Rick's Burgers - Pasadena

I was introduced to Rick's late one night after using somewhat toxic adhesives to glue together the cardboard packaging for the Best of Flipside Vinyl Fanzines 2 CD compilation (chances are pretty good that if you own one, I touched it)... After folding, gluing and inhaling fumes for hours hunger set in - Smith and Al decided on the particulars of where and that's how I was introduced to the spuderito... A wonderful, starchy concoction that hits the spot with the proper amount of tasty sustenance no matter what the circumstance. I have some very fond memories of working with Al on the fanzine and taking a break for lunch or a late night snack and going to Rick's - it was and still is the same thing every time for me - one spuderito, one bean tostda and a vanilla shake.

I don't know how Rick's Drive-In came to mind this year. Maybe it was a discussion between me and Tomme about where to take the dogs for a drive... I googled Rick's and discovered that it's going to be shut down for the same reason as a lot of places in the Los Angeles area - land prices are at an all time high and most old places are being put out of business for "redevelopment", which generally means one of two things... A new building that will make far more money for the owner (mixed-use high density is really fashionable now) or terrible boutiques and franchise places. Since learning of the imminent demise we've been trying to make it out there whenever possible for a Sunday drive. The dogs enjoy it and it tastes good.

I discovered the clips below on YouTube...

Someone's home movies of the spud... somewhat goofy narration, but you get to see the spud.
Rick's Drive-in - "The Spuderito" Part I

Rick's Drive-in - "The Spuderito" Part II


This is something that was filmed at Rick's... You might recognize the folks behind the counter if you're a Rick's frequenter.
Silent Drums (excerpt)

Bad cop, no doughnut...

There was no sign of any other vehicle that may have caused this... Looked like maybe someone was going a little too fast and made a hard left turn from Tampa Ave. onto Sherman Way Blvd. and right into the palm tree.

Songs Appropriated - Pogues' Sunnyside of the Street

The latest song I've noticed appropriated for a TV car commercial is the Pogues' Sunnyside of the Street. It would seem absurd enough to have this band, legendary for drinking, promoting a good time behind the wheel of any car... But the juxtaposition of the happy, clean, nuclear family going through their morning routine (or "ritual") before jumping in the family car and getting on their way to school and work is an excellent contrast to the actual lyrics of the song - the first verse of which is included in the full commercial. As is typical, no one will remember anything of them except for the "sunnyside of the street" part, which they'll happily hum to themselves over and over and over...

Watch Cadillac - Morning Ritual



Read the lyrics:

SUNNYSIDE OF THE STREET

Seen the carnival at Rome
Had the women I had the booze
All I can remember now
Is little kids without no shoes
So I saw that train
And I got on it
With a heartful of hate
And a lust for vomit
Now I'm walking on the sunnyside of the street

Stepped over bodies in Bombay
Tried to make it to the U.S.A.
Ended up in Nepal
Up on the roof with nothing at all
And I knew that day
I was going to stay
Right where I am, on the sunnyside of the street

Been in a palace, been in a jail
I just don't want to be reborn a snail
Just want to spend eternity
Right where I am, on the sunnyside of the street

As my mother wept it was then I swore
To take my life as I would a whore
I know I'm better than before
I will not be reconstructed
Just wanna stay right here
On the sunnyside of the street

copyright 1990; Shane MacGowan & Jem Finer
S.MacGowan - vocals / S.Stacy - whistle / J.Finer - Banjo, lap steel / T.Woods - mandolin / P.Chevron - acc. gtr. / J.Fearnley - accordion / D.Hunt - bass / A.Ranken - drums / B.voc: D.Hunt

Purchase the Pogues' music or get out your old LPs or cassette tapes and have a listen - LOUD! It's great stuff!