The Velvet Vultures are an eclectic and prolific musical group that DOES NOT USE AI in the creation of our music. Metal, hip-hop, dance/trance, ethnic, prog, folk, & space music are all woven into the weft and warp of our psychedelic soundscape. Humor is always an option.
The A-side is a lovely country/pop song that's facetious in title only. The title of the flip side speaks for itself.
The Velvet Vultures debut with (of all things) A COUNTRY MUSIC single! Whoda thunk it?
This is how I could actually be unique in the world -- I may be the only human whose entire exposure to Star Wars is that I've only seen the original movie and the holiday special. It originally aired on November 17, 1978, on CBS.
The special is part of the official Star Wars cannon. So, you can make the following bet with people; "I bet you Bea Arthur, Art Carney and Harvey Korman all played characters in George Lucas' Star Wars franchise". You can even bet them that Harvey Korman played three of 'em! One of them is a Julia Child type woman with four arms.
I don't think I can count The Jefferson Starship and Dianne Carroll as characters because they only appear in music videos the other characters watch. Art Carney gives the Dianne Carroll video to Chewbacca's dad to watch as pornography. (No, I'm not making this up!)
Bea Arthur sings a song and Princess Leah sings two!
I watched it today on YouTube, in the Rifftrax version. Rifftrax = The guys from Mystery Science Theatre heckle it all the way through -- without them, I never could have gotten through it!
The Rifftrax presentation is missing a cartoon and the Jefferson Starship video, but they are easily found elsewhere on YouTube. I like the Jefferson Starship song.
So here's my question -- Are the rest of the Star Wars movies better than The Holiday Special? I'll probably never find out.
Between 1973 and 1974, Gong released their best known work, the allegorical Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, describing the adventures of Zero the Hero, the Good Witch Yoni and the Pot Head Pixies from the Planet Gong. (The Pixies wear teapot hats and fly around in teapot helicopters.)
Sherman Hemsley (Personal Life)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Unlike the characters he played, Hemsley was a shy and intensely private man, described by some as reclusive. He avoided the Hollywood limelight and little of his personal life was public knowledge beyond the facts that he never married and he had no children.[13] In 2003, however, Hemsley granted a rare video interview to the Archive of American Television. "[Playing George Jefferson] was hard for me, but he was the character. I had to do it."
Intro to our Story;
Sherman Hemsley, the actor who played George Jefferson, was known to be a huge fan of prog rock, especially Gentle Giant, Nektar and Gong. Hemsley collaborated with Yes’s Jon Anderson on a funk-rock opera about the “spiritual qualities of the number 7” (never produced). Hemsley also did an interpretive dance to the Gentle Giant song “Proclamation” on Dinah Shore’s 70s talkshow, that was apparently somewhat confusing for her. Here, Gong’s Daevid Allen tells us about his encounter with the beloved 70’s sitcom star.
Daevid Allen's Sherman Hemsley Story
Here is Allen’s verbatim tale as related to Mitch Myers (and originally published in Magnet magazine): “It was 1978 or 1979, and Sherman Hemsley kept ringing me up. I didn’t know him from a bar of soap because we didn’t have television in Spain (where I was living). He called me from Hollywood saying, ‘I’m one of your biggest fans and I’m going to fly you here and put flying teapots all up and down the Sunset Strip.’ I thought, ‘This guy is a lunatic.’ He kept it up so I said, ‘Listen, can you get us tickets to L.A. via Jamaica? I want to go there to make a reggae track and have a honeymoon with my new girlfriend.’ He said, ‘Sure! I’ll get you two tickets.’ I thought, ‘Well, even if he’s a nut case at least he’s coming up with the goodies.’ The tickets arrived and we had this great honeymoon in Jamaica. Then we caught the plane across to L.A. We had heard Sherman was a big star, but we didn’t know the details. Coming down the corridor from the plane, I see this black guy with a whole bunch of people running after him trying to get autographs. Anyway, we get into this stretch limousine with Sherman and immediately there’s a big joint being passed around. I say, ‘Sorry man, I don’t smoke.’ Sherman says, ‘You don’t smoke and you’re from Gong?’ Inside the front door of Sherman’s house was a sign saying, ‘Don’t answer the door because it might be the man.’ There were two Puerto Ricans that had a LSD laboratory in his basement, so they were really paranoid. They also had little crack/freebase depots on every floor. Then Sherman says, ‘Come on upstairs and I’ll show you the Flying Teapot room.’ Sherman was very sweet but was surrounded by these really crazy people. We went up to the top floor and there was this big room with darkened windows and “Flying Teapot” is playing on a tape loop over and over again. There were also three really dumb-looking, very voluptuous Southern gals stoned and wobbling around naked. They were obviously there for the guys to play around with. [My girlfriend] Maggie and I were really tired and went to our room to go to bed. The room had one mattress with an electric blanket and that was it. No bed covering, no pillow, nothing. The next day we came down and Sherman showed us a couple of [The Jeffersons] episodes. One of our fans came and rescued us, but not before Sherman took us to see these Hollywood PR people. They said, ‘Well, Mr. Hemsley wants us to get the information we need in order to do these Flying Teapot billboards on Sunset Strip.’ I looked at them and thought they were the cheesiest, most nasty people that I had ever seen in my life and I gave them the runaround. I just wanted out of there. I liked Sherman a lot. He was a very personable, charming guy. I just had a lot of trouble with the people around him.”
