Tosh Berman's Blog, page 89

The World of Tosh Berman, Tuesday, May 18, 2021 (Erik Satie)

 

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The World of Tosh Berman: Erik SatieThe World of Tosh Berman: On Erik Satie. In the photo up above is Debussy on the left, and Satie on the right.

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Get a paid subscription and I will send you the re-edited versions of the Sunday Series every Sunday. And some new stuff as well. You can do it here: https://tosh.substack.com/about

Catherine Deneuve - "Souviens toi de M'Oublier" (1981) Philips

 

My friend Taro sent this to me from his home in Tokyo, and it is one of my favorite Serge Gainsbourg projects. Not as famous or iconic as his work with Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin, but nevertheless a late Serge masterpiece. Recorded in London and in 1981, Catherine Deneuve, the marvelous French actress (actor), made her first album with Serge writing all the songs. She is seen in the early Jacques Demy musicals, but I believe her voice is dubbed over by another singer. Still, Deneuve can rock the party here on this album. Backed by studio guitarist great Alan Parker, a latter-day Jimmy Page here with riffing electric guitar. Arrangements and keyboards by Alan Hawkshaw, another great British studio musician and backed by bassist Brian Odgers, and drummer Dougie Wright of the John Barry (Jane's first husband by the way) Seven. 

It's a solid rock background, and almost every song here is catchy as hell. My favorite cuts are Dépression Au-Dessus Du Jardin and Oh Soliman. Deneuve is not a singer, but her voice is still stronger than Birkin or Bardot, and she makes these songs by Gainsbourg spicy and hot. Not an accessible album to find, but it is an essential Gainsbourg project. It needs to be reissued. 

The World of Tosh Berman: Saturday, May 15, 2021 (The Mysterious Michael Braun and Love Me Do!)

 

https://tosh.substack.com/p/the-mysterious-michael-braun-love 

The World of Tosh Berman: The Mysterious Michael Braun and Love Me Do!

BOOK MUSIK No. 46 Liner Notes for the Revolution: The Intellectual Life of Black Feminist Sound - Discussion with author Daphne A. Brooks

 

Book Musik 046 – Liner Notes for the Revolution: The Intellectual Life of Black Feminist Sound – discussion with author Daphne A. BrooksPosted on May 15, 2021 by Book Musik

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Daphne A. Brooks to discuss her new book Liner Notes for the Revolution: The Intellectual Life of Black Feminist Sound. Brooks asks: “Who gets to tell the story of Black women who were both performing and producing thought about popular music culture, and how will this story be told?” The vital and influential work of Black female performers, writers, critics, intellectuals and cultural historians has long been neglected, marginalized or lost altogether. Brooks has taken it upon herself to fill in the archives and gift us with this rich history long in the making that will undoubtedly send you down many a rabbit hole to discover even more.

https://www.daphneabrooks.com

Daphne shared this playlist for her book: Spotify playlist

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

The World of Tosh Berman, Friday May 14, 2021 (The Red Flower of Tachai Blossoms Everywhere and David Bowie)

 

The Red Flower of Tachai Blossoms Everywhere and David Bowie The World of Tosh Berman: The Red Flower of Tachai Blossoms Everywhere and David Bowie.

The Sparks Brothers (2021) | Official Trailer

I'm in the film!  But don't blink!  And it's a great film.  Go and see it. 

Wallace Berman's "You'll Lost That Loving Feeling" Verifax Collage (Postcard/announcement)

 

"You'll Lost That Loving Feeling" was a favorite song by my dad Wallace Berman. Here is a postcard/announcement made by Wallace for his exhibition in Beverly Glen. The image down below is art made by Wallace, called "You Lost That Loving Feeling" (1964/1965). Phil Spector got the invitation and came with Ronnie Spector to the studio and he purchased this portrait by Wallace. At this time, I imagine that the artwork is still in the Spector estate, but beyond that, I'm not sure. The original work is verifax collage.

[Who is in "Who is Lun*na Menoh" ] vol.14 - Amore Hirosuke

The World of Tosh Berman: Monday, May 10, 2021 ("Doomed and Famous: Selected Obituaries" by Adrian Dannatt)

 

https://tosh.substack.com/p/doomed-and-famous-selected-obituaries  

My observations on the magnificent "Doomed and Famous: Selected Obituaries" by Adrian Dannatt. My version of a perfect book.