I was wandering on you tube and found this:
Paul Williams performs "The Hell of It," from the 1974 Brian DePalma film "Phantom of the Paradise," on the last episode of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, and the second season premiere of the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (in which they "Meet Dracula.")
Here's the link:
Paul Williams "The Hell of It" (Phantom of the Paradise) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubrLDM-761E&feature=fvw#normal)
It has some nice shots of DP masks.
That was great. Thanks!
Enjoyed that! Thanks.
That was cool! Thanks for posting that!
Generally speaking, it's quite unbelievable that Paul Williams was a 'star' of ANY magnitude. It makes one think they really just weren't looking all that hard for talent back then.
Paul Williams was quite a prominent composer/producer and admittedly was much more known for his songwriting than his performing. "Back then" pop artists could still recognized in the biz for being integral, not just formula. I propose he has more pure musical talent in his little toe than many pop successes these days. You say "generally speaking" - do you base your disbelief on more than a Brady Bunch Variety show? Not trying to challenge you or start anything but having been in the commercial music business through the 70s it seems like an unreasonable statement. I know opinions differ, just wonder what yours is based on.
Paul Williams is no matinee idol, but amazingly talented and that was some bizarre greatness.
The lyrics are wonderful/hilarious.
The Hell Of It
Paul Williams
Roll on thunder, shine on lightning
The days are long and the nights are frightenin'
Nothing matters anyway,
And that's the hell of it.
Winter comes and the winds blew colder
While some grew wiser, you just grew older
And you never listened anyway,
And that's the hell of it.
Good for nothing, bad in bed
Nobody likes you and you're better off dead
Goodbye, we've all come to say goodbye (goodbye)
Goodbye (goodbye)
Born defeated, died in vain
Super-destructive, you were hooked on pain
Though your music lingers on
All of us are glad you're gone
If I could live my life half as worthlessly as you
I'm convinced that I'd wind up burning too.
Love yourself as you loved no other
Be no man's fool and be no man's brother
We're all born to die alone, you know, that's the hell of it.
Life's a game where they're bound to beat you
And time's a trick it can turn to cheat you
And we only waste it anyway,
And that's the hell of it.
Good for nothing, bad in bed
Nobody liked you and you're better off dead
Goodbye, we've all come to say goodbye (goodbye)
Goodbye (goodbye)
Born defeated, died in vain
Super-destructive, you were hooked on pain
And though your music lingers on
All of us are glad you're gone
Paul Williams was quite a prominent composer/producer and admittedly was much more known for his songwriting than his performing. "Back then" pop artists could still recognized in the biz for being integral, not just formula. I propose he has more pure musical talent in his little toe than many pop successes these days. You say "generally speaking" - do you base your disbelief on more than a Brady Bunch Variety show? Not trying to challenge you or start anything but having been in the commercial music business through the 70s it seems like an unreasonable statement. I know opinions differ, just wonder what yours is based on. >>>>
The short version? He stinks. <G> C'mon. We can't possibly be taking PAUL WILLIAMS that seriously, can we? Look, I LOVED the cheesy variety shows of the 70's. But they were CHEESY. Paul Williams was CHEESY. And you're right-----he was BIG back then (in some respects).... which kinda is the point I'm getting at. It wasn't exactly a HOTBED time for musical genius----though opinions may vary. Btw... no offense meant nor taken. 8)
I'm just wondering what you know about Paul Williams that makes you think he has so little talent. If you don't like his music just say that instead of "He stinks". That's still not a reflection of how much talent he may or may not have. Wiki him once - if you see the list of songs he has written and still insist he has no talent then I guess it's just a matter of semantics. You're right though it's hardly worth arguing with someone I don't even know over. I guess I like to talk about 70s pop music in general and resonated with your post.
He did not stink. I'll tell you who stinks - Bob Seger
Ok I just went and watched that video again - it's really quite ridiculous! But don't make the mistake of thinking it's very representative of 70s music.
If all he had ever done was compose 'We've Only Just Begun', 'Just An Old Fashioned Love Song' and 'The Rainbow Connection', he'd be a giant in my book. But he did so, so much more. Like Packy said, Wiki the guy. Your disdain, while entirely within your rights, is also entirely ignorant of the facts.
He remains one of the most awarded, respected and admired figures in the music industry, and for good reason.
Who knew "Little Enis Burdette" could pull off such a cool song! I dug that, and thanks Bobby for posting the lyrics...which I also thought we're pretty cool.
As far as his talent goes? I'm a "half-assed" musician myself, and I'm mainly a metal guy but for whatever reason I'm addicited to 70's "singers and songwriters" type things lately...and this seems pretty par for the course.
