Retro Holiday TV: The Messiah on Mott Street

Tony Roberts & Edward G. Robinson

Night Gallery, created and hosted by Rod Serling, ran for three seasons on NBC in the early 1970s. The anthology series generally featured tales of horror and the supernatural, with a touch of murder and madness thrown into the mix. While he didn't have the same amount of creative control he enjoyed on The Twilight Zone, Serling managed to contribute some of Night Gallery's finest episodes, including the elegiac "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar" and the sentimental holiday tale, "The Messiah on Mott Street." A holiday story on the macabre and eerie Night Gallery? Well, let's remember that Serling also penned the classic Christmas episode "Night of the Meek," featuring Art Carney, for The Twilight Zone.

"The Messiah on Mott Street," is the story of Abraham Goldman, an older gentleman who's critically ill, but hasn't lost his strength of spirit. His grandson Mikey lives with him in an apartment in a somewhat shabby New York neighborhood. Abraham's doctor, Morris Levine, believes that he should be admitted to the hospital, but the stubborn Mr. Goldman doesn't want to leave his home. He feels that Mikey might get taken away from him by social services if he's unable to care for the boy any longer. The old man is also waiting for a check from his brother, who owes him a considerable amount of money, which he feels will improve their situation.

Abraham is visited by an apparition he believes is the Angel of Death, but he refuses to accompany the specter of darkness to the other side. He tells Mikey that they need to find the Messiah, who will restore his health and help them in their desperate situation. Mikey goes out into the streets to locate the Messiah, encountering an ersatz Santa Claus and a doom-spouting religious fanatic, before a man named Buckner rescues him from the frightening zealot. Mikey, believing Buckner to be the Messiah, brings him home, only to discover that his grandfather's condition has deteriorated. Dr. Levine fears Abraham may not survive the night. Is the mysterious Buckner really the Messiah, and will the elder Goldman be saved?

"The Messiah on Mott Street" is a fabulous episode, featuring excellent performances from Edward G. Robinson as Abraham, Tony Roberts as Dr. Levine, Yaphet Kotto as Buckner and Ricky Powell as Mikey. The script is terrific, featuring some wonderful dialogue in the humanist style which Serling is often celebrated for, including a marvelous exchange between Roberts and Kotto in Goldman's apartment. Much like his later work as Sol in Soylent Green, Robinson brings real dignity to the character of Abraham, and shares some poignant scenes with Powell as Ricky, and Roberts as Dr. Levine, who still makes house calls! The episode was directed by Don Taylor, who also helmed Escape From The Planet of the Apes, and Damien: Omen II. 

Originally paired with a second entry entitled "The Painted Mirror," and broadcast as part of Night Gallery's second season during 1971-72, "The Messiah on Mott Street," could really be classified as both a Christmas and Hanukah tale. This is one of my favorite episodes of Night Gallery. It's certainly one of Serling's best latter day stories, featuring his penchant for celebrating the best aspects of humanity through tales of downtrodden characters who are gifted with sometimes small, but often memorable moments in their lives that some folks might even refer to as miracles. The hopeful finale brings to mind some of his strongest work for The Twilight Zone, and this exceptional story is worth seeking out for holiday viewing.

The Black Crowes Are Flying High Again

The Black Crowes have always made great music, both live and on record, but their offstage lives have sometimes been a bit less harmonious.  Brothers Chris and Rich Robinson often clashed throughout the years, and they've disbanded the group more than once, including an acrimonious split in 2015. Despite their disagreements, both Robinson brothers continued to create new music with solo projects, and in 2019 they finally resolved their differences and resurrected The Black Crowes. Since then, the band has toured extensively, recorded live albums, and earlier this year the group released Happiness Bastards, their first disc of new material since 2009. It's a fantastic record, steeped in that signature Crowes vibe, melding rock, soul and the blues, amply displayed on terrific songs such as "Wanting and Waiting," and "Cross Your Fingers."

The track list on Happiness Bastards includes down and dirty rockers like "Rats and Clowns" and "Dirty Cold Sun," which evoke the sound of Exile on Main Street era Stones, filtered through the Southern rock and soul grooves that are the Crowes trademark. Long-time devotees of the band will dig tunes like "Bedside Manners," and "Bleed It Dry," as well as the anthemic "Kindred Friend" and the lovely "Wilted Rose," which features country singer Lainey Wilson on vocals. The Robinson brothers are at the top of their game, and they sound re-invigorated throughout the album, which was produced by Jay Joyce. If you're a long-time fan of  the band, Happiness Bastards is a must listen.

I had the chance to check out the group at Mohegan Sun this past October, and it was an excellent show. I've seen the Crowes several times in the past, and they are always superb live, but this performance was positively exultant. In addition to classic tracks like "Jealous Again" and "Thorn In My Pride" and a healthy selection of tracks from Happiness Bastards, the group played several cover tunes, including a masterful version of The Velvet Underground's "Oh! Sweet Nuthin" with sterling lead vocals by Rich Robinson. The entire band sounded great, and it's clear that the Robinson brothers really enjoy playing together again. It looks like The Black Crowes are here to stay, and I 'm hopeful that we'll be getting more new music and live shows from the Crowes for many years to come. Here's a link to "Dirty Cold Sun," one of my favorite tracks on Happiness Bastards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEZ439nN2yE.

"The President's Analyst" is On the Run!

The President's Analyst goes for a ride

In 1967, James Coburn's star was firmly on the rise. After appearing in memorable supporting roles in films like The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape and Charade, he starred as the ultra-cool secret agent Derek Flint in the spy spoof Our Man Flint, and its sequel, In Like Flint. Coburn was very much in demand in Hollywood at the time.  One of the more intriguing films he appeared in during this period was The President's Analyst, written and directed by Theodore J. Flicker. This offbeat satire features Coburn as Dr. Sidney Schaefer, a well-regarded psychiatrist who is chosen to be the personal analyst for the President of the United States. Schaefer is provided with an office which is connected to the White House by a secret tunnel. Due to the special needs of the president, he's expected to be on call 24 hours a day.

Schaefer initially enjoys the perks this top-secret gig provides him, but eventually realizes it comes with its own set of problems. He can't talk to anyone about his sessions with the president, even his girlfriend Nan. Some members of the cabinet aren't happy about his role as the president's analyst/confidante, since Schaefer's learned a lot of top secret information. Eventually, he thinks he's being followed and monitored by government agents. An increasingly stressed-out Schaefer even suspects Nan might be spying on him. Is he being paranoid, or are there people actually out to get him? 

