Pop Culture Safari!

Coming up: Teen Beat Volume 6

Out Feb. 10. Order now from Amazon.

Details:

When it comes to rarities we have two definite aces up our sleeve. Sandy Nelson's 'Drum Shack' is so rare that we were not even sure it really existed until we got the master in our hot little hands, while the Astronauts' 'Big Hunk O' Love' was issued in 1966, but never beyond Japanese shores. Other obscurities include the Invaders' 'Disc Jockey' which is as clever as it is calculating (what DJ could resist?), the Mus-Twangs' rock-up of 'Frankie & Johnny' featuring Paul Cotton of Poco when he just wanted to be Duane Eddy, Don Cole's exhilarating guitar work on 'Free Flight' and the Titans' 'Noplace Special', which is actually a very special place indeed. Compilation and sleeve notes by Pipeline's Dave Burke and Alan Taylor.

Tracks:

1. Peter Gunn - Duane Eddy, His 'Twangy' Guitar and The Rebels

2. Reveille Rock - Johnny & The Hurricanes

3. Caldonia - The Rondels

4. Flyin' High - Bobby Vee & The Shadows

5. The Noplace Special - The Titans

6. All American Surfer - The Busters

7. Night Ride - The Ramrods

8. Happy Vacation - Jackie Lee Orchestra with Pep Lattanzi

9. Apache - Jorgen Ingmann and His Guitar

10. Theme from 'Come September' - Bobby Darin and His Orchestra

11. Frankie and Johnny - The Mus-Twangs

12. Choo-Choo - James Brown & The Famous Flames

13. Nee Nee Na Na Nu Nu - Dicky Doo & The Don'ts

14. Path Finder - Teddy & The Rough Riders

15. Straight Flush - The Frantics

16. One Mint Julep - Chet Atkins

17. Have You Ever Had the Blues? - Travis Wammack

18. Hully Gully Guitar - Jerry Reed and The Hully Girlies

19. Drum Shack - Sandy Nelson

20. (Let's Do The) Hully Gully Twist - Bill Doggett

21. Disc Jockey - The Invaders

22. Beach Party - King Curtis & The Noble Knights

23. Free Flight - Don Cole

24. A Big Hunk of Love - The Astronauts

25. The 2000 Pound Bee (Part 1) - The Ventures

26. The 2000 Pound Bee (Part 2) - The Ventures

Coming up: Jon Savage's 1965 - The Year The Sixties Ignited

Out Feb. 10. Order now from Amazon.

Details:

The second 'bookend' to Jon Savage's hugely popular 1966 Faber book and Ace compilation and to last year's '1967' CD follow-up, this prequel double CD based around 1965 represents the lead up and context to all that was about to happen. A genre-spanning mix of hit singles, slow burners and lost gems from soul, funk, psych, garage and rock'n'roll, these are the 45s that defined the year, captured the mood and crystallized Jon Savage's personal memories of the year.

Tracks:

