FREE AGENT!

FREE AGENT!

THE RAP SHEET FEATURES A GREAT INTERVIEW TODAY WITH SPY NOVELIST JEREMY DUNS, WHOSE DEBUT NOVEL ~ FREE AGENT ~ IS ABOUT TO SEE PUBLICATION.

THERE IS A LOT OF BUZZ SURROUNDING FREE AGENT, AND THE RAP SHEET IS FEATURING A COMPETITION GIVING AWAY FIVE FREE COPIES.

TO CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW CLICK HERE

TO CHECK OUT THE COMPETITION CLICK HERE

MERCURY MEN!

MERCURY MEN!

TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST PULP STYLE WEB SERIAL CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ TRIPLE PLAY!

SAN ANTONIO BEAT!

SAN ANTONIO BEAT!

BISH'S BEAT IS GOING TEXAS STYLE FOR A FEW DAYS TO CELEBRATE THE GRANDSON'S FIRST BIRTHDAY ~ BOY HOWDY, DID IT ROLL AROUND QUICK!

SO, THINGS WILL BE A LITTLE SLOW ON THE BEAT UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. WHEN I RETURN NORMAL TRANSMISSION WILL RESUME.

SWINE FLU ~ GROUND ZERO!

THE WORLD OF STEVE AND EYDIE!

THE WORLD OF STEVE AND EYDIE!

THE NEW RE-RELEASE FROM STEVE LAWRENCE AND EYDIE GORME

PLAYLIST

1. E Fini (Italy)
2. Shiretoko (Japan)
3. Rose D’Irlande (France) (It Was A Good Time)
4. Un Poquito Mas (Mexico)
5. We Shall Dance (Greece)
6. Bashana Haba-Ah (Israel)
7. Where Can I Go (U.S.A.)
8. Du Sollst Nicht Weinen (Germany)
9. Lead Me On (England)
10. We Can Make It Together (U.S.A.)
11. Tristeza (Portugal)

A NOTE FROM STEVE & EYDIE...

In 1982 we were recording for MGM Records. The president of the company was Mike Curb, who also happened to be the Lt. Governor of the State of California. Don Coast was in charge of the creative department. The four of us were sitting around the table discussing the next project, and Mike said, "How about we do an album called "The World of Steve and Eydie."

We all looked at each other and said…what does that mean? and Mike thought it would be a great idea for us to record a hit song from many other countries around the world. He said, "I'll get the top songs and we'll go over the ones you like." We selected what we thought would be the best songs to do for this album…however, in an effort to make sure that our pronunciation and enunciation was correct, he called "Berlitz" school of languages and hired a tutor for each of the languages in which we were singing. Some were tough, some were challenging…but all in all, we had a lot of fun doing it.

When the album was completed and released, we received letters from all over the world saying they thought we did a great job on the songs that came from their country and our accents were pretty good too. This is the first time it is being released on CD.

And so…We hope you like The World of Steve and Eydie.

In any language…

Goda prego, Otanoshimi-kudasai, Appreciez svp, Goce por favor, Apolafsete, Tehe noo, Zei freilich,
Geniessen-sie, Cheers, Aprecie,
Enjoy,

Steve & Eydie

TO ORDER CLICK HERE

MORT WALKER CONVERSATIONS ~ BOOK SALE!

MORT WALKER CONVERSATIONS ~ BOOK SALE!

Fellow C.O.B.R.A.S. Jason Whiton’s book, Mort Walker Conversations, is on sale for 50% off at the University Press of Mississippi Website! Pick up a copy and learn more about this prolific cartoonist and creator of Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois. Check out the sale for other great books about the world of comics and movies. Sale ends July 15th.

Mort Walker has said that a successful comic strip character should be instantly recognizable. We should immediately understand who he is and what he's about. Walker calls this "see-ability" and "readability." Publishing professionally as a child prodigy at the age of eleven, and going on to hold numerous positions as an editor, designer, and creator of nine syndicated strips, it is ironic that Walker's most recognized character is known as the laziest fellow in the funny pages.

