Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (6/23/13)

Quite a weird week.  It was the last week of business for the UNT Bookstore.  We'll be working on Monday and Tuesday to inventory and send out the rest of the stock.  But it was a week to see lots of former employees stop by - even though there will be a store there - it won't be the same Follett Family that we've had for the past ten years.  And then Caleb was at his grandparents for a camp and having a great time.  It afforded me time to get out and have some fun watching the Spurs-Heat games even if the wrong team won.  The week ahead will be some transitions too as the family leaves to head North and I have some work to get done.  Today is a fun surprise going away party for our beloved boss, Rodney.  I'm going to hit the gym before heading out.  The weird week has interrupted my sleep and creativity and this is a rather unfinished tuneage I'm working on.  Until then, I'm hydrating and watching the kids play games and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

MR MISTER - BROKEN WINGS   This is one of two or three songs that bring me directly back to the start of Freshman year at Univ of Michigan.  What a weird tune to remind me of Fall in Ann Arbor but it does.  I loved the song at the time but now it's become quite kitschy.  It's been sampled and covered so many times that it's become partially a symbol of lite rock of the mid80s.  It's still nice to hear it today.

SPLIT ENZ - HISTORY NEVER REPEATS.  When you say you like Split Enz - this is one of about three songs that you can mention that people will be like ' "Oh yeah, that's what that band was called?"  It helps if they are in their 40s and spent their formative years in front of MTV.  I can't claim to have known this song in 1981 when it was released - it was probably early 1983 when I saw the video and then became quite a huge fan, especially of Neil Finn to this day.

JOHN CAFFERTY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND - ON THE DARK SIDE.  It starts with that piano and then "Dark side's coming now nothing is real . . ." I think that almost any of us alive in 1983 can stop you right there and identify the song and the movie.  But I'd bet that a fair share of them would tell you that it's by "Eddie and the Cruisers" - the bar band they played in the same titled film.  Poor John Cafferty - years of playing bars in New England and one catchy tune from a movie that played 19,432 times on HBO and you lose your identity.  I still love this song and their "Wild Summer Nights" and would probably be one of the better bar bands to run into.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . next week.

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . I know there were a couple - I'll hit them up next week.

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

TOP TEN PAUL MCCARTNEY POST-BEATLES SONGS OF ALL-TIME

11.  LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)  I wrote this Top Ten quickly and realized that I left this essential song off the list.  And then I looked for one to knock off the list and couldn't come up with one.  This is an essential song that I love even more because of the attachment to my first Bond film.  But I have a hard time today putting it any higher on the list.

10.  JET (1973)  I don't even have to defend this being on the list, maybe just that it isn't higher.  One of his more rocking tunes and still one of the ones on this list that gets a crowd going more than just about any other.

9.  MOMMA MISS AMERICA (1970)  I wouldn't typically refer to Paul's music as "funky" but this tune could have been lifted from some of the instrumental Beastie Boys albums of the 1990s.  It's catchy and I like to play it on the jukebox if they go that deep.

8.  EAT AT HOME (1971)  Off "The Ram" album - it came to my attention when Lennon referred to it as one of his favorite McCartney solo songs.  It has a solo Harrison feel or even better, it has a Travelling Wilbury feel.  It's grown on me to the point that it's one of my favorites.

7.  ON THE WAY (1980)  Paul shows off some classic guitar licks.  I love this McCartney II album (as you'll see).  This song is a perfect blend of Blues and a little of that Hendrix lyrical work.

6.  COMING UP (1980)  Especially the live Glasgow version.  But this is Paul at his best - blending the excitement for new synthesizers, electronic sounds and just fun lyrics.  I think he's laughing through much of it.

5.  MONKBERRY MOON DELIGHT (1971)  The "Ram" album delivered some clever tunes and this one is delightful - it's got a catchy, banging piano and ridiculous lyrics.  But Paul at his best is like your stoned friend just going a little fun crazy - just genius.

4.  LET ME ROLL IT (1973)  I love this song off the "Band On The Run" disc because I easily could imagine it as a leftover song from "The White Album".  It's another of his solo album songs that I like to just crank up.  I'm always surprised to hear that people don't know this minor hit.

3.  UNCLE ALBERT / ADMIRAL HALSEY  (1971)  "The Ram" gave us some wacked out songs and the fact that this was a huge hit is a testament to the fact that good music can overcome really weird lyrics.  This was a hit - I had to say that again as I imagine the lyrics.  It's so much fun.

