To Ape or Not to Ape, Part One

I’ve had “Planet of the Apes” on my “To Blog About” list for quite some time. While I’d like to commit to doing a deep dive into the entire film series, I’m not sure that will happen. However, I have seen the original 1968 film more than once and I have to say that it was and STILL IS pretty mind-blowing to me.

I think I watched a TV show about the whole phenomenon when the 2001 film with Mark Wahlberg came out. The two things I remember are that Rod Serling of “The Twilight Zone” fame was involved in the original 1968 version and that it was based on a book by this French dude named Pierre Bouelle. (Apparently there were different titles for the book depending on where it was published: “Monkey People” in the UK and “Planet of the Apes” in the US.)

Speaking for myself, this was probably the first dystopian film I can remember seeing as a kid…even though I wasn’t familiar with the term until many years later. However, I think the QUALITY of the film is a big part of why it still resonates with me. For example, the soundtrack including “The Search Continues” was done by Jerry Goldsmith. Give the guy some credit for its eerie atmosphere on this one.

Apparently, Goldsmith’s soundtrack and the costumes by Morton Haack were both nominated for Academy Awards.

According to Wikipedia, a film producer named Arthur P. Jacobs spent quite a while trying to get the book adapted to film and hired sci-fi genius Rod Serling to write the screenplay. A little later Michael Wilson also involved and received a writing credit. Oh yeah, it was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.

Here are a few of my observations and takeaways from the film. First, I think there are some powerful visuals in it. The most powerful one to me is the “scarecrows” guarding “The Forbidden Zone” featured in the pic. I don’t know if Rod Serling coined that term, but that visual is amazing. Another thing I like is the canyon setting in a large part of the film. (It was shot in Northern Arizona — Lake Powell and Glen Canyon from what I’ve read.) Something about the desert conveys a sense of desolation. One small thing I have always remembered is the “quasi-futuristic” silver backpacks worn by the astronauts in the film. For some reason, silver seems to convey that whole space vibe. ( Just look at Ace Frehley’s original KISS makeup and boots as proof…also Austin Powers and Miss Kensington.)

If you haven’t seen the entire film, I won’t ruin the ending for you, but I’ll say there’s a twist that will give M. Night Shyamalan a run for his money.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

p.s. I think I’ll take a lighter look at the film in Part Two.

Nine Below Zero-Fest

Is January my least favorite month? In the words of Bugs Bunny, ““Hmm…it’s a possibility!” Everyone in my area is hunkered down for the weekend…and possibly Monday, too. Temperatures are in the single digits and are going to stay there for a few days. Oh….and we could get up to 7 inches of snow! That brings me to Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “Nine Below Zero.”

Some of the SBWII versions feature Otis Spann on piano. I really like the line “Ain’t this pity, ain’t it a crying shame” and have heard it in other blues songs. There’s also a fairly epic version of “Nine Below Zero” by Buddy Guy.

There are plenty of artists who covered this song in one way or another including Canned Heat, James Cotton, Magic Dick & Jay Geils, Cub Koda, Muddy Waters, John Hammond, and many more. I even found out there’s a British blues band CALLED Nine Below Zero. They have a version of the song, too!

My favorite take on the song is probably a live version by The Nighthawks.

I never really thought about the band’s name being associated with the painting by Edward Hopper, but they used it for an album cover.

If nothing else, at least the frigid weather has led me to check out all of these versions of the song. By the way, I don’t know what it is about TV weather coverage, but I have an extremely hard time paying attention to it. I feel like as soon as they start putting the graphics up on the screen, I automatically zone out. I’m not a fan of all the semi-circles, triangles, maps, etc. I’m grateful for the info, but it just doesn’t hold my attention.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Crypto Poster Child

What’s the first thing that pops to mind when you think about creatures like Bigfoot, The Loch Ness Monster, Yeti, or Chupacabra? Do you picture exotic expeditions to faraway lands, snipe hunts in the woods, or just some really fantastic stories? They all fall under the heading of cryptozoology which Wikipedia describes as a “pseudoscience” or a “subculture.”

One interesting creature, in my opinion, is the poster child for cryptozoology and its none of the ones previously listed here. I’m talking about the Coelacanth (SEE low CANTH). The story sounds like the plot of a sci-fi movie or episode of Jonny Quest which has been repeated numerous times: a creature thought to be extinct for years is discovered alive and well to everyone’s surprise. It happened off the coast of South Africa in 1938, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer found one in the nets of a local fisherman…and we’ve been watching movies and TV shows like this ever since then.

The only appropriate band to address the topic seems like Fishbone to me…so “Let the Good Times Roll.”

By the way, I was never really into Fishbone, but this cover song apparently was in “The Mask” with Jim Carey. (Louis Jordan released the original version. Songwriting credits go to Fleecie Moore and Sam Theard.)

Then again John Waite’s lyric “I ain’t missing you at all” also applies to the coelacanth.

