New Music I Like: Amanda Shires & Bobbie Nelson 'Loving You'


Pop Pics: Six Million Dollar Man

Video Find: Soft Machine on French TV, June 30, 1973

Pop Culture Roundup: Flash Podcast, Spidey in Britain, KISS!

ITEM! DC Comics is launching a scripted podcast adventure featuring The Flash.

ITEM! A look at Spider-Man's earliest comic book appearances in England.

ITEM! Original KISS members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss turned down invites to play in the band's final shows.

New Music Releases: Lucinda Williams, Neko Case, West Coast Pop Experimental Band, More!

Our picks this week. Click the links to order from Amazon.






Pop Culture Roundup: Tomb Raider, Superman Movie Cast, Taika's Soccer Comedy!

ITEM! Film directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson will help curate content for TCM in the wake of concerns they raised about the network watering down its mission to, erm, present classic movies.

ITEM! The new Superman film has confirmed its Clark and Miss Maisel Lois.

ITEM! Taika Waititi's new film takes aim at the world of professional soccer.

ITEM! Phoebe Waller-Bridge discusses her plans for a new Tomb Raider TV series

Pop Pic: James Coburn

New Music I Like: Willie Nelson - 'You Left Me a Long, Long Time Ago'


New Comics Collected Editions: Marvel July 1963 Omnibus, Epic Captain America, EC Artists' Library, More!

Our picks this week. Click the links to order from Amazon.

Marvel is proud to celebrate the 60th Anniversaries of the X-Men and Avengers -- by presenting each and every Marvel comic from the month of their debut! By July 1963, the Marvel Age of Comics was taking over. Marvel was creating hit after hit, and two series that debuted the same month -- X-MEN and AVENGERS -- were destined to have a historic impact! They've taken over modern pop culture, but back in 1963, they were just a small part of a much larger and more varied tapestry on the newsstands! Marvel also unveiled groundbreaking Annuals, experimented with a new type of war comic, continued their tales of frontier justice and appealed to an audience not interested in fisticuffs with teen humor and romance titles. It was an amazing and very different time -- and you can immerse yourself in the era right here!
    Stories by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Robert Bernstein, Larry Lieber, Ernie Hart, Jerry Siegel, and others.
    Art by Jack Kirby, Stan Goldberg, Al Hartley, Dick Ayers, Steve Ditko, Don Heck, Jack Keller, Joe Sinnott, and others.
    Cover by Javier Rodriguez
    Introduction by Roger Stern
Collecting: AVENGERS (1963) #1, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #5, FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #19 and ANNUAL #1, JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (1952) #96, MODELING WITH MILLIE #25, PATSY AND HEDY #90 and ANNUAL #1, PATSY WALKER #109, RAWHIDE KID (1955) #36, SGT. FURY #3, STRANGE TALES (1951) #113, TALES OF SUSPENSE (1959) #46, TALES TO ASTONISH (1959) #48, X-MEN (1963) #1, KATHY #25, KID COLT OUTLAW #113, MILLIE THE MODEL #117 and TWO-GUN KID #66.

Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema take Captain America and the Falcon on a journey through the madness and machinations of Doctor Faustus! The mind-bending Doctor has captured Sharon Carter, A.K.A. Agent 13 - but little does Cap know that Faustus also has Peggy Carter, Cap's long-lost love from World War II! Then, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. conscript Cap into the fight against the Yellow Claw. But the real menace to mankind is subtly concealed: A Secret Empire moves behind the face of American power! Their goal is to frame and discredit Captain America, replacing him with their own "patriotic" icon. And only the combined efforts of Cap, the Falcon, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the X-Men can hope to topple them! It's a shocking saga that defined Captain America for the '70s! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #160-179.

