ROY ORBISON BIRTHDAY – Celebrate No. 2 All Time Oldies Artist
Until his famous comeback along with the Traveling Wilburys ini the late 1980s, Roy Obison was relegated to ‘second tier’ oldies artist status,with even the supposedly top music journals like Rolling Stone writing him off as a dark-suited flash-in-the-pan. Only after new-generation admires like Elvis Costello, kd lang, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, etc. showed their appreciate in the famous 1987 ‘Black and White Night’ video tribute did Roy get the respect he deserved. People began discovering or rediscovering a wealth of underplayed and undervalued music he had recorded all the way through the late 60s and 70s, long after his initial heyday of the early 60s.
Though Orbison never got to witness the full effect of his comeback, as he passed before his ‘Mystery Girl’ hit No. 5 LP, he did see it ocming with the Wilburys. Since then Orbison has been the number two Oldies artist (those having begun prior to 1963 )in sales – only Ellvis tops him.
Celebrate Roy Orbison’s 76th birthday (April 23) with a some classic ‘beat ballad’ music from the Big O(below)
Dick Clark, who died Wednesday at age 82, is widely — and legitimately — lauded as the man who made rock ‘n’ roll safe for mainstream America with the clean-cut image of “American Bandstand” upon its national premiere in 1957.
But four months before “Bandstand” made the jump from its previous status as a popular local show out of Philadelphia, a watershed moment in the generational divide between rock ‘n’ roll-loving teens and their fretful parents took place on, of all places, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.”
On April 10, 1957, then-16-year-old Ricky Nelson, the youngest member of the popular clan introduced each week as “America’s favorite family,” showcased his love for the music that was sending adults around the country into conniptions in the wake of controversial appearances by Elvis Presley, whose pelvic gyrations were viewed as lewd by hordes of grown-ups.
Ed Sullivan’s endorsement of Presley as “a real decent, fine boy” in 1956 helped calm some fears, but many in positions of authority remained wary, or outright hostile, after watching Presley on his first national appearance in January 1956 on “The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show,” then subsequently on “The Steve Allen Show” and then “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
After those shows, rock and TV remained a fitful marriage at best. When the music surfaced on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” however, the landscape changed dramatically.
The Nelsons were as wholesome as could be. Millions of Americans, first on radio, then on television, heard and watched Ozzie and Harriet’s handsome young sons, David and Ricky, grow up before their eyes.
Ricky’s passion for rock ‘n’ roll was no mere plot device. Outside the show, like scads of other teens, he was lapping up the hits of Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and rock’s other originators.
On the “Ricky the Drummer” episode that predated “American Bandstand” going national, Ozzie Nelson, the show’s creative mastermind and director, let his son sing Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin’ ” on the show, a song he had just recorded, reportedly to impress a date who was more enthralled with hearing Presley on his car radio than by being out with one of the stars of a hit national TV show.
The performance by “the irrepressible Ricky” that night not only showed him to be a convincing and charismatic performer, but Ozzie Nelson also made sure to include shots of the effect his son was having on doe-eyed teenage girls looking on adoringly from the dance floor.
Perhaps more crucially, he had the camera cut to the wings to show himself and Harriet looking on, beaming smiles of approval.
That moment certainly couldn’t have been lost on execs meeting Clark at ABC-TV — the same network that had Ozzie and Harriet — when he came to them with a kinescope of his “American Bandstand” show in hopes they might green-light it for the programming opening they had that summer. The equally wholesome-looking Clark made an excellent chaperon as America became more comfortable looking in on the dance parties its children were enjoying.
Ricky’s recording of “I’m Walkin’ ” became an instant hit — some accounts say it sold 500,000 copies the first week after the show aired, some put the figure as high as 1 million. In any event, the record entered the Billboard’s Top 100 sales chart within three weeks, peaking at No. 4 and spending 17 weeks in all on that chart — quickly demonstrating the power of television to expose new music by young recording artists.
Ricky Nelson followed with an even bigger hit, “A Teenager’s Romance,” which shot to No. 2, also before “American Bandstand” premiered on Aug. 5 that year.
Ricky was quickly dubbed a “teen idol” by Life magazine, in what is widely cited as the first use of the term as the focal point of popular culture in the 1950s was rapidly shifting away from adults toward adolescents and their music and fashion.
Suddenly, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” had a breakout pop star on its hands, and the youngest Nelson continued to introduce new songs every few weeks on the show.
Some sponsors balked: Kodak reportedly threatened to pull its advertising if the show continued to include rock ‘n’ roll music. Ozzie’s response: “Well then, don’t be our sponsor.”
