Challengers, convention signing, 1983 Best Popular Song Poll Results and 1984 Best Popular Song Launching on Monday Morning Diary (April 29)

by Sam Juliano

Some events are around the corner. I will be chaperoning our annual 8th grade Washington D.C. trip from Wednesday, May 8th, through Friday, May 10th. The Eighth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival will be staged sometime in mid-to-late May. I will soon send out the group email to the previous participants.

My wife Lucille and sons Sammy IV and Danny traveled to Parsippany, N.J. on Saturday for a movie star convention. They met William Shatner and other luminaries, but they spoke to Cybil Shepherd and secured an autograph. Lucille told the 74-year-old actress, “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW is my husband’s favorite American film of the past 60 years.” Thank you, Lu!!

The film Challengers combined torrid sex and tennis, but director Luca Guadagnino immersive technique, super performances and a stupendous score by Reznoror and Ross make this one of the best films of 2024 so far!  5/5, Ridgefield Park AMC, Saturday evening.

Thank you again, Tony D’Ambra, for your work in posting the results of our music polls on Spotify. I’m hoping readers will avail themselves of this opportunity.

   “Every Breath You Take” Named Best Song of 1983!

The Police’s monumental hit ‘Every Breath You Take‘—from their Synchronicity album—was not just a chart-topper on Billboard and numerous radio stations, but it also emerged as the undisputed champion of our own poll. Outshining R.E.M.’s ‘Radio Free Europe’ with a significant margin of 305-209, this song truly dominated the year. Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr. confirmed that a total of 34 ballots were cast.

1. Every Breath You Take – Police 305

2. Radio Free Europe – R.E.M. 209

3. Modern Love – David Bowie 164

4. Burning Down the House – Talking Heads 160

5. Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics 158

6. Let’s Dance, David Bowie 147

7. Billy Jean – Michael Jackson 144

8. Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2 138

9. King of Pain – The Police 126

10. All Night Long – Lionel Richie 124

11. Every Day I Write the Book – Elvis Costello 120

12. This Must Be The Place – Talking Heads 110

13. Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler 106

14. Little Red Corvette – Prince 101

15. Thriller – Michael Jackson 99

16. Wrapped Around Your Finger (The Police) 97

17. Come Dancing – The Kinks 93

18. Maneater – Hall & Oates 91

19. True – Spandau Ballet 84

20. New Year’s Day – U2 83

21. Blue Monday – New Order 81

22. In a Big Country – Big Country 77

23. Rebel Yell – Billy Idol 71

24. Electric Avenue – Eddy Grant 69

25. Girls Just Want to Have Fun-Cyndi Lauper 69

26. Here Comes the Rain Again (Eurythmics) 69

27. Come On Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners) 62

28. I’m Still Standing——Elton John. 62

29. Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson 62

30. This Charming Man” – The Smiths 62

31. I Love L.A.- Randy Newman 61

32. Rockit” – Herbie Hancock 60

33. Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper 59

34. Rock the Casbah” – The Clash 55

35. She Works Hard for the Money (Donna Summer) 53

36. Undercover Of The Night – The Rolling Stones 51

37. Back On The Chain Gang – Pretenders 50

38. Buffalo Soldier – Bob Marley and the Wailers 50

39. Islands in the Stream, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton 50

40. Stand Back (Stevie Nicks) 50

41. Karma Chameleon-Culture Club 49

42. Flashdance – Irene Cara 48

43. Sweetheart Like You – Bob Dylan 46

44. Beat It – Michael Jackson 45

45. Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes 45

46. Pride And Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan 45

47. Stray Cat Strut” – The Stray Cats 44

48. Twilight Zone (Golden Earring) 44

49. Africa (Toto) 43

50. You Got Lucky – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 42

34 ballots cast.

“Housekeeping For Beginners,” “Sasquatch Sunset” and Mikey’s Absolution on Monday Morning Diary (April 22)

by Sam Juliano

As we approach the end of April, we will focus on the annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, which is entering its eighth year.  In early May, I will send out a group e-mail to those who have previously participated, and later, I will put together a schedule.

