Monday, September 29, 2008
Here's To Joe
an excerpt from crooks and liars
Taking a break from politics for a minute. C&L readers know I’m a huge Yankee fan. I have been one since the 60’s when the Yanks were in last place and Mickey Mantle was my hero. Torre winning his division was a big ‘Suck on This” to the new generation of Steinbrenner’s. They had a huge tribute when the last game was played at Yankee stadium and there wasn’t even a mention of what Joe Torre did for this franchise. As long as he was the manager the Yanks won 4 world series titles and played in six World Series while making the playoffs every year of his management. To omit him was a very petty gesture and their claims that it was an oversight is ridiculous.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
So Tell Us What You Really Think Jim Cafferty
God bless him. Blitzer is nothing but a spineless hack
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Russians Are Coming And Sarah's At The Gate Ready
Now I understand what really happened with her daughter
from crooks and liars
COURIC: You’ve cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?
PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land– boundary that we have with– Canada. It– it’s funny that a comment like that was– kind of made to– cari– I don’t know, you know? Reporters–
COURIC: Mock?
PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that’s the word, yeah.
COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.
PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our– our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They’re in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia–COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?
PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We– we do– it’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is– from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to– to our state.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Fannie, Freddie And John
"I can't think of any examples of how he's regulated business, but remember he's a Maverick. He took on on Fannie and Freddie."
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Boy George She's Got It
From common dreams
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (left) talks with Republican vice-presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on September 23, in New York City. Note Randy Scheunemann - neo-con war hawk, McCain advisor, and heir apparent to Kissinger - hovering in the background. (AFP/Getty Images/Chris Hondros)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Tis Autumn 2: Jackie Paris
from a live performance of Jackie Paris' just shortly before his passing. I can't believe I never heard of this guy. from wikipedia:
Jackie Paris (September 20, 1926 – June 17, 2004) was an American jazz singer and guitarist.
He was born Carlo Jackie Paris in Nutley, New Jersey to his father Carlo, mother Rose, and brother Gene. A bopper, Paris even toured with Charlie Parker. He also tap danced since he was young and into his years at the Army, entertaining his fellow men. He is best known for his recordings of "Skylark" and "Round Midnight" in the late 1940s. Paris performed and/or recorded with Terry Gibbs, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Donald Byrd, Gigi Gryce, Charles Mingus, and others. He won many jazz polls and awards, including those of Downbeat, Playboy, Swing Journal, and Metronome. A documentary, Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris, has been made.
• Jackie was born in Nutley, New Jersey to an Italian-American family; his uncle Chick had been a guitarist with Paul Whiteman's famous Orchestra.
• Jackie was a very popular child entertainer in vaudeville, a pint-sized song and dance man, who shared the stage with—and was encouraged by—such legendary black headliners as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and The Mills Brothers.
• After serving in the army during WWII, Jackie, inspired by his friend Nat King Cole, put together a trio featuring himself on guitar and vocals. "The Jackie Paris Trio" were a smash hit at the Onyx Club on New York's 52nd Street. They played at the club for an unprecedented 26 weeks, perhaps the longest-running residency in the history of Swing Street.
• The first song Jackie ever recorded was "Skylark", on one of two sessions made by his trio, for MGM Records in 1947. Composer Hoagy Carmichael once said of Jackie's rendition that "the kid sings the hell out of it."
• In 1949, Jackie was the first white vocalist to tour with the famous Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He remembered an occasion when he actually did 78 consecutive one nighters with the band. When he finally got off the road, he received an offer to join Duke Ellington's Orchestra, but at that time was too exhausted to take it. For years after, Ellington's son Mercer would tell him, "You're the only guy that ever turned down my old man."
• Jackie was the first singer to record Thelonious Monk's future jazz anthem "Round Midnight", which was produced by the famous critic Leonard Feather and featured a young Dick Hyman on piano.
• Jackie was the only vocalist, black or white, male or female, to tour as a regular member of the Charlie Parker Quintet. Unfortunately, no recordings exist of the Parker–Paris combination (although the "Round Midnight" session mentioned above features Parker's bassist and drummer, Tommy Potter and Roy Haynes), but there is a classic photograph of the two working together.
• In 1953, Jackie was named Best New Male Vocalist of the Year in the first ever Downbeat Critics Poll. The winning female vocalist was Ella Fitzgerald, who repeatedly named Jackie as one of her favorites.
• Charlie Mingus named Jackie as his favorite singer, and used him on several recording sessions over a period of many decades, including 1952's "Paris In Blue" (written expressly for Jackie) and the Mingus classic "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love," on the album Changes Two in 1974. Paris also worked extensively with the famous bassist-composer-bandleader in clubs.
• Likewise, Jackie was the only singer ever endorsed by the legendary comic and 20th Century iconoclast Lenny Bruce. Bruce not only split the bill with Jackie on many occasions, he shouted Jackie's praises to all who would listen, saying "I dig his talent. The audience loves him and he gets laughs. He is toooo muccchhh!"
• Other major musicians with whom Jackie recorded include Hank Jones, Charlie Shavers, Joe Wilder, Wynton Kelly, Eddie Costa, Coleman Hawkins, Bobby Scott, Max Roach, Lee Konitz, Donald Byrd, Gigi Gryce, Ralph Burns, Tony Scott, Neal Hefti, Terry Gibbs, Johnny Mandel, Oscar Pettiford, and many others.
• Some of his best-known albums include Songs By Jackie Paris (EmArcy), Jackie Paris Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin (Time), The Song Is Paris (Impulse!), and many others.
