Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (9/8/13)

A better week than last for sure.  I didn't work as many hours and I'm getting a "real" weekend.  Caleb started his baseball season on Saturday with a loss in the heat.  Also, Thursday was Christian's 2nd start at QB for Little Elm. Not only did they get the first win of the season - 38-21, but Christian scored his first TD of the season on a run too.  Very proud Dad.  Good night of Michigan football over Notre Dame last night to top it off.  Anxious to have a "lazy" Sunday and watch some NFL today - including a Sunday night Cowboys game.  I'll head to the gym in a minute but until then, I'm reading up on the Fall TV season and listening to some tuneage . . .

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

SIMPLE MINDS - PROMISED YOU A MIRACLE.  That 1982 album "New Gold Dream" has some gems on it.  But none better than this tune.  While they'd have lots of singles over the decade - this is probably their best Dance song.  And the remix is one that needs to be played at bars all over the country.  Great memories of that Spring of 1983 when it played on MTV constantly.

"Slipping back on golden times

Breathing with sweet memories."

STRAY CATS - I WON'T STAND IN WAY.  This 1983 single is one of my favorite Stray Cats songs because it isn't Rockabilly as much as a straight up traditional early 1960s DoWop type of song that could easily have been lifted directly from the DINER or AMERICAN GRAFFITI soundtrack.  And it's about finally letting the "one" girl go.  Excellent stuff that most people don't recognize as Stray Cats.

SPLIT ENZ - STRANGER THAN FICTION.  This song is the title of their biography and it's the song that they build their concerts around.  It isn't a huge hit but it's pretty illustrative of the peak years when they were the hottest export from New Zealand.  The lyrics are literary and the sound is New Wave mixed with the Art Rock of classic Genesis.  I'm so glad to hear it again this morning.  More Split Enz, iTunes, please.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . 

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . .   Tommy "The Duke" Morrison was a decent fighter in his day but most of you reading this only know him from his role in ROCKY V.  He did beat George Foreman and one point to get the title but was forced to retire with HIV. . . Sir David Frost was one of the last of the true TV journalists - quite an intellectual doing interviews.  He's best know for the Frost - Nixon  interviews but check out anything he's done in the 70s and 80s. . . William Froug produced some classic shows like "Gilligan's Island", "Bewitched" and "The Twilight Zone" but I'd recommend his screenwriting books - "Zen and the Art of Screenwriting I and II" . . . 

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

BEST UNFILMED STEPHEN KING STORIES AND NOVELS

10.  BLOCKADE BILLY.  Not sure how this short baseball story would play best - probably a made for HBO film.  It's a bit hokey but with the right director it could be a good supernatural film.

9.  INSOMNIA.  I think that even non-DARK TOWER fans could deal with this if done correctly.  It's more than just a movie - but less than series.  A multi-part mini-series maybe by the BBC would work.

8.  RAGE.  This book under the Richard Bachman pseudonym will probably never make it to film. It's essentially a school shooting story that hits very close to home with the headlines.  There might be a brave director that would try to pry it from him.

7.  THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON.  Long short story or short novel. Not sure how to classify it but it could make a really creepy film in the tradition of BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, etc.  

6.  GERALDS GAME.  Not one of my favorite books.  It was much lesser than the other "strong women" novels.  It has a kinky angle that might make an interesting film.  If casted correctly - it could be a breakout role for a late 20s actress.

5.  THE TALISMAN.  It's such a great novel that I had to quickly look to make sure it hadn't been adapted already.  It's too long for a single film and would probably have the best tone for a miniseries.  You definitely need to read it first.

4.  THE EYES OF THE DRAGON.  I love this Science Fiction work.  It's the least Stephen King of the Stephen King novels.  I don't know how easy it would be to adapt.  I'm willing to go out on a limb and wonder if it wouldn't make a nice animated feature.

3.  CELL.  It's like a mashup of about 5 other King works.  But I'm a huge fan of the sheer fun of the zombies meet "The Stand" premise of the film.  Done right - this could be a film that resets the zombie craze back to movie levels.

2.  11/22/63.  I feel like this could work on many levels.  It's a huge book but it could be adapted down to a 2 hour film or maybe best as a two-part film the way that the last Harry Potter was handled.  I know it's only a matter of time on this one . . .

