Wikipedia
Monday, October 14, 2019
RIP - Karen Pendleton
Karen Pendleton, one of nine Mouseketeers to appear on the show's entire 1950s run, passed away on October 6, 2019 at age 73.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Sunday, October 6, 2019
RIP - Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker, one of the top all-time rock drummers, died today October 6, 2019 at age 80.
Baker had been ill for some time, and had open heart surgery in 2016.
The drummer for the 3-piece English band Cream from 1966-68, he remained with Cream band mate Eric Clapton for their next project, the short-lived Blind Faith. It's been said that Baker pioneered the use of 2-bass drum kits.
Back in the 1960s my brother was a big Cream fan, having bought the single "White Room" and several of their albums. I jumped on the bandwagon later, and bought the DVD of their reunion shows at Albert Hall as soon as it was released.
New York Times obituary
Rolling Stone Magazine
CBS News obituary
.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Top 20 Rock & Roll Singers
Continuing with the "ranking the top ______" theme...
A few days ago I happened to come across some YouTube videos by Rick Beato, where he picks the top 20 whatever (singers, songs with drum intro, songs with guitar intro, etc). One in particular was his choice for top 20 greatest rock singers of all time. His premise was "Little Richard started it all, so he is the template. Now who best symbolizes what he did?"
As with any list, there is always disagreement. I disagreed with some of his, such as "How can Freddie Mercury NOT be #1?"
So here is my list of the top 20 rock & roll singers. I didn't try for individual rankings, but have a top 10 and a 2nd 10.
(BTW, I'm not a huge Queen fan, but you have to give Mercury his due.)
#1
*Freddie Mercury - Queen
2-10 (alphabetical order)
Pat Benatar
*Roger Daltrey - Who
*Lou Gramm - Foreigner
*Paul McCartney - The Beatles
*Jim Morrison - The Doors
Steve Perry - Journey
*Robert Plant - Led Zeppelin
Paul Rodgers - Bad Company
*Ann Wilson - Heart
11-17 (alphabetical order)
Colin Blunstone - The Zombies
Jay Black - Jay and the Americans
Peter Cetera - Chicago
Brad Delp - Boston
*Mick Jagger - The Rolling Stones
David Lee Roth - Van Halen
Mike Smith - The Dave Clark Five
To me, these guys are more like screamers than singers, but still in the top 20:
Geddy Lee - Rush
*Bon Scott/Brian Johnson - AC/DC
*Steven Tyler - Aerosmith
*on Beato's YouTube list
Who's on your list?
As with any list, there is always disagreement. I disagreed with some of his, such as "How can Freddie Mercury NOT be #1?"
So here is my list of the top 20 rock & roll singers. I didn't try for individual rankings, but have a top 10 and a 2nd 10.
(BTW, I'm not a huge Queen fan, but you have to give Mercury his due.)
#1
*Freddie Mercury - Queen
2-10 (alphabetical order)
Pat Benatar
*Roger Daltrey - Who
*Lou Gramm - Foreigner
*Paul McCartney - The Beatles
*Jim Morrison - The Doors
Steve Perry - Journey
*Robert Plant - Led Zeppelin
Paul Rodgers - Bad Company
*Ann Wilson - Heart
11-17 (alphabetical order)
Colin Blunstone - The Zombies
Jay Black - Jay and the Americans
Peter Cetera - Chicago
Brad Delp - Boston
*Mick Jagger - The Rolling Stones
David Lee Roth - Van Halen
Mike Smith - The Dave Clark Five
To me, these guys are more like screamers than singers, but still in the top 20:
Geddy Lee - Rush
*Bon Scott/Brian Johnson - AC/DC
*Steven Tyler - Aerosmith
*on Beato's YouTube list
Who's on your list?
Saturday, September 7, 2019
1960s' Bond Girls
Last time, we took a stab at the top guitarists of the 1960s to 1980s.