• Jackie recorded consistently through the years, from the 1940's up to and beyond the millennium.
• In 2001, Jackie played to a standing room crowd—and to a standing ovation—at New York's Birdland, in Times Square. He was virtually the only performer to have appeared at every incarnation of the famed jazz night spot, from the legendary Birdland of the '50s up to the present.
Paris died in New York City.
Tis Autumn
betty boop video with the great Stacey Kent soundtrack
Old Father time checked, so there'd be no doubt;
Called on the North wind to come on out,
Then cupped his hands so proudly to shout,
"La-di-dah di-dah-di-dum, 'tis autumn!"
Trees say they're tired, they've born too much fruit;
Charmed on the wayside, there's no dispute.
Now shedding leaves, they don't give a hoot -
La-di-dah di-dah-di-dum, 'tis autumn!
(Bridge:)
Then the birds got together to chirp about the weather
Mmmm-mmm-mmm-mmm.
After makin' their decision, in birdie-like precision,
Turned about, and made a beeline to the south.
My holding you close really is no crime -
Ask the birds and the trees and old Father Time.
It's just to help the mercury climb.
La-di-dah di-dah-di-dum, 'tis autumn.
It's just to help the mercury climb.
La-di-dah di-dah-di-dum, 'tis autumn.
SNL: John McCain's New Add Campaign
text from crooks and liars with better video source from huffington
Announcer: Barack Obama plays basketball. Charles Barkley plays basketball. Is Charles Barkley qualified to lead our economy? He gambled millions away in Las Vegas. Don’t let Barack Obama gamble with our economy. No Way. No How. No Charack Obarkley.”
McCain: Excuse me, are those facts accurate?
Campaign Aide: Yes, the Senator does play basketball. Charles Barkley also plays. Charles Barkley lost money in Vegas.
McCain: Can’t argue facts. I’m John McCain and I approve this message.
Looks like Al Franken has a hand in writing the bit:
Al Franken, the former “Saturday Night Live” star now running in a high-profile Senate race in Minnesota, helped craft the opening sketch mocking John McCain that is slated to kick off the NBC comedy show tonight, according to two well-placed sources inside the network. Franken, who hasn’t been a staff writer on the show for 13 years, “phoned in” a spoof of McCain recording campaign ads in an edit booth, said an NBC source. Seth Meyers, the show’s current head writer, wrote it, but the sketch was hatched by Franken, a longtime liberal satirist and comedian.
John McCain's Cars
story and images from huffington post and newsweek. I added a gaseous soundtrack
Newsweek has a story up comparing the number of cars owned by the presidential candidates. It's not even close. And certainly, it doesn't provide the type of man-of-the-people image that John McCain's handlers want to present in the current economic crisis.
As the magazine reports: "When you have seven homes, that's a lot of garages to fill. After the fuss over the number of residences owned by the two presidential nominees, NEWSWEEK looked into the candidates' cars. And based on public vehicle-registration records, here's the score. John and Cindy McCain: 13. Barack and Michelle Obama: one."
Windsor Terrace World War I Memorial Plaques
This was referred to in the interview on the last post
I’ve always been curious about those plaques on PPW. I photographed them and did research on who these soldiers were and where they lived. In many cases their homes (from the 1910 census) are still intact. I took pictures of those homes (or sites) and combined them with the plaque images for this slide show
Johnnie get your gun, get you gun, get your gun,
Take it on the run, on the run, on the run,
Hear them calling you and me;
Every son of Liberty
Hurry right away, no delay, go today,
Make your daddy glad to have had such a lad
Tell your sweetheart not to pine,
To be proud her boy's in line.
Chorus:
Over There, Over There
Send the word, send the word,
Over There
That the Yanks are coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum tumming everywhere
So prepare,
Say a Prayer
Send the word,
Send the word to beware
We'll be over, we're coming over.
And we won't be back till it's over over there!
Johnnie get your gun, get you gun, get your gun,
Johnnie show the Hun, you're a Son-of-a-Gun,
Hoist the flag and let her fly
Like true heros do or die
Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit,
Soldiers to the ranks from the towns and the tanks,
Make your Mother proud of you and to Liberty be true.
Chorus:
Over There, Over There
Send the word, send the word,
Over There
That the Yanks are coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum tumming everywhere
So prepare,
Say a Prayer
Send the word,
Send the word to beware
We'll be over, we're coming over.
And we won't be back till it's over over there!
Sherman Street History
part 1: from the block party of 9/20/08. More local history at my Windsor Terrace site
called Bell Of Confusion
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Palin Unveils 9/11 Firefighter Cousin, Reformed Lesbian Niece, Naturalized Mexican Half Brother
An excerpt from the Onion along with some sloppy photoshopping
CARBONDALE, PA—Less than two weeks after introducing to the nation her developmentally disabled newborn and her 19-year-old son preparing for military service in Iraq, Republican vice presidential nominee and conservative Christian woman Sarah Palin delivered a speech Monday flanked by three heretofore-unknown relatives, including a naturalized Mexican half brother, a formerly lesbian niece, and a New York City firefighter cousin who saved several lives during the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. "John McCain and I will take on the Washington establishment and give the government back to the people," said Palin, who several times gave the "thumbs-up" sign to her African-American coal-miner uncle seated in the audience.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Ball Of Confusion 2
The Sister Act version, from wikipedia
"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" is a 1970 hit single for the Gordy (Motown) label, recorded by The Temptations and produced by Norman Whitfield. Like "Psychedelic Shack" before it, "Ball of Confusion" delves head-on into psychedelia, this time with a strong political message. The lyrics list a multitude of problems that were tearing the world apart in 1970: the Vietnam War, segregation, white flight, drug abuse, crooked politicians, and more. "Round and around and around we go", the Temptations sing, "where the world's headed/nobody knows." The end of each section of the Temptations' lists of woes is punctuated by bass singer Melvin Franklin's line, "And the band played on."
