Completely Conspicuous 572: History Lesson, Part 15

Celebrating the show's 15th birthday with a look back at some key moments over the years. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:

- Going the clip show route

- Episode 2: The early days

- Episode 72: The first guest, featuring Jay Breitling

- Episode 141: Talking about mixtapes, including recordings I made when I was 13-14

- Episode 146: Talking to Amanda Guest about college radio

- Episode 186: My visit to Seattle, which got off to a strange start

- Episode 253: Ric Dube and I break down "Smokin' In the Boys Room"

- Episode 315: Brian Salvatore and I torture ourselves by listening to Van Halen III

- Episode 494: Talking about drug-related concert experiences with Phil Stacey.

Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 502: Telling You How We Really Feel

Part 3 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2018. Listen to the episode below or download directly.


Show notes:
- Recorded at Clicky Clicky world HQ
- Featuring special guest/studio audience member Ric Dube
- On to our top 5 selections
- JK's #5
- An unexpectedly great album from a member of the Strokes
- JB's #5
- Weird shoegaze straight outta Philly
- JB's #4
- More excellent Philadelphia indie rock
- JK's #3
- Angry, angular UK rock act that has listened to the Fall
- JB's #3
- "I had difficulty finding fault with this record"
- Esteemed YoLa-ologist in the house
- YLT keeps doing its own thing
- JK's #2
- Another fine double album from an interesting Toronto act
- Where hardcore meets prog
- Lots of guest vocalists
- JB's #2
- Sweeping orchestral material, hot jams
- Bands still make videos for some reason
- Picking and choosing from the catalog
- JK's #1
- A political record released early in the year that still resonates
- Fiery live show to go with the album
- Countering a master of distraction
- The kids with the vaping and the pot smoking and the whatnot
- It's a strange time to be alive
- JB's #1 and JK's #4
- Bit of a grower
- A darker, moodier album than her previous work
- Terrific live performer
- Dube: Became a fan by complete accident
- Doobs recommends the Salad Boys
- New stuff on the horizon: Bob Mould, Pedro the Lion, Mike Krol, Swervedriver, Telekinesis
- Johnny Foreigner reunion seems unlikely

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 501: Make With the Counting Down Already

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2018. Listen to the episode below or download directly.

Show notes:
- Recorded at Clicky Clicky world HQ
- Featuring special guest/studio audience member Ric Dube
- JB's #10/JK's #9
- On-again, off-again band led by Steve Hartlett
- Ah, the old "sweatpants-with-beers-stuffed-down-the-legs" deal
- Reminiscent of "Bug"-era Dino Jr.
- JK's #10
- Labelmates of Parquet Courts with similar sound
- The downside of "Music Limited"
- JB's #9
- Boston act traffics in "millennial mopery"
- Lo-fi, self-released effort
- Stickin' it to the Man with his Bandcamp URL
- JK's #8
- Released on 1/1/18
- Fueled by political frustration and anger
- A "fun protest album"
- JB's #8
- Brand new record from a UK supergroup
- Long-awaited followup to 2007 debut
- Rhythmically diverse look at British culture
- Whither Gorillaz?
- JK's #7
- The 12th studio album from power-pop masters
- Four songwriters who each wrote three songs
- Consistently great
- The fun of hunting down B-sides and rarities before artists started releasing compilations/reissues
- The ability to fall asleep on your feet while at a rock concert
- JB's #7
- A good record from a guitar wizard
- Less volume than his main gig
- "Relatively understated throughout"
- JK's #6
- An expansive effort from a prolific indie act
- Branching out their sound with more danceable songs
- Voicing political outrage
- JB's #6
- Venturing into jazzier realms
- Led by one of the more interesting guitarists of last 25 years
- Avant-rock/jazz; "it's not like Kenny G"
- Next: The top 5

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 500: Less Rock, More Talk

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2018. Listen to the episode below or download directly.