If I told people I had a CD in my console with the likes of Anne Muarry, Christopher Cross, Jim Croce and Chris Rhea on it..and I had it next to my Slayer: Hell Awaits CD..they probably wouldnt believe me..but its true, and I liked this song plus masks rocked.
Especially the skull that looks like the one from Halloween III
I'm just wondering what you know about Paul Williams that makes you think he has so little talent. If you don't like his music just say that instead of "He stinks". That's still not a reflection of how much talent he may or may not have. Wiki him once - if you see the list of songs he has written and still insist he has no talent then I guess it's just a matter of semantics. You're right though it's hardly worth arguing with someone I don't even know over. I guess I like to talk about 70s pop music in general and resonated with your post.
He did not stink. I'll tell you who stinks - Bob Seger>>>
Let me apologize... I may have struck a nerve---and I didn't mean to. I'm saying much of this 'tongue in cheek' and your commentary is far more eloquent, mature and complete than mine here. Paul Williams didn't 'stink' (I said that as a reference to a Bugs Bunny episode where either Elmer or Porky is crafting a wonderful painting of a landscape----and all Bugs had to say after much feigned due consideration was 'it stinks'. <G>... but I digress).
As a matter of fact he was VERY talented. He was such a big thing back then when music people wore many hats and the product was more than just smoke and mirrors with studio equipment to be massed produced, cookie cutter style. I get it. And I LOVED those 'cheesy' 70's acts. I loved Sonny & Cher's show... I loved Paul Williams' contributions------anybody that was cool enough to do Halloween or monster 'acts' was automatically cool to me. I remember some Halloween special with KISS battling classic monsters from some wax museum. I ate that stuff up.
BTW... you cracked me up the the 'Bob Segar stinks' comment. I had tears in my eyes.
Ok I just went and watched that video again - it's really quite ridiculous! But don't make the mistake of thinking it's very representative of 70s music. >>>
Nope. And for the record, I never went there.
If all he had ever done was compose 'We've Only Just Begun', 'Just An Old Fashioned Love Song' and 'The Rainbow Connection', he'd be a giant in my book. But he did so, so much more. Like Packy said, Wiki the guy. Your disdain, while entirely within your rights, is also entirely ignorant of the facts.
He remains one of the most awarded, respected and admired figures in the music industry, and for good reason.>>>>
OK, Mike C..... you can take it back down to DEFCON 5. Nobody from this end is taking this too seriously. Didn't mean to crash the pick up truck through the wall and run over Paul Williams in his own living room. <G>
Quote from: Sean on October 14, 2009, 08:19:47 AM
I remember some Halloween special with KISS battling classic monsters from some wax museum. I ate that stuff up.
Do you remember exactly what that KISS thing was? On Halloween in 1976 I believe, either 76 or 77 they were on the Paul Lynn Halloween Special (with the original Wicked With from Wizard Of Oz) anyway..they performed (lip sync) Detroit Rock City and did a little schtick with Paul and the with.
Then there was KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park..where they battled..
themselves for one..and some white furry wolf men robots in shimmering jump suits...but that was at an Amusement Park.
We are waaaay off topic now but back to what I was saying..if ANYONE has any footage of KISS fighting classic monsters...name your price!!!
The entire Paul Lynde special is available on DVD now. I rented it from Netflix. It's not only got the Wicked Witch from Oz, but also Witchiepoo from HR Pufnstuf, Florence Henderson from the Brady Bunch (who makes out with Paul Lynde, lol) singing a discoish version of Black Magic (OK, now it's time to toss out the horrible card), Tim Conway, Peter Criss lip synching Beth at a piano with Liberacesque decor around, they do King of the Nighttime World, it's got Pinky Tuscadero (from Happy Days) singing with Paul Lynde (unforgivable and unlistenable, a true horror), but no fighting with monsters.
King Of The Nightime World...I said Detroit Rock City...
The only clip I have is their intro with Paul and the Witch..and the song.
I think its on the 1st KISSOLOGY dvd set, it might be Vol 2..not sure.
Every damn time I think I own everything this band has put out something else comes up!!
Do you remember exactly what that KISS thing was? On Halloween in 1976 I believe, either 76 or 77 they were on the Paul Lynn Halloween Special (with the original Wicked With from Wizard Of Oz) anyway..they performed (lip sync) Detroit Rock City and did a little schtick with Paul and the with.
Then there was KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park..where they battled..themselves for one..and some white furry wolf men robots in shimmering jump suits...but that was at an Amusement Park.
