Replies: 43 Unseemly Comments
Favorite CDs of the year:
Hairspray OCR
Brent Barrett's Alan Jay Lerner Album
James Taylor's October Road
Various reissues from Verve: Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong, Dinah Washington and Astrud Gilberto
Kevin Mahogany's Pride and Joy
-And those are the only ones I can think of right now off the top of my head.
However, there are a few more that know I could probably add to this list, since I still have quite a few CDs still in their plastic wrapping.
Happy Saturday, Everyone!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 12/21/2002 09:41 AM PST
Oh.. Just re-read the last paragraph... FIVE favorite CDs... Only five?
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 12/21/2002 09:47 AM PST
And if the cloudbursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
Posted by The Synchronicity @ 12/21/2002 09:48 AM PST
Five cd's? This will take some thought.
HOWEVER - the mailman brought me today....
1. Brent Barrett Cd 8->
2. Benjamin Kritzer signed by BK 8-)
3. Picture Mommy Dead VHS 8-D
What a lovely afternoon I will have!
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/21/2002 10:04 AM PST
#1 without a question is Brent Barrett's Alan J. Lerner album.
Then I have to say, Hairspray, Benjamin Kritzer, Lea Delaria's album, which I bought this year, even if it came out previously. There is Audra McDonald's Happy Songs, which I seem to have misplaced. And The Grand Tour. Is that five already? Oh, rats!
Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/21/2002 11:12 AM PST
Where is everyone today. Visiting HHW in the midst of all the holiday madness is a short but nice way to relax from one kind of madness and indulge in another.
I hate picking the best anything of a year (films, shows, CDs) because it places unfair time restrictions. There have been years when I could easily pick 10 bests and still not include everything and others where none of the best that year is as good as any of the best of the previous year. That said, I have to say that I was thrilled with the DRG reissues of many shows I thought would never be on CD. I'll be picking up two CDs later this week that I'm sure will be among the best: BB sings AJL and the Jerry Herman benefit which features Channing as MAME and Angela as DOLLY.
There are obviously a lot of people who read this site and never comment. After the Encores concert and my critique of it I got an E-Mail regarding one of the songs I mentioned. Today I got an e-mail regarding the song from "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" which I mentioned yesterday. Neither name was at all familiar, but since this was the only site I posted about them it must have been from here. While I'm thrilled to get this e-mail it would be nice if some of these people would stop lurking and start posting.
Back to Christmas (at least tonight I'll be seeing THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT... and I'll report on it later).
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 12/21/2002 11:47 AM PST
CDS Favorite of new ones I bought this past year.
Brent Barrett-The Alan Jay Lerner Album (And not because BK produced it)
Lisa Richards-Virgin Tracks
Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
John DePalma: This Song is Mine
(tie)Ted Keegan Sings & Scott Coulter (self titled)
Most disappointing: Dreamgirls in Concert.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 12/21/2002 12:13 PM PST
Favourite 2002 CD releases:
1. Art Garfunkel - "Everything Waits To Be Noticed"
2. Dusty Springfield. "Heart & Soul"
3. Hairspray. OBC
4. Gosford Park - Soundtrack
5. Randy Newman's "Ragtime" S/track.
I decided to list only the "official" new CDs.
The most played Cds that I added to my collection were the ones that I have received from the wonderful people on HHW!
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 12/21/2002 12:27 PM PST
While you are there Michael.I am getting through the collection. surprises, brilliance and so much enjoyment. Much appreciated.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 12/21/2002 12:30 PM PST
Top five of this year? Geez...I dunno!
1. HAIRSPRAY
2. Jessica Molaskey: PENTIMENTO
3. DREAMGIRLS (in Concert)--yes, I actually liked it.
4. EL FANTASMA DE LA OPERA (yes, that's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in Spanish. It includes the best recording of "The Music of the Night" I've heard since Mr. Anthony Warlow's.)
5. Rosemary Clooney: 16 Greatest Hits (OK, OK, so it's not a new release, but I bought it this year and I think it's wonderful).
Posted by Jason @ 12/21/2002 01:03 PM PST
Okay....after one hearing a new Cd is on my list.
BB - The Alan J Lerner Album
Hairspray - so much fun
Josh Groban (might be from 2001 but I got it this year)
Far From Heaven soundtrack - Elmer Bernstein
Flower Drum Song - Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Can hardly wait for CHICAGO to open here....next week I HOPE! As I posted last week Ginger Rogers was on TCM in ROXIE HART, and actually was pretty good. Good transition of material to musical!
