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!

Happy Birthday Todd!

All Todd Rundgren fans know that today is his birthday, and I wanted to look at some of the songs from some of the albums that he has released over his long career.

He has taken some interesting paths in his musical career, but fans stay with him because there is true genius in his work.

Here are seven great songs from seven incredible Todd Rundgren albums…why seven? WHY NOT.

“The Verb To Love” From “Faithful!”

“Faithful” is one side of classic songs Todd “covered” faithfully, and the second side is simply one of his greatest collections of songs ever, including this 7-minute ballad.

Here is a great live version of the song, performed with Utopia, from 1977:

Read all about the album that produced this incredible song by clicking on my “Faithful” story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/05/14/todd-rundgren-stays-faithful-a-shocking-record-label-betrayal-beatles-covers-brilliant-new-songs/

“The Want Of A Nail!” From “Nearly Human”

“Nearly Human” is Todd at his most commercially accessible, with classic songs like “Parallel Lines” and “Fidelity” – and of course the roof-raising “I Love My Life!” at the end…but the album announced its lofty intentions from he very beginning, with “The Want Of A Nail.”

Here is the original music video, showing the song being performed in real time in the studio with a group of musicians and singers:

You can see more videos from that album here:

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

“Can We Still Be Friends” From “Hermit Of Mink Hollow”

This album from the late 70’s had an “easy ” side and a “hard” side, but it is a collection of songs that are beautifully written, with haunting melodies, perhaps no more than on this big hit single.

Here is the “Can We Still Be Friends” music video with the dancing ballerina, and Todd on piano:

You can see more about this album here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/07/25/todd-rundgren-a-brilliant-hermit-mink-hollows-power-pop-masterpiece/

“Hello, It’s Me!” From “Something / Anything?”

His biggest hit ever, and still performed flawlessly live on tour. It’s his remake of the original song he wrote in Nazz, and I love his live “Back To The Bars” version with Stevie Nicks and Hall & Oates doing backup vocals.

Here is a great live performance from the 70’s:

Here is my look at this four-sided masterpiece:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/10/hello-its-todd-somethinganything-rundgrens-four-sided-masterpiece-guns-n-roses-loved-it-too/

“Compassion” from “Healing”

His most spiritual album for me, with one side of the album a three part song called “Healing” which is one of the most beautiful and uplifting pieces of music he’s ever created.

The song “Compassion” was the single from the album. Here is a great, vintage live version:

You can see more about the album here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/01/30/todd-rundgren-healing-hypnotic-masterpiece-one-of-the-first-mtv-music-videos/

“Just One Victory” From “A Wizard A True Star”

His misunderstood-at-the-time classic, culminating in what has become his anthem: my son is now a huge fan of the “AWATS” album, as he is listening to my original copy, and he fell in love with “Just One Victory”.

Here is a great live performance from last year, showing how great Todd’s voice and on-stage enthusiasm still is:

Here is a story I posted about how influential “AWATS” has become:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/23/a-genius-a-true-star-todd-rundgrens-musical-influence-awats-re-appraised-more-todd-mojo/

“Sons Of 1984” From “Todd”

Finally, the album that started it all for me…this was the first Todd album I ever heard, and I was hooked, from the opening “How About A Little Fanfare / I Think You Know” through “The Last Ride”, “Izzat Love”, “Heavy Metal Kids” and all the rest…

He recorded it live at Wollman Rink in New York in 1974…

“Back when I was young, my hope was strong
But the time blew it all to hell
If I thought I knew what was good for you
I would have gone and done it for myself

Worlds of tomorrow
Life without sorrow
Take it because it’s yours
Sons of 1984”

This 2011 live performance shows how Todd involves the entire audience in this anthem…

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/25/todd-another-four-sided-plastic-waffle-todd-rundgrens-eclectic-gem/

Happy birthday, Todd – so many more great songs and albums, both solo and with Utopia…but here are seven examples of why he has so many fans for life!

“It Tastes Like Beef-Flavored Something. Beef-flavored Matter.”

Talk about a back-handed compliment! Time for one of my favorite reviews of all time!

A Face Only A Reviewer Could Love!

What can make a food reviewer look like this? Well, the title of my story gave it away, but if you’ve never seen one, get a look at this!

The Cheeseburger In A Can!

I love this so much!

Sold by a German outdoor supply company, this amazing blend of science and nature allows you to take a cheeseburger out for a hike, or an overnight camping trip!

Now of course, as funny as the can looks, you DO have to bite into it at some point – and you will get this:

Tasty!

There was a pretty funny review on The Onion’s website – including some good quotes about what the “Cheeseburger In A Can” tastes like…for example:

• “Oh, auuugh. It’s awful. Have these people ever had hamburger before?”

