The Retro Mix Playlist for 8/31/13

Show Theme: 55th Birthday Tribute to Michael Jackson

6 pm hour

I Want You Back- The Jackson 5
Just a Little Bit of You- Michael Jackson
Off the Wall- Michael Jackson
Goin’ Places- The Jacksons
I’ll Be There- The Jackson 5
Just Good Friends- Michael Jackson & Stevie Wonder
Can You Feel It- The Jacksons
Billie Jean- Michael Jackson
Chained- The Jackson 5
I Wanna Be Where You Are- Michael Jackson
Rock with You- Michael Jackson
Human Nature- Michael Jackson
Different Kind of Lady- The Jacksons
The Love You Save- The Jackson 5
Love Call- The Jackson 5

7 pm hour

Beat It- Michael Jackson
She Drives Me Wild- Michael Jackson
Blame It on the Boogie- The Jacksons
Mama’s Pearl- The Jackson 5
Break of Dawn- Michael Jackson
It’s the Falling in Love- Michael Jackson
Bad- Michael Jackson
Leave Me Alone- Michael Jackson
Big Boy- The Jackson 5
ABC- The Jackson 5
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)- Michael Jackson
Man in the Mirror- Michael Jackson
Blood on the Dance Floor- Michael Jackson
Love Comes in Different Colors-The Jackson 5

8 pm hour

You Are Not Alone- Michael Jackson
Baby Be Mine- Michael Jackson
Do What You Wanna- The Jacksons
Dancing Machine- The Jackson 5
Remember the Time- Michael Jackson
Threatened- Michael Jackson
Liberian Girl- Michael Jackson
In the Closet- Michael Jackson
The Way You Make Me Feel- Michael Jackson
Maybe Tomorrow- The Jackson 5
Rockin’ Robin-Michael Jackson
Sugar Daddy- The Jackson 5
That’s How Love Is- The Jackson 5
Black or White- Michael Jackson

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Blood on the Dance Floor

Guest Post: Bill Cosby's Impact On Pop Culture

Last week, a freelance entertainment blogger contacted me with an offer to write a guest post about Bill Cosby (in honor of his 76th birthday). So, here it is:

Bill Cosby's Impact on Pop Culture by Spencer Blohm

Bill Cosby is one of the most important comedians of all time, especially when it comes to his impact on how African-American families were looked at in America. With a career that spans over 50 years, it is amazing how this man from humble beginnings was able to completely transform how African-American families were viewed both on television and in pop culture.

Two of Cosby’s most important works were the The Cosby Show and Fat Albert. Let's take a closer look at how these two shows were able to impact pop culture in America and also lead to the rise of a star who came from nothing.

The Impact of The Cosby Show

Before The Cosby Show existed, there was not really any kind of image of a strong African-American family on television. Many young African-Americans did not have a strong family to look up to at home, and the show had a huge impact on how the black family was understood by much of the public in the real world. With no strong black families on television, most people would just assume that almost all African-American families were broken up without a strong bond between everyone in the family. This idea of how the black family operates was completely shattered for many viewers of The Cosby Show.

Although many people think that Cosby portraying a successful doctor was actually the main aspect of the show that had the biggest impact on the perception of African-American families in society, the fact of the matter is that the strength of the unity between family members was actually the most important part of the show. The fact that the mother and father were not separated and the children were able to grow up in a stable, wealthy home was really the game-changing aspect of the show. This show was basically used to show that not all young black children were forced to grow up in broken homes, even if that was the case in Cosby's real life.

Cosby's Clean Humor

When you take a look at the kinds of jokes that were used on the Cosby Show and compare them to someone like Richard Pryor, it is amazing that Cosby was able to attain so much success and recognition. Richard Pryor is considered by many to be the best African-American comedian of all time, but Bill Cosby was able to carve out his own success with his much cleaner stand up comedy and television shows. Although Pryor was able to gain success with his comedic performances that contained vulgar language and content that was definitely not suitable for children, Cosby was able to show that you can also become a successful comedian by sticking to family-friendly themes.

Fat Albert's Impact on Children

There were many television shows for children in the 1960s, but Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was the only show that targeted the inner-city demographic. The fact of the matter was that many of the inner-city children could not relate to the kinds of programming that was created mainly for white, suburban kids. Cosby was able to teach life lessons to the children of the ghettos in the United States in ways that they could actually understand and relate to. The important aspect of the show was that Cosby actually grew up in the inner-city, so he knew everything about the kinds of things that could happen to children in those kinds of areas.

