Stay Chilled!

From 1984 ...

Believe it or not, there was a time when Stephen King books were not full of overstuffed cultural references and stream-of-consciousness rants.  They had plots which ticked along, and the things actually had endings!

Well, maybe the ones from the Eighties and earlier had all those things, but perhaps the versions that got published in those Olden Tymes had been judiciously trimmed?  Comparing the shorter version of The Stand first published awith the mound of excess that was later released as the "uncut" version, a lot NEEDED to be cut.

[editor's note: this blog post was once four times as long before editing]

See you Monday!

  

An Instant Paperback About the King of Monsters!

 Scary Books, Kiddies!

 

The Frankenscience Monster.  By Forrest J Ackerman.  Ace Books, 1969.  Cover painting by Verne Tossey.

            Rushed into print soon after Karloff’s passing, this fine little paperback is one of a long line of “instant books.”  Of course in ye olden days “instant” took awhile.  Everyone’s favorite “uncle monster” died on February 2, 1969.  According to Ackerman’s preface, “Farewell to the Master,” FJA got the OK from Donald Wollheim of Ace Books on March 7.

            This is a worshipful tribute to the gentleman of horror.  The book is an anthology of salutes and reminiscences from the likes of Chaney, Lee, Bloch, Bradbury, Glut, and many others.

            This is a fine production by “the world’s biggest sci-fi fan,” back when a sobriquet like that meant something.

            We salute you, Henry Pratt, and you also, Ackermonster!  See you on Friday, fellow Fiends!

 

Still Milkin' the Munsters!

Yup, we STILL haven't finished presenting ALL of the 1965 MUNSTERS coloring book!

Say!  Shouldn't we call this page "BOO-gle practice"?

The lame-o illustrated above is a guy who met Marilyn at a costume party and offered to walk her home.

How apt that the above image is THE LAST PAGE of the coloring book!  However, I cannot promise that you've seen the very last of this tome .... but it WON'T be on Wednesday.  

Come back to see just WHAT it is!

  

Fun Halloween Pastiches

I think this guy did a good job of emulating various authors ....

This is from the September 1971 Playboy.  I read it for the articles!  See you Monday.

  

WELCOME TO BLOG-O-WEEN 2025!

Yup, my friends, that magical time has arrived.  The time we wait for all year.  That glorious celebration of ... MY BIRTHDAY!

Oops, that was YESTERDAY.  Now it's October, time for ... BLOG-O-WEEN!

Here's the first of three new music compilations for this creepy month ...

... with a bunch of critters to get ya in the mood.

01 - Lizard Man - Jim Nesbitt - 1988  (2:16)

02 - Twist with the Yeti - Fia Chaplin - 1962  (2:40)

03 - Eighth Wonder - Lemon Demon - 2009  (3:52)

04 - The Abominable Snow-Man - The Copycats - 1960  (2:52)

05 - Kelpie - Jethro Tull - 1979  (3:35)

06 - Beast of Busco - Grave Robber - 2015  (3:35)

07 - Bigfoot Motel - The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy - 1982  (3:55)

08 - Curse of the Bog People - Lunatic Fringe - 1985  (2:03)

09 - Chupacabras - Groovie Ghoulies - 1997  (1:25)

10 - Big Feet - Sierra Rhythms - 1978  (2:47)

11 - Beast of Gévaudan - Powerwolf - 2021  (3:32)

12 - Mason County Mothman - Anne McCoy - 1969  (1:41)

13 - Jackalope - The Okee Dokee Brothers - 2016  (2:56)

14 - Swamp Gal - Tommy Bell - 1959  (2:11)

15 - The Bunyip’s Gonna Get You - Dot and the Kangaroo - 1977  (3:02)

16 - Running with Bigfoot - Groovie Ghoulies - 1997  (2:35)

17 - Honey Island Swamp Monster - John Farr Jr - 2022  (2:00)

18 - Fouke Monster - Billy Cole and the Fouke Monsters - 1971  (2:36)

19 - Bearilla Woman - Leroy Thomas - 2010  (2:39)

20 - Lake Monsters - They Might Be Giants - 2018  (2:58)

21 - Mothman - Mike West - 2009  (3:36)

22 - I'm the Monster of Loch Ness - Leslie Holmes - 1934  (1:57)

23 - Loveland Frogman - Fangs and Twang - 2017  (5:11)

24 - The Legend of the Jersey Devil - Country-Ghost - 2024  (3:09)

25 - Where Are all the Bigfoot Bones - Filthy Still - 2015  (2:27)

26 - Big Foot Stomp - Asleep at the Wheel - 1987  (3:34)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

This installment is about critters of folklore and rumor, from the well-known Bigfoot or Nessie to more obscure ones like Arkansas’ Fouke Monster or the Frogman of Loveland, Ohio.

