Author: Mat Brewster

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The Movie Journal: March 2024

ride lonesome

I watched 37 movies in the month of March. 24 of them were new to me. 23 were made before I was born. It was Westerns in March and I watched ten movies with dudes in cowboy hats.

I’m realizing as I do more of these monthly movie themes that I usually start off strong, but then something always happens in the middle of the month that distracts me. Sometimes I have to review some movies that don’t fit the theme, or maybe I want to watch some movies or TV shows with my wife, or we go out of town. When that happens I find it difficult to come back to the theme.

It’s like my little side gig of reviewing Blu-rays for Cinema Sentries. Since it isn’t a paying gig I get to choose when I want to review something. Some weeks I get really excited and request lots of stuff. Then they show up in the mail and I have to watch them. Suddenly, I don’t want to watch those movies I want to watch other movies.

I love Westerns. I love Westerns in March. But then I had to review some film noirs, and then we went on a little trip, and suddenly I wanted to watch something else. Savvy readers will notice that at the end of the month, I started watching a lot of movies from the 1980s in preparation for Awesome ’80s in April.

Not that it matters, the whole point is to have fun. If I’m not having fun, then what’s the point?

Clark Gable remains my top actor this year with six films watched. All those Westerns drove several actors into a tie for second place with four films watched. These include John Wayne, Randolph Scott, and Lee Van Cleef. Burt Lancaster is right there with them.

The director’s race continues to be pretty lame. Umberto Lenzi remains in first place, tied with John Ford, both of whom have three films watched by me. Fritz Lang and Budd Boetticher come in second with two films each.

Rambo III (1988) – **1/2
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) – ***
First Blood (1982) – ***1/2
Repo Man (1984) – ****
Trancers (1984) – ***1/2
Curtains (1983) ***1/2
Forbidden World (1982) – ***1/2
Humanoids from the Deep (1980) –
Thieves’ Highway (1949) – ****1/2
The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) – ****
Zodiac (2007) – *****
Chain Lightning (1950) – ***
Finger Man (1955) – ***
Evil Under the Sun (1982) – ***1/2
While the City Sleeps (1956) – ****
Spasmo (1974) – ***1/2
Crashout (1955) – ****
City of Shadows (1955) – *
Act of Violence (1948) – ****
And Then There Were None (1945) – ***1/2
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) – ***1/2
Nightmare (1956) – ***
Bulldog Drummond’s Peril (1938) – **1/2
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) – ***1/2
Bone Tomahawk (2015) – ****
Ride the High Country (1962) – ****1/2
Black Tuesday (1954) – ***
Vice Squad (1953) – ***1/2
The Searchers (1956) – *****
The Whip and the Body (1963) – ***1/2
Ten Wanted Men (1955) – ***1/2
Ride Lonesome (1959) – ****1/2
Comanche Station (1960) – ****
The Professionals (1966) – ****
The Great Train Robbery (1903) – *****
The Faculty (1998) – ***1/2
Deadly Friend (1986) – **1/2

Westerns In March: The Great Train Robbery (1903)

the great train robbery

If you’ve never watched a Western before you’ve still probably seen scene from this one. An iconic moment shows a dusty old man with a hat and massive mustache stare at the screen, then point his gun at the audience and shoot. Any discussion of film history will bring up this scene.

It is a scene that has no real place in the film. It was shown either at the beginning or the end of the movie, depending on the projectionist’s whims. It is just a cool little moment. Sometimes it is said that audiences watching that moment, unfamiliar with cinema as they might have been in 1903, actually ducked for fear of actually being shot. This seems to be apocryphal, made up to show what rubes people used to be.

It is also sometimes called the very first Western movie, or the first film that told an actual story. This, also is pure nonsense as there were many Westerns that came before this one, many of which told a real story. The Wikipedia article on the film is pretty funny as the editors over there seem to be actually angry over these errors.

What The Great Train Robbery actually was, what in fact most likely caused it to be called all of those superlatives, was really popular. It was a huge box-office success. It is also rip-roaring fun to watch.

The plot does exactly what it says on the tin, and with a run time of just 12 minutes, it does nothing more. Some outlaws board a train, rob it at gunpoint, and then are captured by a posse of lawmen.

While it might not have significantly influenced or advanced the Western as a genre (as Wikipedia notes with a certain amount of glee) it still uses the tools of the time most effectively.

It uses wide shots, camera pans, and matte paintings to great effect. While on the train in the foreground, we see the outlaws doing their thing but in the background, through an open door, we see the mountains whiz by, making incredible use of rear projection.

There is also a great use of smoke and some hand colorization of certain items which I always find amazing.

The film is in the public domain and as such is widely available all over the Internet, including YouTube. It is well worth watching if you are a fan of cinema history. I’m surprised it took me so long to get to it.

