I have a tendency to cheer on the underdogs and generally gravitate to movies and music that many tend to ignore. In Pat Monahan's (Train lead singer) case, I don't think it is that he's being ignored as much as it is he just isn't getting a true "push" from his record label. Whatever the reason, I contend that he is one of, if not THE most underrated vocalist of all time. Here is one of his solo efforts from his "Last of Seven" acoustic album. Always Midnight is a song that really highlights his skill and range. Give it a listen and I think you'll agree!
I guess you could call me a music snob.I'm very picky about what I spend my time and money on. In the beginning, I didn't care much for Lady Gaga....but here last two or three efforts have impressed me I must say. It's amazing how patience and an open mind can bring you around sometimes This one is one of her best yet in my opinion.
That's the premise behind a new movie due out June 28th. "Yesterday" also introduces to big screen newcomer Himesh Patel and co-stars Lily James, Kate McKinnon, Ana de Armas, with special appearances by Ed Sheeran and James Corden. A freak accident lands struggling singer songwriter Jack in the hospital and into a world where the Beatles never existed, at least not as we know them today. Here's a peak for the first trailer for the summer release.
This one looks like a lot of fun, however I think it's probably a good thing Ed Sheeran didn't write Hey Jude!
One would think after doing a three or four hour radio show, I would be up for some peace and quiet. Naw.....not really. But since I can't get out today because of all the wind and snow, I'll just settle for three of my favorites from years gone by. The year was 1978. The show was the "Midnight Special" with Wolfman Jack and Journey! Enjoy! Thanks to #OldSchoolMusic
Not exactly something you would expect from a German big band leader, but then James Last was no ordinary musician. He had a wide ranging repertoire and many hits around the world, but his biggest success in America came in the form of movie soundtrack music collaborations with Giorgio Moroder. One song in particular, The Seduction (Love Theme) was on the soundtrack of both The Seduction and American Gigolo. It was his only true hit in the United States reaching 18 on the adult contemporary charts. German band leader James Last with a definite SoCal vibe.....enjoy!
Having spent at least half of my life on or near the ocean, it would be fair to say that this song is right up the on my all time favorites list! Maybe it's on your list too. You know everyone loves a great song especially when it connects you to something important in your life! This is one of those song for me. Hope you enjoy it! Happy Thursday!!! Til Next Time...............
I haven't been doing much ranting lately and that has caused a couple of occasional followers of the SandBox to ask why? Quite frankly, I don't have much of an answer other than to say I am just fed up with the whole political situation right now. Fed up of listening to him bitch about Hillary and her bitch about Trump and vice-versa. Fed up with all of it! Seriously though......we are into the 21st century. We put a man on the moon. We've cured many horrible diseases, are on the verge of curing others, our tech advancements are rivaled by few, and we're one of the most well educated countries on the planet. But you're gonna sit there and tell me that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the best that we, as a nation, can come up with? I'm calling bullshit on all the Clinton and Trump "homers!"
One is a lying, untrustworthy, manipulative, over bearing, and an over emotional hot mess whose actual physical health is now being called into question and the other is an ego maniac who is a smart man, but thinks the entire planet revolves around him and has no clue how the "real world" works outside of his little sphere of influence. And let's not forget the socialistic babblings of Bernie Sanders. Really people??? This is the best we can do???
Everyone wants to point fingers and blame the other side or political party or political ideology. We'll guess what..........WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MESS. We created these monsters by voting for the same kind of politicians from both parties at every level of government for the last 50 years. The way this country was headed, this was bound to happen sooner or later. It looks like "sooner" has won that battle. So what do we do now? Choose the lesser of two evils? (AND YES BOTH MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC AND ARE OF VARYING DEGREES OF EVIL IN MY OPINION), totally sit out November 2016, or maybe for once take an actual serious look at 3rd and 4th party candidates that most people wrote off a long time ago?
I quite frankly don't know.......and neither, it seems, do some of the smartest people in America. As for me, I think I'll just turn the volume down on all the social media bitchers, whiners, and complainers for a bit, put on my Archie Bunker for Prez t-shirt and give some more thought to this political quandary that has no right answer.......just a lot of bad choices! I would suggest that before election day sneaks up on us, you take Archie's advice. "Stifle Yourself" and do the same!
