The Sound Is Now 1968
This is the pilot episode of a “Music Controversy TV Series” that centers on musical artists (who represent the “now” generation) performing their songs while the song’s lyrics are shown as subtitles.  After the performance the artists is then faced with a representative of the “establishment” who “tells it like it is” by ripping into the artists, their lyrics and even mocking then personally.

In this episode Sonny and Cher perform then Sonny is confronted by Henry Morgan who tears into Sonny about his “cliche” lyrics and his “pajama clothes”.  The songs are: “You Better Sit Down Kids” and “Circus”.

In another segment “protest signer” Phil Ochs is matched against Tex McCrary who goes into details about how the “earth music” of the Negro has been stolen by the whites.  He dicusses being at the Beatles Shea Stadium concert with a camera to photograph Negros but he couldn’t find any.  Phil Ochs performans: “Cannosn of Christianity” and “I Ain’t Marching Anymore.”

Popendipity 1967
TV special.  Nov-16-67.  Taped at the Warwick Musical Theater in Providence, Rhode Island.  Hosts: Flip Wilson and Robbie Porter.  Musical acts: The Buffalo Springfield, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Aretha Franklin, Neil DIamond, The Four Seasons, Astrud Gilberto, Buffy St. Marie, The Cake.

Mostly live performances include: The Four Seasons – “Let’s Hang On” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”.  The Buffalo Springfield – “Rock and Roll Woman”.  Robbie Porter – “Danny Boy”.  The Cake – “Mockingbird’.  Frank Converse reciting – “She’s Leaving Home”.  Aretha Franklin – “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You” and “Respect”.

Four Seasons medley – “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “Bye, Bye Baby Goodbye”.  Astrud Gilberto “Meditation”.  Neil Diamond – “Shiloh”.  Buffy St. Marie – “Until It’s Time For You To Go”.  Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – “Come Round Here I’m The One You Need”, “More Love”, and “Yesterday”.  Entire cast – “That’s Life” includes original commercials.

Quality:  “Sound Is Now” in colour, “Popendipity” in B&W. Video quality is good, about an 8.0 using our website Quality Rating Table.

Running Time:  113 minutes.

Format:  1 NTSC DVD-R disc.