tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1685731666517303039..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: HAIR today, gone tomorrow By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61342772062185042842014-08-05T08:48:50.175-07:002014-08-05T08:48:50.175-07:00Rockgolf: That's quite interesting; where did ...Rockgolf: That's quite interesting; where did you find this Cowsills lore? [I actually saw them in concert at the Allentown (PA) Fair, but don't recall whether it was before "Hair" was released - although I do remember it was an evening show and they accordingly substituted "moon" for "sun" ("Suddenly the sun broke through") in "The Rain, the Park and Other Things," their first national hit.]gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34321646995335159172014-08-05T08:24:07.519-07:002014-08-05T08:24:07.519-07:00One other note about the Cowsills' version of ...One other note about the Cowsills' version of "Hair". It was orginally intended as a joke. <br />Carl Reiner wanted to pick the most clean-cut, conservative, family-friendly band to perform a song from the most raunchy, left-wing, subversive show on Broadway. The thinking was it would be so out of place it would be hilarious.<br />The Cowsills (for the first time in their career) did their own production and arrangement and it turned out to be the band's biggest hit.Rockgolf, againnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81843773551313970972014-08-05T08:16:29.217-07:002014-08-05T08:16:29.217-07:00So I have to ask: During the rain, was that when t...So I have to ask: During the rain, was that when they performed "Let The Sunshine In"?RockGolfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30671483511667406102014-08-05T00:57:21.675-07:002014-08-05T00:57:21.675-07:00http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/314ecd2314/the-wi...http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/314ecd2314/the-wings-serenity-movie-projectMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705408455380402571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49883798132318422252014-08-05T00:56:30.500-07:002014-08-05T00:56:30.500-07:00Apologies for the non sequitur but...
Check out t...Apologies for the non sequitur but...<br /><br />Check out these Garner interviews <br />http://emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/james-garner#<br /><br />and note how much time is spent discussing scripts and writers.<br /><br />And I assume everybody has seen this.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705408455380402571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11101652272724978802014-08-04T20:49:26.284-07:002014-08-04T20:49:26.284-07:00Breadbaker: In "Manchester, England," th...Breadbaker: In "Manchester, England," the lyrics "who finds that it's groovy to hide in a movie, pretends he's Fellini and Antonioni and also his countryman Roman Polanski, all rolled into one, one Claude Hooper Bukowski" are sung much faster than the rest of the song; the name wouldn't have stood out unless the singer gave it special emphasis. Of course, they could substitute "Krzysztof Kieslowski" or some other Polish director with a 5-syllable name...gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15985172686175765762014-08-04T19:38:51.873-07:002014-08-04T19:38:51.873-07:00Question, Ken: Did they keep in the line in Claud...Question, Ken: Did they keep in the line in Claude Hooper Bukowski, "even his countryman Roman Polanski"? It would be interesting to hear the reaction of an LA audience.Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61129990900672112802014-08-04T18:57:30.915-07:002014-08-04T18:57:30.915-07:00I've listened to the soundtrack since I was a ...I've listened to the soundtrack since I was a kid and still love 'Walking in Space' and 'Let the Sunshine In' in particular. Never saw the stage production but did see the film, which was terrific. Coming out of the theater, a young woman remarked (in a tone of distaste): "All those people with all that hair." RCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251247613686669877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65640739054367899852014-08-04T18:23:20.936-07:002014-08-04T18:23:20.936-07:00Saw the movie, never had the chance to see the sta...Saw the movie, never had the chance to see the stage version. Understand there are some major differences. Last I heard of the stage version coming to town was in spring 2003, right before the second invasion of Iraq; considering that political atmosphere then, that would've been an interesting experience.