Are you a fan of terrifying bunny films?
If so, this week in 1979 was a great one for you.
That's because Art Garfunkel's Bright Eyes climbed to the Number One spot on the UK singles chart, holding off Squeeze's Cool for Cats which was the first of two consecutive Squeeze singles to stall at Number Two.
As if that wasn't enough excitement for fans of popular music, there was even more in store because, on this night in 1979, BBC One was showing The British Rock and Pop Awards 1978, introduced by those kings of Rock and Roll rebellion, Bob Wellings and Kid Jensen.
The lucky winners were to receive their trophies from such current chart stars as Dave Dee, Georgie Fame, Mary Hopkin, Hank Marvin and Dusty Springfield.
Who were those winners?
I don't know.
It was a long time ago and I can't remember.
But, apart from the obvious categories, there was a Nationwide Golden Award for the artist or group with the most all-round family appeal. Giving out an award for having the most all-round family appeal, now there's a Rock and Roll concept for you.
It's clear from the cover blurb that the usual characters are starring in their usual adventures but, by amazing coincidence, the back cover of this issue features a chance to win a Raleigh bike, courtesy of KP Outer Spacers. All you have to do to earn your prize is think of a good name for a planet.
How the judges are to decide what's a good name for a planet, I have no idea.
The Cyclone may be on the cover but it seems we're still in the story which sees Spidey team up with Moon Knight, in order to battle the Maggia.
The rest of this issue's contents are a mystery to me.
I am more enlightened about this comic, however.
The Hulk fights an escaped android and trashes it, in a handful of pages.
Ant-Man is trapped by communists who are determined to discover the secret of his awesome powers, so that their homeland can conquer the world, with an army of tiny soldiers.
The Eternals are still confronted by the return of the Celestials.
The Black Knight and Captain Britain are still getting to know each other.
Night-Raven is still killing mobsters.
SHIELD are still trying to restore a South American despot to power.
Skull the Slayer makes the cover of Marvel UK's flagship title.
I know little of the rest of this week's contents but I'm still unhappy that Marvel UK have renamed Shang-Chi's strip SI-6, in order to make it sound more like the TV show The Professionals.
Did they really think people wouldn't notice it was a martial arts strip and bears no resemblance at all to Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins' greatest triumph?
STOP PRESS!
ReplyDeleteI now have a list of the winners at the 1978 British Rock and Pop Awards. They are:
Best Single:
Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street.
Best Album:
ELO – Out of the Blue.
Best Male Singer:
Leo Sayer.
Best Female Singer:
Kate Bush.
Best Group:
The Bee Gees.
Radio 1 DJs’ Award:
Nick Lowe.
Daily Mirror Readers’ Award:
Ian Dury.
Nationwide Golden Award:
The Barron Knights.
I can remember that the rock & pop awards were jointly sponsored by Nationwide, Radio 1 and the Daily Mirror and that each of the three sponsors had their own award. Nationwide viewers and Daily Mirror readers could vote for their awards but not Radio 1 listeners - the Radio 1 award was far more serious and only the DJs could vote.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for rock & pop awards presenters to come up on Pointless so I can get Bob Wellings as a pointless answer.
An interesting pattern seems to be forming with the weekly covers. When Star Wars isn't a photo cover, it seems to be retaining the older UK style of fairly straight reprints of US issues (or a fair facimile) Spider-Man and the Hulk covers are well on their way to being aimed at toddlers, while Marvel Comic seems to exist in the middle ground. These were strange times.
ReplyDeleteGerry Rafferty's Baker Street is an excellent song. Great sax line & killer guitar rift at the end. I had that on '45, then bought the whole album.
ReplyDeleteWas a mild fan of Squeeze. I remember I owned some kind of laser-etched l.p. that supposively would have set off reflections if light was shined on it. I'm kinda unsure.
There's a independent low-budget horror film called Bunny Man, that's mildly entertaining. Killer rednecks, with one in a bunny suit. Peter Cottontail meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Lol.
It would be amazing if some young filmmaker got the rights to the script from Harvey, the film that starred Jimmy Stewart. Just think what kind of damage a 6 ft invisible rabbit-guy could do!
I did get the slight sarcasm concerning the Ant-Man vs Commies story, Steve.
Now thinking of it, guess who I believe
Pym should have changed into Goliath instead of Hawkeye.
