Podcast 23 Is Here!

Here's the latest podcast featuring all kinds of fun stuff! As I stated a while back, my schedule has become sooooo intensely busy that I have very little time to devote to the World of Wonder yet the podcasts are something that I can work on little by little so I will continue to do these. Thus these newer podcasts have a bit of a different feel to them. And also as I stated, they are pretty much straight forward audio clips, comedy and music without any dialogue from me. I just don't have the time. That being said, this podcast is really cool! Featuring songs from Cheap Trick, Carol King, Jame Minoudis (a friend and fellow Creamed Corn member), 'Til Tuesday (recently remastered and sounding amazing), Bill Cosby, T. Rex, Nirvana, Frank Zappa, John Travolta, Tom Jones and Jack White. With some comedy from Lawanda Page, Don Adams, Avery and Schrieber, and some cool mash-ups featuring Johnny Cash, ABBA, Van Halen and a really special performance from Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork from the Davy Jones Memorial Concert in NYC. And so much more! There's a lot packed into this one. Enjoy!

Dartman's Wacky Podcast #23

Bobby Wheeler RIP

In case you haven't heard, Jeff Conaway passed away last week. The last half of his life was pretty sad with his descent into drug addiction and depression. I always loved him in TAXI and I loved the fact that he played the part of a struggling actor trying to get on Broadway. Of course, in real life he had success on the great white way before he even graduated from college. He landed a gig as the understudy for several roles in the 50s rock musical, Grease (including Danny Zuko, the lead). He eventually replaced Barry Bostwick as the lead and starred in the show as Danny for 2 1/2 years while his friend John Travolta played Doody. By the time the film version came about, there was no denying Travolta the lead since he was one of the biggest stars in the world at the time but (as we all know) Conaway was given the role of Kenickie. Of course, then came TAXI and the rest is history.
In 1979, at the height of his popularity, Jeff Conaway released a self titled album. What amazes me about this album is the fact that the person singing is a well respected singer from the Broadway stage but you would never know it by listening to this. In every song, he uses a brash, throaty sound that makes him sound like he can't sing at all. It's quite sad really. But in any event, I present it for you as my special tribute to his memory. Here is "Jeff Conaway". Enjoy!

Jeff Conaway

A Good Scream

I just finished watching the classic Brian Depalma flick, "Blow Out". I hadn't seen it in years and I was so psyched to see that it still holds up after all this time. If you've never seen it, it's a definite must for you to put it on your list at Net-Flix or wherever you get your films. I've always been amazed that when people talk about John Travolta's career, they never mention this film. I consider it to be one of his best. What adds to it is the fact that Travolta suffered from insomnia during the shoot. His lack of sleep helped him create a very moody performance and is why his character seems so downtrodden throughout the movie. His work in this film is what made Quentin Tarentino cast him in Pulp Fiction, the film that revived Travolta's popularity. The score by Pino Donaggio is absolutely amazing. In fact, it calls to mind the work of Joseph Harnell from "The Incredible Hulk". Here is that amazing soundtrack for you. Here is "Blow Out". Enjoy!

Pino Donaggio- Blow Out OST

Classic TV Episode of The Month: Welcome Back, Kotter

September of Soundtracks: Travolta Two-Fer

As I did a double feature of Black Hole albums yesterday, I thought I would continue with another double-feature post. Today we have the soundtracks from two John Travolta films. No, not the block busters like Grease and Saturday Night Fever. The other ones. The ones that weren't so good. For example, when Travolta and Olivia Newton John proved to be such a great team with Grease, Hollywood thought they would work well together in another film. Instead of high school kids from opposite sides of the track in the 1950s, they chose to make the second film about a failed inventor who, threatened by loan sharks, decides to hold up a bank. The teller he picks to rob is, you guessed it, played by Olivia Newton John! When she gives him deposit slips instead of cash, he tracks her down to reclaim his stolen money and the two, naturally, fall in love. Add to this, a sub-plot about angels trying to find the good in man in order to prevent God from destroying the Earth and starting over and you have the recipe for crap! In fact, many people have traced John Travolta's 11 year box office slump to this film. The one saving grace is the soundtrack. It features some kickin' Olivia Newton John numbers including, "Twist of Fate". It is also noted that Journey contributed a song to the soundtrack that was originally to be released on their landmark "Frontiers" album, only to be pulled from the album last minute making the soundtrack the only place to get the particular song. Thank god that I am posting this soundtrack as opposed to the film itself. Here it is:

Two Of A Kind OST


Just when you think Hollywood couldn't go wrong with Travolta again, along came "Staying Alive". For those of you who are still wondering, yes, it is the sequel to Saturday Night Fever! This time around Tony Manero is now living in Manhattan working as a dance instructor and as a waiter at a dance club, looking for his big break on Broadway. Tony lands a role in the chorus of a new production called "Satan's Alley" starring a wealthy English dancer Laura. Tony seduces her only to find that he is the one who has been used. His girlfriend gets sick of being second best and leaves him. Tony sees an opportunity to replace the lead male dancer and yatta yatta yatta, he gets the role, gets back his girl and "struts" at the end of the film to make the one good scene in the entire movie. 1983 was just not John Travolta's year! What makes this film even worse is that it was directed by none other than Sylvester Stallone. You would think that the guy who wrote and directed "Rocky" could make a better picture. Then again, he is responsible for Rambo (which I embarrassingly admit to being a fan of!). The best part of all of this is that when Stallone is involved with a film, so is his brother, Frank. Frank Stallone is all over this soundtrack, screaming out the hits like "Far From Over" and more! Of course, the Bee Gees make a return appearance. As with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, they get half of the songs. Instead of a whole album of Bee Gees, for this soundtrack, you just get a side. All in all, the soundtrack is not that bad. A good addition to any collection. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Staying Alive OST