It turns out that Schaefer is being hunted by spies from several different countries, who all want access to the secrets they believe the president has shared with him, or to prevent him from sharing them. He goes on the run, and interacts with a disparate cast of characters, including a not so innocent suburban family, spies, hippies, and.....a British pop group?  Eventually, he realizes there's a sinister plot to control the world being hatched by a mysterious group called the TPC (spoiler alert).....aka the phone company! The President's Analyst is filled with wild set pieces, off the wall humor, and even a touch of the psychedelia that was ever-present in pop culture at the time. 

 

Writer-Director Theodore J. Flicker, later co-creator of the classic television series Barney Miller, showed Coburn the script when they were both working on Charade, and the duo brought the project to producer Robert Evans, who also worked on The Godfather and Chinatown. Due to pressure from the studio management, the names of the agencies in the film had to be changed from "FBI" to "FBR", and "CIA" to "CEA," requiring some of the dialogue to be re-dubbed at the last minute, though no one changed the name of those ultimate villains, the phone company!

The President's Analyst is a sharply written, well-directed satire that in some ways feels more timely than ever. The cast is superb, with Coburn joined by a gallery of familiar faces, including Godfrey Cambridge, Walter Burke, Severn Darden, Pat Harrington, Jr., Joan Delaney and William Daniels. While the film wasn't a huge success when it was first released, its reputation has grown over the years, and it's recently been revived for retrospective screenings, and also been released on DVD and Blu-ray. It's definitely worth checking out if you haven't seen it, or re-discovering it if you haven't watched it in a while. Here's a look at the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XvaDL-laNA.

Knock, Knock: Folk Horror and Family Secrets

Even though the Halloween season has concluded, you might still be in the mood for a well-written horror tale to curl up with as the weather gets colder. If that's the case, look no further than Neil Sharpson's spellbinding Knock Knock, Open Wide. This chilling novel is a deftly conceived combination of Celtic folklore and Lovecraftian horror. It's also a sweetly affecting love story, and a tale about family secrets, featuring well developed characters who are dealing with the emotional toll the choices they've made has taken on their lives.

 

The book begins with the story of Etain Larkin, who finds a corpse in the road while driving home one night in the Irish countryside, after spending the evening with her boyfriend Barry. This discovery leads to a terrifying encounter at a creepy farmhouse. Etain disappears, and is presumed dead, and Barry becomes the chief suspect. Much to everyone's relief, she is discovered alive some time later, but whatever she experienced that fateful night has changed her forever.

The story then fast forwards to a pair of Dublin-based college students, Ashling Mallen and Betty Fitzpatrick, who are in drama society together. They become friends, and later lovers. It turns out Ashling has a troubled home life. When Betty tries to help her with her family issues, she learns that Ashling is Etain's daughter. Ashling's childhood was scarred by a horrifying incident, and the evil events that have beset her family appear to be tied to a long-running children's show which features a mysterious puppet who lives in a box.

 

Knock Knock, Open Wide is an atmospheric horror story that benefits from Sharpson's skillful use of Irish folklore and myth. He uses the Irish setting (which becomes almost a supporting character) to weave the folk horror and supernatural elements into an emotionally rich love story and intense family drama. The suspense, horror and sense of dread builds slowly throughout the novel. Just when you think you might have figured out the mystery, there's another terrifying revelation about the true nature of the evil at the heart of the tale. Highly recommended for horror fans.

Salem's Lot on The Big (and Small) Screen

'Salem's Lot is one of Stephen King's most popular tales. First published in 1975, the novel tells the story of Jerusalem's Lot, Maine, a town with a very dark history. King also penned a pair of short stories set in the town, "Jerusalem's Lot" and "One For The Road," which were included in his 1978 short story collection, Night Shift. In the novel, an antiques dealer named Straker, and his partner, a mysterious man named Mr. Barlow, move into Salem's Lot, and suddenly people start dying (and coming back) in mysterious fashion. It turns out Barlow is a vampire, and he's been feeding on the residents of the town, thereby creating more vampires. 'Salem's Lot quickly became a bestseller, and the book has inspired three film adaptations, an unrelated sequel, and a prequel TV series. Here's a brief look at them. 

Salem's Lot (1978): If you're a horror fan of a certain age, you probably recall being frightened by this eerie two-part television version of the novel, directed by Tobe Hooper of Poltergeist fame. The cast for the mini-series includes David Soul, Bonnie Bedelia, James Mason, and Lance Kerwin, with Reggie Nalder as a very creepy Barlow. Thanks to the extra running time allowed by the format, it's a solid version of the novel. Screenwriter Paul Monash made a few changes to the overall story, but retains much of the novel's dark tone and scary moments. Hooper's direction is excellent, and this atmospheric mini-series still stands out as one of the better adaptations of King's work. There's also a shorter version of the film, running about two hours, with more explicit violence, which was made for European theatrical release. Here's a look at the trailer for this terrifying mini-series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f27iJTxhPX0.

 

A Return To Salem's Lot (1987): A theatrical release and in-name only sequel which stars Michael Moriarty as an anthropologist who visits the town of Salem's Lot with his son, and encounters a group of vampires. Directed and co-scripted by Larry Cohen, who's probably best known for It's Alive, Q and The Stuff. This so-so film has a more comedic tone than the films covered here, and is an original story that doesn't include any of the characters from the novel. The cast also includes Andrew Duggan and Ronee Blakely. Here's the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImfWpDwE9sk.

Salem's Lot (2004): This two-part mini-series adaptation of the novel first aired on TNT, and stars Rob Lowe (who also co-starred in the mini-series version of King's The Stand), Samantha Mathis, Donald Sutherland, and Rutger Hauer. This mini-series, scripted by Peter Filardi and directed by Mikeal Solomon, updates the story to the 2000s, and while it's not quite as good as the 1978 version, it features solid performances by a good cast, and some scary moments. Here's the trailer for this 2004 mini-series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJLTggoINtM.

Chapelwaite (2021): A prequel to the original novel, this MGM+ cable series, set in the 1800s, stars Adrian Brody as Captain Charles Boone, who returns to Maine with his children following the death of his wife, and encounters some strange events, which seem to be supernatural in origin. The show is largely based on King's prequel story "Jerusalem's Lot." It's a well-produced, slow burn horror tale that is worth checking out if you're a fan of King's work. Here's the trailer for the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO-722xS9hg.