• “Boy, that taste really stays in your mouth, doesn’t it?”

• “That was so bad.”

• “I think it’s more the soggy bun than the meat.”

• “No, it really is the meat that’s the problem. Oh God.”

• “It’s like the Salisbury steak in a cheap TV dinner.”

• “It’s like Upton Sinclair nightmare bratwurst.”

• “It tastes like Spam. Spam, but chewy. The texture’s about the same.”

• “It is a little smushy. It’s spongy. I don’t hate it. I think I could eat it if it was hotter, and I could dip it in Ranch dressing.”

• “I cannot swallow this. It will not go down.”

• “It’s not quite meat, is it? It looks like freaky airline food.”

• “It tastes like beef-flavored something. Beef-flavored matter.”

• “It’s a really dense meat-like puck.”

• “When I first tasted it, it didn’t bother me, but it festered.” “Really? I gagged the second it hit my tongue.”

What else is there to say?

Well, there may be THIS! Here is the reviewer trying the “canned cheeseburger” – and boy, is he struggling!

I can watch this over and over…I have to give credit to the company that decided we needed Cheeseburgers anywhere and anytime…and I also have to give credits to the foodie minds who came up with this:

A “Fried Chicken Bloody Mary!”

This is one of the most hilarious things I’ve seen: an entire fried chicken served up in a Bloody Mary…and if you want pizza, well I have you covered as well:

I have to give big props to the folks who come up with this stuff…you can see it all here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/08/a-fried-chicken-bloody-mary-the-worlds-wildest-bloody-marys/

Now, we started with a “canned cheeseburger”, so what else do you want in a can?

Hungarian Canned Bacon!

You can never go wrong starting with bacon!

Yes, our good friend bacon is also available in a canned version. And I see why it works so well – just stand it up on end, roll it up and slide it in! Now you have the goodness of bacon whenever you want it – just pop the top and unroll some deliciousness!

I can imagine taking a can of bacon along on my next camping trip to adding it to my cheeseburger in a can – once we have canned mayo, it’s all golden!

It’s hard to criticize canned bacon, which seems like a very normal canned food product…unlike THIS:

Hold Your Tongue!

OK, time to edge into wacky territory, and here’s an idea for you: canned sheep tongue!

Many cultures eat tongue, so it is something you will find on more progressive ethnic menus…beef tongue is eaten like bologna, so it’s not THAT unusual:

Well, after looking at ten pounds of sheep’s tongue, maybe it IS UNUSUAL:

Armadillo Meat!

Now, from the wacky to the bizarre, let’s take a look at other mystery meats coming out of a can soon:

Yes, you can keep a can of Armadillo at the ready, just in case you have the need – now you have the ability as well!

Creamed Armadillo On The Half Shell!

I can only imagine that if you want some Armadillo, but don’t have the time to “cream” it yourself, this is for you…and speaking of strange “creamed meats in a can”:

Creamed Possum!

I almost wish this was a joke – unless I am missing something, Possum doesn’t come to mind as a meat to eat in any way, especially creamed.

But, just in case this sparks some sort of cooking frenzy in you, I actually found a website that is all for you – here is a possum recipe!

http://southern.food.com/recipe/stuffed-roast-opossum-107969

Pork Brain In Milk Gravy – Hold The Cholesterol!

Time now to move onto a “smarter” meal:

Yes, if you need a week’s worth of cholesterol in a single day – with “milk gravy” no less, then I guess pork brains are for you! And here is a canned food product that doesn’t beat around the bush!

“Potted Meat Food Product!”

Hey, talk about “truth in advertising!” It’s a potted meat food product – there are many on the market, and this is NO knock against the quality of Libby’s version: it’s a product, much like spam, that uses lesser parts of an animal, and adds seasoning and spices…it’s mostly used on crackers as a sort of pate:

Among the ingredients: Mechanically separated chicken, pork skin, partially defatted cooked pork fatty tissue, partially defatted cooked beef fatty tissue, vinegar, less than 2% of: salt, spices, sugar, flavorings, sodium erythorbate and sodium nitrite.

Again, there is no knock against this type of food – it’s just a unique packaging style to be sure! And, to end on a very pointless note, I leave you with this:

Spotted Dick!

That’s right! Look it up! And yes, they sell it in a can!

STILL not enough for you? Then what about this new way to eat sushi!

Yes, sushi poppers! Sushi in a tube is close to food in a can, right?

Click HERE to read all about this amazing new food product!

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/19/the-future-of-sushi-behold-sushi-poppers/

Enjoy all of this unique food goodness – and remember to bite down hard!

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!”

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!

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!

Sasha Grey Presents “GREYSCALE”!

