The Classic/Retro Pop Culture Thread

RJDiogenes · May 10, 2018

TREK_GOD_1 said:
Its still programmed--not natural. Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data might be considered sentient by some (in or out of series), but its all based on programming. Nothing more. Its not developed based what humans know to be a living, feeling, self aware being, or specifically, the natural understanding of what is human, and that's the point, since HAL's creation and perception by Bowman, Poole and the TV interviewer are based on HAL's approximation to a human being.

Again, it's obvious that you have a philosophical objection to the idea of artificial intelligence and sentience that I and others don't share. "Natural" is irrelevant, since in truth nothing unnatural can exist. Whether intelligence and sentience exist as the result of a billion years of sloppy evolution or as the result of a century of R&D that refines the product of that evolution, they both exist according the laws of physics of this universe. But we're obviously never going to agree on that.

Gov Kodos · May 10, 2018

Circular arguments are circular.

TREK_GOD_1 · May 11, 2018

RJDiogenes said:
Again, it's obvious that you have a philosophical objection to the idea of artificial intelligence and sentience that I and others don't share. "Natural" is irrelevant, since in truth nothing unnatural can exist. Whether intelligence and sentience exist as the result of a billion years of sloppy evolution or as the result of a century of R&D that refines the product of that evolution, they both exist according the laws of physics of this universe. But we're obviously never going to agree on that.

A programmed automaton or device on a desk has no natural self-awareness, or the elements which make a human being. Any "behavior" it shows is the result of someone programming it to react that way. Real life--specifically humans--do not need external influences or programming to be self aware--that is a natural part of the species, like thought, various sensory perceptions and innate connections to other humans & the world around us with no parallel to be found in an assemblage of artificial materials with a loaded drive.

...but yes, we can agree to disagree on this point.

The Old Mixer · May 12, 2018

_______

50th Anniversary Viewing

_______

The Avengers
"Look - (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellers..."
Originally aired May 8, 1968 (US); December 4, 1968 (UK)

Wiki said:
Two old-time Music Hall performers dressed as clowns (one played by real life Music Hall star Jimmy Jewel), with assistance from a group of ex-vaudeville acts, are killing the businessmen they blame for closing down the variety theatres which were their livelihood.

And that's all armor intros this half-season except for that one episode.

The bad guys taking orders from Punch & Judy puppets is a novel gimmick. Of course, the fact that the main bad guy's identity was disguised made it obvious that he'd be somebody who was already a guest in the episode...and the reveal was pretty underwhelming, as I had to go back in the episode quite a ways to find a scene with him to remind me who he was.

Tara looks quite nice sporting a long-haired wig for part of the episode.

John Cleese is in the episode! Alas, he's killed off fairly quickly. The show over-relies on the gimmick of somebody who has information that Steed and King need getting offed just as Steed or King is contacting them for that information.

Steed and King leaving the scene after the climax by doing the same "exit, stage left" dance that the pair of killers had used after each murder was a good gag.

And that's all for The Avengers this season...and scripted TV as well, though I still have some odd bits of Sullivan business ahead. If I'd gotten into doing the British shows by American airdates a bit sooner, I could still have The Prisoner ahead of me, but what's done is done.

_______

RJDiogenes said:
More like half-n-half?

Now this is what I'm looking for in a Cream song:

They should have released that as the A-side of a single, rather than the B-side of "Strange Brew".

RJDiogenes said:
My Brother will be thrilled. That's the year he was born.

Part of my motivation for getting Time's 1968 volume, in spite of the ridiculous price of magazines these days, was to have a companion to their 1969 special that I bought nine years ago, when I was turning 40.

RJDiogenes · May 12, 2018

TREK_GOD_1 said:
A programmed automaton or device on a desk has no natural self-awareness, or the elements which make a human being. Any "behavior" it shows is the result of someone programming it to react that way. Real life--specifically humans--do not need external influences or programming to be self aware--that is a natural part of the species, like thought, various sensory perceptions and innate connections to other humans & the world around us with no parallel to be found in an assemblage of artificial materials with a loaded drive.

....yet.

...but yes, we can agree to disagree on this point.

Indeed. Not much choice. :rommie:

The Old Mixer said:
The bad guys taking orders from Punch & Judy puppets is a novel gimmick.

Avenging Vaudeville is a motivation I can support. :rommie:

John Cleese is in the episode! Alas, he's killed off fairly quickly.

Well, that's something completely different.

Now this is what I'm looking for in a Cream song:

Oh, yeah, I love that one. I don't think it ever got as much play as "White Room" or "Sunshine of Your Love," but it's in that top tier of Cream songs.

They should have released that as the A-side of a single, rather than the B-side of "Strange Brew".

Another favorite.

Part of my motivation for getting Time's 1968 volume, in spite of the ridiculous price of magazines these days, was to have a companion to their 1969 special that I bought nine years ago, when I was turning 40.

