Let's continue our look at Paste Magazine's list of the Top TV Songs, this time #6 on their list:
6. The Jeffersons - "Movin' On Up" by Ja'net Du Boise
How's this for the inter-connectedness of Hollywood? Du Boise played Willona Woods on Good Times. Janet Jackson was also on Good Times. Justin Timberlake caused a little wardrobe malfunction with Janet Jackson during Super Bowl XXXVIII. Fellow Mousketeer alum Keri Russell starred in Mission:Impossible III. The original Mission:Impossible TV show aired on CBS alongside All in the Family. The Jeffersons was an All in the Family spin-off. OK, so that was pretty random, but you can't argue against the greatness of "Movin' On Up."
Lyrics
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in teh big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons, and a total of 253 episodes produced by T.AT. Communications Company from 1975-1982 and Embassy Television from 1982-1985. It is the longest running comedy (or series of any genre) with a predominantly Black cast in the history of American television.
The show focused on George and Louise Jefferson, an upper middle-class Black couple. The show was launched as the second spin-off of All in the Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker.
Nielsen Ratings
1974-1975 #3
1975-1976 #21
1976-1977 #24
1979-1980 #8
1980-1981 #6
1981-1982 #3
1982-1983 #12
1983-1984 #19
interesting tidbits:
The Jeffersons was a spinoff of All in the Family in which the Bunkers' black next-door neighbors moved to a "deluxe apartment in the sky." This gospel-tinged song described their progression "on up."
The Jeffersons featured TV's first mixed-married couple, a white husband and a black wife. It had its own short-lived spinoff, Checking In.
This is commonly played at sporting events when a team which has previously been doing poorly makes a startling comeback and hence moves back "up" to its previous status.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at the Gigwise.com list of the top 50 dirtiest and sexiest album covers (as compiled by their staff- Gigwise comments in quotes):
30. Hinder: ‘Extreme Behaviour’ – "They may make completely turgid Nickelback-esque music, but Hinder certainly know how to gain some much-needed attention with their album sleeves. This one featured a woman in red lacy underwear perusing over photos of the band themselves. It’s no wonder that it went platinum, then."
Released in September 2005, Hinder's Extreme Behavior revives the riffs and misogynistic tone of 2001 albums from Puddle of Mudd and Nickelback for a whole new batch of undergrads. This isn't so much post-grunge as it is straight-up dude rock. The artwork is a triggered response collage of lingerie and Jäger, and the music blares like a stereo left on in the keg room, all swear words and electric guitar blab. Hinder singer Austin Winkler is a stand-in for Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, and his lyrics? Like the chorus of lead single "Get Stoned" that asserts sex is better when the participants are angry and high, Winkler doesn't show a lot of class on Behavior. Hinder do try a little tenderness here and there. They sound like a heavier Wallflowers on "Nothin' Good About Goodbye," and "Lips of an Angel" carries the power ballad torch complete with a soaring solo stolen from hair metal's golden era. "Homecoming Queen" is another take on the good-girl-tarnished-by-big-bad-L.A. story; it's also a pretty obvious rewrite of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine." For the most part, Hinder are all about big dumb rock, the kind of stuff that's happily ignorant of common courtesy or trying much of anything new musically. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
30. Hinder: ‘Extreme Behaviour’ – "They may make completely turgid Nickelback-esque music, but Hinder certainly know how to gain some much-needed attention with their album sleeves. This one featured a woman in red lacy underwear perusing over photos of the band themselves. It’s no wonder that it went platinum, then."
Released in September 2005, Hinder's Extreme Behavior revives the riffs and misogynistic tone of 2001 albums from Puddle of Mudd and Nickelback for a whole new batch of undergrads. This isn't so much post-grunge as it is straight-up dude rock. The artwork is a triggered response collage of lingerie and Jäger, and the music blares like a stereo left on in the keg room, all swear words and electric guitar blab. Hinder singer Austin Winkler is a stand-in for Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, and his lyrics? Like the chorus of lead single "Get Stoned" that asserts sex is better when the participants are angry and high, Winkler doesn't show a lot of class on Behavior. Hinder do try a little tenderness here and there. They sound like a heavier Wallflowers on "Nothin' Good About Goodbye," and "Lips of an Angel" carries the power ballad torch complete with a soaring solo stolen from hair metal's golden era. "Homecoming Queen" is another take on the good-girl-tarnished-by-big-bad-L.A. story; it's also a pretty obvious rewrite of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine." For the most part, Hinder are all about big dumb rock, the kind of stuff that's happily ignorant of common courtesy or trying much of anything new musically. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
This Date In Music History-November 23
Birthdays:
Singer, songwriter and virtuoso pianist, Bruce Hornsby, was born in Williamsburg, VA in 1954.
They Are Missed:
The late Betty Everett ("Shoop Shoop Song") was born in 1939.
O.C. Smith ("Little Green Apples") died of a heart attack in 2001.
Songwriter Tommy Boyce committed suicide by shooting himself at his Nashville home in 1994. Besides writing "Last Train To Clarksville", "Valleri" and "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone" for The Monkees, Boyce and his partner Bobby Hart scored a number eight hit of their own with "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" in 1967.
In 1997, Michael Hutchence, lead singer of the Australian super group INXS, hanged himself in Sydney, just as the band was to begin rehearsals for their 20th anniversary tour. He was 37 years old.
