Time To Take A Ride Into The World Of Hippies!

Hippies. Flower Power. Free Love. GROOVY. It was a unique time in our country’s history, with some wildly entertaining music to get groovy to!

Welcome To San Francisco – Circa 1968 – The Height Of Flower Power!

It was the intersection of free love and flower power: San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury district was THE place to express yourself in the 60’s – check out this classic video from 1968!

It was the “Summer Of Love” – 1967, when America’s youth was rebelling against authority, and heading to San Francisco, where all the girls had flowers in their hair….

Time To Celebrate “Flower Power!”

I was too young to experience this time, but there are many ways to enjoy this era – including some great music that captures this psychedelic era!

Meet The Groovy Synoptic Sounds Of “Fever Tree!”

My brother had this album, and it turned me on to psychedelic rock, thanks to “Fever Tree!”

The band had a minor hit with the song “San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)”, which hit No. 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968.

Here is a hippie-infused psychedelic music video!

Fever Tree’s debut album was released in 1968, landing at No. 156 on the Billboard 200 Chart. They offer a classic psychedelic sound, and I found some terrific psychedelic mashups on Youtube as well – fans who are keeping this special music alive….for example:

“60’s Garage, Surf, Freakbeat & Psychedelic Music – Vol. 1!” – by
GrimlyFormingPW

Groovy! Here’s a great primer on this style of music – presented as a great music video mashup by “GrimlyFormingPW” on Youtube!

Check it out!

There are a number of great documentaries that capture this time as well…including what many consider to be the greatest music documentary of all time:

The Music! The Nudity! The Brown Acid! Woodstock!

A half million hippies descend on Yasgur’s farm and hear some of the greatest hippie rock of the 60’s! See some incredible videos and behind-the-scenes pics here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/11/01/celebrating-woodstock-3-days-of-pop-culture-magic-the-music-the-nudity-the-brown-acid/

If you want to see more of the classic 60’s sound, you have to begin here, with the greatest 60’s singer of them all:

Janis Joplin at Woodstock
no publication after December 31, 2009

Janis Joplin was one of the greatest singers of all time, and she died tragically, far too young….read about a new documentary that captures her wild wild life by clicking here:

Janis Joplin! “Little Girl Blue” Documentary! Rock’s Greatest Voice!

Finally, one of rock’s greatest Guitarists also performed at Woodstock:

Jim Hendrix electrified the audience at Woodstock, and there is a GREAT new documentary that also captured this virtuoso at the Atlanta Pop Festival:

Key Art for the SHOWTIME documentary Jimi Hendrix: Electric Church. PHOTO: Courtesy of SHOWTIME

You can see some clips from this documentary, and some great BTS pics, by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/12/10/the-brilliance-of-jimi-hendrix-naked-hippies-racist-locals-the-amazing-documentary-of-electric-church/

And what happens to old hippies?

Here is a great story about older hippies who are still living the lifestyle:

https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/the-naked-ecstatic-world-of-americas-neo-hippies

Let me know if you are a fan of free love, hippies, and 60’s psychedelia!

Hollywood is such a funny place…critical and commercial acclaim one day can lead to direct-to-video films the next…the key is to keep working, no matter what the role is…there have been so many great movie stars – and virtually all have unique – and sometimes offbeat films – on their resumes…here’s a look at one such “True Hollywood Story: the talented Actress Olivia Hussey!

Olivia Rocks The Yellow Jumpsuit!

As I mentioned, everyone has a “strange choice, huh?” moment on their resume, and it’s no different for Actress Olivia Hussey. First, some background: she was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and first appeared on the London stage as Jenny in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”, opposite Vanessa Redgrave. That’s where Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli first spotted her.

Cue Instant Stardom!

Hussey was chosen out of 500 actresses to star as Juliet in Zeffirelli’s smash hit 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet”.

Hollywood’s New Star Of The Year!

The film’s success led to her winning the Golden Globe Award for “New Star of the Year!”

This was the end of the 60’s, when Sinatra, Dean Martin and his gang still ruled. After the acclaim for her Shakespeare role, Hussey then married one of The Rat Pack’s sons, and was entering Hollywood royalty when tragedy struck.

In 1971, Hussey married actor Dean Paul Martin, son of the singer Dean Martin. They had a son before divorcing in 1978. Dean Paul Martin died in 1987 when his National Guard F-4 Phantom jet fighter crashed in California’s San Bernardino Mountains.

From Shakespeare To Shock!

Known for her classic Shakespeare role, it was one of Hollywood’s darkest horror films that exposed Hussey to a whole new generation of fans…

1974’s “Black Christmas”

This low-budget shocker, directed by Bob Clark, is now one of the most beloved horror films of the 70’s – in fact, “Black Christmas” set the stage for a new wave of horror film like “Halloween”.

The plot was simple: It’s time for Christmas break, and a group of sorority sisters make plans for the holiday – but then the horrifying anonymous phone calls begin.

Here is the extremely creepy trailer for this classic horror film:

Margot Kidder also stars as one of Olivia’s sorority sisters, and she’s got a wicked sense of humor and an acid tongue…

Even though the film is a dark thriller, Hussey says the movie set was a very light and happy between takes. She did admit that Margot Kidder was distant from cast/crew during the filming.

What A Cast!

In addition to Hussey and Kidder, Kier Dullea also stars in the movie – Dullea of course was in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Keir Dullea worked only for a week on this film, never meeting Margot Kidder and barely meeting John Saxon, but the film is edited in such a way that he appears to be present throughout the film…

During an interview with Bob Clark, the Director said Hussey’s decision to star in the film was based upon advice given to her by a psychic. According to Clark, Hussey said her psychic believed that the film would be successful and a wise career choice for her. She took the role.

Meeting Steve Martin!

Hussey continued to act in film and TV for the next decade. Around 1986, she met Steve Martin to discuss a role in his hit film “Roxanne”, and Martin said this to Olivia:

“Oh my God Olivia, you were in one of my all time favorite films”!

Hussey assumed it was for “Romeo and Juliet” – and was surprised to find out that Martin loved “Black Christmas”, claiming to have seen it over 20 times!

Talking Turkey!

Finally, here is that “why would she do this film?” role – one of Hussey’s most unique movies was this sci-fi cult classic:

1981’s “Turkey Shoot!”

This futuristic thriller involved prisoners who were set free so they could be hunted down by rich people! A very unique choice for Hussey:

As I said, when you are a working Actor in Hollywood, the key is to work. And this movie has become a cult classic. One of the most interesting aspects of the film was Hussey’s choice to do a nude shower scene in the film!

“Blu” Turkey!

The film is full of crazy action sequences – and Hussey does a great job in the film, along with Steve Railsback – “Turkey Shoot” has built up a great cult reputation – and now it’s been remastered on blu-ray! Read all about this thriller by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/23/shocking-turkey-shoot-sex-and-gore-down-under-wake-in-fright-new-exploitation-blu-rays/

As for Hussey, she is now a very successful voice over talent in “Batman Beyond”, and also voiced the character of Kasan Moor in the PC game, “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron”. She was also in “Star Wars: The Old Republic”.

So there’s a look at a “True Hollywood Star” who did Shakespeare, horror and sci-fi equally well!

As you can see from her credits, Hussey has had a very successful career in entertainment.

I am fascinated by Artists who have long and varied careers…and I am equally interested in Artists who appear once then disappear forever:

“One And Done!”

Anne Sparrow did just that! This Actress starred in the cult euro-sleaze film “The Sinful Dwarf”, then disappeared forever!

That’s right, Anne Sparrow has never been seen in a film again! Read all about this Actress and her notorious motion picture debut by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/16/sinful-sex-kitten-anne-sparrow-the-mystery-of-a-disappearing-starlet/

And let me know if you’ve seen Olivia Hussey in this classic horror film!

Paul McCartney Meets Elvis Costello! “Flowers In The Dirt!” McCartney’s 80’s Collaborative Gem!

I have been looking back at Paul McCartney’s music – and every album is full of great musical surprises….like Elvis Costello!

Playing In “The Dirt!”

Here’s the musical road to “Flowers In The Dirt.” In the mid-80’s, McCartney was riding high with hit albums like “Tug Of War” and “Pipes Of Peace”…hit singles, acclaimed albums and big sales…but then came the release of one of his biggest flops:

McCartney’s “Press To Play” bombed – and for many, it’s one of his worst solo albums…I gave it a critical re-evaluation, which you can see here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/24/paul-mccartneys-press-to-play-disaster-a-critical-re-examination/

After the critical and commercial failure of “Press To Play”, McCartney went back into the studio – with a new songwriting partner who looked like this!

Hello, Elvis!

Elvis Costello, one of the angriest songwriters of the late 70’s, had become one of the 80’s most acclaimed singer/songwriters….so when “Flowers In The Dirt” was released, Macca fans were surprised by the collaboration with Costello – let’s dive into “The Dirt!”

“I Been Hitting The Town And It Didn’t Hit Back!”

So begins the album – a great line from the power pop majesty of “My Brave Face” – this was McCartney’s last studio album of the 80’s, and it gets out of the gate in a big big way – with a big hit single!

Here’s the terrific music video:

The song is catchy with a great hook and strong lyrics:

“Ever Since You Left I Have Been Trying To
Compose A “Baby Will You Please Come Home” Note
Meant For You.
As I Clear Away Another
Untouched Tv Dinner
From The Table I Laid For Two.

Now That I’m Alone Again
I Can’t Stop Breaking Down Again,
The Simplest Things Set Me Off Again
And Take Me To That Place
Where I Can’t Find My Brave Face,
Where I Can’t Find My Brave Face,
My Brave, My Brave, My Brave Face”

After that great start, the album goes right into another gem:

“Rough Ride”

Here is a great live version of the song – after Paul says hello to crowds all around the world!

“You Want Her Too”

Next up is another of the McCartney/Costello songs, and you can really tell that Costello’s most caustic, cynical side shows up.

McCartney has said that Costello mirrored John Lennon in certain aspects of his personality. Costello sings on “You Want Her Too” with McCartney.

