East met West in the recording studio when J. D. Souther joined forces with James Taylor for the duet, "Her Town Too", released as a single from Taylor's 1981 album, "Dad Loves His Work".
Souther has been in the public eye of late, with a recurring role on the TV series Nashville, but back in the day he sounded like the second coming of Roy Orbison, starting with his 1979 debut, "You're Only Lonely".
I can remember this getting a ton of airplay on adult contemporary radio back then. Probably still does.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Sports this 'n' that
Back in the day, it was fairly common for football games to end in ties. When first the NFL, then colleges and high schools, adopted overtime rules for regular season games, ties became all but extinct.
In the last two weekends, we've been reminded that sometimes it can still happen.
8 nights ago, an NFC West match between Seattle & Arizona ended in a 6-6 draw after overtime. No matter how hard the teams tried to determine who was better, the kicking game on both sides took a siesta, and we were left with a stalemate.
Yesterday, in London, where they're accustomed to stalemates in soccer, Washington & Cincinnati battled to a tie at 23-all.
The moral of the story? Sometimes, old school football still works.
============================================
Lost in the hubbub over Troy High advancing to the Section II Class AA Super Bowl with a win over CBA on Friday was the fact that earlier in the evening, the school's volleyball team was eliminated in its first round match in the sectionals, losing to Shaker. The result was not reported to The Record, and as of now, I cannot be certain if it was reported at all. All I know is that Shaker advances to play Shenendehowa in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
This again emphasizes a point that has been made to me in contact with local sports writers via e-mail over the last year and change. It's up to the schools to make sure the results of all of their athletic contests make the paper, because not everyone has internet access, and that includes a lot of alumni who might be curious about how the school is doing in the sports they used to play.
============================================
The timing of this next article is a little curious, considering that last night, for the first time ever, WWE had a women's title match headline a pay-per-view.
A headline appeared online this morning hyping the fact that a new women's wrestling promotion is being formed, founded by the daughters of WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan, Kerry Von Erich, and Roddy Piper, as well as the daughters of former AWA, WCW, & WWE star Diamond Dallas Page and actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. Brooke Hogan (ex-Brooke Knows Best), who had cups of coffee with WWE and TNA, has been serving as the spokesperson for the group. Seems inevitable that she'd get into the family business after all. Lacey Von Erich, Kerry's daughter, had a brief run in TNA. Ex-WWE & TNA personality Christy Hemme has also been attached. Reportedly, they're interested in UFC stars Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey.
All this says to me is that while they want to compete with TNA, which is on its last legs, they're actually looking at a bigger picture down the road. Yes, they may think down the line that they could challenge WWE for audience attention. In the words of the late Gorilla Monsoon, highly unlikely.
In the last two weekends, we've been reminded that sometimes it can still happen.
8 nights ago, an NFC West match between Seattle & Arizona ended in a 6-6 draw after overtime. No matter how hard the teams tried to determine who was better, the kicking game on both sides took a siesta, and we were left with a stalemate.
Yesterday, in London, where they're accustomed to stalemates in soccer, Washington & Cincinnati battled to a tie at 23-all.
The moral of the story? Sometimes, old school football still works.
============================================
Lost in the hubbub over Troy High advancing to the Section II Class AA Super Bowl with a win over CBA on Friday was the fact that earlier in the evening, the school's volleyball team was eliminated in its first round match in the sectionals, losing to Shaker. The result was not reported to The Record, and as of now, I cannot be certain if it was reported at all. All I know is that Shaker advances to play Shenendehowa in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
This again emphasizes a point that has been made to me in contact with local sports writers via e-mail over the last year and change. It's up to the schools to make sure the results of all of their athletic contests make the paper, because not everyone has internet access, and that includes a lot of alumni who might be curious about how the school is doing in the sports they used to play.
============================================
The timing of this next article is a little curious, considering that last night, for the first time ever, WWE had a women's title match headline a pay-per-view.
A headline appeared online this morning hyping the fact that a new women's wrestling promotion is being formed, founded by the daughters of WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan, Kerry Von Erich, and Roddy Piper, as well as the daughters of former AWA, WCW, & WWE star Diamond Dallas Page and actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. Brooke Hogan (ex-Brooke Knows Best), who had cups of coffee with WWE and TNA, has been serving as the spokesperson for the group. Seems inevitable that she'd get into the family business after all. Lacey Von Erich, Kerry's daughter, had a brief run in TNA. Ex-WWE & TNA personality Christy Hemme has also been attached. Reportedly, they're interested in UFC stars Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey.