My little buddy going for a car ride! He loves car rides more than anything in the world, but if we stop anywhere this is what we get. Can I come with you? Of course you can!!! I do believe it's time for another adventure! Maybe a road trip this weekend? We'll see.... Til Next time..............
Few will ever forget this 2004 image of former First Lady Nancy Reagan as she said a final, tearful goodbye to her beloved husband, former California Governor, and 40th President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan.
Today we say goodbye to Nancy as she passes on earlier today from congestive heart failure at the age of 94.
Hollywood Promo shot of Nancy Reagan 1949-1950
Photo Courtesy of Reagan National Library
Photo Credit:Unknown/Univ of Texas Photo Archives
Courtesy of: Reagan Library and U.S. National Archives
Nancy Reagan led a full life that transcended both entertainment in Hollywood and the Beltway antics of national political life in Washington DC, including an assassination attempt on her husband. Through it all, two things remained constant: her love for and devotion to "Ronnie," and a grace, style, and public demeanor that made her one of the most popular First Ladies in the history of the United States. Her devotion to events and causes that benefited American families also endeared her to most Americans regardless of the political leanings.
According to official from the Reagan National Library in Simi Valley,
Mrs. Reagan will be buried on the grounds of the library alongside her
husband. Nancy and Ronnie will be together once again.
Rest in Peace Nancy......you will be sorely missed.
When it comes to entertainers, "The Great One" was simply put, the greatest! Jackie Gleason would have been 100 years old this past Friday. The thing that most set him apart from the Hollywood of today? He knew the difference between memorizing lines from a script and actually acting. Lots of stars today do the research for roles and say they immerse themselves in the characters........but no one could ever come close to the Great One! I, for one, don't think they ever will. Gone from us now, but never forgotten....Happy Birthday Jackie! We Miss Ya!
Growing up, I loved the way they kept me entertained. Those voices down the road, close by and in places far away. First as a child, and even as a teenager, I couldn't wait to go to bed at night because my trusty transistor radio was always there to keep me company and keep me entertained until I drifted off to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. Guys like Tony Perry, Mike Beverly, Lynn Wright, Coyote McCloud, Carl Mayfield, and Phil Williams close to home to the big names in even bigger cities far away like Coyote Calhoun, John "Records" Landecker, and Larry Lujack were some of my best early childhood friends. As I got older.....I wanted to be like them.
Eventually, I became one of them. 1982 was the year I joined the radio fraternity. After a few years doing the "radio thing" in too many places to list here, I ended up in California. That's where I discovered a whole new treasure trove of talented men and women who reinvigorated my love for the crazy business I has chosen as a career years earlier. People like Dr. Don Rose, Bobby Ocean, Sylvia Chacon, Charlie Van Dyke, Robert W. Morgan, The Real Don Steele, Shotgun Tom Kelly, Jeff and Jer, Rich Brother Robbin, Dave Rickards, Shelly Dunn, and Charlie Tuna.
As a child and as an adult in the radio biz, these men and women were some of the truest entertainers, motivators, and professional role models one could hope for. Today some of these folks are still practicing the craft they love.....entertaining. Some are enjoying the "retired life," and sadly some have passed on. Today, we lost another one of the "Great Ones" in Charlie Tuna as he passes on at the age of 71.
Charlie was the consummate professional on the air and off. Entertaining us during the day and at night and on the weekends using his time, talent, and energy to help raise awareness and funds for causes that were important to him on both the local and national level. He touched many lives over the course of his career. He truly was one of the "Great Ones" and will be dearly missed by all who knew him and fans who didn't.
Thanks for the memories Charlie! You've had a great life and career, now it's times to take a break for a bit.
The music world is in mourning today as we learning of the passing of music icon David Bowie. His music affects people in many different ways and to say he will be missed is an understatement.
He not only left his indelible mark on the music world, but back in the day, he had a huge impact in the fashion industry as well, setting trends world wide with his both his dapper suits AND outrageous stage costumes. Few have come close to his style through the years and dare I say few will in the future.
Oh.......and the music. I couldn't give you the name of a David Bowie song that I didn't like. His music had a way of taking you to lots of different places. Many of those were the sort of places you would never go on your own, but with David Bowie as your guide, you felt comfortable enough to take a chance on short visit via the music. One of my favorite songs is one of the more simple ones in his catalog, but still a lot of fun to listen to while driving, top down, the volume turned up, and the wind blowing through your hair.