I have reached 55,000 words in writing my third novel, Mikey’s Absolution, and have outlined the basic plot for the fourth novel, Roses for Saoirse.  I am pleased with how everything is progressing.

I will once again be serving as a chaperone for the annual Washington D.C. 8th grade school trip, to be staged on May 8th through the 10th.

Voting on the 1983 Best Song Poll continues through Saturday, April 27th.  I’m urging readers to check out the song list Tony D’Ambra has faithfully posted after every result!

The ratings for this past week’s two films seen in theaters are as follows:

Housekeeping For Beginners      ****

Sasquatch Sunset                           ***

 

“Civil War,” 1982 Song Poll Results and 1983 Song Poll Launching on Monday Morning Diary (April 15)

by Sam Juliano

   Alex Garland’s “Civil War”

I was asked by several friends not to reveal SPOILERS, so this will restrict what I can report on my screening of CIVIL WAR. Visceral and terrifying, the film is a dystopian exploration of the societal breakdown of order and how witnesses of some jolting acts of gun violence stay the course in chronicling the horrors with their cameras. Kirsten Dunst is brilliant in conveying the densification in an episodic journey greater than the sum of its parts. It is often sloppy and overly bombastic but undeniably powerful. The last twenty minutes of the film are extraordinary. 4/5

“Come On Eileen” Named Best Popular Song of 1982!

The biggest surprise of all our song polling was confirmed when Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr. sent the results of the 1982 song polling this morning. The coronation of the British group Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express’s “Come On Eileen” was eye-opening because the song didn’t open in the US until January 1983. However, it debuted in the UK in the summer of 1982, and our voters went with that time frame. The vote was exceedingly close, with several songs bunched near the top! “Come On, Eileen” won with 190 votes, followed by “1999” by Prince (185),” “I Melt with You” by Modern English, (185) “Steppin Out” by Joe Jackson (184) and “More Than This” by Roxy Music (173) 43 ballots were cast!

1 Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners 190

2 1999 – Prince 185

3 I Melt with You – Modern English 185

4 Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson 184

5 More Than This – Roxy Music 173

6 Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye 163

7 Atlantic City – Bruce Springsteen 157

8 Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band 142

9 Don’t You Want Me – The Human League 140

10 Rock the Casbah – The Clash 137

11 I Love Rock ‘n Roll – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts 134

12 Town Called Malice – The Jam 126

13 Maneater – Hall & Oates 125

14 Eye of the Tiger – Survivor 124

15 Back on the Chain Gang – Pretenders 123

16 Should I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash 123

17 White Wedding (Billy Idol) 119

18 Here I am- Air Supply 118

19 Dirty Laundry – Don Henly 117

20 IGY – Donald Fagen 115

21 Gloria – Laura Braningan 108

22 Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics 108

23 Shoot Out the Lights – Richard & Linda Thompson 106

24 Shock the Monkey-Peter Gabriel 94

25 The Message – Grandmaster Flash 92

26 Eminence Front – The Who 87

27 Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson 84

28 Senses Working Overtime – XTC 76

29 Save It for Later (The English Beat) 75

30 Love My Way (Psychedelic Furs) 74

31 Avalon – Roxy Music 73

32 Shake It Up – The Cars 72

33 Somebody’s Baby-Jackson Browne 72

34 Don’t Stop Believing – Journey 71

35 Ebony and Ivory…McCartney / Wonder 68

36 Temptation – New Order 62

37 Private Eyes (Hall & Oates) 58

38 She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby 57

39 Hold Me – Fleetwood Mac 54

40 Cat People (Putting Out Fire), David Bowie 53

41 Who Can It Be Now…Men At Work 53

42 You Got Lucky (Tom Petty) 52

43 Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac) 51

44 Our House – Madness 50

45 Do I Do (Stevie Wonder) 47

46 Edge of Seventeen…Stevie Nicks 47

47 Hungry Like the Wolf” – Duran Duran 47

48 Only You – Yaz 45

49 Up Where We Belong—–Joe Cocker-Jennifer Warnes. 45

50 I Can’t Go For That (Hall & Oates) 42

43 ballots cast.

