As promised, here’s the last batch of Cameron’s LP reviews from the December 16, 1974 edition of the L.A. Times. He has nice things to say about America’s latest, more experimental release, Hat Trick, but says that early metal band, Lucifer’s Friend’s album is for “special tastes”. I don’t know about you, but I do think that album cover sure is interesting…
We’ve got a new Rolling Stone article to share with you today. Cameron visited the set of the 1978 film, American Hot Wax, a film that chronicles Alan Freed (an influential DJ) and the early days of rock ‘n roll. What’s interesting is that he was asked to portray a delivery boy and he shares the process with the readers. Ultimately his lines and most of his scene was cut from the film, but you can kind of see him (wearing the paper hat) during the “Come and Go With Me” studio sequence (34:00 minute mark).
Incidentally, American Hot Wax has never been released on DVD and is extremely collectable on VHS. However, you can watch the film over on Myspace.
How about three more L.A. Times LP reviews from 37 years ago this month? First up is Arlo Guthrie and Cameron rates this one “a gem”. Pure Prairie League’s Bustin’ Out also receives high marks. Can we get three LPs in a row that pass the muster? Unfortunately not, as Larry Raspberry’s LP is dismissed rather quickly. Oh well, two out of three isn’t bad…
Welcome to another edition of Inquire Within… Through your submissions, Cameron will answer your questions in his own words. The goal is to have a new question and answer posting every week or two leading up to the releases of Pearl Jam Twenty and We Bought a Zoo this fall and The Union early next year.
Justin Noszek: Singles is my all time favorite movie. Will there ever be an extended version released? Failing that, what about a Blu-ray? It would be a perfect tie in to Pearl Jam Twenty?
Cameron: I’m with you, Justin. Andy Fischer, who works with me running Vinyl Films, is digging into the vaults at Warner Brothers to see where the footage resides. We have all the concert footage – including KILLER stuff on Alice in Chains – but the outtake scenes themselves are waiting to be discovered. Some of Chris Cornell’s unreleased score will be in PJ20 – which is great because he’s a natural scoring artist and did GREAT stuff for the movie that was never used.
Citizen Dick wants a Singles Extended Cut!
Please send in your questions for Cameron and maybe yours will be part of a future installment of Inquire Within…
Cameron chats with Fleetwood Mac in this 1976 interview with the L.A. Times entitled “Better Rocking Through Chemistry”. The band reflects back on their recent platinum success with their self titled LP. Their next album, Rumors is just months away and will catapult the band to an ever greater heights. This interview also comes seven months prior to the Cameron Crowe penned Rolling Stone cover story.
Here’s two album reviews from April 7th, 1974 edition of the L.A. Times. Poor Cameron got stuck reviewing another Black Oak Arkansas record and this one fares no better than the last. Flash Cadillac avoids his scorn and receives a passing grade. I’ve given the L.A. Times its own section on the Journalism page as I’ll be sharing a slew of additional articles and reviews in the coming weeks…
The Crowe’s Nest is a collection of random tidbits, etc. in one blog post. Here’s the latest:
Did you sing with Justin Timberlake on the set of Bad Teacher, or Scarlett Johansson on We Bought a Zoo, which you also have out this year?
Justin is a professional; I would never dare to sing in front of him! Although Jason Segel and I definitely crossed paths, and he’s a good singer. And Cameron [Diaz] and I would dance a bit, off-camera. We were always doing silly things half the time. We Bought a Zoo was a more musical set. Scarlett loves to sing — she’s like a Mynah bird, she can imitate anyone — so every now and then, we’d get a good pop vocal going on. We’d make up a lot of stupid songs, joke songs, like a little piece Scarlett would write to sing to Matt [Damon] and he would sing something back. Nothing serious. And that’s how we communicated. Scarlett would sing, “It’s a really hot day,” or “I’m hungry for lunch.”
Cameron sat down with Glenn Frey and Don Henley for the liner notes of Eagles: Very Best of. Instead of the usual essay, they discuss each song and share anecdotes, recording info, early versions, title changes and inspirations behind the songs. It’s interesting to hear them reflect back on these iconic tunes and the impact that unofficial member J.D. Souther had on the band. Enjoy!