About five years ago I stood in a supermarket queue, in Canberra, in front of Leo Sayer. He just paid for his shopping rather than sang or danced.
ReplyDeleteDW
There is a certain unattractive simplicity in the Hulk and Spider Man cover, I must admit.
ReplyDeleteI also admit that the first side to ELO's double album OUt of The Blue which I proudly owned (and may still) rocks the house!!! If they'd a put Mr. Blue Sky on the first side, instead of the 4th, and released that thing as a single album, it would have gone triple quadruple platinum!!! I have no doubts!
And I suspect the Commies, while giving up going after an army of small soldiers, switched to influencing voters with small minds instead, in the USA election of 2016, and pulled it off!
Like Steve Martin said in the late 70s, "I just love to get small!" LOL.
ALL TOGETHER NOW! LET ME HEAR YOU!
ReplyDeleteSun is shinin' in the sky
There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped rainin' everybody's in a play
And don't you know
It's a beautiful new day, hey hey
Runnin' down the avenue
See how the sun shines brightly in the city
On the streets where once was pity
Mister blue sky is living here today, hey hey
Mister blue sky please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?
Mister blue sky please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?
Hey you with the pretty face
Welcome to the human race
A celebration, mister blue sky's up there waitin'
And today is the day we've waited for
Oh mister blue sky please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?
I assume by that comment you're obliquely referring to the horrible crap weather here in the Midwest, Charlie.
ReplyDeleteRain, wind, snow, lightening, thunder, sleet, ice, more snow, sludge, crap, snow, rain, more crap.
The turtles had just started comin' up on the banks, sunning on the rocks, and now they probably went back down under the mud till July.
"Fool me once..."
I don't blame 'em.
M.P.
MP!!! My man!!!
ReplyDeleteI dropped Mr.Blue Sky lyrics in there because...
1) I just really dig the song! Oddly both my kids (20, 22) were driving together in the car a few weeks ago, heard the song on the radio, and simultaneously said, "Can't you just see dad singing along to this?" LOL! Yep! Guilty as charged and proud of it!
2) Your are correct because Chicago is going to get a major enema in about 1 hour, LOL! I still laugh at that line by Jack Nicholson in the Batman movie.
I love ELO too. It's a great song.
ReplyDeleteMy brother does too, but won't admit it, even after I found their greatest hits CD in his pickup.
Along with a CD of ABBA's greatest hits...
Busted!
"Listenin' to a little ABBA there, are ya mister tough guy construction foreman? You gonna start wearin' a dress now with your hard hat? Mama Mia! Heheheh!"
Boy, he got steamed.
M.P.
The idea with Marvel Comic seemed to be to create something closer to the average British comic of the 70s Steve, an anthology with stories in a variety of genres, like Valiant or whatever.
ReplyDeleteThe only issue I ever got reprinted the MOKF story about the Cat - the heavily edited rearrangement of Paul Gulacy's artwork is what made me unhappy with it. The changed name didn't seem like a big deal in comparison.
I remember that SHIELD South American story from Hulk Comic. Gabe and Val wore a sombrero and poncho respectively - obviously it was a major undercover operation.
And there were giant mushroom weapons...
-sean
M.P., if he can't dance, it sounds like your brother might be a possible candidate for British prime minister -
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/watch?v=tbCDFNRA-Wo
-sean
I still don't see how the Traveling Willburys let Jeff Lynne in? I mean, I know he produced some their stuff (maybe just Roy O?) but does anyone equate ELO with George Harrison or Dylan or Tom Petty's styles of music?
ReplyDeleteI mean, I see ELO's style closer to Abba than closer to those 3 dudes?
All you UK dudes..
ReplyDeleteThanks for arresting Assange! Any friend of POTUS's deserves some time in the Big House, LOL
I didn't realize you were such a big fan of the surveillance state Charlie.
ReplyDelete-sean
Assange was a Russian agent.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't look like one? That's how they like it.
I wanna see this play out.
Also, Jeff Lynne was needed in the Willburys.
M.P.
M.P., Jeff Lynne is probably a Russian agent. Theres no evidence, but that pretty much proves it, right?
ReplyDelete-sean
Que bono?
ReplyDeleteHow come Assange was doin' what he was doin'? You're a logical man.
