Pop Culture Safari!

Watch the Beach Boys sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "We Three Kings"

Pop Pic: The Cartwrights!

New music out today: McCartney III; The Kinks - Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround 50th Anniversary; Iggy and the Stooges; Ali Akbar Khan

Click the links to order from Amazon.

Paul McCartney - McCartney III

Paul hadn't planned to release an album in 2020, but in the isolation of "Rockdown," he found himself fleshing out some existing musical sketches and creating new ones. Before long an eclectic collection of spontaneous songs would become McCartney III: a stripped, self-produced solo work marking the opening of a new decade. Built mostly from live takes of Paul on vocals & guitar/piano, overdubbing bass, drums, etc. atop this foundation.

The Kinks - Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Pt. 1 - Box Set

‘Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part One’ is the eighth studio album by The Kinks, one of the most influential rock acts of all time, and was recorded and released in 1970. A concept album, it is a satirical appraisal of the music industry, including song publishers, unions, the press, accountants, business managers, and life on the road. This classic album appeared during a transitional period for the Kinks, and was a critical and commercial success. This set is a limited edition, lavishly packaged, 50th anniversary deluxe 10” book-pack of that album, containing many previously unreleased tracks and versions. Produced in association with The Kinks, with audio & visual content curated by Ray Davies. Matt laminated rigid slipcase featuring the original LP cover reproduced with foil and metallic silver finishes. 3 x CDs containing: Original album new remaster from original HD master tapes, singles (stereo and mono mixes), B-sides, alternate original mixes, new medleys with Ray & Dave Davies conversations, new Ray Davies remixes & original session out-takes, previously unreleased session & live tape audio, instrumental & acoustic versions, previously unreleased demos & BBC material. 2 x reproduced original 7” picture bag singles, remastered audio. 60 page, hardback book with extensive notes, new band quotes, Kinks ‘1970 diary’, rare photos & memorabilia. 4 x small glossy printed kinks photos. Features the hit singles ‘Lola’ & ‘Apeman’.

The Kinks - Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Pt.1 (Deluxe Edition)

This set is a deluxe, 50th anniversary hardback book 2CD of that album, containing several previously unreleased track versions. Produced in association with The Kinks, with audio & visual content curated by Ray Davies. Contains the original album new remaster from original HD master tapes plus alternate mono / stereo versions & mixes, new remixes, live and film tracks.. Extended booklet with notes, new band quotes, rare photos & memorabilia. Features the hit singles ‘Lola’ & ‘Apeman’.

Ali Akbar Khan - Bear's Sonic Journals: That Which Colors The Mind

The Beatles helped to popularize Indian music in the West in the 1960s. But on this influential night in 1970, Ali Akbar Khan, the greatest sarod master of the century, crossed over to a rapt audience of psychedelic pilgrims, spawning a generation of followers. Captured by the Grateful Dead’s legendary soundman Owsley “Bear” Stanley, the infamous LSD chemist, this release is a mind-expanding journey.

Featuring more than two hours of transcendent, virtuosic music from a May 29, 1970 live performance at Family Dog at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA. The booklet includes original cover art by Chris Gallen and liner notes featuring new interviews from Ali Akbar Khan’s family and colleagues, produced with support from the Ali Akbar College of Music.

Iggy and the Stooges - From KO to Chaos

The riotous, infamous 'last ever' Iggy & the Stooges 1974 gig Metallic KO, first issued in 1976 on the French independent label Skydog that heralded in the punk movement and cemented Iggy's position in it. Plus the two full source tapes pitch-corrected on two CDs, and all of the Skydog label's Iggy releases remastered: We Are Not Talking Commercial Sh*t; Wake Up Suckers; Acoustic KO on both studio CD and live DVD; and the reformed Iggy & the Stooges Telluric Chaos - live in Tokyo in 2003. Notes by Iggy Pop's biographer Paul Trynka in a 48p booklet. 7CDs + DVD.

Watch the Beach Boys sing "Little St. Nick" on "Shindig"

Pop Pic: Bob Newhart

Gorgeous array of Mary Blair concept paintings for Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" animated feature

Brilliant stuff from design genius Mary Blair. Images via Heritage Auctions, which had a huge batch of her work on sale recently.

New animated video for Wizzard's "I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day"

A new look for Roy Wood's UK holiday favorite.

Pop Pic: The Bionic Couple

Opening scene of "Wonder Woman 84" now online

See the opening scene of "Wonder Woman 84" which screens in theaters and on HBO Max starting Christmas day.

Pop Life: The Derry Girls visit Bakeoff; Matt Wilson's charming "Hug"; "The Queen's Gambit" genius chess moves; Allen and Masekela's "Rejoice"

Like most all of you, I suppose, I've been taking refuge from the pandemic by watching lots of TV, listening to lots of music and reading lots of books.

So what else is new? If ever there was a disaster made for introverted homebodies, it was Our Year of COVID 2020. Still, I do like to get out to a restaurant and concert occasionally...

But that will come.

Meanwhile, in the past week or two, some of things I've enjoyed most are watching members of the Derry Girls cast on a holiday edition of "The Great British Baking Show." Two of Netflix's greatest hits combined? How could it not be great? But it was even greater than I'd anticipated.

Either Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Erin), Nicola Coughlan (Claire), Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Michelle), Dylan Llewellyn (James) and Siobhán McSweeney (Sister Michael) showed up to bake in character, or their "Derry Girls" roles are written on their real-life selves. All were hilarious trying to keep pace with the challenges thrown down by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith while failing miserably. It's the most I've laughed in a long time.

Realizing I'm late to the party on this one: But I loved the acclaimed "The Queen's Gambit" on Netflix. I've never understood chess—how it works, why people play it, why there are clubs for it—and still don't. But it didn't matter a bit. I was hooked from the get-go. Ana Taylor-Joy's performance is remarkable and the writing is top-notch. If it were a movie, with all the plot points compressed, I think the result likely would've been predicable feel-good fare: An underdog makes good. But by spreading it out and letting us know Beth Harmon bit by bit, learning to gauge her character and next moves as in a long game of chess, the story is addictive, heartwarming and supremely moving.

Music-wise, things have been upbeat, too. There's lots of Christmas music playing in the house now, of course. But I've also been spinning the Matt Wilson Quartet's charming Hug!—an LP that lives up to its name. The performances are charming, heartfelt and playful, ranging from soulful bop accessibly free, and funny. The title track is super-catchy in a Herb Alpert-ish sorta way, the type of thing that might've been a hit back in the more diverse days of 1960s Top 40 radio. The cover of "King of the Road" is great, too. And I love the lighthearted social commentary of "Space Force March," which interpolates Sun Ra's "Interplanetary Music." Some listeners will wish it came with a trigger warning due to the surprise vocal cameo, though.

Also blessed with an upbeat title is Rejoice, the final album—and first collaboration—by the hugely influential African musicians trumpeter Hugh Masekela and drummer Tony Allen, both of whom passed away this year. The LP is a gem, driven by Allen's insistent, always funky beat and Masekela's Miles-influenced playing over the top. Some of the tunes are augmented by chants and vocals that add, never detract, as on the tribute to Allen's former boss, afro-pop pioneer Fela Kuti, "Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be the Same)."