Five Atari 2600 Games Get Destroyed By Conan O'Brien

Here's Conan O'Brien playing some vintage Atari 2600 games.  His reaction is about what mine usually is when I think "I'll go retro and play some classic games!"... because the home versions of these games were weak.  One exception: River Raid is amusing for a bit, but Conan simply wasn't getting the hang of things, probably for comedic effect.  I have to assume he spent at least some time playing these things, since he was born in 1963.  Maybe if they had given him an Atari computer (400, 800, and the variants) to play with, he would have had more fun.  Those machines were more powerful (closer to the original Nintendo Entertainment System), and I used one enough as a secondary gaming system in the early 1990s to know that it has far more entertainment value than the 2600.
For fun, here's a link to information about an Atari laptop (based on the 800XL, the computer we had when I was growing up, alongside an original NES and a Dell desktop).

PINK FLOYD THE EARLY YEARS 1965-72 boxed set is confusing

With the release of the new boxed set "The Early Years 1965–1972," I thought I would go back to my blog post on the band's recordings (many of which I am unimpressed with), as well as a recent article I saw on Cheat Sheet ranking the group's studio albums.

"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," "A Saucerful of Secrets," "More," "Ummagumma," "Atom Heart Mother Meddle," "Obscured by Clouds," "The Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here," "Animals," "The Wall," "The Final Cut," "A Momentary Lapse of Reason," "The Division Bell" (including its 20th Anniversary boxed set) and "The Endless River," plus live albums "Ummagumma," "Live at Pompeii," "Delicate Sound of Thunder" and "Pulse."

I also look at the Immersion boxes as well as the "Shine On" box and collections like "Masters of Rock," "Relics," "A Nice Pair," "A Collection of Great Dance Songs," "Echoes," "A Foot in the Door," "1965: Their First Recordings," plus the soundtracks "London '66–'67" (aka Tonite Lets All Make Love in London), "San Francisco," "The Committee," "Zabriskie Point."

I do not have the time or desire to tackle "Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81" or "Pink Floyd – The Wall La Carrera Panamericana."

KBTime: McIntosh MC-2505 power amp (Nerding Out For Music Sounds)

Here's an MC2505 power amplifier from the early 1970s. Some great info about the company is at Roger Russell's website, http://www.roger-russell.com/aboutmc.htm #KBNOMS #KBTime

Nerding Out For Music Sounds: THE BEATLES Magical Mystery Tour vinyl EP

All about my double-EP UK pressing of the Beatles' 1967 MMT soundtrack. #KBNOMS

THE BEATLES IN MONO vinyl boxed set

Capitol/EMI/Apple/UMG finally did the right thing and issued (most of) the Fab Four's catalog in mono -- on vinyl, from the original analog tapes -- in 2014!  Here's a look at the box, plus comparisons to the American albums.



The core catalog through the "White Album" is here, including the UK track listings for "Sgt. Pepper," "Revolver," "Rubber Soul," "Help!," "Beatles For Sale," "A Hard Day's Night," "With the Beatles," "Please Please Me" and the U.S. "Magical Mystery Tour."

I also look at what's not in the box: the Abbey Road and Let It Be LPs, the single mix of "Let It Be," the 45 "Ballad of John and Yoko"/"Old Brown Shoe," all of which were issued in stereo-only.

I'll show you and discuss the UK "Let It Be" boxed set, the rare TMQ bootleg set "From the Vault," the American "Rarities" album (and its bootleg predecessor, "Collector's Items"), "The Beatles Christmas Album" (1970, aka "From Then To Us" in the UK), "Live at the Hollywood Bowl," "Beatles Anthology 3," "Yellow Submarine," "Let It Be Naked," "1962-66" and "1967-70," "Introducing the Beatles," "Hear the Beatles Tell All" (both on Vee-Jay), "Live at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962," "Live at the BBC," "The Black Album," "The Beatles Ballads," The Decca Audition tape, the original version of "Let It Be" (titled "Get Back") and US-only disks like "Meet the Beatles," "The Beatles Second Album," "The Beatles Story," "Something New," the United Artists "A Hard Day's Night," "Beatles '65," "The Early Beatles," "Beatles VI" and "Yesterday and Today."

I did not have time for "Hey Jude," "A Collection of Beatle Oldies," "Songs, Pictures and Stories of the Beatles," "Jolly What! The Beatles and Frank Ifield Live" or "The Early Tapes" with Tony Sheridan.