“Mikey’s Absolution,” Best Song Polling, and “Godzilla vs. Kong” on Monday Morning Diary (April 7)

by Sam Juliano

As of this morning, I have approached 50,000 words in writing my third novel, Mikey’s Absolution. A bevy of new ideas have emerged, and I’m excited. I will not finish the novel in May, as I previously predicted, but I am thinking of July or August.  I unexpectedly ran into my artist, Andrew Castrucci, a few days ago at a wake, and he expressed excitement at being on board again.  I assured him that, God willing, I plan to write five novels in this series.  The title of the fourth will be Roses for Saoirse, and the fifth is yet to be determined.  If I can complete the book in August, I guess it will be published well before Christmas, even with the editing figured in.  I have been painstakingly tweaking and editing every sentence I write as I go along, so with this novel, the finished product will be in the best shape possible.  This is the reason why I am not further along.

I want to thank those who have cast ballots for the song polling. We will continue until voters claim they stopped following music in the popular vein. I can’t imagine us not reaching the year 2000. As I previously promised, we will go back and do 1957 to 1962, six years we skipped over when we launched the project with the songs of 1963. We should include those earliest years since the rock era began in 57.   We will also do a comprehensive “Best Albums” of every year poll when the song polling concludes, but we are far from that stage.

No, I did not see Godzilla vs. Kong.  I took a pass.  But since my wife Lucille and our three sons saw it this past Thursday evening at the Ridgefield Park theater, I figured I’d include it on the MMD at the time of the year when I see very few movies in theaters.  They rather liked it and rated it a “B.”

1981 Song Poll Results and 1982 Best Song Launch on Tuesday Morning Diary (April 2)

 

by Sam Juliano

The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” Named Best Popular Song of 1981 by Razor-Thin Margin!

The Rolling Stones became the first group or person to win a third #1 placement when their 1981 “Start Me Up” placed first in our polling! Previously, the Stones won for “Satisfaction” and Paint It Black.” According to Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr., “Start Me Up” edged out Blondie’s “The Tide is High” and Kim Carnes’s “Bette Davis Eyes,” 252-248-240. Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and Hall & Oates’s “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” rounded out the Top 5. Only 36 points separated Number 1 and Number 5. An impressive total of 46 ballots were cast.

1 Start Me Up – Rolling Stones 252

2 The Tide Is High – Blondie 248

3 Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes 240

4 Don’t You Want Me – The Human League 233

5 I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) – Hall and Oates 216

6 Under Pressure – Queen & David Bowie 187

7 In the Air Tonight…Phil Collins 186

8 Tainted Love – Soft Cell 177

9 Pretty in Pink – Psychedelic Furs 164

10 Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go Go’s 144

11 Down Under (Men at Work) 139

12 Arthurs Theme – Christopher Cross 135

13 Waiting On A Friend – Rolling Stones 125

14 Centerfold – J Geils Band 122

15 The Waiting – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 112

16 9 To 5 – Dolly Parton 101

17 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police 97

18 Ghost Town – The Specials 96

19 Celebration-Kool & The Gang 93

20 Super Freak (Rick James) 92

21 Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around – Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks 91

