An Aging Rock Critic's Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 1

Until the Dow is back above 10,000 and/or there is peace in the Middle East, I hereby pledge to on some semi-occasional basis offer right here on Huffington Post some reasons to be cheerful during our current Depression. I use the word Depression here not in any technical economic sense, but more in the traditional, semi-literary Sylvia Plath sense. I use the word simply because I cannot stand to hear another individual utter the phrase "these economic times" -- words which themselves bum me out by sounding so fantastically portentous yet completely meaningless.

For the record, these "Reasons To Be Cheerful" are so named in honor of a wonderful song, "Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3" made famous by the late, great Ian Dury -- a wonderfully unique old punk who did not live long enough to see "these economic times -- and his brilliant band The Blockheads, who are now back playing together, itself another reason to be cheerful. Furthermore, in my nearly half-hearted effort to help usher in a new and more responsible, pay-as-you-go economic era, at least one of my reasons to be cheerful each week must be free, at least in theory.

1) You Can Finally See My Dinner With Jimi -- Does it reveal too much to say that the Turtles were the first band I ever loved sometime in the early mid-Seventies right before I discovered the Raspberries and somehow then the Beatles? Perhaps so. But it's taken years for some company to reveal this intriguing and charming rock & roll movie that somehow got lost in the pipeline. The song that first made me love the Turtles was "Happy Together," which struck me then as now as a perfectly constructed and performed pop masterpiece full of great romance and menace -- sort of like life itself. As a kid I had the good fortune to meet one of the song's writers Gary Bonner who was at the time running a health food store in Teaneck, New Jersey and, when I met him, busy scooping carob chips. Mr. Bonner could not have been nicer to me as he washed his hands of carob and signed some of my many, many Turtles' albums. This movie now finally released on DVD is based on Turtles lead singer Howard Kaylan's surprisingly clear memory of the band's trip to England in 1967 in the wake of that monster hit, and their meetings with John, Paul, George and Ringo, Graham Nash, Donovan and Jimi Hendrix, among others. Directed by Bill Fishman of Tapeheads fame, My Dinner With Jimi isn't perfect by any means, but it's fairly fascinating window into the stoned reality of Sixties rock world with a little My Dinner With Andre thrown into the mix, except this time it's Kaylan (played nicely by former Kramer Vs. Kramer kid Justin Henry) having an extended dinner conversation with Jimi Hendrix, a long iconic figure who actor and comedian Royal Watkins vividly and convincingly brings to life here -- itself something of a public service.

2) You Can Go To The Grammy Museum Like Me And Check Out "The Drop" -- If you love music, and live anywhere near Los Angeles, you really should check out The Grammy Museum which is a fantastic part of LA Live downtown. Sure, I'm biased having had the pleasure of working on the Grammys for years now, but I'm here to tell you this Museum is a great place to spend a few hours getting lost and maybe even found in all things musical. And starting this week, the Museum has kicked off a very cool new program called "The Drop" which seems like an excellent chance to watch a series of interesting artists discuss and perform material from their latest release. This week I already missed appearances by Nanci Griffith, Rhett Miller and Mandy Moore because of a non-stop series of elementary graduation events for my kids. At least where I live, elementary school graduation has somehow become the new medical school graduation -- only with more pomp, circumstance and swim parties. But I will not miss being downtown this coming Monday night to see "The Drop" with Marshall Crenshaw, another of my early pop rock heroes. Marshall has a brand new album called Jaggedland, and I can't hardly wait to go back to the Museum to hear Marshall discuss it with the Museum's Executive Director Robert Santelli and perform some songs for a few hundred of his closest friends. You can't miss me -- I'll be the loud bastard begging Marshall to play "Monday Morning Rock" or "Favorite Waste of Time."

3) You Can Spend More Time With Your Kids -- Okay, here is this week's theoretically free reason to be cheerful. Kids are great. They're funny. They're smart. And they don't talk too much about "these economic times" as a rule. They're also shorter than you -- at least until they eventually sprout up -- much like the Dow.

I'll be back to uplift you more later. In the meantime, let everyone know: what the hell are your "Reasons To Be Cheerful"?

Comments

[VicDaring]

I'm cheerful that Styx & REO Speedwagon are still around and touring, despite the tireless efforts of music critics to kill their careers because they were never cynical enough to be accepted by the self-appointed Cool Music Police.

