Category: 2020’s

Mouse and the Traps – You’re Gonna Miss Me

I want to thank Aphoristic Album Reviews for featuring this band in his Nuggets series. I loved the song he posted so I found a few more that I like from this band. I am guilty of having too much trivia in my head, but I never heard of this band, not in reading about obscure bands or their music. I like their music and the sound of their lead singer. I would have liked them no matter what just because of that name. 

Mouse and the Traps is an American garage rock band from Tyler, Texas, active mainly during the 1960s. They gained a cult following for their gritty sound that represented garage rock well. The band is best known for their 1966 hit single, A Public Execution, which is really Dylanesque plus some Byrds thrown in. 

They began their career releasing “A Public Execution” under the name of Mouse. That was the nickname of their lead singer Ronnie “Mouse” Weiss.  Their second single in 1966 was called Maid of Sugar-Maid of Spice and they added “And the Traps.” They have had different members through the years but a constant from their original lineup is Ronnie Weiss, Dave Stanley, and Ken (Nardo) Murray. 

Much like Phil from Notes From The Cactus Patch did in the 1960s…Mouse and the Traps toured around Texas, especially Dallas. They toured around the state feverishly, playing clubs, colleges, parties, and even proms. There were occasional touring dates out of Texas, but, for the most part, they remained a very popular regional band. 

They have released a bunch of singles and a few collection albums that were released in 1982, 1995, 1997, and 2009. They finally released an album in 2020 called Walking In Dylan’s Shoes. In 1972 they were added to Lenny Kayes Nuggets compilation album of different garage bands. 

Graham from Aphoristic Album Reviews wrote: Mouse and the Traps surely hold the record for the longest gap between a debut single and a debut album. ‘A Public Execution’ was released in 1966 (although it was credited solely to their frontman). Their debut album, Walking in Dylan’s Shoes, was released in December 2020.

Mouse and the Traps - Walking In Dylans Shoes

I’ve listened to their 2020 Dylan cover album Walking In Dylan’s Shoes and I have to admit…it’s really good! 

The song I picked, You’re Gonna Miss Me, is off of their Lost Sessions Album released in 2009. I’m not sure which era it’s from although because of the quality…I would guess the 80s or 90s. They were together off and on in the 1960s – 2020.  I’m also posting the song that Graham did with Maid of Sugar-Maid of Spice (1966) along with You’re Gonna Miss Me (?). 

I’m also going to post Mouse and the Traps Lost Sessions album…give a listen to a few of them…they are awesome! Hit The Bricks and Bottom Line got my attention right away. 

 

 

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Blue Harlem – Hallelujah! I Love Him So

CB recommended this band and it’s fresh sounding and I like their choice of covers. When I heard Imelda May sing…that was all I needed. I heard Hound Dog first and it sounds very 40s but yet modern. They now have a different singer but she is also great…Sophie Shaw. This is different for me and I like it…it’s nice to switch up occasionally. When I heard Hallelujah! I Love Him So it got me into them much more. I know this song very well…it was one of the first songs Quarrymen recorded and that led me to Ray Charles who wrote and recorded the song. 

Blue Harlem has been one of the top swing/jump-blues bands on the London scene for over 25 years. They have become regular favorites at venues such as the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s, The 100 Club, The Hippodrome, Hideaway, Jitterbugs, and more. They have been invited on three occasions to perform at Highgrove House charity balls for the Prince’s Trust. 

They are a British band formed in 1996 by tenor saxophonist and arranger Al Nicholls. Known for blending jazz and rhythm and blues, they take inspiration from the swing and jump blues styles of the 1940s and 1950s. 

.They have also enjoyed international recognition, performing at festivals across Europe and the Middle East. Blue Harlem played a huge role in launching the career of vocalist Imelda May, who gained fame and success after performing with them. Sophie Shaw now serves as their lead singer, bringing a new feel to the band’s sound.

Imelda May left the group in the early 2000s.  After leaving, May quickly rose to fame in her own right with the release of her debut solo album No Turning Back in 2003, followed by her breakthrough album Love Tattoo in 2008.

Hallelujah! I Love Him So was on the album Talk To Me released in 2005 with May lead singing. I added Hound Dog by Blue Harlem as well…it was on their Me And My Radio album released in 2011. 

I have three songs. The bottom two feature Imelda May singing Hound Dog and Hallelujah! I Love Him So. Below is Sophia Shaw singing Swing Brother, Swing. She is a very good singer as well but I like May a little more. 

