This episode was different from any comedies at the time and would influence others. Mclean Stevenson left the show (which he would later regret) after three seasons and the show killed his character off. When Radar walked in the operating room and told everyone what happened to Henry it was a memorable tv moment.
Sitcoms just didn’t kill characters off and Mash would start mixing comedy and drama more after this.
If it’s about my discharge, give it to me straight! I can take it!
You behave yourself, or I’m gonna come back here and kick your butt!
M*A*S*H: Abyssinia, Henry
The Characters: Capt. Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce, Capt. ‘Trapper John’ McIntyre, Lt. Col. Henry Blake, Maj. Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan, Maj. Frank Burns, Cpl. Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly, Cpl. Maxwell Q. Klinger and Father Francis Mulcahy
Radar has an announcement for Henry in O.R. Henry Blake has received his discharge: he is finally going home to Bloomington, Illinois, to his wife, Lorraine, and their children, the country club and his medical practice. The entire 4077 gang is thrilled for Henry and they wish him well; gifts are gotten, parties are thrown and all sorts of final memories are made. But, the entire gang is sad to be losing such an integral part of the 4077 gang. Radar, in particular, is losing the man who was a father to him. The final farewell formation is memorable; even Hawkeye and Trapper show up to tell their friend and leader a fond farewell. Some farewells are fonder than others. Klinger dresses to kill. As Henry starts to leave, Radar steadfastly holds his salute to his departing C.O. until Henry finally acknowledges him.
This Emmy-nominated episode has acquired a reputation as the best of all Martin’s hosting gigs. Its not my favorite episode…I do like it though… but it’s probably one of the most important in the show’s history. It was a turning point for SNL. It went from a cult hit to a major player in the ratings during this period. Many people have picked it as the best episode.
Saturday Night Live has always been hit or miss in any era. The difference in the 70s is they would take more chances and Lorne made sure everyone had a chance in the cast.
The show introduced a lot of comedians and some unknown musical artists like Redbone and others that would not have gotten coverage on a network show.
Saturday Night Live: Steve Martin/Blues Brothers
The Cast: Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, The Blues Brothers, and Don Pardo
The host for the episode is Steve Martin (his fifth appearance), and the musical guest is The Blues Brothers (their second appearance). The skits for this episode are as follows: Concert promoter Don Kirschner presents footage of an old club performance by The Blues Brothers. For his opening monologue, Steve Martin talks about the inspiration for his comedy ideas, then does a magic act that ends with him tackling and beating a member of the audience.
The Festrunk brothers prepare their apartment for the two girls they believe are on the way, but their neighbor Cliff tells them they’ve been stood up. Medieval doctor Theodoric of York treats a series of patients by draining their blood. A man and woman catch each other’s notice in a crowded club, and dance together romantically as the rest of the club freezes in place around them. During the Weekend Update, Jane Curtain and Dan Aykroyd debate abortion, Jane reports on Carter’s energy policy and a new nasal contraceptive, and Dan berates Garrett Morris for short-changing him on the weed he bought. Steve performs a song about King Tut. The Nerds Todd and Lisa prepare their science fair projects. The Blues Brothers perform “I Don’t Know”.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. This first premiered on November 20, 1973, on CBS and won an Emmy Award. Great Thanksgiving special as always with the earlier Peanuts.
The Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Peanuts specials I always looked forward to. The way their world was only for kids where grownups were heard but only as noise in the background.
It starts off with Lucy tempting Charlie Brown with that football. Just one time I wanted to see Charlie kick the football…or Lucy.
It’s Thanksgiving and Peppermint Patty invites herself and Marcie over to Charlie Brown’s house but Charlie and Sally are ready to go to their grandmothers. Charlie talks to Linus and he suggests having two Thanksgiving dinners.
The only thing Charlie can come up with is feeding his friends toast and cold cereal which does not make Peppermint Patty happy whatsoever. She lets Charlie have it really bad until Marcie reminds her that she invited herself over.