This volume begins with a syndicated article from 1938, which ran with the photograph of Walker at his drawing table, a sailor's cap perched back on his head. Walker's young face beams with joy and ambition. He seems to embody the Joseph Campbell catch phrase, "Find your bliss."

In 1989, Bill Watterson addressed a festival at Ohio State University, expressing that the comic pages were full of doddering, dinosaur strips. A similar plea by Berkley Breathed came in 2003, asking the old guard to step aside in order to make room for younger creators.

In both cases, Walker responded in Cartoonist Profiles (#89, #139), re-stating his devotion to his work. To Breathed he wrote, "I love what I'm doing. It would kill me to be told to quit." Walker's continued enthusiasm reveals that the boy with the sailor cap continues to beam from the drawing board, and that to "follow one's bliss" remains as valid and vital at age fourteen as it does at age eighty.

Indeed, as this collection illustrates, that is Mort Walker's "see-ability" and "readability" as a character. Mort Walker Conversations collects interviews and articles that span from 1938 to 2004. His engagement with the Museum of Cartoon Art- which he founded- is discussed in these pieces, along with the politics involved in working with cartoonists' unions, artistic communities, and syndicates.

In these conversations Walker shows how he has managed to keep his art and stories fresh for over seventy years of production. I had a blast reviewing interviews and articles from Mort's long career, and an even bigger blast spending time with Mort and his assistant, Bill Janocha, while I prepared this book.

So many great comic strips have sprung from this self-proclaimed "human inventing machine." And for a year before launching Beetle, he was even the top-selling magazine cartoonist in the country. Mort's done it all, and it's really interesting to read through his colorful history of conversations about writing, drawing, and about working with many of the greats on strips and in the NCS, like Dik Browne, Rube Goldberg, Charles Schulz, Al Capp, Milt Caniff, and Walt Kelly.

Most of the pieces in this volume are quite rare, including a number of interviews Mort gave on television with Mike Peters and Bruce Blitz, and special interviews with me, Lee Nordling, and Bill Janocha. Mort Walker Conversations is an excellent resource for those interested in Walker's career and about the world of comic strips.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

BTAP #22: THE HARD SELL BY JAY STRINGER!

BEAT TO A PULP #22: THE HARD SELL BY JAY STRINGER!

THE WORD FROM EDITOR DAVID CRANMER ~

Jay Stringer made an offer that BEAT to a PULP couldn’t refuse. With low-lifes, kissable rich girls and old scams done anew, The Hard Sell is a rousing read. Enjoy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jay Stringer's short fiction has been published in The Scotsman. As a critic, his book reviews were published by Shots. He is currently redrafting his first full length crime novel, and is the creator of pulp herione Marah Chase. You can find Jay at www.Jaystringer.com. Marah Chase's adventures are at www.marahchase.blogspot.com/.

Next: "Spend It Now, Pay Later" by Nik Morton.

Soon: Yours truly with a tale that flaunts a glass eye on the green, all in the name of vengeance.

COCKTAIL NATION 72-KOOPER SIPS HIS COLD MEDICINE FROM A TIKI MUG!

COCKTAIL NATION 72-KOOPER SIPS HIS COLD MEDICINE FROM A TIKI MUG!

Thanks to Tiki Shark, Koop Kooper and the Cocktail Nation have Jay Strongman on the show this weekend, who has a new book out called Tiki Mugs Cult Artifacts Of Polynesian Pop. We’ll also discus a couple of big events coming up including a Bettie Page tribute show and the massive Tiki Oasis show, plus we’ll check out the latest Kava Kona album.

PLAYLIST:

Esquivel ~ Latin-esque
Diana Krall ~ The Boy From Ipanema Jay Strongman Interview Martin Denny ~ The Enchanted Isle
James Clarke ~ Double Take
Blossom Dearie ~ My Attorney Bernie
The Tiki Tones ~ Gomez
Chet Baker ~ Lush life
Frank Sinatra ~ The Good life
Liz Geyson Group ~ Yes I Know I've Had It
Les Baxter ~ Nevertheless
Waitiki ~ Hana Maui
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy ~ How Big Can You Get
Da Howlies ~ So Blue
Anita O'Day ~ Easy Come, Easy Go
Kava Kon ~ Atomic Clock

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

RED PANDA ADVENTURES 47 – ENDGAME!

