Judy Garland Show - Carol Medley

In this clip from the 1963 Christmas episode of the Judy Garland Show, Judy and the gang gather around for an impromptu medley of traditional holiday carols. Features songs by Judy, her 17 year-old daughter Liza Minelli, and a young Velvet Fog, Mel Torme.

Eydie Gorme - "I Wanna Be Around"

The ultimate breakup song, performed live on the Tonight Show in 1966.

Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 - "Mas Que Nada"

Performed live on The O'Keefe Centre Presents: The Rock Scene - Like It Is!, on October 16th, 1967.

Billy Preston - "Short Fat Fannie"

Performed live for television in 1964.

Creedence - "Fortunate Son"

Creedence Clearwater Revival performing live on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1969.

Sam Cooke - "Blowin' in the Wind"

Performed live on Shindig in 1964.

Mahalia Jackson - "Steal Away"

Duet performed live on The Nat King Cole Show in 1957.

Pop Has Eaten Itself

Time of Death: the 2007 MTV VMAs.

This year's "award" show was like watching someone desperately trying to revive half-rotted roadkill. Give it up. MTV is unwatchable. And the "music" it pimps is unlistenable. Both the MTV network and the select group of over-hyped, overexposed, and overrated performers it promotes need to be banned from the airwaves. At the very least, they should be censured for pollution of American culture.

Offense #1 - the Britney mess:


Offense #2 - Kid Rock & Tommy Lee, two dirty hacks in a slap fight:


Offense #3 - the Kanye West temper tantrum:


Offense #4 - Sarah Silverman, the least funny person on earth:


It is clear that the "entertainers" themselves have stopped trying. And if they don't care enough to make the effort, then why should the rest of us give them the time of day? It's over. Everybody pack it up and go home. America doesn't need you anymore.

Pink Steel - "Sausage Party"

Performed live on the WGN-TV Chicago Morning News.

Muppets - "Accustomed to Your Face"

Jim Henson & the Muppets make an early appearance on the Jack Paar Show.
Song by Rosemary Clooney.

Three MC's and One DJ

We be gettin' down with no delay!

Just got back from the Beastie Boys show at Central Park Summerstage. So, how could I not post some Beasties?? Below are a bunch of the band's television performances over the last 20 years. They always manage to keep their shows just a little extra special...

"Intergalactic", performed at Wembley Stadium as part of the Live Earth festival, on July 7th, 2007.


"Three MC's and One DJ" & "So Whatcha Want", live on The Late Show with David Letterman, on February 8th, 2006, while promoting their film Amesome! I Fucking Shot That! Features footage shot by cast and audience members.


"Ch-Ch-Check It Out", live on The Late Show with David Letterman and the streets of Manhattan in 2004. This is probably one of the coolest musical performances ever on the Letterman show, and is a clear favorite for fans.


"Sabotage/Radio Radio", performed with Elvis Costello on lead vocals for the Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary Special, on September 26th, 1999.


"Sure Shot", from the December 10th, 1994 episode of Saturday Night Live. (Listen carefully - Adrock says "fuck" on live TV.)


"Flute Loop", "Heart Attack Man" & "Sabotage", live at the Glastonbury Music Festival in 1994.


"Live at PJs", on Late Night with David Letterman in 1992.


"Fight for Your Right", live on The Late Show with Joan Rivers in 1987.


"Fight for Your Right", live on Japanese TV in 1987, complete with rude behavior, tons of profanity and some mild sexual content. I would love to know what the Japanese hosts were saying about this.


And as a special bonus, here's an actual half-hour cable access infomercial, produced by the Beastie Boys and aired nationally, before the release of Hello Nasty in 1998.

Tom Lehrer - "National Brotherhood Week"

Political satirist Tom Lehrer sings a song about racism in the 60s.

Market Meltdown

I know all of nothing when it comes to the stock market, but there is something deeply satisfying about watching a news anchor lose his shit on live TV.

Also, too, um... Did he just say that 7 million Americans are about to lose their homes??

The Police Reunion Tour

Ok. So, last night I got to live out one of my life-long dreams. I got to see The Police live in concert. And it was amazing. I've been a big fan since I was a little kid, but was much too young to ever see them play before they broke up. So last night at Giants Stadium was a huge treat for me. Few times have I ever sung so much, or so loud.

And so, today I thought I'd share the concert experience. Posted below are live versions of all of the songs on the band's set list, in roughly the same order they were played last night.
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"Message in a Bottle" performed live for the very first time - before it had even been released - for a British TV show called Rock Goes to College at Hatfield Polytechnic College, on February 21st, 1979.


Bootleg footage of "Synchronicity II", performed live at the Bonnaroo Festival on June 16th, 2007.


"Voices Inside My Head/When the World Is Running Down", performed live & completely unrehearsed, on February 12th, 2007 at Hollywood's Whisky-a-Go-Go, when they announced their reunion tour.


"Walking on the Moon", live in Voorburg, Holland on September 7th, 1979.


Bootleg footage of "Don't Stand so Close to Me", performed live at Madison Square Garden on August 1st, 2007.


"Driven to Tears", performed live in France for the 1981 film Urgh! A Music War.


"Truth Hits Everybody", a rare clip from Backstage with Jools Holland, from the 1980 Only for Blondes tour.


"Bed's Too Big Without You", extended live jam from 1979.


"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", solo acoustic performance by Sting in 1996.


"Wrapped Around Your Finger", live in Montreal in 1983.


"De Do Do Do De Da Da Da", performed live at the International Stadium in Gateshead, on July 31st, 1982, for the Live Ghost In The Machine DVD.


"Invisible Sun", live at the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope concert at Giants Stadium, on June 15th, 1986. Bono joins the band for the last verse.


"Walking in Your Footsteps", live in Montreal in 1983.


"Roxanne", live in Voorburg, Holland on September 7th, 1979.


"Can't Stand Losing You" & "Next to You", performed on the Old Grey Whistle Test on February 10th, 1978. This is their very first television appearance in the UK.


"King of Pain", live at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 11th, 1983.


"So Lonely", performed live in 1979.


"Every Breath You Take", live in Montreal, 1983.

Procol Harum - "A Whiter Shade of Pale"

Performed live for television in 1967.

Roy Orbison - "Lana"

Performed live on The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club in 1974.

Billie Holiday - "Fine and Mellow"

Performed live on CBS's The Sound of Jazz in 1957. It is perhaps the single most famous live jazz performance in TV history. Accompaniment by: Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan, Roy Eldridge, Doc Cheatham, Vic Dickenson, Danny Barker, Milt Hinton and Mal Waldron.

Teach-In - "Ding Dinge Dong"

Performed live, on behalf of the Netherlands, at the Erovision Song Contest in 1975.

Richie Havens - "High Flying Bird"

Performed live on BBC Four, his first appearance in the UK.

PS - Richie is playing a FREE concert this Saturday on Governors Island @ 1:30pm.

Nana Mouskouri - "A Force de Prier"

Greek singing sensation Nana Mouskouri performing live, on behalf of Luxembourg, for the Eurovision Song Contest of March, 1963.