And Bootsy is followed briefly by the great drummer Jabo Starks. HIT ME!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The Star Of The Show, Hard Workin', Mr. Dynamite, JAYYYYYYYMMMMMMES BROWN!
Is there anything we in this compound fractured, politically polarized, permanently, irrevocably SNAFU-ed kinda world anyone can agree on? Yes - James Brown A.K.A. "Soul Brother Number One," "The Godfather Of Soul," "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business," "Mr. Dynamite", belongs on the short list of greatest, most influential performers, recording artists and bandleaders of the 20th century.
And here are just a few slices of video from his long career to illustrate:
As Count Basie, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane did, Mr. Brown employed monster musicians - only the best and baddest jazz guys would do - to play and write charts for the JBS: trombonist/arranger Fred Wesley, saxophonists Pee Wee Ellis, Maceo Parker and St. Clair Pinckney: power-packed percussionists Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield and Melvin Parker; the electric bass/electric guitar 1-2 punch of Bootsy and Catfish Collins (A.K.A. the original Funk Bros.) - to name just a few.
Invariably, friends, music fans and pop culture buffs who read this will remind me that James, as Miles Davis, Pablo Picasso and Charlie Chaplin did, had some serious personal problems over the decades, and that his leadership style was more in the Bobby Knight/Woody Hayes taskmaster model than the ultra-cool Phil Jackson approach. However, whatever we armchair quarterback-bandleaders say now, the music stands - holy shit, does it stand!
Had enough? I haven't - here's some more!
This blog extends a propulsive, polyrhythmic, cosmic and utterly funk-drenched tip of the Jimmie Hatlo top hat to Mr. Ike Dyson for posting so many amazing Godfather Of Soul performances on his James Brown/JBS/Famous Flames YouTube channel.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Psychotronic Paul's Quote Of The Day
"I found out some time back that it's idleness breeds all our virtues, our most bearable qualities--contemplation, equableness, laziness, leaving other people alone; good digestion mental and physical: the wisdom to concentrate on fleshy pleasures... but it was only recently I have clearly seen, followed out the logical conclusion, that it is one of what we call that prime virtues--thrift, industry, independence--that breeds all the vices--fanaticism, smugness, meddling, fear and worst of all, respectability." - William Faulkner, The Wild Palms
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Rare Stan & Ollie Footage!
From the archives of photographer George Mann, behind-the-scenes and location home movie footage of Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Edgar "Slow Burn" Kennedy.
Here they are, three great comedians, in March 1928 on the set of Should Married Men Come Home.
Now if that name sounds familiar, it's because Mr. Mann's son released the following color Atlantic City footage, featuring the Three Stooges and George's fashion model wife, Barbara Bradford, earlier this year.
SPREAD OUT!
Here they are, three great comedians, in March 1928 on the set of Should Married Men Come Home.
Now if that name sounds familiar, it's because Mr. Mann's son released the following color Atlantic City footage, featuring the Three Stooges and George's fashion model wife, Barbara Bradford, earlier this year.
SPREAD OUT!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
And This Blog Loves The San Francisco Silent Film Festival
It's back - the 17th Annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival, holding forth at the spectacular Castro Theatre yet again.
Haven't seen most of the films in this year's program, so, alas, any penetrating insights on my part will simply have to wait! Here are just a few highlights from the 2012 lineup:
THURSDAY, JULY 12
- 7:00 PM Wings William Wellman, Jr. will introduce the WW1 flying ace action-adventure and Oscar winner, directed by Wild Bill Wellman. Accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, with Foley sound effects by Ben Burtt.
FRIDAY, JULY 13
- 1:00 PM The Center For Asian American Media present Sun Yu's Little Toys, starring the expressive (and self-destructive) diva of Shanghai cinema, Ruan Ling-yu.
- 4:00 PM Emil Jannings stars with a cast of thousands in The Loves Of Pharaoh (a.k.a. DAS WEIB DES PHARAO).
While one doesn't tend to associate the words Ernst Lubitsch with big screen "sword and sandal" epics, that's exactly the bill of fare here. Accompanied by Dennis James on the Mighty Wurlitzer. - 7:00 PM The "It Girl" a.k.a. the eternally sexy and ever-winsome Clara Bow stars and breaks lots of hearts in Victor Fleming's 1926 film Mantrap. Accompanied by Stephen Horne on the grand piano
- 9:15 PM Philip Kaufman presents this year's director's pick, The Wonderful Lie Of Nina Petrovna, directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Brigitte Helm of Metropolis fame. Accompanied by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. English translation read by Frank Buxton.