And for good measure, here's a Usenet database of Beatles' mix variations between mono and stereo.

Nerding Out For Music Sounds: JBL HLS610 speakers

JBL re-entered the high-quality home audio field in the late 1990s, with the JBL HLS-610 bookshelf speakers #KBNOMS

SNL: You Like-a Da Juice?

Ever wonder where the phrase "You Like-a Da Juice?" is from?  It's this half-forgotten SNL sketch from 1993, "Hub's Gyros."

Slyman's corned beef v. Slyman's Tavern

The new Slyman's (in Independence) is technically called Slyman's Tavern.  And with good reason... the original is a hardhat-lunch-deli, while this new location is clearly aimed at people who are looking for a space to perhaps bring the family, relax, drink, watch the game (I counted 7,268 monitors) and maybe, possibly, eat a little healthy.  The interior has a nice wooden motif (as opposed to the authentic post-war feel of the original).  Think toned-down Melt, but with less grease.  (Forgive me, Matt, we still love the place!).

The menu has pretty much everything at the original, but with salads!  We had a Greek salad that was quite good.  I don't even need to comment on our corned beef sandwich beyond saying it was perfect, as usual.

The original's Three Stooges motif has been carried over, but it's not completely in-your-face as in the main location.  There was also a nice-looking Sunday brunch that seemed to take some cues from Mustard Seed Market's insane Sunday brunches.

All in all, definitely a place I would go back to.  It's very convenient (free parking), and it's in the exact same spot that my favorite Chinese restaurant used to be.  So during my frequent spells of disorientation, I'll be able to wander in and still get a decent meal.

I just wonder why there's a new name.  Are the owners considering closing-up at the original spot?  It's in an odd location, which seems ripe for speculators, redevelopment and (gasp) gentrification.  I hope I'm wrong, and I usually am!

For more Northeast Ohio restaurants, click here.

Photographing The Black Keys

Artist/Photographer Eartha Goodwin has worked in Northeast Ohio for nearly two decades, and here she is speaking about photographing The Black Keys in Akron near the beginning of their career.

The Press Your Luck Scandal with Mel Blanc and Peter Tomarken

In 1984, Michael Larson -- an Ohio man who had worked odd jobs his whole life -- figured out how to read the electronic board's moves on the CBS game show "Press Your Luck" (1983-86).  For years, he held the record for the most money won by a contestant in one appearance on a daytime game show.  And he died penniless.  Check out the strange saga in this Game Show Network documentary, featuring host Peter Tomarken (RIP).  As a bonus, below is the end of an episode where they had to correct themselves, with some help from Mel Blanc.  The weak dubbed applause (and Tomarken's clear misunderstanding of ad-libbing) always bothered me:

Fixing Paul McCartney Wings Wild Life

I am a sucker for trying to help albums that stick out like a sore thumb in an artists' discography (see my take on the Rolling Stones' "Satanic Majesties" or The Beach Boys' Smile).  They're like the runt of the litter.  Today, we tackle Paul McCartney's "Wild Life" (technically, by Wings).

This was his third solo album, but his first as part of a group, which included wife Linda, former Moody Blue Denny Laine (who left that group after one hit single, and before they went melodic and successful) and Denny Seiwell, a session drummer who had played on Paul's previous LP, the excellent "Ram."

"Wild Life" came out in a nondescript cover in early December, 1971.  Although Paul threw a big launch party, it still undersold.  Not having any identifying language (or even a clear photograph) on the cover probably hurt sales.  So did the weird contents... Paul had said he wanted to record everything quickly, the way Bob Dylan used to at the time.  (But Dylan didn't do that because he was a wizard... he did it because he had no patience for studio recording).

Here's the track listing:
SIDE 1:
"Mumbo" – 3:54
"Bip Bop" – 4:14
"Love Is Strange" (Mickey Baker, Sylvia Vanderpool, Ethel Smith) – 4:50
"Wild Life" – 6:48

SIDE 2:
"Some People Never Know" – 6:35
"I Am Your Singer" – 2:15
"Bip Bop Link" – 0:52
"Tomorrow" – 3:28
"Dear Friend" – 5:53
"Mumbo Link" – 0:45 (a brief reprise)

BONUS CUTS (1993 CD) -- these were all on non-album 45s:
"Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love"
"Mama's Little Girl" (from 1972, but not released until 1990)

In 2007, the album went onto iTunes with another bonus, the instrumental version of "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (which had been the B-side of that single).

