Greg Mitchell has authored 14 books and directed four PBS films in recent years. His latest film, “The Atomic Bowl: Football at Ground Zero—and Nuclear Peril Today” has been airing over PBS stations and now streaming for free (key links to watch now and more here). A companion book is available, and you can read more or order here.
The New Yorker magazine this week has a piece about the PBS film, which you can read here. And subscribing to this newsletter is still somehow FREE.
Sonny and His Good Buddy
Was thinking of giving you a break and skipping today but then heard Sonny Curtis died.
Huh? Who is Sonny Curtis?
What a life. Played with Buddy Holly before anyone knew who Buddy Holly was. Wrote for him early on “Rocking Around with Ollie Vee.” Also played on Eddie Cochran’s final recordings. When Buddy died, Sonny joined the Crickets off and on for decades. Oh, also wrote a little tune called “I Fought the Law,” one of the greatest rock ‘n roll songs of all-time, from the Bobby Fuller original right down to The Clash and beyond. And the great Everly Brothers hit “Walk Right Back.” Oh, somehow, he also penned and sang the theme song “Love Is All Around” for the classic Mary Tyler Moore series!
Here are a few Sonny, oh so true, moments.
Origin story scene from the Gary Busey “Buddy Holly Story.”
The Everlys, “Walk Right Back.”
The Clash among the dozens who have covered “I Fought the Law”
This is fun, Joan Jett rocking the Mary Tyler Moore theme.
And:
Sinclair Quietly Backs Out of Airing Charlie Kirk Special Amid Kimmel Suspension, Offers YouTube Link Instead
Plus:
Trump Demands That Bondi Move ‘Now’ to Prosecute Foes
Watched the Farm Aid stream yesterday off and on. Caught a bit of Steve Earle and others in the afternoon. Margo Price did Woody’s great and very apt “Deportee” though skipped two verses. Dylan hid on stage in a hoodie behind a piano shrouded in the dark and with no camera closeups (some in the audience took to Twitter to ask if that was really him up there). He did do some of his more familiar songs. Neil Young opened his set with new "Big Crime in D.C. in the White House"--aired on CNN live--and then “Rocking in Free World” and later “Southern Man.” Here was “Big Crime”:
Most unusual version of “Maggie’s Farm” ever? Here at Farm Aid with Margo, Jesse Welles, Billy Strings.
From Tunes to Toons for Sunday
This was an especially good batch of music and strong political cartoons. I feel grateful that at least political cartoonists are still fearlessly calling out the regime. Thanks for posting.
Since I teach Rock History in Minnesota, I talk about Sonny Curtis often. Every week, we spotlight a MN rock artist, and when we talk about Buddy Holly and the Day the Music Died, he and Bobby Vee are the obvious go-to's. But it completely slipped by me that he wrote I Fought the Law! Thank you for that.