Tag Archives: Elvis Presley

Now Normal Chronicles or: Still Relevant

17 Wednesday Jun 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 51st anniversary of Elvis’ From Elvis in Memphis (#190 on the RS list). It’s a good album and I’m not really a big Elvis fan. Now, this was “the” single from the album. I don’t know if we can call it a cover since Mac Davis wrote the song. He wrote it and Elvis did it. I don’t know how that is supposed to go. Oh well, whatever, enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“As the snow flies on a cold and gray Chicago morning, a poor little baby child is born in the ghetto. And his mama cries. ‘Cause if there’s one thing that she don’t need, it’s another little hungry mouth to feed in the ghetto.” – “In the Ghetto” (Davis)

Happy Birthday, Pops or: A Cool Bday Share

08 Wednesday Jan 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is my dad’s birthday. I got to talk to him a little bit and I’m glad he’s here for me to do that. He’s a great man and no matter how hard I try I’ll never be the man he is. But, he lets me be the man I am and that’s awesome, too. But, he shares a birthday with several names in music.

Luther Perkins (who was guitarist for the Tennessee Three, Johnny Cash’s band), Shirley Bassey (singer of three James Bond theme songs), Cristy Lane (country and gospel singer), Robbie Krieger (guitarist from The Doors), Terry Sylvester (The Hollies), Mike Reno (singer from Loverboy), Paul Hester (of Split Enz and Crowded House), Dave Weckl (drummer for Paul Simon, Madonna, George Benson, Michel Camilo, Robert Plant,  Anthony Jackson and Chick Corea Elektric Band), Andrew Wood (Mother Love Bone), R. Kelly, Torry Castellano (drummer of The Donnas), and probably a few more.

The two big ones, though, in my opinion, are Elvis Presley and David Bowie. That’s the two that I always talk about, but that list is pretty impressive. So, since it’s Bowie’s birthday, too, well, here’s a little something for you. Enjoy and happy birthday, Pop!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Ziggy played for time, jiving us that we were Voodoo. The kids was just crass. He was the naz. With God-given ass. He took it all too far, but boy, could he play guitar.” – “Ziggy Stardust” (Bowie)

The King or: 42 Years

16 Friday Aug 2019

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Salutations™!!

I remember 42 years ago today, sitting with my mother in the “white house on the hill” watching Tic-Tac-Dough on a black and white television set and the news breaking in that Elvis Presley had passed away. It was shocking even though I didn’t care anything about Elvis (at the time). Friends of the family were rocked. It was bad for them.

Today would have also been my ex-wife’s father’s birthday. It was weird. My dad’s birthday is January 8, the day that Elvis was born, (as well as David Bowie) and hers the day he passed. RIP Ronnie.

So, here’s a little snippet of the man doing his thing. Supposedly the last song he ever sang live.

Long live the King!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight? Are you sorry we drifted apart? Does your memory stray to a bright sunny day when I kissed you and called you sweetheart?” – “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (Turk/Handman)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 5/4-5/18

06 Sunday May 2018

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Salutations™!!

First off, notice I changed the title of this one. It seems my Sunday posts are a bit verbose at times, and they’re usually about records. Neither of which really lends to the “silent” aspect of Silent Sunday. So, I think I’m changing the “haul” posts up a bit. I’ll still do Silent Sunday for non-record posts.

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©A&M

 

Well, this is a little different in the record category, as well. I went to Underdog Records, three different times from Friday to Saturday. I went on Friday because I didn’t think I’d get there Saturday because of a party we were having with a dear friend of ours. That included a bus and beer. Yep. Bus. Beer. And, also, on Friday, I was given a few records by a friend of mine. She said, here you can have these. Some of them ended up crossing off a few entries off the RS List. So, here’s what we got:

