Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 08/17/07

1. Fall is coming, honest.

Enough with the scorching heat, thank you.
I won't miss all the smoke, either.



**A couple of items this week that have been around for a while, but are news to me...

2. I rented a great DVD this past week; The 1997 documentary, 'Riding The Rails', which had aired on PBS' 'American Experience'.

It's about the experiences of teenaged hoboes who wandered the country during America's Great Depression.
There were tens of thousands of them.
Some were runaways, some were seeking better opportunities elsewhere, some were seeking adventure.
They all found a harsh existence that changed their lives and informed their futures.

The filmakers did an astonshing amount of research, gathering testimonies and recollections from people all over the country. A handful of older people appear in the film, relating stories from their youth. Through narration, we also hear bits and pieces from letters received.

I found the film riveting. Pretty close to everything one could want from a documentary. It incorporates old film footage and photos, and lots of perfectly appropriate period music. (Jimmie Rodgers and Woody Guthrie figure prominently)

Check it out, if you can.

3. Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett turn up often among the branches of the Rock & Roll 'family tree'.

Together or separately, it seems they've worked with (or associated with) everybody.
They'd probably be perfect for a musical equivalent of 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon'.

Somehow I'd managed to miss (or sadly overlook) Delaney & Bonnie's album, 'Home'.
If I'm understanding correctly, it was their first album recorded (in 1968), but their second released (in 1969).

It was their only LP released by Stax Records, and it fits in so well with the Memphis soul label's late-sixties sound that during my first listen I did a bit of a double-take at the release date.

My first reaction was that I was hearing something of a 'tribute' to that Stax sound - - a faithful re-creation by outsiders - - but no, it's completely contemporary with the era, and if it features some of the label's cognoscenti, it's because that's where they were working at the time.

The only thing that makes the album stand apart from most of what Stax was issuing at the time is the fact that Delaney and Bonnie were white.
Unfortunately, that probably has much to do with why this superb record was not better received when it first came out.

They were in good company on the album though, backed by Booker T. & The MGs, Isaac Hayes, Leon Russell, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, and the Memphis Horns.

The Bramletts wrote some of the songs, others were supplied by some of the 'usual suspects' at the Stax studios, and there's a cover version of Erma Franklin's 'Piece of My Heart', recorded more than a year before Janis Joplin's version.

The CD reissue I just recently stumbled onto came out in 2006, and contains six bonus tracks not on the original release.

As far as the 'Stax Factor' goes, this album won't supplant my high opinion of Otis Redding or
Sam & Dave, et al, but fortunately it doesn't need to.
For me, it just came as a very welcome surprise, one that enriches my enjoyment of a particular facet of sixties soul music.

Delaney and Bonnie's career heyday began soon after this album was recorded, as their sound began to move more firmly into the Rock realm.

Here's a link to a YouTube video clip from 1969, featuring their new guitarist, Eric Clapton.

See also: This biography page. (click to link)

4. Sure, I'll call this a reason to be cheerful, why not.

It's about the special challenge of keeping old links on this site in good working order, and it's where you can lend a hand with some feedback.

I noticed a couple of links gone kaput the other day. Sometimes I can fix these things, other times I just have to let go...

In your travels nosing about this blog, if you happen to encounter links that are broken, files that won't play, videos removed from YouTube, etc, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could drop me a line to let me know.

(There's an e-mail link parked in the sidebar, too)

Thanks!

Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 08/03/07

1. Joe Sixpack's SLIPCUE E-zine:
"Friendly, Free Music Reviews and Other Fun Stuff. All Substance, No Style."

Herr Sixpack has been a good pal for a good number of years, going back to the beginning of my tenure at KALX.

As long as I've known him he's been an avid and insightful music reviewer - - perhaps you've seen his comments over at Amazon?

Via his slipcue site, he's been dispensing some great music recommendations for several years now. He's an authority on all stripes of Country (a.k.a. 'Hick Music'), and he excels at making various types of World Music more accessible to us insulated and ignorant Americans. His section on Brazilian music is indispensible.

Highly opinionated (and the first to admit it), but not a smarmy know-it-all, I urge you to to check out Joe Sixpack's Slipcue.