Not going to give it away for those who have not seen this wonderful holiday cartoon. The music by Vince Guaraldi is excellent and makes every Peanuts cartoon special.
I wanted to think of some theme that would be fun and take us through Thanksgiving. I watched Papillon last week and wondered how many songs reference Steve McQueen…the King of Cool.
Those of you who are sensitive to sexual phrases and words…you should STOPNOW. The song is really GRAPHIC
They mention not only Steve McQueen but also his then-wife Ali McGraw and for good measure…John Wayne also.
It’s catchy but it’s the Stones at their most blatant. The F-Bomb is plentiful in this song.
Atlantic Records who distributed the Stones records were afraid of legal troubles with Steve McQueen. They wanted the Stones to change the lyrics…The Stones would not budge and Ahmet Ertegun said “let’s send a copy to McQueen and if he okays it then the single could be released.” He okayed it and the single was released. What is funny, is why Atlantic would not have insisted that Ali McGraw also okay it, however, no one could hear clearly what was actually said on the record.
To most, it sounds like Jagger speaking to the groupie saying ”yeah I’m really not mad with you for” Jagger did not clarify the matter and it slid past. Same with the John Wayne line. Most think that it says “your man” However when one listens to the live bootlegs, the line is clearly Ali McGraw as well as John Wayne. Steve was amused by the song.
A drummer I played with a band in high school wanted to play this song in a fall talent show at school. He said it would really “shake them up”…uh…yea it would have shaken us out of school for 5 days at least. Cooler heads prevailed and we played Jumping Jack Flash instead.
From Songfacts
This song is about groupies. Songwriters often write about subjects they’re familiar with, and Mick Jagger was an expert in this area.
Originally, this was called “Starf–ker,” which is slang for a groupie. Atlantic Records made them change it, eliminating “f–k” from the title, although the band always refers to it by the original title.
Feminist groups were outraged at the negative portrayal of women. Mick Jagger did not apologize, saying he was just describing what he saw.
This contains the lyric, “She’ll get John Wayne before he dies,” but John Wayne refused permission to use his name. Engineer Andy Johns put some echo over the lyric and convinced the record company that it was unrecognizable, which it wasn’t. When Goats Head Soup came out on CD, the lyric was not distorted.
The Stones blew up a giant, inflatable penis when they performed this on their 1975 tour.
This was banned by the BBC.
In contrast to John Wayne, Steve McQueen was reportedly amused by the reference to him in the lyric. In addition to the John Wayne lyric, references to ‘keeping her pu**y clean’ was also distorted at the original release and subsequently restored in later issues (US only..in Europe they came through unscathed).
During The Stones 1975 tour, Mick Jagger said: “People always give me this bit about us being a macho band, and I always ask them to give me examples. “Under My Thumb”… Yes, but they always say Starf–ker, and that just happened to be about someone I knew. There’s really no reason to have women on tour unless they’ve got a job to do. The only other reason is to f–k. Otherwise, they get bored, they just sit around and moan. It would be different if they did everything for you, like answer the phones, make breakfast, look after your clothes and your packing, see if the car was ready, and f–k. Sort of a combination of what (road manager) Alan Dunn does and a beautiful chick.”
