See Empire mag's "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" covers



See pics from HBO's "West World"

"West World," an update of the 1970s robot-cowboy cult classic, premieres on HBO Oct 2. The series stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden and Thandie Newton, among others.








Meanwhile ... in 1966: Soupy Sales in "Birds Do It"


See more at Pop '66!



Coming up: Miles Davis Bootleg Series Vol. 5

I love Miles' "second great quartet" featuring Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. Should be good stuff:

Columbia/Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Miles Davis Quintet: Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol 5 on Friday, October 21, 2016.

A 3CD box set collection chronicling Miles' musical evolution in the studio from 1966-1968 working with his "second great quintet," the latest edition in Columbia/Legacy's acclaimed Miles Davis Bootleg Series provides an unprecedented look into the artist's creative process, drawing on full session reels including all rehearsals, partial and alternate takes, extensive and fascinating studio conversation and more.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Miles Smiles, the groundbreaking second studio album from the Miles Davis Quintet--Miles Davis (trumpet), Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums)--this definitive new collection includes the master takes of performances which would appear on the Miles Smiles (1967), Nefertiti (1968) and Water Babies (recorded 1967, released 1976) albums alongside more than two hours worth of previously unreleased studio recordings from original sessions produced by Teo Macero (with the exception of "Fall," produced by Howard A. Roberts).
"Circle," "Orbits," "Dolores" and "Freedom Jazz Dance" were recorded at the historic Columbia 30th Street Studio in New York City on October 24, 1966. "Gingerbread Boy" and "Footprints" were recorded at the same location the following day, October 25, 1966. Full session reels – every second of music and dialogue – that were taped for the Miles Smiles album are included. Prior to this the only material ever released from the classic album were the master takes for the six songs. Never before have the full session reels for an entire Miles Columbia album been released, here providing an in-depth look at the studio process of one of jazz's greatest bandleaders, and arguably the greatest small jazz group ever.
"Masqualero", heard on the set in a previously unreleased alternate take, was recorded at Columbia 30th Street Studio on May 17, 1967. "Water Babies" and "Nefertiti" were recorded there on June 7, 1967. "Fall" was cut at the Columbia studio on July 19, 1967. Complete session reels for "Water Babies", "Nefertiti" and "Fall" are included in the box.
"Country Son", heard in a unique previously unreleased rhythm section only rehearsal, was recorded at Columbia Studio B in New York City on May 15, 1968.
Miles Davis Quintet: Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol 5 box set was produced for contemporary release by the multi Grammy Award winning team of Steve Berkowitz, Michael Cuscuna and Richard Seidel. The album was mixed from the original 4-track tapes and mastered by Grammy Award winning engineer Mark Wilder, Battery Studios, New York City, July 2016.
In addition to more than two hours of previously unreleased studio sessions, the collection includes "Blues in F (My Ding)," a rare and unique home recording featuring Miles, demonstrating on piano a new blues he was working on to Wayne Shorter.
Miles Davis Quintet: Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol 5 includes revelatory behind-the-scenes liner notes penned by Grammy Award-winning Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece, as well as new interviews with Quintet members Ron Carter and Wayne Shorter.
Sourced from original four-track analog session reels and master tapes transferred and mixed in high resolution at 24-bit/192 kHz, Miles Davis Quintet: Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol 5 offers a profound and intimate look at Miles' creative process in the studio, providing insight into the bold new musical directions Davis and members of his quintet would take as the 1960s drew to a close.

Vintage Pink Floyd LPs coming on vinyl Sept. 23

Via the news release:
Pink Floyd Records will continue the reintroduction of the Pink Floyd catalogue on vinyl with the release of  "Atom Heart Mother", "Meddle" and "Obscured By Clouds" on September 23, 2016.  Each record has been remastered from the original analogue master tapes.  "The Wall" and "The Division Bell" will also be back in stock on vinyl starting August 26, 2016.
Pink Floyd followed their '60s albums with their fifth studio album, "Atom Heart Mother" in 1970.  Featuring the classic lineup of Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright and Nick Mason, the LP went on to become the band's first UK #1 record.
During a short break from touring "Atom Heart Mother" in 1971, Pink Floyd released the experimental album "Meddle".  The LP saw the band move musical direction away from their original psychedelic sound, especially highlighted by the 23-minute track "Echoes" which occupied the entire b-side of the record.
Pink Floyd's seventh album, "Obscured By Clouds" was originally recorded as the soundtrack to the French film "La Vallee" but was released as a stand alone album in 1972.
"The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn", "A Saucerful Of Secrets", "More", "Ummagumma" are also currently available through Pink Floyd Records.
 

