PopCult

PopCult is a blog about pop culture, and today The 2022 PopCult Gift Guide gives you five recommendations for books about pop culture. It’s a grand type of synergy.

Britmania: The British Invasion of the Sixties in Pop Culture
by Mark Voger
TwoMorrows Publishing
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1605491158
$43.95

This is another of Mark Voger’s great explorations of pop culture. I’ve recommended his books in the past, but this one is near and dear to my heart, since I’ve been an anglophile from early in my formative years.

Let me quote the publisher’s blurb here:

Remember when long-haired British rock ’n’ rollers made teenage girls swoon ― and their parents go crazy? Britmania plunges into the period when suddenly, America went wild for All Things British.

This profusely illustrated full-color hardback, subtitled “The British Invasion of the Sixties in Pop Culture,” explores the movies (A Hard Day’s Night, Having a Wild Weekend), TV (The Ed Sullivan Show, Magical Mystery Tour), collectibles (toys, games, trading cards, lunch boxes), comics (real-life Brits in the DC and Marvel Universes) and, of course, the music!

Written and designed by Mark Voger (Monster Mash, Groovy, Holly Jolly), Britmania features interviews with members of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Who, the Kinks, Herman’s Hermits, the Yardbirds, the Animals, the Hollies and more. It’s a gas, gas, gas!

Britmania is just a pure delight, and is the perfect gift for the Brit-inclined person on your holiday shopping list. You can order it direct from the publisher, or from Amazon at a discount.

KELLOGG’S: The Story of America’s Breakfast King
by Christopher Lock
Independently published
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8411749359
$19.95

This book may not be part of a complete breakfast, but it will tell you everything you want to know about the company that made “cereal” a household word. Let’s consult the oracle of the publisher’s blurb:

KELLOGG’S! Just saying that enchanted name conjures up childhood memories of eating breakfast at the family table with a bowl full of Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, or Rice Krispies! And if a delicious mouthful of sugary cereal wasn’t enough to excite you as a kid, the boxes branded with Kellogg’s mascots certainly did. Colorful images of Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, and Snap Crackle & Pop began your day.

And how many times did you beg your Mom in the grocery store to buy Kellogg’s cereal, especially when the front of the box contained the words “FREE INSIDE”? After it, it could be the highly-coveted Baking Powder Submarine!

But of course, Kellogg’s is more than simply a cereal enterprise. Since its beginnings in 1906 in Battle Creek, Michigan, the Kellogg Company has provided quality convenience foods for families and individuals around the world. To this day, Kellogg’s continues to innovate and purchase companies in order to provide us with some of the world’s best-known brands such as Corn Flakes, Pringles, Eggos, and Cheese-Its to name a few.

More than just an international food company whose origins were based on nutrition, Kellogg’s made eating fun, especially for us kids who couldn’t wait to sink our spoons into a bowl of tasty cereal while staring at the vibrant box in front of us. Even today, enjoying Kellogg’s cereals is like spending time with an old friend; one who starts your day with amusement and imagination, be it a spirited Tiger or a colorful British Toucan.

This book covers the in-depth history of the Kellogg Company; its foundation, products, and motivations for commercial growth. It explores the riveting biography of the Kellogg brothers; their background, personal life, and business interactions – both successful and volatile.

KELLOGG’S: The Story of America’s Breakfast King then covers the products that made Kellogg’s a household word . . . from nutritional convenience food to the cereals enjoyed by generations of kids, including the brands, the mascots, the marketing & advertising, and the merriment that Kellogg’s brings each day. This book is more than a historical account of Kellogg’s – it’s a literary trip down memory lane of the great convenience foods and fun cereals we grew up with and continue to enjoy.

KELLOGG’S: The Story of America’s Breakfast King is a great gift idea for anybody who has an interest in the fascinating history of breakfast cereal, or the growth of the packaged-food industry. And it’s way more substantial than reading the back of a cornflakes box over and over. Available from Amazon.