Star Star
Baby, baby, I’ve been so sad since you’ve been gone Way back to New York City Where you do belong Honey, I missed your two tongue kisses Legs wrapped around me tight If I ever get back to Fun City, girl I’m gonna make you scream all night
Honey, honey, call me on the telephone I know you’re movin’ out to Hollywood With your can of tasty foam All those beat up friends of mine Got to get you in their books And lead guitars and movie stars Get their toes beneath your hook
Yeah, you’re a star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star Yeah, a star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star Star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star
Yeah, I heard about you Polaroid’s Now that’s what I call obscene Your tricks with fruit was kind a cute I bet you keep your p**** clean Honey, I miss your two tone kisses Legs wrapped around me tight If I ever get back to New York, girl Gonna make you scream all night
Yeah, you’re a star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star Yeah, a star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star Star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker star Yes you are, yes you are, yes you are
Yeah, Ali McGraw got mad with you For givin’ h**d to Steve McQueen Yeah, you and me we made a pretty pair Fallin’ through the silver screen Honey, I’m open to anythin’ I don’t know where to draw the line Yeah, I’m makin’ bets that you gonna get John Wayne before he dies
Yeah, you’re a star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star Yeah, a star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star A star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star
Yeah you are, a star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star A star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star A star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star
Yeah, a star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star Star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker Star f**ker, star f**ker, star f**ker, star, yes you are, yes you are
I saw this man in the seventies on commercials and game shows but never knew his name. He was always funny and caught my attention. Avery was an actor and comedian. He is best remembered as part of the comedy team of Burns and Schreiber, which he formed with Jack Burns. He was a crowd standout with his huge trademark walrus mustache and thick curly black hair.
Jack Burns, Avery’s partner, played Deputy Warren Ferguson on the Andy Griffith Show. Burns was filling a void left by Don Knotts but it didn’t really work.
At their peak, Schreiber and Burns appeared as regulars on the summer replacement musical variety series “Our Place” (1967), then earned the right to front their own summer series with “The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour” (1973).
Schreiber is also remembered for his various Doritos corn chip commercial advertisements in various disguises (chef, sultan, pilot), all of them perturbed by people loudly crunching on the popular chip.
Avery appeared in a number of TV series and movies, including “My Mother the Car” and “Days of Our Lives” on television, and the Mel Brooks’ film “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.”He was a regular guest star on the television comedy “Chico and the Man” and was also a frequent guest on the game show “Match Game” and in a first-season episode of “The Muppet Show.” He continued to work in film, television and the Theater until the time of his death in 2002.
This particular episode was about women going through menopause which today would not receive a second notice…but then, comedy shows just didn’t feature subjects like this. All In The Family had so many great episodes that it is hard picking out one. In this one, the tables are turned and Edith rounds on Archie with a vengeance because of her mood swings caused by menopause.
All in the Family changed the game in sitcoms and television. In the early seventies, many country type sitcoms were canceled when this show debuted in 1971. As Pat Butram of Green Acres said: “CBS canceled everything with a tree including Lassie.”
The show tackled controversial subjects such as racism, rape, gun control, feminism, and homophobia. It was under fire from the first episode for its controversial subject matter. Critics and viewers were divided on what they were seeing…some saw it as comic genius and some as tasteless bigotry. The backlash did not come only from the public and the reviewers. Several actors including Harrison Ford turned down roles in the show because they were offended by the script’s humor.
Lucille Ball lambasted CBS for running such an “Un-American” show on the same network her own series was airing on. I seriously doubt if the show could be made today on network television. The show was a huge success in the seventies.
Mike Stivic: [Edith is going through menopause] What did the doctor say? Archie Bunker: He just said that menopause is a pretty tough time to be going through; especially for nervous types. Mike Stivic: So? Archie Bunker: So he prescribed these here pills. [takes bottle of pills out of paper bag] Mike Stivic: Oh, good. Archie Bunker: I gotta take three of ’em a day.
Edith Bunker: STIFLE STIFLE STIFLE
“If you’re gonna change, Edith, change! Right now! CHANGE!”
All In The Family: Edith’s Problem
Characters: Edith Bunker, Archie Bunker, Mike Stivic, Gloria Stivic, and The Waitress
The Bunker family is thrown into an uproar when the normally docile Edith undergoes several sudden and unexpected mood swings, yelling at her family and displaying a foul temper that makes Archie look like a pussycat! Though the men in the family don’t quite know what is happening, Gloria does: Edith is going through menopause. Perhaps the best and funniest line of the episode is when an upset Archie, who’s frustrated at his wife’s sudden and constantly unpredictable mood changes, yells at Edith: “If you’re gonna change, Edith, change! Right now! CHANGE!”
