Video Link: My Ragamuffin Romeo (From "King of Jazz" (1930))

Video Link: The Andrew Sisters - Apple Blossom Time (From Buck Privates (1941))

From the Abbott and Costello film, Buck Privates (1941).

Movie Review: On the Come Up

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C+

An enjoyable little movie, but nothing you haven't seen before. 

This film follows the story of a 16-year-old girl, who's dream is to become a great rapper as her dad was. There is very little you haven't seen here before and this film adds nothing new to the formula. This does not mean it is a bad movie though. There is plenty to like here. Or main character is quite likable and easy to root for. Her personal problems feel real to us and there are times we want to walk straight into the movie and give her a hug. Yet she is presented as being far from perfect, often doing th wrong things for reasons she feels are right. She can hurt those around her, but this just makes her a more real and relatable character instead of taking away from her likability. Her passion to be a great rapper is feels so real and genuine that we want the same exact thing for her. This movie also moves at a speed that keeps the action going (and has the film never feel boring) but never too fast that the movie feels rushed. It also does a great ob of helping those who don't listen to much rap themselves (like me) understand why it appeals to so many people. This film also does a decent job at exploring themes like the stupidity of racism and being who people want you to be instead of yourself. There is nothing new said here or much food for thought, but it does discuss these issues clearly and effectively. 

As stated before, this movie will be very familiar to anyone who has watched a movie before. There is not a moment when you won't know exactly what is coming next or how the movie will end. The supporting characters don't help matters by not being fully fleshed out or having enough personality to feel real. This movie also has some forced and awkward dialogue that can take one right out of the movie. 

This may not be a great movie, but for what it is, it is a nice little film and makes for a nice trip to the movies. 

Movie Review: Moonage Daydream

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A wonderful and very unique documentary on David Bowie.

This film does not feel like your average music documentary at all. Instead of having friends and fans talk about David or having a narrator tell his story, this film uses decades old interviews with him. So the only people we hear talk about David Bowie are him and the people who interviewed him. Because of this the movie is Bowie's take on Bowie. This works incredibly well because David was a very intelligent man and had thought provoking takes on every part of his career. You see a man who at first is looking for meaning in this world but is not sure what the meaning is. He feels a strong spiritual connection to something but cannot tell what it is. This movie explores his journey to find out what it is. This is a fascinating and quite different look at this musical great that we seldom see and it even brings new meaning to many of his songs and the stages of his career. Other than these interviews the main focus of the film is his music. We get many of his classic songs here. They are as wonderful as ever and I can picture someone who has never heard of David Bowie quickly becoming a fan after watching this movie. As for me these song sequences only gave me an even greater respect for David Bowie as an artist. If you see this movie in a theater, I highly recommend you see it in IMAX. The great sound system used on these great songs makes for a wonderful experience. Yet despite anything I said, this is not simply an auditory movie where you could close your eyes and watch. This is a wonderful cinematic experience. Director Brett Morgan turns this documentary into a visual treat. He combines live performances from David Bowie, with clips from various classic films (as well as films David Bowie was in), music videos, personal clips of Bowie and much more to create the feeling of one large scale music video mixed with great avant-garde filmmaking. Yet somehow this never becomes overwhelming or gets tiring. Any who wishes to study how to use montage to good effect should definitely watch this movie. What truly makes this film special though is that all these elements work together and never distract from one another.

A wonderful movie and a must watch whether you are a David Bowie fan or not. 

Movie Review: Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A wonderful documentary on Leonard Cohen and what has become his best known song. 

I absolutely love Leonard Cohen's music (I am listening to it as I write this review) and the man himself, so naturally this film had a huge attraction to me. It did not let me down in any way. This movie kept me glued to my seat through the whole runtime. While this movie can only tell so much in less than two hours, it still gives a wealth of information, and more than that one can tell the passion the filmmakers have for the subject matter. The clips of Leonard Cohen performing and being interviewed are priceless for those of us who love this wonderful artist. While we may already know much of the information given in the interviews to hear these words from Leonard's mouth make these scenes still incredibly engaging. The live performances make you remember just how much of a blessing this man and his music were. Like many documentaries this film also has new interviews. These interviews are with those who knew and worked with him as well as those who were inspired by him both directly and indirectly. Again even if you know the information stated here, these interviews are still engaging and valuable to any Leonard Cohen fan. 

