Vintage Ad for Jermaine Jackson's 'Daddy's Home'

 


Pop Pic: Barbara Stanwyck

 


Vintage 'The Who Sell Out' Psychedelic Poster

 


Big Albums from January 1973: Bruce! Elton! Yoko! Beach Boys! More!

Here's a look at some of the big albums released 50 years ago this month. Click the links to order them from Amazon.

The debut album from the Boss, which leads off with his first big single, "Blinded By the Light" and featuring E-Street Band mainstay Clarence Clemons on sax.

Yoko (sort of) goes pop on a double LP on the Apple label. Co-produced by John Lennon (who also is credited as Joel Nohn for guitar and backing vocals) and featuring Mick Jagger(!) on guitar on "Winter is Here to Stay."

Celebrated in last year's excellent Sail On Sailor - 1972 box set, this one saw the band recording in the title-named nation for a change of scenery and, perhaps, new inspiration. Carl takes the lead producing, singing and writing, but Brian is spotlighted on the accompanying Mount Vernon and Fairway EP with all of his melodic charms and charming eccentricity on display. Drummer (and future Rutle!) Ricky Fataar and guitarist Blondie Chaplin from the great South African band the Flames are added as members and contribute their co-written tune, "Leaving this Town." Highlights include that song, the multi-part "California Saga," Brian's grooving "Funky Pretty" and, of course, "Sail On Sailor."

This also could be called the Great Lost Compilation Album, since it became hard to find once Ray Davies learned of its existence and RCA took it out of circulation. He'd had no notice the album was being assembled or released. I only managed to hear it back in the late 80s via a friend lucky enough to own a copy, which I duly copied onto a cassette. Until some of these obscurities started turning up as CD bonus tracks, it was the only way hear worthy tunes such as "Plastic Man," "Lavender Hill," "When I Turn Out the Living Room Light," "Mr. Songbird, "Where Did the Spring Go" and brother Dave's great "This Man He Weeps Tonight."


The first of two 1973 releases by Elton (the second is Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Maybe you've heard of it?) is highlighted by big singles "Daniel" and "Crocodile Rock," building on the huge success achieved by previous LP Honky Chateau. I remember being a kid in the early 1970s and Elton-mania. Seems like he, and his music, was everywhere.

Gram's first solo outing is one of those LPs that is likely far more influential now than it was upon release. Certainly this, and Parsons' work with the countrified Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, informed and inspired the country rock sounds of the 70s, but his music remains an important touchstone to today's indy country musicians such as Margo Price and Sturgill Simpson. This is a beautiful recording, full of sweeping ballads and singing pedal steel guitars, plus, Emmylou Harris' incomparable harmony singing. Highlights include "She," "We'll Sweep the Ashes Out in the Morning" and "How Much I've Lied."

Any favorites? What were you listening to 50 years ago (if you were alive then!)? Please weigh in!

Pop Diary: Jack Kirby Collector, 'Borgen', 'Abbott Elementary'


Jack Kirby Collector #85.
"Kirby Animated" is the theme of the latest issue of TwoMorrows' mag dedicated to the co-creator of the Marvel Universe, and it's pretty great. 

I loved the heck out of "Thundarr the Barbarian" when I was a kid, although I was getting a bit long on the tooth for Saturday morning cartoons when it started. Vintage interviews with writer Steve Gerber and Joe Ruby, founder of the Ruby-Spears animation studio, detail Kirby's work on that series and others, some actually produced, others not. There's also a ton of Kirby art, including production pieces for potential series and three full pages of storyboards from the 1978 Fantastic Four animated series. 

But I think the article I liked most is the non-animation-related piece by Will Murray's on the visual evolution of the FF's Thing. Ben Grimm is one of my all-time comics characters and it was fun reading this history of how transitioned from bumpy to rocky.

Order a copy here.


"Borgen."
My wife and I are a couple of seasons deep into this Danish series focused on all of the political intrigue surrounding newly elected Prime Minister Birgitte Nyborg Christensen (Sidse Babett Knudsen), her communications officer Kasper Juul (Pilou Asbæk) and political journalist Katrine Fønsmark (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen) and it's compelling stuff. 

Watching, I sometimes get so caught up in the storylines and acting that forget I don't speak Danish and lose track of the subtitles (there's an option on Netflix to watch dubbed versions, but I just don't think it would be the same). The show realistically captures the challenges facing Birgitte as she tries to lead responsibly within the pressure cooker of politics - (inter- and intra-party squabbles, scandals, media scrutiny) - while also trying to keep her marriage together and parent her two children.

Although first aired from 2010 to 2013, the show still has a lot to say about the problems of the world, society and, especially, politics today. A newly filmed fourth series is on Netlix now, too, and the way things are going, we'll probably keep barreling through and watch that one soon, too.


"Abbott Elementary."
We're also late the party on this one. Face it, we're too snobby to steep to network sitcoms. Or at least we think we are. But then we recall things like "Parks and Recreation" that, while being dumb a lot of the time, was also quite funny and enjoyable a lot of the time. This is a like that.

Set in an, um, elementary school, it's a comedy and about a staff of goofy teachers and mainly centers on Janine Teagues (played by Quinta Brunson, who also created the show) an earnest second grade instructor who continually tries to innovate and do good things in the face of prevailing disinterest and mediocrity. Basically, she's Leslie Knope and the school is the Pawnee Parks Department. But there are original, and good, laughs here.

You can't help cheering for Janine and the rest of the cast is very strong and funny, particularly Tyler James Williams as floundering teacher and wannabe teacher Gregory and Janelle James as the checked-out, shouldn't-be principal, Ava.

Good stuff that goes down easy, and it's not in Danish.


Pop Culture Safari Playlist


Updated with newly released music we like this week.



Vintage Ad: Jimmy Osmond's 'Tweedle Dee'

 


Pop Pic: Annette

 


Comic Art: Neal Adams and Dick Giordano Cover Art for World's Finest #201

Vintage 'Supermen of America' Superman Fan Club Mailing and Ad

 




See a Preview for the New Animated Film 'Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham'


Inspired by the comic book series by Mike Mignola, Richard Pace and Troy Nixey, BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM is a 1920s-based tale that finds explorer Bruce Wayne accidentally unleashing an ancient evil, expediting his return to Gotham City after a two-decade hiatus. The logic/science-driven Batman must battle Lovecraftian supernatural forces threatening the sheer existence of Gotham, along the way being aided and confronted by reimagined versions of his well-known allies and enemies, including Green Arrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Two-Face, James Gordon and Bruce’s beloved wards. Prepare for a mystical, often terrifying Batman adventure unlike any other.

BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM will be available to own on Digital, 4K and Blu-ray on March 28, 2023.

New Music Releases: Stones in Mono! 90s Bangers! Blue Note Classics and More!

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





Pop Pic: Virginia Mayo