What Celebrities Have to Say About Bill Cosby

Dave Chappelle is one of the most critically acclaimed comedians today, and he grew up watching the shows created by Bill Cosby and his stand-up specials. Chappelle actually backed up Cosby in his stand-up special, "For What It's Worth", for not being politically correct with a lot of his statements.

Author Bio: Spencer Blohm is a freelance entertainment blogger for DirectTV. In his freetime he enjoys sunsets, reading by the fire, knitting, and writing petition letters to Kraft Foods to get them to bring Jello Pudding Pops back.

The Retro Mix Playlist For 10/21/11

Featured artist: Chuck Berry (in honor of his 85th birthday, which was on 10/18)

6 pm hour

Maybellene- Chuck Berry
Dum Dum Ditty- The Shangri-Las
Mack the Knife- Bobby Darin
You Can’t Catch Me- Chuck Berry
Land of 1,000 Dances- Wilson Pickett
Thirty Days- Chuck Berry
Yes, I’m Ready- Barbara Mason
B-I-Bickey-Bi-Bo-Bo-Go- Gene Vincent & his Blue Caps
Roll Over Beethoven- Chuck Berry
You’re Gonna Miss Me- The 13th Floor Elevators
Get Ready- The Temptations

On the Flip Side:
Wee Wee Hours- Chuck Berry (B-side to Maybellene)

Sunday Will Never Be the Same- Spanky & Our Gang
Sound of Love- The Five Americans
Carol- Chuck Berry
Mess Around- Ray Charles
Beautiful Delilah- Chuck Berry
Dedicated to the One I Love- The Mamas & the Papas
Don’t Give in to Him- Gary Puckett & the Union Gap
Rock and Roll Music- Chuck Berry
Blues in the Bottle- The Lovin’ Spoonful

7 pm hour

Johnny B. Goode- Chuck Berry
Fujiyama Mama- Wanda Jackson
Baby Love- The Supremes
Reelin’ and Rockin’- Chuck Berry
I Beg of You- Elvis Presley
So Much in Love- The Tymes
Childhood Sweetheart- Chuck Berry
Son of a Preacher Man- Dusty Springfield
Hooray for Hazel- Tommy Roe
School Day- Chuck Berry
Don’t Bring Me Down- The Animals

Double Retro:
Sweet Little Sixteen- Chuck Berry
Surfin’ U.S.A.- The Beach Boys (song is a rewrite of Sweet Little Sixteen)

Hurt- Timi Yuro
Almost Grown- Chuck Berry
The Loser (with a Broken Heart)- Gary Lewis & the Playboys
Anthony Boy- Chuck Berry
Cowboys to Girls- The Intruders
Memphis Soul Stew- King Curtis
Back in the U.S.A.- Chuck Berry
Chico’s Girl- The Girls

8 pm hour (all Chuck Berry)

No Particular Place to Go
Betty Jean
House of Blue Lights
You Never Can Tell
Down the Road a Piece
Oh Baby Doll
Memphis
Little Marie
Jaguar and Thunderbird
Tulane
Nadine
Too Pooped to Pop
Little Queenie
Thirteen Question Method
Liverpool Drive
Come On
Around and Around
I Want to Be Your Driver
Do You Love Me
The Man and the Donkey
Promised Land

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Oh Baby Doll by Chuck Berry

The Retro Mix Playlist For 10/7/11

Featured artist:  John Mellencamp (in honor of his 60th birthday)

6 pm hour

I Need a Lover- John Mellencamp
Day by Day- The Hooters
Miss You Much- Janet Jackson
This Time- John Mellencamp
Telephone Line- ELO
Ain’t Even Done with the Night- John Mellencamp
Kids in America- Kim Wilde

Now & Then segment:
A Graceful Fall- John Mel encamp (from his 2010 album No Better Than This)
Hurts So Good- John Mel encamp (released in 1982)

Low Rider- War
Right On- The Rascals
Hand to Hold on To- John Mellencamp
Major Tom (Coming Home)- Peter Schilling
Jumping Someone Else’s Train- The Cure

7 pm hour

Jack and Diane- John Mellencamp
Sidewinder- The Seymores
Mountain Music- Alabama
Crumblin’ Down- John Mellencamp
Crayon Angels- Judee Sill
Pink Houses- John Mellencamp
Hat 2 Da Back- TLC

Guestbook segment:
Between a Laugh and a Tear- John Mel encamp (backup vocals by Rickie Lee Jones)

Hollywood Swinging- Kool & the Gang
Runnin’ Away- Sly & the Family Stone
The Authority Song- John Mellencamp
Twenty One- The Cranberries
Lonely Ol’ Night- John Mellencamp
Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody- Brick

8 pm hour (Final hour is all Mellencamp)

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
What If I Came Knocking
Small Town
American Fool
Jackie Brown
Cherry Bomb
Rain on the Scarecrow
Human Wheels
Wild Night
Pop Singer
Face of the Nation
Just Another Day
Rumbleseat
Paper in Fire

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Crumblin’ Down by John Mellencamp

Happy 80th Birthday to Angie Dickinson

It's kinda hard to believe that Angie turns the big 8-0 today. Although Angie has done scores of film and TV roles in her 50-plus year career, she is probably best remembered for her role as Sgt. Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson on the hit series Police Woman (which ran on NBC from 1974-1978).

