tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6739996062847792192024-02-22T04:47:55.907-05:001960s/1970s Pop CultureA few years ago, I started some sports cards blogs, but I need a place to pontificate on some of my other interests - such as music, movies, TV, and all things Sixties and Seventies.
I hope you'll follow along.
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-- Jim from Downingtown (6/23/2013)Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-37384863682006420252022-06-25T21:00:00.000-04:002022-06-26T00:27:21.673-04:00Wait, What?Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson both turned 80 in the past week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx62ldplQzAHYULpPaIMdhEaVYjuwd7QSbxIDGOb9E0MVjwcFxZZU3xgOF2IAUCKFWJ8YLJgCoFdF6Isu-YHce_VJdnS5APKQBVcXlXR88VO79M9iJpiTqOCYnU5TyLl275oehdWfRu0/s1600/McCartney+-+Wilson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="853" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx62ldplQzAHYULpPaIMdhEaVYjuwd7QSbxIDGOb9E0MVjwcFxZZU3xgOF2IAUCKFWJ8YLJgCoFdF6Isu-YHce_VJdnS5APKQBVcXlXR88VO79M9iJpiTqOCYnU5TyLl275oehdWfRu0/s400/McCartney+-+Wilson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Where has the time gone?
</div>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-41806673109583791532021-05-30T18:22:00.005-04:002021-05-30T18:38:31.335-04:00Best Bands of the 1960s/1970s<div style="text-align: left;">Hey kids, how about a non-obituary post?
Today we are going to pick the best band of the 1960s/1970s. (Hint: It’s the Beatles) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Disclaimer: These opinions are those of blog management, but are most likely correct. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">What makes a band a “best band”?
Popularity? Sure, but how about if the individual members are the best at what they do? I mean, Herman’s Hermits sure was popular at the time, and their songs are catchy, but are any of those 5 lads among the best at their individual task? Hardly. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Let’s look at the contenders (in no order): </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Rolling Stones </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">A big NO from this corner. Oh yes, they are the kings of longevity, and Mick Jagger may be the best “showman” (or is that Freddie Mercury?), but “singer”? No. Everyone else in the group is serviceable-to-competent at best (yes, that includes the overrated Keith Richards). </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Led Zeppelin </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now HERE is a serious contender. The band as a whole? Certainly. Jimmy Page? Top 5. John Bonham? Same. Robert Plant? He is arguably a top 5 vocalist. John Paul Jones? (Ahh… this band’s “Ringo”, but still a top ten bassist, and he plays keyboards too). Songwriting? Of course! </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Who </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like Led Zeppelin, most of these band members are top 5. Keith Moon and John Entwistle? Yes. Roger Daltrey? Certainly top 10 and maybe top 5. (Definitely top 1 in stage props!) Although not a top 5 guitarist, Pete Townshend is one of the best songwriters. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cream </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Everyone’s in the top 5 here (well, Eric Clapton is pretty darn close anyway). But as a “super group” this is the musical equivalent of an All-Star team, so comparisons to other bands may not be fair. (Heh heh, their advantage is they don’t have that 4th member to drag them down.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Deep Purple </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was just watching the “Highway Star” video on YouTube earlier this month (about 10 times), and everyone in this band is just amazing. Start with vocalist Ian Gillan (and his banshee screams), organist Jon Lord, and of course guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. After about my 3rd viewing, I was ready to anoint that as the best song ever. Ian Paice’s drums were crashing through the whole song, and bassist Roger Glover did a great job as well. This band is more than “Smoke on the Water”. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jimi Hendrix Experience </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">With all due respect to Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, this band is pretty much a one-man show. Hendrix is certainly at the top of his game, and Mitchell is also one of the best, but the band was so short-lived (ok, so was Cream), and as I said, the non-Hendrix members were almost like session musicians. (So, no to this band.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Queen </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Freddie Mercury may just well be the best vocalist/showman ever, and Brian May’s guitar work is definitely distinctive. Drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Deacon are good, but this band feels like a 2-man show to me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Beatles </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">They definitely benefited by being the first big rock band. Paul McCartney is surely a top 5 bassist and top 10 singer. John Lennon? He wasn’t necessarily a good guitar player, or even a good singer, but his songwriting was at the top. That Lennon and McCartney are the best songwriting team is certainly no newsflash, but look at their albums – there’s hardly any filler. How often when playing one of their CDs in the car do you hit the “skip” button? Almost never (outside of Revolution 9). George Harrison is a good guitar player, but you can’t put him in the top 5 (and probably not in the top 10). Ringo? He’s this band’s “Ringo”. I like Ringo, and he's a great guy and completely without ego (take some notes, Macca), but objectively, he was in the right place at the right time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Dave Clark Five </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mike Smith’s vocals and keyboard are the highlights of this group. Dave Clark’s thundering drum beat too. Denis Payton’s sax is another trademark here, but did this band have a guitar player or bassist? You can hardly tell by listening to the songs. They lead the “Number of times on the Ed Sullivan Show” sweepstakes (18), and I like a lot of their songs, but they just can’t compete with the bands listed above. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Chicago </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">A rock band with horns? Is that done? I liked a lot of their early stuff, until they became the “Peter Cetera Easy-Listening Band”. From AXS TV and YouTube, I have recently come to appreciate guitarist Terry Kath’s contributions more. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">So there’s 10 bands. Yes, the 1970s were glossed over somewhat, but I was intentionally focusing on the 1960s. I could have taken the time to write about Boston, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Kiss, Kansas, The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, and Bad Company, but in the end they weren’t going to pass the “each member among the best at what they do” test anyway. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Feel free to comment on who should be in 2nd and 3rd place. <br /></div>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-76704531931388362272021-04-21T16:33:00.004-04:002021-04-21T16:35:01.704-04:00RIP - George SegalGeorge Segal, a fixture in movies and on TV since the early-1960s, passed away on March 23, 2021 at age 83.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k-pE_vCguiX5gia9Q1MVCkRXqg5qGDtcirs2nu7MTlCd3Wk8NXJ1scVrWI7xLO5s3gEjWFBhT-JBe1hcyTNCjaSVEeSE5LOZOD1RWVoPk7v7eEVXUuDykiU6EFxk_wC-cj8F9Tr1c1c/s1201/George+Segal.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k-pE_vCguiX5gia9Q1MVCkRXqg5qGDtcirs2nu7MTlCd3Wk8NXJ1scVrWI7xLO5s3gEjWFBhT-JBe1hcyTNCjaSVEeSE5LOZOD1RWVoPk7v7eEVXUuDykiU6EFxk_wC-cj8F9Tr1c1c/w426-h640/George+Segal.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">
Most recently, he played the grandfather role of "Pops" on the TV series "The Goldbergs". That was one of my favorite shows in recent years, which I watched religiously from its inception in 2013 until I cut the cable TV cord last summer. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">A decade earlier he was a regular on the series "Just Shoot Me", and of course too many movies to list here.
