Category: Music

Hawaii 5-0: Tweaked and Ready to Book ‘Em

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The other day Chris Mills posted that there is a new version of Hawaii 5-0 coming to CBS.  The new show stars Alex O’Laughlin, Daniel Dae-Kim, Scott Caan and Grace Park.  The new  Hawaii 5-0 has tweaked a few things and looks interesting enough for me to give it a shot.

The one thing that I wish they hadn’t messed with was the theme song.  Nothing beats the original version when it comes to Hawaii 5-0.  Don’t believe me?  Chris Mills posted the new theme along with the original [and even a third riff on it for a show that never made it to series].

“Timothy”: Cannibalism You Can Dance To

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Today as I was updating the StalloneZone and listening to 70’s music, a song came on that I hadn’t heard in years.  “Timothy” was a one-hit wonder for a group called The Buoys.  It peaked at #17 which is pretty amazing considering that many stations banned it because of it’s references to cannibalism!  You read that right, cannibalism.

Written by Rupert “The Pina Colada Song” Holmes, it tells of three miners trapped by a cave-in and when the rescue team finds them there are only two.  Although it’s never explicitly said that the two ate the third, the lyrics make it pretty clear.

Trapped in a mine that had caved in
And everyone knows the only ones left
Were Joe and me and Tim
When they broke through to pull us free
The only ones left to tell the tale
Were Joe and me

Timothy, Timothy, where on earth did you go?
Timothy, Timothy, God why don’t I know?

Hungry as hell no food to eat
And Joe said that he would sell his soul
For just a piece of meat
Water enough to drink for two
And Joe said to me, “I’ll have a swig
And then there’s some for you.”

Timothy, Timothy, Joe was looking at you
Timothy, Timothy, God what did we do?

I must have blacked out just around then
‘Cause the very next thing that I could see
Was the light of the day again
My stomach was full as it could be
And nobody ever got around
To finding Timothy
Timothy…

Of course when radio station managers realized that the song was about cannibalism they’d pull it from rotation, but by then it was too late.  Kids were calling in to request it.  Stations that refused to play “Timothy”, faced the fact that the competition would.  Word of mouth continued to spread and “Timothy” rose up the charts.

I can remember it was the talk of all my friends who thought the song was too cool.  Yeah, eating a co-worker is cool.  What can I say?  We were kids.  Although I have to admit I still like the song.  You might too and you can listen to it here.

Meeting Frank Stallone, Part II

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On Sunday, November 8, 2009, Frank Stallone dropped by City Line Pizza in Edgewater, Florida. Store co-owner, Joe V, is a SZoner, and gave me advance notice so I made plans to be attend. It was a totally cool experience. Frank was down to earth and spent the time talking with fans, signing autographs and CDs. You can read part one of my report here.

That’s Mike Tourney getting Frank to autograph his ultra-rare Valentine record album cover. [Valentine was Frank’s band back in the early 70’s.] Mike is a long-time Frank Stallone fan who collects autographs and guitar pics!

That’s me, Frank and SZoner Stephen Isaia. Stephen sent in the photos used last week and has provided us with photos before. He’s a true Stallone and StalloneZone fan and I was pleased to meet him!

We close out with a final shot of my wife, Doralya, Frank and me. It was great meeting Frank and I want to thank him again for all the support he’s provided the StalloneZone over the years. Frank is a great guy, an amazing artist [singer, song writer and actor]. It was a true pleasure to meet him.

I also want to thank SZoner Joe V. of City Line Pizza [great food!!] for the “heads-up”. Hopefully, Joe will be able to have Frank back again some time. If so, we’ll report it here!

Meeting Frank Stallone

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On Sunday, November 8, 2009, Frank Stallone dropped by City Line Pizza in Edgewater, Florida. Since the store co-owner, Joe V, is a SZoner, I was given advance notice and made plans to be there. Talk about a cool experience. Frank was totally down to earth and spent the time talking with fans, signing autographs and CDs. Frank has a new reality tv show in the works. Of course we’ll keep you updated as it moves closer to production.