Getting back to the cryptozoology poster child, apparently Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer was a museum curator and not an ichthyologist, but she contacted one who identified her rare find. Another one wouldn’t be spotted until another dozen or so years later. What else can be said about the coelacanth? It has some really sharp teeth and the origin of its name means “hollow spine.”

So what’s the moral of the story? For me, the appeal of cryptozoology is about the POSSIBILITY of finding such a creature…discovering something unknown to us. The stories and the mysteries are what really keep me interested and entertained. Plus, you might even learn something along the way.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

You Upset Me, B.B.

How many songs do you know that start with a rundown of a woman’s measurements? I can only think of one, and that song is “You Upset Me Baby” by B.B. King. A couple of blues musician friends turned me on to the version by Joe Bonamassa on his “Blues Deluxe” album.

Bonamassa’s vocal is similar to the original B.B. King one. That is to say it’s a little more “shout” than “singing.” I’m not a Joe B. superfan by any stretch of the imagination, but I give him credit for covering this one. King was the primary songwriter and released this one in 1954.

Some big blues names have covered this song like Albert King, Robben Ford, and Luther Allison. There’s even a 15-minute version of the Freddie King instrumental “Hideaway” followed by “You Upset Me Baby”. That epic live jam was an Allman Brothers-Jerry Garcia effort. Another cover I really like is by Gary Moore.

Moore is a name that I’ve known for a long time, but have to say this is the first one of his songs that really grabbed me. Moore played in Thin Lizzy before striking out on his own.

Getting back to the song, you can find any number of live versions by B.B. King himself which are definitely worth a listen.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Croc of a Different Color #2

In Part 1, I brought up Elton John’s first American hit single: “Crocodile Rock.” The short version is I always liked the angle of the song, but couldn’t get past a couple of elements in the song mix. What really gave me the idea to blog about this song is a version I heard on my local public radio station. This one is by Larkin Poe.

This version really grabbed my attention. It’s a great example of not just making the song their own, but practically RE-INVENTING it — in a good way. Instead of the “la la la” part in the original, I believe there’s a lap steel guitar playing that part. It’s really an acoustic arrangement without any keyboard that I can hear. (Larkin Poe, by the way, is made up of musical sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell. Apparently they had a distant relative who was a cousin of Edgar Allan Poe).

While researching “Crocodile Rock”, I found a completely different take on the song by a group called The Joneses.

Believe it or not, there are some similarities between the Larkin Poe version and this one. Sure, one is acoustic and one is most definitely electric, but The Joneses’ version also left out any keyboard that I can hear and did the same thing of replacing the “la la la” section with an instrument. Again, they made it their own and also RE-INVENTED it!

I have seen The Joneses described as a punk rock or sleaze rock band from Los Angeles. Their version was out in the early 80s. (They also have a cover of the Richie Supa-penned song “Chip Away the Stone” which was recorded by Aerosmith.)

So now I officially like “Crocodile Rock”. I reserve the right to revisit the song. A couple of version I didn’t care for include The Beach Boys and The Baja Men…. Who let the crocs out??

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Croc of a Different Color

What’s the first thing that pops to mind when you hear the song “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John? Do you think about… the Seventies…his outrageous costumes and eyewear…hearing it on the radio…going to the record store to buy it? For me, this is a song I always wanted to like, but never really did.

I always think of it as a clever attempt to write a tongue in cheek tribute to dance crazes like the twist, mashed potato, swim, etc. There are some lines about Suzy’s tight dresses and rockin’ ’round the clock. Elton John shares songwriting credits with Bernie Taupin as usual.

For me, I could never get past the “la la la” parts. That, and as much as I enjoy a good Farfisa organ, I thought both parts were a little overpowering in the sound mix. Do I sound like a music snob? Maybe I’m turning into Jack Black’s character from the film “Hi Fidelity”? The song was Elton John’s first number one hit in America…so what do I know?

Apparently, Elton John was inspired to write this one after hearing an Australian band named Daddy Cool’s song “Eagle Rock.” I’d never heard of neither the band nor their song until today.

The next question: was there actually a “do the Eagle” or Eagle Rock dance to go along with it…I suppose you could always flap your arms like wings and squint your eyes. In Elton’s defense, I don’t think there was a dance to go along with his song either.

Comparing the two songs, I think I enjoy “Eagle Rock” more than Elton’s original tune. However, songs take on new lives when they’re covered by other artists. Thanks to some of those, I have learned to like “Crocodile Rock.” More in the next segment of “Croc of a Different Color.”

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Just a Pinch

Have you ever been really confounded by the process of finding a particular song you like? I know I have. Nowadays, I use the Shazam phone app for assistance, but that didn’t used to be an option. Back in the day, I used to identify the singer or band by ear and then head to my local record shop to see if I could find it. (And, no, that’s not an exact science.)