New Music Aug. 19, 2016: Elvis; Spencer Davis Group; the Turtles, David Brent

Click the links to order discounted CDs, vinyl or downloads from Amazon.








Pop Culture Roundup: New Super Powers; Nostalgia Journal; Hot Wheels; Stranger Things

Nice: The cartooning team of Art Baltazar and Franco are back with a fresh all-ages title from DC Comics.
Aw yeah, the World’s Greatest Heroes are back in a new, all-ages miniseries—except for Batman! Superman helps out by cleaning up in Gotham City, where he discovers a clue that sends Wonder Woman into space to find the Caped Crusader. Her journey brings her a step closer to Batman, but can she uncover the truth behind his disappearance? From the award-winning creative team that brought you TINY TITANS and SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES! 

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Sad news: Gordon Francis Bailey Jr., creator and editor of the Nostalgia Journal passed away last month. Bailey's 'zine was part of the huge 1970s nostalgia craze and gave roots to what eventually became the Comics Journal.

Bailey was a prolific author, too, writing a number of non-fiction, fantasy and science fiction books over his career. There's a tribute to him here.

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This is cool: Hot Wheels road trip!



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Of Course There Is Dept.: There's a site where you can create your own "Stranger Things"-style memes.


New animated Batman film reunites Adam West and Burt Ward - see the trailer!

First mentioned sometime last year, "Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders" features the voices of Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin. Julie Newmar will also be back as Catwoman.

Check it out!

The film will be available in Digital HD online from Warner Home Video Oct. 11 and out on Blu-way Nov. 1.


New comics Aug. 14, 2016: Creepy Archives; Corto Maltese; Hulk Masterworks, more

Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.














Video find: Peanuts pianist Vince Guaraldi in the studio

Vince Guaraldi is best known as the performer/composer of music for the first "Peanuts" TV specials and the rollicking tune, "Linus and Lucy."

Here's a short documentary featuring footage of Guaraldi in the studio:


Today's Best Picture Ever: The Smothers Brothers


Upcoming DC Comics collections: Golden, Silver and Bronze Age JLA, Batman, World's Finest and more

New listings found on Amazon.

Justice League of America: The Silver Age Vol. 3
In these 1960s adventures, Aquaman, the Atom, Batman, the Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Superman, and Wonder Woman meets the Justice Society of America from the parallel world known as Earth-1, and take on the evil of Felix Faust, the Wizard, the Icicle, Kanjar Ro, Despero, Dr. Light, and many other classic DC villains.

Collects JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #20-30

Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 3
This third BATMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS includes dozens of stories from the early 1940s in which the Dynamic Duo battle evil-doers including the Penguin, the Joker, Two-Face and many more. These tales were written and illustrated by such luminaries as Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Gardner Fox, Jerry Robinson, and more.

Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #75-91, BATMAN #16-25, and stories from WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #10-14.

Batman & Superman in World's Finest: The Silver Age Vol. 1
Superman and Batman first teamed up in these stories from comics' 1950s Silver Age, reprinted here for the first time in one massive hardcover. In these tales, which feature frequent guest stars Robin, Lois Lane, Commissioner Gordon, and Perry White, the two heroes battle crime in the past, present, and future, including each other's greatest foes: Lex Luthor and The Joker!

Collects stories from Superman #76 and World's Finest Comics #71-94.

Green Lantern: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1
Green Lantern's adventures continue in this volume of stories from the late 1960s. In it, Hal Jordan faces the evil of villains including Sinestro, Dr. Polaris, Major Disaster, Hector Hammond, and Star Sapphire, and is declared Cosmic Enemy Number One by the rest of the Green Lantern Corps.

These classic stories from one of the greatest eras of comics are featured here in a gigantic omnibus edition, GREEN LANTERN: THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 3! Collects SHOWCASE #22-24, GREEN LANTERN #1-35.

Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1
In these adventures of the Justice League from the early 1970s, classic members of the League including Superman, Batman, the Flash, Green Arrow, the Atom and Black Canary meet the JSA, the Seven Soldiers of Victory, and take on the most ruthless villains in the DCU! These stories ushered in the Bronze Age of comics and were written by one of the masters of the form, Dennis O'Neil.

Collects JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #77-113.

Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 2
In this second helping of Batman tales from the Golden Age of Comics, the Dark Knight Detective faces the evil of the Joker, the Penguin, Two-Face and more of his greatest foes.

This new trade paperback collects DETECTIVE COMICS #46-56, BATMAN #4-7, WORLD'S BEST COMICS #1 and WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #2-3.

New trailer: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"


Today's Best Picture Ever: Bob Newhart