Que Sera Sera: Resurrected

Johnny Thunders - Que Sera Sera: Resurrected

35th Anniversary 3CD Box Set featuring a remixed version with extra tracks, the live version, the original album plus a 36-page booklet

Coming September 11th

FULL TRACK LISTING and PRE-ORDER HERE

LISTEN: Alone In A Crowd & I Only Wrote This Song For You

In 1985 Johnny Thunders went into the studio in London, to record his third and final solo album. He gathered friends Mike Monroe, Patti Palladin, John Perry, Wilko Johnson, Henri-Paul Tortosa, Nasty Suicide, JC Carroll,Stiv Bators, Glen Matlock and others, and the resulting album was christened Que Sera, Sera. 

It wasn't all plain sailing - with Johnny it rarely was. Johnny had spent the previous two years in relative stability. He'd been gigging around the world, and between tours he was filming in France. Life was a series of nice apartments and hotels shared with his constant companions - his girlfriend Susanne and his manager Christopher.

Now circumstances meant he had neither. Without a new release, touring slowed, and his high-maintenance lifestyle led him to seek friend favors for somewhere to live. The major labels that Christopher hoped would provide financial support hadn't materialized.

In a row with Susanne, she complained that Johnny had never written a song for her. Johnny obliged, and along with new songs from his live set, he recorded "I Only Wrote This Song for You." Before the album was finished, as soon as he had a rough monitor mix of the song, he flew to Sweden to attempt a reconciliation.

Those remaining at the studio were left to put the pieces together. Patti Palladin oversaw the mixing with the engineer, and found there wasn't really enough for an album. Patti added "Tie Me Up" from the b-side of her Crawfish project, and "Blame It On Mom" was found from an earlier session. The title-track was actually an afterthought; recorded as a single 16 months later.

The album was well-received, and it got Johnny touring again, but there was always a sense that it could have been better, and that the guitar was restrained - in '85 many artists were seeking mainstream crossover. Two tracks were left off - Jerry Nolan's "Countdown Love" song was unused as he hadn't yet recorded it; and "Talk About You," a lengthy blues workout that didn't seem to fit.

With those two tracks in mind as bonus tracks for a reissue, Pat Collier, former Vibrators' guitarist, was asked to mix them. When the results came through, it became obvious that Pat should remix the whole album using today's technology and viewpoint.

In the multi-track tapes a few outtakes were discovered, and last year the Resurrected version was released as a Record Store Day double-vinyl with 5 bonus live tracks. After interruptions, the CD version was reappraised and expanded to a three-disc box set. The original album is included, reinstating "Tie Me Up" and the old, familiar mixes. Three live gigs were uncovered, and they became the live version of the album as a bonus CD.

Johnny Thunders' biographer, Nina Antonia, has written new notes with interviews for the 36-page booklet. It also includes lyrics and unseen photos from the recording sessions, the cover session and from one of the featured live gigs.

Happiness Happens Day

Today is National Happiness Happens Day, smiles everyone, smiles! Thus to celebrate I thought I would bequeath to you on this Saturday, August 8th 2020 one of the most iconic smiles ever, Ms. Farrah Fawcett.

"Yes" this is the best selling poster of all time clocking in at 12 million copies, it came out in 1976. What better way to celebrate this day, Farrah had a one of a kind electricity and one of the happiest smiles ever, and since a spoonful of happiness is something we could all use at present well...Woot here it is!

National Happiness Happens Day is Celebrated annually on the founding date of the Society of Happy People (formerly known as the Secret Society of Happy People—but why keep that a secret?), which you can join for free.

So c'mon get happy!!!

The Farrah Fawcett poster on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrah_Fawcett_red_swimsuit_poster  

Pizza, A Love Story

 PIZZA, A LOVE STORY

Coming to DVD and VOD on September 29th

 

PRE-ORDER HERE

"The film is not entirely about pizza; one can watch it and see Bechard laying out the history of his city, a cycle of immigration, assimilation, and gentrification that extends well beyond New Haven."    - E Film Critic

NEW HAVEN, CT: Pizza, A Love Story, filmmaker Gorman Bechard's 11 years-in-the-making homage to the world famous pizzerias Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, and Modern Apizza, is set for release on DVD and Video-On-Demand on September 29, 2020.

