Uh, oh, many, many, many nights go by,
I sit alone at home and I cry over you.
What can I do.
Can't help myself, 'cause.... ---- Baby, It's You.
Gosh they set the bar awful high, didnโt they? They didnโt need to. They didnโt need to be perfect. Not yet. This wasnโt jazz. Or Dylan. But, they did. And thus they changed the whole game for Pop music. Made an art form of it right from the start. This stuff wasn't disposable. This was for keeps! ๐ฅฐ > How else to explain those guitars on "Anna (Go to Him)" ?! Or the harmonica that kicks off "Chains?"
Now, I'm not saying this is a perfect album. They're not Dylan level yet! There are still a few throwaways. Songs that I wouldnโt bother putting on a playlist. Like โBoys.โ That song is relatively useless to me. And I find the vocals on โAsk Me Whyโ rather grating.
BUT, as pretty much the opening salvo for the British Invasion, I can't help but be a bit weak in the knees. Lovable mop tops indeed!
Another thing 1963 is known for (and the early 60s in general) is novelty albums. For example, most people will tell you that the definitive version of "Yakety Sax" was released in 1963 by Boots Randolph:
Also, some people consider the definitive version of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" to be the one recorded by Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans in 1962, first released on an album in 1963. It was produced by Phil Spector, and some consider it to be his first "wall of sound" record. There's even a legend that the guitar sound on this song led to the invention of the fuzz box by people trying to replicate it.
Finally, the only album on BEA by Japanese twin-sister duo The Peanuts is "Golden Greats," released in 1963. Monster movie fans might recognize The Peanuts as the original Shobijin, the singing high priestesses of Mothra:
The Setting: It always rains in this city. And it's always nighttime. I have to keep a cigarette lit just to keep warm. Warmth is life. At least, thatโs what I tell myself. Maybe I'm just addicted to cigarettes. I see a corner bar up the block. Itโs neon sign welcoming me in like the smile of a chorus girl. And I never could resist a chorus girl. I head down the stairs. The tables are arranged around the stage. Red glassed candles on each flickering at me to sit down. โAlright,โ I says. โJust oneโ. At least this place has heat. The band starts playing up on the stage. They feel just like this city. Just like this bar. Ripped from some 40ish black & white film noir. The kind where thereโs dames and broads and guys who always have a good quip at the ready. I want to be those guys. And, I want to be with those dames. So I stay. One leads to two. And two naturally leads to three. The cold is gone. A small smile even manages to cross my lips. โThis ainโt so bad,โ I say to myself. Guess Iโll stay for one more.
The Listen: This is the kind of jazz I picture in my head in those scenes in those old black & whites. You know. The ones on TCM. I donโt care if itโs historically accurate. Itโs my head. My picture. Itโs what gives those scenes on late night tv that something extra. A certain timelessness. The coolest cats playing the coolest blue jazz. The city is their music. And their music is the city. Interchangeable. Interlinked. You can't have one without the other. Just like this rain. Just like this night. Which is why it always rains in this city. And it's always nighttime.
The Rating: ๐๐๐๐
FischmanRockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMasterProfile Land of Enchantment
The Setting: It always rains in this city. And it's always nighttime. I have to keep a cigarette lit just to keep warm. Warmth is life. At least, thatโs what I tell myself. Maybe I'm just addicted to cigarettes. I see a corner bar up the block. Itโs neon sign welcoming me in like the smile of a chorus girl. And I never could resist a chorus girl. I head down the stairs. The tables are arranged around the stage. Red glassed candles on each flickering at me to sit down. โAlright,โ I says. โJust oneโ. At least this place has heat. The band starts playing up on the stage. They feel just like this city. Just like this bar. Ripped from some 40ish black & white film noir. The kind where thereโs dames and broads and guys who always have a good quip at the ready. I want to be those guys. And, I want to be with those dames. So I stay. One leads to two. And two naturally leads to three. The cold is gone. A small smile even manages to cross my lips. โThis ainโt so bad,โ I say to myself. Guess Iโll stay for one more.
The Listen: This is the kind of jazz I picture in my head in those scenes in those old black & whites. You know. The ones on TCM. I donโt care if itโs historically accurate. Itโs my head. My picture. Itโs what gives those scenes on late night tv that something extra. A certain timelessness. The coolest cats playing the coolest blue jazz. The city is their music. And their music is the city. Interchangeable. Interlinked. You can't have one without the other. Just like this rain. Just like this night. Which is why it always rains in this city. And it's always nighttime.
The Rating: ๐๐๐ :twisted:
I never really heard Midnight Blue like that, but in reading your description, I can see how it makes sense.
It comes from '58, not '63, but if you ever want to hear the ultimate music of seedy city film noir, Miles Davis's Ascenseur pour l'echafaud is about as descriptive as it gets.