I guess they'll get to 1961 in about 63 years.

The Old Mixer · May 12, 2018

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50 Years Ago This Week

May 13 – Paris student riots: One million march through the streets of Paris.
May 13 – Manchester City wins the 1967–68 Football League First Division by 2 clear points, over club rivals Manchester United
May 14 – The Beatles announce the creation of Apple Records in a New York press conference.

Bonus News Link

May 15 – An outbreak of severe thunderstorms produces tornadoes, causing massive damage and heavy casualties in Charles City, Iowa, Oelwein, Iowa, and Jonesboro, Arkansas.
May 16 – Ronan Point, a 23 floor tower block in Canning Town, east London, partially collapses after a gas explosion, killing 5.
May 17 – The Catonsville Nine enter the Selective Service offices in Catonsville, Maryland, take dozens of selective service draft records, and burn them with napalm as a protest against the Vietnam War.
May 18 – West Bromwich Albion win the Football Association Cup, defeating Everton 1-0 after extra time. The winning goal was scored by Jeff Astle.

Mark Lewisohn's The Beatles Day by Day said:
May 15: John and Paul appear live on US television on The Johnny Carson Show [sic], presented in Carson's absence by Joe Garagiola, and they announce the setting up of Apple. John also uses the opportunity to denounce Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for the week:

1. "Tighten Up," Archie Bell & The Drells
2. "Mrs. Robinson," Simon & Garfunkel
3. "Honey," Bobby Goldsboro
4. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus
5. "A Beautiful Morning," The Rascals
6. "Cowboys to Girls," The Intruders
7. "Love Is All Around," The Troggs
8. "The Unicorn," The Irish Rovers
9. "Young Girl," The Union Gap feat. Gary Puckett
10. "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," Dionne Warwick
11. "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day," Stevie Wonder
12. "Cry Like a Baby," The Box Tops
13. "Take Time to Know Her," Percy Sledge
14. "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
15. "Lady Madonna," The Beatles
16. "Summertime Blues," Blue Cheer
17. "I Got the Feelin'," James Brown & The Famous Flames
18. "Funky Street," Arthur Conley
19. "Mony Mony," Tommy James & The Shondells
20. "Like to Get to Know You," Spanky & Our Gang
21. "Ain't No Way," Aretha Franklin
22. "She's Lookin' Good," Wilson Pickett
23. "Soul Serenade," Willie Mitchell
24. "Sweet Inspiration," The Sweet Inspirations
25. "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)," The Temptations
26. "Delilah," Tom Jones
27. "The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)," Otis Redding

29. "If I Were a Carpenter," Four Tops
30. "Does Your Mama Know About Me," Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
31. "Master Jack," Four Jacks and a Jill
32. "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy," Ohio Express
33. "Dance to the Music," Sly & The Family Stone
34. "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde," Georgie Fame
35. "Sweet Sweet Baby (Since You've Been Gone)," Aretha Franklin

38. "Playboy," Gene & Debbe
39. "The Unknown Soldier," The Doors

41. "U.S. Male," Elvis Presley
42. "Call Me Lightning," The Who

48. "MacArthur Park," Richard Harris

50. "I Love You," People

53. "A Man without Love (Quando M'innamoro)," Engelbert Humperdinck

55. "Angel of the Morning," Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts

60. "The Look of Love," Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
61. "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On," Joe Simon
62. "Never Give You Up," Jerry Butler

65. "She's a Heartbreaker," Gene Pitney

67. "Think," Aretha Franklin

72. "This Guy's in Love with You," Herb Alpert

78. "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," The Byrds
79. "Anyone for Tennis," Cream

83. "Tip-Toe Thru' the Tulips with Me," Tiny Tim

91. "I Have a Dream," The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

95. "Face It Girl, It's Over," Nancy Wilson

97. "Reach Out of the Darkness," Friend & Lover
99. "Pictures of Matchstick Men," The Status Quo

Leaving the chart:

"Forever Came Today," Diana Ross & The Supremes
"If You Can Want," Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
"La-La Means I Love You," The Delfonics
"Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)," Manfred Mann
"Scarborough Fair / Canticle," Simon & Garfunkel
"(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," Otis Redding
"Valleri," The Monkees

New on the chart:

"Tip-Toe Thru' the Tulips with Me," Tiny Tim
(#17 US)

"Pictures of Matchstick Men," The Status Quo
(#12 US; #7 UK)

"Reach Out of the Darkness," Friend & Lover
(#10 US)

"Think," Aretha Franklin
(#7 US; #1 R&B; #26 UK)

"This Guy's in Love with You," Herb Alpert
(#1 US the weeks of June 22 through July 13, 1968; #1 AC; #3 UK)

And new on the boob tube:

The Ed Sullivan Show, Season 20, episode 35, featuring Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, Diahann Carroll, Jay Marshall, Shani Wallis, and Richard Pryor

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RJDiogenes said:
Avenging Vaudeville is a motivation I can support.

