First of all, my close personal friend Townsman E. Pluribus Gergely, can pack his Hot Tuna album for me when he comes over next week for a night of film watching. The following clip from the undeniably excellent Two-Lane Blacktop includes a character with a Southern accent. And there’s no denying the greatness of this movie.
Two-Lane Blacktop
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Recently Townsman E. Pluribus Gergely has begun his summertime Rock Town Hall duties, which include monitoring the films of Al Pacino; giving grief to the likes of Hrrundivbakshi, BigSteve, and yours truly; and pooh-poohing the collected works of Elvis Costello, Lou Reed (Mistrial excepted), and other high school favorites post-1983. Some of what my man Gergs will say in the coming weeks will hurt. In some cases it will be the pain of a cowardly stab in the back; in other cases, the pain you feel will be the result of his occasionally piercing insight. Wherever the pain registers for you, I encourage you to take it like a Townsperson and give it back to the man as you see fit.
To help EPG re-establish his footing in the Halls of Rock, I feel compelled to SUMMON him to comment on the following tracks from Elvis Costello’s new album, the one with some overblown title and produced by T-Bone Burnett. I have not yet heard these songs myself. Maybe these will be initial spins for you as well. Don’t put all the burden on E. Pluribus to comment, and please be candid when you share.
Elvis Costello, “Down Among the Wine and Spirits”
Elvis Costello, “Complicated Shadows”
Elvis Costello, “I Dreamed of My Old Lover”
I look forward to your comments!
It may be argued that this thread is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at railing against three Red Sox fans at this past Saturday’s Phillies-Red Sox game at Citizens Bank Park. I can assure you that musical content is all that I have on my mind, but if you don’t believe me, let me begin by railing at these three 25-year-old yuppie New Englanders who made it to Philadelphia to root for their home team.
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In our recent Friday Flashback thread Townsman Mockcarr expressed amazement at the artistic success of Arthur in spite of its Christopher Cross soundtrack and the presence of Liza Minelli. I know EXACTLY what he’s talking about, and just last night, while watching an episode of the ’80s sitcom Family Ties I was reminded of this soundtrack-related subject. Arthur tops the list of good movies from the ’80s that need to have their soundtracks digitally replaced with music that’s not as jarring, don’t you think? What other quality movies and tv shows from the ’80s and other periods need to have their cheesy, outdated soundtrack music replaced?
We’ve all read interviews with rock stars conducted in their hotel room suites. Let’s play Set Designer for the next Hollywood semi-autobiographical film on a fictional rock star. What’s the room going to look like? The lighting? The array of items on a nearby coffee table? The rock star’s wardrobe? Hangers-on? The all-important spread? Make it cool, you know?
Do you know the cup?
The subject line says it all. Thanks to Townsman Mwall for suggesting the topic. In the digital download age this is no longer an issue, but growing up, when vinyl was the main mode of music delivery, we sometimes shelled out for a Greatest Hits or Best of… album by an artist we really wished had made available their two to four worthwhile songs on a less-expensive double A-side single or EP.
What I ask of you is that you share actual purchases of this nature and not witty attempts at listing every possible 1-hit wonder with a Greatest Hits or Best of… album that you never bought or intended to buy. In other words, be real.
The first such album that came to mind for me is pictured above.