Prepare to assemble for another epic Avengers Omnibus edition, brought to you this time by Steve Englehart and a host of Marvel's greatest artists! They present Earth's Mightiest Heroes in some of their most iconic adventures: the origin of Mantis, the Avengers' first conflict with Thanos and a defining Kang the Conqueror saga that spans space and time. Of course, there's plenty of personal drama opposite the action as Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch's origins are explored and two weddings bring together Marvel's heroes. New members will also join the ranks as the Beast, Hellcat and Moondragon become Avengers. This volume also features the series' letters pages as well as art and interviews from Marvel's famous fanzine F.O.O.M.! Collecting AVENGERS (1968) 120-149, GIANT-SIZE AVENGERS (1974) #1-4, CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #33, FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #150 and material from FOOM (1973) #6-7 & #12.

The perfect continuation piece to Crisis on Infinite Earths features classic team-ups between the heroes of Earth-One and Earth-Two, the Justice League, and the Justice Society of America.
    The crossover team-up of the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America continues in this incredible classic collection! This Book 3 collects All-Star Squadron #14-15, and Justice League of America #171-172, #183-185, #196-197, #207-209!

Joe Orlando partnered early with Wallace Wood on a variety of science fiction comics, including several for EC Comics. But he quickly made a name for himself and struck out on his own, carving out a long and distinguished career in American comics.
Orlando became a mainstay at EC, especially on science fiction, and The Planetoid And Other Stories collects his first two dozen. All of them, scripted by editor/writer Al Feldstein, serve up classic O. Henry–style shock endings, including a mind-bending time-travel twister in which a man visits the past and (unknowingly) romances his own mother (think about it), a gender-switching look at a future where women are the breadwinners and men are the homemakers, another future where marriages are limited by law to three-year contracts, a good old-fashioned “planets collide” shocker, an animal rights parable, plus lots of rollicking space opera, aliens, and, of course, interplanetary monsters (some of them human).
    This volume also includes a complete reproduction of EC’s special issue devoted to its own 32-page “illustrated, factual flying saucer report,” with art by Orlando, Wallace Wood, George Evans, and Reed Crandall. Plus, a heartfelt foreword by former DC publisher Paul Levitz, who began his career in comics when Orlando hired him as an assistant, an introduction by Thommy Burns, and featured essays and commentary by EC experts.

Pop Culture Roundup: Barbie, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jack Kirby!

ITEM! Margot Robbie perfected Barbie's arched feet in eight takes.

ITEM! Phoebe Waller Bridge talks about why she exited her planned "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" series co-starring Donald Glover. I'm in!

ITEM! A vintage sci-fi comic by Jack Kirby is being "re-mixed" for a fresh release. 

Watch a Trailer for 'Superpowered,' a New Documentary Series about DC Comics

A three-part series starting July 20 on Max.

 

Pop Pic: Kong and Jessica

New on Video: 'Daughters of Darkness (4K Ultra HD)'


Order now from Amazon.

Details:

International screen icon Delphine Seyrig (LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD) stars as Elizabeth Bathory, an ageless Countess with a beautiful young 'companion' (Goth goddess Andrea Rau) and a legendary legacy of perversion. But when the two women seduce a troubled newlywed couple (Canadian beauty Danielle Ouimet and John Karlen of DARK SHADOWS and CAGNEY & LACEY), they unleash a frenzy of sudden violence and depraved desire that shocked both art house audiences and grindhouse crowds worldwide.

Co-written and directed by Harry Kumel, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS remains one of the most exquisitely mesmerizing adult horror films ever made. Blue Underground is now proud to present the uncensored Director's Cut of this classic psychosexual shocker in a gorgeous restoration, scanned in 4K 16-bit from its long-lost original 35mm camera negative, with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, packed with revealing Extras!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) Widescreen 1.66:1 feature presentation
  • Audio: Dolby Atmos (English); 5.1 DTS-HD (English); 1.0 DTS-HD (English, French)
  • Subtitles: English SDH, Francais, Espanol, English for French Audio
  • Audio Commentary #1 with Co-Writer/Director Harry Kumel
  • Audio Commentary #2 with Star John Karlen and Journalist David Del Valle
  • Audio Commentary #3 with Kat Ellinger, Author of Devil's Advocates: Daughters of Darkness
  • Locations of Darkness - Interviews with Co-Writer/Director Harry Kumel and Co-Writer/Co-Producer Pierre Drouot
  • Playing the Victim - Interview with Star Danielle Ouimet
  • Daughter of Darkness - Interview with Star Andrea Rau
  • Theatrical Trailers
  • Radio Spots
  • Alternate U.S. Main Titles
  • Poster & Still Gallery

