...is on the air!

My blog is of anything that pops into this brain of mine as well as what pops into other bloggers brains! If I read something I find interesting, I'll add it to mine and give credit, where credit is due!

Monday, June 28, 2010

The Fall Guy

The Fall Guy TV show was a 60 minute action series on ABC about a movie stunt man who also worked as a bounty hunter to supplement his income. Sometimes he would also help people who were being abused by crooks.


Fall Guy Cast:

Lee Majors ............ Colt Seavers
Heather Thomas ........ Jody Banks
Douglas Barr .......... Howie Munson
Markie Post ........... Terri Michaels
Joann Pflug ........... Samantha "Big" Jack
Nedra Volz ............ Pearl Sperling
Robert Donner ......... Edmund Trench


Fall Guy Theme Song Lyrics


Title: The Unknown Stuntman

By: Glen A Larson, Gail Jensen, and David Sommerville


Well, I'm not the kind to kiss and tell,
But I've been seen with Farrah.
I've never been with anything less than a nine, so fine.

I've been on fire with Sally Field,
Gone fast with a girl named Bo,
But somehow they just don't end up as mine.

It's a death defyin' life I lead,
I take my chances.
I die for a livin' in the movies and Tv.
But the hardest thing I ever do,
Is watch my leadin' ladies,
Kiss some other guy while I'm bandagin' my knee.

I might fall from a tall buildin',
I might roll a brand new car.
'Cause I'm the unknown stuntman that made Redford such a star.

I've never spent much time in school,
But I taught ladies plenty.
It's true I hire my body out for pay, Hey Hey.

I've gotten burned over Cheryl Tiegs,
Blown up for Raquel Welch.
But when I end up in the hay it's only hay, Hey Hey.

I might jump an open drawbridge,
Or Tarzan from a vine.
'Cause I'm the unknown stuntman that makes Eastwood look so fine.

Fall Guy Opening Narrative:

Recited by: "Lee Majors"

"This is the story of one of America's great unsung heroes. I mean you've seen him but you never knew who he was. You've cheered for him and cried for him and women have wanted to die for him. But did he ever get any credit or the girl? No! He's what we call the "Stuntman" and the reason I'm talking so fondly about him is, well because it's me, Colt Seaver. Anyway, picture work isn't wall-to-wall employment so maybe you wonder how a guy keeps his head together? Well, one way is to wait by the phone and wait and wait. The other is to take an occasional job with the court system of the United States of America where a man is considered innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately sometimes a lot of these people get out of jail on what we call bail and they'd run like hell!...and that's where I come in. I sometimes pick up rent money trying to find them and bring them back to justice...and that reminds me of a very interesting case."


I even had the Fall Guy Lunchbox! And who didn't have this poster of Heather Thomas?

Bond Girls: Dr. No

Honey Ryder - Ursulla Andress


Sylvia Trench - Eunice Grayson


Miss Taro - Zena Marshall

Rolling Stone's Top 100 Album covers #66!

1970 - Bob Dylan, Self Portrait

Rolling Stone's Top 100 Album covers #67!

1986 - Madonna, True Blue

Rolling Stone's Top 100 Album covers #68!

1971 -  Sly and the Family Stone, There's A Riot Goin' On

Friday, June 25, 2010

Guest post from a friend from "Down Under"

Australian Music to the World

by Donald J. Kay


Australian music from the sixties technically wasn’t recorded by Australians. We had overseas interests, migrants, which Australia would take under her wing and embrace and call them AUSSIE. Artists such as the Bee Gees, (UK) AC/DC (UK/Scottish), Easybeats (English Dutch), Billy Thorpe (UK,) Ray Columbus and the Invaders (New Zealand), to name but a few.



The record buying public went crazy over these artists, buying their records, watching every pop show we could, just so we could get a glimpse of our idols. Their concerts were sell outs, filled with mass hysteria, girls fainting in the aisles, having to be carted out on stretchers. The music was raw and poppy, selling in the millions. Unknowns became known and ‘till this day some of these artists remain legends.

Stories have been tossed around as to how the Aussie artists got their recognition in America. Some say, they made personal appearances on TV shows etc., while other’s say they got records released possibly because ozzie labels did deals with major/minor labels. Artists like Johnny Young, Normie Rowe, Russell Morris, Bee Gees, Johnny O’Keefe, Lynne Randel, and Dinah Lee all went to the UK or US, to record, and had records released there. It wasn’t until the 70’s with the advent of the video, that many major artists gained recognition, band such as: AC/DC, Midnight Oil,  The Church, Little River Band, Jimmy Barnes, Kylie, among others. During the ensuing years thousands of videos were made, cementing the Aussie icons onto the world stage of music.


