Three from the Train: Pat Benatar, Stone Temple Pilots, Led Zeppelin

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.

Here's what found its way into rotation today:

Pat Benatar: "We Live for Love"
This is the third single from 1979's In the Heat of the Night. The song, written by Pat's future husband, Neil Geraldo, was the first that I'd heard from her. I actually caught it on a Saturday afternoon music video show, long before MTV had birthed. That soaring, breathy mezzo-soprano and the classic 80's progression - I have to admit that I fell in love with her instantly.



Stone Temple Pilots: "Long Way Home"
Shangri-la-di-da is the band's fifth album. It's woefully underrated and "Long Way Home" is the last track on that album. I was a late comer to STP. I loved their second album, Purple. And then, in 2001, I bought No. 4 and rediscovered them. The band is so talented. I'm particularly fond of Scott Weiland and am saddened that he's been ubable to stabilize his life and that he's no longer a part of STP. There's also no denying Jimmy Page's influence on Dean DeLeo's guitar playing. This song is a clear example of that. The riff could have come off any later Zeppelin album and the solo is classic Page-like stuff.



Led Zeppelin: "Song Remains the Same"
So, how do you follow up from an album like Led Zeppelin 4? Hard to top "Stairway to Heaven," "Black Dog," "Rock and Roll," and "When the Levee Breaks." The answer is, Houses of the Holy. Personally, I think this is their weakest outing (until In through the Out Door) yet there are some good songs on the album: "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Dancing Days," and this track in particular. Great guitar work on this track. One could say Jimmy definitely matured as a guitarist on this album. Fortunately, they followed up with Physical Graffiti, my favorite Zeppelin album.


Until Next Time...

Top 5...er 6 Movie Villains of All Time.

I wrote this post a couple of years back and later realized that I'd left one of my all-time favorite film villains off the list. (Sorry Clancy.) So, here's the redux.

Yes. Hannibal Lector is truly one bad dude. So is Darth Vader. And Annie Wilkes. And the Alien. And Pinhead. And, no doubt, Hans Gruber is someone we love as a bad guy. But these choices are all-so-very predictable. If I hear the fava bean quote one more time, I may be the one cracking open the Chianti.

So, for my choices, I've gone off the beaten path to call attention to some truly bad-ass characters that most folks don't know about. There are no block-buster film villains on my list. You may even have trouble finding one or two of the flicks that feature these villains.

So without further ado, may I introduce to you...

6. General Bethlehem, The Postman (1997) Directed by Kevin Costner.
Will Patton turns in an amazing performance as the Napoleonic General Bethlehem, a self-imposed ruler of what once was the northwestern United States, now a post-apocalyptic, disjointed remnant of a once-great nation. The tyrant Bethlehem leads his army across the region, raping and pillaging, taking whatever he deems necessary and forcing small towns into submission through fear, intimidation, and military might. This character is someone you absolutely love to hate. The movie drew small audiences and critics panned it, most having yet to forgive Costner for Waterworld. IMHO, this movie, however, is great - made all the better by Patton's interpretation of General Bethlehem.

5. The Interrogator, Closet Land (1991) Directed by Radha Bharadwaj.

When it comes to playing the villain, few excel like Alan Rickman. Who can forget his performance in Die Hard as Hans Gruber? Or his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - a performance that all but saved the film from being a total loss?

In 1991, though, Rickman starred with Madeleine Stowe in a little-known film called, Closet Land. For the most part (with the exception of one or two scenes with extras) it's just the two of them in one room. Stowe plays the author of children's books who's accused of having secretly inserted subversive messages into her work. Rickman plays the interrogator who, in turn, tries to be both good cop and bad cop to elicit a confession from Stowe's character, the victim. It's difficult to imagine a film that can draw you so far in and devastate you so deeply with only two actors on the screen the entire time. Stowe's performance is incredible, but it's Rickman who steals the show in this one, earning his spot on my list.

4. Frank, Retroactive (1997) Directed by Louis Morneau.

James Belushi is not the archetypal villain. I mean, isn't this guy a comedian? Heck, Frank thinks himself a comedian, too, though, so why not Belushi as a villain?
In this low-budget, sci-fi, time travel movie, Belushi is unforgettable as Frank, the big-mouthed, gun-totin', womanizing, Elvis-wannabe, bad-ass, Cadillac-driving Texan. Stereotype? You bet. And Belushi nails it.
A female cop has car trouble and is picked up by Frank, a small-time hood working the black market in technology. When Frank starts to suspect his wife of having an affair, things turn violent and the off-duty cop finds herself in the middle of it all.

