Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast

Celebrate Memorial Day with shazbazzar and JediShua as they remember Sir Roger Moore with a peek at another 1977 movie featuring Agent 007 of Her Majesty’s Secret Service.  Just remember not to scorch your dinner (or hands) on the grill.  

 

NEWS

Boba Fett is imported from New Zealand…for good!  Daniel Logan becomes a United States citizen.  The memorable Battle of the Network Stars from the ‘70s and ‘80s will be returning soon, according to ABC.  More sequels on the horizon as the ‘80s continue to get represented in pop culture with Top Gun and Spaceballs.  Will there be merchandise?  Will there be controversy?  Will there be tickets sold at the box office?  We think so.

 

Let’s Go to the Movies!

The date was 7-7-77 when The Spy Who Loved Me opened in England with a big hit for the James Bond franchise.  With a huge budget and an odd take on Ian Fleming’s novel of the same name, this film took some big risks that paid off.  What some consider to be the best Bond movie of all time, The Spy Who Loved Me featured Roger Moore as James Bond, a title song by Carly Simon (“Nobody Does It Better”) and a Lotus that can swim underwater!  Discussion drifts from disco, to different actors’ representations of 007, to other roles played by Roger Moore.  So fire up your DVD player and revisit this very ‘70s version of James Bond.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

NAMCO’s Dig Dug is arriving at the TechnoRetro Arcade and we’re ecstatic. JediShua and shazbazzar discuss their history with the arcade classic and trade notes on their strategies as well as potential backstories for the game and its characters.  PLUS: Bonus audio of the ‘Dads playing Dig Dug at Flashback Games Retro Arcade & Grill in Loganville, GA.  

 

Feedback

The Dark Crystal, cereal, and unique pilots for the Millennium Falcon are the big topics of discussion online over the past couple weeks. Don’t forget to participate on Twitter or Facebook.

 

Tune in to this Memorial Day episode for 77 minutes with shazbazzar and JediShua as they remember some of the best times of the ‘70s and ‘80s and look forward to what the future has in store.  Don’t forget to download last Thursday’s “Top Ten” from American Top 40 with Casey Kasem with a definite Star Wars flair.  Lend your voice to the discussion on social media or give the ‘Dads your feedback by calling our voice mail line at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.  Please rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes and Stitcher. 

 

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Direct download: TRDads_05.08.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:30am EDT

Star Wars premiered in theaters 40 years ago today.  And since the number 40 has a nice ring to it, TechnoRetro Dads delve into the archives of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem as a soundtrack for the day.  In a strange turn of events, an alternative version of the radio show came across the airwaves as host Spacey Ace’em counts down the Top Ten from the week of May 25,  1977 and while the tunes sound familiar, the lyrics are a bit odd.  Count down the greatest hits of this week 40 years ago with a flair from that galaxy far, far away.  Special thanks to Steve Glosson, Glen Nelson, High Adventure, Mrs. JediShua, and Scott Ryfun (for moral support).  

 

10.  “Feels Like Luke’s First Time”

The British/Georgian band GOLiver takes a peek at the unlikely successes of a teenager from Tatooine.  

 

9.  “Lonely Boy”

No, it’s not Andrew Gold — but the story of a boy feeling separated from family resonates with artists Red, Blue, Gold as they follow the exploits of an orphan who loses almost everyone close to him before discovering his long lost sister and father.  This dark story has a light side for those who like happy endings.   

 

8.  “You Squeal”

While Star Wars impressed audiences everywhere with its sights, sounds, and storyline, not everyone liked every character.  Gordon Rogers’ song formerly topped the Country charts before making it to the Top Ten on TR40’s list.  Artoo Detoo’s squeaking and squealing didn’t hit the right note with one Dad who had taken his family out to watch Star Wars.

 

7.  “Had Him in My Sight”

Glen Frey told us that smugglers and the Blues blend together well, but long before he recorded “Smugglers’ Blues”, The Parsecs Blues Band kicked off this tune about a smuggler trying to earn enough money to pay off his debts while avoiding any bounty hunters who are looking to cash him in with Jabba the Hutt.  It’s Han vs Greedo with a classic finale worthy of 1977.