At one point in 1958, in a script written by Ozzie that took on the still-burning question – “Is it the devil’s music?” — Ricky asks Harriet, “Mom, what do you think of rock ‘n’ roll?”
Her reply contained a hint of the widespread parental confusion over a style of music that wasn’t theirs, but she confessed that she could see how it was a natural way for teenagers to express themselves, concluding enthusiastically, “I’m not going to knock it, I’ll tell you that much!”
That pronouncement deflated the controversy swirling around rock ‘n’ roll in a big way. Ricky Nelson, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, became one of the most successful recording artists of the late ’50s and early ’60s — he charted 18 Top 10 hits from 1957 through 1963, when the British Invasion prompted a new batch of teenagers to forget about him and so many other early American rockers.
But by that point, rock ‘n’ roll was deeply integrated into the culture, and while meeting the Beatles and other new stars by way of television was still exciting, it was rarely as shocking or controversial as it had been a few years earlier.
If Dick Clark and “American Bandstand” made rock music safe for America, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” deserves credit for making the world of television safe for “American Bandstand.”
Isaak Band’s Pilgrimage to Sun Records Results in New Sun Tribute LP
Lib at Large: Isaak drummer Kenney Dale Johnson’s day in the Sun
By Paul Liberatore Marin Independent Journal Posted: 10/14/2011 08:20:00 AM PDT
Kenney Dale Johnson, the drummer for Chris Isaak’s band, with his drum set in his San Rafael home on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. Isaak’s band will be headlining at Sonoma Jazz Plus on May 24th. (IJ photo/Jeff Vendsel) Jeff Vendsel
KENNEY DALE JOHNSON, longtime drummer for Chris Isaak, called the other day all excited about the new album the band recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn., one of the birthplaces of rock ‘n’ roll.
“That was the most fun I’ve ever had making a record,” said the San Rafael resident. “I looked around as we were playing and thought, Oh, my God, I can’t believe I’m here. We had a ball.”
That’s what impresses me about Kenney. He’s been with Isaak for more than 25 years, and in other rock bands before that, but he hasn’t become jaded. Far from it.
He and his buddy Isaak are self-described “music geeks.” They grew up (Kenney in Texas, Isaak in Stockton) listening to early
Chris Isaak Sheryl Louis
rock records by Elvis and Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis and the other future classics that were recorded by Sam Phillips at Sun.
“We were both influenced by those records,” Kenney said in his personable Lone Star drawl. “All those great songs were made right there in that little room.”
Aptly titled “Beyond the Sun,” the album was released this week on Vanguard, the band’s new label. The concept arose while they were on tour a year ago. Passing through the South, they made a pilgrimage to Sun, one of rock’s holy shrines, and were invited to jam using the studio’s instruments.
“We had no intention of recording there when we went, but after we jammed all night, Chris goes, ‘Why don’t we make a record of Sun cover songs?’”
Advertisement
Kenney recalled. When no one could think of any reason whey they shouldn’t, they forged ahead.
“Half the battle was figuring out which ones we were going to do.”
They ended up recording 36 tunes in 11 days, selecting a dozen for the album, a mixture of the familiar and the obscure, including Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Jerry Lee’s “Great Balls of Fire,” Carl Perkins’ little-known rave-up “Dixie Fried” and a delightful rarity called “Miss Pearl” by a cat named Johnny Wages, whom Isaak discovered one night on YouTube.
I’ve seen just about everybody who’s anybody still performing on the ‘oldies circuit,’ if you will. However, I had not seen Dick and Dee Dee. When I read that they wouldl be performing in the area I became real curious, especially since Dick passed away in 2003.
NEW MEMOIR CHRONICLES LIFE OF EARLY 60s POP STARS
Sat night June 11 was was American Grafitti Day in Modesto, CA, home of the George Lucas 1973 movie classic depicting an early time, 1962. (Hard to believe it’s another40 years since then, as noted by John Milner- the hot rodder in the yellow car, from the moie- madefor an interesting MC of this show. ‘I was in my 20s then and now I’m in my 60s.It was like being with family, people we grew up with andwith which we could relate.
The show was relective of what we’re seeing in oldies shows today. As there are feweroriginal acts, we had two tribute groups and two originals. A Supremes group opened the show, trying their best to copy the originals . ‘I’m Diana,’ purred thelead, resplendent in curls much like Ross’ look in later years. The act was forgettable.to say the least for this listener.
