Stacie Orrico, “(There’s Gotta Be) More to Life”

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American, Destiny's Child, Music, One Hit Wonder, pop, Stacie Orrico, teens

(There’s Gotta Be) More to Life Stacie Orrico (Virgin, 2003)

Released as the second single from American singer-songwriter Stacie Orrico’s self-titled album, (There’s Gotta Be) More to Life hit #3 in New Zealand, #2 in Norway and #5 in the U.S. on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart (on the Hot 100 it only hit #30).

Stacie Joy Orrico was born March 3, 1986 in Seattle, Washington. At age 15, in 2001, Orrico embarked on her first tour — with Destiny’s Child. Her first album, Genuine was recorded at age 14 and released in 2000. The next year she released a Christmas album, Christmas Wish. Her third album Beautiful Awakenings was released in 2006 in most European and Asian markets. She is said to be working on her fourth album.

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“It’s Pat” (movie)

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90s, androgynous, comedy, Dave Foley, Julia Sweeney, Movies, SNL

It’s Pat (Touchstone Pictures, 1994)

This 1994 American comedy film was based on the Saturday Night Live character Pat, an androgynous misfit whose gender has never been revealed. The character was created by American comedienne Julia Sweeney.

The plot: Pat meets and falls in love with Chris (Dave Foley). Pat’s neighbor Kyle (Charles Rocket) sets out on a mission to uncover Pat’s true gender.

Universally panned by both critics and audiences, the film took in a dismal $61,000 (yes, thousand, not million).

Led Zeppelin’s Fourth Studio Album

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23x Platinum, 70s, Album, band, best seller, fourth, Going to California, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, led zeppelin, Robert Plant, Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven

Led Zeppelin’s Untitled fourth
studio album (Atlantic, 1971)

Unhappy with the critical reviews from their album, Led Zeppelin III, the English rock band’s guitarist Jimmy Page insisted on an untitled fourth album release. The cover didn’t even feature the band’s name, simply four sleeves to represent each member on
the inner sleeve.

This didn’t stop the album from becoming a critical and commercial success. (See? Page knew what he was doing.) Selling 37 million, it became one of the world’s best-selling albums. With a 23 times Platinum certification, this is the second best-selling album in the U.S.

The lead single, Black Dog reached #15 in the U.S. and #10 in Australia. The follow-up single was Rock and Roll. It only went to #47 in the U.S., but hit #13 in Germany and #14 in Spain. The album also contained Led Zeppelin’s iconic hits, Going to California (reportedly about Canadian singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell) and Stairway to Heaven (referred to as one of the greatest rock songs of all time). Stairway to Heaven was never officially released as a single in the U.S., yet the song was the most requested song on U.S. FM radio stations during the 70s decade.

With a length of 8 minutes and two seconds, Stairway to Heaven ranks as the 10th longest recorded song.

Led Zeppelin consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. Bonham was found dead from asphyxiation from vomit on September 25, 1980. Out of respect, Led Zeppelin disbanded. Initially so upset by his friend’s death, Page refused to ever pick up another guitar. As a true musician, the siren call of music is difficult to ignore, and eventually Page did get back into music, serving as collaborator with bands, Led Zeppelin soundtrack work and some individual work as well. Page also became in volved with philanthropic endeavors for Task Brazil and Action for Brazil’s Children’s Trust. The philanthropic work earned Page an appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Right after Bonham’s death, Plant considered becoming a teacher. However, he ended up embarking on a solo career, reunited with Page during the latter part of the 80s and has formed four other bands since Led Zeppelin broke up. Jones went the collaboration route. His debut solo album, Zooma came out in September 1999. Most recently, he teamed up with Foo Fighters founder/vocalist Dave Grohl and Queens of the Stone Age frontman/founder Josh Homme to form Them Crooked Vultures. Their debut album was released in November 2009.

Musical Blackbird Pie

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blackbird, children, collectors item, Mattel, musical, pie, rare, Sing a Song of Sixpence, Toys

Musical Blackbird Pie (Mattel, 1965)

Remember the nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence? The rhyme contains the lyric “….four and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie….” In 1965, Mattel produced a musical version of this pie. The pie had a crank that when wound up would play the tune. Three blackbirds would pop up. You could take the birds out and play with them. If you pushed the button on top of the pie, the birds would drop into the pie and then fly out.

This toy is extremely rare and trying to find one that still includes the blackbirds is virtually impossible.

Low-Rise Pants

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bell bottoms, Fad, fashion, hip huggers, jeans, low-rise, pants

Low-Rise Pants (2000s)

Low-rise pants have existed since the 50s and, in fact, hip-huggers (a precursor to low-riders) were popular during the mid 1960s and eventually adopted by hippies of the late 60s. Hip-huggers were then incorporated into the 70s
disco scene. By the end of
the 70s, bell bottoms rose to prominence and waistlines rose.

