WOODSTOCK EXPERIENCE: New Book Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Newly Discovered Pix & Much More

http://www.genesis-publications.com/books/woodstock_experience/index.html
Among the highlights of the new book Woodstock Experience are contributions from
Peter Max, Paul Krassner and newly discovered photos from Dan Garson,
who is currently being featured on USA TODAY's website along with 19 wonderful photos:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/l0908_garson_woodstock/flash.htm?gid=1141&aid=5188

Posted via email from thelareport's posterous

RETRO REWIND: 1960-1963: GREATEST ERA EVER FOR POP NOVELTY SONGS

Commentary by Don Rose

Perhaps it was because rock and roll was taking a breather, waning a bit after its ferocious beginnings circa 1951-1954 and before 1964's "Big Bang" of the Beatles (as Little Steven likes to say). Perhaps it was because Elvis, the King of Rock, had gone in the Army - then returned to become a movie star, deviating from his rock roots. Or perhaps everyone felt the way Decca Records did, when they turned down the Beatles after a January 1962 audition because they believed "guitar groups are on their way out." Whatever the reason, there sure were a ton of unusual yet immortal novelty songs that made the pop charts between 1960 and 1963.

Just look at the evidence below.

How do you define a novelty song? We define it loosely as a song with a strong hook and/or concept, featuring at least one unique sound or lyric, something that makes it different than any other tune, often with a heavy dose of humor, and often the biggest (or only) hit for the performer or group who recorded it. And now, some of the top novelty hits of 1960-1963:

Runaway (1961) - the first hit by Del Shannon featured a famous solo by Max Crook, one of the most distinctive in rock history, performed on a heavily-modified clavioline (early synthesizer) that Crook called the "Musitron"

Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (A Letter From Camp) (1961) - immortal hit by Allan Sherman, using a classical passage as the music under his sweet humorous lyrics based on his son's complaints from camp, peaked at #9; received the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance

Telstar - 1962 hit instrumental by The Tornados featured a Univox Clavioline

Monster Mash - hit by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers (1962) peaked at #1, and is still one of my favorite songs of all time; fun clever lyrics, a dead-on Boris Karloff impression by Pickett, and an irresistable rocking backing track, especially the drums on the opening bars

Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On the Bedpost Overnight) - 1961 hit by Lonnie Donegan, who led the Skiffle craze in Britain that inspired the early Beatles, peaked at #5

Mr. Custer (Larry Verne) (1960) peaked at #1

If You Wanna Be Happy (Jimmy Soul) (1963) peaked at #1; featured the immortal line, "If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife..."

Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (The Rivingtons) (1962) peaked at #48; covered live by the Beach Boys in their early days

Speedy Gonzales (Pat Boone) (1962) peaked at #6

Mr. Bass Man (Johnny Cymbal) (1963) peaked at #16

My Boomerang Won't Come Back (Charlie Drake) (1962) peaked at #21

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport (Rolf Harris) (1963) peaked at #6 - features a unique homemade instrument making the "wakawakawaka" sound that starts the song; YouTube fans can find a rare recording of Rolf with the Beatles, for which he changed the words in honor of the Fab Four and the group provides a bit of backup

Alley-Oop (The Hollywood Argyles) (1960) peaked at #1

Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) (Barry Mann) (1961) peaked at #7

I encourage you to check out all of the above songs. If you feel I left any notable novelty tunes out, feel free to send them and we can add to this list. Send to: info@thelareport.com.

STAR TREK FREE ON AOL VIDEO: FULL EPISODES OF THE ORIGINAL SERIES

Kirk. Spock. Bones. Scotty. They are all free, thanks to AOL. No, they weren't released from prison; their episodes of Star Trek: TOS (The Original Series) are available to watch on AOL. Yes, full episodes, no charge.

Here is the link, Trekkers and Trekkies:
http://video.aol.com/show/star-trek
You can thank us later.

The other option for Angelenos who want free Trek:TOS is to watch at midnight on Channel 5 here in LA. But then you may develop flipper-finger by going back and forth to SNL on Channel 4. Decisions, decisions.