Country great Roy Acuff, whose vocals influenced everyone from Hank Williams to George Jones, died in 1992 (age 89).
Badfinger bassist Tom Evans commits suicide in 1983 after the band splits by hanging himself, just as Badfinger songwriter Pete Ham had done eight years earlier.
History:
The world's first jukebox, then known as a "nickel in the slot machine", was installed at San Francisco's' Palais Royal Hotel in 1889. It had been created by simply adding a coin slot to an Edison phonograph. In its first six months of service, the machine earned over $1000.
Despite objections from The Recording Industry Association of America, who was worried about the growing problem of internet file swapping, the first portable MP3 player went on sale in the US in 1998. As of 2007, over 150 million had been sold.
“Soul Man,” by Isaac Hayes, tops the R&B chart and peaks at #2 on the pop chart in 1967. The song is one of 200 written by the team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter for Stax Records artists.
In 1954, agent Bob Neal assumed the manager's role for Elvis Presley, booking him as Elvis Presley, the Hillbilly Cat.
Elvis Presley's first post-Army film, "G.I. Blues" was officially released in 1960 and his "Spinout" movie came out in 1966.
Billy Swan, a former member of Kris Kristofferson's band and writer of Clyde McPhatter's "Lover Please", had a US number one single of his own in 1974, "I Can Help". It reached #6 in the UK.
In a San Antonio hotel room in 1936, mysterious blues pioneer Robert Johnson recorded his first tracks, including "Ramblin' on My Mind."
In 1962, The Beatles auditioned for BBC producers looking for bands with TV potential. They failed.
In 1964, The Rolling Stones were banned from the BBC for unprofessionalism after showing up late for appearances on the radio shows Top Gear and Saturday Club.
In 1968, Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant finalized a deal to sign the band to Atlantic Records after Dusty Springfield recommends Jimmy Page to label boss Ahmet Ertegun.
Police arrested Jerry Lee Lewis outside the gates of Graceland in 1976, after he showed up for the second time that night and made a scene by shouting, waving a pistol and demanding to see Elvis Presley.
Singer, songwriter and virtuoso pianist, Bruce Hornsby, was born in Williamsburg, VA in 1954.
They Are Missed:
The late Betty Everett ("Shoop Shoop Song") was born in 1939.
O.C. Smith ("Little Green Apples") died of a heart attack in 2001.
Songwriter Tommy Boyce committed suicide by shooting himself at his Nashville home in 1994. Besides writing "Last Train To Clarksville", "Valleri" and "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone" for The Monkees, Boyce and his partner Bobby Hart scored a number eight hit of their own with "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" in 1967.
In 1997, Michael Hutchence, lead singer of the Australian super group INXS, hanged himself in Sydney, just as the band was to begin rehearsals for their 20th anniversary tour. He was 37 years old.
Country great Roy Acuff, whose vocals influenced everyone from Hank Williams to George Jones, died in 1992 (age 89).
Badfinger bassist Tom Evans commits suicide in 1983 after the band splits by hanging himself, just as Badfinger songwriter Pete Ham had done eight years earlier.
History:
The world's first jukebox, then known as a "nickel in the slot machine", was installed at San Francisco's' Palais Royal Hotel in 1889. It had been created by simply adding a coin slot to an Edison phonograph. In its first six months of service, the machine earned over $1000.
Despite objections from The Recording Industry Association of America, who was worried about the growing problem of internet file swapping, the first portable MP3 player went on sale in the US in 1998. As of 2007, over 150 million had been sold.
“Soul Man,” by Isaac Hayes, tops the R&B chart and peaks at #2 on the pop chart in 1967. The song is one of 200 written by the team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter for Stax Records artists.
In 1954, agent Bob Neal assumed the manager's role for Elvis Presley, booking him as Elvis Presley, the Hillbilly Cat.
Elvis Presley's first post-Army film, "G.I. Blues" was officially released in 1960 and his "Spinout" movie came out in 1966.
Billy Swan, a former member of Kris Kristofferson's band and writer of Clyde McPhatter's "Lover Please", had a US number one single of his own in 1974, "I Can Help". It reached #6 in the UK.
In a San Antonio hotel room in 1936, mysterious blues pioneer Robert Johnson recorded his first tracks, including "Ramblin' on My Mind."
In 1962, The Beatles auditioned for BBC producers looking for bands with TV potential. They failed.
In 1964, The Rolling Stones were banned from the BBC for unprofessionalism after showing up late for appearances on the radio shows Top Gear and Saturday Club.
In 1968, Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant finalized a deal to sign the band to Atlantic Records after Dusty Springfield recommends Jimmy Page to label boss Ahmet Ertegun.
Police arrested Jerry Lee Lewis outside the gates of Graceland in 1976, after he showed up for the second time that night and made a scene by shouting, waving a pistol and demanding to see Elvis Presley.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Music News & Notes
Cover Art of Jamie Foxx's 'Intuition'
Jamie Foxx dons a black leather jacket on the cover art of his forthcoming third studio album 'Intuition'.
An official cover art for Jamie Foxx's third major studio effort "Intuition" has been unveiled. The picture, posted on the news photo, shows the close-up look of the 40-year-old singer wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses.