Show notes:
- Recorded at Clicky Clicky world HQ
- Featuring special guest Ric Dube
- The decline of rock's popularity
- Album sales are way down
- That time the Melvins hit the Top 200 albums chart
- Apple's going to work with the Amazon Echo soon
- Breitling pays for the Amazon Music "Talky Talky"
- The youths don't pay for physical media anymore
- Ric's family has Spotify, he has dedicated streaming of his own collection
- Modern country is doing big business, relatively speaking
- Pop music is doing well
- Most rock acts make money through touring, not albums
- The Stones are still touring
- Mick and Keith were considered "old" in their mid-30s
- Breitling: The year's music really picked up in the second half
- New Mary Lattimore release is enjoyable
- Ric: Enjoying Brian Eno's latest release, which is a $30 app
- Kumar: Honorable mentions include Tony Molina, Slaves, Thin Lips, Arthur Buck, Buffalo Tom, Joyce Manor, Swearin, Stove, Screaming Females
- Breitling: Master System, Palm, Superchunk, Frankie Cosmos, Kurt Vile
- Next: We count down our top 10 albums

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 390: The Great Escape

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss vacations. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Check out our web series Trust Fund Challenge
- Vancouver is a great destination
- Trouble at the border
- Someday, Jay will visit India again
- A co-worker's move to France
- Ric's vacation movie marathon
- Dick Clark's role in Killers Three
- Ric has beef with Christopher Nolan movies
- Medical emergencies
- Black Christmas is a Canuck horror classic from the director of Porky's

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 389: Holiday Road

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss vacations. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Check out our web series Trust Fund Challenge
- A reboot/remake/sequel to National Lampoon's Vacation is out
- The first Vacation movie still holds up
- Based on a National Lampoon novella
- Both of our families went to Disney World in the '70s
- Family vacations can either be packed with activities or relaxing
- Jay: Just went to Disney with two other families
- Ric: We rent a vacation home in Maine every summer with inlaws
- Jay: We vary vacations each year; might go to Europe in a few years
- Doing work while on vacation sucks
- Ric: We were an hour away from everything
- Ric's dad takes on a ropes course
- Going out West
- To be continued

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 351: Say Say Sayer

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we look at the career of '70s pop star Leo Sayer. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Check out our new web series Trust Fund Challenge
- In '77, Sayer hit it big with "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"
- Jumped on disco bandwagon
- Hit #1 and was on charts for 17 weeks
- Had a song in top 40 from Nov. '76 to Feb. '78
- "When I Need You" also hit #1
- Ric: Skate park memories
- Smoothed out all the edges
- We listened to a lot of this kind of stuff at our college newspaper
- By the mid-80s, Sayer was a distant memory
- "More Than I Can Say" was originally written by guys from The Crickets
- Half country, half Fleetwood Mac
- Sayer started doing covers in the '80s
- Ric loves Anzac biscuits from Australia
- "Sheetwood Mac"
- Sayer had some UK hits in the '80s
- Ric talks up the post
- What happened to Beck?
- An Australian artist remixed "Thunder in My Heart" in 2006 and it went to #1 there
- Sayer did Beatles covers for All This and World War II, a pseudo-documentary that bombed
- Voiced Dan the Forest Ranger in Canadian cartoon called The Raccoons on Ice

Music:
Menace Beach - Fortune Teller
Thee Oh Sees - I Was Denied
The Fresh & Onlys - Fascinated

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Menace Beach song is on the album Ratworld on Memphis Industries. Download the song for free at KEXP.
The song from Thee Oh Sees is on the album Warm Slime on In the Red. Download the song for free at Epitonic.
The Fresh & Onlys song is on the album Play It Strange on In the Red. Download the album for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 350: More Than I Can Say

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we look at the career of '70s pop star Leo Sayer. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Check out our new web series Trust Fund Challenge
- Just watched the 1969 grindhouse flick The Babysitter
- Rated X then, pretty tame by today's standards
- Our society's pruder in some ways, more open in others
- Leo Sayer was discovered by David Courtney and Adam Faith
- Ric: Sayer was less threatening than Elton John or Barry Manilow
- Adam Faith was a British teen idol in early '60s
- Sayer and Faith had a falling out over money
- Sayer struck out at first
- Roger Daltrey recorded a Sayer song
- Sayer's version of "Giving It All Away" sounds like Elton
- Some weird album covers
- Dube: Sayer looked like a mime who sings
- British guys who sound American and vice versa
- To be continued