“Distractions” and “We Got Married” were next, and “Married” benefits from guitar work by McCartney’s friend, Pink Floyd Guitarist David Gilmour…here’s a live version of the song:

“Put It There”

Up next on the album is one of Paul’s great songs, a father’s love for his son:

“Put it there if it weighs a ton
That’s what the father said to his younger son
I don’t care if it weighs a ton
As long as you and I are here, put it there”

Here is the terrific music video:

Next up is another hit from the album:

“Figure Of Eight”

(Well) You’ve Got Me Dancing In A Figure Of Eight,
Don’t Know If I’m Coming Or Going, I’m Early Or Late.
Round And Round The Ring I Go,
I Want To Know, I Want To Know,
Why Can’t We Travel A Continuous Line?

Here is the music video:

“Figure Of Eight” is a great crowd-pleaser – and another hit single for Macca.

“This One” and “Don’t Be Careless Love” were next – “Careless” is another song co-written with Costello, as was the next song on the album:

“That Day Is Done”

In his 2015 autobiography, “Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink”, Costello described the track “That Day Is Done” as, “the unhappy sequel to ” Veronica””, which he had also written with McCartney.

As always, Linda was on the album as well…

Here is a great live version of the “That Day Is Done” with a twist – it’s performed by Costello – from a 1997 David Letterman show!

“How Many People”, “Motor Of Love” and “Ou est le soleil” round out “Flowers In The Dirt”, which was released to critical acclaim – and went to #1 around the world – another “return to form” for an artist who was always under the microscope.

Paul recorded additional songs with Elvis, which ended up here:

I love the “Off The Ground” album, which followed “Flowers In The Dirt”…you can see my review, with lots of great music videos, by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/24/paul-mccartneys-submerged-off-the-ground-a-neglected-macca-gem/

To support “Flowers In The Dirt”, McCartney embarked on his first worldwide tour since Wings!

I remember how exciting it was to see McCartney live after all those years…and I was in the audience when McCartney and Wings were in Seattle in the mid-70’s!

You can read all about “Wings Across America” by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/12/paul-mccartney-wings-over-seattle-the-kingdome-implosion-seattle-sports-history/

Finally, two of the McCartney/Costello songs appeared on Costello’s album “Spike”.
The songs were “Pads, Paws and Claws” and the hit single ” Veronica”.

Let me know your thoughts on “Flowers In The Dirt!”

“Then my ankle twisted and I started to fall in slow motion.”

With these words, Author Deborah Wolff takes you on a hilariously intense year of reality TV!

“One Year Of Reality And How It Nearly Killed Me”

Have you ever wondered just how they make reality TV? Do you want to experience the behind-the-scenes thrills, anxiety and near-death experience of working on shows like “The Amazing Race?”

Then this is the book for you! I worked with Deborah Wolff at G4 for several years, and she is a terrific Production Manager/Line Producer/Exec in Charge of Production…if you want to know what that means, then you must read this book!

Deborah Wolff has a degree in cinema and television from the University of Southern California. She has written a terrific memoir about her life in television.

In one crazy year, she worked on “The Amazing Race”, “The Mole”, AND “Fear Factor!” Her stories about life on the road making these shows is fascinating – like getting the “Amazing Race” contestants out of one country and into another!

“The visa office was only open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So the earliest we could get them would be Wednesday. NO WAY! Not acceptable. I was screaming that in my head while trying to have a pleasantly firm conversation with the visa person.”

The book is full of great stories about the difficulties of mounting a reality show when the entire WORLD is your set!

There are so many great stories in the book, and I asked Deborah about the best part of writing it…

“If I had to pick one thing I learned”, she told me, “even though my experiences are unique to me, I am not alone. There are so many other crazier, more dangerous stories than even I went through from other crew across many shows!”

And that is what makes reality TV so fascinating – the book gives you the intense detail about what it takes to make a TV show…it’s a great ride!

Bravo Deborah on the book…another friend of mine also wrote a book about his life in TV:

AJ Benza was my host on E!’s “Mysteries & Scandals”, and he also wrote a great book about life in newspapers and TV…and last year he wrote a poignant memoir about growing up:

Read all about this terrific memoir here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/07/05/aj-benza-terrific-new-memoir-74-and-sunny-vintage-la-history-aint-it-a-bitch/

And make sure you go to Amazon and get “74 & Sunny” AND the “One Year Of Reality” book now!

Meet The Eagles!

The story of The Eagles is a fascinating one for so many reasons. They wrote some of the biggest hits of all time, like “Best Of My Love”, “Hotel California” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling”…

I recently found a great article that explains how one of the biggest-selling groups of all time began as Linda Ronstadt’s backup band!

Linda Ronstadt was one of the best singers of the 70’s, which big hits like “You’re No Good”, “Blue Bayou” and “Hurts So Bad”…and she was close friends with the musicians who would become The Eagles!

Meet The Eagles!

There is a great documentary that was made about The Eagles…a history of the band that includes incredible rare early footage of the band, along with candid interviews from all members…

The original members of the band were Bernie Leadon, Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Randy Meisner…four musicians who played on a number of albums of the early 70’s – and they became good friends with one of the hottest singers of that era…

Linda Ronstadt epitomized the LA music scene at the time, along with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jackson Browne and James Taylor…

In 2014, Ronstadt released her autobiography “Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir” – and she told Billboard magazine about being part of the “birth of The Eagles”, who were her backup band!

Here are some great of Ronstadt’s memories about the birth of the band, beginning with the first time she saw Don Henley play drums:

“[Producer] John Boylan was very active in helping me put a band together in those days. He knew all the musicians, and apparently Don Henley had already sent him some songs he had written. He’d heard me sing, he’d heard my records, he wanted to meet me and he came to L.A. hoping he could, and he had written some songs he hoped maybe I’d record. He sent them to John and they didn’t turn out to be good songs for me at the time, but I heard him play the drums when I was walking through the room at the Troubadour and I thought he was such a good drummer. He had country mixed with rock in a way that didn’t compromise either genre. So I said, ‘Let’s see if we can get him to play drums,’ and John went to talk to him and he said, ‘All right.’

“So we hired [Henley] to play drums. And then I needed a guitar player. I couldn’t take Bernie Leadon ’cause he was working with the Flying Burrito Brothers, so I said ‘All right, I’ll get Glenn Frey. He can play really good guitar.’ I was living with J.D. Souther then, and [Frey] was J.D.’s music partner. They had a group called Longbranch Pennywhistle. They were kind of breaking up; they decided to go their separate ways, but they were still really good friends. So I asked Glenn if he would come on that tour with us.

Here is Ronstadt sharing Glenn Frey’s thoughts on Don Henley:

“In those days we didn’t have enough money to put people in separate rooms, so Glenn and Don were rooming together and they each discovered the other could sing and was a great songwriter. Glenn used to call Don his secret weapon. He said, ‘I’m gonna do a band with Don. We’re gonna do a band together.’ I said, ‘That’s a great idea.’

“So we all talked about it. John said, ‘I can help you do this. I can help you put this band together, and while you’re waiting to get a record deal, you can play with Linda and you can have a gig.’ It was one of those kinds of situations where it was in everybody’s advantage. So I suggested they get Bernie Leadon to play guitar ’cause I liked Bernie and John suggested that they get Randy Meisner, and that’s how the Eagles were formed!

This great picture of a very young Eagles band was found on this terrific blog:

http://thisdayineagleshistory.blogspot.com/2011/07/1971-eagles-perform-together-for-first.html

Back to Ronstadt, who describes seeing the Eagles come together as a band:

“They used to rehearse in my house, where I was living with J.D., ’cause we had a bigger living room than they did. And I remember coming home one day and they had rehearsed ‘Witchy Woman’ and they had all the harmonies worked out, four-part harmonies. It was fantastic. I knew it was gonna be a hit. You could just tell. They had really strong voices, really strong playing, really strong songwriting ideas and they had an extended pool of songwriters like Jack Tempchin and J.D. Souther and Jackson Browne. It was just an amazing time. There was no way they could miss with all that going for them.”

Lots of great anecdotes from Ronstadt about her backing band and the birth of The Eagles – and they also performed together!

Hanging With The Governor!

Yes, Ronstadt dated California’s Governor, Jerry Brown, and they went onstage at an Eagles show for this iconic photo…

Here is Linda Ronstadt performing “Desperado” live in 1974, backed by The Eagles!

This was an amazing time for music – and what a mashup of music and politics as well!

Ronstadt was one of the great female singers in rock…for proof, look at this live versions of her smash hit “You’re No Good” from The Midnight Special – with her raucous backup band!

Ronstadt no longer performs, but she left us with a great library of music.

Glenn Frey was a good friend of Ronstadt’s…and here is my story about how he wrote “Lyin’ Eyes” with Don Henley:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/19/glenn-freys-greatest-song-lyin-eyes-the-true-story/

And finally, I was lucky enough to see The History Of The Eagles tour in 2013:

You can see a couple of clips from the show by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/21/history-of-the-eagles-amazing-concert-old-friends-return/

Leave a message and let me know what you think of the “birth of the Eagles!”

Grab Your Six Shooters! Time To Saddle Up For Some Western Action!

I love the western genre. As a kid, these classic movies were all over TV at all hours of the day and night…starring some of America’s heroes, like John Wayne!

John Wayne starred in some of the greatest westerns ever made, like “The Searchers” – and also some of the most entertaining, like “The Sons Of Katie Elder”….in fact, one of his best westerns was so good he made it twice!

El Dorado!

In 1966 James Caan was a rising young Actor – and got the chance to saddle up alongside The Duke – as a cocky young gambler who had a way with a knife – which was a good thing since he couldn’t shoot straight AND he wore a funny hat!

239157-017.psd

Add Robert Mitchum to the cast and you have a great cult western. Along with some great action, Caan got to provide a lot of comic relief next to The Duke. Caan’s character was memorably named “Mississippi.”