The short scene starts at 15 seconds.
The complete episode
“Boy, the way Glen Miller played…”
Those Were The Days
Boy, the way Glen Miller played. Songs that made the Hit Parade. Guys like us, we had it made. Those were the days Didn’t need no welfare state. Everybody pulled his weight Gee, our old LaSalle ran great. Those were the days And you knew where you were then Girls were girls and men were men. Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again. People seemed to be content. Fifty dollars paid the rent. Freaks were in a circus tent. Those were the days Take a little Sunday spin, Go to watch the Dodgers win. Have yourself a dandy day That cost you under a fin. Hair was short and skirts were long. Kate Smith really sold a song. I don’t know just what went wrong Those Were the Days
Barney Miller was a brilliant, complex, highly literate, superbly written show with depth and high social commentary. The show was never in the top 10 in ratings but the show has held up well over the years. A few of the reasons the show was not in the top 10 was because of the intelligent writing and the humor wasn’t obvious…also the show was on ABC which at the time was the least popular major network.
The writers also made sure that for the most part, the show followed it’s own history very well. The show is about the Detectives at the 12th Precinct.
One very interesting part of Barney Miller is they had a bunch of good character actors pass through the show. They had a very good excuse because usually the guests were either witnesses or they committed some sort of small crime so it was a natural parade of people passing through.
The show was not all about humor. They had stories dealing with domestic abuse, social, and racial tensions and interaction close to real life.
Det. Phil Fish:First time in 20 years I felt this good and it has to be illegal!
Capt. Barney Miller:Stay home until you feel better. Det. Ron Harris:Okay Barn, I’ll stay, but I ain’t never gonna feel no better.
Det. Sgt. Nick Yemana:[feeling the effects of the brownies] Barney, Barney, Barney… was your mother from Killarney?
Det. Sgt. Nick Yemana: [feeling the effects of the brownies] Hey Barney… let’s go down to the beach and shoot some clams!
Barney Miller: Hash
The Characters: Barney Miller, Stan ‘Wojo’ Wojciehowicz, Dietrich, Phil Fish, Ron Harris, Sgt. Nick Yemana, Carl Levitt, Zbigniew Psczola, Janusz Makowski, and Frank Slater.
Wojo innocently brings hashish-laced brownies his new girlfriend made to the 12th Precinct, getting the detective squad stoned, while an actor and a critic square off with dueling swords.
Sometimes these bans can be head-scratchers, which is true of the 1990s ban on ABBA’s ‘Waterloo’. Due to its connotations with armies and fighting, amidst the ongoing Gulf War, BBC deemed it inappropriate to play, despite few actually connecting this song to literal war.
The song peaked at #6 in 1974 in the Billboard 1oo. All together Abba had 20 top 100 songs, 4 top ten, and one #1 with Dancing Queen. I thought they had more top 10 hits.
This song also reached #1 in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, and West Germany.
From Songfacts
Waterloo is the place where Napoleon Bonaparte met his defeat at an epic battle in 1815. This song uses the battle as a metaphor for a woman who gives in and falls in love with a man – he’s her “Waterloo.”
Originally recorded in Swedish, it was ABBA’s Swedish version that won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, giving the band a huge career boost.
This was one of many ABBA hits used in the 1994 movie Muriel’s Wedding.
Even though this song constantly repeats the name of the battle that spelled the end of Napoleon’s empire, the French, like the rest of Europe, was more than happy to buy this song in large quantities. The single spent 12 weeks on the French charts, peaking at #3. In Belgium, where the Battle of Waterloo took place, this song spent five weeks at #1.
ABBA not only recorded this song in their native Swedish and then in English but they also recorded a version in French for the French markets and one in German for the German markets. There is also a version in both French and Swedish that is an overdubbing of both the Swedish and French versions.
