Hollywood Eden: An Absorbing Look at California Rock in the Early-Mid 1960s

There are a plethora of stories regarding the music that exploded out of the California pop/rock scene from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s, which was one of the more fertile periods in rock and roll history. Author Joel Selvin has written a unique and insightful chronicle of the singers, songwriters, producers, impresarios and (sometimes) shady hangers-on that inhabited the recording studios, bars, concert venues and nightclubs during that bygone era, which brought us unforgettable music from groups like The Crystals, Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, and The Mamas and The Papas. Hollywood Eden: Electric Guitars, Fast Cars and the Myth of the California Paradise weaves a riveting, inter-connected tale of these artists, beginning at the point where a number of them first crossed paths in their high school years, where they first became obsessed with fast cars, girls and rock and roll music.

Hollywood Eden features fascinating details about the creation of songs like “Surf City” and “He’s A Rebel,” but the book isn't just about the music, it also tells the colorful stories of the people behind the songs. Selvin’s narrative features in-depth portraits of Phil Spector, Nancy Sinatra, Kim Fowley, Herb Alpert and teen idol Tommy Sands. Others float in and out of the compelling narrative, including Kathy Kohner, the real-life inspiration for Gidget, Jill Gibson (who briefly replaced Michelle Phillips in the Mamas and The Papas) and Barry Keenan, who engineered the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra, Jr. There’s a lot less than six degrees of separation between many of these supporting characters and Brian Wilson, Jan and Dean, Glen Campbell and Herb Alpert  than you might think, and Selvin connects the dots in compelling fashion.

Not everyone in Hollywood Eden comes off looking like a great guy, or gal. Some of the movers and shakers featured in the book would fit comfortably into the cast of a film noir flick. There's a dark side to the sun-dappled California dream, and Selvin's absorbing chronicle doesn't shy away from those details, while saluting the genius of musical innovators like Brian Wilson and Lee Hazlewood. Selvin has written extensively about rock and roll and the music business in previous books such as Here Comes The Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Burns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues, and Fare Thee Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead's Long Strange, Trip, and he really knows his subject matter. 

As the decade of the 1960s moved forward, songs like Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction” and the music of The Byrds helped steer rock and roll in new directions. Artists, songwriters and producers began to adapt their work to the evolving times. Selvin notes these changes, marking a turning point in the era with Jan Berry's life-changing 1966 car crash, which occurred not far from the location of Jan and Dean's hit song "Deadman's Curve." This insightful, revealing and powerful book will open your eyes to both the light and the darkness inherent in the California dream, and the business of rock and roll. Hollywood Eden: Electric Guitars, Fast Cars and the Myth of the California Paradise (which will be released on April 6) is an engrossing history of the pre-psychedelic California rock scene, and it's a must read for fans of the genre.

Thriller's Uncanny "The Grim Reaper"

The 1950s and 1960s were a golden age for fantastical anthology shows on TV. Series such as The Twilight Zone, Science-Fiction Theater, Way Out, and The Outer Limits told memorable stories within the science-fiction, horror and fantasy genres. Even Alfred Hitchcock Presents dipped its toe into the horror end of the pool on occasion. One of the best shows of this type was Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, which ran on NBC from 1960-62. Thriller started out telling tales of suspense, crime and murder (akin to the Hitchcock series), but later in its first season the show took a sharp left turn, emphasizing tales of horror and the supernatural, adapting tales by Edgar Allan Poe, Richard Matheson, Cornell Woolrich, August Derleth and Robert E. Howard, and airing haunting original stories as well. While Thriller had a brief life on broadcast television, the series made a lasting impression on many viewers with its dark and intense stories, and gained a new generation of fans when reruns of the show aired in syndication on local stations. That’s where I first discovered the series in the 1970s, as a young science-fiction and horror fan.

One of the best episodes of Thriller is The Grim Reaper, the final entry in the series’ first season. The story grabs you right from the start: the prologue is set in the 1800s, when the father of a missing painter discovers that his son has killed himself after completing a very lifelike painting of that spectral harbinger of death, The Grim Reaper. After a sardonic introduction by Karloff, which ends with him walking towards the camera brandishing a scythe (!) the episode moves forward in time to the present. The story opens at the estate of the successful mystery writer Beatrice Graves, who is visited by her nephew, Paul. She introduces Paul to her new husband, a much younger man named Gerald, and her assistant, Dorothy. The wealthy Bea has a ghoulish sense of humor, having bought a hearse to use as her preferred mode of transport. She’s also re-christened her home with the name Graves End. Bea shows Paul her latest acquisition, the very painting of The Grim Reaper we saw in the prologue!

