Grand Funk Railroad: Inside-Looking Out (1966) - Song Review

Official Score = 3 Devils

One of the things that no one should ever do is to, 'judge a book by a cover'...  The reason that I mention this is the fact that when I was younger, I had a lot of predisposition toward or against one band or another, or one movie or another... Some times because they looked weird (like if you didn't know the music, and the image that band is trying to demonstrate you probably would think these guys are totally off their nut!)

But you know what? I have come to discover since I have begun to seriously review or blog about different elements of the entertainment industry, that you truly should not judge a book by it's cover... And if you follow that creed o in life, rather it be good, or rather it be bad, that just will truly shape experiences that you would have never gotten had you... 'Judged that book by it's cover!'

Now you might be wondering why I am being all philosophical right now... Well... Because to be honest, I judged Grand Funk Railroad like that!

Grand Funk Railroad in the 1960s!

I mean I will be honest with you guys and say that I kind of thought this band was some sort of cheesy (only for children band, that probably did a lot of the music from, 'Sesame Street'... Boy was I wrong!)

I mean I don't know much about their music as of yet, but I just recently discovered a song that they covered from, 'The Animals', called: Inside-Looking Out (1969)... A song  they did for their 1969 album: Grand Funk!

I mean this song is just awesome... It has some amazing instrumentals, some great lyrics, and a lot of respects represents very well... The counter-culture, drugged up hippie culture of the 1960s... And boy is it fun... (Not t hat I condone recreational drugs...)

Anyway, if you guys haven't had a chance to listen to Grand Funk Railroad, then check out this song, I am going to say that it is probably one of the better ones to introduce yourself to Grand Funk Railroad!

The Beatles. Come Together (1969) - Song Review

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignright" width="307"] Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils[/caption]

The 60s... Man that was a trippy time, with free love, protests, and a massive change in the social fabric of the United States... Sex, Drugs & Rock N' Roll... Well it was an interesting time anyway...

But, 'The Beatles' were something truly synonymous with the time period, in both awesome and peculiar ways, including the fact that Charles Manson was inspired by their song, 'Helter Skelter', to do the crazy ass stuff thatt he did, but a lot more then the odd ball stuff of that lunatic, The Beatles entertained audiences all over the world back then, and have continued to do so for generations after they broke up!

And for me, I first discovered them with the song, 'Come Together' (1969), a track from probably their biggest album, 'Abbey Road'!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] John Lennon performing, 'Come Together' Live![/caption]

Originally inspired by Timothy Leary and his campaign for Governor of California, and how during this time Timothy Leary was later sent to prison for possession of Marijuana, John Lennon would go on to write this song initially for probably one of their most famous albums of all time, 'Abbey Road'... This song would also go on to have it's own single!

Now as far this song goes, it is a truly awesome beat that is worth checking out, I mean this song even translates so well in to what ever modern day era you are in that various bands over the decades have recorded their copies of this song like: The Supremes (in 1970), Diana Ross (also in 1970), Chairman Of The Board (Also in 1970), Herbie Mann (Also in 1970), Ike & Tina Turner (in 1976), The Brothers Johnson (1976) Aerosmith (in 1978), The Smokin' Mojo Filters (in 1996) and so many more!

In the end, if you haven't tried this song, then I highly recommend doing so, it is truly a fun one and well worth it if you get a chance, I thought so, and maybe you will as well!

John Lennon singing: 'Come Together'!

http://youtu.be/_HONxwhwmgU

The Importance Of The Fans For Horror And Sci-fi Movies

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="502"] Some classic moments in horror movie history![/caption]

One of the things that I have noticed not just as a fan of Science Fiction and Horror TV shows, but of shows specifically like, 'Star Trek' or, 'Star Wars' is the fact that these generally tend to have an extremely strong (and if necessary,) aggressive and important fan base!

A great example of what I mean is what happened with, 'Star Trek'... (Well if you are a Star Trek fan, then you probably already know this, and could probably skip over this, but if you are not, or are relatively new to Star Trek, then you might find this to be rather fascinating.)

