Great article, Charles, with an inspired title! It could be argued, as time has passed, anyway, that the Big B has even been the star of the show! Especially as/when the artist names their recorded album there "So-and-So Live at Budokan"! At that point, the building should then be receiving royalties!
Also, mad props for the rare Pink Lady shout-out! No bigger U.S. TV bomb has there been than the 1980 NBC-TV variety show, "Pink Lady & Jeff," with PL (who could speak no English at all!), and American "comedian," Jeff Altman! For 5 minutes, PL had an American recording contract with Elektra Records! Fun read, with bunches of artists I previously had no idea performed there, much less recorded there!
Despite my immersion in things Japanese, I have to admit I had no idea who Pink Lady were until seeing this list. But they were indeed huge in Japan. I have no recollection of the TV show, but looked it up now at your prompting, and I'm now grateful I never saw it. My gawd, the cringe... Thanks for stopping by!
You betcha! Well, I had the Elektra PL album ('77 or '78)---promo, y'know! And, following the stand-up game, I was familiar with Jeff Altman's routine. I must've read in "Billboard" the threat of a coming variety show with both acts, and must've said something like, "I'm sorry.....what?!" to no one in particular. So, I saw the handful of episodes so you wouldn't have to! You owe me!!!😁👍
Well, in fact, someone has remastered all six episodes and posted them on youtube. So there. The funny thing is they seem to know this is perverse, sort of like the guys behind Mystery Science Theater making a show about watching really bad movies.
Great article, Charles, with an inspired title! It could be argued, as time has passed, anyway, that the Big B has even been the star of the show! Especially as/when the artist names their recorded album there "So-and-So Live at Budokan"! At that point, the building should then be receiving royalties!
Also, mad props for the rare Pink Lady shout-out! No bigger U.S. TV bomb has there been than the 1980 NBC-TV variety show, "Pink Lady & Jeff," with PL (who could speak no English at all!), and American "comedian," Jeff Altman! For 5 minutes, PL had an American recording contract with Elektra Records! Fun read, with bunches of artists I previously had no idea performed there, much less recorded there!
Despite my immersion in things Japanese, I have to admit I had no idea who Pink Lady were until seeing this list. But they were indeed huge in Japan. I have no recollection of the TV show, but looked it up now at your prompting, and I'm now grateful I never saw it. My gawd, the cringe... Thanks for stopping by!
You betcha! Well, I had the Elektra PL album ('77 or '78)---promo, y'know! And, following the stand-up game, I was familiar with Jeff Altman's routine. I must've read in "Billboard" the threat of a coming variety show with both acts, and must've said something like, "I'm sorry.....what?!" to no one in particular. So, I saw the handful of episodes so you wouldn't have to! You owe me!!!😁👍
Well, in fact, someone has remastered all six episodes and posted them on youtube. So there. The funny thing is they seem to know this is perverse, sort of like the guys behind Mystery Science Theater making a show about watching really bad movies.
Ha! And, the tedium the poor gals had to go thru to learn their lines phonetically! And, speaking of tedium....putting up with Altman! Oy!