The Dry Monkee

Dolenz, Jones and Tork were infected with enough neurosis to keep the darker, more brooding
Nesmith darker and more brooding.
The lanky Texan's testosterone dial seemed to be at a different setting, which, at the time, translated to me as... just not as funny or maybe, not-as-funny-as would be more appropriate. But I was a young putz at the time so what did I know.

All it takes is some time for a little history to develop to realize the Monkee with the red fatty Gretsch may have had a bit more brewin upstairs than what we had imagined.

A few of Mike Nesmith's more notable accomplishments are:
-Penning the Monkee's She, Mary-Mary ( which was actually a prior hit for the Butterfield Blues Band)( I didn't know they ever had a hit actually) and The Stone Poney's Differrent Drummer.
-Was the executive producer for the film Repo Man.
-Winning the first Video of The Year Grammy for Elephant Parts.
-Many say he's The Father of Country Rawk
-Created the concept for the first all day video program, Pop Clips, which was later sold as MTV
-His signature wool cap was a staple on The Monkees tv show. Why? Though he was hired for his dead-pan demeanor, he wore this cap during his audition not so he would be distinguished from others but because it was what he was wearing to keep his hair out of his eyes while he rode his motorcycle. That's notable isn't it?
-He was paid $450 per episode. That too is notable...isn't it? Or just kinda side-bar interesting?
-Having a mother who created the type-o savior, Liquid Paper. Nuff said there, Right?

The cruise pictured is not your daddy's Catalina. The Monkeemobile was a souped-up, '66 Pontiac GTO ala George Barris. But I can't be sure George Barris had anything to do with its creation other than it being parked in front of his Kustom Shop in North Hollywood.
I suppose I could have/should have done more research on the topic but I have dial-up so please, don't get me going on that or we'll be here all day...much like dial-up.

Finally. Even though Peter Tork played a shit hot, fatty red Gretsch 6073, there was just something about his fly-away hair that always fell back into place no matter what that kinda bugged me a little. My wife's hair is like that too. She could walk out of a hurricane and right into the Bow Tie Bar on Ten Mile, she's that hot!

Credits:
imdb.com
barris.com
monkees.net
videoranch.com

Hoky Pete and Hubba-Hubba

Much, much and even plenty more research was preformed and documented to bring you, the people, the most comprehensive, slightly condensed but giddy peek into the world of
nearly-neked-women in turmoil. Most likely displayed on calendars best kept in the garage, basement or dark place that probably requires a flashlight or candle.

Gil Elvgren not only worked along side, but was also a disciple of Haddon Sundblom at the
Stevens/Gross Studio in Chicago. Elvgren was eventually designated to take over for Sundblom at the end of his tenure in ad work for the House of Coca-Cola. He would then go on to contribute 25 years of landmark, American Realist style illustration for the company.

But Before Gil Elvgren landed in Chicago, he was already a much sought after illustrator producing pinup art for Brown and Bigelow and Louis F. Dow, specialty calendar companies out of St. Paul, Minnesota, the artist's hometown.

Through the years evolved a composite Elvgren Girl: wide set- astonished eyes, pursed lips, prominant forehead, gorgeous hair, pert nose and a pinched waist all wrapped up in a natural state of grace and poise (I'm a stayin away from other elements of the Elvgren Girl, as my wife will forever raise the odd eyebrow, if ya get my meanin'). This ideal was thought to belong to one of Elvgren's most popular models, 1954 beauty queen and MGM studio actress, Myrna Hanson. Other notables who passed through the Elvgren studio doors were Myrna Loy, Donna Reed, Arlene Dahl, Barbara Hale and Kim Novak.

I could easily be persuaded to share more from this incredi-cool cat. Lets just chillax for a spell and see where this goes.

Credits:
coca-cola-art.com
coca-cola.com/coke_lore
gilelvgren.com
antiquesandthearts.com
Pinups/Taschen

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Or, How The Dude Abides

Have yourself a merry little christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little christmas
Make the Yule-tide gay
From now on our troubles will be miles away

Here we are in the olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more

Through the years
We all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Kudos go to cool cat, Frank Sinatra for settin this holiday bummer on the right path. Ol' Blue Eyes loved the melody but not the melancholy feel of Hugh Martin's original lyrics. So much so that Martin was asked to come up with something more uplifting, less a-bummer-ish (mine) so that the song could be included on Frank's album, A Jolly Christmas, which is now the version best remembered.

The original, made famous by Judy Garland, was taken from the 1944 MGM musical, Meet Me In St. Louis. About a St. Louis father who upsets his family by taking a better paying position in New York. I believe the song's original point of view is that of an older sister to a younger sister that while yes, it is rather shitty that our father is leaving us, but that down the road, when he settles in, we will rejoin him. Sheesh, melancholy is right, and it goes something like this:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last
next year we may all be living in the past

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, pop that champagne cork
Next year we will all be living in New York

No good times like the olden days, happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were dear to us, will be near to us no more

But at least we all will be together, If the fates allow
From now on we'll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Thanks for comin to the rescue on that one Frank, and merry Christmas!

Credits:
-carols.org.uk
-wikipedia ( where else was I gonna look at 3 o'oclock in the morning)
-art work of Santa by the chimney from Haddon Sundblom for Coca-Cola
-words and music to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Hugh Martin
and Ralph Blane

Coke Scores A Two-fer

Coke and Santa, if you don't know any better, is really not such an odd pairing when you consider the workload S. Claus had to deal with. His annual record for continually mushing those reindeer from rooftop to rooftop speaks for itself. But wouldn't ya think if he were to send a memo out in advance, say, like a month or two, to have everyone leave their garage door open so that he could just swing in, dump em and go. That chimney entrance has GOT to be brutal...and dirty. I mean, if I've got as much as a cat hair on my Lands End rugby, I'm freakin.