 

Hallelujah! I Love Him So

Let me tell you ′bout a boy I know
He is my baby and he lives next door
Every morning before the sun comes up
He brings my coffee in my favorite cup
That’s why I know, yes I know
Hallelujah I just love him so

When I′m in trouble and I have no friends
I know he’ll go with me until the end
Ev’rybody asks me how I know
I smile and tell them he told me so
That′s why I know, yes, I know
Hallelujah I just love him so

Now if I call him on the telephone
And tell him that I′m all alone
By the time I count from one to four,
I hear him on my door
In the evening when the sun goes down
When there is nobody else around
He kisses me and he holds me tight
He tells me “baby everything’s all alright”
That′s why I know, yes I know
Hallelujah I just love her so

Max’s Drive-In Movies – Late Night With The Devil

Usually, I only review older movies but this one is right up powerpop.blog’s alley! It’s a 2023 film set in the year 1977. They have the 1970s down…one of the best time-period movies I’ve seen as far as getting the era right. The audience in the movie could have been off a film clip of the Johnny Carson era Tonight Show. This movie marries nostalgia with horror quite nicely. It’s almost like The Exorcist meets Johnny Carson. It will make you uneasy and you have to pay attention because there are a few subplots you can miss if not. Some of it is based on the reception of the 1980 book Michelle Remembers by Canadian Lawrence Pazder. That book helped cause the “Satanic Panic” around that time on talk shows and the public.

It’s about a talk show host Jack Delroy who was a popular DJ in Chicago who got a chance to host a late-night talk show that was going against Johnny Carson. He signed a 5 year deal in 1972 and now in 1977 it’s running out.  A year after the tragic death of Jack’s wife, ratings have plummeted. It’s a “found footage” movie and the footage being a master tape that was never shown again.  Desperate to turn it around, Jack plans a Halloween special like no other, unaware he is about to unleash evil on late-night television.

On Halloween night 1977, Jack is set to host a special live episode featuring an array of guests, including a renowned paranormal expert with a single name, Christou. However, what starts as exploring the supernatural quickly devolves into chaos when a series of unexplained events unfold.

You get to know Jack’s past and about his wife that just passed away from lung cancer. Jack was part of a secret club called The Grove (a reference to the Bohemian Club) that many celebrities and elites joined. That info plays a big part of this movie. Did Jack essentially sacrifice his wife to be popular? It asks the question…what are you prepared to give up for success?

It all starts with Christou picks an audience member and accurately tells her about her son who killed himself. After that, a skeptical but nasty guest named Carmichael the Conjurer starts to say how all supernatural and unusual events are not real.  He offered Christou $100,000 to prove he was not a con man. He books an interview with a parapsychologist and the subject of her recent book, a young teenager who was the sole survivor of a Satanic church’s mass suicide. Naturally, all hell breaks loose when paranormal activity begins wreaking havoc during the show.

The plot blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural, with the audience left questioning what’s real as Jack faces his worst fears live on air. The tension mounts as the show’s studio audience becomes unsettled, mirroring Jack’s descent into madness. The film’s use of practical effects and atmospheric cinematography sells what is happening. 

Horror movies… the one thing that bothers me about most of them are the endings.  This one has an ending with a twist. My only complaint…being the 1970s lover I am…I wish they would have used the same kind of film look the Tonight Show had but the set was great. At the end of the movie you will also hear a song by Flo and Eddie called Keep It Warm.

David Dastmalchian did a great job as Jack Delroy.

Mo Mountain Mutts

Nope…Mo Mountain Mutts is not a new rock/punk band…but I love the name. It’s basically a doggie daycare that sends a bus out on a cold Alaska morning to pick up all the passengers…and yes they are dogs of all shapes. They are located in Skagway, Alaska.

A video went viral of them a couple of years ago and I watch them when I can. The humans are Mo and Lee Thompson, natives of Michigan who moved to Alaska in 2014. It started with Mo being good with dogs and walking them…soon she and her husband started this.

They go by on a bus and pick up their customer’s dogs. The dogs know what to do and get on in their seats and get strapped in. Mo and Lee Thompson take them for walks and to play in the Alaska wilderness.

This is the video that went viral.

On their facebook page it says: Skagway’s dog walker, pet sitter & family dog trainer. I specialize in trail dog pack walks & puppies

Mo Thompson: “I started working with some teachers at the school. And it just kind of was a ripple effect of ‘Hey, I heard you’re really good with dogs. Can you help me? Hey, I heard you’re really good with dogs. Can you help me?’ And then I needed a second pack walk because I started grouping dogs together by their personalities. So we had our morning crew and our afternoon crew. Then it just grew to the point where I needed some help from Lee (her husband)”

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Red Clay Strays – No One Else Like Me

I want to thank all of you readers…I went over the million mark in views this past Saturday. I appreciate you all coming here since 2017. 