Waterloo
My my At Waterloo Napoleon did surrender Oh yeah And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way The history book on the shelf Is always repeating itself Waterloo I was defeated, you won the war Waterloo promise to love you for ever more Waterloo couldn’t escape if I wanted to Waterloo knowing my fate is to be with you Waterloo finally facing my Waterloo
My my I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger Oh yeah And now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight And how could I ever refuse I feel like I win when I lose Waterloo I was defeated, you won the war Waterloo promise to love you for ever more Waterloo couldn’t escape if I wanted to Waterloo knowing my fate is to be with you Waterloo finally facing my Waterloo
So how could I ever refuse I feel like I win when I lose Waterloo I was defeated, you won the war Waterloo promise to love you for ever more Waterloo couldn’t escape if I wanted to Waterloo knowing my fate is to be with you Waterloo finally facing my Waterloo
I’ve listened to a lot of this band’s music. I haven’t heard a bad song. They were named “Milwaukee’s Best Band” by the Milwaukee Journal in 1982. The Shivvers were a band fronted by Jill Kossoris in the late seventies to early eighties that played power pop. I’m amazed that they didn’t catch on with a big label. Some reviewers have compared them to Blondie and the Raspberries.
They made recordings but never could get signed to a record deal. The band broke up in the early eighties and went their separate ways. Interest in the band started to build on the internet and in 2003, the Hyped to Death label issued the Shivvers retrospective Til the Word Gets Out. This song was recorded in 1979.
Another album with their songs was Lost Hits from Milwaukee’s First Family of Power Pop: 1979-82
There’s a gonna be some changes made, Right here on nursery hill, You’ve set this chicken your last time, ‘Cause now I’ve got the pill
By the time Loretta Lynn recorded “The Pill” in 1975, the birth control pill had been on the US market for over a decade, but the conservative country music scene still wasn’t ready for a song celebrating the use of contraception. Many country stations pulled the song from their playlists and it stalled at #5 in the Billboard Album Chart. But controversy breeds curiosity and curiosity boost record sales, so the song became Lynn’s highest-charting solo single on the pop chart at #70 in the Billboard 100.
Loretta Lynn: “If I’d had the pill back when I was havin’ babies I’d have taken ’em like popcorn. The pill is good for people. I wouldn’t trade my kids for anyones. But I wouldn’t necessarily have had six and I sure would have spaced ’em better.”
“The Pill”, written by Lorene Allen, Don McHan, T. D. Bayless, and Loretta Lynn.
From Songfacts
The singer couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about. In our interview with Loretta Lynn, she explained: “I didn’t understand that, because everybody was taking the pill. I didn’t have the money to take it when they put it out, but I couldn’t understand why they were raising such a fuss over taking the pill.”
Although it was written by a team of songwriters, Lorene Allen, Don McHan, and T. D. Bayless, Lynn could certainly relate to the narrator who is sick of having babies left and right and is “makin’ up for all those years, since I’ve got the pill.” By the time she was 19, Lynn had three children and would give birth to three more, including a set of twins, just as the pill was gaining traction by 1964.
Doctors were grateful to Lynn as the song introduced the availability of the pill to women living in rural areas.
Unbeknownst to Lynn at the time, she was almost banned from singing this at the Grand Ole Opry. She recalled in an interview with Playgirl Magazine: “You know I sung it three times at the Grand Ole Opry one night, and I found out a week later that the Grand Ole Opry had a three-hour meeting, and they weren’t going to let me [sing it]… If they hadn’t let me sing the song, I’d have told them to shove the Grand Ole Opry!”
Lynn performed this on Dolly Parton’s variety show, Dolly, in 1988, and on Roseanne Barr’s talk show, The Roseanne Show, in 1998.
This is the first popular English-language song about birth control.
