Congratulations to Micky Dolenz, who will be inducted into The Southern California Music Hall Of Fame this weekend. (He’ll also be performing at the event.) WTG, Mick! (kk)
We saw the new May Pang movie “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story” about her two year romance with John Lennon last night at the official theater premier.
I can only tell you this …
No matter how much you may think you know about this story, I can assure you that it’s not even CLOSE to the real deal.
Lennon seemed to have a self-destructive trait dating all the way back to his teddy boy days in Liverpool. He was by far the most substance-abusing Beatle, experimenting with everything from grass to LSD ... and then on to heroin, which he would later write a song about, after quitting the drug “cold turkey.” He next went thru primal scream therapy … and then built an entire album around THAT experience. In 1973, wife Yoko Ono threw him out and made the arrangements for May Pang, their personal assistant, to become his companion in every literal translation … only to pull the rug out when she decided it was time for John to “come home.”
During that separation period, Lennon went thru what he later described as his "Lost Weekend," seemingly filling every moment with a crazy amount of drinking and partying while hanging out with other celebs like Harry
Nilsson, Micky Dolenz, Alice Cooper, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon and more. His nightclub bashing of The Smothers Brothers (all while wearing a Kotex on his head) became legendary. He continued to work with Phil Spector, this time on his “Rock And Roll” album … only to have Spector (in typical Phil Spector fashion) fire a gun in the studio one night. It was, to say the very least, a pretty wild time in John's life.
But during this incredibly out of control period of his life, he also spent time with ... and fell in love with ... May Pang.
Pang points out in the film (and offers substantial evidence) that John wasn't only partying all the time ... he was also going through a truly creative period of time, putting out new music and producing others, working with Ringo and Harry Nilsson and Elton John and David Bowie, scoring #1 Hits with the latter two ... and his first #1 solo hit ("Whatever Gets You Thru The Night") as well.
The fact that he reconnected with his son Julian during this time, who seemed to also make a genuine connection with May Pang as well, also adds a nice touch the story … especially hearing that he and May have remained close for all this time since. (May also maintains that even after John went back to Yoko, they continued to see each other for the next several years, something else I had never heard before seeing this film.)
And there is just SO much more. It’s 90 minutes of non-stop music history, told thru the eyes of someone who was there every step of the way, the vast majority of which wasn't presented to the public along the way unless it was some type of headline-grabbing antic that landed John in a particularly bad light in the press.
How in the world they were able to unearth so much footage from this era … the audio and video is outstanding … May also shares personal drawings and illustrations that John made for her during this period ... and goes on to recount the night that John Lennon jammed with Harry Nilsson, Stevie Wonder … and Paul McCartney … with film footage to prove it! The fact that John and Paul were actually talking about working together again in 1974 … it’s just INCREDIBLE what this film documents thru actual audio and video from this era.
Although no streaming plans have been announced, this is the type of documentary that you just know will end up on cable quickly … I’m almost inclined to say “in the next week or two” (which is typical after we just paid premium prices to see it first in a theater!)
Essentially told in May Pang’s own words, the movie moves along at a good pace, thanks to memories shared by and including Elton John, Alice Cooper, Ringo Starr, Yoko, John, Paul and so many others that were on the scene at the time.
In reality, it's NOT a great documentary … I don’t think Yoko Ono will like
it! Lol ... but it is still fascinating to watch, which therefore makes it DEFINITELY worth
seeing … especially if you’re as fascinated as I am by seeing Beatles-related
stuff you never even knew existed showing up in pristine condition. (kk)
Speaking of John Lennon ... and The Beatles ... I’m about halfway thru Charles Rosenay’s new book “Book of Top 10 Beatles Lists” and it, too, is pretty fascinating. It offers a variety of Beatles-related celebs counting down not only their favorite Beatles songs but also their favorite Beatles memories, live appearances, “moments” … and so much more.
And, if you haven’t already picked up a copy, Charles has now come up with a way for you to WIN one!!!
Read on …
This Saturday night WIN a copy of my book “Book Of Top 10 Beatles Lists” on COUSIN BRUCIE’s Saturday Night Rock n Roll Party 6 - 10pm ET on WABC Radio. https://www.wabcmusicradio.com/show/cousin-brucie-rock-n-roll-party/
Cousin Brucie is an American treasure beloved by Beatles fans and those who grew up listening to AM radio, and he’s still bringing us joy every Saturday night. His chapter in http://www.BookofTop10BeatlesLists.com is GREAT!
Thanks to all 64 rock & rollers, actors, athletes & celebrities who gave me their FABulous top 10 lists. NOW ON AMAZON: https://a.co/d/bQfe2nj
http://www.BookOfTop10BeatlesLists.com
Email bookoftop10beatleslists@gmail.com for a signed copy.