John Wayne: Don’t you know better than to follow a man that way?
Mississippi: Sorry… I didn’t know there was another way.

This movie is actually a remake of a film made a few years earlier, starring John Wayne in the same role, but switching out Mitchum for Dean Martin and Caan for Ricky Nelson!

Both are very entertaining – and if you want to see more of James Caan, here is my list of his ten best movie roles:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/02/05/the-wrath-of-caan-james-caans-greatest-hits/

Of course, it was in 1969 that Oscar thanked John Wayne for a career of great work by giving him an Oscar for the western “True Grit!”

This classic western was remade by an unlikely duo – Joel and Ethan Coen, best known for “The Big Lebowski” and “Fargo”…

True Grit Times Two!

This remake is a classic western, with Jeff Bridges stepping easily into John Wayne’s boots…

John Wayne is just one of the many classic Actors who have starred in great western movies…

Burt Lancaster starred in a number of great western movies like “Lawman” and “Valdez Is Coming”…you can read all about these films here:

Valdez Is Coming! Lawman! Gun-Blazing Burt Lancaster Western Revenge Double Bill!

These legendary Hollywood Actors were replaced in the saddle by one of America’s most popular stars…

Clint Eastwood Rides Tall!

The face says it all…Clint Eastwood starred in a series of great westerns that highlighted the dangerous, chaotic world of the wild wild west…

“Unforgiven” was Eastwood’s revisionist western that won the Best Picture Oscar in 1992.

It was the supporting acting of Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman that provided Clint with so much texture and depth to go along with his own lead acting performance. Hackman plays Sheriff Little Bill Daggett, a bad bad guy who runs his town the way he fits, until Eastwood shows up…Alex doesn’t like westerns, but she loved this movie!

This is one of Gene Hackman’s best roles…to see more of his great performances, click on my list here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/03/16/a-celebration-of-gene-hackman-an-amazing-actors-ten-greatest-roles/

And guess what? Hackman starred in a number of westerns, like “Bite The Bullet” and this obscurity from 1971:

The Hunting Party!

In 1971, Gene Hackman, Oliver Reed and Candace Bergen starred in this gritty western. Reed is the outlaw who wants to learn to read, and Candace Bergen is the school teacher he kidnaps to teach him…

But Bergen is not just a school teacher, she’s also the wife of cattle baron Gene Hackman – who wants his wife back…

Hackman rustles up a “Hunting Party” and begins to pick off the bad guys one by one. And what starts as a rescue mission turns into a grueling battle of survival…

This film was shocking for the amount of violence it showed…this was a time shortly after “The Wild Bunch” raised the stakes for violence in a film…

Lots of grindhouse violence here, but kind of interesting to watch a clear B-movie being acted out by some A-list Actors!

And speaking of “The Wild Bunch”, this is one of the greatest films ever made – a classic ode to a lost time in the American west…

Director Sam Peckinpah delivers his greatest film, the story of aging outlaws who want to pull off one last heist…the film stars William Holden, Ernest Bornine, Warren Oates and Robert Ryan…

If you want to find out more about this iconic western, as well as Peckinpah’s Bob Dylan western – yes, Bob Dylan! – read my post here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/08/05/the-wild-bunch-billy-the-kid-sam-packinpahs-soup-tossing/

“Pat Garret & Billy The Kid” is a misunderstood classic, and Bob Dylan co-starred and wrote the beautiful song “Knocking’ On Heaven’s Door” for the movie…

So there’s a look at some of the greatest westerns ever made…let me know your favorite!

Have you seen this Mick Jagger movie?

As a Studio Executive said when he saw the film:

“Even the bath water was dirty.”

Hey, Let’s All Get Naked With Mick Jagger In A Bathtub!

Imagine Mick Jagger naked in a bathtub with a number of different women – in a movie performance he made at the height of the Rolling Stones popularity – around the time of “Honky Tonk Woman” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”…a classic British gangster movie that is now out on Blu-Ray!

“This Film Is About Madness.”

The original film poster says it all…but equally “mad” is what was going on with Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones at the same time!

This is a classic movie tale: a film starring one of the world’s biggest rock stars, a film where he willing put himself naked in a bathtub – WITH KEITH RICHARD”S GIRLFRIEND! – is the stuff of movie legend!

Talk About Your Love Triangle!

Here are Mick and Keith with Keith’s girlfriend Anita Pallenberg – and Anita was about to star with Mick Jagger in a movie…you can only imagine the potential for trouble…

Jumping In The Tub With Mick!

The script was full of sex scenes, including several with Mick in a bathtub. Can you say…AWKWARD? Let’s get right to it – the movie that led to the Mick Jagger – Keith Richards feud!

Performance!

Warner Archive has a new Blu-Ray version of “Performance!” The film was a British gangster thriller starring Mick Jagger and James Fox – each playing dual roles! First, check out the trailer!

“Performance” is a 1968 British crime drama directed by Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg, starring James Fox and Mick Jagger, in his film acting debut.

The film was produced in 1968 but not released until 1970!

Why Two Years In The Vault?

So why was the film made in 1968, and released in 1970? First, let’s recap the plot of the movie….Chas is a violent and psychotic East London gangster – who needs a place to lie low after a hit that should never have been carried out. James Fox is terrific in the role of Chas…

Chas finds the perfect cover in the form of a guest house run by the mysterious Mr. Turner, a one-time rock superstar, who is looking for the right spark to rekindle his faded talent. That is, of course, Mick Jagger – again playing two different roles.

Mick is GREAT in the film – starring as a faded rock star with many decadent nights…oh, and as you know, he was starring with Keith’s GIRLFRIEND!

Trouble On The Set!

As you can imagine, Keith wasn’t happy with his girlfriend’s movie choice.

According to wikipedia: “It was intended that the Rolling Stones would write the soundtrack but due to the complicated nature of the various relationships both on and off-screen, this never happened. It was widely rumored that Anita Pallenberg, then in a relationship with Keith Richards, and Mick Jagger played out sexual scenes in the film ‘for real'”…

You can imagine that these scenes could cause trouble in the band, especially since Anita Pallenberg was a beautiful model…here she is with Keith…not a wallflower, that’s for sure…

Whether true or not, the rumors swirled all around this film – gossip that the sex was real, that it broke up Keith and Anita…who knows the real truth, although there are some published accounts that say Anita was involved with both Stones…we’ll get Keith’s POV on this in a moment…

A Great “Performance!”

But forget about the gossip, the affairs, forget it all and just focus on the movie: the film is an explosive, violent and very graphic film – an experimental gangster film very much in line with the “anything goes” attitude prevalent in the late 60’s – and bravo to Mick Jagger for doing the film. If you have any interest in the counter-culture movies of the late 60’s and early 70’s, this is for you.

Keith Takes His Guitar And Goes Home!

Now, back to the stories of Mick and Anita: when Keith Richards heard the rumors that were swirling around, he apparently took to sitting in his car outside the house where the film was being shot. Ultimately, he didn’t participate in a soundtrack album…

The Film’s Notoriety!

The content of “Performance” was a surprise to the studio. It has been reported that during a test screening, one Warner executive’s wife vomited in shock. James Fox notes in Richard Lester’s TV series “British Cinema of the Sixties” that a Warner exec said of the scene depicting Jagger in a bath with Pallenberg and Breton, “even the bath water was dirty.”

This “Dirty Bath Water” Got Shelved!

The response from the studio was to deny the film a cinematic release! It has been claimed that at one stage Warner Bros. wanted the negative to be destroyed. Instead, it sat on a shelf for two years before finally being released.

Luckily for us, the film exists, and is now available on a beautifully remastered Blu-Ray, thanks to Warner Archive – and it is a flawed masterpiece…whether it was one of the first wedges between Keith and Mick isn’t known…

Keith Richards – “Life”

The Jagger/Richards feud goes far beyond this movie. Keith did, in fact, write about the circumstances between Mick and Anita – click this link and check it all out here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/04/02/a-wall-a-stone-and-groupies-groupies-groupies-the-best-music-books-pt-3/

Keith’s memoir is amazingly honest, acerbic, and fascinating to read…and the music is classic rock that has never aged…

For more on the Rolling Stones – 50 Years On! – check out this post:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/16/crossfire-hurricane-censored-c-blues-the-stones-turn-50/

And the story of Keith Richards continue to fascinate me…like the time he agreed to be interviewed on ABC-TV by legendary Writer Hunter S. Thompson!

You can read all about this madness – and see the interview in its entirety – by clicking on my story here:

Amazing Gonzo TV! The Legendary Hunter S. Thompson / Keith Richards Interview!

Let me know if you’ve seen “Performance”, and what you think of it!

The White Rabbit: She’s embarassed – I think she’s still a virgin.
Mad Hatter: Well if that’s the case, she should be embarassed. I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Alice: Well I’m trying to learn, honestly, but I can’t have everything shoved down my throat all at once.
Mad Hatter: Well I don’t see why not.

This Ain’t Your Childhood “Alice In Wonderland!”

As the dialogue above clearly warns, this is a VERY different approach to a childhood classic – and a fascinating look at a cult Hollywood classic!

The characters may be the same – but their motivation is completely different! Meet Kristine DeBell – who debuted as the star of an X-rated MUSICAL version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the age of 22!

Yes, it was a musical! Check out the trailer!

Hooray For Hollywood!

It’s a story as old as Hollywood itself – find a classic story and exploit it! This 1975 movie is notorious for a number of reasons – but first, meet Kristine DeBell…a young Actress who got the break of a lifetime in 1975 when she was cast to star in an “adult” version of a classic children’s story!

In this X-rated musical version of “Alice In Wonderland”, Alice is a cheerful, outgoing and virginal librarian. After rejecting the offensive advances of a man named William, a white rabbit magically appears to take her to Wonderland. And in THIS wonderland, it’s all about X-rated pleasure!

Or Was It An “R”-Rated Musical Comedy?

While the first poster clearly says this is an X-rated movie, one other fascinating aspect of this story is that there were THREE separate versions of the film! Yes, it was an “R”-rated musical comedy as well…look at this version of the poster!