SATURDAY, JULY 14
- 10:00AM Author and animation historian Leonard Maltin introduces a selection of imaginative and often surreal Felix The Cat cartoons by pioneering animator Otto Messmer. Accompaniment by Donald Sosin and Toychestra.
- 12 NOON Historian Rob Byrne will introduce The Spanish Dancer, a vehicle for silent movie mega-stars Pola Negri and Antonio Moreno, directed by Herbert Brenon. Accompanied by Donald Sosin, keyboard, with Jim Washburn and Greg Smith, guitar. Score by Donald Sosin and Martin de Ruiter.
- 7:00 PM David Ferguson, Angela Holm and Vincent Pirozzi introduce G.W. Pabst's noir-ish Pandora's Box.
The iconic Louise Brooks stars as Lulu in the the corrosive and despairing Weimar Republic classic and does method acting 20 years before Montgomery Clift, James Dean and Marlon Brando. Accompanied by the Matti Bye Ensemble. - 10:00 PM The Fest goes literary with an adaptation of two Nikolai Gogol stories, Shinel (a.k.a. The Overcoat).
Grigori Kozintsev and Leonid Trauberg directed this classic Russian film. Alloy Orchestra will match the 1926 opus with 21st century sound.
SUNDAY, JULY 15
- 10AM Jeffrey Vance introduces Doug Fairbanks' ultra-swashbuckling swordfighting actioner The Mark Of Zorro. Music historian and accompanist Dennis James lets 'er rip on the Mighty Wurlitzer.
- 12 NOON Eddie "Noir City" Muller introduces The Docks Of New York, starring Betty Compson and George Bancroft.
This is just one of several remarkable silent films by the innovative Josef von Sternberg. Accompanied by Donald Sosin on grand piano. - 7:30 PM Frank Buxton and Leonard Maltin introduce The Cameraman, arguably the last great feature film painstakingly crafted by director-star-screenwriter Buster Keaton. Accompanied by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. The feature will be preceded by Georges Méliès' A TRIP TO THE MOON - with live narration by Paul McGann.
For more info and tickets, check out the San Francisco Silent Film Festival website.
Monday, July 09, 2012
From The "Stupid In Public" File. . .
I thought of a joke about Americans, media and advertising by the great underground comic artist Gilbert Shelton today.
In the joke from The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comics, not-too-swift Fat Freddy watches a TV commercial - "Drink Tree Frog Beer and you'll be handsome and have lots of girlfriends" - and then rushes out to buy a six-pack. Swallows it hook, line and sinker! The following photos remind me of Fat Freddy, as well as that joke.
Object lesson here: whatever one's political views, do NOT forget spell-check, EVER (and bear in mind, Fat Freddy couldn't even spell the word naked. . . it was always "NEKKID").
Although, come to think of it, there was a "Tomas Jefferson" who played timbales and rhythm logs in Tito Puente's orchestra.
In the joke from The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comics, not-too-swift Fat Freddy watches a TV commercial - "Drink Tree Frog Beer and you'll be handsome and have lots of girlfriends" - and then rushes out to buy a six-pack. Swallows it hook, line and sinker! The following photos remind me of Fat Freddy, as well as that joke.
Object lesson here: whatever one's political views, do NOT forget spell-check, EVER (and bear in mind, Fat Freddy couldn't even spell the word naked. . . it was always "NEKKID").
Although, come to think of it, there was a "Tomas Jefferson" who played timbales and rhythm logs in Tito Puente's orchestra.
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
And This Blog Loves Virginia O' Brien, The Deadpan Diva
"At a 1980 USC seminar featuring Lucille Ball, an audience member asked "whatever happened to Virginia O'Brien?" and before anyone could answer, Virginia shouted from the back of the theatre, "She's back here in the cheap seats!"
Known as "The Deadpan Diva", she was the diametric opposite of the big, brassy, over-the-top comediennes and musical comedy performers popular in 1940's radio and movies (Martha Raye, Cass Daley, Betty Hutton, Judy Canova).
She was wonderfully droll and an excellent singer to boot: the great Virginia O' Brien.
Her unique deadpan comic style enlivened many an otherwise unmemorable MGM movie, including the largely so-so 1941 Marx Brothers vehicle, The Big Store.
Here's Virginia, delivering her trademark deadpan dry wit, beauty, impeccable style and perfect pitch in DuBarry Was A Lady.
