Public Enemy, "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back", released June 88
This album was released in 1988; I was just 10 years old. This album was definitely not allowed in our house (no explicit lyric labels allowed), so I've never heard most of the tracks. Aside from the few radio friendly hits this album produced, the album was mostly a mystery to me. I was looking forward to reviewing this album because I enjoy old school hip hop WAY more than the rap albums being released today. Sadly, I can't say I enjoyed it much and only listened from start to finish just one time. Instead, I listened selectively to the tracks I preferred. I definitely like the way Chuck D (raps) his vocals and his delivery is iconic in the history of hip hop music. The downside is having to hear Flavor Fav be Flavor Fav, which to me comes across as somewhat cartoonish. I'm sure when this album was released it didn't come across that way and it's only over time that his off album persona has affected the way I perceive and receive his music. I do recall from my youth the impact their personal style had on popular culture. Seeing the Malcolm X "X" hat and the round colored medallion of the African continent was commonplace, even among white youth. Their impact on hip hop culture and style is certain and unquestioned. This album established them as a political music group to be heard and reckoned with as social awareness increased in that period. 
All music is of its time and stands as a testament to that generation and what was being felt in the country at that particular time. The best of it stands up to the test of time and can be listened to forever. To this end, Public Enemy spoke to and for their audience and that's why this album is rightfully considered the 48th best of all time.
I do find it somewhat surprising that there is only one hip hop album among the Top 50 list that Rolling Stone compiled (only one even in the Top 100). But given that the magazine is more rock based, I'm sure the individuals responsible for compiling it have a certain bias towards that sound versus hip hop. In my mind, perhaps because of when I was born and subsequently discovered rap music, the Dr. Dre album "The Chronic" or Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album "Doggystyle" are my go to albums for old school hip hop and should definitely be included in the Top 50/100 albums of all time.
Jaws, released June 1975
Duh-nuh...duh-nuh...duh-nuh... JAWS!! This movie is so iconic and great for more than just the movie. Obviously the soundtrack (musical score) is recognized all over the world. But this was only director Steven Spielberg's second theatrical film and helped launch a now legendary Hollywood career. The film is based upon a book written by Peter Benchley and the screenplay was a team effort that included Spielberg, actors and many unaccredited writers that he used to put a sensible story together, similar to the book but also different in certain aspects. I was surprised the film had an initial budget of just $3.5 million and only 55 shooting days. The film has become notorious for production problems with the mechanical shark and costs did overrun the initial budget. But the problems actually helped create more fear by not seeing the shark more often in the film. And when you do see it, it's clearly fake so maybe it worked for the best that the mechanics didn't work well during production. I do wonder why this film hasn't been remade; with modern CGI technology, it could look amazing. The initial offer to play Chief Brody was to Robert Duvall with Charlton Heston interested as well. Ultimately, the role went to Roy Scheider, who does a terrific job as a seaside sheriff fearful of water. His acting is very natural, particularly the scenes with his movie wife (Lorraine Gary). The scenes with the child actor playing his youngest son at the dinner table following a rough day watching shark attacks at the beach were also noteworthy to me. The camaraderie between he and actor Richard Dreyfuss felt very real, like they'd known each other for a long time. Also, the line "We're going to need a bigger boat" was improvised by the actor and has become one of the most memorable lines in the movie but also a commonly used expression to relay feelings of being overwhelmed by a situation.
The roles of Quint and Hooper were not yet cast as close as nine days prior to initial shooting. Interestingly, those roles were offered/considered to actors such as Lee Marvin, Sterling Hayden, Jon Voight and Jeff Bridges. After much discussion and script modification to fit the characters to the actors playing them, Robert Shaw (Quint) and Richard Dreyfuss (Hooper) were hired. The acting in this movie by Robert Shaw is legendary, particularly the scene where he's describing the true story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the subsequent shark attacks that killed all but 316 naval soldiers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9S41Kplsbs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Indianapolis_(CA-35)
The score was handled by composer John Williams and has become his most iconic, with the possible exception of the Star Wars films. This was one of John William's first movies and, similar to Spielberg, it launched his now legendary career. Not much more I can say about how great the score is and how it clearly enhances the scenes and creates suspense. Masterful!
Upon release, the film became the highest grossing picture and to date has grossed $470 million. Over time the movie has succeeded in overseas markets like Brazil and United Kindgom as well.
I've seen this film numerous times and I always enjoy it. Despite not being the most realistic from a production standpoint, it still manages to create fear and suspense. It's got a Hitchcock quality to it that I really love. And the fact that it gave Spielberg a chance to make more films is great as well. If you haven't seen it, do. Just don't do it on vacation near the ocean!
For more information on the film:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaws_(film)
http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=55193
"Hoosier Jaws"(a silly video I made years ago with my dog Hoosier as I messed with my GoPro and iMovie):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prUzO6dJCFw
Next week #47
John Coltrane, "A Love Supreme"
Taxi Driver
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