Wax of the Week #2...AC/DC: Flick of the Switch (1983)

I'm not as big a fan of the Brian Johnson version of AC/DC, but there are certainly good songs scattered throughout their 1980s records. I like three songs on this one. At least they produced it themselves, and ditched Mutt Lange. Never got to see this band live. Not sure they played the Albany area much back in the day.

Wax of the Week #1...AC/DC: Powerage (1978)

Often forgotten because of the popularity of its followup (Highway to Hell), Powerage (the band's fifth LP) was sort of like a musical comedown (in feel, not quality) or respite from the hyperventilating fury of its monster predecessor, Let There Be Rock. Despite the presence of fast rockers like "Kicked in the Teeth" and the massive "Riff Raff," many of the songs have a more restrained, bluesy feel that borders on southern rock. It also contains what is probably my favorite song from the band, "Down Payment Blues," with its unusual (for AC/DC) arrangement. It's one of those rare records where every song is digable. Unfortunately, after this magical slab, "Mutt" Lange would come in and shave all the burrs off their sound. I have the original mix version that omits "Rock ’n’ Roll Damnation" but adds "Cold Hearted Man." 

Upstate New York Notables: Matt Dike

Matt Dike (1961–2018), DJ/record producer, Suffern/West Nyack, Rockland County.

Upstate New York Notables: Roy Atwell

 

Roy Atwell (1878-1962), actor, born in Syracuse, Onondaga County.

Upstate New York Notables: Steve Cerio

Steve Cerio (1965–), artist, raised in Liverpool, Onondaga County.

Upstate New York Notables: Fred Beir

Fred Beir (1927–1980), actor, born in Niagara Falls, Niagara County.

ARRIVEDERCI, BABY / LOST COMMAND

Two 1966 flicks in a Palm Springs drive-in double-feature from January, 1967: a British comedy from Paramount paired with a Columbia war drama starring Anthony Quinn.

BATTLE AT BLOODY BEACH / SQUAD CAR

Here’s a Palm Springs double feature from June, 1961 with two Fox releases that have no video release that I know of. BATTLE AT BLOODY BEACH (1961), one of two features directed by Hitchcock associate Herbert Coleman, was set in the WW2-era Philippines. SQUAD CAR (1960) was a crime flick lensed in Arizona.

Upstate New York Notables: Stud Cole

Stud Cole/Patrick Tirone (1943–1997), musician, born in Buffalo, Erie County.

Upstate New York Notables: Anne Francis

Anne Francis (1930–2011), actress, born in Ossining, Westchester County.

THE ANGRY RED PLANET / SUSAN SLEPT HERE

Palm Springs' Village Theatre screened this mismatched double-feature back in May, 1960. The weird science fiction flick THE ANGRY RED PLANET (1959) was released by AIP in 1960, while SUSAN SLEPT HERE was a 1954 RKO Christmas-themed comedy starring Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds.

CARRY ON NURSE

The El Paseo in Palm Springs screened the second in the UK's Carry On series, 1959's CARRY ON NURSE featuring Shirley Eaton, in April, 1960. It was distributed in the US by Governor Films.

Upstate New York Notables: Jill Flint

Jill Flint (1977–), actress, born in Cherry Valley, Otsego County.

Upstate New York Notables: Jeff the Drunk

Jeff Curro/Jeff the Drunk (1967–), Howard Stern Wack Pack member, born in Berne, Albany County.

Upstate New York Notables: Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren (1782–1862), eighth President of the United States, born in Kinderhook, Columbia County

Upstate New York Notables: Bill Tytla

Bill Tytla/Vladimir Tytla (1904-1968), animator, born in Yonkers, Westchester County.

Upstate New York Notables: Steven Tyler

Steven Tyler/Steven Victor Tallarico (1948–), singer: Aerosmith, born in Yonkers, Westchester County.

Upstate New York Notables: Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci (1960–), actor, born in Peekskill, raised in Katonah, both Westchester County.

Upstate New York Notables: Robert "Tex" Allen

Robert "Tex" Allen/Irvine E. Theodore Baehr (1906–1998), actor, born in Mt. Vernon, Westchester County.

Upstate New York Notables: John Alderman

John Alderman (1933–1987), actor, born in Syracuse, Onondaga County.