"Intuition" is a follow up to Jamie's 2005 studio LP "Unpredictable". Slated to be dropped on December 16 in the U.S., the record will line up guest stars T.I. on single "Just Like Me", Lil Wayne on "Aye!", and Keri Hilson on "My Girl".
----------------------------------------------------
Motley Crue To Commemorate Vinyl Reissue with Limited Edition Leather Box Set Journals Of the Damned
Press release:
Motley Crue announced today that Eleven Seven Music/Motley Records will release vinyl configurations of their current hit album Saints of Los Angeles along with their first five classic studio albums, Too Fast For Love (1981); Shout at the Devil (1983); Theatre of Pain (1985); Girls, Girls, Girls (1987) and Dr. Feelgood (1989) on Tuesday, November 25. Each album is pressed on high quality 180 gram vinyl and cut from the original analog master tapes.
To mark this occasion, Motley Crue is releasing a limited edition leather box set, Journals Of The Damned, containing all six vinyl releases. Limited to a sales run of 500, each set is individually numbered and also contains a Shout At the Devil Era lithograph signed by all four members of the band. The sets are available exclusively for order at www.motley.com.
The release of these Motley Crue albums on vinyl comes as many music fans are embracing vinyl for its superior sound quality and new technology allowing the transfer to MP3. With increased availability at major music retailers and online, LPs are making a comeback.
"I remember opening up my first vinyl and seeing the incredible artwork it had. There’s nothing like it," said Nikki Sixx. "You also get that true gritty sound on vinyl that really makes a rock record sound great which CD’s can never achieve. With the current resurgence of vinyl, it came at a perfect time for us to open up the next generation of rock fans to what they’ve been missing out on."
----------------------------------------------------
Christie’s Punk/Rock auction
Auction House Christie’s have a Punk/Rock auction now online for your perusal. Estimates range from $100 to $150,000.
There are many weird and wonderful artefacts from rock history covering acts such as The Ramones, Blondie, David Bowie and The Sex Pistols.
Estimated at between $4,000 to $5,000 is this portfolio of Velvet Undergound items including an article on the VU by Lester Bangs in typescript facsimile, prints, photographs and an original mono vinyl record and sleeve of the 1967 album ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’.
In amongst the gems are several photographs by legendary photographer Mick Rock including a print of Iggy Pop. There is also an original Westwood/McLaren ‘God Save the Queen’ T-shirt.
You can, should you wish, bid on several lots of signatures of all four Beatles. The most expensive item on offer is a Vox Continental Portable Organ used by John Lennon at the 1965 Shea Stadium concert and on the recording of ‘I’m Down’.
If you don’t want to spend that much then the teenage Kurt Cobain’s bass guitar is going for around $60,00 to $80,000.
The items go under the hammer on 24th November.
----------------------------------------------------
METALLICA Reissue
METALLICA is about to reissue its classic 1991 self-titled album on vinyl as part of the ongoing series that will eventually see the entire catalog available again. The "black" album will be available in North America on November 28 as a two-disc package for the 33.3 version, and in a box for the four-disc, 180 gram, 45 rpm edition. Check out your favorite local record shop or just head over to the METALLICA.com store to pick up a copy. Look for the re-release on vinyl in the rest of the world in late December.
Released in August 1991, "Metallica" features some of METALLICA's most popular songs, including "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Sad but True". It spent four consecutive weeks at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart and is the band's best-selling album to date, with over 15 million copies sold in the United States and over 22 million copies worldwide. It's also one of the best-selling heavy metal albums of all time.
The album cover features only the band's logo and a coiled snake (derived from the Gadsden flag). The motto of the Gadsden flag, "Don't Tread on Me", is also the title of a song featured on the album.
Jamie Foxx dons a black leather jacket on the cover art of his forthcoming third studio album 'Intuition'.
An official cover art for Jamie Foxx's third major studio effort "Intuition" has been unveiled. The picture, posted on the news photo, shows the close-up look of the 40-year-old singer wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses.
"Intuition" is a follow up to Jamie's 2005 studio LP "Unpredictable". Slated to be dropped on December 16 in the U.S., the record will line up guest stars T.I. on single "Just Like Me", Lil Wayne on "Aye!", and Keri Hilson on "My Girl".
----------------------------------------------------
Motley Crue To Commemorate Vinyl Reissue with Limited Edition Leather Box Set Journals Of the Damned
Press release:
Motley Crue announced today that Eleven Seven Music/Motley Records will release vinyl configurations of their current hit album Saints of Los Angeles along with their first five classic studio albums, Too Fast For Love (1981); Shout at the Devil (1983); Theatre of Pain (1985); Girls, Girls, Girls (1987) and Dr. Feelgood (1989) on Tuesday, November 25. Each album is pressed on high quality 180 gram vinyl and cut from the original analog master tapes.
To mark this occasion, Motley Crue is releasing a limited edition leather box set, Journals Of The Damned, containing all six vinyl releases. Limited to a sales run of 500, each set is individually numbered and also contains a Shout At the Devil Era lithograph signed by all four members of the band. The sets are available exclusively for order at www.motley.com.
The release of these Motley Crue albums on vinyl comes as many music fans are embracing vinyl for its superior sound quality and new technology allowing the transfer to MP3. With increased availability at major music retailers and online, LPs are making a comeback.