One of the MEGA metal bands in the world today, AC/DC, had their foundation in Western Australia (as the Valentines). The band had great success playing to packed houses all over Perth. With a few singles under their belt, having recorded for the small Perth label called Clarion, the band decided to broaden their musical horizons and make the journey east. After establishing themselves in Melbourne, they scored a record deal with Philips, which would see them record two or three singles, plus an E.P., and then disband. Vince Lovegrove would go on to manage the ever popular Divinyls, while Bon Scott would join Adelaide outfit, Fraternity, who recorded in their own studios in the Adelaide hills. Again the total output would be 3 or 4 singles and 2 albums, which are highly sought after by collectors.


After Fraternity disbanded, another band was happening, waiting for Bon Scott to take hold of the reins and rock hard. Their first lead singer was Dave Evans, who lent his vocals to the track “Can I Sit next To You Girl.” Evans was soon replaced with the legendary Bon Scott, who would re-record the Dave Evans track, making it his own. Bon would go on to leave his mark in rock history with many great hits and albums under his belt, until his sad death on the Feb, 19, 1980. The band almost folded, but kept going for Bon’s sake, and recruited Brian Johnson, who remains as lead singer to this day.

Another great export to the world is the Sydney band, The Church, featuring lead singer, Steve Kilbey. They first came to prominence after recording a 4 track demo and scoring a record deal with EMI records, with such favourites as “The Unguarded Moment,” and their classic first album,” Of Skins And Heart.” They had great success with their singles and albums souring high in the world charts.


Furthermore, another legendary band, The Divinyls would cement themselves in the music world, when Chrysalis records signed them. Founding members Christina Amphlett, (cousin of Little Pattie), and Mark Mcentee, would recruit players Jeremy Paul (ex-Air Supply), Rick Grossman (Matt Finish) among others. They were very big on the US touring circuit, with their albums, “Desperate,” What a Life” and “Temperamental” and remain personal favourites to this day. Chrissie hasn’t been well lately; having being diagnosed with MS. Former guitarist Mark Mcentee has been living in Perth, W.A.managing a clothing shop with his girlfriend. 

Speaking of bands that got their start in Perth, before moving to the big smoke (Melbourne), INXS started out as the Farris Brothers, playing around the pubs and clubs of Perth, before relocating to Melbourne and teaming up with a very young Michael Hutchence, Kirk Pengily, and Gary Beers to become the explosive force known as INXS. Their first track, recorded for the small “Deluxe” label, was a cover version of Aussie band, the Loved Ones, track called “The Loved One.” Another 3 or 4 singles followed before they signed up to the giant WEA music group, which would launch them to the world stage with INXS becoming popular both with FM programmers and also a top billing stage act in their own right.


On the political fence sat one Peter Garrett, who would incorporate his political views in the music that was Midnight Oil. The group were playing pubs and clubs before signing up to Powder Works label, before moving to CBS records with such political motivated songs like “U.S. Forces” and “Blue Sky Mining.” At the present moment Garrett is heavily involved in the political arena, with his musical contributions firmly embedded in music history.

The ever popular Men at Work struck gold with their first self-titled album,” Men at Work.” The album would contain the now anathematic track “Down Under” which has become world famous because of its association with the “Americas Cup.” Enough said.

Nick Cave would leave his mark in music history, firstly with the Birthday Party, the Bad Seeds and a great duet with Kylie Minogue “Where the Wild Roses Grow,” a song reminiscent of the Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazelwood duets of the sixties. His most memorable album is Murder Ballads.

In closing, there are many Australian bands making their mark, not only on Australian shores, but they’re being heard and appreciated by the music fans, Worldwide. Australia stand up and be counted.




Monday, June 21, 2010

For the love of.... VINYL!

Pt. 1



Pt. 2



Pt. 3



Pt. 4



Pt. 5



And...this!

Facts about Meme..

Via Electronic Cerebrectomy

1. You’re building your dream house. What’s the one thing that this house absolutely, positively MUST HAVE? (other than the obvious basics of course)

5 bedrooms (have 4 kids who all deserve privacy away from one another at some point) and a man-cave...