I had an e-mail from Joe this morning and he added a juicy PS - - "I am checking out a très cool French music site, for a label called Tôt ou Tard ('sooner or later' ). Nice mellow stuff, along the lines of Francoiz Breut, et al... LOTS of full-song sound samples, lovely to listen to... I am busily setting links to it from my site... and wishing I had the cash to buy the ones I like!"

I've been looking and listening as I compose this. Sure enough, that Tôt ou Tard is WAY très cool - - !

2. That's Mr. Travolta on the left, and Ms. Aniston on the right, in case you had any trouble recognizing either of them.

There's plenty of wicked and catty chuckles to be found over at PlanetHiltron.Com. (click for link)

Via the magic of Photoshop, they've performed transformations on various celebrities. They've been either cast into some unusual or compromising situations, or even worse, portrayed as merely average humans.

3. Upcoming releases on DVD this September include a slew of classic horror and sci-fi titles, and the welcome return of MGM/Fox's 'Midnite Movies Double Features' series.

Vintage horror, sci-fi and thriller titles coming soon include: The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues / The Beast with 1,000,000 Eyes, Yongary / Konga, The Beast Within / The Bat People, Gorilla At Large / Mystery On Monster Island, Chosen Survivors / The Earth Dies Screaming, as well as a Vincent Price Box that includes Witchfinder General and several others.

You can see a special page full of cover scans devoted to this series over at DVD Drive-In, as well as info and images of other similar boxsets coming soon, like the 'Universal Horror: Classic Movie Archive' set, or 'The Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection, Volume 2' and others.

SPEAKING OF WHICH: If you'd like to make me extremely cheerful, drop me a line and share your information on how / where I can find a DVD copy of director Ugo Gregoretti's 1963 black & white Italian sci-fi comedy 'Omicron'.

It used to run on TV occasionally when I was a kid, and I still remember it as being particularly crazy fun. I'd love to see how it compares with my ancient memories of it...

4. I finally tracked down a copy of the most recent album from The Watzloves! It's great!

They're my very favorite Hamburg & Louisiana-based punk-zydeco & swamp R&B band, and their latest CD is 'Catch Me A Possum', released on the infamous Voodoo Rhythm record label, out of Bern, Switzerland.

Watzloves albums can be a bit difficult to find, at least here in the U.S. I'll guess that it's easier in Europe.
The first LP is sadly out of print. The AMAZING second album, 'Rockin' Country Gumbo' is a bit easier to locate.
All three are worth the hunt!

Whether performing solo as 'The NoManBand', as a duo with DM Bob, or as a trio with the addition of Jakobus, lead vocalist / accordionist Silke Thoss is just one hard-rockin' badass babe, and I mean that with all due respect and awe.

Through the magic of YouTube, ⬇ here's a clip of The Watzloves performing 'Girl Called Trouble', recorded live at La Crepe Nanou, New Orleans, Louisiana on 4/22/07.



Some further links:

Check out Silke's homepage for photos, info, and a gallery of her paintings.

Silke also is a member of a three-woman garage-rock trio, Hoo Doo Girl. They should (hopefully) have their first CD out by the end of this year, released by the German Hazelwood record label. For more info and some mp3s, follow link to Hoo Doo Girl on MySpace.

Likewise more mp3s and info: Voodoo Rhythm label on MySpace

Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 07/27/07 - - Comic-Con Edition

I'm still having a blast here in San Diego. Let me take a moment to relate a few of the cool things I've seen this week, Comic-Con related and otherwise...

1. This guy. ➤ ➤

There's been a ton of folks in great costumes at the Con, but this guy has been far and away my favorite so far.

I haven't yet had the right opportunity to accost him for clarification, but basically he's Galactus in a business suit.
It's the briefcase and black executive kilt that really complete the costume.

I'd like to think that maybe he's actually Galactus' brother, Skip.
The one who went to business school instead of following the family trade of consuming planets.

2. Speaking of convention attire, if I may be allowed, I must say the cleavage on display in the aptly-named exhibition hall has been fascinating. Not merely for its presence, but the amazing variety. Women of all sizes and shapes, some of them here in a professional capacity, some costumed, many in street clothes.

There's ample bodiced or bustiered cleavage that looks like it's being presented on a dessert platter, there are tiny women jostling through the crowds and constantly tugging at their strapless gear to keep it up. There's all variety of fantasies being played out and often it seems to involve exposed flesh. There are the average-looking dudes who - - pardon me - - are all but carrying a leash as they proudly lead their semi-naked girlfriends around the convention floor.

