250 US Pop Culture 1974 Part 7

[@tompepper4789]

Amazing how the list of new movies in 1974 really help in remembering what happened in that year. Really locks you into a time and place to remember the past.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

That's a really interesting observation, Tom! I have some of that experience with movies. For me, it's stronger with music. I know you're a serious "movie guy." Cool to know the movies have that "time travel" effect for you! Thanks for the comments and always great to hear from you!

[@chrismarzoli2170]

A lot of great material came out in 1974, in Music, TV, and Films. Love those disaster flicks! I’m with you, I always enjoy “Kung Fu Fighting”, it’s a fun song. Congratulations, Steve on your 250th episode produced!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Glad to know you enjoyed “Kung Fu Fighting” too! We missed “Airport 1975” in the theaters but were there for “Earthquake” and “The Towering Inferno,” as well as “Man With The Golden Gun.” I agree there was a lot of great material coming out in ’74. I’m pretty sure the fourth quarter of the year is the first time I’ve ever needed three episodes to cover one quarter. In any case, it got me to the big “250.” Thanks for noticing that, Chris, and have a great week!

[@daddybog7189]

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Dec 4th, Happy Heavenly Birthday to Dennis Wilson ( his 80th). Steve always enjoy seeing your amazing collection and hearing about the top songs and tv shows for that time. Continued success.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks, Don! And thanks for the reminder on what would have been Dennis' 80th. I'm not sure whether to marvel at the flight of time or mourn the loss of so much talent gone far too soon. (Guess I'll have to do both.) Have a great week, Don, and thanks again!

[@bchnwgn]

Fantastic as always, Steve. Congratulations on achieving this amazing milestone episode!😀

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks, Chris! Glad you enjoyed it and it's hard to believe it's been "250." (I estimate that's nearly three straight days of content. More than anybody needs, I guess, but fun to have done!)

[@currinsnipes9879]

The Warner/Reprise double album sets were my introduction to The Beach Boys' post-Pet Sounds recordings. I think the cover art was initially part of my attraction, but I certainly enjoyed the liner notes - and the music, it blew my mind. Up until then, I had mainly listened to the BBs' early and mid-60s recordings. Hearing "Our Prayer" for the first time was a spiritual moment, to say the least. The Billy Jack movie sequel reminded me of going to the movies with my older sister and her boyfriend a few years earlier. We had the choice: The first Billy Jack film or some "Western" called "Blazing Saddles." We chose the latter. I sat down thinking I was going to see a traditional Cowboys & Indians film. It wasn't until the campfire scene I finally realized something was amiss! Call me young, naive and stupid. I didn't care for disaster movies, so I bypassed those. But I do remember seeing "The Man With The Golden Gun" - theme song sung by Lulu (To Sir With Love and later Maurice Gibb's wife.) Like you, I always enjoyed "Kung Fu Fighting," as did everyone at my high school. I remember it playing in the lunchroom over the speakers and people acting out the parts! I also really liked Paul McCartney & Wings' "Junior's Farm." Great tune. I'll close by commenting on your "Surf Route 101" album in the back by The Super Stocks (Gary Usher & company.) It was years before I discovered that album, but I am a big Jan and Dean fan and really enjoyed their version of the song. Thanks Steve! You always give me lots of things to think about...and it's great fun!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Those Warner/Reprise double albums were the way I first heard the late-60s Beach Boys. They were still available in 1980 (mostly in cut-out bins, which saved me some money.) Your comments made me realize that I was, slightly, cheated out of the surprise of those albums, since I bought them after reading their descriptions in Byron Preiss’ Beach Boys biography. It would have been a much more interesting to experience them on without having read all about them first. Not knowing what you were going to get would have also been a great way to experience “Blazing Saddles” too! (I had kind of a similar experience when I was in Germany in 1982. Some German friends took me to an American movie, at a revival house, whose German title translated to “Much Smoke Over Nothing, Part 2.” They explained to me that it was a drama about drug smugglers. It turned out to be “Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie.” I enjoyed it, but they were disappointed in the “drama.”) Thanks for sharing that story, Currin! Thanks, too, for the memories of “Kung Fu Fighting” and for letting me know I’m not alone in loving it and “Junior’s Farm.” Glad you noticed the “Surf Route 101” album! I was glad to get a chance to display it as part of this week’s “West Coast” theme. Thanks for all the great feedback and have a great week, Currin!