22 Watching the Wheels – John Lennon 89

23 I Love Rock n’ Roll – Joan Jett 87

24 Jesse’s Girl – Rick Springfield 84

25 Spirits in the Material World – The Police 84

26 Destroyer – The Kinks 82

27 Kiss on My List – Hall and Oates 82

28 Rapture – Blondie 79

29 You Better You Bet-The Who 77

30 Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen 76

31 Shake It Up – The Cars 76

32 Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan 75

33 Hit Me With Your Best Shot-Pat Benatar 75

34 Talk of the Town – The Pretenders 75

35 Edge of Seventeen- Stevie Nicks 70

36 Chariots of Fire” – Vangelis 69

37 Tom Sawyer – Rush 68

38 Key Largo – Bertie Higgins 64

39 Walking on Thin Ice – Yoko Ono 64

40 Homosapien – Pete Shelley 60

41 Seven Year Ache – Rosanne Cash 60

42 All Those Years Ago – George Harrison 54

43 Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club 54

44 Endless Love Diana Ross and Lionel Richie 49

45 I Can’t Stand It – Eric Clapton 49

46 The Best of Times – Styx 48

47 Woman – John Lennon 46

48 Message of Love (Pretenders) 44

49 Angel Of The Morning – Juice Newton 43

50 Golden Brown – The Stranglers 43

51 Hang Fire (Rolling Stones) 43

46 ballots cast.

Best Songs of 1981 Poll Launch on Monday Morning Diary (March 25)

by Sam Juliano

I’ve never posted a Monday Morning Diary two days in advance, but today, I wanted to give potential music voters as much time as possible to enter their ballots.

Otherwise, Happy Palm Sunday to the Catholics in our group.  Easter Sunday will be celebrated on March 31st.

Many thanks to Tony D’Ambra for posting our annual song results on Spotify!

Best Popular Songs of 1981 polling!

Once again, Billboard’s song list and any song from any album are eligible. As always, we have overlaps, as some songs that made our 1980 Top 50 are again prominent on the 1981 Billboard. My own Top 20 are as usual, presented in alphabetical order:

Arthur’s Theme Christopher Cross

Bette Davis Eyes Kim Carnes

Celebration Kool and the Gang

Centerfold J. Geils Band

Chariots of Fire Vangellis

Crying Don McLean

Don’t You Want Me Human League

Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey

Down Under Men at Work

Endless Love Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) Hall and Oates

In the Air Tonight Phil Collins

Jesse’s Girl Rick Springfield

Key Largo Bertie Higgins

Kiss on My List Hall and Oates

Spirits in the Material World The Police

Start Me Up Rolling Stones

The Tide is High Blondie

Under Pressure David Bowie and Queen

Who Can It Be Now? Men at Work

———————TOP 100 BILLBOARD———————-

1 “Bette Davis Eyes” Kim Carnes

2 “Endless Love” Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

3 “Lady” Kenny Rogers

4 “(Just Like) Starting Over” John Lennon

5 “Jessie’s Girl” Rick Springfield

6 “Celebration” Kool & the Gang

7 “Kiss on My List” Hall & Oates

8 “I Love a Rainy Night” Eddie Rabbitt

9 “9 To 5” Dolly Parton

10 “Keep on Loving You” REO Speedwagon

11 “Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)” Joey Scarbury

12 “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” Sheena Easton

13 “Being with You” Smokey Robinson

14 “Queen of Hearts” Juice Newton

15 “Rapture” Blondie

16 “A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)” Raydio

17 “The Tide Is High” Blondie

18 “Just the Two of Us” Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers

19 “Slow Hand” The Pointer Sisters

20 “I Love You” Climax Blues Band

21 “Woman” John Lennon

22 “Sukiyaki” A Taste of Honey

23 “The Winner Takes It All” ABBA

24 “Stars on 45 Medley” Stars on 45

25 “Angel of the Morning” Juice Newton

26 “Love on the Rocks” Neil Diamond

27 “Every Woman in the World” Air Supply

28 “The One That You Love”