Tillotson today with admirer
After what seemed like too long a segment, Milner finally came out and announced the nextact, Johnny Tillotson. I’ve seen Tillotson several times and he performs welland is good with the crowd. He only had one big rock and roll hit in the day, ‘Poetryin Motion,’ but what a hit. The audience chimed in from the opening preface ‘ When ISee My Baby. What Do I See?…Poetry in Motion’ and then takes off with its infectiousbeat and sound. The song is a early 609s pop rock classic the audience ate up.The earlier songs were all pretty good too but didnt have the same audience appeal. Tillotson was one of many artists who had a number of ‘cross-over’ counntry-pophits in the 60s, including ‘Send Me The Pillow.’ recorded by Dean Martin and othersand ‘It Keeps Right On a Hurtin,’ recorded by 112 other artsits including Elvis, according to Johnny. Tillotson could have been big on the country circuit if hewasn’t. (Will have to check out the old country charts; bet these scored high.
JOHNNY TILLOTSON HAD MANY CROSS-OVERS, POP HITS IN 60S
Later research showed the current ‘Dick’ to be Mark Dunn, an actor/artist and NOT current ‘partner’ of Dee Dee. (OUR ERROR, having previously said that they were life partners. Our apologies to Dee Dee, her real husband and Dick . They live in Pacific Palasades near Los Angeleswith three children. Dee Dee has recently written her memoir, Vinyl Highway,about a shy 18-year-old being thrown into the spotlight after her first songwent to #2 in 1961, meeting Orbison and the big names, trouble touring and such.Looks like an interesting read , available at DickandDeeDee.com.From their website, it looks as though there’s very little touring, so it was good to finally catch this one, spirited act.
Unfortunately, the sound at the newish Gallo Center for the Arts was not what it should be for a state-of-the -art facility, but I’ve heard worse, too.All in all the two original acts, Tillotson and Dick and Dee Dee were worth the price of admission and, because of the few acts on the bill, we got to see them perform some songs they don’t normally do such as ‘Crying.’ The final act, another tribute group, which covered the Temptations, was weak, only slightly better the the faux Supremes who opened the show, althoughthe audience, much less picky than this reviewer, seemed to like them (someprobably didn’t realize therre were no originals in the group. The backing band was the same for all performers with lead guitar, bass, drumsand keyboard. They are the same ones who’ve backed most of the oldies shows at Gallo in recent years and do a very adequate job, in my opinion. It was good to get out and hear some oldies, the first such show I’ve seen this year. Now, with summer here, there should be a few more coming through townand we’ll certainly keep you up to date – and would also love to hear your reviews of such shows in your area. -BK
It was a fun ‘throw-back evening, as it usually is in Modesto, concert or not. Modesto is where Lucas grew up and the sleepy town int he middle of nowhere was AND IS STILL very much lilke it was in the fifties, WITH still-active drive-ins, old movie houses, cruisin’ McHenry Ave and lots of friendly people…even a tiki bar or two thrown in…Minnies
JERRY LEE LEWIS MUSIC – 2 Unique Styles, Then and Now
A Couple of classics from The Killer, showcasing his immense talent. Lewis was strictly rockabilly rock and roll in this late 50s classic when Lewis was in his unadorned splendor- natural wild-eyed best, rocking ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ with his great Sun trio and Jerry Lee during his later country stardom in the late 60s-70s with ‘Who’s Gonna Play This Old Piano,’accompanied by cousin Mickey Gilley and Charlie Rich. Truly, nobody will be able to play the old piano like Jerry Lee when he’s gone. We’re lucky he’s still (amazingly) here, after all he’s been through. We’ve seen him a few dozen times in concert, some better than others, but never disappointing just being able to see this personality-packed legend.
SEE 50s/60s Rock and Roll Icon NEIL SEDAKA hosting the latest TIME-LIFE TV Infomercial ‘The Teen Years’ (below) … Great Job Neil and friend. Available here… All your favorite songs from the Fabulous 50s and Early 60s
*********************************
Lewis reinvented himself, as the cliche goes, after a short and tumultuous early rock and roll career. He had only two big hits, Great Balls of Fire with Whole Lotta but among the biggest classics (John Lennon called ‘Great Balls’ the greatest R and R song)… but that was enough to establish Lewis as one of the Top 5 original rock and rollers along with Chuck Berry, Elvis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, not to mention a few other close 2nd teer guys like Fats Domino and Ray Charles, who weren’t quite pure rock and roll but close and great… Bo Diddly is somewhat over-rated in our opinion..
So, Lewis was blackballed from marrying is 13-year old second cousin Myrna in 1958-59 and rock and roll wasn’t the same, but he cam back in the mid-60s as a country crooner with ‘Who Made Milwaukee Famous’ and others and he had himself a double career. Today if you catch him in concert you get the two sides of Jerry Lee.