Music:
Nude Beach - For You
The Vaselines - Last Half Hour
Happy You - Chummy

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Nude Beach song is on the album 77 on Don Giovanni Records. Download the song for free for a limited time at Amazon MP3.
The Vaselines song is on the album V for Vaselines on Rosary Music. Download the song for free at KEXP.
The Happy You song is on the self-released album Giggle. Download the album for free (in exchange for your email address) at Bandcamp.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 341: Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we examine the back story of '70s hitmakers Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").



Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Check out our new web series Trust Fund Challenge
- Playboy Records had Barbi Benton signed to a deal
- RD: Hef likes "female impersonator impersonators"
- Benton guested on many '70s TV shows like Fantasy Island and The Love Boat
- She released five albums that hit the country charts
- Worked on Playboy After Dark
- Show had many great musical guests
- Playboy Records made HJFR keep Reynolds in the name after he left
- HJFR had their biggest hit in '75 with "Fallin' in Love"
- Drake sampled it and was sued by Playboy Enterprises
- Poor Dennison
- Singer Dan Hamilton died in '94 of Cushing's Syndrome
- Three subsequent singles bombed
- Album only went to #82, even with a #1 hit
- Bad distro
- Band probably didn't make much money from sales
- MST3K had a good HJFR reference
- The King's last hit


Music:

Owl John - Red Hand
Benjamin Booker - Violent Shiver

 
Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Owl John song is on its self-titled album on Canvasback/Atlantic. Download the song for free at KEXP.
The Benjamin Booker song is on his self-titled album on ATO Records. Download the song for free at KEXP.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 326: Pop Goes the '70s

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we dissect the strange connections of '70s-era pop hitmakers. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Christopher Cross' surprisingly long career
- Producer Michael Omartian was in disco act Rhythm Heritage, which released the #1 hit "Theme from S.W.A.T." in 1976
- Also did theme from Baretta
- Steve Barry formed Rhythm Heritage with Omartian
- Barry produced Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
- Ric plans his funk album
- Sammy Davis Jr. sang the Baretta theme
- "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" was big hit for Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
- Ric's unsealed Bo Donaldson record
- First discovered while touring with the Osmonds
- The sadness of the 1970s package tour
- The Osmonds actually had a few cool songs
- "Hold Her Tight" was a Zeppelin sound-alike
- Recorded during their "rock" phase, which didn't last long
- Donny and Marie were the big moneymakers
- Donny Osmond had a few hits in 1989
- His mid-'70s song "C'mon Marianne" was much better

Music:
Deerhoof - Milk Man
Fat History Month - Angel From Montgomery
The Baseball Project - To the Veterans Committee

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Deerhoof song is on the Kill Rock Stars compilation Crazed MP3 Fans Vol. 1. Download the comp for free at Bandcamp.
The Fat History Month song is on Exploding in Sound's EIS Sampler 2013-2014 on Bandcamp.
The Baseball Project song is on Yep Roc in Austin: On Spider's Tab. Download the comp for free at Noisetrade.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 325: Ride Like the Wind

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we try to figure out how Christopher Cross became a pop star. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").



Show notes:
- Recorded in at More Lost Time world HQ
- All about the shrews in Shrewsbury
- Record fairs are back
- Where did Christopher Cross come from?
- Went from San Antonio cover band to stardom
- Produced by Michael Omartian
- Omartian worked with lots of big artists, including Rod Stewart and Donna Summer
- Lots of big names helped out on Cross' debut: Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Nicolette Larson
- Cross didn't have a particularly great voice
- Jay's Christopher Cross album
- Pre-MTV fame
- First single was "Ride Like the Wind," second was "Sailing"
- Theme from Arthur was his biggest hit
- Couldn't escape it on the radio for a while
- Ric: Played plenty of music like this at Strawberries
- "Think of Laura" was written for General Hospital
- To be continued

Music:
Bedroom Eyes - Wild Sins
Hymnals - When You're Away
Kinski - Conflict Free Diamonds

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Bedroom Eyes song is a single available for free at Bandcamp.
The Hymnals song is a single available for free at Bandcamp.
The Kinski song is on the Kill Rock Stars compilation Crazed MP3 Fans Vol. 1. Download the comp for free at Bandcamp.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 318: Lost and Found

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we examine music from a couple of forgotten artists from the 1970s. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").