The Pill
You wined me and dined me When I was your girl Promised if I’d be your wife You’d show me the world But all I’ve seen of this old world Is a bed and a doctor bill I’m tearin’ down your brooder house ‘Cause now I’ve got the pill All these years I’ve stayed at home While you had all your fun And every year that’s gone by Another babys come There’s a gonna be some changes made Right here on nursery hill You’ve set this chicken your last time ‘Cause now I’ve got the pill
This old maternity dress I’ve got Is goin’ in the garbage The clothes I’m wearin’ from now on Won’t take up so much yardage Miniskirts, hot pants and a few little fancy frills Yeah I’m makin’ up for all those years Since I’ve got the pill
I’m tired of all your crowin’ How you and your hens play While holdin’ a couple in my arms Another’s on the way This chicken’s done tore up her nest And I’m ready to make a deal And ya can’t afford to turn it down ‘Cause you know I’ve got the pill
This incubator is overused Because you’ve kept it filled The feelin’ good comes easy now Since I’ve got the pill It’s gettin’ dark it’s roostin’ time Tonight’s too good to be real Oh but daddy don’t you worry none ‘Cause mama’s got the pill Oh daddy don’t you worry none ‘Cause mama’s got the pill
This song faced censorship on less common ground than most. I would have thought the subject line would have caused problems…but no. The original studio recording contained the word “Coca-Cola” in the lyrics, which violated BBC Radio’s policy against product placement.
The songwriter, Ray Davies, was forced to interrupt the Kinks’ American tour so he could change the lyric to “cherry cola” for the single’s release. He made a 6,000 mile round trip flight from New York to London and back just for this purpose.
The song peaked at #9 in the Billboard 100, #2 in the UK, #1 in New Zealand and #2 in the UK in 1970.
Ray Davies: “‘Lola’ was a love song, and the person they fall in love with is a transvestite. It’s not their fault – they didn’t know – but you know it’s not going to last. It was based on a story about my manager.”
“The subject matter was concealed,” It’s a crafty way of writing. I say, ‘She woke up next to me,’ and people think it’s a woman. The story unfolds better than if the song were called ‘I Dated a Drag Queen.'”
From Songfacts
This song is about a guy who meets a girl (Lola) in a club who takes him home and rocks his world. The twist comes when we find out that Lola is a man.
As stated in The Kinks: The Official Biography, Ray Davies wrote the lyrics after their manager got drunk at a club and started dancing with what he thought was a woman. Toward the end of the night, his stubble started showing, but their manager was too tanked to notice.
Ray Davies revealed to Q magazine in a 2016 interview: “The song came out of an experience in a club in Paris. I was dancing with this beautiful blonde, then we went out into the daylight and I saw her stubble. “
He added; “So I drew on that but colored it in, made it more interesting lyrically.”
The Kinks came up with the riff after messing around with open strings on guitars. The group’s guitarist, Dave Davies, contended that he deserved a songwriting credit on the track, leading to additional friction with his brother Ray, who got the sole composer credit.
This revived the career of The Kinks, at least in America where their popularity was fading. Their previous Top 40 in the States was “Sunny Afternoon” in 1966.
Ray Davies said: “I wrote Lola to be a great record, not a great song. Something that people could recognize in the first five seconds. Even the chorus, my two-year-old daughter sang it back to me. I thought, ‘This must catch on.'”
The line “You drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry cola” was recorded as “it tastes just like Coca-Cola.” The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) refused to play it because of the commercial reference, so Ray Davies flew from New York to London to change the lyric and get the song on the air.
There was speculation, fueled by a 2004 piece in Rolling Stone magazine, that this song was inspired by the famous transgender actress Candy Darling, who Kinks lead singer Ray Davies allegedly dated for a brief time. This is the same Candy mentioned in Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side” (“Candy came from out on the island, in the backroom she was everybody’s darling”)
The Kinks’ fans were not the type of people who would relate to a transvestite, but they loved this. It opened the door for artists like Lou Reed and David Bowie to explore homosexuality in songs that straight people liked too.