Meanwhile, one of Frank's customers has stumbled onto a method for time travel. This all leads to the cop trying to change the outcome of Frank's rampage- over and over again, each time the outcome being worse than before.

I'm a big sci-fi and time travel movie fan, but it's Belushi's hard-core performance that makes this particular film work so well. Yeah, there's an attractive female lead and a compelling story, but you won't take your eyes off the marvel that is James Belushi's portrayal of Frank.

3. Moke, Stick (1985) Directed by Burt Reynolds.

Hunh? A Burt Reynolds film? HEY! Don't knock it 'til you've tried it! Burt plays Stick, an ex-con who vows to go straight, but gets wrapped up in a deal with one of his friends that goes bad - real bad. Suddenly, Stick finds himself a fugitive, not only from the law, but from the bad guys, too.

The lead thug for the capo is Moke, an albino cowboy with a serious attitude. All-around nice guy and stunt man Dar Robinson tackles this role. (That's Robinson in the photo, goofing around with Reynolds on the set.) I don't know if it's the creepy white eyes, or the gravelly voice, or - whatever - but Moke is intimidating in a really uncomfortable way. You get the feeling that he's just in a bad mood - always. The guy just doesn't ever smile.

This movie features a great scene where Moke is falling backwards to his death after falling from a balcony, and he shoots upward at Stick the entire time he falls - hardcore evil to the very bitter end. It's one of the best stunts Robinson ever did. The film industry lost an amazing individual when Dar died. Trust me, Robinson makes it worth the view and you won't regret seeing Stick.

2. Loren Visser, Blood Simple (1984) Directed by Joel Cohen.

In this debut film from the Cohen Brothers, M. Emmet Walsh plays the unscrupulous private detective, Loren Visser. Visser is hired to kill an adulteress and her lover, but he double-crosses and murders the husband who hired him instead. When Visser fears he may have been discovered, he decides to wrap up loose ends by killing the man's wife an her lover after all.
The twist here, is that the lovers begin to suspect each other of having killed the husband, and they are blind-sided by Visser, of whom, they knew nothing. This is an amazing modern take on film noir, and you simply have to see it if you are a film fan. Walsh will give you a new appreciation for his talent. This film actually features two amazing character actors: Walsh, and Dan Hadaya, another guy who's played his share of great villains onscreen.

1. The Kurgan, Highlander (1986) Directed by Russell Mulcahy.

I originally left the Kurgan off the list because I've always thought of HIghlander as a blockbuster movie. I was wrong. Technically, it was a box-office flop. It made a big comeback in the video rental and cable world, even spurring on two sequels (both horrible) and a long-running cable series - also not great. The problem is, the Kurgan is the star of the show. Once he's dead, there's not much draw- kinda like when Darth Vader dies. Does anyone care after that? I"ve also discovered that anyone not born before 1985 has never seen this movie. Back to the Kurgan. I love Clancy Brown (Bad Boys, Buckaroo Banzai..., Lost) and he puts in an unparalleled performance as a towering, powerfully strong, violent, cruel, crass and arrogant Russian-born barbarian. His moments on screen are indelible. (Prostitute: "Hi, I'm Candy." Kurgan: "Of course, you are.") The scene where the Kurgan jacks a car with an unwilling passenger is one of the best ever. And his character only becomes more vile and menacing as the film goes on. If you haven't seen this movie, you're in for a treat when you finally do. 

One last honorable mention has to go to the truck driver in Steven Spielberg's Duel (1971). We never see the guy, but he terrifies us. Kudos to Spielberg for pulling that one off- oh, just like he did with the shark. ;)

Three from the Train, Friday: John Lennon, ELO, and King's X

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.

I didn't take the train today, but, working from home, here's what I heard today:

John Lennon: "Instant Kharma"
I'm not a huge fan of Lennon's catalog once he went solo. There. I've said it. In my own humble opinion, McCartney was the better, more-prolific song writer who had a much better feel for accessible music. That said, Lennon sure had his moments. Walls and Bridges is my favorite Lennon solo album, but this is my favorite song. From The Plastic Ono Band, released as a single in 1970 with Phil Spector's signature production. My favorite bit on this track is Alan White's drumming (White would eventually replace Bill Bruford in Yes).