When I was in kindergarten, in the late 60's, Mike Nesmith was my favorite rock star. He's remained one of my favorites ever since.
I am next to him on this album cover. The blurry little head below his elbow is me.
Seriously, check out his album "...and the Hits Just Keep on Comin'". It's just Nesmith on rhythm guitar and singing and Red Rhodes on steel guitar. A classic.
The link below goes to my tribute to him. It is one of he most popular posts on this blog
Circa 1981, I found this record, used, in a bargain bin for a dollar. I had no idea what the heck it was. It changed my life. It took my brain to places it had never been before. It's stupid, it's absurdist, it's creepily, mysteriously, darkly psychedelic.
There is no other various artists / compilation album like it. There is NO OTHER album of any type like it.
Here is side one;
THE DIAMOND MINE by DAVE DIAMOND AND THE HIGHER ELEVATION
SUZY CREAMCHEESE by TEDDY & HIS PATCHES SUICIDAL FLOWERS by CRYSTAL CHANDLIER SWAMI by WILLIAM PENN V
I'M ALLERGIC TO FLOWERS by THE JEFFERSON HANDKERCHIEF
listed only as 'Bonus Track', actually PRANA by THE UNFOLDED. (Only about the first minute and a half is on the album.)
FLIGHT REACTION by THE CALICO WALL LOOSE LIP SYNC SHIP by THE HOGS
THE REALITY OF (AIR) FRIED BORSK by THE DRIVING STUPID
I was actually thrilled to find PEBBLES 3 available in a CD version in 1992. Back then, it wasn't a forgone conclusion that every last obscure little thing would one day become a CD release -- especially a bootleggish item like this. I was a little disappointed that some of my favorite tracks were missing, and some of these added tracks were a little too mind boggling, even for me. Missing in action; Prana by The Unfolding and Soggy Cereal by Mike Condello.
Frank Zappa - 200 Motels (Various versions; 6 CD /2 CD /2 LP (black vinyl or red vinyl) - 29 October 2021
Frank Zappa’s “200 Motels” turns 50! In celebration of FZ’s famous 1971 “Surrealistic Documentary,” Zappa Records, UMe and MGM are pleased to present an extensive 7-disc box set. Contains the original soundtrack remastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering along with a massive amount of never-before-heard audio documentary material surrounding the project. Unearthed from FZ’s Vault are original demos, studio outtakes, work mixes, interviews and movie ads along with newly discovered dialog reels revealing an early audio edit of the film. This incredible set contains a replica of the movie poster, a custom motel keychain, Do-Not-Disturb motel door hanger and the original 1971 soundtrack packaging along with new liner notes from Pamela Des Barres, Ruth Underwood and Vaultmeister, Joe Travers.