Salem's Lot (2024): The latest version of King's novel, written and directed by Gary Dauberman, was originally produced for theatrical distribution, and was shot in 2021 and 2022. The release of the film was delayed several times, and it finally premiered on the MAX cable channel in October 2024. This adaptation of the book stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, William Sadler, Bill Camp, and Alfre Woodard. The film is well-acted and directed, and features a couple of neat twists on the story, but the two-hour running time makes things feel a bit rushed. There's really not as much time for development of the characters. Still worth checking out, and it's a great-looking film as well. Follow this link to view the trailer for the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtVzKkv03ic.

Piunti's Latest Shines with Power Pop Brilliance

Nick Piunti is a maestro when it comes to crafting catchy, hook-laden songs that embrace the aura of classic power pop, while also providing a fresh take on the genre. He and his band, The Complicated Men, delighted and impressed fans with their last two remarkable full-length releases, Downtime and Heart Inside Your Head. Their latest album, Up and Out of It, is yet another exceptional collection of scintillating tunes that you'll without a doubt add to your list of power pop favorites. If you dig melodic, guitar-centric rock and roll, this fabulous record will definitely have you smiling from ear to ear.

Up and Out of It kicks off with the one-two punch of “Seasick" and “Bottle It,” a pair of fantastic tracks which are effervescent expressions of the band’s love for pop-infused rock, which is also evident on songs like “Get The Feeling” and “Rejection Letter.” There are also several excellent tracks on the album which offer a slightly different vibe, including the edgy “Above Water” and the reflective “Long Way Down.” These terrific tunes sound just as compelling as the group’s signature pop/rock tunes. As usual, Piunti composed the lion’s share of the songs on the record, but guitarist Joe Daksiewicz co-wrote the rocking  “I’m Ready” and the pop-tastic “Mind Reader,” both of which are highlights of the album.

Piunti's marvelous lead vocals and guitar are complimented by the superb work of The Complicated Men, whose all-star lineup consists of the aforementioned Daksiewicz on lead guitar, Jeff Hupp on bass, Kevin Darnall on keyboards and Ron Vensko on drums. The band obviously loves playing together, and their top-notch talents and undeniable chemistry are fully on display throughout the album. By the time you get to enjoying “Eyelids” and “On The Ropes,” the scintillating tracks which close out the record, you'll absolutely be reaching for that replay button so you can listen to this incredible record again.

The excellent songs on Up and Put of It amply display Piunti's growth as an artist and songwriter. He has found a way to evoke the classic power pop and modern rock sounds of the 80s while also creating earworm-laden tunes that sound fresh and original. These songs will absolutely get stuck in your head, and touch your heart. If you're already a fan, or even if you're new to Piunti and The Complicated Men, you owe it to yourself to check out this brilliant record. Up and Out of It will be released on JEM Records on Friday, October 18. For more info go to: https://jemrecordings.com/ and https://www.nickpiunti.com/. Here are links to "Bottle It" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gahDSxsfEP0 and “Get The Feeling” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PCsM0ih-fE.

"Alien: Romulus" Explores Familiar Territory

Not many cinematic franchises have taken the kind of wild stylistic swings throughout their existence as the Alien series. Starting with 1979's eponymous original, the films have shifted gears from visceral horror to action-oriented sci-fi and on to cyberpunk, and explored concepts like cloning and genetic experimentation, tossing in a bit of philosophical and religious discourse along the way. Acclaimed directors such as Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher and Jean-Pierre Jeunet have put their stamp on the series, some more successfully than others. Throughout all of its iterations, those menacing (and very agile) xenomorphs have loomed large in the center of the Alien universe. Alien: Romulus, the latest entry in the saga, takes a deep dive into the body horror and weird science angles of the franchise. The movie also features quite a few homages and callbacks to previous films in the series.

Directed and co-written by Fede Alvarez, Alien: Romulus tells the story of a young woman named Rain, who's stuck in a dead-end job on a mining colony. When the Weyland-Yutani Corporation (remember them?) unfairly extends her work contract, she gets involved with a group of co-workers who have hatched a plan to salvage cryogenic pods from a derelict ship in orbit around their planet. The idea is to use the pods to put themselves in cryo-sleep, and travel to a planet where they have a chance at a better life. Rain brings along her adopted brother Andy, who’s an android the group will need to interface with the ship's computer systems. There are just a couple of obstacles standing (or slithering) in their way.  The ship, whose orbit is decaying, turns out to be a space station, and it’s infested with some deadly (and very familiar) creatures. There's also an artificial crew-member aboard the station who clearly doesn't have the group's best interests in mind.

Alvarez proved with his Evil Dead remake and the offbeat thriller Don't Breathe that he knows how to build suspense and amp up the onscreen tension. He and co-writer Rodo Sayaguez have created a story that leans heavily into the body horror aspects of the series, and they do introduce a couple of cool ideas into the mythology. Alien: Romulus features several exciting set pieces, but there's a sense of deja vu to the movie, as some of these sequences echo things we’ve seen in earlier entries in the series. There’s also a CGI recreation of a character from the original film that some viewers may find distracting. On the plus side, the movie is undeniably well-crafted, and the cinematography, production design and the special effects (many of which were achieved in old school practical fashion) are quite impressive.

Cailee Spenny as Rain and David Jonsson as Andy are quite good, but the rest of the cast doesn’t get to make much of an impression in their roles before they’re killed by the aliens. Alien: Romulus is exciting and well-produced, and in addition to the visual callbacks to other films, the score by Benjamin Wallfisch does an excellent job of quoting some of the musical motifs from previous composers such as Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner. The movie, which takes place between the first and second films in the series, is worth checking out, though it doesn’t quite propel the saga as far forward into new territory as it could have. The next chapter of the Alien story will be Alien: Earth, a TV show from Noah Hawley, the guiding light of the Fargo TV series. Here’s the trailer for Alien: Romulus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzY2r2JXsDM.

Rule Britannia Blogathon: Moore is "Haunted"

Roger Moore is The Man Who Haunted Himself

 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be plagued by your doppelganger, a mysterious double that not only intrudes upon your life, but tries to take it over? That's the premise of The Man Who Haunted Himself, an offbeat thriller starring Roger Moore, which was originally released in 1970 by EMI Films.  Moore plays Harold Pelham, a London-based executive who has an accident while heading home from work. The circumstances of the accident are somewhat strange, as Pelham's personality seems to change during the drive. He starts speeding, ultimately running his car off the road. While Pelham's being treated for his injuries at the hospital, a monitor briefly shows two heartbeats side by side, before the readings return to normal.