The Setting: It always rains in this city. And it's always nighttime. I have to keep a cigarette lit just to keep warm. Warmth is life. At least, thatโs what I tell myself. Maybe I'm just addicted to cigarettes. I see a corner bar up the block. Itโs neon sign welcoming me in like the smile of a chorus girl. And I never could resist a chorus girl. I head down the stairs. The tables are arranged around the stage. Red glassed candles on each flickering at me to sit down. โAlright,โ I says. โJust oneโ. At least this place has heat. The band starts playing up on the stage. They feel just like this city. Just like this bar. Ripped from some 40ish black & white film noir. The kind where thereโs dames and broads and guys who always have a good quip at the ready. I want to be those guys. And, I want to be with those dames. So I stay. One leads to two. And two naturally leads to three. The cold is gone. A small smile even manages to cross my lips. โThis ainโt so bad,โ I say to myself. Guess Iโll stay for one more.
The Listen: This is the kind of jazz I picture in my head in those scenes in those old black & whites. You know. The ones on TCM. I donโt care if itโs historically accurate. Itโs my head. My picture. Itโs what gives those scenes on late night tv that something extra. A certain timelessness. The coolest cats playing the coolest blue jazz. The city is their music. And their music is the city. Interchangeable. Interlinked. You can't have one without the other. Just like this rain. Just like this night. Which is why it always rains in this city. And it's always nighttime.
The Rating: ๐๐๐ :twisted:
I never really heard Midnight Blue like that, but in reading your description, I can see how it makes sense.
It comes from '58, not '63, but if you ever want to hear the ultimate music of seedy city film noir, Miles Davis's Ascenseur pour l'echafaud is about as descriptive as it gets.
It could be related to my limited exposure to jazz! lol. I'm just finally dipping my toes in. That's the scene which came to my mind while I was listening & washing dishes. I'll try comparing it with Ascenseur pour l'echafaud later this week when I get the chance!
I never really heard Midnight Blue like that, but in reading your description, I can see how it makes sense.
It comes from '58, not '63, but if you ever want to hear the ultimate music of seedy city film noir, Miles Davis's Ascenseur pour l'echafaud is about as descriptive as it gets.
It could be related to my limited exposure to jazz! lol. I'm just finally dipping my toes in. That's the scene which came to my mind while I was listening & washing dishes. I'll try comparing it with Ascenseur pour l'echafaud later this week when I get the chance!
So I started listening to Ascenseur while making some fried rice, AND I totally see what u mean with that first track - Generique. Totally has that smoky, late-night hotel bar vibe I love. BUT, then "Sur La Autoroute" comes on and it's just way to busy. It feels like daytime and I'm walking down a boisterous, clang-clanging city street. And then the next track "Julian dans l'ascenceur" is far too melancholy. That feels like something bad just happened and I'm holed up in my hotel room furtively looking out my window through drapes wondering if I'm being followed or sth.
Way cool album though!!! I saw the movie back in 2016 and remember really liking it. Now I'm going to have to watch it again! Not surprisingly since it's a soundtrack and all, I just feel Ascenseur pour l'echafaud has too many moods for what I was talking about. And now "Florence sur la champs-elysses" came on and again I feel we could be BACK at that smoky nightclub you were talking about! lol.
Ok. Back to making dinner! lol.
Thanks again!!! This was fun! ๐๐ It's great getting a real jazzhead's take!!!
FischmanRockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMasterProfile Land of Enchantment
Hope you and the kids have a great camping trip. I love the UP! Amazing area. My last trip was focused on mountain biking around Copper Harbor and Marquette.
Hope you and the kids have a great camping trip. I love the UP! Amazing area. My last trip was focused on mountain biking around Copper Harbor and Marquette.
Thanks, Fischman! We're headed to Pictured Rocks and Munising! Copper Harbor looks amazing. Will have to file that away!
btw, This means I need a NEW movie rec for 1963!!! :wink:
The Haunting (dir. Robert Wise) would be my pick
Watched last night with my two girls in a hotel room in Sheboygan. They immediately fell in love with Theo - her attitude, her fashion, her barbed wit. BUT most of all they suspected that she had the hots for Nell, and they loved the fact that there was a LGBTQ icon way back in 1963. THAT was the highlight of the movie for them. lol.
I thought the casting was great. Especially Nell & Theo. The tension and love/hate between those two was striking. Nell was perfect as the girl most likely to lose her shit in a haunted house. The mix of guilt & resentment she'd harbored from years of taking care of her mother made her easy pickings!
Loved the ambience of the old house. The set designs were perfect.
I'd give it a solid ๐๐๐
1963 Movie Rankings
1. 8 1/2
2. Pink Panther
3. The Haunting
4. The Sword & The Stone
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Hayden
Repo
MadhattanJack
Fischman