And if my memory of the '70's serves, Jeff Lynne came to Earth in a huge starship.
Or maybe that was Boston.
M.P.
Don't let that fool you M.P. - the Russians were in space before the 70s.
ReplyDeleteSorry, he doesn't seem like a nice man, but I just don't buy Vladimir Putin as some sort of cross between Blofeld and Dr. Doom, secretly manipulating global events.
-sean
I bet the MI6 does.
ReplyDeleteTwo Russian emigres got poisoned in Salisbury.
I doubt it was the water. I've been there, and it tasted okay to me.
M.P.
Look, this is so obvious...
ReplyDeleteDid you guys see the photos of Assange coming out of the embassy, involuntarily? His skin had a yellow pallor to it (truly). That long hair and beard... Fu Manchu after working hours baby!!! So, clearly he is part of the yellow menace going back to the 50s, not the red menace. He's working for the Chi Coms.
Some may say it was b/c he hadn't been outside for 7 years, and was missing Vitamins. Don't be fooled!
Actually, I just don't like the guy b/c he was clearly, somehow, someway aiding our future POTUS. Lol.
Speaking of ELO (Steve), and spaceships (MP), and lack of evidence (Sean)...
ReplyDeleteDo any of you guys think there are really aliens (not microbes) in space that have visited the earth. I'm a firm "No." But lacking any evidence of not having visited how can I prove it?
And please don't cite the pyramids, the mayan ruins, or those goofy looking canadian lakes. That reasoning may work in comic-book universes but not at this venerated www site!!!
Sean - to be clear - My problem with the surveillance state is only when used for bad stuff (duh).
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCharlie, I don't have a clue whether aliens have visited the Earth. I'd expect that we'd know about it if they had, because it seems unlikely to me that they'd travel all the way to Earth and then just turn round and go back home without doing anything. But who can know?
ReplyDeleteI'd say George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison had a huge influence on ELO. The Beatles' influence on ELO is blatant. But, on top of that, Lynne's early singing style was clearly influenced by Dylan's. A track like Boy Blue is a good example of his Dylan phase. And I'd say Orbison was as big an influence on Lynne as the Beatles were. Songs like Midnight Blue scream, "Roy Orbison," at me.
In Britain, it's always Petty who's seen as the odd one out, as he was noticeably less famous over here than the other Wilburys were.
Dangermash, it certainly was reassuring knowing that the Radio One award was being selected by such top-notch musicologists as Steve Wright, Dave Lee Travis and Noel Edmonds.
Tim and Sean, Marvel UK in that period did seem to be somewhat schizophrenic when it came to who they were aiming their books at.
KD, Baker Street is indeed excellent.
DW, I'm desperately trying to think of a Leo Sayer based pun, involving one of his song titles, that would fit that anecdote. I have, so far, failed. He wasn't buying a set of long tall glasses, was he?
MP, in Britain, loving ABBA is virtually compulsory. In fact, it's a miracle that disliking them hasn't been made a criminal offence.
Colin, I've spent the last forty years trying to forget the Barron Knights.
Interesting that you mention this every three DJs, Steve. I'd always imagined that the Radio 1 award was chosen by hipsters like John Peel and Annie Nightingale with their obscure music and late night shows, making me feel too inferior to listen to them.
ReplyDeleteThe same sort of inferiority complex that Our Price record shops used to make customers feel with their extra high serving counters (until some highly paid marketing consultants pointed out the error of their ways).
Dangermash-
ReplyDeleteIn the late 70's - early 80's I worked for National Record Mart (a regional chain of music stores).
We had elevated counters also. I always thought it was to help us spot shoplifters.
Charlie-
ReplyDeleteI too owned ELO's Out The Blue album, on 8-Track. It didn't make me a giant fan, though. ELO just seemed over-produced to me, like Boston & Journey. CBS Records believed , since their records sold, all their pop/rock artists had to have the same treatment. They almost ruined Cheap Trick, DID destroy BOC and virtually missed the boat on New Wave.
Always liking my rocknroll on the raw side, there was still Alice Cooper,AC/DC, Runaways, Iggy Pop,Sabbath etc.
After I discovered the majestic fury of punk-rock I moved back from Pittsburgh to my tiny home-town of Butler, PA.