Hey everyone, I want to share a great new artistic effort by Sasha Grey – here is the official announcement:

“GREYSCALE” is a new short format series that approaches art as poetic commentary along with visually stunning photography, hosted and created by Sasha Grey and directed by Mattia Venni Uberti. A far turn from traditional review and television documentaries, the episodes themselves becomes cinematic art. Our first pilot episode is a sample of what I hope the future can hold. Shot at MOCA’s permanent collection in Los Angeles, I take the viewer on a photographic and poetic journey. MOCA’s collection offers a wide range of artists, where as in the future we may chose to focus on a particular artist’s solo exhibition at a particular gallery in future episodes, or conversely, classic pieces at a variety of museums. This will provide for a different dialogue and reflection, creating an individual tone for each episode.

This beautifully filmed new series explores art in a unique way – please check out this terrific video:

Sasha Grey==
Richard Phillips Exhibition Opening at Gagosian Gallery==
Gagosian Gallery, NYC==
September 11, 2012==
©Patrick McMullan==
Photo – CLINT SPAULDING/PatrickMcMullan.com==
==

I can’t wait to see more in this series, and bravo to Sasha and Mattia, the great Director of this video.

Of course, I have had the chance to work with Sasha in the past:

Sasha’s Shark Photo Bomb!

I filmed with Sasha in Australia for G4, when she went into an aquarium tank with sharks, and got photobombed!

These clips show Sasha getting ready to go into the tank, and then she walks among sharks and stingrays!

You can see more of her adventure here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Sasha also learned to surf at Sydney’s legendary Bondi Beach – leading to this hilarious moment:

Sasha is on a creative roll right now, after publishing her first novel:

The sequel comes out soon, and you can read more about her debut novel here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/29/sasha-grey-conquers-the-world-best-selling-juliette-society-scores-worldwide/

Sasha is also making movies with some very inventive Directors:

Sasha worked with Elijah Wood on a great thriller called “Open Windows” – check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/10/02/sasha-greys-halloween-horror-open-windows-ondemand-extreme-sports-sasha-down-under/

Congrats to Sasha and Mattia on their new series!

Forget this political campaign: time to go back to a simpler time, when this was the most pressing issue in a campaign:

Who Wants A Slice Of President John Tyler’s “Sugar Pie”?

You don’t get asked that question every day! I love politics, and I love food, so why not the best Presidential food recipes of all time? And it’s from America’s most “prolific” President – in the bedroom!

Meet America’s 10th President!

John Tyler was America’s 10th president, from 1841 to 1845. He assumed office after the death of President William Henry Harrison, who passed away from pneumonia after just a month in the White House.

Here is what Harrison looked like while spending his single month in office:

His “Accidency!”

After the shocking death of President Harrison, Tyler took over the office and was immediately nicknamed “His Accidency,” – because Tyler was the first vice president to become chief executive due to the death of his predecessor.

Among his accomplishments was the 1845 annexation of Texas. However, Tyler was also part of the political force that led to the horrific Civil War. Before he died, Tyler voted for Virginia’s secession from the Union and was part of the Confederate Congress.

President Tyler’s Confederate Betrayal!

Because of Tyler’s involvement with the Confederacy movement, President Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. government did not publicly acknowledge Tyler’s death, as the Virginian was seen as a traitor to the Union!

John Tyler – Party Boy!

Let’s step back for a moment and look at another aspect of this controversial President. From a personal tragedy, Tyler went on to shock the country!

Tyler’s first wife, Letitia, suffered a stroke and died in 1842. She was the first “first lady” to ever die while her Husband was in office.

America’s Sexiest First Lady!

Tyler soon squired Julia Gardner, a 22-year-old nicknamed the “Rose of Long Island”. Yes, she was thirty years younger!

America’s Most Prolific President!

In 1844, John Tyler became the first president to marry while in office. The couple went on to have seven children. With a total of 15 offspring from his two marriages, Tyler fathered more children than any other U.S. president in history.

Julia is remembered by many historians as one of the most beautiful First Ladies ever!

Now, time to have some pie!

President Tyler’s Famous Sugar Pie!

This pie became hugely popular because it was President Tyler’s favorite – and it is also known as “sugar pie”. Here is the easy recipe:

Ingredients:

Flour

Puff Pastry, 1 sheet

3 Tbsp butter

3 eggs and 1 egg yolk, well beaten

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup heavy cream

1 cup coconut, lightly toasted and more for top

2 pints fresh raspberries

Powdered sugar for top (optional)

First, cream butter and sugar with a hand mixer. Then add the well-beaten eggs, along with heavy cream and grated coconut. Mix by hand. Roll out puff pastry on a well-floured surface. Place in a pie mold. Bake in a hot 450F oven for 10 minutes, until pastry sets. Add filling, then reduce the heat to 350F and cook another 25 minutes, or until pudding pie is firm. Cover pastry with tin foil if it starts to get too much color. Remove from oven and cool. Top with fresh raspberries and sprinkle with powdered sugar (optional).

