Theme: "TRACK RECORDS" - Each theme entry is a song title re-imagined as a different kind of "record".
24. Permanent record?: TOGETHER FOREVER.
32. Criminal record?: MACK THE KNIFE.
51. Historical record?: BACK IN THE USSR.
71. World record?: HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH.
85. Broken record?: I FALL TO PIECES.
108. Medical record?: LIKE A SURGEON.
116. Fossil record?: WALK THE DINOSAUR.
This type of theme may look simple on the surface, but it's actually quite restrictive. The entries all have to be recognizable song titles, the [? record"] phrases must be solid in the language, and each answer has to match the first word of the clue.
This is the LAT debut for Zachary Gallardo and Joe's first Sunday. Congrats to both!
Across:1. Costco rival, informally: SAM'S. Any of you are Costco members? There fresh coconuts are so good.
5. Undergrad lecturer: PROF.
9. Morehouse, for one: Abbr.: HBCU. Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
13. Mix, as a salad: TOSS. And 23. Grocery section: AISLE.
17. Plop (down): PLUNK.
19. iPad assistant: SIRI.
20. Word of sorrow: ALAS.
21. Sign into law: ENACT.
27. Goddess often depicted with a throne headdress: ISIS.
29. __ nouveau: ART.
30. Megacity of India: DELHI.
31. "__ news?": ANY.
37. Asides: TANGENTS.
39. Marvel's Punisher, for one: ANTI-HERO. Flawed protagonist. We also have 98. Attractive guy in Marvel Comics?: MAGNETO.
40. Beltway Series ballplayer, familiarly: NAT.
42. Mesh on a field: GOAL NET.
43. Comb target: KNOT.
44. Community of flora and fauna: BIOME.
47. Gender prefix: CIS.
49. Places where forks may be found?: ROADS. Fork in the road.
50. Terse confirmation: I AM.
55. Thumbs-up vote: YEA.
57. Shahidi of "Black-ish": YARA. She was born in Minneapolis.
58. Jedi foe: SITH.
59. Curly coif: AFRO.
63. High-level perfidy: TREASON.
67. Mineral once used in baby powder: TALC.
69. Also: TOO.
70. Honeylike substances: GOOS.
75. Memo heading: IN RE.
76. Portuguese "Hello": OLA.
77. Newcastle upon __: TYNE.
78. Vampire squid's habitat: DEEP SEA.
79. Largest loch by volume: NESS. Fresh clue angle.
80. Pancake recipe instruction: FLIP. And 97. No longer on the table?: EATEN. 82. "Not one more step!": HALT.
84. Astrological big cat: LEO.
89. Jun. and Jul.: MOS.
92. Valuable violin: STRAD.
96. WNBA great Bird: SUE. She and Megan Rapinoe recently announced their split.
98. For a __ pittance: MERE.
99. Springsteen, to fans: THE BOSS.
102. Fuming: MAD.
104. Namesake of the AL batting title: ROD CAREW. He bowled in Boomer's league for a while.
106. Assessed anew: REVALUED.
111. Have a life: ARE.
112. Harsh in one's nose: ACRID.
114. LBJ's party: DEM.
115. __ colada: PINA.
121. Outdoes: BESTS.
124. Asparagus unit: SPEAR.
125. Totenberg of NPR: NINA. NPR's longtime legal affairs correspondent.
126. Use a mountain trail: HIKE.
127. Squirrel away: STORE.
128. Annual: Abbr.: YRLY.
129. Site with handmade goods: ETSY.
130. Longtime "Jeopardy!" host Trebek: ALEX.
131. Black gem: ONYX.
Down:
1. Mud bath venue: SPA.
2. "True Detective" actor Mahershala: ALI.
3. "Just the news I needed!": MUSIC TO MY EARS. 60. "Not sure why, but ... ": FOR SOME REASON. Stunning pair of 13's.
4. TV sketch featuring Chloe Fineman or Colin Jost: SNL SKIT.
5. Vancouver hrs.: PST.
6. Copacabana setting: RIO.
7. Church pipes: ORGAN.
8. Guy who hosts Food Network's "Tournament of Champions": FIERI.
9. "Take that!": HAH.
10. Changed the laundry?: BLED. Cute clue referring to colors bleeding in the wash.
11. Shift+6 symbol: CARET.
12. Old Glory: US FLAG.
13. "Young Frankenstein" actress: TERI GARR.
14. Pacific Coast Highway's route number: ONE.
15. African grassland: SAVANNA.
16. Like many shampoos: SCENTED.
18. "We the Youth" muralist Haring: KEITH. The mural is in Philadelphia.
22. Secret assignations: TRYSTS.
25. "L8r g8r!": TTFN.