All this says to me is that while they want to compete with TNA, which is on its last legs, they're actually looking at a bigger picture down the road. Yes, they may think down the line that they could challenge WWE for audience attention. In the words of the late Gorilla Monsoon, highly unlikely.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
On Stage: The US Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors at Troy Music Hall, 10/29/16
Up until a couple of years ago, it was an annual tradition for one of the military bands to play the fabled Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on the eve of the annual Troy Flag Day Parade, and The Record would sponsor the distribution of free tickets to the event.
On Saturday night, the US Army Field Band's Jazz Ambassadors brought their current tour to the Music Hall. Tickets were free, either available at the box office or online. Of course, that all but ensured a sellout, as there were a handful of empty seats.
In the course of 85 minutes, the Ambassadors played an eclectic selection of jazz standards by legends such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and George Benson. Master Sgt. Marva Lewis, on her farewell tour, sang the national anthem, and put a jazzy spin on the Carpenters' "(They Long to Be) Close to You". She closed the evening with a cover of Lee Greenwood's patriotic anthem, "God Bless the USA".
In between, a trio of students from LaSalle Institute joined the Ambassadors on stage for a rendition of "Mister Timmons", off one of the Ambassadors' "Perspectives" CD's. Tom Hoffman, Jr., father of saxophonist Patrick Hoffman, uploaded the following video:
Patrick Hoffman, Tom Ryan, and Michael Corlew blended right in with the Ambassadors. There just wasn't a down moment in the entire show. Sgt. Lewis, however, all but stole it with a 3-song mini-set that included "Close to You" and "On The Street Where You Live".
All I can say is, let's make this an annual tradition.
On Saturday night, the US Army Field Band's Jazz Ambassadors brought their current tour to the Music Hall. Tickets were free, either available at the box office or online. Of course, that all but ensured a sellout, as there were a handful of empty seats.
In the course of 85 minutes, the Ambassadors played an eclectic selection of jazz standards by legends such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and George Benson. Master Sgt. Marva Lewis, on her farewell tour, sang the national anthem, and put a jazzy spin on the Carpenters' "(They Long to Be) Close to You". She closed the evening with a cover of Lee Greenwood's patriotic anthem, "God Bless the USA".
In between, a trio of students from LaSalle Institute joined the Ambassadors on stage for a rendition of "Mister Timmons", off one of the Ambassadors' "Perspectives" CD's. Tom Hoffman, Jr., father of saxophonist Patrick Hoffman, uploaded the following video:
Patrick Hoffman, Tom Ryan, and Michael Corlew blended right in with the Ambassadors. There just wasn't a down moment in the entire show. Sgt. Lewis, however, all but stole it with a 3-song mini-set that included "Close to You" and "On The Street Where You Live".
All I can say is, let's make this an annual tradition.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
What Might've Been: Meet The Family (1954)
Arthur Lake, best remembered for his radio & movie role as comic strip icon Dagwood Bumstead in the Blondie series, tried to copy Ozzie Nelson's family-centric Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet by developing his own pilot, Meet The Family, in 1954. Yes, that really is Lake's wife & children appearing with him, a son & a daughter as opposed to the Nelsons having two sons.
Unfortunately, the pilot went unsold, and has found its way to public domain. It's easy to see why this failed.
Hans Conreid, of course, is better known for his supporting role opposite Danny Thomas on Make Room For Daddy, but there was just no way he could be of any help here. Lake wanted to be Ozzie Nelson, but he was too easily identifiable as Dagwood to make this work. There would subsequently be a Blondie series, the first of two (the 2nd was in 1968 with Will Hutchins) such sitcoms, but the iconic strip suffered from a bit of camera fatigue, if you will. We'll look at the 50's Blondie another day.
Rating: C.
Unfortunately, the pilot went unsold, and has found its way to public domain. It's easy to see why this failed.
Hans Conreid, of course, is better known for his supporting role opposite Danny Thomas on Make Room For Daddy, but there was just no way he could be of any help here. Lake wanted to be Ozzie Nelson, but he was too easily identifiable as Dagwood to make this work. There would subsequently be a Blondie series, the first of two (the 2nd was in 1968 with Will Hutchins) such sitcoms, but the iconic strip suffered from a bit of camera fatigue, if you will. We'll look at the 50's Blondie another day.
Rating: C.
High School Fridays: CBA @ Troy (football playoffs), 10/28/16
The rivalry between Christian Brothers Academy of Colonie and Troy High dates back to the formation of the Big 10 Conference in the late 70's. Until Friday night, however, the two schools had not met on the gridiron in a few years.