Yet as you can guess by the name of this movie, much of the focus is on his most famous song, Hallelujah. It not only covers Leonard's version of this song, but the many covers of the song, ranging from Jeff Buckley to Alexandra Burke to Eric Church. Even Vicky Jenson, the co-director of Shrek talked about its use in that film. While I still greatly prefer Leonard's version to these covers, I found this section also very interesting and I admit this is part of the film where I learned the most. I was not as familiar with these covers as I am with Leonard's version and found much of this very fascinating.

The only problem I had with this film is that the part of the documentary that is about Leonard Cohen's life and the part that is about the legacy of Hallelujah outside of Leonard's version, can get in the way of each other and this can become distracting. 

This is an excellent documentary that I highly recommend to both long time Leonard Cohen fans and newcomers.  

Video Link: Elvis Presley - Let Yourself Go (from Speedway (1968))

Movie Review: Christmas With The Chosen: The Messengers

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

A unique and really fun movie experience. 

This movie is strangely structured and though, the parts are excellent they don't always come together to create one whole. This movie starts with a bunch of musical performances featuring various popular Christan artists performing classic Christmas hymns. Between these performances are brief sermons on the names Jesus has been called in the bible and the significance of each one. This takes up the majority of the film. After that comes what is essentially a theatrically released episode of The Chosen TV show. All of this is very well done, but because of the way this is set up, the majority of the movie can feel like pre-show entertainment before the new episode. 

The music is excellent. These Christmas hymns have stayed with us so long for a reason. They are great songs. These Christian artists are incredibly talented, and it should come as no surprise that they do such an excellent job with these great songs. 

The episode portion of the movie is also excellent and has everything that has made the series so popular. This is not a neat or sanitized version of the Christmas story. There is little here that is made to look pretty or like it is on the front of a Hallmark Christmas card. This is an important part of what makes this work so well. It lets us fully see that Jesus' birth was not what this world would call attractive. This was a dirty barn and despite Mary being a virgin, the birth process was the regular human birth process. Yet through this seemingly mundane event, the whole world was permanently changed. That God would choose his own son to be born like this says a lot about his character and about how different he sees the world from how we do. This movie also presents Mary and Joseph as real people. Though they are people who have an incredible amount of faith in God, they are also human and not flawless. This makes the story feel more real and personal instead of just a nice story we heard in Sunday school. 

This is an excellent film, even if all the parts don't always make one cohesive movie. 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Silver Screen, 1931

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

And on that day you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted." Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth. Isiaih 12:4-5

Video: JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957) - Elvis Presley - Classic Movie Musical Numbers

Cowboy Church #93

 Hello my friends and welcome back to another service of Cowboy Church. 

Today's musical selection begins with The Charlie Daniels Band with the southern gospel classic, I'll Fly Away. This comes from their 2001 gospel album, How Sweet the Sound (which I highly recommend to all those who love country gospel music). With its fast paced and joyful sound it is hard to think of a gospel song better suited to The Charlie Daniels Band and they perform it to near perfection here. The song itself (first published in 1932) has become one of the most (if not the most) recorded gospel song in the world. This song's writer, Albert Edward Brumley, had spent much of his early life planting and picking cotton on his family's farm. This was tough and exhausting work and Brumley admitted that he wrote this song with the thought of "flying away" from the cotton field. He also admitted that he had taken inspiration from The Prisoner’s Song. This song reminds us that any troubles of this world are temporary, yet the blessings of God are eternal. It does not pretend that life is easy, but reminds us that their is a beautiful hope that has overcome all the problems we face in life. With all these blessings, it is only appropriate to spend time each day thanking God for what he has given us and this is what Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (with some help from The Ranch Hands & Mitch Miller & His Orchestra) sing about in Thank You God. This lovely recording comes from a 1956 Little Golden Record (Let There Be Peace was the B-side). With a series of posts named Cowboy Church, it was only a matter of time before I included the next song. Up next is Red Steagall with a song called Cowboy Church. This comes from his 1995 gospel album, Faith and Values. This song uses cowboy imagery to convey a message that is truly universal and that is that God loves those who are outcasts, whether they are cowboys or city slickers. Those who never quite felt like they belong, can take comfort in the fact the God welcomes them into his kingdom with welcome arms. This followed by Randy Travis singing Doctor Jesus. This recording comes from his 2000 gospel album, Inspirational Journey. It is amazing to think that a country singer who rose to fame in the 1950's actually released one of his finest albums in 1999. However this is just what George Jones accomplished with the album, Cold Hard Truth. Next comes one of many great songs off that album, Sinners and Saints. Today's musical selection ends with the Sons of the Pioneers with their 1947 recording of Will There Be Sagebrush in Heaven. 