RED PANDA ADVENTURES 47 – ENDGAME!

NEW FROM DECODER RING THEATRE . . .

For years now, a shadowy organization has targeted the city and its citizens. Time after time the Terrific Twosome has defeated their most diabolical efforts and time after time the Syndicate has risen from the ashes, changed its stripes and begun it's campaign of terror anew. Who would have thought that the worst thing they could possibly do was give up? Will anything be left standing after we enter....The Endgame?

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ TRIPLE PLAY!

JULIE LONDON ~ ABOUT THE BLUES (1957)!

JULIE LONDON ~ ABOUT THE BLUES (1957)!

Of all the girl singers back in the day, three rise above all the others – Anita O’Day, Keeley Smith, and Julie London. Of those three, Julie London has always been my favorite – she owns the song Cry Me A River, and her velvet voice and physical beauty make her the most classic of torch singers.

Julie London ~ About The Blues, download courtesy of KELLEY’S LOUNGE SOUNDZ, is Julie at the peak of her vocal power. Kelley is not exactly a Julie London fan (he’s more of a Peggy Lee kind of guy), but kudos to him for having the class to post this LP anyway.

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

FEMME NOIR: DEMON BAT!

FEMME NOIR: DEMON BAT!

Today is Free Comic Book Day at comic book stores all around the country. Among the day's offerings is a sampler comic from Ape Entertainment, Cartoonapalooza #2. Among the stories in this special comic is a new Femme Noir adventure by BLOG BUDDY Chris Mills and Joe Staton, aided and abetted by accomplices Mark Stegbauer and Michael Watkins.

If you can’t get out to your local shop today and pick up a copy, Chris has posted the pages for his new Femme Noir story, Demon Bat, on his blocg.

TO CHECK IT OUT CLICK HERE

DANNY GANS ~ R.I.P.

DANNY GANS ~ R.I.P.

I’VE SEEN AND ENJOYED GANS SEVERAL TIMES IN VEGAS. HE EPITOMIZED THE FIGURE OF A PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINER. HE’LL BE MISSED.

PER YAHOO NEWS:

LAS VEGAS – Singer-actor-impressionist Danny Gans, who spent more than a decade as one of the most popular entertainers in Las Vegas, died Friday. He was 52.

Gans was pronounced dead in his bed shortly after police and paramedics were summoned to a report of a man not breathing at Gans' home about 3:45 a.m., said police spokesman Todd Rasmussen.

Foul play was not suspected, Rasmussen said. A Clark County coroner's spokeswoman said an autopsy was pending, and Rasmussen said police were investigating "according to standard procedure."

Gans' manager and longtime friend, Chip Lightman, said Gans was in good health but slept poorly after Wednesday's show and took a nap late Thursday afternoon, a day off. He stayed in bed into the evening, and his wife, Julie, summoned police when she couldn't rouse him after 3 a.m.

"This makes no sense," said Lightman, who said Gans didn't use illegal drugs, didn't smoke and had no apparent medical issues. "I managed him 18 years and health was never an issue."

Lightman described Gans, who had a bit part as third baseman Deke in the 1988 baseball film "Bull Durham," as an energetic health nut who watched his diet, loved to perform, and relished his involvement in Las Vegas area fundraisers and philanthropic causes.

Daniel Davies Gans grew up in Torrance, Calif., met his wife in college in San Luis Obispo, and parlayed a comedy and impression routine he developed on bus rides as a minor league baseball player into a fledgling entertainment career, Lightman said.

"Danny at that time was just a fun guy on the bus," he said.

After Gans hurt his leg playing baseball, he made a first comedy club appearance on a dare. It worked, and he began honing his routine as a variety show performer in Palm Desert, Calif., before touring the country as a banquet performer for business groups.

In 1995, Gans began a one-man show, "Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices," at the Neil Simon Theater in New York.

"A hardworking, eager-to-please entertainer who does rapid-fire imitations of show-biz personalities ranging from Tony Bennett to Al Pacino to Sarah Vaughan," AP Drama Critic Michael Kuchwara said of Gans in a review.

