FORGOTTEN HITS: The Sunday Comments (11 - 05

Sunday, November 5, 2023

The Sunday Comments (11 - 05 - 23)

Everybody fall back this morning?

Good … that gives you an extra hour to read this week’s edition of The Sunday Comments!!!

Kicking off with this Timely Reminder from our in Resident Forgotten Hits Time Manager, Chuck Buell!

The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Sunshine Protection Act last year that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent set to go into effect today!

Except, in standard governmental procedure, it did not pass in the U.S. House of Representatives and, therefore, “time ran out” and it was not signed into law.

So, here we go again with our twice-annual ritual of changing all our clocks throughout our homes and offices, in our cars and trucks, for our security systems, our outdoor lights, irrigation systems, watches and other time pieces and all other time-affected devices which, according to most studies, hardly anyone likes doing.

Now, we could have a little Fun with all this to commemorate and remember which way to set our clocks tonight.

Stand straight and tall with your arms down at your sides in front of a special someone facing away from them. Then “Fall Back” and have them catch you! You can always do a “Face Plant” next March 10, 2024 when we have to set our clocks “Forward” an hour!

Meanwhile, residents of Hawaii and Arizona will just be sitting “back” tonight sipping on a Hawaiian Mai Tai or an Arizonian Margarita and chuckle sympathetically at the rest of us as we execute our bi-annual time-changing folly!

So, whether you like it or not, have you ever thought how all this Daylight Saving Time Switcheroo makes your timepieces feel?!

Like, maybe, your WATCH?!

For instance, this is one Mad Looking Watch Face!

“I get SO ANGRY!

First, it’s 'Jump Ahead an hour!'

Then it’s 'Jump Back an Hour!'

Then 'Jump Ahead!'

Then 'Jump Back!'

“Jump Ahead! Jump Back!”

Make up your mind already!

I don’t have Time for this!”

But there IS time for this “Jump Back in Time CB Minute Medley!”

CB ( which Stands for “Clock Boy!” )

My two cents ...

And now here's a collection of some Clock-Changing Deep Thoughts from our Forgotten Hits In-Resident "Thinker," Chuck Buell ...

CB ( which stands for "Contemplating Boy!" )

A link to a very special (some might say "timeless") Forgotten Hits SWEET 16 Posting from a few years back ...

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2022/01/sweet-16-january.html

Regardless of how underwhelming “the last Beatles song” may be (I still say a 12-year old kid could have come up with these lyrics … they’re a poor measurement of what John Lennon was capable of and does not present the band on a high note as a final swan song, no matter how many Beatle-like effects they were able to weave into the melody and background), I have to admit that the video that Peter Jackson came up with is quite phenomenal … he was definitely the right man for the job.

Here the creativity and computer wizardry really shine … and the deeper you are into the whole Beatles experience, the more you appreciate where all these clips were collected from … and how perfectly Jackson was able to weave them all together to create something new that IS fitting for the band. Great job … great video … and now I can listen to the song and smile. (kk)

FH Reader David Salidor was in a pretty agreeable mood over these new Beatles releases …

>>>I felt it was a bit of a Lennon LP cut … nothing better, nothing worse. It’s a bit like Real Love -- just ok. The guitar solo "like George would play" is a bit so-so as to the SOUND of a George solo. Buried anyway. The light orchestration had hints of ELO sound. The Lennon vocal WAS very clear and clean. I liked that. It sounds like Paul did a light backing vocal. Ringo’s drumming is ok -- what could he do anyway with a slow song? It wasn't bad, but the hub-bub, as usual with today, was a bit overblown. Nothing really stood out to me other than John's nice vocal. STILL cool to see new Beatles 45 out. (Clark Besch)

Agreed

DIS

>>>The Peter Jackson “Now And Then” video makes up for everything else connected to this song - Incredible editing - Jackson was definitely the right choice to do this (kk)

Yep, mind-blowing video ... pretty amazing! Agreed!