My friend Greg lives near me and he came in and asked me to look this band up. They are new to me and they are called The Red Clay Strays. They seem to be a mix of rockabilly, blues, rock, soul, Americana, and a tad bit of country. The band is from Mobile, Alabama.

They were formed in 2015 and included lead vocalist Brandon Coleman, guitarist Drew Nix, bassist Andrew Bishop, drummer John Hall, and keyboardist/vocalist Logan Dozier. They met through various musical connections in Mobile and decided to form the band.

The band’s reputation grew steadily through touring. They gained a dedicated following in the Southeastern United States, playing at various festivals, clubs, and music venues. They do nicely building in dynamics in their music to make it memorable.

They released their first album in 2022 called Moment of Truth. That album peaked at #11 on the Americana/Folk Album Charts, #29 on the Billboard Country Charts, and #4 on the UK Country Charts.   Their new album is called Made By These Moments and will be released on July 26th.

Right now their popularity is spreading outside of the southeast. The bottom clip is them in Denver at the famous Red Rocks playing this song. The studio version is not out yet so I’ll include another one of their songs so you can get a feel of them below this.

No One Else Like Me

How many mistakes must I make before I start to see
How much love will it make to make me not wanna leave
How many tears must I cry before my tears run dry

Will I ever be free
Will I ever be free
Lord I wanna Be Free

Well I’m a broken ridder, I’m a restless fighter and I’m looking for a little hope
I’m a shadowed thinker, I’m a one eyed blinker at the end of this rope
I’m a dead man walking, a preacher talking, about love and how to be free
I’m a dyin ghost with a heart like most but lord, ain’t no one else like me

Lookin back at the promises that I could never keep
I wonder if there was any truth at all in me
Sometimes I wanna run away and go start over in another place
But I’ll never be free, Lord I’ll never be free

Well I’m a broken ridder, I’m a restless fighter and I’m looking for a little hope
I’m a shadowed thinker, I’m a one eyed blinker at the end of this rope
I’m a dead man walking, a preacher talking, about love and how to be free
I’m a dyin ghost with a heart like most but lord, ain’t no one else like me

Well I’m a broken ridder, I’m a restless fighter and I’m looking for a little hope
I’m a shadowed thinker, I’m a one eyed blinker at the end of this rope
I’m a dead man walking, a preacher talking, about love and how to be free
I’m a dyin ghost with a heart like most but lord, ain’t no one else like me

Decemberists – Burial Ground

They’ve undid the aerialTore down the merry-go-roundThis world’s all wrongSo let’s go where we belongPack up the stereo, meet at the burial ground

***I’m slipping this in today because my business trip was moved up a day so I won’t be posting until next Friday or Saturday. Have a great week next week!***

Jangle…CHECK… Harmonizing…CHECK…Overall power pop sound…CHECK. I love the sound of this band. Put them in 1965 and they would fit…place them on the alternative scene of the 1980s…and they would fit like a glove.

I usually don’t get super excited at newer music but this band I’ve liked everything I’ve heard. I always check out eclecticmusiclover (Jeff…it’s where I found this), christiansmusicmusings (Christian),  and albumreviews (Graham) sites for newer music. They do the work so I don’t have to… by tracking these bands/artists down and I appreciate it.

This is some wonderful power pop. It has a nice Byrds/Jayhawks/Big Star sound. I could listen to this music all day and night. The Decemberists formed in 2000. They have released a total of 9 different albums since 2002. They are classified as an indie band but have had a number 1 Billboard album on the charts with The King Is Dead in 2011.

I’ve started to listen to their back catalog and along with power pop they blend in a lot of Americana with that. This American band was formed by Colin Meloy after he moved to Portland from Montana. He initially joined forces with Nate Query (bass), Jenny Conlee (keyboards, accordion), Ezra Holbrook (drums), and Chris Funk (guitar). The lineup has changed through the years, but Colin Meloy remains the main singer/songwriter with them.

Burial Ground is on their new album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again released on June 14, 2024. The song has already charted on the Billboard Alternative Chart at #2. This song features James Mercer…a singer/songwriter for The Shins on backup vocals.

Check this band out…if you like power pop/Americana you should like this.

