The only thing I related to in this is sneaking into multiple movies in the theater! 😜 I used to do that all the time - pay for one movie, then watch several!
I love Star Wars, but I was only five when the first one came out, so I’m not sure when I got hooked.
Loved "Star Wars" (I was 22 in '77), but only saw the first two, and never obsessed about it, or bought action figures or collector cards. As for War, I dug their hits, but never had or bought any albums (Dad never brought home promo albums on United Artists).
BTW, the Jerry Goldstein who co-wrote (with War) the lyrics on "Low Rider," was one of The Strangeloves ("I Want Candy"), co-wrote both The Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back," and one of my fave pop songs of the '60s, "Come on Down to My Boat" by Every Mother's Son.
DANGER: Full Nerdity ahead! Kindly usher any kids out of the room!
I'm glad you mentioned Lou Adler's role in "Up in Smoke"'s production....yep, Lou directed, as well as co-produced. Why is a record exec directing a movie? Well, ya see.......C&C's first 5 albums were released on Lou's very own Ode Records! He founded Ode in 1967, where the label was distributed by A&M Records from '70-'78 (the years I knew of Ode best). Ode's first 3 years found them distributed by Epic/CBS Records.
C&C jumped from Ode/A&M in '78, and into the paws of the Label of The Bunny, Warner Bros....hence the label you find the "Up in Smoke" soundtrack! You'll notice this pronouncement on the vinyl's clearly-marked Warner Bros. label (with classic WB shield): "Produced under the direction of Ode Sounds & Visuals," Adler's original full name of his label since Day 1.
Curiously, Warners also took ownership of C&C's previous '70s Ode product....had to have been a deal made with Lou and then-Warner boss, Mo Ostin. All previous C&C product, then, was pressed with Warner Bros. labels and logos, even into the CD-laden '80s.
And, now you know the rest of the story........and knowing's half.......oh, who are we kidding? Knowing's roughly 73% (call it 3-quarters) of the battle! Thanks, Steve!!!
The 'like' button doesn't do justice to this article. I LOVED Star Wars when it came out - my uncle took me as a 7 year old to see it in 1977 and it - literally - changed my life. Previously, it'd only been Star Trek and Space 1999, but SW suddenly blew those occasional shows away. (Full disclaimer: when it comes to sheer storytelling, the original Star Trek trumps (sorry for that word) Star Wars any day.) And I really don't think it's the same to be a Harry Potter or Percy Jackson fan - I don't think kids these days fully appreciate the importance of these things when there was nothing else available.
I don't know how you manage to hold onto so many threads at a time! I was brushed by C&C, War, and Star Wars at various times. Unlike you, I AM a space cadet, and from that standpoint, I liked Star Wars ok but it was far from the most compelling thing in the broader genre. Lots of people who became obsessive fans were not people who generally cared about science fiction. Just the way most readers of Harry Potter were not actually serious readers of fantasy literature. I was also clueless about baseball cards, but if I'd been into them I'm sure I would have been a total nerd too!
"My mama talkin' to me/She tell me how to live/But I don't listen to her/My brain is like a sieve." Never forgotten those lyrics from Up In Smoke's hilarious punk moment! My brother (six years older) had Big Bambu, which we all enjoyed and my mom dropped me (13) and my sister (15) to see the flick in Pittsfield, MA - we loved it! I liked Star Wars, but not enough to see it more than once - and I knew it was inferior to Star Trek. As for War, so many good songs...Lowrider might be my favorite but I also love Slippin' Into Darkness, Me and Baby Brother, and The World Is A Ghetto.
I love this post, Steve. It's a great trip down memory lane. And, as we are close in age I remember all too well the Star Wars craze and sneaking into R-rated films as a kid. It was SO easy!
I also love War. Well, I should clarify that personally I love the War albums that Eric Burdon didn't coopt himself into. I know that I am probably in the minority saying that, but those records seem more about Eric needing some sort of street cred and they feel awkward for him and War. That said, I have read interviews where they credit Eric for guiding them and making the band who they would eventually become (after Eric's departure). So, the union was perhaps necessary.
My personal favorite War LP, however, is their s/t 1st record from 1971 with the glorious "Sun oh Son" and the double Live LP from 1972 also smokes. But, one can't go wrong with the first half dozen, or so War albums.
I used to listen to my dad’s Cheech and Chong records late at night all the time. Nobody I knew was talking about these hilarious sketch comedy albums. I felt like I’d stumbled onto a secret cool thing. My budding young comedy mind was enthralled.
Growing up on a large mostly wooded property in a single wide trailer with an acre sized back yard, my parents would throw these annual summer bbq parties. My dad would bring his stereo setup outside and put on his favorite records. I have vivid memories of playing volleyball while “Why Can’t We Be Friends” was blasting. And of course “Low Rider.” Two very fucking cool and nostalgic songs.
Ah, Cheech and Chong. Allow me a trip down memory lane.
I bought "Big Bambu" when it was released. Inside the album sleeve there was a gigantic rolling paper which, at my age and life path at the time, I put to good use!
That was a time where idiot humor was part of teen culture. "Up in Smoke" ... "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" ... "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" ... "Blazing Saddles." Now, 50 years on, still funny to people my age. Unfortunately, all belong to the "they couldn't make it today" cinema zeitgeist.
War is one of my favorite bands of all time. They borrowed from all the cultural influences around them to create a sound that was truly and uniquely theirs alone.
The only thing I related to in this is sneaking into multiple movies in the theater! 😜 I used to do that all the time - pay for one movie, then watch several!
I love Star Wars, but I was only five when the first one came out, so I’m not sure when I got hooked.