DIS

For me, this "last" song is more than a surface venture. As I watch the video and listen to the lyrics, I see and hear a magical time and the unfolding of events that impacted my life. The lyrics are not just romantically induced. They can apply to many situations in anyone's life and from what I know of John, only he knows exactly what he was connecting to in this song. Many things perhaps? First, three surviving Beatles and now two have chosen to use unfinished songs by a missing friend to recreate the magic that they felt as a team. Perfect union? Obviously not. We know the history. However, it always impressed me that the connections between them were never truly broken and that they were not as publicly flashy about their breaks and reunions as so many others have been. As the images show, I FEEL the gap between those passed and those living when I listen.

Shelley J Sweet-Tufano

I think as we get older we reflect more on where life’s journey has taken us. I think it may have taken this long for Paul to realize just how much the others meant to him … and now two of them are gone.

Would they ever really have gotten back together? Maybe … for something like Anthology … were John still alive, I supposed they could have worked up a new song … but it probably wouldn’t have happened. With John gone, it may have actually been easier to add their bits to his piece of work than to try and create something new.

It WAS a magical time … but during it, all four Beatles were in the eye of the hurricane … they really only had each other because no one else could POSSIBLY relate to the experience they were going through together.

Think about this for a moment … how quickly they developed as songwriters and as a band … from “Love Me Do” to “Strawberry Fields” in five short years. What if they hadn’t all been able to grow together? How miraculous is it really, in hindsight, that they were, despite ALL of the other obstacles thrown in their way. It really is quite remarkable. Had just one of them lagged behind, it all would have been over … yet they continued to grow and develop as a unit.

The video is a nostalgic look back at the happier times … and I think as we get older we realize it’s best to remember the happy times rather than let those other times continue to eat away at you. Selective memory, perhaps … but keeping things on the bright side make it an easier life worth living.

Watching “Now And Then,” you smile right through the lump in your throat the film gives you. These four distinctly different personalities somehow met and connected … and took the rest of us along for the ride. Those who didn’t experience it first hand with never truly know the magic … yet the magic still exists for everyone to enjoy, no matter where you happened to hop on for your own personal ride. (kk)

Amidst all the new Beatlemania hype, Billboard Magazine has ranked The Top 50 Beatles Songs on their Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart. (Again, it’s a bit of a distorted view … but it does give you some idea as to just how many times The Fab Four made their mark on the charts.) kk

The Beatles’ 50 Top Songs on the Billboard Hot 100
https://www.billboard.com/lists/the-beatles-top-songs-billboard-hot-100/

And Clark Besch tells us that, in addition to the upcoming Mal Evans book that we’ve just gotta have, there’s a new collection of books by Chuck Gunderson spotlighting The Beatles’ touring years that sounds really interesting …

How many bookshelves do we need for GOOD Beatles books?

You might want to add more room for one that LOOKS like it is another winner like Bruce Spizer's great books. These above books are a massive 13 lb. goodie I heard about last week in my #9 Dream! Well, it seemed that way.

Fell asleep with headphones on and AM tuned to WHO AM out of Des Moines and woke up to a talk show about ... THE BEATLES!

It was the oft good late night "Coast to Coast AM" show. My brother Steve listens to this often, I believe, because they often have some good musical guests on. I digress. Anyway, the guest, Chuck Gunderson, was telling great stories of the Beatles' touring days and had VISITED and actually stayed in many rooms the Beatles stayed in, getting stories from many who were THERE when The Fabs stayed in such places. His stories he told were great, too. I had NO idea that the city where the Beatles played live the most was ... TORONTO (six times!)

I had heard some of the stories before, but he often added tidbits that were good to hear about these events. The host was rapid fire with questions and Chuck was back with rapid fire stories, too. Eventually, he came around to hawking his new book which is actually VOLUME 2 (Volume 1 came out in 2016!), so you MIGHT need to find room for TWO books on your bookshelf! $99 for the set right now. Just got mine. IF you get both books for $99 from him, he will autograph free as well, but be sure to ask.

https://www.somefuntonight.com/about-the-book

IF you wish to hear the stories he told from the show I listened to first to check it out, here's a link to the podcast: https://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2023-10-27-show/

We did it … watched the ENTIRE four-and-a-half hour Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Friday Night on Disney+ … first time the ceremony has ever been shown live as it happened. (ABC, a Disney subsidiary, will run a three-hour edited version on New Year’s Day, January 1^st, 2024.)

