The benefit of lending your support from an independent artist like Jake Walden is the free goodies you can get along the way. One such bonus was the clip of Jake singing his favorite song by the Eagles, Desperado. He certainly gives his own take on the song, with a delivery that is distinctly Jake. Since I am posting this during the day, I guess I should mention that those who watch through to the end truly receive a special treat. Yes, Jake does bare his, um, soul for his fans. Make it easy to get behind him.
And I mentioned a FREE download, well, here it is. The song is the never heard or released version of Alive and Screaming LIVE from the Hotel Cafe (2009). You still have time to join in the support of his latest studio effort, Same Something Different. You can join in here.
When I watch the video made by Fort Worth City Council District 9 representative, it still moves me to tears. The courage it took to be so honest and searching is just remarkable. Since the video went viral, Joel has been interviewed several places, and I just thought I would share a bit more about this inspirational man. First is an interview he did with out newscaster Thomas Roberts on MSNBC. And yes, it certainly doesn't hurt there are two hot gay guys in this one.
He also had a wonderful interview on The Ellen Show. His mother is just adorable, and when Ellen talks to her, I am moved as well.
Joel also had an interview on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, which also featured his husband of 17 years, JD Angle. The love and care they have for one another is evident in this video. It is quite wonderful to see.
Joel has a website where you can sign up for his mailing list. Check it out here. He also notes that he is running for City Council again next year, and one can only imagine that there are people who would like to see this thoughtful and honest man face a tough battle. If you would like to make a donation to his reelection campaign, you can do it here. Of course, #1 on his list is contact information for the Trevor Project, which you can find here.
With all talk for the last two weeks about the GLEE Rocky Horror episode playing tomorrow night, I thought it might be nice to talk about the original movie, a cult classic I remember going to see when I was in college in Reading, Pennsylvania, back in the prehistoric days... Rocky Horror was released in 1975, and was based on a campy stage production started in London. The show was put together by Richard O'Brien, who wrote the book and lyrics, with music by Richard Hartley. The play opened in 1973, and was considered quite the camp-fest. With the success of the stage production, the film was made, directed by Jim Sharman, who worked with O'Brien on the book.
While it wasn't initially greatly successful, the movie became the cult classic with midnight shows throughout the US. Soon people not only lined up to see the show, but they were showing up in costumes, and re-enacting the show in front of the audience. They brought props, which included toast to be tossed when the characters make a toast at dinner.
The movie is a natural for this type of treatment, for at its core, it is a movie about outsiders, those outcast from society, most of whom would have been mocked and bullied for being different. Be it the nerdy heroes, Brad and Janet, the bisexual transexual mad scientist, the ne'er-do-well rocker and his girlfriend, the party guests who range from little people to older folks, all with a different idea about fashion, they all play central roles in the story. The movie is an homage to the early sci-fi movies of the 50s and 60s, with more than a few twists. Check out the trailer.
The opening sequence for the movie is a great set of lips singing the theme song, Science Fiction/Double Feature, with constant mentions of the old movies to which the show pays homage.
Next we Brad and Janet attending a wedding, where Brad proclaims his feeling for Janet. Soon they are driving and the car has a flat. They go up to the closest house, since they notice a light on at the Frankenstein place, and go to make a call for help. They are greeted by Riff-Raff, the butler who, along with maid Magenta, seems to have boundary issues as Riff-Raff takes off the clothes of the guests to make them 'at home.' While waiting to make the phone call, nerdy Brad and Janet are brought to the party and get to learn a new dance, The Time Warp.
As Brad and Janet politely try to find their way out of the crazy party, they stumble upon and elevator as it descends. First we notice the tapping, almost stomping high heel as it comes down to rock music, and finally Dr. Frank-N-Furter announces his own arrival with the song Sweet Transvestite.
Next we are introduced to Dr. Frank-N-Furter's latest experiment, the creation of a perfect man. He introduces Rocky, with blond hair and a tan, as he explains that in just seven days, he could make you a man. Rocky is a gorgeous strapping young man in a gold lamé bikini, there for the enjoyment of his maker. Soon the party has another visitor, much to the delight of Columbia. Eddie drives his motorcycle out of the freezer and disrupts the party, much to the chagrin of the host. This is Hot Patootie/Bless My Soul.