You see, this film was cut into many different versions to satisfy a wide variety of audiences! This wasn’t that unusual in the 70’s: movies were made in multiple versions to maximize their distribution, as many drive-ins around the country wouldn’t show X-rated films…

“Dirty Dorothy?”

According to David J. Hogan’s book “The Wizard of OZ FAQ,” Bill Osco, the producer of “Alice in Wonderland” had originally intended to star Kristine DeBell in an X-rated parody of the Wizard of OZ to be entitled “Dirty Dorothy.” He eventually decided to do a take-off on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice” books instead, because their rights were in the public domain and there would be less risk of a copyright infringement lawsuit!

So What EXACTLY Did Kristine DeBell Do In The Film?

And what about THIS XXX-Rated version of the movie? Yes, there was an even more extreme version of the film, which was shown in grindhouse theaters that catered to a more extreme audience. It raises the question: just what did Kristine DeBell do in this movie?

As I told you, there were three versions of the film released: the original X-rated version, plus a cleaner “R” version…and a notorious XXX-rating as well!

Thanks to the terrific SHOCK magazine issue #49, DeBell addressed the multiple cuts:

Once I was hired, at some point I said, ‘eww yuck! I mean, I’ll do that maybe, but I’m not doing that!” She adds, “They actually cut out three minutes to get an R-rating. It’s funny that after they released it as an R, one year later, the producers came out and said (husky voice) ‘oh yeah, yeah, here’s all the XXX that we filmed but didn’t put it in then.’ It’s like, ‘REALLY?’ (laughs)”

Several years ago, DeBell posted this great response on her Facebook page, where she describes exactly what she did and didn’t do in the movie:

“I have had the opportunity of late to set the record straight about my appearance in “Alice In Wonderland.” I think my comment on the film that sums it up best is “who’s in the triple X version? I did three naughty things in that movie…”

Here is a great writeup from DeBell’s Facebook page that explains it all:

https://www.facebook.com/kristinedebellfans/posts/487318431324689

In addition to appearing in “Alice In Wonderland”, DeBell also appeared in Playboy…she was on the April 1976 cover of the magazine…

Hello, Bill Murray!

After her notoriety playing Alice, Kristine moved into mainstream film and television. Her most prominent film role was camp counselor A.L., alongside Bill Murray in the comedy “Meatballs!”

After appearing as Jackie Chan’s girlfriend in “The Big Brawl”, she appeared in a number of television series, including “The Young and the Restless”, “B. J. and the Bear” and “Night Court”.

DeBell achieved fame through a unique role – and she’s not the only sex kitten to do so…

The “Queen Of Artsploitation!”

Swedish Actress Christina Lindberg was the “Queen of Artsploitation”, with a string of provocative european art films full of “adult situations”…

She achieved the same sort of X-rated notoriety for her role in “Thriller: A Cruel Picture”, which was also released in multiple versions…you can read all about Quentin Tarantino’s favorite exploitation film by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/21/swedish-sex-kitten-christina-lindberg-the-original-queen-of-artsploitation/

Another way to become famous was to be a “Bond girl”, starring in one of the many 007 films…

Claudine Auger achieved fame as the “Bond girl” in “Thunderbolt” – you can read all about her career by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/12/18/sexiest-bond-girl-ever-sex-kitten-claudine-auger-james-bond-and-giallo-horror/

Starring in an exploitation film isn’t always the key to stardom…here is one cautionary tale:

Anne Sparrow starred in the cult classic “The Sinful Dwarf” – yes, if you follow my blog, you know all about this film:

“The Sinful Dwarf” was also released in many different versions, and the young actress who stars in the film, Anne Sparrow, made this film and then disappeared forever!

Read all about this cinematic mystery by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/16/sinful-sex-kitten-anne-sparrow-the-mystery-of-a-disappearing-starlet/

There you have it: a look at how movies are made once but released in many different ways…let me know if you’ve experienced any of them!

Time To “Own Some Joan”!

The estate of Joan Rivers is putting up some of her personal items for auction, and it’s your chance to be part of her legacy!

The legendary Comedian/Host/Actress/Author died on September 4, 2014, and everyone who knew her, or just loved her work, were devastated by this loss…

Bravo, Melissa!

Joan’s daughter Melissa has done an incredibly classy job of keeping her Mom’s legacy alive, including this terrifically poignant and funny memoir released last year…

Christie’s Auction!

Now, news that Christie’s in New York is holding an auction on June 16-23 – your chance to own a piece of Joan’s life! The Auction will be conducted both online and in New York City.

It’s an incredible chance to be part of her legacy…

The Auction will include 200 lots, which are described as Joan’s “exceptional and eclectic taste, including decorative arts, paintings, fine French furniture and Fabergé.”

I found a terrific article in The Daily Beast by Tim Teeman – who gives details on the auction, as well as some great stories about Joan.

Here is what Teeman wrote:

“The live sale of Rivers’ possessions will coincide with an online auction of 80 lots selling “extravagant costumes made by Bob Mackie, couture and personal jewelry spanning esteemed design houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston.”

In the last major interview Rivers gave, conducted with me for The Daily Beast just over a month before she died, she said, “I’ve left money so the dogs can be taken care of. I’ve said to [her daughter] Melissa, ‘Sell anything and everything you don’t want. Don’t feel beholden to my possessions.’ I feel almost hysterical on that. I don’t want them to have a sense of guilt.”

Christie’s also released a statement about the auction, which says:

“Among the personal objects, which reflect Joan’s connoisseurship of fine and decorative arts and her sense of wit and humour, include a beautiful Edouard Vuillard painting, Dans L’Atelier, painted circa 1915, (and) a jewelled nephrite study of a Lily of the Valley leaf by Faberge.”

And since Joan was always generous and giving to those less fortunate, a portion of the proceeds will benefit two of her favorite causes: “God’s Love We Deliver” and “Guide Dogs for the Blind.”

This must be a difficult transition for Melissa, but this charity will provide a lot of help to groups that can use it – just another example of how Joan and Melissa have given so much back to the world.

My wife Alex saw them last when they appeared on Steve Harvey’s talk show, and it was a great reunion, as we remembered some great times we had together…

I posted a story about filming with Joan and Melissa at the Cannes Film Festival – making TV on the dock of the Carlton Hotel, the “Queen Of The Croisette”!

You can read that story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/05/12/melissa-rivers-new-memoir-joan-rivers-storms-cannes-joan-and-melissas-hilarious-cannes-fashion-review/

Joan and Melissa were the perfect team: Joan was hilariously funny and unapologetic, while Melissa grounded her and offered up her own deadpan acerbic barbs…it was the most fun I’ve ever had filming television…

I applaud all that Melissa has done to keep Joan’s memory alive in a positive, uplifting way…here is the entire story from The Daily Beast regarding the Christie Auction:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/09/you-can-own-a-piece-of-joan-rivers-the-story-of-her-possessions-up-for-auction.html

And if you want to get more details on the auction itself, you can click on the Christie’s website here:

http://www.christies.com/multidaysales/the-private-collection-of-joan-rivers-june-2016/

Finally, I was lucky enough to work with Joan and Melissa for a decade, both at E! and TVGuide – some of the best times I’ve had…

I posted a few of those memories as a tribute to Joan when she passed away…you can see that story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/04/rip-joan-rivers-a-world-class-person-is-gone/

Take a look at the incredible auction and remember the life of Joan Rivers!

“Is This The Real Life? Is This Just Fantasy?”

The opening line from one of the greatest rock songs of all time…from a band who was once hugely under appreciated and now is known as one of the greatest of all time!

God Save The Queen!

Who’s kidding who? One of music’s most wildly entertaining bands lives forever, thanks to great live performances like this – “We Are The Champions” from Live Aid in 1985 :

Freddie Mercury was one of the most unique – and beloved – singers in all rock history. Those of us who grew up in the US really don’t know the depth of this fanbase in the UK…here is another example – three different live versions of “Tie Your Mother Down” all tied together into one amazing video:

I have posted stories about Queen in the past, and wanted to look back at those musical moments that will last forever – beginning with perhaps their most famous work:

“Bohemian Rhapsody!”

Talk about a mini-opera! The brilliant song has been parodied – and honored – in many movies and TV shows. The album it came from was “A Night At The Opera”, a unique masterpiece that showed the amazing range of the band…

“Bohemian Rhapsody” was written by Freddie Mercury, written down “in blocks” (using note names instead of sheets) on a phone book. The other band members recorded their parts, with no idea how their tracks would be used. According to Wikipedia, the operatic section was originally intended to be only a short interlude of “Galileos” that connected the ballad and hard rock portions of the song!

In case you forget just how great the song – and the music video are – well, then feast your eyes on it again:

“A Night At The Opera” is a wildly entertaining album, and you can see my track-by-track breakdown here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/02/23/queens-brilliant-night-at-the-opera-freddie-mercurys-musical-madness/

Of course, Queen had a long and successful career full of hits like “We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions”, “Somebody To Love” and “Radio Gaga”, but I love one song in particular:

“Flash!”

The cult film “Flash Gordon” will also be remembered for the terrific theme song that was a pure a “Queen sound” as you can get…and did you know that this guy was behind the creation of “Star Wars”?

Yes, if there hadn’t been a “Flash Gordon” serialized movie from the “good old days”, George Lucas wouldn’t have created this movie!

How is that possible! Well, it is! Read how “Flash Gordon” led to “Star Wars” by reading my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/05/how-flash-gordon-created-star-wars-sam-jones-the-original-han-solo/

And of course, one of Queen’s greatest songs was co-written with this guy!

“Under Pressure!”

David Bowie’s collaboration with Queen on the classic hit “Under Pressure” was a story of wine-quelled madness, which you can read about here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/16/david-bowie-meets-queen-the-brilliant-wine-fuelled-madness-of-under-pressure/

Leave me a message and tell me what your favorite Queen song is!

You Don’t Have To Go To Texas For A Chainsaw Massacre!