"I remember opening up my first vinyl and seeing the incredible artwork it had. There’s nothing like it," said Nikki Sixx. "You also get that true gritty sound on vinyl that really makes a rock record sound great which CD’s can never achieve. With the current resurgence of vinyl, it came at a perfect time for us to open up the next generation of rock fans to what they’ve been missing out on."
----------------------------------------------------
Christie’s Punk/Rock auction
Auction House Christie’s have a Punk/Rock auction now online for your perusal. Estimates range from $100 to $150,000.
There are many weird and wonderful artefacts from rock history covering acts such as The Ramones, Blondie, David Bowie and The Sex Pistols.
Estimated at between $4,000 to $5,000 is this portfolio of Velvet Undergound items including an article on the VU by Lester Bangs in typescript facsimile, prints, photographs and an original mono vinyl record and sleeve of the 1967 album ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’.
In amongst the gems are several photographs by legendary photographer Mick Rock including a print of Iggy Pop. There is also an original Westwood/McLaren ‘God Save the Queen’ T-shirt.
You can, should you wish, bid on several lots of signatures of all four Beatles. The most expensive item on offer is a Vox Continental Portable Organ used by John Lennon at the 1965 Shea Stadium concert and on the recording of ‘I’m Down’.
If you don’t want to spend that much then the teenage Kurt Cobain’s bass guitar is going for around $60,00 to $80,000.
The items go under the hammer on 24th November.
----------------------------------------------------
METALLICA Reissue
METALLICA is about to reissue its classic 1991 self-titled album on vinyl as part of the ongoing series that will eventually see the entire catalog available again. The "black" album will be available in North America on November 28 as a two-disc package for the 33.3 version, and in a box for the four-disc, 180 gram, 45 rpm edition. Check out your favorite local record shop or just head over to the METALLICA.com store to pick up a copy. Look for the re-release on vinyl in the rest of the world in late December.
Released in August 1991, "Metallica" features some of METALLICA's most popular songs, including "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Sad but True". It spent four consecutive weeks at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart and is the band's best-selling album to date, with over 15 million copies sold in the United States and over 22 million copies worldwide. It's also one of the best-selling heavy metal albums of all time.
The album cover features only the band's logo and a coiled snake (derived from the Gadsden flag). The motto of the Gadsden flag, "Don't Tread on Me", is also the title of a song featured on the album.
Top Ten TV Theme Songs
Let's explore PasteMagazine.com's list of theme songs, this time see what made #7 on their list:
7. The Andy Griffith Show - Earle Hagen, Herbert Spencer and Everett Sloane
That's Hagen you hear whistling the intro, but I was more impressed with this version by some guy's parrot:
I have to admit, this is one of my favorite shows, I still watch it on TV Land. I love the classic characters- Barney Fife, Floyd Lawson, Goober, Gomer, The Darlings and who can ever forget Ernest T. Bass (who, by the way only appeared in 10 episodes)? Why there is even a website devoted to the show (http://www.andygriffithshow.net)!
The show comprises 8 full seasons and 249 episodes — 159 episodes in black and white (seasons 1-5) and 90 in color (seasons 6-8). Griffith appears in all 249 episodes with Bavier coming in second at 239. Only Griffith, Howard, Bavier, Knotts, and Hope Summers appeared in all eight seasons. Knotts left the show at the end of the fifth season to pursue a career in films but returned to make five guest appearances as Barney in seasons six through eight. His last appearance was the most watched episode of the series.
The Andy Griffith Show consistently placed in the top ten during its run.
1960-1961:#4
1961-1962:#7
1962-1963:#6
1963-1964:#5
1964-1965:#4
1965-1966:#6
1966-1967:#3
1967-1968:#1
interesting tidbits:
A Neilsen study conducted during the show's last season (1967) indicated the show ranked #1 among blue collar workers followed by The Lucy Show and Gunsmoke. Among white collar workers, the show ranked #3 following Saturday Movies and The Dean Martin Show.
Don Knotts won five Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, in 1961-63, 1966 and 1967, the last two for guest appearances. Frances Bavier won one Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1967. The show received its only Emmy nomination in 1967 for Outstanding Comedy Series, losing to a new show, The Monkees. In 2002, TV Guide ranked The Andy Griffith Show ninth on its list of the 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
The show was filmed at Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed at Forty Acres. Woodsy locales, including the opening sequence with its whistled theme, were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon Lake.
The show's theme music, "The Fishin' Hole", was composed by Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer, with lyrics written by Everett Sloane. Whistling in the opening sequence was performed by Earle Hagen. One of the show's tunes, "The Mayberry March", was reworked a number of times in different tempi, styles and orchestrations as background music.
The show's sole sponsor was General Foods, with promotional consideration paid for (in the form of cars) by Ford Motor Company.
The show was retitled Andy of Mayberry for its initial daytime rerun package in 1964, to distinguish the repeat episodes from the then-new episodes airing in prime time and continued to turn up in syndication over the ensuing decades.
There is a reason this show is so well liked- one word- quality.
7. The Andy Griffith Show - Earle Hagen, Herbert Spencer and Everett Sloane
That's Hagen you hear whistling the intro, but I was more impressed with this version by some guy's parrot:
I have to admit, this is one of my favorite shows, I still watch it on TV Land. I love the classic characters- Barney Fife, Floyd Lawson, Goober, Gomer, The Darlings and who can ever forget Ernest T. Bass (who, by the way only appeared in 10 episodes)? Why there is even a website devoted to the show (http://www.andygriffithshow.net)!
