Riding the Retro Metro: Wednesday January 8, 1975

Redartz:  Hello folks, and welcome to another retro road trip courtesy of your humble hosts at BitBA. Today's destination is January, 1975- prime Bronze age territory, to be certain. As we open our day, the papers are full of talk about the economic recession and increasing unemployment. President Gerald Ford and his new Vice President Nelson Rockefeller have to deal with all that, all we  have to worry about is the pop cultural scene. And it's pretty solid, starting with the pop music charts. Topping  the US Billboard charts:  Elton John, "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"

What a great cover version. I love that treatment, and I'm apparently not alone: it's at number one for a second week. By the way, John Lennon helps out on this cut, with some backing vocals and guitar work (credited on the 45 as "Dr. Winston O'Boogie"). Speaking of 45's, I went out and bought this one immediately after hearing it for the first time on Casey Kasem's American Top 40.
Rounding out the top five:
2.  Barry White, "You're the First, the Last, My Everything"
3.  Paul McCartney and Wings, "Junior's Farm / Sally G"
4.  Neil Sedaka, "Laughter in the Rain"
5.  Barry Manilow, "Mandy"

There are loads of cool tunes out there right now! Among my personal favorites are Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good": so good I recorded it on my cassette deck last night. Then there's  John Lennon,"#9 Dream": almost eerie, kind of dreamlike, but a great listen. I also love the new cut from   Doobie Brothers, "Black Water": about as catchy a pop song as you can devise. Wouldn't doubt that song hits the top. And speaking of the top...

Tops in the UK:  Mud, "Lonely This Christmas"

I could talk about today's pop music all day, but hey,  there's other acres to plow. What about the tube tonight?

US Television Schedule:

 

ABC: That's My Mama, ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week, Get Christie Love! 
Of those offerings, I've only seen Christie Love; and that only a couple times. Teresa Graves is sharp; I remember seeing her on "Laugh In".












CBS:  Tony Orlando and Dawn, Cannon, The Manhunter
Now there's a show I'll usually tune in:  Tony Orlando and Dawn. Usually a sucker for variety shows, and their music is pleasing to these ears. Orlando, along with Telma  Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, deliver the tunes each week, along with some decent laughs. My Mom loves this show too...

Tony Orlando and Dawn

NBC:  Little House on the Prairie, Lucas Tanner, Petrocelli
After "Dawn", I usually switch over to catch David Hartman in  Lucas Tanner. Hartman plays the eponymous high school teacher, and exudes an appealing friendliness and personality. He could host a talk show some day...

David Hartman as Lucas Tanner

BBC1:  The Wednesday Film: The Big Job, Barlow, 'Till Death Do Us Part, Andre  Previn's Music Night, Midweek

BBC2:  Test Cricket from Australia, Newsday, Top Crown, Worldwide, Skating 75, Playhouse, In Vision


Lest we forget, it's Wednesday, new comics day in our town! It's off to the newsstand to see what's on the spinner racks:

It's now almost a year since I started collecting comics, and I'm hooked more than ever. Most of these books are on my list. But especially that Fantastic Four issue; Rich Buckler is doing some terrific things channeling Kirby with his artwork. And this issue features the second part of the Silver Surfer's return! 
That Avengers issue is another must buy; this current storyline with Mantis and Kang is one for the ages. Aaand,  I'm picking up those new Atlas comics here and there. Oh, and the Giant Size Marvels- those are highly anticipated each week. What a great time to be a comics fan! Most everyone else at Junior High have no idea what they're missing. As a matter of fact, it's a great time to be a middle schooler...

Well, that about covers the highlights of our day today. What about you? Which songs, shows and comics will you be talking about to your friends? Share your favorite fads and finds from '75, and keep a lookout for the next return of the Retro Metro!

Riding the Retro Metro: Wednesday August 11, 1976

Redartz:  Hello fellow riders, welcome aboard for another trip back. Back, in this case, to that U.S.Bicentennial year 1976! The Viking lander is on the surface of Mars, the Olympics are in Montreal, and Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter are in competition for the White House (speaking of the Presidential campaign- I ordered my "Howard the Duck for President" button, even though I'm too young to vote).

Winning the (somewhat less momentous than those above) competition for Number 1 on the US Billboard Pop Chart this week: Elton John and Kiki Dee, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" 

Rounding out the top five:
2.  Bee Gees, "You Should Be Dancing"
3.  Wings, "Let em In"
4.  Lou Rawls, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine"
5.  Beach Boys, "Rock and Roll Music" 

I can take or leave Elton and Kiki (although many would differ- they top the British chart this week too). I'm more impressed by a cool new song from Cliff Richard, "Devil Woman" debuting  on the top 40. 

 I also like War- "Summer"; a perfect hit for summer (obviously). Oh, and it seems almost like the 60's are back; the Beatles just dropped out of the top 10 with "Got to Get You Into My Life" (reissued by Capitol Records), and the Beach Boys are in the top 5!

Tops in the UK:  Elton John and Kiki Dee, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart".

Turning our attention to tonight's tv offerings, I must admit to having seen few. This summer I'm working for the first time: yes, flipping burgers at McDonald's. So tv viewing is less an option.