[@johnhammond1572]

Some great movies here I remember going to the cinema to see most of them with "The towering inferno" and "Earthquake" as the standout films of this year. I bought a betamax video tape of the "New years eve special with Chicago" for £5 and played it to death for the next six months. I managed to sell it for £10 at the Stomp convention a few years later. I might be wrong but I don't remember the Warner/Reprise double albums being released in the UK. These seven episodes on 1974 have been fascinating and have been exceptionally researched and presented so a big thank you for all the time and effort you put into these video's.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Both "Earthquake" and "The Towering Inferno" were year-end highlights for me too. (Between those, and "The Man With The Golden Gun," I probably saw more movies over my holiday break that year than any time until college.) Good deal on the Betamax tape! I vividly remember seeing the Beach Boys on the show that night. It made such an impression, that, in my memory, I'd have sworn the Beach Boys were on "New Year's Rockin' Eve" several times in the 70s, not just the one year they were actually on.Thanks for letting me know about those Warner/Reprise doubles not being released in the UK. I just checked discogs and you're right! They were apparently only issued in the US and Canada. SO glad to know that you enjoyed the 1974 episodes, John! It was a lot of fun (and a lot of work) putting them together. It means a lot to know they were enjoyed and appreciated! Thanks and have a great week!

[@bilguana11]

"Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" appears on the Beach Boy's extended Christmas CD "Ultimate Christmas" with 26 tracks (1998 on Capital Records). Except for your 45 of "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" the bonus tracks were previously unreleased tracks. I didn't like them very much at first but they have grown on me and I play the CD every year around Christmas time. According to the booklet, there was to be a second Christmas album but the group's label rejected it.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the reminding me of that Beach Boys CD, Bill! “Child of Winter” grew on me after Stephen Kalinich let us know about the “Rachel & The Raindeerz” version, and the video (in which he and David Marks appear) when he was on the channel a couple of years ago. The video is a lot of fun and I really warmed to the song after that. (You can find it here on KZbin if you’re interested. The archival stuff on “Ultimate Christmas” CD is definitely very interesting. Thanks again for mentioning it and, as always, for the great feedback, Bill!

[@danny1959]

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore had Mott the Hoople’s “All the Way from Memphis” as the opening theme song.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Wow! I had not idea! Thanks for mentioning that, Danny! (Great record too!)

[@lamontsouth5301]

Well Steve.... You did it again. Another Thursday morning at work shot...but thanks for my reliving great old memories of '74. A couple of thoughts. Much of Airplane 75 was shot at the Salt Lake City airport. Even the movie plot had the plane landing in Salt Lake. Ironically (or tragically) ten year before in '65, a 727 landed too hard at the very same Salt Lake airport. The plane's landing great failed and the plane burst into flames. Of the 85 on board, 43 died and the rest were badly burned(sorry for the downer.) I do remember well those disaster movies...saw them all. I remember Bob Hope's line from the day about the new movie coming out about a skyscraper burning down during an earthquake....the were calling it "Shake and Bake". I don't remember seeing the BB on new year's eve with Chicago that year. I was probably playing a gig that night myself. But I have watched it many times on KZbin. Sounds like they were singing live to the record's backing track. The instruments sounded just too good to be live. They did that a lot back then on TV. I still can't get over how dominant Carl's voice was on every recording he made. No one like him....or ever will be. Thanks again for a great program. Lamont

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the information on the tragedy at the airport in Salt Lake City, and for helping lighten the mood with what seems like a classic Bob Hope line. I never heard that before, but I can certainly imagine how Bob Hope would have delivered the punch line! I think you're probably right about the performances on "New Year's Rockin' Eve" being live vocals over pre-recorded backing. It seems like actual live performances on TV usually sounded terrible in those days, so I wouldn't blame them for playing it safe. I definitely agree about Carl! Thanks for the kind words and the great feedback, Lamont! Glad you enjoyed the episode!

[@beanie226]

First class and professional as always , Steve . I was surprised when your viewers said that they were introduced to The Beach Boys by the Warner/Reprise double album reissues. I remember purchasing them because my original records were worn out . Similarly , I appreciated Pet Sounds being included with So Tough . My first Pet Sounds LP was damaged by dropping the needle while trying to learn all those “ strange “ chords in God Only Knows .

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the feedback, Beanie, and what a worthy way to wear out "Pet Sounds": learning the chords in "God Only Knows." Whatever else, those Warner/Reprise doubles seemed to have been about the only way to hear the late-60s Beach Boys until the albums were reissued in, I think, around 1983 or 84. They "carried the torch" for about a decade, I guess!