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8

 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Thank you for joining me come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again. 

Video: Brand New Animated Music Video - Bing Crosby's White Christmas.

 

Summer Concert Series: Gimme Shelter (1970)

This landmark documentary is still incredibly powerful and shocking today. This isn't just a movie about a rock band, but about a tragedy and the change in culture that created it. 

As many know the 1960's is often considered a time of idealism but thoughts of peace and love sadly couldn't last forever. This falling out of ideals is brutally and honestly shown at a rock concert in 1969 that took place at Altamont Speedway that erupted in a hideous display of violence. Though this film is technically about the Rolling Stones, the footage of this concert takes center stage and is what people remember and take away from this film. Anyone who wants a feel good fun rock and roll concert film, had better watch a different movie. The footage of this concert is unpleasant and will leave some with a feeling of discomfort and disillusionment. Yet this movie leaves such a powerful impression that anyone who has seen it can never forget it. Even as one of the most popular rock and roll bands in the world performs their most famous hits, they are unfortunately upstaged and overshadowed by the horror playing out in front of them. Of course the music is excellent but how musically talented the Stones are is not going to be your parting thought. There is little of the peace and love associated with 60's rock and roll, instead their is the violence and unruliness of a painful part of human nature that the hippie dream could not overcome no matter how hard it tried. What hurts all the more is that this is a documentary and what you see in the same is what actually happened as it happened. 

This is not an upbeat movie by any means but it is a thought provoking one that will stay with you long after the film is over. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Foreigner: All Access Tonight (2003)

In 2002 VH1 was doing a behind the music segment on British/American rock band Foreigner. When they were asked for archival footage of the band performing, they began to realize that they had none. Guitarist and founding member Mick Jones, decided that this was a fact that needed to be rectified. So he asked his friend Justin Bougerie (the director of this movie) to film the 2002-2003 tour of the band. In the end they had enough footage to make a feature length film.

This movie is hardly as polished as something like The Last Waltz (1978). It was filmed on one camera and therefore many of the cinematic touches seen in other concert films are completely missing here. The footage itself is about the same picture quality as a fan recording one of their favorite bands and concert and posting it to YouTube. However the sound quality is much better. There are some scenes where you see the band when they are not performing. While there is hardly the intimacy of say Don't Look Back (1967), these scenes are a lot of fun (with the exception of them checking into a hotel in a scene where nothing else happens).

While this movie may be lacking cinematically at times, it makes up for this with Foreigner's performances. They put on quite a show and are a joy to watch as they perform their hits. Many of these songs sound just as good if not better live. Despite this being 25 years after the band formed they had lost none of their talent by this time. Adding to this is that hit songs like Double Vision, Hot Blooded, Feels Like the First Time and Juke Hero are just as fun as they were when they came out.

This may not be anything groundbreaking but it is a fun concert film.

-Michael J. Ruhland  

Summer Concert Series: How James Brown Saved Boston (2008)

James Brown did an incredible concert on April 5, 1968 in Boston, the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This was of course a very tense and emotional time for America and many feared that this concert would enact rioting and violence that might leave Boston in shambles or that someone might attempt to kill James Brown (who had vocally given respect to Dr. King). Mayor Kevin White saw this as a lose lose situation politicly. He felt could cancel the concert and be accused of discriminating against the black community, or he could do nothing and others would accuse him of allowing a riot. His solution was to televise the concert. This made James very angry as he would be losing a whole lot of money. This lead to a very tense experience for all involved, yet an incredible concert that was a landmark in musical history.

  The Night James Brown Saved Boston is an incredible look into this concert and the climate that created such a tension around it. This film has various very intelligent people intelligently discussing this period of time giving us a fresh and moving look into this tense and emotionally challenging time following a great tragedy in American history. It also gives insight into how James Brown felt about everything going on, as well how he was able to give an incredible performance with all that was going around this concert. Whether or not you are a fan of his music, there is no doubt James Brown had an incredible gift for entertaining an audience and to watch him on stage is like watching no one else. Watching the clips of him performing here are an incredible testament to how this man could control a stage and an audience like no other performer. This makes these clips a joy to watch for anyone regardless of musical taste.

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Summer Concert Series: Chasing Trane (2016)

Excellent documentary on Jazz legend John Coltrane.

