Defeating boredom...one mp3 at a time!





Cole Porter songs are everywhere! Vocalists revere his witty lyrics, jazz musicians praise his melodic structure, and for 50 years most Americans could whistle or hum along with his tunes. Record companies knew that including a Porter ditty (or two...or even devoting an entire lp) would increase sales, and, as a result, every thrift store crawls with these songs, each flea market stall is rife with them, and if you see a stack of dusty vinyl at a yard sale...well, the odds are good that someone is interpreting classic Cole.







This blog is a humble attempt to offer some of the more unusual/rare/overlooked versions from the Porter canon. Most come from forgotten vinyl, some may come from other sources, none will come from official discography. I'm not here to steal from the record companies. If you see something that is available from Amazon.com please let me know and it will be removed.







I'm no expert on the "great American songbook." I grew up a rabid punk rocker who loved (and still loves) The Ramones, Sex Pistols, and all things Beefheart. My dad loved Broadway, though, and even as I ridiculed his collection of bland records, I was apparently absorbing every song on My Fair Lady, South Pacifiic, and Kiss Me Kate. I can still remember the first time I heart Porter's Lets Do It...did someone just say "Lithuanian and Lats do it?" Hey, I'm Lithuanian! Dad...lets listen to that song again. It sounded so corny when I was a teenager. These days it just sounds good.







The Porter Quarter gets its name from the simple fact that many of the records heard here were purchased for a quarter. Then it occured to me this blog might be considered as a destination...in the same way The Latin Quarter is an actual place. And it rhymes!



















Thursday, February 18, 2010

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.
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1 comment:

  1. beasquareFebruary 26, 2010 at 2:51 PM

    I would have bought it for the cover alone! Personally, I can barely hear the Cole Porter tune, but I'm going to believe you.
    Ridiculous - yes
    Grating - no

    I'll be back to pass judgment again!

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