Following his release from the hospital and return to work, Pelham is approached by friends and colleagues who claim to have seen him in places he hasn't been, and had conversations and interactions with him which he doesn't remember. Tensions are running high in both his professional and personal lives, as his company is involved in discussions regarding a high-profile merger, and his relationship with his wife has become strained and distant. Meanwhile, an attractive woman Pelham barely knows claims he's been having an affair with her. Is he going mad, or is someone impersonating him?

 

He meets with Dr. Harris, a psychiatrist who believes that the mysterious double is Pelham himself, and he's trying to break out of his dull and conventional lifestyle. After spending a few days at the psychiatrist's clinic, Pelham discovers that his double has been living his life while he's been away. The "other" Pelham has worked behind the scenes to finalize the merger at his company, and has also been spending time with his wife, re-energizing their relationship. He confronts his "double" at his home, culminating in a car chase down the same road where the story began; which version of Pelham will ultimately survive?

 

The Man Who Haunted Himself is an eerie, unsettling thriller which features an outstanding performance by Roger Moore as Pelham. He effectively conveys the character's increasing sense of distress and paranoia. Moore spoke in interviews throughout the years about the fact that Pelham was one of his favorite roles, since he got to stretch his acting muscles a bit, playing the two different sides of the character. There's also a fine supporting cast, full of familiar faces, featuring the wonderful Freddie Jones in a memorable turn as Dr. Harris, as well as strong work from Hildegarde Neil, Thorley Walters, Anton Rodgers and Olga Georges-Picot.

 

The film is based on "The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham," by British writer Anthony Armstrong. The story had previously been filmed by BBC Television in 1948 and 1955, and was adapted in the US for Alfred Hitchcock Presents as "The Case of Mr. Pelham," starring Tom Ewell, an episode which was helmed by Hitchcock. Production of The Man Who Haunted Himself was spearheaded by producer-director Bryan Forbes, who was head of EMI Films at the time. The movie was directed by Basil Dearden, who was also behind the camera for Sapphire, Khartoum and The Assassination Bureau. Dearden co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Relph and an uncredited Forbes. Sadly, Dearden was killed in a car accident in 1971, which occurred on the same road prominently featured in the movie.

 

While the film wasn't a huge success on its original release, it has picked up something of a cult following over the years, and has been released on both DVD and Blu-ray. I first saw it in my younger years when it aired as a Sunday afternoon movie in the New York area on Channel 9. I was captivated by its eccentric tone, the unusual visual style, courtesy of director Dearden and cinematographer Tony Spratling, and the excellent performances by Moore and Freddie Jones. If you only know Moore from his turns as The Saint or James Bond, or his roles in series like Maverick and The Persuaders, I urge you to check out The Man Who Haunted Himself. Here's a trailer for the Blu-ray release of the film from Imprint Films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rCgP8hPXZI. This post is part of the Rule Britannia Blogathon, hosted by Terence over at A Shroud of Thoughts: I'm very happy to be part of the fun! For more info, and to check out the other posts: follow this link: https://mercurie.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-11th-annual-rule-britannia-blogathon.html.

These "Embers" Glow For A Worthy Cause

It's no surprise that musicians are often some of the first ones to step up and offer their assistance in the wake of tragedies which affect people's lives. One of the most recent examples of this is Artists for Maui – Embers of Aloha: A Maui Wildfire Benefit Project, an album which was spearheaded by Lisa Mychols and Eddie Finley. The devastating wildfires that raged in Maui last year caused significant property damage, destroying homes and businesses, leaving many residents homeless. Longtime radio host and local resident Michael McCartney, whose own home was damaged by the fires, started a GoFundMe effort to aid island residents affected by these horrible events, and he kept people informed with updates about the fires and their aftermath.

McCartney's efforts inspired Mychols and Finley to create Artists for Maui– Embers of Aloha: A Maui Wildfire Benefit Project, a 43-song digital compilation which is now available for digital download on Bandcamp. The album features a terrific roster of artists whose names will be very familiar to power pop fans, including Eytan Mirsky, Kyle Vincent, Seth Swirsky and David Myhr. The songs and sounds on the album span the spectrum of pop, rock and power pop, including all out rockers such as Danny Wilkerson's "Bye Bye" to Johnathan Pushkar's lovely acoustic tune "Isabella," and Cliff Hillis' tongue in cheek paean to "Evel Knievel."

 

The wonderful artwork and graphics for the album were designed by the talented Nadja Dee, who also aided Mychols and Finley in gathering the artists who generously donated their music to the project. The trio also worked with several record labels, including JEM Records, JAM Records, and Big Stir Records, in order to make the album a reality. Artists for Maui – Embers of Aloha: A Maui Wildfire Benefit Project is truly a gift for power pop fans, and all proceeds from the sales of this fantastic record will go directly to aid victims of the Maui wildfires. Follow this link to check out the songs and order a digital download of the album: https://thetimemachine2.bandcamp.com/album/embers-of-aloha-a-maui-wildfire-benefit-project, and here's a link to a video about the project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CwW83wlDEI.

Retro TV: Irwin Allen's Land of the Giants

Before he was the producer of disaster epics like The Poseidon Adventure, Irwin Allen was the pre-eminent purveyor of prime-time TV sci-fi in the mid to late 1960s, with several shows running throughout the latter half of the decade. Recently, I've been celebrating Allen's work here at Eclectic Avenue, and this week, I'm shining the spotlight on an episode of Land of the Giants. The series was Allen's fourth and final out of this world adventure series of the 1960s. Land of the Giants ran for two seasons, from 1968-70. The show featured the adventures of the crew and passengers of the Spindrift, a sub-orbital craft which passed through a strange spatial disturbance on its way to London. The space warp transports them to a world where they're mini-sized, and everything else is well....gigantic. The cast included Gary Conway, Don Matheson, Deanna Lund, Don Marshall, Stefan Arngrim, Kurt Kaznar and Heather Young.