Colin Meloy:  “‘Burial Ground’ is in that time-honored pop song tradition, a paean to hanging out in graveyard. The melody hook came to me in a dream and I hummed it into my phone on waking. Most dream-songs are bad; this was the exception.”

Burial Ground

Oh, Len, come downAnd meet at the burial groundThey’ve undid the aerialTore down the merry-go-roundThis world’s all wrongSo let’s go where we belongPack up the stereo, meet at the burial ground

Here among the fallen leavesAre we alone, the ones that dare to breathe?Throw your worries down, they’re oh so gravely heldYou have carried them so well

Ooh, woahOoh, woah

Oh, Len, come downAnd meet at the burial groundThey’ve undid the aerialTore down the merry-go-roundThis world’s all wrongSo let’s go where we belongPack up the stereo, meet at the burial ground

You laid down below a stoneSaying, “Wherever they have gone, I long to goSomewhere out beyond these maladies in my head.”At least, I think that’s what you said

Oh-whoa, oh-whoa

Oh, Len (oh, Len) come down (come down)And meet at the burial ground (meet at the burial ground)They’ve undid the aerialTore down the merry-go-roundThis world’s (this world’s) all wrong (all wrong)So let’s go where we belong (let’s go where we belong)Pack up the stereo, meet at the burial ground

Oh, Len (oh, Len) come down (come down)And meet at the burial ground (meet at the burial ground)They’ve undid the aerialTore down the merry-go-round (merry-go-round)(Tore down the merry-go-round)This world’s (this world’s) all wrong (all wrong)So let’s go where we belong (let’s go where we belong)Pack up the stereo, meet at the burial ground

It’s a contract malarial, meet at the burial ground

Godzilla Minus One

I was reading the Master Mix Movie blog and this movie was featured. I have to say it’s very different from the modern Godzilla movies we have had.

I’m a huge Godzilla fan and as far as movies go…but it’s not a monster movie…it’s a movie with a monster in it. The plot is well done and Godzilla never looked better. Toho Studios in Japan made this movie and it even won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Godzilla is back to being Godzilla. He is not the American anti-hero in this film. He is back to being a massive monster of rage. For one of the few times, I cared about the characters in a Godzilla movie. The original movie came out in 1954. Less than a decade after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a new genre of movies was created. The first movie was a response to the fear of nuclear attack and the trauma suffered by those who were directly affected by the bombs.

I watched this movie with English subtitles and the people in the movie were more than cardboard cutouts. There have been some very good Godzilla movies like the 2014 Godzilla and the 1954 original version was great. This movie I would recommend like I would a normal movie. Godzilla looked so real, not cartoonish like the Hollywood version lately.

I talked to fellow blogger Mitch Teemley about it and he was right about something…a little overacting in this one but that is normal for many Japanese movies.

Something different that the Japanese did that Hollywood forgets…they used CGI as a tool, not as the complete movie. It’s not a buddy movie like the latest Godzilla and King Kong movie of the Monsterverse but a real movie with Godzilla in it. The story would have been great for a movie without the big guy appearing.

If you get a chance…watch this movie. It has a color and black and white version…personally, I think the black-and-white version captures it best.

Here is a short storyline from IMDB.

Feeling as if he unfairly cheated death too many times, Shikishima, a surviving Kamikaze pilot, is attacked on Odo Island along with many war plane engineers by a gargantuan monster. After the engineers die because of Shikishima failing to distract the monster, an overwhelming amount of guilt weighs on him, especially after a homeless woman and a baby move into his home when he returns. Shikishima, now on a personal mission, teams up with a large group of veterans to try to finally take down the monster known as Godzilla.

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Work Related Break

Usually, I plan these breaks out but this one was planned for me. 

Our company has purchased two businesses and IT (that’s my department) will be involved heavily this month. This will interfere with my weekday posting. On the weekends…I should be fine. I will be traveling through some weeks also…so starting Monday…I will only be posting on weekends until July.  I have enough posts to post for 3 weeks but if I cannot comment back…why bother? So…this weekend I WILL post though and every weekend until July. 

This time I really didn’t want a break but I’m not sure how much time I’d be able to use checking the blog. Thank you all again for checking my blog out I will see you on weekends and should be back full-time in July. 

Thank you all again for reading this every day! See you tomorrow. I have to include a song…so this one works for me. 

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Lemon Twigs – In My Head

Back in 1972, The Lemon Twigs opened up for Badfinger and Big Star. I’ve read that it was considered one of the best power pop concerts ever.