We are waaaay off topic now but back to what I was saying..if ANYONE has any footage of KISS fighting classic monsters...name your price!!!>>>>>>
The amusement park sounds familiar. Wherever they were, there was some place that had life size, perhaps animatronic... (hey, am I making up a word there?) monsters that 'came to life' and faced off against them in some measure (it was a LOOOONG time ago)------there was a Wolfman, a Dracula, maybe a Mummy and or a devil..... and definitely a hulking, brutish Frankenstein Monster. I'm not saying there were any great 'fight scenes'.... but just to see them all square off was cool .... maybe it was a 'spook house' at the amusement park... and not a wax museum?
I am a big fan of The Phantom Of The Paradise and I thoroughly enjoyed the video. It was extra special seeing all the cool monster masks in the crowd.
As far as the "KISS fighting monsters" thing; That is from the scene in KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park when they enter the Chamber Of Thrills. ;D ACTION PACKED! :D
Enjoy!
KISS Meets the Phantom of the park Part7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyi1Y-PGaA#normal)
Never been a huge fan of Paul Williams, but I like his Phantom and Muppet Movie songs. I think I liked him more when I was a kid, probably because of his involvement with the Muppets. Generally, I like the 70s singer/songwriter phenomenon. The era produced some unique talents, artists who would not have found an audience if they'd emerged a decade earlier or later.
Over the last several days, I watched Rocky Horror Picture Show, Shock Treatment and, just a couple days ago, Phantom of the Paradise. I never noticed until now how many similarities there are between Shock and Phantom.
As far as the "KISS fighting monsters" thing; That is from the scene in KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park when they enter the Chamber Of Thrills. ACTION PACKED!
Enjoy!>>>>>>>>>>
There you go! Way to deliver, Boogeyman. Thanks.
Never been a huge fan of Paul Williams, but I like his Phantom and Muppet Movie songs. I think I liked him more when I was a kid, probably because of his involvement with the Muppets. Generally, I like the 70s singer/songwriter phenomenon. The era produced some unique talents, artists who would not have found an audience if they'd emerged a decade earlier or later.
>>>>>>>>>
Very fair commentary. My last word on the subject will be that as a 'music industry persona', that Paul Williams was, indeed, very talented. However, his strength was NOT in the singing or performing end of the business... and yet he got plenty of singing/ performing gigs in the 70s on those cheesy 'Variety Shows' and 'Holiday Specials' (or whatever you want to call them). And those singing/ performing efforts were, in my opinion, basically tolerable. It was like: "OK, there's Paul Williams again... ok, this is apparently HIS song he's going to do... alright, that wasn't AWFUL---he CAN sing a little." That's NOT a knock on his songwriting or producing or anything like that... you just wonder maybe "isn't there anyone available who can really SING?" But, as it's been alluded to in this thread----that's just how it was done back then a lot------if you wrote a song and you could sing a lick.... you sung it.
The robots KISS fights in Phantom are wearing DP White timberwolf masks, and I think..haven't watched in a while...the Quasimodo in the Chamber is the 70's DP mask.
I watched an episode of Tales From the Darkside today. "The cutty Black sow" 80's version DP wolfman makes an appearance.
Paul Williams was in Battle for the Planet of the Apes!
I was just about to jump in on this....... In any case "Phantom" and it's songs still are at the top of my favorites list.
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Earlier today, a facebook post referencing an obscure television show from the '60s
reminded me that a VHS tape of it has existed for decades in my video library.
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Hosted by comedians Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster, the show features generous clips
from many of our favorite horror classics. Around halfway through, we're briefly guided
along a "Monster Hall of Fame" comprised of five DPS "Universal Horrors".
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'Apologies for the poor quality of my images, taken from bootleg video off a 12" TV screen.
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'Laughably extreme grey streaks running through The Wolfman's hair >
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This episode of Wayne & Shuster's series is dated 1964 which surprises me as I thought
DP's original "Calendar" masks weren't even developed until the following year.
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The show didn't invest much in the way of production values (or political correctness) but that
was the state of early television back then. I'm not complaining; it's all nostalgia to me.
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Wolfman looks to be the Hollywood Horrors wolf.
Perhaps the 1964 copywright on some promo pics for these isnt for the overall DP Uni license but for the masks themselves? Cal Franks pic is 1964 and Monster Bob recalls getting his at Disney in 64.
Great find, Sir!
I caught a fleeting glimpse of a "Calendar" reissue on Svengoolie last night >
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'Can't recall ever seeing a DP mask on his show before >
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First Ive seen. A few popped up in the old days. Glenn may have been a personal appearance.
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