During the 1990s, designer Alexander McQueen re-introduced low-rise pants and by the 2000s, pretty much
the entire youth market were sporting low-rise pants.

The rise of pants refer to the distance between the crotch and waistline. Regular rise is about 30 cm (12″). Low-rise come in at about 20 cm (8″). Low-rise pants are specifically designed to sit at least 8 cm (3″) below the belly button.

Focus, “Hocus Pocus”

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Dutch, Focus, Hocus Pocus, instrumental, Music, One Hit Wonder, Rock, top ten

Hocus Pocus Focus (Sire, 1971)

Hocus Pocus was an instrumental song featured on Dutch band Focus’ second album, Focus II (aka Moving Waves). This rock instrumental hit #20 in the UK, #18 in Canada and #9 in the U.S.

Hocus Pocus experienced a return to popularity in 2010 after being heavily featured on the Chris Moyles Show (a radio breakfast show on BBC’s Radio 1 station) and in a 2010 TV commercial for Nike that aired during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Bruce Reynolds

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Buster, Canada, Celebrities, consultant, crime, English, media figure, The Great Train Robbery, theft

Bruce Reynolds (September 7, 1931 – February 28, 2013)

Bruce Richard Reynolds was born at Charing Cross Hospital in London, England. Reynolds’ mother died in 1935 when he was 4. His father remarried and young Reynolds found life with
his stepmother too difficult and he chose to
stay with both of his grandmothers.

Reynolds started his life of crime with petty theft, which progressed into breaking and entering and grew to include assault. In the 60s he joined a gang with future best friend Harry Booth and brother-in-law John Daly. In 1962, they stole 62,000 pounds from a security van at Heathrow Airport. In 1963, he masterminded the Great Train Robbery, carried out by 15 men, and netted over 2.6 million pounds (that converts to over 48 million pounds today). After escaping to Canada, he changed his name to Keith Hiller and was apprehended in Torquay on November 9, 1968. He was sentenced to 25 years. In 1978, Reynolds was released.

After his release, he did some trafficking and money laundering for some South London drug gangs and gained a media profile as a “former criminal” figure and acted as a consultant for the film Buster, based on characters and events from The Great Train Robbery.

He died in February 2013 at the age of 81. He was working on a book for the 50th anniversary of The Great Train Robbery.

“Pictures of Hollis Woods”

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Alzheimer's, artist, Books, family, foster home, Hallmark TV movie, Hollis Woods, Newberry Honor, orphan, Patricia Reilly Giff, Pictures of Hollis Wood, teacher, young adult

Pictures of Hollis Woods (Dell Yearling, 2002)

This novel won American author Patricia Reilly Giff (who writes the Polk Street
School series of children’s books) her second Newberry Honor in 2003.

A talented young artist, Hollis Woods, runs away from her foster parents and is placed in the home of Josie Cahill, a retired art teacher. Josie begins to lose her memory to Alzheimer’s, forcing Hollis to take care of Josie.
This prompts Hollis to reminisce about her prior life with the Regans, the only other foster home where she felt loved.

In 2007, the novel was adapted into a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie for CBS. The TV adaptation starred Sissy Spacek as Jodie, Jodelle Ferland as Hollis and Alfre Woodard as Edna.

Punky’s candy

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candy, Food, fruit, Punky's, sour, sweet, SweeTarts, Willy Wonka

Punky’s (Willy Wonka Candy Company, late 80s to early 90s)

Punky’s came in a variety of sweet or sour fruit flavors. Punky’s were small, oval-shaped candies that had sugar crystals embedded in them. Due to low sales, Punky’s were discontinued after only a short time on the market. Punky’s resembled SweeTarts in looks.

“You Again?” (sitcom)

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American, Britcom, divorce, Elizabeth Bennett, Home to Roost, Jack Kulgman, John Stamos, NBC, sitcom, supermarket manager, TV

You Again? (NBC, 1986-1987)

You Again? was an American sitcom
based on the British series, Home to Roost. Actress Elizabeth Bennett (Enid) played the same role on both series.
Many episodes were based on the British episodes. You Again? aired for two seasons and lasted 26 episodes from February 27, 1986 to March 30, 1987.

Jack Klugman starred as Henry Willows, still bitter about his 10-year-old divorce. Henry had a 16-year-old son Matt
(played by John Stamos) that he hasn’t seen since Matt was six years old. Comfortable is Henry in his life as a supermarket manager until Matt comes to live with him. Enid (Bennett) is the Willows’ housekeeper.

Home to Roost ran for 4 seasons and ended in 1990. You Again? failed to make much of an impression with American audiences. During its run, You Again? bounced around NBC’s primetime schedule, occupying four different time slots during the two season run.