I have spent the afternoon in a wonderful world of yesterday.
When F Scott Fitzgerald mentioned to Joan Crawford that he had just been assigned to her next film, Joan looked at him and said, "Write hard, Mr Fitzgerald. Write hard."
Write hard, BK, write hard. I can hardly wait!
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/21/2002 01:16 PM PST
BK,
A few days back I commented to Jrand55 that he should not get his hopes up too high for the film Picture Mommy Dead. Within minutes you replied to my comment about that flick with a tangential reference to Susan Gordon. Personally, I will not comment either favorably or unfavorably on the former-acting career of Susan Gordon. Since I know that she reads this messageboard daily I feel it would be inappropriate for me to either praise or insult her, as I may be perceived as either a false flatterer or a callous mean-spirit, respectively, if I were to do so. So to avoid that conflict-of-interest I did not involve myself with discussion related to her acting. That said, I know very little about her movie acting career anyway, as my familiarity with it is limited to those first 35 minutes of Picture Mommy Dead. I've not seen any of her other films.
The only reason that I commented on Picture Mommy Dead at all is that this is a public forum from which opinions of those posting may result in people buying certain videos and DVDs of the movies mentioned. I wanted to suggest to the populace that they might want to invest in a movie other than Picture Mommy Dead. Jrand55's excitement about winning the video seemed a bit like an endorsement of the movie. It's not a terrible movie, but like you yourself said a couple of days ago -- "it's a bit of a trial". Mr. Bert I. Gordon directed a film 40 years ago called Magic Sword. It's worth seeing, IMHO -- it's neither a trial nor dreck. It is especially fun fun fun for children, but adults can enjoy it too!
Posted by A Kvetch @ 12/21/2002 01:49 PM PST
I don't quite know what to say. I got the movie today and it was fun. But THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OR RECOMMENDATION FOR ANYONE TO RUN OUT AND PURCHASE THIS FILM.
Sorry if my enthusiasm was a bit overboard A Kvetch.
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/21/2002 02:06 PM PST
Oh,..I have The Magic Sword & The Boy and the Pirates on video and enjoy them as well. Thanks for reminding me of them.
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/21/2002 02:07 PM PST
Dear A Kvetch:
While there really aren't any 'rules' here, I do ask that people treat other dear readers with respect and kindness. So, if one has a difference of opinion or one thinks someone is off, we deal with it nicely and that is what separates us from the riff-raff. Whether you like Miss Susan Gordon's performance or not is your business, but we'd hope rather than say anything negative you would just say nothing at all - the obvious solution to such things. However, it is not good to judge anyone's acting career based on one film. I'd recommend The Five Pennies - that's as good a child performance as I've seen, I think.
Also, if someone wants to endorse something they certainly can - everyone here has the ability to make their own decisions whether they should purchase something or not. I've recommended things that ultimately have not been to everyone's taste - but some have ended up loving the things I've recommended.
Finally, where in tarnation is everyone?
Posted by bk @ 12/21/2002 02:34 PM PST
Thumper's mother:
"What did your father say ?"
Thumper:
"If you can say anything nice,
don't say anything at all !"
Posted by François @ 12/21/2002 03:08 PM PST
Oops, sorry !
Should read: "If you CAN'T say
anything nice........"
Posted by François @ 12/21/2002 03:10 PM PST
Does anyone else find A Kvetch's sudden appearance after recent events strange? Just wondering....
Posted by Coinky-dink police @ 12/21/2002 03:10 PM PST
Oh, please, let's not start
being paranoid !!!
Posted by François @ 12/21/2002 03:11 PM PST
Paranoid? What do you mean by that? Why are you looking at me that way? Stop it...stop it...STOP ITTTTTTTTTTTT
Posted by S. Freud @ 12/21/2002 03:16 PM PST
Just posted my 'Benjamin Kritzer' review at epinions.com
Please peruse!
www.epinions.com/content_84426854020
Or do a search there for Bejamin Kritzer under Books.
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/21/2002 03:26 PM PST
If Hainsies/Kimlets ruled the world, then Brent Barrett would be top of the hit parade. Here's my top 5:
Brent Barrett - AJL Album
Joni Mitchell - Travelogue
The Last Five Years
Philip Quast - Live at the Donmar
The 3 Musketeers - American Musical Theatre of San Jose
(and Elaine Stritch at Liberty got Oh So Close).
Posted by Allan @ 12/21/2002 03:35 PM PST
San Jose Simbulan?
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/21/2002 03:46 PM PST
No, Jose hasn't been
sanctified yet !!!!
