It's My Job!

I'm surprised how often episodes of Madmen have plot details that eerily echo aspects of my own life.  I'm certainly feeling Ken Cosgrove's "Its my job" dance as well as Don's obsessive thought patterns. A little context for those who haven't seen this episode-both Don and Ken (and a number of their co-workers) have been given  amphetamine "vitamin" shots by a Dr. Feelgood that one of the new partners brought in to the office to assist them in working overtime on a new campaign.

Tomorrow Is A Long Time- Four Versions

Dylan wrote it, Elvis and Odetta owned it, and Nick Drake did it too.  The only youtube version of the original I could find has stills from the Walking Dead, which is regrettable, but what can you do?  Times are tough. Lastly you've got Dylan returning the favor by covering Elvis.

If today was not an endless highway, 
If tonight was not a crooked trail, 
If tomorrow wasn't such a long time, 
Then lonesome would mean nothing to me at all. 
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin', 
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin', 
Only if she was lyin' by me, 
Then I'd lie in my bed once again. 

I can't see my reflection in the waters, 
I can't speak the sounds that show no pain, 
I can't hear the echo of my footsteps, 
I can't remember the sound of my own name. 
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin', 
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin', 
Only if she was lyin' by me, 
Then I'd lie in my bed once again. 

There's beauty in the silver, singin' river, 
There's beauty in the sunrise in the sky, 
But none of these and nothing else can touch the beauty 
That I remember in my true love's eyes. 
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin', 
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin', 
Only if she was lyin' by me, 
Then I'd lie in my bed once again.

I Love Disaster And I Love What Comes After!

Tough Guys Don't Dance, is a truly terrible film written and directed by your boy Norman Mailer.  I mean it gets goddamn gold stars for lousiness.  It might, conceivably, be fun to watch with several severely inebriated friends, but watching this travesty by oneself, which is how I braved it, is truly unbearable.  In fact I didn't make it to the awful conclusion, so don't tell me how it ends! So why, you ask, did I watch it ? Oh I suppose some combination of morbid curiosity and wanting to see another film with Isabella Rossellini in her prime.  

Still even unpleasant things sometimes seem to happen for a reason. And I got to say that the infamous "Oh man, Oh God" scene has come in handy this week as the only appropriate and amusing response to what has been a real shit storm of bad luck, bad breaks and deteriorating relationships in my own terrible movie. Wish I could blame that stinker on ol' Norm- somewhere near me someone should be swinging a camera around wildly to symbolize how my world is reeling off balance. So here's the scene I'm referring to, followed by Norman reading the test audience comment cards on the film, an unblinking online reviewer and a parody. Watch this turkey at your own risk!

This May Only Be A Dream

Click>Drugstore Cowboy OST

Drugstore Cowboy, released in the fall of 1989, was the first film that really cast a spell on me, making me realize just how much the medium could effect me, it's one of those films where you feel like you are still in the world depicted after you leave theatre, it has that kind of magic. And it has remained a favorite of mine, one that I can re-watch endlessly and always enjoy and find new details in- like Diane shoplifting a paperback of Love Story in the pharmacy in the beginning which we later see her reading in other scenes.  Music plays an important role in the film both the diegetic pop tunes and the atmospheric score by Elliot Goldenthal, creating a mood that lulls you into the opiatic dreamworld that the film's main characters occupy.

Everything in the movie works perfectly; beautifully shot in Portland Oregon by DP Robert Yeoman (an unusual, for film, color palette of greens and browns), with a tightly rendered script that is based on  James Fogle's autobiographical novel, the film is perfectly cast, with Matt Dillon playing the defining role of his career, and a great and varied supporting cast - especially Max Perlich, James Remar and William Burroughs.

The film has had such an effect on me that I still find myself quoting from it, lines like- "there's nothing more life affirming than getting the shit kicked out of you", "yes I'm alone what you think i brought my rat faced granny along with me to hold my hand", "hell you know how whimsical women are she found another guy to chase and off she went", "you guys been reading too much Mickey Spillane or something" or even "why do you want to do that goddamned speed, you know how ringy it makes you".  I love the scene where Diane tries to seduce Bob by dancing to Jackie De Shannon's "Put A Little Love in Your Heart" and he, wired on speed, reacts tight jawed with alarm and uncomfortableness. And I still to this day think twice about putting a hat on a bed due to Bob's superstition.

The soundtrack appears to be out of print which is why I am posting it here. The special edition DVD released by Artisan in 1999 is surprisingly nice for a DVD from the late 90's, a decent transfer, with a lively commentary from Gus Van Sant and Matt Dillon and a making of documentary.  Still I hope that Criterion eventually gets their hands on the film, they have been knocking things out of the park of late with their recent editions of Badlands and Repo Man. Some favorite clips follow, and the admittedly odd trailer, not sure what's up with the background music in that, its not in the film. Click underneath the main photo on top to download zip file of the soundtrack and watch out for the TV babies.  Enjoy!

No Shame in My Game-1992

Gang Starr's Daily Operation, released on May 5, 1992 remains an absolute pinnacle in Hip-Hop. I remember distinctly my disbelief at the Source's luke warm review. Back in the day I turned many a head on to this one and everyone I knew loved this record at first listen. I converted a lot of my peers to Hip-Hop in the late 80's and early 90's, it wasn't hard considering how the art form was peaking at the time. By 1992 Hip-Hop was pretty much all I listened to, with the occasional foray into My Bloody Valentine, Guided By Voices, Unrest and Pavement (pale face roots).

