This is my blog where I write about music, jewelry, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, songs about baltimore, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Subscribe via any of the methods in the right-hand column. Please do not link directly to the mp3 files.
7 songs
I pulled this 10" 33 1/3 compilation out of a box of records I haven't looked at in a long time. It reminds me of record shopping, and when I used to get really thrilled in record stores and seek them out in my travels. I believe I got this at Rock & Roll Collectibles in New Orleans but that's just a hunch. The best thing about discovering old music was knowing nothing about it... I had no idea quite what I actually liked, so any venture to buy music would result in some random purchases. Those times may be behind me, but this is the kind of record I get excited to find even still. I'm sure it's not rare. It's not really that great. But it's got this.. essence. It's a 10", so it resembles a 78. It must have been promotional - it has a press clipping pasted onto the sleeve. That's probably the clincher for me. And here I am turning it into a cluster of heartless mp3s. As if it still has some value without the motion of setting a needle on it. I left it nice and scratchy so we can pretend. Download: Curtain Call Series Volume 4Marlene Deitrich - Ben Bernie - Libby Holman - George Jessel  Labels: 1930s, cinema, comedy, glamorous
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More Jayne stuff: Diamonds to Dust
Amazon.com removed the review I wrote of this Jayne Mansfield book.  Here was the review:
I am writing this review so that others who order this book may know what to expect, since I did not and was a little disappointed.
This book appears self published, and unfortunately seems entirely unproofed. The grammar is full of run-on sentences and misspellings, which is distracting from an otherwise nice story.
The book is written by one of Jayne's biggest fans. He has the facts straight, and has access to insider information from the family of Jayne. Unfortunately he editorializes often. Having not been present for the actual events, writing in the first person in a biography comes off as unprofessional.
My final gripe is the mentions of latter-day celebrities Tara Reid and Anna Nicole Smith. By referring to current events, the book trivializes and dates itself.
I've read all the biographies of Jayne, and certainly agree that they're altogether inadequate. My disappointment in this book resulted from my hope that it might be "the one."
What it is, however, is a loving tribute and a quick read. It's worthwhile as a brochure for those curious about the true story of Jayne's life.
Maybe one day the book can be proofread and expanded upon, with the photos printed in higher resolution.
In the meantime, I must say that this book put forth the life story of Jayne in a very honest and linear way.
I can only assume the author had it taken down or something. Pity. So I thought I'd post it here for posterity, since it's irritating that they would do that. Labels: books, cinema, Jayne Mansfield
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Jean Harlow Side 2 & Many Sides of June Harlow
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The plight of June Harlow and the plight of Kara Mae
I've had trials and tribulations. Record needle failures and record player failures, technical difficulties and life distractions. I got some new needles for the LP player, got an entirely new Califone 1430K to play my 78s, and tried to learn just a little bit more about easier ways to export mp3s and normalize and tag files en masse. I am in the process of digitizing many of my 1930's-related LPs. After some frustration with sound quality, I discovered that this record I'm posting (half-of) sounds better when played with the 78 needle. So I went ahead and did that.  Here is side one of "Great Motion Picture Themes from Jean Harlow Films." I haven't tagged everything thoroughly enough to name all of the songwriters and movies and stuff. Frankly, I'm not convinced this blog currently has the readership to necessitate me putting forth too much effort (at this time.) So here's one side of a record. I need to go to bed. Great Motion Picture Themes From Jean Harlow FilmsSince you already know all about Jean Harlow, and have access to tons of photos of her lovely face, I'll randomly include the tangentally related burlesque star "June Harlow," alleged niece of the Hollywood star. Due to her butt chin I'll believe it.
In an interviews in Cabaret magazine in 1956, she talks about getting into stripping at age 16 because she knows she's gotta use it or lose it. She laments that Marilyn Monroe gets comparisons to her aunt Jean. Coincidentally, June was apparently married to Joe DiMaggio's brother. In another Cabaret feature one year later she talks up her plans to become a movie star, and disses the acting chops of Marilyn and Jayne, declaring that she won't have to be a good actress because they aren't.
I scanned her centerfold but then I realized there's already a decent scan of it online. So when I do the second half of the Jean Harlow themes record, I'll try to mix in some more photos of her "niece."
click the photo for a huge image or click here for the whole page.
