Meanwhile in 1966 ... Batman stuff!

See more at Pop '66!

 

So long, Scotty Moore

Elvis Presley's first guitarist, Scotty Moore, has passed away at age 84. He was crucial to developing the sound of rock'n'roll guitar, blending influences from country, swing and blues. Here he is on a talk show from a few years back:


They Made This: Captain America party lights

Available here.


The Minus 5 meets the Monkees

Power pop purveyor Scott Mccaughey, famed for his days with Seattle's Young Fresh Fellows and collaborations with R.E.M., Wilco and Robyn Hitchcock, is paying tribute to a prime influence with a new Monkees-themed record.

Of Monkees and Men isn't a covers record, but includes a lineup of tunes inspired by and titled after the Pre-Fab Four's members. It's also got an awesome cover.

Here's the skinny:
Of Monkees and Men, McCaughey’s fandom has reached new heights, and of his obsession with ‘60s rock, AXS notes, “The Minus 5 always adds up to a good time for nerdy rock history buffs,” but adds, “It’s also fantastic, even if you aren’t a nerd.”
“I was eleven years old when I first heard ‘Last Train To Clarksville,’” McCaughey remembers. “And I became a lifelong Monkees fan in that moment.” With

The album features nine original songs, that pay heartfelt homage to the Monkees as well as other friends and artists influential to McCaughey’s musical psyche. Side One tackles each member of the Monkees in song, starting with the ten-minute epic “Michael Nesmith,” and ending with “Boyce & Hart,” which praises the songwriting team behind many beloved Monkees hits. Side Two bows to iconic actor Robert Ryan, the brilliantly literate Portland-based Americana band Richmond Fontaine, and, in “Blue Rickenbacker” and “Weymer Never Dies,” two lost comrades that loom large in McCaughey’s development into a rock and roll lifer.

Tracklist:
1. “Michael Nesmith”
2. “Davy Gets the Girl”
3. “Song for Peter Tork”
4. “Micky Is a Cool Drummer”
5. “Boyce & Hart”
6. “Blue Rickenbacker”
7. “Robert Ryan Is Among Us”
8. “Richmond Fontaine”
9. “Weymer Never Dies”

Pop Artifact: Harvey Comics calendar 1954


New comics for June 29, 2016: Astro Boy; Green Arrow; Justice League; Donald Duck; Mickey Mouse, more

Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon:








Cool! Ramona Flowers collectible figure from Mondo

Info:
The Ramona Flowers Collectible Figure has been a long time coming, and we couldn't be more excited to finally get her out in the world. An American expatriate, ninja delivery girl, and traverser of subspace, Ramona is the object of Scott Pilgrim's love. Too bad she's got seven evil exes he must defeat. The Ramona Flowers Collectible Figure, from the Scott Pilgrim comic series, is based on the art of creator Bryan Lee O'Malley, features 7 points of articulation with interchangeable accessories!

Accessories Include:
Titanium Baseball Bat (+1 Against Blondes)
Large Hammer (+2 Against Girls)
Subspace Suitcase & Strap (Storage Capacity: Unknown)
2 x Interchangeable Right Arms
 Order here.

Unreleased sessions by funk queen Betty Davis - produced by Miles Davis - on the way

Light in the Attic has just announced the upcoming release of Betty Davis: The Columbia Years 1968-1969, which collects a long-rumored by never-released session produced by jazz great Miles Davis.

Info:
For nearly half a century, rumors have circulated about a historic session recorded in 1969 at Columbia’s 52nd Street Studios in NYC. If it took place, it would have been the historic first collision of Miles Davis’ jazz and Jimi Hendrix’s psychedelia — all under the leadership of funk queen Betty Davis.
Today we are beyond thrilled to announce that the rumors are true. The Columbia Years 1968-1969 are the never-before-heard sessions that planted the seeds for Bitches Brew and Betty's groundbreaking funk albums. Oh and, the music is as electric as you would imagine. Also included in this release is an amazing Betty Davis session that took place in Los Angeles in 1968 with Hugh Masekela and The Crusaders.
The landmark NYC sessions were produced by Miles and Teo Macero and featured Betty on vocals, accompanied by Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, guitarist John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock on keys, and Dylan/Miles session bassist Harvey Brooks. Other players included bassist Billy Cox (Band of Gypsys), saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and organist Larry Young.
The Columbia Years 1968-1969 is available now as a deluxe LP on "Solid Gold" wax with a poster, as well as on black wax and CD. It is also available as a 3-LP or 3-CD bundle along with Betty's Self-Titled debut (1973), They Say I’m Different (1974), and a poster.
Order here.

 

Comic Art: Jack Kirby's "Gods" portfolio




So long, Bernie Worrell

Sad news: The great P-Funk keyboardist has died at age 72. More from NPR.


Meanwhile in 1966 ...

See more at Pop '66!

 

Pop Culture Roundup: Micronauts; romance comics; Twin Peaks, more

A limited edition set of Micronauts re-creations will be released at the San Diego Comicon. I had Pharoid!

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Jacque Nodell, who publishes the Sequential Crush romance comics blog is kick-starting a new book:  How to Go Steady: Timeless Dating Advice, Wisdom, and Lessons from Vintage Romance Comics. You can help out, and reserve a copy, here.

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Via Ungolianschilde: Pencil art by Walt Simonson:

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"Twin Peaks" co-creator Mark Frost has a new book coming out in October: "The Secret History of Twin Peaks." Here are some hints as to the content:
Twenty-five years [after Dale Cooper’s investigation of the murder of Laura Palmer,] the FBI gets a hold of a box from an anonymous source. In the box, a huge dossier…
A female FBI agent is tasked to analyze all the documents inside, and everything related to the strange town of Twin Peaks. She also has to determine the identity of the person who compiled the dossier. Along the way, she discovers secrets about the lives of the town’s residents, but also reports from Dale Cooper’s investigation that had vanished, newspaper clippings, an autopsy report, and other classified information.
What happened since the disappearance (?) of the young woman? And why did an anonymous “archivist” compile such a thorough dossier on Twin Peaks and its origins?
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Via the Bristol Board: Buzz Sawyer character portraits by the great Roy Crane.


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Marvel Comics is working to highlight Prostate Cancer Awareness Month with a series of four special covers on titles out in September.