Davy Jones 1945-2012

The shocking news came today that Davy Jones of The Monkees has died from a heart attack at 66. I just met him again at the recent Autograph Show in Burbank. These are the photos that I took on February 12, 2012, and will post them again here. If you asked me that day which celebrity I met would be dead by the end of the month, I would have not chosen Davy. I probably would have chosen Martin Landau or Piper Laurie, both in their 80s.

The Monkees were really the last music group from the 1960s where all of the members were still alive. Most other groups have either had numerous personnel changes or at least one member dead. Now that claim has to go to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young or something...

The Mad Signer Signs (and Draws) Again!

My latest inscription in my Beatles book...

Hollywood Autograph Show Photos

Here are some random photos I took at the recent Hollywood Autograph Show. I really need to get a newer camera for better zoom and resolution, but here's what I took. See if you can name all the celebrities like Davy Jones, Martin Landau, Peter Lupus, Shannon Elizabeth, Piper Laurie, Valerie Harper, David Soul, Paul Michael-Glaser, David L. Lander, etc.

John Severin 1921-2012

I interviewed John and Michelina Severin when I was working on my Cracked book. I was determined at the time that if Severin wouldn't do it, I wouldn't do the book as John Severin IS Cracked Mazagine in my mind. Fortunately, he did. Now he's gone after 90 years.

McCartney's Standards Album Great After You Get Used to His Voice

Paul McCartney's "Kisses On the Bottom" didn't grab me at first as I was upset at how old McCartney sounds. Yes, I know he's 70 years old, but we always expect old Paulie to sound the same. Ringo sounds the same. Roger Daltrey sounds the same. Mick Jagger sounds the same.

Oh well. After I got over this initial shock, this new album of standards is truly growing on me. It's not necessarily Paul's best album, but it is far, far from his worst and definitely worth buying. It's just a shame he didn't record it about 20 years ago.

Make sure to get the 16 track version from Target stores, rather than the 14 track version available everywhere else.

Another Richie Book Out Now!

Now, another new Richie Rich comic book has been released: "Richie Rich Gems Valentine's Special". This one has one new story and the rest reprints all in the classic Richie style. Buy it today!

New Richie Rich! Hooray!!

"Richie Rich Gems Winter Special" #1 is OUT NOW with new and reprint stories in the classic Harvey style!

Arrgh! Ringo's album a disappointment!

I love Ringo and I love it when he puts out a new album, but with "Ringo 2012", here was a time that he should have waited until he recorded some more material. I really like most of his recent albums, especially "Vertical Man" (1998), "Ringo Rama" (2003), and even his last studio album "Y Not" (2010)!

This time out, there are only nine tracks, one of which was previously released on a Buddy Holly compilation, two are remakes of older Ringo tunes and one is a cover version. The entire offering clocks in at under 30 minutes!

There's something strangely wrong when "Wings", one of the remakes originally done for "Ringo the 4th" (1977) is the best tune on the album!

Surely, Ringo could have delved into the archives and put those tunes from the "Vertical Man Best Buy Bonus CD" that have been really illusive all of these years on the album. Or, he could have done a few more cover versions or pulled out some unreleased rarities from the past to round out the album and make it a solid 12-14 tracks!

Here's hoping Ringo reconsiders his recording career and gives his fans a worthwhile album instead of a short pile of table scraps.

I Love the Underdog DVD Set!

I got my advance copy of this, and I have to say that it turned out quite well. There are always problems always inherent in these sorts of things where all of the film elements had to be compiled from different sources. As a result (I'll go through the negative first), some of the opening and closing elements are of a rough bootleg quality, because they are! I supplied them. Somehow, even though these shows had aired endlessly for about 30 years, things got lost. The audio wasn't even transferred on many cartoons, so that we have many cases where audio from bootlegs is supplied to be reconnected with pristine video images.

Now for the positive, this is the most complete Underdog set that has been issued, and that you will probably ever find. Episodes are presented in chronological order and overall are very well. Unfortunately, some of the episodes have the updated titles, but this is very minor considering the excellent picture quality of a lot of these items. And the theme songs are all there, and all original, too!

The documentary segment plays very well and is quite informative. Everyone is very animated in their discussions...even me! My segments were recorded in Oregon last August. I haven't listened to the phone conversations yet, but I assume that they've come out well, also. I even learned something that I didn't include in my book, that Norma MacMillan voiced Sweet Polly from LA, and not New York. No one told me that before and I never thought to ask.

Overall, I'd give it 9 1/2 out of 10, for the few minor shortcomings this has, but really it is a 10 for the outstanding effort put in by me and Cliff MacMillan, Reed Kaplan, Mark Yurkiw, Dave Downey and all the rest of the interview subjects.

Next, comes Tennessee Tuxedo...

Ringo's Best

Poor Ringo. Nobody likes him, well except maybe some of his early 70s hits, when he puts out a new album, everyone virtually ignores him. So, for those who don't think Ringo is worth it, here's a short list of Ringo must have albums...

Ringo (1973)
Goodnight Vienna (1974)
Time Takes Time (1992)
Vertical Man (1998)
Ringo Rama (2003)
Y Not (2010)

Best live album: VH1 Storytellers (1998) or Live at Soundstage (2007)

Best compilation: Photograph (2007)

Ringo's next album Ringo 2012 comes out on January 30.