Mark Kurlansky’s Ready for a Brand New Beat: How “Dancing in the Streets” Became the Anthem for a Changing America looks at America in the Sixties and Seventies through the lens of Motown music. A big chunk of this book deals with Berry Gordy’s starting Motown Records, developing the Motown sound, and recruiting singers to implement his musical vision. Kurlansky believes that Martha Reeves and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Streets” played in key role in the zeitgeist of the Sixties as the Civil Rights Act, the Vietnam War, and the Goldwater vs. Johnson election all played out. The minute I finished Ready for a Brand New Beat, I had to drop everything and listen to Martha Reeves belt out this classic song! Check out the video below. GRADE: B+
DISCOGRAPHY OF “DANCING IN THE STREET”
1964 Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
1965 Cilla Black
1965 Brenda Lee
1065 The Kinks
1965 Petula Clark
1965 The Everly Brothers
1965 The Rokes
1966 The Walker Brothers
1966 The Red Squares
1967 Ramsey Lewis
1971 Little Richard
1971 Laura Nyro and Labelle
1976 Michael Bolton
1976 The Royals
1976 Donald Byrd
1977 The Grateful Dead
1979 Teri DeSario and K.C.
1979 Nohelani Cypriano
1979 Neil Diamond
1981 Tim Curry
1982 Van Halen
1982 The Who
1985 Mick Jagger and David Bowie
1985 Kingfish
1993 Leningrad Cowboys & the Alexandrov Red Army Ensemble
1996 Gunther Neefs
1997 Kim Weston
1999 The BB Band
2000 Jimmy Barnes
2001 Atomic Kitten
2002 The Power Station
2003 Dynamo’s Rhythm Aces
2004 Sugar Beats
2004 The Charades
2005 Rene Froger & Maud
2006 Human Nature
2007 The Condors, featuring Miu Sakamoto
2009 Asian Sensation
2010 Sandrine

Twenty Feet From Stardom pays homage to some of the obscure, nearly invisible back-ground singers who provide so much to our popular music. This documentary features Darlene Love, who was the un-credited lead voice on some of Phil Spector’s most memorable productions of the 1960s; Merry Clayton, who is the iconic voice on the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter”; Lisa Fischer, whose voice can be heard on albums by Sting, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin; and the Waters Family, who sang with Michael Jackson on Thriller as well as singing on the soundtracks for The Lion King and Avatar. It’s great that these talented artists are finally getting the credit and recognition that they deserve. If you love popular music, you’ll love 20 Feet From Stardom. Check out the soundtrack, too! GRADE: A
TRACK LIST
1 Walk On the Wild Side – Lou Reed (4:13)
2 Slippery People – Talking Heads (4:02)
3 Nobody’s Fault But Mine – Judith Hill (3:07)
4 He’s a Rebel – The Crystals (2:31)
5 Space Captain – Joe Cocker (4:49)
6 Gimme Shelter – Merry Clayton (3:32)
7 Sure On This Shining Night – Lisa Fischer (1:58)
8 Let’s Make a Better World – Judith Hill (3:01)
9 Young Americans – David Bowie (5:13)
10 Southern Man – Merry Clayton (3:14)
11 Desperation – Judith Hill (3:49)
12 A Fine, Fine Boy – Darlene Love (4:20)
13 Lean On Me – Darlene Love (5:10)

Originally, there wasn’t supposed to be a Season Two of Under the Dome but when CBS saw the boffo ratings this summer mini-series generated, they wanted MORE! Under the Dome was supposed to be a 13-episode adaption of Stephen King’s 1000-page tome about a mysterious dome that traps a town and its residents. Stephen King wrote an open letter to fans (you can read it here) explaining the changes made to the TV series. Now, with CBS providing a second series of episodes scheduled to start in June 2014, the entire cast of characters and plot is up for grabs. Rumors abound that Stephen King will write one of next summer’s episodes. If you haven’t been watching Under the Dome it’s available at CBS ON DEMAND and the usual Internet sites. Diane and I have been mildly entertained, but this is not must-see TV.

