I'm jealous...


Well hello. Is that a fine looking 8 track or what. Betcha 5 dollars this will outlast us all--and sounds better than cassette of the time or beyond. Hell it might even have a reissue vinyl beat. Of course this is a copy of the Temptations 1971 classic, Sky's The Limit. This is an album that is argueably the last great collaboration between producer Norman Whitfield and songwriting partner Barrett Strong. I tend to agree. This is the late '68 to '71 lineup, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin and Dennis Edwards. Sky's The Limit was the last Temptations effort for Paul Williams.

What I love about this album is the fact that the '70s were coming on strong and if this lineup has proceeded together, they probably would have brought a certain bearing to a lot of "excessive" Whitfield work that followed....

What's really cool about this? Well Kendricks is here, he always gives the work a certain warmth and charm, especially on "Just My Imagination" and the brilliant and eerie "Smiling Faces Sometimes." On the former you can hear how sick those harmonies could get. After this set, Kendricks officially exited. By 1972 the group added Richard Street and Damon Harris. The Tempts always remained a great group--but "The Sky's The Limit" is an end of an era...

I Should Hate This, But I Just Don't

You know, I was looking at an album to laugh at. The older I get, I find that I need those belly laughs that come from music. The really bad and or ill-advised stuff. While the talented Billy Eckstine's 60's Motown sessions provided a chuckle or two, I ended being a convert. Who can resist stuff like "For The Love of Ivy" I mean really.

So imagine my shock when I came across Hugo Montenegro. You've heard of him, right? By the time he hit my consciousness he just morphed into some amalagation of Peter Nero, Mantovani--who ever I didn't want to listen to. Speaking of Mantovani, didn't he always seem old? Like a hundred, he was on the same label as Al Green for a time. But anyway, back to Hugo-in Wonderland. This 1975 album centers on the work of Stevie Wonder. While the whole premise would send many Montenegro and Wonder fans heading for the hills, Hugo-in Wonderland is one of those things that just works. Why ask why.

Certainly by the '70s many artists like Ramsey Lewis, Ahmad Jamal and Quincy Jones were covering the prime Wonder material, especially the stuff from Talking Book. Add Art Garfunkel to the list, Jeff Beck and of course Montenegro. Of course.

To be honest, Montenegro wasn't one of the most deft keyboardist around, but the very heavy-handeness blasts this past camp and puts it squarely into the "not half bad" realm. While most of this is in the 3 star range, some songs stand out. It's hilarious to hear Wonder's "Shoo-Be-Doo Be Doo Da Day" given a funky/blissed out mid '70s vibe. Sad for me, "You've Got It Bad Girl" is no laughing matter. It's flat-out gorgeous, attaining the edginess of Wonder's 1972 original and exacting everything that is great in the original melody line. To add insult to my injury, Wonder himself ok'd the effort and gave Montenegro some kind words.


Breakdown: It's not great, not horrible--but it's certainly worth hearing.

Who Will Like It: Fanatics of that well and strong produced '70s pop/jazzy sound

Who Won't: Those who think this stuff is pure b.s.

The Pop Culture Idiot Inception: More Steaming Piles For An Already Cluttered Internet...

Wow, nearly 25 million visitors. Isn't that great. The Pop Culture Idiot has been in business since 1916 and after 200 years, it's made it presence here, the "Super Information Highway" SIH for short...

Sadly the Pop Culture Idiot will be nothing but the meanderings of failed writer Jason Elias. Not to be confused with the photography guy or the dude who's good with herbs. This Jason Elias is an underemployed, semi-employable, not all that likable human being who is also described as "not-quite evolved, but could possibly work well with others." That's high praise...

Asides: What a lousy intro, perfect for the cause. At least I didn't say anything silly like "stay tuned." Don't you hate when people do that on the 'net, like someone's going to be waiting for you to put that last bad pic on your profile. I also hate when people put there whole lives on their profiles, like someone cares about "Chucky" and gives a whit about him "being there...."