Behind the Music: Gumby: The Movie

 Posted by
Dec 012008
 


Researching a thread for Rock Town Hall can lead a Townsperson down unexpected alleys and confront us with shocking revelations. The following piece is just such an example. Beware, HVB.

Sometime in the early ’80s, Townsman Sethro and I attended a midnight movie showing of about 30 consecutive episodes of the childhood classic claymation show from our youth, Gumby. It was perfect midnight movie programming! Each time one short episode ended and the Gumby theme restarted we reached new levels of glee! All we were missing was a big box of Quisp.

As soon as my first son reached television-viewing age and could make some sense of cartoons that preceded his generation, I wanted to turn him onto Gumby. I bought him a set of rubber Gumby, Pokey, Blockheads, et al figures, much like the ones I had as a boy. I searched in vain for a good collection of Gumby episodes on VHS or DVD. At the time, there was nothing available along the lines of that midnight movie showing that didn’t come with Amazon warnings along the lines of, “These poor-quality tapes are practically bootlegs.” I did see something legit called Gumby: The Movie. I didn’t take into account that it was made in 1985 and may not have had all the aesthetic qualities of the Gumby I grew up with, but it seemed worth a try for exposing my boy to this important show.

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The Dream Is Over: San Francisco Burns Out

 Posted by
Dec 012008
 


So what have we learned? What happened to the dream of the ’60s San Francisco scene?

  • The idealistic, revolutionary Jefferson Airplane boarded a Starship and infiltrated the inner workings of M.A.N. Incorporated through a quartet of ’70s AM easy listening hits and, eventually, a couple of early ’80s Corporate Rock anthems.
  • Two members of the jazz-inspired Santana left to form Journey.
  • Carlos Santana replaced his once-musicially ambitious bandmates to form his own version of Journey.
  • The Dead, without changing much of anything, scored a Top 10 hit before Jerry kicked.

The burnout was inevitable, but of all rock scenes, who would have thought Haight-Asbury would turn into a bedrock of Winner Rock?

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Best Song About Money

 Posted by
Nov 282008
 

“Black Friday” has passed in the in the US, marking beginning of the period of the year in which retailers go “into the black,” or profit. In honor of this day, one which has extra weight in the middle of the largest financial crisis since the great depression, we ask a simple question. We’re talking about “The Benjamins,” “Moolah,” “Deniros,” “Loonies,” “Dead Presidents,” “Sawbucks.” Which is the greatest song about money?

Early vote: “Money Don’t Matter,” by Prince.

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Free Pass

 Posted by
Nov 272008
 


I’ve heard of couples who have agreed to give each other a free pass in the unlikely event he has the opportunity to boink, say, Angelina Jolie, or she gets picked up by George Clooney in a bar. As a sad indicator of my rock nerdiness, I realized the other day that my wife and I do not have such agreement, but that she did say that I could quit my job temporarily and go on tour if Paul Westerberg ever called looking for a guitarist.

So, in an effort to separate the real rock nerds from the guys who were just into this because of some vague (and misguided) notion that it might get them laid, the question is this:

Would you opt for a one-night stand with a celebrity or a chance to sit in with a musical hero? In either case, who would it be?

A few rules:

  • It must be a realistic, however farfetched, option, so you can’t sit in with Joe Strummer or hook up with Grace Kelly.
  • No doubling up (ie, touring with the Bangles in hopes that you’ll get a shot at Susanna Hoffs).
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Dugout Chatter: Thanksgiving Edition

 Posted by
Nov 262008
 

How many typical Thanksgiving foods can you cite in the lyrics of rock songs?

For what is a veteran rock star more thankful in his autobiography: the patience, love, and support of his first wife, who raised their children almost singlehandedly during the rocker’s long journey to unfulfilling superstardom, or the “on-the-rebound” support of his younger, new edition wife?

Which rock musician or entire band would you most like to invite to your Thanksgiving dinner – and why?


When you think pre- or post-song “thank you” from the onstage patter of a live album or concert film what’s the first one that comes to mind? (See my choice, above.)

What’s your favorite song of thanks, specifically a song with the words “thanks” or “thank you” in the title?

Finally, if you haven’t gotten around to it yet, here’s an opportunity to give thanks to a fellow Townsperson for turning you onto something during your time in the Halls of Rock!

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