2.  MAYBE I'M AMAZED (1970)  Once again, I prefer the live version but this is probably the one song that most people associate with Paul's non-Beatles work.  As much as it's an ode to new love, I have always felt that it trails off in a way to suggest that even this love might be doomed to fail.  "Maybe I'm afraid of the way I love you."

1.  BAND ON THE RUN (1973)  It's like three songs in one and it's the song that tied me to his solo career for years.  I wore this single out about three times.  I like the flipside "Helen Wheels" but this was my tune almost every morning for years, even into High School.  It defines those early 70s and I can't imagine his career afterwards without it.

Paul's solo work represents my third favorite solo Beatle work after George and John.  But when you look at the body of work - there are some really, really excellent songs.  I had to leave off favorites like "Waterfalls", "My Love", "Helen Wheels" and "Take It Away".  The worst?  He's had some clunkers, I won't lie.  Trying to pick some of the older ones instead of picking on his later works - "Spies Like Us", "Too Many People" (from the usually excellent "The Ram" album) and while I don't hate it - I can see that the Classic Rock channel repetition of "Silly Love Songs" is silly and can make you hate the song.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . lazy.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -   no time.

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

#31  next week . . . 

Previous Rankings

#32 - Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

#33 - Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975)

#34 - Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989

#35 - U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)

#36 - Elton John - Captain Fantastic and Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

DEON COLE'S BLACK BOX (TBS)  A former Conan writer does his take on Tosh.  There's room for multiple versions of the same show with viral videos on the television???

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW (PBS)  Call it an All-Star show as the crew reappraises (is that a word?) some famous finds from the past including some cool Disney art.

UNDER THE DOME (CBS)  Stephen King novel adapted to a 13 week event???  Yes, please.  I remember when this was going to be a Showtime series and I was really excited.  A little less so that it's on CBS - I kinda miss my King adaptations being on ABC.  But I'm still pretty jazzed for this.

TUESDAY

CATFISH (MTV)  The 2nd season starts and aren't people a little leery of this online dating stuff?  Manti Te'o anyone?  How does this show still work?

INSIDE AMY SCHUMER (COMEDY)  The ads make me feel like I'm missing out on a show that I'll wish I had watched.  Dave Attell guests tonight and Amy tries to get out of a charity event.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (FOX)  This is setting up to be the most awesome season in years.  Tonight the Top 20 dance and finally someone goes home.  My money on the Modern dancers and maybe the Tappers.

THE SHINING (IFC)  In case you didn't get enough Stephen King adaptations last night.  Kubrick hooks you up tonight.

WEDNESDAY
BIG BROTHER (CBS)  Season 15 starts.  I'm sorry.  I'm not even going to pretend I won't be watching.  I apologize for future posts on it now.

NATURE (PBS)  Black mamba snakes from Swaziland.

THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER (AMC)  The excellent 1965 film with Dean Martin and John Wayne.  I haven't seen it years - might have to tell Tivo for this.

THURSDAY
WILFRED (FX)  Wow, I love the ads for this show.  But does anyone actually like the show?  

PAWN STARS (HIST)  A first edition of Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".  Yes!!!

FRIDAY
JOURNEY TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE (NAT GEO)  A look at the end of the Solar System and beyond with the world's largest telescope.  Always interested in Space.

AMERICAN PICKERS (HIST)  While in Texas, the guys find a building filled with coin-op games. Best of both worlds.

SATURDAY
DOCTOR WHO: THE DOCTORS REVISITED (BBC)  The 6th Doctor, Colin Baker, is one that I know little about.  But I'll watch 2 1/2 hours of him tonight.

DOCTOR WHO: THE COMPANIONS (BBC)  I love these little specials and I love companions.  Naturally.

AUNTIE MAME (TCM)  I love the bio of Mame and Rosalind Russel is beautiful and inspiring.

SUNDAY
DEXTER (SHOW)  The new season starts and I'm still only finishing Season One.  By the time this season ends the show I'll likely be one Season Two.  I know me.

RAY DONOVAN (SHOW)  I like Liev Scrieber.  Liev is starring in a new drama on Showtime as a "fixer" to the rich and powerful in Los Angeles.  I'm on it.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  no sponsors.

You right me when I'm wrong.  Stay hard.

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