These days, Charlie's Angels (which debuted 2 years later) gets most of the credit when people talk about female crime fighters of 70s TV. However, Police Woman was the first successful hour-long drama series in American primetime TV history to feature a woman in the starring role.With Angie proving that a female could carry an hour-long drama, she helped pave the way for the aforementioned Charlie's Angels as well as such series as The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, and Cagney & Lacey. In addition to Angie's role on Police Woman having an impact on the fictional world of TV, it was also influential in real life. The success of the series led to a sharp increase in applications for employment from women to police departments around the United States. So to those who dismiss Police Woman as exploitative fluff, take that... turkey!

Side note: When I think of Angie Dickinson, I'm also reminded of a great line from an episode of Frasier.The subplot involves Frasier being hooked on a mini-series. When Roz is surprised that Frasier actually likes the mini-series, he tries to explain.


Frasier: I think some of the intricacies of the plot are downright Dickensian
Roz: Yeah - Angie Dickensian!

Anyway, happy 80th Angie! Below is the season 4 opening credits sequence to Police Woman.

The Retro Mix Playlist For 9/9/11

Show theme: Buddy Holly 75th birthday tribute

6 m hour

That’ll Be the Day- The Crickets
Hearts of Stone- The Jewels
Easier Said Than Done- The Essex
Not Fade Away- The Crickets
Do the Continental- The Dovells
Sweet Little Sixteen- Chuck Berry
Oh Boy!- The Crickets
My True Story- The Jive Five
Rock Around with Ollie Vee- Buddy Holly
It’s My Party- Lesley Gore
Wild One- Bobby Rydell
Think It Over- The Crickets
Twilight Time- The Platters
Hallelujah I Love Her So- Ray Charles
Maybe Baby- The Crickets
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby- Little Eva
See You Later Alligator- Bill Haley & his Comets
Rock Me My Baby- The Crickets
Duke of Earl- Gene Chandler
Heartbeat- Buddy Holly
Be My Baby- The Ronettes
Slow Down- Larry Williams

7 pm hour

Peggy Sue- Buddy Holly
Just Because- Elvis Presley
If You Wanna Be Happy- Jimmy Soul
Early in the Morning- Buddy Holly
Let Me In- The Sensations
Goodbye Cruel World- James Darren
Everyday- Buddy Holly
Lavender Blue- Sammy Turner
Palisades Park- Freddy Cannon
Brown Eyed Handsome Man- Buddy Holly
Lipstick on Your Collar- Connie Francis
Jenny Jenny- Little Richard
Words of Love- Buddy Holly
Mercy- Lorrie & Larry Collins
Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)- The Impalas
Tell Me How- The Crickets
Surfin’ Safari- The Beach Boys
Dance on Little Girl- Paul Anka
It’s So Easy- The Crickets
Memories of El Monte- The Penguins
Chantilly Lace- The Big Bopper
I’m Changing All Those Changes- The Crickets
I’m in Love Again- Fats Domino

8 pm hour

Rave On- Buddy Holly
Shimmy Like Kate- The Olympics
Green Onions- Booker T. & the M.G.s
I’m Gonna Love You Too- Buddy Holly
The One Who Really Loves You- Mary Wells
Why Do Fools Fall in Love- Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
Fool’s Paradise- Buddy Holly
16 Candles- The Crests
Learning the Game- Buddy Holly
Peppermint Twist- Joey Dee & the Starlighters
Come On Let’s Go- Ritchie Valens
It Doesn’t Matter Anymore- Buddy Holly
I’ve Told Every Little Star- Linda Scott
Shout Parts 1 & 2- The Isley Brothers
I’m Looking for Someone to Love- The Crickets
Ballad of a Teenage Queen- Johnny Cash
Get a Job- The Silhouettes
Raining in My Heart- Buddy Holly
Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)- Dee Dee Sharp
Breathless- Jerry Lee Lewis
Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay- Danny & the Juniors
True Love Ways- Buddy Holly