"He's fun — if you like your impressions in 60-second doses."

Gans' dexterity switching through the voices of John Travolta, Clint Eastwood, Rodney Dangerfield, Wayne Newton, Woody Allen, Robin Leach, Bill Cosby and others in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" impressed Kuchwara, who characterized Gans' humor as "the cozy comedy of ... nudge-nudge, wink-wink reaction."

The reviewer said a duet between Kermit the Frog and Jimmy Stewart made "a great twosome."

Officials at Wynn Resorts, where Gans had performed four nights a week at the 1,500-seat Encore Theater since Feb. 10, and at The Mirage, where he performed from April 2000 to November 2008, said they were stunned by Gans' sudden death.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

AN EVENING AT THE BUDDIES LOUNGE ~ SHOW 55!

AN EVENING AT THE BUDDIES LOUNGE ~ SHOW 55!

Join the BIG W every Sunday evening as he continues to explorer, with drink in hand, the Space-Age Pop Hi-Fi musical sounds of the 1950’s and the 1960’s in LIVING STEREO!

PLAYLIST:

• Alright, Oaky, You Win - Peggy Lee
• Back Bay Shuffle - Terry Gibbs
• Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como
• Mannix - Lalo Schifrin
• Not Near The Girl I Love - Jack Jones
• Man Of Mystery - Al Caiola
• On The Road To Mandalay - Frank Sinatra
• Richard Diamond - Buddy Morrow
• Theme From Checkmate - Johnny Williams
• All Or Nothing At All - Keely Smith
• Gringo A-Go-Go - Al Hirt
• The Way You Look Tonight - Mel Torrmè
• A Walk In The Black Forest - Herb Alpert
• Sam's Song - Dean Martin & Sammy Davis
• The Magnificent Seven - Henry Mancini
• Batman - Ray Martin
• Lemon Tree - Trini Lopez
• Girl From Ipanema - Ray Charles Singers
• Anything Goes - Mrs. Miller
• The James Bond Theme - Hugo Montenego
• Walt Disney & the 1964 World's Fair
• Twist Of Hava Negeela - Perez Prado

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

CASINO MOON!

CASINO MOON!

THE LATEST OFFERING FROM HARD CASE CRIME HITS ME LIKE A HAYMAKER . . . A NOIR NOVEL WITH A BOXING BACKGROUND – I’M OUT FOR THE COUNT WITH THIS ONE . . .

THE ONLY THING HARDER THAN GETTING INTO THE MOB...
IS GETTING OUT.

For Anthony Russo, an Atlantic City mobster’s son, the chances of escaping a life of crime are slim. They hinge on his plan to back a washed-up boxer’s comeback bid, and that, in turn, hinges on winning the help of a sexy round card girl who’s gone toe-to-toe with the current champion—in the bedroom...

New York Times best-selling author of Slipping Into Darkness, Slow-Motion Riot, and The Intruder Winner of the Edgar Award for best first novel
Acclaimed crime reporter for New York magazine

CASINO MOON
Peter Blauner
Cover art by Ricky Mujica

READ A SAMPLE CHAPTER

Raves for CASINO MOON...

"A gritty novel with integrity and style."
— James Patterson

"Terrific...This book has it all...Peter Blauner is a brilliant young writer."
— James Ellroy

"You could cut a lip on his dialogue...a honey of a writer."
— The New York Times

SINATRA TWICE!

SINATRA TWICE!

TWO NEWLY ISSUED SINATRA ALBUMS FOR ALL THE LOUNGE LIZARDS AMONG US . . .

MY WAY (REMASTERED EDITION)

Recorded in 1969 and featuring a mix of rock covers and standards, My Way showcased what would become Frank Sinatra's signature song. Creating a middle ground between the traditional pop Sinatra loved and the contemporary pop/rock that dominated the charts in the late 1960s, this is the album that showed Sinatra's timeless artistry could encompass all music. Out of print for over a decade, My Way is now reintroduced to celebrate its 40th Anniversary with two special bonus tracks along with liner notes from U2's Bono.

