In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed the legendary Françoise Hardy for my "House Call" column in the paper's Mansion section (go here). Ms. Hardy talked about her difficult time growing up with a father who had an affair with her mother and had a family of his own. She also reflected on how she got her big break in 1962. [Photo of Ms. Hardy courtesy of Amazon]
Here's Ms. Hardy in the '60s...
Here's the title track of La Question (1971), my favorite Françoise Hardy album...
Also in the WSJ, my "Anatomy of a Song" column on Black Sabbath's Paranoid (go here), a 1971 song that helped kick off the heavy-metal rock movement. Interviewing Ozzy Osbourne was a gas. He's completely open and so funny. I also spoke with the song's producer Tom Allom. [Photo above courtesy of Ozzy Osbourne]
Here's an early performance by the band on Britain's Top of the Pops TV program in '70...
Stan Kenton. Following my post last week on The Road to Stan, a 1961 album featuring the North Texas State big band on 90th Floor Records, I heard from Joann Kenton (above, in the 1960s), Stan's third wife. They were married from 1967to 1969:
"Marc, this is so interesting to read, as I can tell you firsthand that Stan told me it was a lifesaver for him to get his musicians right out of North Texas State. He said it used to take him years to get new guys hired for the road to learn the skills that these kids had right away. Dee Barton was one of my very favorites, as I knew him quite well during the time that I was married to Stan. At my request, he did several arrangements for me, such as Here’s That Rainy Day and MacArthur Park."
Marcos Valle at Birdland. This week, Brazilian bossa nova legend Marcos Valle will appear at New York's Birdland from Tuesday, May 29 through Saturday, June 2. Don't miss this run if you're in town. Marcos is bringing along Paula and Jaques Morelenbaum as well as Patricia Avles. If you're looking for an affordable vacation to Rio in the '60s, this is it. For more information, go here.
Dudley Moore. A British comedian, yes. But also a jazz pianist. How good? David Chilver sent along a link to this clip from 1965...
Patricia Scot recorded one commercial vocal album, Once Around the Clock, in 1959 for the ABC-Paramount label. Creed Taylor produced. Scot was backed by the Creed Taylor Orchestra, led by Kenyon Hopiins. The band featured Jimmy Cleveland, Jim Dahl and Frank Rehak (tb); Dick Hixson (b-tb); Phil Woods and Jerome Richardson (as); Joe Venuto (vib,bgo); Milt Hinton and Al Hall (b); and Don Lamond (d).
Larry Allen sent along a link to Ms. Scot's site, where you can hear other recordings she made over the years. Ms. Scot is still with us. Go here.
Here's Patricia Scot singing You Leave Me Breathless from Once Around the Clock. Dig the super trombone-driven arrangement...
Marty Sheller, one of the great boogaloo and Latin-jazz arrangers, sent along a great link to Herbie Hancock performing his Cantaloupe Island with Freddie Hubbard (tp), Joe Henderson (ts), Ron Carter (b) and Tony Williams (d)…
Keely Smith and Louis Prima. Here's the Las Vegas comedic duo in color...
What the heck. In 1964 and '65, the band that gave the Beatles a run for their money wasn't the Rolling Stones. It was the Dave Clark Five. Here's the DC5's Because, on Shindig...
Oddball album cover of the week.
Surely there were other ways to show a woman falling in love. Covers like these gave Cupid a bad name.
