Badfinger

Here's Badfinger lip-synching "Come and Get It" on Top of the Pops.

Badfinger was a great band that was often considered heir-apparent to The Beatles. (It helped that Paul McCartney himself wrote and produced this track, and that the band was originally signed to Apple Records.)

Badfinger's legacy is marred by tragedy - two of its members committed suicide - mainly over mismanagement, money, and litigation. Still, you should seek out any of the "Best Of" compilations that cover their entire run. It's all solid stuff.

That white-haired guy at the beginning and end of the clip is Sir Jimmy Savile, and he's a good example of the type of thing that could only happen in Britain.

Fictional Expletives

Here's a comprehensive list of fictional expletives - words used in place of real expletives in movies, television, and novels.

My favorite is "arse biscuits".

Jerry Reed

Jerry Reed is dead.

In case you don't know who Jerry Reed is, all I can tell you is there was a time (circa 1970) when the guy was getting a lot of airplay on the radio. One of my earliest memories is walking into a 7-11 on Macdade Boulevard that was playing his latest hit - "When You're Hot, You're Hot".

You're more likely to see him these days appearing in old Burt Reynolds movies, which he tended to do a lot back then. In fact, I think he even played Burt Reynolds in one of the lesser Smokey and the Bandit movies. (Would that I were making this up).

In today's clip - the ultimate tribute: Jerry's animated guest shot on Scooby Doo. Yes, that's Casey Kasem as the voice of pot-head Shaggy.

200th Post!

That Lucky Old Sun

Brian Wilson's new album That Lucky Old Sun is released today.

As with 2004's SMiLE!, this is a collaboration between Wilson and lyricist Van Dyke Parks (above) - with the same excellent group of backing musicians. It appears to have a very quirky SMiLE-like sound (and that's a good thing).

There is a trailer available here.

American Red Cross

To make a donation, click here.

A Mad Look at... Jerry Lewis

Click to enlarge.