bringing his dummies?

WEDNESDAY

LOCKED UP ABROAD (NAT GEO)  For some reason, Netflix is really fixated on me watching this show.  The new season premieres here with the Sen. John McCain story from Vietnam.  That might actually be interesting.

DUCK DYNASTY (A&E)  I can't stop watching but this show has really run off the rails - not that it was ever "reality" but it seems so scripted this season that it's become predictable.  At least make it well scripted.  There is a "handcuffed together" episode this week???

THURSDAY
PARKS & RECREATION (NBC)  What's better than another new episode of this great show?  Two new episodes!!!  Jerry's retirement is imminent.  I will miss him lots.

COMMUNITY (NBC)  We're up to the Christmas episodes.  More Malcolm McDowell and a party at Jeff's apartment.  I'm overcoming some of my fears about this season.  But it does feel like the end is near.

FRIDAY
HEMLOCK GROVE (NETFLIX)  The best show debuting this week is probably this cool looking werewolf show - all 13 episodes are on today.  I'm loving the creative shows debuting on this outlet lately.  And even if it's bad - it's got Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgard.

HIS GIRL FRIDAY (TCM)  This is by far one of the most underrated movies of all-time.  Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell have the type of chemistry that doesn't just come from acting.  It's wonderful

SATURDAY
DOCTOR WHO (BBC)  A haunted mansion, blah, blah, blah.  I  don't really care about the new plots - they seem relatively redundant but I'm enjoying the chemistry with the new companion.  She's becoming a favorite of mine quickly.  Much like I had with Rose.

FREAKS (TCM)  This 1932 classic by Tod Browning used to never ever show on TV.  It seems like I looked for it on VHS for a decade before finding it in the mid 1980s.  But it does air occasionally on TCM - enjoy this rare non-Halloween airing.  It's still shocking over 80 years later.

SUNDAY
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)  And it picked up and rocked my world just exactly how I hoped it would.  Most exciting hour of television on the television right now?  I feel like I barely know what is happening and I love every minute of it.

PLANET EARTH (BBC)  This is an awesome series.  If you have HD and haven't watched it yet - it might be the best demo show for how great your TV can be.  If you're tired of the usual Sunday fare - there's a long marathon of episodes tonight.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  a few classics this week.  Let's start with my favorite 7-Up ad that gave us the line - "crisp and clean with no caffeine" . . . 

Or the line that we used all the time as kids - "Don't take the car, you'll kill yourself" . . .  

Or the fun phrase of "Have it your way" at Burger King . . . 

"Rest your head
You worry too much
It's going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us."  - Peter Gabriel


 Don't give up. Stay hard.

sb