Since nothing roused my interest on TV last night, I turned to one of the music tapes I recorded years ago, #38, done post 9/11. My set was hooked to our building’s master antenna back then, and reception was affected for several months when the Towers went down. Fortunately, the sound on most of the tracks was fine. There were performances from various sources: PBS specials, Ed Sullivan compilations, and Late Night with David Letterman. Most genres were represented, even Jazz, with the Count Basie Orchestra tearing it up on Sullivan. The first 20 minutes was comprised of the second half of the debut of The Judy Garland Show, which aired on CBS for one season, '63-'64, immediately following Sullivan. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were the guests and the three giants of Americana were in top form. Garland ended the show with a four song set of her signature work that gave me chills: The Trolley Song, Rock a Bye Your Baby, Swanee and San Francisco. James Brown appeared on Sullivan, doing a medley of hits and dancing up a storm in his inimitable fashion. Little Anthony and the Imperials exhibited their phenomenal vocalizing in the do wop acapella Just Two Kinds of People in the World. CBS ran an hour special on U2 back then, and I caught a rousing version of Where the Streets Have No Name. The setting, an outdoor venue packed to the gills and featured a circular platform that Bono ran around, was as exciting as the music. There was also some Broadway delight: the sexy fun of Hey Big Spender from a Bob Fosse tribute; a medley from Oklahoma that included the incredible finale; and Ben Vereen doing an old soft shoe to Mr. Bojangles, which went on longer than it should have. For the highlight I chose the Charms rendition of their lone hit, Desirie, which hit #3 on the R&B charts in 1957. The title may be unfamiliar, but most people who enjoy do wop will probably immediately recognize the vocalese, which the group nailed, remarkable given that they hadn’t performed together in 45 years. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SNz0YjQVLM
I’m a little more than halfway through the editing of Oana’s piece on her experiences growing up under the communist dictatorship that was Romania pre-1989. One of her thoughts really hit home. From that distant alleged workers’ paradise she wondered if America weren’t better, despite its gun violence. Lovers of freedom know it is occasionally a harsh mistress that spawns questionable or downright despicable behavior. There are consequences to freedom, just as there are to all aspects of life. Fortunately, it engenders far more good than bad. Unfortunately, the bad garners so much more publicity.
There was a bit of excitement at the floating book shop today. On the other side of Bay Parkway past 85th Street, about 100 yards from where I was standing, an old BMW caught fire. Flames and smoke poured from it. The driver shouted at people to stay away. Fortunately, the fire department arrived before the gas tank blew. There was a beautiful, sporty Mercedes, the owner no where in sight, parked about five feet in front of the BMW. The wind sent most of the smoke along 85th Street, but the stink was prevalent for a while. Of course, the event drew a crowd and people were snapping away on camera phones. My thanks to the elderly woman who purchased a Patricia Cornwell thriller, and to my friends Bob and Marti, who bought Kindle copies of The Bat and All Hallows, my first web sales in 12 weeks.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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