Lincoln Cakes and Washington Pies!

There are many great recipes that came from the White House kitchen.

Here is a great blog that discusses them all:

http://researchingfoodhistory.blogspot.com/2011/02/presidents-cakes-pies-jumbles-and.html

President Obama also gave us a delicious treat:

Obama Beer!

Raise a glass and say “Ale To The Chief!” Here is the recipe for Obama’s White House beer:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/09/07/ale-to-the-chief-president-obamas-beer-plus-classic-beer-ads/

Back to President Tyler’s fifteen children: yes, he was a party boy to be sure, but he wasn’t the only President with that reputation!

That’s right, this guy was a wild man as well! Read all about President Warren G. Harding’s White House shenanigans here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/17/americas-horniest-president-warren-g-hardings-sex-shenanigans-in-the-white-house/

Leave me a comment and let me know if you want a slice of President Tyler’s “sugar Pie!”

“Tear him up!”

And with that command, “Willard” turns his band of ravenous rats on all of his enemies…and yes, the movie’s sequel “Ben” had a theme song, sung by Michael Jackson, that was a love song to a rat – and was Oscar-nominated!

Time For The Wacky Animal Vengeance Horror Of “Willard!”

This 1971 film starred Bruce Davison and Ernest Borgnine, and was a surprise hit! Check out the classic trailer:

“Willard” was based on the novel “The Ratman’s Notebooks”, and was a surprise box office hit in 1971! A young Bruce Davison stars as Willard, a shy boy who befriends a rat named Ben…

Ernest Borgnine Bets Against “Ben!”

Ernest Borgnine co-stars in “Willard”, and as you can see, it doesn’t end well for him. According to Borgnine’s autobiography, they offered the legendary character Actor a choice of a higher salary or a percentage of the box office. Borgnine chose to take the money right away – probably costing him plenty, because the movie was a surprise hit!

Michael Jackson’s Love Song To A Rat!

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is that the main rat, Ben, was the star of a sequel the very next year called “Ben” – and the theme song is sung by a young Michael Jackson…and it was nominated for best original song of 1972!

That’s right – “Ben” was oscar-nominated! And why not? After all, it’s not every movie that offers a loving tribute to a killer rat!

“Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I’ll never be alone
And you my friend will see
You’ve got a friend in me
(You’ve got a friend in me)”

Yes, you’ve got a friend in “Ben!”

Michael Jackson At The Oscars!

Here is a clip of Michael Jackson performing the song on the 1973 Academy Awards show – he is introduced by legendary Actor Charlton Heston!

If you need to know, “Ben” lost the best original song Oscar to “The Morning After” from “The Poseidon Adventure!”

Thanks to Shout Factory, you will soon be able to enjoy both cult classics “Willard” and “Ben”, which are getting a much-deserved blu-ray release – so bite down on these campy cult classics, which led to a avalanche of “killer animal” films in the 1970’s!

Killer “Frogs!”

It is simply one of the all-time greatest movie posters – for a campy cult 70’s horror film called “Frogs”….one of a number of campy animal horror films that followed “Willard” – check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/10/24/wackiest-halloween-horror-frogs-vincent-price-helldrivers-old-ladies/

And if you want your killer animals more modern, I’ve got you covered:

“Zombeavers” Are Here!

Yes, “zombie beavers” terrorize teenagers in various stages of undress! This new movie is cap fun! Check out the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/02/18/zombeavers-the-latest-in-killer-animal-movies-frogs-ants-and-more-campy-horror/

Let me know what you think of the “Ben” love song!

157957199MB00165_12_12_12_C

“One thing they didn’t tell me was that I was in the middle of a Nirvana reunion!”

When you are Paul McCartney, it must be difficult to be surprised by anything – but wait until you read some of this terrific interview he just did with Q magazine!

The latest Q magazine has a great conversation with McCartney, on a whole range of topics….

Macca Talks Kanye!

For example, here is what he said about Kanye West:

“I got a call, somebody said, ‘Kanye would like to work with you.’ So we just knocked around for a few days…”

He then goes on to explain how surprised he was to find out that a lot of his work was used in other songs – that he didn’t even know about!

One of the best anecdotes involves his work with the surviving Beatles.

The Final Beatles Recording!

Paul discussed working with George and Ringo one last time:

“It was really brilliant cos you could be fooled once or twice into thinking that John was in the vocal booth.”

Let’s look at this great interview from Paul!

Looking Good At 30!