"Ball of Confusion's" lyrics are delivered over an up-tempo instrumental track with two drum tracks (one for each stereo channel), multitracked wah-wah guitars, and an ominous bassline by Funk Brother Bob Babbitt that opens the song. Norman Whitfield's dramatic count-in, always recorded at the very start of a recording for synching purposes only, was left in the mix for this record.
Despite its strong political themes, the record consciously avoids implying a definitive point-of-view or a defiant stance. This is because the Temptations song "War", which Norman Whitfield intended as a spring 1970 single release, was not released due to Motown's concern the song's forward message could alienate more conservative listeners. Whitfield took "War" and reworked it as a single for Gordy solo artist Edwin Starr (for whom it became a #1 hit), while he and lyricist Barrett Strong wrote the more subtle "Ball of Confusion" for the Temptations.
When they first saw the sheet music for the song, The Temptations didn't think they would be able to pull off the rapid-fire delivery required for the song. Lead singer Dennis Edwards had the quickest tongue in the group, and was assigned to deliver the more difficult lines in the song. Eddie Kendricks was given a rare chance to sing in a tenor voice for his verses.
"Ball of Confusion" is among the Temptations' most covered songs, with versions by the Neville Brothers, Tina Turner (see below) Love and Rockets, Widespread Panic, Duran Duran, Anthrax, Tesla (on Real to Reel), among others. It was used to anchor the 1970 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 LP. The song reached #3 on the US pop charts and #2 on the US R&B charts. The song was also sampled on UNKLE's Never, Never, Land album in the song "Eye for an Eye".
It was famously covered by Whoopi Goldberg, Mary Wickes, Kathy Najimy, and other actresses in the film Sister Act 2. HBO used the song as the basis of a televised promo for the fourth season of its drama The Wire. It was also used in the intro of the film Tropic Thunder.
* Lead vocals by Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Melvin Franklin
Ball Of Confusion
I've reconstituted my Windsor Terrace History blog for an upcoming block party.
It's called Bell Of Confusion
1, 2... 1, 2, 3, 4, Ow!
Eddie: People moving out, people moving in. Why, because of the color of their skin.
Run, run, run but you sure can't hide. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Vote for me and I'll set you free. Rap on, brother, rap on.
Dennis: Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the...(preacher.)
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the...(teacher.)
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation.
Ball of confusion. Oh yeah, that's what the world is today. Woo, hey, hey.
Paul:
The sale of pills are at an all time high.
Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky.
The cities ablaze in the summer time.
And oh, the beat goes on.
Dennis:
Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul.
Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon.
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything.
Melvin:
And the band played on.
So, round and around and around we go.
Where the world's headed, nobody knows.
[Instrumental]
Oh, great GoogaMooga, can't you hear me talking to you.
Just a ball of confusion.
Oh yeah, that's what the world is today.
Woo, hey, hey.
Eddie:
Fear in the air, tension everywhere.
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas.
Dennis:
And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation.
Melvin:
And the band played on.
Eve of destruction, tax deduction, city inspectors, bill collectors,
Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide, too many bills,
Hippies moving to the hills. People all over the world are shouting, 'End the war.'
Melvin:
And the band played on.
[Instrumental]
Great GoogaMooga, can't you hear me talking to you.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.
That's what the world is today, hey, hey.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.
That's what the world is today, hey, hey.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.
1, 2... 1, 2, 3, 4, Ow!
Eddie: People moving out, people moving in. Why, because of the color of their skin.
Run, run, run but you sure can't hide. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Vote for me and I'll set you free. Rap on, brother, rap on.
Dennis: Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the...(preacher.)
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the...(teacher.)
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation.
Ball of confusion. Oh yeah, that's what the world is today. Woo, hey, hey.
Paul:
The sale of pills are at an all time high.
Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky.
The cities ablaze in the summer time.
And oh, the beat goes on.
Dennis:
Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul.
Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon.
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything.
Melvin:
And the band played on.
So, round and around and around we go.
Where the world's headed, nobody knows.
[Instrumental]
Oh, great GoogaMooga, can't you hear me talking to you.
Just a ball of confusion.
Oh yeah, that's what the world is today.
Woo, hey, hey.
Eddie:
Fear in the air, tension everywhere.
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas.
Dennis:
And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation.
Melvin:
And the band played on.
Eve of destruction, tax deduction, city inspectors, bill collectors,
Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide, too many bills,
Hippies moving to the hills. People all over the world are shouting, 'End the war.'
Melvin:
And the band played on.
[Instrumental]
Great GoogaMooga, can't you hear me talking to you.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.
That's what the world is today, hey, hey.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.
That's what the world is today, hey, hey.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Letterman On Cheney
from 6/10/08 when he had on Scott McClellan.
Cheney and Bush couldn't care less about Americans
Obama On Letterman: Parts 1&2
you've got to love letterman
videos from youtube user mango7774
excerpt from transcript from swampolitics
Dave: "Let me ask you a question here. Have you ever actually put lipstick on a pig?"
Obama: "You know," (audience laughs) "the answer would be no. But I think it might be fun to try."
Dave: "I know the reaction to that was, 'You were overreacting.' You stand by that?"