Well…I’m sorry readers…I just lied…The Lemon Twigs were not even born at that time…but if they jumped in a time machine…they could easily walk right in and open for those bands. They sound and look 1970s power popish to the core.

I just picked an “older” (from 2023!) song by random because I haven’t heard anything from them that I don’t like. They were formed by brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario. They grew up in Long Island, New York, and were exposed to music from an early age through their family, who are also musicians.

They had great influences. The brothers were influenced by their father’s record collection, which included classic rock artists like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Kinks. They began playing music together as children, experimenting with various instruments and songwriting.

Michael got into acting when he was 4 years old. Here is his IMDB profile. Michael was born in 1998 and Brian was born in 1997. They started to play music when they were 6 and 8 years old. They released their first album (a cassette tape) when in 2015. Their debut album came out in 2016 called Do Hollywood. The album got positive reviews from critics. Together they have 6 albums out. The last one just came out called A Dream Is All We Know.

This song was on the Everything Harmony album released in 2023. The song is credited to The Lemon Twigs. That is the smartest thing to do for the band. REM did that and unlike many other bands…getting writing credits is not a problem. I first heard about them a while back. A commenter commented on a power pop track I had and mentioned The Lemon Twigs. Jeff and Christian have brought them up recently also.

In My Head

In my head, in my headI am different in my headI am someone else insteadIn my head, in my head

In my mind, in my mindThere is sadness all the timeAnd I keep the things I findIn my mind, in my mind

And never do I share these things with anyoneThe feeling is cold and I’m afraidStrangers passing, mm

In my dream, in my dreamThere are symbols that repeat (symbols that repeat)There are copies in the street (again and again)In my dream, in my dream (again and again)(Again and again)

And never do I share these things with anyoneThe feeling is cold and I’m afraidStrangers passing, mm

And I am done, even goneFeeling nothing, feeling numbFeeling nice, made of neon shining iceStrangers passing, mm

Ooh, ooh, oohOoh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)La-la-la, la la laLa-la-la, la la la laLa-la-la, la la la laLa-la-la, la la la

La-la-la, la la laLa-la-la, la la la laLa-la-la, la la la laLa-la-la, la la la

Martha + Squirrel + Theo + Max post

Hope you don’t mind if I post something about animals and not pop culture on this post anyway. Sometimes it’s nice to have something different. Martha is my dog, the squirrel…I never caught his or her name, and Theo is a Prairie Dog.

I always liked squirrels since my dad told me he had one as a pet. He had found an injured one and nursed it back to health. He said he let it go when it was well but it kept coming back and would jump on his shoulders. He had it for years…it lived outside in the wild but loved my dad.

Well with that in mind…I was at home and I let Martha out on our screened-in back porch. It’s something between dogs and squirrels that doesn’t mix…oil and water or whatever you want to use. I looked around and Martha was going beserk…barking and looking up high on the screen. She was jumping up on it and I was afraid she would rip it so I stopped her…she then walked around and came back and done it again. A poor squirrel was frozen high on the screen.

I took Martha back in for around 30 minutes. We went back out and that squirrel was still in the same place frozen and looking at me. Of course, the thing was scared to death so I had an idea. I took a flimsy plastic stool and turned it upside down and lifted it up to the squirrel. I’ve never had a wild animal look into my eyes like it was deciding whether to trust me or not but…it did. It walked on the stool and looked down at me like…don’t give me to that giant ass dog, please! Our porch is not high so I gently tipped it a little while holding Martha back …and the squirrel took off.

Around an hour later Martha and I went out again….we went underneath our back porch to check on something…yep…that squirrel never left! He or she jumped up and Martha was on the chase…again I held Martha back and looked at the squirrel and him at me again…with a loud “GO GO GO” (me saying that not the squirrel…I think) it took off and hopefully will not come back…at least if Martha is outside. With me, it can come back if it wants to…but don’t chew the wires in our cars like one of its relatives did a few years ago. Of all times I didn’t have my phone with me.

Martha has a piece of pizza in her mouth in the car.

I’ve told people before that I want a prairie dog one day…a lady who works at my work has one and she brings it every Tuesday and Thursday just for me. I keep it in my office and take it out every now and then…call it practice…although I’m not sure Martha + Prairie Dog will mix. Theo doesn’t stay still long enough for me to get a good picture.

Theo is only around 10 weeks old. The last prairie dog this lady had bit me and they bite hard! This one doesn’t bite at all…it’s very sociable. The other one was not socialized.

