Saturday, April 9, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

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RIKKI ST JAMES: *NEW* VIDEO DETROIT ROCKER SOUND

Posted: 09 Apr 2011 11:32 AM PDT


THE MOTOR CITY ROCKERS "ROCKER SOUND"

This great Detroit Band had some heavy hitters in their line up. Rikki St James (v/b) and Glenn Dean (g) of the former Motor City Bad Boys joined together to form The Motor City Rockers around 1980. The band also included MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, Phil Greasy Carlisi (g), Dee Dee Lamarr (d) and the fantastic John Sabino rocking the keyboard and harmonica.



I have made 4 videos with Rikki featuring the Motor City Rockers EP tunes and 1 original Rikki St James tune "Railroad Crossing" from the Rikki St James Project CD called ROUGH AND RAW recorded in Brownsville Texas.

Additional new tunes recorded in 2010-to date will be featured soon as copyright and publishing paperwork are completed. We had such a great time collaborating on these videos.



It certainly is crucial to have the songwriter sitting next to you while creating these projects. After all it is their vision that brought the song forward in the first place. I listened to his conceptual ideas and tried to match the images to his thoughts and lyrics. Lots of fun!

"Rocker Sound" took a bit of time to create. Nearly 3 days of reworking the images to sync with the audio. Glenn Dean had some new ideas (sent me back to rework the video LOL) and sent me some cool photos to add. Glenn's charming wife Sheila helped out too contributing ideas. I just adore happy team players don't you?


Detroit's Drummer Johnny Bee Badanjek

See all 4 videos Rikki and I have created so far but stay tuned... we are making lots of new videos soon!

RIKKI ST JAMES: DETROIT ROCKER SOUND

RIKKI ST JAMES PROJECT: "JAG OF HEARTS"

RIKKI ST JAMES PROJECT "LIZZIE'S THEME"

RIKKI ST JAMES PROJECT: "RAILROAD CROSSING"

Want to see the RSJ blog Rikki and I are doing? Rikki St James Blog

DKT-MC5 REUNITES THIS SUMMER!

Posted: 09 Apr 2011 05:29 AM PDT



Stay tuned for more information on other possible dates....

[New post] Doctor Who Big Finish- The Four Doctors

Doctor Who Big Finish- The Four Doctors

The Four Doctors

Special release
Written by Peter Anghelides
Released December 2010
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An experiment in time, a Dalek invasion fleet and a power mad militant splintered through the life of the Doctor. In order to defeat his deadliest foes and retain the web of time, four incarnations of the Doctor must carefully steer events to avert catastrophe and assure the sanctity of history.

My intention with these Big Finish reviews was to listen to them in something close to a linear order. In answer to a special request, I have skipped ahead to a more recent release, the Four Doctors. I owe my good friend Jason LaBonte for getting me involved in the Big Finish range, so I was happy to oblige. Luckily, there were no spoilers in jumping ahead from the first release in 1999 to the special release of Christmas 2010.

From the 10th Anniversary when all three actors to have played the character on screen were united against a common foe, the concept of having all of your heroes in one place has retained a certain appeal. The problem is that multiple Doctor stories are a tricky thing, as learned in The Three Doctors. For one thing, each of the actors involved is the lead, something that is peculiar to Doctor Who. For another, a reason needs to be invented to involve multiple versions of the Doctor without making it seem contrived yet it must deliver a celebratory feel at the same time. It should appeal to the dedicated fan without pandering. Several attempts have been made at such a thing on screen and in other mediums, including Sirens of Time and Zagreus (both by Big Finish Productions) with varied results.

After the strained results of Sirens of Time which, while well conceived and executed, remains a convoluted adventure appealing only to die-hard fans, The Four Doctors is a roaring success. The story of the Four Doctors is a much stronger narrative and as it features a single menace, the Daleks, it is easier to become emotionally invested in the action.