This movie being only a little over an hour and a half, obviously does not give a full view of the many facets of John's incredible career, yet it does remarkably well with the time it spends on its subject. We get a brief basic overview of his career as well as incredible critical insight of his music by critics, musicians, biographers and more. They all explain what John's music means to them. After listening to them talk we can hear clips of Coltrane's music and we listen to it in a way we never could before. No one is ever going to completely change our musical tastes, but as music (especially jazz) can be heard and interrupted completely different by different people, others can help us see what they hear or feel when they listen to a piece of music and that can completely change the way we hear it. That is what this movie does best and why it is such a great music documentary despite giving us a very simplified historical overview of its subject.

This film will help fans get something new out of Coltrane's music, while striking newcomers interest at the same time.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Tom Petty: Runnin' Down a Dream (2007)

It is hard to think of a band that defines rock and roll music more than Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Their music has everything that rock and roll is and can be and I personally think they are one of the finest rock and roll bands of all time. Just as no band could capture the essence of rock and roll better than Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, no movie could better capture the essence of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers than Runnin' Down a Dream.

Director Peter Bogadonovich, quickly became passionate about the band of the course of making this movie and it shows here. After getting to know the boys, Peter decided that only they could tell their own story. Therefore he left out the typical documentary narration and let the band tell the story themselves. While this is a departure from your typical rock and roll documentary, I have to admit, I did not notice the first time I watched this film. This is because nothing feels missing here and when the band talks, I was so interested in what they were saying I didn't care. The boys are just as passionate talking about their music as Peter was making this film. These are people whose lives have been moved and changed by rock and roll and when this movie was made, they hadn't lost any of the passion they had when they were kids hearing rock music for the first time. Though this movie is near four hours, you are still hanging on every word that they say when the film comes to a close. Not only that but I felt like I'd be willing to listen to them talk for another four hours. In fact this became a problem for Peter Bogadonovich, who had more material than could fit in one movie and all of it was high quality.

You may have noticed in this review, I have referred to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as a band throughout this review. One thing I love about this film is that it treats them as a band instead of like Tom Petty and his backing band. After I watched this movie for the first time, I never listened to their music quite the same. Before I had listened to it as if the Heartbreakers were a backing band, but afterwards I began to appreciate what each member brought to the table, every time I would listen to one of their albums or hear the music on the radio. We get to know and respect the Heartbreakers throughout this movie in the same way we do Tom Petty himself.

Of course in a rock and roll movie, audiences want to hear rock and roll music. This film puts the music at the center stage. To be honest we learn precious little about the lives Tom Petty or the Heartbreakers lead when they are not making music. With the length of this movie and the amount of great material that ended up on the cutting room floor, perhaps that was best. There simply wasn't time and we watch the movie because we love the music. Another great thing about this is that this movie doesn't just show small little clips of the band performing these but we watch them performing the song from beginning to end and who can complain about watching and listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers do what they do best.

This film is also a treasure trove of information for me and my fellow Tom Petty fans. You learn the stories about how each of their studio albums came about, how they ended up being Johnny Cash's backing band on his masterful album Unchained (maybe one of the finest albums of Johnny's career), as well as the backing band for Bob Dylan on a concert tour, how the Traveling Wilburys came to be, the creative differences in the band at various points and just how a song like Don't Come Around Here No More ends up on  concept album called Southern Accents (I really like the song, but it seems a little out of place on that album).

This is a must watch for fans of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a movie that will turn newcomers into fans.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Volunteer Jam (1976).

Note: Hello my friends, for three days this blog will cover concert films featuring country music and rock and roll icon, Charlie Daniels. Charlie recently passed away suddenly from a stroke. Though Charlie recorded many studio albums (most as part of The Charlie Daniels Band), what he enjoyed the most about his career was being on stage entertaining audiences. That is why these films are so important now that he is no longer around to do concerts. Films last forever and so through these movies we will forever be able to enjoy the man doing what he did best.



.The Charlie Daniels Band is best known today as the band that did The Devil Went Down to Georgia. However the band had a lot going on before that song was ever released. Luckily for us, the excitement of the band’s earlier days is captured in a fantastic concert film. Still this great movie seems to hardly get a notice, even from the band’s fans.

