Adrastos, Diary, Fog Of History, Law/Justice, Music, Odds & Sods, Political Crack, Television

Saturday Odds & Sods: Substitute

Crossed Conveyors at the Ford River Rouge Plant by Charles Sheeler.

I’m still recovering from Carnival. I’m always glad when it comes and just as glad when it goes. I still love it despite being irked by some aspects of it. I’m giving up King Cake for Lent. That was a seasonal joke. King Cake is only supposed to be consumed from Twelfth Night to Mardi Gras day. Besides, I’m a heathen so I don’t do Lent.

I used the Charles Sheeler photograph as the featured image because I’m working my way through Doug Brinkley’s history of Ford Motors: Wheels For The World. It’s a wheely good book…

I’m keeping our opening act brief this week. I hear cheers erupting in the cheap seats. Who can blame you? Who, who, who, who.

This week’s theme song was written by Pete Townshend and recorded by The Who in 1966. Substitute’s title was inspired by a line in Smokey Robinson’s The Tracks Of My Tears. Over the years Substitute has served as a live set opener or second number coupled with another early single Can’t Explain.

We have three versions of Substitute for your listening pleasure: the studio original, The Who live in 1977, and a cover by Blur.

Here’s a different song with the same title:

We begin our second act with a Vulture interview with Roger Daltrey. I assume I don’t have to explain who the fuck he is. Who, who, who, who.

Vulture Does Roger: Roger Daltrey turns 79 on March 1st. He’s still out there singing his heart out in a voice as strong as ever. He sat for an interview with Vulture’s ace rock writer Devon Ivie about The Who’s most overlooked and transformative songs.

Daltrey picked Odds & Sods as the band’s most overlooked album:

“Oh, that’s a hard one. I think Odds & Sods. This was an album of bits and pieces that were left over from Who’s Next, and a few things Including recognizable Who tracks such as “Long Live Rock” and “Pure and Easy.” from the prior recordings sessions on earlier albums. It was put out as a filler album while we were making Quadrophenia. It’s a fabulous album. I really like it, but I don’t think Odds & Sods ever achieved any commercial success. Musically, it holds together great.

At the time, I put the album cover together. I had this idea. Because we were always legendary for our fighting between each other, I actually bought everybody a helmet to wear on that cover together. I put everybody’s name on the helmet, and I didn’t realize that Pete’s head was miles bigger than anybody else’s. Him and I had to trade helmets. [Laughs.]

Odds & Sods certainly inspired me.

This week’s theme song isn’t discussed by Daltrey, but this tune is:

Documentary Of The Week: I wasn’t following the Alex Murdaugh case until I discussed it with my dear friend Julie on the parade route. She informed me that the case was weird enough for me. High praise, I guess.

I looked into it and realized that Julie was right. Don’t tell her that. Oops, I just did.

Thanks to Julie, I watched some of the trial this week as well as the new Netflix series on the day it came out. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is a tale of power, entitlement, arrogance, and alcoholism. The docuseries team gained access to many of the people whose lives were damaged and destroyed by the Murdaugh family.

I’m skipping the details not only to avoid spoilers but because it’s so damn complicated that I need to school myself on the nuances of the case. Maybe I should let Julie do that instead.

Here’s the trailer:

I didn’t know until I searched for the Netflix trailer that there’s an HBO Max docuseries called Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty. I wonder if Joan Collins is in that one. Oh well, what the hell.

Grading Time: I give Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal 3  stars and an Adrastos Grade of B.

Alex Murdaugh is one of the whitest people on planet earth. I need an antidote to his pasty pallor. The last word of our second act goes to another Palmetto State native, James Brown:

We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Casting Edition: It was President’s Day last Monday. Here are some of the actors who played General President GW:

Have I told you lately that Barry Bostwick is a fellow San Mateo High School alum?

The Movie List drank too much on Mardi Gras day and asked for the week off. Request granted.

I’ve been doing the Best of Letterman the last few months. It’s time to return this feature to its late night roots with Dave’s friend and mentor, Johnny Carson.

The Best Of Johnny: Here’s some old school comedy gold with Johnny, Jack Benny, and Mel Blanc. What’s up, Doc?

Saturday GIF Horse: Speaking of Ford Motors, here’s a GIF of Model-Ts rolling out of the factory.

The car was such a sensation that it had a nickname, the Tin Lizzie. That, in turn, inspired Randy Bachman of Guess Who and BTO fame to compose this swell instrumental:

Tweet Of The Week: I usually post something funny in this segment BUT I had a moving experience with my yard man the other day.

That’s why I’m a liberal. It saves lives.

Let’s close down this virtual honky tonk with some more music.

Saturday Closer: I mentioned The Tracks Of My Tears earlier. It’s a song that was meant to be sung as a duet. Here are Smokey Robinson and Annie Lennox in 1995:

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to The Who. Who else? Who, who, who, who.