CD 1:
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK – REMASTERED 1.Semi-Fraudulent / Direct-From-Hollywood Overture 2.Mystery Roach 3.Dance Of The Rock & Roll Interviewers 4.This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Prologue) 5.Tuna Fish Promenade 6.Dance Of The Just Plain Folks 7.This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Reprise) 8.The Sealed Tuna Bolero 9.Lonesome Cowboy Burt 10.Touring Can Make You Crazy 11.Would You Like A Snack? 12.Redneck Eats 13.Centerville 14.She Painted Up Her Face 15.Janet’s Big Dance Number 16.Half A Dozen Provocative Squats 17.Mysterioso 18.Shove It Right In 19.Lucy’s Seduction Of A Bored Violinist & Postlude 20.I’m Stealing The Towels 21.Dental Hygiene Dilemma 22.Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You? 23.Daddy, Daddy, Daddy 24.***** Dimension 25.What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning
CD 2:
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK – REMASTERED (Cont’d) 1.A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes 2.Magic Fingers 3.Motorhead’s Midnight Ranch 4.Dew On The Newts We Got 5.The Lad Searches The Night For His Newts 6.The Girl Wants To Fix Him Some Broth 7.The Girl’s Dream 8.Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Courduroy Ponce 9.Strictly Genteel (The Finale)
200 MOTELS DEMOS, 2ND MOVEMENT – ROCK MUSIC 10.Road Ladies (Alternate Mix) 11.What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening 12.What Kind Of Girl Do You Think We Are? 13.Bwana Dik 14.Daddy, Daddy, Daddy 15.Do You Like My New Car? 16.Magic Fingers 17.Phyllis & Aynsley 18.What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning (Alternate Mix)
200 MOTELS DEMO SESSION OUTTAKES 19.Tell Me You Love Me (Mix Outtake) 20.Road Ladies (Alternate Take) 21.What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening (Studio Outtakes) 22.What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening (Alternate Take, Incomplete) 23.“Aynsley Dunbar, Ladies & Gentlemen” 24.Magic Fingers (Version B, Mix Outtake) 25.What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning (Mix Outtake) 26.Tell Me You Love Me (Alternate Take)
CD 3:
200 MOTELS – DIALOG PROTECTION REELS 1.Scene 1-2: Semi-Fraudulent/Direct-From-Hollywood Overture 2.Scene 3: “What’s The Deal?” 3.Mystery Roach 4.Scene 32: “It’s A Good Thing We Get Paid To Do This…” 5.Scene 14: What’s The Name Of Your Group? I 6.Scene 32: “We Haven’t Formed The Group Yet” 7.Scene 15: What’s The Name Of Your Group? II 8.Scene 17: “When Do We Get Paid?” 9.Scene 18: Went On The Road 10.Scene 19-20: “Special Delivery” 11.Scene 21: Centerville 12.Scene 21: Janet & Lucy 13.Scene 22: This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich 14.Scene 23-24: Tuna Fish Promenade 15.Scene 28: The Sealed Tuna Bolero 16.Scene 29: Lonesome Cowboy Burt 17.Scene 30: JCB & Rance 18.Scene 21: Larry The Dwarf 19.Scene 81: Magic Fingers 20.Scene 47: Larry The Dwarf In The Hotel Room 21.Scene 33: The Lad Searches The Night For His Newts 22.Scene 40-41: The Girl Wants To Fix Him Some Broth 23.Scene 42: Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Courduroy Ponce 24.Scene 45: A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes 25.Scene 57: The Perverted Nun 26.Scene 87: “*****!” 27.Scene 58: She Painted Up Her Face 28.Scene 60: Janet’s Big Dance Number 29.Scene 61: Half A Dozen Provocative Squats 30.Scene 62: Lucy’s Seduction Of A Bored Violinist 31.Scene 63: Shove It Right In 32.Scene 67: “I Am Bwana Dik!” 33.Scene 68-69: What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening 34.Scene 77: Daddy, Daddy, Daddy
CD 4:
200 MOTELS – DIALOG PROTECTION REELS (Cont’d) 1.Scene 90: Biff Debris & Jeff 2.Scene 84-85: ***** Dimension 3.Scene 32: Mystery Roach (Acoustic) / “Yeah? Well Fine!” 4.Scene 71: What Will The Evening Bring Me This Morning 5.Scene 92: Jeff Flips Out / I’m Stealing The Room 6.Scene 100: Strictly Genteel 7.Scene 100: 200 Motels Finale
