Thursday, September 29, 2011

William Shatner's 'Searching for Major Tom'

I heard a few snippets of Shatner's new album on 'The Howard Stern Show' the other day. They played bits of his renditions of 'Iron Man' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody', and it's even more awful that you could possibly imagine it to be.

Howard and Robin were wondering 'Is Shatner in on the joke?' and they decided that he obviously is. And with Shatner being a frequent guest on Stern's show, I think they should know.

I agree, because if he isn't 'in on it', he would have to be insane.

Shatner is always hocking something. A book he didn't really write. A documentary he didn't really direct. This album is him cashing in on the train wreck of recordings he made 40 years ago. Songs like 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' and 'Mr. Tambourine Man', which WERE NOT meant to be funny. The monumental awfulness of them, and Shatner not realizing it, is what made it so hilarious. It was one of those 'You HAVE to hear this' phenomenons.

But Shatner's being 'in on the joke' of his new offering misses the whole point. It's like if Ed Wood made a bad movie on purpose.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Let it Be Movie

So when in the heck are they gonna re release the Let it be movie!? There are plenty of outtakes floating around on YouTube. This one is especially weird. Paul seems all coked up (or something is making him act nutty).

There's actually an even longer version, but the sound is scratchy. This shorter version has better quality. But you can search for the five minute clip.

Check it out, and surf YouTube for other oddball Let it be stuff. There's one of them jamming with Yoko The clip is minus George, who according the what I've read, had 'quit' earlier that day over his argument with Paul over his guitar part on 'I've Got a Feeling'. And as he left, he made the now famous quip, 'See you 'round the clubs.' I'll have to remember that the next time I walk out of somebody.

But in the meantime, dig this crazy clip. John and Paul seem to be enjoying themselves. Ringo is his usual laid back self. But you can see George is thinking, 'This is an incredible waste of my time'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_kFa1QxCa4

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sept 13 in Beatle History

Two A-List Beatle Kids were born this day. Zak Starkey, in 1965 and Stella in 1971. I remember when Zak popped out, and seeing the newspaper pic of Ringo and Mo holding baby Zak (I was only about eight years old meself).

I don't have any clear memory of Stella's birth, but it is worth noting that the name 'Wings' was conjured up by Paul during the 'difficult birth' of the future fashion designer. He had a 'vision' of angels with wings. Better than the other names he was considering; Turpentine or The Dazzlers.

Zak has gone on to be a super success as a drummer playing for The Who and Oasis.

Two Beatle kids who made it big! You gotta love 'em. I wonder if they send each other an email on this day every year? It would be nice.

Oh, and Paul's son James was born on September 12, 1977. Almost made it a three-peat.

Monday, September 05, 2011

'Who Is Harry Nilsson?'

The new documentary 'Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)' is a fascinating, in-depth portrait of the man, and is full of interesting Beatles info.

Nilsson's relationships with Ringo and John are explored and we get insight into some great stories, like the famous Troubadour 'Smother Brothers' incident. They even get Dick and Tommy to talk about. Dick still seems pissed off. I never liked him anyway. I always thought he was a lousy straight man and even lousier bass player.

There was some facts I'd never heard, like how Derek Taylor gave all of the Beatles copies of a Nilsson album and that John and Paul actually called Harry to tell him how much they liked it. Lennon even cracks the joke to the press that 'Nilsson is my favorite group', which is an old Beatles' gag they used a few times before about 'Our favorite American group, Sophie Tucker' (Which I think was meant to be a joke about Sophie's weight...Harry wasn't fat at that point, but it's still funny).

We get some clips of Ringo and Harry running around to the tune of Harry's 'Best Friend' (from the TV show 'Courtship of Eddie's Father') and some of their 'Son of Dracula' film, a movie I've never seen.

And lots of behind the scenes footage of Ringo drumming for Harry on the Son of Schmilsson album.

May Pang and Yoko Ono also are interviewed but the better interviews come from Mickey Dolenz, Jimmy Webb, Van Dyke Parks, Richard Perry, and Harry's third wife, Una.

Netlfix this sucker. It's really worthwhile. I wouldn't kid you.