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Meeting May Pang

My son Bailey asked me if I wanted to go to an Art Gallery with him today to meet May Pang. Last year I saw a May Pang book at a yard sale and gave it to him. He enjoyed the book and then got her new book of photographs she took of John Lennon, Keith Moon, George Harrison, Elton John, Bowie, Ringo, Paul McCartney (John and Paul last one together), Harry Nilsson, and more that she met when John and she were together in 1973-1975.

John left Yoko in 1973 to start his 18-month “lost weekend” with May Pang. She had access to a new world. Pang has a documentary out right now on their relationship. It’s called “The Lost Weekend…A Love Story.” Lennon talked to May Pang up until he was murdered. From what others have said…John thought about staying with Pang.

Bailey had some questions for her so he talked to her and got a picture taken…she was extremely nice to us. We couldn’t take any pictures of the photos on display.

Anyway, it was pretty cool to be there. The only person I met who was connected with the Beatles was an actual ex-Beatle…Pete Best.

Here are a few of the pictures that were on display. They also had some with the rest of the Beatles, Nilsson, and a few others. Also…John’s hand-signing the document that dissolved The Beatles in 1974 at Disney World.

May Pang and Bailey

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I’ll Be Back

My work is gearing up to be really busy in the next few weeks. I’m going to take a two-week break but with a catch…I won’t have to work as much on the weekends this time, so I’ll post both weekends…but I won’t be on during the week.

I hope you all are doing well. I’m making this a habit every few months because of work; it refreshes me and I need it. Since I blog every day, this is a nice break. Again I want to thank everyone who checks on my posts every day and those who check when they can…all is appreciated!

I’ll see you when I get back and yes I do miss it when I’m off…that is why I plan to do it on the next two weekends and then I’ll be back every day. See you Saturday!

I’ll Be Back

You knowIf you break my heart, I’ll goBut I’ll be back again

‘Cause ITold you once before goodbyeBut I came back again

I love you soI’m the one who wants youYes, I’m the one who wants youOh-oh, oh-oh

YouCould find better things to doThan to break my heart again

This timeI will try to show that I’mNot trying to pretend

I thought that you would realizeThat if I ran away from youThat you would want me tooBut I got a big surpriseOh-oh, oh-oh

YouCould find better things to doThan to break my heart again

This timeI will try to show that I’mNot trying to pretend

I wanna goBut I hate to leave youYou know I hate to leave youOh-oh, oh-oh

YouIf you break my heart, I’ll goBut I’ll be back again

Director Sam Mendes – 4 Movies on The Beatles

Sam Mendes has directed some huge films like 1917, American Beauty, Road To Perdition, and Skyfall to name just a few.

This looks interesting and new…and potentially groundbreaking. In recent years Queen and Elton John got a biopic treatment but I never thought someone would try The Beatles because it was a lot to put into one movie. Well this will be four different movies that will intersect through the perspective of each Beatle.

From this article:

Each film will be told from the point of view of a different band member, and will eventually “intersect to tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history.” Sony will distribute the films worldwide in 2027 and with this intriguing promise: “The dating cadence of the films, the details of which will be shared closer to release, will be innovative and groundbreaking.”

Here are some more links

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68350477

https://pitchfork.com/news/four-beatles-biopics-in-the-works-from-sam-mendes/

https://www.vulture.com/article/beatles-movies.html

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Ray Wylie Hubbard – Bad Trick

You can’t fix a broken heart with a bobby pin
And everybody turns a bad trick now and then

CB and I get into some interesting musical conversations…he sent me a track from Ray Wylie Hubbard. I knew I remembered him somewhere and of course, when I searched I found what I remembered. It was this song called Bad Trick. The song he sent me was Snake Farm…and I have it in here also.

It was made I’m sure during the lockdown. It features Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Chris Robinson and was produced by Don Was.

Let’s look at Ray Wylie Hubbard. In the early seventies, Hubbard joined Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson as part of the progressive country vanguard on the Texas music scene…known as the Outlaws. These weren’t your crew-cut guys from Nashville with a sweet sound. They were earthy and down-to-earth music for the common people to be honest. Rough about the edges and a little too close to rock for some of the established country fans.

He started to get known when Jerry Jeff Walker cover his song “Up against the Wall, Redneck Mother.” in 1973. He has released 19 albums since 1975. Lately, he wrote a song that Eric Church covered called Desperate Man.

Bad Trick was released on the album Co-Starring. The artists that wanted to play with him were incredible. They included Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, Ronnie Dunn, Don Was, Larkin Poe, Pam Tillis, and The Cadillac Three. You are well respected when these players are backing you.