Well, that’s helpful to know. It also helps to know this:

“While we out fiddling with that music, the lousy bastard was in there killing her! BASTARD! BAAAAASTAAARD! BASTAAARD!”

And with that classic dialogue, it is time to discover the incredible over-the-top bad taste and great grind house entertainment that is:

“Pieces!” It’s Exactly What You Think It Is!

How can you go wrong with a poster like that! And look at this one, which includes a special line underneath the title on the left:

“AN IMPORTANT FILM”

Indeed!

“Pieces” is a notorious shocker from 1981 that was banned in several counties, and included some of the bloodiest scenes in motion picture history! In fact, look how they chose to promote the film:

It always begins with a young boy who is traumatized…flash forward to college, when young co-eds are being cut up by a chainsaw killer! The madman is attempting to put together a human jigsaw puzzle made from body parts – “PIECES!”

In the 80’s, horror films turned very violent, with slasher movies turning screens blood red:

This era may not have produced great films, but they were shocking and fun to watch, perhaps no more so that this classic:

Linnea Quigley was a big star of 80’s horror, and you can read more about her here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/28/scream-queen-linnea-quigley-naked-graveyard-dancing-horror-demons-too/

If you love this era of film, then the newly remastered Blu-Ray version of “Pieces” is for you!

Grindhouse Releasing has a great special edition of “Pieces” on Blu-Ray, including the U.S. theatrical and Spanish versions of the film, and a bonus video of American horror director Eli Roth presenting a theatrical screening of Pieces to a Los Angeles cult audience!

Roth most recently directed his homage to the 80’s cannibal films, “The Green Inferno.” You can read about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/05/enter-the-green-inferno-eli-roths-homage-to-shocking-cannibal-holocaust/

Perhaps the greatest extra bonus on the new “Pieces” release is this:

42ND STREET MEMORIES: All-new feature-length documentary about the legendary “Grindhouse” era of New York’s 42nd street, including interviews with Bill Lustig, Larry Cohen, Frank Henenlotter, Buddy Giovinazzo, Jeff Lieberman, John Skipp, Lynn Lowry, Terry Levine and other exploitation icons!

This was a fascinating era in movie history: Time Square lit up with theaters playing the wildest sexploitation movies of the time, suavely 24 hours a day!

I can’t wait to see this new documentary, and if you want to see some of the greatest “grind house” films of the era, you can check out my story here:

Sexy “Honey”! Dirty “Brine!” Grindhouse Classics, “Prurient” Style!

Folks, these were some wild wild films!

42nd Street was a seedy, dangerous place in the 70’s and 80’s, and the movies had to deliver!

Here are some more of the classic movies of that era:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/06/12/dirty-keyholes-immoral-wives-the-naked-truth-about-cult-grindhouse-cinema/

You see, the films were full of sex and violence, and legend has it that the movie theaters of Times Square were as well! That meant you need films like this to keep the customers satisfied:

Lurid, pandering, and usually hilariously bad, these films are worth checking out just to see how gullible the public was at the time! Here are a few more great examples:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/02/70s-sin-ema-massage-parlor-murders-ursula-gets-naked-gritty-grindhouse-classics/

Let me know if you are falling to “Pieces!”

Another Intrepid RocketNews24 Reporter Tackles The Tough Questions!

I love the stories posted on RocketNews 24 – look at the picture above for a moment, because here is how they set up their latest hilarious food story:

“We’re slowly coming to the realization that P.K. Sanjun, one of RocketNews24’s Japanese-language reporters, doesn’t understand the concept of change. No, we don’t mean that he doesn’t realize that things don’t stay the same forever. We mean that he seems a little fuzzy on the idea that if you walk into a restaurant with 10,000 yen (US$90), you don’t have to spend all of it.”

10,000 Yen Worth Of Fried Shrimp!

So spend it he did – on fried shrimp!

You see, at a number of convenience stores and take out restaurants in Tokyo, you can order a “tendon” bowl, which is a mixed protein and vegetable rice dish…a tasty lunch that NORMALLY looks like this:

Of course, we all love fried food, which usually tops the rice and vegetables – and if you like, you can order some extra fried items to add to your bowl…like all of this fried shrimp!

Yes, that’s 10,000 yen worth of fried goodness! Of course, P.K. wanted to see it all stacked up, which leads us to this majestic bowl of fried shrimp!

Kudos to this intrepid investigative Reporter for sharing his work of culinary art!

Read the entire story with lots of great pics by going to the story on RocketNews24 here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/03/10/heres-what-happens-when-you-order-us80-worth-of-extra-shrimp-for-your-tempura-bowl-in-tokyo/

As you know, this isn’t the first time that RocketNews24 has gone on a “food-stacking” binge:

Yes, they ordered some “extra” grilled onion for their Burger King burger once as well – and you can see the results here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/14/the-1000-grilled-onion-cheeseburger-burger-king-japans-stacked-again/

For bacon lovers….well, you were covered as well:

Yes, 1,000 strips of bacon made this a mouthful! You can see how they managed this amazing creation by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/12/26/get-stacked-1050-slices-of-bacon-grilled-onion-cheese-the-worlds-tallest-burgers/

Of course, I have shared some Japan’s mega-towered burgers before, like this one:

Yes, it’s a “shrimp tower” burger…and I bet it tastes as delicious as it looks! See more mega burgers from Japan by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/29/vote-for-japans-wildest-burger-shrimp-stack-ramen-burgers-everything-burgers-lotteria-wants-you/

Make sure you click to see the majesty of this:

Now THAT’S A CHEESEBURGER!

And for the Vegetarians reading this, don’t worry, we have you covered as well:

Yes, in China they love to take over a Burger King salad bar and make magic! It is just another reason why I love the internet:

See more of this vegetable art here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/29/chinas-skyscraper-salad-bars-salad-bars-as-art/

And enjoy your fried shrimp!

Step Into Paradise!

Welcome to paradise! To me, this picture captures perfectly what life would be like in a tropical paradise – a fantasy escape that most can only dream about…

Could I live here forever? Who knows – BUT I COULD TRY!

Even if you’ve had the chance to spend even a few days in paradise, it’s hard to imagine life there….

For a few amazing travel writers, life in paradise was not only considered, it was attempted – and paradise is – like everything else in life – “in the eye of the beholder.”

As beautiful and idyllic as this looks…you are also entering a world that is completely different – and in many cases, dangerous…I have three incredible travel memoirs that will immerse you in the South Seas life, beginning with Paul Theroux, who decided to see this part of the world in a very unique way:

The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific!

Yes, he “paddled” across the South Pacific in a canoe! Paul Theroux is a legendary travel writer as well as Author of fiction like “The Mosquito Coast” – and quite the prickly traveler as well: Theroux spent 18 months in a one-man collapsible kayak exploring such exotic Pacific islands as New Zealand, Australia, the Soloman and Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Easter Island, and Hawaii. His adventure makes for an amazingly entertaining book.

As one review states:

“Never a kind-hearted chronicler of place, he sets out on this voyage in an especially dour mood, leaving behind a failed marriage and expecting to be diagnosed with cancer at any moment. Soon after he escapes the crowded towns of Australia, however, he starts to lose some of his harsh edge and enjoy his travels, which ultimately heal him. A brilliant storyteller with an eye for the absurd, Theroux takes the reader to little-known places where time seems to have stood still and people lead simple lives totally unrelated to 20th-century America.”

This unique canoe trip is full of comedy, tragedy, politics and a touch of the mundane as well. The Author is a terrific writer, and you really feel you are there on the trip with him – and what a trip it is!

Another reviewer raved:

“Any perceptive reader with a sense of adventure couldn’t help but feel drawn to the islands as Theroux describes them – their idiosyncrasies, history, culture, beauty and repulsiveness in equal measure – which speckle the Pacific Ocean like stars in the night sky.”

Here is one short excerpt from the book:

“There were stars everywhere, above us, and reflected in the sea along with the sparkle of phosphorescence streaming from the bow wave. When I poked an oar in the ocean and stirred it, the sea glittered with twinkling sea-life. … It was as though we were in an old rickety rocket ship.

It was an image that afterwards often came to me when I was traveling in the Pacific, that this ocean was as vast as outer space, and being on this boat was like shooting from one star to another, the archipelagoes like galaxies, and the islands like isolated stars in an empty immensity of watery darkness, and this sailing was like going slowly from star to star, in vitreous night.”

Once you devour this book, try his journey around the Mediterranean, “The Pillars Of Hercules” – or his harrowing trip through Africa, which you read more about here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/16/the-dark-heart-of-africa-paul-therouxs-last-train-to-zona-verde-his-personal-heart-of-darkness/

There are many ways to get to the South Pacific….for Lucy Irvine, her trip began when she answered this ad in a London newspaper:

Her life was never the same. After spending a year as a “wife” on a desert island north of Australia, she wrote a bestselling book about it!

Irvine’s “Castaway” is a fascinating book, and she’s an incredible writer:

“The sun is spread, hot and arched, above the reef like a woman in abandon, sky shimmering like glistening skin…”

Yet her greatest adventure happened a few years later…

“Only two hours ago I’d been living through some of the worst moments I’d ever experienced, during which an understanding of the precariousness of life had been borne in me with frightening force.”

Lucy Irvine Travels “Faraway!”

First of all, what a beautiful cover for a book. Welcome to Pigeon Island, surrounded by many other, smaller islands like the one on the cover. Lucy Irvine’s bestselling book “Castaway” documented her year on a deserted island, and after all of the acclaim, Irvine returned to a “regular” life, until the Author found herself with a unique opportunity for a sequel!

In 1999, Lucy Irvine took her three children to the farthest corner of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific to live for a year on remote Pigeon Island…look at the center of the map above and notice the tiny mark for Pigeon island next to Reef Islands…

Irvine’s invitation to live in this isolated paradise came from an intrepid 80-year-old Pigeon Island resident, Diana Hepworth, who set sail from England years earlier with her family in their own search for a faraway paradise.