Show notes:
- Recorded in late January at More Lost Time world HQ
- Edward Bear's prom song
- They were better when they stuck to guitar rock
- Band radically changed their sound
- Ric breaks out a 1971 single by Tom Hartman, formerly of the Aerovons
- Hartman and band when to England because of the Beatles
- Strong resemblance to Sloan's Navy Blues sound
- Ric's tips for finding good vinyl at flea markets
- Aerovons had a serious Beatles fixation
- Very McCartney-esque
- Produced by none other than Mike Post
- Ebay's a good way to get rare vinyl

Music:
Ovlov - Moth Rock
Palehound - Holiest
Baked - Danelectroladyland

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Ovlov song is on the album am. The Palehound song is on the Kitchen 7-inch. The Baked song is on the EP S/T Cassette. Download all three songs for free (in exchange for your email address) as part of Exploding in Sound's EIS Sampler 2013-2014 on Bandcamp.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 317: Too Much to Bear

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we look at the career of an obscure 1970s Canadian band that had a huge hit and then disappeared. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded in late January at More Lost Time world HQ
- What the hell is Edward Bear?
- Named after character in Winnie the Pooh
- Their one big hit, "Last Song," is instantly recognizable
- Sounds like a studio act
- No high or low end in '70s AM pop hits
- Manilow had great timing
- Second single from that album hit top 40
- Singer Larry Evoy was the one constant member of the band
- Opened for Led Zeppelin in '69
- First album had a psychedelic "acid rock" sound
- Geddy Lee's mellower uncle
- Going for a Canned Heat/Steve Miller Band/Doors vibe
- Endless jamming
- Early Edward Bear ain't half bad
- Opportunistic band, like The Police
- Riding whatever music wave was trending
- To be continued

Music:
Protomartyr - Come & See
The Collected Fictions - It Don't Matter Much
Cloud Nothings - Didn't You

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Protomartyr song is on the album Under Color of Official Right on Hardly Art. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The song by The Collected Fictions is on the band's self-titled EP. Download the EP for free (in exchange for your email address) at Bandcamp.
The Cloud Nothings song was released as a single in 2010. Download it for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 303: Mellow Yellow

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss a pair of 1970s hitmakers. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"
- Tony Orlando and Dawn got their own variety show
- Telma Hopkins of Dawn went on to appear in several sitcoms
- Renewed popularity during Gulf War
- Actually about coming home from prison
- Was "Knock Three Times" a swingers' anthem?
- By the late '70s, Tony Orlando was forgotten
- "He Don't Love You" was another big hit
- In praise of KC and the Sunshine Band
- Tales of KC's pratfall in Vegas
- "Please Don't Go" was a major hit for KC
- "I'm Your Boogie Man" was funky, great stuff
- Learning about music as a kid in the '70s
- Young Ric saw the Sex Pistols on Howard Cosell's "Saturday Night Live"
- Good bands played on "Fridays" on ABC
- Dick Clark was a brilliant businessman, not necessarily a music lover
- Check out episode 54 of More Lost Time, remembering Charlie Chesterman
- Coming soon: Ric and Jay's video show Trust Fund Challenge
- Bonehead of the Week


Music:
Little Big League - Lindsey
Soft Focus - Runner Up
Idiot Genes - Regular
Wavves - Horse Shoes

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Little Big League song is on the self-released album These Are Good People. Download the song for free on Bandcamp.
The Soft Focus song is on the EP Day. Download the EP for free at Bandcamp.
The Idiot Genes song is on the album Lousey. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.
The Wavves song was released as a one-off single. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 302: Lights Out