See you Friday!  Welcome to the season of spooks!

  

Rumors at Warp Speed

I don't know how fast warp-speed rumors might be, but they might be too fast to hear!?!?

Here's a whisper from the December 21, 1991 TV Guide.  You might have heard of it, it was a magazine that used to be the supreme way to plan your week.

Speaking of weeks, come back on Wednesday, October 1, for the first installment of this year's sock- boffo BLOG-O-WEEN!

  

Take THAT, Professor Jones!

Here are a couple of articles from the Tulsa World, in re Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Yup, Star Trek III beat Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom in box-office biz.  Paramount was happy to own both of them, you bet.  The above ticket-sales report is from the June 4, 1984 World.

This review is from the June 7 World,  I do agree with the reviewer that this film has a slower pace than II, but still much more romping and jumpin' about than The Motion Picture!

My biggest bone to pick with STIII is the casting of Kruge.  Christopher Lloyd cannot be mistaken for anybody else.  Certainly not a Klingon.  It's Christopher Lloyd in a bunch of makeup.

I really do enjoy and appreciate the Space Opera tone of the film.  In this case, Space Opera is not cheese, but grandiloquent.

What do you think?  See you Monday for our final installment in TREKKING WITH CLIPPINGS!

  

A New TREK Series Launches!

That's what we learned in this article from the October 3, 1987 Dallas Morning News.

Boy, don't all the cast members of TNG look so young?  See you Thursday.

  

You Can Preserve Nature If You Want to

In other words, Nimoy claimed he wasn't preaching in Star Trek IV.  But if you decide to be inspired into conservation practices, he won't mind.

First, above is the Tulsa World's review of the film, from its December 2, 1986 edition.

And here's where he says he ain't necessarily preaching.  This comes from the December 7, 1986 (or thenabouts) Tulsa World.

While you're at it, you can save your local blue jays or bunnies, too!  See you Monday.

  

Glad THE NEW YORKER Wasn't Bored

I think it speaks volumes for the integrity of the folks at The New Yorker to assign their review of Star Trek - The Motion Picture to somebody who treats it fairly even-handedly.

Medium-boring?  Maybe in places.  Forgive the wrinkles and thickenings?  You betcha.

The reviewer watched the film with the right crowd.  He said that he felt like he was sitting in a clubhouse.  And he was correct in calling aspects of Roddenberry's philosophy "ineffable humanistic nonsense."

But unlike the guy at TIME magazine, the reviewer at The New Yorker at least paid attention!

See you Thursday.

  

Such a Hoser!

Yup, back 1983 a fire broke out on the Paramount lot.  One of the many folks who tried to battle the flames was our own intrepid Captain You-Know-Who!

This article is from the August 27, 1983 Tulsa World.  Note the handwritten date at the top?  That's my mom's handwriting.  In other words, Mom saw this in the paper, cut it out, and mailed it to me in OKC.  Does YOUR mom love you that much?

And, a clipping from the next year ...

We have a small burb from the April 17, 1984 National Enquirer.  I wonder if Shatner received one of those cool fireman helmets?

See you Monday.  And remember ... only YOU can prevent movie-set fires!

  

STAR [TREKS] OF THE FALL!

Yup, here's big coverage from People magazine's August 31, 1987 issue.

How antiquated!  How young all these folks seem to be!

Well, that's history for ya.  See you Thursday!
  

Beam Up at Any Time

That's the promise of this article.

It's from the January 15, 1985 Examiner.

How about you?  Do YOU look forward to having your molecules scrambled?  Talk amongst yourselves and come back on Monday.