And I learned that the British pronounce it with an extra syllable!

Another favorite.

Alas, the single didn't chart in the US, hence the lack of coverage here. I just got the Disraeli Gears album (#112 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time)...which, in 50 Years Ago This Week context, has been on the album chart since December, but is till climbing toward its peak position of #4 in late June.

I guess they'll get to 1961 in about 63 years.

If I'm getting what you're going for, your math's a little fuzzy there.

Nerys Myk · May 12, 2018

The Old Mixer said:
"Reach Out of the Darkness," Friend & Lover

(#10 US)

This became an earworm for me and my girlfriend back in the mid 80's when we went through a neo-hippy phase. She even found an old 45 of the song. She's long gone, but I still have the record. :lol:

The Old Mixer · May 13, 2018

Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for 55 years ago this past week:

1. "I Will Follow Him," Little Peggy March
2. "Puff (The Magic Dragon)," Peter, Paul & Mary
3. "If You Wanna Be Happy," Jimmy Soul
4. "Pipeline," The Chantays

6. "Foolish Little Girl," The Shirelles
7. "Surfin' U.S.A.," The Beach Boys
8. "He's So Fine," The Chiffons
9. "Reverend Mr. Black," The Kingston Trio
10. "Losing You," Brenda Lee
11. "On Broadway," The Drifters

14. "Baby Workout," Jackie Wilson
15. "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)," The Cookies
16. "Take These Chains from My Heart," Ray Charles
17. "Two Faces Have I," Lou Christie
18. "Watermelon Man," Mongo Santamaria Band
19. "Killer Joe," The Rocky Fellers
20. "Hot Pastrami," The Dartells

22. "Tom Cat," The Rooftop Singers

24. "Another Saturday Night," Sam Cooke

26. "This Little Girl," Dion
27. "Ain't That a Shame!," The Four Seasons

32. "The End of the World," Skeeter Davis
33. "Linda," Jan & Dean
34. "The Love of My Man," Theola Kilgore

36. "You Can't Sit Down," The Dovells
37. "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)," The Crystals
38. "Pushover," Etta James

41. "South Street," The Orlons
42. "Come and Get These Memories," Martha & The Vandellas
43. "Sandy," Dion

46. "Do the Bird," Dee Dee Sharp

49. "Shut Down," The Beach Boys
50. "Let's Go Steady Again," Neil Sedaka

52. "The Bird's the Word," The Rivingtons
53. "Prisoner of Love," James Brown & The Famous Flames

55. "Twenty Miles," Chubby Checker

59. "Mr. Bass Man," Johnny Cymbal
60. "It's My Party," Lesley Gore

65. "Hello Stranger," Barbara Lewis

70. "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer," Nat King Cole

75. "The Good Life," Tony Bennett

79. ""Sukiyaki," Kyu Sakamoto

93. "18 Yellow Roses," Bobby Darin

Leaving the chart:

"I Got What I Wanted," Brook Benton

"In Dreams," Roy Orbison

"Our Day Will Come," Ruby & The Romantics

55 Years Ago Spotlight: Classic Sam Cooke...'nuff said.

"Another Saturday Night"
(Charted Apr. 20, 1963; #10 US; #1 R&B; #23 UK)

Also, a 55 Years Ago News Bonus:

Wiki said:
May 8 – Dr. No, the first James Bond film, is shown in U.S. theaters.

_______

12 O'Clock High
"Cross-Hairs on Death"
Originally aired March 21, 1966

Xfinity said:
A dishonorably discharged flier (James Franciscus) masquerades as a replacement pilot in order to fly one combat mission.

This one had a pretty interesting premise, with Franciscus's character, Captain Carpenter, conning his way into the 918th without papers, determined to not just fly a mission, but to lead one, despite having no actual bomber duty experience. As a dramatic requirement, there's a character in the 918th who recognizes him (H. M. Wynant, the protagonist in The Twilight Zone's "The Howling Man"), but he gets killed during a mission without having spilled the beans to anyone but the audience. Carpenter's bunk mate and pilot, Capt. Enright (Roger Perry), is outgoing and friendly, but nevertheless starts noticing the signs of Carpenter's inexperience. While his report to Gallagher keeps Carpenter from taking the left seat on a vital mission to bomb a tank factory, circumstances conspire to leave Carpenter in control of the bomber, and he redeems himself in the eyes of the 918th when he manages to take out the target solo (Did B-17s actually have a control to release the bombs from the cockpit?), though he still has to face the music with the MPs in the Epilog.