“Faraway” is not only Irvine’s story, it is the story of the Hepworth family and their amazing adventure years earlier…the two stories are intertwined, and both are fascinating…

“Faraway” tells the story of Irvine’s latest adventure – and what it was like to take her three boys with her, settling into a completely different life in the middle of the south seas…

“Faraway” also is the story of the Hepworths – an adventurous young couple who raised a family in a faraway land – and “Faraway” beautifully captures what life on a south seas island is like…because few islands are more isolated than this one…

“Faraway” is an amazing South Seas adventure, and if you want to read all of Irvine’s terrific work, see my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/25/from-runaway-to-castaway-the-faraway-dramatic-life-of-writer-lucy-irvine/

As you can see, I fantasize about living in this tropical oasis, but as you will see from these books, it’s a difficult life as well…here’s a book that gets right to the crux of the matter:

Look at the title of this book! How can you not love it! Yes, there is a history of cannibalism in this part of the world as well!

Great travel writer J. Maarten Troost got to actually live in the South Seas when his wife was there as a official for the US government…and he found an interesting fact about the place:

“The man was eaten for his ‘mana’, that is the invisible power that resides in the head.”

Yes, it was home to cannibals! But that’s what makes the adventure so much fun, right? I mean, there has to be SOME price to pay for living here:

Time For Great Troost Travel!

Troost has written many travel books, all based on his personal experience of living in the South Pacific with his wife…here, for example is a short passage from the beginning of one book – the Author speaking to a french man about what makes the french the french:

“Dreams, he said, while pale and smelling of regurgitated chicken, do sometimes come true and this, he concluded, was how we endure the tragedy, the comedy, of life, and for a moment I was reminded of why I love the French – not even blowing chunks will ruin ‘la grande romance’ of it all.”

I love this Writer! J. Maarten Troost has written four terrific travel books – I will share his other work in a moment, but his most recent took him back to the South Seas:

“Headhunters On My Doorstep” is the story of Troost returning to the islands where he lived when he wrote his “Cannibals” book…

Roost returns to his old island home after several years away to see how his life changed since he lived there. Troost has changed as well – and the book is far more personal than any he has written before, but as always, beautifully written…

Here is an idea of Troost’s writing style, from page 159 of the book:

“Do you have some time?” Celine asked. Oh, I don’t know. I’m on an island in the middle of nowhere, without an ongoing ticket or a way off, amusing myself by going on desultory hikes to the set of ‘Survivor: Marquesas’ in the drenching rain. Yeah, I think I’ve got a couple of minutes to spare…

Yes, one of the areas explored by the Author is the location of the 4th season of the reality show “Survivor”…but Troost isn’t there to play a game – he brings to life a culture that is vibrant, proud, and nearly decimated by their interaction with white people.

As you can see, he’s got a way with words, which is why the book is so much fun to read, and full of fascinating information – about cannibalism, for example.

“The man was eaten for his ‘mana’, that is the invisible power that resides in the head.”

There is so much to love about this book, but it is a cautionary tale as well…as the world’s climate threatens to destroy an entire way of life…

In many ways, this is his most personal – and important – work. Of course, this should leave you breathless to read ALL of Troost’s books, so just click on my link below for my story about them all!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/09/cannibals-savages-sex-and-great-walls-too-troost-troost-troost-great-adventure-travel/

I recommend you read them in order!

So there you have it: three chances to explore the South Pacific from a comfortable “reading chair” – let me know what you think!

“He who hesitates is lunch”

These “secret” words are found on one of the Eagles great albums – recorded in 1974 – a year that began with the four members of the band….and ended with five:

August 1974 — The rock band, The Eagles, stand together outside a building. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

Time to look at the turmoil that surrounded the release of the Eagles third album – a collection of music that showed the band showcasing a new, harder edge – AND containing their first #1 song as well!

The Eagles “On The Border!”

After the success of their first album – and the commercial failure of their second – the Eagles knew they had to re-think their music. The result was “On the Border” – and album that saw their Record Producer Glyn Johns leave the project after only two songs were recorded.

The album was initially produced by Glyn Johns and recorded at Olympic Studios, London, but during the making of the album, it was clear there was a problem. The band’s second album is a beautiful record, with two of their best songs – “Tequila Sunrise” and “Desperado”…

The album didn’t sell well, however, and the band decided it was time for a harder, more rock-focused approach – but Glyn Johns didn’t agree!

As Glenn Frey said about the recording sessions:

“We just didn’t want to make another limp-wristed L.A. country-rock record. They were all too smooth and glassy. We wanted a tougher sound.”

After six weeks in the studio, the band decided it was time for a change, so they said goodbye to Johns, with only two usable tracks, “Best of My Love” and “You Never Cry Like a Lover”.

February 1974 — The members of The Eagles stand against a wall. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

The band headed back home to California, and hired Bill Szymczyk to produce the rest of the album. It was exactly the right choice for the band.

That’s Szymczyk in the Broncos jersey. These photos are by Henry Diltz, who captured the band throughout their incredible career. The Producer loved the harder edge that the band wanted, and he suggested they bring in a harder-edged guitarist to add slide guitar to the song “Good Day in Hell”.

March 1972 — The rock band The Eagles rest upon a rock. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

Bernie Leadon suggested his buddy Don Felder, and after he began playing with them, the band invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle. The only other track he played on was the first song, “Already Gone”. They credited him as a late arrival on the album’s liner notes!

That’s why the album’s inner sleeve photo only has the original four members of the band! I love the iconic cover of the album, and I also loved the stylized graphics that list the songs on the back of the album.

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Here is an amazing live performance of the album’s first song, the classic rocker “Already Gone” from the 1974 California Jam concert – full of great energy:

Thanks to the OntarioMotorSpeedway youtube channel for this classic, which is from the CaliforniaJamFanClub.com.

The band was clearly having a great time, and that first song is a classic. Here are the Eagles performing “Already Gone” live on their 2013 “History Of The Eagles” tour as well:

The Eagles Soar To The Top Of The Charts!

The album includes the classic Eagles song, “Best of My Love”, which became the band’s first #1 single. Here is a beautiful live version from 1977:

Of course, the single was noticeably shorter than the song that’s on the album, because the record label edited the song before releasing it – without telling the band!

The Eagles Have A Hidden Groove!

Hers a fun fact I came across on wikipedia: this is the first album by the Eagles to be released in Quadraphonic surround sound. There is a hidden message carved into the run out groove on some of the original vinyl LPs that reads:

“He who hesitates is lunch”.

Here is a look at each song on the album, along with the songwriters. As you can see, a lot of the band’s friends contributed to the songwriting effort:

“Already Gone” (Jack Tempchin, Robb Strandlund)

“You Never Cry Like a Lover” (J.D. Souther, Don Henley)

“Midnight Flyer” (Paul Craft)

“My Man” (Bernie Leadon)

“On the Border” (Henley, Leadon, Glenn Frey)

“James Dean” (Jackson Browne, Frey, Souther, Henley)

Here is a great live performance of “James Dean” from that California Jam concert in 1974!

“Ol’ ’55” (Tom Waits)

“Is It True?” (Randy Meisner)

“Good Day in Hell” (Henley, Frey)

“Best of My Love” (Henley, Frey, Souther)

After the success of this album, the band never looked back…”On The Border” shows the band maturing in their sound, with a harder edge helped by the addition of Don Felder, and the music holds up more than 40 years later!

I posted a story about the beginning of the Eagles, and Linda Ronstadt’s memories of them as her friends – and backing band!

You can see that story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/03/01/the-birth-of-the-eagles-linda-ronstadts-back-up-band-had-a-peaceful-easy-feeling/

It was a memorable time in music history, and the band would go on to write some of the best songs in rock…

Fans were stunned by the death of Glenn Frey, and here is a story of how he and Don Henley wrote “Lyin’ Eyes”:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/19/glenn-freys-greatest-song-lyin-eyes-the-true-story/

I was so happy to have had the chance to see the band’s “History Of The Eagles” tour in 2013:

It was great to see Bernie Leadon performing the early songs with the band – here is my review of that concert:

Eagles Singer Glenn Frey RIP! Shocking News! History Of The Eagles! Old Friends Return!

And finally, Don Henley recently stated that the band won’t perform together again…but Henley continues to release great music:

Henley’s most recently album went to #1 on the country chart…see his great music video from the album here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/02/24/don-henleys-1-cass-county-music-masterpiece-from-eagles-maestro-with-dolly-parton-and-mick-jagger-too/

Leave a comment to let me know your favorite “On The Border” song!

“Sausage Party” Has Arrived!

Well, the hilarious, slightly profane movie trail that is! This hilariousness animated comedy from Seth Rogan isn’t your Father’s animation!

Here is the hilarious trailer:

Here is how “Deadline.com” describes it: “What if food could feel? No, that’s not quite it. It’s more like What if food could feel, and swear, and be racist and have sex? It stars Seth Rogen as Frank, a hot dog, and Kristen Wiig as Bun, his girlfriend. The pair live in their respective packages along with every other item in a fictional grocery store (“Shopwell”) where all items of food belong to a religion that worships the human shoppers as gods who they pray will select them and take them into “the great beyond,” the food version of heaven.”

It’s from the same groups that brought you “This Is The End”, and so I can only imagine how much fun this is going to be!

Read about the hilarious screening at SXSW at Deadline.com:

http://deadline.com/2016/03/sausage-party-sxsw-sony-pictures-seth-rogen-evan-goldberg-trailer-1201720512/

I can’t wait for this “Sausage Party!”

Guess Where We Are?

There are few cities where the preferred method of transportation doesn’t use gas, but an oar instead…and this is how you get home from a busy day of shopping…

Behold The Majesty Of Venice, Italy!

