Coming Up: "More of the Monkees" Deluxe Edition

Out Dec. 15 from Rhino:
 Who's ready for even more of MORE? In honor of 50th anniversary this year, we've super-sized MORE OF THE MONKEES with a staggering 91 tracks including 55 previously-unreleased alternate takes, remixes, and newly discovered concert recordings from 1967, the band's earliest-known live tracks, as well as a bonus 7” of “I’m A Believer” (Remix)/”(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” (Vocals Only).

"This is the most exciting archival dig through The Monkees' vault since 2009's THE BIRDS, THE BEES AND THE MONKEES DELUXE EDITION. Every track is newly mastered for this set; the live material is the most historically significant of their career," says Andrew Sandoval, who produced the set and wrote a new essay for its expansive booklet.

MORE OF THE MONKEES: SUPER DELUXE EDITION significantly expands the special edition of MORE OF THE MONKEES released in 2006. Along with mono and stereo mixes of the original album, the SUPER DELUXE EDITION takes listeners into the studio for the making of the album through extensive studio outtakes. Many make their debut here, including the first recorded versions of: "Words," "Valleri," "Hold On Girl" and more. Backing tracks for early version of "Sometime In The Morning," "I'm A Believer" and "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on the creative process.

However, the set's most historic aspect is the inclusion of newly discovered unreleased live music. Recorded in Arizona in 1967, these 10 tracks are The Monkees' earliest-known live recordings. The performance highlights songs from the band's 1966 self-titled debut ("I Wanna Be Free" and "Papa Gene's Blues"), along with covers of Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman" and Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover."

Limited to just 4,500 numbered copies and housed in a hardbound 7"x7" box, the collection is available exclusively from monkees.com and rhino.com.

Video find: Jim Henson's "Wizard of Id" pilot

Video teaser: Big Star Live at Lafayette's Music Room

Out on CD/LP/Download Jan. 12. Pre-order from Amazon now.

"Asterix and the Chariot Race" - out today

The third Asterix album by Jean Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad is out today. You can order it now from Amazon.

Details:

And they're off! The action-packed chariot race is off to a flying start in all the best bookshops, with 48 pages of adventures, jokes and scrapes right across the Italian peninsula.

To reinforce Rome's prestige and the unity of the people of the Italian peninsula, Julius Caesar authorises a race open to all the peoples of the Known World, with the aim of demonstrating the excellence of Roman roads in spectacular fashion.

Caesar gives the event organisers a sine qua non condition: the Roman chariot MUST cross the finish line in first position (it would seem that even in those days, sports, politics and showbiz were already closely intertwined...)!

Unfortunately for Caesar, he hadn't counted on our two Gaul champions signing up for the race and threatening to shatter his dreams of grandeur... Especially Obelix, who is determined to become a great charioteer (chariot driver) and finally be a star!






Video Find: 1970s documentary short about Marvel Comics artist Herb Trimpe

Details:

This is a 25 minute documentary film about the Marvel Comic book artist Herb Trimpe.

This was a film project produced at New York University's Graduate Institute of film & TV in 1970-71 and was directed by Jon Michael Riley and Doro Bachrach. Sound was by Don Cirillo and cinematography by Eric Reiner. Polly Hacker was production assistant.

Herb Trimpe was a young star among comic book artists in the late 60's (he began at Marvel in April of 1968) and early 1970s. Herb was one of the first, perhaps the first to do the Incredible Hulk comic, as well as a host of other titles for Stan Lee and Marvel.

This film highlights Herb's attitudes about life and work as a comic book artist and is shown with his Peekskill, NY friend, Bob Barthelmes with whom he attended school since kindergarten.

Also featured is Flo Steinberg and some footage of the Marvel "bullpen" with other notable comic book artists. This may be the only film footage shot at Marvel at that time. Herb's family has given me permission to upload this film to make it easier for people interested in Herb and his beautiful comic book art. Note: This video was made from an aged and partially damaged 16 mm B/W print that was transferred to DVD. A key word ("anonymity") is missing from the opening voice over lines.

Video: "Justice League" Wonder Woman Comic Book Origins

Vintage Movie Poster: "The Creature Walks Among Us"


Pop Culture Roundup

Via Rip Jagger's Dojo: Francesco Francavilla's awesome covers for Marvel's Monsters Unleashed.

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Via The Bristol Board: Wally Wood's original art for Mad Magazine's "They Built Their Dreamhouse Singhanded."

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Via The Beat: Red Sonja pint glasses.