Mireille Mathieu- The Sweet Souvenirs of Mireille Mathieu

It seems like I end up posting a lot of Mireille Mathieu records on this site.  She seems to be the only female French singer who sold a lot of records in the States and as a result, the only one I find on a regular basis in the used record lots. I like French female singers of the 60’s in general and am totally open to posting someone other than Mathieu but until I find some, well this is what we get.  I think I got a discount on this which put it at $2.40.

Whilst in Amsterdam on vacation last month, I was dismayed to find out two of my favorite hang outs changed.  The first one, Bar Regular and Jack off Vijzelstraat completely redid their inside.  It looked like a European version of Bar Rescue refurnished their place.  

The new inside

The old bar view from the old smoking room.

No more smoking room and while I was there, there were no middle aged female bartenders.  This used to be a big draw for me.  Well, I am sure they are raking in the bug bucks now but I miss the bar maid who looked like your grandma if your grandma liked getting you drunk.

The second place, The Kandinsky on Zoutsteeg, nestled between Nieuwendijk and Damrak, was also sadly altered.  I had been going there every year since I started going to Amsterdam.  The same bartender from 2012 and 2014 was there.  She told me the Dutch equivalent of the Fire Marshall made them change their set up.  I mean it looks nice and all but I like the old red set up.  The new set up is grey and it just is not the same.  I can’t fault them too much for changing though.

As fas as this album goes, this was a German release from 1968.  Simular albums were released in France, the US, and Canada.  Mathieu is backed by orchestras led by Les Reed, Christian Gaubert, and Paul Mauriat, who also serves as the album’s musical director. I want to say this is a compilation album of various singles, soundtracks, and other releases.  It contains such soundtrack work as “Les Bicyclettes de Belsize” and “Sweet Souvenirs of Stefan”.  Overall, it is a pretty decent album.  I seem to throw that word around a lot lately, decent, that is.

For a sample, I went with the track I liked the most.  I am not sure I knew this track was on the album when I got it as my French is pretty bad, but here is Bert Kaempfert’s “Tu M’as Donne La Vie”.  I did not realize what I had until I heard the haunting melody of the song. Enoch Light did a version which was sampled by The Avalanches for “Frontier Psychologist”.  They also sampled Wayne and Shuster quite heavily as well.

Good album.  Satisfactory. Hopefully I can get some time this weekend to get a bit more caught up on the blog posts.

 

OBIT- Greg Lake

Greg Lake, singer and bassist of Emerson, Lake and Palmer died today.  He was 69.  He was battling cancer for some time.

Obit from BBC

Obit from Rolling Stone

Obit from NPR

Besides his work with ELP, he was also known for his work with King Crimson.  He was a giant in the world of progressive rock.   He was also paid tribute to by Homer Simpson.

If it were not for the fact that I am totally spread thin and need to be in three places at once, I might have spent a bit more time on this post.  But this is not the case and I need to make this brief.  Here is an excerpt from the Pictures from an Exhibition album I posted earlier this year.  From that effort, here is two pieces i did not post. You can search for in on this site for more information.

RIP Greg Lake

The Jonah Jones Quartet- A Touch of Blue

I am not sure where I got this album to be honest but I am assuming i picked this up for a dollar. The fact that it had a lot of songs that I kind of dig plus women on the front cover probably cemented this purchase.  The cool thing about last month is I wrote a lot of the posts in two sittings.  This month, I am back to writing these day by day. This also means more spelling errors. Hopefully by this weekend, I can get ahead of myself a bit.

Since I am devoting a good chunk of this month’s blog to last month’s vacation, I am pointing out that I spent this year’s stay in Amsterdam at the Grand Krasnapolsky, in Dam Square.  If I go in on package deals (flight+hotel), I usually get a good rate.  Hotel alone, it is usually pretty high.  I stayed there 4 years ago and had one of the best times in that town.  2 years later, I decided I did not want to spend the extra scratch so I stayed at a cheaper hotel, the Hotel Doria, which was less than a block away (as a side note I am unsure which came first, the hotel or the pizza joint below it).  