2. What is your dream car?

1965 Mustang hardtop

3. What is your favorite website that isn’t a blog?

http://beatlesnumber9.com/

4. iPhone 4 or Droid, which do you want?

Droid

5. When you’re feeling down or lonely or just generally out of sorts, what do you do to cheer yourself up?

Listen to music ususally on vinyl or now that I have a reel-reel deck, on tape!

6. Tell me about something or someone that you love that most people seem to hate.

Trivial Pursuit?

7. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A Rock GOD!!!!

8. Would you go on a reality show if given the chance?

Um.... if it's not Gene Simmons Family Jewels, NO!!!!

9. Who was your favorite teacher when you were growing up. (Grade school, Middle School, Jr. High or High School only.)

Mr. Haan - High School Choral Director

10. You get one pass to do something illegal or immoral. What are you gonna do?

Rob a bank. I'm petty and materialistic. Then I'd have money to do with whatever I wish.

11. What were you doing 10 years ago?

Working at Sam Goody as Ass. Man. ;)

12. By this time next year, I ...

hope to have lost 50-60 lbs

13. Do you think the United States will elect a female President in your lifetime? Do you think this would be a good thing?

"Yes, I think so, and it depends on the person. If it's Sarah Palin, we're all totally fucked." Thanks Samurai Frog! Couldn't have said it ant better!

14. Which fictional TV show character you would shag anytime?

Audrey Bingham (Megyn Price) from Rules Of Engagement OR Claudia Finnerty (Megyn Price) from Grounded For Life - See the pattern here?

15. What is your greatest pet peeve?

People who say OFF-TEN instead of Offen for the worf often... T is silent according to Webster's. Learned it phonics in 1st grade. Why didn't anyone else?

16. Tell me about your most recent trip of more than 100 miles?

Would have been Thanksgiving to my in-laws, I believe...

17. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

Probably dictionary...

18. Do you have a nickname? What is it?

Shawn Foxxy.... Someone got my son to start saying my air-name with a "y".... HATE IT!

19. What are you dreading at the moment?

2 upcoming surgeries... Septoplasty and Tonsilectomy

20. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers?

I don't really care about it.

21. In two words, explain what ended your last relationship.

Emotional survival

22. What were you doing this morning at 8am?

Sleeping... Got up late.

23. Do you have any famous relatives?

Charlemagne and President James K. Polk

24. How many different beverages have you drank today?

3: Mtn Dew - White Out, Coffee, Nestea Lemon Iced Tea

25. What is something you are excited about?

The month of July!

26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group?

Just about every other night...I'm an on-air personality on Cool 105.7 FM

27. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

Need to get my head shaved again...

28. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Talking to one of my sons about lying and how the truth is AWAYS better than the lie. However, I think he WAS actually telling me the truth this time and one of my other sons was lying. I think I was snowed by the other, which is a flip from the norm.

29. What’s a word that you say a lot?

Goddamnit - because I probably really want Him (or Her) to....

30. Who is your worst enemy?

If you know me, you know. If not, why do you care? Wanna make a run at first place?

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Chicago vinyl record stores survive digital music era.


Written by Katie Schweiker, Jeremy Mikula, and Leah Hendrickson

Audio Slideshow: Chicago On The Record – A visit to three Chicago Record Stores

In a world of iPods, Zunes, .mp3s, .wavs, .flacs, .aifs, .rms, .snds and other digital audio formats, 33 1/3 revolutions per minute still counts to some.


Despite Apple’s announcement that the 10 billionth song was downloaded from iTunes in February, many Chicagoans still listen to vinyl Long Play (LP) records from both new and old artists.

“.mp3s were really cool, and they still are,” said Dave Hofer, a new products buyer at Reckless Records’ Wicker Park location. “You could fit so many of them into a little thing, you know. You don’t have to carry a book of CDs in your car anymore, for example. But there’s just something about vinyl that draws people in.”


Reckless is a music store with three Chicago locations that sells new and used vinyl – LPs, 45s, and 78s – and used DVDs and CDs. In spite of the era of readily available digital media and an economic downturn, they still do a pretty good business, Hofer said.

“We have people who come in and only look for used DVDs and CDs,” Hofer said. “However, if we didn’t have vinyl, we’d go out of business. People come in with their old records because they grow out of stuff and are amazed that people are interested in [their old records]. I have people who come up and ask when we put out new stuff and I always say, ‘All day, every day, dude.’”