Called "An important film of staggering genius that needed to be made," Pizza, A Love Story has been selling out film festival screenings from Washington State to Alabama. Work on the film began in 2008, when Bechard and longtime friend Dean Falcone, both self-acknowledged pizza snobs, decided it was time to turn the camera on the only pizza that matters.

The film sets out to prove its tag line: "Pizza wasn't invented in New Haven. It was perfected there," by combining history, comedy, and some of the most mouth-watering footage you will ever see, into a film that also features cameos from actor Henry Winkler, musicians Lyle Lovett and Michael Bolton, Senator Chris Murphy, legendary concert promoter Jim Koplik, and dozens more. The film also includes the last known interview with Flora Consiglio of Sally's, filmed shortly before her passing in 2012.

"I learned long ago the best films are driven by passion," Bechard says, "and if there's one thing I truly believe it's that New Haven has the best pizza on this planet." And for the prolific filmmaker, it was nice to know, in interviewing so many food celebrities including Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports, that he was not alone in this belief.

Rounding out the pizza-loving duo is local historian Colin M. Caplan, who came on as a co-producer mid-way into the project, and has since written the acclaimed book Pizza in New Haven. "Colin was able to find a lot of the historical images that seemed to be out of our reach," explains Falcone. "He has a great knowledge of the early history of pizza."

The DVD, coming from the MVD Entertainment Group, features numerous extras, including the Q&A from opening night in New Haven with Bechard and his two producers.

On the same day, the prolific Bechard's newest animal documentary Seniors, A Dogumentary will also be released on DVD and VOD platforms. The documentary is a passionate portrayal of the vitality of senior dogs, and the people who cherish and protect them. Featuring the beloved Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary of Mount Juliet, Tennesse and Chaser the Border Collie, known as "The Smartest Dog In the World." Their stories

converge through the keen lens of famed photographer Jane Sobel Klonsky, author of the book Unconditional: Older Dogs, Deeper Love.

Gorman Bechard has directed 18 feature films including rock documentaries on The Replacements, Grant Hart, Archers of Loaf, Lydia Loveless, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, and soon Wilco's Jay Bennett. He has also directed the animal-rights film A Dog Named Gucci, which won the prestigious and rarely awarded ASPCA Media Excellence Award in 2015. He is the author of 5 novels, including the religious satire, The

Second Greatest Story Ever Told. He is the executive director/programmer of NHdocs: the New Haven Documentary Film Festival. He lives in New Haven, CT with his wife Kristine and their two dogs, Springsteen and Dylan.

For more information please visit: www.PizzaALoveStory.com

Michael's Musings

DAF
Michael Shinafelt

So here we go again with another episode of As The World Turns. There was a daytime soap actually called this back in my youth, and now the title seems fitting to our daily lives. Think about it, but not too much.

While you contemplate that nugget of wisdom, can we talk about other things as well, of course we can!

Last night on RHOBH Garcelle for the win 😎

Don't stick my Bentley behind your dump truck, stick it over there, yeah, there

Maybe it's the stress of the world around me, but I happened upon Scary Movie 3 on HBO the other day and laughed myself silly

Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Bettlejuice!

Having a mullet is no way to go through life, just sayin'

WTF are you going to do to me, you punk ass hamster?!

Take it up with the agency

I'm in touch with a higher power at this point...

Woman Crush of the Week - Iman for her "Iman Daily" memes she posts on Instagram and Twitter, good vibes.

The U.S. is having a lot of heatwaves this year. It's because we have too many thermometers. 

Sam J. Jones from Flash Gordon, that is all

Some days start better than others, it's how you end them that counts

Because you are my Smurf

Let's do the Time Warp again, really???

Come play with me at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Hump Day & Chill

Mirth Inc.
Michael Shinafelt

I think escape is an important thing in the current climate of the world. "Yes" respite from all the insanity can be a good thing.

Thus today's Hump Day & Chill is Moi & Godzilla breathing fire at some peanuts. Don't ask why, just revel in the mirth. 

Also grab a really strong adult beverage and transport yourself to Hump Day & Chill land.

You're welcome!