I want to cover one more song on this post. The song is called Snake Farm and it’s on the album of the same name…Snake Farm was released in 2006. It sounds so nasty with the licks from the guitar he plays.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: I had burned a lot of bridges and didn’t have a career. But I wanted to be a real songwriter. Someone gave me Letters to a Young Poet, and there was this line about our fears being like dragons guarding our most precious treasures. I decided to overcome my fear of embarrassment and take guitar lessons at age 41 to learn how to fingerpick, and that opened all sorts of doors.

On Snake Farm Hubbard said: “There’s an old snake farm in New Braunfels, Texas between Austin and San Antonio. It’s been there about 40 years. And there’s a rumor that it was something more than a snake farm but I don’t know about that. Doesn’t make any difference. I’ve driven by it probably 10,000 times. So one day I’m driving by and all of a sudden I see the snake farm… I see the snake farm there and I’m driving along and all of a sudden I go, ‘Ooh, just sounds nasty.’ I said, ‘Well, it is. It’s not a church or a hospital, it’s a reptile house.’

I’m like, ‘God, snake farm, just sounds nasty. Snake farm, well it pretty much is. Snake farm, it’s a reptile house. Snake farm, eww.’ I kept singing that in my head for some strange reason, and then I said, ‘Well, what am I gonna do with this?’Well, I’ll make it a love song. I’ll make it about a man who doesn’t like snakes, but he’s in love with a woman that works at the snake farm.”

Snake Farm

Bad Trick

Don’t get any on you if you go to Nashville
Don’t operate machinery if you on Benadryl
Got to have some faith when you in the lion’s den
And everybody turns a bad trick now and then

Club soda don’t always remove ketchup stains
Ain’t nothing you can take gonna cure a migraine
Broken dreams is a premise in “of mice and men”
And everybody turns a bad trick now and then

You got to have some scars if you wanna be a poet
To get weeds out of a garden, you got to hoe it
Possession with intent will get you 5 to 10
And everybody turns a bad trick now and then

Most gamblers know they’ll never break even
There’s 5 stages to go through when you’re grieving
The sword is always bloodier than the pen
And everybody turns a bad trick now and then

Dancing is promiscuous after midnight
It’s better to be content than have to always be right
You can’t fix a broken heart with a bobby pin
And everybody turns a bad trick now and then

Happy New Year!

The list below has grown so much since I started to do this a few years ago. If I forgot you…please forgive me. But Happy New Year 2024.

I want to thank everyone who has read my blog this year and the last few years. I ran this post last year and I’ve added more names. It’s so much fun communicating with all of you. I’ve been told my blog is a place people come to comment like sitting around a campfire. That is the way I hope it is. I’m not a real writer so I just write as if I’m talking to you in a room. I hope many of you find other bloggers at my place with things in common.

In 2017 I would not have believed I would communicate with people in different states across America and the world…such as New Zealand, The UK, Hong Kong, Germany, Columbia, Australia, India, France, Sweden, Spain, and more! I’m also learning more about new music, old new music, cool old and new movies, and most of all…people. I comment way too much at times but it’s a lot of fun learning.

I’ve commented with you all, emailed many of you, talked to some of you over the phone, and met one of you. Thank you all once again.

I’ve even listened to Heavy Metal and Canadian bands from Canadians Deke and Dave and became friends with both.

A fellow Big Star and mid-60s pop/rock fan and one of the best commenters I have…I’ve learned a lot from him… Obbverse

Off-the-radar songs and movies, and everything cool… from Cincinnati  Babyhead (CB) Thanks for opening up more music for me.

I’ve read great stories and poems for really the first time from Lisa, Obbverse, and Bruce. I still don’t know much about poems but I’m learning. Thanks to all of you…I consider all of you friends.

Lisa is the biggest George Harrison fan I know…and that is a great thing.

Dana from Dana at Regular Girl Devos for her fun memories on songs that I hope she keeps telling.

randydafoe who has a huge knowledge of music covers and music in general. When I have a question…I bug Randy!

halffastcyclingclub for his insightful comments on different posts. He has taught me a lot about music and bikes!

Learned about new music from Jeff, Graham, and Christian. If you want the best of new music…these are the 3 are the places to go. They don’t overlap much at all which is great…you get a good variety.

Christian … we have VERY similar taste and it was great to talk to him the other day on the phone.

Sheree for dropping by my site every single day.

Sophia who I just met online not long ago. 18 years old and wants to be a Baseball Writer! Her site is https://sophiakd4.wordpress.com/

Fellow Twilight Zone fan Beth

popchartfreak who I’ve had many conversations about music…and I appreciate it.