Coca-Cola's red and white imagery and branding, like Marlboro Reds and Budweiser, is as iconic today as ever. Back in 1931, Coke began its new ad campaign using Muskegon, Michigan born
Haddon Sundblom. With travel deemed too much of a luxury still for many post depression and pre-war Americans, The Saturday Evening Post, Ladies Home Journal and National Geographic served as the portals in which to see the world. And within those magazines were the Coca-Cola ads of Sundblom's Santa, the roly-poly, rosy cheeked home invader we know and love. His vision of Santa Claus continues to be my vision of Santa Claus. And he was like from practically down the street for cryin outloud. Sundblom that is, not Santa. I'm relativaly sure Santa is not from Muskegon.

Credits: overstock.com
americanarchives.com
thecoca-colacompany.com
Wikipedia

Pin-Ups, Pancakes and Santa

Michigander, Haddon Sundblom, illustrated his way into Americana in the early 30's. Giving us the Coca-Cola Santa, Aunt Jemima's Mammy and the Quaker of Quaker Oats. His cherubic Santa style also paved the way for many of the major pin-up artists of the era. More tomorrow...




Credits: americanartarchives.com

But Why Is This Important

Many of you have written in asking what TV shows I was watching in 1967, and why? Well, we were really an ABC kind of family. What does that mean? Well... remember how differently your buddy's mom made up tuna sandwiches from how your own mom made up tuna sandwiches, and how you liked your mom's much more. I think it mostly had to do with the pickle relish.
And it was like that with channels 3, 8 and 13. It wasn't good or bad, there was just something different about a family who didn't predominantly tune into ABC.

That said, I offer you a list of shows that ran in the Fall of 1967 with, of course, the occasional remark.

Sunday Nights:
ABC - Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea, FBI, ABC Sunday Night Movie - YES to all
CBS - Lassie, Gentle Ben, Ed Sullivan, Smothers Brothers, Mission Impossible - only ES and SB
NBC - Walt Disney, Mothers In Law, Bonanza, High Chaparral -Nah

Monday Nights:
ABC - Cowboy In Africa, Rat Patrol, Felony Squad, Peyton Place, Big Valley - ABC had it all
CBS - Gunsmoke, Lucy, Andy Griffith, Family Affair, Carol Burnett - Okay, Carol Burnett
NBC - The Monkees, Man From Uncle, Danny Thomas, I Spy - Monkees over Cowboy in Africa. Rat Patrol over Man from Uncle and I Spy over Big Valley ( even though the girl who played Barbara Stanwyck's daughter was a looker, the Coz still ruled).

Tuesday Nights:
ABC - Garrison's Gorilla's, The Invaders, NYPD, Hollywood Palace
CBS - Daktari, Red Skelton, Good Morning World, CBS News
NBC - I Dream Of Jeanne, Jerry Lewis Show, NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies C'MON!

Wednesday Night:
ABC - Custer, 2nd Hundred Years, ABC Wednesday Night Movie
CBS - Lost In Space, Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, He and She, Dundee and the Culhane
NBC - The Virginian, Kraft Music Hall, Run For Your Life - must have worked on homework...yeah, probably not.

Thursday Night:
ABC - Batman, Flying Nun, Bewitched, That Girl, Peyton Place, Good Company
CBS - Cimarron Strip, CBS Thursday Night Movies
NBC - Daniel Boone , Ironside, Dragnet, Dean Martin - pretty fluffy for ABC, CBS is moot and Raymond Burr was killin it

Friday Night:
ABC - Off To See The Wizard, Hondo, The Guns of Will Sonnett, Judd for the Defense
CBS - Wild Wild West, Gomer pyle, CBS Friday Night Movies
NBC - Tarzan, Star Trek, Accidental Family - My man James and his man Artimus, they don't mess around

Saturday Night:
ABC - Dating game, Newlywed Game, Lawrence Welk, Iron Horse
CBS - Jackie Gleason, My Three Sons, Hogan's Heroes, Petticoat Junction, Mannix
NBC - Maya, Get Smart, NBC Saturday Night at the Movies - Out drinkin and dronin'
(just kiddin, I wasn't really dronin)

Credits:
The Flying Nun Courtesy of everyjoe.com
tvparty.com, tvland.com, and wikipedia

By-Tor And The Snow Dog

" MY SNARE," I hollered, craning my neck stage left toward the roadie (a post-Jurassic era term for what's now known as tech, i.e., drum tech, guitar tech, spatial awareness tech etc.) My look of urgency was greeted with a Yeah?...So, gesture of indifference.
But a few seconds later Mr. I Shouldn't Be Lifting A Finger For You must have taken pity on this pimply, country bumpkin who probably had no business being on this stage to begin with, for out it came, Neil Peart's gleaming #2 snare. And seconds after that, I'm poppin on it.

I'll admit, I often fantasized about being mid-song and wacking a boom stand out of place and having a "tech" run out crouching down as if invisible, and repositioning the mic, then racing back off stage like a NASCAR pit crewmember. And I just watched it play out for real, on my rig. What a narcissistic ass I was, er, am?

Just a couple hours earlier that evening, our band was led into an area backstage reserved for "talent" and crew. Nobody from Rush's table raised an eyebrow as we bashfully shuffled around a couple of card tables with thoughtfully arranged party platters brimming with lunch meat, bread, cheese, lettuce, French's mustard and salad dressing beautifully represented. Sorta cool cuz it was just for us. You kinda wanted to pocket some of it as a momento cuz when was this ever gonna happen again. But of course, the stench.

I was never a huge Rush fan to begin with ( not to be sour grapes) cuz they were so not Tequila Sunrise. I just couldn't get passed Getty Lee's shrill, nasal narration of viking lords descending upon the hobbits. But I gotta tell ya, Neil Peart's guns-a-blazin attack and those prog-style time signatures are what made them the ferocious power trio that they are, period.
Plus 2112 is like the college thesis of air-drum work outs.