I have to admit that this was a stronger class than I may have first acknowledged … and even at 4 ½ hours made for an interesting and entertaining broadcast. (I will also admit leaving the room for “extended bathroom breaks” during a couple of acts I didn’t care that much about.) And somehow I guess I missed the memo about Dolly Parton NOT being inducted. (Artists refuse to show up for the ceremony all the time … every year there seems to be at least one or two who can’t make it or can’t perform … but in this case, I guess The Rock Hall honored and respected Dolly’s wishes not to be included … which makes absolutely NO sense to me since her first rock album is coming out in two weeks with an all-star cast of rock artists helping out. I would have thought Dolly closing the show with special live guest appearances by some of these acts would have put this show over the top. We didn’t even get the annual all-star jam session at the end!)

[Hi Kent,

Sorry, but I had to chuckle a bit when I saw you mention that Dolly Parton wasn't included in this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. That's because she was inducted last year (2022) and performed a great rendition of her classic song "Jolene." Senior moment perhaps (LOL!)?

Paul Haney]

[Well, that WOULD explain it, wouldn't it?!?! Senior moment??? No ... more like just plain dumb! -kk]

Still, it was a fun and interesting show to watch … and I loved how Disney had to keep running disclaimers at the bottom about it being a live broadcast subject to indiscretions in the way of language and such. A couple of honorees even got in digs about Rock Hall Founder Jann Wenner’s dumb comments earlier this year that ousted him from the organization.

Some interesting pairings, too, of the honorees, classic rock artists and some of the new kids currently lighting up the charts. Overall, a show well done. (kk)

The Church Studio is hosting a pre-launch book signing for Mark Bego’s new Joe Cocker biography.

Speaking of which, have you entered our Joe Cocker Trivia Contest yet for a chance to win a copy of Mark’s new book??? Scroll back to Sunday’s post (or click on the link below) for the questions … and then get your answers in soon so we can hold our drawing. (I can tell you this … out of all of the entries we’ve received so far, NOBODY has gotten all of these questions right … so here’s your chance to shake things up a little bit!)

More on the Church Studio book signing party (which looks and sounds REALLY cool, by the way):

The Church Studio hosts pre-launch book signing for Joe Cocker biography | Entertainment | fox23.com

And here’s a link to the Joe Cocker Trivia Contest:

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-sunday-comments-10-29-23.html

Billboard is reporting that since Matthew Perry’s death last week, streaming of the “Friends” television theme song has TRIPLED!!! (I don’t understand … just turn on the TV and you can hear it every half hour till your heart’s content!!!)

Speaking of which, TBS has been running a Friends / Matthew Perry / Favorite Chandler Episodes marathon since November 1^st. (It ends later today)

Here is a list of all the Chandler favorites:

https://deadline.com/2023/10/tbs-best-of-chandler-marathon-matthew-perry-nov-1-1235587645/

The Eagles have added second shows to four of the new cities announced a week ago, including Chicago. (I knew they would … there were just too many open dates surrounding each appearance for this not to be a consideration.)

That’s OK, we’re covered … Frannie got thru on the first round and was able to purchase the identical seats we sat in for the Queen + Adam Lambert show last week. Now we’ve got six months to figure out how we’re going to pay for both of these shows! (lol)

Second shows have been added in Phoenix, Austin, Chicago and Toronto.

And, if you happen to be seeing The Eagles next week, the warm-up act will be The Doobie Brothers, as Donald Fagan is still out sick. (Now THAT would be a heck of a show to see … as I imagine Michael McDonald is still with them for this!)

