The whole time I watched this episode I kept thinking Matthew Mcconaughey, every time I head Marjoe Gortner speak. Mcconaughey had to adpoted his style from this.
9 Reviews
Sounds Like An Early Matthew Mcconaughey
city5705boy30 March 2019
Barnaby Jones plays the guitar, and sings a Jethro Tull classic song.
FloridaFred12 May 2021
The rise and fall of a great rock and roll singer, who resorts to murder to protect his image and his name.
One of the best scenes in this episode is Barnaby Jones strumming a string guitar and singing the words to the classic Jethro Tull song, "Wind Up", while Betty looks on, fascinated.
Actor Marjoe Gortner, who plays rock and roller "David Colton", has an amazing real life background. Look it up; it's very interesting.
Predicatable but watchable. I rate "A Gold Record for Murder" 8 stars.
One of the best scenes in this episode is Barnaby Jones strumming a string guitar and singing the words to the classic Jethro Tull song, "Wind Up", while Betty looks on, fascinated.
Actor Marjoe Gortner, who plays rock and roller "David Colton", has an amazing real life background. Look it up; it's very interesting.
Predicatable but watchable. I rate "A Gold Record for Murder" 8 stars.
Jethro Tull
ekudamram15 October 2019
Jethro Tull lyrics, and the 1st "Tin Man" rates this episode a solid 8.
When suddenly I realized that, "I had the whole damn thing all wrong".
Because they were using "Tull" I had rated it at a 6 rather than the usual 4 at the beginning until Buddy played a couple of chords, and sung the lyrics, "Packed me off to Sunday school"...
WRITE A SONG AND DIE?
tcchelsey10 November 2023
Marjoe Gortner, who lead a very interesting life as an evangelist preacher, plays a Hollywood singer --who has secrets. He kills a songwriter, who knows the score, making it all look like a heroine overdose, and that's just the beginning. Calling Barnaby.
I agree with the last reviewer he's not Elvis, but this is more mystery than a talent contest!
This is a very offbeat episode, but well directed, and Marjoe is the one to watch. A few years earlier, he gained stardom in an Oscar winning documentary about his career. In Hollywood tradition, Barnaby even gets to strum a guitar, which is a first! Buddy Ebsen actually began his long career as a singer and dancer.
An excellent supporting cast with Meg Foster (as Glenda) and Jason Evers as Gil. There are many familiar faces here, and its fun to spot the actor. Written by Larry Brody, who wrote four episodes for the series. Brody also branched into tv production and produced POLICE STORY.
Marjoe followed this up with PREY FOR THE WILDCATS, starring Andy Griffith --as the bad guy, and the classic disaster flick, EARTHQUAKE.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 18 remastered CBS dvd box set.
I agree with the last reviewer he's not Elvis, but this is more mystery than a talent contest!
This is a very offbeat episode, but well directed, and Marjoe is the one to watch. A few years earlier, he gained stardom in an Oscar winning documentary about his career. In Hollywood tradition, Barnaby even gets to strum a guitar, which is a first! Buddy Ebsen actually began his long career as a singer and dancer.
An excellent supporting cast with Meg Foster (as Glenda) and Jason Evers as Gil. There are many familiar faces here, and its fun to spot the actor. Written by Larry Brody, who wrote four episodes for the series. Brody also branched into tv production and produced POLICE STORY.
Marjoe followed this up with PREY FOR THE WILDCATS, starring Andy Griffith --as the bad guy, and the classic disaster flick, EARTHQUAKE.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 18 remastered CBS dvd box set.
Alvin and the Chipmunks.
jeffpeck501620 February 2021
Like most of the Barnaby Jones episodes this is well written and well acted by the main cast members and most of the other actors. I understand Marjoe Gortner had a musical background but I found that hard to believe as he sounded like the Chipmunk that Alvin had kicked out of the band. The only movie I watched with him in it was Bobbie Joe and the Outlaw only because I had a juvenile desire to see Wonder Woman's breasts. If he had any talent I could not see it personally but at least he had his 15 minutes of fame.
Marjoe plays a performer who is a total phony.
planktonrules9 July 2021
One of the most unusual TV stars of the 1970s-80s is Marjoe Gortner. This is because his path to stardom was a strange one to say the least. When he was a child, he was pushed by his family to be a traveling evangelist and faith healer. But as he grew older, Marjoe hated the routine, as his healings were fake and he hated the deception. So, he allowed hidden cameras into his tour...and they were able to expose the scam! Then, shortly after, he reinvented himself and began appearing on a variety of TV shows and movies.