Amusing Unrelated Photo of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield at Romanoffs in Beverly Hills From theinsider.com - Just Because

Blix, Pox and Blunder

Busy Busy Busy Shop Shop Shop Sleep Sleep Sleep. Legend is one of my favorite Ridley Scott flics, not to mention one of the best takes on the spirit of evil, Tim Curry's Lord of Darkness. A heroically bland but likable Tom Cruise and the lovely Mia Sara as the women who demurely holds his heart.
Great fantasy flick. Great cinematography. HEY...NETFLIX?













Photo From Photobucket

B. S. A.

I was at the 2 year mark in art school when an instructor of mine told me this is usually the point where fine art students drop out, as it gets much tougher from here.
Well, even though my interests were not in fine art, I took it as an obscure sign and bailed.

A similar scenario played out in my youth. Only this time not as student, but as a Webelo.
A Webelo is like the junior high of scouting. You start out as a Cub Scout in elementary school then graduate to Webelos. Then, if you decide to cross that hurdle into geekdom, you're a Boy Scout. Finally, the ultimate in uniforms. The WW II like, Khaki shirt and matching shorts with the thick-knit, knee high socks that can only belong to...the Eagle Scout - the Frat Boys of scouting.
Only I never advanced to Boy Scouts. No, I didn't have a scout leader pull me aside to say "Look son, you either got it or you don't." This was my own undoing.

Two memories emerge from my numbered days as a Webelo. Each one at opposing ends of the enjoyment spectrum. The first one I took as a positive. And could have even motivated me a bit to continue into scouting.
It required me to participate in the making of a meal over a fire at a campsite. One of my 2 directives here, involved me rummaging through the woods for firewood. The other was the careful implementation of the varied vegetables that were destined for the roiling pot and the eventual devouring of said meal, which, as turns out, was a pretty tasty vegetable stew. These two difficult tasks gave me points towards some distant merit badge, kinda like S&H green stamps.

The second was an overnight, father and son camp-out at the Gerber Scout Camp. It is with great emotional pain and scarring that I describe this. Unfortunately, my memory blocked everything BUT the early morning hours just after sunrise when I awoke, as did everybody else in a 1 mile radius to my father's paint peeling, concrete busting, jack-hammer snoring. I sat up horrified, imagining a ring of scouts outside, snickering and elbowing each other as they pointed toward our tent. It never occurred to me to wake him, after all, he sounded like he was gonna inhale his own face inside out. You'd think that would do it.

My scouting Days? Finished. I couldn't bare the potential ridicule. So I bailed.
Besides, I was about to enter the 6th grade and the chicks I knew were definitely not into uniforms.

The Lonely Surfer

I ain't but barely scrapin the surface here. These are just a few of his songwriting, production and arrangement credits: "Needles and Pins" for Jackie DeShannon, orchestrated and arranged many songs with Phil Spector, notably Ike and Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High", works with L.A.'s Wrecking Crew, keyboards on "Paint It Black","Let's Spend The Night Together", "Ruby Tuesday" and the choral arrangement on "You Can't Always Get What You Want", Production credits along with David Briggs on Neil Young's self titled debut, arranging the London Symphony Orchestra on Harvest's "A Man Needs A Maid" and keyboard work for Crazy Horse, with and without Neil.

Notable film score composition credits: Performance, The Exorcist, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Heroes, Blue Collar, Hardcore, When You Comin Back Red Ryder?, Personal Best, Cannery Row, An Officer And A Gentleman, Breathless, The Razor's Edge, Star Man, Stripper, 9 1/2 Weeks, Stand By Me, Revenge, Mermaids, Indian Runner and The Crossing Guard.



Whoa, my writing hand just cramped up. Why anybody hasn't made a film on the late Jack Nitzche is unforgiveable. It would have to be done in installments much like The Godfather. And much like The Godfather, it would be dark.
This excerpt is nicked from Crawdaddy Magazine, November '74. It pretty well captures Nitzche's contempt for the major record labels.

"Record executives really don't care about the music-they care about 'numbers' " aserts Nitzche.
"They refer to the music as 'product' and the only thing that matters with product is numbers-big sales. Record companies are acounting firms"
So who does this surly studio musician think he is - biting the hand that feeds him! Scoffing at Hollywood's tinsel culture just when camp afficionados and Peter Bogdanovich have proclaimed it art. A kvetch like this the business can do without. Stylish Warner Brothers execs sporting aviator shades and cuffed baggies may assert their uniqueness by proudly displaying Thoreau posters on their office walls, but this Nitzche isn't just marching to a different drummer - he's out of tune with the whole band.
Why not pull the plug on him?
The trouble is, Jack Nitzche knows too much. He arranged everything from "He's A Rebel" to "River Deep" for the legendary Phil Spector. He started banging back-up piano for the Rolling Stones when they were a bad boy, British blues band. He's played with everybody from Elvis to Neil Young. After a point, rock-n-roll held no mystery for him so he ventured into film. Performance, a curious cult film Nitzche scored in 1969 was proclaimed the best integration of music and moving images ever, by golden boy Bill Friedkin.
Nitzche is familiar with all the nuts and bolts in the Hollywood Dream Factory. He's kept around because he knows how it all works - not because of his enthusiasm for management."

I wonder if Jack Nitzche ever knew Merle Haggard. Seems like they could've been good friends - or compatriots, even allies.


Did I mention Jack Nitzche grew up in Newaygo, Michigan? Unfortunatley, that association hasn't rubbed off either.

April 22, 1937 - August 25, 2000

CREDITS:
rogerbourland.com
themusicsover.wordpress.com
thehoundblog.blogspot.com - a great site
(also were I found the Crawdaddy piece)

(Pronounced 'Sim-zik')

When you're young and from a small farm town, your association with anything that resembles
greatness, importance or just odd are key to building Rural Credibility.