The show comprises 8 full seasons and 249 episodes — 159 episodes in black and white (seasons 1-5) and 90 in color (seasons 6-8). Griffith appears in all 249 episodes with Bavier coming in second at 239. Only Griffith, Howard, Bavier, Knotts, and Hope Summers appeared in all eight seasons. Knotts left the show at the end of the fifth season to pursue a career in films but returned to make five guest appearances as Barney in seasons six through eight. His last appearance was the most watched episode of the series.
The Andy Griffith Show consistently placed in the top ten during its run.
1960-1961:#4
1961-1962:#7
1962-1963:#6
1963-1964:#5
1964-1965:#4
1965-1966:#6
1966-1967:#3
1967-1968:#1
interesting tidbits:
A Neilsen study conducted during the show's last season (1967) indicated the show ranked #1 among blue collar workers followed by The Lucy Show and Gunsmoke. Among white collar workers, the show ranked #3 following Saturday Movies and The Dean Martin Show.
Don Knotts won five Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, in 1961-63, 1966 and 1967, the last two for guest appearances. Frances Bavier won one Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1967. The show received its only Emmy nomination in 1967 for Outstanding Comedy Series, losing to a new show, The Monkees. In 2002, TV Guide ranked The Andy Griffith Show ninth on its list of the 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
The show was filmed at Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed at Forty Acres. Woodsy locales, including the opening sequence with its whistled theme, were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon Lake.
The show's theme music, "The Fishin' Hole", was composed by Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer, with lyrics written by Everett Sloane. Whistling in the opening sequence was performed by Earle Hagen. One of the show's tunes, "The Mayberry March", was reworked a number of times in different tempi, styles and orchestrations as background music.
The show's sole sponsor was General Foods, with promotional consideration paid for (in the form of cars) by Ford Motor Company.
The show was retitled Andy of Mayberry for its initial daytime rerun package in 1964, to distinguish the repeat episodes from the then-new episodes airing in prime time and continued to turn up in syndication over the ensuing decades.
There is a reason this show is so well liked- one word- quality.
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at the Gigwise.com list of the top 50 dirtiest and sexiest album covers (as compiled by their staff- Gigwise comments in quotes):
31. Wild Cherry: ‘Wild Cherry’ "Perhaps one of the most sexually suggestive fruits out there, the cherry, was used to great effect on this 1976 sleeve. Subtlety is the name of the game on a sleeve showing a pair of plump red female lips about to devour the cherry. The mind does indeed boggle."
Wild Cherry was a funk/rock band which had a huge hit in 1976 with the funk song "Play That Funky Music"
Rob Parissi (lead vocals & guitar) was raised in the tough, diverse steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio . Parissi graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed his first band in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of Mingo Junction along the Ohio River. The band's name "Wild Cherry" was taken from a box of cough drops while Rob was recuperating from a brief hospital stay. The band played the Ohio Valley region, the West Virginia panhandle, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"Play That Funky Music" became a huge hit when released in 1976, peaking at number one on both the Billboard R&B and pop charts. Both the single and Wild Cherry's self-titled debut album went platinum. The band was named Best Pop Group of the Year by Billboard, and received an American Music Award for Top R&B Single of the Year, as well as a pair of Grammy nominations for Best New Vocal Group and Best R&B Performance by a Group or Duo that year, adding to their success. "I Feel Sanctified" was also released as a single form the first album.
Their 1977 album, "Electrified Funk" and 1978 album "I Love My Music" did not produce any top 20 hits, while their 1979 album "Only the Wild Survive" didn't produce a top 100 single.
U.S. billboard chart placements for singles from their 3 other albums:
Baby Don't You Know (1977; peaked at #43)
Hot To Trot (1977; peaked at #95)
Hold On (1977; peaked at #61)
I Love My Music (1978; peaked at #69).
"Hot to Trot" was a minor followup hit in some non U.S. markets.
The original lineup included:
Ben DiFabbio - Drums, Lead and background vocals - From Mingo Junction, Ohio Louie Osso - Guitar, Lead and background vocals- From Steubenville, Ohio Larry Brown - Bass, Lead and background vocals - From Weirton, West Virginia Larry Mader - Keyboards, Lead and background vocals - From East Springfield, Ohio Rob Parissi -
Friday, November 21, 2008
Fab collectables in big online Rock-n-Roll auction
Serious Toyz has begun their Fall '08 Beatles/Rock-n-Roll Vinyl & Collectibles Auction, and it includes some rare Beatles Collectibles and rare Beatles vinyl.
Featured in the auction is an original Beatles Record Player in exceptional condition in its rare original box. It is estimated to sell between $8,500 and $12,500.
Other highlights of the sale include a store stock set of 4 Yellow Submarine banks in original boxes, a Ringo Starr Drum Set in box, the Beatles Remco Dolls in the rare Sears mailing box, Apple Records promotional items and a "3rd state" Butcher Cover.
The auction runs now through November 22. For more information on the auction, check out the Serious Toyz website.
http://serioustoyz.com/
Featured in the auction is an original Beatles Record Player in exceptional condition in its rare original box. It is estimated to sell between $8,500 and $12,500.
