At Home in Hespeler

Abba were my parents 70’s rock band. It has taken me years to appreciate what they are, the songwriting, the musicality, the entertainment value. So I was looking forward to Live At Wembley Arena, the chronicle of Abba’s Nov 10, 1979 Abba concert, the last of a six night residency at London’s famous Wembley Arena. While it’s a good album, everything that is/was wrong with Abba is in high evidence. The disco beat to too many songs, the horrible stage patter, the bad schtick between the performers onstage. You can almost hear the bell bottoms and sequins at times.

The above aside, however, it is an album loaded with hits and, not always the same thing, good songs. Abba, if nothing else, crafted high quality songs wrapped up in a catchy pop beat. whether it’s mature relationship songs like Knowing Me, Knowing You or The Name of the Game or pop wrapped up in historical allegory like Waterloo, Abba had a number of good songs.

Live At Wembley Arena’s is an excellent album, if you can overlook the sound of the clothes.

Tracklist

Gammal fabodpsalm
Voulez-vous
If it Wasn’t For the Nights
As Good as New
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Rock Me
Chiquitita
Money, Money, Money
I Have a Dream
Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)
S.O.S.
Fernando
The Name of the Game
Eagle
Thank You For the Music
Why Did it Have to be Me
Intermezzo No. 1
I’m Still Alive
Summer Night City
Take a Chance on Me
Does Your Mother Know
Hole in Your Soul
The Way Old Friends Do
Dancing Queen
Waterloo

1970's, Record Release, Review Abba, Knowing Me Knowing You, Live at Wembley arena, The Name of the Game, Waterloo, Wembley

Being of such long title, I will henceforth refer to the Anson Williams memoir as The Potsyography. Note, I call it a memoir, not an autobiography, and that is entirely intentional. An autobiography is more chronological report of the fact of a life, a memoir something looser, more meant to get at the heart of a specific topic.

For those trying to place the name, Anson Williams was Potsy Webber on the 1970’s hit TV show Happy Days. The Potsyography walks you through his career highlights: meeting President Reagan; a White House visit plus date with Susan Ford; being directed by Steven Spielberg; meeting John Lennon, John Wayne and Elvis; watching Robin Williams create out of thin air the character Mork.

The book, however, is really about “Willie,” Williams boss when he was a janitor at Burbank department store, Leonard’s. Willie, and older black man (and drunk), would sit with Williams, having a drink out of his flask and offer advice. He was the first person to see potential in Williams, (“You gonna do something great in life”). WIllie’s advise, given in poor black man ebonics, amounts to nothing much more than a list of habits of successful people, but the source managed to get through to the young Williams, and the advice stuck. Williams gives great credit to Willie for his life’s successes, and The Potsyography seems an attempt to share that wisdom.

Singing to a Bulldog: From Happy Days to Hollywood Director, and the Unlikely Mentor Who Got Me There is a good, fairly quick read, that moves forward comfortably. It would make a great winter weekend reader for someone who fondly remembers Happy Days and Williams himself. The book is full of little inside Hollywood stories, without relying on dirt and scandal and divided into chapters developed around Willie’s words of wisdom.

Singing to a Bulldog: From Happy Days to Hollywood Director, and the Unlikely Mentor Who Got Me Thereis available November 11 from your usual sources.

1970's Anson Williams, Happy Days, Potsy, Singing to a Bulldog

… Roger Moore.

Most don’t consider him the best Bond, and based on his later movies that’s fair play. But he was James Bond longer than anyone else, and made more official Bond movies (seven) than any other actor. Besides, Live and Let Die is one of the best Bond movies, with my favourite chase scene in movie-dom (the boat chase through the bayous of Louisiana).

At Home in Hespeler wishes a Birthday, Happy Birthday to Roger Moore.

1970's, A Day At The Movies, Birthday Wishes, Bond James Bond

Has it really been 35 years?

Video link.

Sometimes it feels alright to feel old. Today, I am grateful that I’m old enough to remember this one, and why it was such a big deal.

1970's, Hockey