Hip-Hop's general lack of sentimentality is something I miss and could use more of in my life-sad sack pop music has made me too much of a sucker, a easy mark. On another personal note I get a kick out of how my mom got her Master's degree from DJ Premier's alma mater, Prairie View A&M.  If you don't own this album make a point to get it. A handful of my favorite tracks from Daily Operation follow.  RIP Guru.

Looking Just Like a Ghost

Zipping thru the days at lightning speed.  Amphetamine fallout and psychic dislocation in 1966. "You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal".

And that's approximately how it feels folks!

Vaya Con Dios

Girls' Faces Formed the Forward Path

The Maze by William Kurelek

Click here for Mix

1. Take Me Home and Make Me Like It- Alex Chilton- "black leather thoughts and whip like words".  Alex lets his freak flag fly.  Baby do you like it?

2. I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra- Ian Dury and the Blockheads- "I'm partial to your abracadabra, I'm raptured by the joy of it all, So stop me where you start, The cockles of his heart the panties send it right up the wall".  Dury really excelled at writing clever, horny lyrics see also "wake up and make love to me".

3.  Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind- The Lovin' Spoonful- "Did you ever have to make up your mind, pick up on one and leave the other behind, It's not often easy, and not often kind"  yeah I just keep quoting lyrics I know.  Here's something John Sebastian and I share the same birthday, along with Nat King Cole and Elis Regina- illustrious company, right.  All March 17th pisces.  Okay back to quoting lyrics.

4. I Can't Believe What You Say- Ike and Tina Turner- Lack of trust never sounded so good!

5. Modern Don Juan- Buddy Holly- "I ain't nothing but a man in love". Who could have predicted that the modern Don Juan would come from Lubbock, Texas.  You might have noticed that I try to get the songs in these mixes talking to each other. 

6. Spanish Bombs- The Clash- Clash spanish is like a language unto itself! Probably the first place I heard of Lorca as a young-un. 

7. Trying to Get to You- Elvis Presley- Such a beautiful vocal- straight unschooled passionate singing.  This is probably my favorite track from the Sun Sessions. 

8. Do It All Night- Prince- Ah the good part of a relationship when you're lighting her up like a pinball machine!  And when I say you, I really mean me.  Sadly no Prince survives on youtube, so here's the back cover to Dirty Mind lp from whence this comes.  

9. So This Is Love?- Van Halen- "take me home, I'm just skin and bone!" David Lee Roth was such a ham, I love it. 

10. Cruel To Be Kind- Nick Lowe- Perfect pop song!  In terms of cruelty I think women have men beat hands down, they can take a guy and totally destroy him.  Then again I'm a man so admittedly biased. 

11. Tear Ya Down- Motorhead- Back to more important subject matter such as making toes curl etc. Lemmy is "really into long leg girls" and I concur.  "I'll give you supernatural powers!"  

12. Garter Belt- John Lurie- Damn feminist theory sure makes me horny!  Just kidding, this is an interesting and slow paced film (my favorite kind), but don't get all hot and bothered- cause you won't. 

13. Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus- Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin- Never let your guard down. I don't love you is definitely the best response or if you want to be nicer, try let's take it slow. I have an old Rolling Stone from 1969 where they pan this single, amazing, but on second thought not surprising considering the source.

14. Take Care of Me- Iggy Pop- "Take care of me, somebody should, hey I'm pretty good!"  Heh, it's all about loving yourself.  If this mix was an lp, this would be the beginning of side two. "I've done my best, now you do the rest!"

15. One Sided Love Affair- Elvis Presley- "If you know you can't take it, then baby why try to give it" - good point Elvis.  

16. Mean When I'm Mad- Eddie Cochran- Sometimes it pays to be mean.

17. Two Little Hitlers- Elvis Costello- It's probably not healthy to view relationships as power struggles, but it often seems to be the case.  "Two little hitlers will fight it out until, one little hitler does the other one's will".

18. Where Were You- Dick Campbell-Most of this record is a really shame faced, if amusingly so, cop of mid period Dylan, but this track is different and probably the best song on the record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOAyUuQtnRE

19. The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage- Smokey Robinson and the Miracles- So there is some debate whether or not Dylan ever really said that Smokey Robinson was America's greatest poet, but either way its a great quote, whoever said it.  And some writers have tried to make a case that it wasn't so much about lyrics, as his voice and delivery, which is bullshit, these are great lyrics, masterful. 

20. Blue Turns To Grey- The Rolling Stones- An old friend of mine passed away this February.   Many years ago he turned me on to early and mid 60's Rolling Stones beyond the obvious hits, I remember borrowing those records from him and particularly the impression this track from December's Children made.  Beautiful stuff.

21. Fifth Time Thru- William- Hey it's me!  Long time ago, bout 13 years now- good song, nice chord changes and lyrics.  I could sing this much better nowadays and I'd probably decide to rock a lot less on that outro guitar solo too, heh I was an excitable boy at the time, maybe I'll re-record it one day. "There's so many things to do, other than fall in love, and there's so much that I could do, rather than getting hung up on you"- Need to start taking my own advice as well.

Me and my shadow.

22. Manha De Carnaval- Vince Guaraldi Trio-

23. Buried Bones- Tindersticks w/ Ann Magnuson- "I could take all the crazy out of you, that's what I loved you for".

24. Looks Like December- Antonio Carlos Jobim- Tus besos nunca mas.