Not only was a berth in the Section II Class AA Super Bowl on the line, but Troy coach Bob "The Builder" Burns' winning streak at Picken Memorial Field. Entering play Friday, the Flying Horses were 17-1 under Burns in 2 seasons, and 10-0 at home over that span. The flag was flying at half-staff, likely in memory of CBA assistant coach Joe Grasso, who passed away earlier this month, though nothing was said in that regard.
CBA won the toss and took the opening kickoff. However, QB Max Jones, in his first game back from injury was picked off by his counterpart, John Germinerio, setting up Troy in CBA territory. Two plays later, Joey Ward punched it in from 2 yards out to give Troy an early 7-0 lead.
The Brothers came right back, as Taurian Taylor found a hole in the defense, and ran 36 yards for a tying score. Burns had been quoted in the papers earlier Friday as saying that Troy hadn't played a complete game yet this season, and that's certainly true. The Horses were unable to answer the offensive adjustments made by CBA that sprung Taylor and Nick DiNicola for long gains.
Troy went back in front as Germinerio ran it in himself from 4 yards out, and Troy took a 14-7 lead after the first period. In the 2nd quarter, CBA took its only lead of the game, as DiNicola ran in from about 2 yards out. On the extra point, Troy's Knieco Gonzalez, inspired by seeing Seattle's Bobby Wagner hurdle across to block a field goal on Sunday night vs. Arizona, tried the same thing, but was called for offsides. CBA opted to go for 2 and the lead, and Dylan Gotay scampered in to give the Brothers a 15-14 lead at the break. The scoreboard operators were functioning at, maybe, 1/3 speed the entire night, as they were slow to update the score at every opportunity. It couldn't be the cold weather, just a night of brain cramps.
The score stayed the same until the 4th quarter. After DiNicola fumbled the ball away to Troy, Germinerio directed the offense down the field. With just under a minute to go, it appeared that Amir Taylor had picked off Germinerio to ice the game, but Ethan Evans out-muscled Taylor for the ball, and Troy retained possession. Ward scored his 2nd TD on the next play, and the Troy sidelines and bleachers were going bananas. Coach Burns opted to go for 2, and Germinerio hit Jesse Brown in the end zone to put Troy back up by a full 7 points.
Still, there was enough time for CBA to rally. After a questionable pass interference penalty moved CBA into Troy territory, there had to be feelings of deja vu, memories of the 2012 AA basketball title game, where CBA benefited from some similarly questionable officiating to win the title. Not so here. Troy shut down the Brothers, and Jones threw his 2nd interception. One kneel-down later, and the Flying Horses had punched their ticket to the Super Bowl, which this year will be a de facto home game, as it'll be just down the street at RPI's East Campus Village Stadium on Thursday.
The Super Bowl will be a rematch from September 23, as Shaker upset Empire Division champion Guilderland, 35-6, to earn a return trip to Troy. The Blue Bison have won 5 in a row since losing to Troy.
===============================
Meanwhile, LaSalle closed its season on a winning note, finishing 2-7 after beating South Glens Falls. Albany Academy, on the other hand, fell to Green Tech, 20-14. The Class A & B Super Bowls are assured of new champions this year, as Averill Park dethroned A champ Amsterdam, 21-14, and Hudson eliminated B champion Schuylerville.
Not only was a berth in the Section II Class AA Super Bowl on the line, but Troy coach Bob "The Builder" Burns' winning streak at Picken Memorial Field. Entering play Friday, the Flying Horses were 17-1 under Burns in 2 seasons, and 10-0 at home over that span. The flag was flying at half-staff, likely in memory of CBA assistant coach Joe Grasso, who passed away earlier this month, though nothing was said in that regard.
CBA won the toss and took the opening kickoff. However, QB Max Jones, in his first game back from injury was picked off by his counterpart, John Germinerio, setting up Troy in CBA territory. Two plays later, Joey Ward punched it in from 2 yards out to give Troy an early 7-0 lead.
The Brothers came right back, as Taurian Taylor found a hole in the defense, and ran 36 yards for a tying score. Burns had been quoted in the papers earlier Friday as saying that Troy hadn't played a complete game yet this season, and that's certainly true. The Horses were unable to answer the offensive adjustments made by CBA that sprung Taylor and Nick DiNicola for long gains.