Muskegon - (Musky Gone) or, poor fishing, lies on the southeast side of Lake Michigan. About a 3 and a 1/2 hour drive around the south end of The Big Lake from Chicago was, at one time, a major industrial port city. But during the 60s and 70s, when manufacturing headed elsewhere, so did the jobs. But the bars were still standing as were some of the unemployed patrons. (Muskegon's always been a tuff gig for an out-of-towner musician, if it wasn't your buddy from the papermill flogging away on Slow Ride, you weren't squat.)

At about this same time, there was thiz guy, from Muskegon, who was putting his own stamp on American music.
Begining with the Navy as a sonar operator, Bill Szymczyk's developed ear led to work at New York's Regent Sound Studios and the Hit Factory as an engineer. But it was his engineering and production work with BB King in the late 60s that provided him with the opportunity to sign and produce his own acts for the ABC label.
One of the first being The James Gang with Joe Walsh. Then came Walsh's solo records, work with The J Geils Band, Rick Derringer and ultimatly The Eagles' cash cow: On The Border, One Of These Nights, Hotel California and The Long Run.
AND, Bob Seger, The Who and our Verve Pipe.
He done good, hunh?
CREDITS:
soundonsound.com
tuffrock.blogspot.com

Fair Weather King?

I've got a real hankerin' for Fair Isle sweaters, but this one is exceptional. This merino wool hoody is entirely hand knit in Mexico. It's part of the Yuki Matsuda designed, Chamula collection from the Meg Company of Hermosa Beach.
The collection is not only comprised of sweaters for men and women, but scarves, knit tuques, belts and jewelry inspired by the southwest.












Fair Isle sweaters, named for one of Scotland's Shetland Islands, were made popular in the '20s by King Edward the VIII. Ever the playboy, King Edward's eyes found the prize in Wallis Simpson. But for moral reasons and grace, the Royal family forced King Edward to choose between the throne and the divorced, mannish American who was still married to another as she carried on with Edward.
Under pressure, the King gave up the big chair for a broad.
Makes you wonder what it was about this women for a King to abdicate the throne to become the Duke & Duchess. There, I thought about it.

CREDITS:
Ryan from Meg Company
lisawallerrogers.com
easyandelegantlife.com

On The Horn With The Randy Mountain Boys

TT:"Gotta tell ya Kenny, till I did some homework, I had no idea this was a homecoming of sorts for a couple of you guys."
Kenny Shriftson:"Yeah, we made Knoxville our home cuz it's right there off I-75 and all and it don't have all the distractions and trappings of Nashville...plus, it's just a heck of a lot cheaper. Don't get me wrong, we have a lot of friends there and we've made a lot of records there, though they never really amounted to a hill a beans."
TT: "I bet you get asked where the name comes from alot."
KS: "Not really"..............silence.......
TT: " So, where does the name come from?"
KS: "We're all big fans of 70's Penthouse Forum. We gotta lot of those lyin around so, you know, it was just kinda right there."
TT:"It's gotta be pretty cool to visit home after workin your butt's off on the road and in the studio.I can tell you right now, the town's pretty amped."
KS:" We always look forward to swingin back around home, seein the folks, plus I gotta a couple a kids I think still live up that way. Sometimes, when I come back, I'll sit in my van across the street from the schoolyard for a while to see if I can spot em on the playground."
TT:"I understand your outfit has kind of a swingin-door type membership. Who's onboard this trip?"
KS:"Well there's me, Kenny Shriftson. Hey Folks! Then we have Billy"Big Britches"Sipky. And rounding out the group, we have bar-band veteran extroirdinaire and Ferment native, Van VanderVandenBerg."
TT:"Pretty cool. Hey, thanks for your time Kenny. I know you're busy guys. One more quick question. Recent press has you touring with the Wah Wah Pettles. Will they be joining you in Ferment this weekend?"
KS:"Funny thing, they actually hale from Michigan too so they'll actually be enjoying their own homecoming. I believe they catch up with us on the Northern Mecosta County leg of this run. We're real fortunate to have them along. They're just real neat kids. Sound like shit, but they're neat kids. Then both bands rejoin SPEEDGRASS CAVALCADE with The Toes Of Donner Pass and Homo Safty Pin as it hits Hamtramck, so we're real excited about that."
TT:"Again, thanks for your time Kenny and I hope to see you this weekend, although I've got that groin thing flarin up again. You never know where that'll take me. Take care!
KS:"No prob. Check ya later"

Gin Mill

There it is. THERE-IT-IS. It's beautiful isn't it? The clean lines. The contemporary feel.
It really belongs in the front yard for all to see. It just screams WE KNOW AND EMBRACE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY.
WE ARE A PEOPLE OF THE FUTURE.
But do I really wanna share this art form. Sometimes its way more cool for the public to find out...you know, second hand. So you actually come off somewhat humble.
Yes, yes lets keep it in the basement. Maybe even in the back corner. But we must be careful not to hang too many things from it, stack too many things on it. For we will forget its there.

PHOTO OF TINTURI-30 FROM myfitnessequipment.co.uk

Sea Hunt / The Dave Stanton Story

There was a quiet, eerie calm to the ocean's surface just off Santa Barbara. The fog had yet to burn off, leaving the sea an unsettling, murky black.
I checked my respirator one last time as I sat backward on the tail of the cabin-cruiser. Pushing off tanks first onto the dark, vast living room floor below.
(que Sea Hunt Theme)
The backward plunge was my favored Mike Nelson impression, usually off a small rug onto the greater sea of carpeting,
My Mom must have thought "what the hell" when she happened into the room while I writhed on the floor, grappling with some invisible assailant who successfully cuts my air hose to shreds. The show's ominous music plays against a thick burst of air bubbles shooting upward toward the surface.
This would be a great place to insert one of a couple of the more popular quotes from the show: "By this time, my lungs were aching for air."
"And then I saw it", the other trivia worthy quote could have stemmed from an episode where ex-Navy frogman Nelson stumbles upon one of those ball shaped, anti-submarine mines aimlessly drifting below the surface.
That...or his discovery of the lost flipper, angrily flung overboard in a fit of rage by an inebriated female guest crying out:"Was I just a port in the storm?"

