Redartz: Ah, you're here! Perfect timing; we're ready to board the Retro Metro for another trip back, back, baaaaack to the Bronze age! Today's episode takes us to that colossal cultural year of 1977. To be specific, Tuesday September 15; 1977. There's much for people to talk about right now: the recent passing of 'The King", Elvis Presley. US President Jimmy Carter has signed the Panama Canal Treaty, giving control of the canal back to Panama. NASA has launched Voyager 2 on a mission to Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. And disco is the current big trend in music; as seen in the film "Saturday Night Fever". The soundtrack is full of BeeGees tunes, and their younger brother has the top song on the US Billboard Pop Chart: Andy Gibb, "I Just Want to Be Your Everything"
Rounding out the top five:
2. The Floaters, "Float On"
3. The Emotions, "Best of My Love"
4. James Taylor, "Handy Man"
5. Fleetwood Mac, "Don't Stop"
None of the top five this week are what I'd call favorites, but they are quite listenable. And granted, the lyrics of "Float On" make it fun enough: "Cancer, and my name is Larry".
As is often the case, the most interesting songs, for me, are further down the chart. Among them this week: ELO, "Telephone Line"; another innovative tune from Jeff Lynne and crew. London Symphony Orchestra, "Star Wars Main Theme"; the summer's big science fiction blockbuster installs a symphonic piece onto the top forty, courtesy of composer John Williams. Meco, "Star Wars Theme/ Cantina Band"; Star Wars strikes again, but with a disco beat. And, it includes the catchy bit from the cantina on Tattooine.Heart, "Barracuda"; a great rocker from the incredible Wilson sisters..Carly Simon, "Nobody Does it Better", another movie theme on the charts- this one from the current James Bond adventure.
Tops in the UK: Elvis Presley, "Way Down"
Although the King is dead, his music lives on. In a big way in the UK, as he tops their charts this week!
Having surveyed the music scene today, let us now check out the evening's tv viewing. As for the US Television Schedule:
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| Kene Holliday and Victor French of "Carter Country" |
ABC: Welcome Back, Kotter; What's Happening!!; Barney Miller, Carter Country, The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour
I'll often tune in Barney Miller, with the excellent ensemble cast (including Hal Linden, Abe Vigoda and Ron Glass) of oddball big city police officers. Other officers, the small-town variety, are seen on "Carter Country", a sitcom based in the Georgia environs that were home to President Carter (hence the name).
CBS: The Waltons; Hawaii Five-O; Barnaby Jones
All these shows are perennial favorites of my parents, and their set is faithfully tuned to CBS. My tastes lie elsewhere, however...
NBC: CHiPs; Man From Atlantis; Rosetti and Ryan
If "Emergency" had motorcycle cops instead of paramedics, and had a disco background, it would be "CHiPs". This show is my Thursday night pastime; starring Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada as two California Highway Patrolmen (the source of the show's title). Some action, some humor, some 70's cheesiness with a constant disco beat. Then you have "Man From Atlantis", with Patrick Duffy as 'Mark Harris'- the last survivor of lost Atlantis. Sort of like Namor the Sub-Mariner, but without the pointy ears and winged feet.
BBC1: Tomorrow's World; Top of the Pops; Happy Ever After; When the Boat Comes In; Cannon; Great Writers
BBC2: Inside Germany; Day Out; London and the Thames; The Nun's Story
Now that we have the video entertainment in order, we must make a run to the spinner racks and see what four-color wonderment is out right now:
That issue of Amazing Spider-man looks like a winner; the Punisher back for more fun'n'games. Then there is that Mister Miracle: with Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers doing the book, it is well worth a look. Avengers and X-Men are always a lock for a good read. Power man is pairing up with Iron Fist, that sounds like a story worth following. The comic adaptation of Star Wars (there's that movie again) reaches it's conclusion in this issue. But above all, that Marvel Two-in-One Annual is the pinnacle. Completing the tale began in the already classic Avengers Annual 7, Jim Starlin and Joe Rubinstein promise a great ride. And with two of my favorite characters starring in the book; oh man. A lot to choose from this week; this just has to be one of the greatest times to be reading comics.
Of course,any time is a good time to read comics! And although our visit for today has come to it's inevitable end, we have the option to continue it a bit further with your stories and memories! So I'll pass the steering wheel over to you; and sit back to ride until the next excursion on the Retro Metro!