</div><p><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-segal-dead-wheres-poppa-owl-pussycat-just-shoot-me-goldbergs-star-was-87-1199045">Hollywood Reporter obituary</a> </p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-30277880061339735812021-02-06T16:43:00.004-05:002021-02-06T17:07:44.021-05:00RIP - Christopher Plummer<div style="text-align: left;">Christopher Plummer passed away on February 5, 2021 at age 91. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">My first memory of him was when my aunt took my sister and me to see "The Sound of Music" in 1965. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/obEm1Mqm7C0" width="320" youtube-src-id="obEm1Mqm7C0"></iframe></div><p> </p><div style="text-align: left;">From 2005:
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Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-28875825744139917502021-01-23T13:28:00.004-05:002021-01-23T13:37:34.777-05:00RIP - Gerry Marsden<div style="text-align: left;"><i>2021 has picked up right where 2020 left off... </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Gerry Marsden, the vocalist, guitar player, primary songwriter, and leader of the 1960s' British Invasion group Gerry and the Pacemakers passed away on January 3, 2021 at age 78.
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbw-ea0kyEpzcdLkynCXbfYh1Ge8H1rPJWYucYYu9ja6o6FK2wM9v3uE-dOSV0aKOKxm0RTm8vBUwZdyAeB9Dt_eZvS2yQFM6eNx3NkRejIIs3k1r2c6AMxyKQ8tNg4rSYXRyh3cA42U/s300/Gerry+Marsden2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="264" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbw-ea0kyEpzcdLkynCXbfYh1Ge8H1rPJWYucYYu9ja6o6FK2wM9v3uE-dOSV0aKOKxm0RTm8vBUwZdyAeB9Dt_eZvS2yQFM6eNx3NkRejIIs3k1r2c6AMxyKQ8tNg4rSYXRyh3cA42U/s400/Gerry+Marsden2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">
The Pacemakers were from Liverpool and were buddies with the Beatles. (The 2 bands combined for one show in their pre-fame days.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Other things they had in common with the Beatles (besides their hometown) were Brian Epstein as their manager, and George Martin as their record producer. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Some of their most well-known songs are "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" and "Ferry Cross the Mersey", both written by Gerry. They also got in on the "let's make a movie" craze, as did the Beatles (obviously), the Dave Clark Five, Herman's Hermits, and others.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">His band was one of my favorite British Invasion bands back in the day, right after the Beatles and the Dave Clark Five. They were in my "2nd-tier", along with the Hollies and Herman's Hermits. (The Rolling Stones and the Who were of lesser interest to me.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">A few years ago I bought this DVD, and had just re-watched it about 2 weeks before his death.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHSyK98nOMl7RJ5J3aTaLjDn515ZUanzgMZS0VmsQEum86SZE50bFAd5HOowSRS-f3tFf87z9exbW9NHFPuDD0IgEVCwQo58eJzlDOU3JpZ0wzvvEtXSPgFQlm10HXNPiUPWWNL25_mk/s1280/Gerry+Marsden+2017.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHSyK98nOMl7RJ5J3aTaLjDn515ZUanzgMZS0VmsQEum86SZE50bFAd5HOowSRS-f3tFf87z9exbW9NHFPuDD0IgEVCwQo58eJzlDOU3JpZ0wzvvEtXSPgFQlm10HXNPiUPWWNL25_mk/s400/Gerry+Marsden+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">
Marsden in 2017. He resided in Liverpool his entire life.
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55524795">BBC obituary</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-5072724958653988602020-12-31T13:39:00.002-05:002021-04-21T16:17:29.530-04:00RIP - Dawn Wells<div style="text-align: left;">One day before the end of the worst year ever, and this has to happen.