This Just In: Recently, it's been found that the long running rumour of a link between Dave Stanton (possibly the brother just out of frame from Bridges family portraits) and Lloyd Bridges has yet to be substantiated.

Photo From insidesocal.com
Back Story Tidbits From tvparty.com And imdb.com

Cop Car Workhorse / Ford's Crown Vic

When law enforcement agencies converged on Detroit to ask for a vehicle utterly devoid of character, Ford answered with the Crown Victoria. In fact, it is so generic and unremarkable that it has actually become an icon.

If you've put some time behind the wheel on the interstate and happen to find yourself puttzing in the passing lane, chances are you've identified the menacing front end of a CVPI (Crown Victoria Police Interceptor) steadily approaching from your rearview mirror.
It's amazing how quickly you find the turn signal and zip over to the Lane For Retired People, or, LFRP.

It's difficult to imagine the words; "I gotta have one of these" when you stumble upon a row of gleaming, new Crown Victorias at your local Ford dealer. But there is a relatively thriving market for a used CVPI. Why? Most likely for the much sought after, beefed up, Interceptor motors that were well maintained and at the same time, had the shit beat out of. More often than not some of the gear is left on, the push bar, the utilitarian hubcaps and the hand-held search lights. And they're boats. People like boats.

So the potential for travelers to quickly head for the LFRP when you approach them from behind on our nations interstates is pretty great.
Someday I think I'd like to own a Vicky.

Photo From code3motorpool.com
A Few Details From auto.aol.com/undercover-cop-cars

Country Club Life / The Ramshorn

The tribal gathering depicted here is much like what I recall the scenery to be at my Father's 9 hole country club. Minus the mountains, the lavish home and pool and the one Gabor sister with the two-piece, crocheted catsuit.

Even though my Pop payed some sort of monthly dues to belong to the RCC, he was probably allowed some sort of group employee discount.
There was never a sense of privilege or entitlement. It was a swimming hole with 2 docks and a raft.
The restaurant and bar were no big deal really. It was just another place in town to eat, only you always saw the same people sitting in the same seats dressed in that same Sam Snead sorta way. There was nary a whiff a swanky about it.
What there was was: Golfball diving with the carp, swimming out to the raft and secretly lurking underneath in hopes of catching a carnal glimpse of some older, high school gal's nether regions, golf lessons with Earl Hanson, the club pro, Mother and Father's Day brunches, Der Klommpen Klub (or Key Club to those in the know) and parking at the nearby church and slinking across the fairways at night to skinny dip in the lake without alarming the groundskeeper.




Party Image From deuxluxe.com
Two Gals Image From rachelburklund.com

Collectively You Can Find these Images and Many More
From Poolside With Slim Aarons

The Last Time

I'm working diligently, for the people, to make a concerted effort on my part, to minimize the use of another Stones' reference.

Like the Rolling Stones, who soaked up, recycled and returned to us their version of American R&B and Blues music, Japanese born and Hermosa Beach based designer, Yuki Matsuda, studied Americana with a vengeance.
While you're immediately drawn to the aesthetic details of Yuketen, it's the function and craftsmanship that are at the core. With each pair hand-tooled and sewn, only small production runs are manageable. In other words, if you're diggin these, best start your homework now.

Yuketen shoes and boots are just one of a few titles under the Yuki owned Meg Company. His love for the North American outdoors is obvious within his Monitaly and Chamula labels as well as his corduroy partnering with preeminent outerwear brand Canada Goose.

Photo From committee-design.com
Back Story From megcompany.com
And The Very Informative And Righteous
staysnooty.com

Happy Thanksgiving

Oddly enough, I'm struggling to find a connection between the puritans/pilgrims coming to America for relief of religious persecution and...well...say Keith Richards. I'm going out on a limb here but I'm guessing Keith might have aligned himself with native American tribesmen Samoset, who after the pilgrims first winter, greeted them with a warm welcome and seeds of corn to plant for the upcoming Fall harvest. Keith probably borrowed a bit aesthetically from their wardrobe, and that's okay.

Art work is an 1853 Book Engraving
Backstory from baharris.org

Oh Maggie

AAAWWW, is this the traditional Father/Daughter dance? I think not. Tis Margaret and Pierre, the bride and groom. You gotta think there may have been a few misguided implications at that ceremony. Anyhoo, on my way to the airport the shuttle made one last stop, and this is more than one unoffical, armchair historian can take, as we happen to be parked in front of the Harbour Castle Hotel. THE Harbour Castle Hotel. Did I mention the Harbour Castle Hotel?
Said Inn is where the Stones layed their heads whilst they performed and made ha-ha at Toronto's El Mocambo Club in '77. Keith's infamous drug bust happened there. And Margaret Trudeau's so-called hi-jinx with Ron Wood took place in those very hallways...and...other places, I suspect.
At 22 and 30 years his junior, Maggie married Pierre Trudeau in secrecy in 1971. Six years later on their 6th anniversary and coincidentally the same day the two decide to go their seperate ways, Margo is spotted at the Stones' ElMo show and invited the band back to her hotel. Oh no, not THE hotel? Oh yes, the Harbour Castle. Dang it, and I'm sitting here parked right in front of it. I should run in and see if there are pictures on the wall of Keith getting hauled away in cuffs or a shot of Ronnie and "whomever" hi-tailin it up a side stairwell. Maybe they have The Keef Suite, you know, all dark with a faint wiff of hashish and artfully strewn batik fabrics.
Enh...probably not.