The terrific British music magazine “Q” just celebrated its 30th anniversary – oh, and guess who was on the very first cover!

Paul McCartney sat down with the magazine to look at the last thirty years, and he told some great stories, such as how he ended up working with Nirvana!

The Nirvana Reunion!

Paul tells Q how the Nirvana song came about, beginning with Dave Growl asking if he wanted to come over and jam. After playing for a bit, he explains how he found out it was a Nirvana reunion:

“…then this very tall guy who I didn’t know who was introduced as Krist and this other guy introduced as Pat, they joined in. The guys were laughing, saying ‘we haven’t played like this in 20 years.’ I said, ‘oh, you’ve played together before, have you?’ They go, ‘Yeah, we’re Nirvana.’ I had no idea. It was funny, I would’ve been intimidated if I’d realized I was being the vocalist in Nirvana!”

Here is an amazing live performance from Seattle in 2013, when Nirvana joins Paul onstage in their hometown for a rocking rendition of “Cut Me Some Slack”!

Of course, I’ve written about McCartney’s Seattle performances before – in 1976, when Wings landed at The Kingdome! See some great live performances here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/07/12/paul-mccartney-wings-over-seattle-the-kingdome-implosion-seattle-sports-history/

Paul also tells a poignant story about recording with The Beatles one last time:

The Beatles’ Last Recording!

When the surviving band members were finalizing the terrific Anthology project, they gathered with Producer Jeff Lynne of ELO to record “Free As A Bird”.

“It was very smooth really. I think once we’d decided that we would do it, there was no point in having any tensions.”

He also discusses how the three of them felt John’s presence in the studio…

“It was really brilliant cos you could be fooled once or twice into thinking that John was in the vocal booth.”

Here is the music video for “Free As A Bird”:

Finally, I posted a piece speculating on whether the third Fireman album was actually “McCartney III” –

Well, here is what Paul had to say about that album, when he got this idea from Youth, who pointed out that the first two Fireman albums were simply instrumentals:

“He says to me, ‘how about a vocal?’ I said, ‘well, there’s no song.’ So I had to say to the engineers, ‘OK everyone…this could be the end of my career cos I’ve no ideas what noises I’m gonna make now…I’m gonna shout words.’ It was like being on a psychiatrist’s couch, you were just shouting things. It was a very liberating way to work.”

While “Electric Arguments” feels like a McCartney solo album, it is clearly in the spirit of The Fireman. Read more about this McCartney gem here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/26/my-paul-mccartney-electric-argument-was-the-fireman-actually-mccartney-iii-maccas-heather-mills-dis-myth/

Bravo to Q magazine for such an insightful interview – and there is so much more to it, so buy the magazine and check it out. Let me know what you think!

The Musical Revolution Is Here!

Let’s go back to August, 1966 – when The Beatles released a masterpiece that pushed pop/rock music into a whole new dimension…

50 years ago this month, a new Beatles album arrived, and with it, the musical revolution they started took another amazingly creative turn – time to celebrate the revolutionary “Revolver!”

“Revolver” was the seventh studio album by The Beatles. It was released in August 1966 and was, as usual, an immediately #1 worldwide smash hit.

I wanted to share some great trivia about the album, showcase the unique recording innovations that were introduced, and share some videos of the greatest songs from the album – although virtually EVERY Beatles song was great!

Here are the tracks on “Revolver”:

George leads off with the acidic “Taxman” – the band discovering just how much of their money was going to the government…

“Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman

If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet”

Macca’s Greatest Hits!

Next up is one of Paul McCartney’s early masterpieces, the story of a lonely young woman in England:

“Eleanor Rigby”

“Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?”

Here is Paul performing the song for the movie “Give My Regards To Broad Street”:

John Lennon follows with one of his more cynical songs, “I’m Only Sleeping” , followed by Harrison’s “Love You To”…

“Here, There and Everywhere”

Here is Paul performing it in the studio in 1984:

“Yellow Submarine”

Up next is one of the album’s most enduring classics, as the band always gave Ringo a song to sing, and this was a classic that almost killed John lennon!

Yes, “Yellow Submarine” almost killed John Lennon!