“No CD’s. Never had ‘em. Never will.” This sign hangs on the door to Dave’s Records in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. For owner Dave Crain, there is no other alternative to the sound of vinyl records. Dave’s, “will always be a store where vinyl is king,” Crain said.



Dave’s Records is one of the few strictly vinyl shops in Chicago with 40,000 titles to choose from. When you walk in you are greeted with the sweet, musty aroma of vinyl. The floor tiles beckon you further into the store with their checkered pattern. The walls are lined from floor to ceiling with vinyl. Each record in its spot is watched over by Crain as he sits at a raised counter.


These include new albums by new artists, used albums, imports, reissues and even albums that are out of print and difficult to find. Hand Crain a record and he will throw it on the store’s turntable for a spin to help shopper’s make an educated decision. Dave’s makes sure that if you can’t find what you are looking for in their store, they will send you to another local record store.

Crain said Dave’s is for “people who love records. They are part of the ever evolving and ever revolving world of record shoppers.”


Dusty Groove America is a hub for certain niche music lovers: jazz, soul and funk are what the store specializes in. Customers appreciate the specific target audience compared to other music providers.


“Best Buy is trying to cater to a broad audience,” said Phil Garrison of Chicago while he thumbed through a stack of records. “It’s going to be hard to find obscure items. That’s the main reason why I come to places like this.”


According to Nielsen SoundScan more than 2 million vinyl albums were sold in 2009. That is an increase of 35 percent from 2008.


While record sales are on the rise, CD sales continue to fall. Even though CDs cost nearly half as much as their vinyl counterpart, their sales have dropped 20 percent this year, according to Nielsen. However, vinyl record sales only account for about 1 percent of all album sales.

Statistics show that digital music formats aren’t going away, either.


According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the digital music industry grew internationally by about 25 percent in 2008, making $3.7 billion. Digital platforms now account for nearly 20 percent of all music sales, a five percent growth from 2007, IFPI said.

One reason for these figures is the ease and portability of things like the iPod, whose numerous models can store anywhere from 500 to 40,000 songs.


“iPods were a crazy new inventions when they came out, but I think the novelty of them is starting to wear off,” Hofer said. “.mp3s and digital music, even CDs, are functional but that’s about it. They’re like decorative buttons on a sport coat. Whereas something like an LP comes down to being able to hold it and having a thing, like buying a book that you really like instead of just reading it on the Kindle. If I were to sum it up in one word, I’d say ‘physicality’ plays a big part in it.”

But while the idea of having physical media is important to some, comparing things like audio quality and physicality is like comparing apples and oranges.

“Are [records] better? I don’t know,” said Stephen Sowley as he shopped in Reckless’ Wicker Park location. “For me they’re better, but for others .mp3s are better. ‘Better’ is a relevant term, you know? You can’t take a record player with you when you go jogging.”

Friday, June 18, 2010

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Monday, June 14, 2010

Rolling Stone's Top 100 Album covers #69

1974 - David Bowie, Diamond Dogs

Rolling Stone's Top 100 Album covers #70

1973 - Funkadelic, Comic Slop

Remembering Frank.....

This is not long before the world lost an unrepentant eccentric, possible genious, and loving father who would rather we didn't remember who he was...
GREAT INTERVIEW!

Zappa explaining the decline of the music business



Man, we need this dude RIGHT NOW!!! I miss him.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Bobbie Gentry - HOT!!!



Bobbie slinks her way through a steamy cajun number. Yowsa!!

Live performance from the Smothers Brothers show.

One of my all-time favorites..

Bobbie Gentry was a prolific writer, that had only one huge hit.... And so beautiful!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

"Dear Girls, Ladies, Women, Sisters, Wives, Mothers, Girlfriends, Daughters and all those of the Female Persuasion,

You are beautiful. Really. Not just in the ‘inside-that-counts’ way. You are beautiful in pretty much all the ways. You perfectly complement our strengths and weaknesses with yours. Your ability to love and relate keeps the world going round, and none of us would be half the men we are without you.

We think you are totally unfathomable and mysterious – our lives are so much richer for the complicated dance it is to try and figure you out.

