- Issue Archive for
- Dec 6-12, 2007
- Vol. 1, No. 980
News
Bob Frank and John Murry Create Murder Ballads in Memphis This Week
The 62-year-old Bob Frank was born and raised in Memphis, where he attended East High School. He was also a cohort of Jim Dickinson and others on the city's underground folk scene in the Sixties. After a high-profile eponymous album for Vanguard Records in 1972 went awry, Frank moved to Oakland, California, and basically retired from the record business, re-emerging with a few obscure, self-released albums earlier this decade.
The 27-year-old John Murry was raised in Tupelo, relocated to Memphis as a teenager, and made a name for himself on the local music scene via first-rate alt-country bands ...
Shelby County Officials Criticize Wharton's Appointee Raises
When John Fowlkes was chief administrative officer for Shelby County, he helped advise the county on its ethics ordinance. Now that Fowlkes is a Criminal Court judge, maybe he needs to come back and referee a disagreement over the way his former CAO duties -- and his salary -- were divvied up among Mayor A C Wharton's top appointees.
In August, Fowlkes was appointed to a vacant judgeship. His CAO duties were assumed by county chief financial officer Jim Huntzicker, who now holds dual titles of CAO and CFO. Other appointees also took on additional duties ...
Timberlake One of Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People
Justin Timberlake has been named one of Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2007. The program airs Thursday night.
Among those joining Timberlake on the list are David and Victoria Beckham, the founders of MySpace, and Hugo Chavez...
Memphis Music Legend Ben Cauley Makes Friends in Wisconsin
From the Madison Isthmus Daily Page: Ben Cauley of The Bar-Kays returned to Madison for the first time in four decades for the Otis Redding memorial.
The Otis Redding tribute on Monday evening was a somber, respectful affair. Marking the 40th anniversary of the great soul singer's death in the Lake Monona plane crash that also claimed the lives of all but one of the Bar-Kays, the event drew a large crowd to Monona Terrace and featured an appearance by the tragedy's sole survivor, the trumpeter Ben Cauley ...
Saturday Is E-Day on eBay
A few months ago, if you couldn't come up with the $50,000+ to buy one of the limited edition Harley-Davidsons specially tricked out to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, here's your last chance...
New Film, Public Forum on West Memphis 3 Set for Tuesday in Little Rock
There will be a public forum and a screening of a new film on the West Memphis Three case Tuesday night (Dec. 11) in Little Rock. The event is being held on the 33rd birthday of Damien Echols, who is on death row for the murders despite what forum organizers are calling "strong scientific evidence of his innocence ..."
Farm Futures
Teens and adults differ on ideas for Shelby Farms.
"Bloated" Lisa Marie Gets Dissed by London Tabloid
The London Daily Mail online posted a story today critiquing Lisa Marie Presley's appearance and compared her father Elvis' "bloated period."
From the Daily Mail: Only last summer Miss Presley - who includes Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage among her four former husbands - appeared trim and fit ...
Chuck Berry, John Lennon, and Yoko??? Play "Memphis, Tennessee"
Wow. This is a YouTube.com gem that hasn't gotten nearly enough attention. John Lennon and his hairy bandmates backing Chuck Berry as he sings "Memphis, Tennessee" on "The Mike Douglas Show" back in the 1970s.
Chuck looks like he's barely tolerating the presence of all those fuzzy stoned-out white people, but somehow manages to resist kicking Yoko Ono off the stage when she lets out the occasional yelp. She's a hell of a bongo player, though.
Seriously, they just don't make television like this anymore. Rock on.
Taking Liberty
Feeling used and ignored, fans in wheelchairs sound off on stadium debate.
Hannah Montana's Memphis Concert: The Bootleg Video
Thanks to the wonders of YouTube.com, you now can see and hear the world's most important artist, Hannah Montana, performing a song during her recent Memphis concert at FedExForum. You know, the one that you couldn't get tickets for.
After forcing ourselves to watch this, we don't want to say the young lady is, uh, overrated, but does the name "Tiffany" ring a bell?
CNN.Money Names Memphis "Most Affordable Place to Retire"
Well, thank God. Yes, it's another damn survey of American cities in which Memphis places first, but this time it's actually good. CNN.Money.com says Memphis is the most affordable place in America to retire ...
Memphis Police Bust Marijuana "Grow House"
Memphis police officers got a few tips on how to grow pot at a bust near the Galloway Golf Course on Friday.
Eight "how to" books on growing weed indoors were recovered from the home of 58-year-old Marquis Archibald ...
Give It Some Gas
City Council promotes sale of alternative fuels.
Otis Redding Exhibit to Open at Stax
An exhibit of Otis Redding's personal effects goes on display Monday, December 10 at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Monday marks the 40th anniversary of Redding’s death in a plane crash in Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin....
Church of Scientology House in Memphis For Sale
Here's a real bargain for those of you looking for a nice homey place in Central Gardens: The Church of Scientology is offering to sell its Memphis headquarters at 1440 Central for a mere $895,000.
Sure, it may sound a little pricey, but the amenities are pretty sweet ...
Where's the Cheapest Gas in Memphis?
The cheapest gas in town? Well, according to GasPriceWatch.com, today it's a Mapco on Danny Thomas, which has regular priced at $2.79 a gallon.