One song which pops to my mind is a Joe Walsh song called “All Night Long.” I can remember hearing this on the radio while one of my parents was driving and I was sitting in the front passenger seat. It was probably a Top 40 station because the song was released in 1980. I can remember laughing at the line “Keep a-grinning ’til the weekend comes / Just a pinch between your cheek and gum.” The second part was part of Skoal’s advertising campaign for its smokeless tobacco back then. They had a lot of different spokesmen including Charlie Daniels and New York Cosmos soccer goalie Shep Messing if I remember correctly.

I don’t think the song is really too obscure, but here’s where it’s confusing to me. In May 1980, it was released as a single as part of the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. (Great film and soundtrack by the way!) Apparently, the traditional fiddle tune “Orange Blossom Special” by Gilley’s Urban Cowboy Band was the flip side of the 45 RPM. Then a live version of “All Night Long” was also released on “Eagles Live!” in November 1980.

In any event, I really dig this song. It’s basically a rowdy, blue collar, working class romp and I love it. Musically, there’s a guitar riff based around the E minor pentatonic scale that really grabs your ear and then Walsh’s vocals and guitar solo do most of the rest. The chant of “All Night Long” is contagious and reminds of David Bowie’s “Jean Genie” in that way. By the way, do you think the whole “Urban Cowboy” look is how most people see Americans?

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Bassless Keys, Blue Ceiling

Sometime between 2000 and 2010 I worked in college recruiting — “admissions” is technically the department name, but I was definitely in a recruiting position. I enjoyed the work because you get to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds. Plus, most of them aren’t as jaded as your average working adults are. Sometimes you meet people who have interests similar to your own. I remember one particular “recruit” was really into music and mentioned one specific concert she was planning to attend.

At that time, I wasn’t familiar with this band by name, but now I know a couple of their songs. The band I’m referring to is The Black Keys. The particular song is “Gold on the Ceiling.”

The band name always stuck with me because she was a “music hound” like me. (Plus, the band’s name gives you the immediate visual of those black piano keys.) While I’m far from an expert on the band, I have grown to really enjoy this song. It was written by band members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney along with producer Brian Burton (AKA Danger Mouse).

There aren’t tons of covers of “Gold on the Ceiling” out there, but I was pleasantly surprised to find one by Louisiana blues guitarist extraordinaire Tab Benoit. Apparently, this was for a tribute album.

Another interesting cover I found is by glam rock band Sweet (sometimes called The Sweet).

Their version doesn’t blow me away, but give them credit for having the taste to record it.

Getting back to the original version, Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) apparently played bass guitar on the track. I always picture The Black Keys like The White Stripes — that is, both are guitar and drum duos without bass players.

I suppose the lyrics are open to interpretation, but I think my ceiling is blue.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Lemonheaded Leopard Lady

If you’re like me, you have any number of things on your ever-changing “to do” list. Some of those things keep getting pushed to the bottom for one reason or another so it’s difficult to get around to doing those tasks.

I have been meaning to blog about a Simon & Garfunkel song for a long time, but it seems to always get bumped. I’ve never been a super fan of the duo, but I can definitely appreciate the harmony and Paul Simon’s songwriting. The particular song I’m talking about is “Mrs. Robinson” which is associated with the 1967 film “The Graduate.” Apparently, Simon was working on the song before the film was released so the finished version isn’t heard in it.

It has a pretty catchy guitar riff in it along with the “coo coo ca-choo” reference to The Beatles song “I Am the Walrus.” There’s also a reference to The New York Yankees’ Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio and a great line that “we’d like to learn a little bit about you for our files.”

Fast forward to the early 90s and The Lemonheads put their hard driving punkish spin on the tune.

You can hear that catchy riff played on bass guitar in their version. I actually prefer The Lemondheads cover to the original version, but that’s me. I looked around to find other interesting versions out there and found an instrumental surf version by a band called The Coolies. It’s pretty groovy.

If you like The Coolies version, you might be interested to hear their take on “Cecilia” as well. What else can be said about the song? Well, I think Art Garfunkel has a version of his out there without Simon. What do you think?

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Rockabilly Rod

When you think about the subject matter of a lot of rock n roll or rockabilly songs, you can definitely pick up on some patterns. There’s love, women, and cars to name a few. Sometimes the songs even involve two or more of those subjects simultaneously like Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene.” While that song is a good one in it own right, today I’m focusing on one that you don’t hear much any more. The song in question is called “Hot Rod Lincoln.” The definitive version to me is by Commander Cody & his Lost Airmen.

The song was written by Charley Ryan and released in the mid 50s. The fast tempo of the song and the guitar are what keeps it moving, which is an interesting contrast to the spoken word motorhead lingo. Plus, it tells a story. Recently, I found another version I really like which features the voice of actor Jim Varney and the guitar playing of Ricky Skaggs.

I’ve never seen the film, but this version was released on “The Beverly Hillbillies” (1993) soundtrack. You’ll find other versions by Johnny Bond, the bands Asleep at the Wheel and All among others. This song has a little bit of everything: story, hot rods, guitar, country, rock, and humor! Speaking of humor, Bob Rivers and Twisted Radio did an O.J. Simpson-themed version called “White Ford Bronco.”

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!