These days Maggie is an advocate for mental health management as she has suffered from a bipolar disorder most of her adult life and also serves as honorary president of WaterCan, organized to help develop clean water supplies to the disadvantaged.

Photo of The Trudeaus from www2.macleans.com
Maggie Back Story from archives.cbc.ca and from
Ronnie by Ron Wood

House On The Hill

3 days of peace and music was Woodstock. 5 days of parkas and training was Toronto. I didn't get to see much of Toronto this trip save for the Royal York, which I saw a lot of and a 10 second, panoramic glance at Casa Loma as the charter bus whisked by. My quick research this morning revealed its birth in 1911, it's cost then at 3.5 mill with its completion in 1914.
Sir Henry Pellatt and Canadian architect E.J. Lennox drew the first brick for this House on the Hill.
In an insignificant yet somewhat related sidebar, the Stones have often been periodic attendees of Toronto. They've often set up camp there in rehearsals and preparation for their North American tour dates as well as at one time, recording a portion of their Love You Live LP at the El Mocambo club.
Now careening down a path of insignificance, in 2003, my wife and I shuffeled our way thru a packed, late July house of 450,000 boozed up and smelly Torontonians, towards the back of Downsview Park, for the Rolling Stones Sars Benefit Concert just in time to catch Rush and AC/DC.
Towards the end of the Stones' set, Keith invited Angus on stage for some rousing renditions of just what I don't recall. But I know it involved Chuck Berry and that little scoot/duckwalk thing Angus does.
We know all this to be true for we witnessed it on one of many jumbo-trons strategically placed through out the former military base as the curvature of the earth hindered our ability to see the stage.

Photo from seomkt.com
Info from casaloma.org

The Yorkie

After a few different configurations, the Royal York of Toronto opened its doors on June 11th, 1929 by his Excellency Viscount Willingdon, Governor General of Canada. At 28 floors, the tallest building in the British Empire, set back the Canadian Pacific Railway a cool $16 mill. Rooms were 2 bucks then and the dining room served grilled Lake Ontario trout for 85 cents and Filet Mignon for $1.75.
Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts became Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in 1999 and the Royal York became a part of one of the largest luxury hotel chains in North America right in there with the Savoy in London, Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta and the Fairmont San Francisco.
They say Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II likes to hang at the York when she's in town so you gotta know their draught beer, corned beef and kraut probably ain't too shabby.

Da Moose

This was the scene last Saturday night at the Fraternal Order of the Moose in Fremont. The irony is that these girls weren't screaming in anticipation of our next song, it being Steak Fry Night, they were reeling in hopes that the next hu-mungo meat and baked potato they saw the waitress toting from the big-ass grill out back had their name on it.
Jacques on his new/old White Falcon along with Davy Stanton from the Concussions had many a "fat guitar" in their arsenal. Mitchell Wood from Dutch Henry and I provided the rhythmic swagger that drove these women to the pinnacle until their dinner arrived.
By the end of the second set, the grill was cooling down, and so was the crowd.
We gave it our best, but sometimes an evening is measured by the weight in ones tummy. Stick a fork in it lads.
Thanks to all who enjoyed it...and to those who made it home and slid back in their respective recliners while we climbed back up for set 3 and played probably the best set any of us has ever played in our lives.

Photo by Stan Wayman for Life Magazine, 1964

Give It To Me

As a kid, I didn't know any more about blues artists than I did the dangers of a Pinto gas tank. I remember the Stones' album cover of Out Of Our Heads as much as I remember one brother continually picking up the tone-arm and dropping it back down on Satisfaction. But being an 8 year old, in all fairness, I did not pick up on who influenced the band.
Moving ahead a year or 2 into the seventies, thanks to my banjo picking other brother, I was pretty well steeped in the whole folky, singer/songwriter heyday. Until my buddy Jacques turned me onto Full House from The J Geils Band. From that time on, I remember a distinct line being drawn from mild, clumsy, over-the-shirt make out parties to Budweiser fueled, look at the white boy dance style hoe downs.
Dang, I'd never heard Chuck Berry licks come from a harp player before. Hell, who was Chuck Berry?
By this time, I was able to surmise that, while the Beatles and the Stones were from diverging planets, the Stones and the J Geils band were first cousins once removed. They just took different streets away from home. One went juke-joint-house party shuffle and the other went
drunkin' gospel swing.

Photo From bbc.co.uk

The Brothers Truman

This says it all doesn't it? The warmth, the fuzziness, the disdain. Don, pictured at right, his body language is telling, He's like "snap it already would ya?" Anyway, thought it was time I started scanning my own photos once in a while. Happy Friday the 13th everyone and remember, there is no such thing as bad luck, just periodic streaks of crappyness.

A guy is sitting on his sofa when he hears a knock at the door. He opens the door and sees a snail on the porch. He picks up the snail and throws it as far as he can. Three years later, there's a knock at the door. He opens it and sees the same snail. The snail says, "What the hell was that all about?"

Photo from Life Magazine but later dropped for some Norman Rockwell thing.

Whell Doggys

Yeah, you'll be gettin' stares in this sled baby, all the way to the petro station. Not known for sippin gas, its a bit like the peanut tank on a Sporty, you gotta slosh the tank around at every stoplight to make sure you make it to the next stoplight.
The '66 Ford Bronco was created to compete with the Jeep CJ5 and the International Scout. The initial 3-on-the-tree 6 banger soon gave way to the 289 V8. Ain't nothin pimped about this ride. It's all about utility. Wrench the top and doors off and the chicks and fellers will be a diggin you from here to Hermosa Beach. Then again, you might want to stick a little closer to home, being a '66 and all. And the whole gas thing of course.
At one time they were delivered with factory CB. "BREAKER-BREAKER... I SAID BREAKER-BREAKER ONE NINE, I GOT ME A SMOKY ON MY TAIL...OVER?"

