Ouch!

Oscar post 2009


I enjoyed watching the Academy Awards again this year. As usual, I managed to see most of the contenders prior to award night, and I enjoyed many of the films of 2008, both nominated and not. Overall, not a great movie-going year for this film fan, but a good one.



















The film I'd recommend first is Man On Wire. This documentary is my favorite movie of the year. Philippe Petit is either amazingly brave, or completely alien to this world. Probably a little of both. Either way, this movie was a thrill to watch from start to finish. And one that rewards with repeated viewings. A true gem of a film.


Slumdog Millionaire has captured all the awards both here and abroad, and rightly so IMHO. I'm glad I hadn't heard much about it before seeing it--it shocked me, engaged me, and inspired me. Not bad for a little indie film. The story of Warner Bros. passing on it (or trying to send it straight to the DVD market) makes the Oscar win that much sweeter, I imagine, and a true Cinderella story for Danny Boyle and his crew. I'm looking forward to seeing this one again soon.


I'm not a big fan of either Ron Howard or Richard Nixon, but I enjoyed Frost/Nixon very much. I agree with all the great things that have been written about it: great script, great acting, excellent directing and a fab supporting cast. A pleasant surprise for me at the theater, and another film I'd recommend for sure.



My only challenge to the "And the Oscar Goes To" list is Meryl Streep for Best Actress. Forget about her 14 previous nominations, her long list of great films, and her two previous Oscar wins: she deserved the statuette this year based solely on her outstanding work in Doubt. She's awesome. Phil Hoffman is also great, but it's the paranoid and cunning Sister Aloysius Beauvier that drives this film forward (and the church backward). If you haven't seen it yet, go.

Honorable mention must also go to: Milk, The Visitor, Wall-E, Iron Man, The Wrestler, Revolutionary Road, The Reader, Tropic Thunder, and The Dark Night.

White Men Can't Jump . . . or can they?





















I was in Watts today, and I couldn't pass up a chance to visit Simon Rodia's house, the Watts Towers. This neighborhood also pops up in a favorite film of mine, White Men Can't Jump. The area looked much different in '92. Now, fresh coats of multi-colored paint spank the flyover bridge to the Metro station and manicured landscapes surround the grounds. Next to the church, new homes sprout like weeds.




A beautiful fall day: blue skies and crisp air. The church and basketball court are still here (just behind me and across the street), where Woodie and Wesley shot some hoops; but today it all looked so much smaller and oddly quiet. There wasn't a soul around except me, some stray dogs and these park-n-rec guys.




















The site is currently closed to visitors and undergoing restoration work, but the grandeur is still evident. I could spend weeks trying to capture the magic with my camera and never get it. But I snapped away. It will re-open next year.























The rainbow colors quickly catch the eye, but this is not something planned, or consciously considered; it's wild, raw and untamed.






This is just one in a series of panels that tell the story of the site and the current restoration.

























This entrance is intriguing. I can't wait to enter in 2009.























I last visited the Towers April 29, 1992. The short stop interrupted an early morning return trip to LAX: my brother was flying back to Hawaii after a week-long vacation to the mainland. We had fun that week. Unknown to me, my brother had purchased tickets to a hi-fi convention, and we had a great time checking out all the latest stereo equipment. A mini-concert by Mike Garson easily overwhelmed all the futuristic audio hardware, though, and demonstrated simply and concisely how a live performance can trump any audio source, not matter how high the reproduction's fidelity. But I digress.






That sunny April day in '92 also marked the beginning of the LA riots. Although I had been following the Rodney King trial, I had no idea the verdict was scheduled to be delivered that day. Anyway, after viewing the towers for about an hour, my brother and I continued on. We had lunch at a diner near the airport, and then I dropped him at the curb and headed home. By the time I arrived, the city had exploded into a violent fiery mess. I sat transfixed in front of the television for hours. I'm still a little shocked at how close my brother and I came to being caught up in the fray, and whenever I catch myself sulking, I recall that day in '92 and count my blessings. Now here I am, back at the site. And it's the day after the 2008 presidential election, too. For half a minute, I thought I might be caught-up in a similar outpouring of emotion: a wild release of pent-up angst, and I looked forward to it. Looks like I missed again.
