1.  THE DARK TOWER.  We'll see this in our lifetimes - I mean, we did see "Watchmen" - but how we see it is the key.  It cries out for a "Game of Thrones" type of multi-season adaptation.  Casting will be a non-winner.  Everyone has ideas in their heads - I can't see any known actor pulling it off.  The text of the novels would be a pretty easy adaptation as is.

He's the "pop storyteller" of our generation.  His works are accessible and pleasantly scary.  More often than not, they make good films and sometimes they make tremendous films - SHAWSHANK, STAND BY ME, CARRIE, etc.  The likelihood of 7-8 of these being made is pretty high.  What am I not waiting to see?  "Breathing Method" was a good shocking story but wouldn't work well in any format over 30 minutes.  "The Regulators" is a good story but I've yet to imagine that it would be a good mini-series.  Some of the other Bachman works just don't seem like they'll make good films like "The Long Walk".  Maybe soon we need a list of the ones that are most crying for a remake (it wouldn't include "Carrie").

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . .OUR IDIOT BROTHER might not be award winning but you get Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks . . . the uplifting film THE ROAD is now available . . . The 4400 was one of those shows over 4 seasons that seemed to start as a copy of "Lost" but was one that took on a life of its own and I always wanted to indulge in.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#105 - No Country For Old Men

#729 - Mr. Holland's Opus

#1045 - Frost/Nixon

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -   The BREAKING BAD project.  Yep, I'm not caught up.  I kinda tried over the Summer.  But it's nice to kinda keep going at it with a few episodes at a time and then a bit of a break to let it sink in.  I'm finished with the 2nd season.  It was quite a run that started with Tuco's death and greatly expanded the business plan.  I was growing tired of Jesse and Jane and I'm interested to see the fallout from that.  It's really good - I never said it would be anything but.  Now I'm at the point where the show took almost a 10 month break - I won't let it go so long before delving into Season 3.

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

#26  Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks (1975)

It's hard to narrow down my favorite Bob Dylan albums.  The issue is that most of his albums are only about 80% complete for me.  There's a run of 7-8 great songs and a few duds.  But this 1975 album is one of the few that's a home run from beginning to end.  This isn't the political and folky Dylan - these are songs of love and heartbreak.  This is an exploration of growing old and being angry and lonely.  These songs still hit on an emotional level that he doesn't always reach.  Even today - this album is timeless.  There are ten extraordinary songs that stand the test of time.  Songs like "Shelter From The Storm" tell the kind of story that I just long for from today's artists.

Shelter From The Storm

You're Going To Make Me Lonesome When You Go

You're A Big Girl Now

Previous Rankings

#27 - Paul Simon - Graceland (1986)

#28 - The Clash - London Calling (1979)

#29 - Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)

#30 - New Order - Power, Corruption, Lies (1983)

#31 - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY
UNDER THE DOME (CBS)  The 1st season is winding down and you fair weather Stephen King fans abandoned this show a bit early.  It's still trying to find an identity, but as the supernatural takes more of a central stage - I've enjoyed the past few episodes a bit more.  Dean Norris as Big Jim has actually done a good job of escaping his "Breaking Bad" character.

POV: PING PONG (PBS)  This documentary covers the incredibly cool Over 80 Year Olds in their own World Table Tennis Championships.

TUESDAY
SONS OF ANARCHY (FX)  The 5th Season starts tonight.  I knew from the very beginning that I'd like this show.  Still sure that I'll love it when I finally get started.  Donal Logue won me over on "Copper" and he looks like a similar character here.

AMERICAN MASTERS: BILLIE JEAN KING (PBS)  I don't know if anybody younger than my generation even understands what she meant not just to women's tennis - but women's sports and the feminist movement in general.  A nice long look at her life tonight.

WEDNESDAY
THE HEART, SHE HOLLER (TOON)  Weird soap opera airing with short episodes every weeknight for 3 weeks - stars Patton Oswalt and Amy Sedaris - that should sell you.

BRAINS ON TRAIL w/ALAN ALDA (PBS)  Interesting look at what Science might do for our Justice System.  It's scary what kind of inner thoughts that Science might be able to discover.

THURSDAY
DEREK (NETFLIX)  It's been a dozen years since "The Office".  Then there's the excellent follow-ups like "Extras" and "Life's Too Short".  Ricky Gervais is back on Netflix this time and I'm anxious to see Karl Pilkington in the role of Dougie.