 

Each week our heroes would try to evade capture by the giants, while trying to repair their damaged ship and return home. In the first season entry "On A Clear Night You Can See Earth," the captain of the Spindrift, Steve Burton, is captured by a scientist named Murtrah, who's trying to create a special set of glasses that will allow him to see our miniature heroes in the dark. In the series, the giants are aware of the existence of Earth and its superior technology, and rewards are posted for the capture of the "little people."  Murtrah is a particularly mean-spirited and sadistic individual, and he's also jealous of a fellow scientist who he believes is trying to steal his work. 

Steve plays on Murtrah's insecurities, while the rest of the Spindrift crew try to rescue him. "On A Clear Night You Can See Earth" is an action-packed and exciting episode. It's somewhat unique in the canon of Irwin Allen's series, which were generally family-oriented entertainment. The denouement features our heroes rigging an explosive device to kill Murtrah and destroy his lab. They take this drastic step in order to prevent him from completing the creation of his device, so that it can't be used to reveal the Earth crew's location to the giant authorities. Rarely on any of Allen's series, including Lost In Space, Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea, and The Time Tunnel, did the heroes kill someone in cold blood, even if that person or alien being was an outright villain.

Murtrah is played by Michael Ansara, who specialized in playing villains in a plethora of television series and films from the 1960s through the 1990s. He guest starred in all of Irwin Allen's series, and had a featured role in the 1961 big-screen version of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, a film in which he appeared with his then wife Barbara Eden. Ansara is also well known for his portrayal of the Klingon Kang on Star Trek: The Original Series and Deep Space Nine, as well as his role as "Killer" Kane on the 1980s series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. 

 

"On A Clear Night You Can See Earth" was directed by Sobey Martin, who was frequently behind the camera for episodes of Allen's shows. The episode was written by Sheldon Stark and Anthony Wilson. The memorable theme music for Land of the Giants was composed by none other than John Williams of Star Wars and Superman fame, who also wrote the themes for Lost In Space and The Time Tunnel. Land of the Giants, like the rest of Allen's series and movies is entertaining, well-produced and a lot of fun. Here's a trailer for the Season One DVD release of the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oint3j4HlA.

A Trio of Investigators Search for True "Evil"

Mike Colter in Evil

Does true supernatural evil exist in the world, and if it does, what form does it take? What can be done to combat it? These are some of the questions and themes explored in Evil, a thought-provoking, chilling and entertaining series from Robert and Michelle King, who also created The Good Wife. The series stars Mike Colter (aka Marvel's Luke Cage) as David Acosta, a man who's studying to be a priest. David is trying to reconcile his belief in God with some doubts he has about his faith based on his personal experiences. He's been assigned by the Vatican to investigate supernatural occurrences, such as possible cases of demonic possession, to determine if they are real, and can be verified.

Helping David in his task are Ben Shakir, portrayed by Aasif Mandvi, an avowed atheist who's the team's technical and scientific expert, and their newest member, Dr. Kristen Bouchard, a forensic psychologist who's testified as an expert witness at a number of high profile murder trials. David initially asks Kristen to help out with the case of Orson LeRoux, a man who's committed several brutal murders. His wife claims he's possessed by a demon, but the prosecution believes he's a serial killer.

The LeRoux case brings the team into conflict with Dr. Leland Townsend, a clever psychologist who seems to know more about the LeRoux case than he's telling. The sinister Townsend appears to possess otherworldly powers, and definitely has malicious intent. He undermines Kristen's professional standing, and sabotages her testimony. Meanwhile, the team tries to determine if LeRoux actually is possessed, or faking the symptoms as part of an insanity plea. It's just the first of many cases that the team will study together, many of them bringing them into conflict with the manipulative Dr. Townsend.

Evil has a bit of an X-Files vibe, combined with the horror content of films like The Exorcist and The Omen. David is the Mulder-esque believer of the group, while Ben and Kristen are the more skeptical, Scully style members of the trio. What's refreshing about the series is that while there's a lot of eerie content, and some truly terrifying scenes, there are no easy or concrete answers to the mysteries the group investigates. The conclusions about what really happened are often left up to the viewer. 

Mike Colter is terrific as the troubled David, and Katja Herbers is fantastic as Kristen, who's propelled into a world she doesn't understand, and haunted by forces that threaten her life, and the safety of her family. Aasif Mandvi is wonderful as Ben, imbuing the tech expert with a sly wit that belies the character's own doubts regarding the veracity of the team's odd experiences. Michael Emerson is superb as the diabolical Dr. Townsend, who just might be something more than just a wicked human being. The talented supporting cast includes Christine Lahti, Boris Ingster and Peter Scolari, as well as many other familiar faces.

The direction and cinematography for Evil are excellent, and the writing is superb. The series features some truly frightening moments, but also takes time to get into the hearts and minds of the characters, and offer some thoughtful examinations on the nature of faith, and the notions of good and evil. If you're looking for something a little different in your horror television diet, Evil is worth seeking out. In fact, Stephen King, the Master of Horror himself, recommended the series in a recent interview. Evil just completed its fourth and final season on Paramount +, where it's currently streaming. You can also find the first two seasons on Netflix. Here's a trailer for the first season of the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpB5t1ku--4.

Spelling Blogathon: Satan's School For Girls

Pamela Franklin and Kate Jackson

If you were a television viewer from the mid 1960s and on through into the1970s, 1980s and 1990s, chances are you watched weekly series such as The Mod Squad, The Rookies, Starsky & Hutch and The Love Boat, or checked out made for TV movies like The Ballad of Andy Crocker, Murder on Flight 502 and The Boy In The Plastic Bubble. All of these projects (and many, many more) were produced by the one and only Aaron Spelling, who had a long, prolific, and much celebrated career in the entertainment business.

Spelling produced series and films that sprawled across many genres, including comedies, romance, action-adventure tales, thrillers, detective stories, and science-fiction and horror. One of his most fondly remembered telefilms is the 1973 terror tale Satan’s School For Girls, which first aired on ABC in 1973. When her sister Martha’s mysterious death is ruled a suicide, Elizabeth Sayers enrolls in the exclusive Salem Academy For Women, where Martha was a student. She’s determined to find out what really happened to her sibling. Elizabeth is befriended by several of the students, but as she settles into her surroundings, it becomes crystal clear there are a lot of odd things going on at this very private school. 

