What a week! I wanted to share with you all the global media for my new book, Anatomy of a Song. Monday was an interview with Scott Timberg of Salon (go here) and Tuesday brought a fantastic radio interview (here and here) with rock jocks John and Brad at KISM 92.2-FM in Seattle. Wedneday was the Today show with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford (clip coming soon; the music played on the air has to clear rights). Anatomy of a Song then jumped to #244 overall at Amazon, becoming the #2 book in the rock category behind Bruce Springsteen's memoir and #2 in the history/criticism category, right behind Dylan's Lyrics. The book holds steady in those category rankings now.
Next came news that Vanity Fair will be mentioning Anatomy of a Song in its holiday book roundup (go here). Later that day, my book was named to Amazon's "Best Books of the Month: Nonfiction" list for November. On Friday, Charles Kaiser's marvelous interview and praise in The Guardian went up online (go here). BMI also jumped in with a terrific review (here), and on Friday afternoon I was at NPR's Midtown Manhattan radio studios for an hour on the air with the great Steve Kraske of KCUR (89.3-FM) in Kansas City (go here). Next was Dave Fanning in Ireland on RTE2.
Next week is shaping up to be just as exciting. Thank you one and all for your continued support, your love and your encouragement. Music is our shared "tree house," our escape from the daily struggle, our oasis of art and emotional tranquility. I'm gratified to know you're out there.
Live—I will be interviewed on Nov. 16 at New York's Barnes & Noble on 82nd St. and Broadway at 7 p.m. by Rob Hyman, co-writer with Cyndi Lauper of the hit Time After Time. After, I will be signing books. Come on up to see us, and stay behind after to say hi. Don't be shy.
Live, again—I will be in Toronto on Nov. 18 at the studios of JAZZ.FM91 for a two-hour talk on my book (7 to 9 p.m.), where I'll be sharing insights into the 45 songs and artists I interviewed. Please come up and say hello afterward. I love Canada and all of the support readers there have given me over the years. For more information on tickets, which includes a free book, go here.
Finally—please support JazzWax by buying Anatomy of a Song (you'll love it, I promise). To buy, go here in the U.S., here in the U.K. or here in Canada. And thank you for your kindness and support.
In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Priscilla Presley for the Mansion section's "House Call" column on her childhood, before she met Elvis at age 14 (go here). A fascinating look at a lovely, lonely girl whose father was in the Air Force and who had to keep relocating, which cost her friends and a childhood most of us take for granted. Eventually, the family landed in West Germany in 1959, where she met Elvis at a party.
Also in the WSJ this week, my Anatomy of a Song column on Martha and the Vandella's 1964 hit Dancing in the Street (go here). I interviewed vocalist Martha Reeves as well as co-writers Mickey Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter, and Motown arranger Paul Riser. By the way, jazz hounds, Freddie Waits was the drummer on the single. Here's the alternate take of Dancing in the Street...
And finally, I interviewed Tommy Hilfiger on the Who's My Generation for the Review section's "Playlist" column (go here). Tommy is a wonderful guy and enormously gracious.
British jazz '62. A few weeks ago, I posted on Soho Scene 62: Jazz Goes Mod, a fabulous double album that at the time was available only on vinyl. Now it's on a double CD (go here). To refresh your memory, here's Give Seven by the Bill McGuffie Quintet...
Photos of old New York. Reader Max Frazee sent along the following links to fabulous photos of another era in New York City (go here and here)
Woody Shaw III sent along news that three projects of his dad's music this year have been submitted for a Grammy (go here).
YouTube Cocktail—From Margy Bloom in Los Angeles, a YouTube Cocktail featuring the city in 1946 (I know this because Gilda is on a movie marquee caught by the camera). To enjoy the cocktail, start the first clip and mute it. Then start the second for the music (you may have to unmute the second one) [photo above, "East Los Angeles, 1946," by Max Yavno]:
Watch this one after muting the volume...
While listening to this one...
What the heck. Here's the great Rhoda Scott on organ in 1972 playing Moanin'...
Here's Rhoda more recently on Fly Me to the Moon with a big band and vocalist...
To read my JazzWax interview with Rhoda, go here.
Oddball album cover of the week.
I think it's fair to say that anyone sitting in an oversized cocktail glass and using a long straw to consume its contents will more than likely wind up with a few different personalities. I'm not sure what the appeal is to the album buyer of a woman in a champagne cooler up to her waist, but there you have it, from Squire Mason and His Orchestra.