_______

Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for 51 years ago this week:

1. "The Happening," The Supremes
2. "Sweet Soul Music," Arthur Conley
3. "Somethin' Stupid," Frank & Nancy Sinatra
4. "Groovin'," The Young Rascals
5. "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You," The Monkees
6. "Don't You Care," The Buckinghams
7. "You Got What It Takes," The Dave Clark Five
8. "Close Your Eyes," Peaches & Herb
9. "I Got Rhythm," The Happenings
10. "I Think We're Alone Now," Tommy James & The Shondells
11. "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," Neil Diamond
12. "On a Carousel," The Hollies
13. "Release Me (and Let Me Love Again)," Engelbert Humperdinck
14. "Respect," Aretha Franklin
15. "When I Was Young," Eric Burdon & The Animals
16. "Happy Together," The Turtles
17. "I'm a Man," The Spencer Davis Group
18. "Friday on My Mind," The Easybeats
19. "Here Comes My Baby," The Tremeloes
20. "Jimmy Mack," Martha & The Vandellas
21. "Him or Me, What's It Gonna Be?," Paul Revere & The Raiders
22. "Creeque Alley," The Mamas & The Papas
23. "This Is My Song," Petula Clark
24. "Mirage," Tommy James & The Shondells
25. "Sunshine Girl," The Parade
26. "Yellow Balloon," The Yellow Balloon
27. "Get Me to the World on Time," The Electric Prunes
28. "All I Need," The Temptations
29. "Dead End Street Monologue/Dead End Street," Lou Rawls
30. "Shake a Tail Feather," James & Bobby Purify
31. "Somebody to Love," Jefferson Airplane
32. "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," Aretha Franklin
33. "At the Zoo," Simon & Garfunkel
34. "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman," Whistling Jack Smith

37. "Casino Royale," Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
38. "Western Union," The Five Americans
39. "My Back Pages," The Byrds
40. "Too Many Fish in the Sea & Three Little Fishes," Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
41. "Happy Jack," The Who

43. "With This Ring," The Platters

48. "Six O'Clock," The Lovin' Spoonful
49. "When You're Young and in Love," The Marvelettes
50. "Bernadette," Four Tops

56. "The Oogum Boogum Song," Brenton Wood

61. "Alfie," Dionne Warwick

64. "Tramp," Otis & Carla

68. "Do It Again a Little Bit Slower," Jon & Robin & The In Crowd

72. "Come on Down to My Boat," Every Mother's Son

79. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

87. "Let's Live for Today," The Grass Roots
88. "She'd Rather Be with Me," The Turtles

90. "Little Bit o' Soul," The Music Explosion

96. "Make Me Yours," Bettye Swann

Leaving the chart:

"California Nights," Lesley Gore

"Dry Your Eyes," Brenda & The Tabulations

"For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound)," Buffalo Springfield

"I'll Try Anything," Dusty Springfield

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Nerys Myk said:
This became an earworm for me and my girlfriend back in the mid 80's when we went through a neo-hippy phase. She even found an old 45 of the song. She's long gone, but I still have the record.

But do you still have anything to play it on? There was a period when I totally would have gone neo-hippie if I'd known it was a thing.

Nerys Myk · May 13, 2018

The Old Mixer said:
But do you still have anything to play it on? There was a period when I totally would have gone neo-hippie if I'd known it was a thing.

I do not. But the wife and I have been looking into buying a turntable as we have all our old LPs.
Yeah the old girlfriend went from being a neo-Mod to being a Neo-Hippie and she might have wound up as a neo-Yuppie after we split. :lol:

The Old Mixer · May 13, 2018

I don't have a turntable anymore, but collecting vinyl is something I could totally get into if I had the time and means. There is something appealing about those big ol' LP sleeves....

scotpens · May 13, 2018

The Old Mixer said:
The Avengers
"Look - (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellers..."
Originally aired May 8, 1968 (US); December 4, 1968 (UK)

The bad guys taking orders from Punch & Judy puppets is a novel gimmick.

Well, not so novel. The same idea was used in the 1966 episode "How To Succeed...At Murder," in which members of an all-female organization take orders from a ventriloquist's dummy.

RJDiogenes · May 13, 2018

The Old Mixer said:
"Tip-Toe Thru' the Tulips with Me," Tiny Tim

I have to admit that I like it, probably partially for the nostalgic value, but the lyrics are also nice.

"Pictures of Matchstick Men," The Status Quo

A pleasing little psychedelic tune.

"Reach Out of the Darkness," Friend & Lover

This is one of my all-time favorites. It really captures the Zeitgeist. Kind of melancholy now, with what later generations have done.....

"Think," Aretha Franklin

Another one of Aretha's classics. From anybody else's lips it would have been just another jilted-lover song, but from her it was revolutionary.

"This Guy's in Love with You," Herb Alpert

A very nice love song with a strong nostalgic flavor.

Alas, the single didn't chart in the US, hence the lack of coverage here.

True, it was another one of those late-night AOR tunes.

