Looking For Some Action?

Well, Steve McQueen is ready to deliver…and so is Clint Eastwood, who saw what McQueen was packing and decided to upsize it a bit!

A Gritty Action Explosion From The 70’s!

Here are five films that ooze grit, grime and action from the 70’s – a special time in movies – BEFORE SPECIAL EFFECTS – when cars ACTUALLY flew!

Enjoy “The Seven Ups!”

Here’s a movie starring Roy Scheider that flew down the streets of New York with one of the best car chases ever captured on film!

The Seven Ups!

Here is the gritty trailer:

This movie isn’t well known, but has been released on DVD, so you can take a tour along New York’s seedy west side highway for an incredible car chase…

This is just one of the great 70’s action films that uses New York as a “set”…check out more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/09/07/new-yorks-gritty-movie-streets-taxi-drivers-subway-hijackings-cop-chases/

Clint Eastwood had a string of big action hits in the 70’s, but this is my favorite:

Thunderbolt And Lightfoot!

This 1974 action film is a classic, criminally overlooked Clint Eastwood heist movie – Jeff Bridges was Oscar-nominated for his role here – and it is directed by Michael Cimino, who would go on next to do the Oscar-winning best picture of 1978, “The Deer Hunter!”

Check out the trailer:

Jeff Bridges Flirts With Oscar!

That’s right, Jeff Bridges was Oscar-nominated for this film, and he is terrific as always! Clint Eastwood plays a bank robber par excellence with a flair for explosives who is being hunted by his former partners, who think he has their loot from their last job.

Bridges is his eager apprentice and sidekick, who helps him escape; when Eastwood finally makes peace with his hunters, Bridges convinces them to try a daring robbery–but things inevitably go awry.

Now, if this whet your appetite for “Big guns”, then look no further than here:

Eastwood’s most iconic role from the 70’s was a Detective Harry Callahan- AKA “Dirty Harry”:

This is a great film, one of the best films of all time…read more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/01/24/the-greatest-70s-action-films-ever-biggest-stars-with-the-biggest-guns/

Some of the classic early 70’s films were all about the war in Vietnam, and the impact back here at home:

Electra Glide In Blue

This obscure classic starred Robert Blake as a “good cop on a bad road”…

Here is the trailer, which begins with a great instrumental from members of the band Chicago:

There are so many interesting things about this film, including the fact it was directed by the Producer of the band Chicago! Read more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/04/19/electra-glide-in-blue-forgotten-masterpiece-robert-blakes-best-role/

One of the 70’s more unusual action stars is none other than iconic Comic Actor Walter Matthau:

The Laughing Policeman

Matthau made several gritty action films in the 70’s including this one, where he plays a weary San Francisco detective trying to solve a vicious crime…check out the trailer:

Bruce Dern stars in this as well…obscure but worth finding…see more here:

Bank Robbers And Bus Massacres! Charley Varrick! The Laughing Policeman! Walter Matthau, Action Star!

The other huge action star of the 70’s was also one of Hollywood’s “coolest” Actors:

The Getaway!

In 1972, Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw blew the doors off movie screens around the world in Sam Peckinpah’s action masterpiece “The Getaway.”

Here is the original trailer:

McGraw and McQueen had an affair while making this film, and Sam Peckinpah was his normal “out of control” self when directing…see more on this legendary Director here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/05/the-wild-bunch-billy-the-kid-sam-packinpahs-soup-tossing/

Let me know what your favorite 70’s action film is!

Todd Rocks My VHS Player!

I was going through an old box, and look what I found! Todd Rundgren’s incredible 1990 tour to support his brilliant “Nearly Human” album!

What A Concert!

I was lucky enough to see this at the Wiltern theater in Los Angeles…a collection of Todd’s biggest hits AND new songs – what a collection!

Look at the songs being performed on this tour: new Todd, classic Todd and some great Utopia as well!

The concert kicks off with his classic “Real Man”, from the “Initiation” album…here is a great live version from that tour:

Another classic Todd song from the mid-80’s is part of the tour, “Something To Fall Back On”…here is Todd performing it live during the 1990 tour…

Todd Gets “Mated!”

You can see Todd’s wife Michelle singing backup on this classic Utopia song “Mated” from the tour:

That’s Michelle in the middle, of course…finally, here is one of Todd’s greatest songs from the album – and he is performing it live in Tokyo as part of this tour – “The Want Of A Nail:”

What an incredible show – so many of the songs can be found online, but you can also buy Todd online or from amazon as well – and you can get great merchandise from Todd’s store as well, so make sure to support him!

http://toddstore.bigcartel.com

Another great way to support Todd is to see him live! Todd is still on tour in 2016, entertaining audiences around the world as part of Ringo’s All-Starr band – see some highlights here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/12/16/ringos-all-starr-band-rocks-on-todd-rundgrens-2016-tease-the-beatles-tour-on/

I also posted a story about the entire “Nearly Human” album…

You can see some great music videos and live performances here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/26/todd-rundgren-is-nearly-human-todds-6-fingered-masterpiece/

Finally, I shared my experience seeing Todd live in January 2016:

You can see some of his live performance here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/01/07/todd-rundgren-rocks-beverly-hills-todds-2016-tour-reviewed/

Leave a message to let me know if you saw this tour!

Paul McCartney’s Emotional “Freedom” Tribute!

One of Paul’s most memorable moments took place in 2001, when he wrote a stirring tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack…it’s a dramatic end to what was conceived as a “Beatles style album”…

Paul McCartney’s Two Weeks Of “Driving Rain!”

Later Paul McCartney albums are interesting to me…Macca tried a number of things, not always successful, and also reverted at times to his straightforward “pop” sound. For his 2001 release “Driving Rain”, he tried something else – a Beatles recording style!

It all started on his previous album, “Run Devil Run.”

“During some of the interviews I’d done around Run Devil Run, I’d been talking about the old way we used to record with The Beatles around the time of the early albums … The band for that album had said to me, ‘Can we learn up what songs we’re going to do, like a week before we go into the studio?’ And I’d said, ‘No, no homework.’ So we did it the same way with this new album, following the same technique.”

Beatlesbible.com has this great quote, which continues:

“We came in on Monday morning, I’d show them a song and we’d start doing it. We didn’t know what was going to happen and it was a little bit into the unknown for all of us. The band on this album is a new band who I’d never worked with before, never even met before. It was into the unknown too for David Kahne and consequently it started to be a little bit different than what any of us would have done. All of us were having to think on our feet, and that process led us into something different from what we normally do. So for me, that’s what I mean by this album is not necessarily what you expect from me, because it’s not what I was expecting. But by going into the recording freely, not dictating, things just evolved.”

On September 11 2001, McCartney was sitting on a plane in New York City when the terrorist attacks occurred and was able to witness the events from his seat. As wikipedia reports, “incensed at the tragedy and determined to respond, he composed “Freedom” and helped organise (alongside Harvey Weinstein) The Concert for New York City, a massive all star show at Madison Square Garden on 20 October where “Freedom” was performed”.

The cover of the album featured a photograph taken with a Casio wristwatch that had a built-in camera.

“Lonely Road” starts the album, then the first single: “From a Lover to a Friend”

Here is the song performed live at The Concert For New York City after 9/11:

“She’s Given Up Talking” and the title track “Driving Rain” are next:

Here is Paul performing the song live on his 2002 tour:

“I Do” and “Tiny Bubble” follow, then a great pop song: “Magic”

Here is a terrific fan video put together on YouTube by “StrawberryLennon9’s channel”

“Your Way” and “Spinning on an Axis” are next…”Spinning” and “Back In The Sunshine Again” were co-written with his son James.

“The lyrics on the album are kind of quite simple; there’s nothing deeply deep. I’m not trying too hard, I’m just spinning them out, not worried if I’ve heard a phrase before and just gone for it. There’s a couple of songs on this where I’ve just put two songs, or fragments of songs, together. I just thought, ‘That will go with that.’ It meant at times that instead of getting a 4/4, four beats to the bar, in slamming them together you’d get a 5/4, but I thought that’s OK, I’d fix it later. But when I played it to the band and to the producer, they loved those little odd bars.”

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

“About You” – His “Heather Mills” Song…

I am among those who do NOT like Heather Mills…from the moment she stated she never listened to The Beatles, I was turned off to her, and ultimately, she and Paul divorced.