  

Welcome to Another Month of TREKKING WITH CLIPPINGS!

Yup, it's more of the hundreds of articles, interviews and new squibs clipped from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Here's coverage of STAR TREK -- The Motion Picture from the June 1979 issue of Omni.  See you on Thursday for more, hot off the pixels!

  

Someday Soon You'll Cry, Baby Blue, on the Hill

To wrap up this ANTHOLOGY AUGUST, a crop of youthful faves which still tug at my ears' heartstrings (is that possible?)!

MA-68 - 45s & Favorites, Disc 10:

01 - Fool on the Hill - Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 - 1968  (3:05)

02 - Someday Soon - Judy Collins - 1969  (3:44)

03 - Fresh as a Daisy - Emitt Rhodes - 1970  (2:48)

04 - Walk a Mile in My Shoes - Joe South - 1968  (4:07)

05 - A Case of You - Joni Mitchell - 1971  (4:22)

06 - Temptation Eyes - The Grass Roots - 1969  (2:34)

07 - Loneliness Is Just a Word - Chicago - 1971  (2:36)

08 - Me and My Arrow - Harry Nilsson - 1970  (2:06)

09 - Cry Baby - Janis Joplin and Full Tilt Boogie - 1971  (3:55)

10 - Baby Blue - Badfinger - 1971  (3:35)

11 - Do You Want to Dance - Bette Midler - 1972  (2:43)

12 - Changes - David Bowie - 1971  (3:33)

13 - This Masquerade - Leon Russell - 1972  (2:59)

14 - Lose Again - Linda Ronstadt - 1976  (3:32)

15 - Going for the One - Yes - 1977  (5:29) 

16 - Jocko Homo - Devo - 1978  (3:38)

17 - Cheese and Onions - The Rutles - 1978  (2:39)

18 - It's Raining Again - Supertramp - 1982  (4:21)

19 - Trouble Again - Karla Bonoff - 1979  (3:32)

20 - Nights Are Forever (from Twilight Zone: The Movie) - Jennifer Warnes - 1983  (3:35)

21 - Dear Prudence - The Beatles-BRG-VM - 2011  (3:51)

When I first encountered Track 5, I read the song name before hearing it.  I thought it was a clever image.  "I've caught a case of you and I can't get over it!"  Imagine my shock when I heard Joni sing "I could drink a case of you."

Track 7 astounds me because it's so brief.  When I bought the 45, I figured it was a shortened version of a longer album track.  Imagine my surprise when I bought Chicago III and discovered this was it!

Track 8, of course, is from the TV movie The Point.  Have you seen it?

Track 17 is another little work of genius by Neil Innes for the Rutles.

I remember the video for Track 18, don't you?

Track 20 is briefly heard on a jukebox in Twilight Zone: The Movie.  It's a good song, given a stronger cachet by this knowledge, I think.

The last track is another exceptional entry from the Beatles Remixers Group.  It's a spiffy semi-rewind of "Dear Prudence," from LOUD to soft, instead of the original's soft to LOUD.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you Monday!

  

Walk Like an Egyptian or Turning Japanese? We Belong!

If you can't find a familiar friend or new musical buddy in this compilation, you need to find a new planet.

01 - MTV Theme ''Man on the Moon'' - Jonathan Elias; John Petersen - 1981  (0:54)

02 - I Think I'm in Love - Eddie Money - 1982  (3:09)

03 - We Belong - Pat Benatar - 1984  (3:42)

04 - Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer - 1986  (4:05)

05 - Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel - 1987  (4:50)

06 - The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun - Julie Brown - 1984  (4:41)

07 - Turning Japanese - The Vapors - 1980  (3:47)

08 - Theme from “The Greatest American Hero” - Joey Scarbury - 1981  (3:15)

09 - Roll Over Beethoven (Long Version) - Electric Light Orchestra - 1973  (8:10)

10 - Hold Me - Fleetwood Mac - 1982  (3:46)

11 - Shakin' - Eddie Money - 1982  (3:10)

12 - The Warrior - Patty Smyth and Scandal - 1984  (3:58)

13 - Words - Missing Persons - 1983  (4:30)

14 - Shadows of the Night - Pat Benatar - 1982  (3:39)

15 - Mickey - Toni Basil - 1981  (3:38)

16 - Mexican Radio - Wall of Voodoo - 1982  (4:11)

17 - Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles - 1986  (3:24)

18 - Shock the Monkey - Peter Gabriel - 1982  (3:57)

For an added sensory overload experience, watch the videos of some of these, like "Shakin'," "Words," or "Sledge Hammer."

