Ramblin' with Roger

SCATHING BOOK REVIEW: Fred Hembeck’s TNCEHAO

Fred Hembeck is my friend. We were friends back in my days at FantaCo. After a long hiatus, we’ve been friends in my period of blogging. So now that I’m reviewing his book, THE NEARLY COMPLETE ESSENTIAL HEMBECK ARCHIVES OMNIBUS, I feel that I should especially tough on his compendium.

Item 1: it’s not in color. Of course much of it was not in color in the first place, and it IS 900 pages for 25 bucks. (Truth is, if that page of the X-Men which was used as an insert in Hembeck #2 WERE in goldenrod, I think I would have suffered flashbacks from my days doing mail order at the ‘Co.)

Item 2: those CBG pages, which were hard to read at 11 X 17 are even harder to read at 8 X 10.5 or whatever it is. Strange though – I’ve been reading Hembeck’s work for so long (30 years!) that it’s not the problem I thought it’d be.

Item 3: it doesn’t have the Marvel and DC copyrighted stuff. Hey, if this is a big success, don’t you think Marvel will want to follow the trend and package the Fantastic Four Roast, those Marvel Age pieces, that book in which Fred destroys the Marvel universe (what IS the name of that comic book?), et al., all in one piece.

Item 4: it’s not paginated. That IS tricky, but I suppose that’s why God created the bookmark.

Item 5: in the introductory page to the last section, the village of Saugerties is MISSPELLED! Shocking!

Ah, who am I kidding? I love this book. I started reading the introductory sections first. I was TRYING to bypass the stuff FantaCo published in the early 1980s, but I found myself stopping to read some of the framing stories, such as when bride of Hembeck Lynn Moss meets Bud Abbott and Elvis Costello. Or the time when Fred was going to blow off FantaCo for a mysterious benefactor. I also got to re-remember the wordless story Fred did with Bill Mantlo.

I’ve had the book almost a month and I’d be lying if I said I had read even half of this tome. But I’m happy to have it, for I can usually pull it off the shelf and read six or eight pages at a time between other duties.

So, despite my savage criticisms, go to your local comic book store, book store or the website of artiste himself and get it!
***
To make up for that brutal review, a short piece featuring one or two of Fred’s favorite performers:

ROG

Panic attack

Once upon a time, I used to find myself in bad situations, sometimes of my own making, and I was at a total loss as to what to do. I’m a really big fan of redundancy. For instance, when I’m leaving work after 5:37 and the #27 Corporate Woods bus is running late, I know the #31 Albany-Shaker bus will be by in about 10 minutes; I actually used that particular plan B a couple Fridays ago.

On Thursday past, I was leaving work early to pick up Lydia. I planned to take the 4:07 but it never comes. I went back into the building to check the time, and it’s 4:22; the security guard said there is traffic backed up on I-90, which the #27 takes. What are my options? I could have called an expensive cab, but that didn’t seem viable either, because there was a guy out there waiting for a cab longer than I was awaiting the bus.

So I decided to walk out the back way out of Corporate Woods and try to catch the #31, which does NOT come into the CW at this hour. My chances of catching it are slim. If I don’t, I’ll have to walk an additional mile to call the day care and tell them…what?

When I’m really stressing, I talk to myself. Out loud. Apparently in an animated way. One of the people who I’ve seen on my floor, and who I’m friendly with but don’t know extremely well, is driving by in her vehicle. She sees this display, pulls over and asks what’s wrong. I note that it’s now 4:36 and I have to take two buses to get to day care by 5:15 and the first one’s nowhere in sight. First she offers me a ride to where I could pick up the second bus, then getting close to there, decides to drive me cross town to where the day care center is, near one of the Albany hospitals. I should note that she was going to Latham, in absolutely the opposite direction. Also, she was a smoker, but refused to smoke in her vehicle until I was delivered to my destination, which I get to in plenty of time, since was taking Albany-Shaker rather than the highway.

I feel so blessed.