If I'm getting what you're going for, your math's a little fuzzy there.

Admittedly, math is not my strong suit. :rommie:

Nerys Myk said:
This became an earworm for me and my girlfriend back in the mid 80's when we went through a neo-hippy phase. She even found an old 45 of the song. She's long gone, but I still have the record.

That about sums it up: It's long gone, but we still have the record. :rommie:

The Old Mixer said:
"Another Saturday Night"

I love this song, and that's a cute video.

This one had a pretty interesting premise, with Franciscus's character, Captain Carpenter, conning his way into the 918th without papers, determined to not just fly a mission, but to lead one, despite having no actual bomber duty experience.

Kind of like a mini version of The Great Imposter (which was recently remade under a title that I can't conjure up at the moment).

though he still has to face the music with the MPs in the Epilog.

Totally worth it!

But do you still have anything to play it on? There was a period when I totally would have gone neo-hippie if I'd known it was a thing.

Vinyl is back, baby, so turntables are easy to come by. In fact, vinyl has become my go-to gift for my Brother. I just got him Pet Sounds for his birthday last month.

Nerys Myk said:
I do not. But the wife and I have been looking into buying a turntable as we have all our old LPs.

The bizarre thing is that the new turntables come with a USB connection, so you can even "rip" your LPs. Of course, the ripping is a slow process, because you have to actually play them and record them in real time.

scotpens said:
Well, not so novel. The same idea was used in the 1966 episode "How To Succeed...At Murder," in which members of an all-female organization take orders from a ventriloquist's dummy.

Yeah, I saw that one not too long ago.

The Old Mixer · May 13, 2018

scotpens said:
Well, not so novel. The same idea was used in the 1966 episode "How To Succeed...At Murder," in which members of an all-female organization take orders from a ventriloquist's dummy.

Ah yes, I recall that now. And that was reminiscent of one of the only Cathy Gale episodes I saw, when she dealt with a hitman who contacted people via a mechanized teddy bear with his voice coming from it.

RJDiogenes said:
I have to admit that I like it, probably partially for the nostalgic value, but the lyrics are also nice.

Of course, he didn't write those, it was a 1920s song that he covered to comic effect. I didn't used to get Tiny Tim from years of casual exposure, but the whole immersive retro thing and seeing him on Laugh-In both as a recurring guest and running gag reference has caused him to grow on me...like a fungus.

A pleasing little psychedelic tune.

I'd consider it more psychedelic pop than psychedelic rock, but yes, a welcome contribution to the times. This was their only Top 40 hit in the US, but apparently Status Quo was much more successful in the UK, with a string of hits going on for decades.

Wiki said:
They have had over 60 chart hits in the UK, more than any other rock band, including "Pictures of Matchstick Men" in 1968, "Whatever You Want" in 1979 and "In the Army Now" in 1986 and 2010. Twenty-two of these reached the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. In July 1985 the band opened Live Aid at Wembley Stadium with "Rockin' All Over the World". In 1991, Status Quo received a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

RJDiogenes said:
This is one of my all-time favorites. It really captures the Zeitgeist.

Indeed...a one-hit wonder, but a giant in contributing to the sign o' the times vibe.

Another one of Aretha's classics. From anybody else's lips it would have been just another jilted-lover song, but from her it was revolutionary.

Definitely a good one and a classic, but as "revolutionary" goes, it's a bit of a second banana to "Respect".

A very nice love song with a strong nostalgic flavor.

I thought you didn't like Herb! This song is a very pretty, pleasant earworm.

True, it was another one of those late-night AOR tunes.

I recall first being exposed to it on MTV in the early-to-mid-'80s...they had retro rewind program or something. First I'd heard of Cream, I think.

I love this song, and that's a cute video.

Yes, that was a clever and entertaining way of doing a lyric-only video, and despite its modernness, it fit very well with the song's vibe.

The bizarre thing is that the new turntables come with a USB connection, so you can even "rip" your LPs. Of course, the ripping is a slow process, because you have to actually play them and record them in real time.

With every hiss, pop, scratch, and skip immortalized for all time digitally...vinyl was a delicate medium. I remember that being a phenomenon back when I'd record LPs onto cassette tapes for mobile listening. My copy of the White Album developed a skip in the piano intro of "Martha My Dear" soon after I got it, and it took me years of listening on CD not to hear that skip in my head as part of the tune.

scotpens · May 13, 2018

RJDiogenes said:
This one had a pretty interesting premise, with Franciscus's character, Captain Carpenter, conning his way into the 918th without papers, determined to not just fly a mission, but to lead one, despite having no actual bomber duty experience.

Click to expand...

Kind of like a mini version of The Great Imposter (which was recently remade under a title that I can't conjure up at the moment).