IMPRACTICAL JOKERS (TRU)  I was late to this show - finding it this Summer.  The practical joke show is hilarious and Rosie O'Donnell is along for the jokes tonight.

FRIDAY
HAVEN (SYFY)  This show is still around and I remember watching the initial episodes and thinking it seemed like a mini-series.  And years later it's still rolling along.  Any body watch?

SOYLENT GREEN (TCM)  There's probably no way that you don't know the secret of this film, right?  Don't let that stop you from enjoying an excellently written film starring Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson.

SATURDAY
LIFEBOAT (TCM)  I haven't seen this 1944 Hitchcock in years.  Wonderful story that plays out like a stage play.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:  OHIO ST AT CALIFORNIA (ABC)  Do I need to say more than "Go Cal!!"

SUNDAY
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)  So, so excited for the return of this show.  It covers one of my favorite times in history and last season ended so spectacularly.

THE NEWSROOM (HBO)  An uneven 2nd season comes to an end.  The writing has been less than satisfactory.  But I still enjoy the characters and I'll be back for another season.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  It's the time of year when we'll get a slew of Messin With Sasquatch ads.  The flaming bag is a good classic . . . 

Queen my dishes . . . 

The Puppy Brother ad is still on of the best of the year . . .

"We always did feel the same
We just saw it from a different point of view."  - Bob Dylan

Tangled up.  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 (2/24/13)

Just when the year started looking a little better - I had to end it with Inventory.  That meant a long day on Friday and even longer day on Saturday.  That prep work means I missed a few of Christian's baseball games (not terrible since it was like 40 degrees all week) and Caleb's last basketball game yesterday.  Which was a victory!  Also, he started soccer yesterday with a tie.  Crazy.  I did manage to wedge in 2 baseball practices and 2 basketball practices for Caleb.  We've got a basketball team party this afternoon and a baseball practice.  Hopefully the week ahead lightens up a bit.  March on the horizon!!  Looking outside at the fence that isn't there still - when are they going to start building the new one? - and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

P.M. DAWN - A WATCHER'S POINT OF VIEW.    It's the first single that I heard of Prince B and Doc G. in 1991.  They would blow up quickly after this with "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss" but I had this one on a compilation and it was enough to know that there was something very interesting about this group.  The song samples one of my favorite Doobie Brothers songs that not many people remember - "Feelin' Down Farther".  I may even like this more than "Set Adrift" and "Looking Through Patient Eyes".  Solid single to get my morning started.

JOHN WILLIAMS - HARRY'S WONDEROUS WORLD.  It doesn't have the cultural significance of "Hedwig's Theme".  But I'm a huge fan of this piece from HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE.  But it was a tough year to be nominated for Oscar for movie scores as he lost to Howard Shore for LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP.  I need to fill in the iTunes gaps in my Potter scores.  But this is one that always brings back the best memories.

ZZ TOP - SHARP DRESSED MAN.   This used to just be one of those 1983 songs that I enjoyed for what it was - a decent video and alright guitar riff.  And now it dominates again as the theme from "Duck Dynasty".  I guess it's meant to represent men with long beards.  I liked many other songs on their "Eliminator" album better than this.  But you can't deny the catchy lyrics and guitars.  Simple song but doesn't fit this morning's other tunes very well.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . So Ann Coulter got booed during a debate with John Stossel. Insulting Libertarians and making crazy statements about gay marriage.


DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . .  Jerry Buss was the majority owner of the Lakers going back to the Showtime days.  Always respected the way the man ran his team even if I wanted the Pistons to beat them every time.  I also loved the trivia that he lived in Mary Pickford's old mansion . . . Elspet Gray was a British TV actress that you'd recognize if you like the best shows that the BBC has to offer.  She was in "Fawlty Towers", "Blackadder" and "Catweazle" . . . Damon Harris joined the Temptations in the early 1970s and you know his voice on "Papa Was  A Rolling Stone" and "Superstar" . . . Mindy McCready took the cowards way out.  I liked some of the songs off her first couple albums but drugs and alcohol seemed to rob from her voice the past couple years . . .  Tony Sheridan was one of the early Beatles and has an interesting story.  He was responsible for much of the rockabilly sound of the early Beatles.  This isn't the first time he's died - he was reported dead during the Vietnam War too.  But this one seems more final. . . Lou Myers was Mr Gaines on "A Different World", other than that I only remember him as Clint in TIN CUP. . . "What do you want on your Tombstone" was a great ad campaign in the 80s and with the death this week of Pep Simek who created the cardboard thin frozen pizza. . . .