However, the next song on the album,”About You” was written for her, as Paul thanked her for helping him get over the death of Linda…

“You give me power to get out of bed
When in the morning I’m feeling dead
Living and loving, there’s a lot to be said, it’s true

Gonna say it about you
Say it about you”

Here is a great youtube video from “piggies1”:

“Heather” and “Back in the Sunshine Again” are next – “Sunshine” was also written with his son James…

“Your Loving Flame” was written on the 36th floor of the Carlyle Hotel in New York…as Paul explains, a creative spark can come from anywhere:

‘Driving Rain’ was written in Los Angeles – there was a lot of rain and so on our day off we went off for a drive in this little corvette that I hired, we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway and went up to Malibu and had a bit of lunch. In the evening, feeling great after a nice day out, I was sitting around at the piano and I just started writing something half based on that day out. People say ‘how do you get your creativity’ and I think the answer is you just have to be open to stuff.”

“Riding into Jaipur” and “Rinse the Raindrops” are next, with “Raindrops” turning into a 10-minute jam…very much in Paul’s “Fireman” mode…

“Rinse the raindrops
From your head
Wipe your eyes
Go back to bed
In the morning
Skies’ll clear
And I’ll be here

See the sunlight
Break the ice
For the birds of paradise
Listen to the song they sing
Awakening”

A special fan video posted by “mccrabapple’s channel” on youtube:

McCartney’s Indian holiday had affected his voice during the sessions, as he later recalled:

“When I was in India, a carpet salesman ripped me off. He told me that this carpet was the rarest thing ever but when I got to the next town I found another 20 of them. So I rang him and during the argument, and not helped by the weather, I started to lose my voice. The following day it went totally. I couldn’t talk. With only a week to the recording sessions, I still couldn’t get the high notes. So I came to LA with my voice in quite a rough shape and decided to do the easy songs first, just to get the tracks down. But then I ended up just letting loose on one track, this monster 10-minute song called Rinse The Raindrops, where I really ripped it, and it all came good. It’s a nice quality if you can get it, a rawness. My voice has never been trained, so I just cross my fingers and go for it. I just wing it every time, like I always have done.”

Thank to “Beatlesbible.com” for the McCartney quotes!

Paul’s Stirring “Freedom” Tribute To The Victims of 9/11:

As mentioned, Paul was on a plane waiting to take off when the tragic events of 9/11 unfolded. He wrote a heartfelt tribute to those who lost their lives that day, and premiered it at “The Concert For New York City”:

Due to the last minute addition of “Freedom” to the album, it isn’t listed on the early releases…

“Freedom” was recorded live during The Concert for New York City with later studio overdubs. There are some copies of the CD that were issued with an outerbox and a different cover and the tracklistings featured “Freedom” as an official track.

Reviewing the album for Uncut magazine, Ian MacDonald noted McCartney’s spontaneous approach to its recording, such that,

“In parts (for example, the lengthy closer ‘Rinse The Raindrops’), the results are almost ferocious, coming as close to a McCartney-esque Tin Machine as one could reasonably imagine.” MacDonald considered the more “polished and produced” tracks to be “the most successful”, however, and concluded: “Possibly a grower, this album is certainly better than anything Macca’s done for some while, if not the late masterpiece some of us have been hoping for.”

Impulsively, McCartney halted the pressing of Driving Rain so that “Freedom” could appear as a hidden track (since the artwork had already been printed).

Beginning in April 2002, the Driving USA tour – a significant success which would lead to worldwide tour extensions – was launched.

According to wikipedia, McCartney said in 2007 there are those who ascribe “militant” connotations to “Freedom” and, because of this, he had decided to remove the song from his setlist. About the song, McCartney added:

“I thought it was a great sentiment, and immediately post 9/11, I thought it was the right sentiment. But it got hijacked. And it got a bit of a militaristic meaning attached itself to it, and you found Mr. Bush using that kind of idea rather a lot, in a way I felt altered the meaning of the song.”

Some elements of the album are experimental, just as this album was:

Read all about his terrific “McCartney II” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/11/28/mccartney-ii-paul-mccartneys-experimental-masterpiece-the-secret-stories-of-mccartney-ii/

Let me know what you think of “Driving Rain!”

Linda Blair Makes Heads Spin Again!

She may be best known for one of the most shocking scenes in movie history – the moment in the classic horror film “The Exorcist” when the little girl Regan “turns” around to address someone – without moving her body!

Yes, it’s just one of many stunning images from this classic film – so what could Actress Linda Blair do to “out do” it?

Well, when she grew up, she did THIS!

Hello, Linda!

Time to look at one of the more controversial moves that Linda Blair made in her career – her decision to pose topless in the “Gentleman’s” magazine of that era, Oui!

I will refrain from showing any of the more explicit topless pictures, but I will share a link later in the story if you choose to get more info yourself…

First, let’s look at Linda Blair’s road to her provocative photo spread!

Linda Blair’s Breakthrough Movie!

Linda Blair has had a long and acclaimed career, but she got her start in the biggest way possible – by starring in “The Exorcist” when she was just thirteen years old. She was Oscar nominated and won a Golden Globe for her performance, which is one of the most shocking performances of all time…

Here is the original trailer, that only hinted at the intensity of this film:

In the more than forty years since it was released, “The Exorcist” has remained one of the most shocking films ever made….because of moments like this:

“Cue The Soup!”

The moment when Linda Blair unloads gallons of green liquid onto her guests is a legendary horror moment that never fails to shock…

Great “Exorcist” Trivia!

Here is some great trivia about the film:

The refrigerated bedroom set was cooled with four air conditioners and temperatures would plunge to around 30 to 40 below zero. It was so cold that perspiration would freeze on some of the cast and crew.

The air was saturated with moisture, resulting in a thin layer of snow once falling on the set before the crew arrived for filming!

Oh yeah, and then there is the “head turn” sequence! As you can see in this picture, Blair is holding a crucifix for all the wrong reasons…another scene that was so shocking that audience members fled the theaters when it was playing – this type of horror reaction just doesn’t happen any more!

You can read more great “Exorcist” stories here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/31/the-shining-room-237-the-exorcist-the-greatest-horror-movies-ever-made/

And now, back to some more Linda:

Making Controversial Choices!

Linda Blair took many courageous chances when she was young – such as starring in the TV movie “Born Innocent” in 1974, portraying a 14-year old girl sentenced to a women’s prison!

The film’s most notorious scene involved the rape of Blair’s character in the prison’s communal showers by a girl gang – with a plunger handle! This was the first all-female rape scene aired on American television!

Blair had a run of cult 80’s films as well, including “Savage Streets” – where she played a vigilante seeking revenge for her sister’s brutal rape and friend’s murder!

As you can see, Blair had a provocative pose in the film’s poster, as the Actress was pushing boundaries in her career.

Perhaps the most surprising choice she made was this one:

Oui! Oui!

However, in 1982 the Actress showed her most “adult” side by appearing in a photo spread for Oui magazine!

The pictures show the Actress in various stages of undress, and it was only a year later that Blair showed up in an Italian Playboy pictorial as well!

She wasn’t “little Regan” any more! If you want to see more of her Oui magazine pictorial, check out this story on the great “Cinesploitation” website:

http://www.cinesploitation.com/2016/03/photo-gallery-linda-blair-oui-magazine.html

The Actress has had some personal and professional issues over the years, but she has also become an animal rights activist. Blair also devotes time to a non-profit organization she organized, the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, focused on rescuing abused, neglected and mistreated animals.

Linda Blair has also written a Vegan Cookbook, and appears in various TV shows and films as well…

Bravo Linda for your varied career!

Blair wasn’t the only star who went from “innocent” to “provocative”…remember Ann Margret?

She starred with Elvis in a 60’s musical comedy, but in the early 70’s she ended up in bed with Art Garfunkel!

Read more about this sex kitten here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/23/hollywoods-legendary-sex-kitten-ann-margret-rock-operas-baked-beans-elvis/

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment!

Caroline Munro – from Vincent Price’s Dead Wife to 007’s Bond Girl!

Time to celebrate another 007 “Bond Girl”…while that sounds derogatory, this is a description that has been used since the series premiered in 1963…with this legendary “Bond Girl”:

Ursula Andress was also known as “Ursula UNDRESS!” See why here:

Ursula Andress – Or “UNDRESS!” 007’s First “Bond Girl”! Honey Ryder Was 60’s Sex Kitten!