Posted by François @ 12/21/2002 03:48 PM PST
With all the support he's
getting from all the Dear
Readers, Brent Barrett should
run for President !!!
I would even vote for him even
though I'm French, and a
barrette is an hair pin here !!
Jason,
any news from Mo ?
Posted by François @ 12/21/2002 03:53 PM PST
My almost 5 in no particular order:
Brent Barrett's wonderful new CD (Mr. BK, you've produced a Winner!) And Francois, I remember my sisters wearing barretts in their hair in the 50s. Barrettes were easy presents to get for sisters when you were a little brother with no idea what to get them. I had two older sisters, me and then two younger sisters. I didn't have a brother till I was 10 years old. At first I was thrilled, then I realized, what can a 10 year old do with a brand new baby brother? My, I certainly strayed from the question with that response. Back to the list
Elaine Stritch At Liberty
Hairspray OBC
and, like Jason, I purchased Rosemary Clooney: 16 Greatest Hits this year and think it's great.
I'll go into the other room and look at my ever growing CD collection and see if I can come up with another or even more than one more.
Posted by Ben @ 12/21/2002 05:11 PM PST
BK, I think you kinda sorta maybe said the same thing that I said, but with a slightly different conclusion -- that this isn't the proper forum to debate the merits of the acting of a person who actually reads this column. By the way, I initially commented on the movie Picture Mommy Dead. I made no allusion to Susan Gordon in that comment. You then commented on her acting. I just felt in the mood to explain why it was that I would not partake in that debate -- that I feared that anything positive I might say could be deemed as having the perception of false flattery, and anything negative could be deemed callous mean-spiritedness, thus, I expressed no personal opinion at all. I hope that clears up THAT confusion!
Having said THAT -- now I say this -- the legendary columnist, Walter Winchell, after seeing her performance in The Five Pennies said of Susan Gordon that she is "the most talented child actress since Miss Temple." I have not broken my personal rule regarding stating my personal opinion, for I have stated Walter Winchell's opinion.
Also, BK, we are in agreement about people endorsing movies here -- I've watched a number of movies over the past 5 years directly as a result of reading favorable things that you've written about those particular films. In fact, the movie in my DVD player at this very moment is a movie that you endorsed.
Posted by A Kvetch @ 12/21/2002 05:11 PM PST
Forgot to mention (I'm blowing my own horn which is not my favorite thing to do, but if I don't, who will, I ask you?) I found out yesterday that I got a bonus at work! Hooray! All that extra time and effort paid off. It also means that I will definitely get a new computer in January. Goodbye old Gateway. You have served me well, but it's time to move on and up.
Posted by Ben @ 12/21/2002 05:16 PM PST
Are you gettin' a Dell, dude?
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/21/2002 05:19 PM PST
Where have we been all day, you ask? We have been seeing the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. It was at the new huge Dodge Theatre in downtown Phoenix, where hot dogs, popcorn, and beer were all sold and allowed to be taken into the theater. The people next to us left a disgusting mess on the floor.
Posted by Laura @ 12/21/2002 05:33 PM PST
Well, well, what next people
are going to be allowed to do
in theaters in the States ???
The show should be on stage
only, but then theaters make
so much money with all that
"food"....
Inspite of that, I hope the show
WAS spectacular, Laura.
Posted by François @ 12/21/2002 06:12 PM PST
Had to skip ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT... too much holiday stuff to do. I've seen it before and it's one of those shows that comes off better on disc than on stage... great score awful book. Instead I baked 10 dozen fruitcake cookies. Now I have 10 dozen cherry cookies to bake tomorrow. At least my shopping is done. Meanwhile Ray put the lights on the tree (we got bubble lights at an after-Christmas sale last year and they look great). Half of me is excited by the holidays and have of me says Bah Humbug... so much work. It's that way every year but by December 25 the first half wins out.
Jrand55--- I read your review and agree it's a great book, but why did you refer to Guy as BK's alter-ego? They are two different people and we don't want anyone thinking otherwise.
Ben--- I too got a large bonus: much larger than people who have worked there a lot longer than I have (I know - I wrote the checks) plus a raise as of 1/1. The only bummer is that since Christmas and New Years fall on a Wednesday we only get one full day off for each although I presume we will get to leave early both Tuesdays (they won't tell us in advance).