And, speaking of Queen + Adam Lambert, here’s a great review of the show they did in Dallas, Texas, two nights after we saw them, that includes some GREAT pictures from the concert event. (Essentially, the exact same show we saw … with the exact same reaction from the reviewer … the show simply blows you away … so kudos again to all of those involved.) kk

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-dallas-concert-review-photos/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ugh&utm_term=UCR

A couple of GREAT shots by Bryan Rolli of Ultimate Classic Rock …

And then there’s THIS video sent in by Chuck Buell …

Billy Joel has announced that July 25^th, 2024, will be his last concert at Madison Square Garden … his 150^th appearance as part of his monthly “residency” at The Garden.

Other Garden dates between now and then include November 22^nd, December 19^th, January 11^th, February 9^th, March 28^th, April 26^th, May 9^th and June 8^th. (kk)

Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top are going to continue to tour together throughout 2024. (It’s a Classic Rock match-up made in heaven)

Billed as the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, new confirmed dates include:

March 8th - Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena
March 9th - Estero, FL @ Hertz Arena
March 14th - Greenville, S.C. @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
March 15th - Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boiling Arena at Food City Ctr.
March 16th - Columbia, S.C. @ Colonial Life Arena
March 22nd - Bossier City, LA @ Brookshire Grocery Arena
March 23rd - Southaven, MS @ Landers Center
March 24th - Macon, GA @ Macon Amphitheater
March 28th - Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena
March 29th - Greensboro, N.C. @ Greensboro Coliseum
March 30th - Charleston, WV @ Charleston Coliseum
April 4th - Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum
April 5th - Tallahassee, FL @ Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
April 6th - Huntsville, AL @ Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center
April 12th - Evansville, IN @ Ford Center
April 13th - Moline, IL @ Vibrant Arena
April 14th - Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center
April 18th - North Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank Arena
April 19th - Lafayette, LA @ Cajundome
April 20th - Corpus Christi, TX @ American Bank Center
August 9th - Mount Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
August 15th - Syracuse, N.Y. @ Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
August 16th - Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
August 17th - Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
August 22nd - Wantagh, N.Y. @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
August 23rd - Gilford, N.H. @ BankNH Pavilion
August 24th - Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
September 5th - Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
September 7th - Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amph. at Virginia Beach
September 8th - Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
September 12th - Darien Center, N.Y. @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
September 13th - Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
September 14th - Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
September 19th - Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord
September 21st - Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
September 22nd - Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Meanwhile, Heart has announced a second concert date … performing in advance of their New Year’s Eve Show in Seattle, The Wilson Sisters will make an appearance in Palm Desert, California on December 28^th. (A warm-up show perhaps?)

While no tour has been announced … and they’ve yet to refer to this as any permanent reunion, he speculation is high that fans may get to see Heart perform live again after all. (One can only hope, in that I’ve never seen them!) kk

Meanwhile, in the midst of the Bachman-Cummings lawsuit against the current Guess Who band, Randy Bachman has added concert dates to his Bachman-Turner schedule.

Upcoming shows now include:

November 2nd – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theatre
November 4th – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
November 5th – El Cajon, CA – The Magnolia

January 20th – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
February 16th – Deadwood, SD – Deadwood Mountain Grand
February 17th – New Town, SD – 4 Bears Casino
March 7th – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater
March 8th – Westbury, NY – NYCB Theatre at Westbury
March 9th – Quincy, MA – Veterans Memorial Stadium

With more dates expected to be announced.

(In addition, the band is working on new material … and will soon have a vintage concert video to promote!) kk

>>>It sounds like Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman have finally reached the boiling point regarding other members of The Guess Who use of the name. They have filed a $20 million lawsuit to reclaim the name of the band they helped guide into the biggest Canadian rock and roll band of The Top 40 Era. (At one point, The Guess Who were outselling all other Canadian acts COMBINED!!!) kk

Well, what the heck took Bachman and Cummings so long???

It’s one thing to use a band’s name to sing the old hits (see the Grass Roots) … but these guys have been putting out new albums under the name Guess Who and playing “their” tunes. They played in my area recently and I tried to tell people it’s not the band you know! The band does little to let people know that. How many people are duped?

JC3

Tom Cuddy sent us this clip of a new CapOne commercial that offers a “Saturday Night Fever” reunion!

