Category: Uncategorised

Starz

Ha! I’m listening to this in the car driving to work and what should come on as track number three? ‘Superstar’, which I listened to only yesterday, on the Carpenters 1971 album.

This is actually surprisingly good. I came to know of Midler’s musical side – having vaguely been of aware of it all along – thanks to a collaboration with Tom Waits:

And whilst that’s a wonderful song, and a terrifically fun slice of musical theatre, it didn’t make me rush out and explore Midler’s music. In fact I much prefer Waits’ work with Crystal Gayle, on the OST album that accompanies Francis Ford Coppola’s bizarre movie, This One’s From The Heart.

But here we find Midler in the company of all sorts of folk, from a pre-solo career Barry Manilow, to Miles’ alumni, Ron Carter, on bass. I found out, via Facebook, that Carter was actually depping for Milt Holland.

The material is pretty varied, and mostly very good. The first real bump in the road, and what I’d feared the whole thing might be like, is The Leader Of The Pack…

I found this on rhino.com:

It was in the early 1970s when Midler began to cement her legend with a gig at the Continental Baths, a notorious gay bath house where her piano accompanist was none less that [sic] future fellow legend, Barry Manilow. He would go on to produce Midler’s first solo album, The Divine Miss M, released in December 1972. The rest truly is history.

…

The Carpenters are a funny ol’ proposition. Essentially a wet dream of a family talent show duo, gone platinum, and then gone wrong.

Richard and Karen Carpenter.

Both immensely talented on their primary instruments, piano and drums. Both good singers. Well, one good, the other exceptional.

I’m not that enamoured of Richard’s songwriting, to be honest. He’s kind of goofy, rather square. Like that haircut. And, most notably on his own compositions, always showing off his accomplishments.

They’re best when they let Karen take the vocal lead, and play very strong material. So doing Bacharach and David is clearly going to work. And there are lots of other great individual songwriters and teams – Nichols and Williams, for example – that help them really shine.

Superstar and Druscilla Penny, which come in that order, are an interesting pair, and make an intriguing counterpoint: Superstar is the more earnest Karen lead number. Druscilla is Richard showing off and coming off rather naff. Both ostensibly deal with groupies. Karen sings from the perspective of the groupie, as sad sophisticate, whereas in Druscilla Penny Richard mocks the silly or unfortunate Pop Chick.

Neither are the albums best. But Superstar is nearer the better end. Druscilla Penny, like Saturday, is more of a ‘hey, don’t forget I’m here’ period piece, Richard grinning and waving from behind his keyboards.

On track right, The Dick Carpenter/Bettis team turn in the much better ‘One Love’. Which is also much more in keeping with the vibe of the best of the album.

Rainy Days And Mondays and Let Me Be The One are two of the real standout cuts. Both are from the Nichols/Williams team. Makes me wonder, ought I perhaps check this out:

The Bacharach/David medley is good. Very good, in parts. But it’s got the feel of something they’d do live; a crowd-pleaser. On the more home-based and personal/reflective album format, it feels a bit rushed. I’d rather have heard them spend a bit longer on each piece. A suite, perhaps, rather than a patchwork medley?

Other great tracks include For All We Know, and Sometimes… tender and melancholy. For me that’s what the Carpenters do best. Some folk call it cheesy. I think it’s utterly gorgeous. Truly beautiful.

A little bit of under-body plastic trim – protecting some cables (brakes?) – had come loose. It was flopping about. Attracting unwanted attention, and causing worries.

I’ve tried to find proper clips. But neither Wilco nor Euro Car Parts do ‘em. Halfords do. But they’re not stocked locally.

I just hope the cable/tie holds until it can be fixed properly?

I found this, which is a Halfords product I might need…

I kind of like Aaron Eckhart, aesthetically. I recall enjoying seeing him as Doolittle in Midway. I saw this, Chief of Station, on Amazon Prime, and thought ‘why not?’

Unfortunately the story is layer upon of layer of nonsense. As is the general rule for this kind of cloak n’ dagger stuff. At least the ol’ James Bond stuff had a bit of style. This, alas, is really just too basic/formulaic.

It is, I suppose… aargh, shoot… rather like the by the numbers team that put this together, I can’t be bothered!