I remember when you rarely saw women at comics or sci-fi conventions. It's gratifying to see more people of all types enjoying this stuff now. It's finally hip to be a nerd, and I'll venture that nowhere do they feel as welcome as at Comic-Con.

I've always loved that for many it seems to be some sort of oasis or free zone, where anyone can indulge by dressing up or just being their 'true' selves. It's wonderful that people who may not be thought of as attractive by customary standards arrive here and are comfortable enough among their own to strut around and expose their playful or sensual side.

3. Networking and name-dropping.

It's been especially fun for me to meet up with some of the folks I've corresponded with via this blog.

Comics creator Steven Weissman was great to gab with yesterday, as was 'the Monster Engine guy', illustrator Dave DeVries.
(click his name to link to his new illustration website)

I swung by artist Rick Geary's table in 'Artist's Alley' and said hello and picked up some great postcards and the new Gumby comics he's done with Flaming Carrot's Bob Burden.

Walking along and cruising the aisles, it was a treat to see Lou Ferrigno signing autographs and flexing his muscles for little kids who needed explanations from parents as to who he is.

I was very pleased to spot B-movie legend, actor Sid Haig in the crowd, I walked up and shook his hand and thanked him for all his great work.

Heading back to my hotel room the other day I saw Stan Lee and his ever-lovin' entourage heading for the lounge.

- - and at breakfast yesterday morning I was seated next to the Hernandez Brothers, creators of Love & Rockets. I waited until I was leaving to briefly say hello and tell them their work just keeps getting better.

I tend to be very shy about bothering 'famous' people. I hate to pester, but sometimes you just gotta let them know, y'know?

MEANWHILE, out in the 'real' world:

4. Maybe one of your friends has already sent you a YouTube link to that cute dancing skeleton video clip. Here it is again. (Thanks Dave)

5. Mary Weiss' new CD, 'Dangerous Game' on Norton, performing with a new group, The Reigning Sound.

It's been decades since the lead singer of my fave 1960's girl group, The Shangri-Las, has had a new album, and this one is just about everything you could hope for. It's awesome!

A faithful extension of that distinctive sound, but matured and ripened into something new as well.

Mary's voice is still just great, her backing band fits her just right, and as ever, she's cool and tough.

Check out performance video and more at her website.

See also: Mary Weiss on MySpace,
and an interview at the Norton Records website.

Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 07/20/07

1. Comic-Con!!!

I'll be in San Diego next week, wandering the convention center with all the other thousands of funny-book nerds and fantasy dorks, and I'm stoked!

The only other time I've been was back in '04, after attending Wondercon in the bay area many times. (Apples and oranges, really.)

I'm getting all geared up. I've almost got my magic want list fully updated and ready for action, and A.R. Virgo that I am, my flight and room were already booked months ago. I think it was still Winter.

While I'm there, I hope to report in here and post some photos of the festivities (just like everybody else). We'll see how that goes. You'll understand if I'm too busy and/or exhausted...

Last time I went, my favorite photo ops tended to be snapping pictures of other people's photo ops.
With that in mind, I'm certain that the Comic-Con soundtrack playing in my head will be The Kinks' "People Take Pictures Of Each Other".



Maybe I'll see you there. If you see me, be sure to say hi! I'll be the 40-something stocky white guy with a salt & pepper ponytail, wearing cargo shorts and a t-shirt. That should narrow it down for you.

- - And if you are attending, be sure to snag one of my limited-edition garishly-colored 'I'm Learning To Share' bookmarks from the freebie table on your way in. (Although, uhh, I guess if you're reading this you probably don't need one, huh?)
















2. UFO postage stamps from around the world at the Fortean Times website. (click for link)



3. Snagged myself a copy of 'The Open Mind of John D. Loudermilk' reissue CD, and it's pretty amazing.

All the tracks from the original 1969 'psychedelic Nashville' LP are here, plus lots of bonus tracks from a few years earlier. A nice package.

The new CD is put out by Australia's Omni Recording Corp., the same folks who did the Porter Wagoner collection I told you about here a couple of months back.

Omni seems to be the label to watch for the cool 1960's 'alt/mainstream' country music...

