Well, dear readers, short notes on this lovely Monday. If you want long notes on this lovely Monday, I suggest you catch up on the weekend notes should you have missed them – each day is quite long with lots of interesting tidbits. On Saturday, for example, I answered all your excellent questions. Yesterday, we had an anniversary of sorts and you might find that interesting as well. And, of course, we had many interesting posts from the dear readers who were with us on the weekend.
On Saturday, I bought quite a few interesting CDs at Tower Records. RCA Spain has been putting out some of the most arcane albums, and being an arcane fanatic, they are CDs of albums that I had as a wee sprig of a twig of a tad of a lad of a youth. I got three count them three of these RCA Spain imports and would have gotten more except they were out of several that I wanted, which I will now order from Collector’s Choice. I got J.J. Johnson’s Broadway Express, a wonderful collection of instrumental showtunes, as played by the marvelous trombonist, J.J. Johnson. The album was arranged and conducted by Mundell Lowe and the band on the album is terrific, as is Mr. Johnson. But it’s the sound on these RCA Spain releases which will blow you away. I’ve said it before, with all the technology we have today, all I ever tried to do was make albums that sounded as good as these stereo albums from the Golden Age. Whatever they were doing back then, it worked. This particular album was recorded in 1965, so it features tunes from such shows as Roar of the Greasepaint, Riverwind, On a Clear Day, Golden Boy, Stop the World, Skyscraper, etc. Then I got an album called Poe for Moderns as played by Buddy Morrow and his orchestra. It’s all weird and wacky music “inspired” by the works of Poe. Recorded in 1960, it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. RCA Spain has also released several albums in the “Stereo Action” series – “the sound your eyes can follow”. These albums are a hoot – they pan the sound this way and that way and it’s too too. I got It’s Magic by Marty Gold and his Orchestra – they were out of the ones I really wanted – two Dick Schory albums. I also picked up an import of two great Nelson Riddle TV theme albums from the 60s, both albums on one CD, and again, the sound is just incredible. Also picked up a new recording of an American opera based on Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms. I’m halfway through, and am enjoying it thoroughly. It’s on the Naxos label, which is a budget classical label, and Tower is having a sale right now, so the two CD set cost me all of $11.99. If you’re a fan of American music and American opera, I recommend this. It also has many theater connections. The music is by Ed Thomas, who wrote the notorious flop musical, Mata Hari. The libretto is by Joe Masteroff, who wrote the books for She Loves Me and Cabaret. And the album is nicely produced by Tom Shepard.
There are a couple of others I got, but I haven’t heard them yet, so I’ll talk about them after I do. What am I, Ken Mandelbaum and Max Preeo all of a sudden?
Already these notes aren’t so short. Isn’t that interesting? Has anyone noticed how many times I’ve used the word “interesting” in today’s notes? I find it interesting how many times I’ve used the word “interesting”.
I have an interesting idea – why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below and see what interesting things there are in the next section.
Why, yes, there are many interesting things in this section. For example, did you know that AOL now has 8.0? It has spiffy new graphics and many interesting new features, but it’s still the same AOL. I really must get DSL, as I think that will solve many many many (that is three manys which might just be two too many manys) of the problems one has with AOL.
I tried watching the new DVD of Mr. Robert Aldrich’s The Big Knife, a story of Hollywood, starring Jack Palance and Ida Lupino, from the play by Clifford Odets. I simply cannot get with this film – I’ve now seen it three times and I’m just not a fan of Mr. Odets’ overwriting. He lays it on with a trowel, in very arty speeches, without any of the grace of an Arthur Miller or Tennessee Williams or even William Inge. I did, however, watch the last two weeks’ episodes of The Sopranos, so after I see last night’s I’ll be all caught up. These two episodes were both pretty good, not up there with the best, but definitely first class with many fine moments.
I mentioned that ET was coming out on Tuesday – just as importantly, there is a box set of Carry On movies from the 50s and 60s, which is a must-have if you like that crazy English-style burlesque. Not sure which films are included, but I do hope that Carry on Cleo is there, because it’s quite delightfully weird and wacky.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must start another long week of long days but I will survive them if you post your lovely posts and keep the joint hopping. We must have a hopping joint because that is the only way we will be the most popular site on all the Internet, and the envy of one and all and also all and one. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your guilty pleasures – theater-wise, movie-wise, and CD-wise. That is, the things you love that most people would sneer at you for. An example: I love the score to the film musical Lost Horizon, by Bacharach and David. When I tell people that, they look at me as if I were a bottle of Shav. Post away, my pretties, and post often.