Oh, and Yoko was a freak. If you doubt that, check out the video.



Electric Light Orchestra: "Sweet is the Night"
From 1977's Out of the Blue. I love this album. It features so many great songs, including "Turn to Stone," "Sweet Talkin' Woman," and "Mr. Blue Skies." This one is great too. Jeff Lynne is another one of those amazing song writers that I rank in my top few favorites, along with McCartney, Bacharach, and Rundgren. If you've never heard this album all the way through, do yourself a favor and do so. It's listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.



King's X: "Far, Far Away"
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later: King's X played on my iPhone. When you have 17 albums worth of material from one artist, sooner or later they're gonna show up in the rotation. This track is from their debut album Out of the Silent Planet. Doug Pinnick's vocal on this is a prime example of why I love this band. Not to mention the progressive metal nature of the music, the harmonies, the lyrics, the musical proficiency etc. King's X is incredible. Can you say Phrygian?



Until Next Time...

Three from the Train: Dionne Warwick, Muse, Foo Fighters

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.

Here's what I heard today:

Dionne Warwick: "A House is Not a Home"
I know Luther Vandross made it a hit a second time, but the 1964 version of this Bacharach/David song recorded on Make Way for Dionne Warwick is perfect.



Muse: "Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)"
Beautiful. The final track on 2009's The Resistance. Great album. Muse makes me think "Euro-Metal version of Queen." Matthew Bellamy's vocals are unique and very dramatic. I think it works really well.



Foo Fighters: "Everlong"
The version I heard this morning is from 1997's The Colour and the Shape. The version below is live on Letterman. Great music evokes a sense of desperation. Abandon. Passion. An indescribable welling up inside. This song does it as well as any.



Until Next Time...

Three From the Train: Thomas Dolby, Todd Rundgren, Peter Gabriel

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.

Sorry for the recent break, I was in London for a week.

Today, we have samples from three of my favorite songwriters and performers.

Thomas Dolby: "Hot Sauce"
From his 1988 release, Aliens Ate My Buick. If you don't own this album, you should. It's a masterpiece. Criminally overlooked.



Todd Rundgren: "Is It My Name?"
What can I say about Todd? Every bit as important to pop-music as Carole King or Burt Bacharach. And an amazing guitar player. And an accomplished producer (Meatloaf, The Tubes, Cheap Trick, and far too many more to list here). This track is from his 1973 release A Wizard, a True Star.



Peter Garbriel: "Family Snapshot"
After he left Genesis, Peter released a series of albums simply called, Peter Gabriel. This is from the third of such albums, released in 1980. The song is apparently based on would-be assassin Arthur Bremmer who attempted to kill George Wallace mixed in with imagery from the Kennedy assassination.



Until Next Time...

Three from the Train: Harry Nilsson, Foghat, Galactic Cowboys

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.
I didn't take the train this morning, but if I had, this is what I would have heard:

Harry Nilsson: "Gotta Get Up"
The version I heard this morning was from 1971's Nilsson Schmilsson. The version below is live from the BBC in 1971. What an amazing song-writer, lyricist, and vocalist. If you get a chance, see the documentary, Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) (2010). It will reduce you to tears.



Foghat: "Chevrolet"
From 1978's Stone Blue. Foghat is one of those bands that was a staple when I was a kid. They're still in my rotation.



Galactic Cowboys: "Someone for Everyone"
Co-founder Wally Farkas is a good friend of the guys in King's X. My love of King's X eventually led me to discover GC and I fell in love with this song from their 1990 self-titled debut, Galactic Cowboys. The Cowboys opened for King's X in May, 1992 at the Chestnut Cabaret in Philadelphia and forever solidified themselves as a favorite of mine. I mean, how can you not like a band that has Thor (Ben Huggins) as their lead singer?



Until Next Time...

Three from the Train: Wendy and Lisa, The Beatles, Ramones

Wendy and Lisa: "Crack in the Pavement"
OK, I'm gonna get grief for this. Wendy and Lisa are an example of the chicken/egg paradox. I really appreciate what Prince has accomplished as an artist. But none of his stuff (with maybe the exception of the Purple Rain soundtrack) appeals to me as much as Wendy and Lisa's 1990 album, Eroica. There are songs on this record that are devastating. And in listening to the sound of this record, it begs the question, who had the bigger influence on whom? I KNOW that it's blasphemy to suggest that Prince wasn't the bigger influence, but I'm not convinced that it couldn't have been the other way around. Either way, enjoy this track and please, check out the rest of this record.