Miles Davis – Paris, France (11/06/67)

Miles Davis Quintet*
Salle Pleyel
Paris, France
November 6, 1967

No Blues
Label: Jazz Music Yesterday – JMY 1003-2
Unofficial Release
Italy
Released: 1990

1 ‘Round About Midnight
Composed By – Monk*
8:05

2 No Blues
Composed By – Davis*
13:05

3 Masqualero
Composed By – Shorter*
8:40

4 I Fall In Love Too Easily
Composed By – Styne*
9:00

5 Riot
Composed By – Hancock*
5:30

6 Walkin’
Composed By – Carpenter*
9:40

7 Green Dolphin Street
Composed By – Kaper*
16:50
8 The Theme
Composed By – Davis*
0:40

Jazz Music Yesterday

Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Tony Williams*
Piano – Herbie Hancock
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trumpet – Miles Davis

Recorded at Salle Pleyel, Paris, France, November 6, 1967 (info taken from jazzdisco.org).

Track 3 is mistitled “Mascalero.”
Track 4 is mistitled “I Fall in Love Too Easy.”

Matrix  Runout: JMY 1003 PHC
Rights Society: S.I.A.E.

Pink Floyd – Dream’s Factory (1970-1972)

Pink Floyd
DREAM’S FACTORY

cat: NEW KERUAC LINE 1011 —
date / venue: compilation (1970-1972)

limited edition with certification
the CD case is a round can box containing the cd on a round sponge
and a numbered warranty certificate (mine is 0010)
no info about the date of release
but I can remember I found that in a music shop (together with the RoIO Silence) around ’93-’95 (and it was yet released
surely not after 95, since then RoIOs got illegal here, while this release has the SIAE trademark on the certificate (if someone doesnít know it yet, the SIAE is the society that monitors the artistsí copyrights here in Italy)

  • tracklist + exact sources:
  1. BREATHE / ON THE RUN 8:59
    from the Live at Rainbow Theatre Feb. 20 1972 (same as on the RoIOs Forbidden Samples/The Live Side Of the Moon, Time etc…)
  2. ECHOES 25:17
    live from the Paris Cinema London concert – BBC archives Sept. 30 1971
  3. EMBRYO 3:04 (listed erroneously on the cover as Green is the Colour)
    live from the Paris Cinema London concert (BBC archives July 16 1970)
  4. IF 4:24
    live from the Paris Cinema London concert (BBC archives July 16 1970)
  5. US AND THEM / ANY COLOUR YOU LIKE 7:03
    from the Live at Rainbow Theatre Feb. 20 1972 (same as on the RoIOs Forbidden Samples/The Live Side Of the Moon, Time etc…)
  6. CAREFUL WITH THAT AXE EUGENE 5:28 — (fades out)
    live from the Paris Cinema London concert (BBC archives July 16 1970)

I’m almost sure the tracks from the BBC broadcast comes from vinyl, not 100% sure anyway … sound is very good but all the tracks comes from very common recordings available on many different editions and with a better sound quality too

EXTRACTION / CONVERSION + notes by littlesheep

The Who – Saint Charles, IL (08/10/68)

The Who
1968-08-10
Saint Charles, IL
Jaguar Club

Source: Audience
Lineage: 1st gen cassette>Nakamichi 670 pitch & azimuth-adjusted playback deck>Wavelab 96/24>Izotope 44.1/16>flac
Transferred By: JEMS

Band Members:
Pete Townshend – vocals, guitar
Roger Daltrey – vocals, harmonica
John Entwistle – bass, vocals
Keith Moon – drums, vocals

Setlist:

  1. Intro
  2. I Can’t Explain
  3. Fortune Teller
  4. Tattoo
  5. Heaven And Hell
  6. Young Man Blues
  7. Daddy Rolling Stone
  8. Summertime Blues
  9. Magic Bus
  10. Boris The Spider
  11. A Quick One While He’s Away
  12. My Generation

Length: 66:05

Notes:
1st gen from the JEMS vaults. The recording is listenable but primative sounding. It is still probably an upgrade to most circulating copies of this recording as it is and is the 1st time this particular tape has ever been properly digitized in any form (Dec 2010).