Other highlights of the sale include a store stock set of 4 Yellow Submarine banks in original boxes, a Ringo Starr Drum Set in box, the Beatles Remco Dolls in the rare Sears mailing box, Apple Records promotional items and a "3rd state" Butcher Cover.
The auction runs now through November 22. For more information on the auction, check out the Serious Toyz website.
http://serioustoyz.com/
Top Ten TV Theme Songs
Let's explore PasteMagazine.com's list of theme songs, this time see what made #8 on their list:
8. Hawaii Five-o - Morton Stevens
Of all the songs on this list, this is the one that you'll have stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
Includes the massive "Hawaii Five-O" theme, plus the cuts "Call To Danger", "Up Tight", "Blues Trip", "The Long Wait", "The Floater", "Beach Trip", "Operation Smash", "McGarrett's Theme", and "Front Street". Book 'em Danno!
A soundtrack album featuring Morton Stevens' theme and incidental music was issued by Capitol Records in 1970. One of the instrumental pieces on the album, "Call to Danger", was excerpted as background music accompanying a "Special Presentation" logo that CBS used to introduce its prime time television specials throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
interesting tidbits:
The show continues to be seen in Hawaii since it left the air, thus making it the longest-running show to continue airing in the state after it ceased production. It is currently seen on Honolulu independent outlet KWHE.
The phone numbers that were dialed from various Honolulu-area phone booths throughout the run of the series were actual household numbers, which caused some "invasion of privacy" concerns for residents, even after the series ended; hence in the middle of the series run, the Honolulu phone prefix "(808) 555-xxxx" was to be used on every episode from then on.
Jack Lord was the only actor to appear in all episodes of Five-O and was the only original cast member remaining when its last episode aired in May 1980. He and Herman Wedemeyer were the only actors to appear in the first episode (excluding the pilot) and the last episode of the series.
The soundtrack is listed at around $40 (Capitol ST-410)
8. Hawaii Five-o - Morton Stevens
Of all the songs on this list, this is the one that you'll have stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
Includes the massive "Hawaii Five-O" theme, plus the cuts "Call To Danger", "Up Tight", "Blues Trip", "The Long Wait", "The Floater", "Beach Trip", "Operation Smash", "McGarrett's Theme", and "Front Street". Book 'em Danno!
A soundtrack album featuring Morton Stevens' theme and incidental music was issued by Capitol Records in 1970. One of the instrumental pieces on the album, "Call to Danger", was excerpted as background music accompanying a "Special Presentation" logo that CBS used to introduce its prime time television specials throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
interesting tidbits:
The show continues to be seen in Hawaii since it left the air, thus making it the longest-running show to continue airing in the state after it ceased production. It is currently seen on Honolulu independent outlet KWHE.
The phone numbers that were dialed from various Honolulu-area phone booths throughout the run of the series were actual household numbers, which caused some "invasion of privacy" concerns for residents, even after the series ended; hence in the middle of the series run, the Honolulu phone prefix "(808) 555-xxxx" was to be used on every episode from then on.
Jack Lord was the only actor to appear in all episodes of Five-O and was the only original cast member remaining when its last episode aired in May 1980. He and Herman Wedemeyer were the only actors to appear in the first episode (excluding the pilot) and the last episode of the series.
The soundtrack is listed at around $40 (Capitol ST-410)
The Independent Record Shop
Old Rare New: The Independent Record Shop
For those of us who grew up thumbing through endless peach crates of vinyl records, the thrill of the hunt for coveted slabs of licorice pizza is still alive and forever under the skin. We may not feed the turntable as often or stumble in and out of the long-lost record stores of an earlier era, but the hunger is there. Downloading a selection from iTunes isn't the same as examining a wall of import seven-inch singles, finding the new bass player for your band in the aisles, or hearing Miles Davis for the first time on a battered tube-amp stereo.
Alas, between 2003 and 2006, an estimated 900 record stores here in the U.S. flipped over the "closed" sign at the door for the last time. But geezers, vinyl addicts, and young whippersnappers can rejoice: The Black Dog Publishing house of London has just issued a 142-page love letter to that magical age in Old Rare New: The Independent Record Shop. Told through essays and conversations with record junkies all over the planet and lavishly illustrated with album jackets, vintage labels, and photographs of walls of wax, the sense of community, discovery, and obsession is a heady feast of 78s, eight-track tapes, and gatefold albums. Highlights include reflections by Chan Marshall (Cat Power), Devendra Banhart, James Lavelle, and Byron Coley. If you miss the church of the indie record store, this is your new Bible. Further worship is encouraged with an appendix of indie shops both stateside and in the UK.
This is a fantastic look at the record shop that we all remember. In my day, they also had 8-track tapes, but I always bought vinyl. It was a place to meet friends, talk about new music, study album cover art and stare at blacklight posters. Ahh...the good old days.
This is a reminder to all, if you have a local record shop, buy your vinyl from that retailer, not online. Let's keep the doors open and the memories will live on.
For those of us who grew up thumbing through endless peach crates of vinyl records, the thrill of the hunt for coveted slabs of licorice pizza is still alive and forever under the skin. We may not feed the turntable as often or stumble in and out of the long-lost record stores of an earlier era, but the hunger is there. Downloading a selection from iTunes isn't the same as examining a wall of import seven-inch singles, finding the new bass player for your band in the aisles, or hearing Miles Davis for the first time on a battered tube-amp stereo.
