Obituaries of Note: Anita Sarko, Joe Moss, Mark Murphy

Anita Sarko - RIP

Joe Moss - RIP

Mark Murphy - RIP

Jimmy Scott RIP

Jimmy Scott - RIP

Jimmy Scott - Official Website

Jimmy Scott was truly an angel who graced us with his presence, and when possible, his unsurpassed talent to sing. Thank you, Jimmy. I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to shake your hand, and say thank you. 

Its funny how things work...And it comes back to Lou Reed for me. Last night there was a by-all-accounts wonderful tribute to Ornette Coleman in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Then I heard about Jimmy Scott this morning. Whats the connection with Lou Reed to both of these artists?

Many years ago, when WNEW was still a rock station here in NYC, and Vin Scelsa had a show on it, he was interviewing Lou Reed. When asked what ONE song would he choose to take to a desert island, Lou chose "Lonely Woman" by Ornette Coleman. Being a good listener, I went out and bought a copy of The Shape of Jazz To Come - Ornette's third album, and released by Atlantic Records in 1959 (a very good year for jazz). Lesson learned. Thank you, Lou.


Jump forward a few years. Following the death of the legendary Doc Pomus (Jimmy Scott fan and friend of Lou), Jimmy Scott performs at Doc's funeral. Lou is there. He then goes on to write & record Magic & Loss, a collection of songs contemplating life and its end (or not), and definitely inspired by Doc Pomus. Lou asks Jimmy Scott to sing on the album, and then has Jimmy appear with him in concert. I don't know how many shows Jimmy did with Lou, but I was at a Radio City Hall show where I saw him. Right around this same time, also resulting from Jimmy's performance at the Pomus funeral, Jimmy Scott was signed to Sire Records resulting in a couple of gorgeous albums, so I was aware of who Jimmy was by the time I saw him with Lou. But again, if it weren't for Lou I may not have known about Jimmy.

So, thank you, Lou - for Ornette & Jimmy.

I went on to see Jimmy several times throughout the 90's and into the early 00's. Jimmy ALWAYS looked like a visiting angel. He would just seem to appear on stage. Etherea in a spotlight. With those LONG fingers pointing the way. And no matter what was going on in the room, you had to completely give yourself over to listening. At Jimmy's tempo. Slow. We were lucky to have him.  

Jerry Vale RIP

Jerry Vale - RIP

Rosemary Clooney digs vinyl

Obituaries of note: Eydie Gorme and Jody Payne

Eydie Gorme - RIP

Jody Payne, left, with his long time boss, Willie Nelson

Jody Payne - RIP

Before & After: Aware of Love by Curtis Mayfield

I can't think of one single song/performance that combines such maturity, masculinity without being macho, regality, and just downright dignified soul. Originally performed & released in 1961 by then ex-Impressions vocalist, Jerry Butler, this Mayfield-penned tune was later redone by the Impressions in 1967. Their version, with Sam Gooden taking the lead, was ALMOST as good.

Before: Jerry Butler - Aware of Love (1961)

After: The Impressions - Aware of Love (1967)

Quincy Jones & Sarah Vaughan dig reel-to-reel

Paris 1958 by Jean-Pierre Leloi

Frank Sinatra's angry letter (1976)

In 1976, Frank Sinatra wrote the letter below to Chicago Daily News writer, Mike Royko. Royko was a Sinatra fan, but he had written an article questioning the special treatment Frankie had received while visiting Chicago for a concert. Read about the origins of this great piece of ephemera here.

Patty Andrews RIP

Patty Andrews - RIP

Earl "Speedo" Carroll RIP

Earl "Speedo" Carroll - RIP

Movie of the Week: Billie Holiday

Nightclubbing gets gaga over Frankie

This week, Pat & Emily go slumming with Sinatra, and discuss Ol' Blue Eyes' influence on the punk generation...the results may surprise you.

Time’s a funny thing, especially where musicians are concerned. If the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones doesn’t scare you, perhaps the realization that we’ve shared nearly 36 years with Bono and 29 with Madonna will.

Still, it’s a little surprising that a mere 21 years separates the release of “Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely” in 1958 and the above video of Iggy Pop covering the LP’s iconic track, “One for My Baby,” at Hurrah’s in 1979. At first glance, the culture wars of the ’60s would seem to render irrelevant the bars, broads and bruisers ethos that Ol’ Blue Eyes represented. But for the generation that made up the original punks, those childhood memories of cigarette smoke, parents’ late nights and Sinatra’s music ran deep. Continued here.

As always, visit Go Nightclubbing.

Andy Williams RIP

Andy Williams - RIP

Just Because - The Delta Rhythm Boys

Johnny Hartman: The Book!

Just like the Ruts, as I posted yesterday, one other record thats never far from the tip of my tongue when it comes to all time favorites is John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman. Simply put, that album changed my life. Not only was it my ticket into a deeper appreciation & love for jazz, but it introduced me to one of the great cult heroes of any sort of music - the only vocalist John Coltrane ever thought enough of to make an album with, Mr. Johnny Hartman.

For whatever reason, I was recently Googling around, as you do, and looked up Johnny Hartman. And much to my surprise & delight I found out that the book pictured to the left will be published this summer. Not only is it incredible as its a new book on Hartman, the amazing thing is that, as far as I know, its the only book specifically about him. He gets lots of mentions in various histories and bios of related musicians, especially Coltrane, but no one has ever dedicated an entire tome to his story. My money would have been on Will Friedwald, being the first, but that would have made me a loser.

Anyway, if you're not familiar with Johnny Hartman, but like good vocalists, and possibly like jazz, start with John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman - you cannot go wrong. Its one of those perfect albums. From the artwork, to the production, to the songs, to the running order, everything about it screams classic. Not to mention, it contains the best version of "Lush Life" ever committed to tape - not an easy song to do really well. Hartman nails it. The general story about the album goes that Hartman, Coltrane and his quartet, were so on their game that day in the studio, that every song on the session was done in one take - except for one where Hartman was so entranced by Coltrane's playing, he didn't come back in with the vocal where he was supposed to.

If the Coltrane album knocks you out, I highly suggest The Johnny Hartman Collection 1947-1972, compiled lovingly by the aforementioned Will Friedwald. And if you're anything like I was when I first got bitten by the Hartman bug, you'll soon be running all over trying to get your hands on everything Hartman recorded. Luckily, its much easier these days than it was twenty years ago.

Sweet Jesus, I hope this book is good.

Pre-order The Last Balladeer: The Johnny Hartman Story here.
Visit the book's official website here.
Buy Johnny Hartman music here.
Study the Hartman discography here.

Amy Winehouse RIP

Amy Winehouse - RIP

Joe Lee Wilson RIP

Joe Lee Wilson RIP

Here's the opening sequence from a documentary about Joe Lee called "Around Joe Lee":

Go fly with him

From the days when movie stars made pictures, and singers did numbers, I strongly suggest you download this recording of Frank Sinatra performing in Monte Carlo in 1958. Thanks to Dino & Princess for the link. Pow!