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpeb9cshmUNvFAobmPjm_5DBCw-3ORrcinbFyqps-QJQXk-7APOBZTRlwBd2-LpTyMhqSX5fBiWXpw-MRT9IgiiMWYyel95zpg4mjB6Y5PxdwfxXN7d-QduhTQAaW_u75yDzEr7ebnd0/s1200/Mary+Ann+Summers.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpeb9cshmUNvFAobmPjm_5DBCw-3ORrcinbFyqps-QJQXk-7APOBZTRlwBd2-LpTyMhqSX5fBiWXpw-MRT9IgiiMWYyel95zpg4mjB6Y5PxdwfxXN7d-QduhTQAaW_u75yDzEr7ebnd0/s400/Mary+Ann+Summers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">
Dawn Wells, one-half of the decades-old "Ginger or Mary Ann?" question, passed away on December 30, 2020 at age 82. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">The cause was COVID-19. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/30/entertainment/dawn-wells-obit/index.html">CNN obituary</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-58333917704397974362020-10-23T22:34:00.004-04:002020-10-26T23:18:51.073-04:00RIP - Eddie Van Halen<p><i>In the past month or two, celebrities have been passing away at an alarming rate. </i></p><div style="text-align: left;">Rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away on October 6, 2020 at age 65.
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm-8lF3z5pZW1Dtk7e_qiCLin1rz-i2gGl6DLD495yji1dM1SJKI8mVzThhl-tpP3239XVMcC6y78BsdXgknquKsGek_vN6ss_TocSejNjbej4oL4u95dU7cJfDkwNv2eZXaPmK8G3U0/s2048/Eddie+Van+Halen.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1617" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm-8lF3z5pZW1Dtk7e_qiCLin1rz-i2gGl6DLD495yji1dM1SJKI8mVzThhl-tpP3239XVMcC6y78BsdXgknquKsGek_vN6ss_TocSejNjbej4oL4u95dU7cJfDkwNv2eZXaPmK8G3U0/s400/Eddie+Van+Halen.jpg" /></a></div><p>
One of my favorite VH songs from the David Lee Roth era is "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_x-hDcVvE">Ice Cream Man</a>". (All 4 of them are off the chain on that one.) From the Sammy era it is "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twi4sZrWhEE">I Can't Stop Loving You</a>". </p><p>My son and I saw Van Halen a few years ago. We have been hitting some of the classic rock shows over the past decade: Van Halen, Paul McCartney, the Who, Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood, the Beach Boys, Kiss, and Def Leppard.</p>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-54874988819691658522020-09-05T13:50:00.005-04:002020-12-31T13:57:12.677-05:00Foghat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxCtMtAyxI39nrUnhYe6jFO2jY9g6vC9edDA0ruDdtZTf69YSDx1tnhabm3v9oubTtSw60y9QK9_FfuRIOWsZfUwO32DIo_BDb8MgLWcBll3uSdWShn2WVBubWT9dRlS2yKIoKZ2YvK8/s1600/Foghat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="294" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxCtMtAyxI39nrUnhYe6jFO2jY9g6vC9edDA0ruDdtZTf69YSDx1tnhabm3v9oubTtSw60y9QK9_FfuRIOWsZfUwO32DIo_BDb8MgLWcBll3uSdWShn2WVBubWT9dRlS2yKIoKZ2YvK8/s320/Foghat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I belong to a music group on Facebook, and a few days ago someone posted about Foghat, which reminded me that they were one of my favorite bands in the mid-1970s. Then I watched a few YouTube videos (about 5 times each!) and decided I needed to write about them here.<br />
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When I first latched on to rock music in 1967, my favorite bands were the Beatles (duh!), the Beach Boys, and probably the Monkees. As the Beatles winded down their career in 1970, the Grass Roots soon filled the space on my music radar for a few years.<br />
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In the mid-1970s, I became acquainted with Kiss and Foghat through my younger brother's 8-track tapes. I soon bought Foghat's Live LP (which went platinum).<br />
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The classic Foghat lineup was "Lonesome" Dave Peverett (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Rod Price (lead guitar), Tony Stevens (bass), and Roger Earl (drums). All but Price had been in Savoy Brown before leaving to form Foghat in 1971.<br />
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Their 5th album "Fool for the City" was released in 1975 and included the title track, and also "Slow Ride". (I think this was the 8-track that my brother had back then.)<br />
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Although "Slow Ride" was their biggest hit, that song seemed too slow (no pun intended) for me. I always liked "Fool for the City" best, followed by "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (mostly because of the dueling guitars on the intro and the driving bass line).<br />
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They had some great songs, but the band seems to have been forgotten over time. They broke up in the 1980s, then two splinter groups formed. Finally, the original lineup got back together for a while in the 1990s.<br />
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Here are 3 must-see videos:
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWT4u_-rdeU">Fool for the City (1975)</a> (Peverett, Price, Earl; Craig McGregor on bass)
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwtzzY5xczY">I Just Want to Make Love to You (1997 video)</a> (Peverett, Price, Stevens, Earl) <br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSiTg9QxxY4&list=RDiHCayct1p2U&index=2">Sweet Home Chicago (1999 video)</a> (Peverett, Stevens, Earl; Bryan Bassett on lead guitar)
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The change in singer Dave Peverett's appearance in just the 2 years
between the 1997 video and this 1999 video is startling. 5 months
later, he died from cancer at age 56.<br />
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Rod Price passed away in 2005. Drummer Roger Earl still tours with a new Foghat lineup.
Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-26631746295401244982020-08-24T00:46:00.002-04:002020-08-24T00:46:16.347-04:00RIP - Olivia de HavillandOlivia de Havilland, the last remaining star from Hollywood's Golden Age, passed away on July 26, 2020 at age 104.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTwLiS03pPvwdrxERiNgcbsbtVgTb5bfOsPJfXSSwCmwa6Oyi9MC3bJak69F7UFCdtD7pfTCE2s4PfKC7Q_PRpbKLCJi9pM2QesWqCwU0f6bmmA_35MfKRk8janJk43KtgCx0a1XES_Q/s1600/Olivia+DeHavilland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="352" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTwLiS03pPvwdrxERiNgcbsbtVgTb5bfOsPJfXSSwCmwa6Oyi9MC3bJak69F7UFCdtD7pfTCE2s4PfKC7Q_PRpbKLCJi9pM2QesWqCwU0f6bmmA_35MfKRk8janJk43KtgCx0a1XES_Q/s400/Olivia+DeHavilland.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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She appeared in 49 movies, 35 of them coming during the 1930s and 1940s. She is probably most remembered for her role in "Gone With the Wind". She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress (1946, 1949).<br />
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She had lived in Paris since the early 1950s, mostly out of the public eye.<br />
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<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/26/movies/olivia-de-havilland-dead.html">New York Times obituary</a><br />
Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-76865755816324507372020-07-07T17:36:00.001-04:002020-07-07T17:37:33.411-04:00Happy 80th Birthday, Ringo!Just 3 weeks after Paul's 78th birthday, Ringo turned 80 today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBfqWr_mJbX8x-KeKotQSoxzljmzs8jFaSjseTW5DBbumGTXPjbb3BRi7RSrhbE_eaDx49Pjszf8ggxKxGylQnRPnFuhAModuM9JrgJgbaZ64mSACQCvGVUYEqqMpXhrKxVlKezkVGdM/s1600/Ringo%2527s+80th+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="940" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBfqWr_mJbX8x-KeKotQSoxzljmzs8jFaSjseTW5DBbumGTXPjbb3BRi7RSrhbE_eaDx49Pjszf8ggxKxGylQnRPnFuhAModuM9JrgJgbaZ64mSACQCvGVUYEqqMpXhrKxVlKezkVGdM/s400/Ringo%2527s+80th+birthday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-8694396026832092862020-06-21T23:31:00.001-04:002020-06-21T23:31:33.107-04:00Happy 78th Birthday!Paul McCartney (June 18) and Brian Wilson (June 20).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx62ldplQzAHYULpPaIMdhEaVYjuwd7QSbxIDGOb9E0MVjwcFxZZU3xgOF2IAUCKFWJ8YLJgCoFdF6Isu-YHce_VJdnS5APKQBVcXlXR88VO79M9iJpiTqOCYnU5TyLl275oehdWfRu0/s1600/McCartney+-+Wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="853" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx62ldplQzAHYULpPaIMdhEaVYjuwd7QSbxIDGOb9E0MVjwcFxZZU3xgOF2IAUCKFWJ8YLJgCoFdF6Isu-YHce_VJdnS5APKQBVcXlXR88VO79M9iJpiTqOCYnU5TyLl275oehdWfRu0/s400/McCartney+-+Wilson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-90693253918896830422020-05-19T05:00:00.000-04:002020-05-19T05:07:41.222-04:00RIP - Ken Osmond<i>Never in my 10 years of blogging have my Baseball, Eagles, Football, and Pop Culture blogs all been running obituaries at the same time. I can't keep up! (I haven't even had time to say anything about Jerry Stiller yet.) And none of these are COVID-19 related, as far as we know. </i><br />
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<b>Ken Osmond</b>, best known as the wise-cracking troublemaker Eddie Haskell on the 1950s' TV series "Leave It To Beaver", passed away on May 18, 2020 at age 76.<br />
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I read somewhere that his part was originally supposed to be a one-and-done appearance, but he was so popular that he was retained for the duration of the series. I can't imagine that series without him!<br />
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In the 1980s, TBS rebooted the show as "The New Leave It to Beaver", where Beaver, Wally, Eddie, and Lumpy were the grownups with school-age kids. Eddie's 2 boys were played by Ken Osmond's real-life sons.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXEXLCN0fGyywc2RL45HDuUvsX2TiHWjBvo0WJ65ixuZ78InkH-00mjoJuHVnNJPiFtGKV3digQ9DOTpr0g-0Lc9n3QKzt3fIUnY-G3aaEiKzVQbwPp2CH-klXcqekm8AwjvypODTae0/s1600/Eddie+Haskell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXEXLCN0fGyywc2RL45HDuUvsX2TiHWjBvo0WJ65ixuZ78InkH-00mjoJuHVnNJPiFtGKV3digQ9DOTpr0g-0Lc9n3QKzt3fIUnY-G3aaEiKzVQbwPp2CH-klXcqekm8AwjvypODTae0/s400/Eddie+Haskell.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
"Hello Mrs. Cleaver. That's a wonderful dress you're wearing. I was just telling young Theodore how lucky he is to have a mom like you!"