Virginia possessed a dark sense of humor more akin to Michael O'Donoghue in the 1970's than anyone in the 1940's. Here are two versions of her black comedy gem "Say We're Sweethearts Again".
And here, from Panama Hattie (following the introduction by an overbearing and unfunny Red Skelton), is "Boy, Did I Get Stinkin' At The Club Savoy", absolutely the best song ever written about what follows the enthusiastic and excessive consumption of highballs.
Don't be fooled by the opening featuring Gloria DeHaven and June Allyson here; Virginia enters this production number from Thousands Cheer at 1:12 - and how!
Arguably, her best known film is The Harvey Girls, the star-studded spectacular featuring musical comedy powerhouses Ray Bolger and Judy Garland.
The Wild Wild West is a particularly funny number that suits Virginia's talents to a T. And the jokes about blacksmiths are only equalled by the Bullwinkle's Corner Village Blacksmith episode.
Her witty and highly original presence graced many films throughout the 1940's. In particular, Virginia's droll presence brightened many films among the spate of WW2 era revue features produced by MGM. For example, the following excellent production numbers from Till The Clouds Roll By and Ziegfeld Follies.
Virginia didn't make many silver screen appearances after her MGM contract expired, but did co-star in Francis In The Navy. Except for the ignominious fate of following Marilyn Monroe in this scene, she's quite good playing off of Donald O' Connor. Now just why Donald's character is so unenthusiastic about kissing Marilyn and Virginia back-to-back I'll never know; too much time spent around a damn mule, I guess!
After she married actor Kirk Allyn and semi-retired, Virginia periodically played nightclubs in the 1950's and later would appear on television on Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen and Merv Griffin's shows.
One thing I am certain of: all those who saw Virginia's nightclub act had an excellent time!
Known as "The Deadpan Diva", she was the diametric opposite of the big, brassy, over-the-top comediennes and musical comedy performers popular in 1940's radio and movies (Martha Raye, Cass Daley, Betty Hutton, Judy Canova).
She was wonderfully droll and an excellent singer to boot: the great Virginia O' Brien.
Her unique deadpan comic style enlivened many an otherwise unmemorable MGM movie, including the largely so-so 1941 Marx Brothers vehicle, The Big Store.
Here's Virginia, delivering her trademark deadpan dry wit, beauty, impeccable style and perfect pitch in DuBarry Was A Lady.
Virginia possessed a dark sense of humor more akin to Michael O'Donoghue in the 1970's than anyone in the 1940's. Here are two versions of her black comedy gem "Say We're Sweethearts Again".
And here, from Panama Hattie (following the introduction by an overbearing and unfunny Red Skelton), is "Boy, Did I Get Stinkin' At The Club Savoy", absolutely the best song ever written about what follows the enthusiastic and excessive consumption of highballs.
Don't be fooled by the opening featuring Gloria DeHaven and June Allyson here; Virginia enters this production number from Thousands Cheer at 1:12 - and how!
Arguably, her best known film is The Harvey Girls, the star-studded spectacular featuring musical comedy powerhouses Ray Bolger and Judy Garland.
The Wild Wild West is a particularly funny number that suits Virginia's talents to a T. And the jokes about blacksmiths are only equalled by the Bullwinkle's Corner Village Blacksmith episode.
Her witty and highly original presence graced many films throughout the 1940's. In particular, Virginia's droll presence brightened many films among the spate of WW2 era revue features produced by MGM. For example, the following excellent production numbers from Till The Clouds Roll By and Ziegfeld Follies.
Virginia didn't make many silver screen appearances after her MGM contract expired, but did co-star in Francis In The Navy. Except for the ignominious fate of following Marilyn Monroe in this scene, she's quite good playing off of Donald O' Connor. Now just why Donald's character is so unenthusiastic about kissing Marilyn and Virginia back-to-back I'll never know; too much time spent around a damn mule, I guess!
After she married actor Kirk Allyn and semi-retired, Virginia periodically played nightclubs in the 1950's and later would appear on television on Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen and Merv Griffin's shows.
One thing I am certain of: all those who saw Virginia's nightclub act had an excellent time!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Stuff I Like
Many people write blog postings about pop culture events, books, music, people and ideologies they hate. While, without a doubt, I can spit venom with the best - and worst - of them, well, there isn't a paucity of poison in the world. So today's posting is devoted strictly to stuff I like.
Let's start with. . .
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
This Gibson L-5 guitar is definitely something I like very much! Although San Francisco's Guitar Solo store has been highly recommended to me, alas, I will have to set my sights for a much lower priced model than this beauty.