Alas, between 2003 and 2006, an estimated 900 record stores here in the U.S. flipped over the "closed" sign at the door for the last time. But geezers, vinyl addicts, and young whippersnappers can rejoice: The Black Dog Publishing house of London has just issued a 142-page love letter to that magical age in Old Rare New: The Independent Record Shop. Told through essays and conversations with record junkies all over the planet and lavishly illustrated with album jackets, vintage labels, and photographs of walls of wax, the sense of community, discovery, and obsession is a heady feast of 78s, eight-track tapes, and gatefold albums. Highlights include reflections by Chan Marshall (Cat Power), Devendra Banhart, James Lavelle, and Byron Coley. If you miss the church of the indie record store, this is your new Bible. Further worship is encouraged with an appendix of indie shops both stateside and in the UK.
This is a fantastic look at the record shop that we all remember. In my day, they also had 8-track tapes, but I always bought vinyl. It was a place to meet friends, talk about new music, study album cover art and stare at blacklight posters. Ahh...the good old days.
This is a reminder to all, if you have a local record shop, buy your vinyl from that retailer, not online. Let's keep the doors open and the memories will live on.
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at the Gigwise.com list of the top 50 dirtiest and sexiest album covers (as compiled by their staff- Gigwise comments in quotes):
32. The Strokes: ‘Is This It’ – "The New Yorkers’ debut in 2001 is in Gigwise’s humble opinion one of the greatest covers of all time. Featuring a female figure (something which has since been contested by some claiming it’s a man) resting a leather glove on her behind, it perfectly complemented the scuzzy, dirty indie music it contained. Sadly, it was deemed too racy in the US and an alternative sleeve was issued."
Obviously, someone at Gigwise.com really, really likes the cover, as we have seen it before on their 'best' album covers lists. Uh, can someone tell them it's just a hand on an ass? Maybe it's the leather......
32. The Strokes: ‘Is This It’ – "The New Yorkers’ debut in 2001 is in Gigwise’s humble opinion one of the greatest covers of all time. Featuring a female figure (something which has since been contested by some claiming it’s a man) resting a leather glove on her behind, it perfectly complemented the scuzzy, dirty indie music it contained. Sadly, it was deemed too racy in the US and an alternative sleeve was issued."
Obviously, someone at Gigwise.com really, really likes the cover, as we have seen it before on their 'best' album covers lists. Uh, can someone tell them it's just a hand on an ass? Maybe it's the leather......
This Date In Music History-November 21
Birthdays:
Lonnie Jordan of War was born in 1948.
Randy Zehringer, brother of Rick Derringer and drummer in his band the McCoys ("Hang On Sloopy"), was born in Celina, Ohio in 1949.
Brian Ritchie, bassist with the Violent Femmes, was born today in 1960.
Icelandic singer Björk was born in Reykjavik in 1965.
Dr. John (real name Mac Rebbenack-- "Right Place, Wrong Time") is 67.
Livingston Taylor ("I Will Be In Love With You") turns 58.
They Are Missed:
In 1965, Bill Black, who backed Elvis Presley on his early hits, died of a brain tumor at the age of 39. After leaving Elvis, he formed Bill Black's Combo and placed 8 hits in the US Top 40, including "White Silver Sands" in 1960.
Comedian/songwriter, Allan Sherman, who is best remembered for 1963's "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh" died of respiratory ailments in 1973, a few days shy of his 49th birthday.
Legendary manager of Led Zeppelin Peter Grant died from a heart attack in 1995. Known as being one of the shrewdest and most ruthless managers in rock history, Grant secured 90% of concert gate money and intimidated record store owners who dealt in bootlegs. The former wrestler, also worked as a film extra and bodyguard.
History:
In 1968, Yoko Ono suffered a miscarriage of John Lennon's child. They named the baby John Ono Lennon II and buried it at a secret location.
Two months after launching their TV series, The Partridge Family reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 with "I Think I Love You.” The only members of the cast who actually sang on the record were David Cassidy and his real-life step mother, Shirley Jones. The song was featured in the first episode of the Partridge Family TV series, made by the same company that made The Monkees.
In 1955, Elvis Presley agreed to let Col. Tom Parker be his manager. Not really a colonel, Parker was a flamboyant promoter whose previous experience includes The Great Parker Pony Circus and Tom Parker and His Dancing Turkeys and is a veteran of carnivals, medicine shows and various other entertainment enterprises.
The Beatles Anthology 1 was released in the US in 1995, featuring 60 tracks-including the single 'Free As A Bird.'
Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs went to No.1 on the US singles chart in 1960 with 'Stay', the shortest ever US No.1 single at one minute 37 seconds.
Olivia Newton John started a ten week run at No.1 in the US singles chart in 1981 with the single 'Physical.” Her fourth US #1 went on to sell over 2 million copies (#7 hit in the UK).
The Elvis Presley film "Fun in Acapulco" premiered in 1963.
"The Delicate Sound Of Thunder," by Pink Floyd was released in 1988.
In 2003, legendary record producer Phil Spector was charged with the murder of Lana Clarkson at his home the previous February. Spector pled innocent. The case remains open.