From the ground – or water – the city of Venice Italy is magical – as these aerial pictures show!

the city takes on an even more spectacular view from the air…but one of the things we discovered was that – especially in winter – mist and fog can give the city a haunted beauty…

This is the story of a trip that my wife Alex and I took to Venice over New Years…which allowed us to see a Venice that was more serene – shrouded in early morning fog…

But it also allowed us to see a remarkable city when it wasn’t swarmed by tourists…although the grand canal can still have a traffic jam during rush hour…

Yes, the first thing you notice about Venice is exactly what you hoped to discover: there are gondolas EVERYWHERE – and why not? It’s how you get around! Which means, when you wander the neighborhoods, you see an entirely different style of “street parking!”

There are gondolas and boats everywhere you look – and these gondoliers are experienced drivers – take a close look at this one – who can even read while driving!

Arriving in Venice!

After landing at the airport, you take a car to a dock, and then – yep, you finish your journey by boat! That’s how we arrived at our hotel – cruising up to the “check-in dock” by boat – and were very happy to discover that our hotel room had a view of St. Marks square in the distance….

“When In Venice…”

Our exploration had to begin, of course, with a gondola tour – it’s not only fun, but it’s a great way to see the city….

It is, of course, a spectacular journey, and even though the weather was overcast, we didn’t care, because it gave the city a grittiness that you don’t get in the summer…we had a great conversation with our Gondolier, who explained the history of the city, the problems with the rising water, and how they all know that nothing the government will do to combat it will work, but that is what Italy is, he said…

He also told us about a restaurant to visit…located across the smallest bridge in Venice….it is an island full of small canals and even smaller walking bridges…

We also explored St. Marks square…a gathering spot for everyone…

Venice By Foot!

Venice is also a fascinating city to explore by foot…from the major thoroughfares like these…

To the smallest streets like this one – seeing how Venetians live is fascinating, such as how they park their transportation right outside their homes….

There aren’t many stores to shop for everyday food supplies, as most take a boat to the mainland…so the city itself is almost completely given over to tourists….like us of course, and we headed up to the top of the tower in St. Marks to view the city…

It was a slightly chilly but beautiful day to look out at Venice…and you can see the famed Venice Lido strip as well…located a short boat ride across from St. Mark square…

Time To Eat!

Venice has a reputation for restaurants that serve mediocre food to tourists, but we loved all of our meals. We also headed to a fish market to check out the fresh seafood on display…much of it winding up on our plates that same night…like these giant squid…

Yes, I can look at this stuff for hours…huge black inky squid are rare to see in the US, but plentiful here… I also caught a shot of Alex on our boat one day as well…peaceful and relaxed…

It was a great trip to a beautiful city…and everywhere you point your camera, there are more great images to capture…

Happy New Year!

Our visit included New Years Eve, and after a great meal, we walked along the grand canal as fireworks went off above the city…

My Best Memory!

Venice is a magical city, and I hope these pictures helped capture that – but probably my single favorite picture from the trip came on our flight HOME! Yes, because as Alex was perusing the in-flight magazine, she came across an ad that had been “enhanced” by a previous passenger:

I love that picture! And of course, I love going on memorable travel adventures with Alex, like our incredible culinary tour of Provence, including a week of cooking with legendary Writer and Chef Patricia Wells:

You can read all about the food of Provence by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/10/tasting-provence-cooking-with-patricia-wells-food-and-travel-unite/

And we also had an amazing adventure in Spain, including biking to some of the Costa Brava’s most magical hilltop villages:

You can read about that adventure by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/12/01/cycling-through-wild-spain-biking-costa-bravas-medieval-villages/

And let me know your favorite memory of Venice!

Meet The Face Of J-Sploitation!

One of the world’s wildest genres of film features one of the world’s most popular Actresses…here is a look at some crazy movies of Japan, with one very busy star!

Meet Asami – J-Sploitation’s Queen Of Ass Kicking!

Asami Sugiura is one of Japan’s most popular – and busiest stars! In the early part of her career, she performed under the singular name Asami as a “Gravure Idol”!

What’s A “Gravure Idol?”

In Japan, the phrase “Gravure Idol” refers to a model who primarily appears in magazines marketed to men. Gravure idols, in most cases, emphasize their sexual attractiveness…wearing skimpy clothes and smelling seductively…it’s a unique aspect of Japanese culture…

Beyond her work as a “Gravure Idol”, Asami achieved J-Sploitation notoriety for her starring roles in a number of great japanese exploitation films – like this classic of the genre:

The Machine Girl!

This is one aggressively entertaining movie! Asami starred with Minase Yashiro, who was “The Machine Girl” – a young woman brutalized by the mob in Japan…with her friend Asami’s help, they get bloody revenge!

Get ready to have your eyeballs sucked out of your moviegoing head when you see this trailer!

Welcome To The World Of “J-Sploitation!”

This is an insane – and insanely entertaining – type of film you have to see to believe! The Japanese exploitation genre known as “J-Sploitation” follows exploitation rules closely: women put in dangerous situations, but they always come out on top! Oh, and there is a lot of action, nudity, and blood!

“The Machine Girl” has an over-the-top vibe, and Asami has the chance to kick lots of ass in the film! Any movie that involves revenge, Ninjas AND fried food as a weapon of destruction is right up my alley!

You can read more about this cult genre of film by clicking on my story here:

Mutant Girls! Toilet Zombies!! Japan’s Wild Female Ninjas!! Bloody J-Sploitation Fun!

Asami’s film credits are full of classic “j-sploitation” cinema…each one seemingly intent on out-grossing the one before…there are a lot of great ones, but this is one of my favorites!

Behold the “Citizen Kane” of killer sushi movies!

“DEAD SUSHI!”

“Dead Sushi”is a “Japanese splatter action comedy” about “flying killer sushi monsters,” and it’s on blu-ray for you to enjoy!

“Dead Sushi” stars Japanese Actress Rina Takeda along with Asami – and is chock full of outrageous moments…check out the trailer!

Asami has a blast in this film – and yes, if you are noticing a trend, that’s because these movies all adhere to a very specific style and tone – but that’s why they work so well!

RoboGeisha!

Asami also starred in this classic! “RoboGeisha” is full of great special effects, classic action, and over-the-top mayhem! To see more of this Director’s work, click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/07/30/killer-sushi-the-robogeisha-director-is-back-with-more-fried-shrimp-death-and-japanese-mayhem/

Now, at this point you are asking yourself: why hasn’t Asami done any zombie films? Well, I think you know the answer to that!

“Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead!”

Prepare yourself for the majesty of Asami’s “Zombie Ass!” Here is the trailer:

The plot is simple: a group of friends decide on an outing in the woods…

Things start to go badly when one of them finds a parasitical worm inside a fish they catch – and wolfs it down alive, in the hope that it’ll help keep her skinny! And then… zombies!

Needless to say, “Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead” is a “campfest” of wild action, lots and lots of blood, and tongue firmly in cheek!

Some of Asami’s more adult films, however, are much rougher and no laughing matter…

Asami also has acted in a number of “pink” films – a specific category of japanese sexploitaiton film, which have more erotic content and nudity. She starred in “Female Prisoner Ayaka” and also “Three Slave Women” – which won Asami a Best Actress award in Japan.

Meet Asami’s “Gun Woman!”

One of Asami’s most recent films is “Gun Woman”, which is as crazy as anything she has done!

Check out the trailer:

Here is the plot in a nutshell: A Doctor seeking revenge trains a young woman to become an Assassin – with all of her weapons embedded inside her! What else do you need to know?

The doctor concocts a plan for Asami to crash a party. Gun parts have been implanted in her body. Once inside, she must go on her killing mission by tearing her sutures, retrieving the parts and assembling the gun before bleeding to death!

All of these films can be found now on DVD or Blu-ray, so there is no excuse NOT to try out some of the wildest movies ever made – and bravo to Asami for her career!

“An Angel In A Snake Pit”

These words were spoken by one of Hollywood’s most promising stars, describing her own personal hell…

A Shocking True Hollywood Story!

This is the story of Hollywood sex kitten June Fairchild. June was an aspiring Actress building a career along with other hot young stars in the 60’s like Jack Nicholson, but her story took a tragic turn…

June Fairchild got her start as a go-go dancer, and quickly found herself part of Hollywood’s new generation of stars: she co-starred in The Monkees’ cult classic musical film called “Head”…

Here’s a fascinating piece of trivia: “HEAD” was written by Jack Nicholson! Read all about this cult classic here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/07/jack-nicholsons-musical-head-the-monkees-sing-a-jack-nicholson-cult-classic/

Fairchild appeared in a dozen films in the 70’s, including her memorable role as a druggie who snorts Ajax soap powder in Cheech and Chong’s cult comedy “Up in Smoke”!

She was also in Jack Nicholson’s directorial debut called “Drive, He Said,” and “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” (1974), with Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges.

In the 70’s, Fairchild lived for several years with her boyfriend Danny Hutton, who was a lead singer for the group Three Dog Night.

Fairchild Names The Band!

According to several published reports, June suggested the group’s name – after reading that Australian aborigines gauged the coldness of a night by the number of dogs they had to curl up with to stay warm!

Her Shocking Fall!

At this point, her life takes a downward turn…

“Don’t worry about me, dahling,” Fairchild would tell friends, imitating Mae West, one of her idols. “I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

Here is a shocking photo of her, taken by a UK newspaper when they reported on her troubling story…

According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, her film career dissolved “in a haze of drugs and booze”, and the Actress tried going to rehab several times throughout her life…

Shocking photos of June were printed in 2001, revealing her plight. She was shown selling newspapers on the steps of a Los Angeles courthouse, living on LA’s Skid Row in a single-room occupancy hotel.

“An Angel In A Snake Pit!”

Fairchild was well aware of the downward spiral of her life.

She was “an angel in a snake pit,” she told the Times reporter who uncovered her Hollywood past.

In 2002, June had a brief career resurgence when she signed a contract allowing Paramount Studios to use her likeness on bobble-head dolls of the Ajax Lady from “Up in Smoke.”

“I want to work,” she told The Times. “I’m going to be self-sufficient. I’m going to take care of my daughter. I want to get a little house and do it right. I’m not thinking small.”

Unfortunately, her comeback stalled, and she spent her last years living on Social Security disability payments in small rooms in downtown hotels.