Soon everyone retires for the night, and we learn Dr. Frank-N-Furter is somewhat insatiable. He visits both Brad and Janet, wanting to partake of his guests, and he does. This ignites a passion in virginal Janet, who then sets out to find Rocky, cause she wants more. They get a visit from the Dr. Scott, a wheelchair-bound teacher. Then things hike up to a new level, with hedonistic celebrations with all the characters in bustiers, stockings and feather boas, playing in pools, and thoughts of unbridled lust. This doesn't last, as Riff-Raff and Magenta want to return home, and are willing to shoot to do it.
This roller-coaster ride was cast to perfection. Actor/Rocker Tim Curry was tapped to play Frank-N-Furter and did so with great bravura. A young Susan Sarandon played Janet, showing she has a voice, those incredible eyes, and a banging body. Barry Bostwick had appeared many times on the Broadway stage, and took the role of Brad to great level, playing the nerd and looking fantastic in his underwear. Put a boa on him, and the boy can dance, too! Creator Richard O'Brien took on the role of Riff-Raff, showing off his amazing voice and exotic looks to creep many people out. He went on to write many more shows. Patricia Quinn appeared in the BBC series I Claudius, as well as playing Magenta. Her iconic voice and perfect line delivery made her stand out. Little Nell Campbell was perfect as Columbia, tap dancing her way to perfection. Later, she was the owner and ran the club 'Nell's' in NYC. Eddie was the perfect role for Meat Loaf, the bombastic singer who tackled the song with ease. Peter Hinwood was gorgeous as Rocky, although he was the one actor whose singing was dubbed by a singer. Charles Gray played the villain in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. His role as narrator was a great send up of a Masterpiece Theater type of show. Jonathan Adams played many roles on British television, but none might ever top the popularity of playing Dr. Everett von Scott. Together, this cast will remain icons to the fans of this cult classic.
I'd like to welcome four new followers to the Soundtrack to my Day family. First, though, I would like to apologize to them, as I have not welcomed them previously. The whole situation with the broken glasses really put me a bit behind, but I hope to make up for it now. First I'd like to welcome Chazonator. In his own description, he refers to himself as 'Singer-Songwriter-Video producer-Equality activist-parent-friend-lover-real person', all of which are evident if you check out his blog, which you can find here. Definitely check his blog out, and you might find some interesting stuff! You can find links to check out his music, his news reports, and often politically-charged posts. Welcome to Derek Brown, who hails from Mississippi, where he owns a floral shop. He found us via Twitter, and you can check him out here. His tweets range from pop culture to political, and are quite interesting. He also looks cute as a button in his picture.
And a fine welcome to Sugar, an out and proud lesbian with two blogs of her own. She describes herself as 'Writer, Indie Artist, Pet Lover, Lesbian - currently awaiting a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis or Fibromyalgia.' One of her blogs is a music oriented one called Tantalizing Fruit, which you can find here. The other is more personal in nature, called These Joints. You can find it here. I'd also like to welcome Sokhengs Sor, who just joined us this week. Sokhengs has a blog you can find here, which is more adult in nature.
To welcome the new members of the Soundtrack family, I always try to make them feel at home with music I love. Today I offer up the music of Andy Moore, an out lesbian from Richmond, Virgina, who I have been lucky enough to see perform a couple of times. The song is Chicago from her latest release, the 5 In Common EP. You can check it out at CD Baby here.
You can find out more about mandy by visiting her MySpace page here, and her official website here. And please welcome the new members, and I hope we get to know them through their comments.
There are times when you just have to go back to the original, a talent so big you know they will always have a place in your heart, with songs you will never, ever resist. Some might call that 'going old school', but I prefer to think of it as appreciating fine talent. William Guest, Edward Patten, and Merald "Bubba" Knight are names to remember, especially when coupled with Gladys Knight. They, of course, were the Pips. Knight had an amazing rich voice, and a brilliant ability to interpret the songs she tackled. In 1966, they were signed to Motown Records by the immortal Berry Gordy. In 1968, they were the first to suggest to Gordy that he sign an Indiana group, the Jackson Five. They had come across them while they were touring with the hits they had in 1967, starting with the amazing Heard It Through the Grapevine. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, Gladys & the Pips took the song to #2 on the Billboard charts. It was a track from their Everybody Needs Love album. A year later, another version by Marvin Gaye made it to #1 on the charts.
Their final album for Motown, Neither One of Us, also spawned another great hit. Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) went up the Billboard singles chart to the #2 spot, firmly establishing them as a Pop power to be listened to.