JERRY LEE LEWIS on Record
Store Day – New Live Album
- Lewis Music Videos Then and Now
Time goes by and we don’t want to forget this great talent, still ‘hangin’ in like Gunga Din,’ as he would say, amongg his other colorful quotes. He’s put out a couple classic albums in recent years and .
On last Satirday’s Record Store Day, Jerry Lee Lewis played Jack White’s Third Man Records where The show is being recorded for a live album, and the backing band includes Steve Cropper and Jim Keltner, along with Jack Lawrence from the Dead Weather and Raconteurs on the bass guitar. ‘ I can’t tell you how excited I am, as Jerry Lee is one of my all-time musical heroes. Here’s a song from my favorite live record, recorded at the Star Club in Hamburg in 1964, and featuring the Nashville Teens laying it down behind him.’ – Jared Shade Reynolds
And, how about Record Store Day … what a great thing we’ll have to start following for coming years… great way to help support the still existing record stores, like Amoeba Music (Berkeley, San Francisco and Los Angeles), recently named Best Record Store in the U>S>
More Jerry Lee Lewis
JERRY LEE LEWIS on RecordStore Day – New Live Album- Lewis Music Videos Then and Now
Dick Clark single handedly kept rock and roll alive throught the fifties into the sixties when many thought it was a flash in the pan
SILENT FILM with Live organ accompaniment – who would have known this could be so enjoyable seeing a movie without dialogue. Sorry if I may sounda bit naive but…New experience for me… what a great program. Hand it to Ohlone College in Fremont, CA , no doubt assisted by the Niles film program
‘ 7 Chances’ starring Buster Keaton was the last of their yearly performing arts series. I missed the opening organ performance by Jerry Nagano and lecture by Keaton historian keynote speaker David Keihu but found Ohlone, after a long drive, just in time for the second have move, sans payment ( no longer were they collecting money at the time)
7 Chances is a cute little movie, most of which takes place in one day, showcasing Keaton’s awkward ways and difficulties in coping, but ends happily..
Movie begins with the shy, awkward Keaton trying to propose to his girlfriend in front of her mother’s home, where she lives. It’s spring and Keaton is pictured with her and her little puppy in front garden and white picket fence, perhaps too shy to even enter the house or front gate. Apparently, Keaton can’t get out the words ‘ I love you,’ and nothing comes of the proposal.
Cut to Fall, 3 months later, where we see Keaton and girlfriend once again in similar pose, in front of white fence, only her dog has grown significantly. Same setting , same outcome. No go.
Cut to Winter, now there’s snow on the ground with the dog almost full grown now. Still, Keaton is having difficulty getting his message out. Perhaps it’s time to give up.
Then one day , years later, Keaton’s father passes and he receives a beneficiary note telling him he will receive 7 million dollars if he marries by age 27 – only after Keaton spends much time with his friend, trying to avoid what they thought was a summons server. When the server finally avoids the law and pastes the ltetter on the window in front of them where they are dining, Keaton is thrilled – and barely catches up with the server who has just been captured by the police. Keaton and friend tell the cops to let him go so they can deal with the letter.
Problem is Keaton’s 27th birthday is this same day ! He has literally hours, until midnite to get married. We see Keaton and friend struggle mightily to come up with a name of a woman to marry. There’s really only the long-time girlfriend, so Keaton hires a horseman to deliver the message to the girlfriend. She successfully gets the note and meets Keaton late that night. Keaton bumbles his latest proposal, telling her that he must marry ‘someone’ this day so he can inherit a lot of money. Obviously the girlfriend gets offended by the ‘someone’ comment and starts to leave/
But, finally, only minutes before the midnite deadline, things come together and the two hastily hire a judge and marry! Lucky Seven – seven chances with the same woman and finally -success! All this with majestic live organ accompaniment by Jerry Nagaon in the campus cozy Jackson Theater.
PHILLY EXPRESS – Stopped by my advertiser in Alameda prior to the movie and had a great Philly Dog dinner ! Great dogs and cheesteaks made on genuine Amoroso rolls from Philadelphia! Click above coupon to enclarge and print!
FOBIDDEN ISLAND TIKI BAR, Alameda, CA – While in Alameda had to stop by what many consider the No. 1 tiki bar in the world. Had a ‘sidewinder itch’ replete with backscratcher ($11) before moving on to great Keaton film, as above, making it three nites in a row of Top Tiki Bars.. only San Joses Bamboo Hut must be visited an, perhaps a revisit to the great, not-to-be-forgotten Tonga Room, SF and Trader Vic’s, Emeryville, CA.
