The 25 Baubles of Pop Culture! Advent 2022 Day 20

Today's post is brought to you by the letters M and C and the number 20.

I was so excited when Sesame Street popped up on that random generator. Next to superheroes, Sesame Street is my earliest exposure to the realms of pop culture and Christmas coming to meet. I had a copy of Merry Christmas From Sesame Street, an LP album that featured a number of songs and several skits. 

The album was released originally in 1975 to great fanfare and even earned a Grammy nomination for the Children's Television Network. 3 years later, the TV special Christmas Eve on Sesame Street reused much of the material on the album. This resulted in the album being re-released and that's how I got a copy of the record. The coolest thing about the album was that it opened up in the middle and looked like a giant comic book. I spent hours studying that layout while listening to Bert, Ernie, Big Bird and Grover celebrate the holidays. 

My favorite character on Sesame Street is Grover. I love Disco Grover. I know the difference between near and far. I've been known to rock a recitation of The Monster at the End of The Book. And I chuckle every time I think of Grover starring in a version of The Night Before Christmas where he is a mouse who you will notice is not stirring (his bowl of cookie dough!) But my favorite version of the blue fur-ball is when he dons a cape and knight's helmet and becomes Super Grover! So in honor of that, I'm sharing this PVC ornament of SG in flight. 

Next, I'm sharing this pair of ceramic ornaments of Oscar the Grouch and Bert. They're from sometime in the 90s and I remember these as my sister had these. For several years, these two hung from my mom's white artificial tree. Where they are now, I have no idea. But I would love it if my sister has these and is sharing them with her little ones. 

Another character I have fond memories of is of the elephantine Mr. Snuffleupagus. I remember when he was Big Bird's supposed imaginary friend as he'd always disappear when someone would come along. Eventually, the residents of Sesame Street finally meet Snuffy and now he and his family are prominent members of the neighborhood. This 1992 ornament from Grolier has Snuffy wearing a Santa hat and carrying a tree in his trunk. (Hey- it's a pun!) I especially love how the character has snow on his back and one of Ernie's Twiddlebug friends is sledding down Snuffy's back. 

You can't mention Snuffy without including his best friend, Big Bird. I'm really fond of this imported glass ornament of Big Bird in his nest covered in lights and donning a Santa cap. I only wish he had a little bit of snow on him like he did when sleeping in his bed during the Christmas Eve special.

I also want to share this one also made from Grolier. It's off the detective Muppet Sherlock Hemlock. I'm not sharing because of any fond connection to the character or anything like. I just greatly appreciate how an obscure character like Sherlock getting the ornament treatment. 

Let's wrap things up with today's DIY ornament. Here's a list of what you need:

SUPPLIES:

• Salt Dough Ornament Recipe (Click on the link to get the recipe)
• White, Black, and Blue Paint
• Paint Brush
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Glue

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make the salt dough ornament recipe. Before putting the dough into the oven to bake, cut out 2 circles.  We pressed a small glass into the dough to create the right size shape.
2. Form 2 round balls out of the dough and gently press them onto one of the circles for Cookie Monster’s eyes.  Form 2 round balls and an oval and gently press them onto the other circle for Elmo’s eyes and nose.
3. After the dough bakes and is completely cooled, paint Cookie Monster’s face blue and the eyes white with black dots.  Paint a black half circle for the mouth.  Paint Elmo’s face red, nose orange, and eyes white with black dots.  Paint a black half circle for the mouth.
4. After the paint dries, put a coat of Mod Podge over the ornament.  This step is optional but it helps protect the ornament and keeps the paint from chipping.
5. Cut a ribbon that is about 4 inches long, fold it in half to create a loop, and glue it onto the back of the ornament.
6. After the glue dries, hang the ornament on your Christmas tree.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 67

    Today marks the 40th anniversary of the band Foreigner's debut album. The self-titled LP featured a number of hits including Cold As Ice, Long, Long Way From Home, and their biggest smash Feels Like The First Time. 
   

The band in a 1977 promotion photo.

     The album went platinum five times in the States, selling over 5 million copies. Interesting enough, I always thought Foreigner was an American band. But they are actually from England! So they are Foreigner- well at least to everyone but those in the UK.

The back of the album.
Taken from a Japanese CD, circa 1994.

     Folks, I'm not really a ban of the band. I do like the song Cold As Ice. But if anyone is a fan of this group, it's my wife. She really likes that corporate rock jazz. I refer to it as Bart Simpson does in a very early episode of the Simpsons- Wuss Rock!

    Well, before I go and alienate all of my loyal readers who are devoted to the band Foreigner, let me leave you guys with a song or two from the album.

    Until Tomorrow...

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 25

  As I plod along in the A Madman Turns 40 project, I'm listening to more music from 1977. Myself, I am not musically inclined but I like a lot of different stuff. My parents were the same way. Who knows, maybe some of the stuff I'm discovering from that year was stuff I was introduced to while in the womb...
   

  Today I'm looking at an album that dropped 40 years ago this week. I can't find the exact day. Some sites say January 25th (which is today) and some sources list it's debut on the 27th or 28th. The album I'm talking about is Santana's Festival.

    Festival was Santana's 8th studio album and it really feels like one. There's the rhythmic beats of drums, Latin jazz, smooth r&b, and scorching 70s glam rock guitar riffs all throughout this record. I'm not really a Santana fan but since I am trying to be very well-rounded in my exploration of 1977, I decided to give Festival a listen to in my class at the culinary school.

Carlos Santana in concert, 1977.

    For the most part, the students liked it. A couple were bopping along to the tune. Another student said it reminded her of her father who loved Santana. 

    For a couple of songs, I was reminded of Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man. Not the original composition but his 1973 remake that incorporated a style mixed of Sly and the Family Stone, James Brown, and Cuba beats. Just with that song, some of Santana's compositions were both Cuban sounding and so very funky. 

Herbie Hancock's Headhunters.
The album has a similar vibe to Festival.

    Well, that's my look at 1977 for today. Santana's Festival can be found on Youtube, Amazon, and iTunes. If you are looking for a mix of Latin flavor with rock undertones and a popping Cuban beat, be sure to check this album out. 

Back Cover of Festival. 2-CD set re-release.

     Tune in tomorrow as this Madman will explore another piece of 1977 history.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 2

 

 It just wasn't Christmas without this LP. I don't know how many year's in a row would be put up the Christmas tree watching 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and listening to this album. 

   Produced in 1980 by Meco, the techno whiz behind the disco version of the Star Wars theme and the Cantina Song. Featuring Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca, the majority of the album took place in a droid factory making toys for an 'S. Claus.' 

   The album is hard to come by, with the cassette version being especially rare. But another reason that makes this album so collectible is that it features the first profession recording of Jon Bon Jovi. Recording under his birth name 'John Bongiovi' the future rocker landed the lead vocals on the song 'R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas' as his cousin, who was a producer on the project, ran the studio that John worked at as a custodian. 

    So as my advent present to you, here is a recording of that first Bon Jovi, er Bongiovi masterpiece...