I Pity the Dolls
by Greg Rivera Quang Le, Mike Essl
Schiffer Publishing
ISBN: 9780764357244
$34.99

It may not have crossed your mind, but somewhere in the world, some people worship Mr. T. The man born as Laurence Tureaud is a pop culture icon. Part of this is due to his role in the “Rocky” movies. Some of it’s because of his starring turn in The A Team. A portion of the reason has to do with his time in the WWF or as the star of a Saturday morning cartoon.

It might be hard to figure out, but people love the big guy.

This book features the largest collection of Mr. T memorabilia in the world, including over 150 homemade soft sculpture dolls collected and documented over the past 25 years.

The dolls were made from a pattern book by Miss Martha Originals from Gadsden, Alabama, that in 1983 could be bought at thousands of craft stores in the country, including Walmart.

Inspired by the Cabbage Patch Kid craze of the 1980s, the dolls were made in an unknown amount but probably exist in the thousands. Each doll is a labor of love and represents the skill level of each artisan.

As modern-day folk art they have been recognized as such by the American Folk Art Museum in NYC, and they have toured the world in art exhibitions, including in NYC, San Francisco, Toronto, and Paris, France.

I Pity the Dolls is a hardcover document of this strange phenomenon, with over 300 color images and the complete story of merchandising of a pop culture icon. You can order it direct from the publisher, or from Amazon at a discount.

Knock-Offs : Totally Unauthorized Action Figures
by Brian Heiler
PlaidStallions Press
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0991692262
$24.99

Knock-offs, in case you don’t know, are those cheap, unlicensed toys you find in discount stores, flea markets and other “off the grid” retailers that are inexpensive imitations of popular toy franchises. You’ve probably seen “Spider-Hero,” “Space Wars,” or “Ranger Powers” at some point.

I love this outlaw segment of the toy industry. It’s usually hilarious, often borders on parody, and it’s ultimately validation that the original toy was successful enough to imitate. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and some of that flattery is absolutely hysterical. When you find a knock-off of a toy, that almost always means the original toy was a huge success.

Heiler has wisely chosen to let the pictures do most of the talking here. In most cases, there is little to offer in terms of background information as the makers of the toys operate in the shadows. Oftentimes the manufacturers are anonymous Chinese toy factories who sell their product to distributors who may, or may not, sell them under a particular brand. Brian does a great job of introducing the chapters, and usually says everything there is to say about the toys in the captions. The photos are big, clear, well-lit and make for a great-looking book.

Heiler does a great job covering different eras, too. There are knock-offs in the book dating back to the 1960s, and much more recent things, like the multi-figure packs that combine heroes from Marvel, DC Comics, Pixar and The Power Rangers. Different chapters cover different topics: superheroes; monsters; space toys; movie knock-offs. He devotes the last chapter to “art” knockoffs made by people like Sucklord and Mr. Dan, who make small-runs of bootleg toys, usually for a higher artistic purpose (or parody).

Highly recommended for the toy collector with a healthy sense of humor on your shopping list.You can order Knock-Offs : Totally Unauthorized Action Figures directly from the publisher, from Amazon, or from any bookseller by using the ISBN code.

Calendar Girls, Sex Goddesses, and Pin-Up Queens of the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s
Jon Ortner
Schiffer Publishing
ISBN: 9780764357886
PRICE:
$50.00

For the sophisticated aficionado of the female form your shopping list, we have a lovely coffee tabe book that collects and amazing array of some of the most beautiful women ever photographed.

Jon Ortner is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning photographer and author, with six books in worldwide distribution. An avid collector of ephemera, he has spent more than three decades assembling one of the world’s largest collections of photographic pin-up calendars.

From that collections comes a stunning showcase of more than 350 commercial pin-up images, many never before seen, from the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. Reproduced with meticulous attention to detail, the evocative images include some of the most alluring and spellbinding women of the 20th century. From playful “girls next door” to Marilyn Monroe’s first pin-up, this is a must-have for any collector and is a classic tribute to the legendary pin-up queen.