SO... not a lot to work with.  The bonus tracks are boring and "Bip Bop" is cringeworthy.  "Mumbo" is just a messy jam... may have been good as a b-side.  However, "Dear Friend" is apparently an outtake from "Ram," and is excellent.  It's reportedly Paul's move toward conciliation with John.  (For those keeping track, that means "Too Many People" was a dig from Paul to John, who responded with "How Do You Sleep?").

"Tomorrow," "Some People Never Know" and "Wild Life" are interesting, but too long.

"Love Is Strange" backed with the weak "I Am You Singer" was pressed as a promo single in the UK (Apple R5932) but was cancelled due to the album's slow sales (seems like the opposite of what you'd do to spur sales back then... singles could drive albums).  I have seen scans of labels for the single from places like Turkey and Ghana, as well as a Mexican EP of songs from this album, but nothing else.

So let's tackle the 45 first...

I would have released "Love Is Strange" b/w "Mumbo," using the photo above for the picture sleeve.  An unusual choice since the A-side is a cover (a first in Beatledom), but that's obviously what was planned anyway.  And it is a great recording.

The songs is MUCH too long, though, at 4:50.  It's as if Paul forgot all about song structure for a few minutes.  Truly bizarre.  I have made what would have been an effective single edit of this song.






To review: I've condensed the first 90 seconds so each motif isn't repeating 67 times.  I go right to the first verse, wherein the band sings in off-key unison and sounds positively demonic.  I was sure I was being invited to a cult.
The first verse immediately goes into a guitar solo?!  Then another refrain.  Then a gingerly drum breakdown!  I've cut all of that out, and gone right to Paul singing the second verse solo.  After all, this is what people want to hear!  The joyous "la la la" bridge positively soars now that it's in the middle of the song (and not buried 3:30 in); I also cut it down so it doesn't repeat 92 times.
From here, I let it roll right into the ringing guitar and then through the very-McCartney-esque major sixth chord at the end.  Great!

Now to the album itself... with "Mumbo" taken care of as a b-side, I would remove that.  I would also remove "Bip Bop."  I would, however, leave their short link pieces to add character (and since they're actually well played instrumentals).  I would trim down some of the 5+ minute tracks, but I'll leave the full-length "Love Is Strange."  Give the people an extra helping of what they (would have) like(d).

Since "Dear Friend" was a "Ram" outtake, I'm going to raid that larder to get a few more.  And I'm going to start the album with a SLOW SONG.  Truly mindblowing.

SIDE 1:
"Wild Life" – 6:48
"I Lie Around" -- "Ram" outtake; originally released as the b-side to "Live & Let Die"
"A Love For You" -- "Ram" outtake; released in 2003 on the soundtrack to "The In-Laws"
"Dear Friend"

SIDE 2:
"Bip Bop Link" – 0:52
"Love Is Strange" (Mickey Baker, Sylvia Vanderpool, Ethel Smith) – 4:50
"Some People Never Know" – 6:35
"Mumbo Link" – 0:45
"I Am Your Singer" – 2:15
"Tomorrow" – 3:28


And the album ends with Paul imploring "Baby, don't let me down tomorrow!"  Excelsior!

Unboxing THE ROLLING STONES IN MONO vinyl box set

It's here!  The new Stones boxed set finally arrived, and I have not only unboxed it, but gone over the contents of the package as well.  The discography I refer to is here.  Includes the albums The Rolling Stones, 12x5, The Rolling Stones No. 2, The Rolling Stones Now!, Out of Our Heads, December’s Children (And Everybody’s), Aftermath, Between the Buttons, Flowers, Their Satanic Majesties Request, Beggar’s Banquet, Let It Bleed and Stray Cats.
My non-box Stones vinyl is profiled here.
#KBNOMS



Part 2....

WATTSTAX, Rufus Thomas, and a Red-Polka-Dot-Dress

Here's a great segment from the 1972 film WATTSTAX, featuring Rufus Thomas and "The Breakdown."  More importantly, it features some completely uninhibited dancing; read the comments and you'll see that most people are drooling over the woman in the red dress (pictured).  "Ain't I clean?"



For good measure (ahem), here's my favorite Rufus Thomas 45: "(Do The) Push and Pull (Part 1)"/"Funky Chicken."