John D. Loudermilk is one of those amazing singer-songwriters.

He wrote great hit pop tunes for tons of artists, and recorded some truly innovative, unique and perfectly offbeat albums of his own.

Like listening to Lee Hazlewood if he had a different set of demons driving him.


See also: This JDL bio page at AllMusic, written by Richie Unterberger. (click for link)





4. Just over a month ago, I posted a piece here celebrating a 1978 issue of BOMP magazine, and the cover art of William Stout.

Word on the street is there's a new book coming out this October, "BOMP, Saving the World One Record at a Time".

Written by Suzy Shaw (ex-wife and business partner of BOMP founder, the late Greg Shaw) and Mick Farren, the book chronicles the history of the seminal alternative press rock music magazine, and its place in pop culture.

Loaded with reproductions of vintage text and images, and more recent recollections from the people who were there - - it sounds like a good read!

Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 07/06/07

1. Summer heatwaves with record-breaking temperatures can't last forever. At least not yet.


2. Patton Oswalt has a new stand-up comedy CD, 'Werewolves and Lollipops', due to be released any minute now.

I'm excited.
I've seen him live a couple of times, I loved the previous CDs, always happy to see him show up in movies or on TV shows, even tired sitcoms.

What can I say - - I'm a fan.

See also:
Patton's official website,
and at MySpace




3. Speaking of the voice of Patton, 'Ratatouille' worked perfectly for me.

Pixar continues to find new amazing ground to break technologically, and they continue to let those visual effects take a back seat to telling a great little story.

Similarly, they're still letting superb vocal performances speak for themselves, without milking the recognizable-celebrity-voice factor. (However, I'd like to get Peter O'Toole's ending soliloquy/review on my alarm clock.)

Hey, and if you click this link (or my identical permanent YouTube 'vlog' link in the sidebar) you can check out director Brad Bird's original 1987 'Family Dog' TV episode of "Amazing Stories".

The videos (three segments) should likely still be near the top of the stack, as of this writing.

Fun animation from Brad Bird, waaaaaay before 'Ratatouille', 'The Incredibles' or "The Iron Giant'.

4. I just picked up the second volume of the 'Soul Sides' CD compilation series, curated by fellow-former-KALX-DJ Oliver Wang.

I'm a sucker for a good cover version of a favorite old tune, and that's where O-Dub's choices have gone this time.

Check out 'Soul Sides Vol. 2: The Covers' at the Zealous Records website. You can audition the tracks there, as well.

5. "No man with a good car needs to be justified!"
- Hazel Motes

It's a sad statement that the film 'Wise Blood' still has not yet had an official release on DVD.

Director John Huston's 1979 adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's novel was a pitch-black satire on religion, shot almost entirely in Macon, Georgia.

It features a stellar performance from Brad Dourif, in a rare leading role, with great character turns from Ned Beatty, Amy Wright and Harry Dean Stanton.

THE GOOD NEWS is; if we can't yet find the movie on DVD, we can now at least watch 'Wise Blood' online.

Some kind soul has uploaded the entire film from their old vhs copy to 'video.google.com'

It'll have to do for now, and beggars can't be choosers, I guess.

Check it out, and remember to shake hands with Gonga.

Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 06/22/07

1. Tears Of The Black Tiger. I mentioned a few weeks back that I was looking forward to this film's US-region 1 DVD release.
I finally got a chance to watch it the other night. It's amazing, a special, exotic confection of a film.

If you've not heard of it, it's something of a Thai spaghetti-western, released in 2000, mixing astonishing use of stunning color imagery with action, violent and gory special effects, epic romance and surrealism.
A darn good time.

If some of the film's references to Thai folklore and its homages to Thai film are lost on me, the fascination is not.
If anything, it makes it come off as even more otherworldly. That quality fits well with the unique saturated colors achieved through a complex process involving transfering the film stock to beta video and later back to film.

Put the DVD on your list, in your queue, whatever - - but check it out if you get the opportunity. It's something different from what you've seen!

2. I was one of the faithful, lined up around the block in 1977, but I've never thought of myself as *too* much of a Star Wars geek.

That being said, darned if I didn't get a surprisingly big kick out of last Sunday's 'Robot Chicken Star Wars Special' on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.

Click the link and check out some clips, if you missed it. I'd already been warming up to the show, but this clever concoction put me over the top.