Pop Pics: Shaggy Dog

Buy Used Books from Pop Culture Safari

The time has come to clear out the basement a bit. These titles may be of interest to folks here and can be ordered via Amazon. My seller name is "This is Pop."


Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa (Marvel Graphic Novel) by J. M. DeMatteis (1986-01-01) [paperback] J. M. DeMatteis,Dan Green [Jan 01, 1986]

Raven Banner: A Tale of Asgard (Marvel Graphic Novel No 15) [paperback] Alan Zelenetz [Jan 01, 1985]

Marvel Graphic Novel #22 The Amazing Spider-Man Hooky [paperback] Susan K Putney,Berni Wrightson [Jan 01, 1986]

Wolverine Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection [mass_market] Goodwin, Archie [Jan 01, 1990]

Essential Spider-Man Vol. 4 (Essential Amazing Spider-man, 4) [paperback] Lee, Stan [May 01, 2002]

Marvel Visionaries [paperback] Lee, Stan,Drake, Arnold,Steranko, Jim [Jan 01, 2002]

Essential Tomb of Dracula, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials) [paperback] Wolfman, Marv,McKenzie, Roger,Colan, Gene,Robbins, Frank [Nov 10, 2004]

The Amazing Spider-Man 8 [paperback] Lee, Stan,Romita, John,Buscema, John,Mooney, Jim [Aug 31, 2014]

Big Albums from June 1973: Willie, Waylon, Nilsson and More!

A look at some key LPs released this month 50 years ago. Click the links to order them from Amazon.

The album that marked Willie's breakthrough into the pop/rock audience and which helped spark the outlaw country movement. Includes the title track and classic "Whiskey River."

His solo breakthrough, featuring Top 10 hit, "Rocky Mountain Way."

The other important outlaw country album released this month. Many of the tunes are co-writes by Waylon and the great Billy Joe Shaver. Tunes include the classic "We Had it All," "Old Five and Dimers Like Me," "Omaha" and "You Ask Me To."

A great album that sadly marked the beginning of Sly's downward spiral. It was the last Sly and the Family Stone LP to hit the Top 10. Includes "If You Want Me to Stay," "Babies Makin' Babies" and Sly's cover of "Qué Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)."

Along with Ringo Starr's Sentimental Journey, this is one of the earliest "pop stars sing standards" LPs. It features one of our all-time greatest vocalists lending his pipes to "It Had to Be You," "Makin' Whoopee," "As Time Goes By" and more over arrangements by Sinatra collaborator Gordon Jenkins. A treasure.

Coming Up: 'The Detective Chimp Casebook' from DC Comics


Stuff we thought we'd never see reprinted...

Out Oct. 10. Order now from Amazon.

Details:

Detective Chimp collects Amazing World of DC Comics #1, DC Comics Presents #35, DC Special #1, Tarzan #231 and #234-235, The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4, #6-46, and Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #6! 

Pop Pic: Liza

Hot Trax '73: Hear/See Songs from Led Zeppelin, Chicago, Melissa Manchester, More!

New songs on the charts 50 years ago this week. 

   

 Picture Sleeve Parade

Coming Up: Sandy Salisbury & Curt Boettcher 'Try For The Sun'


Good news for sunshine pop enthusiasts. Out Aug. 25 from Sundazed Records.

Details:

These newly discovered compositions of solar euphony are highlighted by Boettcher’s angelic vocals and Salisbury’s catchy, confectionary melodies. A showcase of premium West Coast sunshine pop!