Troy went back in front as Germinerio ran it in himself from 4 yards out, and Troy took a 14-7 lead after the first period. In the 2nd quarter, CBA took its only lead of the game, as DiNicola ran in from about 2 yards out. On the extra point, Troy's Knieco Gonzalez, inspired by seeing Seattle's Bobby Wagner hurdle across to block a field goal on Sunday night vs. Arizona, tried the same thing, but was called for offsides. CBA opted to go for 2 and the lead, and Dylan Gotay scampered in to give the Brothers a 15-14 lead at the break. The scoreboard operators were functioning at, maybe, 1/3 speed the entire night, as they were slow to update the score at every opportunity. It couldn't be the cold weather, just a night of brain cramps.
The score stayed the same until the 4th quarter. After DiNicola fumbled the ball away to Troy, Germinerio directed the offense down the field. With just under a minute to go, it appeared that Amir Taylor had picked off Germinerio to ice the game, but Ethan Evans out-muscled Taylor for the ball, and Troy retained possession. Ward scored his 2nd TD on the next play, and the Troy sidelines and bleachers were going bananas. Coach Burns opted to go for 2, and Germinerio hit Jesse Brown in the end zone to put Troy back up by a full 7 points.
Still, there was enough time for CBA to rally. After a questionable pass interference penalty moved CBA into Troy territory, there had to be feelings of deja vu, memories of the 2012 AA basketball title game, where CBA benefited from some similarly questionable officiating to win the title. Not so here. Troy shut down the Brothers, and Jones threw his 2nd interception. One kneel-down later, and the Flying Horses had punched their ticket to the Super Bowl, which this year will be a de facto home game, as it'll be just down the street at RPI's East Campus Village Stadium on Thursday.
The Super Bowl will be a rematch from September 23, as Shaker upset Empire Division champion Guilderland, 35-6, to earn a return trip to Troy. The Blue Bison have won 5 in a row since losing to Troy.
===============================
Meanwhile, LaSalle closed its season on a winning note, finishing 2-7 after beating South Glens Falls. Albany Academy, on the other hand, fell to Green Tech, 20-14. The Class A & B Super Bowls are assured of new champions this year, as Averill Park dethroned A champ Amsterdam, 21-14, and Hudson eliminated B champion Schuylerville.
Friday, October 28, 2016
What Might've Been: The Smart Alecks (1977)
Here's an unsold pilot for a game show that probably wouldn't have even lasted 13 weeks.
Michael Hill, who partnered with Bob Eubanks on All-Star Secrets, had tried selling The Smart Alecks to, presumably, NBC, in the spring of 1977. Allen Ludden, in between runs of Password, was tapped to host. After this bomb, Ludden would go on to Stumpers before NBC picked up a Password revival.
So what's the problem? The bizarre ideas being brought forth sound like rejects from The Liars' Club, another series that Ludden had worked on. And, yeah, the key word here is bizarre. Pat Carroll, David Letterman and Don Meredith are the celebrity panelists.
An ultra-sonic husband whistle? I guess Letterman devised "Stupid Human Tricks" a few years later, along with "Stupid Pet Tricks", in response.
Rating: C-.
Michael Hill, who partnered with Bob Eubanks on All-Star Secrets, had tried selling The Smart Alecks to, presumably, NBC, in the spring of 1977. Allen Ludden, in between runs of Password, was tapped to host. After this bomb, Ludden would go on to Stumpers before NBC picked up a Password revival.
So what's the problem? The bizarre ideas being brought forth sound like rejects from The Liars' Club, another series that Ludden had worked on. And, yeah, the key word here is bizarre. Pat Carroll, David Letterman and Don Meredith are the celebrity panelists.
An ultra-sonic husband whistle? I guess Letterman devised "Stupid Human Tricks" a few years later, along with "Stupid Pet Tricks", in response.
Rating: C-.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Musical Interlude: Rock Me Gently (1974)
If you only heard "Rock Me Gently" without a DJ identifying the artist, you'd think this was a Neil Diamond record, and you'd be wrong.
Andy Kim released "Rock Me Gently" in the summer of 1974, and three months later hit #1 on the Hot 100. Like, maybe he was the Canadian Neil Diamond, eh?
Fans of a certain generation will remember that Kim teamed with Ron Dante and Toni Wine as the singing voices of the Archies from 1968-71. After that, Kim was on his own, but "Gently" would be his coda on the charts.
Andy Kim released "Rock Me Gently" in the summer of 1974, and three months later hit #1 on the Hot 100. Like, maybe he was the Canadian Neil Diamond, eh?
Fans of a certain generation will remember that Kim teamed with Ron Dante and Toni Wine as the singing voices of the Archies from 1968-71. After that, Kim was on his own, but "Gently" would be his coda on the charts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)