  • Poison – Open Up and Say…Ahh! – Yeah, I know it’s cheesy “hair metal” but I don’t care. I love this album. I think Bret Michaels sings perfectly well for what they were. Still, when people talk hair metal, I’d say 17 out of 20 would say Poison first. This was a reissue, so new.
  • Dr. Dog – Critical Equation – A new album from a band that, to me, sounds like a mixture between Robert Smith of the Cure and Bob Dylan. It’s right up The BCPF’s alley and that’s why I picked it. New.
  • Liz Phair – Exile In Guyville – #327 on the RS List, this was a reissue on 180g vinyl to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It’s a great album. She’s ballsy for a chick. That’s a good thing. New.
  • Bob Dylan – Desire – #174 on the RS List. It was there in the used bin and in VG condition.
  • Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasuredome – Yep, this is the “Relax” album, which is all most people know about. My second favorite song from the band is also on this album, “Two Tribes (For the Victims of Ravishment).” VG
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Johnny Mercer Song Book – Ella. ‘Nuff said. VG+.
  • Crosby-Nash – Live – Another rendition/combination involving any or all members of CSNY. Jonathan said it’s great so well see. VG+.
  • Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills 2 – Another in the CSNY shuffle.
  • The Motels – All Four One – “Only the Lonely” is on this one. I love that song and I want to hear more from them. VG+.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska – #226 on the RS List, it was a little more on the subdued side. That’s okay. I think I gave it a neutral review on the list. VG+.
  • Journey – Infinity – The first with Steve Perry singing and the last with Aynsley Dunbar on drums. I’d say “Wheel in the Sky” was the big hit on this one. VG+.
  • Stan Getz – Stan Getz I hope this is as good as the other Stan Getz things I have. I love his stuff. VG.
  • Squeeze  – Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti – I like Squeeze. It was there. I grabbed it. Done. VG+.
  • Fleetwood Mac – Heroes Are Hard To Find – Pre-Buckingham/Nicks Mac with Bob Welch still in the band. I like Bob Welch. Let’s see what we got. VG+.
  • The Alan Parsons Project – Eve – Another in the Alan Parsons Project cannon! VG++.
  • 10cc – Bloody Tourists – I love the song “Dreadlock Holiday” which is about reggae. I think it’s a great song. We’ll see what the rest of it sounds like. VG++.
  • Supertramp – “…Famous Last Words…” – I see a few of my friends talk about this album as something special. I like Supertramp, let’s see. NM.

These are the ones that were “gifted” to me:

So, a pretty big haul there. Thanks, Lori for the gifts. And thank you Underdog Records for providing me a “candy store” to be proud of. And thanks to Discogs for providing such a great place for me to catalog my stuff!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Winter is here again oh lord. Haven’t been home in a year or more. I hope she holds on a little longer. Sent a letter on a long summer day. Made of silver, not of clay. I’ve been runnin’ down this dusty road.” – “Wheel in the Sky” (Schon/Fleischman/Valory)

One After Another or: a Big Day for Releases

24 Saturday Mar 2018

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Salutations™!!

Joni_Chalk

@Geffen

 

Today in record release history has been the largest that I’ve had since I started doing the “X years ago today this album was released” posts. If it’s not something I have for releases, I move on to birthdays and today, I didn’t even get to that, much less the deathdays. So, let’s run down what I did have today first.

  • Elvis Presley —— Elvis Presley ► Rock n Roll >> 1956
    Genesis —— …And Then There Were Three… ► Prog Rock >> 1978
    Van Halen —— Van Halen II ► Hard Rock >> 1979
    Journey —— Departure ► Prog/Art Rock >> 1980
    ZZ Top —— Eliminator ► Blues-Rock >> 1983
    Ratt —— Out Of The Cellar ► Heavy Metal >> 1984
    Howard Jones —— Dream Into Action ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1985
    Depeche Mode —— Songs Of Faith And Devotion ► Synth-Pop >> 1993

That’s eight! However, I did find after posting that the Howard Jones album didn’t actually come out yesterday but March 11. The site that I use, mainly, had it wrong or at least had it right and I can’t find any evidence to corroborate it. It happens, but that’s not important. This was a big day for releases. But, beyond what I had there were more.