ROG

I Surrender

There has been an outbreak of listomania amongst the bloggers I read. (Not to be confused with Lisztomania, starring Roger Daltry. I have resisted thus far, yet I find my resolve pretty much shot.

The Top 10 films in 10 categories that the AFI put out in a special last month which I have recorded but not watched; this week for sure.
* means I saw.

Animation
*1. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, 1937 – haven’t seen in years
*2. Pinocchio, 1940 – haven’t seen in even longer; those Disney movies used to get re-released every seven years when I was growing it, it seemed, so it was probably 1961
*3. Bambi, 1942 – Ditto, but 1963. Scared the heck out of me.
*4. The Lion King, 1994 – I liked it fine.
*5. Fantasia, 1940 – Actually own on VHS, own the soundtrack. There are slow spots, but the good stuff is really great.
* 6. Toy Story, 1995 – like a lot, though I like its successor much better
7. Beauty And The Beast, 1991 – have I actually seen this all the way through? I’ve seen so many segments.
*8. Shrek, 2001 – I like it, and I own it on VHS – it was a gift – but I’d put any of the Pixar films I’ve seen ahead of it, which is all of them save for Cars and WALL-E.
*9. Cinderella, 1950 – but not since 1964
*10. Finding Nemo, 2003 – interestingly, there are chase scenes that terrified my daughter last Christmas when we were at a party, like Bambi freaked me out.
Most egregious omission. The Iron Giant should most definitely be here.

Fantasy
*1. The Wizard Of Oz, 1939 – one of my all-time favorites.
*2. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, 2001 – I think I’m just not a fantasy guy. Never read the books – I got about 50 pages into The Hobbit – and after seeing this movie, never saw the other two. I know “Horrors!”
*3. It’s A Wonderful Life, 1946 – stretches the meaning of the category, I suppose. Actively avoided until my wife nagged me to see it; much better than I would have thought.
*4. King Kong, 1933 – need to see again.
*5. Miracle on 34th Street, 1947 – ditto.
*6. Field Of Dreams, 1989 – was skimming someone’s list and complained that this wasn’t on the sports list. Probably my favorite sports film, now that I think of it.
7. Harvey, 1950 – would see scenes on TV.
*8. Groundhog Day, 1993 – Top 5 film, irrespective of genre. Own on VHS.
9. The Thief Of Baghdad, 1924
*10. Big, 1988 – has great scenes; I have it on VHS, so sometime, I’ll have to see if it holds up.
Most egregious omission: The Princess Bride

Science Fiction
*1. 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968 – I’ll admit it; I don’t quite “get” it.
*2. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, 1977 – everyone says, probably correctly, that Empire Strikes Back is better, but this is the blueprint; Top 25 movie, probably Top 10 for me.
*3. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, 1982 – Dare I say this? I HATED the end of this movie, and I liked it until then. Maybe I was having a bad day.
*4. A Clockwork Orange, 1971 – Horrified me. Own, love the soundtrack, though.
*5. The Day The Earth Stood Still, 1951 – need to see again.
6. Blade Runner, 1982 – probably should see.
*7. Alien, 1979 – it was good for what it was. Never saw the sequels.
*8. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991 – I’ve seen on commercial TV, which distorts the watching process tremendously.
*9. Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, 1956 – prefer to the 1978 remake.
*10. Back To The Future, 1985 – seen so many times on TV, practically know by heart.

Sports
*1. Raging Bull, 1980 – as I noted here, the DVD extras helped me appreciate it more. Still, it’s a film at arm’s length.
*2. Rocky, 1976 – saw this in a Charlotte, NC movie theater with my mother. Liked it more than i thought I would.
*3. The Pride Of The Yankees, 1942 – sob. It’s been years, though.
*4. Hoosiers, 1986 – saw on video this century. Liked it.
*5. Bull Durham, 1988 – great choice.
*6. The Hustler, 1961 – it’s been years.
7. Caddyshack, 1980 – did I see this? Again, one sees clips and scenes, but possibly not the whole thing.
*8. Breaking Away, 1979 – I liked this a lot at the time but wonder if it aged well.
9. National Velvet, 1944 – seen scenes.
*10. Jerry Maguire, 1996 – liked well enough.
Most egregious omission: A League of Their Own,