Disc: 1

1. Concrete and Clay - Unit 4 + 2

2. Land of a Thousand Dances Pt. 1 - Thee Midnighters

3. Shotgun - Jr. Walker & The All Stars

4. Come and Stay With Me - Marianne Faithfull

5. That's the Way It's Got to Be - The Poets

6. Fortune Teller - Tony Jackson & The Vibrations

7. Twine Time - Alvin Cash & The Crawlers

8. Starnger in Town - Del Shannon

9. Nowhere to Run - Martha and The Vandellas

10. Iko Iko - The Dixie Cups

11. Boot Leg - Booker T. and The M.G.'s

12. Leaving Here - The Birds

13. I'm Alive - The Hollies

14. Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind - Vashti

15. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere - The Who

16. Incense - The Anglos

17. The Price of Love - The Everly Brothers

18. Boss Hoss - The Sonics

19. Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me) - The Chiffons

20. Heart Full of Soul - The Yardbirds

21. Agent Double-O Soul - Edwin Starr

22. In the Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett

23. Too Many People - The Leaves

24. See My Friends - The Kinks

Disc: 2

1. I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better - The Byrds

2. Buttermilk Part 1 - Sly

3. Anything - The Vejtables

4. Can't Seem to Make You Mine - The Seeds

5. Are You a Boy Or Are You a Girl - The Barbarians

6. London Town - The Pretty Things

7. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - The Silkie

8. From a Buick 6 - Bob Dylan

9. If You Gotta Go, Go Now - Manfred Mann

10. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - James Brown

11. Ain't That Peculiar - Marvin Gaye

12. Can You Hear Me - Lee Dorsey

13. It's My Life - The Animals

14. You Just Gotta Know My Mind - Karen Verros

15. Blow Your Mind - The Gas Company

16. The Train from Kansas City - The Shangri-Las

17. You've Got What I Want - The Sorrows

18. Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness) - Donovan

19. Girl from the North Country - Link Wray

20. I've Got Mine - Small Faces

21. The Duck - Jackie Lee

22. The Story of John Hardy - Sir Douglas Quintet

23. We Sell Soul - The Spades

24. My World Is Empty Without You - The Supremes

Sears launches an online "Wishbook"

It's no substitute for the nostalgic joy of leafing through the real things, but today's kids don't even know they've been cheated. Four pathetic "pages" of toys. Take a look here to become depressed.

Christmas album of the day: The Supremes "Merry Christmas"

This one is out in a new 2-CD version from Real Gone Music, but I still play my needle-drop of the vinyl classic. This is Diana, Flo and Mary at their best - and at their cheesiest. "Little Bright Star" is a thumping floor-filler as good as any non-Holiday Motown single. Same with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." "Christmas Children's Song," on the other hand, features bonkers spoken word sections from Di and she does the Santa parts on "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in a campy British accent. But this is why love her, right?

Vintage Christmas Pepsi ads

Video find: David Cassidy and Glen Campbell sing the Everly Brothers

Christmas album of the day: Booker T. and the MG's "In the Christmas Spirit"

This one always puts me in a festive mood, from it's grooving take on "Jingle Bells," through an excellent arrangement of "Silver Bells" to a "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" you can boogaloo to. One of my faves.

New comics this week: DC Universe by John Byrne; EC Panic Archives; Fantastic Four Masterworks; Marvel Little Books

New and notable. Click the link to order from Amazon.

DC Universe by John Byrne

EC Archives: Panic Vol. 2

Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 19

Little Book of Avengers

Little Book of Captain America

Little Book of Fantastic Four

Christmas album of the day: "Songs for a London Winter"

Tired of hearing about Christmas from Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, take a music trip across the Atlantic for a different perspective on Yuletide.

This compilation assembled by members of the great pop band St. Etienne features a selection of pop and light jazz tunes from the 1950s and pre-Beatles 60s, all celebrating the season British style. Artists featured include the John Barry Seven, Alma Cogan, Billy Fury and Adam Faith. Nothing too rocking, but the Echoes' "Sounds Like Winter" sounds like "Tel-Star."

Fun stuff, and a nice diversion from the usual fare.

1940s Christmas cards

Today's Christmas Album: "Christmas Cocktails"

From the opening, bonkers, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo" to Julie London's sultry "I Want You for Christmas" and Ray Anthony's surprisingly girl group groovy "Christmas Kisses," this is a fun and eclectic Santa bag of goodness.

Many of the tunes are obscure, such as Les Brown and His Band of Renown's very nice, extended "Nutcracker Suite," but it also includes the original version of Nat King Cole's all-time holiday classic, "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)."

The original "Toys for Tots" PSAs from Cole, Peggy Lee and Nancy Wilson are a cool addition.

Comic art: Jack Kirby's Toys for Tots poster art

Trailer: "Jessica Jones" season 2 on Netflix

Today's Christmas album: "The Music of Christmas" by Percy Faith and His Orchestra

This is a lovely, vividly arranged holiday classic. It'll put you right back in Christmas Past. Recently reissued by the awesome Real Gone Music.

DuckTales and Big Hero 6 "Share the Joy" promo

Todays' Christmas album: Kenny Burrell's "Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas"

The bluesy jazz guitarist does his thing over lush big band charts.

New teaser: Doctor Who Christmas special

New Beach Boys digital releases round up 1967 live and studio recordings

Last summer, the Beach Boys released the excellent 1967: Sunshine Tomorrow double-CD set, which included a gorgeous stereo re-mix of the Wild Honey album and related studio outtakes and live recordings.