● Bobby Darin —— That’s All ► Pop-Rock >> 1959
● Dionne Warwick —— Dionne Warwick In Valley Of The Dolls ► Pop-Soul >> 1968
● King Crimson —— Lark’s Tongues In Aspic ► Prog Rock >> 1973
● Roxy Music —— For Your Pleasure ► Prog Rock >> 1973
● Judas Priest —— Sad Wings Of Destiny ► Heavy Metal >> 1976
● Bob Marley & The Wailers —— Kaya ► Roots Reggae >> 1978
● Rick Springfield —— Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet ► Power Pop >> 1982
● Fates Warning —— No Exit ► Heavy Metal/Progressive >> 1988
● Joni Mitchell —— Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm ► Folk-Rock >> 1988
● ZZ Top —— Recycler ► Blues-Rock >> 1990
● The Fall —— Code: Selfish ► Post-Punk >> 1992
● Dwight Yoakam —— This Time ► Alt Country-Rock >> 1993
● The Mothers Of Invention —— Ahead Of Their Time ► Art Rock >> 1993
● Everclear —— Sparkle And Fade ► Grunge-Punk >> 1995
● Iron Maiden —— Virtual XI ► Heavy Metal >> 1998
● A+ —— Hempstead High ► Pop-Rap >> 1999
● Elton John & Various Artists —— Elton John And Tim Rice’s Aida ► Pop-Rock >> 1999
● Gov’t Mule —— Live…With A Little Help From Our Friends, Vol. 2 ► Southern Rock/Jam Rock >> 1999
● Mark Knopfler —— Metroland [Sndtrk] ► Roots Rock >> 1999
● Peter Pan Speedrock —— Killermachine ► Punk Rock >> 2000
● Jerry Garcia Band —— Shining Star ► Roots Rock >> 2001
● Eddie Money —— Let’s Rock ‘N Roll The Place ► Album Rock >> 2003
● Eric Clapton —— Me And Mr. Johnson ► Blues-Rock >> 2004
● Guns N’ Roses —— Greatest Hits ► Hard Rock >> 2004
● Lou Reed —— Animal Serenade ► Album Rock >> 2004
● Ringo Starr —— Tour 2003 ► Pop-Rock >> 2004
● Triumph —— A Night Of Triumph ► Arena Rock >> 2004
● Kansas —— Miracles Out Of Nowhere ► Prog/Arena Rock >> 2015

Now, a lot of days there are a lot but I just don’t have many of them. But, today, I had eight and the rest of the list was pretty impressive, too. Anywhat I just thought it was interesting. Do you have any of these, Dear Reader? Tell me about them!

Note: I wrote this yesterday but had, just finished when I had to pick up 3B from school, I forgot to send it. So, I wrote it but forgot to post it, so sorry about that.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Stay with me, my love I hope you’ll always be. Right here by my side if ever I need you. Oh, my love. In your arms, I feel so safe and so secure. Every day is such a perfect day to spend alone with you.” – “Follow You Follow Me” (Banks/Collins/Rutherford)

 

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 3/3/2018

04 Sunday Mar 2018

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Salutations™!!

After a week off, it was back to the routine and that included our return to Underdog Records. My only regret for the trip to Asheville was that I didn’t go to any record stores up there. But, we’re back and here’s what we got!

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©Big Tree

 