29 “Guilty” Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb

30 “The Best of Times” Styx

31 “Elvira” The Oak Ridge Boys

32 “Take It on the Run” REO Speedwagon

33 “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me” Ronnie Milsap

34 “Living Inside Myself” Gino Vannelli

35 “Woman in Love” Barbra Streisand

36 “The Boy from New York City” The Manhattan Transfer

37 “Urgent” Foreigner

38 “Passion” Rod Stewart

39 “Lady (You Bring Me Up)” Commodores

40 “Crying” Don McLean

41 “Hearts” Marty Balin

42 “It’s My Turn” Diana Ross

43 “You Make My Dreams” Hall & Oates

44 “I Don’t Need You” Kenny Rogers

45 “How ‘Bout Us” Champaign

46 “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” Pat Benatar

47 “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” The Greg Kihn Band

48 “Time” The Alan Parsons Project

49 “Hungry Heart” Bruce Springsteen

50 “Sweetheart” Franke and the Knockouts

51 “Somebody’s Knockin'” Terri Gibbs

52 “More Than I Can Say” Leo Sayer

53 “Together” Tierra

54 “Too Much Time on My Hands” Styx

55 “What Are We Doin’ in Love” Dottie West & Kenny Rogers

56 “Who’s Crying Now” Journey

57 “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” The Police

58 “This Little Girl” Gary U.S. Bonds

59 “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty

60 “Giving It Up for Your Love” Delbert McClinton

61 “A Little in Love” Cliff Richard

62 “America” Neil Diamond

63 “Ain’t Even Done with the Night” John Cougar

64 “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” Christopher Cross

65 “Another One Bites the Dust” Queen

66 “Games People Play” The Alan Parsons Project

67 “I Can’t Stand It” Eric Clapton

68 “While You See a Chance” Steve Winwood

69 “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” Stevie Wonder

70 “Hello Again” Neil Diamond

71 “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” The Police

72 “Hey Nineteen” Steely Dan

73 “I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It” Stevie Wonder

74 “All Those Years Ago” George Harrison

75 “Step By Step” Eddie Rabbitt

76 “The Stroke” Billy Squier

77 “Feels So Right” Alabama

78 “Sweet Baby” Stanley Clarke & George Duke

79 “Same Old Lang Syne” Dan Fogelberg

80 “Cool Love” Pablo Cruise

81 “Hold On Tight” Electric Light Orchestra

82 “It’s Now or Never” John Schneider

83 “Treat Me Right” Pat Benatar

84 “Winning” Santana

85 “What Kind of Fool” Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb

86 “Watching the Wheels” John Lennon

87 “Tell It Like It Is” Heart

88 “Smoky Mountain Rain” Ronnie Milsap

89 “I Made It Through the Rain” Barry Manilow

90 “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” Hall & Oates

91 “Suddenly” Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard

92 “For Your Eyes Only” Sheena Easton

93 “The Beach Boys Medley” The Beach Boys

94 “Whip It” Devo

95 “Modern Girl” Sheena Easton

96 “Really Wanna Know You” Gary Wright

97 “Seven Year Ache” Rosanne Cash

98 “I’m Coming Out” Diana Ross

99 “Miss Sun” Boz Scaggs

100 “Time Is Time” Andy Gibb

One Life and Results of 1980 Song Poll on Monday Morning Diary (March 17)

 

by Sam Juliano

I will post again on Tuesday with the launch of the 1981 song poll, so just wait for that post to cast your ballots.

Lucille and I saw an extraordinarily moving film, ONE LIFE, starring Anthony Hopkins, on Saturday night.

I continue to add to the manuscript of Mikey’s Absolution.

Wishing a Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who access this MMD on Sunday!

   The Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” Named the Best Song of 1980 in the biggest landslide ever for our music polls!

A massive landslide greeted the end stages of Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr. ‘s tabulation for the 1980 song poll. The Talking Heads’ iconic song “Once in a Lifetime,” from their album “Remain in Light” pulled off the biggest victory of any of our music polls, scoring 457 points to bury David Bowie’s “Ashes to Ashes,” which garnered 202 points.