Don Henley was arrested in 1980, after paramedics treated a nude sixteen year-old girl suffering from drug intoxication at his home in Los Angeles, CA. Henley was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, cocaine and Quaaludes and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Lonnie Jordan of War was born in 1948.
Randy Zehringer, brother of Rick Derringer and drummer in his band the McCoys ("Hang On Sloopy"), was born in Celina, Ohio in 1949.
Brian Ritchie, bassist with the Violent Femmes, was born today in 1960.
Icelandic singer Björk was born in Reykjavik in 1965.
Dr. John (real name Mac Rebbenack-- "Right Place, Wrong Time") is 67.
Livingston Taylor ("I Will Be In Love With You") turns 58.
They Are Missed:
In 1965, Bill Black, who backed Elvis Presley on his early hits, died of a brain tumor at the age of 39. After leaving Elvis, he formed Bill Black's Combo and placed 8 hits in the US Top 40, including "White Silver Sands" in 1960.
Comedian/songwriter, Allan Sherman, who is best remembered for 1963's "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh" died of respiratory ailments in 1973, a few days shy of his 49th birthday.
Legendary manager of Led Zeppelin Peter Grant died from a heart attack in 1995. Known as being one of the shrewdest and most ruthless managers in rock history, Grant secured 90% of concert gate money and intimidated record store owners who dealt in bootlegs. The former wrestler, also worked as a film extra and bodyguard.
History:
In 1968, Yoko Ono suffered a miscarriage of John Lennon's child. They named the baby John Ono Lennon II and buried it at a secret location.
Two months after launching their TV series, The Partridge Family reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 with "I Think I Love You.” The only members of the cast who actually sang on the record were David Cassidy and his real-life step mother, Shirley Jones. The song was featured in the first episode of the Partridge Family TV series, made by the same company that made The Monkees.
In 1955, Elvis Presley agreed to let Col. Tom Parker be his manager. Not really a colonel, Parker was a flamboyant promoter whose previous experience includes The Great Parker Pony Circus and Tom Parker and His Dancing Turkeys and is a veteran of carnivals, medicine shows and various other entertainment enterprises.
The Beatles Anthology 1 was released in the US in 1995, featuring 60 tracks-including the single 'Free As A Bird.'
Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs went to No.1 on the US singles chart in 1960 with 'Stay', the shortest ever US No.1 single at one minute 37 seconds.
Olivia Newton John started a ten week run at No.1 in the US singles chart in 1981 with the single 'Physical.” Her fourth US #1 went on to sell over 2 million copies (#7 hit in the UK).
The Elvis Presley film "Fun in Acapulco" premiered in 1963.
"The Delicate Sound Of Thunder," by Pink Floyd was released in 1988.
In 2003, legendary record producer Phil Spector was charged with the murder of Lana Clarkson at his home the previous February. Spector pled innocent. The case remains open.
Don Henley was arrested in 1980, after paramedics treated a nude sixteen year-old girl suffering from drug intoxication at his home in Los Angeles, CA. Henley was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, cocaine and Quaaludes and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
On My Christmas List
Cartoon Beatles - "Meet The Beatles" ltd-edition sericel print
In Stock (1)
Limited-edition (one of only 500) sericel, 14"H x 14"W overall image area, unmatted/unframed. Shipped in deluxe presentation folder.
This sericel is a recreation of the Beatle character model sheets originally created by artist Peter Sander. It is presented in the now-famous "Meet The Beatles" album cover format.
About Rock'NToons/DenniLu products and The Beatles Cartoon series - These limited-edition cels depicting The Beatles, George, John, Paul, and Ringo, are inspired by The Beatles Saturday morning cartoon series. The show premiered on September 25th, 1965 on ABC television and ran until April 20th, 1969. In all, thirty-nine episodes of The Beatles cartoon were produced by Al Brodax and his King Features team.
As part of his effort to make the show more appealing to an American audience, Brodax decided to use well-regarded voice talent (Paul Frees for John and George, Lance Percival for Paul and Ringo), with the actors using simple British accents versus the Beatles' own Liverpudlian ones. UK audiences - and the Beatles - were unhappy with this fact, and so the series got very little airtime there, whereas in the U.S., the show proved to be VERY popular!
Each color used in the re-creation of this image has been screen-printed with exact precision, one color at a time, onto the cel. The lithographed background accompanying this cel has been printed on premium acid-free paper.
This work of art is from a general edition of 500 sericels. In addition, there are 50 "publisher's proofs" numbered PP 1/50 to PP 50/50 and 5 hors de commerce numbered, HC 1/5 to 5/5, bringing the total of all images to 555 pieces. Conforming to the practice of fine art printing, the elements used to create the edition are destroyed when the edition is closed.
The original art cels for both the cel and the background are archived with the publisher. No additional multiples of the sericel version of this image, including proofs, have been produced in this limited edition except only as necessary to replace pieces in this edition that are damaged in production or shipment, but still maintaining the stated edition size.
The prints are created, designed and licensed by the DenniLu Company, and manufactured and distributed by RockNToons Animation Studios, LLC. These collectibles are officially authorized and licensed by Apple Corp, Ltd.
Find this and other rare collectible items at RockPoPGallery.com- http://rockpopgallery.com/store.asp/CAME_FROM/fonzzz
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