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<a href="https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/ken-osmond-dead-leave-it-to-beaver-eddie-haskell-dies-actor-1234609639/">Variety obituary</a>
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<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/arts/television/ken-osmond-eddie-haskell-dead.html">New York Times obituary</a><br />
<br />Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-73303244911758479852020-05-15T21:18:00.001-04:002020-05-15T21:30:01.089-04:00RIP - Astrid KircherrAstrid Kircherr, the German photographer who befriended the Beatles during their time in Hamburg, passed away on May 13, 2020 at age 81.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Fnpgqn874PSfOLcSGf8ugtwOEqfOA9nxXN9Wk-t7IsXXGxMNot4Vy6ky4DaLbl6qR1NRctze0po-5Q_TMlmdmH0yXy6xMC4aw0hjTYINet1GzlubvFuRsO4SHttpT-t3VE_oaqlkqOo/s1600/astrid-kirchherr-1280x750px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="525" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Fnpgqn874PSfOLcSGf8ugtwOEqfOA9nxXN9Wk-t7IsXXGxMNot4Vy6ky4DaLbl6qR1NRctze0po-5Q_TMlmdmH0yXy6xMC4aw0hjTYINet1GzlubvFuRsO4SHttpT-t3VE_oaqlkqOo/s400/astrid-kirchherr-1280x750px.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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She became the band's photographer in the early days. Here are some of her more well-known photos:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo75VCposDVAKQPr1wz2LMMOZxK8LjT1KBzL4lDu12QXf92I89Y-xHmjS1OkRRNW0F6DSN1c66VXxogr1dVmQis7KG_D81ilqs-Q3DpX01o-6LjQ-I0USH6LTf9-OTPLfrnBNAgLUyQw/s1600/beatles_astridkirccherr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="536" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo75VCposDVAKQPr1wz2LMMOZxK8LjT1KBzL4lDu12QXf92I89Y-xHmjS1OkRRNW0F6DSN1c66VXxogr1dVmQis7KG_D81ilqs-Q3DpX01o-6LjQ-I0USH6LTf9-OTPLfrnBNAgLUyQw/s400/beatles_astridkirccherr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Pete Best, George, John, Paul, Stu Sutcliffe<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1cTVaNqAnK0xvD-wCnzgI4ijSD2DbaxrMEMN_Mya5mcJCXMOHROY2r0_VoY2zb_X8VdabQTowlNkKOMWubPiMt2nb2OjEQzveNqJJ-qXBKE7hSYAOl-K5BhLjJWA3hiNRJmuasWjN9I/s1600/astrid-lennon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1cTVaNqAnK0xvD-wCnzgI4ijSD2DbaxrMEMN_Mya5mcJCXMOHROY2r0_VoY2zb_X8VdabQTowlNkKOMWubPiMt2nb2OjEQzveNqJJ-qXBKE7hSYAOl-K5BhLjJWA3hiNRJmuasWjN9I/s400/astrid-lennon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Stu and John<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YxNfACmBJQRyVlWClXgUjHn6DAgSaFn1xnBC5vbkSqduI7vDpaZCIpPHCcc10tnOlNLygiCOR3jpLptpB6JJWwzwijkLvppqauLvGOykryz_dsHCe-MigeqmYYdp0xFNYdxSTHptqPk/s1600/Paul-Stu-background-1960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="850" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YxNfACmBJQRyVlWClXgUjHn6DAgSaFn1xnBC5vbkSqduI7vDpaZCIpPHCcc10tnOlNLygiCOR3jpLptpB6JJWwzwijkLvppqauLvGOykryz_dsHCe-MigeqmYYdp0xFNYdxSTHptqPk/s400/Paul-Stu-background-1960.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Stu and Paul<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQrL_3cix0kIm29laOMglhM_jfyw3hyWhgp07ohIsFs-eVS6xa_rLI2pzB_z94-8bKs84fjrtW5jR-nQV_EntKFXV5HYEIt6AoRN032IHBnekO4ruigknyszdPpM2JmAuUl2RejKujmU/s1600/kirchherr-and-stuart-sutcliffe-1961-228668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="502" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQrL_3cix0kIm29laOMglhM_jfyw3hyWhgp07ohIsFs-eVS6xa_rLI2pzB_z94-8bKs84fjrtW5jR-nQV_EntKFXV5HYEIt6AoRN032IHBnekO4ruigknyszdPpM2JmAuUl2RejKujmU/s400/kirchherr-and-stuart-sutcliffe-1961-228668.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
During the Beatles' first trip to Hamburg, she and their early-bassist Stu Sutcliffe became romantically involved. He quit the band to remain in Germany with her.<br />
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Kircherr also suggested the hairstyle that the Beatles came to wear beginning around 1960. Previously, they looked like the photos above.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdgGChmfD2jv2tqYnQ0OHUdmCVPl-OC9ZOuIszF-mXeHsYTtItnHEQnuNt1gmw42BfddTQNnRRUzXJz4NKcXEjrrLCSQ9K3CRgJAAySo0cHrOHkdBxvSRQ0FGX-aQZ8h-cnxdyv3EffA/s1600/01-1964-the-beatles-hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1533" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdgGChmfD2jv2tqYnQ0OHUdmCVPl-OC9ZOuIszF-mXeHsYTtItnHEQnuNt1gmw42BfddTQNnRRUzXJz4NKcXEjrrLCSQ9K3CRgJAAySo0cHrOHkdBxvSRQ0FGX-aQZ8h-cnxdyv3EffA/s400/01-1964-the-beatles-hair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.neatorama.com/2012/01/26/the-origin-of-the-beatles-haircut/">Origin of the hairstyle</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52687056">BBC News obituary</a>
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<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/astrid-kirchherr-beatles-photographer-dead-obit-1000677/">Rolling Stone obituary</a><br />
Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-62951605437467019052020-05-09T21:15:00.000-04:002020-05-09T21:18:24.866-04:00RIP - Little RichardLittle Richard (Richard Penniman), one of the early pioneers of rock and roll, passed away today, May 9, 2020 at age 87.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnSsedQAofFtMvAIJPrkMZqwDVCOW6Myy2W7-kYggH-OgPRMsEapq4PF8RIKeEBDVzB5EINKo8jcB5kBaRMrljT11wk6Fw-hpvi8OpBXfM2ArHXLm2Okzh7OtAEX2CuB-JaIkWTtNGJk/s1600/LittleRichard-color1-350x431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnSsedQAofFtMvAIJPrkMZqwDVCOW6Myy2W7-kYggH-OgPRMsEapq4PF8RIKeEBDVzB5EINKo8jcB5kBaRMrljT11wk6Fw-hpvi8OpBXfM2ArHXLm2Okzh7OtAEX2CuB-JaIkWTtNGJk/s400/LittleRichard-color1-350x431.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
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My first exposure to him was through the Beatles' cover of "Long Tall Sally". Later I heard "Tutti-Frutti", "Good Golly Miss Molly", "Lucille", and the rest.<br />
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<a href="https://people.com/music/llittle-richard-dies-at-87/">People Magazine obituary</a>
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<a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/little-richard-dead-at-87-mick-jagger-ringo-starr-michelle-obama-react/">Comments from Ringo, Brian Wilson, and others</a><br />
. Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-41871158585456545002020-02-06T01:33:00.001-05:002020-02-06T01:46:33.355-05:00RIP - Kirk DouglasKirk Douglas, the last remaining male movie star from Hollywood's Golden Age, passed away on February 5, 2020 at age 103.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrVdf618P1CH7aouWn5B9-tNzyOPo6HL5Pwi_goXrwkQY2MGUwTDR0rvm3dNtXEGg6T-d66QjD7kL6IRw-l6jY2FBT11WBZGHH9QDxRXA07UILolulkER9DYtNZ8mcmJTATgybJFpNFo/s1600/Kirk+Douglas+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="339" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrVdf618P1CH7aouWn5B9-tNzyOPo6HL5Pwi_goXrwkQY2MGUwTDR0rvm3dNtXEGg6T-d66QjD7kL6IRw-l6jY2FBT11WBZGHH9QDxRXA07UILolulkER9DYtNZ8mcmJTATgybJFpNFo/s400/Kirk+Douglas+1.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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Douglas appeared in over 85 movies from 1946 to 2004. Surprisingly, he never won an Oscar for best actor, although he was nominated three times in the 1950s.<br />
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Possibly best-known for his role in "Spartacus", my kids remember him as "the guy who sang A Whale of a Tale" in Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".<br />
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<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kirk-douglas-dies-spartacus-670526">The Hollywood Reporter obituary</a>
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<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kirk-douglas-hollywood-legend-actor-dead-age-103-cause-of-death-declining-health-2020-02-05/">CBS News Obituary</a><br />
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Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-52278164357845184962020-01-15T08:00:00.000-05:002020-01-15T14:12:06.745-05:00RIP - Edd "Kookie" ByrnesEdd Byrnes, who played cool characters on 1950s' TV show "77 Sunset Strip" and the 1978 movie "Grease", passed away on January 8, 2020 at age 87.<br />
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He was never far from his trademark comb, neither as the fast-talking parking lot attendant on "77", nor the high school dance emcee in "Grease".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-2IS63z8lT4TgpC_Vg5snv9VSXKr9OQj7ofiXkpGmvVX7TjS5cy4fFnpj5NuvhNYqnaBfYDNm-TRg2ClQqt5sEI3_Zbi25GxcQT-v8qTpUPIrHAcC9fEHbnxSf97kLXPXijzioOvDF0/s1600/Kookie+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="301" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-2IS63z8lT4TgpC_Vg5snv9VSXKr9OQj7ofiXkpGmvVX7TjS5cy4fFnpj5NuvhNYqnaBfYDNm-TRg2ClQqt5sEI3_Zbi25GxcQT-v8qTpUPIrHAcC9fEHbnxSf97kLXPXijzioOvDF0/s640/Kookie+1.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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I found a 45 of his signature song at a used record store several years ago.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo7_xUl4jYSYCT4saLo4pEIxeHr0GPcI9wp5cQWYfmBMifoEU4zmvNMhxsdbQgV0iARemqTgcwvq4LZ4XEHn4UI8bHvVw-qtBBuCbYkSYLgUD4fLxke6XYJsQLnshQBoH2-Qu7C6S5NQ/s1600/Kookie+record.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="432" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo7_xUl4jYSYCT4saLo4pEIxeHr0GPcI9wp5cQWYfmBMifoEU4zmvNMhxsdbQgV0iARemqTgcwvq4LZ4XEHn4UI8bHvVw-qtBBuCbYkSYLgUD4fLxke6XYJsQLnshQBoH2-Qu7C6S5NQ/s400/Kookie+record.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-01-10/edd-byrnes-who-played-kookie-in-77-sunset-strip-dies">Los Angeles Times obituary</a><br />
.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-28363799970996918622020-01-10T22:14:00.003-05:002020-01-11T00:17:48.281-05:00RIP - Neil PeartNeil Peart, drummer for Canadian rock group Rush, passed away on January 7, 2020 at age 67.<br />