Back Story from fourwheeler.com
Photo from bronco.com

Ol' Boss Sure Can Cowboy

I'm not a HUGE Kevin Costner fan, but like in most people, there are glimpses of goodness.
Open Range is one of those glimpses. Even the added documentary disc on the making, location, costume and set details was dang cool.
The setting is a spacious, beautiful North American locale, Alberta, Canada actually and the cinematographer purposely uses the scenery as an equal part character in the film without detracting from it.
I like my buddy films and this is no different. You can't do much better than posting Robert Duvall (Bluebonnet"Boss"Spearman) in as the other half with Kevin Costner(Charley Waite) as a couple of tired and dusty free-range cattlemen looking toward the end of their careers. You can hear and feel the unspoken admiration, loyalty and trust between the two thats implied rather than flaunted. Which is cool to pick up on from anybody anywhere. It makes you feel lucky to be fortunate enough to have that with somebody.
It's two dudes against the town in a good way, but you're too caught up in the minute details to notice any cliche.
Michael Jeter, plays Persy, who runs the town's livery stable is the cherry on top of the whipped cream on top of the banana on top o' the ice cream.
I can't say enough about Robert Duvall, or Bobby, as I call him. He's a joy, I 'd watch him in pert near anything. As for Kevy Costner, he stepped up to the plate on this one.

Sixty Eight Guns

When I think of the Plimsouls, I think about A Million Miles Away. Then I think The Oldest Story In The World. Then I think about I'll Melt With You. THEN I'll think about Valley Girl. Pretty much in that order. But If I just hear I'll Melt With You without thinking about the Plimsouls, I'll still go right to Valley Girl. Never back up through Million Miles Away or Oldest Story.
Sometimes I just like to lie on my back at night and look up at the stars. Then I start to cough and turn on my side a little.

Photo from earclops.com

Medallions Of Veal

Just because I had an aunt who lived outside San Diego and my folks, who at one time, lived in Riverside for a spell while my Pop was in the service, I fancied myself as an authority on the Southern California country rock scene, at least from an Eagles perspective. I mean my roots, if not somewhat displaced, lay claim to that, don't they? It also helped that Glenn Frey is from Royal Oak. That in itself invoked a special, if not fairy tale, kinship with this fellow Michigander. Bob Seger? Enh...not so much.
To be an authority, one must root around, rummage a little. In dissecting the Eagles, you'll eventually come across Poco. Dip into the Poco archives a bit and you'll find they were at managed by John Hartman, who in turn, happened to have a brother Phil. Phil was at the time a Cal-State Northridge grad who just happened to have a degree in Graphic Art and Design. John enlisted Phil to do album art for his clients: Poco, America and Crosby Stills and Nash. Very notable and iconic album art actually, if you recall.
Turns out, Phil had talent in spades. He went on to develope his comedic chops with Paul Reubens to create Peewee Herman, Captain Carl, co-writing Peewee's Big Adventure and then 8 seasons with SNL.
For me, Phil Hartman still lives on in the Sinatra Group, Clinton in McDonalds, Johnny O'connor and The Anal-Retentive Chef.

1948-1998

















Interview with Rusty Young from Classicbands.com
Back Story and Photos from valgalart.blogspot.com and uctv.ucsb.edu

Knicked and Knackered

Milwaukee, long known for its brew city spats and dust-ups played host to the New Barbarians on one of only 18 stateside shows...period. Led by Ron Wood, this not so rag-tag troupe of co-minglers included fellow compadres Keith Richards and Bobby Keys, former Faces ivory tickler Ian MacLagan, voonderkine bassist Stanley Clarke and on drums, Zigaboo Modeliste of the Meters.
Assembled for purposes of promoting Wood's LP, Gimme Some Neck and as a form of community service as a result of Keith's 1978 Toronto drug bust.
It seems the Cream City melee was over Keith pulling a George Jones style no-show. But the date was made up for a year later by the New New Barbarians featuring Andy Newmark, Reggie McBride, Mackenzie Phillips and Johnny Lee Schell

Back Story from last.fm
Photo from macspages.com

I Feel Good

Framing faces since 1915, Moscot doesn't need to improve on history. Embellish maybe, but never re-write. Their black and thick collabro with Common Projects would stir the likes of Stuart Sutcliffe and Ray Charles.









Photo of Moscot / Common Projects collab from williamyam.com
Photo of Stuart Sutcliffe from marks-music-circus.co.uk

Fever In The Funkhouse

I don't know if I would have made much more of James Jamerson than I did if it were not for Marshall Crenshaw's loving ode to him in Rolling Stone.
What a difference 4 hours of cornfields make. I mean, Motown, what a rich and proud history and I didn't know squat. 26 years later and I STILL don't know squat. But its funny, both ha-ha and peculiar, how much more I read these days. With computer as appendage, I'm a frikkin sponge. Drives my wife nuts.
I just read how much McCartney was influenced by Jamerson and Motown. And since devouring the" new" Rubber Soul, the unison bass and guitar groove on Drive My Car and his melody runs on The Word and You Won't See me, is definitly a channeling of the Funk Brothers.
But to get a better grasp, drop that needle down, sit back and Inhale: Whats Going On, Dancing In The Street, I Can't Help Myself, You Keep Me Hangin On, My Girl, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, For Once In My Life, My Cherie Amour and Signed Seeled Delivered for just a taste.
James Jamerson's life was cut short with complications from pneumonia so he can no longer fight for the right to his contributions.
Lets not forget.