As Elizabeth’s investigation continues, eerie occurrences and further deaths occur. Who’s behind it all? Is it Mrs. Williams, the quirky and ineffectual headmistress? Perhaps it’s the acerbic Professor Delacroix, who verbally torments the students in his classes? Surely it can’t be the handsome Dr. Joseph Campbell, the well-liked teacher who regularly holds all the students in his class spellbound? Well, this is of course, the Salem Academy For Women, so it’s just possible that that some of the students and the staff know a lot more more than they’re telling. When Elizabeth discovers the frightening truth lurking behind the doors of the school, it all leads to a hellish finale.

Satan’s School For Girls features a superb cast, filled to the brim with faces that are quite familiar to fans of classic television and film. Horror veteran Pamela Franklin (The Legend of Hell House) is excellent as Elizabeth and Roy Thinnes (best known as David Vincent on The Invaders) is fantastic as Dr. Campbell. Lloyd Bochner (who was often cast as a villain on 1960s and 70s TV series) is delightfully over the top as the ill-fated Delacroix. The cast also includes Kate Jackson (The Rookies) and Cheryl Stopplemoor (aka Cheryl Ladd) who would later team up on Aaron Spelling’s hit series, Charlie’s Angels. 

The atmospheric direction by David Lowell Rich, the enjoyably creepy script by Arthur Ross, and the top notch cast explain why Satan’s School For Girls is fondly remembered by many of us who saw it on its first run, or subsequent rebroadcasts during afternoon and late movie showcases later in the decade. Lowell Rich was also behind the camera for another classic small screen tale of of the supernatural, The Horror at 37,000 Feet, which featured William Shatner, Tammy Grimes and Salem Academy's favorite teacher, Roy Thinnes.

Satan’s School for Girls was remade (also as a TV movie) in 2000. This version of the story starred Shannon Doherty in the central role and featured Kate Jackson in the role of the headmistress, played by Jo Van Fleet in the 1973 version. The cast also includes Taraji P. Henson and Julie Benz. Executive produced by Spelling, the remake lacks some of the retro charm and old school fun of the original, but is still worth a look for fans of the macabre. You might might be a fan of his glitzy series like Dynasty and Melrose Place, but when Aaron Spelling set out to scare us, he did a really good job. Other spooky tales of Spelling-branded television terror include The House That Would Not Die, Crowhaven Farm and Home For The Holidays.

This post is part of the (Aaron) Spellingverse Blogathon, hosted by Gil over at his blog, Reelweegiemidget reviews. I’d like to thank him inviting me to participate! Follow this link for more info: https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/blogathons/blogathons-2024/news-whos-doing-what-in-aaron-spellingverse-blogathon-2024/.

Join Dillard & Clark on a "Fantastic Expedition"

Country rock flourished in the late 1960s and on into the mid 1970s, thanks to the work of artists such as Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, Poco, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles and even ex-Monkee Mike Nesmith, all of contributed to the success of the genre. One of the best albums to come out of this era is Dillard & Clark’s 1968 release The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark. The group was founded by Gene Clark, a former member of The Byrds (no strangers themselves to the country rock sound) and Doug Dillard, who had just left his family’s bluegrass outfit, The Dillards. They recorded the album with some talented collaborators, including guitarist Bernie Leadon, who later went on to join The Eagles, and bassist Chris Hillman, who had also been a member of The Byrds. Hillman and Leadon would help to form The Flying Burrito Brothers, another well regarded and highly influential country rock band.

The album is awash with the sounds of banjo, fiddle and organ, and includes some incredible songs, such as the opening track “Out On The Side,” and “Train Leaves Here This Morning,” which was later covered by The Eagles during Leadon's stint with that group. Other notable tunes include the haunting “She Darked The Sun,” and Clark's melancholy “Why Not Your Baby?” (later covered by Velvet Crush)
included as a bonus track on the CD edition. The inspired songwriting by Clark, Dillard and Leadon, their stellar playing and those achingly beautiful harmonies combine to make this album a high watermark for the genre. 

 

The group recorded just one more record together, 1969's Through The Morning, Through The Night. That sophomore release leans even more towards the country and bluegrass side of the road. It wasn’t as well-received as their debut, but there are still some great songs to be found, including the title track and outstanding covers of The Everly Brothers classic “So Sad” and The Beatles “Don’t Let Me Down.” On both of these albums, you can hear the lasting influences these incredible musicians would have on modern artists who have visited these wide-ranging soundscapes in their own careers.

Gene Clark died in 1991, and Doug Dillard passed away in 2012. But they left behind a musical legacy that still enchants listeners and fans to this day. I first discovered The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark in the 1990s when I was going through a major Byrds phase, and it has remained a favorite of mine. If you’re a fan of country-flavored rock, which has seen a resurgence in recent years with the success of groups like The Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes, Mumford & Sons and The Nude Party, you owe it to yourself to check out this terrific record. It’s truly an aural journey worth taking. Both Dillard & Clark albums are available on a "two-fer" CD which can be found on Amazon and other online sites. Here are links to the songs “Why Not Your Baby?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JqEuUEHxCk and "She Darked The Sun" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O9QENNNPwQ.

Retro Chiller: The Return of Dracula

Francis Lederer

There have been a number of cinematic variations on the story of Dracula, but do you recall the vampire tale whose story echoed that of a classic film by Alfred Hitchcock? That film is The Return of Dracula, an entertaining low budget chiller released in 1958. In order to elude a group of vampire hunters in Europe, the legendary vampire kills an artist named Bellac Gordal, and assumes his identity. Dracula visits Bellac’s family, who live in California, posing as their distant relative. The family consists of Bellac’s cousin, Cora, a widow who hasn’t seen him since they were much younger, and her two children; Rachel, a teenager who has ambitions to become an artist, and her younger brother, Mickey. Rachel is particularly intrigued and dazzled by Bellac's tales of his exotic life in Europe, much to the consternation of her boyfriend, Tim, who's pretty sure there is something odd about him.

Bellac has some strange habits; he sleeps all day, keeps his room locked, and only comes out at night. Of course, he’s got a coffin stashed in an abandoned mine shaft outside of town, and that’s where he’s really spending the daylight hours. Any self-respecting vampire needs his sustenance, so Bellac/Dracula slakes his thirst with the family cat, then hunts for bigger game. He feeds on Jenny, a young blind girl who lives at a parish house, which is run by the kindly Reverend Whitfield. Rachel volunteers there, and is distressed to see her friend’s failing health. No one can explain her strange condition. She tells Rachel she’s having eerie dreams and dark visions of her death. Jenny is later transformed into a vampire by Bellac.