26. "That's bad!": OH NO.
28. Fancy Feast alternative: SHEBA.
32. Sushi roll type: MAKI.
33. Ballerina Pavlova: ANNA.
34. Writer/illustrator Carle: ERIC. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".
35. Outlandish: KOOKY.
36. Per person: EACH.
38. Jeff Lynne's band: ELO.
41. Links: TIES.
45. Sporty Mazda model: MIATA.
46. Utterly captivated: ENRAPT.
48. Honeymoon booking: SUITE.
51. Clear nail polish, say: BASE.
52. Hunting cry: TALLY-HO.
53. Got up: STOOD.
54. Gave an impressive performance: SHONE.
56. Nesting sites: EAVES.
59. Slack-jawed: AGAPE.
61. Memorization method: ROTE.
62. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA.
63. Out of __ air: THIN.
64. Philosopher Descartes: RENE.
65. Switch type: ON/OFF.
66. Wafer name since 1967: NILLA. And 68. Party nibble: CANAPE. Plenty of food in this grid.
72. Moves with the wind: SAILS.
73. Singer Cruz known as the "Queen of Salsa": CELIA.
74. Unadon fillets: EELS. Unadon is short for unagi donburi, literally "eel bowl".
81. Fruit that may be crossed with apricot: PLUM. Pluot.
83. Aquarium fish: TETRA.
85. Religious devotion to an object: IDOLATRY.
86. Jacksonville Jaguars color: TEAL.
87. Corp. bigwigs: CEOS.
88. Turn out to be: END UP.
90. Treat with vanilla creme: OREO.
91. Stitched: SEWN.
92. Grasp at __: STRAWS.
93. Remedial treatment: THERAPY.
94. Mardi Gras merrymaker: REVELER.
95. Gp. of lawyers: ABA.
100. "No __ luck!": SUCH.
101. Tranquil: SERENE.
103. Carthaginian queen in Virgil's "Aeneid": DIDO. Aeneas eventually deserted her.
105. Mobile homes?: CRIBS. Fun clue.
107. "All finished!": DID IT.
109. "Praying" singer: KESHA.
110. Part of a thread: EMAIL.
113. Rackets: DINS.
117. Actor Penn: KAL.
118. Thumbs-down vote: NAY.
119. Hawaiian chordophone, for short: UKE.
120. Film critic Reed: REX.
122. Push to the limit: TRY.
123. "Kama Sutra" topic: SEX.
30. Megacity of India: DELHI.
31. "__ news?": ANY.
37. Asides: TANGENTS.
39. Marvel's Punisher, for one: ANTI-HERO. Flawed protagonist. We also have 98. Attractive guy in Marvel Comics?: MAGNETO.
42. Mesh on a field: GOAL NET.
43. Comb target: KNOT.
44. Community of flora and fauna: BIOME.
47. Gender prefix: CIS.
49. Places where forks may be found?: ROADS. Fork in the road.
50. Terse confirmation: I AM.
55. Thumbs-up vote: YEA.
57. Shahidi of "Black-ish": YARA. She was born in Minneapolis.
58. Jedi foe: SITH.
59. Curly coif: AFRO.
63. High-level perfidy: TREASON.
67. Mineral once used in baby powder: TALC.
69. Also: TOO.
70. Honeylike substances: GOOS.
75. Memo heading: IN RE.
76. Portuguese "Hello": OLA.
77. Newcastle upon __: TYNE.
78. Vampire squid's habitat: DEEP SEA.
79. Largest loch by volume: NESS. Fresh clue angle.
80. Pancake recipe instruction: FLIP. And 97. No longer on the table?: EATEN. 82. "Not one more step!": HALT.
84. Astrological big cat: LEO.
89. Jun. and Jul.: MOS.
92. Valuable violin: STRAD.
96. WNBA great Bird: SUE. She and Megan Rapinoe recently announced their split.
98. For a __ pittance: MERE.
99. Springsteen, to fans: THE BOSS.
102. Fuming: MAD.
104. Namesake of the AL batting title: ROD CAREW. He bowled in Boomer's league for a while.
111. Have a life: ARE.
112. Harsh in one's nose: ACRID.
114. LBJ's party: DEM.
115. __ colada: PINA.
121. Outdoes: BESTS.
124. Asparagus unit: SPEAR.
125. Totenberg of NPR: NINA. NPR's longtime legal affairs correspondent.
126. Use a mountain trail: HIKE.
127. Squirrel away: STORE.
128. Annual: Abbr.: YRLY.
129. Site with handmade goods: ETSY.
130. Longtime "Jeopardy!" host Trebek: ALEX.
131. Black gem: ONYX.
Down:
1. Mud bath venue: SPA.
2. "True Detective" actor Mahershala: ALI.