JUL 4: TWILIGHT ZONE MARATHON CONTINUES ON SCI FI CHANNEL; MUST SEE TZ TV INCLUDES CLASSIC EPISODES "TO SERVE MAN", "THE HOWLING MAN" AND MANY MORE

What do Robert Redford, William Shatner, Burt Reynolds, Dennis Hopper, Burgess Meredith, Jack Klugman, Peter Falk, Billy Mumy, Mickey Rooney, Lee Marvin, Robert Duvall and Dean Stockwell have in common? No, they are not all attending an LA autograph show this weekend -- they are all classic actors who starred in episodes of the greatest TV anthology series in the history of the medium: Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone". And the Sci Fi Channel puts on a marathon of these amazing shows every now and then, usually on or near holidays. And guess what: there is a marathon going on for the holiday weekend, which continues all day and night July 4th, 2008!

Below is a schedule for you -- all times shown are Pacific time. (If you have never seen "To Serve Man," don't miss this classic episode, which has one of the best twist endings ever in a series known for its many surprising summarizing scenes.)

SCI FI CHANNEL Jul. 4, 2008

NOW PLAYING TWILIGHT ZONE, THE
TIME	PROGRAM	TITLE	STEREO	CC
3:00 AM	PAID PROGRAMMING
5:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	STOPOVER IN A QUIET TOWN
5:30 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE SHELTER
6:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE CHASER
6:30 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	NERVOUS MAN IN A FOUR DOLLAR ROOM
7:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	TO SERVE MAN
7:30 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE WHOLE TRUTH
8:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	A MAN IN THE BOTTLE
8:30 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	WILL THE REAL MARTIAN PLEASE STAND UP?
9:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	LONG DISTANCE CALL
9:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE ODYSSEY OF FLIGHT 33
10:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	KING NINE WILL NOT RETURN
10:30 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	TWENTY-TWO
11:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	A NICE PLACE TO VISIT
11:30 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	A MOST UNUSUAL CAMERA
12:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	MR. BEVIS
12:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE HOWLING MAN
1:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	MIRROR IMAGE
1:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE HITCH-HIKER
2:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	FIVE CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN EXIT
2:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE MIDNIGHT SUN
3:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	SHOWDOWN WITH RANCE MCGREW
3:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE LAST NIGHT OF A JOCKEY
4:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	IT'S A GOOD LIFE
4:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	ONCE UPON A TIME
5:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
5:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	TWO
6:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE PURPLE TESTAMENT
6:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE MIRROR
7:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	CAVENDER IS COMING
7:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE PRIME MOVERS
8:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	A PASSAGE FOR TRUMPET
8:30 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE LONELY
9:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	A HUNDRED YARDS OVER THE RIM
9:30 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	THE RIP VAN WINKLE CAPER
10:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	DEATH SHIP
11:00 PM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	OF LATE I THINK OF CLIFFORDVILLE
12:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	PRINTER'S DEVIL
1:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	MUTE
2:00 AM	TWILIGHT ZONE, THE	ON THURSDAY WE LEAVE FOR HOME

RETRO REWIND: WANDA JACKSON, QUEEN OF ROCK AND ROLL

Many call Elvis Presley the King of Rock and Roll. So who was the Queen? A compelling argument can be made for Wanda Jackson. There is a movement afoot to get her inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and one look at her classic videos on YouTube make a compelling argument indeed, as does her official site wandajackson.com. Rock god Bob Dylan sings her praises in the very cool intro that welcomes visitors to her website.

Wanda's live version of "Hard Headed Woman" is just one example of how she rocks your socks off -- in high heels, no less, with fringe aplenty swinging 'round, a pelvis to match Elvis! Her recent album "I Remember Elvis" pays tribute to The King, who Wanda once dated, and it's available at her site. Best of all, unlike Elvis, you can still see Ms. Jackson rocking around the U.S.; in fact, she appeared in Long Beach last night. See her website for future show dates, and hear her unique vocal stylings on the cool rockabilly-themed show "Red Hot" (which airs many rockin' artists of the Wanda genre every Sunday at 2pm on KCSN 88.5 FM). Hail Hail Wanda Jackson!