Dick Clark single handedly kept rock and roll alive throught the fifties into the sixties when many thought it was a flash in the pan
When one passes by the Alley on Grand Ave in Oakland, CA you hardly notice the place. It’s always looked kind of dingy from the outside. Come to think of of it, it’s pretty dingy-looking on the inside, too,but the good kind of dingy.
As a kid growing up in Oakland , the Alley was all but ignored as a place for older folks, with a bohemian bent- weirdos back then . Over the years the neighbor hood changed -especially the parallel-running Lakeshore Ave, where perhaps only 1 or two original businesses remain out of the 50 or so… Grand isn’t much differrent. But, somehow, The Alley has survived. Lots of down years and population changes as Oakland has gone from all white to a largely minority city. Original owners have passed on and most of the original followers. However, the daughter of the original owners still runs the place, we are told, which probably explains, in part, how the Alley has stood the test of time. Kudos to her.
But through it all , there’s one constant – Rod Dibble at the Piano, now going on 50 years.
PIANO BARS – DIBBBLE STILL TICKLIN’ THEM 50 YEARS LATER
Dibble began his stint in 1963 . And, it’s as if time has stood still since then. While the crowd may have changed, the place hasn’t and , of course, Dibble’s still there, and he says he doesn’t play any music after 1963. If that’s not time warp , what is? But, we love it. In today’s fast-paced world of quickening technology , media hype and disfunctional or non-existent families its kind of nice to see a that a place like the Alley – and it’s current family of regulars – can still exist in 2910.
If there’s another place like this in America that hasn’t changed a lick, with a veteran piano player of 50 years, I’d like to see it. And there well may be one or two somewhere .However, piano bars, themselves , are pretty rare these days, having been replaced by automated Kareoke .
We say there’s nothing like the real thing, and , apparently, so do a lot of others, as seen by a resurgence at the Alley in recent years, with the current crowd of mostly 20-somethings. However, this recent night we were there we witnessed a number of spirited seniors , like Frank, as animated in his singing as any of other younger folk , who gather at the 9 or 10 seats around the grand piano and take turns singing into the nicraphones. Frank ended ever classic song with a high-pitched last note; so what if it was off-key. That’s what makes this place so special. It’s all off key by today’s standards. And that’s good.
There’s a book of hundreds of songs, with lyrics to choose from. It was refreshing to hear song after song from the great American song book, when melody and lyrics seemed to have more to do with music. Each song told a story – take Route 66 for example – and the unique singer behind the mike. No generics as you get at a Karaoke bar. Only real personality here. And Dibble, now in his late 70s but still with a youthful spark, is able to tackle most every song but, again, it’s gotta behind pre-1963. He still sings, too, and in a whiskey-inspired voice one might expect for a guy who has spent thousands of nights singing, playing and, yes -drinking the night away at the Alley.
FIND ALMOST ANY GREAT , OLD, VINTAGE MUSIC – LPS, CDS, DVDS:
I try to get to the Alley now as often as possible as I’m afraid this fun can’t last forever. Dibble’s doing great but he won’t be there forever. And , one must wonder, how the alley has escaped the fire inspectors , with all the old business cards, flyers and paper lining the walls and ceiling, much of which has probably been there the whole time .
So, if you live anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s worth a trip to see this place. Even if you live in another state, its work a trip to spend a weekend with Rod and the gang… Pick a weekend night or two when you’re sure to see Dibble at the ivories — there’s a new young upstart singing weeknights – and a full host of singers at the piano bar; this place makes Cheers pale. I will go in and sit in the back corner and just take in the whole atmosphere. Talk about time standing still. I love this place – and to think we would have nothing to do with the place as kids in the 60s and 70s…
If you know of any special vintage piano bars that might possibly rival the Alley please comment…
VIDEOS : Top Video from 2009 features Dibble going solo, Bottom Video gives a more real ‘vibe’ of the Alley experience…
Lounge Music: Exotica, Easy listening, Space age pop, Mood music, Beautiful music, Electronica, Chill- out music, Nu jazz, Downtempo, Space Age, Light … Piano bar, Camp (style), Tiki culture
FROM 1999… More Alley, courtesy SF Gate (SF Chronicle) :
By Kimberly Chun / CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER | February 5, 1999
1999-02-05 04:00:00 PST EAST BAY — Most of Oakland has had its first drink there say the regulars at the Alley piano bar and restaurant. And just as many have been thrown out by its longtime owner Jody Kerr. The rest just pass by the pink and green neon-trimmed cottagelike facade on Grand Avenue day after day and never go in. They ought to. They would enter a dim wilderness of sensory overload. Imagine an alley re-created by a drunken Walt Disney lined with dark wood Formica street signage weird paper ephemera and thousands of business cards. click headline for more
piano bars
Piano Bars – Nothing Like the Alley, Oakland, CA
Dick Clark single handedly kept rock and roll alive throught the fifties into the sixties when many thought it was a flash in the pan
Click Image With a 14 album box set, 16 albums total, and the entire stream of Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964, iTunes brings you The Beatles. Funny how this finally happens just in time for Holiday Gift Shopping. Each album comes with iTunes LP, which features lyrics, photos, and more. The Beatles Box Set includes the band’s entire catalog, plus mini-documentary features on each album, and the bands’ first performance in the US.