Paul tells his aunt that the painting is the reason for his visit. It has a cursed history, and many of its previous owners have died under mysterious and violent circumstances. He insists she should get rid of it, and informs her, Gerald and Dorothy that in the past, the painting has started to bleed just before its previous owners met their ends. Bea scoffs at the notion of a curse, and tells Paul she only bought the painting for the publicity, much like her hearse. Her nephew touches the painting, gasps, and turns back to the group, holding up his fingers, which are wet. There’s blood on the scythe! Is the painting really cursed? Is Bea fated to be its next victim? Before this chilling episode has ended, there will be some murderous twists to the tale, several of our main characters will be dead, and the grim visage of The Grim Reaper just hangs there, looking down on everyone….or does it?

The Grim Reaper has an eerie and claustrophobic feel, thanks to the excellent cinematography by Bud Thackery, as well as the taut direction by television and film veteran Herschel Daugherty. Most of the story takes place inside the house, and there’s a palpable sense of dread whenever the unearthly painting is onscreen. Thanks to the inventive camera work, it really does seem like it’s alive throughout the story. The dark and moody tone of the episode is aided immeasurably by Jerry Goldsmith’s atmospheric music score, one of the veteran composer’s very best efforts. The teleplay for The Grim Reaper was written by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho. Bloch adapted the story “The Black Madonna” by Harold Lawlor. He updated the original tale, changing the character in the title painting, as well as adding some of his trademark macabre humor. It’s one of his best efforts in both television or film.

The cast for the episode is excellent. If you only know Natalie Schafer from her role as Mrs. Howell on Gilligan’s Island, you’re in for a surprise. Schafer is terrific in The Grim Reaper, giving a superb performance that is filled with equal portions of humor and pathos, topped off a touch of élan. William Shatner, who plays Paul, is quite good as well, and his scenes with Schafer crackle with energy. There’s just a touch here of the “Shatner-isms” we’ve all come to know and love, but he chooses those over the top moments well. There’s a scene (spoiler ahead) where he gets to turn on a dime and is revealed to villainous, and it’s some of his best work as an actor. The fine supporting cast includes Elizabeth Allen as Dorothy, Scott Merrill as Gerald, genre stalwart Robert Cornthwaite as a lawyer, and veteran actor Henry Daniell, who portrays the father of the ill-fated painter in the prologue. Allen also appeared with Shatner in The Hungry Glass, an earlier episode of Thriller which was also scripted by Robert Bloch.

The Grim Reaper really draws you in with its slow burning sense of impending doom. Along with several other celebrated tales, such as “Pigeons From Hell,” “The Cheaters” and “A Wig for Miss Devore” and the aforementioned “The Hungry Glass,” it’s one of the strongest episodes of Thriller, a show that aired some of the most frightening tales of terror ever to grace a television screen. The show both creeped me out and delighted me when I first viewed the series in my younger days, and it remains one of my favorites. Thriller is definitely a series that’s worth digging into, especially if you haven’t seen it before, The show is currently available on Hulu, and there’s also a wonderful box set of the entire series that came out a while back, which is still available at retailers like Amazon. This post is part of The 7th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon, hosted by A Shroud of Thoughts. Follow this link for more information, and to check out all of the excellent entries by my fellow bloggers: https://mercurie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-7th-annual-favourite-tv-show.html.

The Haunting of "The Only Good Indians"

Stories about the sins of a character’s past coming back to haunt them are commonplace in horror fiction, but they’re rarely as well-crafted as Stephen Graham Jones’s novel, The Only Good Indians. This dark and powerful book is an atmospheric tale of a group of Native American men who are pursued by an entity intent upon ending their lives. When they were younger, these four friends hunted elk in an area restricted to tribal elders, and their actions resulted in a tragic event. Years later, a relentless spirit hunts the men down, intent upon taking revenge upon them for their past misdeeds.

The main characters in the story are members of the Blackfeet tribe, and Jone's masterful writing illuminates modern Native American culture in insightful and fascinating ways. In addition to the spine-tingling horror elements inherent in the novel, Jones tells an enthralling story about the younger generations of Native American tribes, and how they're torn between honoring their traditions and finding a place in the modern world. In fact, ignoring a tribal tradition is what set these four friends on a path to their eventual death and destruction.