Got a 2 bedroom apartment with an ex-friend, who was a big ELO fan. I came home from work one night, and amid my Misfits, Siouxsie, Pistols etc posters he had spray painted a HUGE version of the ELO logo on the living room wall.
I looked over at that imbecile and said, " That's great, Gary. Now all the girls, AND OUR LANDLORD, will think we're cool."
Assage didn't help Trump win, and neither did the Russians.
ReplyDeleteHarpy Clinton just slept-walked through her campaign, believing the media build -up that it was "her turn".
Man, that was over two years ago and people are still crying in their granola.
As far as the Travelling Willburys go, here's a relatively unknown bit of trivia.
ReplyDeleteAt least as legend has it.
After Roy Orbison died, Petty convinced the rest of the band to keep it going by recruiting Del Shannon.
Before he got the call, Del Shannon committed suicide.
Charlie-
ReplyDeleteDid you see Guardians of the Galaxy 2?
If you did in a theater, I can picture your silhouette dancing in the aisle tossing popcorn like Rip Taylor.
If you didn't, ELO's Mr.Blue is played during the opening fight scene. Baby Groot certainly seems to dig it. He had his Fred Aistre all on.
While never truly disliking Abba, if I don't hear Dancing Queen, Momma Mia, Fernando, and Waterloo ever again I would feel fortunate.
ReplyDeleteThe Name Of The Game would have to be one song I could still put up with.
I like raw stuff, like Iggy and Alice, but M.P. is a complicated cat, with diverse tastes. He can dig on mellower sounds including ELO and ABBA.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, the real reason I dislike the Russians isn't simply because it was drummed into me as a kid or a soldier in Germany in the '80's. It's because in Grad School, some years later, two Russian foreign exchange students (both female) got me liquored up in my apartment and after I conked out pilfered several of my CD's, including ABBA and Roxette. The European stuff.
I guess I had it coming. I woke up in the morning with a vodka hangover and discovering I had been robbed, cried out "commie $!&#@&*!!!"
The Cold War got restarted right there, as far as I was concerned.
M.P.
KD - Dude that was quite a barrage ! I am going to have to reread it a few times, lOl!
ReplyDeleteMP - please tell you at least got some "satisfaction" before you conked out??? I mean, in that case, it may have been a fair trade. That being said, were you in Germany when those goofy "women" in the Baider Meinhoff gang were sleeping with GIs, killing them for their IDs, to get onto our bases.
After they blew up Frankfurt Airport in August 1985, our tiny base of Schwabisch Hall of about 40 helicopters was next on their list. Fortunately they got whacked just before... o'wise Charlie could be plastered on the church steeple a kilometer away. Their alleged idea was to blow up three tanker cars of JP-4 simultaneously which experts said would have flattened everything within a click, like a mini-nuke.
Ahhhh... those days were really exciting!
I remember those guys.
ReplyDeleteLucky for me, things were pretty quiet where I was at.
M.P.
Good shout from KD there on the point of elevated record counters.
ReplyDeleteBut back to ELO though. Nobody's mentioned the Doctor Who episode Love & Monsters with Peter Kay as the Absorbaloff from Klum. A top comedy episode that was elevated to greatness by the surreallity of how the ELO soundtrack was crowbarred into it.
MP-
ReplyDeleteA similar instance happened to me. As I stated previously, I was living in Pittsburgh and was moving back to my hometown for a better job. I threw a big party at my place.
A keg, tequila, grain alcohol punch, and various substances all added up to me being passed out in my recliner.
When I awoke the next morning I found a large amount of my belongings gone. That was a hard lesson. To keep your head while indulging in intoxicates and be more selective with the company you keep.
Steve-
ReplyDeleteA couple years ago the Foo Fighters did a fairly good cover of Rafferty's Baker Street. Don't know if you ever heard it. It was very respectful, if I remember correctly.
Late jumping in here, but anyway...
ReplyDeleteLove ELO. Played "Out of the Blue" to death on the car stereo. It served as the soundtrack for a drive to Michigan one enter weekend.
Also a big ABBA fan. Fascinating to find so many others who are as well; in high school my peers looked sideways at me for my musical tastes. Incidentally, iirc it was Pete Townsend who called ABBA's "SOS" the finest pop song ever recorded.
That should be "winter" weekend. #!&*@@! Autocorrect...