US Television Schedule:

Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman

ABC:  Wonder Woman, Baretta. Starsky and Hutch

The Jacksons

CBS:   The Blue Knight, The Jacksons, The Kelly Monteith Show, Kate McShane











 
 NBC:  Little House on the Prairie, Best of Sanford and Son, Chico and the Man, Hawk


 BBC1:  Nationwide, Man and Boy, It's A Knockout, Are You Being Served?, Explorers, Band Beat, The War Lords

BBC2:  Gardener's World, The Sandpipers, Look Stranger, Festival 40: The Wednesday Play- Cathy Come Home, Beauty is in the Eye

I would watch Wonder Woman, but our tv is usually tuned to "Little House". No Lynda Carter for me,alas. Baretta is good, and has a great theme song. And a bird! Oh, and the variety show continues to attract audiences- Kelly Monteith and the Jacksons are hosting shows on Wednesday nights...







Although my tv viewing is down this summer, my comic reading is up! Just look at some of the great stuff on the stands right now:

I've a lot to pick up this month. That Amazing Spider-Man with Nightcrawler and Punisher- what a free-for-all, and a Romita cover too! And Conan guest starring in Red Sonja; it just doesn't get better than this. Wait, yes it does! Marvel is showering us with their King Size Annuals this summer, and there's some excellent reading to be had! I'm grabbing all of them I can find, including all three of these pictured here. So who needs tv?
Oh, and check out the cover to the Warren Spirit magazine. That book is fantastic, Eisner's art and stories are incredible. I even like the black/white reproduction (of course they feature one story in color each issue). 



Looking at all those terrific comics has me ready to go grab a stack. And so, we pile back on the bus and return to wherever it is we are, Annuals clutched in our sweaty little hands. Who knows what finds await us on the next Retro Metro? Time will tell...

Follow The Leader: Episode 29: Elton John!

Martinex1: Follow the Leader has been running on our BitBA site for a full seven months now.   We appreciate all of the great suggestions.  Obviously you help out our team by giving us a weekly break on topics, and we hope to continue that trend.   So today, whip up another subject and we will get started.   But before you do, here is the running list of our guest topics over the last 28 weeks.


1) Television Theme Songs and Alien Movies.
2) Best and Worst Movies.
3) Jim Shooter - Editor.
4) Kirby's Art and Michael Jackson's Songs.
5) Building and Changing Comic Universes.
6) Foods We Dislike.
7) Falling Out of Love with a Comic Creator.
8) Comic Collecting - Stops and Starts.
9) Favorite Newspaper Comic Strips.
10) Musicals.
11) Country Music.
12) Favorite Comic Arcs.
13) First Comic Acquisition.
14) The Munsters or The Addams Family.
15) Classical Music.
16) Hammer Films.
17) Misheard Song Lyrics.
18) Reading Comics Today.
19) Arnold Schwarzenegger.
20) Great Comic Issues that Aren't the First Issue.
21) Departure of a Comic Creative Team.
22) Bad Beatles Recordings.
23) Characters that Bore You.
24) Additional Income and Summer Reading.
25) Secret Identities.
26) Five Beatles Questions.
27) Comic Reviews of Recommended Arcs.
28) Comic Book Annuals.


That is quite a wide and varied list.  Perhaps at the end of the year we will have to hold an online award ceremony (The BITBAS) for the best and most revered topic.   Keep 'em comin' and we will keep on reading and commenting.  Cheers. 

Riding the Retro Metro , Destination: Nov. 9, 1975

Redartz:  Climb aboard, folks! Welcome to our first tour bus back, back, back to the Bronze Age. There's no fare, no tickets needed. All you need are a few memories, or a bit of imagination. Our first destination: November 9, 1975. Right there in the heart of the Bronze Age, dead center in the middle of the 70's. Gerald Ford is in the White House, Discos are getting popular and the X-Men are All-New. So what else is new? Let's find out...


On the radio, we're hearing the current number one on Billboard's American Hot 100: Elton John's "Island Girl"...

'75 has been a pretty good year for Elton. He's already been involved in three number one hits this year, including the immediately previous  top hit: "Bad Blood".  Rounding out the top hits for the day:

Billboard Top 5 Hits for week of Nov. 8, 1975  (U.S. Pop Chart)

1. Elton John- "Island Girl"
2. Eagles- "Lyin Eyes"
3. John Denver- "I'm Sorry"
4. The 4 Seasons- "Who Loves You"
5. Jefferson Starship- "Miracles"

Of course, my favorite current song is a bit further down the chart this week-"S.O.S" by ABBA. I'm playing the 45rpm to death, and to the distraction of my brother in the next room.


Say, what's on tv tonight? This being a Sunday, we check our newspaper tv schedule which tells us:

ABC:  "The Sonny Comedy Revue" followed by the ABC Sunday Night Movie

CBS:   "Apple's Way",  "Kojak" and "Mannix"

NBC:   "Wonderful World of Disney", followed by the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (which consisted of  "Columbo", "McCloud" or "McMillan and Wife")

Seems like many go for the Mystery Movie, especially detective Columbo. Peter Falk is incredible.  My dad likes "Mannix" though, so guess where the family set is tuned?


But hey, leave us not forget our comics! New comic day is still a few days off, but a few books on the stands include:

That Avengers issue is very cool. Patsy Walker in action, by Perez no less! Then there is that fine cover on Green Lantern's DC Special. Word is his book will be revived soon...



Well, it is a school night, so staying up too late is out. But Sunday night means the "Dr. Demento Show" on local station Q-Rock 95. So I'll be listening in bed. Maybe the good Doctor will play the great Dickie Goodman parody "Mr. Jaws"...

As our day comes to an end, the haze of nostalgia fades and we are back in the present  (although some might say I'm still lost out there somewhere). Hope you enjoyed this little taste of 'back then'. So what were you doing 'today'? Bet you have a thought or two. Love to hear them!