Western
1. The Searchers, 1956 – haven’t seen.
*2. High Noon, 1952 – good in the genre.
3. Shane, 1953 – know I’ve seen the ending.
4. Unforgiven, 1992 – this is when Eastwood started becoming a filmmaker.
5. Red River, 1948 – nope.
6. The Wild Bunch, 1969 – studiously avoided Peckinpah at the time.
7. Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, 1969 – great affection for this film.
8. McCabe And Mrs. Miller, 1971 – Tom the Dog has me wanting to see this one.
9. Stagecoach, 1939
10. Cat Ballou, 1965

Gangster
Not really my genre.
*1. The Godfather, 1972
*2. Goodfellas, 1990
3. The Godfather Part II, 1974
4. White Heat, 1949
5. Bonnie And Clyde, 1967
6. Scarface: The Shame Of The Nation, 1932
7. Pulp Fiction, 1994 – if it weren’t so darn funny, my wife wouldn’t have gotten through it. Own the soundtrack.
8. The Public Enemy, 1931
9. Little Caesar, 1931
10. Scarface, 1983

Mystery
1. Vertigo, 1958
*2. Chinatown, 1974 -saw it, did not love it.
*3. Rear Window, 1954 – saw in a theatrical re-release. LOVE it.
4. Laura, 1944
5. The Third Man, 1949
6. The Maltese Falcon, 1941
7. North By Northwest, 1959
8. Blue Velvet, 1986
9. Dial M For Murder, 1954
*10. The Usual Suspects, 1995 – I suspect this has not aged well.
Seems I’ve seen scenes of 6, 7, and 9.

Romantic Comedies
*1. City Lights, 1931 – sweet.
*2. Annie Hall, 1977 – my linchpin film. Seen four times in the theater. Own on VHS.
3. It Happened One Night, 1934
*4. Roman Holiday, 1953 – saw on TV not so long ago, enjoyed.
*5. The Philadelphia Story, 1940 – saw on commercial TV and enjoyed it anyway.
*6. When Harry Met Sally…, 1989 – liked, didn’t love and haven’t seen since (well, except that scene…)
*7. Adam’s Rib, 1949 – TV film; seemed enjoyable when I saw it years ago
*8. Moonstruck, 1987 – that I remember it as well as I do over 20 years later speaks well of it.
*9. Harold And Maude, 1971 – need to see again.
*10. Sleepless In Seattle, 1993 – it was OK

Courtroom Drama
I’m a sucker for these, including TV shows (The Defenders, Judd fore the defense, the lawyers’ segment of the Bold Ones, and, of course, Perry Mason)
*1. To Kill A Mockingbird, 1962 – saw again last summer Stellar.
*2. 12 Angry Men, 1957 – only a tad dated, and the core message holds. Own on DVD.
*3. Kramer Vs. Kramer, 1979 does this age well?
*4. The Verdict, 1982 – I loved Newman in this.
*5. A Few Good Men, 1992 – except for the courtroom scenes, this is fading from memory
6. Witness For The Prosecution, 1957
7. Anatomy of a Murder, 1959
8. In Cold Blood, 1967
9. A Cry In The Dark, 1988
10. Judgment At Nuremberg, 1961

Epic
1. Lawrence of Arabia, 1962
*2. Ben-Hur, 1959 – saw on commercial TV, which I suspect doesn’t do it justice. Still had some exciting bits.
3. Schindler’s List, 1993 – yes, this is an epic. Saw once, talked about it for longer than it ran, will never see again, but glad I saw it and think that anyone who claims to love film should.
4. Gone With The Wind, 1939 – can’t, I just can’t. And I’ve actually tried.
5. Spartacus, 1960 – bits and pieces.
*6. Titanic, 1997 – don’t hate it.
7. All Quiet On The Western Front, 1930
8. Saving Private Ryan, 1998
*9. Reds, 1981 – this was SO long, it had an intermission. Should have stopped with the first half.
*10. The Ten Commandments, 1956 – hysterically funny.