By 1973, Galdys and the boys moved from Motown to Buddah Records, and their first album was Imagination. That album contained their greatest hit. When Midnight Train To Georgia, written by Jim Weatherly, hit the airwaves, it was enough to make the stars become superstars.
Another hit from Imagination was written by Gerry Goffin and Barry Goldberg. I've Got To Use My Imagination went to #4 on the Billboard singles chart, and was a song that
The Way We Were was written by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman and Marvin Hamlisch for the legendary Barbra Streisand in 1971. Streisand had a #1 hit with the song, the theme to a movie of the same name. In 1975, Gladys and the Pips had their own live version, which also used bits of the song Try To Remember, a song from the musical The Fantastisks, with lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt. The song took a life of it's own on the radio, and made it to #11 on the singles chart.
Following a final tour in 1988, Gladys Knight & the Pips disbanded and Gladys pursued a solo career. They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2005, Edward Patten lost his lifelong battle with diabetes, although the rest of the group still survives. There is a rumor that Gladys is back in the studio recording a new solo album with producer (and American Idol judge) Randy Jackson.
It has been a while since I featured the talented Aussie, so I thought it might be nice to wake up one Sunday morning to Anthony. Now get that thought right out of your mind, of course I meant his music. His gorgeous voice hits new heights when he is singing ballads, perfect for that weekend morning when all you want to do is stay in bed, snuggle under the covers, and play music that takes you on a slow trip to awake. Like, for instance, his version of When You Believe, the song from the animated movie Prince of Egypt.
There is also the astounding Now You're Gone, a cut from his second album, A New Chapter. He sang this song at a memorial for Rob Guest, who had costarred with Anthony in the Australian production of Wicked.
Another tack from A New Chapter is just as rich, so packed with emotion and positive thoughts. It is Live For Love, and I just am amazed when I listen.
For more about Anthony Callea, check out the official website here. He can also be found on twitter here and his YouTube account can be found here.
Bob Dylan, Wilco, Brett Dennen and others are featured on the soundtrack of the fall – Parenthood – set to rock into online retailers on Aug. 31 (to coincide with season one’s DVD release on Universal Studios Home Entertainment) and in stores on Oct. 5 by Arrival Records/Scion Music Group (distributed by Fontana Distribution a subsidiary of Universal Music Group).
The album features 12 tracks all of which are featured or will be featured on the show, including the much talked about theme song - Bob Dylan’s Forever Young. The physical CD also includes an exclusive version of that song sung by the iconic John Doe and rising star Lucy Schwartz as well as Schwartz’s When We Were Young, which is the international theme song for the show.
The talented artists who contributed to the soundtrack include: Bob Dylan, Brett Dennen, Amos Lee, The Avett Brothers, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Eels, Josh Ritter, Lucy Schwartz, The Swell Season, Wilco, Ray LaMontagne and John Doe & Lucy Schwartz. Liza Richardson is the show’s music supervisor and soundtrack co-producer and music supervisor for the series along with Jonathan Platt, Jonathan Miller and Jonathan McHugh. The soundtrack is licensed through NBC Universal television, DVD, music and consumer products group.
Commenting on the album, Liza Richardson says: “Working on Parenthood is a music supervisor’s dream. I’m working with extremely creative pros. These are people who love music and understand how to put the right song in the right scene and effectively help tell a story. The editors, the writers, the execs all make a huge contribution to the way the show sounds.”
Adds Jason Katims: “I am tremendously proud of the caliber of artists who’ve lent their voices to “Parenthood,” and to this amazing soundtrack.”
Season two of Parenthood will premier on NBC on Tues., Sept. 14. The show, which was number one in its time slot last season, is produced by Oscar-winning producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon) and show runner Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights). A comedic yet heartfelt and thought-provoking series, Parenthood follows four grown siblings of the far-from-perfect Braverman clan as they try to balance kids and careers, dreams and commitments and romance...or a total lack thereof.
The Parenthood soundtrack track list is as follows: 1. Forever Young – Bob Dylan 2. Darlin’ Do Not Fear – Brett Dennen 3. Colors – Amos Lee 4. Kick Drum Heart – The Avett Brothers 5. Put Your Records On – Corrine Bailey Rae 6. In My Dreams – Eels 7. Change of Time – Josh Ritter 8. When We Were Young – Lucy Schwartz 9. In These Arms – The Swell Season 10. Solitaire – Wilco 11. Let It Be Me – Ray LaMontagne 12. Forever Young – John Doe & Lucy Schwartz