The Great Imposter was based on the life of Ferdinand Waldo Demara. Are you thinking of the 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can? That was the fact-based story of another con artist, Frank Abagnale Jr., played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

RJDiogenes · May 14, 2018

The Old Mixer said:
Of course, he didn't write those, it was a 1920s song that he covered to comic effect. I didn't used to get Tiny Tim from years of casual exposure, but the whole immersive retro thing and seeing him on Laugh-In both as a recurring guest and running gag reference has caused him to grow on me...like a fungus.

Yeah, I've seen that movie a few times (I love pre-code movies), but of course not until many years later. As a kid, he seemed to me like one of those Medieval bards who roamed from hamlet to hamlet singing for his supper. Or getting fed to shut him up. :rommie:

I'd consider it more psychedelic pop than psychedelic rock, but yes, a welcome contribution to the times.

Indeed, thus the "little."

Definitely a good one and a classic, but as "revolutionary" goes, it's a bit of a second banana to "Respect".

True, but there's that "Freedoooom."

I thought you didn't like Herb! This song is a very pretty, pleasant earworm.

I was a little surprised to see that Herb had done it. I had forgotten that I mentioned my general dislike of him or I would have mentioned it.

My copy of the White Album developed a skip in the piano intro of "Martha My Dear" soon after I got it, and it took me years of listening on CD not to hear that skip in my head as part of the tune.

I had the same experience with a couple of songs on 8-Tracks that faded out in mid song to switch tracks. :rommie:

scotpens said:
The Great Imposter was based on the life of Ferdinand Waldo Demara. Are you thinking of the 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can? That was the fact-based story of another con artist, Frank Abagnale Jr., played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Yes, I was indeed thinking of Catch Me If You Can. For some reason, I thought it was a remake of the Tony Curtis movie. Now I'm not sure why.

TREK_GOD_1 · May 14, 2018

The Old Mixer said:
"La-La Means I Love You," The Delfonics

Timeless--and still at a time (thought fading) when soul was still paired with big string arrangements that would be used in a different, less "theatrical" manner in the Philly soul sounds of the next decade.

"Scarborough Fair / Canticle," Simon & Garfunkel

Another timeless track.

"Valleri," The Monkees

The Monkees' final top ten hit of their original run as a group. Although this song only exists because the group wanted to re-record the version only heard on the TV series (at the time), it ended up as one of their most unforgettable hits.

New on the chart:

"Tip-Toe Thru' the Tulips with Me," Tiny Tim
(#17 US)

Horrible. Yeah, its a novelty song, but Tiny Tim was already someone who required a great deal of patience from the ears of listeners.

"Think," Aretha Franklin
(#7 US; #1 R&B; #26 UK)

A classic so tied to the period for more than its musical value, as it was considered a feminist charge, but it was embraced as specifically giving a voice to black women.

"This Guy's in Love with You," Herb Alpert
(#1 US the weeks of June 22 through July 13, 1968; #1 AC; #3 UK)

Alpert's adding vocals as well as his trumpet solo built this David/Bacharach song into something yet to be matched by anyone remaking it since. It seems Alpert and the song were sort made for each other.

And new on the boob tube:

The Ed Sullivan Show, Season 20, episode 35, featuring Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, Diahann Carroll, Jay Marshall, Shani Wallis, and Richard Pryor

I believe I've watched this one--more for Gary Puckett & The Union Gap than anything else.

The Old Mixer · May 15, 2018

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50th Anniversary Viewing

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The Ed Sullivan Show
Season 20, episode 35
Originally aired May 12, 1968
As represented in The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show

TREK_GOD_1 said:
I believe I've watched this one--more for Gary Puckett & The Union Gap than anything else.

Decades? Original run?

Gary Puckett & the Union Gap open the Best of installment with "Young Girl," which has been slipping from its peak position of #2 for several weeks, but is still in the Top 20.
It sounds very close to the single version, with the notable exception of stopping the song dead instead of doing a fade-out.

Next Diahann Carroll lounges up "Elusive Butterfly" a bit; songwriter Bob Lind's version reached #5 in 1966. Her arrangement sounds bossa nova to my ear. Alas, couldn't find a video.

Next up is Jay Marshall, a ventriloquist using his gloved hand as a puppet:
Even the puppet notices his very obvious mouth movements.

Singer/actress Shani Wallis does her rendition of "Alfie," which doesn't really add anything to Dionne Warwick's #15 single from 1967. According to Wiki, being spotted in a previous appearance on the show got Wallis a role in the film Oliver! (coming in September 1968).

Diahann Carroll returns to perform "At the Crossroads," a song that I'm less familiar with, though I'm sure I've heard at least one other version, possibly on this show.

Pre-mustache Richard Pryor does a routine that climaxes with him using his microphone stand to imitate a weightlifting high school friend (obviously his audio was being mic'ed in from something else):

Gary Puckett & the Union Gap close the Best of edit with their upcoming hit single, "Lady Willpower," which will be released the following week and will enter the chart in early June:
The Decades version sounded like the speed got messed up a bit in the middle, but I don't hear it in the clip above; possibly a syndication edit thing.

