JonMichael is Neither Jon nor Michael

This Justin

Flash: JM and his wife Nichole (or: Nichole and her husband JM) have just purchased a house. Hoo doggy!

Also, JMinJnM will be taking a two week hiatus while I go off and work for HfH in Lexington, VA with Mishpack. Good kids and a great experience. Heck, if I get near a computer with access I'll blog about it a little. That and the Tarriers' "Banana Boat Song".

Have a great two weeks.

JM

Love Me by Elvis Presley (#7 in 1956)

In the top ten this week: Elvis with “Love Me Tender” and “Love Me”?  How confusing is that? This is the track that shows that Elvis had gone too far.  On this track all you hear is Elvis: crooning like there’s no tomorrow and rockin’ just slightly less that Nat “King” Cole.  Elvis was trying to make a record like Pat Boone and America bought it. Elvis was changing the paradigm and when he did, he was able to create a classic of this genre: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”  Until then, though, Elvis shouldn’t try this kind of workout.

A Rose And A Baby Ruth by George Hamilton IV (#7 in 1956)

Given that George Hamilton IV sounds vaguely like someone who’s trying not get punched, coupled with the most maudlin and sentimental lyrics or any rock era teen song prior to the teen death music, you’d think this song would be fingernails on a chalkboard.  But something in this song works.  Maybe the fact that George doesn’t have a lot to lose (his only top ten) or that he truly is doing his best.  Who knows?  All I know is that every couple has some heirloom items in its history and no one has documented that phenomenon better that Mr. IV.

Atlantic Puzzler Reviews 1980

Dec 1980 -- Gift Giving A-
Nov 1980 -- The Djintecs B
Oct 1980 -- Square Wheels B-
Sep 1980 -- Alphabetical Deletion B
Aug 1980 -- Mixed Double B+
Jul 1980 -- Circle Dance B-
Jun 1980 -- Head-hunting B
May 1980 -- Shadow Boxing B-
Apr 1980 -- Post Mortem C+
Mar 1980 -- Dream Analysis A-
Feb 1980 -- Spelling Bee B-
Jan 1980 -- Resolutions B+

Hey, Jealous Lover by Frank Sinatra (#8 in 1956)

“Hey, Jealous Lover” is Frank’s last top ten for nearly a decade, and it kind of explains the turning tide against him.  While Elvis plaintive asked that you love him and not be cruel, Frank was accusing his lover of cheating on him because (get this) she thinks he’s cheating on her.  Real relevant. Sinatra vocals are great (you knew they would be) but the instrumentation seems overblown.  Where’s the guitar?  Where’s the simple trap set?  Is that a xylophone?  Frank and Dean came back big in the mid-60’s but until then, rock music rules. Sort of.

Cindy, Oh Cindy! by Eddie Fisher (#10 in 1956)

Why ruin a decent male vocal song of the mid-50s with shrill women singing back-up?  Eddie Fisher’s a pretty competent singer with an established track record. Maybe they using it to compensate for the fact that the instrumentation sounds like it was recorded in another building on a boom box mic.  The story: Eddie’s in the navy but hasn’t found anyone as beautiful as Cindy and if she’d write him, he’d return.  Eddie figures he can always find a girl singing at the top her range behind him so he doesn’t really have to act to get Cindy back.  Dumb.

Singing the Blues by Guy Mitchell (#1 in 1956)

Guy Mitchell coulda been a contender.  His “Singing The Blues” wound up the third biggest song of 1956 after a two-sided Elvis hit and actually beat “Heartbreak Hotel” for weeks at the top.  So, what happened?  Here we have another “weird dichotomy” song where people sing very happy songs about very sad things.  You see, Guy isn’t singing the blues at all, he’s whistling. Is he being ironic?  Probably not.  So what’s going on?  I don’t know; it’s just a great song.  It’s fun to sing along and you truly wonder why Guy couldn’t hold his own against the King. 

Atlantic Puzzler Reviews 1979

Dec 1979 -- Noel C+
Nov 1979 -- Animal Crackers B-
Oct 1979 -- Traffic Jam B
Sep 1979 -- Wrong Number B-
Aug 1979 -- Double Cross (I HAVEN'T DONE THIS ONE)
Jul 1979 -- HI (Shorthand I) B+
Jun 1979 -- Mitosis B-
May 1979 -- Misprints C+
Apr 1979 -- Theme And Variations C+
Mar 1979 -- Crossword Puzzle C
Feb 1979 -- Counterparts C+
Jan 1979 -- Transmutation B

True Love by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly (#5 in 1956)

Bing Crosby is great.  “White Christmas” sold more copies than any single prior to Diana’s tribute.  He represents a lot of what makes pre-1955 great (for the rest, please see Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller). His only rock era foray into the top ten captures some of this greatness. His silky voice sounds even silkier when compared to Grace Kelly and the lyrics of the duet love song are compelling if limited.  But, like his guardian angel on high, Bing isn’t given much to do but carry Grace.  While not memorable, this song certainly OK—completely so-so.

Atlantic Puzzler Reviews 1977-1978

I went to the library and copied the old Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon Puzzlers from the Atlantic. I've been solving them in order and grading them. Sean said I should blog the grades, so I am.

Dec 1978 -- Starlights B-
Nov 1978 -- Decipherment B
Oct 1978 -- Octaves B
Sep 1978 -- Torn Clues C+
Aug 1978 -- Back To Back C+
Jul 1978 -- Drosswords B-
Jun 1978 -- Abecedarian Jigsaw B+
May 1978 -- Lines of Demarcation C
Apr 1978 -- Vicious Circles B+
Mar 1978 -- Musical Chairs C-
Feb 1978 -- Disguise C+
Jan 1978 -- Eightsome Reels C
Dec 1977 -- News Clippings B-
Nov 1977 -- Sixes And Sevens B
Oct 1977 -- Masquerade Ball D+
Sep 1977 -- Short and Sweet C+

I'd like to point out that, though I dabble in Cryptic Crossword construction, I could never produce the kinds of consistent and interesting variety puzzles that Hex do. I'm grading these as an aid to solvers, not because I think I could do better. Note: by their own admission, many early Hex puzzles were more British in nature and therefore have less than standard clues.