.......And we'll leave you with this from Steve Weakly on Facebook. A fitting tribute to a man and his music.
It's called "David Bowie, A Life in Music and Pictures." Enjoy and Remember!
It's a Sunday and we're just gonna let this one speak for itself. Whatever you are doing and wherever you may be.........Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
There's nothing in the world better than life on the beach.....except for maybe Vintage Vegas. No group of people exemplify vintage Las Vegas than the "Rat Pack." Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. As a group or individually, nobody did it better than these guys. Here they are together circa 1960 in front of the iconic Sands Hotel sign. Man!!! Those were the days! A trip down memory lane to be sure. Enjoy!!!
In a day in time when we have all become much too jaded and disconnected from the world around us, sometimes the inspiration we seek can come from the most unexpected places. We are constantly bombarded with messages of buy, buy, buy. Spend, spend, spend. Spend everything you have on the material things that at the end of the day, really don't mean that much and you probably can't afford anyway. Now at this point, I should say that I am a believer in capitalism. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making money. I would never begrudge anyone anything they can get, as long as it's legal. At some point though, you have to ask yourself, "When is enough....enough?" This is never more evident than it is during the holidays. Here in the United States, while those department stores, car dealers, and electronic shops are hounding us for our money, there is one department store in England that is reminding us that it doesn't have to be that way and that they do still have a soul.
John Lewis first opened it's doors back in the mid 1800's as a drapery shop and has grown over the years to become one the Britain's premiere retailers. While their success hasn't come without it's fair share of controversy, they do one thing that you don't see many American retailers doing. Every year during the holiday, they, for the most part, forego a substantial portion of their normal advertising in favor of emotionally drenched messages of hope, peace, and love. Those ads are almost always tied to some charitable organization in England and are designed to make people think and motivate them to take action. These ads are some of the most creative and effective the marketing industry has ever seen.
This years campaign is called Man On The Moon and has the tag line "Show someone they're loved this Christmas." A partnership with AGE UK, John Lewis' Man On The Moon commercial and marketing campaign is designed to raise awareness and funds to help older people who alone, lonely, depressed, and sometimes go months at a time without talking to another living soul. It even has a Twitter hashtag #ManOnTheMoon.
Take a couple of minutes and check out the commercial. It's probably the best Christmas commercial most Americans will never see.
There is absolutely nothing anywhere that says you can't make money and do good in the world at the same time. John Lewis is a great example of that. Maybe someday some of our high profile American companies will figure that out.
Dogs and peanut butter seem like a match made in heaven. They love the taste of it and we love to watch them eat it. It makes for a great treat and is a godsend when it comes to masking certin medications. However, there are several stories floating around social media and other websites about the use of "xylitol" in certain brands. Xylitol is a sweetner that is used in sugar-free gums and supposedly harmless to humans. Now we learn that Xylitol can be deadly (in the form of liver failure) to dogs.
According to the website Preventive Vet, there are five companies presently known to manufacture peanut butter with Xylitol. "These are the five companies (in alphabetical order): (1) Go Nuts, Co., (2) Hank's Protein Plus Peanut Butter, (3) Krush Nutrition, (4) Nuts 'N More, and (5) P28.
While these are "specialty butters" that are mostly sold in nutrition
stores and online (currently), the subtle presence of xylitol in these
butters definitely highlights the importance of reading ingredient
labels on products you bring into your home, and especially doing so
prior to sharing anything with your pets and if your pets ever get into
anything they shouldn't have." Read the rest of Preventive Vet's story here.
Bottom line, if you love your dog like we love ours. Make sure you read the label before giving Fido that treat or use peanut butter to mask medication. Their life may depend on it.
Today as France, and again Paris in particular, enters into a three day period of National Mourning after yesterday's hideous terrorist attack across that nation's capitol, it is time once again for us to come together and show support for those under attack from an unspeakable evil than many continue to deny.
Today we all stand together, not as Americans and Frenchmen, but as human beings. Brothers and Sisters in the midst of a chaotic world turned upside down by an evil that again, many still want to deny. Together we will persevere. Together we will overcome. But today we stand together in spirit with thoughts, prayers, and positive energy during France's National Mourning