[@michaelthemovieattic]

Great stuff Steve! I have not seen many disaster movies. Of course I watched a lot of the Grizzly Adams TV series. I haven't seen any of the movies you listed except for The Land That Time Forgot and young Frankenstein. I do have the Murder on The Orient Express 4k. I just haven't watched it yet. I have been watching a few movies lately with Christopher Lee. It seems like this is yet another in a long list of Beach Boys missed opportunities. It's so hard to believe a band like the Beach Boys couldn't put out an album to capitalize on their recent success. I still don't know why they wouldn't embrace what talent Dennis had to offer. He seemed to be the second most talented song writer in the band. Since I discovered it, I have always liked Child of Winter and listen to it every Christmas. It's baffling why they wouldn't put another Christmas song as the B-side. I really liked Goodnight Vienna and of course I love the album cover. I think Ringo's albums went down hill after that album. I think you should keep up doing a deep dive in the year that is fifty years ago. Anyway, thanks as always Steve. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday season.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the feedback and the perspective, Michael! "Murder On The Orient Express" is a movie from this quarter that I haven't seen that looked interesting when I was researching it. I'll have to check that one out! I agree that the Beach Boys really missed an opportunity by not immediately capitalizing on their success in '74 by putting out a new album. Of course, we now know that Dennis had some great material they could have used. (I wonder if "certain members" of the band thought his work didn't fit the image, or, alternatively, if Dennis wanted to hold it back for the solo album he'd been contemplating since, at least 1970.) If they didn't have enough material of their own, in the long run, I think they'd have been better served to get an album out of modern pop/rock songs written by other people (like an Art Garfunkel or Linda Ronstadt album) than to not have issued anything. Oh well! We can always bemoan the missed opportunities! I glad you enjoyed the "1974" series and I'm definitely looking forward to doing "1975" in 2025! We had a great Thanksgiving here! Hope yours was excellent also! Thanks, Michael!

[@robertzastrow4648]

Remember the hype/promotion for most of the movies you mentioned. Don't remember if i asked my parents about seeing any of them at a theater, but we didn't go to see any of them. Some of them, like The Towering Inferno and Benji, I didn't see until years later as an adult. Sadly, I think Benji was actress Deborah Walley's final film role. Seems the onslaught of "Disaster" films, involving fires, earthquakes, etc. were filled with actors/actresses who, while being well known, were a little beyond their prime (In being hired for A-list movie roles). Of the songs you mentioned, I also liked "Kung Fu Fighting", although I didn't pick it up as a single. Was still a few years away from starting to collect 45s and record albums. In the late 1970s/early 1980s, checked out from the library Warner Brothers double album re-issue of Wild Honey/20/20. Was surprised by what I heard, thinking "Is this the same band, that did "I Get Around" and "California Girls"? Also surprising, that I did like this different style of music from the group.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I had no idea about “Benji” being Deborah Walley’s last film appearance. Thanks for letting me know about that! I think you’re right about the casts of those disaster movies. They might get a “bankable star” (or two, in the case of “Towering Inferno), but the formula seemed to be to fill out the cast with people the audience would recognize, but who didn’t cost too much. The “up side” of that was that we got some people on screen that we hadn’t seen in a while. As I mentioned to Currin Snipes in response to his comments, I also first heard the late-60s Beach Boys on those Warner/Reprise double albums. I had read descriptions of the albums in Byron Preiss’ book before I bought them in 1980, so I kind of knew what to expect and kind missed out on the surprise of hearing them “cold.” I envy you having had that experience! Thanks for the feedback, Robert! Always great to hear from you!

[@robertzastrow4648]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 Paul & Wings song "Junior's Farm" has always been one of my favorite Paul solo songs. A few years back, a guy who also posts videos on KZbin (mostly about Elvis) did a video chronicling the time Paul & Wings spent in America/the summer of 1974. In his video (He goes by the name The Spa Guy), he mentioned how Paul and Wings stayed at a music guy's farm ( maybe he was a recording engineer) who they had met in Nashville. Think the guy's last name was Parker, and he had the nickname of "Junior". Paul wrote "Junior's Farm" as a tribute/thank you to him. After reading about the Beach Boys' "Child Of Winter" Christmas song, and having never heard it, I called up a local radio station (during the mid 1980s) to request it, expecting to be told they didn't have it, but could play "Little Saint Nick" instead. Surprisingly, the Deejay who I spoke to said they did have the record, and played it for me (This was on Christmas day). I managed to tape that broadcast. I enjoyed the song, but wondered why the band didn't just hold on to it, and release it for Christmas 1975, instead of releasing it only two days before Christmas 1974. My guess is that Brian insisted it be released. The song had some Fuzz bass on it, which was also used on "Funky Pretty", "It's OK" and much of the Love You album. Think the Fuzz bass was another instrument Brian became enamored with, like he had with the Theremin from about 10 years before.

