DVD
FM (Arrow/MVD Visual) At last, its available on
Blu Ray DVD, the 1978 film that influenced young peo- ple all over to try radio broadcasting as a career. I remember the movie very well from multiple viewings
on the big screen, and they owe quite a lot to the format and success of TV’s WKRP in Cincinnati. Truth be told, my buddy Bill Hudson and I once say=t through it three times at the old Bijou in Greenville. Why? Linda Ronstadt, in her prime, in short cutoff jeans and looking mighty fine, and belting out “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” and “Tumbling Dice” live in concert! Whew! There were also live segments from a relatively new (at the time) band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as well as Jimmy Buffett. Michael Brandon stars as the way cool pro-
gram director, Jeff Dugan, heading up LA’s num- ber one rock station, Q-SKY radio. Like WKRP, Q-Sky is filled with unique radio personalities in- cluding Eileen Brennan as “Mother;” Martin Mull as Eric Swan; and Clevon Little (Blazing Saddles) and “The Prince of Darkness,” working the night shift.
When the corporate bosses decided to
change formats and cash in, the staff goes into lockdown in protest. The soundtrack earned a platinum status award, including hits from 1970s rockers like Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, The Eagles. Loaded with extras, including a new booklet with photos and liner notes by film writer Paul Corupe; The Spirit of Radio, a new docu- mentary on the rise of FM radio; Gallery of pub- licity stills, promo images and more; a newly filmed interview with screen writer Era Sacks; In- terview with the film’s star Michael Brandon. All of this and more. Truly a fun movie, especially for fans of WKRP and folks like me who ended up being “on the air.”
-Michael Buffalo Smith
Bachman- Special Edition (Paquin/MVD Visual)
I remember it like it was yes-
terday. Bachman Turner Over- drive blaring out of the JBL speakers connected to my 8- track tape deck in my first car. This was 1974-75, my High School years, and some of my most cherished memories
spring from that well. Randy Bachman was lead singer, lead guitarist primary songwriter for BTO, who has a couple of stellar years on the char6ts with “Let It Ride,” “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” and “Takin’ Care of Business.” Of course, at the time, I didn’t make the connect ion that Randy was the former guitarist and songwriter behind the Guess Who, and tunes like “American Woman” and “These Eyes.” Bachman is among the few artists who have scored Top Ten hits in two different bands. This documentary is loaded with vintage
film clips and current interview footage. We go inside Randy’s “guitar room” where he shows us some of his treasured instruments. That gurgling sound is the sound of guitar lovers the world over, drooling over Bachman’s collection. The film manages to paint a very clear pic-
ture of the Canadian rocker, and includes inter- view footage from Neil Young, Alex Lifeson, Peter Frampton, Buffy Saint-Marie. Paul Shaffer, Chris Jericho and other friends and family. The Blu- Ray runs for 78 minutes and includes the theatri- cal trailer as well as additional footage. Hey, it’s only rock and roll, but I like it!
-Michael Buffalo Smith
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