Also in the original episode according to tv.com:

Music:
--Shani Wallis - "High."
--The Young Americans - "Happiness" & a medley ("A Spoonful of Sugar," "Back In the Old Routine Minute Waltz," "Green Sleeves" and "Raindrops")
Comedy:
--Rodney Dangerfield (stand-up, doing his "No Respect" routine)
--David Frye - does impressions of William F. Buckley, Presidents Nixon, Johnson, and Robert F. Kennedy.
Audience bows:
--Leonard Sillman, Imogene Coca, and Capt. Robert F. Foley.

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RJDiogenes said:
I had forgotten that I mentioned my general dislike of him or I would have mentioned it.

I believe it was over in Hulk Corners when his 1979 #1 came up.

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RJDiogenes · May 15, 2018

The Old Mixer said:
Gary Puckett & the Union Gap open the Best of installment with "Young Girl,"

This is a good one. I like Gary Puckett.

Next Diahann Carroll lounges up "Elusive Butterfly" a bit;

That sounds interesting. I love the song and I love Diahann Carroll, and they seem like a good combination.

Next up is Jay Marshall, a ventriloquist using his gloved hand as a puppet:

This is why I love Ed Sullivan. You just never know. :rommie:

Pre-mustache Richard Pryor does a routine that climaxes with him using his microphone stand to imitate a weightlifting high school friend (obviously his audio was being mic'ed in from something else):

Ah, Richard Pryor was great-- but you know what I think every time I see him.

Gary Puckett & the Union Gap close the Best of edit with their upcoming hit single, "Lady Willpower,"

Another cool song (and I always thought it would make a great name for a superhero).

I believe it was over in Hulk Corners when his 1979 #1 came up.

Oh, yeah, I hate that one. :rommie:

The Old Mixer · May 17, 2018

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Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for 55 years ago this week:

1. "If You Wanna Be Happy," Jimmy Soul
2. "I Will Follow Him," Little Peggy March
3. "Puff (The Magic Dragon)," Peter, Paul & Mary
4. "Surfin' U.S.A.," The Beach Boys
5. "Foolish Little Girl," The Shirelles
6. "Pipeline," The Chantays
7. "Losing You," Brenda Lee
8. "Reverend Mr. Black," The Kingston Trio

11. "Two Faces Have I," Lou Christie
12. "Take These Chains from My Heart," Ray Charles
13. "Hot Pastrami," The Dartells
14. "Another Saturday Night," Sam Cooke

16. "Killer Joe," The Rocky Fellers
17. "He's So Fine," The Chiffons
18. "You Can't Sit Down," The Dovells
19. "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)," The Crystals

21. "This Little Girl," Dion
22. "Ain't That a Shame!," The Four Seasons

25. "On Broadway," The Drifters
26. "It's My Party," Lesley Gore

29. "Tom Cat," The Rooftop Singers
30. "Watermelon Man," Mongo Santamaria Band
31. "The Love of My Man," Theola Kilgore
32. "Baby Workout," Jackie Wilson
33. "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)," The Cookies

35. "Pushover," Etta James
36. "Come and Get These Memories," Martha & The Vandellas
37. "Prisoner of Love," James Brown & The Famous Flames

39. "Let's Go Steady Again," Neil Sedaka
40. "Linda," Jan & Dean

43. "Shut Down," The Beach Boys

45. "Sukiyaki," Kyu Sakamoto

47. "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer," Nat King Cole

53. "Hello Stranger," Barbara Lewis

55. "18 Yellow Roses," Bobby Darin

57. "The Bird's the Word," The Rivingtons

59. "The Good Life," Tony Bennett

63. "The End of the World," Skeeter Davis

72. "My Summer Love," Ruby & The Romantics

81. "Birdland," Chubby Checker

99. "Pride and Joy," Marvin Gaye

Leaving the chart:

"Do the Bird," Dee Dee Sharp

"Mr. Bass Man," Johnny Cymbal

"Sandy," Dion

"South Street," The Orlons

"Twenty Miles," Chubby Checker

55 Years Ago Spotlight: You may have noticed that a future Gotham henchgirl has made her debut and is in the process of shooting to the top of the chart....

"It's My Party," Lesley Gore
(Charted May 11, 1963; #1 US the weeks of June 1 and 8, 1963; #1 R&B; #9 UK)

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12 O'Clock High
"Day of Reckoning"
Originally aired March 28, 1966

Xfinity said:
A grief-stricken chaplain unwittingly provides the chance for two German prisoners to try to blow up Archbury's bomb dumps.