“I got this from the guy that taped it after meeting him at a record show in Chicago. Features “Daddy Rolling Stone” and a early long version of Magic Bus most likely featuring a young Bobby Pridden on additional percussion at the beginning with Keith.”

tapeboy for JEMS

Willie Nelson – Los Angeles, CA (11/06/75)

Willie Nelson
11/06/75
Troubadour
West Hollywood, CA, USA

  1. Intro
  2. Whiskey River
  3. Stay a Little Longer
  4. Funny How Time Slips Away
  5. Crazy
  6. Night Life
  7. Me and Paul
  8. Bloody Mary Morning
  9. I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone
  10. It’s Not Supposed to Be That Way
  11. Good Hearted Woman
  12. Radio Promo
  13. Time of the Preacher Theme
  14. I Couldn’t Believe It Was True
  15. Time of the Preacher Theme
  16. Blue Rock Montana
  17. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
  18. The Red Headed Stranger
  19. Time of the Preacher Reprise
  20. Wildwood Flower
  21. Band Intros
  22. What Can You Do to Me Now?
  23. Shotgun Willie
  24. A Song for You
  25. Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms
  26. Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

The Rolling Stones – Outtakes & Rarities, Vol. 7

The Rolling Stones
OUTTAKES & RARITIES – Vol.7
EXILE ON MAIN STREET SESSIONS (1971) / GOATS HEAD SOUP SESSIONS (1972) / IT’S ONLY ROCK’N’ROLL SESSIONS (1974)
®Remastered by Teague Raw 12/2012

= Cd 1 = 0h57
VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER, FRANCE, VILLA NELLCOTE – late July & 14th Oct. to 23rd Nov. 1971
Producer Jimmy Miller, Sound engineers: Glyn Johns and Andy Johns.
LOS ANGELES, SUNSET SOUND Studios – 4th to 19th December 1971 *
Producer: Jimmy Miller, Sound engineer: Andy Johns,
01 Rocks Off I (MJ/KR) – (backing track)
02 Rip This Joint II (MJ/KR) – (backing track)
04 Sweet Black Angel II (MJ/KR) – (backing track) *
034 Happy (MJ/KR) – (slow down version)
05 Turd On The Run (MJ/KR) – (alternate mix) *
06 Ventilator Blues (MJ/KR/MT) – (alternate take)
07 Let It Loose II (MJ/KR) – (backing track)
08 All Down The Line IV (MJ/KR) (backing track)
09 Soul Survivor (MJ/KR) – (backing track)
10 All Down The Line VI (MJ/KR) – Overdubs LA 12/1971 – (b/w Happy) *
11 Ain’t Gonna Lie (aka Mean Woan Blues / I Ain’t Lying) (MJ/KR)
12 I’m Not Signifying II (MJ/KR) – (less vocals & horns at the end)
13 Instrumental 1972 (MJ/KR)
LOS ANGELES, SUNSET SOUND Studios – 28th March 1972
Producer: Jimmy Miller, Sound engineer: Andy Johns,
14 Exile On Main Stret Blues (MJ/KR) – (New Musical Express – Promo Flexi single 29/04/72)
15 I Don’t Care (MJ/KR) – (New Musical Express – Promo Flexi single 29/04/72)

= Cd 2 = 1h17
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – DYNAMIC SOUND Studios – 25th to 30th Nov. & 6th to 21st Dec. 1972
Producer: Jimmy Miller, Sound engineers: Andy Johns, Carlton Lee,
01 Through The Lonely Nights (MJ/KR) – (Realeased b/w It’s only rock’n’roll 26/07/74)
02 Criss Cross Man I (aka Save Me) (MJ/KR) – (Baryton sax at 1’35, rec 28/05/73)
03 Criss Cross Man II (aka Save Me) (MJ/KR) – (Alto sax at 3’23, rec 28/05/73)
04 Criss Cross Man III (aka Save Me) (MJ/KR) – (Tenor sax at 0’32, rec 28/05/73)
05 You Should Have Seen Her Ass (MJ/KR)
06 Fast Talking, Slow Walking (MJ/KR)
07 Silver Train II (MJ/KR) – (w/o harm, mix 28/05/73)
08 Waiting On A Friend (aka Waiting on my friend) (MJ/KR)
09 Tops I (MJ/KR) – (Instrumental)
10 Separatly (MT/KR) – (Instrumental)
LOS ANGELES – VILLAGE RECORDERS Studios – 27th to 30th January 1973
Producer: Jimmy Miller, Sound engineer: Baker Bigsley
11 Windmill (MJ/KR) – (Instrumental, w/o slide guitar)
12 Windmill (MJ/KR) – (Instrumental)
MUNICH – MUSICLAND Studios – 14th to 28th Jan. & late Feb. to 4th March 1974
Producer: The Glimmer Twins, Sound engineers: Keith Harwood, Andy Johns
13 Drift Away (Mentor Williams)
14 Living In The Heart Of Love (aka Leaving in a Harder World) (MJ/KR)
MUNICH – MUSICLAND Studios – 13rd to 24th November 1973
Producer: The Glimmer Twins, Sound engineers: Keith Harwood, Andy Johns
15 Slow Down And Stop (MJ/KR) – (Instrumental)
LONDON – LWT Studios – 1st June 1974
Director : Michael Lindsay-Hogg
16 Ain’t Too Proud To Beg IV (Norman Whitfield / Eddie Holland) – (Video take, live vocals)
17 It’s Only Rock And Roll (MJ/KR) – (Video take, live vocals, Alternate take)
18 Till The Next Goodbye (MJ/KR) – (Video take, live vocals)