As the story progresses, the malevolent entity takes down the men, each in a more violent way, until there is only one of them left standing. The horror sequences in the novel are creepy and unsettling, and will send chills down your spine. Jones often draws out the tension until a scene explodes into a terrifying and violent conclusion. Even if you're a seasoned horror fan who thinks they've seen it all, there are some disturbing and truly surprising moments throughout the story. The novel's climax features a bravura showdown between the vengeful entity and one of the main character's daughters, which ends in a way you might not expect.

If you're a fan of tales of ghostly revenge and retribution like Peter Straub's Ghost Story, you should really enjoy The Only Good Indians. Jones has written several excellent novels, including Growing Up Dead In Texas, and The Bird Is Gone. This compelling book just might be his best work yet. If you're looking to get lost in a moody, deeply frightening novel featuring well-developed characters and an absorbing story, set in a world you may not be familiar with, check out The Only Good Indians. Highly recommended for horror fans. 

Retro Movie: Flynn's "Rolling Thunder"

There have been many films which examine the experiences of the returning Vietnam veteran, from introspective stories such as Coming Home and Born on the Fourth of July, to dark and surreal tales like Platoon and Apocalypse Now. On the other end of the spectrum are movies like Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo films, and Chuck Norris’ Missing in Action series, which tend to be straightforward action stories, though First Blood, the initial entry in the Rambo series, tried to be a little something more than just another shoot ‘em up flick. Somewhere in between these types of movies is Rolling Thunder (1977), directed by John Flynn. The film stars William Devane as Major Charles Rane, who returns home to San Antonio after several years as a POW in Vietnam. He learns that his wife has taken up with another man, and also finds that his young son barely remembers him. Rane is haunted by memories of the torture he suffered during the war, but he tries to adjust to civilian life in a world that feels much different than the one he left behind. 

Rane’s hometown hosts a celebration honoring his return. They award him a brand new Cadillac, as well a set of silver dollars, one for every day he was a captive. Linda Forchet, a local woman who wore his ID bracelet in his honor while he was held prisoner, presents him with the car and the money. She offers to buy him a drink at the bar where she works as a waitress. She makes a pass at him, but he initially rejects her advances. He also has a tense meeting with Cliff, the man who’s taken up with his wife. Cliff is a local deputy, and has become something of a surrogate father to Rane's son. While Rane becomes resigned to the fact that his marriage is over, he makes a real effort to build a relationship with his son.

One day, after returning home from having a drink with Linda, a group of men are waiting for Rane. They’re bandits who want the silver dollars that were given to him. Rane attempts to fight them off, but they brutally beat him, and kill his wife and son. He survives, but his hand is mangled as a result of it being pushed into a garbage disposal by the thieves. While Rane is recuperating in the hospital, he’s visited by both Linda and Johnny Vohden, a fellow soldier who is also having trouble adjusting to life as a civilian. Johnny tells him he’s signed up again, and will be leaving soon. After Rane is released, he picks up Linda, telling her he wants to take a trip to Mexico. However, this is no romantic getaway. He plans to exact revenge on the men who wounded him and killed his family, and enlists Johnny's help.

 

Rolling Thunder is part drama, part revenge thriller and part action film. The movie has a more thoughtful vibe than most B movies or exploitation movies. Devane is excellent in the lead role. He does a fine job conveying the character’s emotional struggle. Rane can’t shake the memories of what he went through in Vietnam, and feels uncomfortable in his “normal” life. When his family is killed, he uses the skills he learned in the war to punish the men responsible. The fine supporting cast features a lot of familiar faces, including Dabney Coleman, James Best, Cassie Yates and Luke Askew. Linda Haynes, a veteran of several 1970s B movies, gives an excellent performance as Linda, turning what could have been a standard female role of the period into a full-bodied character. Her scenes with Devane are touching and well-acted. Director John Flynn really gives Devane and Haynes room to build their characters throughout the film. We get a real sense of these two lost souls slowly opening up to one another.

 

The script for the film is by Paul Schrader and Heywood Gould, from Schrader's original story. Schrader, who also wrote Taxi Driver, has noted in interviews that his original draft was significantly altered by the time it reached the screen. But his trademark mix of well-drawn characters and violent action is very much in evidence. Director John Flynn does a nice job of balancing the character oriented aspects of the film with its action scenes. Flynn had a solid career as a director, helming tough-minded action films like The Outfit and Best Seller. Rolling Thunder is a favorite of Quentin Tarantino, who named a company he founded, which specialized in re-releasing noteworthy B movies of the 1970s, after the film. Rolling Thunder is a solid thriller with strong performances. It's an interesting and offbeat entry in the cycle of Vietnam films. Heres a link to the trailer for the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwAcWb5K3HM.