Weird Al Yankovic recorded a parody of this song entitled “Yoda” (based on the Star Wars movies) for his 1985 album Dare to Be Stupid.
Ray Davies used his National Steel resonator guitar for the first time on this song. He recalled to Uncut: “On ‘Lola’ I wanted an intro similar to what we used on Dedicated Follower Of Fashion, which was two Fender acoustic guitars and Dave’s electric guitar so I went down to Shaftesbury Avenue and bought a Martin guitar, and this National guitar that I got for £80, then double-tracked the Martin, and double-tracked the National – that’s what got that sound.”
The Kinks probably weren’t familiar with it, but an American song published in 1918 also mentions Lola and Coca-Cola. In “Ev’ry Day’ll Be Sunday When The Town Goes Dry,” we hear the line, “At the table with Lola they will serve us Coca-Cola.”
Ray Davies told interviewer Daniel Rachel (The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters) that he didn’t initially show the lyrics to the band. “We just rehearsed it with the la-la la-la Lo-la chorus which came first. I had a one-year-old daughter at the time and she was singing along to it.”
Lola is mentioned in the 1981 Kinks song “Destroyer,” which begins: “Met a girl called Lola and I took her back to my place.”
Lola
I met her in a club down in old Soho Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Cherry Cola C-O-L-A Cola She walked up to me and she asked me to dance I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said, “Lola” L-O-L-A Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Well, I’m not the world’s most physical guy But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine Oh my Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola Well, I’m not dumb but I can’t understand Why she walked like a woman but talked like a man Oh my Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Well, we drank champagne and danced all night Under electric candlelight She picked me up and sat me on her knee She said, “Little boy, won’t you come home with me?” Well, I’m not the world’s most passionate guy But when I looked in her eyes Well, I almost fell for my Lola Lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
I pushed her away I walked to the door I fell to the floor I got down on my knees Then I looked at her, and she at me Well, that’s the way that I want it to stay And I always want it to be that way for my Lola Lo lo lo lo Lola Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls It’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world Except for Lola Lo lo lo lo Lola
Well, I’d left home just a week before And I’d never ever kissed a woman before But Lola smiled and took me by the hand She said, “Little boy, gonna make you a man” Well, I’m not the world’s most masculine man But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man And so is Lola Lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
One of my favorite shows and episodes. There were only 12 episodes made…two seasons with six episodes each. Instead of milking it dry they stopped at 12 because John Cleese and wife Connie Booth didn’t think they could write anymore up to the standards they set. This is the episode most mentioned when the show comes up.
I have watched this episode countless times and it never gets old.
Listen, don’t mention the war. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it all right.
I was just doing it, you stupid woman. I just put it down, to come here and be reminded by you to do what I’m already doin’. I mean, what is the point in reminding me to do what I’m already doing? I mean, what is the bloody point? I’m doing it, aren’t I?
Ah, wonderful! WUNDERBAR! Ahh! Please allow me to introduce myself, I am the owner of Fawlty Towers. And may I welcome your war… your war… you wall… you all… you all, and hope that your stay will be a happy one. Now, would you like to eat first, or would you like a drink before the war… AHH! Er… trespassers will be tied up with piano wire… SORRY, SORRY!
Fawlty Towers: The Germans
The Characters: Basil Fawlty, Sybil Fawlty, Manuel, Polly Sherman, Major Gowen, Mrs. Wilson, Miss Agatha Tibbs, Miss Ursula Gatsby, Doctor, and Mr. and Mrs. Sharp
With Sybil in hospital for a few days to have an operation for an ingrown toenail, Basil is left on his own at the hotel to cope with a group of German tourists and the need for the regular semi-annual fire drill. He’s not having much success with either. The guests confuse the burglar alarm with the fire alarm and when Manuel does start a fire in the kitchen, no one pays attention. Basil suffers a rather severe blow to the head leading him to insult his German guests by making constant references to the war.
