In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed rocker Pat Benatar for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). She talked about her early years, particularly how the death of her mother's young father, which forced her mother's mother and two young siblings (Pat's aunt and uncle) to move in with them. The crowding and the fact that there wasn't much money made Pat more determined in school to do well and succeed so her family didn't go under.
Here's Pat and husband-guitarist Neil Giraldo, inductees, at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame ceremony and concert on Nov. 5...
JazzWax is free, for now. To keep it free and accessible, please buy my new book, Anatomy of 55 More Songs, here. Trust me, you'll love it. And I've created a free Spotify playlist of all 55 songs on the home page of my book site here. This means you'll be able to read and listen at the same time.
Hurry, the book publishes Dec. 6. Get it fast because, if you love it, you'll want to order copies for friends and family as holiday gifts. Remember, $27 is a pittance for what you receive for free all year and beats what I would charge annually if I put the daily blog behind a paywall. Show the love! And thank you in advance for your love and support.
TV recommendation. Because I view so many movies and TV series in advance of interviews, I'm constantly asked by friends and readers for recommendations. Here's what I'm suggesting this weekend: Spector, Showtime's four-part documentary on Phil Spector. While it dwells a bit heavily on the murder that send the late producer and songwriter to prison, the direction, cinematography, talking heads and edit are spectacular. Again, it's on Showtime, and all four episodes can be binged.
Here's the trailer...
Freddie Green. My apologies. A few days ago, when I posted on Freddie Green's Mr. Rhythm as part of my Backgrounder series, the incorrect clip wound up being featured when you clicked on the link.
So here's Mr. Rhythm again, with the correct link (the link on the original post has been fixed)...
Eliane Elias. Last week, following my post of a video of Eliane (above) in action in Rochester recently, I heard from Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive:
Hi Marc, thanks for your post about Eliane Elias and her new album, "Quietude." I was a big fan of her double Grammy-winning 2021 release with Chick Corea, "Mirror Mirror." Until I read your column and her bio, I had no idea she had released 31 albums over 40 years in her career. Lucky for all of us, I searched for and found a great Eliane Elias concert from "Jazz a Vienne," in 2014. She performs three Antonio Carlos Jobim songs and several other jazz standards. This was broadcast on CultureBox France TV. Go here.
Traveling online. Last week I heard from Mark Rabin [photo above courtesy of YouTube]:
Hi, Marc, I'm a fan of industrial ephemeral films, mostly transportation related. I flew well over a half-million miles before I retired. Being high-risk for a bad outcome from Covid, I now have to settle for a travel fix online. Every so often a real gem comes along.
Here's one from West Coast Airlines featuring narration by actor Herschel Bernardi, the music of the Jazz Crusaders and a script by Syd Field! I give it five stars...
I guess the promo was better than the airline as they merged into another airline the following year.
The second film, on Pennsylvania Interstates from 1967, is longer and much drier. After a Perry Como intro, this film features a score by Pittsburgh jazz guitarist and "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" cast member Joe Negri. Here it is...
If I didn't have other projects for my retirement, I could easily go deep down the rabbit hole with these films. Like Steve Young did in the wonderful film "Bathtubs Over Broadway!" on Netflix now. Here's the trailer...
The Internet Archive has over 14,000 ephemerals! One example from their collection is the Cab Calloway-hosted "Minnie the Moocher and Many, Many More." Go here...
Cute. Here's what Count Basie drummer Sonny Payne would have been playing if you looked down on him in the studio when he recorded the Neal Hefti song with the Basie band in April 1958...
And here's Jerry Lewis getting into the act in Cinderfella (1960)...
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie radio. Chris Cowles, who hosts Greasy Tracks each Saturday afternoon on WRTC-FM in Hartford, Ct., sent along a link to his recent show on the extraordinary session and soul drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie. To listen for free to Chris's three-hour show, including an interview with Purdie, go here.
Coleman Hawkins radio. On Monday, WKCR-FM in New York will present its annual "Coleman Hawkins Birthday Broadcast," playing the tenor saxophonist's music all day for 24 hours. The marathon celebration will begin on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET) and continue all day and night on Monday. To listen from anywhere in the world, go here.
And finally, here's vocalist Sue Raney with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra in 1959 singing It's Easy to Remember...