This year I decided to live it up again.  I am unsure if the extra amenities are worth the expense. However, as a friend pointed out, I am sure I will go to a cheaper hotel next trip and then back to the Krasnapolsky the trip after, thus repeating the cycle.

This is what an extra $500 for a hotel gets you.

During the day, I actually like going to places outside the city square and thought about switching to a hotel outside of Dam Square.  However, I still prefer being close to the Square at night.  There are a lot of bars and restaurants in that area and more importantly, there are people and I just feel safer surrounded by people than not.  But all in all, to get back to the point, The Grand Krasnapolsky is a fine hotel.  The staff reminds me of the following  line in The Grand Hotel Budapest (of course the Krasnapolsky is a much nicer hotel than the Budapest, especially after they renovated):

M. Gustave: What is a lobby boy? A lobby boy is completely invisible, yet always in sight. A lobby boy remembers what people hate. A lobby boy anticipates the client’s needs before the needs are needed. A lobby boy is, above all, discreet to a fault. Our guests know that their deepest secrets, some of which are frankly rather unseemly, will go with us to our graves.

 

Back to today’s record, Jonah Jones was a trumpet player of note, who was probably behind Louis Armstrong, in terms of popularity.  Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1909, Jones started playing jazz on riverboats.  He started his own Quartet in the 1950’s after working with bigger groups, including Stuff Smith and Cab Calloway.  Known for his crisp, swinging jazz arrangements that were easy for mass consumption, Jones put out about 20 or so records, mostly for Capitol, until his death in 2000 at age 90.

This album, released in 1962, features songs with blue in the title.  This one has all the blue classics: “Blues Skies”, “Blue Danube”, “Birth of the Blues”, “A Touch of Blue”, etc, etc.  Some of the songs feature Jones on vocal.  Some of the songs have a chorus, the “Swinginest Chorale”, according to the back cover.  Overall, the album is pretty good.  Jones plays a great horn and has decent vocals.  Some of the tunes that were instrumentals, I really wanted Jones’ vocals on but what can you do.  I like this album.  Some don’t.  Point, counterpoint, I guess.  To give further credit where it is due, Jones is backed by Teddy Brannon on piano, John Brown on bass, and George Foster on skins.

For a sample, I was torn in a couple different directions but finally decided on “Blue Skies” which features that swinginest chorale and “Blue Turning Grey Over You” which features Jones on vocals.

Decent album.  I like it.  the price was also right as well.  Satisfactory.

Dolf van der Linden- Dutch Sax

dscn6186This was one dollar.  I have owned this and have been trying to post this for the last year and a half but for some reason or another, it always gets pulled from the rotation at the last minute.  Well, no time like the present.dscn6449

This record gives me a good transition into talking about my vacation that I took two weeks ago,  Went to Amsterdam.  It had been two years since I went last.  I was kind of on the fence about going and truthfully, I was still questioning the decision two days into my trip.  However, I wanted to stay somewhat familiar with the city and if I did not go, it would be another two years or so for the next trip. By the end of the trip, I was pretty glad I went.dscn6541

Weather was awful but bearable.  Spent a lot of time at old places I like to go to.  I also went to places where I have not been for a while.  Spent many of the days down in Rembrantplein.  Also spent a good amount of time at Vondelpark, Oosterark, Waterlooplein, Rozengratch, Museumplein, and the northeast area by Prins Hendikkade area.  I spent the nights mostly around the Dam City Center.  I went to one art exhibition, the swap meet, and the zoo among other places.dolph

This album is led by Dolf van der Linden, a popular orchestra leader born in Vlaardingen, Netherlands in 1915.  He was well known in his country wit some significant recognition throughout Europe.  Known for his arrangements of popular music, he died in 1999 at the age of 83.  wwwopac

