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“Chuck” B. Berry Good
90 is the new 50?
Brush away the AARP card, biting into soft food and staring out the window at birds from dusk until dawn. Chuck Berry, the trailblazing rocker behind “Johnny B. Goode” and many other hits, isn’t celebrating his 90th birthday (which is today, October 18th) sitting down. It looks like Mr. Berry still has a few fresh beats in his head that will keep him (and us) rockin’ and rollin’ well into the new year.
Berry’s new album – titled “Chuck” – will arrive in 2017 via Dualtone Records. His last album of original music was 1979’s “Rock It.” According to a press release, “Chuck” consists of songs written by Berry and was recorded in studios around his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
–Mike Ayers, Wall Street Journal
Thanks to my dad and his brother, I had the unforgettable chance to see experience Chuck Berry play his greatest hits in a tiny club in St. Louis, Missouri more than a decade ago. The true magic of that evening was that Mr. Berry, despite his towering age, did THE “Duck Walk” during his priceless performance of “Johnny B. Goode.” Everyone in the room was mesmerized with a smile as wide as the Gateway Arch. Knowing that the man himself is still musically inspired on his 90th birthday for a forthcoming album should bring a smile to everyone’s face.
A Dream of Mine: I think if somebody could arrange for Michael J. Fox to recreate that scene (as best as he can and is able) on the Academy Awards, in some form, to the Back to the Future mode/clothing/setting/high school kids dancing and have Chuck Berry “Duck Walk” on stage to sing with Marty McFly halfway through would be, arguably, the greatest moment in pop culture history. Plus, they would need to make sure to have that phone call from Marvin Berry before Chuck struts out onto the stage.
For now, here’s something that will get everybody to stand up and do their very own “Duck Walk.”
Happy 90th Birthday Chuck Berry!
Happy Monday!
“Goonies never say die!”
As Brand Josh Brolin can attest, Goonies were really never supposed to say two other words on set…
The Goonies, to this day, still has some of the most passionate and protective fans around, which says a lot since the movie was released back in 1985. Count myself among those fans. Incredibly, this cult classic was the the product of some of cinema’s most imaginative storytellers: Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon I, II & III), Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, Gremlins, Adventures in Babysitting) and Steven Spielberg (drop the mic). That triple threat actually seems more odd than the plot to The Goonies.
Here’s to channeling Josh Brolin’s amazement for what this week will present to us, except with a slightly different word choice.
Have an Awe-Inspiring Week!
Man, He was a Super Hero
The superheroes in a superhero movie aren’t always in front of the camera.
Masters of the Universe, released in 1987, is one of the best superhero movies ever made. This despite having to deal with many enormous challenges. The story follows He-Man and his solider friends as they to find and, in the process, prevent Skeletor and his army of villains from getting their hands on the all-powerful Cosmic Key as they search and destroy suburban Los Angeles. The movie is a perfect encapsulation of the cinematic magic of the ’80s that combined eye-catching practical effects and flashy CGI. As the expression goes, the film is pound-for-pound (or frame-for-frame) a classic that defines the eternal battle of good vs. evil.
And, as the short documentary below reveals, there was an epic battle just to make and finish this cult classic.
True story.
Courteney Cox undeniably stole the movie. The casting director should get another thank you, nearly 20 years later. Similar to Richard Donner’s Superman films with Christopher Reeve, critiques focusing on the slightly unrealistic visual effects are irrelevant. The technological challenges and related growing pains are, as a matter of fact, more endearing with each passing year and viewing. The story, characters and settings more than make up for any shortcomings.
Box office records and critical acclaim be damned: Masters of the Universe knew what it was and was proud of it.
That alone deserves a shout-out on “Throwback Thursday.”
He-Man still has the power!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 