Obama: "Absolutely." (audience applauds) "Look, this is - if you - this is sort of silly season in politics - not that there's a non-silly season in politics." (Dave, audience laugh) "But it gets sillier. But, you know, it's a common expression in at least Illinois, I don't know about New York City. I don't know where you put lipstick on here." (audience, Dave laugh) "But in Illinois, the expression connotes the idea that if you have a bad idea, in this case I was talking about John McCain's economic plans, that just calling them change, calling it something different, doesn't make it better, hence, lipstick on a pig is still a pig."
Dave: "Now what I like about this scenario is because they demanded, the Republicans demanded an apology."
Obama: "Yes, they did."
Dave: "So that means there had been a meeting at some point somewhere along the line."
Obama: "All of them."
Dave: "Yeah, they got together and they said, 'You know what? He called our vice presidential candidate a pig.'" (audience laughs) "Well, that seems pretty unlikely, doesn't it?"
Obama: "It does. But keep in mind that, technically, had I meant it that way, she would have been the lipstick, you see?" (audience, Dave laugh) "But now we're..."
Dave: "I don't know, you're way ahead of me." (audience laughs)
Obama: "Yeah, the failed policies of John McCain would be the pig."
Then Letterman asked Obama about what some have called the Palinomenon, the way the Alaska governor has become a national celebrity in a matter of weeks.
Dave: "The fact that we're talking about this now, do you feel like within the last week and half or so, there's been - you're derailed a little bit and now you're campaigning against, not necessarily the Republican ticket, but John McCain, not him, but Sarah Palin?"
Obama: "Well, I - look, there's no doubt that she's been a phenomenon. I mean, you know, as somebody who used to be on the cover of Time and Newsweek, you know." (audience, Dave laugh)
Dave (laughs): "Those were the days." (audience applauds)
Obama: "Those were the days. I had a recent offer with Popular Mechanics." (audience laughs)
Dave: "Take it, take it." (audience laughs)
Obama: "Said they had a centerfold, yeah, with a wrench, you know." (audience, Obama laugh) "But, no, look, she's on a wild ride and there's no doubt that she's energized the base. But ultimately what we've seen over the last week is a concession on the part of the McCain campaign that this election is going to be about change. You'll recall, you know, for the last two years, we've been talking about needing to change how Washington works, how the country is managed and people were saying, 'No, it's about experience, experience, experience,' and over the last week and a half I think they recognized that, no, the American people want something fundamentally different and for a good reason. Because when you travel, it doesn't matter whether you're here in New York City or a tiny hamlet somewhere in the Midwest, what you find is people are just having a tough time right now. The economy is not working for middle class families, incomes have gone down, people don't have healthcare, you've got foreclosures all across the country, and so people want something different, and whoever makes the better case that we have had enough of the last eight years, we need something fundamentally new, whoever makes that case to the American people will be the next President." (audience applauds)
Sarah's Dark Secret
I wonder whether Sarah can still see Russia from her tanning bed
An excerpt from narconews
The story is familiar: a politician emerges, we are told, from humble roots and pledges to restore America’s small town family values and represent the common man and woman. Late last month, the Republican Party offered the United States just such a leader in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, or so they said. “Mother. Moose hunter. Maverick,” announced the video with which the GOP introduced this candidate so far unknown to the rest of the nation. Governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has a darkening secret in the Alaska Governor’s Mansion.It’s the same Cinderella story line that Democrat John Edwards had hoped to ride to the top: the son-of-a-mill-worker from the Carolinas, embodiment of and friend to the just-plain-folks, with all-American good looks and a postcard perfect family in tow. He was going to be a contender… until the smallest little fact began to claw at his authenticity: that he paid $400+ per haircut to his Hollywood stylist to maintain the shine in his bouncy mop.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunset Park : I Like To Be In America
I biked over to the Sunset Park area to take a picture of a WWI veteran's house. In Sunset Park I took pics for some panoramic movies. It was alive with dozens of immigrant groups. When I bought some ices from a cart the woman said in Spanish, "I thought you were a cop."
Sunday, September 14, 2008
SNL: Sarah And Hillary
video clip from nbc via truthdig
partial transcript from crooks and liars
Amy Poehler brings back her Hillary Clinton with Tina Fey’s eerily accurate Sarah Palin to castigate the media for their sexist coverage of the presidential campaign. Like Clinton, I’m a little surprised that this has become an issue now, especially after how much grief I got for complaining about it six months ago.
PALIN: Good evening, my fellow Americans. I was so excited when I was told Senator Clinton and I would be addressing you tonight.
CLINTON: And I was told I would be addressing you alone.
PALIN: Now I know it must be a little bit strange for all of you to see the two of us together, what with me being John McCain’s running mate…
CLINTON: And me being a fervent supporter of Senator Barack Obama, as evidenced by this button.
PALIN: But tonight, we are crossing party lines to address the now very ugly role that sexism is playing in the campaign.
CLINTON: An issue that I am frankly surprised to hear people suddenly care about.
PALIN: You know, Hillary and I don’t agree on everything…
CLINTON: Anything…I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy.
PALIN: And I can see Russia from my house.
CLINTON: I believe global warming is caused by man…
PALIN: And I believe it’s just God huggin’ us closer.
CLINTON: I don’t agree with the Bush Doctrine…
PALIN: And I don’t know what that is.
CLINTON: But Sarah, one thing we can agree on is that sexism can never be allowed to permeate an American election.
PALIN: So please, stop Photoshopping my head on sexy bikini pictures.