3. Sally Timms! She makes me happy, even if her songs are often not what one would call 'cheery'.

I'll always tend to be interested in any of the recorded output of all that Mekons crowd. Fortunately they tend to be prolific; Seems that Jon Langford and crew are always releasing a new record.

It's been almost three years now since Sally Timms' album 'In The World Of Him' came out, but I was just having another listen to it the other day. It's still working for me, it's *still* growing on me. Her voice and phrasing are stunning, haunting.

I've just happily discovered that there are some nice live recordings of Timms in concert available over at the Internet Archive site. Dig in, have a listen!

Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 06/08/07

1. Roadtrip!

Car gassed, bag packed, snacks stowed, tunes picked, shades ready, Vrooom! Soon to be off into the trackless wastes betwixt hither and yonder.

Hopefully I won't be too late to catch a piece of pie at The Griddle while I'm passing through Winnemucca...


2. CLAW Theatre!! Behold! Check it out!

Again, again, again, bless this internet for all the places it can take you and the surprising things you can stumble upon.

So okay; I'd had a dream that somehow involved Much, The Miller's Son, a character from the stories of Robin Hood. Except that in my modern-dress dream, his name had been updated to 'Mutch Millerson'. What EVER.

I was discussing it with a friend as we did some hunting online for a bit of 'Much' info, (there's an odd sentence) when lo and behold - - We found ourselves at the CLAW Theatre 'production' of Robin Hood, one of several elaborately 'staged' photoshop-enhanced performances with an ALL CAT cast.
Wow. SO much to see and learn. Thank you!

3. Two new volumes have appeared recently in Sundazed's 'Garage Beat '66' CD compilation series, and they do not disappoint. Seven CDs so far, and they still kick!

'Garage Beat '66 Vol.6: Speak of the Devil...' and 'Garage Beat '66 Vol.7: That's How It Will Be!' are the latest, chock full of garage/psyche goodness. All killer, no filler.

Wailing fuzzy-gut guitars, some dudes affecting Brit accents, trying to sing like Mick, some dudes trying to sing like Dylan, other dudes just howling. Perfectly obscure 45-oriented mid-to-late '60's rawk, all in glorious mono sound.

I've been impressed by the Garage Beat '66 series from the get-go. On the one hand, yes, many of the artists happen to be represented on their own individual Sundazed label reissues - - the label has made some handy samplers that can point you to more of their own product. But the material and its sequencing is really well-chosen, and these artists truly are not of the 'usual suspects' you'll often find on other garage comps.

For me, this series is second only to (any incarnation of) the Nuggets compilation. Dig it!

(Garage power trio illustration by the ever-fabulous Wayno.)

4. Bad weather, like bad moods, can't last forever. It just seems that way. The only constant is change.

*** A brief Vanity Moment, if I may:
Just over 100 posts and just over 5000 hits since I began this blog just about 2½ months ago.
Whee! THANK YOU for visiting, THANK YOU for allowing me to share.
I'll slow down my pace (or burn out) any day now, just wait...

Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 05/25/07

1. Hay Fever season doesn't last forever. (sniff, honk, wheeze)

2. A couple of recently announced upcoming (US-region 1) DVD releases:

- 'A Bit of Fry and Laurie' Complete Season 3 & 4 boxsets, coming in July.

Huzzah! Can't wait. Sorry, but I still can't hang with watching Hugh Laurie (OBE) as 'House', because I know that Bertie Wooster and either of his Georges from 'Blackadder' are still in there somewhere. That's the Hugh Laurie I imprinted on so long ago. Well... it's probably because of that prior history, but likely also it's the weird American accent.

Here's a video clip link to that favorite musical number from an earlier season of 'A Bit of Fry & Laurie'.

Also, are you familiar with their 1988 BBC radio series? If not, check this out.

- And coming in August, it's The Myrna Loy and William Powell Collection. Five of their 'no Nick nor Nora' films from 1934 - 41.

Having loved them co-starring together in all of the Thin Man movies (even the lame ones), it's a treat to have an opportunity to catch them again, even in different roles.
I know I'll miss Asta, though...

3. The eclecticism and range of the web. I'm constantly finding more stuff that makes me say 'wow'. Name it, it's out there - - as you well know. I love finding cool stuff, and I love posting some of the links and tidbits.
- - Just like everybody else.