There are a number of unique Bond Girls as well, which leads us to Caroline Munro:

Munro got her start as a Vogue model when she was seventeen, and quickly began showing up in bit parts in films such as the 1967 James Bond spoof, “Casino Royale.” In the pic above, she is the third woman from the left…

Some don’t consider this James Bond spoof a real 007 film, but I say we celebrate Munro’s role…just as we did for this Bond Girl as well:

Barbara Bouchet was also in “Casino Royale”, and you see more of her here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/04/29/classic-sex-kitten-james-bonds-sexy-co-star-barbara-bouchet/

Now, back to Munro: after her small role in the Bond film, Caroline’s first big role was in 1971, opposite Horror legend Vincent Price in “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” – playing the deceased Mrs. Victoria Regina Phibes.

Here is what she said about working on the film – as a dead woman next to a living legend!

“The most challenging scenes involved lying in the coffin with Vincent. You see, I’m allergic to feathers and I was attired in this beautiful negligee – but it was covered with feathers! It took a great deal of willpower not to sneeze or sniffle. On occasion, I would simply have to sneeze and this would result in having to do another take.”

You can see my story about going to see this film at a midnight madness event in Seattle by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/22/drunken-dr-phibes-horrors-abominable-midnight-madness/

Now, back to Munro:

She reprised the role in the 1972 sequel as well, then went on to sign a deal with legendary British horror studio Hammer.

Munro starred alongside Christopher Lee in “Dracula AD 1972”, then went on to star in the classic “Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter”!

Munro was on a roll, showing up next in the Ray Harryhausen effects spectacular “The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad.”

As you can see, the camera LOVED Munro, and she never had an issue with her wardrobe being ill-fitting…

Munro’s “Real” Bond Film!

In 1977, Caroline got her biggest role ever when she became an official “Bond Girl” in “The Spy Who Loved Me.”

“Spy” was one of the best Bond films ever, with Roger Moore at the height of his popularity as 007. The film also introduced a classic bad guy, the late Richard Kiel as “Jaws.”

Of course, every “Bond girl” gets a chance to wear a bikini, and Munro was no different – but she also exuded a sense of fun and playfulness that made her one of the more memorable Bond actresses.

From 007 To Crazed “Maniac!”

The Bond film was Munro’s career highlight, and after that, while working regularly, the films weren’t quite as big. Some of Munro’s later movies include cult B-movies like “Starcrash” – and she literally lost her head in the cult horror classic “Maniac!”

Caroline Munro ‘The Golden Voyage of Sinbad’ Gallery theblackboxclub.com

Her roles dwindled over time, but Munro left behind a lot of cult classics to remember her by, and a ton of bikini photos as well!

Leave a comment and let me know your favorite Caroline Munro movie!

Time For Some “Ice Cold” Crime!

I want to share a style of mystery writing that I love right now –

“Nordic Noir!”

Nordic noir is crime fiction written in Scandinavia – Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland in particular – written in a realistic style with a dark, morally complex mood…as I said “icy cold!”

“The Dragon Tattoo” Trilogy!

Most people got their first taste of “Nordic Noir” when they read the trilogy of books beginning with “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” – classics of the genre…and now I want to share two other Authors who are delivering superlative “nordic noir!”

Meet Carl Morck!

Meet Detective Carl Morck…he’s the grizzled Copenhagen Cop on the left…that’s his Assistant Assad next to him, and over the course of six “Department Q” books, he is digging into Copenhagen’s coldest cases…

“Department Q” has been formed to get Morck out of the way – give him a bunch of ice cold cases and let him rot in the basement…but of course, it doesn’t work out that way!

These “Department Q” crime thrillers are written by Danish novelist Jussi Adler-Olsen, who made his debut as a non-fiction writer in 1984, and as a fiction writer in 1997.

My Mom and I have been devouring these books – she reads it first, then hands it to me…and let me tell you, this is working for me! Here is a look at the six “Department Q” novels, and the movies that are now being made about them!

The Keeper of Lost Causes

The books begin here, when Deputy Detective Carl Merck gets “promoted” to Department Q, of which he is the head and sole employee. His job is to handle “cases deserving special scrutiny.” He is relegated to a windowless basement office where, his superiors hope, he will remain out of sight and out of mind.

Everything changes when Carl demands an assistant. He gets a lot more than he bargained for–a Muslim named Assad who is a jack-of-all trades: Assad dons rubber gloves to clean thoroughly, makes bad coffee, drives like a madman, and acts like a Syrian Sherlock Holmes. This duo soon become obsessed with a challenging cold case–the disappearance five years earlier of Merete Lynggaard, a beautiful, talented, and dedicated up-and-coming politician. Did Merete fall overboard while she was a passenger on a ferry? Did she commit suicide? Or did someone abduct her?

This series is now being made into movies in Europe…of course, read the books first, as they are full of texture and nuance, but when you decide to see the film, first you must check out the trailer:

The Absent One

Next up is “The Absent One” – which begins with a case file that appears inexplicably on Carl’s desk. Strangely, it’s a closed case, with a conviction already in place. Two siblings were murdered, and a student at a prestigious boarding school confessed. So why should Carl bother with it? But he gets intrigued and discovers that the supposed killer was part of a rich kids’ gang.

This too is now a movie, and here is the trailer:

These films are being slowly released here in the US, but as I said, read the books first: one of the things I love about them is that they unfold in two ways: Carl and Assad trying to determine what happened in the case, and then chapters that take you back to the time of the crime – until the two strands come together…it’s great writing….

A Conspiracy of Faith

Next up is a fascinating book about religion, immigration and family….a bottle is discovered in the water after 14 years, with a barely legible note, written in blood, from two kidnapped children begging for help. Detective Carl Mørck and his eccentric team of Danish detectives are tasked with investigating the legitimacy of the note and, once it’s authenticity is confirmed, discovering the fate of the two victims.

Yes one more into a movie this year – they look fantastic!

The Purity of Vengeance

The fourth book is called “The Purity Of Vengeance”, and this one is a doozy! There are not only “cold cases” to crack, but Morck and Assad find themselves in the middle of a tale of revenge that is happening all around them!

The Marco Effect

This novel digs deep into Denmark’s immigration issues, as a young Gypsy unwittingly helps Morck solve a case involving a bureaucrat who disappears in Africa – a “cold case” that reaches into the highest levels of Danish government!

The Hanging Girl

The last in the series involves the suicide of Christian Habersaat, a recently retired police sergeant. Mørck looks into an unsolved case from 17 years earlier that consumed Habersaat’s life — the hit-and-run death of high school student Alberte Goldschmid.

I haven’t read this one yet but can’t wait!

And if you need more “nordic noir”, here is another classic series:

Introducing “Dirty Harry Hole!”

If you loved Clint Eastwood as “Dirty Harry”, then you will love Harry Hole! Author Jo Nesbo has written a number of great crime thrillers, including the “Harry Hole” series of novels about a grizzled Detective who takes on the toughest assignments that no one else has the stomach for…

Nesbo has written a series of Harry Hole adventures, and with a recent release, all of the series are now translated into english…although this may be the best of them all:

These books are all fantastic as well, beautifully written “nordic noir”, and you can see them all here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/04/16/meet-harry-hole-oslos-toughest-cop-time-for-nordic-noir/

Let me know if you are a fan of either series!

This Paul McCartney album was hailed as:

“The ex-Beatle’s headiest music in years!”

The album being referenced captured Macca in a very artistic mood, as a series of photo shoots revealed:

“Electric Arguments” Electrifies The Critics!

It was, of course, NOT a McCartney solo album – but another “not so secret this time” collaboration with the music Producer Youth! And it got McCartney some of his best reviews ever!

“The Fireman takes your hand and leads you through the blaze to places you didn’t know you wanted to go.”
—Paul McCartney

The third “Fireman” album in 2008 was the first one that revealed who the “Firemen” were – a trio of unique Paul McCartney recording sessions with Youth…the first released in 1993:

“The original idea of The Fireman was to feel completely free in a studio atmosphere and this is something I’ve been interested in since Sgt Pepper, where we gave ourselves alter egos to achieve the same effect. It gives you the feeling that anything is possible and stops you being too serious.”