<br /><br />My sister-in-law, an actress, was in a recent big-city production of Hair; assuming that version included nudity, for family reasons I guess it's a good thing I didn't see it. Sunday dinners would've been awk-ward.Kirklandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17226613446245546512014-08-04T18:05:05.258-07:002014-08-04T18:05:05.258-07:00Also, men should not wear thin white tee shirts wh...Also, men should not wear thin white tee shirts when they have man boobs, Ken.nelly wilsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-649128066380299652014-08-04T17:26:58.259-07:002014-08-04T17:26:58.259-07:00When can I get my shirt back?When can I get my shirt back?Gary Macknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12086379573188774522014-08-04T15:57:13.792-07:002014-08-04T15:57:13.792-07:00I saw the original cast Broadway production of Hai...I saw the original cast Broadway production of Hair in May 1968 at the Biltmore Theatre. After reading your review I dug up the Playbill (program) which, of course, I still have. It looks like a prop from a Mad Men episode: 4 full page, full color ads for cigarettes, full page gas-guzzler car ads for Cadillac and Ford, and one for a Chevy convertible with the cute caption "Fiddle with the Roof". <br /><br />I chedked out the cast searching for familiar names, and was surprised to be reminded that Diane Keaton and Melba Moore were part of that ensemble. <br /><br />Here's what I remember from 46 years ago: several of the songs, the anti-war anti-establishment vibe (period lingo there), and the nude scene (hey, I was 16.) Here's what I've since forgotten: the plot. Perhaps it's just as well.JMWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1363868055570285332014-08-04T15:54:52.666-07:002014-08-04T15:54:52.666-07:00I was too young to see the original production, bu...I was too young to see the original production, but Uptown Players here in Dallas did a revival a few years ago, and I caught that. Both the book and the costumes did confirm for me that a whole lot of people were on drugs in the '60s. Some of the music still held up well, as do these timeless and meaningful lyrics from "Good Morning Starshine": <br /><br />"Gliddy gloop gloopy<br />Nibby nobby nooby<br />La la la lo lo<br />Sabba sibby sabba<br />Nooby abba dabba<br />Le le lo lo<br />dooby ooby walla<br />dooby abba dabba<br />Early morning singing song."<br /><br />Like I said, lotta drugs being taken back then. <br /> Pat Reederhttp://www.hollywoodhifi.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71794602200434599282014-08-04T14:41:42.574-07:002014-08-04T14:41:42.574-07:00I'm about your age, Ken -- maybe a little olde...I'm about your age, Ken -- maybe a little older -- and I've seen at least three professional productions of "Hair" over the years, including the Aquarius run (I was that tall guy in front you you, blocking your view of the nude scene as I stood to see better -- er, applaud. <br /><br />My reaction was always the same: hated the hippy-dippy book; found many -- most -- of the musical numbers thrilling. Didn't see the Bowl show, but my ideal concert "Hair" would be just the music. In the nude, for authenticity's sake. Todd Everetthttp://toddeverett.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66976435455964595302014-08-04T14:32:30.603-07:002014-08-04T14:32:30.603-07:00DBenson: The Cowsills recorded one song from Hair ...DBenson: The Cowsills recorded one song from <i>Hair</i> (the title song) and had a national hit with it - but they left out the verse about long-haired Jesus: "Mary loved her son; why don't my mother love me?"<br /><br />The other hits from <i>Hair</i> (as I recall) were<br />Three Dog Night - "Easy to Be Hard"<br />Fifth Dimension - "Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In" (the biggest hit of 1969, unless "Sugar, Sugar" was)<br />Oliver - "Good Morning Starshine" (including a verse not in the show)<br />The Happenings - "Where Do I Go" (very obscure relative to the others, and the only one I myself didn't buy as a single, although it got airplay at the time)gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18065704868031645802014-08-04T14:01:55.084-07:002014-08-04T14:01:55.084-07:00"First time I'd ever seen naked women. It..."First time I'd ever seen naked women. It made a lasting impression. The plot, not so much."<br /><br />With age, plot begins to impress you more.Eric Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10639837826294361383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67435106230371257312014-08-04T13:02:19.978-07:002014-08-04T13:02:19.978-07:00Saw opening night of the Detroit version in 1968. ...Saw opening night of the Detroit version in 1968. First time I'd ever seen naked women. It made a lasting impression. The plot, not so much. Forman tried to make it a bit more coherent with the film and didn't entirely fail that way.Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61701773779421008952014-08-04T12:37:01.843-07:002014-08-04T12:37:01.843-07:00I remember that the Cowsills -- another squeaky-cl...I remember that the Cowsills -- another squeaky-clean Osmond-style family act -- did a few covers, which were constantly on the radio instead of the cast album. DBensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85308238125077410692014-08-04T10:51:16.751-07:002014-08-04T10:51:16.751-07:00We did "Hair" as a high school musical m...We did "Hair" as a high school musical many years ago; the school district completely defanged it (goodbye nude scenes, drug use, songs "Sodomy" and "The Bed", etc.), leaving a random selection of songs without a lot of purpose. <br /><br />The big problem with doing "Hair", at least in my high school, was that mine was a very wealthy, well-to-do school district in the midwest in the '80s. (We weren't rich, but we lived there first, and the rich people came in after us.) Absolutely true story: the song "Colored Spade", in which a black cast member recites a litany of offensive terms for black people, comes across much differently than intended when it's sung by someone from India wearing an afro wig.Ben Scrippshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13629025600375451260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18489313506875654062014-08-04T10:41:02.788-07:002014-08-04T10:41:02.788-07:00There was an episode of Cheers in which HAIR was f...There was an episode of Cheers in which HAIR was featured. <br /><br />Woody has a part in his community theater's production of HAIR, so he prepares for the nude scene by tending bar almost naked.<br />Max Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706524941272103444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72627200865858894972014-08-04T10:10:37.653-07:002014-08-04T10:10:37.653-07:00I saw the San Francisco production which ran simul...I saw the San Francisco production which ran simultaneously with L.A. and Chicago. Even then, it was taken in good fun and mostly considered silly. We put together a group of about 20 from NASA Ames in Sunnyvale and rented a bus to take us. We dressed for the occasion, the only rule being "NO pocket protectors".<br /><br />Eric Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10639837826294361383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3161444923712485602014-08-04T09:23:35.040-07:002014-08-04T09:23:35.040-07:00Saw the revival on Broadway a few years back. At t...Saw the revival on Broadway a few years back. At the end the audience was invited to jump on stage to sing and dance with the cast. What a blast!<br /><br />I've always dug this musical and like the movie. My parents were ahead of their time in the 60s and went to see the original Broadway production. They loved it and bought the soundtrack - which I played endlessly. There I was, a kid running around the basement singing about LBJ, LSD and cunnilingus at the top of my lungs. Nice.Pete Grossmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60894378261147064412014-08-04T08:10:21.620-07:002014-08-04T08:10:21.620-07:00"...it’s disconcerting that a show that seeme...<i>"...it’s disconcerting that a show that seemed so contemporary and relevant today plays like a museum piece…"</i> <br /><br />Well, that was true even in the early 1970s, or so it seemed to me (when I was 12 in the late '60s my folks saw the show on Broadway, promptly bought the 8-track tape of the original cast recording, played it in the car all the time; they were on the liberal side when it came to language). Around 1972 I saw a touring production at the university in my home town that already felt like the relic of another era despite attempts to remain current, such as some references to Nixon rather than Johnson. <br /><br />On the other hand, I always liked the music, or at least the original cast album versions - some of the arrangements in the 1979 Milos Forman movie are just off to me, despite the participation of one of the composers. (I also have the earlier off-Broadway cast LP with many song differences, with the finale "Sentimental Ending.")gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80537839904411892102014-08-04T07:10:09.433-07:002014-08-04T07:10:09.433-07:00Forget the review of the play. How was the drive h...Forget the review of the play. How was the drive home? Did the citizens of LA panic having to drive in this mysterious phenomonon of water falling from the sky?<br /><br />Also, have their been news stories about the drought not being over despite this manna from heaven?Jim Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31428725215744151552014-08-04T07:08:24.416-07:002014-08-04T07:08:24.416-07:00Ken, it's showing on Amazon at $2.99. Is there...Ken, it's showing on Amazon at $2.99. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com