We don't need no stinkin' banjos!

But they're back anyway.

See? Like the ukulele*, this is an instrument that also enjoyed great highs in popular music and great drops in popularity as well. In 2016, I would say both are sadly in critical condition on the pop charts. Fortunately, I couldn't care less about the pop charts. I love the banjo, especially in bluegrass, where it absolutely thrives, I tell you!

I sometimes wonder why people put check marks beside certain tracks. Favorites? Songs they have on other albums? Hit list? We'll never know.

*Just thought I'd mention the excellent documentary Mighty Uke here. It's one of the few things on IMDb I've rated 10/10. I just found it to be a perfectly entertaining doc about the uke. I learned a ton and saw plenty of impressive performances. It's an instrument to be reckoned with!

K-tel's Pin-Ball Rock

Was pinball ever hyphenated? I guess K-tel thought so. *shrug* Anyway, I really miss pinball! There is nowhere around me that I'm aware of where I can play it.

Funny (?) story: though I really wanted to play them growing up, I never did, and never asked if I could, because I thought they were gambling machines. :p The lights and noises fooled me, I guess. Then I found out my mother used to play them, and it was game on for me!

The front cover folds down to show the front of the machine and unobscured display. Does Google need to update Chrome's dictionary or something? Why is it underlining unobscured as I type this? (has no problem with K-tel, though...)

Well, at least the first track is pinbally.

By the way, that Action logo and font they used is an homage to the old (or current at the time) Williams logo.

Black vs. White

Fact: George Shearing had some of the greatest cheesecake covers of all time. Let's look at some of the proof...

To me, this may just be the sexiest, classiest cover ever made. Incredibly beautiful woman (anyone know her name?) impeccably dressed in a sea of black satin...I presume. Everything about this is perfect.

Then I found this...

By George, you've done it again!

I know which I prefer, but which do you? (prefer)

Les Mitsous

Coupla singles from Quebec's version of Madonna, kinda.

Stankin' Value Village. It already says $0.99 for singles on the shelf! :p

Anyway, Mitsou was HUGE for a while, certainly in part due to her Madonna-like video for "Dis-moi, dis-moi". She's still a busy lady now, and still gorgeous.

Proto-Charlie Pride?

I was looking through the records at the local Sally Ann and came across this. First thing I noticed was one of the comments in the paragraphs on the right. Then I noticed Jolly John's Fried Chicken, which apparently had a franchise in Penetang (short form of Penetanguishene), which is a nearby town. (to me, that is) I have to remember to ask some of my longtime Penetang resident friends (meaning old) if they remember it.

Nice to have it signed, too! :)

Always seems weird nowadays to see people referred as negroes, but 'twas the time. It would be interesting to know if Brent or Charlie started first. They certainly wouldn't have been the first to play country music, or maybe even record, but first to become famous.

Here's a nice article about Brent's induction into the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame, and here's his website.

DeBarging into my collection

This was mentioned on my favorite podcast, Taggart and Torrens, not too long after I found this at the local Salvation Army, so that was some nice timing. :)

Since this blog is partly to showcase fashions of the time, let's have a closer look at El DeBarge's (the focal point of the group on the left, a la Michael Jackson in the Jackson 5) family...

Pretty sure none of that was ever actually fashionable, try though they did to make it so. ;)

Y'know, El really was the most marketable one, I reckon.

Cheer up, soldiers!

It's Marlene!

Great glamour shot of mega-star Marlene Dietrich. (how was this in with the regular albums at Salvation Army and not in the auction?) Almost has a colorized b&w photo quality to it. Might be, for all I know. Very nice, either way.

As the title alluded to, she entertained the troops many a time. Check out the write-up on the Medal of Freedom: "Meritorious Service in support of Military Operations meeting grueling schedule of performances under battle conditions despite risk to her life." They better have appreciated it! *shaking fist*

Just for Laughs

No, not the long-running comedy festival in Montreal. ;)

Great stipple art by Ted Michener on this cover from the K-tel-like TeeVee Records.

Pretty nice variety here!