CLINTON: And stop saying I have cankles.
PALIN: Don’t refer to me as a MILF.
CLINTON: And don’t refer to me as a “FLIRJ”. I Googled what it stands for and I do not like it.
PALIN: Reporters and commentators, stop using words that diminish us, like “pretty”, “attractive”, “beautiful”…
CLINTON: …”Harpy”, “shrew”, “boner-shrinker”…
Friday, September 12, 2008
Mel Torme: Oldsmobile Jingle, 1948
What a thrill to take the wheel
Of a rocket Oldsobile
In performance it's a star
It's a rocket engine car
Hydra-matic drive is new
Futuramic styling too
Yes the going's great in an 88
It's a drivers dream come true
On The Street Where You Live: Mel Torme
Torme was great. from vervemusic
Mel Tormé (1925–99) was easily the greatest of all scat singers this side of Ella Fitzgerald. At the same time, he amounted to one of the finest dramatic interpreters of the great American popular song to emerge after Frank Sinatra. No other singer can embody the tenderest poetry of Cole Porter or Ira Gershwin one minute and then, one song later, ditch the words altogether to fly off into the scatosphere.
Melvin Howard Tormé got his start as a child entertainer who sang in nightclubs and on the radio in his native Chicago; he also learned to play piano, drums, and compose. His career as composer took off shortly before he got his first big break as a singer: Harry James recorded his "Lament to Love" (when Tormé was fifteen), and the next year comedian Chico Marx and impresario Ben Pollack hired Tormé as boy singer for the big band they were forming. In 1943, the young star made his first of many film appearances in Higher and Higher, and shortly after that he introduced his own vocal group, the Mel-Tones. Easily the most musical jazz-pop singing unit of the 1940s, the group specialized in ingenious harmonies, witty song juxtapositions, and relentless swing, all of which soon became trademarks of Tormé’s solo work.
When Tormé disbanded the Mel-Tones for a career as a solo singer, he was, for a time, packaged as a crooning rival to Frank Sinatra, nicknamed the Velvet Fog. However, by the turn of the 1950s, Tormé had decided the pop star’s life wasn’t for him. He longed to control his own musical destiny, and launched a series of now-classic jazz vocal albums for such concerns as Coral and Verve Records.
These discs covered the entire spectrum of jazz and classic pop, celebrating the Swing Era (Musical Sounds Are the Best Songs and I Dig the Duke/I Dig the Count), the great songwriters (My Kind of Music), show music both contemporary (Broadway, Right Now!) and classic (Swings Shubert Alley), a live album ("Live" at the Crescendo With the Marty Paich Dek-tette ), a collection of ballads (Tormé), a reunion of the Mel-Tones (Back in Town), a Latin album (Olé Tormé), and even a collection of songs about the moon (Swingin’ on the Moon). Tormé’s usual collaborator was the brilliant orchestrator Marty Paich, about whom he said, "I immediately knew where he was coming from and I understood that he was a complete arranger, not just a jazz arranger."
Tormé is so inimitable that no one has tried to flat-out copy him, but any number of younger artists have learned plenty from him, particularly Betty Carter, Mark Murphy, Cassandra Wilson, Bobby McFerrin, and Kurt Elling. The late Steve Allen said: "Since nobody else has ever had that sound, there was no point in trying to sound like Mel Tormé. But, as I’ve often said, Mel could, literally, give singing lessons to all the other good singers."
Will Friedwald, Excerpted from: Mel Torme’s Finest Hour
On The Street Where You Live: Dino
an excellent youtube version from user ladyknight72 where a clips of Dean were matched to the song
On The Street Where You Live: Scavenger Hunt Full Version
the number of pics required two sound tracks-the full dino and bobby darin's
I have often walked down this street before;
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.
All at once am I Several stories high.
Knowing I'm on the street where you live.
Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?
Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?
Does enchantment pour Out of ev'ry door?
No, it's just on the street where you live!
And oh! The towering feeling
Just to know somehow you are near.
The overpowering feeling
That any second you may suddenly appear!
People stop and stare. They don't bother me.
For there's no where else on earth that I would rather be.
Let the time go by, I won't care if I
Can be here on the street where you live.
On The Street Where You Live: Scavenger Hunt Template Version
The template is for filling in the answers for the scavenger hunt. I abbreviated the Dean Martin sound track since the timing would have been too long for each slide
I have often walked down this street before;
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.
All at once am I Several stories high.
Knowing I'm on the street where you live.
Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?
Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?
Does enchantment pour Out of ev'ry door?
No, it's just on the street where you live!
And oh! The towering feeling
Just to know somehow you are near.
The overpowering feeling
That any second you may suddenly appear!
People stop and stare. They don't bother me.
For there's no where else on earth that I would rather be.
Let the time go by, I won't care if I
Can be here on the street where you live.
Sarah On The Bush Doctrine
She got confused. She thought Charlie was asking a question on sex education.
Charlie says he got lost in her blizzard of words, aka her bs.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Anita O'Day: Honeysuckle Rose
Not my favorite song, but Anita can make any song great
Every honey bee fills with jealousy
When they see you out with me
I don't blame them
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
When you're passin' by,
Flowers droop and sigh
I know the reason why
You're much sweeter
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
Well, don't buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You're my sugar
And it's oh so sweet when you stir it up
When I'm takin' sips
From your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips
You're confection
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
Well, don't buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You're my sugar
And it's oh so sweet when you stir it up
When I'm takin' sips
From your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips
You're confection
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
Monday, September 08, 2008
Let Me Off Uptown
the Anita O'Day documentary discusses the 1941 racially groundbreaking appearance of Anita performing with Roy.
by Redd Evans / Earl Bostic, Anita O'Day & Roy Eldridge (with Gene Krupa & his Orchestra)
(Spoken)
Anita: Hey Joe
Roy: What d'ya mean Joe, My name's Roy
Anita: Well come here Roy and get groovy
You bin uptown?