COMPLETE BEATLES NOW ON ITUNES
The Beatles have finally landed in iTunes, following years of dispute between Apple and the iconic band’s rights holders and about 24 hours of rampant speculation about what the technology giant would be announcing following cryptic messages posted to the company’s website on Monday. Apple, EMI and Apple Corps (the outfit founded by The Beatles) issued a joint statement this morning confirming the news. “It has been a long and winding road to get here. Thanks to the Beatles and EMI, we are now realizing a dream we’ve had since we launched iTunes ten years ago,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison are also quoted in today’s official announcement. Within iTunes, Apple has dedicated the full above the fold real estate to the band. Beyond links to many of the The Beatles popular albums (all 13 studio albums are now available in iTunes), the display features video highlights, The Beatles Box Set and a link to the band’s artist page. The Beatles even appear to now be one of the 2,000 or so artists on Ping, the new social network for music within
Beatles and Itunes just in time for Christmas
Itunes for I-Christmas.info Itunes at I-store.me Itunes and more music at OldiesCountry.com
ITUNES BEATLES
Dick Clark single handedly kept rock and roll alive throught the fifties into the sixties when many thought it was a flash in the pan
NEW FILM DOMUMENTARY: The Agony and Ecstacy of Phil Spector
Phil Spector is a pioneer of American music, a legendary producer to John Lennon and Tina Turner, and, as of April 13th 2009, a convicted murderer. Yet the Spector who appears in Vikram Jayanti’s documentary is not the severe, outlandishly coiffed defendant seen in sensationalistic accounts of his trial, but a charming, savvy music executive with a generous, but arguably accurate, estimation of his place in the history of popular music. (from Rafael Theater review, San Rafael CA)
PHIL SPECTOR – EDITOR’S NOTES:
After just losing 2 hours of writing my review of this film I saw last night, let me just say , that whatever you think of Phil Spector I would recommend seeing this film. For old rock and rollers or anyone iinterested in a good psychological drama, producer gives us a little bit of everything by juxtaposing Spector’s’ music with the court case and with , the highlight, excerpts from a rare interview he got with Spector just prior to the court case and eventual conviction.
Spector is now in jail for 18 years so critics can feel more comfortable watching this film knowing he IS paying his dues for an apparent accidental murder of girlfriend Lana Clarkson. Those with a psychological bent maybe able to get into the head of Spector , at least somewhat, to see if a miserable childhood with suicidal father may have contributed to Spector’s bizarre personality. At the same time, one must be able to separate this terrible crime from a brilliant music career that has been largely forgotten .
Whether it is because rock and roll never gained full respect until the Beatles came along in 1964 or because Spector’s behavior was so abhorent
to many, some great music may never have seen major exposure again without the criminal case. I know its sad that it often takes a crime to bring a talent back in the limelight. But take it for what it is. Ajanty has laid out 20 or so of of Spectors finest productions, featuring classics like Be My Baby by the Ronnettes and You’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling by The Righteous Brothers as a backdrop, or perhaps foredrop, to the ongoing trial excerpts and amazing S pector interview from 2007.
In the interview excerpts, chich account for about half the movie, Spector comes across as both sympathetic and perhaps sociopathic, as he has been labelled by many. His grandeous ego and seeming lack of wrongdoing goes along with the latter, yet one must consider Spectors actual statements – much more lucid than might expect – re the trial and the treatment he has received both recently and in his past. Spector talks about his father, who committed suicide (though Spector embellishes the story, saying that his Dad ‘ shot himself when Phil was five or six’ when , in fact, it was by gas asphyixiation when Spector was 10 or 11, according to the producer, who was in the audience opening night, in San Rafael, where he later tood questions.
Phil Spector’s landmark effort, River Deep Mountain High, by Tina Turner in 1966, is regarded by many pure music critics as his finest single effort; yet, by then Spector’s time may have run out. The recording failed inthe United States, though it was No. 1 in England. Spector blamed it on white DJs not wanting to play it because it was too black and black DJs not wanting to play it for whatever reason, I didn’t quite get… Few would have little to do with him and the Ramones actually fired him midway thru recording, to this writer’s memory.