3. "Just the news I needed!": MUSIC TO MY EARS. 60. "Not sure why, but ... ": FOR SOME REASON. Stunning pair of 13's.
4. TV sketch featuring Chloe Fineman or Colin Jost: SNL SKIT.
5. Vancouver hrs.: PST.
6. Copacabana setting: RIO.
7. Church pipes: ORGAN.
8. Guy who hosts Food Network's "Tournament of Champions": FIERI.
9. "Take that!": HAH.
10. Changed the laundry?: BLED. Cute clue referring to colors bleeding in the wash.
11. Shift+6 symbol: CARET.
12. Old Glory: US FLAG.
13. "Young Frankenstein" actress: TERI GARR.
14. Pacific Coast Highway's route number: ONE.
15. African grassland: SAVANNA.
16. Like many shampoos: SCENTED.
18. "We the Youth" muralist Haring: KEITH. The mural is in Philadelphia.
25. "L8r g8r!": TTFN.
26. "That's bad!": OH NO.
28. Fancy Feast alternative: SHEBA.
32. Sushi roll type: MAKI.
33. Ballerina Pavlova: ANNA.
34. Writer/illustrator Carle: ERIC. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".
35. Outlandish: KOOKY.
36. Per person: EACH.
38. Jeff Lynne's band: ELO.
41. Links: TIES.
45. Sporty Mazda model: MIATA.
46. Utterly captivated: ENRAPT.
48. Honeymoon booking: SUITE.
51. Clear nail polish, say: BASE.
52. Hunting cry: TALLY-HO.
53. Got up: STOOD.
54. Gave an impressive performance: SHONE.
56. Nesting sites: EAVES.
59. Slack-jawed: AGAPE.
61. Memorization method: ROTE.
62. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA.
63. Out of __ air: THIN.
64. Philosopher Descartes: RENE.
65. Switch type: ON/OFF.
66. Wafer name since 1967: NILLA. And 68. Party nibble: CANAPE. Plenty of food in this grid.
72. Moves with the wind: SAILS.
73. Singer Cruz known as the "Queen of Salsa": CELIA.
74. Unadon fillets: EELS. Unadon is short for unagi donburi, literally "eel bowl".
83. Aquarium fish: TETRA.
85. Religious devotion to an object: IDOLATRY.
86. Jacksonville Jaguars color: TEAL.
87. Corp. bigwigs: CEOS.
88. Turn out to be: END UP.
90. Treat with vanilla creme: OREO.
91. Stitched: SEWN.
92. Grasp at __: STRAWS.
93. Remedial treatment: THERAPY.
94. Mardi Gras merrymaker: REVELER.
95. Gp. of lawyers: ABA.
100. "No __ luck!": SUCH.
101. Tranquil: SERENE.
103. Carthaginian queen in Virgil's "Aeneid": DIDO. Aeneas eventually deserted her.
105. Mobile homes?: CRIBS. Fun clue.
107. "All finished!": DID IT.
109. "Praying" singer: KESHA.
110. Part of a thread: EMAIL.
113. Rackets: DINS.
117. Actor Penn: KAL.
118. Thumbs-down vote: NAY.
119. Hawaiian chordophone, for short: UKE.
120. Film critic Reed: REX.
122. Push to the limit: TRY.
123. "Kama Sutra" topic: SEX.
C.C.
19 comments:
I knew most of the
“records.” (Except maybe the “dinosaur” one, but that’s was easily perped).
A fun puzzle.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Crunchy cereal this morning. D-o struggled in a number of areas, but prevailed in the end. Nicely done, Zachary and Joe. Always enjoy your technical evaluation of the puzzle, C.C.
So, how many people remember Was (Not Was) and WALK THE DINOSAUR? They had to dig deep for that one - that must have been about 40 years ago. Good song at least. I don’t remember it climbing very high on the charts though.
Took 16:14 today to record this one.
I didn't know the Actress of the Day (Yara), the Carthaginian queen (Dido), "idolatry."
Peter S.: I remember "Walk the Dinosaur", vaguely. Never would've remembered Was (Not Was) though.
The plethora of proper names sucked the fun out of this one. Titt
I enjoyed this one with the clever theme and lots of fun fill. Several unknown characters, both real and fictional, but the perps were kind.
Thanks to Zachary (congrats on your debut!) and Joe for the delightful Sunday outing. And to CC for the illustrative recap!
FIW, missing with WorK THE DINOSAUR. Don't remember the group nor the song (not song.) Figured that Weird Al was responsible for Like a Surgeon. And until today I thought it was Blue HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH instead of Ooh HEAVEN... Good tune anyway.