Roy: No I ain't bin uptown but I've bin around
Anita: You mean to say you ain't bin uptown?
Roy: no I ain't bin uptown, what's uptown?
(Sung)
Anita: If it's pleasure you're about
And you feel like steppin' out
All you've got to shout is
Let me off uptown
If it's rhythm that you feel
Then it's nothing to conceal
Oh, you've got to spiel it
Let me off uptown
Rib joints, juke joints, hep joints
Where could a fella go to top it
If you want to pitch a ball
And you can't afford a hall
All you've got to call is
Let me off uptown
(Spoken)
Roy: Anita, oh Anita, say I feel somethin'
Anita: Whatcha feel Roy? The heat?
Roy: No it must be that uptown rhythm
I feel like blowin'
Anita: Well blow Roy, blow.
(Roy's trumpet to finish)
Anita O'Day: 1958, Jazz On A Summer's Day
The great clip from Jazz On A Summer's Day. It's included in the Anita documentary
My Fair Sarah
images from brilliant satire at Zaius Nation
the google video size restrictions makes the wording barely visible at times.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Anita O'Day: The Life Of A Jazz Singer
A trailer from the movie ANITA O'DAY–THE LIFE OF A JAZZ SINGER
part 2 of her wikipedia biography
The call from Krupa finally came in early 1941. Of the 34 sides she recorded with Krupa, it was "Let Me Off Uptown", a novelty duet with Roy Eldridge, that became her first big hit. That year, Down Beat named O'Day "New Star of the Year". In 1942, she appeared with the Krupa band in two "soundies" (short musical films), singing "Thanks for the Boogie Ride" and "Let Me Off Uptown". The same year Down Beat readers voted her into the top five big band singers. O'Day came in fourth, with Helen O'Connell first, Helen Forrest second, Billie Holiday third, and Dinah Shore fifth. O'Day married again in 1942, this time to golf pro and jazz fan Carl Hoff.
When Krupa's band broke up after his possession of marijuana arrest in 1943, O'Day joined Woody Herman for a month-long gig at the Hollywood Palladium, followed by two weeks at the Orpheum. Unwilling to tour with another big band, she left Herman after the Orpheum engagement and finished out the year as a solo artist. Despite her initial misgivings about the compatibility of their musical styles, she let herself be persuaded to join Stan Kenton's band in April 1944. During her eleven months with Kenton, O'Day recorded 21 sides, both transcription and commercial, and appeared in a Universal Pictures short Artistry in Rhythm (1944). "And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine" became a huge seller and put Kenton's band on the map. She also appeared in one soundie with Kenton, performing "I'm Going Mad for a Pad" and "Tabby the Cat". O'Day later said, "My time with Stanley helped nurture and cultivate my innate sense of chord structure." In 1945 she rejoined Krupa's band and stayed almost a year. The reunion, unfortunately, yielded only ten sides. On two of these ("That Feeling in the Moonlight" and "Harriet") O'Day shared the mike with Buddy Stewart, an excellent bop-tinged singer whose promising career was cut short by an early death when he got out of his car to help a motorist in distress in 1950, and unfortunately was promptly run over. After leaving Krupa late in 1946, O'Day once again became a solo artist.
During the late forties, she recorded two dozen sides, mostly for small labels. The quality of these singles varies: O'Day was trying to achieve popular success without sacrificing her identity as a jazz singer. Among the more notable recordings from this period are "Hi Ho Trailus Boot Whip", "Key Largo", "How High the Moon", and "Malaguena". O'Day's drug problems began to surface late in 1947, when she and her husband Carl Hoff were arrested for possession of marijuana and sentenced to 90 days in jail. Her career was back on the upswing in September 1948, when she sang with Count Basie at the Royal Roost in New York City, resulting in five airchecks. What secured O'Day's place in the jazz pantheon, however, are the seventeen albums she recorded for Norman Granz's Norgran and Verve labels between 1952 and 1962.
Her first album, Anita O'Day Sings Jazz (reissued as The Lady Is a Tramp), was recorded in 1952 for the newly established Norgran Records (it was also the label's first LP). The album was a critical success and further boosted her popularity. In October 1952 O'Day was again arrested for possession of marijuana, but found not guilty. The following March, she was arrested for possession of heroin. The case dragged on for most of 1953; O'Day was finally sentenced to six months in jail. Not long after her release from jail on February 25, 1954, she began work on her second album, Songs by Anita O'Day (reissued as An Evening with Anita O'Day). She recorded steadily throughout the fifties, accompanied by small combos and big bands. In person, O'Day was generally backed by a trio which included the drummer with whom she would work for the next 40 years, John Poole.
As a live performer O'Day also began performing in festivals and concerts with such musicians as Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Dinah Washington, George Shearing, Cal Tjader, and Thelonious Monk. She appeared in the documentary Jazz on a Summer's Day, filmed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival which increased her popularity; she admitted later that she was "high on heroin during the concert, and she was unaware of being filmed."
The following year O'Day made a cameo appearance in The Gene Krupa Story, singing "Memories of You". Late in 1959 she toured Europe with Benny Goodman. O'Day wrote in her 1981 autobiography that when Goodman's attempts to upstage her failed to diminish the audience's enthusiasm, he cut all but two of her numbers from the show.