It opens with a third person description of the Doctor, as seen through the eyes of a scientist, Professor Kalinda Ulrich. The fifth incarnation of the Doctor has offered up his services as advisor to the Jaridens' experiments in time manipulation. A race of enhanced beings, more machine than human, the Jaridens have been at war with the Daleks for generations. It should therefore come as no surprise when the Daleks invade during a crucial point in the experiment. When the Eighth incarnation of the Doctor also arrives, things become complicated, but all of the events are entwined like a cat's cradle of moments all leading into and out of each other in ways that only the Doctor can see... but not all at once.

Professor Kalinda's brother, the militant Colonel Ulrik, is collaborating with the Daleks to give them just what they want and lowers the base's defense to allow the invaders easy access to the mysterious contents of the vault. But the Daleks make for very poor deal makers.

In the ensuing carnage, Ulrik becomes splintered throughout time, first arriving at the home of Michael Faraday in 1854 alongside a damaged Special Weapons Dalek that also fell through the Vortex from the time experiments. The Seventh Doctor comes calling on Farday just in time to see the Dalek Prime hunting Ulrick through time. The pair are transported again, this time to Ulrich's more recent past during the violent wars between his people and the Daleks.

Thrown in a jail cell, he finds that in the next cell is a most educated and poetic prisoner, also named the Doctor. The Sixth Incarnation assists Ulrich to escape onto the roof of the bunker by using his own built-in technological advancements on a Roboman, a Dalek-enhanced prisoner. There Ulrick learns tragically that the Roboman is his own father. It appears that Ulrick has become embedded in the history of his own people caused specific advancements in their war with the Daleks, prolonging the suffering that he had hoped to prevent by collaborating with them in the first place. As Ulrick struggles to deal with this news, the Dalek Prime arrives to exterminate him, but the proximity of so much chronal particles causes yet another time shift back to the beginning of the story.

Sure, it's still a convoluted story, but it is much tighter in execution than Sirens of Time, features stand-out performances by Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann and also has an amazing soundtrack that keeps the listener invested throughout the story. A seasonal release to be sure, there are elements of 'A Christmas Carol' inherent in the Four Doctors, but they combine beautifully to tell a story of a generations-long war fought throughout time and tempered by bad decisions and noble intentions.

I'm not sure what it is, but I really enjoy listening to the Daleks on these audio adventures. They sound both brutally terrifying and cunning at the same time, hearkening back to the Machiavellian creatures of the David Whittaker stories back in the day. Nicholas Briggs (who also voices the Daleks  and Cybermen on screen in the new Doctor Who) is in fine form here, making several sequences that should be dull scenes filled with robotic screaming quite gripping.

The Four Doctors was a special release from Big Finish, made available initially only to subscribers. I understand that the arrival of the CD in the post was a very exciting moment for fans and as it arrived so close to the holiday season, seemed like the perfect gift. Multiple Doctor stories aren't really intended to be strong narratives with deep meanings as they serve more of a celebratory function, combining your favorite characters in one place, clicking glasses and offering up a toast to time's past. This is why the Three Doctors, Two Doctors, Sirens of Time and even Time Crash (if you to count that one) are not classics in any sense but a gift to the viewers (or listeners).

As such, it's a lot of fun.

While the individual incarnations of the Doctor do act independently throughout the adventure, the Four Doctors actually do share a moment inside the TARDIS to exchange the odd joke and poke fun. Well... wouldn't you?

The Four Doctors- Trailer

watch?v=G_dFqW_o_rA&feature=youtu.be

The Four Doctors- Dalek animation
watch?v=fCHbGLh_Uqo&feature=youtu.be

Doctor Who - The Four Doctors is available only to subscribers to Big Finish.

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Latest articles from Retro To Go

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1980s Puma Whirlwind Classic trainers get an archive reissue

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 10:05 AM PDT

Puma_whirlwind

Reappearing on the shelves some 30 years or so on from their debut are these Puma Whirlwind Classic trainers.

This is an 'archive' reissue in a very eye-catching white and surf blue colourway, keeping the spikes for the sole, not to mention the original shape, this reissue is offered in a soft suede and mesh upper and in very limited numbers.

Grab a pair while you can, £49 is the asking price.