Here is the story from Rolling Stone magazine:

On Wednesday, June 1st, 1966, the Beatles, with a coterie of fellow madcaps including Marianne Faithful, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones and George Harrison’s wife, Pattie, gathered in Abbey Road’s Studio Two to outfit “Yellow Submarine” with sound effects.
Zaniness had always been a special interest of John Lennon’s, going back to his passion for The Goon Show. Getting into nautical mode, Lennon pressed Revolver engineer Geoff Emerick to record him singing underwater, after having first attempted to sing while gargling.
“While George Martin worked at dissuading him,” Emerick later wrote, “I began thinking of an alternative. Might we have John sing into a mic that was immersed in water?”
A mic was duly wrapped in a condom for protection, prompting the Lennon wisecrack, “We don’t want the microphone getting in the family way,” and dropped in a milk carton.
The signal was distant and the gambit was abandoned, but no one at the time was aware how lucky Lennon had been. “It wasn’t until many years later,” Emerick concluded, “that I realized with horror that the microphone we were using was phantom-powered – meaning that it actually was a live electrical object. In conjunction with the 240-volt system used in England, any of us, including Lennon, could easily have been electrocuted, and I would have gone down in history as the first recording engineer to kill a client in the studio.”

A great anecdote, one of fifteen about the making of “Revolver” that you can find here, thanks to Rolling Stone:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/beatles-revolver-15-things-you-didnt-know-w432446

Side one finishes with Lennon’s catchy “She Said She Said”, then side two kicks in with another McCartney classic:”Good Day Sunshine” followed by Lennon’s terrific
“And Your Bird Can Sing” – here is a great stripped down version from their rehearsals, with terrific Lennon vocals:

McCartney’s ballad “For No One” is next, followed by Lennon’s expose of his
“Doctor Robert”, then George offers up his catchy “I Want to Tell You” before Paul gives us another masterpiece:

“Got to Get You into My Life”

McCartney’s writing is at its peak on “Revolver”, with another instantly iconic song:

“I was alone, I took a ride
I didn’t know what I would find there”

Here is Paul performing this classic in 2011:

“Tomorrow Never Knows” is the album’s finale, and as wikipedia notes:

“marks a progression from the group’s 1965 release “Rubber Soul” in terms of style and experimentation, and heralded the band’s arrival as studio innovators. The album’s sounds include the incorporation of tape loops and backwards recordings on the psychedelic “Tomorrow Never Knows”, the use of a classical string octet on “Eleanor Rigby”, and the Indian-music backing of “Love You To”. Aside from methods such as varispeeding, reversed tapes, and close audio miking, the sessions for the album resulted in the invention of automatic double tracking (ADT), a technique that was invented by engineers at Abbey Road studios, and was soon adopted throughout the recording industry.”

So there you have it, an album that was incredibly experimental at the time, and has stood the test of time as well.

There were some promotional movies created for the songs, which you can find here:

See all of the incredible music videos from The Beatles here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/18/the-beatles-exclusive-new-release-incredible-beatles-music-videos-the-beatles-1-is-here/

“Paperback Writer” was another song recorded during the “Revolver” sessions, but released just as a single…but that’s nothing, some of the band’s best music was written for others!

See some of the great songs they gave away to other artists here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/01/forgotten-beatles-songs-classic-lennon-mccartney-hits-for-others-the-songs-the-beatles-gave-away/

If you want to read more about “Revolver”, here is a great article from “The Daily Beast”:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/05/is-the-beatles-revolver-the-best-rock-record-ever.html

And I had the chance to see a special 50th celebration of The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl:

You can see my review, with performance clips, here:

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

Finally, McCartney just gave an interview to Q magazine about his last recording with the surviving members of the band:

You can see what he said about the spirit of John being with them as they recorded “Free As A Bird” in my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/03/paul-mccartney-on-the-beatles-last-song-playing-with-nirvana-kanye-maccas-greatest-hits/

“Revolver” at 50 is still going strong!

Simon Cowell’s “The Shining!”

Wh-wh-WHAT?!?!??!!?

Yes, Simon Cowell was part of the creative team on Stanley Kubrick’s horror masterpiece! It’s just one of my favorite pieces of movie trivia.

Here is more great trivia:

Robert DeNiro IS Sonny Corleone!

That’s right, before he was cast as Don Corleone in “The Godfather Part II”, DeNiro auditioned for the role of hot-headed Sonny…

Great “Godfather” Movie Trivia!

James Caan was brilliant as Sonny – and Marlon Brando not only won the Best Actor Oscar for his role as “The Godfather”, behind the scenes he was brilliant as well!

Brando was a notorious practical joker – read all of his behind-the-scenes gags here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/07/19/the-godfather-screen-tests-robert-deniro-is-sonny-corleone-godfather-trivia/

There is so much more great “Godfather” trivia as well, like this:

The Horse Head Was Real!

That’s right: the shocked reaction you see onscreen is real, as that was an actual horse head in the bed! Read all about this classic piece of movie trivia here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/20/brandos-cue-cards-real-horse-heads-the-godfathers-best-stories/

Here is another piece of movie trivia I love, courtesy of “Star Wars”:

Sam Jones As “Han Solo!”

Sam Jones was “Flash Gordon”, but did you know that Han Solo is directly a result of this film? George Lucas tells you how “Star Wars” came from “Flash Gordon” – read it here:

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

And finally, who would’ve thought THIS?