1 Once In a Lifetime – Talking Heads 457

2 Ashes to Ashes – David Bowie 206

3 Love Will Tear Us Apart -Joy Division 193

4 Call Me – Blondie 188

5 Watching the Wheels – John Lennon 152

6 (Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon 149

7 Another One Bites the Dust – Queen 146

8 The Rose – Bette Midler 146

9 Don’t Stand So Close to Me -The Police 143

10 Games Without Frontiers – Peter Gabriel 142

11 Back in Black – AC/DC 136

12 I Will Follow – U2 119

13 The Winner Takes it All – ABBA 118

14 The Eternal – Joy Division 115

15 Beautiful Boy (John Lennon) 114

16 High Fidelity (Elvis Costello) 114

17 Biko – Peter Gabriel 109

18 Emotional Rescue – The Rolling Stones 108

19 Atmosphere – Joy Division 98

20 Master Blaster – Stevie Wonder 98

21 Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan 96

22 Babooshka – Kate Bush 95

23 Give Me the Night – George Benson 84

24 Whip It – Devo 83

25 Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen 80

26 Fame – Irene Cara 79

27 The River – Bruce Springsteen 75

28 Woman – John Lennon 75

29 Let My Love Open the Door – Pete Townshend 73

30 Bad Reputation – Joan Jett 67

31 A Song from Under the Floorboards – Magazine 65

32 Against the Wind – Bob Seger 62

33 Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen 62

34 It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me – Billy Joel 62

35 Brass in Pocket (Pretenders) 61

36 Upside Down – Diana Ross 56

37 Another Brick in the Wall, Part Two – Pink Floyd 53

38 She’s So Cold – The Rolling Stones 47

39 Echo Beach – Martha and The Muffins 46

40 Fashion – David Bowie 45

41 You May Be Right – Billy Joel 45

42 That’s Entertainment – The Jam 42

43 Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar 41

44 When You Were Mine – Prince 40

45 Ace of Spades – Motörhead 39

46 Tunnel of Love – Dire Straits 39

47 Xanadu – Olivia Newton-John and E.L.O. 39

48 I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down – Elvis Costello 39

49 Late in the Evening – Paul Simon 38

50 Rapture – Blondie 37

38 ballots cast.

Oscar Party 2024 and Creature of the Black Lagoon series on Monday Morning Diary (March 11)

Retired Cliffside Park English teacher Patrick Shelley, Steve Savianeso, Tony Lucibello, and me, at the Walker Street Fire House for 2024 Oscar party!

 

by Sam Juliano

Our 45th annual Oscar party (it would have been 47th if we hadn’t missed it twice because of the pandemic) was held Sunday evening at the Walker Street Fire House in Fairview.  Just shy of 50 people attended, and everyone had a grand time and some terrific food and desserts.

The 1980 Best Song voting will continue until Friday, March 15th.

Many thanks to Lee Price for his fantastic three-part Creature of the Black Lagoon series. It brought the site nice traction and attention over the past days.

Writing continues on Mikey’s Absolution. 

A 70th Anniversary Tribute to the Gill Man: Part Three, Creatures Walking Among Us

                                            The Gill Man underwater

by Lee Price

 Four Encounters Leading to a Creature Epiphany

1. Meeting with Dr. AC: This three-part Gill Man tribute series was inspired by an invitation to participate in a panel discussion with Dan Kiggins, Bobby Zier, and Aaron Christensen (aka Dr. AC) on “Horror 101 with Dr. AC,” a YouTube video and podcast series. In late February 2024, our panel gathered, Zoom-style, to discuss and celebrate the Creature’s 70th anniversary, covering each of the three movie in turn. On the subject of the third movie, The Creature Walks Among Us, I ventured the following criticism:

“There are some things that I don’t like about that whole melodrama approach. It feels very much like a Douglas Sirk Universal melodrama from that period.”

Our host, Dr. AC himself (Aaron Christensen), countered: “Well, I really like Douglas Sirk melodramas. Nobody did melodrama like Douglas Sirk! If it can even approach that, then well done.”

Well, I enjoy Douglas Sirk movies, too. Just not when I’m settling down to enjoy some Gill Man mayhem! Perhaps I should have said, “It feels like a weak imitation of a Douglas Sirk movie.”

But the question lingered… Could the Creature be inserted into a good domestic melodrama? Could anyone make this work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN5KjiZ2nT8&t

2. Meeting with Aquarius the Monster-Man: For me, the first two movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Revenge of the Creature, tell a single complete Creature story. The Gill Man surfaces in the Amazon, develops a crush on a beautiful woman, is caught and brought to Marineland, escapes with maximum havoc, carries off a beautiful woman who is then rescued, and the Creature is killed. Our last glimpse is of his Creature corpse floating in the river. End of story. It’s not structured as a trilogy. There’s no need for a third movie.