  • Jerry Goldsmith – Chinatown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – I love soundtracks. I love Jerry Goldsmith. This was in the clearance bin for $10. Done! New.
  • Superchunk – What A Time To Be Alive – The BCPF is a big fan of these folks. I’ve even seen them in concert twice with her. It’s good stuff. New on clear/colored vinyl.
  • The Breeders – All Nerve – The Deal twins got the band back together and this is their first release in a number of years. It sounds like they just picked up where they left off. They have a sound and this is it. Orange vinyl. New.
  • Soccer Mommy – Clean – When I was making the commercial for Underdog this week, I included a bit of a tune from this album. I thought it was right up The BCPF’s alley and I was right. She liked it a lot! New on clear vinyl.
  • Van Morrison – Moondance – #66 on the RS list. I really like this one from Van. He’s sometimes hit or miss with me but this is a hit. VG++.
  • Sonic Youth – Dirty – Another favorite of The BCPF. It’s a little heavier than I’m used to with her so it is always odd to hear her play it, but, she enjoys it. VG++.
  • Britny Fox – Britny Fox – Some of the hair stuff that I didn’t really listen to when I was younger and into that genre. I didn’t not like it, I just preferred Cinderella. Does that make this one of the evil stepsisters? I don’t know. VG+.
  • Queen – A Day At The Races – So, the big Queen show is coming this week. I do research for it. I have wanted to collect all the Queen stuff and this was there used and in what I’d call NM condition, about $10 cheaper than new. No brainer.
  • Elvis Presley – From Elvis In Memphis – #190 on the RS list. VG+ original that I can tell. Yes, please!
  • Doctor Hook And The Medicine Show – Doctor Hook – One of my favorite Dr. Hook songs is “Sylvia’s Mother.” That is on this album and I’m happy about it. It was a VG+ copy, so yes.
  • England Dan & John Ford Coley – Nights Are Forever – In what someone called the “most 70s looking cover,” I had to get this because I love the song “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight.” The whole album was pretty righteous. Sappy 70s sugary pop stuffs but still pretty righteous. NM condition, too.
  • Roberta Flack – Killing Me Softly – I have always challenged anyone to find me a singer that delivers with the sexiness of Sade. This comes very close, but not quite there. This is a great album, though. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. VG+.
  • Various – Jesus Christ Superstar (The Original Motion Picture Sound Track Album) – I have the original Broadway cast recording with Ian Gillan and Murray Head. I have always maintained that I liked the movie version better. Listening to the Broadway version a little more challenges that. So, now I have both and I can A/B them if I want. VG+.
  • Daryl Hall & John Oates – Along The Red Ledge – I see no titles that I’m familiar with on the track listing. But, it’s adding to the H&O canon. It was just $2 so I figured what the heck. VG.
  • The Hollies – The Very Best Of The Hollies – Funny to Graham Nash that young. VG+.
  • Various – Storytellers – VG+. A 2xLP compilation of several 70s tunes from 1979.
  • Yes – The Yes Album – Even though it was their third album, I think this is where they came into their own as an original band. The first two, from what I understand was a lot of covers. I have my hits and misses with Yes, but I think the band is great. I haven’t listened to this yet. $1 bin find. VG.
  • Firefall – Firefall – I bought this one for $1 for just one song. It turns out the whole album is pretty darned good. VG+.
  • Cheap Trick – Cheap Trick At Budokan – What I figure to be an original recording, I got this for $1. #426 on the RS list. It’s VG.
  • Various – 20 Power Hits Volume 2 – Another K-Tel comp that I found for $1. This one is from 1973. G+.
  • Air Supply – Greatest Hits – I am unashamedly a fan of Air Supply. I had this on cassette and CD (I think) and I have fond memories of my friend Scotty Byrd and I doing this album’s songs, karaoke-style when I lived in WV. $1 bin find. VG.

I told you earlier this week about the albums that Jerry Chapman, yes, that Jerry Chapman had sent me. These are those (thanks, Jerry!!!):

So, it was a great week to be a record collector in our house!

Underdog Records is running a new special for March. Jonathan repriced a lot of the $1 records to $.50. That part isn’t just for March. What is for March is if you pick 5 of those $.50 albums, you’ll get them for $.20 each. So, Five for $1. That’s pretty awesome. Also, make sure you listen to The Less Desirables on Wednesdays for the TLD/UR special of the week. I don’t announce those anywhere else so you could be missing out on stuff.

Also, use Discogs to catalog your collection!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things. We can do the tango just for two. I can serenade and gently play on your heart strings, be your Valentino just for you. Ooh love ooh loverboy. What’re you doin’ tonight, hey boy. Set my alarm, turn on my charm. That’s because I’m a good old-fashioned lover boy.” – “Old Fashioned Lover Boy” (Mercury)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 01/13/18

14 Sunday Jan 2018

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Salutations™!!

It was cold as all get out yesterday when The BCPF and I took to the streets to do our “Saturday Thang.” Near, if not in, the 60s the day before, it was at around 34° or so as we went to Underdog Records. Brrrrrr! But, we got to warm up with some great music. Let’s hit it.At_Last_-_Etta_James