BOOKSTORES
We love Omnivore Books in San Francisco's Noe Valley. Events, book signings, chefs (live - IN PERSON), new books and rare antiquarian and collectible items - they got 'em.
There are still numerous indie bookstores in San Francisco neighborhoods; Green Apple Books and City Lights are two notable ones. Others I used to enjoy visiting back in the day, such as Drama Books and Limelight Books - appear to be long gone.
VIDEO RENTAL AND RECORD STORES
If you can't (or won't) go out, rent a DVD (or three) from San Francisco's LeVideo on 1231 9th Avenue between Lincoln & Irving (in the Inner Sunset district). They actually carry the cool classic stuff! So did Jazz Quarter in San Francisco's Sunset District before owner Tom Madden passed away in August, 2010. Across the bay in Oakland, check out Groove Yard Jazz on 5555 Claremont for yet more out-of-print sonic masterpieces; like Jazz Quarter, they specialize in rare vinyl.
CLASSIC MOVIES ON DVD
Is it possible to see too many rare classic films on DVD? In a word, no - even if all the lost silents and 1928-1929 early talkies see the light of day after 80+ years in The Twilight Zone.
Among the top-notch DVD companies - soon to be joined by Paul E. Gierucki's Cinemuseum - who are restoring the rare, the obscure, the amazing, the beautiful, the hilarious, as well as the fascinating flotsam and jetsam and utter cinematic WTF out there:
Grapevine Video
Need a ridiculously rare silent that you can't find on DVD anywhere? Give these guys a call!
Kino Lorber
Worth checking out for their Buster Keaton releases alone!
Looser Than Loose
Ali and Dave Stevenson of Looser Than Loose (and the Manchester Mirthquake events) have made it possible for 21st century viewers to discover just how wonderful many lesser known comedians and comediennes of the silent and early sound eras can be.
They specialize in the rarest of the rare comedies and continually come up with stuff I didn't know existed. I especially like their Lloyd Hamilton and "Dizzy Damsels" DVDs.
Shout! Factory
I have undying gratitude for this company for their Ernie Kovacs Collection box set and terrific selection of concerts on DVD. Shout! Factory are the unparalleled archivists of cool classic television and I look forward to their upcoming releases.
Thunderbean Animation
Steve Stanchfield has been doing outstanding work bringing to light lesser known gems and important history from the world of animation, painstakingly mastered, often from 35mm nitrate prints. The latest Thunderbean release of Paramount's Noveltoons may even nudge me to grudgingly re-assess Famous Studios, far and away my LEAST favorite of all cartoon producers. Steve's transfers from gorgeous I.B. Technicolor prints are stunning.
CLASSIC MOVIE HOUSES OF WORSHIP
The Niles Essanay Film Silent Museum
Located a stone's throw from where G.M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson shot westerns a century ago, the museum presents silent movies every Saturday night, as well as such annual events as the Broncho Billy Film Festival, in the Edison Theatre - which was once a nickelodeon. Vintage movies in a cozy neighborhood environment = fun.
The Castro Theatre
Host to the off-the-charts wonderful Noir City and San Francisco Silent Film Festivals, this historic movie palace is the place to see vintage movies in their full big screen glory.
Paramount Theatre
The Paramount has bragging rights for presenting Abel Gance's mega-epic super-epic Napoleon earlier this year, but also has been producing weekly big screen fun via the Paramount Movie Classics series for quite a few years now.
Stanford Theatre
Third of the art deco movie palaces in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Stanford runs classic movies year 'round and presents comprehensive retrospectives of iconic stars and directors.
MUSIC: RESTORATIONS AND BOX SETS
There are so many companies, mostly intrepid DIY organizations, responsible for producing stellar new recordings and restoring vintage ones. I'll leave it at a few favorites. Two reissue labels that will warm the difficult-to-please collector's heart are Revenant Records and Mosaic Records. The latter is responsible for 25 years of remarkable limited edition box sets; nobody has done more to preserve historic jazz for future generations. And, for something completely different, there's also Sundazed Music, a reissue label which, as Shout! Factory and Rhino does, mines the vaults for pure pop from the mid to late 1960's. You know the sound: layered cooing vocals, touches of psychedelia and orchestral flourishes, all inspired by Sir George Martin, Brian Wilson and Phil Spector .
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
As a direct result of a bi-coastal relationship with a food blogger Querida, I have favorite eateries on both sides of the U.S.A. and can't decide between them! I'll treat these top-notch restaurants and markets as if they were sports teams with divisions then!