The duo released “Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest” in 1993, then “Rushes” in 1998 – but McCartney and Youth were never mentioned as being part of the projects!

These “secret” recordings were released with no mention of McCartney or Youth, and the first two were experimental instrumental albums…only becoming known to fans over the years….

Macca’s Experimental Phase…

Paul McCartney may be known for this pop/rock hits, but he has always been an adventurous musician.

McCartney’s first solo album, released in 1970, was very experimental for the time, with instrumentals, song fragments AND classic songs such as “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “Every Night”…you can see those videos here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/03/23/paul-mccartneys-simple-classic-mccartney-pauls-solo-masterpiece-rises-from-the-ashes-of-the-beatles/

A decade later, Macca returned with his second solo album, also full of instrumental experimentation:

“McCartney II” included “Temporary Secretary” and “Coming Up”, which you can read more about here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/11/28/mccartney-ii-paul-mccartneys-experimental-masterpiece-the-secret-stories-of-mccartney-ii/

There hasn’t been a “McCartney III” – or was there? Here’s a look at an album that was in the same experimental vein as his first two solo albums!

“Electric Arguments” is the third album by The Fireman, and it was released in late 2008. It was the first Fireman release to be publicly acknowledged by McCartney…and the first to have vocals! This was a project of intense experimentation, with each of the songs recorded in a single day – the album was completed in only thirteen recording days, spread over the course of a year.

Experience These “Arguments!”

The title “Electric Arguments” came from the poem “Kansas City to St. Louis” by Allen Ginsberg. In Wired magazine, McCartney stated this was because he’d been looking at the beauty of word combinations rather than their meaning.

Here’s also what Paul said:

“We had a ball making this album, and it was a great departure because it seemed more like improv theatre. In the improv spirit, there are William Burroughs-type cut-ups in the lyrics. I came to “Sing the Changes,” as well as all the other songs in the album, with absolutely no concept of what the melody or lyrics would be about. So it was like writing on the spot, which I think lent an electricity to the whole sound.”

All of the songs were written by Paul McCartney. First, here is a fun promotional video from the studio:

Here are some of the highlights of “Electric Arguments”:

“Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight”

The opening harmonica leads into a blistering guitar and some of the roughest McCartney vocals since “Helter Skelter.” It announced right out of the gate that this “Fireman” album would have vocals – raucous ones at that!

Here is a great fan video of the song from BeatlesFans Club on youtube:

“Sing the Changes”

This is one of the most well-known songs on the album, which one Writer called “one of the best McCartney songs in the last decade. With a bright, catchy hook and exuberant lyrics about looking at life with “a sense of childlike wonder.”

Here is the official music video:

“Travelling Light”

Here is a video I found on youtube – thanks to Andy Mark Bell for posting!

“Highway”

Here is the great music video for the song:

“Sun Is Shining”

This is probably the biggest hit from the album, and a surefire Macca single. It’s fun, upbeat and inspiring…

Here is a video using older footage of McCartney from the “Spies Like Us” video…

“Dance ‘Til We’re High”

here’s an example of how much fun McCartney and Youth were having when they were making this album.

Here is the official music video for the song:

“Lifelong Passion”

One Writer said this: “with its Indian influences, this meditative song wouldn’t be out of place on Sgt. Pepper beside “Within You Without You.” Yet it’s electronic elements place it squarely in the present.”

“Lovers in a Dream”

A Critic raved about this song: “The chant-like vocals are pushed to the background while a swirling collage of sound transports the listener to another world. It may not be advisable to listen to this one while driving or operating heavy machinery; it may put you in a trance.”

Did Paul Slam Heather Mills?

The last track, “Don’t Stop Running”, runs 10:31 – by far the longest song on the album. However, the song ends at 5:54. A bonus track titled “Road Trip” begins at 7:57.

After the album’s release, a spokesman for Paul McCartney denied suggestions by some bloggers that the “Electric Arguments” album has a hidden message directed at Heather Mills. “Click Liverpool” reported the album’s final track, “Don’t Stop Running,” ends with a strange vocal noise, which played backwards, it says, features a Paul whispering:

“Warmer than the sun, cooler than the air.”

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

The blog says some fans have interpreted this as meant for Heather Mills and meaning “I have a big, warm loving heart and you are colder than ice.” Here is what the McCartney spokesman said:

“The official stance on this is that there are no hidden messages within The Fireman album. People always find messages in his music. If their desire is strong enough, they will be able to find something out of nothing to attach meaning to. It has been going on since The Beatles and we always get asked about hidden messages – but there are none.”

Whether there was a Heather “dis” or not, the album was hailed as one of McCartney’s best.

AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that “there are more twists and turns, more textures, than on any other McCartney album in the last 20 years…”

Will Hermes of Rolling Stone called the album “the ex-Beatle’s headiest music in years!”

Was “Electric Arguments” Meant To Be “McCartney 3?”

One last question is this, which also circulated on the internet – did Paul regret not putting “Electric Arguments” out as a McCartney album? The Daily Express quotes an anonymous source as saying this:

“Paul has been rather taken aback by the initial very positive response and now regrets the album’s getting a rather low-key release under his Fireman pseudonym. With the benefit of hindsight, he would have put it out as an official Paul McCartney album.”

So there you have it, an “anonymous” source…that said, this would have been an amazing “McCartney III” album: full of experimental music, great songs and great McCartney hooks…so I look at it as the “unofficial McCartney III” – you can decide for yourself!

Looking back at all of Paul’s great music is fun – especially when you add the “what if?” element to it…here’s a great example:

“Still The Greatest” is a terrific book that imagines all of the Beatles albums of the 70’s – because they never broke up!

That’s right, this book takes all of the Fab four’s post-Beatles work and lays out the next series of Beatles albums…fascinating! See it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/03/exclusive-the-lost-beatles-album-the-fab-fours-solo-songs-remixed/

Let me know what you think of “McCartney III!”

The Two Faces Of Utopia!

Fans of Todd Rundgren and Utopia know there are two albums titled “Utopia”: one is the band’s debut, and the other almost a decade later…both are terrific for different reasons…

This first Utopia album was released in 1974, and was a big hit for Todd, reaching #34 on the charts. The band is playing progressive rock with a Todd twist. Over the next eight years, the band honed their progressive rock sound, transitioning into a more focused power pop sound in the early 80’s, with some interesting turns along the way…

This great photo captures Utopia live at the legendary Knebworth music festival in 1976, and now you can buy these performances as well…click here to see how:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/12/25/todd-rundgren-utopia-live-at-knebworth-amazing-box-set-fascinating-musical-history-in-a-box/

Todd spent time releasing solo albums AND Utopia albums throughout the 70’s, with Utopia becoming more and more popular:

In the late 70’s, the band had their biggest hit with “Adventures In Utopia”, along with their first top ten single “Set Me Free”…but some feel that Todd alienated the band by his decision to follow their smash hit with a Beatles homage:

Read about this terrific record that was released at the wrong time for the band – and the division it caused within the band itself – by clicking on my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/03/todd-rundgren-defaces-the-music-todds-beatles-homage-divides-utopia/

In 1982, Todd was winding down his Bearsville record deal, and getting ready for a more power pop version of Utopia – a Utopia that was suddenly rocked by a major defection:

Kasim Sulton Quits Utopia!

During the composing phase of this album, Kasim Sulton had left to pursue a solo career, and Doug Howard from the band Touch was brought in on bass. Howard co-wrote two songs on the album, “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” and “I’m Looking at You But I’m Talking to Myself”.

These songs are credited to “Utopia and Doug Howard” on the finished album. Here is what Kasim says about that time in the great book “A Dream Goes On Forever, Vol. 2: The Utopia Years”:

“I was trying to create this career for myself” he explains, and goes into detail on the making of his solo album, which cost $300,000 and was released without fanfare. He also talks about how Todd reacted to his decision to leave the band:

“Todd wasn’t happy; I don’t think he was thrilled that I quit. I don’t know if he was sad, either – he was just like ‘Well OK, let’s just move on.'”

This book is also full of great stuff: stories about the music AND about the relationships within the band itself as well…

Of course, Kasim returned to the band – here’s how Kasim described that time in the book “A Wizard A True Star: Todd Rundgren In The Studio:

“I finally begged, pleaded and cajoled my way back into the band…what is interesting about that record was that we had a wealth of material for it, about an album and a half. That’s why we said it had three sides.”