Chill with me -

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Pitch Black

THERE'S A NEW REASON TO BE AFRAID OF THE DARK. A sci-fi/horror sleeper hit that birthed a franchise and launched the career of a new action movie icon, Pitch Black holds its own today as a nerve-shredding creature-feature in which the monsters outside finally meet their match against a monster within. When an intergalactic transport ship crashes on a remote desert planet with no sign of help on the horizon, the survivors, led by Fry (Radha Mitchell), band together to find a way back home. Among the passengers is Riddick (Vin Diesel), a convicted murderer being transported by marshal Johns (Cole Hauser) - and now freed of his chains and on the loose. But as a solar eclipse plunges the planet into total darkness, a threat even worse than Riddick reveals itself, and the last humans standing may have to form an uneasy truce with the cunning fugitive (whose eyes have been surgically altered to see in the dark) to last the long night. Boasting crackerjack direction and a whip-smart script by David Twohy, as well as a star-making performance by Diesel, Riddick's first outing is freshly unleashed in an illuminating, brand new 4K restoration, with hours of exclusive bonus content.

Media

 Watch trailer »

Bonus Materials

• Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films of the Theatrical and Director’s Cuts of the film, approved by director David Twohy
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround on both cuts
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on both cuts
• Archive commentary with director David Twohy and stars Vin Diesel and Cole Hauser
• Archive commentary with director David Twohy, producer Tom Engelman and visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang
• Nightfall: The Making of Pitch Black, a newly filmed interview with director/co-writer David Twohy
• Black Box: Jackie's Journey, a newly filmed interview with actor Rhiana Griffith
• Black Box: Shazza's Last Stand, a newly filmed interview with actor Claudia Black
• Black Box: Bleach Bypassed, a newly filmed interview with cinematographer David Eggby
• Black Box: Cryo-Locked, a newly filmed interview with visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang
• Black Box: Primal Sounds, a newly filmed interview with composer Graeme Revell
• The Making of Pitch Black, a short behind-the-scenes featurette
• Pitch Black Raw, a comparison between early CG tests and the final footage
• Additional behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the film
• 2004 archive bonus features, including an introduction by Twohy, A View Into The Dark, and Chronicles of Riddick Visual Encyclopedia
• Johns’ Chase Log, a short prequel narrated by Cole Hauser detailing the character’s hunt for Riddick
• The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury, an animated short film directed by Peter Chung that acts as a bridgepoint between Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick, featuring performances by Vin Diesel, Keith David and Rhiana Griffith reprising their roles
• Dark Fury bonus features including Bridging The Gap, Peter Chung: The Mind of an Animator, A View Into The Light, and a “pre-animation” version of the film
• Slam City, a motion comic from the film’s official website
• Into Pitch Black, a TV special offering an alternative non-canon glimpse into what happened before and after the events of the film
• Raveworld: Pitch Black Event, footage of a dance music event held to promote the film
• Theatrical trailers, plus trailers for the two sequels and video game
• Image galleries
• Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned 'night' and 'day' artwork by Luke Preece
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collectors’ booklet with writing by Simon Ward on the creature designs (including interview with creature designer Patrick Tatopolous), production notes, interview with Vin Diesel
• Extras subject to change.

Order Here:

https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/AV278

Monday Motivation

Surfer Guy
Liam Hemsworth

Hello from the land down under, I have always had a thing for Surfer Guys. No, I don't surf myself. Why? I have a fear of sharks, and the ocean in general. 

Today"s Monday Motivation comes in the form of yummy Liam Hemsworth hitting the waves in Byron Bay, Australia. Hence the down under greeting.

So, since I have admitted even though like Surfer Guys that I don't surf, nor have I ever tried, today's Monday Motivation is to try something new. No, it does not have to be as dramatic as surfing, it can be a small gesture such as taking a new route on your walk to the grocery store, or perhaps riding the bike you haven't been on in a while.

Nothing too fancy is required of my MM challenge other than just do something or try something different than your usual routine. We are all going somewhat stir crazy at present I assume and an action, no matter how small, can change it up and put a whole different spin on your day.

So go out there and seize the day Minions!

Liam on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/liamhemsworth/?hl=en