Sources :

CD1 :
The Real Alternate Exile on Main Street : 1, 2, 5, 9, 13
I Gave You Diamonds [Morph 015] : 3, 7, 11
You Tube [Vowel Movement] : 8, 12
Clean Cuts Two : 4, 6
Sticky Beggars Bleed In Exile (CaptainAcid) : 14
The Singles : 10
Unknow : 15

CD2 :
Unknow : 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13
Ain’t Got No Time To Waste Away : 2, 3, 19
By The Balls : 16, 17, 18
IORR (Vancouver) : 11, 12
Sticky Beggars Bleed In Exile (CaptainAcid) : 4
It’s Only Goats Head Soup [Mighty Diamond Records MD 2006] : 14
It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll Sessions : 15
Reel Time Trip : 7
The Singles : 1

The Doors – San Francisco, CA (03/07/67)

The Doors
March 7, 1967
The Matrix Club
San Francisco, California

Source; SBD > Second Generation Reel > DATs
Transfer: DAT 60ES > M-Audio Audiophile UsB > WAV > DAT
transfer: jbraveman@hotmail.com March 2005

Seeded EZT March 2005

Disc 1

  1. Back Door Man
  2. My Eyes Have Seen You
  3. Soul Kitchen
  4. Get Off My Life, Woman
  5. When The Music’s Over
  6. Close To You
  7. Crawling Snake King
  8. I Can’t See Your Face In My Mind
  9. People Are Strange
  10. Who Do You Love
  11. Alabama Song
  12. Crystal Ship
  13. Twentieth Century Fox
  14. Moonlight Drive

Disc 2

  1. Summer’s Almost Gone
  2. Unhappy Girl
  3. The Devil Is A Woman> Sittin’ Round Thinkin’> Rock Me
  4. Break On Through
  5. Light My Fire
  6. The End

The Beatles – File Under: Beatles

The Beatles
File Under: Beatles
Gnat Records

Track list

A1 Come And Get It; Paul’s demo for Badfinger, July 1969
A2 Shake Rattle & Roll; Get Back Session, 26 Jan 1969
A3 Leave My Kitten Alone; Unreleased track, Beatles For Sale sessions, 14 Aug 1964
A4 I’m So Tired; Get Back Session, 03 Jan 1969, Paul on vocals!
A5 Not Fade Away; Get Back Session, 29 Jan 1969
A6 I Me Mine; Jan 1970 @ Abbey Road studios, unedited/spliced
A7 Third Man Theme; Get Back Session, 3 Jan 1969
A8 Bad To Me; Acoustic Demo, spring 1963
A9 Christmas Time is Here Again; Take 1, Complete, 28 Nov 1967

B1 Goodbye; Paul’s demo for the Mary Hopkin single, Feb 1969
B2 Blue Suede Shoes; Get Back Session, Jan 1969. Intro (edited in) with Lennon reading the lyrics of “HELP!”
B3 If You’ve Got Troubles; Unreleased track during the Help sessions, Take 1, 18 Feb 1965
B4 Negro In Reserve; Get Back Session, 3 Jan 1969
B5 That Means A Lot Unreleased track during the Help sessions, 20 Feb 1965
B6 Get Back, Get Back sessions, Jan 1969
B7 One After 909, unreleased track during the “From Me To You” single sessions, Mar 1963
B8 Dig A Pony Get Back sessions, 22 Jan 1969
B9 Dialog; Get Back sessions, Jan 1969,during a break, with Peter Sellers joining in.
B10 Kansas City; This is not listed on the jacket or label. Get Back sessions snippet, Jan 1969

From Discogs:

Another variant of the early 80s Beatleg compilation. Very similar to The Beatles – File Under: Beatles but this comes with purple-blue title stamp on the lower right front corner.

This one comes in a yellow file folder jacket that opens only at the top, with purple-blue title stamp on the lower right front corner. Blank on the back. Cream-colored labels with “File Under:” in bold type and underlined. “The Beatles” is not on the labels.

Attached to the front of the file folder/jacket with a standard paper clip is a 4.75″ x 3.25″ glossy photo which varies copy to copy. Also included is a 7″ segment of film from an actual 16mm copy of the Hard Day’s Night movie, so every copy has a different segment of film.

On the back is an 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet made to resemble a tape master log sheet, with all of the tracks and times typed out.

Audio-wise the sound is mixed, mostly poor to good, many sounding like the sound is coming from a speaker, not a direct source.