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss an unlikely number one single from 1973. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click or "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Talking about Vicki Lawrence's "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia"
- We forgot to watch the movie
- Was a hit in '73, not '71
- Written by Bobby Russell
- Lawrence was already a regular on The Carol Burnett Show
- Later starred in Mama's Family and her own talk show
- Very confusing story song about murder and infidelity
- Song was offered to Cher but Sonny Bono nixed it
- Later covered by Reba McEntire
- Ric: Should've been an animated movie with animals
- Revenge and death throughout
- We're confused
- Casey Kasem would've been annoyed
- Bobby Russell had two top 40 songs of his own
- "1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero" hit #36
- Could've used an oompah band
- Satire on suburban life
- "Saturday Morning Confusion" got up to #28 in 1971
- Merging Charlie Rich and Harry Nilsson
- Ric: This guy might be a genius
- Next up: Tony Orlando and Dawn
- To be continued
- Bonehead of the Week


Music:
Pixies - Indie Cindy
Quasi - You Can Stay But You Got to Go
The Julie Ruin - Oh Come On
Ghost Wave - Here She Comes

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Pixies song is on the self-released EP-1.
The Quasi song is on the album Mole City on Kill Rock Stars.
The Julie Ruin song is on the album Run Fast on TJR Records.
The Ghost Wave song is on the album Ages on Flying Nun Records. All four songs can be downloaded for free at KEXP.


The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 294: Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss actors turned singers. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").
 


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- John Travolta's music career was dragged out over three albums
- "All Strung Out on You" could've been a Velvet Underground outtake
- Co-writer Nino Tempo had an illustrious acting career as an extra
- Burt Reynolds made an album in '73
- Burt reads from his childhood diary
- Ric serves up crap on my podcast, not his
- Adam West's novelty record
- Other actors who made albums: Telly Savalas, Ted Knight
- Plenty of musicians who became actors: Kris Kristofferson, Jagger, Bowie
- Mark Wahlberg and Justin Timberlake have done well as actors
- Actors turned musicians: Kevin Bacon, Bruce Willis, Keanu Reeves, Russell Crowe, Steven Seagal, Don Johnson
- Rick James produced Eddie Murphy's "Party All the Time"
- Eddie had already moved from comedian to movie star
- In "Boogie Nights," Dirk Diggler thinks he's got musical talent
- Murphy and Michael Jackson teamed up in '93's "Whatzupwitu"
- Corey Feldman's musical aspirations
- Ric's list of actresses who shouldn't make records
- Jodie Foster made an album when she was a kid
- Bonehead of the Week


Music:
Sebadoh - State of Mine
Mind Spiders - Make Make Make Make
Diarrhea Planet - Separations

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Sebadoh song is on the forthcoming album Defend Yourself on Joyful Noise Recordings. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.
The Mind Spiders song is on the forthcoming album Inhumanistic on Dirtnap Records. Download the song for free at LargeheartedBoy.
The Diarrhea Planet song is on the album I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams on Infinity Cat Recordings. Download the song for free at Amazon MP3.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 293: Don't Give Up on Us

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we discuss actor-turned-singer David Soul's massive 1977 hit song. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- David Soul, aka Hutch from "Starsky and Hutch," just turned 70
- "Don't Give Up on Us" hit #1 in April 1977
- Soul started out as a folk singer
- "Don't Give Up on Us" in the same vein as wuss rock by Bread, Dan Hill, Manilow
- Ric: Soul was on Private Stock Records, which churned out pop hits
- Label run by Larry Uttal, who was previously a hitmaker for Bell Records
- Private Stock master tapes were all lost after label went bankrupt
- Soul just had the one hit
- The B-side was weird song called "Black Bean Soup" that sounded like old Robert Palmer
- John Travolta was another actor with a record deal in the '70s
- Travolta was a teen idol after "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble"; pre-Saturday Night Fever and Grease
- Big single was "Let Her In," even schmaltzier than the David Soul song
- No vocal range whatsoever
- "Rack jobbers" were big business; putting records in racks in drugstores and supermarkets for impulse shoppers
- To be continued
- Bonehead of the Week


Music:
Mean Creek - Cool Town
Los Campesinos - What Death Leaves Behind
Shearwater - I Luv the Valley OH!