David Colton (Gortner) is a famous rock singer. However, his public thinks he not only sings but writes his own music...which annoys the actual songwriter of his music. The writer insists he receive writing credit on the albums...and David responds by murdering the guy! And, to make it look like an accident, he drugs the writer and injects him with a lethal dose of heroin! Barnaby is called into the case because the dead man's family suspect foul play.
This episode of "Barnaby Jones" is a case of art imitating life, as Gortner plays a guy who is a total phony on stage. Unfortunately, his acting is not exactly stellar (especially at the end) and Barnaby sings a bit...which is quite painful. As a result, I'm deducting a couple points. Watchable but far from a great episode.
David Colton (Gortner) is a famous rock singer. However, his public thinks he not only sings but writes his own music...which annoys the actual songwriter of his music. The writer insists he receive writing credit on the albums...and David responds by murdering the guy! And, to make it look like an accident, he drugs the writer and injects him with a lethal dose of heroin! Barnaby is called into the case because the dead man's family suspect foul play.
This episode of "Barnaby Jones" is a case of art imitating life, as Gortner plays a guy who is a total phony on stage. Unfortunately, his acting is not exactly stellar (especially at the end) and Barnaby sings a bit...which is quite painful. As a result, I'm deducting a couple points. Watchable but far from a great episode.
Bad Singing and Bad Acting
zombiemockingbird15 July 2023
I never understand when these shows have stories about singers, why they never use actors who can actually sing.
The story wasn't so bad, but it was poorly executed. Marjoe Gortner's (David Colton) over-acting is only surpassed by his horrible singing. All he does is make faces and yell; truly awful. It was painful to watch him and even more painful to listen to him. The supporting cast wasn't too great either, although Meg Foster (Glenda) was better than the last time I saw her in an earlier episode. Michael Zaslow (Raymond Walding) wasn't bad but he was only in the show for a hot minute. This would have been a better show, if they had used good actors.
The story wasn't so bad, but it was poorly executed. Marjoe Gortner's (David Colton) over-acting is only surpassed by his horrible singing. All he does is make faces and yell; truly awful. It was painful to watch him and even more painful to listen to him. The supporting cast wasn't too great either, although Meg Foster (Glenda) was better than the last time I saw her in an earlier episode. Michael Zaslow (Raymond Walding) wasn't bad but he was only in the show for a hot minute. This would have been a better show, if they had used good actors.
Bizarre Episode
nbrice181 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
We watched this episode of Barnaby Jones last night and I'm still thinking about how truly weird it was.
Several other reviews covered my impression of it but what the heck, I'll review it anyway. Another reviewer had me laughing out loud when they said that Marjoe Gortner looked like the son of the dentist on Newhart! Great comparison. I've never liked Gortner and he stayed true to form with his overacting. He's a really bad singer as well.
The most bizarre aspect of this episode was the use of Jethro Tull's best song, Wind Up. We had to mute Gortner's butchering of it. Buddy Ebsen actually sang a better acoustic version.
All in all a poor show which could have been better with a different actor playing the murdering musician.
Several other reviews covered my impression of it but what the heck, I'll review it anyway. Another reviewer had me laughing out loud when they said that Marjoe Gortner looked like the son of the dentist on Newhart! Great comparison. I've never liked Gortner and he stayed true to form with his overacting. He's a really bad singer as well.
The most bizarre aspect of this episode was the use of Jethro Tull's best song, Wind Up. We had to mute Gortner's butchering of it. Buddy Ebsen actually sang a better acoustic version.
All in all a poor show which could have been better with a different actor playing the murdering musician.
Lamefest smorgasbord extrordonaire !
ronnybee211222 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Holy moly where to begin ? We have a real howler here folks. A goofball rockstar that looks like the son of the dentist on Newhart.. A tiny pill that can be disolved in a cup of coffee,is apparently tasteless,and one sip puts you out/comatose..
The rockstar is not all that people think he is,he has a ghostwriter that has written most of his songs for him. Mr. ghostwriter wants more money,credit on the future albums,
royalties,etc. Rockstar bumps him off instead. Rockstar's manager figures it out,and puts heat on Rockstar to sign a new contract. Rockstar kills him next..
During all this,there are small snippets of the Rockstar's music played,most of it is terrible with maybe a couple semi-catchy riffs tossed in for good measure,or more likely by accident..
The show drags and meanders along at a snail's pace with little excitement or spark.
We do get to see and hear Barnaby play acoustic guitar and sing for a minute or two,that is probably the high-point of the episode. Barnaby is actually better at music than the Rockstar,but not by much..
The final showdown between Barnaby and the Rockstar is a gunfight punctuated with the best music of the show. Rockstar gets shot right as his girlfriend enters the room,and she does not seem the least bit concerned about his condition ! This is a true howler,no ifs ands or buts.
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