Remembering Russ Heath



The great comics artist Russ Heath, famed for his work across multiple genres such as war comics, horror and non-superhero adventure, died at age 91 this week. The Hollywood Reporter has an obituary here and the Comics Journal has a detailed remembrance here.

Heath was known for his detailed rendering of military vehicles and hardware and worked on numerous war comics, starting with EC and Timely/Marvel through regular features in DC's G.I. Combat and Our Army at War titles. He was the regular artist on DC's "Haunted Tank" feature and Se Devils title, thanks to his talents at depicting scuba divers and underwater. 

An Air Force veteran, Heath also was great at depicting aircraft and aerial battles. Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein plagiarized two of his panels from All American Men of War #89 to create his paintings "Brattata" and "Okay Hot-Shot Okay!"



Though uncredited, Heath also created the artwork for ads for plastic solider sets that ran in comic books for years. And he was a regular assistant to Harvey Kurtzmann and Willie Elder on their "Little Annie Fannie" strip in Playboy magazine.



We'll be paying tribute to Heath with a series of posts this week, spotlighting different aspects of his art. Let's get started with a look at his diverse work across multiple comics genre. Scans via Heritage Auctions and the Grand Comics Database.




















  

Best comics covers of the week

Coming Up: Slim Gaillard - "Groove Juice: The Norman Granz Recordings + More"


Out Aug. 31. Pre-order from Amazon now.

A multilinguistic singer, songwriter, performer and comedian, Gaillard swung in every genre with a uniquely funny, yet seriously musical, style. More than a crazy cult figure, he’s a hero to kids for his ditty “Down by the Station,” and his “Oronee” songs pepper the soundtrack of the FX series, Better Things. This collection presents every track he cut for Norman Granz’s pre-Verve labels, plus 16 rare singles recorded for MGM, and 10 previously unreleased alternate tracks.

Track listing

Disc: 1

  1. Opera in Vout (Groove Juice Symphony)
  2. Tip Light
  3. Arabian Boogie
  4. Boip! Boip!
  5. The Bartender's Just Like a Mother
  6. The Hogan Song
  7. Money, Money, Money
  8. Puerto - Vootie
  9. Momma's in the Kitchen But We've Got "Pop" on Ice
  10. Down By the Station
  11. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You
  12. Serenade to a Poodle
  13. Communications
  14. Organ - Oreene
  15. Little Red Riding Woods
  16. When Banana Skins Are Falling (I'll Come Sliding Back To You)
  17. Bongo Cito
  18. Soony Roony (Song of Yxabat)
  19. Laughing in Rhythm
  20. Sabroso
  21. Babalu (Orooney)
  22. Genius (Ride, Slim, Ride)
  23. Federation Blues
  24. Oh, Lady Be Good
  25. For You

Disc: 2

  1. Yo Yo Yo
  2. Chicken Rhythm
  3. Yip Rock Heresy
  4. The Hip Cowboy
  5. I Only Have Eyes for You
  6. As You Are
  7. Taxpayers' Blues
  8. Eatin' with the Boogie
  9. St. Louis Blues
  10. I Know What to Do
  11. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
  12. You Goofed 13. Make It Do
  13. This is My Love
  14. Gomen Nasai (Forgive Me)
  15. Potatoe Chips
  16. Mishugana Mambo
  17. Go, Man, Go
  18. I'm in the Mood for Love
  19. Gomen Nasai alternate take
  20. Potatoe Chips alternate take
  21. Make It Do alternate take
  22. You Goofed alternate take
  23. I'm in the Mood For Love alternate take
  24. Mishugana Mambo alternate take
  25. Go Man Go alternate take
  26. I'm in the Mood For Love alternate take
  27. Mishugana Mambo alternate take
  28. Go Man Go alternate take


Video Find: The Move plays "The Fire Brigade"

Out now: Original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" soundtrack from La La Land


Order here.