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Oh Boy! by The Crickets

You Tube Turns 5 Years Old

On May 17 2005, the site which gave birth to the slogan "Broadcast yourself" was launched. Although it wasn't the 3rd of September, the day I accidentally discovered You Tube is one I'll always remember. While doing prep for my radio show on a Saturday afternoon back in 2005, I did an Internet search for the UK group The Housemartins. Since one of the songs on my playlist that day was their a capella version of Caravan of Love, I wanted to see if there was some interesting trivia about the band and/or song. My search took me to a results page that had a link to watch the music video for Caravan of Love on some site called You Tube and the rest is approved time wasting history:




Since I'd be here until the 10th anniversary of You Tube listing some of the best stuff I've seen on the site, here are a few of my fave clips:

Then Michigan State head football coach John L. Smith extols the virtues of his staff:



A New York news anchor asks a very important question:



A 1950s crooner literally flips his wig:




What are some of your favorite You Tube memories?

Happy Birthday To Mike Nesmith and Davy Jones of The Monkees

Wednesday Dec. 30th marks the birthdays of both Mike Nesmith and Davy Jones of the Monkees (they turn 67 and 64, respectively). As some of you may know, the Monkees' 4th album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones, Ltd. got its name from the astrological sign of each band member. Since Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Capricorn, Ltd. would have been redundant, they tacked on Jones' name at the end.

In regards to the Monkees' music, one thing I have come to appreciate about it is its stylistic diversity. Although they share the same birthday, the musical interests of Mike and Davy couldn't have been more different. Monkee tunes sung by Nesmith were usually in the country-rock vein (before the term was even coined), while the ones fronted by Davy were more pop oriented (with an occasional vaudevillian/show tune feel to them).

Below are clips of two of my favorite Monkee tunes with lead vocals by either Mike or Davy. If you are a Monkee fan, feel free to share some of your favorite Monkee songs sung by Mike or Davy.

Happy Birthday Dick Clark!

Dick Clark turned 80 years old today. When I think of Dick Clark, lots of sounds and images come to mind. As I type this, "Bandstand Boogie" is playing on a continuous loop in my head... and that's a good thing because it's got a good beat and... well, you know the rest.

Below is a clip of the "Oldest Living Teenager" encountering The Dynamic Duo:

Happy 60th Birthday Sigourney Weaver

Yes, believe it or not, Ellen Ripley has reached the 6-0 milestone.  That rare mix of talent, smarts, sex appeal and badassosity*, it's those qualities that are why Sigourney has been able to stay in demand during her 30-plus year acting career. Last year, Sigourney mentioned that she may be starring in an Alien spinoff film that would focus on Ellen Ripley instead of the Aliens.  Don't laugh.  If a nearly 70 yr old Harrison Ford can dust off his fedora and break out his whip (get your mind out of the gutter please), I don't see a problem with Sigourney springing back into action as Ripley.

* Badassosity is a word.  Although it's not in Merriam-Webster, it can be found in the Urban Dictionary.

Little House On the Prairie Turns 35

On this day back in 1974, one of TV's most enduring dramas (Little House On the Prairie) premiered on NBC. During its primetime run, I foolishly dismissed Little House On the Prairie as a bunch of pioneer B.S.  I used to say  to myself, "How is this show relevant to me?"

My feelings about the show changed several years later when TBS aired back-to-back episodes during its weekday morning lineup in the late 1980s.  I started watching it and discovered that it was a damn good show.  Some may find it corny, but I liked the messages that Little House On the Prairie stressed such as the importance of family and showing compassion for others.  I also enjoyed that the show balanced the general likability of the Ingalls family and a majority of the residents of Walnut Grove with the nastiness of Harriet Oleson and her daughter Nellie.  I still feel sorry for the patriarch of the Oleson family (Nels) because he was such an easygoing guy who deserved a better fate than to have Harriet for a wife and Nellie for a daughter.  Some of my favorite moments of Little House On the Prairie was when Nels showed some backbone and stood up to Harriet.

What I like most about Little House is that the Ingalls family didn't take shit from anybody.  Although you would be hard pressed to find a TV family more wholesome than the Ingalls, if you messed with them or those they cared about... you were gonna pay.  Below are some of my favorite moments of justice, "Ingalls" style:

• Mary slapping the shit out of Nellie for insinuating that Mary's mother Caroline was having an affair.

• Charles calling out Harriet in church because of the malicious gossip that she spread about some of the residents of Walnut Grove in the column she wrote for the town newspaper.