Today we have another ranking post of sorts – this time the Bond Girls. Since this is supposed to be a 1960s blog, I’m limiting this to the 1960s’ Bond movies. This would include the first 5 Sean Connery flicks, but let’s also throw in 1971’s “Diamonds Are Forever”. While we’re at it, let’s drop 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, since nobody watched the lone George Lazenby/Bond movie anyway.
So, here is the list of Bond Girls from the Sean Connery/Bond films from 1962-71:
Dr No
A. Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) – Shell collector who Bond finds on the beach!
B. Miss Taro (Zena Marshall) – Lures Bond to her cottage so that her associates can kill him, but Bond gets the upper hand.
C. Anabelle Chung (Marguerite LeWars) – Feisty paparazzi photographer has a quarrel with Quarrel.
From Russia With Love
D. Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) – Double agent who falls for Bond.
E. Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson) – Bond’s side-girl first met him in Dr No, asking the question which received the famous answer “Bond… James Bond”.
Goldfinger
F. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) – Goldfinger’s pilot/henchwoman.
G. Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) – Wears gold paint like no other.
H. Tilly Masterson (Tania Mallet) – Jill’s sister out for revenge, but has a run-in with Oddjob’s derby.
Thunderball
I. Domino (Claudine Auger) – The bad guy’s girlfriend switches sides after he killed her brother.
J. Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi) – While this villainess is in the tub, she asks Bond to hand her something to wear, so he gives her some shoes.
K. Paula (Martine Beswick) – Bond’s assistant was also a fighting gypsy in From Russia With Love.
L. Patricia (Molly Peters) – Bond’s physical therapist ends up on the receiving end of a mink-glove massage.
You Only Live Twice
M. Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi) – Bond’s sidekick is poisoned while she sleeps.
N. Kissy Suzuki (Mie Hama) – His replacement squeeze marries Bond as part of his “fitting in as a local” ploy.
O. Helga Brandt (Karin Dor) – Blofeld’s #2 fails to kill Bond, then swims with the fishes.
Diamonds Are Forever
P. Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) – Tough-chick Bond opponent early in the film, then falls for Bond and unravels.
Q. Plenty O’Toole (Lana Wood) – Vegas girl-toy takes a long leap into a short pool.
(You’ll notice I skipped Miss Moneypenny and Rosa Klebb.)
Who were your favorites?
Today we have another ranking post of sorts – this time the Bond Girls. Since this is supposed to be a 1960s blog, I’m limiting this to the 1960s’ Bond movies. This would include the first 5 Sean Connery flicks, but let’s also throw in 1971’s “Diamonds Are Forever”. While we’re at it, let’s drop 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, since nobody watched the lone George Lazenby/Bond movie anyway.
So, here is the list of Bond Girls from the Sean Connery/Bond films from 1962-71:
Dr No
A. Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) – Shell collector who Bond finds on the beach!
B. Miss Taro (Zena Marshall) – Lures Bond to her cottage so that her associates can kill him, but Bond gets the upper hand.
C. Anabelle Chung (Marguerite LeWars) – Feisty paparazzi photographer has a quarrel with Quarrel.
From Russia With Love
D. Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) – Double agent who falls for Bond.
E. Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson) – Bond’s side-girl first met him in Dr No, asking the question which received the famous answer “Bond… James Bond”.
Goldfinger
F. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) – Goldfinger’s pilot/henchwoman.
G. Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) – Wears gold paint like no other.
H. Tilly Masterson (Tania Mallet) – Jill’s sister out for revenge, but has a run-in with Oddjob’s derby.
Thunderball
I. Domino (Claudine Auger) – The bad guy’s girlfriend switches sides after he killed her brother.
J. Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi) – While this villainess is in the tub, she asks Bond to hand her something to wear, so he gives her some shoes.
K. Paula (Martine Beswick) – Bond’s assistant was also a fighting gypsy in From Russia With Love.
L. Patricia (Molly Peters) – Bond’s physical therapist ends up on the receiving end of a mink-glove massage.
You Only Live Twice
M. Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi) – Bond’s sidekick is poisoned while she sleeps.
