Whistle a Happy Tune; Watch Lots of TV

Whenever I'm feeling depressed (like, for example, the last 4 years), I'm always comforted by the following facts:

a) I'm not Anna Nicole Smith (see below) and
b) There always seems to be wonderful, new Pop Culture goodies available for my consumption

This month's indulgences:
featuring the incredible "Godfather" parody as well as Wendy O. Williams and The Plasmatics!
Volume Two has five of my fave cartoons: "Little Red Riding Rabbit" (1944), "Stage Door Cartoon" (1944), "Porky In Wackyland" (1938), "Book Revue" (1946) and "The Great Piggy Bank Robbery" (1946). Chuck ("I ruined Bugs and Daffy") Jones' fans will be pleased that the set also includes the overrated "What's Opera, Doc?" (1957) and "One Froggy Evening" (1955)
cynical Fellini at his best
loaded with extras, including "the first commercial release of Andy Merrill's original pitch pilot; an insane performance from Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth; a raw, unedited interview with Matt Groening and a tribute to Sonny Sharrock, the man behind the singular Space Ghost Coast to Coast theme."


demos and remakes of your favorite Pixies songs; click the pic for a sample


The Motherload! 25 unreleased recordings; 11 unreleased songs; click the pic for a sample

Don't we all feel better now?

Also: If you're lucky enough to have a Hi-Def TV and a cable system that carries iNHD, make sure you catch
Urgh! A Music War: The film features 26 performers, including The Police, The Go-Gos, Wall of Voodoo, Toyah Willcox (the current Mrs. Robert Fripp!), John Cooper Clarke, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Oingo Boingo, Echo and the Bunnymen, Jools Holland, XTC, Klaus Nomi, Athletico Spizz 80, Dead Kennedys, Steel Pulse, Gary Numan, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Surf Punks, Au Pairs, The Cramps, Pere Ubu, Devo, Gang of Four, Fleshtones, X and UB40. My wife and I watched it last week; it was the first time we smiled since we voted on November 2nd.

On the fence (but on my way to falling off):
I was kind of looking forward to this especially because I never saw Elvis Costello's performance of "All You Need is Love"; however, George Swithen from Springfield, VA informs us on Amazon that the set doesn't include the following:

STATUS QUO- Don't Waste My Time; STYLE COUNCIL- You're the Best Thing; STYLE COUNCIL- Big Boss Groove; BOOMTOWN RATS- Rat Trap; ULTRAVOX- Reap The Wild Wind; ULTRAVOX- One Small Day; SPANDAU BALLET- Virgin; NIK KERSHAW- Wide Boy; NIK KERSHAW- Don Quixote; NIK KERSHAW- The Riddle; SADE- Why Can't We Live Together; SADE- Is It a Crime; STING- Driven To Tears;STING- Message In A Bottle; PHIL COLLINS- In The Air Tonight; STING + PHIL COLLINS- Long Long Way To Go;BRYAN FERRY- Sensation; BRYAN FERRY- Boys And Girls; BRYAN ADAMS- Tears Are Not Enough; BRYAN ADAMS- [05:34] Cuts Like A Knife; THE BEACH BOYS- California Girls; THE BEACH BOYS- Help Me, Rhonda; GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS + BO DIDDLEY- Who Do You Love; GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS- The Sky Is Crying; SIMPLE MINDS- Promised You a Miracle; BERNARD WATSON- All I Really Want To Do; JOAN BAEZ- We Are The World; THE PRETENDERS- Time The Avenger; THE PRETENDERS- Message of Love;THE WHO- My Generation; THE WHO- Pinball Wizard;ELTON JOHN- I'm Still Standing; ELTON JOHN- Can I Get a Witness; ASHFORD & SIMPSON- Solid; KOOL & THE GANG (pre-recorded live video)- Stand up and Sing; KOOL & THE GANG (pre-recorded live video)- Cherish; MADONNA- Love Makes The World Go Round; TOM PETTY & The HEARTBREAKERS- The Waiting; TOM PETTY & The HEARTBREAKERS- Rebels; THE HOOTERS- And We Danced; THE HOOTERS- All You Zombies; THE FOUR TOPS- Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over); THE FOUR TOPS- Bernadette; THE FOUR TOPS- It's The Same Old Song Motown Medley; THE FOUR TOPS- Reach Out I'll Be There Motown Medley; THE FOUR TOPS- [02:28] I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) Motown Medley; BILLY OCEAN-Caribbean Queen; BILLY OCEAN- Loverboy; BLACK SABBATH- Children Of The Grave; BLACK SABBATH- Iron Man; RICK SPRINGFIELD- Love Somebody; RICK SPRINGFIELD- State Of The Heart; RICK SPRINGFIELD- Human Touch; CROSBY, STILLS & NASH- Southern Cross; CROSBY, STILLS & NASH- Suite: Judy Blue Eyes; JUDAS PRIEST- You've Got Another Thing Comin';SANTANA- Brotherhood; SANTANA- Primera Invasion; SANTANA- Open Invitation; SANTANA + PAT METHENY- By The Pool/Right Now; THE CARS- You Might Think; THE CARS- Drive; NEIL YOUNG- Sugar Mountain; NEIL YOUNG- Helpless; NEIL YOUNG- Powderfinger; POWER STATION- Murderess; POWER STATION- Get It On; THOMPSON TWINS- Hold Me Now; PHIL COLLINS- Against All Odds; LED ZEPPELIN- Rock & Roll; LED ZEPPELIN- Whole Lotta Love; LED ZEPPELIN- Stairway To Heaven; CROSBY - STILLS - NASH (& YOUNG)- Only Love Can Break your Heart; CROSBY - STILLS - NASH (& YOUNG)- Daylight Again; DURAN DURAN-A view to a Kill; PATTI LABELLE-New Attitude; PATTI LABELLE- Stir It Up; PATTI LABELLE- Over The Rainbow; PATTI LABELLE- Why Can't I Get It Over; HALL & OATES- Out Of Touch; HALL & OATES w/EDDIE KENDRICKS & DAVID RUFFIN- The Way You Do The Things You Do; MICK JAGGER- Lonely At The Top; BOB DYLAN + RON WOOD + KEITH RICHARDS- Ballad Of Hollis Brown and BOB DYLAN + RON WOOD + KEITH RICHARDS- When The Ship Comes In

Wow, with the exception of the Pretenders, The Who, Dylan/Wood/Richards, Bryan Ferry, Tom Petty, Neil Young and maybe, Led Zeppelin (I didn't see their reunion performance), that's depriving us of nearly 6 hours of pure crap (The Hooters? Billy Ocean? Phil Collins?) So, I looked to see what is included and came to the conclusion that I cannot justify spending $27.99 just for 22 songs by Elvis, U2, Queen (not a huge fan but I heard they gave a great performance), Bowie, Pretenders, The Who, Tom Petty and Neil Young. Sorry, but I don't think I need to relive the 80s glory of Paul Young, Spandau Ballet, Howard Jones, Bryan Adams, Sade, Sting, Madonna, Phil Collins, Simple Minds, Elton John, REO Speedwagon (?!?!), Thompson Twins, Patti LaBelle and Mick Jagger. Moi, a music snob?