• Laura's reaction when she learned that Nellie had been faking an injury after falling off of her horse.  This scene is still one of the funniest I have ever seen.  You can watch it below.
  

Due to its setting, Little House On the Prairie was never "cool" nor trendy.  Ironically though, because the overall message of the show will never go out of style, Little House On the Prairie continues to thrive while shows that were once hot like Dynasty and Miami Vice have fallen by the wayside.

If you are a fan of Little House On the Prairie, what are some of your favorite episodes/moments from the series?

Happy Birthday David Byrne

On Thursday May 14th, multi-hyphenate David Byrne turns 57 years old. In addition to being the founding member and main songwriter of Talking Heads, Byrne is a visual artist, a sometime actor, and an author. Plus, he rocks an oversized suit like no one else!

Because I'm a listomaniac, here are my top 5 Talking Heads tunes:

1. Nothing But Flowers
2. Life During Wartime (This Ain't No Party... This Ain't No Disco... This Ain't No Foolin' Around)
3. Once In A Lifetime
4. Girlfriend Is Better
5. Psycho Killer

What are your favorite songs by Talking Heads/David Byrne?

Thursday Thirteen #71: Reasons Why I Love Turner Classic Movies

This month, Turner Classic Movies is celebrating its 15th anniversary. If I had to get rid of all my cable channels but one, TCM would be the keeper. I can get my news, sports, and many of the scripted series that I watch online. However, TCM is the only place on the dial that pays tribute to classic film dating back to the silent era all the way up to the 21st century. While many channels have lost their way in an effort to attract a younger demographic, TCM remembers what it was that made them popular in the first place. Although TCM has added newer films to its schedule in recent years, it hasn't kicked the older favorites to the curb in the process.

It's a pleasure any time I get the chance to pimp TCM. Because it's becoming increasingly rare that TV execs actually give a damn about their audience, I think it's important to make note when a channel gets it right. Below in no particular order are 13 reasons why I love Turner Classic Movies.

1. It airs movies uninterrupted and commercial free- One thing that turns me off is when channels butcher theatrical films by either tossing in commercial breaks haphazardly or compressing them so that they fit into a 2 hour time slot. TCM airs movies in their entirety. They also don't clutter up the closing credits of movies with the dreaded "split screen" process.

2. Shows films in letterbox format whenever possible. This means that when you watch a widescreen spectacle like Ben-Hur on TCM, you are seeing it the way the director intended. Below is a short explaining why the letterbox format is better than the pan and scan process:

3. Hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz- Although Robert and Ben have two different styles when it comes to hosting (Robert exudes old-Hollywood sophistication, while Ben has a devil-may-care approach), they share a common love of movies that comes through clearly during their on-screen introductions and closing discussions of the films they present.

4. Images in Film series- In the past, TCM has done month long film festivals spotlighting the changes in the way that certain groups have been portrayed in the movies. Previously, they've done retrospectives on the big screen portrayal of African Americans, Asians, and gay/lesbians. In May, TCM will continue this tradition with its Latino Images in Film Festival.

5. Summer Under the Stars- Every August, TCM suspends its regular schedule for a special "month of stars", featuring entire days devoted to a single star, offering movies and specials pertaining to the star of the day. It's an excellent way to enjoy movies by your favorite stars or to look at a performer in a whole new light. Last year, I took the opportunity to discover the work of silent film icon Charlie Chaplin.

6. TCM Underground- This weekly cult film showcase airs Friday nights at 2 am EST (unless pre-empted by special programming). Since debuting in 2006, TCM Underground has presented such cult classics as Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space, Ladies and Gentleman, The Fabulous Stains starring Diane Lane and Laura Dern, the Monkees' only feature film Head, and Freaks.

7. Celebration of the obscure- Instead of always going for the obvious, TCM makes an effort to spotlight films and artists that many people may not know. Last year, the channel paid tribute to the work of African-American director Charles Burnett. On April 8th, TCM will honor the work of photographer turned director Morris Engel. I had never heard of Mr. Engel so I am looking forward to discovering his work.

8. 31 Days of Oscar- Every Academy Awards season, TCM sets aside its regular programming to spotlight movies that are either Oscar winners or nominees. Along with famous Oscar winners, TCM also features lesser known films that may have received only 1 nomination.

9. "What A Character" profiles- In between films, TCM occasionally profiles the careers of character actors. Although some of these performers never became household names, TCM recognizes that they were very important to a film's success. Some of the character actors that they've featured include S.Z. Sakall, Edna May Oliver, Conrad Veidt, and Marjorie Main.