Fairchild died of liver cancer in 2015 at the age of 68…

Fairchild’s story isn’t unique: Hollywood is a tough place to survive, and many great stars couldn’t cope:

I also told the sad story of Cheryl “Rainbeaux” Smith, who had success in the 70’s but also fell from grace..

You can read that story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/20/hollywood-tragedy-70s-starlet-cheryl-rainbeaux-smith-the-runaways-caged-heat/

And one Hollywood star was found dead in her Beverly Hills home, almost a year after she died:

Yvette Vickers’ death shocked Hollywood. This troubling story can be seen here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/27/death-in-beverly-hills-the-shocking-story-of-legendary-sex-kitten-yvette-vickers/

RIP June Fairchild…

Wha-wha-WHAT!!!?!?!?!?!?!?

Can you believe this???? Stranded on a roller coaster UPSIDE DOWN!!!

Roller-coaster riders at one of Beijing’s major amusement parks were left hanging upside down for almost 20 minutes when a bird stood on one of the ride’s safety sensors!

It happened at the Happy Valley Amusement Park – and it took 18 minutes to bring the 26 riders to safety!

That’s right – EIGHTEEN MINUTES UPSIDE DOWN!

The riders were stranded near the ride’s peak – 100 feet in the air! Luckily, aside from nausea and shock, No one was injured!

As I said, it happened in China, where THIS is a common occurrence:

Welcome To Rush Hour!

Every single day is a traffic jam on China’s subways, the world’s most crowded!

It’s a fact of life that China is a very crowded country! See video of the amazingly packed subway trains here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/24/chinas-mob-alert-worlds-most-crowded-subways-ever/

And if you plan to visit some of China’s amazing attractions, be prepared to make some “new friends”:

Talk About A Crowded Wall!

The crowds at the great wall of China can be unbelievably dense, almost as bad as that subway video! It’s just one example of too many tourists for a tourist attraction…read a great story about more of them by clicking here:

http://www.boredpanda.com/travel-expectations-vs-reality/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BPFacebook

China has some amazing places to visit – for example, if you love to hike, would you try this trail?

Yes, this is a real hiking trail! See more pictures of the world’s most dangerous hiking trail here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/07/11/worlds-most-dangerous-hiking-trail-cliffhanger-restaurants-chinas-extreme-adventures/

And the chinese don’t let anything get in their way – which is why they built a road not over – but alongside a river!

See more pictures of this incredible river road here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/28/amazing-china-highway-runs-over-length-of-river-wild-china-adventures/

And finally, would you go to China for a bite in THIS restaurant?

Yes, it’s “cliffside” dining at its best! See more here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/27/cliffhanger-dining-chinas-terrifyingly-delicious-cliff-restaurant/

Let me know how you’d feel hanging upside down like this!

“I loved that record because it was so simple. And there was so much to see and to hear. It was just Paul. There was no adornment at all … There was no attempt made to compete with the things he had already done. And so out he stepped from the shadow of the Beatles.”

With those words, Neil Young captures perfectly the simplicity and brilliance of Paul McCartney’s debut solo album, “McCartney”…

Time To Celebrate A Classic!

I wanted to look at the “completely solo” debut album from Paul McCartney. It was widely derided at the time of its release, as Paul was blamed for the breakup of The Beatles – and fans were hurting and angry – as a result, Paul was under fire from all sides!

The Album’s First Single – That Wasn’t!

The story of Paul’s solo career begins with this classic song “Another Day”, which was the first single of McCartney’s solo career – but “Another Day” was actually written and previewed during the Beatles’ Let It Be sessions in 1969, and officially recorded for Paul’s SECOND album!

Here’s a great music video with lots of footage of Paul and Linda:

There are so many books that cover the breakup of The Beatles, and McCartney’s decision to release solo music, including a single that wasn’t even on McCartney’s first solo album!

The Majesty of “McCartney!”

“McCartney” was Paul’s debut solo album, released by Apple in April 1970 – recorded by Macca during a period of depression and confusion, following John Lennon’s private announcement in September 1969 that he was leaving the Beatles!

The Breakup Of The Beatles!

The band was also in the process of releasing “Let It Be” at the same time as “McCartney.” So the press and public were stunned when a press release came out from McCartney in the form of a self-interview that included promotional copies of “McCartney”. This shocking announcement led to a formal acknowledgement of the group’s break-up in April 1970. The band was no more…

The Recording Of “McCartney”:

Apart from wife Linda’s vocal contributions, McCartney performed the entire album by himself, playing every instrument. The songs felt like a series of sketches that were composed by McCartney, a back-to-basics style that had been the original concept for the Let It Be album…

Here is how wikipedia describes this time in Paul’s life: “Following John Lennon’s announcement in a band meeting on 20 September 1969 that he wanted a “divorce” from the Beatles,Paul McCartney withdrew to his farm in Campbeltown, Scotland. Author Robert Rodriguez describes his frame of mind as: “brokenhearted, shocked, and dispirited at the loss of the only job he had ever known”.

McCartney’s period in seclusion with his family coincided with widespread rumours in America that he had died – an escalation of the three-year-old “Paul Is Dead” conspiracy theory. The rumour was broken only by journalists from BBC Radio and Life magazine tracking him down at his farm, High Park.

How Paul Felt At The Time!

Here is how Paul describes this time in his life:

“I nearly had a breakdown. I suppose the hurt of it all, and the disappointment, and the sorrow of losing this great band, these great friends … I was going crazy.”

“McCartney” Track By Track!

Here’s a look at the album:

It begins with the :43 seconds of “The Lovely Linda” – which prepares listeners for an album full of short fragments – short stories in a way…this performance of “The Lovely Linda” was only intended as a test of the new equipment, it was included as the opening track, complete with the sound of McCartney giggling at the end of the recording!

“That Would Be Something” and “Valentine Day” are next, the latter one of three selections on “McCartney” that Paul says he “ad-libbed on the spot”, leading to one of the most beautiful songs Paul has ever written:

“Every Night”

This McCartney classic continues to be played widely today, a gorgeous song that feels light and carefree – fascinating when you consider Paul’s mood at the time.

Here is a live version from “MTV Unplugged” in 1992:

“Hot as Sun/Glasses”, “Junk” and “Man We Was Lonely” finish up the first side of the record, with “Junk” being a beautifully ballad…

“Oo You” is the first song on side two of the album.

This song reminds me of “I Got A Feeling”, with Paul offering up a blues riff and a great bit of guitar playing…

“Momma Miss America” is next, followed by another song originally written as a Beatles song, “Teddy Boy” – here is the original version that was finally released as part of The Beatles Anthology project:

“Singalong Junk” follows, basically “Junk” without vocals, which allows you to appreciate what a beautifully written tune it is….and then comes the album’s classic song:

“Maybe I’m Amazed!”

The album’s masterpiece is “Maybe I’m Amazed”, as pure a McCartney classic as he ever wrote – and one of many love songs written directly to Linda.

Here is a terrific live performance of the song, performed during the 1976 Wings tour:

“Kreen-Akrore” finishes up the album…

The Beatles React!

Fans were angry at the time, thinking that Paul had caused the breakup of The Beatles.

McCartney’s former bandmates also voiced their disappointment with the album. Shortly after its release, Harrison described “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “That Would Be Something” as “great”, but the rest, he said, “just don’t do much for me”.

“Rubbish!”

In a December 1970 interview with Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner, Lennon dismissed McCartney as “rubbish” and expressed a belief that his primal therapy-inspired album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band would “probably scare [McCartney] into doing something decent”!

Time has, of course, been very kind to “McCartney”.

In 1999, Neil Young inducted McCartney into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and praised McCartney, saying:

“I loved that record because it was so simple. And there was so much to see and to hear. It was just Paul. There was no adornment at all … There was no attempt made to compete with the things he had already done. And so out he stepped from the shadow of the Beatles.”

Paul continues to play many of the songs in concert, and much of the shorter, more experimental music on the album inspired his project like Twin Freaks and The Fireman.

McCartney’s terrific “Archive” series came out with a bunch of great bonus material to go along with a remastered version of the album:

Disc 2 – Bonus tracks – All previously unreleased

“Suicide” (Out-take) – 2:48
“Maybe I’m Amazed” (From One Hand Clapping, 1974) – 4:53
“Every Night” (Live at Glasgow, 1979) – 4:30
“Hot as Sun” (Live at Glasgow, 1979) – 2:27
“Maybe I’m Amazed” (Live at Glasgow, 17 December 1979) – 5:11
“Don’t Cry Baby” (Out-take) – 3:07
“Women Kind” (Demo) (Mono) – 2:09

Disc 3 – DVD
“The Album Story”
“The Beach”
“Maybe I’m Amazed” (Music video)
“Suicide” (From One Hand Clapping, 1974)
“Every Night” (Live at the Concert for the People of Kampuchea, 1979)
“Hot as Sun” (Live at the Concert for the People of Kampuchea, 1979)
“Junk” (MTV Unplugged, 1991)
“That Would Be Something” (MTV Unplugged, 1991)

McCartney would waste no time getting back into the studio to release another masterpiece:

“Ram” was also derided upon release, but stands as one of his greatest solo albums…here is a look at this recording of the album, and his bitter feud with John Lennon:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/08/20/macca-ram-on-paul-mccartneys-masterpiece-john-lennons-fury-a-beatles-c-c-c-catfight/

Of course, The Beatles never reformed, and this movie showed the last time they ever played together:

Here is a look at the amazing documentary film “Let It Be”, including the infamous “rooftop” live performance by the band…

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/06/let-it-be-the-beatles-lost-documentary-londons-live-beatles-rooftop-concert/

And if you just can’t get over the breakup of The Beatles, I’ve got something for you!

Here is a book that imagines the group never broke up, and shows what their solo music would have looked like as Beatles albums!

Click my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/03/exclusive-the-lost-beatles-album-the-fab-fours-solo-songs-remixed/

Let me know what you love about “McCartney!”