After the Goodman fiasco, O'Day went back to touring as a solo artist. She recorded infrequently after the expiration of her Verve contract in 1962 and her career seemed over when she nearly died of a heroin overdose in 1968. After kicking the habit, she made a comeback at the 1970 Berlin Jazz Festival. She also appeared in the films Zig Zag (1970) and The Outfit (1974). She resumed making live and studio albums, many recorded in Japan, and several were released on her own label, Emily Records.
O'Day spoke candidly about her drug addiction in her 1981 memoir High Times, Hard Times.
In 2005, her version of the standard, Sing, Sing, Sing was remixed by RSL and was included in the compilation album Verve Remixed 3, and 2006 saw her first album release in 13 years, entitled Indestructible!.
One of her best late-career audio performances "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" which opens the film Shortbus (2006) by John Cameron Mitchell.
A feature length documentary Anita O'Day: The Life of A Jazz Singer directed by Robbie Cavolina and Ian McCrudden, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 30, 2007
Anita O'Day
I saw a terrific documentary about Anita O'Day today called ANITA O'DAY–THE LIFE OF A JAZZ SINGER
part 1 of her wikipeda biography:
Anita O'Day (October 18, 1919 – November 23, 2006) was an American jazz singer. Many place her among the greatest female jazz singers in a group that includes Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter.
Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer". Refusing to pander to any female stereotype, O'Day presented herself as a "hip" jazz musician, wearing a band jacket and skirt as opposed to an evening gown. She changed her surname from Colton to O'Day, pig Latin for "dough," slang for money.
O'Day, along with Mel Tormé, is often grouped with the West Coast Cool school of jazz. Like Tormé, O'Day had some training in jazz drums (courtesy of her first husband Don Carter); her longest musical collaboration was with John Poole, a skilled jazz drummer whose career was severely curtailed by his heroin habit. While maintaining a central core of hard swing, O'Day's considerable skills in improvisation of rhythm and melody put her squarely among the pioneers of bebop; indeed, a staple of her live act in the 1950s was a smooth cover of "Four" by Miles Davis. She cited Martha Raye as the primary influence on her vocal style, although she also expressed admiration for Mildred Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. O'Day's soft, slightly raspy alto voice bore a strong resemblance to that of a saxophone. That unique sound, combined with her strong percussive drive, allowed her to utilize her skills in scat singing to meld seamlessly into jazz orchestras as a wordless instrument; her cover of Woody Herman's "Four Brothers" is an excellent example. Another key example of her improvisational skills and rhythmic surety is her cover of "Them There Eyes" with Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson; the song is laid out at a furiously fast tempo, but O'Day pushes the lyrics out at full speed for one chorus, scats another at a Cannonball Adderley pace, then playfully paraphrases the lyrics at half-tempo for her last chorus. O'Day's song interpretations typically reflected a sly, playful sensibility (see, for example, her cover of "An Occasional Man" with Cal Tjader's band, a much more sex-kittenish interpretation than that of Peggy Lee, among others).
O'Day always maintained that the accidental excision of her uvula during a childhood tonsillectomy left her incapable of vibrato, as well as unable to maintain long phrases. That botched operation, she claimed, forced her to develop a more percussive style based on short notes and rhythmic drive. However, when she was in good voice she demonstrated surprising skill at stretching long notes with strong crescendos and a telescoping vibrato, e.g. her stunning live version of "Sweet Georgia Brown" at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, captured in Bert Stern's film Jazz on a Summer's Day: [1] Noteworthy is that one can hear on her records that her prominent upper teeth sometimes lead to her articulation of the "B" and the "P" as a "W" (f.i. Sweet Georgia "Wrown").
O'Day's cool, backbeat-based singing style was strongly influential on many other female singers of the late swing and bebop eras, including June Christy, Chris Connor and even less jazz-oriented performers such as Doris Day.
O'Day's long-term problems with heroin and alcohol addiction and her often erratic behavior related to those problems earned her the nickname "The Jezebel of Jazz".
Born in Chicago, Illinois, O'Day left home at age 12 and began her career two years later in 1934, touring the Midwestern United States as a marathon dance contestant and singing "The Lady in Red" for tips. In 1936, she left the endurance contests, determined to become a professional singer. She started out as a chorus girl in such Uptown venues as the Celebrity Club and the Vanity Fair, then found work as a singer and waitress at the Ball of Fire, the Vialago, and the Planet Mars. At the Vialago, O'Day met the drummer Don Carter, who introduced her to music theory and whom she married in 1937. Her first big break came in 1938 when Down Beat editor Carl Cons hired her to work at his new club at 222 North State Street, the Off-Beat, which quickly became a popular hangout for musicians. Also performing at the Off-Beat was the Max Miller Quartet, which backed O'Day for the first 10 days of her stay there. While performing at the Off Beat, she met Gene Krupa, who promised to call her if Irene Daye, his current vocalist, left his band. In 1939 she was hired as vocalist for the Max Miller Quartet which had a stay at the Three Deuces club in Chicago.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Helen Forrest: Deep Purple
I just discovered that Helen Forrest, born Helen Fogel, one of the best of the big band singers, lived in Brooklyn as a young girl (more to come). Here she sings with Artie Shaw in the late 1930's
BTW if McCain/Palin wins we are in Deep Doo Doo
about Deep Purple, aka Babe Ruth's favorite song
"Deep Purple" was the biggest hit written by pianist Peter DeRose, who broadcast, 1923 to 1939, with May Singhi as "The Sweethearts of the Air" on the NBC radio network. "Deep Purple" was published in 1933 as a piano composition. The following year, Paul Whiteman had it scored for his suave "big band" orchestra that was "making a lady out of jazz" in Whiteman's phrase. "Deep Purple" became so popular in sheet music sales that Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1938:
Larry Clinton and His Orchestra recorded the one of the most popular versions of the song. Featuring vocalist Bea Wain, the Clinton version was a huge hit. Released in December 1938 on Victor Records, the Clinton recording was number one on the U.S. popular music charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1939. The next one popular version was made Artie Shaw with vocalist Helen Forrest. The song is a sentimental ballad. The tune was a favorite of Babe Ruth, and Peter DeRose performed the song at Ruth's birthday parties for about a decade. The song remained a traditional pop favourite, recast in 1957 as a doo wop classic by The Dominoes with vocals by Eugene Mumford. Screamin' Jay Hawkins (best remembered for his rendition of "I Put A Spell On You") also released his version of "Deep Purple" on his 1958 album, "At Home with Screamin' Jay."