Rachel (Norma Eberhardt) and her family continue to be charmed by Bellac, despite his eccentric behavior. Bellac wants Rachel to become his bride, and spend eternity with him. Meanwhile, the vampire hunters, posing as immigration agents, track Dracula to California, and try to locate his hiding place. Bellac discovers their presence, and dispatches Jenny to take care of them. Will Bellac’s true nature be revealed? Can Tim keep Rachel from becoming Bellac’s next victim? The Return of Dracula is a well-crafted B-movie that offers a slightly different spin on the story of the world’s most famous vampire. While the film is most definitely a low budget affair, it does have some interesting moments. In fact, Rachel’s fascination with her cousin is a neat parallel to a similar situation in the Hitchcock classic Shadow of a Doubt, where another young woman's charming uncle is later revealed to be a notorious killer.

Francis Lederer does a nice job in the role of Bellac/Dracula, radiating old world charm, touched up with an undercurrent of quiet menace. It’s not as florid as the performances by actors like Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee or Frank Langella, but it suits the film’s understated style. Lederer actually reprised the role in an episode of Night Gallery in 1971. The rest of the cast is solid; you may recognize character actor Gage Clark, who plays Reverend Whitfield. Clark also appeared in films such as The Bad Seed and The Absent Minded Professor, as well as TV series like Maverick and The Twilight Zone. The excellent black and white cinematography by Jack McKenzie includes a brief (and surprising) splash of color during a key sequence. The Return of Dracula is an effective chiller, and worth a look for B-movie fans, and those with a particular taste for vampire tales. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ULuL07ptuY.

Retro Thriller: Pakula's "The Parallax View"

Warren Beatty in The Parallax View

The 1970s were the decade in which the conspiracy thriller film came into its own. In the wake of the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., the optimism of the 1960s gave way to feelings of distrust and paranoid thoughts. Theses negative thoughts escalated further when the United States was propelled into the aftermath of events such as the Manson murders and the Watergate scandal. Films like Executive Action, The Conversation, Night Moves, Three Days of the Condor, Winter Kills and Capricorn One focused on conspiracies, real or imagined, which exposed the dark underside of the American dream. No movie illustrates these ideas and concepts in a more chilling, effective and believable manner than The Parallax View, director Alan J. Pakula's terrific 1974 thriller.

Warren Beatty plays Joe Frady, a down on his luck (though talented and resourceful) reporter who, as the film opens, is nearby when a popular presidential candidate is assassinated. An investigative committee formed by the government finds that the murder was the act of a disturbed individual who acted alone. Lee Carter, a newswoman who witnessed the murder firsthand, visits Frady several years after the killing. She tells him that that something odd is going on, as a number of witnesses to the shooting have died, seemingly under accidental circumstances. Carter, a former flame of Frady's, is herself found dead of a drug overdose shortly after her visit to him. A shaken Frady decides to look into her claims.

What he discovers is that a mysterious organization called The Parallax Corporation is recruiting people who are on the fringe of society, that don't fit the accepted behavioral norm. These antisocial outsiders are given training, and new jobs, and are ultimately used as assassins, taking out politicians that don't fit the shadowy group's world view. The oddball loners are then framed for the crimes, taking the fall for the killings as a "lone gunman." Frady convinces his editor that he wants to go undercover in the organization, allowing them to recruit him. He hopes to ultimately expose their activities to the world. It's a choice that will prove to be Frady's undoing. 

In The Parallax View, nothing is quite what it seems. There are multiple layers of secrets, lies and misdirection at the center of this shadowy organization. As Frady digs deeper, he becomes caught in the middle of a deadly conspiracy. Just how far do the tendrils of Parallax reach? The sense of unease and impending doom is palpable in this cynical thriller. The moody cinematography by Gordon Willis is superb, as is Pakula's tense direction, especially in the chilling sequence where Frady watches the Parallax training film. There's always something happening just outside the frame in this movie, and you're often unsure of exactly what's going on right before your eyes. The X-Files may have popularized the term "Trust No One" but in The Parallax View, there's a true feeling of dread throughout the story. You really can't trust anyone.

The cast is superb. Beatty delivers a solid, low key performance as Frady. The fine supporting cast includes Paula Prentiss, Hume Cronyn, William Daniels, Kenneth Mars, Walter McGinn and Anthony Zerbe. The intelligent, layered script is by David Giler and Lorenzo Semple, Jr. (with an uncredited assist by Robert Towne) and is based on the book by Loren Singer. Michael Small provides an offbeat score, which adds to the sense of unease throughout the film. Along with Klute and All The President's Men, which were also directed by Alan J. Pakula, this film is often referred to as part of his unofficial "paranoia" trilogy. The Parallax View seems even more relevant in our current environment, and is definitely worth a look. Here's a link to the trailer for the film, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzQRp0Fjpjg, and for an insightful look at the life and career of Alan J. Pakula, check out the 2019 documentary, Alan Pakula: Going For Truth.

 

Retro TV Episode: The Phantom Family

Lemnoc keeps an eye on Dr. Smith & The Robot

I've been doing a re-watch of selected episodes of all of Irwin Allen's classic TV series, and recently posted about "Visitors From Beyond The Stars," an episode of The Time Tunnel. It's been having a lot of fun seeing these shows again, and this time out it's a brief look at a selection from another one of Allen's iconic shows. "The Phantom Family" is of the better episodes in the second season of Lost In Space, the show which featured the Robinson family, whose ship, the Jupiter 2, is sent off course by a saboteur, Dr. Smith, causing them to become....Lost In Space! In its second year, the series switched from black and white to color, and the tone of the show veered wildly from outer space adventure to fairy tale themed outings, and other campy, comical stories which often focused on Will Robinson, Dr. Smith and the Robot. 

"The Phantom Family" concerns an alien named Lemnoc (played by Alan Hewitt) whose race has lost the will to live. He creates android duplicates of Dr. Smith, Don West, and Judy and Penny Robinson. Lemnoc wants Will to teach the androids about being human, and all about our strengths and emotions, especially our survival instinct. Lemnoc gives Will a 24 hour deadline, explaining that Will's family and friends will be destroyed, unless the alien transports the duplicates to his world within that time frame.

This enjoyable outing features much of the main cast having fun playing the stoic, emotionless androids. Jonathan Harris, who could often be theatrical and over the top as Dr. Smith, does a great job in a couple of low key scenes with Bill Mumy's Will, as the Smith android does indeed learn about being human from the youngest Robinson. Guy Williams and June Lockhart are absent for most of this entry, but they return for the final portion of the story, so that John and Don West, played by Mark Goddard, can do their action hero bit at the end of the episode.

