30 de septiembre de 2007

Cinematografia: Charade (Stanley Donen, 1963)

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Despues de tanto tiempo sin dedicar un solo post a la otra gran pasion de mi vida, que es el cine, voy a repasar una pelicula que acabo de revisionar, "Charada" dirigida magistralmente por ese gran artesano que fue Stanley Donen (Cantando bajo la lluvia, Dos en la carretera, Siete novias para siete hermanos...).

Pero, he pensado, que en vez de dar el toston opinando largamente sobre las grandes cualidades de este film, lo mejor seria hechar un vistazo a su excepecional fotografia, firmada por Charles Lang, y que me parece realmente sublime. A quien no haya visto esta gran pelicula, no le entran ganas al observar estas instantaneas? Pues deberia.

Uno de los mejores filmes de Donen, en un claro homenaje al cine de Alfred Hitchcock. Imprescindible.

Corte de la BSO seleccionado para escuchar mientras se contemplan las fotografias:

Henry Mancini - Charade Main Theme


Charade:
8.5/10 (imdb: 8.0/10)


























Aviso: he intentado no publicar fotogramas que puedan ser reveladores de la trama (spoilers). Aun así, si alguien no ha visto la pelicula y quiere estar totalmente "virgen" es libre de no mirar. Aunque, como digo, ninguna de estas instantaneas revela absolutamente nada de la historia.

27 de septiembre de 2007

Jay & The Techniques - Number Onederful / Don't Ask Me To Forget (Event Records 7", 1976)


Jay & The Techniques
Number Onederful / Don't Ask Me To Forget
Event 228 - 1976





Supeeeeeeeerb! This were the philly gold days for sure.
4.5/5

24 de septiembre de 2007

Al Wilson - La La Peace Song (Bell Records LP, 1974)


Al Wilson
La La Peace Song
(Bell Records LP, 1974)


A1
La La Peace Song (3:22)
A2
A Stones Throw (3:04)
A3
Medley: I Won't Last A Day Without You/Let Me Be The One (5:52)
A4
Goin' Through The Motions (3:16)
A5
Passport (2:37)
B1
I'm A Weak Man (3:24)
B2
Fifty-Fifty (3:08)
B3
The Longer We Stay Together (4:58)
B4
Willoughby Brook (3:43)
B5
You're The One Thing (Keeps Me Goin') (3:07)


Solsoul's Cut Choice
B2 - Fifty-Fifty



A partir de ahora, a cada LP que suba al blog, elegiré un corte que será el que mas me guste y asi, servira tambien para que os hagais una idea de como es el LP y escuchar de un plumazo la cancion en si mientras esparais a que se descargue el album.

En esta ocasion, destaco del notable album de Al Wilson "La la Peace Song" el corte "Fifty-Fifty", absolutamente maravilloso de principio a fin, una joya del soul atemporal y que debe ser escuchada por todos y cada uno de vosotros.

T.N.J.'s - Don't Forget About Me (Chess 7", 1974)


Produced by Allan Felder for W.M.O.T. Productions
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA 1974



Sweeeet philly uptempo!
4/5

22 de septiembre de 2007

Solsoul presents Lounge Cinematica Vol.2 - The Incredible Jazz Experience!

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Solsoul presents
Lounge Cinematica Vol.2
The Incredible Jazz Experience!


Han pasado ya 2 meses desde el primer volumen de Lounge Cinematica, una seleccion de temas de lo mas sensual y elegante provenientes de esos maravillosos años 60 y 70.

Pues bien, ahora le toca el turno al volumen dos, un volumen el cual tendra como principal protagonista el sonido jazz mas puro y elegante, siempre con un aire cinematografico como es y sera habitual en esta serie y, que he querido remarcar aun mas en este volumen con la inclusión de mas de un fragmento de dialogo de la pelicula de la cual esta sonando la musica. De ésta forma la experiencia cinematografica sera del todo completa, pudiendonos adentrar en ese mundo lleno de misterio, sombras, lugares inospitos, locales lleno de gente de reputacion mas que dudosa, detectives, asesinos, whisky, chicas y persecuciones.

El hilo principal de este volumen como he dicho es el jazz, no obstante tambien encontrareis cortes bossa e italobossa de la mano principalmente de ese gran compositor italiano que fue Piero Piccioni.

A destacar, el comienzo con varios cortes de la banda sonora de la pelicula "Le Samuraï", un clasico de la novelle vague dirijido por Jean Pierre Melville, con Alain Delon como protagonista principal encarnando al solitario y misterioso Jeff Costello, un asesino a sueldo de la hampa parisina, que no tiene reparos en hacer lo que le pidan, sea a quien sea, siempre que esté debidamente pagado. La banda sonora es una joya a descubrir de el compositor François de Roubaix, una obra jazz de tintes melancolicos realmente magistral.