One of the most exciting parts of the band’s career were the Volunteer Jam concerts. These concerts showed just what the band was and is still all about, this is of course great music. The band never cared if their music was country, rock, blues, bluegrass or whatever. If it was good it had a place in the band’s repertoire. Along with performing some of themselves in these concerts, the band always had special guests. Causing much of the excitement is the audience never knew who the guests were going to be. Over the years the Volunteer Jams would have such legends as Roy Acuff, Carl Perkins, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Kris Kristofferson, Wet Willie, Bobby Bare. James Brown, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Trace Adkins and The Allman Brothers Band. The first of these concerts lead to the live tracks from their Fire on the Mountain album. This was by far the band’s most successful album at this time featuring two big hits, The South’s Gonna Do it Again and Long Haired Country Boy. The album even went gold. After this success it was decided that the second Volunteer Jam would be filmed and released to theaters. The concert took place at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro Tennessee and featured as special guests, The Marshall Tucker Band, Dickey Betts and Chuck Leavell from the Allman Brothers, Roni Stoneman (Yes that incredible female banjo player from Hee Haw), Jimmy Hall from Wet Willie and Dru Lombar from Grinderswitch. It was released in theaters in 1976, then disappeared until a 2007 DVD version.

This movie was advertised as “The First Full-Length Southern Rock Motion Picture” and it might surprise those who only know the country side of the band, just how much of a rock and roll movie this is. No Place Left to Go features an extended instrumental jam that is pure guitar rock at its best. The movie also features The Charlie Daniels Band performing such pure rock and roll songs as Funky Junky, Birmingham Blues and Whiskey. All of those songs are pure originals and remind anyone who underestimates CDB, that these are incredible musicians. Of course there is also rock and roll when The Marshall Tucker Band performs Twenty Four Hours (With Charlie joining them on fiddle). The majority of the performers get together to perform some rock and roll later in the film. No need for Country music fans to worry though, The Charlie Daniels Band does do some pure country songs here, from their own Long Haired Country Boy, The South’s Gonna Do it Again and Texas, to such classic country songs as Orange Blossom Special and Mountain Dew (which includes some great banjo picking from Roni Stoneman). Whether you like Country, Rock or Blues, this movie gives you Southern music at its finest. Cinematically this is a very simplistic film. Most of the filming is invisible calling little to no attention to itself, just shooting the performers strait on. However the focus is on the music and the music is amazing.

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Album Review: Tessy Lou Williams (Self-Titled)

All us country music fans have heard somebody say one of the following. "Real country music is dead." "Country music just isn't country anymore." "Where did real country go?" The truth is traditional country music did not go anywhere. What you hear on country music radio today is just what is mainstream, but if you go outside of the mainstream there are plenty of great artists carrying on the traditions of classic country artists. If you want any proof simply listen to Tessy Lou Williams' debut album (which came out this year) is proof that the type of country music that you and I fell in love with is still alive and well. With a great artist like Tessy Lou Williams, it is in good hands.

To get away from the simple fact that this is traditional country music, and to discuss the quality itself, this is an incredible debut album. She has one of the most beautiful sounding voices in country music today. In many ways the voice reminds me of Alison Krauss, but she never copies Alison. Her voice also perfectly conveys every emotion in the songs. This is perfect as this type of country music is about telling the truth and there is not a false note in her singing. The songs themselves are excellent. The lyrics all tell little stories that ring as true as her voice. While there are some things that have become country music clichés mentioned here (drinking, heartbreak), they are not used as clichés. They are treated in a very mature and real way, never once talking down to the album's audience. The music is beautiful perfectly blending in with Tessy's lovely voice. Since most of the songs are ballads the much music is soft and doesn't call attention to itself. Still when a faster paced song comes up (Such as Round and Round), the music is as energetic as you could want.

This is top notch traditional country music in every way possible. If you are a country music fan (even if you don't like what is currently mainstream), this is highly recommended.     

-Michael J. Ruhland 

"Jumping Jive" From Stormy Weather (1943)

Though Stormy Weather certainly has its faults as a movie, the big finale musical number is one of my favorite musical numbers in the history of movie musicals. There is so much energy and talent on screen that I can not look away from the screen. From Cab Calloway and his orchestra giving their all to the music to the Nicholas Brothers doing things that should not be humanly possible, I love every second of it.

  

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Red Foley: The Family Man

One thing I love when looking through old (1910's-1950's) entertainment magazines is that the stories they tell about celebrities are often so positive. I get tired of how today most journalism is very downbeat. You hear only depressing stories about what is happening in the world, whenever you pick up a newspaper, turn on the news or read any political writings. Entrainment magazines and websites are hardly more happy and simply serve as mostly negative gossip and stories of stars misbehaving or going through hard times. While life is not completely happy and we need to acknowledge and accept the sad parts of life (we can't live in complete denial), we can't live life in complete depressing-ness. There are many happy things about life as well.

Here is an upbeat 1953 story from Radio TV Mirror talking about the great country singer, Red Foley. If you have trouble reading you can click on the pages and use your touch screen to zoom in.

-Michael J. Ruhland