So as the holidays approach, I’ve been tempted to post some Xmas stuff, but I don’t think its necessary as we’re probably overloaded with the stuff on the streets, TV and radio.
So without further ado, lets get back to the audio. This time its Scott Walker performing ‘Mathilde’ from Jacques Brel.
Okay, its been a long time since I last posted. With some work stuff taking over my time and some parties that have since passed, I now have a more time, so let’s get back to the audio!
Here we have a hit song featuring a duo that only plays drum and bass. No, its not Dillinja or Goldie because these are actual instruments. Also, its not Local H or The White Stripes because the time period is the late 1930’s.
Now, I’m not sure which Winnteka they’re talking about… either the droll suburb of LA or the suburb of Chicago where Laurie Dann did that killing spree that motivated their cops to regulate Uzi machine guns for their officers after that tragedy. Maybe that explains the “big sound.”
I bring you Bob Haggart & Ray Bauduc!
I’ve only recently become interested in The Walker Brothers, mainly because I keep hearing Scott Walker’s name dropped by about every band I know as “a major influence in their work.”
You can’t miss Scott Walker’s baritone and how singers like Jarvis Cocker, Morrissey and David Bowie have all been influenced by his unique voice. I just liked the fact that when he went solo, he released 3 albums simply titled “Scott.” Whats the hurt in that?
The world has had its share of cabaret singers, and Marlene Dietrich was one of the big names despite not having a flattering vocal range like some. However, its made up by her stage presence.
Unfortunately, in my honest opinion, this isn’t one of Dietrich’s finer moments, but you can see where the legend one stood.
Its interesting these days that when an actor/actress is also a singer, you need to hole them into one category or the other. However, when I think of Julie Andrews, its both, and its a rare breed. Humbling in all aspects, Andrews is a classic “entertainer” in every sense of the word. Its interesting seeing her in films these days basically playing the “Olde English Matron” part like ‘The Princess Diaries’, but I’ll always remember her from ‘The Sound of Music.’ I do, however, remember being startled when I saw ‘S.O.B.’ (directed by her husband, Blake Edwards) and Ms. Andrews ripped off her top and said “I am going to show my boobies. Are you here to see my boobies?” I guess that’s what I call a “range of characters.”
Apologies for the delay in posting, now it back to bringing back the goodies. Please keep on coming!
Yes, before he became the sun-tanned King of Malibu and sipped coffee with Imelda Marcos, the young George Hamilton took his chops to pop-songs and gained some noteable success by eventually hitting #134 on the Billboard Singles Charts in 1963 with “Don’t Envy Me”.
For the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting YouTube stuff since, well, I’m moving, and the vinyl is currently in a buncha boxes. Please keep on coming!
Here comes another somewhat foreign post, but its Petula Clark. Yes, the woman who brought us the tune ‘Downtown’ also sang songs in French. In fact, you could call her the “British Nana Mouskouri.”
Now comes my first foreign post. I only recently became fascinated with French Pop music in the past couple of years. I had a Serge Gainsbourg CD since I felt his music was good bachelor pad stuff, and it worked. Soon I was into more traditional French musicians like Edith Piaf and Yves Montand. However, only recently did I stumble upon Jacques Brel after some reading up on Scott Walker and how Brel was a huge influence.
Alot of people would find it predictable for me to post Tom Jones in this blog since he was basically my gateway into the whole traditional pop music scene. Whats strange is that Tom actually started as an R&B/Mod/Beat singer and this is his first performance on British TV show ‘Beat Room’ doing a song called ‘Chills and Fever.”
Since I couldn’t do a post for Wednesday, what better than another duet. 2 for the price of one.
This time its Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim performing a medley of duets on a tv show from November 1967. I especially love Frank’s Intro as he’s fiddling with a cigarette in his hands and says:
The instrument - guitar
The beat - Bossa Nova
The artist - One of the inventors of this exciting, all new sound, Antonio Carlos Jobim.