“Low Rider” is one of these songs that always makes the corners of your mouth go up ☺︎
Loved "Star Wars" (I was 22 in '77), but only saw the first two, and never obsessed about it, or bought action figures or collector cards. As for War, I dug their hits, but never had or bought any albums (Dad never brought home promo albums on United Artists).
BTW, the Jerry Goldstein who co-wrote (with War) the lyrics on "Low Rider," was one of The Strangeloves ("I Want Candy"), co-wrote both The Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back," and one of my fave pop songs of the '60s, "Come on Down to My Boat" by Every Mother's Son.
DANGER: Full Nerdity ahead! Kindly usher any kids out of the room!
I'm glad you mentioned Lou Adler's role in "Up in Smoke"'s production....yep, Lou directed, as well as co-produced. Why is a record exec directing a movie? Well, ya see.......C&C's first 5 albums were released on Lou's very own Ode Records! He founded Ode in 1967, where the label was distributed by A&M Records from '70-'78 (the years I knew of Ode best). Ode's first 3 years found them distributed by Epic/CBS Records.
C&C jumped from Ode/A&M in '78, and into the paws of the Label of The Bunny, Warner Bros....hence the label you find the "Up in Smoke" soundtrack! You'll notice this pronouncement on the vinyl's clearly-marked Warner Bros. label (with classic WB shield): "Produced under the direction of Ode Sounds & Visuals," Adler's original full name of his label since Day 1.
Curiously, Warners also took ownership of C&C's previous '70s Ode product....had to have been a deal made with Lou and then-Warner boss, Mo Ostin. All previous C&C product, then, was pressed with Warner Bros. labels and logos, even into the CD-laden '80s.
And, now you know the rest of the story........and knowing's half.......oh, who are we kidding? Knowing's roughly 73% (call it 3-quarters) of the battle! Thanks, Steve!!!
The 'like' button doesn't do justice to this article. I LOVED Star Wars when it came out - my uncle took me as a 7 year old to see it in 1977 and it - literally - changed my life. Previously, it'd only been Star Trek and Space 1999, but SW suddenly blew those occasional shows away. (Full disclaimer: when it comes to sheer storytelling, the original Star Trek trumps (sorry for that word) Star Wars any day.) And I really don't think it's the same to be a Harry Potter or Percy Jackson fan - I don't think kids these days fully appreciate the importance of these things when there was nothing else available.
Sneaking into theatres - a rite of passage.
I didn’t love Star Wars! I thought it was just okay when I first saw it in ‘77. I was thrilled that Annie Hall won the Best Picture Oscar!
I don't know how you manage to hold onto so many threads at a time! I was brushed by C&C, War, and Star Wars at various times. Unlike you, I AM a space cadet, and from that standpoint, I liked Star Wars ok but it was far from the most compelling thing in the broader genre. Lots of people who became obsessive fans were not people who generally cared about science fiction. Just the way most readers of Harry Potter were not actually serious readers of fantasy literature. I was also clueless about baseball cards, but if I'd been into them I'm sure I would have been a total nerd too!
War, what is it good for? Oops, wrong band.
"My mama talkin' to me/She tell me how to live/But I don't listen to her/My brain is like a sieve." Never forgotten those lyrics from Up In Smoke's hilarious punk moment! My brother (six years older) had Big Bambu, which we all enjoyed and my mom dropped me (13) and my sister (15) to see the flick in Pittsfield, MA - we loved it! I liked Star Wars, but not enough to see it more than once - and I knew it was inferior to Star Trek. As for War, so many good songs...Lowrider might be my favorite but I also love Slippin' Into Darkness, Me and Baby Brother, and The World Is A Ghetto.
I love this post, Steve. It's a great trip down memory lane. And, as we are close in age I remember all too well the Star Wars craze and sneaking into R-rated films as a kid. It was SO easy!
I also love War. Well, I should clarify that personally I love the War albums that Eric Burdon didn't coopt himself into. I know that I am probably in the minority saying that, but those records seem more about Eric needing some sort of street cred and they feel awkward for him and War. That said, I have read interviews where they credit Eric for guiding them and making the band who they would eventually become (after Eric's departure). So, the union was perhaps necessary.
My personal favorite War LP, however, is their s/t 1st record from 1971 with the glorious "Sun oh Son" and the double Live LP from 1972 also smokes. But, one can't go wrong with the first half dozen, or so War albums.
Hands down favorite War song was with Eric Burdon: "Spill The Wine!" There's a great YT video of it out there, so check it out. MM
I used to listen to my dad’s Cheech and Chong records late at night all the time. Nobody I knew was talking about these hilarious sketch comedy albums. I felt like I’d stumbled onto a secret cool thing. My budding young comedy mind was enthralled.
Growing up on a large mostly wooded property in a single wide trailer with an acre sized back yard, my parents would throw these annual summer bbq parties. My dad would bring his stereo setup outside and put on his favorite records. I have vivid memories of playing volleyball while “Why Can’t We Be Friends” was blasting. And of course “Low Rider.” Two very fucking cool and nostalgic songs.
Ah, Cheech and Chong. Allow me a trip down memory lane.
I bought "Big Bambu" when it was released. Inside the album sleeve there was a gigantic rolling paper which, at my age and life path at the time, I put to good use!
That was a time where idiot humor was part of teen culture. "Up in Smoke" ... "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" ... "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" ... "Blazing Saddles." Now, 50 years on, still funny to people my age. Unfortunately, all belong to the "they couldn't make it today" cinema zeitgeist.
Also, here's one from "Up in Smoke" you might recall ... "Earache My Eye" ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJW67QN24SA
War is one of my favorite bands of all time. They borrowed from all the cultural influences around them to create a sound that was truly and uniquely theirs alone.