A couple of recent comments that somehow slipped thru the cracks …
An Easter Sunday full of hits …
A very enjoyable idea. I went through time while cooking Easter dinner.
While on Easter Day radio stations were playing 'White Rabbit,' 'Run Rabbit Run' and 'Peter Cottontail'; the closest the survey came to a rabbit was a raccoon.
I was in love with any role Fess Parker undertook. Yes, I was pre-school age, but obviously with impeccable taste.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
For those of you who may have missed it …
It truly IS a step back thru time.
(My, how music has changed over the years!) kk
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2023/04/easter-sunday.html
My take on Sunday night's Grammys Beach Boy tribute show ...
Tom Hanks did his usual great
speech at start. Now, consider that I did not know almost ANY of these
bands or performers in the least.
Well, there were maybe three performances that were fairly good. Wouldn't
It Be Nice and Good Vibes were best, IMO. They sounded closest to the hit
version, IMO. Do It Again and Darlin’ weren't bad either. Heroes
& Villains was an odd choice but surprised me to not be nearly as bad as I
had figured it would be.
I did not like John Legend's Sail On Sailor at all. I hated the Caroline No one and the Mumford & Sons was atrocious ... worst of them all BY FAR.
They often cut Brian off the screen making me wonder if he was looking away. The first few songs, Mike Love stood up each time after and Brian looked over like "What are you doing?" Bruce Johnston seems to have a smiling face every minute of every day, which if he is that happy, I applaud it very much, as he HAS been there thru much of the ride and sang these songs a million times. David Marks seemed unmoved by anything and maybe sitting next to Mike was part of it. haha Was he part of the first four LPs like they said? I thought he left after first LP. You only saw Al about once close up and he looked unmoved by any. Meanwhile, Mike seemed to either jump up in joy or sit quietly, so I guess you could judge who he liked and didn't. They managed to show many Capitol swirl 45s but then showed a reissue Capitol logo for I Get Around (or one 45 anyway) which was odd.
Barbara Ann hit the highs but they coulda done without a Dean Torrance led vocal? Brandi Carlisle seemed to be off pitch a few times on In My Room and what was with skipping the word "MY" in ending? "In Room...."? You guys might not, but I like Michael McDonald's voice always, so I give him a B+ on his song. The St. Vincent version sounded like a hit would be today, but I still didn't like it at all ... too different from the original, which most would not believe was same song. Surfer Girl, I Get Around, Fun Fun Fun / Surfin’ USA Medley, God Only Knows were not too good -- and Warmth Of The Sun, Do You Wanna Dance" (WAY too fast), Sloop John B were even below those.
All in all, it showed how amazing Brian was with lyrics and song creation, but not much else. I kept wondering what Brian thought:
1. WHY AM I EVEN HERE.
2. That's not how it should sound.
3. Why is Mike being nice to me?
ALL performances separated can be seen/heard here:
As Brian would say (but luckily was NOT performed from Pet Sounds), for me, "I Guess I Just Wasn't Made For These Times."
Clark Besch
I thought the special was pretty good overall … maybe even a little better than I had expected. What’s the point of having other artists interpret your songs if they’re just going to go up there and perform them note-for-note like the originals? Each one of these artists has to be allowed to bring their own take into the mix and make these songs their own. Sometimes it works … sometimes it doesn’t (proven most obviously by the Mumford and Sons desecration of “I Know There’s An Answer” … hands down the worst performance of the night. They took my point of “putting your own spin on it" to a whole new level … as in a whole new LOW!)
I liked some of the ones you didn’t … thought “Sloop John B.” was pretty good, actually. I didn’t care for Michael McDonald’s version of “Don’t Worry Baby” but Frannie loved it … so to each their own in a situation like this. “Good Vibrations” sounded pretty damn good to me … and I liked Beck’s other performance, too, of the previously mentioned “Sloop John B.”
Billboard called LeAnn Rimes’ performance of “Caroline, No” the concert highlight … and it didn’t move me at all. Just an overblown excuse to show that she can still hit the high notes. I expected more from Pentatonix and was extremely pleased to hear what their song choice was … I just don’t think they did the song … or themselves justice with that performance.
I also thought Andy Grammar did a great job with “Darlin’” … actually, I think I’ve liked just about everything I’ve ever seen him perform … so I may have to dig a little bit deeper into his catalog.
I didn’t understand why they would perform three songs NOT written by The Beach Boys as part of the tribute. (“Barbara Ann,” “Sloop John B.,” “Do You Wanna Dance”) … and it was kinda fun watch the band sitting up in their special box seats reacting to the show. (I laughed when I saw Brian and Mike sitting at opposite ends, as far away from each other as possible … but FH Reader Timmy C sent in this photo showing that their paths did, in fact, cross during the course of the night.)
In short, I found the whole program very watch. (kk)
