I try not to repeat Odds & Sods theme songs but this John Fogerty song is so perfect for today that I broke my own rule. It’s the 55th anniversary of the moon landing and a bad moon has been rising over Milwaukee all week long. I just convinced myself that the repetition is okay.

Additionally, July 20 is the 80th anniversary of the failed attempt on Hitler’s life. The happy ending was delayed for a year.

On a lighter note, it’s Carlos Santana’s 77th birthday. Feliz cumpleanos, amigo.

There’s a porch pirate roaming my neighborhood. One of the neighbors had some packages ripped off and was able to take a picture of the perp as he fled. He was wearing a hoodie. In New Orleans. In July. Oy, just oy.

Quick health note: The iron infusion seems to be helping. Round two is next Wednesday. That is all.

John Fogerty wrote Bad Moon Rising in 1969 for CCR’s Green River album. It is, of course, about the Vietnam War but it applies to our current dire situation as well.

There are enough versions of Bad Moon Rising for a Friday Cocktail Hour but this is all I got for you:

Here’s a moon song from the birthday boy:

How flowery and moony was that?

One more moon tune:

We begin our second act with a look at two Bitter Southerner pieces that refute Hillbilly Elegy by the unqualified running mate of the unfit candidate.

• Hillbillies Need No Elegy: Appalachian Reckoning by Meredith McCarroll.
• Keep Your Elegy: The Appalachia I Know Is Very Much Alive by Ivy Brashear.

I don’t know that much about that region beyond the stereotypes, so I’m deferring to Meredith & Ivy, which wouldn’t be a bad name for a folk duo singing in the high lonesome style. Here’s a pretty darn good trio with a moony song:

Bob Newhart, R.I.P. The great comedian Bob Newhart died Thursday at the age of 94. There are many fine tributes to the great comedian. I particularly like the one by the NYT’s Jason Zinoman as it name checks Jack Benny whose reactive, deadpan style influenced Newhart. Bob will be missed.

The last word of our second act goes to Bob Newhart with a 1995 SNL monologue:

We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Unfortunate Resemblance Edition: When I posted Lesson Learned on Monday I noticed a resemblance I’d missed before: George Wallace looks like Edward G. Robinson.

I suspect nobody commented on the resemblance when EGR was alive because he wouldn’t like it. Who could blame him?

Your Weekly Oscar: Let’s get all moony and glowy with OP.

Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson?

The Best Of Letterman: Set the dial on the Wayback Machine to June 26, 1985 and glory in Penn & Teller’s Late Night debut.

Saturday GIF Horse: I’m reading Camera Man by Dana Stevens. The Slate movie critic’s book is about Buster Keaton and the dawning of the 20th Century. Here’s Buster being all rubbery and shit.

Did someone say camera? This song has nothing to do with Buster, but I’m in the mood for some jazz:

Holy movie tie-in, Batman.

The Junk Drawer: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss played Jazz Fest last year. The former Led Zep front man made a surprise appearance in the French Quarter much to the delight of everyone at Preservation Hall.

Let’s close down this virtual jukebox with some more music. Comedy too.

Saturday Classic: Martin Mull died last month at the age of 80. Here’s a MM radio set from 1973:

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to the cast of the fake talk show Fernwood 2-Night: Frank DeVol, Martin Mull, and Fred Willard.