Maybe it's all just non-essential ephemera, maybe not. I guess I'm just old enough to still be impressed, remembering when all this information, all these sights and sounds were not ubiquitous and instantaneous.

Gol-lee gosh, that intra-net.

Impressed? Naw, even though I live with it every day, I suppose it's still more akin to 'awestruck'.

More links found to more things to see out there...

Frisbee Collective: A gallery of flying discs
MOBA - THe Museum Of Bad Art
Roadside America - Your Guide To Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions

- - and a batch of a few new additions sitting on that MoOm Annex page- -
(See my previous post.)

The Webseum of Pocket Protectors
The Mao Suit Museum
Compact Cassette J-Card Gallery
Orange papers and Match box labels at flickr.
A Timeline History of the IBM Typewriter

- - and too, too many more.

4. It's been out for a while, but I finally grabbed myself a copy of the 'Rubber Room: The Haunting Poetic Songs of Porter Wagoner 1966-1977' CD.

It's a great collection of some of Porter's oddest 'deep album' cuts. If you've haunted enough record bins, you've likely noticed several old LPs of his with some curious cover art. (Here's a few examples from someone else who's noticed it too)

There's likewise a surprising number of superbly dark and dramatic songs that Wagoner recorded over the years, and as part of their on-going country reissues, the Omni label out of Australia has done a nice job of compiling some of them.

You can listen to the CD's title track over at The Omni Recording Corporation's MySpace page.

Now I'm curious about the *new* Porter Wagoner CD, 'The Wagonmaster', set for release in just a couple weeks on the (oh-so-hipsterish) ANTI- label. Looks like he's just now being given that familiar 'Rick Rubin-esque we-now-embrace-you-as-cool-and-alternative' treatment that Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Neil Diamond and others have been treated to in recent years. And therefore it looks like Porter's music will be visiting some of those dark corners again. Should be interesting.

There's a press release along with some preview video and audio available at the ANTI- website.

5. The 'NPR template for interviewing musicians' from Jon Carroll's column in this morning's SF Chronicle.

Reasons To Be Cheerful: week of 04/06/07

1. Spring weather, Spring blossoms, Spring color. But ask me again in a few weeks when/if my hayfever kicks in this year.

2. Some DVD boxsets releasing this July:
- The first in a series of 'definitive' Popeye cartoon sets. The ownership issues have been settled, apparently. Starting at the beginning with the Max Fleischer era, 'Volume One: 1933 -1938' will contain 60 uncut and unedited cartoons taken from original masters.

- In addition to Cartoon Network's 'Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law Vol. 3' set coming in July, the ongoing Hanna-Barbera back-catalog reissue will focus on two of their 1960's action-hero series' : 'Birdman & The Galaxy Trio' and 'Space Ghost & Dino-Boy'. I'm looking forward to seeing all the neato Alex Toth designs again...

3. The latest label-sampler CD from Vampisoul Records is titled 'Movers! A Collection of greasy soul, sleaze funk, psychedelic cumbia, fuzzy jazz and more...' - - which pretty much says it all. Very eclectic, and successful in inciting you to seek out more from each artist. Programmed with tight segues like a party mix, a joy to groove to.

4. I'd never heard of the Dust-To-Digital CD label out of Atlanta, GA, but last year they put out a BEAUTIFUL 3-CD boxset: 'How Low Can You Go? Anthology Of The String Bass (1925 - 1941)'. Gorgeous. Vintage blues, jazz, country, calypso, Hawaiian and more. Great sound, and pretty to look at with an exhaustive 96-page accompanying book. Golly.

5. I managed to find a relatively inexpensive copy of the art book, 'Miguel Covarrubias: Four Visions', and so far it's exceeded my already high expectations. As a kid, there was a big print of his 'Flora and Fauna of the Pacific' mural hanging in the bathroom. I knew of Covarrubias' art of the Pacific - - some of the Bali stuff, the Mexican culture stuff, but was completely unaware of the breadth of his styles, his drawings, and his commercial work. This book does a good job of roping it all together. SO cool.
Hey, maybe you should check out a little of his artwork - - ? Maybe try here, and here, and also here...

(UPDATE 2/4/08: Here's a link to a GREAT 'Homage to Covarrubias' video slideshow at YouTube.