  • Big Star – Radio City – Local ties all around this album. I know it’s a favorite of many of the musical circles in town and some of them even had some things to do with the band itself. It’s #405 on the RS List and you know what? It’s a fantastic album. New.
  • Run-D.M.C. – Run-D.M.C. – One of the pioneering rap albums that set that whole genre on fire. It’s #242 on the RS List. New.
  • Etta James – At Last! – The first time I heard this woman’s voice I was smitten. She’s so powerful and soulful. It’s easy to see where Amy Winehouse got her inspiration. Great album coming in at #119 on the RS List. New.
  • Count Basie Orchestra – Basie Picks The Winners – VG copy.
  • Stan Getz / Charlie Byrd – Jazz Samba – I loved the Getz/Gilberto album that we got last year, even more so than the first time I heard it. I missed out on the second album from that duo, but I think I’ll dig this one. VG+.
  • Berlin – Love Life – I’m listening to this as I write this post. It’s a good new wave/pop record. Good stuff. I’ve always loved Terri Nunn’s voice (and she’s cute). VG+.
  • Ray Parker Jr. – The Other Woman – Yep, I love some cheese. Parker Jr., though, is a really good guitar player. He has been a session player for some big names in music like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Boz Scaggs, David Foster and Herbie Hancock. He also wrote a lot of hits for others like “Mr. Telephone Man” for New Edition and so on. VG+.
  • Ray Parker Jr. And Raydio – A Woman Needs Love – Ditto. VG+.
  • Stephen Foster, Jan Degaetani, Leslie Guinn – Songs By Stephen Foster (1826-1864) – VG+.
  • Stephen Stills & Manassas – Down The Road – One of two albums Stills made with this band after the break up of CSN. VG+
  • Elvis Presley – Seine 40 Grössten Hits – A 2xLP German-released greatest hits album. Disappointingly, he’s not doing the songs in German. VG+.
  • Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears, London Symphony Orchestra – Nocturne – Four Sea Interludes – Passacaglia (Peter Grimes) – The BCPF was excited about this one. VG+.
  • Cole Porter – American Musicals: Kiss Me, Kate/Can-Can/Anything Goes – 3xLP of highlights from Porter’s musical forays. VG+. $1 bin find.
  • Nat King Cole – The Man And His Music – Because we grab anything we can with Nat King Cole on it, and it was only $1 and a 2xLP at that. It’s in fairly good condition, too.
  • There was another Benjamin Britten that we got but it’s not in Discogs and I’ll have to enter it along with about four or five others that take about 30-45 minutes each to put all that info in (especially hard when their in foreign languages) and it’s not easy to find info on some of those things. A headache. For the record, I think I’ve only purchased one album that I had to put in. She has purchased the rest… sigh… I kid.

Just this week, Jonathan got in a set of Bose speakers and a JVC receiver that were in good shape, he sold the speakers pretty quickly. But, he is always getting groovy record gear in and it’s there for the taking. Follow Underdog Records on Instagram to get the latest of what’s going out there. He posts new releases, freshly obtained used vinyl and other record-related info. Jonathan, like Clay Howard, Jerry Chapman and myself all use Discogs to keep up with our collection and share with others. Plus, the Discogs Marketplace is pretty banging, too.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“September girls do so much. I was your Butch and you were touched. I loved you, well, never mind. I’ve been crying all the time. December boy’s got it bad. December boy’s got it bad.” – “September Gurls” (Chilton)

The Greatest Man or: 70 Never Looked So Good

08 Monday Jan 2018

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Salutations™!!

15965375_10154740755025490_3295274378463804499_n

One of my most overused pictures but I love it. It tells a story.

 

So, I know it’s cliche to say that your father is the greatest man you’ve ever known. I know that phrase gets over-used for whatever man is being talked about. But, I don’t care because, to me, Ma Père is the greatest man I’ve ever known. To me, probably the greatest man that has ever lived. While we don’t always agree on things like politics or religion (or the lack thereof), it’s still because of him that I strive to be respectful, honest, helpful, remarkable and someone that everyone comes to for “that thing that you know.”

My dad is the epitome of the standard. Not standard in the mainstream sense. Standard as in the bar is here, try to overshoot it. It never happens. No matter how hard I try I will never be that man. Perhaps to 3B, one day I’ll be that standard. But, for me, I can never meet or match the man that he is. I can find twenty more ways to say it but I mean every single word of it and feel about a hundred times more strongly than the words that I would write. He is my rock, my foundation and everything that I strive to be, not only in a man but being a father.

Today, January 8th, on a day that he shares with Elvis (he’d be 83, David Bowie (he’d be 71) and Stephen Hawking (he’s 76), Ma Père turns the big 7-0. I used to think 70 was old but I see him working just as hard as he ever has, just doing different things. I see him one of the healthiest people I know and strongest, still. So, it’s not old, it’s advanced. Here’s to you Pops! You’re awesome and I love you so very much. Happy solar circumnavigational anniversary day!!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“What I like to do is try to make a difference with the work I do.” – David Bowie

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 11/4/17

05 Sunday Nov 2017

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Salutations™!!

