In November, Turner Classic Movies came up with the ballyhoo of running four movie picks by a different celebrity guest programmer every evening. Some were boring, some were cool — the coolest picks were by James Ellroy and Alton Brown (go figure). Once again falling into the trap of pointless, time-wasting cogitation, I found myself wondering, “Just what the heck would my four picks be?” ‘Cause that would be a good thing to know, no?

I tried to pick movies that were not simply great and special movies (though that was a requirement), but also movies that feel as if they have connected with me on a deep and personal level — or had a notable impact on my mind. The first three picks came quickly, but ‘spending’ my last choice took a long time. Thinking about them afterwards, I realize that they all have some things in common. They all have a certain dreamlike quality, and watching them feels like seeing my dreams spirited onto the screen. Never mind that it’s probably the other way around. They all deal with men, women and love; in varying ways. And finally, they all feature great music.

Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) [1959]
The ancient myth of Orpheus transferred to mid-20th century Rio de Janeiro, during the Carnaval festivities. Samba rhythms percolate through the film from beginning to end, sometimes loud, sometimes subliminal. Beautiful music by Bonfa and Jobim. A beautiful cast. Beautiful color photography. A film of cruelly overwhelming beauty, with tragedy in the wings. An intoxicating dream. And when it’s all over, a new generation plays the sun into the sky.

La Dolce Vita [1960]
Another continent, another dream. An endless procession of cool visions, both beautiful and grotesque, but always with an underlying sad yearning for something more. The concentric circles of Marcello’s descent into his personal inferno.

A Hard Day’s Night [1964]
A great blast of energy — a busy dream of liberating fun. And such an impact on me, with its initiating portrayal of band life and droll British humor. I think I first saw it in the very early 1970s on WCAU Philly’s late afternoon weekday movie slot (that and Help! and a lot of 1950s sci-fi movies — but I digress). Where is the man/woman angle in this one? The male/female relationship becomes an abstract ritual, with the men singing from the altar as the women scream from below. Well, that and Paulie’s granddad shows you how to be a smooth operator with the ladies. He’s very clean.

Wings Of Desire (Der Himmel über Berlin) [1987]
“Boy meets girl and alters his very existence to be with her.” Sounds like a bad Hollywood plotline (and Hollywood did do a bad remake), but this movie moves and progresses like no other. Probably the most blatantly dreamlike of all these picks. A portrait of a city, its people, its divided nature, history, moods, textures, hats, heartbreak and humane empathy. Plus Peter Falk, Nick Cave, circus acts and an accordion to boot.

This is all the fault of the rock geeks over at Rock Town Hall, for making me think about things I really don’t need to be thinking about anymore. Yes, I was a big fan of Jethro Tull in my early seventies youth, and it’s the fault of the Townies for making me think about them again. And thinking further, that with some careful picking through their initial string of albums, one might put together a compilation revealing the humble British folk-rock band trying to get out — right in there with the Fairports and Steeleyes, sort of. So I did the aural legwork, and here is the resulting track listing:

1. A Song For Jeffrey (This Was/1968)
2. Beggar’s Farm (This Was/1968)
3. Fat Man (Stand Up/1969)
4. Sossity; You’re A Woman (Benefit/1969)
5. Witch’s Promise (Living In The Past/1969)
6. Just Trying To Be (Living In The Past/1970)
7. Wond’ring Again (Living In The Past/1970)
8. Cheap Day Return (Aqualung/1970)
9. Mother Goose (Aqualung/1970)
10. Wond’ring Aloud (Aqualung/1970)
11. Up To Me (Aqualung/1970)
12. Up The ‘Pool (Living In The Past/1971)
13. Dr. Bogenbroom (Living In The Past/1971)

Parenthetically, those are the US albums on which the songs can be found (and the apparent year of recording). So there you go, the ambitious among you can put it all together for themselves and see how it flies. As for me, I’ve blown enough time on this already. No more lurking at Town Hall for me! They’re a baaad influence.

White Bicycles: Making Music In The 1960s by Joe Boyd (2006) – Self-made eminence grise, Joe Boyd, recounts some of his remarkable life behind the scenes of music — from the early 60s blues and folk revival, to psychedelic London to British folk-rock. A good, breezy, yet intelligent read. A followup, covering his later career, is apparently in the works.

I Got You Babe b/w It’s Gonna Rain by Sonny & Cher (Atco/1965) – Sorta like the early Velvet Underground in a parallel universe kinda way.

War b/w He Who Picks A Rose by Edwin Starr (Gordy/1970) – War is such a righteously ass kicking track, and seems even better mastered on 7-inch. B-side is a fine ballad — theme of roses, thorns, etc.

Brother Louie b/w What Comes After by Stories (Kama Sutra/1973) – That famous early 1970s tune of interracial love, in its US hit cover version, from an ‘originals’ band that was blindsided by the success. It’s a terrific recording, with a massive, yet dry, drum sound. The flip is a somewhat odd art-pop sort of ballad, with lots of backwards reverb or somesuch.

Radio Free Albemuth by Philip K. Dick (1976) – PKD’s first-take run at the Valis material. Totally different in tone, plot and characters — more conventional, less powerful. It has its charms, and some interesting aspects, but there are reasons why he shelved this and went back to a clean slate.