ROG

Music That Moves Me, 60-51

60. Day Tripper-Beatles
In some ways, quite anthemic. That hook is swiped often. Love the build on the bridge. I also have a great Wilson Pickett version.

59. All Day and All of the Night – the Kinks.
This was probably the loudest song I remember as a kid. I love how the chords modulate. And the delicious guitar on the bridge! The theme was so compelling that Ray Davies ripped himself off on Destroyer.
Feeling: alive.

58. Dimming of the Day – Bonnie Raitt.
The verse is fine, but it’s the harmony of the chorus that makes me play it over again.
Feeling: melancholy.

57. Something in 4/4 Time-Daryl Hall.
From the underrated Fripp-produced Sacred Songs album. Starts off with the keyboard, it rocks in 4/4 time until the bridge. Those triplets are clearly NOT in march time.
Something In 4/4 Time-Daryl Hall. Robert Fripp produced an album called Sacred Songs in 1977, but the label didn’t release it until 1980, fearing that it was “uncommercial.” 4/4 Time is the great hit single that wasn’t. Though the verse and chorus were in regular rhythm, the bridge had interesting triplets an odd time signatures.
Feeling: happy.
You can hear 30 seconds of it here (second cut), but it doesn’t express the fulness of this tune.

56. Staples Singers – Respect Yourself
I love the fact that Pops starts the piece, so when Mavis takes over the vocal, it’s even more resounding. BTW, the YouTuber misspells Staples as Staple.
Feeling: if you don’t respect yourself…

55. Elephant Talk – King Crimson. Not only great beat – I own the dance remix – but fun lyrics.
Feeling: shut up already!

54. Think for Yourself – the Beatles.
It’s the Macca fuzz bass. The verse and chorus don’t exactly flow together, and that’s a good thing.
Feeling: title says it.

53. A Simple Desultory Phillipic – Simon & Garfunkel.
I think I like it because it was one of the those rare S&G songs that really rock. Also the first song I knew that namechecked, in this case, he Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Lenny Bruce, and of course, Bob Dylan, among others.
Feeling: fun.
A snippet here (track 9).

52. A Ballata Of Francesco Landini (ca. 1335-1397) Lasso! Di Donna – Judy Collins.
Some Italian ballad from about eight centuries ago. Beautiful last song on the first side of the Wildflowers LP. A bit of a cheat, using 14th Century music, but it did appear on a folk/pop album in the pop era.
Feeling: it’s a beautiful world.
A little snippet here.

51. I’m Shakin’ – the Blasters.
Great rockabilly from 1981. Only have on vinyl.
Feeling: I’m so jittery.

ROG

QUESTION: The National Anthem

Isaac Asimov, the great science fiction writer loved the ‘Star=Spangeled Banner.’. All four stanzas. I must admit that I only know the first, second and fourth verse by heart.

Initially, though, one needs to deal with the tune. Not only is it an old English drinking song, but it generates countless complaints from anyone trying to do the difficult melody differently, such as in Spanish.

Back to the lyrics. I know the first one, the second verse confused me, the third verse I hadn’t seen since grade school, and the fourth verse made me a more than a little uneasy. That it came out of the little-understood War of 1812 is an issue. But you tell me:
1. Which verses, other than the first, were you familiar with before?
2. What you think of the poetry of the anthem?
3. What is your favorite version of the song? I’ve always had a bizarre affection for Marvin Gaye’s, which I heard in real time. Rhythmically, it is SO strange.
4. Should the anthem be replaced by something more “singable”, such as “America the Beautiful”? Not calling for it; wouldn’t bother me.

Meanwhile, read the Declaration of Independence today. Preferably aloud.
***
Answer to the question you didn’t ask: 26. That’s the number of times Bill Withers says “I know” in a row in Ain’t No Sunshine. Bill Withers turns 70 today.