That book is a treasure trove of information about Todd and Utopia…and the “three sides” of this album are full of great hooks and upbeat Utopia songs…so much music that it included a third side upon release:

This album is stuffed with fifteen tracks of incredible power pop – the band was creatively on fire! Here are some highlights from the second “Utopia” album:

“Libertine”

The album gets off to a fast start – a great hook and perfect harmonies from the band. Kasim Sulton has a spirited lead vocal, captured here live from 1982:

Thanks as always to “HarryRunt danu” on youtube for posting this great video….you will see a lot more of him to come…

“Bad Little Actress”

I have always loved this song – a story of a breakup:

“I can’t carry on
This play is too long
I must be going
Extend my regrets

I gave it my best
But now I’m going
This is too much for me to take
Something tells me that she’s faking it

She says she don’t care
She wants to be fair
She must be joking
It’s simple she said

Let’s not lose our head
Tell me she’s joking
This is too much for me to take
But somebody isn’t faking

Someone’s heart is breaking
And if you see her give her my critique
She’s a bad little actress

Gets no curtain call
But the worst of all
When the curtain falls
There’s no one at the backstage door”

Here’s a live performance:

“Feet Don’t Fail Me Now”

This song sounds a LOT like a b-side from “Deface The Music”…here’s another terrific live video from 1982, thanks to “HarryRunt dans” – this video is terrific because Todd introduces Roger Powell as the lead vocal!

“Neck On Up”, “Say Yeah” and “Call It What You Will” are all catchy pop tunes as well…

“I’m Looking at You But I’m Talking to Myself”

This is a hauntingly beautiful ballad…here is the band performing it live:

“Hammer in My Heart”

Next up is “Hammer in My Heart”, which was also recorded live on August 18, 1982 at MTV’s official first birthday celebration hosted by VeeJay Nina Blackwood. The song peaked at #31 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.

“Burn Three Times” and “There Goes My Inspiration” are next – the music never stops!

“Princess of the Universe”

A great upbeat rocker – here is a live performance from 1992:

As always, “HarryRunt danu” on YouTube has all of these classic videos!

“Infrared and Ultraviolet” and “Forgotten But Not Gone” are next, then another mid-tempo ballad with a great hook and harmonies:

“Private Heaven”

I couldn’t find a video for this, so here is the audio of the song:

“Chapter and Verse” wraps the album…videos and singles were released for “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” and “Hammer in My Heart”. Both were featured on the VHS video release “The Utopia Sampler” nominated in 1983 for a Grammy for Best Short Form Video.

So much great music, but it turned out to be the only Utopia album released on Network records.

Of course, Todd still had one album to release in order to fulfill his contract at Bearsville records in 1982 – and his heart wasn’t in it – so what did he do?

That’s right, he released another of his great albums….see some great music videos here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/05/29/todd-is-tortured-todd-rundgrens-hilarious-bang-on-the-drum-hit-record-label-swan-song-the-terrific-ever-popular-goodbye-to-bearsville/

Let me know what you love about this Utopia album!

“She Ruled The Swamp With A Blazing Gun And A Luscious Smile!”

One of the 70’s most promising Actresses starred in several classic cult films, but just as she was growing as an Actress, she died tragically – here is the story of Claudia Jennings…

Jennings gained fame when she was named Playboy’s Playmate of the Year for 1970. As many Playmates did, Jennings used that fame to get into film.

The Love Machine!

Jennings got her start in the camp cult film “The Love Machine”, based on the notorious novel by Jacqueline Susanne, who wrote “Valley Of The Dolls.”

Listen to this plot, thanks to IMDB:

“Robin Stone, an ambitious, sex driven TV news anchor catches the eye of Judith Austin, the wife of network executive Greg Austin. She pressures Greg into promoting him to a higher position and before long, he is running the network while Greg recovers from a massive coronary. Meanwhile, Robin dumps his model girlfriend Amanda and begins an affair with Judith!”

Pure campy trash. Jennings followed this with roles in “Unholy Rollers” and “Group Marriage” – yes, exactly the kind of films you’d expect to see a naked Playmate in!

Just a few years after the groundbreaking “Bob & Carol& Ted and & Alice”, Jennings starred in a sex romp that imagined a whole new way to get married! Check out the trailer for this camp classic:

Next up, Jennings headed to the country for some classic “hicksploitation!”

“Truck Stop Women, My Head’s Still Swimming’!”

Talk about a catchy title song! “Truck Stop Women” from 1974 is a classic exploitation movie – just look at the double entendre in the poster!

Check out this trailer:

“Half Animal…ALL Woman!”

“Gator Bait” in 1974 was Jennings’ greatest film achievement – she got to get down and dirty in the swamp, and kick some serious ass at the same time…check out the trailer for this cult classic:

If you want to know more about the “hicksploitation” genre, click on my guide here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/12/12/gator-bait-country-lovin-hillbilly-brides-sex-action-missing-teeth-hicksploitation-lives/

Jennings took her success in this film and started to branch out, getting away from pure exploitation:

Jennings began to change her onscreen image. She was reluctant to do nude scenes any more, as she wanted to become a more serious Actress…

Claudia’s “Texas Dynamite!”

Jennings starred in several more serious films, in smaller roles, and then headlined this campy action film…

Here is the trailer for the film, a foreign version known as “Dynamite Women”:

Jennings’ boyfriend at the time was songwriter Bobby Hart, who wrote many hits for The Monkees. She was poised to grow as an Actress as she headed into the 80’s…

Her Tragic Death…

Then, a senseless tragedy.

Early in the morning of October 3, 1979, Jennings died in a car accident when a van hit her while she was driving her Volkswagen Beetle convertible along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. She was only 29 years old…

Hollywood is full of these tragic stories – stars who had personal problems or tragedies that cut short promising careers….

Cheryl “Rainbeaux” Smith was one such Actress…after a slew of roles in cult 70’s films, she lost her way…read her story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/09/20/hollywood-tragedy-70s-starlet-cheryl-rainbeaux-smith-the-runaways-caged-heat/

Juan Fairchild was another promising young Actress who starred with The Monkees at one point:

Her life took a tragic turn as well…you can read her story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/03/20/sex-kitten-june-fairchild-from-stardom-to-skid-row-a-starlets-shocking-death/

Leave a comment and let me know your favorite Claudia Jennings film!

Welcome To Tokyo 2016!

I am back in one of the most magical cities in the world: Tokyo, where everywhere you turn you see something like this:

I’m not sure what they are selling, but I’m buying!

I brought my wife Alex and my son Jeff to Tokyo – it’s the first time for both of them, so the first thing I had to do was show them THIS:

The night lights of Tokyo are all around you – so we hit the streets of Shinjuku to see them up close, and to run into people wearing this – that’s right, I need to find out where this guy got this Cheeseburger shirt:

The View From Our Hotel!

We are staying at the Park Hyatt Hotel – located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo – here is the view from our room:

That’s Yoyogi Park to the left, where you can see the Meiji Shrine. More on that in another post.

Of course, the Park Hyatt achieved its iconic status for its very important role in this film – included in the poster!

If you haven’t seen this film, you have missed one of the best movies about Tokyo – read more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/30/lost-in-translation-the-magic-of-bill-murrays-tokyo-neon-magic-shibuya-to-you-too/

I also want to show Alex and Jeff Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market:

The fish market is being moved at the end of November, in order to make room for a new Olympics space – so we have to go and have some breakfast sushi!

I will share more of this as well, but if you want a closer look now, here is a look at Tokyo’s legendary Tsukiji Fish Market, where we filmed for G4:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/02/14/goodbye-to-tokyos-fish-market-g4s-6k-giant-tuna-slice-morgan-webbs-legendary-tsukiji-tuna-carving/

On our first day in Tokyo, Alex found a terrific eel restaurant – yes, it serves eel and only eel!

Of course, it is so popular that you must wait outside in an “eel waiting room”…thirty chairs lined up at the entrance…when the person at the front of the chair line is called in, everyone slides over! It’s an “eel waiting room”!

Once inside, Alex read the menu carefully, and we ordered our eel, which arrives in a beautiful lacquered bowl:

Yes, it was a good as it looks…after our food adventure, we headed out for some unique Tokyo sights, like the water lily pond in Oeno park:

Welcome To Golden Gai – Oops!