10. TCM's Guest Programmer of the Month. Each month, TCM turns over its library to a famous person and lets them play programmer for the night. The star sits down with host Robert Osborne and discusses their film picks and why they chose them. It's cool to watch a celeb as their eyes light up while talking about which films have made an impression on them. Some of the celebs who've had the honor of being guest programmers on TCM are Sally Field, director John Landis, boxer Evander Holyfield, Simpsons creator Matt Groening, and Tracey Ullman. This month, TCM is taking a break from the famous by allowing 15 fan programmers the opportunity to share their film favorites. These special blocks will air from April 13-April 17 starting at 8 pm EST.

11. It tries to get the younger generation interested in classic movies. In 2007, TCM launched "Funday Night at the Movies" and featured such family oriented classics as The Wizard of Oz, Sounder, and Singing In the Rain. The following year, the cable channel debuted a youth-oriented version of "The Essentials" (called "The Essentials Jr.") that included such movies as National Velvet, Captains Courageous, and Our Town. Both of these programs were excellent ways for adults to introduce their kids, nieces, nephews, etc. to older films.

12. One-reel wonders- In between airing feature films, TCM often shows "short subjects" (movies that are normally less than 30 minutes in length). Some of my favorites are the Joe McDoakes series starring George O'Hanlon (best known as the voice of George Jetson) and the "Crime Does Not Pay" films.

13. It airs modern classics- Although most of its schedule is devoted to movies made pre-1970, TCM recognizes that a film doesn't have to be old to be a classic. Some of the modern classics that TCM has aired include A Beautiful Mind, Philadelphia, Crimes and Misdemeanors and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

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Please Take A Moment To Vote In the Current R.E.M. Poll... Thank You

Since I was struggling to come up with an idea for my next poll, I checked the book Chase's Calendar of Events for inspiration. When I found out that Michael Stipe turned 49 on January 4th, my dilemma was solved. Instead of doing a birthday post for the lead singer of R.E.M., I decided to ask you to choose your favorite song(s) from their catalog. Since deciding on a favorite song by an artist is about as difficult as a Lost cast member avoiding a DUI charge, you can select more than one R.E.M. tune in the poll.

Motown Turns 50

Today marks the 50th anniversary of arguably the most influential record company in pop music history, Motown (founded by Berry Gordy in Detroit back in 1959). Some of my fondest childhood musical memories are hearing songs like The Temptations’ My Girl (whose opening bass line, in terms of recognizability, is the R&B equivalent of the first four notes of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5) , You’re A Wonderful One by Marvin Gaye, Honey Chile by Martha and the Vandellas, If You Can Want by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, I Want You Back by The Jackson Five, and Shotgun by Jr. Walker & the All-Stars on the radio (courtesy of WAMM-AM 1420 out of Flint) and at weekend family get-togethers.

Years later when I went off to college, my friends and I would often have Motown music (via the “Big Chill” compilations and various mix tapes) playing as the backdrop to our dorm parties. I recall jokingly debating with a friend about who was better, The Temptations or The Supremes (my choice was the former). Another recollection is that although those classic Motown tracks were decades old when we were jamming to them, it didn’t matter because great music never goes out of style. For example, Marvin Gaye’s classic album What’s Going On was and still is powerful even though it was released back in 1971.

One of the great aspects about the creation of the CD is that it has caused labels like Motown to make available songs that were either forgotten or never released. Some of the best aural investments I’ve made were when I purchased discs by the aforementioned artists, plus other Motown acts such as Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, The Marvelettes, The Isley Brothers and Mary Wells. In addition to these single-artist discs, I also had the good fortune to come across a various artists two-CD set titled “A Cellarful of Motown”. It consists of 40 tracks from Motown’s vaults, most of which had never seen the light of day. Included in this amazing set were tunes by most of Motown’s major acts, plus gems by such artists as Barbara McNair (Baby A Go-Go), The Contours (Baby Hit and Run), and Chris Clark (Do I Love You). That’s one of the amazing things about Motown; the quality of their material was so high that even their unreleased tracks were superb.

To help set the mood while typing this post, I put together a “Motown Mix” including such tunes as Nowhere to Run by Martha & the Vandellas, Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby by Stevie Wonder and The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game by The Marvelettes. I’m not ashamed to admit that it took me longer than expected to write this post because there were several times when I stopped to clap my hands, snap my fingers, and play “air drums” to some of the greatest music ever created. Now that’s what I call Motown Magic!

What are some of your favorite Motown tunes? Who are your favorite Motown artists?