The website is a handy and helpful tool, worth checking before you head out to fill up your tank. Differences in prices can vary up to 20 cents a gallon between stations only a few blocks apart ...
Presley Clan Hits Led Zep Concert
Three generations of Presley women and their entourage went to the Led Zeppelin concert in London Monday night. TMZ was there and shot pictures. Then they wrote snark.
"After exhausting London's supply of black eyeliner, Scientolostars Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, her daughter Riley Keough and borefriend Ryan Cabrera ..."
Rev. Billy C. Wirtz to Perform on Beale This Week
The crazed boogie "preacher" Billy C. Wirtz is returning to Beale Street this week, joined by Memphis' own Victor Wainwright.
The duo, whose act is called "Pianist Envy"...
We Recommend
Music
-
This Is the End
On World Without End, ex-pat Memphians Bob Frank and John Murry find their voices by reviving the murder ballad.
Politics
The Thin Gray Line
A warning went along with the happy talk at mayor-council luncheon.
New Mike Huckabee "Ad" Gets to the Heart of the Matter
Political video prankster Lee Stranahan just may have figured out why former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has risen to the top of the Republican presidential polls.
MAD AS HELL: Keeping the Faith in God's Own Party
The Republican Party appears to have abandoned any commitment to the tenets of the Constitution and is positioned to elect a preacher- in-chief whose first loyalty will be to the dogmas of Christian Fundamentalism.
Is the GOP Trying to Elect a Preacher-in-Chief?
Sez Cheri DelBrocco: "The Republican Party appears to have abandoned any commitment to the tenets of the Constitution and is positioned to elect a preacher- in-chief whose first loyalty will be to the dogmas of Christian Fundamentalism." She's Mad as Hell about it.
GADFLY: (Another) Tale of the Tapes
In the case of the destroyed CIA tapes, can there be any doubt that the folks who authorized the "enhanced interrogation techniques," including Rumsfeld and various deputies, will probably skate? (So would Nixon have if he'd burned his Watergate tapes.)
Sports
FROM MY SEAT: Warming by the Hot Stove
The matchup for the second annual Civil Rights Game is well nigh perfect. The New York Mets and Chicago White Sox both have minority managers who happened to be fine infielders during their playing days.
Grizzlies Lose to Pistons, 113-103
The Grizzlies fell behind by double digits in the first quarter and were never able to catch up in losing to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night at the FedExForum.
The Pistons led by as many as 24, before the Griz closed the gap to ...
Gay and Gasol
The Grizzlies search for their "pecking order."
Grizzlies Lose to Hornets,
Chris Paul set a new career high with 43 points, including a 2-pointer in the lane with 1.8 seconds left to send the New Orleans Hornets to a 118-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in New Orleans Friday night ...
Previewing the '08 Civil Rights Game: Mets vs. Chisox
The matchup for the second annual Civil Rights Game is well nigh perfect. Both teams have minority managers who happened to be fine infielders during their playing days. And both teams have good Memphis connections.
It's Calipari, Baby!
Dick Vitale takes on the Tigers today in USA Today and explains, even though they're still in Conference USA, why they're getting the last laugh...
Rockets Thump Grizzlies, 105-92
AP - Tracy McGrady had his third career triple-double and Yao Ming had 24 points and 13 rebounds to help the Houston Rockets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 105-92 on Wednesday.
McGrady, who was cold shooting from the field early, finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
Reserve Bonzi Wells added a season-high 24 for Houston ...
Theater
Leftover Tuna
Playhouse on the Square repeats itself; Hattiloo gets original.
Film
Failed Fantasy
The "anti-Narnia" loses its luster on trip from page to screen.
Opinion
-
Letter from the Editor
Buddy McEwen finished his final round at 67, which is five under par at his beloved Davy Crockett. There are a lot of us who wish his score could have been much higher ...
The Understudy
Huckabee takes center stage, while Thompson heads to the wings.
Buddy McEwen Remembered
Buddy McEwen finished his final round at 67, which is five under par at his beloved Davy Crockett. There are a lot of us who wish his score could have been much higher.
McEwen died at 67 last week, after a four-year battle with throat cancer. He was a beautiful man, full of humor, spirit, and sass. I first met him in the early 1990s, when I began playing at Davy Crockett. He was the genial pro, more of a host, really. He'd greet you, chat you up about your life, the Tigers, your golf game, and sell you some used balls ...
The Next Superintendent
Break the mold and open the search to candidates who are under 40.
Books
Brent Taylor Donates Papers to Library for "Future Generations"
Outgoing City Council member Brent Taylor will donate documents he's accumulated while serving on the council over the past 12 years to the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.
Taylor retires from the council at the end of his term on January 1st ...
Food & Wine
-
Christmas Spirit
Here comes Santa Claus ... and Jeff Guinn.
-
The Cove Opens (Softly) Tonight
When Midtown dining institution Anderton's closed last year, interior designer Jim Marshall managed to acquire most of the decor -- the ship bar, the retro chandeliers, and the nautically-themed murals. He also managed to acquire the old Beer Joint location on Broad Avenue.
So Marshall decided to open a new bar using Anderton's sea-faring decor ...
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE
SPECIAL ISSUES