Simon Cowell Worked On “The Shining!”

Yes, Simon Cowell was on the same set as Stanley Kubrick and Jack Nicholson! Read all about that movie trivia – and more – by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/01/04/simon-cowell-was-shining-debra-winger-is-e-t-wildest-movie-facts/

Let me know what your favorite movie trivia is!

The United States of America. Fifty states divided in so many ways: north, south, east, west, midwest, northwest, northeast, mid-Atlantic, Alaska, Hawaii, mountain states, TEXAS! You get the idea: it’s unlikely I will get to visit many of the areas that fascinate me – like the south.

Two Great Travel Writers To The Rescue!

Lucky for me, there are two new books that capture life today in the south, beginning with my favorite Travel Writer of all, the brilliant Paul Theroux.

Theroux has written dozens of books over his career, both travel memoirs and fiction like “The Mosquito Coast” – and his latest work takes him to the deep south four times over the course of a single year…

“Deep South: Four Seasons On Back Roads”

This new memoir sees the Author travel along lonely back roads in the “deep south” – a place of long-lasting traditions, culture, and deep-seeded poverty….

“As thoughtful as it is evocative, the book offers insight into a significant region and its people and customs. An epically compelling travel memoir.” — Kirkus Reviews

The book is a compelling read, as Theroux, who lives in Cape Cod, sees just how different the American South is…but don’t be fooled: Theroux loves the people he meets, and isn’t trying to slam the region, just trying to understand their past, present and future…

Here is an excerpt from a terrific NY Times book review, which explains the goal of this book:

“Theroux himself has summarized the appeal of books like his: “Most travel narratives . . . describe the miseries and splendors of going from one remote place to another. The quest, the getting there, the difficulty of the road, is the story; the journey not the arrival matters, and most of the time the traveler — the traveler’s mood, especially — is the subject of the whole business. I have made a career out of this sort of slogging and self-­portraiture, and so have many others in the old laborious look-at-me way that informs travel writing.”

DSC_6105, Deep South, USA. Shot of an empty street.
retouched_Ekaterina Savtsova 09/25/2014

“In ‘Deep South’, Theroux set out to do something different. This time, he would travel within his own country, through some of the poorest sections of the rural South — the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Alabama’s Black Belt, the Mississippi Delta and the Arkansas Ozarks. Instead of climbing aboard a train or pushing off in a kayak, he would drive, and rather than pick a destination, he would meander, visiting and revisiting the same “smaller places and huddled towns” through four seasons. A road trip in America is a “picnic,” he writes. “In the travel narrative of struggle, I was not the struggler. I was the bystander or the eavesdropper, recording other people’s pain or pleasure. I knew very little discomfort, never sensed I was in any danger. No ordeals, few dramas.”

Terrific photos in the book by Steve McCurry capture the rural, the stately, and the decay that is the modern American south.

“Some days in the Delta,” he writes, “the river was the only vivid feature in a landscape that seemed otherwise lifeless — no leaves stirring, no people in motion, cattle like paper cutouts, hawks as black as marks of punctuation in the sky; the monumental stillness of the rural South in a hot noontime, all of it like a foxed and sun-faded masterpiece of flat paint, an old picture of itself.”

“Deep South” is subtitled “Four Seasons On Back Roads”, and that is just what you get: the view of the south from the country, two lane highway – NOT the interstate.

That view gives the Author a chance to meet the real people of the south – mostly old, mostly poor, with stories that capture the overall struggle of our country as times change and this unique part of the U.S. that hasn’t kept up with the times. It’s a great work from a great Author.

I spent some time in Jackson, Mississippi as well as rural Oklahoma, and I plan to share some of those stories soon, because some mirror what Theroux experience.

“Deep South” is just one new book to tell the story of the southern US:

“Dispatches From Pluto!”

British Travel Writer Richard Grant spent a year living in Pluto, Mississippi – and he wrote a terrific book all about his experiences…I posted about this book before, but click here to see all about Grant’s adventures in the deep south as well, including his encounter with Morgan Freeman!

“Dispatches From Pluto!” Terrific New American Travel! Richard Grant’s Dangerous Adventures!

I have shared many of Grant’s terrific books, including this one about his wild adventure in the heart of Africa:

Grant is a great Travel Writer, and here is a look at all of his books, including his gun battle with poachers in Africa:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/02/africas-crazy-river-richard-grants-dangerous-african-adventure/

And finally, Paul Theroux also has written about Africa – extensively in fact, and his latest book is one of his most harrowing:

I call this travel memoir Theroux’s personal “heart of darkness” – as someone who has been to Africa for decades, the Writer uses his latest trip to see just how badly the continent is suffering:

This book is a sobering look at just how desperate Africa has become – it is a powerful book that you can see here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/07/16/the-dark-heart-of-africa-paul-therouxs-last-train-to-zona-verde-his-personal-heart-of-darkness/

Thanks to both Paul Theroux and Richard Grant for their illuminating look at the American south!