[@betamaxblocker]

So glad to see The Phantom of the Paradise get a mention! Such an underrated film and I would love to hear The Beach Boys do a cover of "Upholstery" (still one of the best Beach Boys spoof songs in my eyes.) I had nightmares as a kid after seeing Earthquake LOL The Man with the Golden Gun is a mess of a movie but is one of those Bond films that is just goofy, campy fun. Maybe we'll get a digital set for some of those Caribou sessions before the year is up. They would be neat to hear! That's cool that you have an actual Child of Winter single. I'm not a huge fan of it but it would be neat to have. Love the info about the New Year's Rockin' Eve Party as well! A slight correction- Robert DeNiro got the Oscar for Godfather Part II, not Robert Duvall.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the feedback, info and for the DeNiro correction! Joel Goldenberg pointed it out right after the episode posted and I knew you'd catch it too. I've been waiting! (Actually, the reference book I used listed Duvall instead of DeNiro. I thought it was surprising since I didn't remember Duvall having that much to do in "Part II," but I didn't think it odd enough to cross-reference. I already shot a "correction" for next week's episode.) I'd definitely love to hear those Caribou sessions too. Of course, we've had some of it on "boots" but it'd be nice to hear official and "best quality" versions. There may also be a few surprises there that haven't been heard. Always great to hear from you, Alex!

[@MaximumNPP]

Thanks for reminding me about the NYE show, Steve! I hadn't seen that for years and enjoyed watching it again for the BBs set. It was interesting to see Ricky playing a Zickos, I hadn't clocked that when I watched it before and I am now wondering if it is the same kit Dennis played on the Brian Is Back tour and after. I would love to know where all of Dennis' kits ended up. Right back to the blue satin Camco and even the sparkly Gretsch. No one has ever asked and no one has ever said. Someone must surely know?

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Interesting observations on the drum kits, Nathan! That's a whole area that I've never really seen investigated before. (As you say, it appears that no one has ever asked and no one has ever said.) I don't even know if the instruments played on stage generally belonged to the players or to the Beach Boys organization. (If Ricky is playing the same kit Dennis played later, I guess it would make sense that the BB organization owned it.) Really interesting question! Thanks for raising it, Nathan!

[@MaximumNPP]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 I now think so, Steve. Especially as I am now remembering seeing video of tours where Dennis would go off and Figueroa or Kowalski would jump onto the kit and play it without adjusting it. So yes, it must be property of Brother Records rather than one of Dennis' personal possessions.

[@skee19]

The Towering Inferno was an epic picture at that time with two of the biggest movie stars of all time: Steve McQueen & Paul Newman who shared top billing! Steve please check out the flip side to Elton’s “Lucy In The Sky.”He does a brilliant job on Lennons “One Day At a Time “. I actually like it a lot more than Johns!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Yes! I remember there was a lot of talk at the time about all the negotiation between Newman's and McQueen's "people" about how their names would appear in the credits and on posters and how their photos would appear in ads so that neither one could appear to have top billing over the other. I agree that Elton's "One Day At A Time" is better than the original. It was an interesting choice and he did a nice job with it! Thanks, Mike!

[@joelgoldenberg1100]