Truth be told, this is perfunctory. It’s watchable. Just. I made it through. But only just. Fortunately there’s just enough action to make it watchable. But no, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Wow! Love this track. Didn’t think I’d ever see her playing it live ‘back in the day’.

Well, this album was released the day I turned one! 5th January, 1973. And whilst I’ve long been a fan of Bruce Springsteen, it’s only now that I’m listening to this album, for the very first time!

I’ve read that a 22 year old Bruce did a two hour solo audition for John Hammond, in the latter’s offices. Hammond was so impressed he set up a gig, to showcase Bruce to a whole crowd of industry execs, the same day!

This is a great album. And pretty stunning for a new young artists’ debut. His trademark intensity is there from the outset. But, whilst I like that side of his oeuvre, it’s the mellower stuff I like most.

I do wish someone would do a Gil Melle Columbo soundtrack album. There’s some brilliant music buried in these ol’ shows. It could, of course, be supplemented by Melle’s other OST work.

Clearly I’m not alone in loving this sublime music. I’ve found several homages online. The above really nails it. Great stuff!

I’ve explored some of Mellé’s own earlier jazz recordings, for Blue Note. They’re alright. But they don’t have the same moody magic of his work on TV & film.

Read more about this earlier era here. I learned from this linked article that Mellé was the guy who brought Rudy Van Gelder to Alfred Lion’s attention. For that fact alone, Mellé’s place in jazz history ought to be better known and celebrated!

We woke up in Ely today.

We’re staying in a very nice AirB&B place, on Lynn Rd, Ely. First time I’ve ever done this, I think? A local night away, on me birthday. Very pleasant!

Many AirB&Bs don’t deserve their second B at all, as they don’t provide breakfast. They do here. And it’s all the better for it.

It’s sooo nice to just be laying here, on a big comfy bed, relaxing. Doing nothing.

We have plans to mooch about Ely, visiting the Cathedral, Topping (poss’ Oxfam, if it’s open? Ditto the model shop), Waterside Antiques, and Teacock’s Pearoom. Oh, and lunch, or brunch, at the Piccolo Lounge!

Lunch at The Piccolo Lounge was fab. The only think I was less keen on is their ‘self serve via app’ m.o. But the food was great. So never mind.

We had Nazi Goering, er, sorry… Nasi Goreng, an Indonesian fried-rice dish, with chicken, prawn and chilli, etc. Yummy. Rhubarb fizzy drink, no booze!

After a lovely leisurely lunch, we dropped off my pressies in the car, and headed to Ely Cathedral…

Sadly, Ely Cathedral was the only real disappointment of the day. It’s no longer free entry on Sundays! Unless you’re local. And March, it seems, isn’t local enough. Holy Bummer, Batfreaks.

After the frustration of not being allowed to visit God’s House, it was a middling trot to Waterside Antiques, for a bit of a browse…

As ever, I saw many things I’d love to buy. But the fundage just ain’t there. I think they’re often a bit overpriced as well.

From the Antiques place we went to Peacock’s…

Peacock’s Tea Rooms turned out to be our last port of call. I had been thinking of Italian, at Pizza Express. But money and energy were in short supply!

Day two in London. Feeling a little bit less flat-out exhausted than yesterday. Just installed a solar motion activated light outside Jean’s back door.

We’ll be heading home shortly, I assume? We may or may not visit Bentley Priory/Stanmore Common.

I’m enjoying a bit of a Bronson fest’! I tried watching Maniac Cop, but it was just too crap. So we watched this instead.

Bronson plays a man living a good life on the Côte d’Azur, whose happiness is disturbed when his unfortunate past catches up with him. He has to protect his wife and daughter from vengeful criminals who have a grudge against him.

The plot’s not exactly brilliant. But it serves as a vehicle for Terence Young (Dr No, (?), Thunderball, etc.) to serve up a fun Franco-Italian production, set in a great location (Beaulieu-Sur-Mer), that’s enjoyable to watch.

Jill Ireland, Bronson’s wife, plays Moira, a dippy hippie chick who is hanging out with the villains. James Mason is the ringleader of these nasty goons. Liv Ullman is Bronson’s on-screen wife…