Now comes the rest of 1967 via two digital collections. These releases follow in the band's tradition of making available recordings that would otherwise become public domain in Britain. Over there, artistic works become pubic domain after 50 years. That means, unless the artist reasserts rights over the materials, anyone is free to issue them and keep the profits. However, by "publishing" the recordings via official release this way, the Beach Boys/Capitol Records extend their copyrights over them for another 50 years. Plus, we get to hear it all!

Details:

Today, The Beach Boys release two new digital audio collections worldwide via Capitol/UMe, revealing much more of the legendary band's pivotal 1967 creative work in the studio and onstage. Following the acclaimed 2CD and digital 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow collection released in June by Capitol//UMe, 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow 2: The Studio Sessions presents 29 studio session recordings and Live Sunshine – 1967 features 109 live recordings, most of which are previously unreleased.

1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow, 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow 2: The Studio Sessions, and Live Sunshine – 1967 dive deep into a fascinating and frenetic chapter in The Beach Boys' long, groundbreaking creative arc, exploring the band's dynamic year through their recordings. The Beach Boys have personally overseen the creative process for the three collections, which are produced by Mark Linnet and Alan Boyd. Pitchfork reviewer Jesse Jarnow praised 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow as "remarkable," saying, "These recordings make it possible to hear The Beach Boys simultaneously as the moody pop geniuses of Pet Sounds and the fresh-faced surf-rockin' teens from Hawthorne, California."

1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow features Linett and Boyd's new, first-ever stereo mix of The Beach Boys' 1967 Wild Honey album and all three collections throw open the legendary band's vault to debut sought-after rarities, 50 years after they were put to tape. Previously unreleased highlights across the titles include The Beach Boys' shelved "live" album, Lei'd in Hawaii, studio recordings from the Wild Honey and Smiley Smile album sessions, and standout concert recordings spanning 1967 to 1970. Wild Honey's 2017 stereo mix is also available in a 180-gram vinyl 50^th Anniversary Edition.

The Beach Boys' final studio session for the shelved SMiLE album took place on May 18, 1967, with Smiley Smile album sessions booked at Brian Wilson's new home studio from June 3 through the end of July. The band's 12^th and 13^th studio albums were released exactly three months apart to cap the year's studio efforts: Smiley Smile on September 18 followed by Wild Honey on December 18.
For the Smiley Smile sessions, "I wanted to have a home environment trip where we could record at my house," recalls Brian Wilson in the liner notes for 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow. "I wanted to try something different, something new. I produced Smiley Smile, but Mike inspired me. He said 'Brian, let's make a really good, easygoing album'. We had an engineer convert my den into a studio. We had my piano detuned to make it ring more."

"Just prior to that, Brian had built up this production peak and then just completely reversed field, and (for Smiley Smile) did something so light and airy, and y' know, easy," explains Mike Love. "That was an underground album, I figure, for us. It was completely out of the mainstream of what was going on at that time, which was all hard rock, psychedelic music, and here we come with a song called 'Wind Chimes.' It just didn't have anything to do with what was going on – and that was the idea."

"Times were changing," adds Al Jardine. "We were happy to put our musical skills to work. We didn't have to look at the clock; there was virtually 24-hour availability to experiment."

"Take away their sorrow / Give them sunshine tomorrow"

On August 25 and 26, 1967, The Beach Boys (absent Bruce Johnston, but with Brian Wilson on organ for his first concert appearances with the band in more than two years) recorded two concerts and rehearsals in Honolulu for a prospective live album to be titled Lei'd In Hawaii, applying a new Smiley Smile-inspired aesthetic to the performances. Just over two weeks later, the band (with both Brian and Bruce participating) began re-recording the live set in-studio at Brian's house and at Wally Heider Recording in Hollywood, after the Honolulu concert tapes were deemed unusable. Although completed and mixed, the final planned audio element of a canned concert audience was not added and the Lei'd In Hawaii project was canceled. Those live, in-studio performances morphed into sessions for the Wild Honey album, primarily comprised of original Brian Wilson/Mike Love compositions.

Two days after wrapping the Wild Honey sessions on November 15^th, 1967, Mike Love, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston returned to the road for The Beach Boys' Thanksgiving Tour, premiering several songs from the forthcoming album at their concerts.