This multi-level scaffolding is a sight in itself. It provides some height perspective to the towers which stand about 100 feet tall.
























It's almost too much detail to fully appreciate in a single visit.











Rodia captured this wonderful green hew by using thousands of 7 Up, Squirt, Bubble Up and Canada Dry bottles. Click on the photo to get a sharper image.

Records for Sale!

I brought home a few choice selections from the Buena Park Record Convention this past weekend, and can you believe it, I had no place to put them. Not really, but after inspecting the minions, it became clear to me that I had to thumb through the Doubles, Doubtfuls and Discards section and get rid of some overstock. Don't you hate it when that happens!

I managed to pull a quick fifty from the pile, but I instantly reclaimed ten disparate souls. The following forty, however, had to be let go. I rationalized this treasonous behavior because many of these long players are in fact doubles; a select few are triples. Some of the others just never seemed to gain a foothold in my record-spinning repertoire.




All of these are double. And great cover art, don't you agree? The one record of note here is Daryl Hall's first solo album, Sacred Songs. If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and check it out. Produced by Robert Fripp, it has a wonderful atmosphere all its own. I found it in a thrift store someplace, but I managed to find another better one someplace else. The Carly Simon record is a classic. I still listen to it and Chicago, The Motels, Culture Club, and Steely Dan. The Saga record not so much.




A nice wide shot here: looks like a giant poster, dunnit? Great records from Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, Bruce Springsteen, Gentle Giant, and . . . Toto; good God, how did that get in there! The Alice Cooper is a triple; it's missing the calendar because I separated it from the cover and pinned it up shortly after purchase. I wasn't a collector then, just a fan. That Alan Parsons cover has a nice stained-glass-window quality to it, and the music is similarly ornate. Pete Townshend and Ronnie Laine look relaxed on their duo release; this is the reissue of Rough Mix without the gatefold cover. I found a rarer first issue some years back. This one may have to rejoin the mob--saves wear on the original, ya see.
























A nice view of Linda Ronstadt from 1977; the inside cover and picture sleeve are nice, too. I've always liked the simplicity of McCartney's Venus and Mars cover: original photo taken by his wife, Linda. And here's a better shot of that afore mentioned Alan Parsons album, Turn Of A Friendly Card. The Chicago VII cover has a tooled-leather-like detail that must have cost an extra penny or two.





That Pink Floyd cover is very distinctive, even iconic to my generation. But this one is a late pressing on Capitol; it's also a triple. The album just below that is Sunburst Finish from Be-Bop Deluxe, a great record and cover. This is a cut-out I've long since replaced. To the left of DSOTM is Avalon, by Roxy Music--a brilliant record from 1982; and that's Earth Wind & Fire on the right--a record that still sparks after 33 years. Man, I'm old ;-)























What stuck here? Let's see . . . definitely the Jackson Browne, Supertramp and The Cars. And yes, James Taylor and Elton John, too. MCA always put a lot of money into the EJ sleevs--lots of gatefold covers, lyric sheets, posters and picture sleeves to accompany his popular songs.

Hopefully the staff at Bionic Records will appreciate this band of brothers and sisters. Their small vinyl section could use some re-enforcements to refresh the anemic legions of heavy metal, disco, and country records they've managed to accumulate. Wish me luck.

Class Reunion, bah! Nothin' classy about this 30 year High School reunion--except the setting. The Queen Mary, now 75, is still a site to behold. I first visited the great ship in 1978 for my Senior Prom.

Taking in the ocean breeze with a leisurely stroll on deck brings back fond memories. It's a little stuffy below decks, but the air is fine out here. It's been 30 years since I've seen any of the 200 people I'll be dining with tonight. I still know Suzie. She's better than ever, but the ship has seen better days.

Moving aft, I smell salt and roting wood. She's clean, but a little worn out. The tell-tale signs of aging are everywhere, (rust spots, frayed awnings, faded colors), but restoration work has begun. I'm proud my class has contributed to the makeover. Maintaining the Queen must take a huge effort.

Our stateroom was comfy and warm. The period appointments are now for decoration only. Sure wish those air ducts worked.

The portholes provided a nice breeze, but they weren't much good for ventilation.

Everyone say "30 Year Reunion!"