Labels: burlesque, cinema, glamorous
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By request (kind of)
I aim to please. I guess the writer of this intriguing classic movie blog found my site while searching for a recording of Barbra Stanwyck singing "Take It Off The E String (Play It On The G String)", as seen and heard in the movie " Lady of Burlesque"(1943). For those of you who aren't familiar, the movie is an adaptation of the novel "The G String Murders" by the one and only Gypsy Rose Lee, eloquent stripper turned mystery writer. Stanwyck sings this saucy number and flaunts her goods in the burlesque tradition, in the beginning of the movie before the shit goes down. (By that I mean the aforementioned murders of course) The song is credited to Sammy Cahn and Harry Akst. I can only guess that it would be this Sammy Cahn and Harry Akst, each relatively successful and acclaimed showtune writers on their own. If I'm correct that would make it the same men who brought us such songs as "Dinah" (Akst) and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along"(Cahn). Hell.. Cahn partnered with various people on a whole slew of familiar songs from "Love and Marriage" to "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow." I copied this song from the "Ladies of Burlesque" compilation LP. I posted another song and mentioned this one 2 years ago. Which of course led to this request. Anyway, I'm glad someone looked at my blog. I'm glad I could be of service delivering this legendary burlesque-related recording to someone who seeks it. Enjoy. Sorry my record player sucks. I'm working on that. Take It Off The E String (Play It On The G String)(Sammy Kahn, Harry Akst) Barbara Stanwyck - from the 1943 film "Lady of Burlesque" 
Barbara Stanwyck looking ridiculously hot
Labels: burlesque, cinema, comedy, glamorous
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Rita Hayworth, part 1 of 2
"Rita Hayworth's own voice can be heard possibly in the slow version of "Put the Blame on Mame," during which she accompanies herself on guitar, and definitely in two rare 1971 TV appearances." - Alan Eichler, on the liner notes to the "Silver Screen Star Series" Rita Hayworth LP I think the general consensus is that this was sang by Anita Ellis. Rita Hayworth is so sexy in Gilda, seriously. Considering the motivation of her character, it makes sense... Women are best at being sexy out of spite. Well I am, anyway. I do everything best out of spite. I wish there was some hateful reason to update this blog every week! I really dig Anita's vocals on this version of the song. It's a nice sultry scene in the movie, too. Rita never sang her own songs in her movies. Was she actually a decent singer? I guess you can be the judge. Next time I'll post one of the aforementioned TV songs. Rita Hayworth and/or Anita Ellis
Put The Blame On Mame (slow version)
Gilda
Directed by Charles Vidor, 1946
Labels: cinema, glamorous
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Lost In Translation
I feel corny using that as a title for a post. How trite. But really, what other way is there to explain how, once the corny lyrics of this theme song for Danger: Diabolik make their way into English, the song loses its mystique. I mean... I guess it might have dumb lyrics anyway. I just love the movie. I love the whole style of 1960s Italian hero-villain, as realized in Diabolik, and the somewhat less slick Mister X, and the disappointing Satanik. They're all based on some cool comics, from a generally "cool" era in Italian culture, full of art, music, and fashion that I really dig. Glittering Images has a pretty cool book out covering a lot of this stuff (it's in English and Italian) Anyway... the song. The score to Diabolik was done by the well-known Ennio Morricone, famous for tons of spaghetti westerns, and later on, even John Carpenter and Argento films. He's pretty prolific. Upon watching this movie, the theme song "Deep Deep Down" will get stuck in your head for days. You can cure that affliction by listening to it in English. Ennio Morricone
Deep Down
Deep Down (English)
Danger: Diabolik
Directed by Mario Bava, 1968
Labels: cinema
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I Like A Guy What Takes His Time
Mae West: A Guy What Takes His Time (1933) A Guy What Takes His Time (1955) Here we have two versions of one of my favorite Mae West songs, "A Guy What Takes His Time." The first version was recorded in 1933, and is available on several of the common Mae West CDs. She sings the song in the movie "She Done Him Wrong," although it is highly cropped due to film censorship. Watching Mae sing these songs in her films is strange... she rolls her eyes and smiles as she purrs "ooooh," and it sounds really weird. The second version I don't like so much. I found this 1950s Mae West record "The Fabulous Mae West," which features a few of her hits re-recorded, as well as some new-ish songs. The production just doesn't suit her. Her songs are better when presented more simply... one would imagine them being performed in a sleazy saloon or nightclub. Singing with a big full band doesn't have the same effect. In the 1930s version of "A Guy What Takes His Time," the character singing is Lady Lou (aka Diamond Lil.) In the 1950s version, the character singing is Mae West. By the time she recorded it she was already pushing 60 years of age. 
Pick up Mae West "I'm No Angel," from the amazing Venerable Music site, to hear this and some other great Mae songs. Also, check out the Mae West blog, which is basically my favorite blog ever. Labels: cinema, comedy, glamorous, jazz era, mae west
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Alice Faye - Whose Big Baby Are You?
 Whose Big Baby Are You?Alice Faye - from the 1935 film "King of Burlesque"  I've never seen "King of Burlesque." This "Ladies of Burlesque" record is pretty common - record collectors will come across it often, especially when seeking other burlesque-related gems. It has some good songs on it. I don't know what year the compilation was put out, but the first song is "Ladies of the Chorus" featuring Marilyn Monroe, yet Marilyn's name is not printed on the front of the record alongside the other stars listed. This comp also features the famed Barbara Stanwyck "Take It Off the E String (Play It on the G String)" from the Gypsy Rose Lee-penned film "Lady of Burlesque." Maybe I'll put that song on here at some point. I really wish I could find "King of Burlesque," so that I could find out who the King in question is, and also so I could see what the crowd is laughing at in this Alice Faye track. Labels: burlesque, cinema, glamorous
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Jayne Mansfield - That Makes It!
That Makes ItToo Hot To Handle  One thing that really amuses me about the Jayne Mansfield movie "The Girl Can't Help It" is the general poor understanding of "Rock and Roll." (Movie title song excepted!) At that period in time, Hollywood's representations of rock n roll were usually pretty corny. This song here is another good example of a sweet but misguided attempt. Regardless, it's a good audio glimpse of Mansfield - from her first sultry words to the squeals towards the end of the song. It's a campy good time. So horrible, and yet I listen to this song often, as a routine part of my curiosity about the glamorous, confused and kitschy life of Jayne Mansfield.  Labels: cinema, comedy, glamorous, Jayne Mansfield
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