Main Street Cupcakes is closing

Main Street Cupcakes in Hudson is closing after 10 years... here's an interview with them from a while back.  Their international claim to fame is having their recipes used to fight terrorists... read all about it here.

RIP Ernie Anderson 1923-1997

Ernie Anderson was born on this date in 1923.  He's Paul Thomas Anderson's father.  He created one of the first horror movie hosts (who disregarded the movie) in the country (Ghoulardi or Goulardi, depending on who you ask) in Cleveland.  But he's best known to decades of viewers as the voice of the ABC network.  All those promos for "The Love Boat" and "Growing Pains" and "America's Funniest Home Videos" have his voice all over them.  He did a great deal of other voiceover work, too.  On March 21, 1983, he appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman," a favorite topic of this blog, to discuss his career and cut some promos.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus in The Womb v. Liza Minnelli in The Rink

The 1984 play "The Rink" was NOT the hit that Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera and Kander and Ebb hoped it would be.  Beset by problems, and lacking any sweetness, it is nonetheless fondly remembered for its desperate TV spots; this one features the dizzying song "Colored Lights":

The only positive thing about all this is a parody for "The Womb," by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Mary Gross, which aired on SNL in 1984.  It was funny when I saw it years ago (knowing nothing of the ads for "The Rink"), and it's even funnier now.  In Tom Shales' 2002 book, Louis-Dreyfus says this piece is still popular in gay bars.

As a bonus, here's "The Apple Doesn't Fall Very Far From the Tree," one of the worst songs I've ever seen performed in red leather.

Nerding Out for Music Sounds: The Sound of Blaxploitation vinyl

This 1999 compilation album features tracks from SHAFT and SUPERFLY, with artists including Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield and Donald Byrd #KBNOMS

American Time Capsule by Chuck Braverman

This short film from 1968 first aired on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."  Regardless of how you feel about the election, I think we can all agree that America's best instrument is the drums.  Followed closely by Keytar.

The beginnings of Gilbert Gottfried

Gilbert Gottfried has proven himself to be a "comedian's comedian" over the years, which usually means he's not that famous, but other comics admire him. I think that's an inaccurate description, since he is pretty well-known for his non-standup work (Aladdin, AFLAC, Comedy Central roasts). Here's some of his mildly bizarre early standup, replete with impressions of David Brenner, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Cosby and, of course, the Honeymooners.



My favorite; his (seemingly) first appearance on Letterman, including the Honeymooners/Casablanca:
As Bill Cosby, Alan King (which also sounds like Jackie Mason) and Jerry Seinfeld:

As Andrew Dice Clay:
As Groucho Marx:

Amazing Ella Fitzgerald

There is nothing I can say to add to this... Ella Fitzgerald live in 1974 with Tommy Flanagan, Eddie Lockjaw Davis and Joe Pass' band.  As a bonus, here she is from the surprisingly hard-to-find "Ella A Nice" LP, swinging "Close To You."
Listen to this while you study downticket races!

Nerding Out for Music Sounds: Technics SU-C01 preamp

A look at the first "Compact Compo" components for Technics, pre-dating the 315 series by several years.

SCTV: Half Wits and Hi-Q

Not long after SNL40, Norm MacDonald revealed that he got the inspiration for "Celebrity Jeopardy" from the SCTV (Second City TV) "Half Wits" and "Hi-Q" sketches.  And they even asked for and received Eugene Levy's blessing.  Here's two of those sketches...





#SNL4kidz

Nerding Out for Music Sounds: CHICAGO II and CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Discussing the first two albums by Chicago Transit Authority aka Chicago, featuring Peter Cetera, Terry Kath and Danny Seraphine. This follows from my post about the band YES. #KBNOMS

Nerding Out For Music Sounds: STEELY DAN on vinyl

An odd pressing (on MCA Coral) of the 1972 ABC Records debut by Steely Dan, Can't Buy a Thrill

Nerding Out For Music Sounds: THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH

Dissecting the 1971 Apple Records boxed set, featuring Ringo Starr, Badfinger, Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Billy Preston and host, George Harrison. #KBNOMS

Nerding Out For Music Sounds: JIM NABORS How Great Thou Art

A very odd letter from Columbia Records (referencing Anita Bryant) was tucked inside this 1973 album by Jim Nabors aka Gomer Pyle. #KBNOMS