Theme: ¡Three Amigos! - Actually, besides their first names, this trio doesn't have much in common.
18A. Selling point for a house on the coast : OCEAN VIEW. Billy Ocean
25A. Sin forbidden by the Second Commandment : IDOL WORSHIP. Billy Idol
43A. Fortuneteller's tool : CRYSTAL BALL. Billy Crystal
55A. Cop's night stick, and what the beginnings of 18-, 25- and 43-Across could form : BILLY CLUB
Argyle here. A fun Monday from Marti. Fresh cluing and a few edgy words. My personal trouble spot was the cross of 45-Down(recognition) and 47-Across(spelling).
Across:
1. Southwestern plateaus : MESAs
6. "The jig __!" : IS UP
10. Equivalent, in France : EGAL. Liberté! Égalité! Fraternité!
14. Bucking beast : BRONC. He's thrown the 'O' off the back.
15. Brother of Abel and Cain : SETH
16. Prado hangings : ARTE. The Museo del Prado is the Spanish art museum in Madrid.
17. Yoga position : ASANA. My asana position.
20. Amble past : STROLL BY
22. Ranked in the tournament : SEEDED
23. Top bond rating : AAA
24. Red and Yellow : SEAs
30. Auditor of bks. : CPA
33. Crazes : MANIAs
34. Like the Oz woodsman : TIN. and no ice in sight.
35. Avoid like the plague : SHUN
36. Circular gasket : O-RING
37. Meat with eggs : HAM
38. Envelope closers : FLAPS. with ham and eggs.
39. Frozen sheet : FLOE
40. Watch pocket : FOB
41. One taking bets : BOOKIE
42. Aficionado : FAN
45. Crate piece : SLAT
46. Antlered critter : ELK
47. Lounging robe : CAFTAN
50. Hold a parking lot party : TAILGATE. 'Tis the season.
57. Get-go : ONSET
58. New York canal : ERIE
59. Inner Hebrides isle : IONA. Part of an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland...and still part of the United Kingdom.
60. Appraised : RATED
61. Auctioned auto, often : REPO
62. Pirate's booty : SWAG. Pirates are still hanging around?
63. Jackets named for an English school : ETONS
Down:
1. Some CFOs' degrees : MBAs. (chief financial officer/Master of Business Administration)
2. Once, old-style : ERST
3. Fly like an eagle : SOAR
4. __ Domini : ANNO
5. Scamp : SCALAWAG. Also, scallywag; especially British, scallawag.
6. Weather map line : ISOBAR
7. Cabinet dept. head : SECY. (secretary of __)
8. Sport-__: off-road vehicle : UTE
9. Gradually introduce : PHASE IN
10. Overhangs around the house : EAVES
11. Crossword puzzle component : GRID
12. Suit to __ : A TEE
13. Lascivious : LEWD
19. Minimum-range tide : NEAP
21. Thailand neighbor : LAOS
24. Wedge of wood : SHIM
25. "Later!" : "I'M OFF!"
26. Alfalfa's sweetheart : DARLA
27. Bagel flavor : ONION
28. Connector of two points : LINE
29. Wild guesses : STABS
30. Grammy winner Khan : CHAKA. Chaka Khan "Ain't Nobody"(4:31)
31. School kid : PUPIL
32. Yosemite photographer Adams : ANSEL. Ansel Adams.
35. Untidy type : SLOB
37. "Joy to the World" songwriter Axton : HOYT. Selective list of Hoyt Axton songs, take a look. List
38. Traditional tales : FOLKLORE
40. Saint from Assisi : FRANCIS
41. "__ Ha'i": "South Pacific" song : BALI
43. Sculptor's material : CLAY
44. Lipton unit : TEA BAG
45. Fifth-cen. pope called "The Great" : ST. LEO. What made him great?
47. Driver with a handle : CBer. Citizens Band Radio
48. Suffix with million or billion : AIRE
49. Fix up and resell quickly : FLIP
50. Sashimi staple : TUNA
51. Tiny biting insect : GNAT
52. Regarding : AS TO
53. High schooler : TEEN
54. Scheduled takeoff hrs. : ETDs
56. Almost on "E" : LOW. (gas)
Argyle