Tambien he querido prestar un pequeño homenaje al produto "nacional" con 2 composiciones para peliculas españolas de principios de los 60 con claro aire de cine negro. Éstas son "091 Policia al Habla", pelicula dirigida por Jose Maria Forqué con banda sonora de el gran Augusto Algueró Jr, una composicion que nada tiene que envidiar a cualquiera de Henry Mancini o Elmer Bernstein. La otra es "Un Vaso de Whisly", el catalan José Solá firmaba la también excelente banda sonora, un Solá que fue, por otra parte, pionero en poner musica jazz en una pelicula española.

Espero que disfruteis de esta seleccion de cortes jazz, con un aire cinamtografico aun mas marcado que el volumen anterior y que tanto amo. Si es posible, degusarlo con un vaso de whisky (como dice la pelicula), una chica al lado o, si eso no es posible, recomiendo escucharlo en el coche (modelo años 60) mientras perseguis a cualquier tipo de dudosa reputacion a altas horas de la noche.


..::Tracklist::..

01. François de Roubaix - Le Samouraï (OST-Medley)

02. Piero Piccioni - Ebony Ride
03. Gino Marinacci Ensemble - Metropoli
04. Film Studio Orchestra - Les Liaisons Dangereuses
05. Augusto Algueró Jr. - 091 Policia Al Habla (OST-Medley)
06. Les Baxter & The 101 Strings - Love Beat Of The City
07. Martin Denny - Amy's Theme
08. Piero Piccioni - Amanda's Train
09. Piero Piccioni - Insolita Luce Azzurra
10. Mario Nascimbene - Carol On The Sea
11. Francesco De Masi - Gordon Blues
12. Philippe Sarde - On Voit Ce Soir
13. Marco Di Marco - Portrait For A Golden Angel
14. Henry Mancini - Sky Watch
15. Romano Mussolini - Duke
16. Jose Solá - Un Vaso De Whisky (OST-Medley)
17. Adolph Deutch - The Apartment (OST-Medley)
18. Jerry Goldsmith - Chinatown (OST-Medley)


21 de septiembre de 2007

The Invitations - Look On The Good Side / Instrumental (Silver Blue Records 7", 1974)


The Invitations
Look On The Good Side / Instrumental
(Silver Blue Records 7", 1974)

Grande, grande single por los Invitations, con la version (semi) instrumental en la cara B.

4.5/5

LISTEN!

15 de septiembre de 2007

Phil Hurtt - Giving It Back / Where The Love Is (Fantasy 12", 1978)



Phil Hurtt
Giving It Back / Where The Love Is
(Fantasy 12", 1978)


Produced by Phil Hurt. Remixed by Gerry Block at Sigma Sound Studios, NY.

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DOWNLOAD

14 de septiembre de 2007

Brown Sugar - Game Is Over / I'm Going Through Changes Now (Capitol 7", 1976)


Brown Sugar
Game Is Over / I'm Going Through Changes Now
(Capitol 7", 1976)



Arranged & Produced by Vince Montana for Philly Prod. Inc. BMI





13 de septiembre de 2007

The Dells - They Said It Couldn't Be Done, But We Did It! (Mercury Records LP, 1977)


The Dells
They Said It Couldn't Be Done, But We Did It!
(Mercury Records, 1977)



A1 Teaser (3:14)
A2 Our Love (5:01)
A3 Could It Be (6:40)
A4 Rich Man, Poor Man (Peace) (5:49)
B1 They Said It Couldn't Be Done, But We Did It (5:00)
B2 Waiting For You (6:21)
B3 Get On Down (4:11)
B4 Betcha Never Been Loved (Like This Before) (4:53)


The following statement appeared on the Dells' LP, "They said it couldn't be done but we did it", by WDAS radio personality Carl Helm in Philadelphia, 1977

"People wondered why this album is entitled...."They said it couldn't be done but we did it" so let me try to explain..... The year was 1956, The Dells at that time had hit after hit. I know you, like me, will never forget the classic sound of The Dells doing "Oh What A Night" and then there were the lean years and other groups had passed them by. People are still wondering what has happened to The Dells. Has the 20th century lost a great great group? Are there any producers, writers, and arrangers, who could bring back the good sound of the mighty mighty Dells? Seeing that this was a big challenge "The Harris Machine" decided to record the Dells' next album. Everyone said the Dells could not make it again, but believe me,"The Harris Machine" and the Dells have done it. When you listen to "They said it couldn't be done but we did it", you'll hear for yourself that it has been done".