The Beach Boys: 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow 2: The Studio Sessions [digital]All tracks previously unreleased

Heroes And Villains - A Cappella
Vegetables - Track And Background Vocals
She's Going Bald - Track And Background Vocals
Little Pad - A Cappella
With Me Tonight - Session Highlight
Wind Chimes - Track And Background Vocals
Gettin' Hungry - Track And Background Vocals
Whistle In - Track And Background Vocals
Aren't You Glad - Stereo Single Mix
I Was Made To Love Her - Track And Background Vocals
Country Air - Track And Background Vocals
Darlin' - Track And Background Vocals
I'd Love Just Once To See You - Track And Background Vocals
Here Comes The Night - A Cappella
Let The Wind Blow - A Cappella
How She Boogalooed It - Track And Stereo Last Verse
Lonely Days - Session Highlight And Track
Time To Get Alone - Backing Track
Cool Cool Water - Alternate Mix
Can't Wait Too Long - Alternative Mix With Tag
Tune L - Session - Unreleased
Good News - Outtake
Surfin' - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Backing Track
Heroes And Villains - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Version
With A Little Help From My Friends - Session Highlight And Track With Background Vocals
Barbara Ann - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Backing Track
California Girls - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Stereo Mix
God Only Knows - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Stereo Mix
Surfer Girl - "Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Stereo Mix - Alternate Take

The Beach Boys: Live Sunshine – 1967 [digital]* = track previously released on 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow / all other tracks previously unreleased

Heroes And Villains - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
God Only Knows - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Good Vibrations - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
The Letter - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
You're So Good To Me - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Hawaii - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
All Day All Night - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
California Girls - Rehearsal Take 1 / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Surfin' - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Sloop John B - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
California Girls - Rehearsal Take 2 / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
The Letter - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Hawaii - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
You're So Good To Me - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Surfer Girl - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Surfin' - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Gettin' Hungry - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Sloop John B - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
California Girls - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Heroes And Villains - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
God Only Knows - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Good Vibrations - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
Barbara Ann - Live In Hawaii / 8/25/67
The Letter - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Hawaii - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
You're So Good To Me - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
God Only Knows - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Help Me Rhonda - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
California Girls - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Good Vibrations - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Heroes And Villains - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
The Lord's Prayer - Rehearsal / Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Hawthorne Boulevard - Instrumental / Live in Honolulu / 1967 *
Hawaii - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
You're So Good To Me - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Help Me Rhonda - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
California Girls - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Gettin' Hungry - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
Surfer Girl - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Surfin' - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
Sloop John B - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
The Letter - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67 [new edit & mix]
God Only Knows - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Good Vibrations - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Heroes And Villains - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Barbara Ann - Live In Hawaii / 8/26/67
Barbara Ann - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
Darlin' - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
Country Air - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67 *
I Get Around - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
How She Boogalooed It - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67 *
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
God Only Knows - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
California Girls - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
Wild Honey - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67 *
Graduation Day - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
Good Vibrations - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
Johnny B. Goode - Live In Detroit / 11/17/67
Barbara Ann - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
Darlin' - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
I Get Around - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
Surfer Girl - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
God Only Knows - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
California Girls - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67 *
Wild Honey - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
Good Vibrations - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
Graduation Day - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67 *
Johnny B. Goode - Live In Washington, D.C. / 11/19/67
Help Me Rhonda - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
Barbara Ann - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
Darlin' - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
Surfer Girl - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
God Only Knows - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
California Girls - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
Wild Honey - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
Graduation Day - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
Good Vibrations - Live In White Plains, NY / 11/21/67
Help Me Rhonda - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Barbara Ann - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
I Get Around - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Darlin' - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67 *
Surfer Girl - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
God Only Knows - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
California Girls - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Wild Honey - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Good Vibrations - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Johnny B. Goode - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Graduation Day - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Sloop John B - Live In Pittsburgh / 11/22/67
Help Me Rhonda - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
Barbara Ann - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
Darlin' - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
Surfer Girl - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
God Only Knows - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
California Girls - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
Wild Honey - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
Good Vibrations - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
I Get Around - Live In Boston / 11/23/67 *
Sloop John B - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
Graduation Day - Live In Boston / 11/23/67
Johnny B. Goode - Live In Boston / 11/23/67