 

6.  “Gonna Fly Now”

Bill Conti meets John Williams as two great movies from two great years mash-up in this soundtrackstic jazzy bit.

 

5.  “Got to Sell Some Droids”

Jawas have to dance, too.  To fund their habit, they acquire and sell ‘droids on their home planet of Tatooine.  It might be hard to understand their speech sometimes, but after listening to Marvin & Robin Jawa’s funky bass line, you’ll get the message loud and clear.

 

4.  “Dreams”

Fleetwood Sarlacc tracks the budding love affair between the princess and the pirate as Han and Leia revisit the trope of rich girl/bad boy as she questions whether he is capable of loving anything other than money.

 

3.  “I’m Kenobi Man”

The second disco/funk tune in this week’s top ten is O.B. and the TwinSunshine Band’s biopic about a Jedi who leaves the hustle and bustle of the galaxy to hide out on a desert planet and protect the son of Skywalker.  After all, he may be the last hope for everyone.

 

2.  “When I Need You”

We’ve all been there.  When you’re trapped at work and all you want to do is Star Wars, the need is real.  Maybe singer Shua-O Player just needs to keep some collectables and toys near him at all times to keep his addiction at bay.

 

1.  “Sir Luke”

It’s brassy.  It’s jazzy.  It’s groovy.  Shazzie Blunder bumps into an instant classic that’s gonna have everyone feeling the Force from head toe.

 

And that’s the Top Ten.  Of course, there are a few surprises along the way, so plug in your ear buds, EarBuds, and turn up the tunes.  We’re betting you’ll be dancing before it’s over.

 

Don’t forget this past Monday’s episode for 77 minutes with shazbazzar and JediShua this week as they recall how Star Wars affected them and our whole world over the past forty years, and lend your voice to the discussion on social media or give the ‘Dads your feedback by calling our voice mail line at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.  Please rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes and Stitcher. 

 

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Direct download: TRDads_SW40th_Countdown.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 7:23am EDT

Star Wars, not much but Star Wars!  Just under forty years ago, the world shook with under the rumbling of a gigantic Star Destroyer as the Emperor’s sinister agent, Darth Vader, pursued Princess Leia’s ship on screens across the country.  This modern myth for the ‘70s generation took hold of pop culture on May 25, 1977 and never let loose.  Like a blast from the DEATH STAR, Star Wars blew away movie goers in theaters everywhere and decimated box office records within hours of its release.  And for the most part, it has never left the public consciousness.  This week on TechnoRetro Dads, we recount it all!  (Well, not technically all of it.  We only have 77 minutes, after all.)   

 

In the NEWS…

5-25-77 is finally coming to theaters after being teased to fanboys and fangirls for the past decade.  Patrick Mead Johnson’s biopic about a boy obsessed with sci-fi movies embraces the day that the movie that changed everything.  Sadly, no theaters are set to show 5-25-77 near shazbazzar, but EarBuds might be in luck for a showing near them this week and weekend!  But shaz isn’t totally disheartened, because another retro favorite is finally set to hit screens as Netflix prepares to deliver a new addition to The Dark Crystal lore in a ten-episode series coming…sometime in the future.  PLUS: TMZ leaks some pics from the upcoming Han Solo anthology movie that is slated to arrive this time next year.  

 

Aftershocks of 1977

Star Wars hit theaters almost 40 years ago, and by the end of the week everyone is going to be talking about it, so we might as well start bright and early this Monday morning!  From the cinema to the toy shelves, Star Wars has dominated the past four decades of pop culture beginning with a single phrase typed in blue over a solid black background, the majority of our lives has been lived in the shadow of a galaxy far, far away.  JediShua and shazbazzar begin to recount the numerous ways Star Wars has influenced them directly as well as connecting a variety of movies, TV shows, and mounds of merchandise to the film with its iconic characters on both sides of this galactic conflict between the light and the dark.  From their earliest memories of seeing the movie to the origins of TechnoRetro Dads, the ‘Dads talk about the Kenner toys, early games, apparel, and even Dixie cups that enabled fans a means of having the Force with them always, even after the movie was no longer in theaters.  