When the deep purple falls
over sleepy garden walls
and the stars begin to flicker in the sky
thru the mist of a memory
you wander back to me
breathing my name with a sigh.
In the still of the night
once again I hold you tight.
Tho' you're gone your love lives on when moonlight beams
and as long as my heart will beat,
lover, we'll always meet
here in my deep purple dreams.
Colbert On The RNC
the posted video on crooks and liars had very low volume I was able to make it a little louder.
They're Coming To Take Me Away (If Sarah Palin Is Vice President)
from Dr. Demento, 1975
Remember when you ran away and I got on my knees and begged you not to
leave because I'd go berserk?? Well...
You left me anyhow and then the days got worse and worse and now you see
I've gone completely out of my mind.. And..
They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa
To the funny farm. Where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be
happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're
coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!!!
You thought it was a joke and so you laughed, you laughed when I had said
that loosing you would make me flip my lid.. RIGHT???
I know you laughed, I heard you laugh, you laughed you laughed and
laughed and then you left, but now you know I'm utterly mad... And..
They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa,
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa.
To the happy home. With trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket
weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and they're
coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!
I cooked your food, I cleaned your house, and this is how you pay me back
for all my kind unselfish loving deeds.. Huh??
Well you just wait, they'll find you yet and when they do they'll put you
in the ASPCA, you mangy mutt!!! And...
They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa.
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa.
To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be happy
to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're coming
to take me away, ha-haaa!!!
To the happy home, with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket
weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and they're
coming to take me away, ha-haa!!!
To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time... (fade out)
Hey, buddy!
Yes officer..
You a head?
No, but I'm catching up, ha ha ha....
Thursday, September 04, 2008
The Ballad Of Sarah Palin
from the daily motion by Mason Storm
Born in a hospital in Idaho
Didn't meet McCain until a week ago
And now she might be our next vp
She openly admits that she used to smoke weed
Now she lives in the coldest state
Her husband took her fishing on their very first date
They got married and had five kids
She was doing politics while he was catching squid
Sarah, Sarah Palin
Queen of the Alaskan frontier
A card carrying member of the NRA
Disagree with her and she'll blow your ass away
Sarah's very fond of shooting moose
Bald eagles, puppies and even a goose
Sarah isn't known for trying to conserve
She wants to drill for oil in our protected reserve
Doesn't support abortion or being gay
It's not her fault, just the Republican way
Sarah, Sarah Palin
Queen of the Alaskan frontier
And now we come to the end of the song
Alaska's Governor is a hockey mom
Sarah soon will make history
As the first gun toting nut job female VP
Sarah, Sarah Palin
Queen of the Alaskan frontier
Sarah, Sarah Palin
Queen of the Alaskan frontier
God help us
Doing God's Will
from the huffington post
Three months before she was thrust into the national political spotlight, Gov. Sarah Palin was asked to handle a much smaller task: addressing the graduating class of commission students at her one-time church, Wasilla Assembly of God
Her speech in June provides as much insight into her policy leanings as anything uncovered since she was asked to be John McCain's running mate.
Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.
"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
The Worst That Could Happen (Not Really)
I got a speeding ticket on the way to Clark University. The worst is if Palin is a heartbeat away from the presidency. Gives me a chance to use KV neighborhood's Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge
words and music by Jim Webb, #3 hit for The Brooklyn Bridge in 1969 (released November 1968 - entered the Billboard Top 40 January 4, 1969)
Girl, I heard you're getting married
Heard you're getting married, this time you're really sure
And this is the end, they say you really mean it
This guy's the one that makes you feel so safe, so sane and so secure
And, baby, if he loves you more than me
Maybe it's the best thing
Maybe it's the best thing for you
But it's the worst that could happen to me
I'll never get married
Never get married, you know that's not my scene
But a girl like you needs to be married
I've known all along you couldn't live forever in between
And, baby, if he loves you more than me
Maybe it's the best thing
Maybe it's the best thing for you
But it's the worst that could happen to me
And, girl, I don't really blame you for having a dream of your own
Hey, girl, I don't really blame you
A woman like you needs a house and a home, baby
If he really loves you more than me
Maybe it's the best thing
Maybe it's the best thing for you
But it's the worst that could happen
Oh, girl, don't wanna get married
Girl, I'm never, never gonna marry, no no
No, it's the worst that could happen
The worst that could happen
Oh, girl, the worst that could happen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