"Start Walkin" Honors Nancy Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra is one of the most iconic performers to come out of the 1960s pop music scene. She was (and is) an independent-minded artist and a strong woman who forged her own path in an often male-dominated industry. As part of a year-long celebration of Nancy’s career, Light in the Attic Records has released Nancy Sinatra: Start Walkin’ 1965-1976, a new collection featuring 23 of her best songs. She made her television debut on Welcome Home Elvis, a variety show hosted by her famous father Frank, which marked the King of Rock and Roll's return to the United States after his military service in Germany. She also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and released several singles. But her early releases didn't reflect the kind of music she really wanted to make. It was time for a change.

Fast forward a bit, and Nancy's label hooks her up with Lee Hazlewood, a songwriter and producer who had found success penning songs for artists like Duane Eddy. Hazlewood introduced Nancy to some of his music, including a tune called “These Boots Are Made For Walkin.” Nancy took the song, which Hazlewood had originally intended to record himself, and turned it into a powerful rallying cry for women everywhere. Instead of commenting on a relationship from the male perspective, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin” became a statement of female empowerment. Along with the other terrific pop songs on her debut album, the Hazlewood produced Boots, her music showcased a smart, sassy, and confident performer at the top of her game. Boots was the beginning of a fruitful professional partnership with Hazlewood, which produced several more albums, including the bona fide classic Nancy & Lee. 

Hazlewood's offbeat lyrics and unique production style, paired with Nancy's warm, sensual voice, are fully evident on a string of hits, including "Sugar Town," "Bang Bang" and their duets "Summer Wine," "Some Velvet Morning," and "Jackson." Nancy also performed the title song to the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice." Her collaborations with Hazlewood continued into the 1970s, when the duo released Nancy & Lee Again. Nancy wasn't just a musical force of nature, she also became a fashion icon, thanks to her distinctive fashion sense and cool ensemble, which included a mix of sweaters, miniskirts, and of course, boots. She also appeared in films such as Speedway, where she co-starred with Elvis, and television shows like The Man From U.N.C.L.E, as well as her own variety specials, including Movin' With Nancy.

Start Walkin’ is an outstanding collection. It's a great way to start exploring Nancy's music if you haven't heard it before. Once you listen you'll quickly discover why she has many famous fans, including U2 and Lana Del Rey. If you're already a convert, you'll appreciate these lovingly remastered versions of her most memorable songs. The anthology also includes a 64 page booklet, featuring an essay by Amanda Petrusich, an interview with Nancy conducted by co-producer Hunter Lea, and many never before seen photos. As part of their year-long tribute to Nancy's work, Light In The Attic Records will also be releasing expanded editions of Boots and Nancy & Lee. For more information on Start Walkin' 1965-1976, follow this link to the page on the Light In The Attic site: https://lightintheattic.net/releases/7266-start-walkin-1965-1976.

Inside the Mind and Movies of "De Palma"

Brian De Palma has directed some of the most memorable (and controversial) movies of the last 50 years. His films include Carrie, Dressed To Kill, Scarface, The Untouchables and the disastrous big-screen adaptation of Tom Wolfe's novel The Bonfire of the Vanities. De Palma is a truly visual storyteller and his stylish, twist-laden and violent thrillers often feature Hitchcockian elements, as in Dressed To Kill, Body Double and Raising Cain. Filmmakers Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow sat down with De Palma to have a wide ranging conversation about his life in movies, and the highs and lows of working in the Hollywood system. The result of the many hours of footage shot by Baumbach and Paltrow is the compelling, in-depth documentary De Palma (2015).

 

De Palma discusses his family, his younger days and how he got his start making movies. He was part of a group of talented young filmmakers who rose to prominence in the 1970s, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola. It's fascinating to hear his stories about the movie business in the 1970s, when films like Taxi Driver, American Graffitti and The Godfather were changing the ways movies were made. De Palma discusses his early films, including Greetings, Hi, Mom! and Get To Know Your Rabbit, which co-starred Orson Welles. His breakthrough movie, Sisters, a dark thriller which starred Margot Kidder, was not only influenced by De Palma's hero, Alfred Hitchcock, the film's score was provided by Bernard Herrmann, who worked on a number of films with the Master of Suspense.

