The Happy Booker: If I Only Had an iPod...70's Edition

x-static

We must admit upfront that we know and like Ron Hogan. But it's not the personal bias talking when we tell you that his book, The Stewardess is Flying the Plane, is a blast. A verifiable must read, the one coffee table book that most of our friends have glommed on to when visiting—"hey, remember this movie?!"—and will not put down. Frankly, we think our friends need to buy their own damn copy of this book. We did. And then we bought a few more, giving it as a holiday gift to family members and friends. If you don't own it already, you really should—or at least please stop coming over and scamming on our copy.

Ron Hogan stops by today to share a little musical love, 70's style. So sit back and enjoy and have a nice day…

70's film playlist by Ron Hogan

Sun Ra, "Space Is the Place": There are a couple different versions of this song, which was the theme to a 1974 movie starring Sun Ra as, well, himself, really: a jazz musician sent from Saturn to save humanity with the power of music. I prefer a 21-minute-plus version I found on one of his albums. Not only is it just the right length for a good session on the stationary bike or the treadmill, it's filled with exactly the kind of uplifting message that'll get you through the rough spots of the workout ("there's no limit to the things you can do / there's no limit to the things that you can be").

Brian Eno, "Needle in the Camel's Eye": Okay, so technically this isn't from a '70s movie, but it IS from one of my favorite movies ever made ABOUT the '70s, Todd Haynes' Velvet Goldmine. And it's another perfect workout song! Heck, even if you just hear it while you're walking down the street, it makes you want to pick up the pace a little.

David Shire, "Theme from The Taking of Pelham One Two Three": Shire's film score work is for the most part overshadowed by works from contemporaries like Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams, and in fact his most recognizable tune, the theme from "Alice," you probably didn't even know it was him. (I didn't, until I looked him up just now.) But this one theme, with its driving horns, is an absolute masterpiece. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it's in perhaps the greatest New York City crime film ever made.

Jerry Reed, "East Bound and Down": Yep, it's the theme from Smokey and the Bandit. Because I like Jerry Reed. When you're hot, as he says, you're hot.

Isaac Hayes, "Walk on By": Oh, sure, I could just take the easy road out and pick "Theme from Shaft." And I love that song, don't get me wrong, but I dig Isaac even more when he's launching into mega-slow grooves like this 12-minute take on the Dionne Warwick classic, or the 18-1/2 minutes he devotes to "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." His 5-minute "Never Can Say Goodbye" seems hurried by comparison. Anyway, just like the movie work, they all prove what a master arranger he was; truly one of the decade's great studio geniuses.