Spector was given a second life, as it were when Beatles and then John Lennon and George Harrison hired him . Many top sellers came out of these sessions, including a the ‘Let It Be’ sessions, ‘My Sweet Lord’ for George Harrison, ‘Imagine’ for Lennon, a full album of classic rock and roll from Lennon and some rewrites including ‘The Long and Winding Road,’of which Spector had criticized the original as full of mistakes with John ‘playing wrong notes on bass, ‘ etc. It may be a wonder the Beatles kept Spector around as long as they did, thru 1972 and Lennon’s song ‘ Woman is the World’s Nigger.’ Buy then maybe they realized Spector knew what he was talking about. Spector always known for speaking his mind and speaking out; elsewhere in the film he criticized his wealthy and talented high school mates and teachers at Fairfax High in Los Angeles for NOT speaking out, saying he was the only one who did, and became ostricized for it. He was always a loner, he said, though music did give him a modicum of popularity.
The Agony and Exstacy of Phil Spector has a little bit of something for everyone. Music fan or not, you should find it compelling and one of the few films that combines psychological drama , great music and a rare, up close, candid interview, the likes of which you will probably never see again.
As a music person, I would like to see a second movie about Spector featuring the making of the ‘Wall of Sound,’ interviews with members of the ‘Wrecking Crew’ which backed many Spector productions, more of the lesser known gems produced by Spector, such as those by Ray Peterson and Gene Pitney (including the incomparable ‘Every Little Breath I Take’ which can be heard on this site) and the infamous ‘Christmas Album’ in 1962.’During the trial on Court TV we were treated to interviews with many of Spector’s cohorts such as Darlene Love(who sang on many of the sonbgs, regardless of group name, Carroll Connors, who sang lead on ‘To Know Him Is To Love Him,’ Spector’s first recording, on which he sang, with the Teddy Bears .
Phil Spector is crazy, brilliant, charming all in one and he is convicted of killing a woman for which he is paying his price.
Classic nite shot from the ’60s, featuring the famous neon ablaze…
(Editor’s Note: In a previous ‘life’ of this website we promoted ‘Saving The Kwik Way,’ the iconic 50s hamburger drivein in Oakland , CA where I spent many a good time and hamburgers, going back to when they cost 19 cents. Even tshirts with the moniker ‘Save the Kwik Way’ seemed to go for naught. Fortunately , vigilant neighbors rejected condominium projects, McDonalds and others to take its place and it just took one right person, and appears Gary Rizzo is the man. So, Kudos to him, though it may be still a bit early to get too excited, but here’s the lateston the Kwik Way, plus some excerpts from the old website, ‘Save The Kwk Way.’
Kwik Way Drivein goes `back to the future’ – Retro Diner
Former popular DRIVEIN to reopen as `retro hamburger place’
By Alan Lopez
Correspondent
Posted: 09/02/2010 11:26:53 AM PDT
retro,americana,diner,
oldies
The Kwik Way fast food restaurant on Lake Park Avenue near the Grand Lake Theater was a popular spot for teenagers to go in the ’60s and ’70s, but had fallen on hard times. Closed for at least two years, the front of the building is now covered with graffiti.
Gary Rizzo, the owner of Somerset Restaurant on College Avenue, said he wants to open a casual restaurant there with outdoor seating and landscaping. The new place will hearken back to the Kwik Way aesthetic, though there will be no drive-through window, which had been a big concern for neighbors.
_______________________________________________________ NEWS FLASH – ORIGINAL KWIKWAY STILL LIVES IN E. OAKLAND
It came to our attention Sunday Sept 26, after attending an Oakland A’s baseball game that one of the three ORIGINAL Kwik Ways still stands at or near its original location on International Blvd (previously E. 14th St) near 62nd Ave. The facade may be new but the food is the same… that spicy sauce you won’t get anywhere else – and the old Kwik Way logo emblazoned above..
We had to try the food… It was daylight so we braved the mean street s of Oakland (we say that with love a s we grew up here).
So, if that wasn’t exciting news for me I don’t know what is…
Check it out! Living history!
_________________________________________________
“It’s not like a chain fast-food restaurant, there will be outdoor seating,” said City Councilwoman Pat Kernighan. “There will not be a driveway window, that’s something the neighborhood and I absolutely opposed. We do not want to encourage any more car traffic across that sidewalk than we need to.”
Kernighan has been working with Rizzo and city and county officials to transform the shuttered Kwik Way drivein into a new establishment, which she described as a “retro hamburger place.”
