This is a perennial post, now updated.
Note to those wives and kids planning to celebrate: no brunches. That’s Mother’s Day stuff. Let the old man sit in front of the TV and watch the U.S. Open or the Arena football amateur draft in peace.
Or watch FIELD OF DREAMS.
And now, as a public service, here are some movies NOT to watch on Father’s Day:FEAR STRIKES OUT
CHINATOWN
SHINE
WALK THE LINE
OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
DEAD POETS SOCIETY
STAR WARS
THE GREAT SANTINI
THE SHINING
Some TV shows and telefilms NOT to watch:
THE MARVIN GAYE STORY
THE BEACH BOYS STORY
LOST
Any CBS family comedy
Some unfriendly father plays:
ALL MY SONS
DEATH OF A SALESMAN (any Arthur Miller, actually)
LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
Some books to avoid:
Any Bing Crosby biography
Any Frank Sinatra biography
Any Papa John Phillips biography
Any Screaming Jay Hawkins biography
LOVE STORY (for so many reasons)
Records to skip:
PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE by the Temptations
BOY NAMED SUE by Johnny Cash
MY DAD by Paul Peterson
CATS IN THE CRADLE by Harry Chapin
Any other suggestions are welcome.
Again, happy Father's Day!
"My Dad" is a great record.
ReplyDeleteDO play "My Old Man" by the Zac Brown Band.
ReplyDeleteYou are too modest to mention yourself, so I'll say: Happy Father's Day to you, Ken!
ReplyDeleteSongs about dads worth listening to on Father's Day:
ReplyDelete"Everything I Own"-Bread (I just found out David Gates wrote and sung this song about his late dad)
"Dance with My Father"-Luther Vandross
"The Living Years"-Mike + the Mechanics
"Leader of the Band"-Dan Fogelberg
"Landslide"-Fleetwood Mac (the version that begins when Stevie Nicks says, "This is for you, Daddy")
"Ships"-Barry Manilow (I'd also recommend the original version by Ian Hunter who wrote it)
Kevin Can Wait was a CBS comedy.
ReplyDeleteRandom thoughts: I lost my father when I was six. So, I only have fleeting memories of him. I'm glad you had a good relationship with your dad. I know a lot of people that haven't.
ReplyDeleteAnother "not," THE STEPFATHER.
When you said "STAR WARS" did you mean, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK?
Don't forget World Cup Soccer. The U.S.A. didn't make it this time. Regardless, I'm guessing that due to Trump-Backlash many will be rooting for Mexico. (SPOILER ALERT! They won this morning)
Finally, I've met your daughter. You did an excellent job.
Happy Father's Day, Ken.
M.B.
Another song to avoid: "So Long Dad" by Randy Newman.
ReplyDelete(Actually Manfred Mann did the original before Randy got around to recording his own tune. So did Liza Minelli! Harry Nilsson covered it too.)
Do listen to My Old Man by the Smothers Brothers.
ReplyDeleteGroucho Marx sings Ruby and Kalmar
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV9Rh4ynBf4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0Dt9q8bkqg
Father And Son by Cat Stevens.
ReplyDeleteDo listen to Love Without End Amen by George Strait.
ReplyDeleteDon't listen to Emotionless by Good Charlotte.
Do watch The Middle.
Don't watch The Goldbergs.
tavm - The Living Years always brings me to tears. My dad died suddenly, years ago, in his sleep, so I never had the chance to say goodbye, or thank you, or any of a thousand and one other things.
ReplyDeleteIt's an oldie, but for Father's Day, "Oh! My Papa" the most famous version by Eddie Fisher
ReplyDeleteI always thought of "Cats in the Cradle" as kind of the ultimate "barometer" song.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a dad doing better than the dad in this song you should be proud of yourself. Otherwise, you really need to reevaluate your relationship with your kid(s).
I don't know "So Long Dad," but I do know the early Randy Newman track "Old Man", also addressed to the singer's dad; I first heard it on Art Garfunkel's 1973 solo LP. Rather a downer, too.
ReplyDeleteI like "My Dad," too. So what if it's schmaltzy?
ReplyDeletePatches by Clarence Carter - Dad passes away, Dad's dying words are the chorus, crops get washed away...and then things get tough.
ReplyDeletePortrait of a Step-Daddy - Calvin Arnold. A very obscure Soul oldie that accuses the Stepfather of being "narrow-hearted and so one-sided", plus there is one line that implies that he sexually abuses the singer's sister.
A good Father's Day Song - Color Him Father by The Winstons, 1969.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete.
ReplyDelete"Let the old man sit in front of the TV and watch the U.S. Open or the Arena football amateur draft in peace."
Probably one of the funniest things I've read in at least the last 5 minutes! That 'Arena football draft' bit is genius, and probably explains why you've been able to do what you've done for so long, and so well!!
Thank you for that.......oh, and all the other GREAT 'junk' of yours that I've enjoyed for so many years!!
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