I know, that doesn't sound cheerful. It sounds kind of snarky. But I can both.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

You're talking to the wrong critic VicDaring. I'm the lone member of the Cool Music Police who loves good arena rock. Okay maybe that technically makes me part of the Non-Cool Music Police. For reference, please see my passionate liner notes defenses on the re-releases of the first two Boston albums.

I dare you to find a bad band word I ever wrote about either band -- although I do remember blasting one of Dennis' lesser solo albums, but I'm pretty sure I was right there, Mr. Roboto.

[VicDaring]

Glad to hear it. See, now I have another reason to be cheerful.

I can forgive blasting some of Dennis DeYoung's solo efforts. I might not agree, but I can certainly understand.

Besides, reading over your HuffPo posts quickly, you don't seem nearly as surly as many of your colleagues. Which would account for your acceptance of arena rock (heck, your willingness to use the term "arena rock" rather than something for derogative).

[JGatsby]

Sorry Vic and David but, how can I put this diplomatically, guess I can't -- Styx and REO suck donkey. They are the epitomy of mediocre music and musicians that Flo and Eddie did a great job of mocking.

[Spender]

Oh, David... I loved the Turtles and the song "Eleanor" almost as much as "Happy Together".
Mark and Howie stuck together as "Flo & Eddie" and performed one of the highlight tunes from Zappa's "Live at the Fillmore" LP - yes, a kickass, note-perfect rendition of "Happy Together". They also provided the amazing backing vocals on the T.Rex "Electric Warrior" LP and many, many more.
Loved these guys and can't wait to see the film.
Now, I'm off to take my daughter to the zoo.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Great taste Spender. I could spend all days talking Turtles, but I have a speech to write and you have zoo animals to see. Have fun.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

And don't get me started on Flo & Eddie's "Moving Targets" album -- genuius stuff
Some of the only guys who were funny and poppy

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

There's a DVD extra where Flo & Eddie run through all their old managers that is PRICELESS

[JGatsby]

I saw it on YouTube, it is very funny.

[JGatsby]

Just a minor correction, when you say they performed one of the highlighted tunes it sounds as if they sort of walked on and joined the group. Flo and Eddie were the lead vocalists of the Mothers band at that time. All the lead vocals on the Fillmore album as well as Just Another Band From L.A. are by them (Zappa also throws in a few vocals but mainly he sticks to guitar playing). A lot of Zappa fanatics disparage the Flo and Eddie version of the Mothers as being too comedy oriented but for me it was the best lineup (from a band that always had an amazing group of musicians). Actually I won't even say best in the musical sense but my favorite in the way the personalities worked together. Mark and Howard were the only two stars IMHO who had the stature to be as interesting as Zappa. To me that band was the one that truly was a band and not just a backup group for Zappa. I always wonder what would have happened if Zappa hadn't gotten thrown off the stage in Europe. An event which essentially caused that band to break up.

[OpalSky42]

One of my reasons to be cheerful is finding cool bloggers like you, David! Thanks!

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

That is so vert nice OpalSky42 that it cheered me up considerably on a rather gloomy looking Friday morning in the Hollywood Hills. Thank you. May you find many better reasons today and always.

Best,
David

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Democrab, that's one of my favorite Lennon solo songs -- righteously indignant and rocking.

[liveinhope23]

My favorite under-rated band of all time - FAMILY
Roger Chapman was (and is) a vocalist and lyricist like no other and deserved way more than he got in terms of fame - as did the rest of the band. They were big in Eurpose but never really made it here.
Check out "Fearless" and Bandstand" if you can find them on CD (Probably Rhino)
Wonderful stuff!!

[liveinhope23]

They were also popular in Europe.

[Democrab]

John Lennon wrote;
"I'm sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, shortsighted, narrow-minded hypocrites
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
I've had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth"

Think he was getting tired of catch phrases like "trickle down economics" and "I am not a crook?"

[DKlein]

David, my old Tenaflynian friend,
While we're celebrating the Turtles, let's not forget the sublime "You Showed Me," not a song that comes to most people's minds but one of their true gems--De La Soul (wisely) chose to steal it and got in trouble for it too.
Glad fatherhood is treating you well--me as well. It's been a long time since you reviewed "Beach Baby" by First Class. I send you my best.