The alto sax solos were performed by Cees Verschoor.  I do not know anything about him and for some reason was less inclined to do much research on the subject today.  As far as the record goes, it is lush orchestration.  Six Duke Ellington songs grace this album. I liked this the first time I listened to it. Not so much the second time.  For some reason, the third time was a bit better. Other than being done by Dutch musicians, there is not much Dutch about this record.  As far as music goes, it is pretty American sounding.dscn6187

For a sample, I was torn between “Passion Flower”, “Passionata” and “All Too Soon”.  For some reason, I went with “Passion Flower”.metropole-orkest-dolf-van-der-linden-002

As far as this record goes, meh.  A bit too slow for my liking.

Oscar Levant- Levant Plays Gershwin/ Rhapsody In Blue

dscn6184This was one dollar.  I got it because of “Rhapsody In Blue”‘s connection with United Airlines.united-airlines

I scheduled this post to correspond with my trip to Amsterdam two weeks ago.  Being from Houston, I tend to fly United quite a bit as IAH is a major hub.  This trip’s flights were ok I guess.  I watched movies pretty much through both flights.  Of the movies I saw, I really liked the Chet Baker story (more on that next month).  The Miles Davis movie was ok.  Did not like the Hank Williams movie at all.  From the non music movies, I really liked The Lobster.  Anyway, the pre flight safety video, a highly produced feature was interesting, taking the “Rhapsody” theme and setting it to different musical styles of the world, including Scottish, Chinese,Peruvian, Hawaiian, and Chicago blues among others. Pretty interesting, musically.

I was wrong about what I thought were the origins of United’s usage of this song.  Based on the CEO message from the front of the In Flight magazines some time ago, I thought the song’s licensing was done by Jeff Smisek in an act of extravagant management spending after the United/Continental merger.  I had this image of him in a hot tub smoking stogies listening to this song for some reason.  Anyway, this is wrong.  The licensing was done back in 1976 for $500K, way before the merger. Never really liked Smisek much.  I did not like Larry either but many ex-Continental employees tell me he was alright.  Hard to say much about Oscar at this time.  It should be noted that I draw my opinion of the CEO’s based on their In Flight blurbs.

Gershwin
Gershwin

But regardless, here is this album, featuring actor/ pianist Oscar Levant, tackling the works of George Gershwin backed by orchestral arrangements.  “Rhapsody In Blue” features Levant backed by Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra.  On “Concerto In F For Piano and Orchestra”, Levant is helped by Andre Kostelanetz conducting the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York.  A third track, “An American In Paris” is done by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Artur Rodzinski.dscn6185

For a sample, I am going with “Rhapsody” as this was the dominate theme of the post.quote-roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-i-m-schizophrenic-and-so-am-i-oscar-levant-17-35-68

As far as the album goes, meh.

Willie Nelson- Country Willie

dscn6182And so begins another month of Donkey Show.  It seems like this year just started yesterday and now it is almost over.  Not doing the Christmas record thing this year.  If you are looking for some Christmas music, feel free to take advantage of this blogs Category selection of Christmas Music from the Menu.  Anyway, this record, with some water damage to the cover, was $1.  rs-115741-b2b86ab843ec2616844ca15dc6d42ac1239e0e9e

This record was a compilation album of Willie Nelson’s early efforts, released in 1975 at the start of Nelson’s defining Outlaw Country period.  It contains a few songs penned by Nelson such as the title track and “Night Life”, as well as some traditional country standards.

Pretty good album.  It comes from the period of country music that I like the best.  Sometimes it is hard to remember what Nelson was like pre-seventies.dscn6183

For a sample, I am using a song which is one of my favorite standards, “Columbus Stockade”.  I first became aware of this song from Judy Henske’s album.  Anyway, this version is a wonderful jazz/bop version which is a bit strange for Nelson during this period of his music.  Anyway, it is pretty good.  I also threw in “Country Willie” for those looking for something more traditionally country.8750891-0

Satisfactory record.

