Tosh Berman's Blog, page 103

Wallace Berman: 1926 - 1976

 

Photo by Dennis HopperWallace Berman, my father, died on this date, but it was also his birthday. He was born in 1926 and died in 1976. He turned 50 that day when he passed away from some who will call it a car accident. That was 45 years ago. A day hasn't passed where I don't think of him. I still dream of him as being alive, and it's an odd situation where one knows he's dead in the dream, yet he appears doing everyday things with you. For those of you who are interested in checking my father's world out there here are some of these books:
"Semina Culture: Wallace Berman and His Circle" Kristine McKenna & Michael Duncan (DAP)



"Wallace Berman: American Aleph" Claudia Bohn-Spector & Sam Mellon (Kohn Gallery)



"Wallace Berman: Support The Revolution" David Meltzer, Tosh Berman, etc. (DAP)



"Visual Music Wallace Berman" Sophie Dannenmuller (Gallerie Frank Elbaz)



"Wallace Berman Photographs" Edited by Kristine McKenna (DAP)



"Tosh: Growing Up in Wallace Berman's World" by Tosh Berman (City Lights)



And there are other titles out there in the world.
-Tosh Berman.

BOOK MUSIK Playlist for "From Elvis to Memphis"

 

For Book Musik, I put together the ultimate playlist for the album "From Elvis to Memphis." Not only do you hear the actual album, but also the original recordings by artists that inspired Elvis to do this album. As well as some post-recordings such as Nick Cave's "In The Ghetto." Enjoy!
For Spotify: Spotify Playlist for "From Elvis to Memphis"
For Apple Music: Apple Music Playlist for "From Elvis to Memphis

Wallace Berman: Untitled #40 Verifax Collage

 

Wallace Berman: Untitled #40 Verifax Collage, 6 x 6 1/2 inches, framed 12" by 12 1/2"
Kohn Gallery is currently closed to the public. We are receiving deliveries and are available for appointment viewings. Please contact the gallery at 323 461 3311 or email Karys Judd at karys@kohngallery.com. Wearing of face coverings and signing of a waiver will be required for entry.Gallery HoursBy appointment onlyGallery Information
1227 North Highland AveLos Angeles, CA 90038T 323 461 3311
Parking in rear off of North Citrus Ave

Wallace Berman "Untitled #35 (Cosmos)"

 

Wallace Berman "Untitled #35 (Cosmos) Verifax Collage, 6 x 6 1/2 inches. At the Kohn Gallery. 
Kohn Gallery is currently closed to the public. We are receiving deliveries and are available for appointment viewings. Please contact the gallery at 323 461 3311 or email Karys Judd at karys@kohngallery.com. Wearing of face coverings and signing of a waiver will be required for entry.Gallery HoursBy appointment onlyGallery Information1227 North Highland AveLos Angeles, CA 90038T 323 461 3311Parking in rear off of North Citrus Ave

Wallace Berman on the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band album cover

 

My father, Wallace Berman, on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album cover.  I believe the original photo is from Dean Stockwell. 

BOOK MUSIK: "From Elvis in Memphis (331/3)" - discussion with author ERIC WOLFSON

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Eric Wolfson to discuss his new book Elvis Presley’s From Elvis in Memphis (33 1/3). Elvis is a paradox who became the mold for all rock stars to follow. He was the King of Rock in the 50s and then the king of schlock in the 60s but made an impressive comeback with the release of this album in 1969 that reinforced his place in the rock ‘n’ roll pantheon. Going back to Memphis where he started and working at the gritty, down-to-earth American Sound Studio helped him create what is considered by many to be his best studio album.

Links to Eric’s social media:
www.fromelvisinmemphis.com
Twitter: @FromElvisIn333
Instagram: @PresleyDayByDay

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

 

"Who Is Lun*na Menoh?" Premiere at the Portland International Film Festival.

 

"Who Is Lun*na Menoh?" premiere is at the Portland International Film Festival. Online showing. Screening online Fri, March 5 – Sun, March 14. Tickets here: Who Is Lun*na Menoh?

“Who Is Lun*na Menoh” follows the life and work of the extraordinary Japanese artist. From her early career in Japan to the underground music scene in Los Angeles, from fashion show runways featuring her sculptural designs to art galleries showing her fantastical work, Lun*na’s edgy, witty and beautiful creations are explored.

Director Jeff Mizushima follows Lun*na’s artistic career, showcasing her uniquely individual expressionism and interviewing her family, gallery owners, models, fans, and fellow visual artists & musicians to find out who and what Lun*na Menoh is and why her art, in all of its forms, fits in our world.

Directed by Jeff Mizushima
81 mins | United States | 2020
Documentary

Peter Gabriel - I Go Swimming [STUDIO VERSION]

Not sure why the studio version is not out there in the world in a big way, but this song is a masterpiece.  It is Peter Gabriel's birthday today.  Give this song a listen.  There is a live version that's easily available, and is super good, but I love the studio recording and it's very difficult to find on vinyl. 

February 12, 2021, by Tosh Berman

 

February 12, 2021

The last two albums I purchased are David Bowie's "Look At The Moon (Live Phoenix Festival 97)" and The Screamers Demo album's recent release. And that, I think, are the last albums I buy in 2021. I'm interested in purchasing a compilation of recordings by Mazouni called "Un Dandy en Exil," A Leys Bruno E.P., and Forever Pavot's "La Pantoufle." That will not happen due to my financial situation, which is bleak. No, not grim; sorry, it's nonexistent. 

One needs to live with what they have. Do I need those three records? Well, yes, of course. I can play the music on the YouTube website. At least they have Mazouni on the website. I'm drawn to his music, which he sings in French. Still, he's from Algeria, and the music is a combination of Yé-Yé and North African drones and strings. Imagine the Master Musicians of Joujouka if they were a pop band. Sometimes the electric guitar work sounds like Lou Reed/Sterling Morrison but in Algiers instead of Manhattan. Due to the virus, one is pretty much a prison in one's home, and it's music by Mazouni that takes me to another place, another world. 

I play his music and look outside my window, and now it's night. I can see the stars, and it is almost like they are mocking me because I'm down here, and they are up above.  Today the weather was clear, and the sky was blue. There was wind throughout the afternoon. It felt good being outside my door. I had to go in because there were some people not wearing face coverings coming toward my home. I went in and played Mazouni.  I had a craving for hummus and maybe salted chips, but none in the household. I had popcorn instead, and it's good. Today is a good day. 

The One Album I listened to Over and Over Again in 2008

 

The year 2008 was all about Sparks. In a few moments of madness, and without money, I decided to go to London to write a book on Sparks' "21 Albums in 21 Nights" series of concerts, where on each night they would focus on a specific album. From beginning to end, and then for an encore, they would do a b-side or a rare recording from that period of time they recorded that album. Believe it or not, the purpose of these shows was to announce their new album in 2008, "Exotic Creatures Of The Deep." A record with bouncy melodies and great beauty. I had so much fun, but it was also a lot of work. What came out of this whole trip is my book "Sparks-Tastic. And I remember buying a collection of Anthony Newley recordings on CD at HMV on Oxford Street.