By the way, for those Rosmary Clooney fans who think her 16 greatest hits are good --- check out the (budget-priced) 6 CD set called "Rosemary Clooney: The Songbook Collection". This contains the 6 CDs in her Concord Jazz series with one disc each for Arlen, Berlin, Ira Gershwin, Mercer, Porter, and Rodgers, Hart & Hammerstein. Also the 2 CD "Songs From The Girl Singer", released in conjunction with her 2nd autobiography a couple of years ago, is a comprehensive career retrospective and shows all facets of her many talents.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 12/21/2002 07:33 PM PST
Did I miss a post in there somewhere? Where did
"San Jose Simbulan"
come from...
Oh, I think I get the joke now, but still...???
-I could just be in my post-show wind-down phase. Three more to go before Christmas Eve!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 12/21/2002 09:31 PM PST
Francois: Merci beaucoup pour faire une question de Mo. I think that was probably wrong, but it's been a long time since I've studied French. I have not heard anything about how he's doing, but his ex-boyfriend, Alex, said he was going to see him this afternoon, so I'm assuming that things are still so-so. Thank you again for asking. :-)
Oh, and Francois--the bartender at DOTV was actually advertising that we were allowed to take food and drink inside the theatre. She was also quick to point out that they serve "Bloody Mary's." Get it? VAMPIRES---BLOODY? Yeah, I thought it was lame, too.
I don't know how I could have forgotten to put THE LAST FIVE YEARS on my top five list. I nearly wore that silly CD out!
OK...in five hours I have to leave for Penn Station so I can catch a train to get to Long Island where I'll get a cab to the airport so I can fly home for Christmas!! I still have to shower and finish packing gifts and toiletries, etc. so I'll sign off for now. I'll check in from time to time at my parent's house to say hi. Happy Holidays everyone!!!
Posted by Jason @ 12/21/2002 09:46 PM PST
Jose,
Do you know the way to San
Jose ?
I know, I know; it's cheap, I'm
cheap !!
Qui bene amat, bene
castigat......
Posted by François @ 12/21/2002 09:46 PM PST
OK, folks...here it is: The buttcrack of time and I'm about to leave for the airport. Just thought I'd let you know. :-) Ciao!
Posted by Jason @ 12/22/2002 02:37 AM PST
I just posted a review of Brent Barrett's AJL album at amazon.com. Or course, I praised it to high heaven. Of course, I got some digs in at the label that dare not speak its name to the Merry Searchers.
Bon voyage, Jason. Write when you arrive safely.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/22/2002 04:26 AM PST
From the post above it Jose....San Jose Theatre...it seemed clever at the time...ah well.
Reader William E. Lurie, you are right....I will change that in the review. 8-)
Very windy here this morning. And I just won on EBAY a copy of The Razor's Edge with Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney on the dust jacket. 8-D
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/22/2002 05:47 AM PST
5 best CD's??? A tough one at best, having purchased over 100 this year.
But the one that's giving me a lot of pleasure, comfort and solace right now (having been RIF'd a week ago) is a reissue of Keith Jarrett's Bremen/Lausaunne Concerts - 2 CD (orig 3 LP's) worth of improvisational piano by one of jazz' most talented pianists.
So with Santa only 72 hrs away, Happy Holidays to all!
Posted by Phil @ 12/22/2002 06:28 AM PST
William F. - I just went to Amazon to read your review of the Brent Barrett album but there was nothing there. It must take a while before they update the site or something. I did notice, however, that someone was selling a signed copy of the AJL album for $39.98!! Out-bloody-rageous!
Posted by Allan @ 12/22/2002 08:43 AM PST
How can I get in touch with "Jrand 55"? He said he has a copy of "The boy and the pirates" on video and I would love to get a copy of the movie for myself. Contact me at iamalways@mindless.com if you know where I can get one. Thanks.
Posted by John F. @ 07/03/2003 06:31 PM PST
How can I get in touch with "Jrand 55"? He said he has a copy of "The boy and the pirates" on video and I would love to get a copy of the movie for myself. Contact me at iamalways@mindless.com if you know where I can get one. Thanks.
Posted by John F. @ 07/03/2003 06:36 PM PST
I just read this post about the the noise from the Stanley Steemer van.
I was just wondering if you were actually upset with the Stanley Steemer employees for doing their job or the people at that residence getting their carpets cleaned?
I really don't understand why you would call them "idiots" for wanting their carpets cleaned. If they work during the week and have the weekend off wouldn't that be the only time to get things like carpets done? In my opinion I do agree with having loud things like that waking me up on the weekends. But I won't go off and call people names for doing things that need to get done.
I didn't come here to cause any problems or anything. I just don't find it too mature calling names...thats all.
Posted by Jeff @ 08/09/2003 06:41 PM PST