Photo of James Jamerson from last.fm
Discography from musicpayer.com

Mama Popped A Fender

Like it or not, Carol Kaye is a big part of your life. Kind of Orwellian with a groove.
Already logging plenty of recording time on guitar for the likes of Sam Cooke in the early 60s when a no-show bass player for a Capital Records studio date left an empty chair.
Brian Wilson called her "the best damn bass player in the world." As he should. She played on;
Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Sloop John B, I Get Around, Wouldn't It Be Nice, California Girls, God Only Knows, the Pet Sounds LP, Heroes and Villains, Caroline No and Surf's Up among others.
In addition to the Wilson Family Hit Parade, Carol Kaye has thumped her way into your soul via (and this is just a partial list): Something Stupid, These Boots Are Made For Walkin, Joe Cocker's Feelin' Alright, The Way We Were, Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, Indian Reservation, Hold Me Thrill Me, In The Heat Of The Night, America The Beautiful, Natural Man, Suspicious Minds, Little GTO, Go Little Honda, Candy Man, Theme from Shaft, Games People Play, Happy Together, Wichita Lineman, Galveston, Rhinestone Cowboy, Ain't No Mountain Enough, Ain't Nothin But The Real Thing, Don't Pull Your Love Out On Me Baby, It Must Be Him, Tiny Bubbles, Theme from Batman, I'm A Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, Homeward Bound, Scarborough Fair, Honey, River Deep Mountain High, This Diamond Ring, Just My Style, Bill Cosby TV Theme, Red Roses For A Blue Lady, Light My Fire, In Crowd, Love Child, Baby Love, Stop In The Name Of Love, Back In My Arms Again, You Can't Hurry Love, I Can't Help Myself, Get Ready, I Second That Emotion, DooRonRon, Midnight Confessions, 16 Tons, Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, Rhythm of The Rain and How Can You Mend A Broken Heart.
TV THEMES: Mission Impossible, Mannix, MASH, Ironside, Kojak, Hawaii 5-0, Room 222, Streets Of San Francisco, Brady Bunch, Cannon, McCloud, Hogan's Heroes, Addam's Family, FBI, It Takes A Thief, Peyton Place, Alice, Wonder Woman, Love Boat, Get Smart, Green Acres, Wild Wild West, Lost In Space, Lucy, ER, The West Wing and King Of The Hill.

















Top Photo of Carol Kaye from wreckingcrew.net
Back Story and Partial Discography from carolkaye.com
Bottom Photo From abbyrd.best.vwh.net

Hauntingly Disturbing

The Smiths' controversial spin on the 5 children murdered and buried on Saddleworth Moor in 1963-65, known as The Moor Murders, is nothing BUT haunting. Johnny Marr's melancholy melody underneath Morrissey's depraved tale make for a dark trip through the English countryside. What sucks is that after hearing it, it stays with you a while. It's kinda hard to shake. Sheesh!
Taken from the Smiths' Suffer Little Children:

Over the moor, take me to the moor
Dig a shallow grave
And I'll lay me down

Lesley-Anne, with your pretty white beads
Oh John, you'll never be a man
And you'll never see your home again
Oh Manchester, so much to answer for

Edward, see those alluring lights?
Tonight will be your very last night

A woman said: I know my son is dead
I'll never rest my hands on his sacred head

But fresh lilaced moorland fields
Cannot hide the solid stench of death
Fresh lilaced moorland fields
Cannot hide the solid stench of death

Photo of the Smiths from ugo.com

Lumber Jac It Up

Paul Bunyan may have made a stop-over in Bemidji, Minnesota, but I doubt seriously he called it home. Hell, who could afford to feed the big lug.
But because of his size and skills with an ax, all the logging camps across the land were grateful for his help. But you've got to wonder if the other loggers were not feeling a little...inadequate? Or was it because the camp's womenfolk seemed to loiter 'round the waterfront just as Paul emerged from his bath? Was Paul run out of every camp by an angry, but shorter mob of ax wielding loggers? Or did he just simply like to travel?
As for Bemidji, it turns out, there are other points of interest. One being the Beavers of Bemidji State University and the other is Bemidji Woolen Mills. Created in support of the logging industry and warming the world since 1920.


Top right: The Voyageur's Jac Coat from Bemidji Woolen Mills from bemidjiwoolenmills.com
Paul and Babe from americanfolklore.net

Why The Long Face?

No, they're not sexy. Are you worried about sexy in zero degree wind chill? Save that for a romp around the fireplace.
No, they're not cheap. Canada Goose has 50 plus years of North American, down jacket know-how built into the price.
You know how you plop yourself in front of your computer to do research on something you need and you justify paying more for it cuz it's the industry standard, the go-to workhorse that won't let you down?
And yes you're right, most of us don't live in the Canadian High Arctic and we're not employed at the National Science Foundation's Division of Polar Research at the South Pole, but before we know it, there are going to be days...weeks even, that we wished we'd made that investment in warmth.
I shit you not.



Photo of Canada Goose, Men's Expedition Parka
from madbearoutdoors.co.uk

Hey, Them's Kinda Cute

Often thought too clunky. Often thought too utilitarian. Rarely thought too warm and lately just cuter than the dickens. Long time Kitchener, Ontario boot manufacturer Sorel, has added outerwear and apparel to the line-up since being acquired by Columbia back in 2000 (I did not know).







While the clothing may be a tougher find, you can still roast your tootsies at Dick's, Moosejaw Outfitters and select Nordstrom doors.

Chick Boots:
Helen of Tundra pictured above left from sorel.com
Tivoli 6 pictured at right from sorel.com
Top Photo from shopping.yahoo.com

60s London Subculture:The Skins,The Hippies, The Mods and Rockers

I like this photo of a few Skinheads in full on Skin regalia; Levi's, suspenders and steel toed Doc Martens marching past a small clan of Hippies on Picadilly Circus.
Bottom photo of a gang of Mods, raging through town. Their scoots most likely Vespas and Lambrettas.

Images from a series called London Subcultures 1950-1980
by Terrence Spencer for Life Magazine.
museumoflondon.org.uk.com