While the third movie acknowledges all that’s taken place previously, The Creature Walks Among Us departs from the first two movies both thematically and tonally. Consequently, it stands apart, perhaps best regarded as the first of the cultural children of the Gill Man. As I mentioned during the “Horror 101 with Dr. AC” discussion, The Creature Walks Among Us wades into melodrama territory, with the subject of an unhappy marriage often overshadowing the science fiction/horror elements. There’s more attention granted to the loveless marriage of the mad scientist and his beautiful wife than to the mad scientist experimentation and torture of the Gill Man that he keeps in captivity. It almost feels like the Gill Man is primarily there to resolve their plot, akin to Clarence the Guardian Angel in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).

Lee Price’s “70th Anniversary Creature series,” “Dune 2,” 1979 Best Song Poll Results and 1980 Best Song Launching on Monday Morning Diary (March 4)

                                Capture from Lee Price’s THE CREATURE series

 

by Sam Juliano

Thank you so much, Lee Price, for your enthralling CREATURE series this week at WONDERS IN THE DARK!  Your scholarship is fascinating, and the tribute brings so many memories!  Look forward to the last part, mid-week!

Lucille and I hope to see the second part of DUNE late Sunday night (hours after this early-bird MMD posts).

I have been progressing slowly on my third novel, Mikey’s Absolution, but am still approaching 40,000 words.

London Calling Named Best Popular Song of 1979 in landslide vote!

The title track to one of the most critically praised albums in rock history was named the best song of 1979 by more than 100 points, according to Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr. The Clash’s London Calling received 363 points to win by a wide margin over Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, 363-247. A total of 40 ballots were cast for this popular year, one many consider among the best ever.

1 London Calling – The Clash 363

2 Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd 247

3 Dreaming – Blondie 215

4 Life During Wartime – Talking Heads 174

5 Brass in Pocket – The Pretenders 173

6 Hey Hey My My – Neil Young and Crazy Horse 167

7 The Logical Song – Supertramp 153

8 Message in a Bottle – Police 147

9 Cars – Gary Numan 140

10 Cruel to Be Kind – Nick Lowe 138

11 Another Brick in the Wall Part II – Pink Floyd 133

12 Refugee – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 128

13 Dancing Barefoot – Patti Smith 102

14 What a Fool Believes – Doobie Brothers 95

15 We Are Family – Sister Sledge 94

16 Powderfinger – Neil Young 92

17 Transmission-Joy Division 92

18 Don’t Bring Me Down – ELO 87

19 Oliver’s Army – Elvis Costello 85

20 Rock With You – Michael Jackson 85

21 Fool in the Rain – Led Zeppelin 83

22 My Sharona – The Knack 82

23 Another Brick in the Wall – Pink Floyd 81

24 Train in Vain – The Clash 81

25 Dance this Mess Around – B52’s 78

26 Making Plans for Nigel – XTC 76

27 Hot Stuff – Donna Summer 75

28 Rock Lobster-B52’s 74

29 Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough – Micheal Jackson 70

30 Rise – Herb Alpert 66

31 Let’s Go – The Cars 63

32 MacArthur Park – Donna Summer 60

33 It’s Money That I Love – Randy Newman 55

34 Peace, Love & Understanding – Elvis Costello 55

35 Atomic – Blondie 53

36 Dance the Night Away – Van Halen 52

37 Tragedy – Bee Gees 51

38 Heartbreaker – Pat Benatar 49

39 All of My Love – Led Zeppelin 46

40 Da Ya Think I’m Sexy – Rod Stewart 46

41 (Wish I Could Fly Like Superman – The Kinks 44

42 Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough 40

43 Is She Really Going Out with Him? – Joe Jackson 40

44 Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles 40

45 Crazy Little Thing Called Love-Queen 39

46 YMCA 39

47 Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure 38

48 Clampdown – The Clash 38

49 Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison 36

50 My Life – Billy Joel 36

40 ballots cast.