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you Thursday, my compadre compilers!

  

The Water Is Wide, But Don't Say Goodbye!

 

... Or you'll miss all the fun of these nifty songs.  Some I heard on AM radio in the Seventies, others I encountered later.

01 - Goodbye - Mary Hopkin - 1969  (2:24)

02 - A Certain Kind - Bloodrock - 1971  (4:10)

03 - Friends - Elton John - 1971   (2:23)

04 - Wondr'ing Aloud/Wond'ring Again - Jethro Tull - 1971  (5:58)

05 - I Am I Said (edit) - Neil Diamond - 1971  (4:05)

06 - Oh Woman, Oh Why - Paul McCartney - 1971  (4:34)

07 - Don't Do It (live) - The Band - 1972   (4:27)

08 - Behind Blue Eyes - The Who - 1971   (3:41)

09 - Am I Blue - Bette Midler - 1972  (5:20)

10 - Grave Concern - Graham Nash - 1974  (2:46)

11 - The Bitch Is Back - Elton John - 1974  (3:44)

12 - Fame - David Bowie - 1975  (4:12)

13 - Beginnings - Steve Howe - 1975  (7:30)

14 - Saucy Sailor/Black Freighter (live) - Steeleye Span - 1978  (9:31)

15 - Bad Reputation - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - 1980  (2:48)

16 - The Water Is Wide - Karla Bonoff - 1979  (4:56)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Monday for our final week of ANTHOLOGY AUGUST!
  

"I Am Helpless Without My Computer" and Other Truths

Yeah, the 1980s had a lot going for it, including predictions of what's now common.

01 - I Am Helpless Without My Computer - The Nobodys  1984   (4:25)

02 - Back in Flesh - Wall of Voodoo  1981   (3:41)

03 - Porch - Personal Effects  1984   (2:53)

04 - Is This Love - Karen Lawrence  1986   (4:31)

05 - The Salt in My Tears - Martin Briley  1983   (3:24)

06 - The Fanatic - Felony  1983   (3:34)

07 - Color Anxiety - 9353  1983   (3:43)

08 - Mental Hopscotch - Missing Persons  1982   (3:15)

09 - You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin’ Odd - J Geils Band  1984   (6:46)

10 - Ways to Be Wicked - Lone Justice  1985   (3:25)

11 - Modern Man - National Pastime  1986   (4:09)

12 - Knight - Get Smart!  1984   (2:14)

13 - End of the World - Personal Effects  1984   (3:15)

14 - Love Me Too - Blanket of Secrecy  1982   (2:41)

15 - Running In Place - Iam Siam  1984   (3:28)

16 - Remote Control - Eternal Triangle  1984   (3:07)

17 - Fashion Hurts - Xex  1980   (2:12)

18 - Snake Dance - March Violets  1984   (4:55)

19 - The Computer Generation - Jyl  1984   (4:07)

20 - TV Man - The Bolshoi  1987   (4:35)

21 - Waiting Out the Eighties - The Coupe de Villes  1985   (3:08)

Listen to these fab songs while playing mental hopscotch.  Learn new ways to be wicked, while running in place and waiting out the Eighties.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

At least it'll be fun!  See you on Thursday.

  

Flashin' My Favorites for All to See

 

Yup, I heard most on AM radio, and some from albums I bought in the Seventies.