8 de septiembre de 2007

Lou Rawls on Philadelphia International Records

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Lou Rawls - All Things In Time
1976


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Lou Rawls - Unmistakable Lou
1977



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Lou Rawls - When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All
1977



***

Lou Rawls - Live
1978



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Lou Rawls - Sit Down And Talk To Me
1979



***

Lou Rawls - Let Me Be Good To You
1979




******


No me extenderé mucho, puesto que todos y cada uno de estos albumos son simplemente ESENCIALES en cualquier discoteca que se precie, sea philly o no.

..:: PHILLY ESSENTIALS ::..

Lou Rawls, We'll Never Find Another Man Like Lou


LLegamos a uno de los momentos mas destacados e importantes de este blog, ya que Lou Rawls fue (y es) todo un hito, no solo dentro de el sonido de filadelfia, sino de la música en general.
Vamos a repasar toda la discografia de Lou Rawls en Filadelfia, no obstante, cabe destacar que Rawls no empezó ni mucho menos ahi, ni tampoco acabó, aunque si que es cierto que sus exitos ams rotundos y basicamente, su edad dorada fue en la ciudad of broderly love.

Antes de nada, repasemos un poco la biografia de este hombre, de la mano de wikipedia.


Lou Rawls was a high school classmate of music giant Sam Cooke, and they sang together in the Teenage Kings of Harmony, a 50s gospel group.

After Rawls graduated from Chicago's Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, Rawls enlisted in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He left the "All-Americans" three years later as a Sergeant, and hooked up with The Pilgrim Travelers as he traveled to Los Angeles. In 1958, while touring the South with the Travelers and Sam Cooke, Rawls was in a serious car crash. Rawls was actually pronounced dead before arriving at the hospital, where he stayed in a coma for five and a half days. It took him months to regain his memory, and a year to fully recuperate. Rawls considered the event to be life-changing.

In 1959, Rawls, along with Dick Clark as master of ceremonies, performed at the Hollywood Bowl. Rawls was signed to Capitol Records in 1962, the same year he sang the soulful background vocals on the Sam Cooke recording of "Bring it on Home to Me." Rawls himself charted with a cover of this song in 1970 (with the title shortened to "Bring It On Home").

Rawls' first Capitol solo release was Stormy Monday (a.k.a. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water), a jazz album. On August 21, 1966, Rawls opened for The Beatles at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Though his 1966 album Live! went gold, Rawls wouldn't have a star-making hit until he made a proper soul album, appropriately named Soulin', later that same year. The album contained his first R&B #1 single, "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing". 1967 saw Rawls win his first Grammy for Best R&B; Vocal Performance, for the single "Dead End Street".

After leaving Capitol in 1971, Rawls joined MGM, at which juncture he released his Grammy-winning single "Natural Man." He had a brief stint with Bell Records in 1974, where he recorded a cover of Hall & Oates' "She's Gone." In 1976, Rawls signed with Philadelphia International Records, where he had his greatest album success with the million-selling All Things in Time. The album produced his most successful single, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", which topped the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts and went to number two on the pop side, becoming Rawls' only certified million-selling single in the process. Subsequent albums, such as 1977's When You've Heard Lou, You've Heard It All yielded such hit singles as "Lady Love". Other releases in the 1970s included the classic album Sit Down And Talk To Me. In 1982, Rawls received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

According to an Associated Press article, dated December 19, 2005, Rawls tried to annul his two-year marriage to Nina Malek Inman Rawls in order to "protect hundreds of thousands of dollars" that his wife "absconded" with. Mrs. Rawls, who acted as his manager for two years, explained that she transferred nearly US$350,000 of his into an account she solely controlled in order to prevent one of Rawls' daughters from seizing it. The couple had a son together, Aiden Allen Rawls.

In December 2005, it was announced that Rawls was being treated for lung and brain cancer. Rawls died on January 6, 2006 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from complications of the cancers, with his wife at his side. Besides his wife and youngest son, he leaves behind two adult daughters - Louanna Rawls and Kendra Smith, and an adult son, Lou Rawls, Jr.

Seguidamente, su discrografia!

5 de septiembre de 2007

Lou Rawls on Sesame Street!



Antes de empezar nuestro repado a la phillydiscografia de Lou Rawls, interesante ver este video donde canta el abecedario en el mitico programa barrio sesamo a finales de los 60.
Que grande es internet, soulero61!!

Para los que no veais el video, bajaros esta aplicacion: Divx Web Player