Featuring the return of the 1960s' Most Reichable Actor:

The angle of the chaplain, Captain Archer (no really; played by Charles Aidman) losing his faith sort of reminded me of the premise of the Sorrell Booke episode, but this one was played differently. Archer's moment of doubt is the result of his having taken up a rifle and shot a parachuting German in the aftermath of a bombing raid on the 918th's base, having just lost a ladyfriend during the raid. Gallagher gets tough with Archer, expecting him to do his job whether he feels worthy or not, for the sake of the men who died during the raid and their loved ones.

Komansky serves as our all-purpose enlisted man again, first staying behind during a mission so that he's on the base for the German raid; then working security after the German prisoners escape, and getting shot for his job flexibility.

The Germans attempt not to get away but to carry out their original mission, but our heroic leading man runs into the bomb dump to find the makeshift explosive and toss it out just in the nick of time. He then proceeds to make some deceptive radio transmissions to the P-51 that one of the Germans managed to escape in after setting the explosive, manipulating a group of German fighters into jumping their own man.

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Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for 51 years ago this week:

1. "Groovin'," The Young Rascals
2. "The Happening," The Supremes
3. "Sweet Soul Music," Arthur Conley
4. "Somethin' Stupid," Frank & Nancy Sinatra
5. "Respect," Aretha Franklin
6. "I Got Rhythm," The Happenings
7. "Release Me (and Let Me Love Again)," Engelbert Humperdinck
8. "Close Your Eyes," Peaches & Herb
9. "Don't You Care," The Buckinghams
10. "You Got What It Takes," The Dave Clark Five
11. "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," Neil Diamond
12. "On a Carousel," The Hollies
13. "Creeque Alley," The Mamas & The Papas
14. "Him or Me, What's It Gonna Be?," Paul Revere & The Raiders
15. "When I Was Young," Eric Burdon & The Animals
16. "Friday on My Mind," The Easybeats
17. "I Think We're Alone Now," Tommy James & The Shondells
18. "Here Comes My Baby," The Tremeloes
19. "Mirage," Tommy James & The Shondells
20. "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You," The Monkees
21. "All I Need," The Temptations
22. "Somebody to Love," Jefferson Airplane
23. "Sunshine Girl," The Parade
24. "I'm a Man," The Spencer Davis Group
25. "Yellow Balloon," The Yellow Balloon
26. "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman," Whistling Jack Smith
27. "Too Many Fish in the Sea & Three Little Fishes," Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
28. "Shake a Tail Feather," James & Bobby Purify
29. "Dead End Street Monologue/Dead End Street," Lou Rawls
30. "Casino Royale," Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
31. "Happy Jack," The Who
32. "Six O'Clock," The Lovin' Spoonful
33. "Happy Together," The Turtles

36. "Jimmy Mack," Martha & The Vandellas

39. "When You're Young and in Love," The Marvelettes
40. "Get Me to the World on Time," The Electric Prunes
41. "Western Union," The Five Americans
42. "This Is My Song," Petula Clark

44. "Come on Down to My Boat," Every Mother's Son

46. "Do It Again a Little Bit Slower," Jon & Robin & The In Crowd
47. "Alfie," Dionne Warwick

54. "Tramp," Otis & Carla

56. "The Oogum Boogum Song," Brenton Wood

58. "She'd Rather Be with Me," The Turtles

62. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

66. "Let's Live for Today," The Grass Roots

73. "Little Bit o' Soul," The Music Explosion
74. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," Frankie Valli

78. "Shake," Otis Redding
79. "Here We Go Again," Ray Charles

84. "Ding, Dong! The Witch Is Dead," The Fifth Estate

87. "7-Rooms of Gloom," Four Tops

90. "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," Bob Dylan

96. "Make Me Yours," Bettye Swann

98. "Sunday Will Never Be the Same," Spanky & Our Gang

100. "Soul Finger," The Bar-Kays

Leaving the chart (unverified):

"At the Zoo," Simon & Garfunkel

"Bernadette," Four Tops

"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," Aretha Franklin

"My Back Pages," The Byrds

"With This Ring," The Platters

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RJDiogenes said:
Ah, Richard Pryor was great-- but you know what I think every time I see him.

Not offhand.

Another cool song (and I always thought it would make a great name for a superhero).

That would have worked particularly well in City of Heroes.

RJDiogenes · May 17, 2018

The Old Mixer said:
"It's My Party," Lesley Gore

Another one of those early 60s songs that feels more 50s to me. Also notable for being one of the few songs to spawn a sequel.

TCaptain Archer (no really; played by Charles Aidman)

12 O'Clock High is part of the Star Trek universe. :bolian:

Probably moreso than Discovery. :rommie:

and getting shot for his job flexibility.

I know the feeling. :rommie:

Not offhand.

The fiery incident while freebasing. I can't look at him without cringing in sympathetic pain.

That would have worked particularly well in City of Heroes.

I'm not familiar with it, but it looks pretty cool. I wonder why it was shut down.

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