After the disappointing loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday, the Buffalo Bills try again to win their first NFL game of the 2013 season. Dropped passes and 13 penalties killed any chance of defeating Tom Brady and the Patriots, although the Bills were leading until the game’s final moments. Cam Newton and the Panthers almost upset the Seattle Seahawks last week so this will be a tough game. The Bills’ porous secondary will be tested.

How will your favorite NFL team do today?

Patrick was invited to be interviewed on a local Albuquerque TV station this week. A Star is born.

Back in 1984, prolific fantasy and horror writer Charles L. Grant published the first of his Lincoln Blackthorne novels, The King of Satan’s Eyes. Grant’s hero, Lincoln Blackthorne, is a New Jersey tailor from the town of Inverness who goes on dangerous quests for magical talismans. Yes, these novels are take-offs on the Indiana Jones adventures. In The King of Satan’s Eyes, Lincoln Blackthorne searches for a deck of playing cards that promise immortality. In The Tail of the Arabian, Knight Blackthorne seeks the fabulously bejeweled tail of an Arabian horse, Knight, that is reputed to have mystical healing powers. In The Patch of the Odin Soldier, Blackstone looks for a valuable Viking artifact known as the Odin Soldier which has supernatural powers. In The Fangs of the Hooded Demon Blackthorne looks for a pair of ruby fangs that legend claims were once the fangs that once belonged to Dracula. Sure, these tales are silly but if you’re in the mood for fun you’ll find it in these books.

Tyler Cowen uses his economist skills to become a more savvy food consumer. Cowen shows how a few techniques can result in better food in your tummy and better health. I also found Cowen’s adventures in finding great food while he was traveling (always a problem for me) insightful. If you’re interested in finding great barbecue, Cowen shows where it can be found. And like those other food experts, Michael Polian and Mark Bittman, Cowen points the way to a vegan future (meat will become prohibitively expensive). If you’re intrigued by the changes upcoming in our diets, Cowen explores the future. GRADE:B+
Table of Contents
On the Eve of the Revolution p. 1
How American Food Got Bad p. 17
Revolutionizing the Supermarket Experience p. 39
The Rules for Finding a Good Place to Eat p. 57
Barbecue: The Greatest Slow Food of All p. 85
The Asian Elephant in the Room p. 113
Another Agricultural Revolution, Now p. 141
Eating Your Way to a Greener Planet p. 167
Why Does Mexican Food Taste Different in Mexico? p. 187
The Finding Great Food Anywhere Encyclopedia p. 211
The Stuff and Values of Cooking at Home p. 243
Notes p. 261
Acknowledgments p. 277
Index p. 279

I’ve enjoyed Sheryl Crow’s music for a couple of decades. Her latest single, “Easy,” keeps playing in my head. The other songs on this new CD are very listenable. If you’re looking for some pleasant music, give Feels Like Home a try. GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
1. Shotgun 3:14
2. Easy 4:13
3. Give It To Me 3:57
4. We Oughta Be Drinkin’ 3:50
5. Callin’ Me When I’m Lonely 3:24
6. Waterproof Mascara 3:31
7. Crazy Ain’t Original 3:16
8. Nobody’s Business 3:33
9. Homesick 4:04
10. Homecoming Queen 3:23
11. Best Of Times 3:18
12. Stay At Home Mother 3:37

I consider Homeland the best program on television. Clare Danes’ acting continues to astonish me. If you haven’t seen this suspenseful series, you’re in for thrills and chills. The twisting plots, the unexpected terrorist threats, and the tension among the principal characters will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is first-rate drama. Don’t miss this! GRADE: A

“If we have to use force, it is because we are America. We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall. We see further into the future.” Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s famous (or infamous) remarks should be much on the mind of Congress as they vote on the authorization of force to punish Syria for using chemical weapons. Theodore Dalrymple’s collection of essays explores the decline of Europe and the retreat of European intellectuals from activism to isolationism. Dalrymple sees the same pattern repeating itself in the United States. Falling birthrates, aging population, weariness with wars, and a disdain for the military leads to disengagement. But, what is the cost of isolationism? If Assad’s use of chemical weapons goes unpunished, will that send a signal to other dictators and terrorists that they use these weapons with impunity? The stakes are high and the outcomes are in doubt. GRADE: B+