Tom also sent us this cool video of Brenda Lee celebrating the 65^th Anniversary of her holiday classic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.” (Look for cameos by Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker!)

Paramount+ is airing a brand new documentary on Milli Vanilli, the only artist ever to be stripped of their when it was revealed that the two lead singers were only lip-synching to tracks recorded by others. (A new Greatest Hits album has also been released to tie into all the free publicity!)

I couldn’t hum you one line of a Milli Vanilli song if there was a million bucks on the line … yet these guys released five straight Top Five Singles between 1989 and 1990, including THREE that went all the way to #1. (Baby, Don’t Forget My Number; Girl I’m Gonna Miss You and Blame It On The Rain reached the top of the chart in Billboard. Of the ones that didn’t, “Girl You Know It’s True topped The Cash Box Chart and “All Or Nothing” peaked at #4 in all three trades.)

For more on this whole blitz, check out this article …

https://theseconddisc.com/2023/10/31/milli-vanilli-compilation-new-documentary/

Meanwhile, I may have to watch this documentary after all …

You know, just in case somebody ever offers me a million dollars to hum a line of a Milli Vanilli song! (kk)

[>>>I couldn't hum you one line of a Milli Vanilli song if there was a million bucks on the line - kk]

[That's OK. Neither could they.

Shelley]

[Best comment ever! - kk]

Will The Rolling Stones go back into the studio to finish up the remaining tracks for another LP?

Producer Andrew Watt is hoping so … he says there are at least a dozen tracks that could be polished up and released. (Watt shared VERY rare songwriting credit with Jagger and Richard on the “Hackney Diamonds” LP … and he also totally rejuvenated their sound while still managing to retain everything classic that makes The Stones The Stones.

Hopefully it just won’t take another eighteen years to do so!!!!

Watt told Rolling Stone, “That will leave them at age 98 when they finish the next one!” But then also added, “Listen, it’s like Batman. If they put up the tongue in the air, I know where to show up and I will be there. My vote is for them to finish it. As a fan, they should finish it. It takes a lot to get everyone together, so hopefully it happens. And if not, I’m so proud of this one.”

The songs of Huey Lewis and the News are being made into a Broadway Show!

And Huey himself made the announcement! (kk)

The new film “Priscilla” opened in select theaters this weekend. It is loosely based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir “Elvis And Me” and was made with Priscilla’s blessing.

However, daughter Lisa Marie did not like the way her father was being portrayed in the film … and one of the last things she did before she died unexpectedly earlier this year was email Coppola and ask her to change the tone of the film as it pertained to her father. Sofia went with the film as written

Apparently, despite Priscilla’s endorsement of the film, The Elvis Presley Estate wouldn’t allow director Sofia Coppola permission to use any of Elvis’ music in the film, so she came up with her own soundtrack that includes Tommy James’ #1 1969 hit “Crimson And Clover” (just featured in Forgotten Hits) as the backdrop for Elvis and Priscilla’s first kiss, which took place in the late ‘50’s … some ten years before this song came out!!!

In a review of the film that Bob Merlis sent me (ABKCO Records is distributing the soundtrack to the film), it also explains the unusual use of Dolly Parton’s hit “I Will Always Love You” … along with some history behind the song …

Dolly Parton: “I Will Always Love You”:

I don’t want to spoil exactly WHEN this song plays in “Priscilla,” but I do want to give you some context that will make the moment hit even harder.

Elvis loved Dolly Parton’s 1974 hit and wanted to record it himself, but his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, asked for at least half of Parton’s publishing rights. Though it killed her to turn him down … ELVIS!!! … selling off her publishing was a bridge too far … so she said no.

Karma took until 1992 to arrive. “Then when Whitney’s version came out,” Parton said, “I made enough money to buy Graceland.” (Obviously, doctor, you’re never been a 13-year-old girl.)

--Lindsay Zoladz

>>>Popsike shows that a copy of this 45 sold at an auction a few years ago for $73 … so not quite as valuable as we may all have been led to believe! (kk)

Yeah, but financially speaking, an initial Free ZERO investment resulting in a $73 sale still is a sound return!

