Bideodromage
The great vocalist/pianist/composer performs both solo and with his group Raspberries. The range and breadth of Mr. Carmen’s talent has really never been fully appreciated. And his voice is truly a thing of wonder.
The Buzzcocks, founded in 1976 by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto {who departed to pastures new in ’77}, are one of the preeminent punk bands to emerge from the UK. Extremely lyrical as well as hard-edged, they strung together many brilliant tunes, due mainly to the genius of composer and lead vocalist Shelley. Included here are a few from Pete’s solo career, as well as some particularly rewarding live group efforts.
Mr. Glenn Tilbrook, longtime lead vocalist for Squeeze, is without doubt one of the foremost practitioners of his craft. There is little he can’t do, and beautifully. Then-member Paul Carrack, primarily a keyboardist, sang lead on the iconic Tempted, for some reason. He certainly did a creditable job, but it sure is a fine thing to hear Glenn take his rightful place at the microphone, for the two live versions presented above. Pulling Mussels, In Quintessance, and Is That Love all illustrate the band’s talents for creating clever, catchier-than-thou pop classics, and Tilbrook is precisely the man you’d want to sing them. Black Coffee in Bed stands as a mighty exemplar of Blue-Eyed soul, with Elvis Costello and Paul Young performing backup vocal duties. Good ol’ Jools Holland makes an appearance or two, here, to boot. A marvelous {and vastly underrated} band.
{Note: this post thoroughly revised, 8/10/2019}
{Revised: 7/6/2019}
“Bowing, and squawking, Running after tidbits; Bopping and squinting, Just like a nitwit…”
Mr. Elvis Costello: One of the very greatest, most idiosyncratic performers and composers. Of this, or any, century/epoch. We will not see his likes again.
The great man, pictured also with lyricist and co-composer Bernie Taupin. Elton John has amassed 27+ Top 10 U.S. singles, and achieved total world domination throughout The 70’s. As dynamic a performer as they come, Elton is simply an indelible presence on the world stage. “The spotlight’s hitting something that’s been known to change the weather”.
The 1981 horror/conservationist film Wolfen, based on the novel by Whitley Strieber, stars Albert Finney, Edward James Olmos, Gregory Hines, and Tom Noonan. All give first-rate performances, with the quirky character actor Noonan in particular providing a can’t-take-eyes-off-of-him turn as Ferguson. A movie with a switch in the hero and antagonist roles, bestowing an atypical, noteworthy moral compass upon it.
With My Shillelagh Under My Arm
Mr. Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby here covers a variety of material, in his nonpareil manner.
The great William Marshall, with his stentorian delivery, and dignified/exalted bearing, brings much to the table in these two films. Thalmus Rasulala, Pam Grier, and Don Mitchell also excel, Rasulala in 1972’s Blacula, and the latter two in Scream, Blacula, Scream, from 1973.
Marshall was a Shakespearean actor, who portrayed the lead character in various productions of Othello to great effect. A formidable 6’5″ with a deep basso profundo register, Marshall carried with him a dignity and a regal demeanor. In a review, Harold Hobson of the London Sunday Times praised Marshall’s portrayal as “the best Othello of our time.”
{Revised with Full Intensity 7/6/2019}
**The seemingly invincible Nielsen, and even the record-settingly acerbic Roy Scheider, succumb, in the end, to the resolute Detective.**
The indomitable, dogged, yet supremely courteous Frank Cannon (William Conrad) is unlikely to swerve, even momentarily, from his pursuit of the truth.
See also our Rockford Files post.
Bideodromage 