“It will be a welcome reprieve from the blighted condition we’ve lived with for many years,” she said.
It’s not that people haven’t been trying to do something about the property, which is owned by local real estate developer Alex Hahn. In 2004, hundreds of local residents fought a proposal to turn the Kwik Way into a McDonald’s.Later, a plan for a mix of housing and retail on the property was proposed, but it fell through along with the downturn in the housing market, Kernighan said.
Recently, Kernighan said she believed construction could begin at the site by the second week of September and that Rizzo was “within 48 hours” of finalizing the permits.
She said there was one main issue left, involving the safest location for the outdoor seating.
“There was some disagreement about where the outdoor seating should be located,” she said, “which side of the building.”
Rizzo said he passed the health department permitting but needs two other permits from the city.
“We’re poised and ready to go as soon as we get those permits,” he said.
Rizzo said it would take at least until the second week of September to acquire the permits, since changes will be needed to architectural drawings and his architect will be away on vacation until then.
When his restaurant does open, Rizzo said the Kwik Way building will be restored.
“I don’t think that should be changed, it has too much history here,” Rizzo said. “There are too many people who remember going there when they were kids, or recently. We’re keeping the building as intact as possible and keeping the whole concept intact, architecturally and historically, it’s kind of iconic.”
KWIK WAY during better times. (Acually this was taken only about 5 years ago with my ’63 Imperial in front’ But, the restaurant, still open then, hadn’t changed much in 45 years. Old Web article follows…circa 2005
Old promo from around ’05… Still have
some tshirts left – if anyone wants one for cost ($12) just comment to this post and we’ll leave them for you at 484 Lake Park, near Kwik Way or oyu can submit $12 plus $3 postage – $15 to paypal email [email protected].
Thankfully, we can now say it worked, sort of…
vintage music posters at OldiesCountry.com and RoadToSuccess.us – business motivation,business posters,
business prints,educational posters,
high school musical posters,motivational business quotes,
school motivation,school posters,
success posters. CLICK TO ENLARGE and PURCHASE ROAD TO SUCCESS POSTER at RoadToSuccess.us
During our last visit to the capitol of Living 50s history, Bob was looking well – in fact he hadn’t aged a bit, holding fort in front of this great burger palace. The building, which appears all original, is looking good too. Still appreciate mostly men in their 60s and 70s see to call this place home for morning berkfast, when we fell lby.
Burbank is a hot bead for living history, with the oldl movie studios nearby. Note the Johnny Carson Park and streets named after the greats like Bob Hope Blvd… The Safarii Inn where we stayed has a nice sign with surfboard(?) in front, though I am told the place has been remodeled since its heydeys…. Sure beats staying at the Marriot and a lot cheaper , too.
Dick Clark single handedly kept rock and roll alive throught the fifties into the sixties when many thought it was a flash in the pan
*FREE COUPONS – TEXT TO (CELL PHONE PIC)*
FREE Text Coupons - Latest Deals Instantly Delivered to your Phone
EASY COUPON APPS:
Our new apps are even simpler to access now... You can get them 1 of 3 ways:
1) Type into your cell phone browser: YellowPagesCouponsApp.com
or BayAreaCouponsApp.com
or both2)Just search the above in your Iphone or Android App marketplace
3) Scan the QR codes :
;
My CASH NOWMy Cash Now
- ORGANIZE YOUR EMAIL, get rid of spam, and EARN MONEY while you make life easier with the worlds’ largest (FREE) viral email program – check out: http://vib.cm/burtkauf
KENNEY DALE JOHNSON, longtime drummer for Chris Isaak, called the other day all excited about the new album the band recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn., one of the birthplaces of rock ‘n’ roll.
SILENT FILM with Live organ accompaniment – who would have known this could be so enjoyable seeing a movie without dialogue. Sorry if I may sounda bit naive but…New experience for me… what a great program. Hand it to Ohlone College in Fremont, CA , no doubt assisted by the Niles film program
FOBIDDEN ISLAND TIKI BAR, Alameda, CA – While in Alameda had to stop by what many consider the No. 1 tiki bar in the world. Had a ‘sidewinder itch’ replete with backscratcher ($11) before moving on to great Keaton film, as above, making it three nites in a row of Top Tiki Bars.. only San Joses Bamboo Hut must be visited an, perhaps a revisit to the great, not-to-be-forgotten Tonga Room, SF and Trader Vic’s, Emeryville, CA.
Lounge Music: Exotica, Easy listening, Space age pop, Mood music, Beautiful music, Electronica, Chill- out music, Nu jazz, Downtempo, Space Age, Light … Piano bar, Camp (style), Tiki culture