1. I have a vague memory that Charlie Rich performed the theme song for Benji ( I never saw the movie, but my last dog was named Benji). Quite an upbeat song with a more pop musical background than Rich usually got. On KZbin Music, Rich is strangely credited as Euel Box. 2. Airport 1975, considered by some one of the worst movies of all time, might have been improved if Norman Fell broke the fourth wall by looking into the camera and laughing, as he did on Three's Company.😉3. I regret never having seen a movie in Sensurround, although the newer 6D format where you have to be strapped into your seat as you take a five-minute wild ride with motorcycles or other vehicles, and the seat moves around with huge jolts, is utterly fantastic. 4. The real star of Godfather II is Al Pacino's eyes, the coldness in them as Michael Corleone seemingly forgives his brother Fredo's betrayal but indicates to Al Neri that Fredo is to be killed, and the rage in them when Kay tells Michael she got an abortion. 5. Actually, Robert DeNiro won for Best Supporting Actor, but Robert Duvall deserved it as well and Pacino should definitely have won for Best Actor. 6. One thing I really love from what I believe is the Caribou sessions is the original mix of Good Timin', which has a really beautiful keyboard part, and of course Carl's great vocal. Too bad harmonies weren't added at the time. 7. Funny to see the five-word Child of Winter title on the single, I figured Christmas Song would be in brackets. 8. It would be cool if the promotional mono mix of Child Of Winter was released on the next Beach Boys box set, especially if it's a dedicated mix overseen by Brian. 9. I saw the Rolling Stones 50th anniversary concert in Montreal, and then a guy I didn't recognize came on stage to play for one song. I don't even remember him being introduced. It turned out to be Mick Taylor. 9. I really like the vast amount of credit information on the Three Degrees single. 10. Just like on some Motown singles, two different copyright dates on the Neil Sedaka single, 1974 for the song's UK label (Polydor) and 1973 for MCA. 11.Late 1974 was quite dramatic for me, I had my appendix out.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the info on Charlie Rich doing the theme for “Benji.” (I never saw the movie. Being 14 at the time, I would have been far too embarrassed if somebody had spotted me going to a “kid’s movie.”) Your comment on Norman Fell had me, literally, laughing out loud. (My wife called down the stairs to ask what happened.) Fell “mugging” in the middle of “Airport 1975” would have been great! Thanks for catching the error on Robert DeNiro, not Robert Duvall, winning Best Supporting Actor for “Godfather II.” For once, it’s an error that didn’t originate with me. I got my information from the usually-reliable book “Movie Time” by Gene Brown, who listed the winner as Duvall. (Duvall was good, but I didn’t remember him having all that much to do in “Part II.” DeNiro makes more sense!) Great observations on Al Pacino’s performance too! I agree about the Caribou version of “Good Timin’.” They were headed in the right direction with that! I wish they’d have finished (and released) it! Cool that you got to see Mick Taylor! I know he’s pretty hard to recognize now from the guy he was in ’74. I always liked “Leather Jacket” from his first solo album in ’79. A few years ago, I picked up a Stones reference book called “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll” at a used bookstore. When I got it home, I discovered it was autographed by Mick Taylor, which was a nice, unexpected, bonus. I can imagine having your appendix out would be the memorable event of late ’74! Happy 50th anniversary of having that over with! Thanks, as always, for the excellent comments and observations, Joel!

[@joelgoldenberg1100]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 I almost laugh out loud when I just think about Fell's mugging. Imagine my reaction when I saw him do it for the first time during the show's original run!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@joelgoldenberg1100 My friends and I used to just absolutely "go off" about that mugging to the camera on "Three's Company." It was a show we "loved to hate," though we did eventually realize that John Ritter was, in fact, an outstanding physical comedian. Thanks for the follow-up, Joel!

[@chrisrainbow2393]

Here endeth one of the most successful years for the Beach Boys and as i have said previously , 1974 was the very year i started my BB collection and i have often wondered what would have happened to the group if Endless Summer hadnt been released , though i have to say that ES wasnt the reason that i started my collection as i had already started with Best of the Beach Boys vol 2 and it was while i was enjoying that, that ES was released and its success obviously encouraged the group to abandon their more contemporary style in favour of their past catalog and while there is no harm in that, i wonder what would have happened if they had followed up Holland with something in that style , instead of creating that dreadful Brian is Back nonsense, which here in UK we considered rather tasteless. and even Roger Scott couldnt help distancing himself from it as he continued to play various tracks that i previously hadnt heard and indeed he did once play Child of Winter several years later at Christmas , explaining how rare it was and it was the first and last time i heard it. Looking at Elton Johns Greatest Hits, i bought that album and at that time was going out with a girl from Guildford who owned Best of the Beach Boys , the first vol which i couldnt find and although her copy was well used and a bit scruffy, i swapped it for my mint copy of Elton John before we broke up, a fair swap i would say., She ditched me for a Scotsman, but i had the pleasure of Best of.........and still own the album , a much more loyal and enjoyable friend .and there was one track on there that Kenny Everett had been playing ie God Only Knows and at the time i didnt know Pet Sounds.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for more great info and perspective, Chris! Of course, I agree that the Beach Boys, largely, “lost the plot” after Holland and that “Endless Summer” gave them an easy way to maintain a lucrative, if not artistically interesting, career. As I’ve mentioned, “Endless Summer” was my first Beach Boys album. I remained “aware” of the group and certainly heard the “Brian Is Back” promotion when it started. At the time, I didn’ know enough about the group to understand how hollow and unfounded “Brian Is Back” was. Great to get your perspective and recollections on that! Thanks for sharing your story of the “Elton John’s Greatest Hits”/”Best of The Beach Boys” swap! Your comments reminded me of a joke album title Eric Idle used in “The Rutles.” He had one of them releasing a solo album called, “When You Find The Girl of Your Dreams…In The Arms of Some Scotsmen From Hull.” Anyway, sounds like you got the best of it with that trade! Have a great week, Chris, and thanks again!