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Mean Creek song is on the forthcoming album Local Losers on Old Flame Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.
The Los Campesinos song is on the forthcoming album No Blues on Wichita Recordings. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.
The Shearwater song is on the album Fellow Travelers on Sub Pop. Download the song for free at Sub Pop.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 284: Perfect Situation

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we present our ideas for rebooting classic sitcoms. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").


Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Jay: Movie reboot of Laverne and Shirley starring Emma Stone and Ellen Page
- Set at a Seattle microbrewery
- AV Club's Random Roles feature is terrific
- Ric: Sets Happy Days in 1991 Seattle, called Dazed and Abused
- Jason Everman's strange trip
- Let it go, Dave Mustaine
- Jay: Bosom Buddies reimagined with dudes dressing as women in drag
- Ric's take on Hangover 3
- Dueling Mork and Mindy remakes
- Ric: Get Robin Williams to play older Mork
- Jay: Alien lands in Portland, followed around by documentary crew
- What the hell is the Modern Family documentary about?
- Arnold does great commentary tracks
- Ric: Leave It to Cheever
- Partridge Family reboot with the Kardashians
- The new Jay Leno Show
- Ric still wants to make the reality show Blue Balls
- Bonehead of the Week


Music:
METZ - Can't Understand
Majical Cloudz - Bugs Don't Buzz
Speedy Ortiz - No Below
Murray A. Lightburn - Motherfuckers  

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The METZ song is part of the Adult Swim Singles Series. Download the song for free at Stereogum.
The Majical Cloudz song is on the album Impersonator on Matador Records. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.
The Speedy Ortiz song is on the album Major Arcana on Carpark Records. Download the song for free at Stereogum.
The Murray A. Lightburn song is on the album Mass: Light. Download the song for free at Chromewaves.  

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

Completely Conspicuous 283: Everything Old is New Again

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Ric Dube as we present our ideas for rebooting classic sitcoms. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:
- Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ
- Ric beats a cybersquatter at his own game
- Ric wants to reboot American Idol
- "Celebrity Barrel Jumping"
- Tom Scholz of the band Boston is into "freestyle figure skating"
- Ric: Judges would be voted off each season by fans
- Show would have weekly winner like Jeopardy
- Chuck Barris was talent show pioneer with The Gong Show
- Jay: Reimagined take on Sanford and Son starring Indian father and son convenience store owners
- Stretch of minority-themed sitcoms in the '70s
- UPN network had several black sitcoms in the '90s
- The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer was comedic look at slavery
- All in the Family could never air today; people are too sensitive
- The late '60s scourge of "interracial touching"
- Recent Cheerios commercial with interracial family drew racist complaints
- Racial sensitivity in the workplace
- Ric: Reboot of The Bob Newhart Show, set in a nursing home
- Original Newhart show is a comedy classic
- Wondering how Northern Exposure has aged
- Newhart's breakthrough comedy album was recorded live
- Jay: Modern take on Chico and the Man would touch on immigration debate
- How funny was Freddie Prinze?
- Ric: Simpsons 2800 AD would combine elements of ghost-chasing cartoons
- New Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated show looks interesting
- To be continued
- Bonehead of the Week


Music:
Speedy Ortiz - Tiger Tank
Hunx and His Punx - Bad Skin
Moon King - Only Child
Mikal Cronin - Get Along

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Speedy Ortiz song is on the album Major Arcana on Carpark Records. Download the song for free at Stereogum.
The Hunx and His Punx song is on the album Street Punk on Hardly Art. Download it for free at Hardly Art.
The Moon King song is on the EP Obsession 1 on One Big Silence. Download it for free at Chromewaves.
The Mikal Cronin song is on his self-titled album on Trouble in Mind Records. Download it for free at Chromewaves.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.