Author: chimesfreedom

Editor-in-chief, New York.

Jim Stafford and the “Wildwood Weed”

Wildwood Weed The changing attitudes toward marijuana, with states legalizing medical marijuana or legalizing it outright, reminded me of a 45 rpm record I had as a kid. I had never seen or smelled pot at that time, but I just liked a funny song called “Wildwood Weed.”

Jim Stafford recorded the song, which is really more talking than singing. If you had a TV in the 1970s, you probably know who Jim Stafford is. Like Paul Williams (and to some extent John Denver), he was one of those singer-performers who for a period seemed to be on every television show before suddenly seeming to disappear.

Stafford was a country-singer-comedian who often appeared on The Tonight Show. He had his own summer variety TV show in 1975 called, appropriately, The Jim Stafford Show. You might also remember him as a co-host of Those Amazing Animals from 1980 to 1981. Or you might recall his appearances on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour ‘Revival Show.’

But before all of that, I knew Stafford from a 45 rpm record playing in my bedroom where he sang a story about “Wildwood Weed.” Below Stafford performs “Wildwood Weed” while hosting Nashville Now. But first he explains how the song was controversial at the time.

“Wildwood Weed” went to number seven on the U.S. charts in 1974. One of his other songs that I recall from that same year was “My Girl Bill,” which is a little more serious than “Wildwood Weed.”

Stafford was one of the most likable people on television in those days, and he always seemed to be smiling. So I was glad to hear that he is still performing even if the shows are not on national TV. Since 1990, he has performed at The Jim Stafford Theatre in Branson, Missouri.

What is your favorite memory of Jim Stafford? Leave your two cents in the comments.  Photo via public domain.

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    What Are The Mamas & the Papas Singing About in “Creeque Alley”?

    mamas papas
    One of the great songs by The Mamas & the Papas is the song “Creeque Alley,” which was released in April 1967. It is a fun song that clearly is telling some kind of story, but one may find it hard to follow.

    In this video below, posted by RollingStones50yrs, a performance of “Creeque Alley” by The Mamas & the Papas is inter-cut with photos illustrating the references in the song.  “Creeque Alley” is about the band’s early years and some of their friends in the folk scene in the 1960s. The video also includes some interviews about the song.

    So, to learn more about John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips (as well as some of their friends), check out the lyrics in this video of “Creeque Alley.”

    Of course, it is a lovely song whether or not you catch all of the references. But it is still interesting to know a little more about it.

    For a more detailed analysis of “Creeque Alley,” check out this website. For example, the website explains how the final lyrics describes the band members’ journey to the Virgin Islands in 1965, Cass Elliot’s vocal range, and the group’s return to the U.S. and relocation to California.

    Broke, busted, disgusted, agents can’t be trusted,
    And Mitchie wants to go to the sea.
    Cass can’t make it; she says we’ll have to fake it –
    We knew she’d come eventually.
    Greasin’ on American Express cards;
    Tents low rent, but keeping out the heat’s hard.
    Duffy’s good vibrations and our imaginations
    Can’t go on indefinitely.
    And California dreamin’ is becomin’ a reality.

    Of course, that last line is a reference to the band’s hit “California Dreamin’,” released in December 1965.

    In fact, the name of the song Creeque Alley (pronounced like “creaky”) comes from “a narrow area of alleys that spiderweb the docks which historically carried ship cargo and pirate booty to the warehouses lining the waterfront on the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.” Another website with analysis of the song is here.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    All of the Harry Potter Films Condensed Into One Movie

    Harry Potter One Film

    A Harry Potter fan has taken the eight Harry Potter films and edited them to create one film that tells the story of Mr. Potter’s adventure in less than 80 minutes. Tim Stiefler has entitled his creation Wizardhood, in a reference to the movie Boyhood (2014), where we similarly watched the actors age in real life.

    So, if you do not have time for all of the films, you may track Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) across the years in one film (at least for now while it is still available). Check it out. [December 1, 2016 Update:  Unfortunately, it appears that the video is no longer available online.]

    The Harry Potter films were released from 2001 to 2011. And they are Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001); Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002); Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005); Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007); Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009); Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010); and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).

    What scene from the eight movies would you add to Wizardhood? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Analyzing Actors’ Accents in Films

    movie dialect

    One of the more challenging aspects of acting is when an actor must speak in a dialect or with an accent that is not native to the actor. Sometimes the actor does a great job, and sometimes they don’t.

    In this video from Wired, dialect coach Erik Singer analyzes 32 different accents from actors such as Brad Pitt, Kate Winslet, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Heath Ledger, and many more.

    Singer is generally generous in his criticisms, noting how difficult it is to get the correct accents on everything. He points out several times where actors get some things right and some things wrong. And he has strong praise for others.

    Check out Erik Singer giving us a nice lesson in accents in Movie Accent Expert Breaks Down 32 Actors’ Accents.

    What is your favorite movie accent? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Tina Turner: Simply the Best

    Tina Turner The Best

    Tina Turner was born as Anna Mae Bullock in in Haywood County, Tennessee on November 26, 1939. She has had an incredible music career, including her work with Ike Turner and Phil Spector in the 1960s as well as her great solo work in the 1980s, including the album Private Dancer (1984).

    1980s Music

    In 1989, Turner released the album Foreign Affair, which did not do as well as Private Dancer, which had hits like “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” But Foreign Affair was a solid album and did include a song that became one of her signature hits, “The Best.” That song was written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight and had previously been recorded by Bonnie Tyler.

    Turner also did some great duets beyond her work with Ike, including a hit recording of “It’s Only Love” with Bryan Adams. Below she performs “Tonight” with David Bowie in 1985. The song was written by Bowie and Iggy Pop. This live version appeared on the live album Tina Live in Europe (1988).

    On the Big Screen

    Turner also appeared on the big screen, such as acting in the 1985 movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. She also appeared as the Acid Queen in The Who’s Tommy (1975).

    In addition to acting on the big screen, she has been portrayed in a movie. Her abusive relationship with Ike Turner was portrayed in What’s Love Got to Do with It in 1993.

    Retirement

    Turner followed those movies with some more music releases and performances. But she announced her semi-retirement in 2000 and formally retired from the stage in 2009.

    Today, Turner lives in Switzerland with her husband, and she became a Swiss citizen in 2013. Unfortunately, we do not get to hear from her much nowadays. She of course deserves her privacy and happiness after the life she gave to us through her music.

    But she did return to the stage in 2015 around her birthday to perform “The Best,” and she showed us that at 76 years of age she still was the best.

    Absence as Solo Artist from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    There is one thing that Turner deserves from us. While she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the duo of Ike and Tina Turner, she has not yet been inducted as an individual artist, even though she has been eligible since 1998. She more than deserves it based on the quality of her solo work (not even addressing the way women have been treated in rock).  So, hopefully the Hall will correct the injustice while she can still attend the induction. UPDATE:  In 2021, Turner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.

    And that brings me to my favorite Turner solo track, “Better Be Good To Me,” which is from Private Dancer and one of the best songs of the 1980s.



    What is your favorite Tina Turner song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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