 

Spend 77 minutes with shazbazzar and JediShua this week as they recall how Star Wars affected them and our whole world over the past forty years, and lend your voice to the discussion on social media or give the ‘Dads your feedback by calling our voice mail line at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes and Stitcher. 

 

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Direct download: TRDads_05.07.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 4:01am EDT

We’ve got a long way to go and just 77 minutes to get there.  And though we’re not doing anything that they said can’t be done, we’re doing it fun, fast, and with (a little) flair… and having some laughs along the way.       

 

In the NEWS…

The Thing is making its way to the realm of board games with The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 and Mondo Tees is offering a special edition of the movie-based game this October.  If you think that banana candy doesn’t taste like bananas, you’re bananas!  You just haven’t tasted the right variety of banana — and neither have we — because they’re extinct.  Dr. Ian Malcolm is coming back to the Jurassic Galaxy after doing a little dancing during the closing credits of Guardians of the Galaxy.  Blondie goes under the sea as Debbie Harry and Chris Stein become the queen and king of Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade this year.

 

Smokey & The Bandit

From its premiere six days before Star Wars in 1977 to its wide release on May 27th, Smokey & The Bandit played second fiddle to the movie that changed everything forever.  The second highest grossing movie of the year, this comedic action adventure is as iconic to American pop culture as its 40 year-old counterpart.  Featuring Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, Sally Field, and Jackie Gleason, Smokey & The Bandit chases Bandit and Snowman from Texarkana to Atlanta as they bootleg 400 cases of Coors to win a bet with the loquacious Buford T. Justice in hot pursuit.  It’s a ridiculous riot of racing and ramping in a black Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am.  And if you’ve never seen it, you might be able to catch it in theaters next week!

 

Aftershocks of 1977

Although the Pontiac Firebird debuted a decade earlier and the Trans-Am package had been in existence since 1969, the featured car from Smokey & The Bandit inspired a drastic increase in sales of Trans-Ams by nearly 50% in a year to almost doubling sales by 1979.  The popularity of the car saw it featured more and more over the years including another black version of the ride being given artificial intelligence and the voice of Mr. Feeney as KITT in NBC’s Knight Rider with David Hasselhoff driving (who just also happened to make a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2).  PLUS: shazbazzar avoids a horrific crash in a 1995 Trans-Am in a very unexpected (and unexciting) way.

 

Feedback

The past couple episodes of TechnoRetro Dads have generated loads of discussion on social media, voice messages, and electronic-M.  Thanks to the voices of Mark All, Scott Ryfun, Chris Black, Steve Glosson, Mike MacDonald, Steven Chopchik, Michael Goldtrap, Darth Taxus, and Michael Nipp, we enjoy more discussion about arcade games, cereal, ‘70s sci-fi TV, videotapes, and an amazing mini car racetrack.

 

Let us know what you’re thinking by contacting us on social media or give us your feedback by calling our voice mail line at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes and Stitcher. 

 

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Direct download: TRDads_05.06.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:00am EDT

Greetings, Programs!  

 

As we draw ever nearer to the actual 40th anniversary of the release of Star Wars in theaters, the excitement continues to grow everywhere in this galaxy as well as that one far, far away after Princess Leia’s Stolen Death Star Plans stormed the Internet with A New Hope for original mash-ups as Palette-Swap Ninja provided a Beatlesesque soundtrack for the movie with the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band just weeks away.     

 

In the NEWS…

Wear your old mix tapes on your sleeve with the new ELBOW from BrainMonk — a smallish portable cassette player that may actually be released in the near future.  Then you can sit back and relax in your Silver Chair while you wait for the next movie in the Narnia saga.  And don’t forget to use the Frork when eating one of the newest sandwich offerings at McDonald’s.  With a bit of Beatles news from Sirius XM and the aforementioned album from Palette-Swap Ninja, the news this week is so far out-of-this-world, we might need to charter the classic Star Tours ride (at least in virtual reality) to catch up to the genius of this parody rich duo.