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

WORST GRAMMY MISTAKES OF ALL-TIME

10.  STEELY DAN - TWO AGAINST NATURE (Best Album 2001).  C'mon, Grammys.  This won over Radiohead - OK Computer and Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP.  True it would have been going out on a cool limb to award either.  But Steely Dan is two decades too late.
9.  MILLI VANILLI (Best New Artist 1990)  Because this was later revoked it doesn't rank higher than #9.  But even if they weren't faking it - you pick them over Neneh Cherry, Indigo Girls, Soul II Soul and Tone Loc???
8.  HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH (Best New Artist 1996).  Just ignore the huge new release from Alanis Morissette in 1996.  And nothing will ever happen for that Shania Twain.
7.  A TASTE OF HONEY (Best New Artist 1979).  Sure I like me some "Boogie, Oogie, Oogie" but as disco was starting a three year death knell, these ladies won over Elvis Costello and The Cars.
6.  JETHRO TULL - CREST OF A KNAVE (Best Hard Rock / Metal 1989)  And Metallica with their "And Justice For All" album release sat there with mouths agape as Jethro Tull walked up to accept the award for a category I don't think they even knew they qualified for.
5.  CREED - WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN (Best Rock Song 2001)  I don't know that there were many other good choices in a year full of some crappy rock.  But certainly it wasn't this one.  I would have gone Red Hot Chili Peppers "Californication" or even Lenny Kravitz "Again".  But Creed???
4.  ERIC CLAPTON - LAYLA (UNPLUGGED) (Best Rock Song 1992)  An unplugged version of a song that was mostly famous because of it's electric guitars.  And it beat out maybe the most important song of the decade - Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"!!!  Kurt just couldn't take it . . . 
3.  YOUNG MC - BUST A MOVE (Best Rap Performance 1990)  Sure it was catchy.  But first you might look to Tone Loc's "Funky Cold Medina" and the big change brought on by De La Soul's "Me, Myself and I".  But even if that doesn't do it for you - how about the ground breaking Public Enemy "Fight The Power".  What a mistake.
2.  CHRISTOPHER CROSS - CHRISTOPHER CROSS (Album Of The Year 1981)  I love this album, I won't deny.  But look around and you see Billy Joel "Glass Houses" and Pink Floyd "The Wall" just to mention a couple albums that should have beat it out.
1. NEW VAUDEVILLE BAND - WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL (Best Rock and Roll Recording 1967).  Sure you've never heard the song.  And it beat out Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" and Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" and two albums full of new Jimi Hendrix songs. I could have lived with Monkees "Last Train To Clarksville" or Mamas and the Papas "Monday Monday" winning.

Not that I generally expect the Grammys to be the measure of what great music is - much like the Academy Awards don't represent the "best" movies of any year.  This list is just a way to show some frustration when common sense seems to fly out the door.  I don't have a Best Grammy mistakes.  Generally I think they do a good job capturing a decent pick with Best Album and Best Song these days.  It's still interesting to see the terrible track record for Best New Artist and some of the genre categories.  Saw part of this years and it grades out to a big meh in general.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . Some good ESPN docs have shown up this week - GOING BIG is the man chosen in the NBA draft ahead of Michael Jordan.  Sam Bowie is usually the butt of jokes but this puts him in perspective . . . BENJI is about the boy who appeared he would go on to be the next Michael Jordan when he was in High School in Chicago but was the victim of a tragic shooting.  Good details on a story that I only barely remember . . . MAKE ME SUPERHUMAN is a fun Nat Geo special that explores exoskeletons and other add-ons that can help give us mere humans superhero like powers.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#223 - Pirates of the Caribbean:  Dead Man's Chest
#985 - Sleepy Hollow
#1056 - Titan A.E.

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The BREAKING BAD project.  I've been off of this show for too long.  I was a couple episodes in when I took a break.  I picked it back up this week and finished Season One.  I'm to the point where Walter has shaved his head and the drama over distributing the Meth has gone to another level.  I can see where through just 7 episodes that we are building a Universe with multiple levels that will be able to go another 50 episodes and build upon what happened here to start.  I'm excited about the series and want to rush through it and at the same time I want to savor it.  The 13 episode arc of Season Two is calling me.  The power of Netflix?  There are three times as many people watching the show now as back in 2009 when this was airing.

