Number 25. This edition is for the week of September 11--17, 2000.
Mike's Rant
Top Ten, Cats, Bucs, Nic Cage on being John Malkovich, Batman, Van Halen, Star Wars Ep. 2.
Matt's Rail
Howdy gang! Congrats to Corey and Evelyn on their anniversary. Many more. And thanks boss for the early birthday wishes. (Coitanly!---N) I will be spending the next 10 days back east, visiting Baltimore and New York City. Time permitting, I'll be submitting stuff for next week's issue. If not, I'll have plenty to tell the following week. Here we go:
TOP TEN
I, too, am amazed at the response our top 10 lists have been generating. I challenge Matt and Nolan to join me in designing a new top 10 list each week. Since Matt chose albums, I'll let Nolan pick the next category! (Already did--the 10 worst albums, remember? But, as Scott said on the front page, chances are you don't own them anymore or never had them to begin with. So, OK, lame idea. I'll work on it.---N)
NOW AND FOREVER...................NOT!
After 7,485 performances, the Broadway musical "Cats" finally closed this past Sunday. I have seen the show several times, but never in New York. Every time I wanted to see it in NYC, I ended up seeing something else. "Cats" won several Tony awards, including Best Musical. It also introduced the audition staple "Memory" to the world. This song was so popular that when audition notices were posted for singers, telling them to bring their own music, they always ended "Please, no "Memory." Now I think they say "No Phantom."
HOW 'BOUT THEM BUCS!
With my Orioles once again in the toilet, I am happy to brag on my football team. This past week the Tampa Bay Buccaneers WHOOPED the Chicago Bears 41-0. (No truer words!---N) For those of you who may have jumped on the bandwagon over the past couple years, make sure you sit in the back. Matt and I have suffered with these guys since Day One. We've endured a 0-26 start, being snubbed by Bo Jackson and watching/cringing at Vinny Testeverde! We deserve to be happy!
AND THIS I DIDN'T KNOW
In a recent interview, I was shocked to hear Patti Smith of the band "Scandal" (not to be confused with Patty Smyth) was asked by Eddie Van Halen to take David Lee Roth's place when Roth got the boot. Who'd a thunk Sammy was second? Certainly not Sammy! (Ya know, I just don't know about those guys. Every time they talk about singers, some new revelation comes out of the closet about who they'd o' RATHER had. I wonder how much of that talk is legit?---N)
MOVIE NOTES
Well, Nicolas Cage has again dropped out of the super hero sweepstakes. Now John Malkovich is in talks to play the Green Goblin in the "Spiderman" movie. (Wha...? Cage is definitely more the Goblin than Malkovich.---N) Brad Pitt is seriously considering playing Batman in the next film in the series. Sorry folks, I don't see it. A few years ago I heard that Kurt Russell was going to play the Caped Crusader...........a choice I liked. I tell you, a few more casting changes and we can do a top 10 list on people who have played Batman! (Adam West in "Batman 5: the True Story!"---N)
Supposedly someone has stolen a complete script to "Star Wars: Episode Two," and is asking $100,000 for it. So far no one is jumping at chance! (For sale: "SW, EP II." JarJar Binks dies in the first 5 minutes. Asking $100,000.---N)
LITTLE BOY BLUE.................HE NEEDED THE MONEY
A few years ago, Andrew "Dice" Clay was banned from MTV for doing a routine the station thought offensive. Nothing to me was more offensive this year then the recent MTV Music Award show, hosted by the very unfunny Wayons Brothers. Not only was their attempts at humor crude, but also poor. The only laughter I heard was best described as nervous. Two Examples: "One of our next presenters is best known as Big Pussy. You decide which one. Please welcome Lil' Kim and the guy from "The Sopranos." Next they introduced female wrestler Chynna and the openly gay Richard Hatch, winner of the "Survivor" TV show contest by saying "Our next presenters are a girl who could lick any guy in this room, and a guy who wants to." Like the majority of the "jokes" that night, no one laughed. (Glad I missed it.---N)
Well, gang, that's it for this week. Have a safe and happy week and I'll catch up with you all soon!
Hello everyone, can you believe we're halfway thru September? Just a few
weeks till Christmas!!! Wow. (Leave it to Matt...N)
TOP #11 THRU 20 ALBUMS
What an excellent idea! I can definitely release some guilt as there are several albums I couldn't list, such as:
11. Imagine - John Lennon: Just an amazing array of music, so independent of itself, you never know which chord he's going to next. Truly a musical genious. Please buy this today. You'll love it.
12. Seventh Sojourn - the Moody Blues: This is the album that gives us isn't life strange', 'I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band', and my personal favorite 'New Horizons'. Beautiful music.
13. Out of the Blue - Electric Light Orchastra: It was hard for me not to list ELO II here, as it is quite inspiring, but this has to get the nod for just so many damn good songs, all of which were written by Jeff Lynne.
14. Grand Illusion - Styx: Man do these guys bring back memories. I wonder if Mike remembers this concert (huh,huh,huh). Grand Illusion, Foolin Youself, Man in the Wilderness, Come sail away...you get the idea. Great tunes never end.
15. Innocent Age - Dan Fogelberg: simply put, pure and wonderful. Run for the roses, same old land syne, leader of the band are but a few of great songs you'll find here.
16. The Stranger - Billy Joel: so good that my favorite songs weren't even heard on the radio, "Everybody has a Dream", and "Scenes from an Italian Restraunt". It's also the album that really launched Billy Joel into the music limelight.
17.Tommy - the Who: a masterpiece of rock and roll opera. The first, in fact, and it stands today as one of greatest works in history.
18. Side III - the Rasberries: The only reason these guys weren't bigger is because before the world was confused into thinking rap was a music form, it was confused into thinking the same of disco. And pretty much anyone who came out in that sad period had a tough time, but this is vintage hard edged rockabilly rock and roll. You gotta love it.
19. Harvest - Neil Young: Excellent acoustic rock, mixed with sad ballads, and earthy stories. Incredible achievement.
20. Headquarters - the Monkees: oh yeah, the boys. Mike, Micky, Davey, and Peter on their own, away from Don Kirshner, and they hit the bullseye. Great record.
Well that's about it, gotta run.
Take care, and happy birthday Mike!!!!
Matt
I never dreamed I'd have such support on The Monkees! That you, and especially Scott, back me up on that is amazing. Shows what an inescapable influence they had on us aging boomers!---Nolan.
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"Mike's Rant" is © 2000 by Michael A. Smith