Still more lazy thoughts from this one…

Reprise » My Only and One: A Hard Day’s Night

The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night album was the third album in eighteen months to be released by 10 July 1964. Timed to coincide with the release of their first movie. One that completed the catapult to worldwide superstardom. The album reached #1 in the UK charts and was cemented there for 21 of the 38 weeks spent in the Top Twenty. The U.S. soundtrack LP spent 14 weeks at the top of our album register.

Reprise » My Only and One: With The Beatles

The With The Beatles album was going to make an impression no matter what. The important sophomore release for the newly in-demand group would gather attention from fans and critics eager to catch more of the British Invasion. Witnessing the expansion of Pop music, in the bargain. That it was released on November 22, 1963, the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, would be its counterpoint.

A Song For This Day (and year): Wake Up Everybody

In honor of the New Year now upon us, I selected another song from the Ye ‘Ol Decade of the 1970s to christen 2014. Wake Up Everybody (1975) was Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ last Top 40 hit. The smooth and soulful lead vocal was performed by none other than Teddy Pendergrass, in one of last numbers with the group.

2013 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700…

Guest Post » Who’ll Stop The Rain (1978)

Acquire the rights Robert Stone’s best-selling and award winning novel, Dog Soldiers, from 1973. Have Stone kibitz in on a meticulously faithful screenplay by Judith Rascoe. Find locations from San Diego, to L.A., Berkeley and Mexico. Spend whatever is left on an up and coming, lean and very talented cast of mostly then, unknowns. Then lateral it all to budding Czech director, Karel Reisz.

Versus AARP’s 10 Essential Boomer Movies

If I do anything on this blog, it is to examine the arts of books, music, and movies. Along with my history (or angst), with them. I confess it’s a tad self-absorbed, and so typical of my generation. With that said, I’ll add my set to the well-known contributors AARP selected for each of their Essential Boomer picks. Let’s end the week with Oliver Stone’s take on the movies with his superb list.

Versus AARP’s 10 Essential Boomer Albums

If I do anything on this blog, it is to examine the arts of books, music, and movies. Along with my history (or angst), with them. I confess it’s a tad self-absorbed, and so typical of my generation. With that said, I’ll add my set to the well-known contributors AARP selected for each of their Essential Boomer picks. Next up, Nelson George takes on the music albums with his potent list.

Versus AARP’s 10 Essential Boomer Books

If I do anything on this blog, it is to examine the arts, and my history (or angst), with them. I confess, self-absorbed and so typical of this generation. I’ll add my set to the well-known contributors AARP selected for their Essential Boomer picks. First up, Erica Jong takes on the following with her stellar list.

Guest Post » Robert Mitchum At His Best: The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

Crime and corruption are nothing new to the state of Massachusetts. Its capital, major cities and outlying burgs. Though, there seems to be no lack of new ideas, ways and means in the quick and dirty task of taking money from bank vaults. Preferably from out of the way suburban banks. By using the branch manager’s family as hostages under the threat of death as the illegal transaction is accomplished.