01 - Beginnings (single version) - Chicago - 1969  (2:49)

02 - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (single version) - Iron Butterfly - 1968  (2:53)

03 - Carry on Till Tomorrow - Badfinger - 1970  (4:46)

04 - Green-Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf - 1970  (6:49)

05 - That's the Way God Planned It (live) - Billy Preston - 1971  (4:33)

06 - Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan - 1971  (3:36)

07 - DOA (album version) - Bloodrock - 1971  (8:28)

08 - Music - Carole King - 1971  (3:50)

09 - Hold Your Head Up - Argent - 1971  (6:16)

10 - Hoedown (live) - Emerson, Lake & Palmer - 1974  (4:16)

11 - Ride Captain Ride - Blood, Sweat & Tears - 1975  (5:05)

12 - All Around My Hat - Steeleye Span - 1975  (4:06)

13 - WOLD (live) - Harry Chapin - 1976  (5:05)

14 - I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones - 1978  (2:29)

15 - Watching Over You - Emerson, Lake & Palmer - 1977  (3:53)

16 - We Belong to the Night - Ellen Foley - 1979  (5:08)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you Monday, fellow time travellers!

  

Soon to Be Your Favorites, Too!

 How can I share my joy at listening to a wide variety of music? I guess by passing some of it along. You won’t find a theme otherwise.

01 - 45 Single - Suburban Reptiles - 1978  (1:48)

02 - Private Eye - Buddy Wilkins - 1960  (2:23)

03 - TH Queen (live) - Destroy All Monsters - 1995  (3:06)

04 - Echo Beach - Martha & the Muffins - 1979  (3:33)

05 - Floating Dream - Peanut Butter Conspiracy - 1967  (2:09)

06 - The Fool on the Hill (Major/Minor Swap) - The Beatles - The Evolution Control Committee - 1994  (2:58)

07 - LA Sleaze - CPC Gangbangs - 2008  (1:48)

08 - It Hurts to Be Sixteen - Andrea Carroll - 1963  (2:05)

09 - Ghost Rider - Suicide - 1976  (2:30)

10 - Back of My Hand - The Jags - 1979  (3:20)

11 - Do You Dream in Color? - Living Links - 1990  (3:34)

12 - Behind Those Eyes - The Diodes - 1977  (2:31)

13 - Nursery Rock - Judy & Joyce - 1958  (1:58)

14 - Television Addict - The Victims - 1979  (2:57)

15 - Disco Biscuit - Lung Leg - 1997  (2:17)

16 - She Got a Nose Job - The Dellwoods - 1962  (2:16)

17 - Fragile Beings - X-Teens - 1980  (2:13)

18 - Pop Star - Swoons - 1994  (2:13)

19 - Bloody Ice Cream - Bikini Kill - 1996  (1:21)

20 - What the World Needs Now Is Love - The Staple Singers - 1968  (2:44)

21 - Age of Corruption - Alan Klein - 1965  (3:31)

22 - Shot by Both Sides - Magazine - 1978  (4:03)

23 - Danger Signs - Penetration - 1979  (2:27)

24 - Magic Colors - Lesley Gore - 1967  (2:29)

25 - Don't Wake Me Up - Midnite Snaxxx - 2015  (1:32)

26 - Three Stars - Tommy Dee with Carol Kay and the Teen-Aires - 1959  (3:11)

27 - Love from Abbey Road - The Beatles - Sacred Cowboy - 2011  (7:34)

28 - Get Off the Radio - The Sharks - 1980  (2:57)

Track 5 is a pleasant diversion, but the way-out imagery is less impressive than in Track 11.

Track 6 is a virtuoso display of techno wizardry. But it wouldn’t have been a hit for the Beatles this way!

Track 8 crystallizes a true observation. Of course, you can hurt at other ages too -- don’t tell Andrea. And that chinking wood block might have inspired same in the Man from U.N.C.L.E.! Ya think? I figured not.

Don’t you agree that Track 13 is a buncha fun? Deedly-quack-quack, indeed!

I don’t know what a Disco Biscuit, even after listening to the song (Track 15)!

We’re all “Fragile Beings” (Track 17), but the X-Teens make it sound so fun!

Track 21 speaks for itself, but I wish I’d thought of it first! “I’m travelin’ so fast, I’m passing’ the wind!”

Track 24 -- wow -- what a pop-music depiction of the utter existential emptiness of lost love! (and co-written by Neil Sedaka, too!)

Track 26 is a curiosity, with disgustingly juvenile lyrics. It was a quicky rushed out to cash in on the deaths of Richie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper. The vocals are so maudlin! See what you think.

On the other extreme, Track 27 is just an astounding assemblage of Beatle beats!

And Track 28 signs us off. Hey, you!

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Thursday.