 

We Love Our Cereal

British neuroscience research consultant Dr. Jennifer Newson conducted a widespread study of a diverse group of subjects (78 women in the U.K.) in a two-day experiment for Kellogg’s Special K to discover how women’s “eating context” affected their perception of how nourished they were from 30 grams of cereal in 125 milliliters of cold skimmed milk.  The headline for this highly scientific study — “REVEALED: Why eating cereal from a SQUARE bowl will make you feel fuller.”  Thanks, Thea De Gallier of express.co.uk.

 

TechoRetro Arcade

Atari spins the rollerball …er, uh… trackball and mashes the quickfire button in classic exterminator style with their release of Centipede to arcades.  JediShua and shazbazzar found at least some success in racking up points and levels in the arcade version of this iconic video game.  With fleas, spiders, and scorpions, Centipede has always been a popular pick amongst gamers for over thirty years.

 

Saturday Morning

When Doctor Smith from Lost in Space tries to ride the coattails of Star Wars, a television series will surely be lifted to new heights as the rising tide lifts all boats.  What’s that?  Space Academy isn’t a boat?  You don’t say!  It was cancelled once it failed to find a following in the fall of 1977.

 

History Lesson

Captain America watches the Brooklyn Dodgers play against Philadelphia.  1984 is on the phone and wants its fascist agenda back (thanks, George Orwell).  And Kyle Reese emerges from the future to prevent a Terminator from stopping John Conner before he ever gets started.

 

Give us your tips on playing Centipede, your hopes for this year’s Star Wars fare, or anything about cereal by contacting us on social media or give us your feedback by calling our voice mail line at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes and Stitcher. 

 

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Direct download: TRDads_05.05.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 3:32am EDT

The first week of May is filled with loads of pop culture greatness with Star Wars Day on Thursday, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 on Friday, and loads of TechnoRetro News for EarBuds everywhere.  Join shazbazzar and JediShua as they emerge from the hurried and harried month of April to bloom with a variety of colors in May.  You know… Mayflowers.  Like Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.    

 

In the NEWS…

Guardians of the Galaxy is coming Friday — forty years after Glen Campbell’s “Southern Nights” hit the top slot on American Top 40. He-Man is back in the news with Sony’s announcement of the release date for Masters of the Universe on shazbazzar’s birthday in 2019.  Without any information about a director or any casting, there’s little room for speculation except to say we’re hopeful for a good sci-fi/fantasy film in December 2019.  Classic arcade game Rampage is also coming to theaters in the future featuring “The Rock” with a plot that tosses the game’s storyline out the window.  At least we can expect to see gigantic animals crushing city buildings, smashing military vehicles, and eating citizens.  A popular fan theory about Stan Lee’s appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe gains traction as Kevin Feige responds to watchful (and imaginative) eyes.  EarBud Joey (in Tuscon) tweets about a new LEGO Dimensions expansion pack that is filled with #TechnoRetro glory.  Two dozen Midway arcade games make their way into the LEGO universe for Gamer Boy to play to the best of his ability.  We’ve got to pick this up!  Captain Jack Sparrow appears LIVE in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.  

 

We Love Our Cereal

JediShua claims that Cinnamon Frosted Flakes aren’t that bad, but shazbazzar isn’t convinced…yet.  Danielle Smith, a high school student in Tustin, California sells cereal to fund the purchase and upkeep of a cow in an Ethiopian orphanage.  Certainly, the babies need their milk, but the kids need something to pour over their cereal, too!

 

TechoRetro Arcade

Williams Electronics’ horizontal shooter Defender makes its way to the TechnoRetro Arcade.  The ‘Dads remember their days playing this classic from 1981 in the arcades of their youth as well as finding it in today’s retro arcades.

 

History Lesson

The origins of Star Wars Day are discovered to predate the prequels by more than three centuries.  Gulliver evidently needed the Force to be with him on his travels, launching his voyage from Bristol on May the 4th in 1699. 

 

Give us your tips on playing Defender on social media or give us your feedback by calling our voice mail line at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes and Stitcher. 

 

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Direct download: TRDads_05.04.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:30am EDT

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