Initially Star Trek was a series that lasted from 1966 - 1969... Died off from poor ratings... And the truth is, is that even though some of the biggest Science Fiction actors of all time really got their career propelled by Star Trek... No one was going anywhere, and the show died a painful death... (Like a lot of great shows), when some one arbitrarily decided that the show had low ratings, and decided to cancel it!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="533"] They tried to kill a phenomena like, 'Star Trek' with, 'LOW RATINGS'... I mean are you serious?[/caption]

A strange thing, because for those of you who don't know, Star Trek is one of those rare phenomena, that generation-ally has helped propel dozens upon dozens of careers in to the stratosphere, has gained legions of fans all over the world on a generational level, and for the most part is considered to be a cultural landmark!

So how did the little show that had, 'low ratings' come back?

Well it was the fans! Through fan support, not only was Star Trek brought back to life, but it produced 4 spin off series, about a dozen movies, helped really create careers for some of Hollywood's biggest talent on a generational level, and has entertained audiences all over the world, on a generational level... As well as helped introduce children to the importance of, 'Science', (myself included.)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] From left: William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew & Scott Bakula... Each one of these people starred in a different generation, 'Star Trek' series, and will live on forever if anything through that![/caption]

And now I will admit that I have seen a lot of petitions and what not for a lot of great shows and movies crash and burn... But as fans, it is our duty to keep the entertainment that we have loved so dearly for so long alive, and not let it be perverted or destroyed by people who don't like, or understand what they are trying to create!

You might be wondering why I am mentioning this!

Well if you are a fan of a lot of the classic horror movie series, that have been being butchered and almost completely destroyed, then you are outraged to see these classic series go the way of the devil... Well I am here to say that, 'enough, is enough!'

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] This death scene featuring A Nightmare On Elm Street's, 'Freddy Krueger' is representative of the fact that the studios are pulling these legendary series apart, and it needs to stop![/caption]

I say that if the fans could bring Star Trek back to life, which ultimately salvaged the show and brought it to a historically important level... Then why don't we as horror fan do the same... I mean wouldn't it be great to see some of the classics come back to life for one more epic battle?

http://youtu.be/JMl6t3UYvu8

http://youtu.be/Vs3981DoINw

http://youtu.be/h7aHJR5lzE8

http://youtu.be/jdb_HSvf2Zk

http://youtu.be/p3zPevsovDE

The Message Of Woodstock... Long Gone But Never Forgotten

[caption id="attachment_2520" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Jimmi Hendrix playing at, 'Woodstock'![/caption]

I don't think that I would have lasted long as a hippee in the 1960s... I mean short of the ideals of peace and love and all that, (which I do believe in), I just from all of the movies and documentaries that I have seen, it just doesn't seem like the thing for me...

Well speaking of, 'Love and Peace', and that element that really drove the, 'Hippee Movement' back then, there was a particular concert that I would have absolutely loved to have gone to and that was, 'Woodstock'!

I suspect that unless you were born by the 80s at the latest then you probably would not have heard of it... But from what I understand of it, this concert (which had some truly legendary bands such as, 'Santana', 'Creedence Clearwater Revival' and even, 'The Grateful Dead'... And that is just to name a few) had some truly legendary groups play it!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Santana at, 'Woodstock'![/caption]

But one of the reasons that I mentioned this, and that I wanted to write a blog about this is the concept behind this truly legendary concert festival... And that is, 'Peace'!

Now the truth is, is that from what I have seen and read about this concert, there was an awful lot of pot and what not... But that was a sign of the times... I mean during a time in our worlds history that was particularly turbulent, there was a lot of people trying to find their own version of, 'escape'... A couple of great examples of this were: commune's (A community of nature loving flower children that would live together)... Another great example of this is the, 'Biker Gang' (A group that could be said to be it's own roving nomadic mafia...)

But this concert brought together a lot of the greats of the 1960s for peace during a time when it was looking less and less like that was going to happen... And I just wanted to remind the world that these amazing people got together for a peace filled concert, and in these turbulent times that we live in now... Well world peace may not be there yet... But you never know... It could be around the corner!
And that is why I say folks: The Message Of Woodstock... Long Gone But Never Forgotten... And this is coming from a guy who was born nearly 15 years after the famous concert!

http://youtu.be/AqZceAQSJvc

http://youtu.be/i0WG-ZUUOsg

http://youtu.be/Xmz7hUNZLEw