Details:

La-La Land Records, Paramount Pictures and The Carmen Dragon Music Library present the world premiere release of composer Carmen Dragon’s (COVER GIRL, WHEN IN ROME, KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE) original motion picture score to the classic 1956 sci-fi chiller INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, starring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter and Larry Gates, and directed by Don Siegel. 

Renowned composer/conductor/arranger Carmen Dragon creates an astoundingly complex and groundbreaking work, (his inventive use of low, staccato piano notes for suspense would inspire many composers to do the same) that perfectly emboldens the film’s sci-fi terror and paranoia, while never neglecting the story’s human emotions or its psychological and sociological underpinnings. 

Produced for La-La Land Records by Carmen Dragon’s son-in-law, Richard “Rick” Henn and Neil S. Bulk, and restored and mastered by Stephen Marsh and Fernando Lee, this limited edition release of 2000 Units includes source music bonus tracks and features exclusive, in-depth liner notes by film music Jeff Bond, with a special note from album co-producer Henn. Dan Goldwasser’s sharp art design completes a must-have score release that will take over your entire being.

This is an expanded CD release.


Vinyl LP available

TRACK LISTING:
  1. Main Title 1:57
  2. No Bananas Today 0:55
  3. Here Comes My Love 1:50
  4. Somebody Stole My Man 2:12
  5. Where Are You?/Don’t Worry About Me 4:15
  6. Tell Me Who 3:17
  7. If I Should Die 2:09
  8. Shadows in the Night/Hysteria 1:40
  9. The Voices 1:29
  10. I’m Taking You to My House/They Won’t Believe Me 4:17
  11. Suddenly 2:51
  12. Wilma/The Devils Workshop/Get Help/Yell for Help 7:24
  13. No More Tears/Waiting for You 5:44
  14. Out of the Sky/No Choice 4:18
  15. Open the Door 1:38
  16. They’re Over There 3:10
  17. No! Never! 2:26

    Source Music
  18. Crazy Rhythm 2:07
  19. Shall We Dance (I’m in Love With Kathy) 2:12
  20. I’m in Love With the World 2:27

Time Capsule: The Soft Machine live, August 25, 1968


Coming up: "Walt Disney's Disneyland"


Out Sept. 12. Available for pre-order now from Amazon.

Details:

Walt Disney dreamed for decades about opening the ultimate entertainment venue, but it wasn’t until the early 1950s that his handpicked team began to bring his vision to life. Together, artists, architects, and engineers transformed a dusty tract of orange groves about an hour south of Los Angeles into one of the world’s most beloved destinations.

Today, there are Disney resorts from Paris to Shanghai, but the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which has been visited by more than 800 million people to-date, remains one of America’s most popular attractions. From the day it opened on July 17, 1955, Disneyland brought history and fairy tales to life, the future into the present, and exciting cultures and galaxies unknown to our imaginations.

This bountiful visual history draws on Disney’s vast historical collections, private archives, and the golden age of photojournalism to provide unique access to the concept, development, launch, and enjoyment of this sun-drenched oasis of fun and fantasy. Disneyland documents Walt’s earliest inspirations and ideas; the park’s extraordinary feats of design and engineering; its grand opening; each of its immersive “lands” from Main Street, U.S.A., to Tomorrowland; and the park's evolution through the six decades since it opened. It is a treasure trove of Disney original documentation and expertise, with award-winning writer Chris Nichols drawing on his extensive knowledge of both Disneyland and Southern California history to reveal the fascinating tale of “the happiest place on Earth.”








New music releases Aug. 24, 2018; Candi Staton; Neil and Liam Finn

Candi Staton - Unstoppable

Neil and Liam Finn - Lightsleeper



Pop Culture Roundup: Ditko; superhero shot glasses; Funko Pez; Justice Society; Soulful Tees

For a recluse, Steve Ditko sure answered a lot of fan mail.



DC Comics is pretty indiscriminate in its licensing, it seems. Classy!


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Funko is coming out with a line of cartoony Batman Pez dispensers.


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When Batman and Superman crashed a meeting of the Justice Society.


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Looking for some groovy, pop cult t-shirts? Mr. B's Soulful Tees shop on eBay UK has you covered.