Billy's Books 78: Inside The Yellow Submarine

Back to the Beatles! Inside The Yellow Submarine tells the story of the making of the 1968 Yellow Submarine movie, as told by its makers.

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!

Billy's Books 77: The Big Sleep

I just finished a classic novel, The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler. It was made in to the classic Bogey-Bacall move of the same name. By the end, I was definitely hearing Humphrey Bogart's voice in my head.

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!

Hold On to Harvest

It was 20 years ago today; I put out a new album, Hold On. The band played two sets. The first was our own originals, many from the new album. The second set was a performance of the entire Neil Young album, Harvest, featuring several Chapel Hill guest musicians. Kick back, this is the whole show.

More places to hear Hold On:

• Bandcamp
• iTunes
• YouTube Music
• Tidal
• Spotify

Billy's Books 76: Bottom Of The 33rd

Here's a baseball history book, Bottom Of The 33rd, by Dan Berry. It tells the tale of the longest pro baseball game ever played, in 1981. 'Twas Holy Saturday into a cold Easter morning that the game draggged on waaaaay too long...

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!

Billy's Books 75: Change of Seasons

Today I review a music and history book, Change of Seasons. This is John Oates' autobiography. In case you somehow missed the memo, he's half of the most successful duo in pop music history, Daryl Hall & John Oates. (Apparently they prefer their full names over the more pedestrian "Hall & Oates".)

Here'sn early video from 1974, recorded at a Philly TV station. The crew and staff hated it so much, they refused to broadcast it, and even tried to get the song banned on local radio. I think it's funny, though.

Detail: they throw monopoly money on the line "I'd pay the devil to replace her."

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!

OK, one more quote for all you easy-going Deadheads:
Meeting Weir on that trip led to an invitation for Daryl and me to join the Grateful Dead at Madison Square Garden for a concert to "Save the Rainforest." That afternoon at sound check before the show, I arrived to find myself set up right next to the legendary guitarist Jerry Garcia. During a quiet moment between songs, I casually attempted to make small talk with him. I asked, "Hey Jerry, what songs do you think you guys will play tonight?" He looked at me blankly through those wire-rim glasses and hissed, "This is the Grateful Dead, not the fucking army."

Billy's Books 74: The Penultimate Truth

I review a Philip K. Dick science fiction book, The Penultimate Truth. Humanity lives underground, to escape the radiation on the surface from World War III. But a few still live upstairs. What's the deal?

Those few who live up there fly around in "Flapples". At one point, one of the characters "disemflappled" as he finished his trip.

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!