First off, Happy Guy Fawkes Day.

Yesterday, The BCPF and I got to see our buddies Tony Dagnall and Clay Howard in the same day, at the same time! That was cool. Clay and I sang Happy Birthday to Underdog Records because it was their anniversary weekend. Wednesday, November 1 was their FOURTH anniversary! Woot! Here’s what we walked out with:R-5219787-1387843222-4514.jpeg

As I said, it was the anniversary weekend of Underdog Records. For four years Jonathan has brought vinyl goodness to Winston-Salem. Plus, the holiday season is coming and he’ll offer gift “certificates” for your gift-giving needs. Also, he has several turntables in store for sale if you’re looking for a good one and he said he had some turntables coming soon. The holiday season is the perfect time to get into/back into vinyl. Then use Discogs to catalog your collection.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Cheesecake. Gobble, gobble. Cheesecake. Gobble, gobble. Cheesecake. Cheesecake! 
My girl, she’s crazy, over cheesecake all the time, so I’ll bring her cheesecake, and she’ll treat me mighty fine!” – “Cheesecake” (Fields/Armstrong)

The Commitments or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

26 Saturday Aug 2017

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Salutations™!!

a/perture cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Movie of the Week, The Commitments (1991), starring Robert Arkins, Glen Hansard and Andrew Strong. 

The_Commitments_poster

©20th Century Fox

 

Per IMDb: “When Jimmy Rabbitte wants to start a band, he has open auditions at his house.”

That’s a pretty minimalist description, really. Jimmy Rabbitte (Arkins) is an early-twenties music fan in Dublin and wants to start a soul band that he can manage. He has friends, guitarist Outspan Foster (Hansard) and bassist Derek Scully (Kenneth McCluskey), who are the foundation and he holds open auditions at his family’s home where his dad, played by one of my favorite Irish actors, Colm Meaney, is a huge Elvis fan and thinks that the whole idea is preposterous: they’re in Dublin, there’s not a lot of “soul” in Dublin.

During auditions, a veteran trumpet player named Joey “The Lips” Fagan (Johnny Murphy) comes and helps direct the band in the right direction. Jimmy thinks that “The Lips” is too old but he soon realizes that Fagan can be beneficial. Jimmy approaches the neighborhood screw-up, Declan “Deco” Cuffe (Strong) to be the singer after hearing him sing at a wedding reception. He approaches his friend Bernie McGloughlin (Bronagh Gallagher) to be a backup singer because he wants her to bring his crush Imelda Quirke (Angeline Ball) along to also be a backup singer. Add in Natalie Murphy (Maria Doyle) into the mix and you have the Commitmentettes. Then, add a drummer, saxophone player and pianist and you have yourself a band. A no-experience-having band (other than Joey “The Lips”) but with some heart. If only the band could get along.

There is turmoil the entire time. Deco gets along with no one, people sleeping with other people, egos and jealousy. All of that. It’s in there. How does the band even survive? Well, you’ll have to watch it to find out the answer to that question.

The only person who didn’t perform their own instrument in the film was Johnny Murphy who played Joey “The Lips” Fagen. But, the rest of the film featured real musicians who played their own instruments.  The setting is gritty and very “blue collar” which was the point. The whole film was gritty. It was, at times, hard to understand what they were saying as the Dubliner accent was very heavy. The realism and human nature of the film came through prominently.

The one musician that I would have liked to have had more time in the sun was Glen Hansard (Outspan Foster). He was the music writer behind the musical and film Once. From that film came the tune “Falling Slowly.” The BCPF is a fan of his and I’ve grown to like what I’ve heard. The film had two soundtracks, which featured the cast recordings of many soul tunes from the 60s on. The first stayed on the Billboard Top 200 for over 70 weeks and reached a peak of #8.

Rotten Tomatoes has it at 88% Fresh with an Audience Score of 90%. IMDb rates it at 7.6 stars out of 10. I watched the film on Netflix and I will rate it 3.75 stars out of 5. It was good, interesting and entertaining but it wasn’t exceptionally moving. Have you seen it? If so, what did you think? What film would you like to read/hear me review?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Do you not get it, lads? The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud.” – Jimmy Rabbitte