Calendar Girls, Sex Goddesses, and Pin-Up Queens of the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s may not seem like your typical Christmas gift, but there are plenty of people out there who wouldn’t mind finding these beauties in their stocking.

Available from any bookseller or direct from the publisher.

The 2022 PopCult Gift Guide continues tomorrow withour picks for video boxed sets.

November 16th is a very important day in the history of The Beatles. It was on this day, sixty years ago, that George Martin met with the band and gave them the greenlight to record their first album.

With that as our excuse, The 2022 PopCult Gift Guide devotes this day to the Fab Four, with a three of our gifts devoted to the era of the Revolver Album. These gift suggestions, naturally, are for the devoted Beatles fan on your shopping list.

The Beatles Revolver Special Edition Super Deluxe
Available where ever boxed sets are sold on CD and Vinyl

In the grand tradition of The Beatles’ “Super Deluxe” boxed sets comes a special edition of Revolver, one of the most beloved albums by the group.

Unlike the later-era Beatles albums, Revolver did not have a wealth of multi-track recordings available, so this new mix (by Giles Martin) was created using sonic isolation technology developed by WETA during the production of last year’s Get Back documentary mini series. The results are amazing, while still respecting the original released version.

Bonus tracks are revelatory, showing us that history was not correct about who wrote which song and showing that The Beatles were much more of a collaborative than people realized.

This Special Edition of The Beatles’ REVOLVER features a new mix by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, plus the original mono mix, a 4-track EP, 28 session takes and home demos, a 100-page book with a foreword by Paul McCartney, an essay by Questlove, detailed track notes, photos and ephemera including handwritten lyrics, tape boxes and extracts from Klaus Voormann’s graphic novel on the making of the cover art. On 5 CDs or 4 LPs in a 12.56” x 12.36” slipcase.

Prices vary, but expect to pay over a hundred dollars for the CD version, and over $170 for vinyl.

ICONIC – The Graphic Novel of The Beatles Revolver Cover Artwork
by Klaus Voorman
Pre Sale Price: 33 Euro, plus shipping
Regular Price: 38 Euro, plus shipping
This is a limited edition, on sale November 25, available directly from Klaus Voorman.

This hardcover edition is limited worldwide to 1000 books, each handsigned by Klaus Voormann.

Klaus Voormanns’ graphic novel about the cover artwork of the Beatles’ legendary album REVOLVER first appeared as key chapter in his book, Birth of an icon REVOLVER 50, released in 2016.

Excerpts of the graphic novel (7 pages) are also included in the hardcover book of the new The Beatles Revolver Super Deluxe Boxset. In response to many requests, for the first time, the graphic novel will be released as a limited hardcover book (English language) under the title ICONIC. In addition to the complete graphic novel, the book contains two more text stories, illustrations and photos.

Quote from Paul McCartney:

“His skills as an artist were first explored by our band for the cover of the Revolver album. His work was spot on and fitted precisely with what we were doing at the time“.
-Paul McCartney, October 2022

Quote from Ringo Starr:

„… I would like to thank my friend for the cover of Revolver. Incredible! And now he‘s doing a book that will show us the many moves he made to end up with that great cover…I can only say I love you man. It‘s always great when we get together in LA…Take care my friend. I send you Peace and Love,
Ringo, yeah Ringo.“
Ringo Starr, October 2022

This is a pre-order, but the book may sell out before its scheduled November 25 release.

The Beatles Rubber Soul to Revolver (Beatles Album Series)
by Bruce Spizer
498 Productions, LLC
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0983295792
$39.99 (discounted at Amazon)

The Beatles Rubber Soul to Revolver is the latest installment in Bruce Spizer’s Beatles Album Series, covering two of the Beatles most important albums, Rubber Soul and Revolver, as well as Capitol’s Yesterday And Today LP and the singles associated with these albums.

I just discovered Spizer’s incredible work last year, and I became an instant fan. I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to books about The Beatles, and unless it’s a book by Mark Lewisohn I tend to pick up a new Beatles book, flip through it and find a dozen mistakes. That’s not the case with Bruce Spizer, whose books are meticulously researched, and who presents the material like an updated and vastly expanded version of The Beatles, An Illustrated Record, one of the most fun books about The Beatles every written (back in the 70s).