We cannot imagine why you need so many shoes, or why you voluntarily carry half a metric tonne around in your bags all day. We don’t know why Robert Pattinson appeals to you so much, or what it is that makes you cry during that bit in Titanic. We can’t figure out where you learned to cook so well (or what drove you to incorporate tofu in your meals), and how you find the time to do all your hair and makeup every day. We have no idea how you make ordinary pieces of fabric and cloth look so good when you wear them, or what it is about you that makes you so hard to say no to when you do.

And we REALLY don’t know why you haven’t been told all of this a million times before. Why you don’t deeply believe this all to be true about yourself already. We can’t understand why your father, brother, boss, husband, ex-husband, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, boy who is a friend, grandfather, stranger you talked to on the train that time, fiancé or uncle didn’t tell you how profoundly you’ve affected them, and how much they love you.

Well. Actually, that’s not entirely true. We can understand a little of why they didn’t do that. We men are almost universally lame at recognizing the value of a well-spoken word, and how important one is to you. We’re not as naturally gifted as you are in connecting to our own hearts, thoughts and feelings, and translating them for you. We might pretend to be cool, calm, collected and tough, but we can also be pretty scared of you too. Not that you’re scary, but it’s just that we can’t understand you, and fear is all about the things unknown.

But this is no excuse. And the point is that you should have been told and shown all of this, and much more, throughout your life, but you weren’t. Sometimes we just figure you already know and don’t want you to get a big head. Sometimes we fear the rejection that could come with being so candid and open-hearted. Sometimes we’re just not man enough to take the plunge.

And so we’re sorry. For the we have treated you – or, more probably, not treated you. You deserve better and are worth more. Some or us read your letters here, and our faux-macho hearts break a little bit inside, and want to correct this, if it’s still possible. If you haven’t lost faith in us completely.

You inspire and amaze us, you dazzle and intrigue us. You are worth the lifetime it takes to get to know you. You are the princess in the tower we are willing to climb to reach you. You are all the fairytale heroines you thought you weren’t allowed to think you were. You are God’s gift to men, and you don’t know how much we love you.

I would like to say that we will do better from now on, and always remind you of your value, but let’s be honest – you know how we are. If we forget in future, please give us a smack on the head or punch in the arm. We can take it. We just can’t take hints very well.

Yours sincerely,

Boys, Gentlemen, Men, Brothers, Husbands, Fathers, Boyfriends, Sons and all those of the Male Persuasion"

Monday, June 7, 2010

One of my all-time favorite YouTube vids.... Brings a tear to my eye though...

Ah..... The '80s!



A bunch of commercials that aired on NBC primetime on September 7th, 1986.

1. Hi-C (Featuring a young Alyssa Milano on the right)
2. Grape Nuts Cereal (THE Yuppie cereal of choice)
3. Hanes Underwear (They don't make commercials like this anymore!)
4. AT&T (With Cliff Robertson and Kristine Sutherland)
5. Red Lobster
6. Promo for "Smurf Quest" (I want to watch this now, damn it!)
7. Weight Watchers (Featuring Lynn Redgrave)
8. Sticklets Gum (Hilariously awful)
9. Promo for "Going Ape" (Starring Tony Danza, Danny DeVito and Jessica Walter! Arrested Development fans should love this)
10. Promo for "Amazing Stories"
11. Burger King Chicken Tenders (These look more like real chicken strips than the pieces of crap they sell today)
12. Generra Clothes (God please kill me now)
13. Promo for the weather on WBZ-TV Boston (Fighting the frizzies, at eleven)
14. Duracell Batteries (Cool puppets!)
15. Hillshire Farm Sausage (Hilarious!)
16. Extra Sugar Free Gum
17. Kool Aid Koolers (What a catchy jingle!)
18. Florida Frozen Orange Juice (The freeze is the reason!)
19. Nabisco Shredded Wheat Cereal (This used to scare me as a kid, don't ask why. Maybe it's the deadly amount of salt and sugar deposited on the cereal)
20. "Captain EO" (Awesome 3-D attraction at Disneyland and Epcot Center starring Michael Jackson)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The Dr. Who theme on guitar (with effects)...

Ghost World

YOU MUST SEE THIS!!!!! Why, you ask? BECAUSE I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!

Scarlett Johansson




Ever seen THE BLACK DAHLIA... Or THE PRESTIGE... Or how about GHOST WORLD (my personal favorite, and highly recommended)? Just a wonderful actress! Gottta love a girl who knows whats up ( I mean, she knows what photographers want, right?)...