Eastern Division
Adams Fairacre Farms
My favorite market in upstate New York!
Harney And Sons Fine Teas
Love their tea room in Millerton and selection of teas overall.
Osaka Japanese Restaurant
The pride of Rhinebeck and my personal Hudson Valley choice for sushi and sashimi.
Red Devon Restaurant
Owners Julia and Nigel Widdowson have hit a grand slam with this treasure in pastoral Dutchess County. We have enjoyed amazing home-cooked meals - never less than a five star dining experience - at Red Devon. Don't blast past the town of Bangall without stopping there.
Western Division
Bi-Rite Market
San Francisco's best, bar none!
Ferry Building Marketplace
I'm a sucker for Hog Island Oysters and Blue Bottle Coffee, every time.
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
The definition of a jaw-droppingly wonderful farmers market.
Philz Coffee
We are blessed with some amazing coffees in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Philz features the secret blends of owner Phil Jaber and has a store on the Facebook campus! I'm personally fond of Philz Philharmonic blend.
TenRen Tea
Excellent choice for oolong and China teas in general. My favorite: the oolong King's Tea.
Southeast Conference
TeaRex offers the only U.S. grown black teas, from South Carolina's Wadmalaw Island. Their Charleston Breakfast Blend in particular is a standout.
I think that's all - for now!
Let's start with. . .
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
This Gibson L-5 guitar is definitely something I like very much! Although San Francisco's Guitar Solo store has been highly recommended to me, alas, I will have to set my sights for a much lower priced model than this beauty.
BOOKSTORES
We love Omnivore Books in San Francisco's Noe Valley. Events, book signings, chefs (live - IN PERSON), new books and rare antiquarian and collectible items - they got 'em.
There are still numerous indie bookstores in San Francisco neighborhoods; Green Apple Books and City Lights are two notable ones. Others I used to enjoy visiting back in the day, such as Drama Books and Limelight Books - appear to be long gone.
VIDEO RENTAL AND RECORD STORES
If you can't (or won't) go out, rent a DVD (or three) from San Francisco's LeVideo on 1231 9th Avenue between Lincoln & Irving (in the Inner Sunset district). They actually carry the cool classic stuff! So did Jazz Quarter in San Francisco's Sunset District before owner Tom Madden passed away in August, 2010. Across the bay in Oakland, check out Groove Yard Jazz on 5555 Claremont for yet more out-of-print sonic masterpieces; like Jazz Quarter, they specialize in rare vinyl.
CLASSIC MOVIES ON DVD
Is it possible to see too many rare classic films on DVD? In a word, no - even if all the lost silents and 1928-1929 early talkies see the light of day after 80+ years in The Twilight Zone.
Among the top-notch DVD companies - soon to be joined by Paul E. Gierucki's Cinemuseum - who are restoring the rare, the obscure, the amazing, the beautiful, the hilarious, as well as the fascinating flotsam and jetsam and utter cinematic WTF out there:
Grapevine Video
Need a ridiculously rare silent that you can't find on DVD anywhere? Give these guys a call!
Kino Lorber
Worth checking out for their Buster Keaton releases alone!
Looser Than Loose
Ali and Dave Stevenson of Looser Than Loose (and the Manchester Mirthquake events) have made it possible for 21st century viewers to discover just how wonderful many lesser known comedians and comediennes of the silent and early sound eras can be.
They specialize in the rarest of the rare comedies and continually come up with stuff I didn't know existed. I especially like their Lloyd Hamilton and "Dizzy Damsels" DVDs.
Shout! Factory
I have undying gratitude for this company for their Ernie Kovacs Collection box set and terrific selection of concerts on DVD. Shout! Factory are the unparalleled archivists of cool classic television and I look forward to their upcoming releases.
Thunderbean Animation
Steve Stanchfield has been doing outstanding work bringing to light lesser known gems and important history from the world of animation, painstakingly mastered, often from 35mm nitrate prints. The latest Thunderbean release of Paramount's Noveltoons may even nudge me to grudgingly re-assess Famous Studios, far and away my LEAST favorite of all cartoon producers. Steve's transfers from gorgeous I.B. Technicolor prints are stunning.
CLASSIC MOVIE HOUSES OF WORSHIP
The Niles Essanay Film Silent Museum
Located a stone's throw from where G.M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson shot westerns a century ago, the museum presents silent movies every Saturday night, as well as such annual events as the Broncho Billy Film Festival, in the Edison Theatre - which was once a nickelodeon. Vintage movies in a cozy neighborhood environment = fun.