N. Kissy Suzuki (Mie Hama) – His replacement squeeze marries Bond as part of his “fitting in as a local” ploy.
O. Helga Brandt (Karin Dor) – Blofeld’s #2 fails to kill Bond, then swims with the fishes.
Diamonds Are Forever
P. Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) – Tough-chick Bond opponent early in the film, then falls for Bond and unravels.
Q. Plenty O’Toole (Lana Wood) – Vegas girl-toy takes a long leap into a short pool.
(You’ll notice I skipped Miss Moneypenny and Rosa Klebb.)
Who were your favorites?
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Rank the Rock Guitarists
Help me out here. I am trying to rank the top rock guitarists of the 1960s to 1980s. I want to get a Top 10 and Top 20 list, but have only managed to put then into general groups so far. (The Top 10 would be from group 1-A and some from 1-B, while 11-20 would be the rest from 1-B, plus group 2-A and some from 2-B.)
The polls from Rolling Stone, etc are nonsense. They are agenda-driven, and have ridiculous choices for some, while completely ignoring others.
Am I missing anyone? I have intentionally left off Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, because I have never heard them play. Also, IMO Keith Richards is GREATLY overrated, and Pete Townshend is more of a songwriter than a top guitarist.
I surprised even myself by dropping Eric Clapton to the 2nd group. I previously had him in my top 5.
1-A Jimmy Page Jimi Hendrix Jeff Beck Eddie Van Halen Ritchie Blackmore Carlos Santana Terry Kath 1-B Tony Iommi Neil Giraldo Eric Clapton Slash 2-A Rod Price
Chuck Berry Brian May Neil Schon Allen Collins Duane Allman 2-B Lindsey Buckingham Mike Campbell The Edge Richie Sambora Angus Young Joe Perry 3 Neil Young John Fogerty Pete Townshend Peter Frampton Ted Nugent Ace Frehley George Harrison Keith Richards Alex Lifeson Mick Taylor Steve Gaines Joe Walsh Gary Rossington Tom Scholtz Roger McGuinn
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Beatles vs. Scarecrow
It's been said that over 73 million people watched the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964. As most people alive then know, it was their first of 4 appearances on that show.
Unfortunately, I was among the 1% of the population that did not tune in to the Beatles that night. Oh, I was aware of the Beatles back then, having collected Beatle cards and was even a Beatle for Halloween that year, complete with wig and gray collarless suit that my mother made.
(Hmm... in hindsight, maybe I WASN'T aware of the Beatles leading up to their first US appearance, only afterwards.) The main reasons were that I didn't listen to rock & roll radio until December 1966, and that our family never watched the Ed Sullivan Show back then.
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color was on another network on the same night, and THAT was always must-see TV at our house.
A few years ago, I read where the Disney episode that night in February 1964 was a segment of "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh", sort of a "Robin Hood meets Zorro", starring Patrick McGoohan. He was a mild-mannered vicar by day, and a rebellious anti-government do-gooder by night, doing for late-1700s' England what Zorro did for 1800s' Los Angeles.
I remember seeing that show back in day, so THAT is where I must have been while many other boys were watching the Beatles and plotting their future rock & roll careers!
Unfortunately, I was among the 1% of the population that did not tune in to the Beatles that night. Oh, I was aware of the Beatles back then, having collected Beatle cards and was even a Beatle for Halloween that year, complete with wig and gray collarless suit that my mother made.
(Hmm... in hindsight, maybe I WASN'T aware of the Beatles leading up to their first US appearance, only afterwards.) The main reasons were that I didn't listen to rock & roll radio until December 1966, and that our family never watched the Ed Sullivan Show back then.
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color was on another network on the same night, and THAT was always must-see TV at our house.
A few years ago, I read where the Disney episode that night in February 1964 was a segment of "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh", sort of a "Robin Hood meets Zorro", starring Patrick McGoohan. He was a mild-mannered vicar by day, and a rebellious anti-government do-gooder by night, doing for late-1700s' England what Zorro did for 1800s' Los Angeles.
I remember seeing that show back in day, so THAT is where I must have been while many other boys were watching the Beatles and plotting their future rock & roll careers!
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