Hey Mike, remember that time we . . .

. . . yeah, that was fun.

The 20-something DJ played endless disco music from some lame 70s compilation. It left us all feeling time-warped and deaf. "What was that you said, Suzie?" The whole night was pretty much like that.

Is she thinking what I'm thinking? That's either the best pair of falsies I've ever seen, or something is wrong with this picture. Just another couple of the colorful cast we had for the night.

I knew I was in trouble as soon as I stumbled into that club. Lou was Vicious, Mick was Dancing with Mr. D, and David was Aladdin Sane. Could have been a Perfect Day, too: maybe 100 Years Ago, but there was Panic In Detroit. My Satellite of Love was Coming Down Again, and I felt just like a spoke in a Wagon Wheel because every Cracked Actor started Hangin' 'Round my little Heartbreaker, 'The Prettiest Star', Angie. I whispered, "Hide Your Love," and she did.

Back from his Walk On the Wild Side, Lou thumped Andy's Chest and yelled, "I'm So Free." I said, "But Can You Hear The Music, Lou, or are you just trying to Make Up?" The Jean Genie finally ran out of Time when his Lady Grinning Soul got busted at the Drive-In Saturday; and after a New York Telephone Conversation, The Silver Train returned Mick to his perpetual Winter. What a Starfucker he turned out to be.

I saw Angie once more that night. "Watch That Man," I said, but it was too late. The skinny waiter dumped a tray of drinks on her, and after that it was Goodnight Ladies. I never even got to say, "Let's Spend The Night Together."

SEPTEMBER 1973, CBGB's
WAITING FOR IGGY TO TAKE THE STAGE. MICK WAS IN RARE FORM. WE LAUGHED ALL NIGHT.

Because of my job, every day I'm driving all over Southern California. I'm lucky, I guess, or at least not easily bored, because it seems to me there's cool stuff to see in every town I visit. Case in point, a sunny neighborhood called Hawthorne.

Here in the shadow of the 105 freeway stands California Historical Landmark # 1041. I learned of it a few months ago when I read a Brian Wilson bio called Catch A Wave. It renewed my interest in the group, and in Brian Wilson in particular. After finishing the book, I spun my old records with new insight. I searched Netflix for any Beach Boys DVDs and put a couple at the top of the list. The unveiling of CHLM # 1041 is captured for posterity on The Beach Boys - An American Band. Check it out.




A warm sunny day, light winds, cruising south passed the Forum. I couldn't help recalling all the great bands I'd seen there over the years. So many great memories. The surrounding area, once a little seedy and rundown, now seems like every other town: a new Starbucks is going up while old retail stores and houses are coming down. The Wilson's neighborhood borders the Municipal Airport, and seeing the runway just ahead, I turned into it. I headed north on Kornblum to 119th, turned left, and their it was.























Looking closer at the tiles, I noticed messages of love and support from family, friends and fans from around the world.
























Nice details: I especially like the Gold Records.






The sixth Beach Boy is childhood friend David Marks.

























Gone but not forgotten. When the 105 freeway went up, the childhood home of the Beach Boys came down. The sting of progress is tempered somewhat by this reverent landmark.







Some of Sammy's favorites

















These 2 mid-70s compilations were my first exposure to the early music of the Beach Boys.





















It was Surfs Up and Holland, especially Holland, that first made me a fan of the band. I still regard Sail On Sailor as one of my all-time favorite songs.




























It was much later that I became a fan of Pet Sound and Smiley Smile. They represent both the pinnacle and decline of Brian Wilson as the driving force behind the group: the Boys disliked both projects bitterly, and their non-support sent Brian into a tailspin that would continue for many years. To me, they just get better with every listen.









Great iconic cover art for the second album and pretty much the last time the Beach Boys can be heard playing together as a group. Brian replaced the other members with studio musicians when he stopped touring with the band in 1964.








Wonderful 70s live album before the Boys became a novelty act. Spent many hours listening to this while playing Risk with my friends after school. Really great live record.






















Brian began releasing solo records in the 80s. I still enjoy listening to this one from 1988.





SMiLE was finally completed in 2004 with Brian's current touring band. They provide the conviction the Boys couldn't muster in 67, and it's definitely worth the wait.