Produced by Don Costa and Sonny Burke, My Way was released in March 1969 and features a varied collection of contemporary pop songs, including Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson,” The Beatles’ “Yesterday,” Ray Charles’ “Hallelujah I Love Her So,” and the iconic title track, “My Way,” which would become his career theme song. The song occupies a special place in popular music, influencing generations of musicians, from Elvis Presley to the Sex Pistols, both of whom conspicuously recorded their own versions. Famous Sinatraphile Bono, who contributes the My Way 40th Anniversary Edition liner notes, wrote of the song, “..[it’s] a boast – more kiss-off than send-off – embodying all the machismo a man can muster about the mistakes he’s made on the way from here to everywhere.” Also included are two unreleased tracks: Stevie Wonder’s classic “For Once In My Life, recorded on August 13, 1969 for the Sinatra television special, and a live version of “My Way,” recorded on October 24, 1987, at Reunion Arena in Dallas.

TRACKS:

1. Watch What Happens
2. Didn't We
3. Hallelujah, I Love Her So
4. Yesterday
5. All My Tomorrows
6. My Way
7. A Day in the Life of a Fool
8. For Once in My Life
9. If you Go Away
10. Mrs. Robinson
11. For Once in My Life (rehearsal)
12. My Way (live)

LIVE AT MEADOWLANDS

Recorded live in concert at the legendary Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey, this is the most sought after Sinatra concert recording. Housed in a striking package and presented with a 24 page collectors' book of rare photos and extensive notes by long-time Sinatra associate Hank Cattaneo, this previously unreleased recording features 21 digitally remastered songs on one compact disc.

Live At The Meadowlands, recorded March 14, 1986, features 21 previously unreleased tracks. For this now-legendary hometown show, Sinatra showcased songs from every phase of his stellar career, mixing standbys such as “One For My Baby,” “You Make Me Feel So Young,” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” with late-period classics such as “L.A. Is My Lady” and “Theme From New York, New York.” The long-anticipated release of Live At The Meadowlands holds special significance among Sinatra fans as it’s one of the most sought-after and hard-to-find concert recordings of his career. Hank Cattaneo, Sinatra’s long time production manager and confidante, wrote the set’s liner notes.

TRACKS:

1. Overture
2. Without A Song
3. Where Or When
4. For Once In My Life
5. Nice 'n' Easy
6. My Heart Stood
7. Change
8. It Was A Very Good Year
9. You Make Me Feel So Young
10. The Gal That Got Away
11. Theme From New York, New York
12. Monologue
13. Come Rain Or Come Shine
14. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
15. Moonlight In Vermont
16. L.A. Is My
17. I've Got You Under My Skin
18. Someone To Watch Over Me
19. One For My Baby
20. Mack The Knife
21. New York Bows

SINATRA SINGS GREAT SONGS FROM GREAT BRITAIN (1962)!

SINATRA SINGS GREAT SONGS FROM GREAT BRITAIN (1962)!

ANOTHER GREAT DOWNLOAD FROM KELLEY’S LOUNGE SOUNDZ . . .
I understand this was the only Lp Sinatra recorded outside the US. He was at the end of a long, tiring European tour which ended in London. He recorded this album over three sessions spanning June 12-14, 1962. Robert Farnon, although Canadian-born, was considered the best arranger-conductor operating in Britain at that time. Andre Previn was reported to have mentioned to songwriter Johnny Mercer that "Robert Farnon was the greatest living string writer in the world". Others who admitted to Farnon's influence included Nelson Riddle, Don Costa, Quincy Jones, Marty Paich, Neil Hefti, Torrie Zito and Johnny Mandel (just to name the best who worked with Frank Sinatra), plus, (among those who didn't, but wished they had) Henry Mancini, Roger Kellaway, and John Williams.

TRACKS:

01) The Very Thought Of You
02) We'll Gather Lilacs
03) If I Had You
04) Now Is The Hour
05) The Gypsy
06) Roses Of Picardy
07) A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
08) Garden In The Rain
09) London By Night
10) We'll Meet Again
11) I'll Follow My Secret Heart

TO READ THE FULL POST OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW!

INTERESTING PROMOTION!