Hey,, when you see Tommy on the 11^th, tell him I said "Hello," that I've always liked his hits, really enjoyed his book "Me, the Mob, and the Music," and that I had nothing to do with the "back studio lifting" of Crimson and Clover" at WLS! That was strictly Rook and Lujack and they're both dead so that'll teach 'em!

Ever wonder what The Chipmunk’s Christmas Song sounded like before David Seville (Ross Bagdasarian) sped them up?

Well, now you can hear it for yourself!

From Tom Cuddy …

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to Feature Performances by Cher, Chicago, and more … https://americansongwriter.com/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-to-feature-performances-by-cher-chicago/

The “more” includes Brandy, En Vogue, David Foster with Katharine McPhee and Pentatonix, to name just a few.

The Macy’s 97^th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place on November 23^rd, kicking off at 8:30 am Eastern Time, a half hour earlier than usual.

Both Cher and Chicago have brand new Christmas CDs out (Cher’s first … Chicago’s is a Christmas Greatest Hits selection of songs collected from their three previous Christmas CDs.)

Tom also sent us this article from The New York Times regarding the demolition of disco … which I can only assume is a tribute to Steve Dahl’s Disco Demolition Night here in Chicago. (I can’t officially confirm that because The New York Times won’t let me READ the article unless I pony up $1 per week to have access to their news articles on the web … which I’m just not ready to do.)

However, if you haven’t already surpassed your allotment of three free articles, check it out and let us know!!! (kk)

NYTimes: The Day Disco Was Demolished

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/29/arts/television/the-war-on-disco-pbs.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Meanwhile, there’s a new book coming out about the glory days of The Loop, the radio station where Dahl and Garry Meier ruled during this era …

https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/the-loop-files-an-oral-history-of-the-most-outrageous-radio-station-ever/

A couple of cool shots from Timmy …

First, an early Beach Boys Business Card, singling Brian Wilson out as “their leader” …

And then this shot of Nancy Sinatra … then and now

And Micky’s R.E.M. EP is now available …

REMICKY: L-R: Bill Berry; Peter Buck; Micky Dolenz; and Michael Stipe

The Night before his in-store at Wuxtry Records in Athens, Georgia, Monkee Micky Dolenz met up with the members of R.E.M.

Dolenz’s new EP, (Dolenz Sings R.E.M.), out today, (11/3), re-imagines three classic R.E.M. songs, including “Man On The Moon.”

Said Stipe “This is the pinnacle of wow for me; I love The Monkees and I love Micky Dolenz.”

Rock and Roll Documentaries seem to be at an all-time high …

Now comes word of a new King Crimson doc called “In The Court Of The Crimson King” …

King Crimson’s “In The Court Of The Crimson King – King Crimson At 50” Documentary By Toby Amies Coming To Select US Theaters Opening November 3rd!

OPENING IN OVER 70+ US THEATERS NOVEMBER 3RD

Just as King Crimson has been, for more than half a century, an atypical rock band, this film is a refreshingly atypical music documentary. A film about the sacrifices we need to make to bring things of beauty and meaning into the world. But with jokes.

Toby Amies’s film “In The Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson at 50” provides a unique insight into the working process of a complex touring band, interspersed with contributions from previous band members to provide a contextual backdrop to the band’s past, as the most recent (2014-2021) line-up tours the world just before and during its 50th anniversary.

As King Crimson producer and band manager, David Singleton observed of the film: “All of life is here, not just music, and certainly not just rock. It has rightly been described as going beyond King Crimson into a ‘universal, inspirational study of what it is to work or dream to work as an artist.’”

While director Toby Amies writes of the experience: “In the Court of the Crimson King is not a film that wants to tell the audience what to think, rather it presents several different points of view about the creative process and what it means to be in this most unusual band; leaving the audience with a sense of both how complicated it all is, but also just how incredibly rewarding the King Crimson experience is both for the musicians and its fans.”