Elvis, the Actor: A Reevaluation

In honor of what would have been Elvis Presley's 74th birthday, TCM is showing a marathon of his movies on Thursday, January 8th. One of the common misconceptions about Elvis is that he was a lousy actor. Sure, many of his films were a waste of his talent; if Elvis were alive today, he'd probably own up to the fact that Harum Scarum wasn't Citizen Kane. However, it's asking a lot when you think about some of the weak plots/scripts that were put in the Pelvis' lap. For the majority of his post-Army movie career, the plots of Elvis' films were nearly identical:

1. Put him in an exotic locale

2. Have him ogle a bevy of lovely ladies and sing a handful of mediocre tunes

3. Roll the credits

Because of the substandard quality of most of his 1960s pictures, I can envision Elvis throwing a tirade at Col. Tom Parker similar to the one that Jack Lemmon directed at Kevin Spacey in Glengarry Glen Ross.

Elvis (to the Colonel): How do you expect me to become a better actor? With dreck? With this toilet paper you're giving me?

On those rare occasions when Elvis was given decent movie material, he acquitted himself rather nicely. For those doubters, check Elvis out in Jailhouse Rock, Loving You, King Creole, Wild In the Country, Flaming Star, and Roustabout. Another one of his films worthy of another look is the 1969 western Charro. I enjoyed it as a kid, but haven't seen in years; I'd be interested to see if it holds up well.

One of the interesting aspects of Elvis' movie career is the number of films that he was allegedly offered. According to imdb.com, Elvis was offered roles in such classics as The Defiant Ones (he reportedly would have starred opposite Sidney Poitier in the role that eventually went to Tony Curtis), Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, West Side Story, and True Grit. We can only speculate, but it's interesting to ponder how things may have turned out for Elvis had he been allowed to grow as an actor.

Below is the schedule of Elvis films that TCM will air on his birthday (all times are EST).

7:30 AM	King Creole (1958)
	A singer with a criminal past gets drawn back into the mob. Cast: Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau. Dir: Michael Curtiz. BW-116 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format
9:30 AM	G.I. Blues (1960)
	An American stationed in Germany bets that he can make an icy entertainer fall for him. Cast: Elvis Presley, Juliet Prowse, Robert Ivers Dir: Norman Taurog. C-104 mins, TV-G, CC, Letterbox Format
11:15 AM	Blue Hawaii (1961)
	A Hawaiian playboy defies his possessive mother to take a job with a tourist agency. Cast: Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury Dir: Norman Taurog. C-101 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format
1:00 PM	Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
	A Hawaiian fisherman is torn between a sexy nightclub singer and a nice girl with a secret. Cast: Elvis Presley, Stella Stevens, Jeremy Slate Dir: Norman Taurog. C-99 mins, TV-PG, Letterbox Format
2:45 PM	Fun in Acapulco (1963)
	A trapeze artist tries to use love to conquer his fear of heights. Cast: Elvis Presley, Ursula Andress, Elsa Cardenas Dir: Richard Thorpe. C-97 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format
4:30 PM	Roustabout (1964)
	A female carnival owner hires a hot-blooded young singer to save her touring show. Cast: Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Freeman. Dir: John Rich. C-101 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format
6:15 PM	Elvis on Tour (1972)
	Extensive concert footage highlights this documentary about the King's touring in the early '70s. Cast: Elvis Presley, James Burton, Glenn D. Hardin. Dir: Robert Abel, Pierre Aldridge. C-93 mins, TV-G, Letterbox Format

Below is the trailer for arguably Elvis' best film, King Creole:

Happy 60th Birthday To Daryl Hall

On October 11th, one of my favorite vocalists is blowing out the birthday candles... Daryl Hall. One of the things I like about Hall and Oates is that their music has touched on a variety of elements and influences. Along with soul music, they've also delved into such genres as new wave (You Make My Dreams) and arena rock (Head Above Water).

If you're a fan and haven't seen Hall and Oates live, do yourself a favor and check them out. I've seen them 3 times and I have fond memories of each show:

The first time was at Pine Knob in Clarkston, MI in 1996. My best friend and fellow H&O fan Gary (pronounced Jerry) was supposed to go with me. However, he was MIA due to an amorous adventure. As a result, a young lady who I'd been dating for about a month willingly filled in for him. I was pleasantly surprised when Hall & Oates opened with one of my favorite songs, their 1988 hit Everything Your Heart Desires. They also did encores that featured medleys of Sly and the Family Stone's Hot Fun In the Summertime and Billy Paul's Me and Mrs. Jones.