The Beatles: "She's A Woman"
Released Thanksgiving, 1964, "She's a Woman" was the b-side of the "I Feel Fine" single. It wouldn't show up on an album until Past Masters Volume 1, released in 1988. The song did appear briefly in the movie, HELP! What stood out to me, this morning, was Paul's killer vocal on the song and his piano part in the background.



Ramones: "Commando"
First rule is: Listen to Ramones
Second rule is: Like Ramones
Third rule is: Listen to More Ramones
Fourth rule is: Repeat.
Originally from 1977's Leave Home (the version I heard this morning), Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Ramones "Commando" live...

Three from the Train: The Who, King Crimson, Bare Naked Ladies

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix. I didn't take the train this morning, but if I had, this is what I would have heard:

The Who: "Join Together"
I was a late comer to The Who. I always loved certain songs ("Who Are You" and "Won't Get Fooled Again") but it wasn't until the late 90's that I started listening with any real intent. I bought The Ultimate Collection and then Who's Next. Wow. Anyhow, Keith Moon's work on this tune is fantastic.



King Crimson: "Fallen Angel"
From the album Red, this song highlights John Wetton's vocal ability. (Sorry, I originally thought this was Greg Lake- my bad.) Oh well. King Crimson.



Barenaked Ladies: "The Old Apartment"
I discovered this song thanks to Apple Computers: they included the original music video as a bonus on one of their system releases in the late 90's. What I saw was Stephen Page channeling Elvis and what I heard was magical. Unfortunately, I never followed up to learn more about them and, when I did hear other stuff, it failed to compare to that original exposure. Anyhow, I have this one BNL song on my iPhone and it found its way into the rotation this morning.

Three from the Train: Nicole Croissille, Cheap Trick, Jeff Beck

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.

Three songs that highlighted my morning train ride:

Nicole Croissille: "Aufourd'hui c'est toi" from the Un Homme et Une Femme Original Soundtrack
I owe thanks to Ben Vaughn for this one. He has a Saturday afternoon show on WXPN here in Philly called, "The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn." One particular afternoon, Ben decided to play some of his favorite film music. Thanks to the iPhone app, "Shazam," I was able to finally identify a piece of music I've loved for years. This isn't that track, but it is from that same album. Close you eyes and imagine yourself in a convertible riding along the southern French coast.

Yeah, you get it.




Cheap Trick: "Clock Strikes Ten"
When I was a kid, live albums were a big deal. In the mid-70's, Kiss Alive, Kiss Alive II, Peter Frampton Comes Alive, and Cheap Trick at Budokan were some of the biggest-selling albums of the decade. 'Budokan made Cheap Trick into household names. "Clock Strikes Ten" is one of my favorite tracks on this record (In case you're wondering, "Need Your Love" is my favorite.) The clip below is from Rockplast, 1983.




Jeff Beck: "The Final Peace"
I have a lot of Jeff Beck on my iPhone. He is, after all, one of my favorite - if not the favorite - guitarists. I love his use of vibrato, tremolo, bending, and volume to create a truly unique style. This track from There and Back is a great example of all of the above.



Until next time...

Three from the train: Cake, Killing Joke, Garbage.

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.

I've been looking for a reason to post regularly on my blog, so here goes: three songs that highlighted my morning train ride.

Cake: "The Winter"
Cake isn't for everyone. But I get it. I love the song writing, the wit, the arrangements, the instrumentation, etc. They resonate with me. This song, in particular, reminds me of the great early 70's songs written by Burt Bacharach or Harry Chapin. One of my favorites. Love the chorus and the lyric.



Killing Joke: "Change"
In the early 80's, I was talking with a fellow musician about how "tight" I thought a particular band was when he schooled me by playing this track for me. I never looked back. That first Killing Joke record - the 1980 self-titled release - had a lasting impact and has been a staple in my collection ever since. This will always be a favorite track for me. Love the guitar work in the last minute.



Garbage: "Fix Me Now"
I discovered these guys somewhere on TV when I saw the video for "Stupid" Girl, circa 1995. Always been a big fan of Butch Vig as a producer (Nirvana, SonicYouth, Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters), so no surprise that I find Garbage's production to be stellar as well. I also love lead-singer Shirley Manson's voice. This is another great track off their debut album that is a great example of their sound.



Hope you get a chance to listen and enjoy these tracks!