Although Frank and I had exchanged e-mails over the years, it was my first time meeting him in person. Frank was very gracious and thanked me for my efforts with the StalloneZone. He explained that Sly doesn’t mess around on computers much and at first had reservations about someone using his name and creating a website about him. Frank explained to Sly that “Craig is one of the good guys” and the StalloneZone is a positive place for Stallone fans to gather. Frank also wanted to make sure that all SZoners knew how much he and Sly appreciated our support.

I also met a couple of other fans at Frank’s appearance. The first, Stephen Isaia, is a huge Frank Stallone / StalloneZone fan. Stephen flew down to Florida to attend a Frank Stallone concert and come to the store appearance. It was a pleasure meeting Stephen. I also met Mike Tourney who collects autographs and guitar pics. Mike had an original Valentine record album for Frank to sign. Valentine was Frank’s band back in the pre-Rocky days. Talk about rare!

I’ll post more on Frank’s visit next weekend along with a few more photos. The pictures today come to us from Stephen Isaia!

Best of The Beatles

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The Beatles have been all over the news lately. Pretty impressive considering that the band formed nearly 50 years ago, broke up almost 40 years ago, and two of their members have passed on.  Still, no one can argue the impact that Paul McCartney. John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr had on the world. I was a Beatles fan, still am. Not a fanatic, mind you, but a fan.

Entertainment Weekly in their September 11, 2009, issue featured The Beatles on the cover and several articles.  One of the articles picked the Top 50 Best Beatles Songs.   You know me and lists, so using just songs from Entertainment Weekly’s 50, here are My Top Ten Beatles Songs:

10. Yesterday [1965]: Who hasn’t covered this song?  It seems to get more melabcholy the older I get.

09. A Hard Day’s Night [1964]  One of their first, and 45 years later, it’s still hard not to sing along when it starts playing.

08. Revolution [1968]  “You say you want a revolution?  Well, you know, we all want to change the world.”  Still do. 

07. She Loves You [1963] Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Nuff said.

06. Hey Jude [1968]  This song has grown on me over the years [after learning that Paul wrote it to help John Lennon’s son after John broke up with his first wife].

05. You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away [1965] From the album and movie Help!

04. I Want to Hold Your Hand [1963]  My first intro to The Beatles… getting to stay up late to watch Ed Sullivan.  Thanks mom!

03. Help! [1965] My uncle took me to see the movie and let me play his Beatles albums.  Thanks Jim!

02. Something [1969]  Frank Sinatra called it “the greatest love song of the last 50 years” – who can argue with old blue eyes?

01. Let It Be [1970] From their last album before they broke up… showing us that they were still on top of their game.

About Me with The Monkees

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This was sent to me by my buddy, “The James” Howell.  I thought of several musicians/groups that I could use [Billy Joel, The Beatles, Bob Segar, Michael McDonald, Elton John, etc), but opted to go with The Monkees.  So using song titles from their albums, here are my answers…

 Pick Your Artist: THE MONKEES
Are you male or female: A Man Without a Dream
Describe yourself: Daydream Believer
How do you feel about yourself: I Don’t Think You Know Me
Describe your current boy/girl relation situation: Heart and Soul
Describe where you currently live: Pleasant Valley Sunday
If you could go anywhere you wanted to go: Through the Looking Glass
Your favorite form of transportation: Last Train to Clarksville
Your best friend(s) is(are): A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
Your favorite color is: Nine Times Blue
Favorite time of day: Sometime In The Morning
If your life were a TV show, what would it be called: Looking for the Good Times
What is life to you: Hard to Believe
What is the best advice you have to give: Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)
Thought for the Day: That Was Then, This Is Now
How I would like to die: Love is Only Sleeping
My soul’s present condition: I’m A Believer

CNN Michael Jackson Video

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CNN.com has posted video of Michael Jackson rehearsing with dancers during a June 23rd session at the Staples Center.  In that one minute and 34 seconds, we can see just how magical it was when MJ was on stage.  Anyone doubt that when the rehearsal tapes are released on dvd, they’ll shoot straight to number 1… as will the CD?

Michael Jackson – RIP

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It’s still hard to believe that Michael Jackson died today.  He was only 50 years old and in preparation for a new tour.  At first it was thought that perhaps MJ had gone too far in his rehearsals and was exhausted, but when word kept coming out that he died, we knew at the very least the situation was grave.

