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.
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 . . .
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
#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
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)
#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).
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.
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
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