The Kinks – Give The People What They Want

dscn5577This was  $4.80 with discount. It is Saturday, I am probably still getting adjusted from going overseas, and this is the last post I have to write this month (I wrote most of this months posts in the span of one weekend before I took my trip). So am going to keep this as brief as possible. Don’t blink, you may miss it.gtpwtw-autogr

This was the Kinks’ 18th record, released in 1981 in the US/ 1982 in Europe.  “Better Things”, “Destroyer” (which references both “Lola” and “All Day And All Of The Night”), and “Predictable” were the singles. I also really liked “Add It Up” as well.
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For a sample, here is the first single, “Better Things” written by Ray Davies about the pending divorce from his second wife.

Satisfactory record.  Thank God this month is over.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz Impressions of Eurasia

dscn5575This was 80 cents. Kind of goes with the traveling theme this month, vacation wise. I did not think of it at the time but with the pictures of Pam Am on the front and the references to the Iron Curtain in the back, these are two things that were around when I was young, but have been long gone for over 20 yearsdave-brubeck

This album is the product of a 80 day/ 14 country tour undertaken by the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1958 of Europe and parts of Asia.  I believe this was in conjunction with the State Department.  Either way, this trip took Brubeck (1920-2012) not only to classical parts of Europe, but also behind the Iron Curtain (kids can Google to find out what that was).brubeck3dbcollecuofp

As a result, Brubeck made musical notes to match the scenery and put out this album the same year, very much in the same vein as his earlier Jazz Impressions of the USA.brubeck1958_1_monterey-county-herald-archives

I believe this album was recorded with Joe Morello, Paul Desmond, and Joe Benjamin.  The first song, “Nomad” was influeced by the Quartet’s time in Afghanistan (which Brubeck found to be the most fascinating of countries. “Brandenburg Gate” was of course a piece from Germany, “The Golden Horn” from Turkey, “Thank You( Dziekuje)” from Poland, “Marble Arch” from England, and “Calcutta Blues” from India. Overall, the album is pretty good.  The first two songs are hands down the best, but the rest are enjoyable as well.

 

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For a sample, I went with “Nomad”. On the back cover, Brubeck mentions that while in Afghanistan, he heard sounds of muffled drums and eerie flutes which “made my hair stand on end”.  Brubeck tries to capture the sound of the”lonely wanderer”.dave-brubeck

Satisfactory

Earl Scruggs – Performing With His Family and Friends

dscn5573This was $3.00. Technically, I should be back from vacation.  However, I am still blazing thru the rest of this months’ post.  If you come here for the writing, you have been short changed this month.

Earl Scruggs, 1924-2012. Photo courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Earl Scruggs (1924-2012) popularized his three finger style of banjo and was a pioneer of bluegrass music.  Together with guitarist Lester Flatts, (both of which played with Bill Monroe until 1948), Scruggs formed the Foggy Mountain Boys and had several bluegrass hits thru out the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Oddly enough, Scruggs was one of the few bluegrass artists to support the anti war movement at the time.  That is evident on this record in the segment recorded at the Moratorium in Washington DC in 1969.

This record was from a TV special Scruggs did with several guest stars.  Released in 1972, it featured a diverse line up of artists such as Doc Watson, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and the Birds.  Various members of Scruggs family also play on the album.  Dylan’s contribution is small, playing guitar on the instrumental “Nashville Skyline Rag”.  Doc Watson’s segments are quite good.  Baez, provided some controversy and along with Dylan’s inclusion, may have turned off some bluegrass die hards.  However, Scruggs music was able to transcend prevailing attitudes at the time.
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For samples, I went with a somewhat interesting track featuring Scruggs talking about electronic music.  “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” features Scruggs playing banjo against a Moog.  I also featured Scruggs playing with the Byrds on thier take of Dylan’s “You Ain’t Going Nowhere.”

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Satisfactory Record