Todd’s Latest Tour Is Here On Blu-Ray! DVD! CD Too!

Yes, I post a lot about Todd Rundgren, an iconic Singer/Songwriter/Musician/Producer Extraordinaire who continues to make music after more than forty years…in fact, Todd just wrapped up a tour that has resulted in this terrific new release!

“An Evening With Todd Rundgren! Live At The Ridgefield!”

I just got my DVD/CD combo, which is from Purple Pyramid, a division of Cleopatra Records – is a great looking release – and I’ve already check out the DVD…the concert has been beautifully filmed, the audio is pristine, and Todd’s performance is stellar – and his very tight band is great as well!

Because the concert ran more than two hours, the release includes both a full-length DVD AND a shorter live CD on a single disc…you can also order the Blu-ray…here is what you get – a Todd greatest hits concert with a number of rare and rarely performed songs as well – great stuff like “Open My Eyes”, “God Said” and more – let’s look at the track listing:

DVD – BLU-RAY Track Listing:

1. Intro / I Saw The Light
2. Love Of The Common Man

Todd comes out of the gate with two of his great pop singles, his voice flawless and the band energetic.

Here is a clip of the first two songs from the Beverly Hills show I attended in January 2016:

3. Open My Eyes
4. Remarks

Yes, this is where he tells the “walking dead” anecdote about fans who haven’t heard any of his new music for the past 45 years, but he does it with affection, then goes right into another classic:

5. Sometimes I Don’t Know What To Feel
6. Black And White
7. Love Science
8. Buffalo Grass
9. Determination
10. Lost Horizon

This is one of his most hauntingly beautiful songs. Here is my video review of his performance from Beverly Hills in January 2016:

11. Bang The Drum All Day
12. Soothe

This song is from his new “GLOBAL” release – and it’s got an 80’s ballad vibe to it in my opinion…I love this new song.

13. Kiddie Boy
14. Black Maria

This is one of Todd’s great guitar-infused rockers. Bravo to Cleopatra Records for releasing the official video of this song from the concert:

15. God Said
16. Drive
17. I’m So Proud
18. Ooh Baby Baby
19. I Want You
20. Secret Society
21. Love In Action
22. Couldn’t I Just Tell You
23. Can We Still Be Friends
24. Hello It’s Me

Of course he included his iconic single, which he performed with a sense of joy. Here is his live performance from Beverly Hills less than a month after the Ridgefield show:

25. One World
26. Credits

Kudos to all involved!

Band Line-up:
Todd Rundgren (guitar, vocals)
John Ferenzik (keyboards, vocals)
Jesse Gress (guitar, vocals)
Prairie Prince (drums)
Kasim Sulton (bass, vocals)

Produced by Chris Andersen
Executive Producer: Eric Gardner
Music Produced and Mixed by Todd Rundgren
Sound Recorded by Chris Andersen and Jeff Notti
Edited by Chris Andersen
Photos courtesy of Stevo Rood

Here is the CD that is included – 18 of the songs all crammed into one disc:

CD Track Listing
1. I Saw The Light
2. Love Of The Common Man
3. Open My Eyes
4. Sometimes I Don’t Know What To Feel
5. Black And White
6. Buffalo Grass
7. Determination
8. Lost Horizon
9. Bang The Drum All Day
10. Kiddie Boy
11. Black Maria
12. Drive
13. Secret Society
14. Love In Action
15. Couldn’t I Just Tell You
16. Can We Still Be Friends
17. Hello It’s Me
18. One World

I took my son Jeff to see this show, and he fell in love with my “AWATS” vinyl soon after.

If you’d like to see more of my review of the Beverly Hills show, you can read it here:

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

Todd has had a busy year – right after this tour ended, he headed out on worldwide tour with this guy:

Todd gave a great interview about touring with Ringo, which you can read here:

Ringo’s “All-Starr” Band Rocks On! Todd Rundgren’s 2016 Tease! These Beatles Tour On!

Todd is also making great new music, including his Grammy-nominated work called “Runddens” – read about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/15/todd-rundgrens-mojo-todds-genius-influence-new-runddens-music-todd-video-interview/

Finally, I love Todd’s producing work as well, and here are my five favorite efforts:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/04/25/hall-oates-meatloaf-funk-todd-rundgrens-top-5-producing-efforts/

Let me know if you’ve picked up the new live DVD/CD/Blu-ray!