There's are some fun easter eggs for Allen devotees, as Lemnoc's lab is filled with equipment and props which appeared previously on Lost In Space, as well as other Allen series, including The Time Tunnel and Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea. "The Phantom Family" was written by Peter Packer, who wrote the lion's share of Lost In Space episodes throughout the series run, and helmed by veteran actor and director Ezra Stone. You might also notice some similarities to a third season episode entitled "Target Earth," in which another alien race creates duplicates of the Robinsons, as part of a plot to invade the Earth. If you're a Lost In Space fan, "The Phantom Family" is definitely worthy of a re-watch.

Retro TV: Aliens Invade The Time Tunnel!

Robert Colbert & James Darren

In the mid to late 1960s, Irwin Allen produced and created a quartet of science-fiction series, including Lost in Space and Land of the Giants. I recently wrote a retrospective review of The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen, an entertaining 1995 documentary about Allen's life and career. This time out, let's take a look at an episode of The Time Tunnel. While this series had the shortest run of Irwin Allen's shows, lasting only one season, it still has a devoted following, and was his personal favorite. The Time Tunnel starred James Darren and Robert Colbert as Tony Newman and Doug Phillips, two scientists who become lost in time when their time travel experiment goes awry. Every week the duo was propelled into the midst of a different real-life event, from the sinking of the Titanic, to the attack on Pearl Harbor, to the battle at The Alamo, while their colleagues at Time Tunnel HQ tried to bring them home. This clever concept allowed Allen and his production crew to make extensive use of 20th Century Fox's library of stock footage, inserting the duo into the midst of epic battles, volcanic eruptions, and a number of turning points in history.

"Visitors From Beyond The Stars," is a bit different from previous episodes of the show, as Tony and Doug aren't interacting with real life historical figures or participating in actual events. This time, our heroes venture into the territory of other Allen series like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, as they face off with alien invaders for the first (but not the last) time. As the story begins, our stalwart time travelers materialize on a spaceship which is orbiting Earth, where they encounter a pair of silver-skinned aliens. At first, our heroes think they've ended up in the future, but it turns out they're arrived in our past, during the nineteenth century. These not so friendly extraterrestrials plan to drain the Earth of all its resources in order to revive their dying planet, destroying our world in the process. It's up to Tony and Doug to stop them and thwart their evil plan.

The episode is an enjoyable, old school 1950s sci-fi tale, complete with a brainwashed Doug, and an Old West twist. "Visitors From Beyond The Stars" was directed by Sobey Martin, who was also behind the camera for a number of episodes of Lost In Space. The story was written by Bob and Wanda Duncan, who regularly penned scripts for that family-oriented space adventure series. The guest cast includes familiar faces Jan Merlin and John Hoyt, both of whom appeared in a number of science-fiction and fantasy films and television series. Irwin Allen had a group of actors, directors, writers and production staff that he liked to work with, and he'd often utilize members of this unofficial stock company for his television shows and movies. For example, John Williams, of Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Star Wars fame, composed the themes for Lost In Space, Land of the Giants and The Time Tunnel, as well as creating incidental music for those series.

At the conclusion of "Visitors From Beyond The Stars," after saving the day, our heroes are propelled into their next adventure, in which they meet "The Ghost of Nero." Doug and Tony would encounter aliens twice more during the run of the series, in "Raiders From Outer Space," and "Town of Terror." If you haven't previously seen The Time Tunnel, this entertaining show is worth checking out, especially if you really enjoy vintage science-fiction and fantasy television. Of course, if you're already a fan, or an Irwin Allen devotee, it's about time for an epic re-watch of the series, don't you think? 

 

Memorable episodes of the show include "Rendezvous With Yesterday," the impressive pilot, in which our heroes end up on the Titanic, and "The Day The Sky Fell In," in which our heroes encounter Tony's father (and Tony's younger self) just prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The complete series has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. I recommend the Blu-ray edition issued by Revolution Films in the UK in 2018. Though it's a Region 2 release, the discs will play on US Blu-ray players. Here's a trailer for the DVD release of the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIJRh5zinbk.

Dizzyfish Rocks with "The Best of the 70s"

Dizzyfish - photo by John V

Dizzyfish, a fabulous band led by guitarist/vocalist Eric Herbst, is a longtime fixture on the Connecticut music scene. This terrific group keeps the spirit of rock and roll alive with their show "The Best of the 70s," which is touring the area this summer. The band took the stage at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford this past Saturday, and wowed the crowd with superb performances of memorable tunes such as "The Weight" by The Band, "Lady Madonna," by The Beatles and "Desperado" by The Eagles. This wasn't just a concert, it was a rock and roll party where the audience sang along and danced to every song, including classic hits such as Cat Steven's "Wild World," Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" and Jim Croce's "Bad Bad Leroy Brown."

Dizzyfish - Photo by John V

Herbst is the energetic ringleader of this incredible group, and the entire band clearly enjoys performing these songs. Their enthusiasm for the music shines through in every performance. Angela Clemmons and Sharon Jerry-Collins wowed the crowd with their passionate backing vocals, while The Uptown Horns amped up the soul on tunes like Bruce Springsteen's "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" and Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind." The talented ensemble also includes the top notch work of Tim Lane on keyboards, John Zanella on bass, Tommy Nagy on drums, and Jon Saxon's incredible saxophone. One of the high points of the night was an extraordinary take on Led Zeppelin's "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You," featuring a towering solo from Saxon. That was just one highlight in a night filled with amazing music, including an outstanding version of Jimi Hendrix's iconic "Little Wing," and a lovely rendition of Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight," which Herbst dedicated to his wife.

Dizzyfish - Photo by John V

Jeff Pitchell and his band performed a high-energy set of blues originals and covers to kick off the night, including a blistering run-through of Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Cold Shot." Pitchell later returned to the stage to join Dizzyfish for an epic version of Lynyrd Skynrd's "Free Bird," which closed out the night. If you're a classic rock fan, and enjoy seeing your favorite songs performed with true heart, real soul and high energy rock and roll power, then check out Dizzyfish and "The Best of the 70s." You can find out more about the band and this phenomenal show by following this link: https://www.dizzyfishmusic.com/.

Eric Herbst & The Uptown Horns - photo by John V