Obscurorant 2.0

Hi. It’s me again, still with Solid Gold on the brain. Lucky for me, YouTube is there to function as a sort of way back machine. Here’s some samples of the goodness…

Ozzy on Solid Gold. Who knew? I have no recollection of this event.

Ronnie, Bobbie, Ricky and Mike… if I love the girl who cares who you like?

An entire episode condensed into six minutes. Again, note the interpretive dance.

I had completely forgotten about this particular number - not a bad pop song though overshadowed by Scandal’s other stuff.

I include this clip for three reasons:
1. The mandatory 80s uniform and haircuts the band members all sport. We shall not see their like again.
2. The band is soooo synth-pop the guitars are an afterthought. My sixteen year-old, heavy metal self would have officially dubbed this ‘candy ass.’ Today I find it charming in a time capsule sort of way.
3. The giant disembodied heads that lurk about the band as part of the stage set. WTF?

Here we have Molly Hatchet on Solid Gold, which I include as an example of how weirdly inclusive this show was when it come to booking musical guests. I assume this was just a function of there being limited opportunities in that pre-digital age for artists to shill their musical wares.

Speaking of musical diversity, Frank Sinatra also put in appearance on Solid Gold. I have to admit, that kind of blows my mind.

The late great Falco does Vienna Calling…

… and to wrap things up - Ant Music.

Sometimes I have a hard time believing that a show like Solid Gold actually existed. We live in a time when pop music is ubiquitous. You can order CDs on the intertubes, down load new tunes on the intertubes and discover worlds and worlds of new bands and artists on the intertubes.

So it seems vaguely preposterous, like a barely-remembered fever dream, that there was a time in my life when I willingly tuned into a network TV show - hosted by a goddam puppet of all things - to watch to body-stocking clad dancers perform interpretive dance to illustrate the ‘weekly countdown’. Really now, doesn’t that sound like a skit Will Ferrell would perform?

I need to ruminate on this some more.

Over the past two or so years I’ve watched on DVD (courtesy of Netflix) a number of series that were originally broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre or MYSTERY!, such as Reilly:Ace of Spies or Danger: UXB. But it’s been quite some time since I actually tuned into either program on my local PBS affiliate.

If I can find the time I may have to alter that trend, as the current season looks very appealing. I’ve already missed the television adaption of Philip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke, which is unfortunate since I finished reading it a few weeks ago. But there are other books - favorite books - coming to the screen in the near future: Dracula, Kidnapped, and The Wind in the Willows.  Carrie’s War also looks intriguing.

Enjoy some alte schule regional flavor: Dana Hersey in the Rat, Kenmore Square, sometime during the 80s.