De Palma talks about the casting and production of Carrie, his landmark adaptation of the Stephen King novel, and how the film became a hit despite the fact that the studio cut the budget right from the start, and gave little support to the project. In fact, many of De Palma's stories are about how some of his films succeeded in spite of the interference of studio management, and others failed as a result of it, including The Bonfire of the Vanities, which became a notorious flop. He also frankly discusses the controversy regarding the amount of violence and sex contained in his films, like Scarface and Carlito's Way, and how he is often (undeservedly) tagged as a mere Hitchcock imitator, and not a talented director in his own right..

Throughout the documentary, De Palma gives a well-balanced and honest assessment of the movies in his filmography, including the cult musical Phantom of the Paradise, the underrated thrillers Blow Out and Body Double, and the darkly themed Vietnam drama, Casualties of War. He also tells some frank and entertaining anecdotes about the making of his films, and the stars he's worked with, including Cliff Robertson, John Travolta, Melanie Griffith, Al Pacino and Sean Penn. De Palma openly discusses how, after some big budget failures, including Mission To Mars, that he won't make films in Hollywood these days, and prefers to work outside the confines of the studio system. He comes across as intelligent, sharp, thoughtful and also possesses a good sense of (often self-deprecating) humor.

De Palma is a thought-provoking and insightful look at a filmmaker who has directed some of the most offbeat and intriguing thrillers of all time. Despite being knocked as a Hitchcock copycat, De Palma's films are more homage than imitation. He is a master craftsman who has directed some unforgettable sequences, such as the terror-filled prom in Carrie, and the train station shoot-out in The Untouchables. If you're a fan of behind the scenes documentaries, or have enjoyed his films, De Palma is a must see. The film is currently available to stream on multiple platforms, including Amazon Prime. Here's a look at the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97XoMjwoZ5w.

 

Monogroove's Scintillating Pop is "Here"

One of the benefits of spinning the radio dial back in the day was landing on a song you loved, or discovering one you hadn’t heard before, and digging its vibe. On There’s Something Here, the latest release from the California based band Monogroove, there’s no need to change the station to hear another great song. This talented trio treats us to a baker’s dozen of cool tracks, whose influences range from power pop to garage rock to psychedelia to punk, with a generous helping of folk mixed in for good measure. There’s Something Here is nothing less than a fantastic journey through the various rock and roll sounds of the 1960s and 1970s, imbued with a modern twist, and anchored by the band’s obvious love for the genres they’re celebrating. 

The album opens with “Back Seat,” a Big Star meets Cheap Trick by way of the Raspberries number that perfectly sets the tone for what’s to follow. The rest of the record features a terrific roster of songs, including the harmony-filled melodies of “Can I Take A Chance,” as well as the baroque pop styled “The Looking Glass” and “The Rain.” There’s also the marvelous “God Please,” an earnest plea for peace in these troubled times, and folk-infused tracks like the lovely ballads “I’ll Never Know” and the achingly beautiful, ethereal “Now and Forever.” The band also knows how to rock out when they want to, as evidenced by the electric punk energy of “Up In The Attic” and the 1960s rock meets 1990s alternative rock sound of “Little Miss Cool.”

Monogroove's lineup features the multi-talented Rin Lennon on guitar and vocals, the masterful bass work of Woody Cross and the splendid drumming of Kenny Cratty, both of whom also contribute to the letter-perfect vocals. The band’s marvelous musical chemistry, tight chops and glorious harmonies create music that’s an absolute blast to listen to, and you’ll want to do just that, over and over again. Any band that can not only sound Beatlesque throughout their album, but also manages to pull off a dazzling cover of the classic “Magical Mystery Tour,” (featuring special guest star Probyn Gregory on trumpet) is well worth your time and attention.

The music on There’s Something Here has a timeless feeling, and also sounds fresh and up to date. The songs on this album are masterful compositions that will get stuck in your head, inspire you, and touch your heart. If you love the iconic sounds of the 60s, 70s and 80s, There’s Something Here is essential listening. There are tunes for power pop and rock fans of every stripe on this excellent disc, from lighter fare like the touching “There For You” to the edgy, guitar-driven selections such as “All I Want Is You." Check out the group's music and get more information about the band by following this link to the Bandcamp page for the album: https://monogroove.bandcamp.com/album/theres-something-here. Here are links to the songs "Now and Forever" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IcwqAxtLZg and "Back Seat" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_5Pi4Q9mO4.