Comments on: Adventures Through The Mines Of Mellow Gold 39

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:00:41 +0000

I caught the last half of “Starsky & Hutch” yesterday. Guess what? It was a clip-show episode! Hooray! Here’s another “Charlie’s Angels” parallel (as well as a parallel with the April Fool’s Day episode of “The Simpsons” from ‘93) — the last episode of that show was a bunch of clips propped up by a half-assed plot that involved Jaclyn Smith getting shot and then everyone reminiscing about past cases in the hospital while waiting to hear if she was going to pull through.

This “Starsky” episode involved Hutch getting amnesia and Starsky trying to remind him who he was in the hospital. Amnesia AND old clips in one episode — too good to be true! I’m glad Starsky reminded Hutch of that car chase they had in a dune buggy; you wouldn’t want to forget that action setpiece, buddy. The episode ended with Hutch admitting that he’d been faking his amnesia the whole time. Why? Sorry, I can’t remember.

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 18:26:47 +0000

“… these guys are whacking off all over this song like it’s ‘Peer Gynt’.” I know I’ve heard of “Peer Gynt,” but I don’t know what it is, and references to things I’m vaguely familiar with almost always make me laugh.

Another line that made me laugh was Malchus’s: “Because, when you think of someone replacing Bogart, the first person that comes to mind is Hutch.” Does anyone know if Soul is his real last name? I wish David Soul and “Hawaii Five-O’s” Jack Lord had done something together in the ’70s. Wouldn’t it be nice to think that they were originally offered “Highway to Heaven” in the ’80s before Michael Landon and Victor what’s-his-name signed on? Malchus, I think “Charlie’s Angels” also did an episode in which Jaclyn Smith’s character became addicted to smack and was cured by the end of the episode.

That ski-mask stunt is bizarre. The Unknown Comic on “The Gong Show” was one thing — a comedian wearing a bag over his head at least has the potential for laughs. A singer wearing a ski mask makes me think someone’s going to get serenaded then violated.

“Starsky & Hutch” reruns come on Me TV in Chicago every Saturday at 3:00. I think I’ll watch today.

By: Miss Lisa

Miss Lisa — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:24:34 +0000

My best friend LOVED this song and played the 7-inch single (or "45" as we called them back then) over and over again, but then even worse: she discovered the B-side, "Black Bean Soup," which I believe may have been a David Soul composition.
All I want, is black bean soup
if you would make it with me.
That’s soft, country rock, 70s style. Salem’s Lot almost redeemed him. Almost.

By: Willie

Willie — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:14:37 +0000

I remember David Soul in his Pre-Hutch days as Officer John Davis in "Magnum Force." What a great shoot ‘em up movie.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:18:58 +0000

Jeff, you don’t have any footage of that audition, do you? Because I feel like that would pretty much just complete this blog. I would never have to write again.

I’m a big Steely Dan fan, too. I didn’t mean it as an insult to Becker - on the contrary, I just think it’d be funny if an amazing guitarist like him got his first big break playing on this song.

By: Jeff B

Jeff B — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:51:20 +0000

Yeah- this is probably the wussiest song you’ve covered yet (and in an ultimate display of wussness, it was the song I sang as a kid to audition for a Dinner Theater presentation of "West Side Story" because it was the only sheet music my friend had) but I really liked the write-up. Well, all but "Walter Becker" knock- I’m a Dan Fan from way back…
At least Paul Michael Glaser ("Starsky") didn’t unleash something- God knows what THAT would have been like!…

By: jb

jb — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:44:32 +0000

If I ever have a band, I’m going to call it either "Wussicity" or "Bitchslapped by the Flugelhorn."

By: Py Korry

Py Korry — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:16:31 +0000

If you want to really torture yourself, set up a playlist with the following and let it roll at full volume:Leo Sayer "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"David Soul "Don’t Give Up On Us"Meco "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band"Now you have a taste of some truly suck-ass Top 40 radio in 1977. And Jason, here’s a little something to practice for your next gig:http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/dontgiv0.htm

By: mike

mike — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:17:15 +0000

You saw the track listing for Playing For An Audience of One, right? "By The Devil I Was Tempted." "Nobody But A Fool or A Preacher." It’s like a Nick Cave album, especially when it gets into potentially macabre titles like "Tattler" and "Mary’s Fancy." Perhaps he should have changed his name to David Goth. Or David Murder-Ballad.

By: Malchus

Malchus — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:15:59 +0000

David Soul also starred in a TV series called “Casablanca”. Yes, it’s based on THAT “Casablanca”, with Soul portraying Rick. Because, when you think of someone replacing Bogart, the first person that comes to mind is Hutch.

I can’t believe you hate this song so much. Dude, you go on and on about England Dan and John Ford Coley and freakin’ America, but no love for the Soul Patch.

What’s so wonderful about Soul’s singing (not to be confused with soulful singing) is his immaculate PRONUNCIATION at the end of each phrase. Great technique. I’m sure he learned that from his many years of musical theater training.

Wait a minute… someone tell me how a guy in a ski mask lands a gig on a top 10 TV show? I only wish the producers of “Starsky & Hutch” had played this song over the montage of Hutch kicking smack in that famous episode in which criminals get Hutch addicted to heroin and Starsky cures him… all within 10 minutes!

Ah, the 70’s. A simpler… mellower time.