During the summer of 1966, Sandy Salisbury arrived on the Sunset Strip in his VW Bug. Knowing little of the mainland from his childhood home of Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, he became friends with his next door neighbor, who invited him to a party.

At that very same time, Curt Boettcher was an up and coming producer, who the Association chose to produce their first album. Introduced by a mutual friend, and Sandy’s neighbor, Boettcher and Salisbury went on to form the Ballroom, and later on, the Millennium. 

Salisbury and Boettcher saved all of their publishing demos – demos that were to become future material for the Millennium. Untouched for over 50 years, step back in time to 1967 with this rare collection of southern California sunshine pop!

  • Features all unreleased demos from ex-Ballroom & Millennium members!
  • New liner notes from an interview with Sandy Salisbury!
  • Three unissued CD-only bonus tracks! 
  • LP cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio & pressed in the USA at Citizen Vinyl!

 

Pop Pics: Hardy Boys

Coming Up: 'March Of The Flower Children: The American Sounds Of 1967'


Out Aug. 18. Order now from Amazon.

Details:

Four-hour, 3-CD overview of the American music scene in 1967. A dazzling cornucopia of psychedelia, garage punk, folk-rock and sunshine pop that acted as the soundtrack to the Summer of Love (US division). 

By 1967, rock's eternally restless spirit had moved on from Liverpool, the British Invasion and Swinging London and found a new place to dwell. 

The scene's new creative epicentre was San Francisco, from whence the underground's tentacles spread throughout the nation and beyond as flower-power erupted into full and glorious bloom. 

Over three CDs and four hours of music, 'March Of The Flower Children' anthologises the sounds of American rock and pop during a year that would become enshrined in the history books as the Summer of Love. 

New names - The Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, Vanilla Fudge, Strawberry Alarm Clock - are joined by established hit-makers (The Monkees, The Byrds, Lovin' Spoonful, etc), an emerging breed of singer/songwriter (Tim Rose, Tim Buckley) and a handful of older acts adopting a voguishly flowery sheen (Tommy Roe, the Everly Brothers, Jan & Dean). 

Among such a beatific scene, we also find space for not-so-merry pranksters like The Velvet Underground, The Mothers Of Invention and Captain Beefheart, all of whom had little in common with the peace 'n' love vibe surrounding them. 

Featuring hits, misses, key album tracks and a whole host of hugely collectable one-off local 45 nuggets, 'March Of The Flower Children' - housed in a clamshell box with accompanying 48-page booklet - is a fascinating aural and visual document of this most pivotal of pop-culture years.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

