18 illinoisentertainer. com june 2025
Continued from page 14 Campbell’ s first Top 40 hit as a solo artist, rendered as swooning Laurel Canyon pop. Hayes’ original version brings“ it on down to Soulsville.” The singer includes a lengthy and improvised spoken intro that gives context to the protagonist’ s decision to leave his lover while cautioning“ what the power of love can do.” The mellow“ Never Can Say Goodbye” had been an innocent 1971 pop charmer for the Jackson 5 in early 1971. The single took on a more adult and amorous quality when included on Hayes’ album Black Moses in late 1971. Originally a bossa nova in Dusty Springfield’ s version,“ The Look of Love” is another Bacharach / David gem reinterpreted by Hayes as smoldering R & B. Like“ Phoenix,” Hayes recorded an album version in a single take with an extended intro and immersive instrumental passages. The longer arrangement is replete with shimmering electric piano, funky guitar, conga, and orchestration, and capped by a psychedelic soul outro. The radio version included here is refined to three minutes of the song’ s essence and highlights. The Latin-tinged“ Do Your Thing” is a second highlight drawn from the Shaft soundtrack in which Hayes empowers and reminds listeners to be true to themselves. The collection returns these and other songs to their vinyl roots with tasteful remastering work that results in a rich-sounding LP. Dolby Atmos and hi-res digital formats are also available.
– Jeff Elbel
8
UHF 35th Anniversary Edition
( Shout! Factory)
It’ s been 35 years since we were introduced to the Twinkie-wiener sandwich, and fans everywhere were encouraged to grab life by the lips and yank. Shout! Factory invites us once again to“ turn up the volume, and yank of the knob.” All of that yanking points directly to the gently warped and borderline surreal comedy of“ Weird Al” Yankovic’ s multimedia ode UHF. The 1989 film expanded upon Yankovic’ s acumen for pop song parodies, including“ Eat It” and“ Amish Paradise,” to incorporate television, movies, and MTV. It also introduced the pre- Seinfeld world to the physical comedy of Michael“ Kramer” Richards as mop-loving janitor and unlikely hero Stanley Spadowski. The underdog tale of daydreaming George Newman( Yankovic) and his pals’ efforts to save a community UHF television station from a corporate takeover may be primarily a framework for clips including“ Stanley’ s Spadowski’ s Clubhouse,”“ Raul’ s Wild Kingdom”(“ Today, we’ re gonna teach poodles how to fly,” says the show’ s ultimately unsuccessful host in one segment), and ads for businesses like Spatula City, but that’ s perfectly okay for two reasons. For one, the clips are genuinely hilarious, like live-action Bugs Bunny or Roadrunner cartoons. Two, as predictable and frankly shallow as the story may be, it has actual heart and promotes genuine senses of goodwill and community.
This film was initially a significant flop but grew legs while being passed from one generation of Weird Al fans to the next( and featured in clips during concerts, where fans recite the dialogue to“ Wheel of Fish” like it’ s The Rocky Horror Picture Show). UHF shines on the term“ cult classic” and remains an oversaturated blast of loopy fun. The movie has been in print frequently since the age of VHS and doesn’ t boast many new bonus features on disc.
Still, it does include the gamut of extant extras, including audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a retrospective panel from the San Diego Comic-Con during UHF’ s 25th anniversary year. Direct orders from Shout! Factory also includes access to celebratory new trinkets, including a UHF scratch-nsniff card, TV remote stress squeezer, and Spatula City fridge magnet. The most significant new selling point is a fresh 4K scan from the original 35mm negative. Mad scientist / benevolent space alien Philo’ s bugeyes will practically pop out of the screen and land in your lap.( ShoutStudios. com)
– Jeff Elbel
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