In 1997, I went to see them for a second time at Pine Knob. Between the first and second concerts, I had entered into a serious relationship with the young lady I took to the first one. However, since we had temporarily split up around the time of the second show, my best friend Gary was able to attend. My favorite memory of that show is when Daryl said, "we're gonna do a little adult" before they launched into Adult Education. If this isn't Gary's favorite H&O song, it's near the top of the list. As he sometimes does when he's hyped, Gary did something I call "The Gary Move". While seated, he simultaneously does a forward double fist pump and kicks out one of his legs. My description doesn't quite do it justice.

My 3rd Hall and Oates show was in 2005 at the Clio Amphitheater. About a year or so earlier, one of my older brothers (Eddie) was interested in checking out more from Hall and Oates. Although he was acquainted with a few of their songs, he wanted to get a bigger picture. I put together a CD for him and he was sold. A line he often quotes is from Maneater ("Ooh she's sitting with you but her eyes are on the door"). When I told him that Hall and Oates still tour regularly, he said he'd be interested in going the next time they came to our area. The concert was originally going to be on July 8th, but had to be rescheduled for August 9th (Hall was recovering from a bout with Lyme Disease). Along with many of their hits, Hall and Oates also performed such songs as The Spinners' I'll Be Around (which was included on their then new CD Our Kind of Soul).

Here are five of my favorite songs featuring Daryl Hall. All are Hall & Oates tunes except where noted.

1. Private Eyes
2. Back Together Again
3. Do What You Want, Be What You Are
4. Someone Like You (solo)
5. Some Men

Since I couldn't stop there, here are 5 more:

6. Rich Girl
7. You Make My Dreams
8. A Promise Ain't Enough
9. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid
10. Maneater

Feel free to list some of your favorite songs featuring Daryl Hall in the comments section.

Below is the video for the song Someone Like You. It's from Daryl's 2nd solo album, 1986's Three Hearts In the Happy Ending Machine.

The Drive-In Theater Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary

June 6th marks the 75th anniversary of the drive-in movie theater. Created by chemical company magnate Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., the first drive-in opened in 1933 in Camden, NJ and was advertised with the promise "The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are". I have vague recollections of my parents packing me, two of my siblings, and some of my other young relatives into the Buick Wildcat so that we could all go to the drive-in movie. Because I more than likely would fall asleep at some point while at the drive-in, I would be dressed in my PJs before we left for the theater; that way, I would be ready for bed once we got home. If memory serves me, one of the movies we saw during one of our drive-in excursions was THX 1138 (all I remember is that the characters were bald headed).

The drive-in theater saw its peak popularity in the late 50s and early 60s, with about 4,000 screens spread throughout the U.S. The drive-in is also one of the key pop culture touchstones, being featured in films (Grease, Christine, The Outsiders, etc.) as well as songs by artists such as Elvis Presley (I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine), Nat "King" Cole (Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer), Bryan Adams (Summer of '69), and Gwen Stefani (Bubblepop Electric). Due to a variety of reasons (economics, the rise of color TV, the VCR, etc.), the drive-in theater eventually experienced a sharp decline. Today, there are about 500 drive-in theaters operating throughout the world.

If you get the chance, I recommend checking out http://www.drive-ins.com/. Billed as the definitive source of drive-in information, the site features an historical overview, a searchable database to locate both open and closed theaters, an FAQ page and much more.

If you have any, what are some of your recollections of going to the drive-in theater?

James Brown's 75th Birthday Anniversary

Had he lived, James Brown would have been 75 years old today. What can I say in regards to the greatness of James Brown that hasn't been said and that you don't know? Since the answer to that question is not much, here are my top 5 tunes by The Godfather of Soul (in no particular order):

Say It Loud- I'm Black and I'm Proud-1968
Think-1960
Cold Sweat-1967
Get Up Offa That Thing (Release the Pressure)- 1976
The Payback-1974

Shit, narrowing it down to just a quintet is hard. Here are five more:

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag-1965
I'll Go Crazy-1960
Out of Sight- 1964
I Got Ants In My Pants- 1973
Body Heat- 1976

What are some of your favorite James Brown songs?

Below is a clip of JB from the 1964 concert film "The T.A.M.I. Show". This is one of the most dynamic performances ever committed to film!

Bette Davis 100th Birthday Anniv. Tribute On TCM

Saturday April 5th marks what would have been Bette Davis' 100th birthday. In honor of the century milestone, Turner Classic Movies will have an all-day marathon of Bette's films starting at 6 AM EST. Among the films that TCM will be showing are: "The Petrified Forest", "The Letter", "Now, Voyager", "All About Eve", and "Dangerous". For the complete schedule and start times, please click here. Below is a montage that features clips of some of Bette's films, as well as thoughts on her by various actors and actresses.