Dave, it’s been great getting to know you even better this year…I’ll be rooting for the Blue Jays to the World Series…unless they play…well you know!

Learned even more about the Beatles and music from Hanspostcard

daneelyunu stopped by as well.

Learned even more about baseball from Hanspostcard, John,  and Dave

Learned about Chicago and interesting music from fan and fellow musician John 

I really like commenting with Bruce from walkingoffthechessboard , awesome conversations about music, and sometimes movies.

Stephen V Nguyen who has dropped by this year.

Yolanda has liked some posts this year.

Jim S who I’ve seen for years and talked to off and on…this year we have talked more and I hope it continues.

Looked at sewing machines as works of art with run-sew-read and learned more about The Moody Blues, books, and movies.

Learned so much about movies from Bernie… a great movie reviewer and person.

Learned a whole lot about the Grateful Dead, music, stars, and all sorts of things from Jim

Robert Horvat who has stopped by and commented…I appreciate it.

My guide to 80’s alternative bands from Paul and Dave

Geo. Raymond or better known to me as “Tref” has stopped by and I enjoy his stories on his blog.

the press music reviews…excellent top-notch posts on music and I love the alternate album covers you present.

Katie Thank you for dropping by and commenting

firewater65 who stops by on occasion.

I’ve learned about Australia, Colombia, Bob Dylan, new artists to me, and classical music from Matt

satyam rastogi has stopped by and liked and commented.

Getting to know Paul and Colin at onceuponatime70s … with that title how could I not like them?

Cee Tee Jackson I appreciate getting to know you…a true Rolling Stones fan

Loudhorizon where I find rare bands of the 60s and 70s.

Commenting with Under The Mask

Vinyl Connection for all the info on albums that I love and music in general.

Monday songs from Eden make my Mondays better.

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey has one of the coolest names out there… but I thank her for the likes and comments.

One of my favorite bloggers  Mojo Horizon

Alexis Ryder thank you for coming by

theboringoldman for commenting about the memories he has on songs…I loved it…and thanks for stopping by.

I want to thank Conesus Lake House for stopping by as well.

Cooking from Jeanne

ren thank you for dropping by and commenting

Liam…another great blogger I met through our TV Draft last year.

I’ve had a good time commenting about music with princecranoir….thanks for the conversations.

Armann and Kaymann…thanks for liking!

How radio really works and more about family from Keith… Keith

Ra Na-Ged who I have appreciated coming to the blog…who had one of the best comments of the year with: Elvis may be king, but Otis had the Voice of God.

Learning every number 1 from the UK with Stewart

About life and friendship from my friend Vic, it’s been great emailing, talking, and messaging.

Wonderful life stories from Mitch,

JoAnna for her Star Trek knowledge!

Album reviews from John at  2loud2oldmusic.

Restaurants to eat at from Blaine. I want to make it down to Louisana so I can try these wonderful restaurants that he recommends.

Detailed history from Rick

Kevin from A Different Kitchen who I’ve enjoyed his comments.

MobsterTiger who is kind enough to re-blog some of my posts.

mygenxerlife for stopping by and commenting.

Kingclover who I’ve got to know more about earlier this year talking about music.

Jim Everett Table Toss for all of the football and baseball posts…all are appreciated with the humor you give them.

Inspiring writing from Pam

Writing and an author who at one time was a DJ… Steve Campbell Creations

Movies from Master Mix Movies

ALWAYS cool music from Hotfox63

Some of the most entertaining true stories I’ve ever heard from Phil Strawn. Phil is one of my favorite bloggers. You can’t get more Texan than Phil.

Great posts and one of my first followers…and fellow Monkee fan Blackwing

Nashville music history from my cousin Ricky

Comics from Harry Chamberlain

To Paul at https://thepunkpanthermusicreviews.blogspot.com/p/long-reads.html where I learned what punk was.

Learning about all the places that usfman travels

Stories and quotes from James

Awesome Cartoons from Hobo Cartoons

The writing of Jason 

Stephen V Nguyen thanks for dropping by!

Fellow power pop fan Mike and fellow Nashvillian.

Eugi for commenting and coming by

I thank Chuckster for dropping by as well.

Thanks to SRIKANTH for stopping by.

Great posts from Mark

Again if I missed anyone I’m sorry…I just ran through this off the top of my head.

Thanks to everyone and have a Happy New Year to you and your family from Powerpop.blog (and it’s curator…Max). We survived 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023…lets make this one better!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!