Here we are all outside the legendary drinking area known as Golden Gai – 275 bars in a three block radius – each holding 6 people tops! Oh, Jeff’s friend Chris met us there – except it wasn’t open yet!

OK, we were so excited to see it that we arrived well before the place comes alive – but don’t worry, we’ll head back and show you how much fun it is…if you need to see now, here is a look at how G4 Host Alex Sim-Wise explored with us a few years back:

Take a look at the whole story, with some great “inside the bar” shots here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/16/alex-sim-wise-explores-tokyos-smallest-bars-golden-gai-mini-bars-i-love-japan/

Finally, here is a tease of a meal we just experienced:

Can’t wait to share more from Tokyo!

Bring On Tokyo’s Tastiest Food!

Here is a look at some of the great food we’ve eaten in Tokyo – all types of great bites and beautiful plates, with delicious and unique tastes like this:

Tokyo’s Dinner And A Concert!

Alex read through Frommer’s Tokyo book and found a lot of great fun places to explore, including a restaurant that not only serves great food but puts on a show as well!

Asakusa’s Senso-ji Temple!

Our musical food adventure began in Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s most famous districts, due to the Senso-ji Temple, with an entrance that is one of the most photographed in the world!

The area around the temple is lined with great food and souvenir stalls, and of course we picked out a few fun things to bring back home:

Bento Boxes And Live Music!

Nestled among the stalls and the shrine are a number of restaurants, quick and easy food as well as sushi bars, shabbu shabbu and more – including one that Alex found that offers a bento box lunch – with live music!

Welcome To Waentei-Kikko!

Waentei-Kikko is a great restaurant just around the corner form the temple, and it is run by a husband/wife duo. Husband Fukui Kodai and another Assistant/Food Server bring you a delicious bento box first, then have a great surprise for dessert:

As you can see, the bento box you are served is packed with different flavors, like a steamed fish with a rich sauce, raw sashimi, pickled vegetables and of course rice and green tea – but the best part of the meal is when lights go on, and the Kodai and his Assistant come out on stage to perform!

The duo tune up quickly and then play some beautiful japanese folk music on unique instruments!

As you enjoy your green tea, they perform for about twenty minutes, a series of solo music and then duo performances – here is another clip of this uniquely entertaining music:

Bravo to this husband/wife team and their terrific restaurant, a “must see” when you are in Asakusa!

Now, time to head to the Ginza district of Tokyo for a “crunchy” lunch!

Ten-Ichi Tempura!

We also had a delicious tempura lunch at Ten-Ichi Tempura in the Sony building in Ginza…thanks to Merah Chung for pointing us here – Merah shared a lot of fun places to try – and we did!

This location only seats fifteen people around a curved bar, and we went all in for a twelve course tempura tasting that culminated in sea urchin tempura! Here are some of the dishes we had:

I know that sea urchin is an acquired taste for some, but we love it!

At the end of the meal, you are presented with a bowl of miso soup, loaded with baby clams, and I got one of my favorite food pictures of the entire trip:

We had a great lunch – in a city where every meal is memorable…like our eel bowls – served not he top floor of a department store!

Most stores have restaurants on the top floors, serving all kinds of great food – you can see more of our eel adventure here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/04/the-magic-of-tokyo-2016-eel-waiting-rooms-golden-gai-drinking-cat-ads/

And of course, nothing stay “good morning” better than breakfast sushi!

We loaded up with breakfast sushi at the legendary Tsukiji fish market, and you can see more of our adventure here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/06/tokyos-legendary-fish-market-sushi-for-breakfast-an-iconic-japanese-landmark-closes/

More to share from Tokyo, let me know what else you want to see!

I’m RICH!

It’s true, and I have the email to prove it!

I know, we’ve all had our “this is a sure-fire way to get rich” moment, but this email added just the right touch of hilarity – so I am sharing:

“In Vain To Another Man’s Favor!”

How can you not respond to such an emotional outburst? Here’s the paragraph that choked me up and raised my greed level.

The email was from, naturally, US Customs, and they need to inform me that they have a LOT of money to share with me…normally I never read these spams, but this one caught my attention – near the top of the note was this intriguing line:

“Mr.Thomas Allen is your Attorney and 53 years old and 4.3 inches tall, he is located at 0801 9th Avenue North California city. Mr. Thomas Allen. The Los Angeles Airport Customs said that if you the beneficiary has not comply under 24hrs that all your effort to receive your consignment trunk boxes will be in vain to another man’s favor.”

Yes, I am running the risk of having my consignment trunk boxes “in vain to another mans favor.” Even better, my Attorney is 53 years old and 4.3 inches tall!

That made me wonder: could he be a descendent of Weng Weng?

If you are unfamiliar with Weng Weng, he was the world’s greatest – and shortest – international action star!

He was a stud, too! See his movie credits and terrific trailers here:

Severed Flying Skulls! Weng Weng’s 3 Feet Of Fighting Frenzy! Karaoke Terror! Wacky World Cinema Awaits!

Now, back to my email, offering me a ton of money for a very low “administrative” fee:

I am to receive $15-million as long as I send $140 to cover the handling fees and administrative costs…hmmm…seems fair to me. I wonder what that amount of money looks like?

And as for my attorney: as the note stated clearly, my attorney is 4.3 inches tall…deal with it! That means I must discharge my current Attorney, who until now has worked doggedly for me:

And while you are considering things to deal with as you count your millions, deal with these HAIR STOCKINGS!

That’s right, if you have millions to spend, why not spend them on new “hair stockings” – see more of this REAL – YES TOTALLY REAL product here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/06/22/hair-stockings-see-through-skirts-asias-naked-fashion-trends-revealed/

IT’S ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR HEAD DO THIS:

Yes, someone captured “exploding balloon heads”, among the many funny pictures I have found…check them out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/08/25/balloon-heads-hot-dog-coffee-beer-bottle-balancing-funny-pictures-on-parade/

And let me know if it’s time to get rid of my legal Counsel!

Welcome To Disneyland’s “Star Wars”!

OK, fans of Disneyland AND “Star Wars”, today is your big day!

The internet just broke a bit more as Disney unveiled a vision of their new “Star Wars” area at Disneyland! This is the image that was released, showing how the park will look when it is finished:

This image was the latest released by Disney to show off what is now under construction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

According to “deadline.com”:

“crews already have cleared the land on the site that once was Big Thunder Central, prepping the area for attractions that will include getting behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon via VR and more. The 14-acre project will be the largest “land” at Disney’s Orange County hub, and this artist’s rendering hints at what’s in store. The Rivers of America that were traversed by the now-docked Mark Twain Riverboat and the sailing ship Columbia will line one side of the Star Wars site.”

There is SO much fan fervor for this new area at Disneyland, although some Disney purists are concerned about the areas that were taken down to make room for the new area. I understand, being a lifelong fan of the park, but I understand that change is necessary at times…Disneyland fans are hoping that the park shows respect for the past as they blast off into the future…

Still, the new “Star Wars” area is going to be a HUGE boost to Disneyland’s popularity, and I for one cannot wait to see this come to sci-fi life, especially if there is a VR component, plus what we can assume will be great new thrill rides!

You can read the entire story here at Deadline.com:

http://deadline.com/2016/07/star-wars-disneyland-millennium-falcom-1201785112/

When I ran programming at G4, we had the first-ever coverage of a Comic-Con panel – which happened to be for a “Star Wars” project, and of course, our Host Olivia Munn was ready for action:

Olivia’s “Slave Leia” outfit also broke the internet, as well as fan boy hearts around the world…and we shot a bunch of fun stuff with her as well, which you can see here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/11/09/official-star-wars-vii-release-date-olivia-munn-as-princess-leia-bloopers-bacon-darth-vader-fans-galaxy-of-star-wars/

While George Lucas is no longer involved in the “Star Wars” franchise, you may be interested to know how he came up with the concept…and it all started with this guy:

Click here to read how Flash Gordon was the inspiration for Han Solo! Click here for the whole story:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/04/05/how-flash-gordon-created-star-wars-sam-jones-the-original-han-solo/

Leave me a message and let me know what you think of the plans for the new park!