Rubber Soul and Revolver set new standards for pop and rock records, and presented a maturing and evolving Beatles to the world. The 16 tracks recorded during the Rubber Soul sessions are among the group’s finest.

With Revolver, the Beatles were looking for more color in their recordings, trying new instruments and techniques. But they were not using studio wizardry to cover weaknesses; they were looking for new sounds to enhance their already brilliant songs.

The book contains chapters on the British, American, and Canadian perspectives, an extensive treatment on the infamous Butcher Cover (featuring all of the significant images from the photo sessions and the true story behind the controversial cover). There are also chapters on the recording sessions and album covers, as well as on the news, music, and films of the era to place these albums in their proper context. And, of course, dozens of fan recollections.

This one is a must-have for the die-hard Beatles fan.

Joy and Fear
The Beatles, Chicago and the 1960s
By John F. Lyons
Permuted Press
ISBN13: 9781682619322
$19.99

Published last year, this intriguing book escaped my notice until about a month ago, and it’s a fascinating time capsule how Beatlemania played in Chicago. As the blurb says, it’s “A riveting look at the polarizing nature of the Beatles phenomenon, and how it transformed a generation, through the lens of a singular city in the center of America.”

For many, the Beatles offered a delightful alternative to the dull and the staid, while for others, the mop-top haircuts, the unsettling music, and the hysterical girls that greeted the British imports wherever they went were a symbol of unwelcome social and cultural change. This opposition to the group—more widespread and deeper rooted in Chicago than in any other major American city—increased as the decade wore on, especially when the Beatles adopted more extreme countercultural values.

At the center of this book is a cast of characters engulfed by the whirlwind of Beatlemania, including the unyielding figure of Mayor Richard J. Daley who deemed the Beatles a threat to the well-being of his city; the Chicago Tribune editor who first warned the nation about the Beatle menace; George Harrison’s sister, Louise, who became a regular presence on Chicago radio; the socialist revolutionary who staged all of the Beatles’ concerts in the city and used much of the profits from the shows to fund left-wing causes; the African-American girl who braved an intimidating environment to see the Beatles in concert; a fan club founder who disbelievingly found herself occupying a room opposite her heroes when they stayed at her father’s hotel; the University of Chicago medical student who spent his summer vacation playing in a group that opened for the Beatles’ on their last tour; and the suburban record store owner who opened a teen club modeled on the Cavern in Liverpool that hosted some of the biggest bands in the world.

Drawing on historical and contemporary accounts, Joy and Fear brings to life the frenzied excitement of Beatlemania in 1960s Chicago, while also illustrating the deep-seated hostility from the establishment toward the Beatles.

Joy and Fear: The Beatles, Chicago and the 1960s should be available from any bookseller, using the ISBN code.

Ringo Starr – EP3
Available on CD, Vinyl and cassette from Ringo, himself.

Ready for shipping later this week, you’re safe getting Ringo’s new EP in any physical formate, in plenty of time for holiday gift-giving.

Ringo Starr’s newest EP, cleverly named “EP3,” features 4 brand new tracks featuring longtime collaborators Steve Lukather, Linda Perry, Dave Koz, José Antonio Rodriguez, and Bruce Sugar. With Ringo’s instantly recognizable vocals, feel-good lyrics, and easy-breezy melodies, EP3 is now available on CD.

The four songs included are:
World Go Round
Everyone and Everything
Let’s Be Friends
Free Your Soul (feat. Dave Koz and José Antonio Rodriguez)

If you’re a fan of Ringo, you need this. Now that he’s sworn off albums for annual 4-track EPs, Sir Ringo has been treating his fans to a steady supply of great, fun new tracks, recorded in his home studio with a rotating crew of guest musicians.

It’s the music of Peace and Love, so sit back and enjoy.

Tomorrow The 2022 PopCult Gift Guide will recommend pop culture books.