ReplyDeleteELO vs. Devil Dinosaur... who wins???
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThanks Sean, for the link below. Perhaps Tim Fields is indeed a robot!
http://www.hilobrow.com/2011/03/09/kirb-your-enthusiasm-25/
Redartz-
ReplyDeleteSOS is probably in my top 5 fav Abba songs. They had an incredible amount of hits, but just like other popular artists I feel their songs suffered from relentless playlists.
Charlie-
ReplyDeleteJeff Lynne commanding that giant jukebox themed spaceship versus Devil Dinosaur? No contest!
He'd probably say "Lock on phasers, full power! WAIT! Let's leave the poor dinosaur alone, just take out the monkey!"
That would be sad, since I think there is a theory around that Moon Boy is Rick Jones' ancestor. Lol.
I only read 2 stories involving Skull the Slayer, and one of them was an issue of Marvel Two-In-One. In that issue the Thing had trouble with a T-Rex, which I thought was idiotic.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Skull get his "power" from a belt? Hmm.. Does anyone remember a cartoon in the 60's called Sinbad Jr?
Tough little kid who'd get extra strength by tugging on his belt. It never worked for me. Lol
KD, in the post's first draft, I, at one point, referred to Moon Boy as, "Prehistorick Jones," but I decided to delete it, as it was that rare thing, a pun that was beneath even me.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I can't remember what the source of Skull's power was. I do remember him finding a dead alien and swiping its clothes, so it may well be that he gained a magic belt while he was at it.
I've just listened to that Foo Fighters Rafferty cover. It's generally pleasing but I do feel Dave Grohl needs to be higher in the mix.
KD & Redartz, my favourite ABBA track is Eagle. I feel that level of sheer OTT awesomeness is what ABBA were put on this Earth for.
Dangermash, I never know what to make of Love and Monsters. I find it very likeable up until the last ten minutes, when it willingly flings itself off a cliff.
Steve-
ReplyDeleteNever apologize for ripping into Rick Jones, especially mildly. Even I , the unofficial Grand Poobah of the Rick Jones Defense League, understand that as written his character could be an irresponsible idiot. Perhaps one of the reasons I feel a sort of kinship with him. Lol.
I agree with your opinion of the Foo's Baker St. mix. Never heard Abba's Eagle. Will pull it up today.
I'm really surprised that no one brought up Day Of The Lepus in response of your announcement of "terrifying bunny films".
ReplyDeleteThere's some aspects of holidays, including the one coming up, that the presence of children amplify.
ReplyDeleteLived with a girl that had a 5 yr old boy. I was 22. We had so much fun coloring eggs. Sloppy, messy enjoyment.
Kinda miss stuff like that. Any of you guys that have little ones, or grandchildren, cherish moments like that.
KD - I think everyone went home until SDC's posting tomorrow! We are just voices in the wilderness brother! LOL!
ReplyDeleteIf it were not for my grandnieces and grandnephews, Christmas and Easter would not be worth...well, you know.
ReplyDeleteAnd I very vaguely remember Sinbad Jr. and his magic belt that gave him super-strength. I *think* he had a pet parrot that talked in that stereotypical cartoon pirate/parrot dialect. "Squawk! Shiver me timbers, Matey!"
The mention of "terrifying bunny films" did make me think of that "Night of the Lepus" movie. But maybe it is just too obscure even for followers of SDC. I don't recall offhand if anyone mentioned it in that post a couple of months back when the topic was giant monster movies.
ReplyDeleteAs it turns out (I just checked the archives) the giant monster post was last July (time flies), and Colin Jones did mention "Lepus."
ReplyDeleteKD and TC, I can sensationally reveal that I've seen Night of the Lepus. I must confess that, when I think of that film, the word, "Terrifying," doesn't instantly spring to mind.
ReplyDeleteSteve- just listened to "Eagle" on YouTube. Extended version. Literally brought tears to my eyes. God, what a song...
ReplyDeleteIt has always baffled me that it was never released as a single in Britain. It got plenty of airplay over here, thanks to it being used in promotional footage for ABBA: The Movie. Maybe they worried it was too long, even though longer songs than it had been hits.
ReplyDeleteThen again, it was released as a single in the States - and then almost immediately withdrawn. I don't have a clue what was going on there.