UPDATE: this is NOT a slam against the Eagles or any band members! I have posted many stories about the group, and I am a longtime fan…I thought this was an interesting perspective – and one that was covered EXTENSIVELY in the “history of” documentary – with both Don Henley and Glenn Frey offering very candid opinions of Don Felder…that said, please do not take this as a critical view of the band, it’s just a story about one former band member’s memories of his time in the group….thanks!

——

Imagine being a member of one of music’s most popular groups….and co-writing their most iconic hit…and then being fired!

Welcome To “Heaven And Hell!”

It was a life that was raucous, and rancid!

Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder, with contributions by Wendy Holden – published in 2008

“Heaven and Hell” is a terrific insider’s look at life inside the eagles – how they became superstars, broke up, re-formed for their “Hell Freezes Over” tour – and how Don Felder was ultimately forced out of the band…

Don Felder Joins The Eagles…

Don “Fingers” Felder was invited to join the platinum-selling Eagles in 1974…and he had no idea what sort of rock-and-roll heaven and show-business hell he was about to enter — or, according to the book’s press release, how hard it would become to tell one from the other.

August 1974 — The rock band, The Eagles, stand together outside a building. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

Folder joined The Eagles just as the band was busy firing their Producer during the “On The Border” recording sessions…

Felder stepped into a volatile time for the band…here is a close-up look at the creation of that album:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/03/14/on-the-border-the-eagles-say-hello-to-don-felder-goodbye-to-glyn-johns-don-henleys-brilliant-1-best-of-my-love/

Felder’s timing was perfect, as the band had their first #1 single from that album, “Best Of My Love”…

Here’s how Amazon describes “Heaven and Hell”:

“Felder shares this remarkable journey with a firsthand look at his tempestuous years with the Eagles. Even as he, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon, and, later, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit became America’s most popular and successful rock band, selling tens of millions of records, Felder reveals that greed, jealousy, and creative differences constantly threatened to tear the Eagles apart.”

The press release for the book highlights some of the raucous stories Felder shares about his time in the band:

“From one sold-out arena to the next, some members of the Eagles blazed a trail of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll that became as legendary as their music. Felder explains how the famous E3 (third encore) parties, which began as spontaneous, raucous backstage binges, evolved into highly organized orgies, with roadies recruiting gorgeous women from the audience to be chauffeured to lavish hotel suites, where nothing was off limits.”

Felder’s Iconic Hit!

Felder also offers a rare glimpse into the creative melting pot that produced such great Eagles hits as “Life in the Fast Lane,” “One Of These Nights”, “Victim of Love,” and the song he is credited with the iconic intro for, “Hotel California.” It is probably the band’s most memorable song, which began as a simple Felder guitar lick, which then took shape through a fascinating process of free association and collaboration, yet, says Felder, even these exciting moments led to friction and bickering.

This is a terrific memoir, told by someone who was an intregal part of the band for more than 25 years – until he was summarily fired…a sad end for this talented guitarist…

Felder was devastated by the events that led to his dismissal, and the book spares no one, including himself, as he describes the painful breakup…

The Final EAGLES Lineup

This is the final lineup for the band, and they toured extensively for years before Glenn Frey died unexpectedly – now, Don Henley has said publicly that the band will never perform again.

That makes “Long Road Out Of Eden” their swan song…here is my look at the album, with some great videos:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/01/the-eagles-swan-song-long-road-out-of-eden-glenn-freys-farewell/

Don Felder appears briefly in the great documentary that was released about the band – and he discusses the turmoil that led to his dismissal:

This fantastic four hour documentary is full of great interviews and vintage material from the band – and Felder’s interview is heart-breaking – here is a look at this classic docu:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/04/eagles-no-peaceful-easy-feeling-here-just-heartache-tonight/

Let me know if you read “Heaven And Hell” and what you thought!

A Real “Stairway To Heaven!”

Talk about a pathway to the top of the world – this is an amazing hiking trail in Hawaii!

The Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the “Stairway to Heaven” or “Haʻikū Ladder”, is a steep hiking trail on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii.

This hike is almost 4,000 steps – many straight up!

The hike up the Stairway to Heaven is one of the most popular of Oahu’s “forbidden” trails. Yes, forbidden – this path is closed!

First you have to make the 2,120-foot, 3,922-step ascent. But even though the trail is closed today, some avid hikers go anyway because of the spectacular view that awaits from the top.

Here is a video posted by Armando Guajardo on youtube:

These are amazing images, thanks to all of the intrepid hikers and adventurers who took on this challenge and posted their work on the internet…you are taking the rest of us on a great adventure!

Although it’s now considered one of the most difficult hiking trails in the world, that wasn’t always the case. The Haiku Stairs were built by the US Navy during World War II. They were attempting to build a communication system on the island that could be used to send coded messages to the Navy’s ships in the Pacific Ocean.

It wasn’t until 1987 that this treasure became open to the public, and people have come from all over the world to hike up the stairs and to take in the amazing views of O’ahu from the top.

Unfortunately, a severe storm last year caused a landslide that severely damaged parts of the stairs. So, for now, the path is closed…but amazing pictures remain.

See more pictures at this great website “placeyoullsee.com”:

http://www.placesyoullsee.com/18-pictures-from-hawaiis-most-stunning-dangerous-and-illegal-hiking-trail/

Of course, the “Stairway To Heaven” isn’t the only hiking path for true adventurers…

Ready To Hike THIS?

Time to head to China for a nice walk: get some fresh air, see the sights….AND WATCH YOUR STEP!

Yes, here is the world’s most dangerous mountain hike! If you need more proof, well HAVE I GOT IT FOR YOU!

Thanks as always to the way folks at “RocketNews24” for posting this story, which they say was originally uploaded by the website “Izismile”.

Look at how you begin to climb this baby!

Climb Aboard The “Hua Shan Trail!”

This is 100% true: this is a hiking trail! These are photos of the Hua Shan trail, which crosses over, under and between the five peaks of the 7066 foot Hua Shan mountain in China’s Shaanxi Province!

According to RocketNews24, “the trail is known among tourists as ‘the world’s most dangerous hiking trail’ on account of its steep climbs and sheer drops alongside which narrow paths snake.”

Um, YEAH!

As you can see, they have found a way to make every part of this mountain “hike-able” – as long as you have no fear of heights!

Thanks as always to the intrepid reporters at “RocketNews24”, THE GREATEST WEBSITE FOR ALL THINGS ASIA! READ THEIR ENTIRE STORY HERE:

Don’t Look Down! A Stroll Along China’s Deadliest Hiking Trail【Photos】

I honestly don’t think I could do that…but I might try!

Glenn Frey Rocks The Big Screen – And TV Too!

Eagles fans know all about the music – both from the band and from members as solo artists…so I wanted to look at Glenn Frey’s other passion: acting!

And where better to start than in Miami!

“Miami Vice” – Great Acting AND Smash Hit Singles!

Frey’s first role was on “Miami Vice” – an iconic hit from the 80’s…The storyline for his episode was inspired by his song “Smuggler’s Blues.”

The episode titled “Smuggler’s Blues” had Crockett and Tubbs on a secret mission to flush out a DEA leak with the aid of a guitar-toting pilot – Frey!

The “Miami Vice” soundtrack gave Frey two massive hits: “Blues” and “You Belong To The City.” Frey co-wrote some of his songs with friend and legendary Songwriter Jack Tempchin, who also contributed to some of the greatest Eagles songs….

Here is the music video for this classic song:

“The Heat Is On”!

Glenn also scored a massive hit with “The Heat Is On” from the “Beverly Hills Cop” soundtrack.

Here is a great live performance by Frey from the “Arsenio Hall” show…

Glenn showed up in guest spots on a number of shows such as “Wiseguy”, and starred in a short-lived series “South Of Sunset” as well.

“Let’s Get Harry!”

Frey’s film roles included starring in “Let’s Get Harry”, a 1986 film about a group of friends who travel to Colombia to rescue their friend from a drug lord.

Here is the trailer:

It’s a great cast including Robert Duvall, Gary Busey and Frey – a fun little action thriller worth checking out.

Glenn Chews Out Tom Cruise!