Robert Fripp announced that King Crimson had “moved from sound to silence” on social media after their final date in Japan in December 2021, making this release all the more poignant as a unique record of the band’s longest lasting line-up with tantalizing glimpses of the band’s history.

Watch the promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg3osMG5yK4

Here’s what the press has said about “In The Court Of The Crimson King – King Crimson At 50”:

“The film is angular and abrasive, exacting and playful, extremely funny and achingly melancholy.” - THE OBSERVER

“This unflinching portrait of the prog rock band is like an episode of The Office but with huge drum kits, grizzled roadies and rapturous fans” - THE GUARDIAN

“By turns comical and melancholy, it may be the most revealing film about working life in a band since Spinal Tap.” - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

“A fascinating look at both a venerable institution, the dynamics of working as a multi-limbed unit that’s ruled by a single iron fist, and what it takes to play this type of music.” - ROLLING STONE

“Doc about a Prog-Rock Perfectionist Is Nearly Perfect Itself. About as good as Rock documentaries get.” – VARIETY

“Revelatory” - UNCUT

“A compelling insight into the tetchy men of prog rock. Their dedication to music is a joy, the persistence of Toby Amies ranks alongside Nick Broomfield. Even if you go in knowing next to nothing about King Crimson, you will leave feeling like lifelong enthusiasts.” - BBC RADIO SCOTLAND / RADIO TIMES, Siobhan Synnot

“The film ponders mortality, why music matters, and the sacrifices that bringing difficult art to the stage entails.” - THE TIMES

“In The Court of the Crimson King : King Crimson at 50 goes straight into the pantheon of those documentaries which enable us to appreciate the painful truth of what being in bands is actually like...there is no higher echelon.” - MOJO

COMING TO SELECT THEATERS INCLUDING LA & NY
New York City - November 3rd @ Alamo Drafthouse
Los Angeles - November 3rd @ Alamo Drafthouse
San Francisco, CA - November 3rd @ Roxie Theatre
San Francisco, CA - November 3rd @ The Castro Theater
Larkspur, CA - November 3rd @ The Lark Theater
Vancouver, WA - November 3rd @ The Kiggins Theatre
Hartford, CT - November 3rd @ Cinestudio
San Francisco, CA - November 8th @ 4 Star Theater
Ann Arbor, MI - November 8th @ Michigan Theater
Bellingham, WA - November 8th @ Pickford Film Center
Santa Ana, CA - November 8th @ Frida Cinema
Seattle, WA - November 8th @ Grand Illusion
Camas, WA - November 8th @ Liberty Theatre
New York City - November 8th @ Rosendale Theater
Des Moines, IA - November 8th @ Fleur Cinema
Austin, TX - November 8th @ Moviehouse & Eatery NW Austin
Austin, TX - November 8th @ Moviehouse & Eatery SW Austin
Columbia, SC - November 8th @ BTM Dutch Square Cinema 14
Richmond, VA - November 8th @ BTM Movieland at Boulevard Sq
Irvine, CA - November 8th @ Irvine Spectrum 20 IMAX & RPX
Knoxville, TN - November 8th @ Pinnacle Stm 18 IMAX & RPX
Atlanta, GA - November 8th @ Regal Atlantic Station
Chicago, IL - November 8th @ Regal City North
Cleveland, OH - November 8th @ Regal Crocker Park
Albany, NY - November 8th @ Regal Crossgates
Syracuse, NY - November 8th @ Regal Destiny
Los Angeles, CA - November 8th @ Regal Edwards Long Beach
San Diego, CA - November 8th @ Regal Edwards Mira Mesa
San Francisco, CA - November 8th @ Regal Hacienda Crossings
Portland, OR - November 8th @ Regal Lloyd Center
Nashville, TN - November 8th @ Regal Opry Mills
Las Vegas, NV - November 8th @ Regal Red Rock
Los Angeles, CA - November 8th @ Regal Sherman Oaks Galleria
Miami, FL - November 8th @ Regal South Beach
Charlotte, NC - November 8th @ Regal Stonecrest
Seattle, WA - November 8th @ Regal Thornton Place
Philadelphia, PA - November 8th @ Regal UA King of Prussia
New York, NY - November 8th @ Regal Union Square
Albuquerque, NM - November 8th @ Regal Winrock
Lowell, MA - November 8th @ Lowell
Foxboro, MA - November 8th @ Patriot Place
Providence, RI - November 8th @ Providence Place
Warwick, RI - November 8th @ Warwick
Farmingdale, NY - November 8th @ Farmingdale
Holtsville, NY - November 8th @ Island 16
Holtsville, NY - November 8th @ Broadway
Springdale, OH - November 8th @ Springdale
Cambridge, MA - November 8th @ The Prattle Theatre
Beverly, MA - November 8th @ Cabot Performing Arts Centre
Inglewood, CA - November 8th @ Cinepolis
Del Mar, CA - November 8th @ Cinepolis
San Mateo, CA - November 8th @ Cinepolis
Dallas, TX - November 8th @ Cinepolis
Austin, TX - November 8th @ Cinepolis
Austin, TX - November 8th @ Cinepolis
Coconut Grove, FL - November 8th @ Cinepolis
Gaithersburg, MD - November 8th @ Cinepolis
Sedona, AZ - November 8th @ Mary D Fisher Theatre
Minneapolis, MN - November 8th @ Riverview Theatre
Cleveland, OH - November 8th @ Cedar Lee Theatre
Bantam, CT - November 9th @ Bantam Cinema & Arts Center
Chico, CA - November 9th @ Pageant Theater
Eugene, OR - November 10th @ Art House
Dallas, TX - November 12th @ The Texas Theatre
Portland, OR - November 12th @ Cinema 21
Los Angeles, CA - November 13th @ Orpheum Theater
Somerville, MA - November 13th @ Somerville Theatre
Maitland, FL - December 18th @ Enzian Theater
Sacramento, CA - November 22nd @ Crest Cinema
Pittsburgh, PA - November 28th @ Harris Theatre

