Theme: Group Sprint - as the reveal explains:
55A. 1973 triple-platinum album by Wings ... and what each of three answers to starred clues is, literally: BAND ON THE RUN. The theme entries are literally names of bands atop types of runs. Neatly done.
The cover artwork of the album features Paul & Linda McCartney and Denny Laine from the band, along with six other well-known faces in the UK - talk show host Michael Parkinson, actors Christopher Lee and Charles Coburn, singer Kenny Lynch, boxer John Conteh and humorist & MP Clement Freud.
A nice theme and reveal, so let's dig into the details. The theme entries are:
19A. *Wizard revealer: TOTO. Sitting on top of RACE. It's too tempting not to link a heavy-metal version of Toto's best known hit "Africa" recorded by Norwegian Leo Moracchioli at his home studio assisted by music chums Hannah and Rabea. PG warning for thrash metal and eardrum danger, but I love this.
28A. *Electrically flexible: AC/DC. Underneath is DASH.
40A. *Aerie nesters: EAGLES. Placed above SPRINT.
1. Starbucks rival owned by a fast-food chain: MCCAFÉ. I confess that I didn't know McCafé was a thing - I just thought it was the brand name for coffee sold in McDonald's. I've never seen a storefront of a McCafé, but the all-knowing Wikipedia tells me there are around 1500 in the world. So yes, it's a thing.
7. Josh of "Frozen": GAD.
10. Spots for toddlers: LAPS.
14. Automatic reaction: REFLEX.
15. Reproductive cells: OVA.
16. Cookie shaped like two of its letters: OREO. Now I think the crossword gods are toying with me in my plea to put OREO fill on hiatus for a little while. It seems every puzzle I blog has the word in it now.
17. Welcome words to a dishwasher: I'LL DRY. Better words: "You go and put your feet up, I'll wash and dry".
18. Moving wheels: VAN.
20. Classic 1779 hymn: AMAZING GRACE. It's become pretty much a standard at funerals, much as "Canon in D" is at weddings.
23. Rock's __ Fighters: FOO. Much music in the puzzle today.
26. Lassitude: INERTIA.
27. Dale's guy: ROY. Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans. I had to look that up.
30. "The Jungle Book" python: KAA.
31. Flight safety org.: T.S.A.
33. "The Thin Man" author Hammett: DASHIELL.
35. 20 fins: C-NOTE. A fin is a five dollar bill. Twenty of them make up a hundred, or a c-note. A five-pound note in the UK is colloquially known as a Lady Godiva.
39. Plaza Hotel girl: ELOISE. Children's books and a 2003 made-for-TV movie. Thank you, crosses, I had no clue.
41. Red-and-white suit wearer: SANTA.
42. Proofer's find: MISPRINT.
44. "Sammy the Seal" writer Hoff: SYD. More crosses, thank you.
46. World games org.: I.O.C. International Olympic Committee.
47. Coupling device: YOKE.
48. Big club: ACE.
51. Weeks in Oaxaca: SEMANAS.
54. Old atlas abbr.: SSR. Soviet Socialist Republic.
58. __ one's time: BIDE.
59. Tijuana aunt: TIA. A smattering of Spanish today. I like the Tijuana/Tia alliteration.
60. Titans: GIANTS.
64. Bow-toting god: EROS.
65. USN VIP: ADM. Admiral of the Fleet.
66. Home of the Senators: OTTAWA.
67. Center of N.Y.C.?: YORK.
68. Escape: LAM.
69. Disc golf starting point: TEE PAD.
Down:
1. Hosp. test in a tube: M.R.I.
2. Hanna-Barbera collectible: CEL. I met Joe Barbera in his office at the Hanna-Barbera building in Los Angeles. The building was modern, with some nice touches (the reception desk was a Jetsons-inspired piece) - Joe's office, or suite, was modeled after an English stately home, complete with study & fireplace, library, sitting room and ... a butler to bring you tea or coffee.
3. Montreal Alouettes' org.: C.F.L. Canadian Football League.
4. "The Aviator" (2004) Oscar nominee: ALDA. Best Supporting Actor.
5. Manhattan Project physicist born in Rome: FERMI.
6. Derek Jeter, e.g.: EX-YANKEE. I tried "N.Y .YANKEE" at first, even though as I was filling it in I was noting that there was no abbreviation in the clue to suggest "N.Y."
7. Spread quickly online: GO VIRAL.
8. __-garde: AVANT.
9. "Blast!": DANG IT!
10. Middle-earth trilogy, to fans: LOTR. Lord of the Rings.
11. Cheering loudly: AROAR.
12. Retailer offering sitting and walking services: PETCO. I didn't know this, but it wasn't hard to guess.
13. Farm call: SOOEY. I actually knew this from watching college football - the Arkansas Razorbacks fans chant "Woo Pig Sooie" - same sound, different spelling.
21. Enthusiasm: ZEAL.
22. Tank top: GAS CAP.
23. Dims: FADES.
24. City near Orlando: OCALA.
25. Eats way too much of, briefly: OD'S ON.
29. Debt vouchers: CHITS.
32. Sore: ANGRY.
34. Parental "explanation": I SAY SO.
36. Mishmashes: OLIOS.
37. Some charity runs, informally: TEN K'S. More RUNS.
38. Aromatic compound: ESTER.
40. Gastropod on a brasserie menu: ESCARGOT. Food! I love 'em. Garlic butter, lemon and parsley dressing, what's not to like?
42. 2007 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee: MIA HAMM.
43. "Say Anything..." actress Skye: IONE.
45. Insurance that covers canines: DENTAL. Fun misdirection. With the earlier "Petco" entry, I was on the pets wavelength.
48. Westminster attraction: ABBEY. I lived in London for more than 25 years, I passed the abbey pretty much every day on my commute, and I've never been inside. Terrible in hindsight.
49. City near the Heliopolis Palace: CAIRO.
50. Home of the Ewoks: ENDOR. I got this! I've been catching up on my Star Wars movies.
52. Crete's highest pt.: MT. IDA. You don't immediately associate a Grrek island in the middle of the Mediterraean between Europe and Africa as a place for snow-capped peaks, but Mt. Ida surprises.
53. Posh hotel option: SUITE.
56. Newsroom post: DESK.
57. "Mom" actor Corddry: NATE. More crosses. I don't keep up with my actors, but crosses are usually fair in cases like these.
61. Snooze: NAP. I can't nap. I wake up feeling like my head is full of glue and it takes me ages to shake off the grogginess.
62. Former flier: T.W.A. Trans-World Airlines. Howard Hughes connects this entry and "The Aviator" at 4D.
63. Like one texting ":-(": SAD.
And there we have it. The puzzle gets a :-) happy face from me today. Here's the grid with the bands and the runs highlighted for clarity.
Steve.