Frey starred in “Jerry Maguire”, and he got to have a lot of fun chewing out Tom Cruise! First, here is the trailer:

Frey was the frugal general manager of the Arizona Cardinals – who must negotiate a new deal with one of Cruise’s clients…in one great scene, Glenn got to chew out Tom Cruise for all of the abuse he’d suffered in previous negotiations…

It’s a great scene is a classic film, and it reinforced how comfortable Frey was on camera…

After leaving the Eagles, Frey had 12 solo hit singles. Eleven of those were written with Jack Tempchin who also wrote “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and other songs with the Eagles as well.

Of course, one of Frey’s greatest songs was written with Don Henley while sitting in a bar in West Hollywood!

I love this story of how Don and Glenn got the idea for the song – and you can read that story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/01/19/glenn-freys-greatest-song-lyin-eyes-the-true-story/

Of course, Frey and the band reunited and created one more masterpiece for fans:

I love this double album, full of classic Eagles songs like “Busy Being Fabulous”, written by Frey and Henley, and Frey’s beautiful song “You Are Not Alone.”

See more great music from that album here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/01/the-eagles-swan-song-long-road-out-of-eden-glenn-freys-farewell/

Leave me a note and let me know your favorite Glenn Frey TV or movie moment!

Enter the world of sex symbols…a world of movie trailers that boldly proclaim:

“Introducing Raquel Welch, the amazing star discovery of this, or any year!”

What a way to make your film debut – wearing THIS!

Celebrating the 60’s Sex Kitten Raquel Welch!

Yep, let’s go back to an era when one of the world’s most beautiful women became the world’s biggest star – all based on a very revealing movie outfit!

Raquel Welch burst onto the movie scene in the mid-60’s with a popular movie that resulted in the most iconic pin-up poster of the 60’s…first, where is all began: she was born Jo Raquel Tejada on September 5, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois, the first of three children born to Bolivian Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo, an aerospace engineer, and his Irish-American wife Josephine Sarah Hall.

The Best Selling Pin-Up Of The 60’s!

This image, of Raquel in the animal skin bikini, was the best-selling pin-up poster of the 60’s, and turned her into an international sex kitten – a picture that was taken originally from the set of her first movie, the smash hit “One Million Years B.C.”

One Million Years B.C.

The movie was the perfect vehicle for Welch – a story of life in prehistoric times, when there was little dialogue and fewer clothes…

Narrator: This is a story of long, long ago; when the world was just beginning.

I LOVE when the trailer proclaims, “Introducing Raquel Welch, the amazing star discovery of this, or any year!” Check it out:

And it included such memorable dialogue between Raquel and her co-star:

Loana: [pointing to Ahot] Ahot.
Ahot: [pointing to himself] Ahot.
Tumak: Ahot.
Loana: [pointing to Ahot] Ahot.
[pointing to herself]
Loana: Loana.

Loana: Nnn?
Tumak: [misunderstanding] Ahot.
Loana: [pointing to Ahot] Ahot.
[pointing to herself]
Loana: Loana.
[pointing to Tumak]
Tumak: Tumak.

Yes, this is dialogue from the movie. But it didn’t matter, as it catapulted Raquel to stardom, and she followed up with a wide variety of roles that showcased her beauty more than her acting ability…

And of course, sexy photo shoots like this kept her popular with the guys, so naturally she teamed up with one of the biggest male action stars of the 70’s…

Fuzz.

This is an action comedy from 1972. Police in Boston search for a mad bomber trying to extort money from the city. The cops in charge of finding this “mad bomber” are Burt Reynold, Raquel Welch and Tom Skerritt.

Check out the trailer:

According to IMDB, Raquel Welch did not like Burt Reynolds because of unsavory comments he made while they were filming “100 Rifles” together. So, in this movie Welch insisted that she not have any direct scenes with Reynolds. The closest they get is during the interrogation. Even when in the same room they never have direct eye contact!

Raquel also starred in the 1971 western “Hannie Caulder”, and as you can see, there wasn’t much of a wardrobe budget for the film!

“The Last Of Sheila!”

One of her best films is this classic murder mystery from 1974…if you haven’t seen this film, it is amazing! See the trailer and more about the film here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/06/29/psycho-and-sondheim-the-last-of-sheila-classic-hollywood-murder-mystery-richard-benjamin-rules/

One of Raquel’s biggest hits was also one of the most blatant:

Mother Jugs & Speed

Yes, you read the name of the movie correctly. In case you were wondering, Raquel is NOT the fast one in this movie…but she did star with Bill Cosby and Harvey Keitel..this goofy comedy had a very simple plotline: A new law says that the first ambulance that arrives at an accident obtains the contract to transport the injured person. The result is ruthless competition between several companies. Raquel showed up to look pretty and live up to the title…

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Tony Malatesta: They don’t call me Speed for nuthin’.
Jugs: Well, let’s hope they don’t call you Speed for everything!

Raquel Kicks Kramer’s Ass!

Raquel was an under-rated comedic Actress: I loved her cameo on “Seinfeld” when she gets into a “c-c-c-catfight” with Elaine!

Here is a more in-depth at her career, and her “Seinfeld” appearance!

https://johnrieber.com/2012/09/13/raquel-raquel-60s-sex-symbol-and-c-c-c-catfight-seinfeld-star-raquel-welch/

Recently, I ran into Raquel Welch at a restaurant in West Hollywood, and here is my failed attempt to sneak a shot of her…yes, that is her in the light creme colored outfit:

Epic fail! Well, bravo to Raquel for still looking gorgeous and giving us so many great movies to enjoy!

Time To Celebrate Music Reigning Diva!

My wife Alex and I had the chance to see the legendary Diana Ross at the Hollywood Bowl, and she was amazing! Here is a look at the concert, her song list, some videos and oh yes, those outfits!

We arrived two hours before the show started, so we could settle in, have a nice meal and wine in our box, and then prepare for Diana Ross. I’m not aware of her performing that often in public, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was she uncomfortable on stage? Is her voice up to par?

The lights dimmed, and Ms. Ross took the stage – and I immediately knew she had no stage fright – and that she was going to wow us with her outfits!

LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 03: Singer Diana Ross celebrates her more than 40-year career during a concert at the Hollywood Bowl on August 3, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. PHOTOGRAPH BY UPI /Landov / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W http://www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W http://www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W http://www.barcroftindia.com

Thanks to UPI for this terrific shot on her onstage – she wowed the crowd with a variety of outfits – AND with an incredible body of work!

Diana Ross performs on the first of two nights at the Hollywood Bowl Friday night.
///ADDITIONAL INFO: dianaross_review.dak 07/15/16 – Photo by DREW A. KELLEY, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

“Swinging Into Action!”

Ross cemented her reputation as a consummate performer – and legendary Diva – when she came on stage by way of a swing! That’s right, she entered the Bowl from above the band!

“We’re going to play a lot of your favorites tonight!”

After being deposited on stage, Ross told the crowd that we were in for a treat: all of her great single hits PLUS the best songs from The Supremes!

Here is Ross performing “Stop! In The Name Of Love” –

Ross performed some of The Supremes’ greatest hits, including “Love Child”, “Stop! In The Name Of Love” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – and her voice was strong, upbeat and playful – she was having a ball onstage, perhaps no more so than when she called up a friend from the audience:

Usher And Diana Ross Go “Upside Down!”

One of the shows highlights occurred during the performance of “Upside Down”, as Ross called her friend Usher up on stage to sing with her!

Here is a clip of that performance:

The entire night was a joyful loveliest, and Ross soaked it all up and more…her voice was dynamic, her mood was playful and upbeat, and as I said, she wowed us with multiple costume changes – as any great Diva would do!

The sold out crowd at The Hollywood Bowl was enthralled by the evening…such a great venue for performers…here is Ross performing “Love Hangover”:

Ross is one of the great singers of all time, and a great stage performer as well – her voice was strong, her energy level high – and it was terrific to see her live…

“Songs In The Key Of Stevie!”

I was also lucky enough to see the brilliant Stevie Wonder live, performing his entire “Songs In The Key Of Life” albums for us:

As you can hear on this clip from the concert, his voice was also flawless…see my entire review here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/15/songs-in-the-key-of-life-stevie-wonders-masterpiece-live/

And back at The Bowl, I had the chance to see the 50th anniversary of The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl:

That live performance of “All You Need Is Love” ended this special evening – with some very interesting musical choices…read my review here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/24/the-beatles-at-the-hollywood-bowl-amazing-50th-anniversary-celebration/

Let me know what your favorite Diana Ross outfit was!