Everybody knows the old Yogi Berra quote "when you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Most people also know that DINOSAURs were extinct about 65 million years before human beings emerged. At least they were, until Jurassic Park opened.
I knew a WNBA fill!!! If you real men don't like that I knew it, SUE me.
I've started using generic baby shampoo lately. Not SCENTED, not dyed. So far I like it.
Our honeymoon was at the Boca Beach Club in Boca Raton, complements of AT&T. They even paid for my round of golf and hot dogs at the turn while my wife attended a meeting, which was AT&Ts way of branding the trip as a work event. (This was an annual event celebrating the top sales reps in their network equipment division. This one happened to start on the day following our Saturday wedding. We also got to go to Marco Island another year.)
Ironically, the paper STRAWS we are supposed to be using really suck.
Thanks to Zachary and Joe for the challenge. I don't really like crosswords with this much A&E filler, but a lot of the rest was enjoyable. And thanks to CC for another concise narrative.
FIR. For a Sunday this had some crunch to it. I had to take a WAG at the crossing of Kal and "Walk the Dinosaur", as I didn't know either. I considered a "t" but opted against it.
I was staring at a sea of white squares for some time when "Mack the Knife" appeared and I was off to the races.
But overall not an enjoyable puzzle.
FIR but solidly in my NFZ (no fun zone). In addition to the usual complaints of People Mag/TV Guide proper names (I know---might as well complain that water is wet), I found the theme weak, and there was a secondary theme (super heroes/action heroes) that just provided an opportunity to clutter with more pop culture proper names. And I’m really fighting the urge to throw a few social media abbreviations of my own out there.
But all that aside, there was some real weird cluing that I kept thinking was either too vague (grocery section, honey-like substances, pipes) or too specific (PROFs only lecture to undergraduates?). Some of the vague clues got me back to thinking that there ought to be an equivalent to “green paint” to describe overly general cluing for one word answers.
And while I’m in quibbling mode:
1) Aren’t threads part of EMAILS and not the other way around?
2) I’ve always considered ROTE to be a learning method, not memorization process. I will grant that if you look at enough google answers and squint hard you’ll find it defined as a memorization process, but…
3) BLED as clued? All I can say is WTF? OK, I guess I didn’t quite resist the urge for my own social media abbreviation.
But I have to admit, there really was some out-of-the-box thinking for cluing OREO in this one.
what does FIR and FIW stand for in these comments
FIR w/out help in 27:51, the theme kind of escaped me as I only knew three of the songs, the Bobby Darin one, the Beatles one, and the Patsy Cline one. Didn’t know LIKE A SURGEON, only Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’. Needed perps for ANTI HERO, MAGNETO (although the clue did give a hint which helped), YARA, KEITH, ERIC and a few others. I remembered vowel heavy CELIA as we just had her. Last fill was correcting ‘mahi’ to MAKI, which was also unknown. Learning moment of the day ~ what ‘perfidy’ means. Thanks Zachary and Joe for your fine and fun collaboration, and to C.C. for your insights as a constructor.
Finished it right, finished it wrong
FIR, finish it right. FIW, finish it wrong.
I agree with JohnM27 @ 9:15 am. This was not my cup of tea.
Thank you CC for your recap and evaluation of the theme.
I guess I agree with Monkey, I was not sure what to say about this puzzle. But I had to listen to "Walk the Dinosaur " just to find out what the heck it was,
I guess it depends on your tastes...
But for me, I enjoyed the puzzle about as much as I enjoyed the song...
(Allman Brothers it ain't...)
Musings
-The Pacific Coast was a fun struggle until MUSIC TO MY EARS broke it open
-Any Patsy Cline song works for me and Like A Surgeon screamed Weird Al
-Napoleon’s desperate need for cash drove him to sell America the Louisiana Purchase for a MERE pittance of 3¢/acre
-Disney secretly bought 47 sq. mi. of central Florida for a MERE pittance before land owners could REVALUE their properties knowing who the purchaser was
-No other Jeopardy host has or will match the quality of ALEX
-You’ve got some miles on your tires if you remember Edd KOOKIE Byrnes who had very few KNOTS that required his constant combing :-)
YP - Yikes, your comment just made me realize that as I filled in LIKE A SURGEON, I was convinced THAT was the Madonna song. I even was thinking "Yeah, Weird Al did a parody called 'Like a Sturgeon.'" A mind is a terrible thing to waste. 😄😄
It's nice to see a Weird Al song as an answer in the puzzle. When my kids were kids we'd do Weird Al singalongs on road trips.
... my kids called them the Almond Butter Band.
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