Unfortunately for some, the bizarre behavior of Michaeal Jackson’s later years, and the allegations of child abuse will overshadow his accomplishments in the entertainment industry.  But most will remember the first time they heard a Michael Jackson song that made them move [even if they couldn’t dance a lick]. they’ll remember the Michael Jackson song that made them smile when everything was going wrong, or the first time that they saw him moonwalk, or the video that they kept rewinding to watch again.

That’s the Michael Jackson I want to remember.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

Remembering Dan Seals

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I just read today at Ivan Shreve’s blog that Dan Seals has died after a long bout with cancer.  If you didn’t recognize the name, perhaps you knew him better as “England Dan” of the popular 70’s recording duo England Dan and John Ford Coley.

Between 1976 and 1979, England Dan and John Ford Coley had six top 40 singles [“I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” “Nights Are Forever Without You,:” “It’s Sad to Belong,” “Gone Too Far,” “We’ll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again,” and “Love is the Answer”] with four hitting number one on the charts.

Dan Seals’ older brother, Jimmy Seals was half of the extremely popular recording duo Seals and Crofts.  Not wanting to cash in on his brother’s name, Dan went with his nickname, “England Dan” which was given to him as a child because of his love for The Beatles.  In 1980, England Dan and John Ford Coley broke up, and Dan went on to have a successful career as a country singer.

Although I’m a huge fan of England Dan and John Ford Coley [I almost posted a link to this video less than a week ago], I didn’t know about Dan Seals’ country career.  After seeing/hearing his cover of “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” I’ve decided that I’m going to have to correct that.

Our thoughts and prayers go out the family, friends and fans of Dan Seals.

The Goon Vs. Dethklok

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The one genre of music that I’m not much into is metal.  That might mean that I’ll get a bit more joy out of seeing Eric Powell’s The Goon kick a bit of metalhead butt in the one-shot called, appropriately enough, “The Goon Vs. Dethklok.” It’ll be written and drawn by Eric Powell and should hit local comic shops in July.  You can get a sneak peak of the full cover and a see an exclusive MTV promo for “The Goon Vs. Dethklok” by clicking here.

Rare Beatles Footage

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Rick, over at his On My Mind blog, posted up a very rare clip which features The Beatles in a live performance taped at a concert in Manchester, England in 1963.  The video showcases two songs as well as some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that happened before the show.  It runs a little less than seven minutes and if you’re a Beatles fan it’s more than worth you time.

Welcome to the 21st Century, Wild Bill

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My buddy, Bill Black, has moved AC Comics into the 21st century!

Everything, and I mean everything that a fan could love about Bill’s diverse product line is available with a click.  Femforce is here.    Giant Women [yes, giant women] are here.  Bill’s dvd line is available [with selected trailers].    If you’re into Golden Age Heroes, then click here.   Western Reprint fans will want to click on this.   You can even click here to read Femforce:Origins.

I can’t wait to see what Wild Bill has planned for the 22nd century!

Joe Bluhm Gives It Away

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Joe Bluhm’s drawings are dead-on.  Folks say Joe Bluhm has “crazy skills.” “Mad talents” cry others.  I’m starting to wonder if maybe both groups are right… and not just about his skills and talents.  See, Joe has a new art book coming out called Sketch Infectus.  And that’s where things start to head into crazyville.

Joe’s Sketch Infectus is an 80 page hardcover art book filled with nearly 400 of Joe’s drawings.   He’s selling this sweet package for just $19.95.  That comes to less than 20 cents a sketch.  Insane, right?  Well, it gets better my friends.

Joe also went out and gathered quotes, tips and advice from some of the top artists working today.  People like Tom Richmond, Steven Silver, Phillip Burke and others.  Did Joe raise the price?  Nope.

Then to show you how out there Joe is with this offer, let’s quote the man himself:

Anyone who pre-orders by February 5th (happens to be a good friend’s birthday!) will get an original sketch. And by sketch, I don’t mean I’ll draw a little 5 second scribble… I mean I’ll actually be cutting out the sketches from these and other sketchbooks and giving them to you! You might get something IN the book and you might get something else! Your sketch might have a doodle on the back. Who knows!

Now that deal is insane and crazy.  And if you don’t jump on it, you’d have to be too.