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

#47 Billy Joel - The Stranger (1977)

Weeks ago I raved about "52nd Street".  But before Billy released that excellent album, he hit his stride with this masterpiece, "The Stranger".  I wasn't too aware of him at the time of this release but by 1980 I would discover all these songs.  It's merely nine songs but they all have a linked feel.  Joel took to telling a story with each song.  And it is a revelation.  I'll say this here that will apply quite a bit to the next 46 weeks but there isn't a bad song on this album.  Songs like "The Stranger" and "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" show off Joel's unique vision of New York and the suffering he did trying to pursue his music.  And he's at his most romantic with "She's Always A Woman" and "Just The Way You Are".

"Well we all fall in love / But we disregard the danger"  tells me all I need to know.

Previous Rankings

#48 - Dr. Dre - The Chronic (1992)
#49 - Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill (1986)

#50 - Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove (1978)
#51 - Steely Dan - Aja (1977)

#52 - Prince - Dirty Mind (1980)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY
CASTLE (ABC)  Despite what I say - I keep going forward with it.  A little by little.  Only anxious for this week so we can meet Castle's dad - James Brolin.  

THE BIGGEST LOSER (NBC) I understand the theory of a weight loss show addressing the idea of fears.  But are we stretching just a little bit by bringing in sharks?  NBC, I am starting to understand why you are the 5th highest rated network.

TUESDAY
PARADE'S END (HBO)  This has lots of keywords that intrigue me - World War I, miniseries, and Benedict Cumberbatch from "Sherlock".  I love that it's described as challenging to the viewer.  I'm willing to pay attention to this UK based story.

ROBOT COMBAT LEAGUE (SYFY)  There are a cadre of crazy shows on this network.  I'm fascinated by robots - those living regular lives, those working, homeless ones and even these fighting Transformers.

WEDNESDAY
DUCK DYNASTY (A&E)  Season 3 starts tonight!!!  Need I say more.  It's one of those shows that no one seems to admit watching and yet when I slyly reference a line from the show I get knowing smiles.

ARROW (CW)  Deadshot is back.  This season is starting to wear me out - seems that the 2nd half has started to repeat itself.  But I'm down for Season 2 to see where it goes in the DC Universe.

THURSDAY
PARKS AND RECREATION (NBC)  While NBC goes down the toilet - is it too early for me to ask for a Andy and April spinoff?

ARCHER (FX)  Been a decent season, some disappointing moments but still worthy of laughs.  Looking forward to this week's guest appearance by Anthony Bourdain.

FRIDAY
SHARK TANK (ABC)  Home tattoo removal device?  Eww or "let me fix this quickly" device?

PORTLANDIA (IFC)  The 11 episode 3rd season comes to an end with a blackout in Portland.  And my crush on Carrie Brownstein since the Sleater Kinney days will have to take a break until next season.

SATURDAY
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (TCM)  This comedy is epic.  And award winning.  If you don't know David Niven and Shirley MacLaine as comedic actors - you gotta see this.  And a late appearance by Buster Keaton and Marlene Dietrich.

STORAGE WARS (A&E)  With so many shows on Sunday night - why the hell is there nothing on Saturday nights?  Except the "Ripper Street" I'm recording but not watching yet.  At least there's always the fallback of a marathon of bidding on crappy storage units.

SUNDAY
ALL-STAR CELEBRITY APPRENTICE (NBC)  The new season starts and as much as I will hate myself - I'll be watching mainly for Gary Busey and Rodman.  Ugh.  Not proud of myself.

VIKINGS (HIST)  I slept on "Hatfields and McCoys" but I'm a pretty big fan of Vikings in general - just not the Minnesota brand.  But this is a series not just a mini-series.  Not sure I can commit to anything else on Sunday nights.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . . Nike takes a different tack and I just don't know.  Kobe as the Black Mamba is something that they just don't want to give up on.  And his shoes are like snakes???

I love vampires.  And they each fruit crunchy granola bars?

I forgot to give love to this Volkswagen ad a few weeks ago.  It's not just the crazy cat lady and all the YouTube idiots that they brought together.  It's the Jimmy Cliff song that gets me going.  Spread a little love, my friends . . . 

"I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you"  - Billy Joel

Someone loves you just the way you are.  Stay hard.

sb