1 IT’S A HAPPENING THING – The Peanut Butter Conspiracy

2 !QUE VIDA! – Love

3 SHE HANGS OUT – The Monkees

4 MR. UNRELIABLE (single version) – The Cryan’ Shames

5 MORNING DEW – Tim Rose

6 STRANGE MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS – The Spike Drivers

7 PIPE DREAM – Blues Magoos

8 NO TIME LIKE THE RIGHT TIME – The Blues Project

9 MERRY-GO-ROUND – The Youngbloods

10 STRANGERS FROM THE SKY – Kim Fowley

11 LOVE COMES, LOVE DIES – The Troyes

12 BOIL THE KETTLE, MOTHER – The Id

13 HELP, MURDER, POLICE – Thursday’s Children

14 TWO DAYS ‘TIL TOMORROW (single edit) – The Beau Brummels

15 RESPECT – The Vagrants

16 THE GOLDEN ROAD (TO UNLIMITED DEVOTION) – The Grateful Dead

17 HEY, HEY – The Sound Barrier

18 HIM OR ME – WHAT’S IT GONNA BE? – Paul Revere & The Raiders

19 SIX O’CLOCK – The Lovin’ Spoonful

20 GROOVIN’ (single version) – The Young Rascals

21 COME TO THE SUNSHINE – Harpers Bizarre

22 WHY DON’T YOU DO ME RIGHT – The Mothers of Invention

23 TRANSPARENT DAY (single mix) -The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

24 NO MORE – The Morning Dew

25 EGYPTIAN GARDENS – The Kaleidoscope

26 YOU CAN LIVE IN OUR TREE – The Blue Things

27 CAN’T PUT A THING OVER ME – Eternity’s Children

28 OPTICAL SOUND (promo version) – The Human Expression

29 HOUSE OF PAINTED GLASS – The Sandals

30 REST IN PEACE (single edit) – Chad & Jeremy

DISC TWO

1 ARIES – The Zodiac

2 YOU KEEP ME HANGIN’ ON – Vanilla Fudge

3 HIDEAWAY – The Electric Prunes

4 HURRICANE FIGHTER PLANE – The Red Crayola

5 FALL ON YOU – Moby Grape

6 EVERGREEN PART ONE – The Stone Poneys

7 MARCH OF THE FLOWER CHILDREN (single version) – The Seeds

8 LADY FRIEND – The Byrds

9 I TALK TO THE SUN – The Rare Breed

10 THAT’S HOW IT WILL BE – The Liberty Bell

11 GOING HOME – NGC-4594

12 IT’S A HAPPENING WORLD – The Tokens

13 IT’S A LAZY SUMMER DAY – The Peppermint Trolley Company

14 PENNY ARCADE – The Cyrkle

15 MARY JANE – The Everly Brothers

16 PARADE OF UNCERTAINTY – The Raggamuffins

17 I LIVE IN THE SPRINGTIME (‘drum’ version) – The Lemon Drops

18 MORNING GLORY – Tim Buckley

19 LITTLE TOY – The Unforscene

20 SHE’S GOT THE MAGIC – The Parade

21 NEXT PLANE TO LONDON – The Rose Garden

22 ELECTRICITY – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band 23 THE EXPECTATION – Dutch Masters

24 GONNA SEND YOU BACK TO YOUR MOTHER – The Endd

25 GOD IS ALIVE IN ARGENTINA – The Doppler Effect

26 PAISLEY DREAMS – Tommy Roe

27 PAMMIE’S ON A BUMMER – Sonny

DISC THREE

1 A QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE – The Balloon Farm

2 I’M THE KIND OF GUY – Richard Pash & The Back Door Society

3 NO ONE WAS THERE – The Gates Of Eden

4 SHE LAUGHED LOUD – The Merry-Go-Round

5 BLUEBIRD – Buffalo Springfield

6 THE PROPER ORNAMENTS (single mix) – The Free Design

7 1941 – Nilsson

8 RAINY DAY MUSHROOM PILLOW – Strawberry Alarm Clock

9 EAST RIVER LOVERS – Culver Street Playground

10 THE OSTRICH (single version) – Steppenwolf

11 FOREVERLASTING PLASTIC WORDS – Lost & Found

12 SHE LIVES (IN A TIME OF HER OWN) – The 13th Floor Elevators

13 FLYING ON THE GROUND – Summer Snow

14 I WONDER WHAT SHE’S DOING TONIGHT – Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart

15 LOVE AND HATE – Jan & Dean

16 NOT THIS TIME – The Jackson Investment Co.

17 LAZY – Georgy & The Velvet Illusions

18 ECHOES OF TIME – Lemon Fog

19 ASTROLOGICALLY INCOMPATIBLE – The Bonniwell Music Machine

20 LILA – Fapardokly

21 SAND – Clear Light

22 WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT – The Velvet Underground

23 MIRROR OF YESTERDAY – The Zakary Thaks

24 TIME HAS COME TODAY – The Chambers Brothers

25 TIME GOES BACKWARDS – Jim & Jean

26 ANOTHER TIME – Sagittarius

27 A MOMENT OF BEING WITH YOU – The Critters

28 JUST DROPPED IN (TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION WAS IN) – The First Edition

New Music Releases: Stax Demos, Miyazaki Soundtracks, Pete Townshend Classics, More!

Our picks this week. Click the links to order from Amazon.