Libby Hoffman: A Primitive Man

Libby Hoffman is supposed to be a "famous torch singer" but there really isn't alot of info on her. I'm guessing her clame to fame is that she married an heir to the Reynolds tobacco fortune...who shot himself. Then her next husband died of a drug overdose. Then her son died in a "suspicious mountain climbing accident." Then Libby did herself in with carbon monoxide! Anyway, Primitive Man was written for the 1929 Porter show Fifty Million Frenchmen. It was a fairly popular song due to its uptempo, dance-worthy nature, and, of course, the sexy lyrics couldn't hurt. www.box.net/shared/zm43rmal56

Well Did You Evah? - Cover

Wow...this is just great! Two high school students in tuxes, sipping champagne, and lip-synching to "Well, Did You Evah." I would have loved to hear the parents reactions to this teen swagger. Bravo!

Trinidad Steel Band: Begin The Beguine

I really had high hopes for this one!  First of all you have a genuine steel band covering a sophisticated Porter song.  Next, you have this beautiful vinyl release (with a wonderful "they'll never make 'em like that again" glossy jacket) on the Elektra label.  Unfortunately, the song itself is poorly recorded...was Elektra just jumping on the steel bandwagon?  Its amazing how many steel drum discs were recorded.  It seems like every hotel in the Caribbean had an in-house record label that sold in-hotel musical souvenirs to sun-loving tourists.  Heck, you were picking up sunglasses and beach towels...might as well grab the new release by the Palm Frond Five (not a real band, but it kinda sounds legit).  Unfortunately, there is something grating about the steel drum sound.  It only sounds good in situ...or when you are in the company of drunk friends...or you are trying to conjure an element of campiness to your rum-soaked party.  Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, puts on one of these discs when they are alone.  I guess they are like the sonic version of a velvet painting. www.box.net/shared/ncmfdmyyhk.

YOUNG@HEART - OFFICIAL TRAILER

Damn...I forgot to mention this amazing film! While transferring The Smithereens LP I was thinking about Northhampton and its lively music scene...which reminded me of the movie Young@Heart. Next time you are cruising the video store or Netflix remember this mind-blowing documentary. My wife and I actually ran into this group while hanging out in Amherst. About 14 old timers in white robes...singing a Led Zeppelin song!!! Stopped us in our tracks, I gotta tell you.

Playing around with an old scanner last night I couldn't help but being caught up in the graphics on old LP jackets!  Few designers trumpet the excitement of "Stereo Sound" in this ipod age... occasionally, though,  you will see a tip o' the hat to past design (Aimee Mann's last CD took its disc art from old Recordio discs...more on Recordios when/if I find one with a Porter song). 

The Smithereens: My Heart Belongs To Daddy

Finally, the computer is back in the office (a tip o' the hat to John - computer expert extraordinaire), the turntable is up and running, and the audio restoration software is slowly revealing its secrets. Here we go with our first vinyl-to-digital offering: The Smithereens! A vinyl artifact from Smith College in Northampton, Ma. No date on sleeve or disc, but I'm guessing it was made in the early 80's.

The college LP represents a nearly forgotten subgenre....the musical equivalent of the "vanity press." Thousands of these discs, representing glee clubs, greek organizations, and drama departments, find themselves in landfill every year. Every record collector runs across them and nearly every record collector shuns them. This one is actually interesting: a cappella versions of Beatles and Beach Boys...and Cole Porter. www.box.net/shared/uuqlsql9oa

I Love Paris in the Springtime

Yikes...from the amateurish sublime to the professionally ridiculous!

Harmonica - I Love Paris - Cole Porter - Frank Sinatra

Its Saturday! Unfortunately, its still too cold for yard sales or flea markets...oh well. Computer still out of comission but I was able to grab my wife's macbook for a few minutes. How about another amateur video? Man, this guy sounds pretty good. Anyway, have a great weekend...

Ukulele: Don't Fence Me In

Okay, my turntable is running but my computer has crashed. Still not able to digitize music. In the meantime, how 'bout a little video for you? A demented ukulele version....

Eartha Kitt sings Night and Day

Still working on the turntable...installed a new Shure cartridge last night. Currently charging my minidisc recorder. Don't laugh at the minidisc format - Sony no longer produces them, but the last model could record a PCM flow, AND you could actually upload onto your computer for audio "tweaking." Quite a handy device for the vinyl lovers out there. Anyway, just to throw a tune your way, here is an AM radio broadcast from New York city. Its really a shame that somebody edited out the dialogue...Eartha Kitt can be pretty damn funny! Until a more complete recording surfaces, here is Eartha and a piano player, and someone snapping their fingers. http://www.box.net/shared/k9vxd3vkci

Sarah Vaughn sings From This Moment On...

Okay, I'm slowly figuring this blog thing out. Before I begin the artful task of transferring vinyl to digital (an art I'm learning "on the fly"), I think I'll throw this at you. Its a live recording of Sarah Vaugh and an unknown trio. Recorded at the Stadhall in Karlsruhe, Sweden, November 3rd, 1985. http://www.box.net/shared/37k25utsu4