The Castro Theatre
Host to the off-the-charts wonderful Noir City and San Francisco Silent Film Festivals, this historic movie palace is the place to see vintage movies in their full big screen glory.
Paramount Theatre
The Paramount has bragging rights for presenting Abel Gance's mega-epic super-epic Napoleon earlier this year, but also has been producing weekly big screen fun via the Paramount Movie Classics series for quite a few years now.
Stanford Theatre
Third of the art deco movie palaces in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Stanford runs classic movies year 'round and presents comprehensive retrospectives of iconic stars and directors.
MUSIC: RESTORATIONS AND BOX SETS
There are so many companies, mostly intrepid DIY organizations, responsible for producing stellar new recordings and restoring vintage ones. I'll leave it at a few favorites. Two reissue labels that will warm the difficult-to-please collector's heart are Revenant Records and Mosaic Records. The latter is responsible for 25 years of remarkable limited edition box sets; nobody has done more to preserve historic jazz for future generations. And, for something completely different, there's also Sundazed Music, a reissue label which, as Shout! Factory and Rhino does, mines the vaults for pure pop from the mid to late 1960's. You know the sound: layered cooing vocals, touches of psychedelia and orchestral flourishes, all inspired by Sir George Martin, Brian Wilson and Phil Spector .
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
As a direct result of a bi-coastal relationship with a food blogger Querida, I have favorite eateries on both sides of the U.S.A. and can't decide between them! I'll treat these top-notch restaurants and markets as if they were sports teams with divisions then!
Eastern Division
Adams Fairacre Farms
My favorite market in upstate New York!
Harney And Sons Fine Teas
Love their tea room in Millerton and selection of teas overall.
Osaka Japanese Restaurant
The pride of Rhinebeck and my personal Hudson Valley choice for sushi and sashimi.
Red Devon Restaurant
Owners Julia and Nigel Widdowson have hit a grand slam with this treasure in pastoral Dutchess County. We have enjoyed amazing home-cooked meals - never less than a five star dining experience - at Red Devon. Don't blast past the town of Bangall without stopping there.
Western Division
Bi-Rite Market
San Francisco's best, bar none!
Ferry Building Marketplace
I'm a sucker for Hog Island Oysters and Blue Bottle Coffee, every time.
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
The definition of a jaw-droppingly wonderful farmers market.
Philz Coffee
We are blessed with some amazing coffees in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Philz features the secret blends of owner Phil Jaber and has a store on the Facebook campus! I'm personally fond of Philz Philharmonic blend.
TenRen Tea
Excellent choice for oolong and China teas in general. My favorite: the oolong King's Tea.
Southeast Conference
TeaRex offers the only U.S. grown black teas, from South Carolina's Wadmalaw Island. Their Charleston Breakfast Blend in particular is a standout.
I think that's all - for now!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Burt Bacharach Day
It's the 20th of the month, Burt Bacharach Day - and also a happy 70th birthday to the great Brian Wilson.
Once Brian and Burt wrote a song together - and here it is.
I can't think of Burt playing any of Brian's songs on piano offhand, but among many unfinished projects by The Beach Boys, there was, indeed, a cover of "Walk On By". I love it - especially how Brian Wilson adapts those "Four Freshman/Hi-Los" style vocal parts to the sophisticated harmonies of Burt Bacharach.
Brian also wrote a song for his Gershwin tribute album which actually strikes me more as a loving tribute to Burt, as well as a companion piece to "That's What Friends Are For".
Since Brian's colleague and friend Sir Paul McCartney turned 70 a couple of days ago, so it's fitting that we pay tribute here to them - as well as Burt.
Thanks a million, Sir Paul, Brian and Burt for making this world a better place!
Once Brian and Burt wrote a song together - and here it is.
I can't think of Burt playing any of Brian's songs on piano offhand, but among many unfinished projects by The Beach Boys, there was, indeed, a cover of "Walk On By". I love it - especially how Brian Wilson adapts those "Four Freshman/Hi-Los" style vocal parts to the sophisticated harmonies of Burt Bacharach.
Brian also wrote a song for his Gershwin tribute album which actually strikes me more as a loving tribute to Burt, as well as a companion piece to "That's What Friends Are For".
Since Brian's colleague and friend Sir Paul McCartney turned 70 a couple of days ago, so it's fitting that we pay tribute here to them - as well as Burt.
Thanks a million, Sir Paul, Brian and Burt for making this world a better place!
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