Synopsis:
What began as a straightforward documentary about the cult rock band King Crimson as it turned 50, mutated into an exploration of time, death, family, and the transcendent power of music to change lives. But with jokes.

Directed by:
TOBY AMIES

Featuring:
ADRIAN BELEW
SISTER DANA BENEDICTA
BILL BRUFORD
MEL COLLINS
ROBERT FRIPP
MICHAEL GILES
TREY GUNN
GAVIN HARRISON
JAKKO JAKSZYK
TONY LEVIN
JAMIE MUIR
IAN McDONALD
BILL RIEFLIN
PETER SINFIELD
JEREMY STACEY

Produced by:
TOBY AMIES
NICK FREAND JONES
DAVID SINGLETON

Executive Producers:
KAT MANSOOR
DAVID SINGLETON

Running Time: 86 minutes

>>>Now radio has even found a way to ruin Christmas for me! (kk)

For those who prefer to restrict their holiday listening to a limited number of classic Christmas songs, may I recommend my two-hour Top Shelf Oldies program from December, 2020, "A Pop/Rock Christmas." The first hour consists mostly of '70s rock songs, and from there the show transitions to more traditional pop and R&B songs, mostly from the '50s and '60s:

https://archive.org/details/randy-on-the-radio-139-xmas-12-23-20

– Randy Price

Of course, we’re still trying to get past Halloween!!! (kk)

Have you ever been able to figure out why Monster Mash made a comeback and made the chart again in the summer of 1973? Was it because Dr. Demento may have been playing it on his show?

Phil Nee

I can’t say for sure … but it certainly couldn’t have hurt!

Then again, “Monster Mash” has been dragged out EVERY Halloween since it first topped the charts for Bobby “Boris” Pickett back in 1962. It recharted in 1970, peaking at #91 in Billboard … and then again in 1973, when it made The Top Ten in all three trade publications … no idea why that year was so special, but it stayed on Billboard’s chart for 20 weeks in ’73, so every radio station across the country must have jumped onboard. (I could see that happen in today’s age when a sudden spurt of downloads or streaming would boost a record back on to the charts … but we weren’t living in that world yet in 1973!) kk