Like Seinfeld and The Larry Sanders Show before it, the hilarious, misanthropic mayhem of Larry David's CYE has been lamentably treated by UK TV schedulers, clearly unused to programming such unfettered genius. All the more reason to recommend this five-hour festival of mordant mirth, in whose presence humbled awe is the only appropriate response.
It was hardly a long haul, coming together in 1965 and burning out by 1968, but in the words of Papa John: "We had so much fun for two years, there was no more fun to be had."Yet in that time, The Mamas & The Papas became the USA's pop royal family, the American Beatles. Like The Beatles, they were four instantly recognisable, distinct personalities, with the same ready wit, entertainment value and high visibility factor. John Phillips and wife Michelle, Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty looked and sounded like no other band in the land.
Drunk, addict, jailbird: Paycheck's tortured life too often obscured his talent. George Jones' bassist/harmony singer in the early '60s, his tough baritone, at its peak, was Jones' only equal. Eighteen months after his death, this Robbie Fulks-produced salute expertly summons Paycheck's soulful heartache. Gorgeous George himself tackles "She's All I Got", Neko Case adds fiery flash to "If I'm Gonna Sink" and Dave Alvin does outlaw twang-fest "11 Months And 29 Days", alongside Marshall Crenshaw, Mavis Staples and Bobby Bare Jr.