Right Down The Line is a beautiful song that gets lost in the large shadow cast by the preceding single “Baker Street.” It’s a rare love song that works without coming off as overly sentimental. I’m not saying it’s better than Baker Street… but it is an underappreciated gem.
This was the follow-up single to the great song Baker Street in 1978. The song peaked at #12 in the Billboard 100, #1 US Billboard Adult Contemporary and #5 in Canada. The song came off his great City to City album which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart.
Right Down The Line
You know I need your love You’ve got that hold over me Long as I’ve got your love You know that I’ll never leave When I wanted you to share my life I had no doubt in my mind And it’s been you woman Right down the line
I know how much I lean on you Only you can see The changes that I’ve been through Have left a mark on me You’ve been as constant as a Northern Star The brightest light that shines It’s been you, woman, right down the line
I just want to say this is my way Of tellin’ you everything I could never say before Yeah this is my way of tellin’ you That every day I’m lovin’ you so much more ‘Cause you believed in me through my darkest night Put somethin’ better inside of me You brought me into the light Threw away all those crazy dreams I put them all behind And it was you woman Right down the line
I just want to say this is my way of tellin’ you everything I could never say before Yeah this is my way of tellin’ you Everything I could never say before Yeah this is my way of tellin’ you That every day I’m lovin’ you so much more
If I should doubt myself, if I’m losing ground I won’t turn to someone else They’d only let me down When I wanted you to share my life I had no doubt in my mind And it’s been you woman Right down the line
Loaded Dice were a hard-working power pop band that was touted as being the next big thing from Perth Australia.
Formed in 1974, they started out as covers band primarily playing 60’s beat music. They went through a few line-up changes. They started to build a fan base but when they moved to Sydney it was hard to get the local crowds interested and it wasn’t long until they disbanded in the mid-eighties and returned home…
They did make an album called “No Sweat” and released a few singles. I like the simple guitar riff in this song…simple but effective. They had a cool sound and it’s too bad they couldn’t go further. They released this song and and album in 1979.
20/20 was a band based out of Hollywood California. They were active from 1977 to 1983 and reunited during the mid-1990s to the late 1990s. This song was released as a single in 1979 as the B side to Tell Me Why (Can’t Understand You). The song was on their self titled album.
Everybody’s feeling groovy Everybody’s got tight pants on Everybody’s feels like they were Just made by the Creator
I have to say that it is original.
From AllMusic
One of the key bands in the Los Angeles power pop explosion of the late 1970s and early ‘80s, 20/20 never quite scored a hit single, but they were a powerful draw on the West Coast in their heyday, and their signature song, “Yellow Pills,” became a cult favorite, covered by a number of later power pop acts and providing a noted pop fanzine with its name. 20/20 was founded by Steve Allen and Ron Flynt, two friends from Tulsa, Oklahoma who met when they were in grade school and discovered they both loved rock & roll, particularly British Invasion sounds (the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in particular) and classic pop.
Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots also did a version of this song.
Yellow Pills
One, two… One, two, three, four…
Everybody’s feeling groovy Everybody’s got tight pants on Everybody’s feels like they were Just made by the Creator
So come take a walk down my street With your head up by the phone lines You can see the world if you want to Give it a try Open your eyes When you bring oh oh oh My yellow pills My yellow pills
Take a look around my street Everybody’s got their new wheels But they’re stuck in a jam on the freeway And they glad they got their yellow pills
Just look at the happy faces Plugged into the tape machine Acting like they’re drivin’ to heaven Turn left at Vine, I’ll meet you at 9:00 When you bring oh oh oh My yellow pills My yellow pills
I always believe in your lies They make me feel so alive But I don’t have to be real
‘Cause everybody’s feeling groovy Everybody’s cut their hair short Everybody’s feels like they were Just made by the Creator
So come take a walk down my street With your head up by the phone lines You can see the world if you want to Give it a try Open your eyes When you bring oh oh oh My yellow pills My yellow pills
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 