Tosh Berman's Blog, page 93
April 19, 2021
The World of Tosh Berman: Monday, April 19, 2021 (Bobby Paris)
The World of Tosh Berman: On Bobby Paris. Read it here:
https://tosh.substack.com/p/monday-april-19-2021
April 18, 2021
Bowie - "I'm Only Dancing (The Soul Tour 74) Limited Edition, Vinyl, 2020 (Parlophone)
For one, it's nice to have a recording of David Bowie's sound on stage during his approach to the Soul and Rhythm n' Blues world. At this time, he embraced American Black culture with a passionate intensity. As much as I like (or love) Young Americans album, it strikes me as a bridge between his Diamond Dogs and Station to Station, which combines his passion for funk and Avant-rock. Still, what a wonderful time and tour where Bowie slipped into a James Brown mode and presented these new songs from Young Americans before it was released. I have to imagine some Bowie fans were scratching their heads at this time, but whatever reason, the music is superb.
The recording of the record is not top-notch but still listenable. The only weird thing about it is the use of the echo in Bowie's mic -which may work in a live situation, but on record comes off odd. Bowie's voice is shot but still full of emotion, and his singing skills never fail. I also love side 3 because it focuses on the new material: "Can You Hear Me?" "It's Gonna Be Me," and the amazing "Somebody Up There Likes Me." There is also a killer version of Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood," as well as hearing the roots to "Fame" called "Foot Stompin'." For the casual fan, this collection is not a must-have, but for the die-hard Bowie lunatic, it is a must to own and enjoy. If I'm not mistaken, the only tour not recorded (or released yet) is his greatest hits tour he did in 1990.
Walter Carlos - "Walter Carlos' Clockwork Orange" Vinyl, Album, 1972 (Columbia)
It's interesting to note that this album is called Walter Carlos' Clockwork Orange. They leave out the "A" that is in the original title for the film. Not only that, but Carlos is taking control over her work and presents it as music on its own merits. Nevertheless, this album is the ultimate work of electronic music, not as an experiment, but using the adventuresome aspect of that type of music into pop or classical medium. Carlos and her producer Rachel Elkind are brilliant composers.
The big thrill here is the opening piece "Timesteps," 14 minutes long and a tremendous aural adventure. Written for A Clockwork Orange but not used as far as I know is the ultimate electronic sound collage of dread/humor that perfectly fits the film or the novel's look at the near future of the time. The rest of the album is pretty much what we know of the score or soundtrack to the movie. But re-positioned by the artists that make the work representable to her own aesthetic. The last piece on the album is "Country Line," which has traces of "Singing in the Rain," but almost as an afterthought.
Les Sewing Sisters -Voice Over for "Home Tour video excerpt"
Lun*na Menoh does a voice-over on a series of performances that took place in people's closets throughout Southern California by her band Les Sewing Sisters. A brilliant concept and a series of moving performances - both fun and profound.
Wallace Berman, Verifax Collage, on Paperboard 7 3/4 x 7 inch.
Wallace Berman, Verifax Collage, on Paperboard 7 3/4 x 7 inch.
April 17, 2021
The World of Tosh Berman: Saturday, April 17. 2021
The World of Tosh Berman. Saturday, April 17, 2021 For Lindsay Anderson, Billy Fury, and Pete Shelley.
"Hollywood Eden" by Joel Selvin (Anansi)
I always found Southern California to be a fascinating landscape. One can do pretty much what they want to do if they have the talent, or perhaps even more critical, the skill of a hustler. Joel Selvin's "Hollywood Eden" is a collection of tales I know of. Still, now they are clearly explained to the reader. Being a citizen of Los Angeles, I knew the existence of Jan and Dean and aware of them as an essential presence in the California myth, which I think is true, by the way. The weather is a huge aspect of living outdoors, and a car, especially in the 1950s and a touch of the 60s, fits perfectly well into the landscape. Jan and Dean, especially the brains of the outfit, Jan Berry, had an instinct about the inside business of making music and records.
Jan, a Californian rich kid, used his family's garage as a recording studio where he experimented with sounds and singing. His partner in crime, Dean Torrance, was symbolically a partner but fitted in the image of two guys sharing cars, the surf, and girls. The book is a narrative that starts in 1958 and ends in 1966. Besides Jan Berry, the other key figures in this tale of Californian hustle and art are Kim Fowley, Lou Adler, Nancy Sinatra, Terry Melcher (the son of Doris Day), Bruce Johnson, The Mama and Papas, and of course, Brian Wilson. Although Jan had the talent, good looks, and brains, he didn't have Brian's brilliance. Jan inspired Brian, but the student (Brian) left the master (Jan) in the dust.
Kim Fowley had the talent to be in the right place and at the right time. Beyond that, it was mostly luck that connected him to the outskirts of the music business. Everyone knew him, but except Bruce Johnson, few admired or liked him. Fowley, I think, fed on that resentment that led him to endless hours hustling people to make records or money. For the pop fan, Fowley is famous mainly for managing and co-writing songs for The Runaways, but there is no mention of life after 1966 in this book. I think the strength of "Hollywood Eden" in being focused on a specific time frame.
Everyone in this book can have a fascinating full biography. Selvin is a skilled journalist and writer. He knows how to tell the tale without losing himself or the reader with too much history or baggage. It reads like a Southern California noir novel than anything else. The details about the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr are something that I never knew about. Still, I had a faint impression that there was a Jan and Dean connection to the crime. It seems Dean knew the kidnapper and was told about it, but he didn't believe it until it became apparent to him. The Nancy Sinatra narrative is also of great interest in how she slowly emerges from being the daughter of Frank and becoming her own artist with the assistance of Lee Hazelwood.
"Hollywood Eden" is very bittersweet because we know that some of these participants in the book did not have a happy future. For example, there's no mention of the Manson Family problem that Melcher had, and like Fowley's Runaways, there is no need to bring it up in this book. This is very much a page-turner for those who love the early Surf-Car-teenage pop of Southern California, but the characters themselves are solid and cinematic. Not all of them are likable, but they did contribute something unique to Southern California's mix or cocktail. A burst of bright sunshine with Noir's presence.
Playlist for Carole King's "Tapestry" plus Carole songs Covered by Others (Book Musik)
My co-partner on BOOK MUSIK has put together the ultimate Carole King playlist. Not only "Tapestry" album but also King songs covered by The Crystals, Dusty, Aretha, The Monkees, The Fab Four from Liverpool, Bryan Ferry, Al Green, Amy, and Little Eva, among others.
Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/220L3skur4uhUN1gGmapQJ?si=v-q_WRvJRdOJusw7LVjBlQ&nd=1
Apple Music Playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-carole-kings-tapestry-33-1-3-by-loren-glass/pl.u-r0xYtjDggL7
April 16, 2021
The World of Tosh Berman: Friday, April 16, 2021 (The Joy of a Stroll)
The World of Tosh Berman: Friday, April 16, 2021. The joy of a stroll: https://tosh.substack.com/p/friday-april-16-2021