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This occurred just 3 months after the death of Ginger Baker, a top drummer from the 1960s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM7Pui-zAXB9UnQYgsG9qeVRvsADzHoWMC05rS3xsWjiLqKh8fAOfHfxWFCZALctuOM-9-ibJ4dKlts_X523GsBVi21HKbpz7Inm5VyHEr6sVowG_Oe3XMV2zMMO5OxcnX4r7Dqkpq8o/s1600/Neil+Peart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM7Pui-zAXB9UnQYgsG9qeVRvsADzHoWMC05rS3xsWjiLqKh8fAOfHfxWFCZALctuOM-9-ibJ4dKlts_X523GsBVi21HKbpz7Inm5VyHEr6sVowG_Oe3XMV2zMMO5OxcnX4r7Dqkpq8o/s640/Neil+Peart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Peart is often considered to be one of the top 3 rock drummers (with John Bonham and Keith Moon).<br />
<br />
No need to revisit his career here. If you've read this far, you're probably already a fan.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/neil-peart-rush-drummer-dead">Fox News obituary</a>
.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-74207746604327217272019-10-14T23:31:00.001-04:002019-10-15T15:22:25.418-04:00RIP - Karen PendletonKaren Pendleton, one of nine Mouseketeers to appear on the show's entire 1950s run, passed away on October 6, 2019 at age 73.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMeWQKEX_f8_tGndwMTEXVjQEiPxkz4APXqotkrj-mAsHeVpStby06KgUA7pgxUFFShLjqcMxNc5U-Bo9Yhs9Y0j2S7fPvCjEQMOsR4Bly00nKHPQJnXmtJJROesKZmlcHc3KQhdMwOs/s1600/The_Mickey_Mouse_Club_Mouseketeers_Karen_Pendleton_1956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMeWQKEX_f8_tGndwMTEXVjQEiPxkz4APXqotkrj-mAsHeVpStby06KgUA7pgxUFFShLjqcMxNc5U-Bo9Yhs9Y0j2S7fPvCjEQMOsR4Bly00nKHPQJnXmtJJROesKZmlcHc3KQhdMwOs/s400/The_Mickey_Mouse_Club_Mouseketeers_Karen_Pendleton_1956.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Pendleton">Wikipedia</a>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-88434182789414003822019-10-06T17:15:00.001-04:002019-10-06T17:34:08.213-04:00RIP - Ginger Baker<br />
Ginger Baker, one of the top all-time rock drummers, died today October 6, 2019 at age 80.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUsl_tSU8ltT51CuseHTklf9N7kPrrBV_BN_u3TwGPUt8H7cNezehCxX5tuS3N3ZYU44UoX31zU9nC59kPYKM-7Z3wUYdf6IieHLjDHlHNfdYF-rNUUmnd8WETr7g22eAjtPPAk7FiTI/s1600/Ginger+Baker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="506" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUsl_tSU8ltT51CuseHTklf9N7kPrrBV_BN_u3TwGPUt8H7cNezehCxX5tuS3N3ZYU44UoX31zU9nC59kPYKM-7Z3wUYdf6IieHLjDHlHNfdYF-rNUUmnd8WETr7g22eAjtPPAk7FiTI/s400/Ginger+Baker.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
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Baker had been ill for some time, and had open heart surgery in 2016.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/06/arts/music/ginger-baker-dead.html">New York Times obituary</a>
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<br />
<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/steve-winwood-ginger-baker-blind-faith-tribute-895483/">Rolling Stone Magazine</a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ginger-baker-drummer-for-cream-other-bands-dead-at-80-cause-of-death-not-released-2019-10-06/">CBS News obituary</a><br />
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Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-46047660224414887732019-09-17T09:00:00.000-04:002019-09-17T13:23:54.526-04:00Top 20 Rock & Roll Singers<i>Continuing with the "ranking the top ______" theme... </i><br />
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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?"<br />
<br />
As with any list, there is always disagreement. I disagreed with some of his, such as "How can Freddie Mercury NOT be #1?"<br />
<br />
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.<br />
(BTW, I'm not a huge Queen fan, but you have to give Mercury his due.)<br />
<br />
<b> #1 </b><br />
*Freddie Mercury - Queen<br />
<br />
<b>2-10 (alphabetical order)</b><br />
Pat Benatar<br />
*Roger Daltrey - Who<br />
*Lou Gramm - Foreigner<br />
*Paul McCartney - The Beatles<br />
*Jim Morrison - The Doors<br />
Steve Perry - Journey<br />
*Robert Plant - Led Zeppelin<br />
Paul Rodgers - Bad Company<br />
*Ann Wilson - Heart<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>11-17 (alphabetical order) </b><br />
Colin Blunstone - The Zombies<br />
Jay Black - Jay and the Americans<br />
Peter Cetera - Chicago<br />
Brad Delp - Boston<br />
*Mick Jagger - The Rolling Stones<br />
David Lee Roth - Van Halen<br />
Mike Smith - The Dave Clark Five<br />
<br />
<b>To me, these guys are more like screamers than singers, but still in the top 20: </b><br />
Geddy Lee - Rush<br />
*Bon Scott/Brian Johnson - AC/DC<br />
*Steven Tyler - Aerosmith<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>*on Beato's YouTube list</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Who's on your list?
Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-59957672957634864722019-09-07T01:09:00.000-04:002019-09-07T01:15:21.186-04:001960s' Bond GirlsLast time, we took a stab at the top guitarists of the 1960s to 1980s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhBz4n9aimGA_LFd6EcP7KRBbIUR1zwjFVG8KBZO5lmTTxaLhwdXOqsZ4BHu4VU3ayDP56gQadu-dM6qzhjy8LTpzy4T1ATknjZ9J29Ig3OtU6NIbUwYFwWQEC9MVxG8HJfWJtbmz9bk/s1600/007+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhBz4n9aimGA_LFd6EcP7KRBbIUR1zwjFVG8KBZO5lmTTxaLhwdXOqsZ4BHu4VU3ayDP56gQadu-dM6qzhjy8LTpzy4T1ATknjZ9J29Ig3OtU6NIbUwYFwWQEC9MVxG8HJfWJtbmz9bk/s320/007+logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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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.<br />
<br />
So, here is the list of Bond Girls from the Sean Connery/Bond films from 1962-71:<br />
<br />
<b>Dr No </b><br />
A. Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) – Shell collector who Bond finds on the beach!<br />
B. Miss Taro (Zena Marshall) – Lures Bond to her cottage so that her associates can kill him, but Bond gets the upper hand.<br />
C. Anabelle Chung (Marguerite LeWars) – Feisty paparazzi photographer has a quarrel with Quarrel.<br />
<br />
<b>From Russia With Love </b><br />
D. Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) – Double agent who falls for Bond.<br />
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”.<br />
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<b>Goldfinger </b><br />
F. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) – Goldfinger’s pilot/henchwoman.<br />
G. Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) – Wears gold paint like no other.<br />
H. Tilly Masterson (Tania Mallet) – Jill’s sister out for revenge, but has a run-in with Oddjob’s derby.<br />
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<b>Thunderball </b><br />
I. Domino (Claudine Auger) – The bad guy’s girlfriend switches sides after he killed her brother.<br />
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.<br />
K. Paula (Martine Beswick) – Bond’s assistant was also a fighting gypsy in From Russia With Love.<br />
L. Patricia (Molly Peters) – Bond’s physical therapist ends up on the receiving end of a mink-glove massage.<br />
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<b>You Only Live Twice </b><br />
M. Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi) – Bond’s sidekick is poisoned while she sleeps.<br />
N. Kissy Suzuki (Mie Hama) – His replacement squeeze marries Bond as part of his “fitting in as a local” ploy.<br />
O. Helga Brandt (Karin Dor) – Blofeld’s #2 fails to kill Bond, then swims with the fishes.<br />
<br />
<b>Diamonds Are Forever</b><br />
P. Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) – Tough-chick Bond opponent early in the film, then falls for Bond and unravels.<br />
Q. Plenty O’Toole (Lana Wood) – Vegas girl-toy takes a long leap into a short pool.<br />
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<br />
(You’ll notice I skipped Miss Moneypenny and Rosa Klebb.)<br />
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Who were your favorites?<br />
<br />Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-56646917703389597262019-08-04T17:27:00.001-04:002021-04-15T17:52:22.027-04:00Rank the Rock Guitarists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
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.)<br />
<br />
The polls from Rolling Stone, etc are nonsense. They are agenda-driven, and have ridiculous choices for some, while completely ignoring others.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
I surprised even myself by dropping Eric Clapton to the 2nd group. I previously had him in my top 5.<br />
<br />
<br />
<pre>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</pre>
<pre>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
</pre>
Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-57337555819468636702019-01-29T07:00:00.000-05:002019-01-29T07:00:00.638-05:00Beatles vs. ScarecrowIt'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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
(Hmm... in hindsight, maybe I WASN'T aware of the Beatles <u>leading up to</u> their first US appearance, only afterwards.) The main reasons were that <a href="http://popculture1960s.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-early-record-collecting-days.html">I didn't listen to rock & roll radio until December 1966</a>, and that our family never watched the Ed Sullivan Show back then.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokb8vvXuhLOfr_2V8UeEwtN9p9l4L8knIRVsmvIpaOTg6LHjLVD3nKUPsB-HNZUmi8nHPYCwz6Ev6VcFm0Dm5vY4fUYqHo5O5xbRTkMTB5cNVKA-UPHkM2xLqVPg2hyZWDJvtPZGoA60/s1600/Beatles-Scarecrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="491" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokb8vvXuhLOfr_2V8UeEwtN9p9l4L8knIRVsmvIpaOTg6LHjLVD3nKUPsB-HNZUmi8nHPYCwz6Ev6VcFm0Dm5vY4fUYqHo5O5xbRTkMTB5cNVKA-UPHkM2xLqVPg2hyZWDJvtPZGoA60/s400/Beatles-Scarecrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
A few years ago, I read where the Disney episode that night in February 1964 was a segment of "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Syn">The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh</a>", 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.<br />
<br />
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!Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-19117356988857393332018-07-03T13:19:00.004-04:002018-07-03T13:22:12.834-04:00Olivia de Havilland<i>So this isn't 1960s per se, but I think that may have been when I first saw "Gone With the Wind".</i><br />
<br />
Olivia de Havilland just turned 102 on July 1st. I think she may be the oldest living Hollywood celebrity, followed by Kirk Douglas at age 101, then Carol Channing (97) and Betty White (96).<br />
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<br />
I don't think I have seen any of her movies other than GWTW, but what a performance!
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://people.com/movies/olivia-de-havilland-turns-102/">Happy 102nd Birthday!</a>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673999606284779219.post-61710813221929543912018-02-03T13:39:00.000-05:002018-02-03T13:41:41.454-05:00RIP - Dennis Edwards<br />
Dennis Edwards, (essentially) the first "replacement" member of The Temptations, passed away on February 1, 2018 at age 74.<br />
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<br />
Edwards replaced the smooth-sounding David Ruffin in the late-1960s, bringing more grit to the lead vocals on hits such as "Cloud 9", "Ball of Confusion", and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone".<br />
<br />
Prior to joining the Tempts, he was a menber of another Motown group The Contours, who had the hit song "Do You Love Me?".<br />
<br />
He sang with the Temptations off-and-on from 1968 through 1989. In recent years, he was the lead singer in a Temptations splinter group. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://apnews.com/38624d7d9dfa4137bd58127b54c1f345">obituary</a>Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0