Find out more at the End Clothing website

eBay watch: 1950s Hans Gugelot-designed Braun G11 valve radio

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 09:58 AM PDT

Braun

Not just a cool piece of midcentury design, this Hans Gugelot-designed Braun G11 valve radio is still in working order as a radio too.

Best known for his work with Dieter Rams, this 'solo' design from Gugelot offers up LW, MW and FM reception, maple veneers, a contrasting white face for the controls and a set of vintage valves within for a rich, warm sound.

As we mentioned earlier, it's offered in full working order, with the veneers in 'fair' condition, with some minor damage and marking - see the close-up shots on the sales page for more on that. But lt.'s be honest - this is well over 50 years old, so hardly surprising. A rare design, with the bidding price right now at £21.

Find out more at the eBay website

Jayson Lilley Trellick Tower Print

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 08:02 AM PDT

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Erno Goldfiinger's controversial bit of Brutalist architecture,Trellick Tower, has become inspiration for several designers over recent years, with Jayson Lilley being the latest.

His Trellick Tower Print uses his signature bright colours for the lights shining from the tower's windows. The background sky has been given a pop art look with a single block colour – choose from either blue, yellow or brown. The print is available in two sizes: Small (11cm x 11cm print on 23cm square paper) priced £40 or Large (33cm x 33cm print on 50cm square paper) for £80

Buy the prints online from Caroline McGrath.

Wire Coffee Table/Magazine Rack

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:25 AM PDT

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This Wire Coffee Table/Magazine Rack draws inspired from the wire furniture of the 1950s and 1960s such as Knoll's .Platner chair or the Bertoia Diamond armchair.

We like these wire furniture, but we also like multi-purpose pieces, where this item also scores highly. It functions as a coffee table and magazine rack, but the wooden top can also be lifted off and used separately as a tray. It costs just under £110 which is a particularly good price if you look at it as three items in one.

Buy it online from Rockett St George.

Utterly scrumptious picnic napkins

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:23 AM PDT

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When you're planning the next picnic in your local park make sure you bring these utterly scruptious  picnic napkins form John Lewis.

The design is 1920s-inspired and will sit perfectly with some dainty cakes and pastries and will make any event a little more special. It also fits in with the Royal Wedding mania gripping the country and comes in a pretty presentation pack.

They come in a box of 30 and you can get yours from John Lewis online.

River Island 1970s polka dot jumpsuit

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:09 AM PDT

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Like all decades in history, the 1970s is making yet another come back in 2011 and this River Island 1970s polka dot jumpsuit encompasses everything you need to complete the look.

It's getting warmer outside and if you're not prepared to bare all but want to stay breezy and cool, a jumpsuit is comfy, flexible and paired with chunky heels it becomes a great party outfit.

On the reverse there are crossover straps and the jumpsuit has pleated detailing on the waistband with buttons on the front. Get your own online for £44.99.

Movie love quotes print by Karin Akesson

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:07 AM PDT

Movie_love_print

Looking to add a touch of Hollywood to your seduction technique? Then this Movie love quotes print by Karin Akesson could be your new best friend.

The print draws together some of the most famous love quotes from a wide range of films like Casablanca and Gone with the Wind, as well as some of slightly less classic status (Notting Hill?). The quotes have been printed in a paler black ink to add something of a vintage feel to the print. Use the lines for your own chat-up line inspiration, or just to test your own cinematic knowledge.

It's an edition of 500 prints, the price being only £25. 

Buy it from All Things Original

Purnukka jar - 1950s storage

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 02:57 AM PDT

Purnukka
Here's a subtle piece of retro style, the Purnukka jar.

Manufactured by Iittala, though they look pretty timeless, these ceramic jars were actually designed by Kaj Franck back in 1953 and remained in production until 1975. They're now back in a tantalising range of colours and with just a slight tweak to the original design: they've been changed so they are better at stacking. Available in either 60mm or 120mm sizing, they're guaranteed to keep looking good for many more decades to come. 

The jars are priced at £16 for smaller size and £19 for the larger jar. 

Buy them from TwentyTwentyOne

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...