BONUS SWILL, PART I 8.“I Was Gonna Make A Movie One Time…” 9.200 Motels Movie Ad #1 10.What’s The Name Of Your Group? (FZ Edit) 11.200 Motels Movie Ad #2 12.FZ on Ringo Starr 13.Ringo Starr on 200 Motels 14.200 Motels Movie Ad #3 15.Motorhead’s Midnight Ranch (Mix Outtake) 16.Looking For Newts 17.“They Are Only In It For The Money” 18.200 Motels Movie Ad #4 19.200 Motels Commercial Session Outtakes 20.Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You? (Mix Outtake) 21.“I Shall Ruin All The Tapes” 22.Janet’s Big Dance Number (Basic Tracks) 23.Martin Lickert Voice-Over 24.Touring Can Make You Crazy (Mix Outtake) 25.***** Dimension (Instrumental Alternate Take) 26.Centerville (Mix Outtake) 27.Mystery Roach (Alternate Master) 28.Magic Fingers (Mix Outtake) 29.200 Motels Movie Ad #5
CD 5:
200 MOTELS – ALTERNATES AND OUTTAKES 1.“What Is 200 Motels?” 2.Theodore Bikel Voice-Over 3.Semi-Fraudulent/Direct-From-Hollywood Overture (Mix Outtake) 4.What’s The Name Of Your Group? (Complete Sequence, Part I) 5.What’s The Name Of Your Group? (Complete Sequence, Part II) 6.What’s The Name Of Your Group? (Complete Sequence, Part III) 7.Can I Help You With This Dummy? 8.Pianos For The Pleated Gazelle 9.Synth Tracks (Part I) 10.Would You Like A Snack? (Alternate Take) 11.Howard Kaylan/Mark Volman Voice-Over 12.Centerville (Rough Mix) 13.This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Prologue, Mix Outtake) 14.Tuna Fish Promenade (Mix Outtake) 15.The Sealed Tuna Bolero (Alternate Take) 16.Lonesome Cowboy Burt (Mix Outtake) 17.Naval Aviation In Art? 18.Redneck Eats/The Restaurant Scene (Basic Tracks) 19.Mystery Roach (Basic Tracks) 20.I Have Seen The Pleated Gazelle 21.Dew On The Newts We Got (Rough Mix) 22.The Lad Searches The Night For His Newts (Rough Mix) 23.Motorhead’s Midnight Ranch (Rough Mix) 24.The Girl Wants To Fix Him Some Broth (Rough Mix, Alternate Ending) 25.The Girl’s Dream (Rough Mix) 26.Little Green Scratchy Sweaters And Courduroy Ponce 27.Scene 43: A Cardboard Box 28.Scene 44 29.A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes (Rough Mix) 30.She Painted Up Her Face (Compressed Mix) 31.The Secret Stare 32.Half A Dozen Provocative Squats (Compressed Mix) 33.Lucy’s Seduction Of A Bored Violinist (Basic Tracks) 34.Shove It Right In (Compressed Mix) 35.Postlude (Basic Tracks) 36.What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning (Mix Outtake)
CD 6:
200 MOTELS – ALTERNATES AND OUTTAKES 1.Daddy, Daddy, Daddy (Alternate Take) 2.Magic Fingers (Alternate Take) 3.***** Dimension (Basic Tracks) 4.Scene 86 5.Scene 87 (Alternate Take) 6.Synth Tracks (Part II) 7.I’m Stealing The Towels (Basic Tracks, Alternate Take) 8.Scene 94: “He’s Always Watching Me” 9.Dental Hygiene Dilemma (Part I, Basic Tracks) 10.Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You? (Mix Outtake) 11.Dental Hygiene Dilemma (Part II, Basic Tracks) 12.Strictly Genteel (Basic Tracks) 13.200 Motels Finale (Alternate Take) 14.200 Motels Finale (Basic Tracks, Unedited Ending)
BONUS SWILL, PART II 15.Movie Theater Skit (Commercial Session Outtake) 16.200 Motels Album Ad #1 17.Script Rehearsal Trim 18.Lonesome Cowboy Burt (In Rehearsal 1969) 19.Lonesome Cowboy Burt (In Rehearsal 1970) 20.200 Motels Album Ad #2 21.***** Dimension Jingle Music 22.TV Hype (Commercial Session Outtake) 23.200 Motels Movie Ad # 6
I turned 16 in 1979. I thought all the stuff on TV and radio was an insult to my intelligence. What a conceited little creep I was!
Although, even at 16, I knew the show title should have been 'Whom Done It'.
RE: "Makin It" I can see the TV execs' logic -- "We've got a golden opportunity to do "Saturday Night Fever" as a sit-com. We've lined up John Travolta's older sister!
Check out that unforgettable 1979 TV line up;
Now, here's something I hope you'll REALLY enjoy. CLICK HERE
