"Miss Shirley Bassey" by John L.Williams

John L. Williams is a crime writer from Cardiff. This is very important to note, as we are not talking about another star struck fan who is writing bout his favorite subject but about professional writer intrigued about celebrity with roots in his own neighborhood - this also means that he takes time to describe and paint the picture of what it was like to be mixed-race singer in 1950s, going so far to even add in appendix chapters about crimes and night life in Cardiff, minstrel shows (Bassey had her start in one) and touring revues with striptease (these were kind of shows she was singing in the beginning). Williams had certainly did some good research and if he got some negative reviews in UK media for unearthing old skeletons from the closet, well it depends on perspective of the reader - people who focused on scandals,secrets and dirty laundry lost the point author wanted to make - he was describing struggle to the top and what sacrifices young girl had to make along the way. 

This also brings up another question: what do we expect from biographies? Celebrating someone's life without a hint of darkness would be described as "fawning" but if the author did research and found old police records & secrets it brings uproar for being indiscreet. Myself, I found the book fascinating in many ways, specially because of the writing style - it is hinted between the lines that Williams could have been far more indiscreet if he was inclined so while telling the story about young unknown girl trying to escape poverty and start in show business. Interestingly, Williams ends his story in 1967. when struggle was basically finished and his subject was definitely established - while many could wonder whatever happened in the next 40+ years I perfectly understand author's reasoning that it's only hungry years that count. While focusing on star with surprisingly long career (she started long before Beatles and is still around) Williams also brings in focus long forgotten names and atmosphere of the times. If you think 1950s were innocent years, think again.

Eurovision 2012

I grew up watching Eurovision Song Festival and loved my old LP records with winners and favorites from different decades.Perhaps in a way it has influenced my music taste unconsciously since I always had soft spot for good old "kitch" - the word "schlager" that describes that particular european style of radio-friendly pop ditty always had fitted Eurovision perfectly although various countries have completely different opinion what it means good music - its simply one of the year's biggest nights of TV entertainment. I don't remember when was the last time I watched Eurovision without getting all upset about voting or winners or both - many times really good songs/performers end up completely overshadowed and politics rule as neighbor countries vote for each other, while winners are usually songs I hated. It shows that I am completely out of tune with what's popular and trendy perhaps. If you ask me,countries would sing in their own language and there would be no smoke bomb and SF effects, just live musicians. 

Alas, nobody asks me so Eurovision is one big circus, TV spectacle where stages are bigger and bigger, singers are lost in acrobatic choreography and music is of absolutely no importance. 

Last night I watched it again - after many years, since my job always has me somewhere on the other part of the world at this time of the year - and was enjoying it very much with usual degree of annoyance and wonder whatever happened to music. The spectacle had happened in Azarbaijan (!) and grand finale started with UK participant ENGEBELRT HUMPERDINCK who was joke back in the 1960s and even bigger now. He was utterly out of place with his old-fashioned ballad and looked simply ancient with his acoustic ballad which was actually not bad if you ask me, but it was creepy to watch him singing and the whole world agreed - he ended up really big loser on complete bottom of the list and UK media is now trashing the whole Eurovision like they don't care for it and it's just a joke (if they had won,they would celebrate for days).

 After him there were few bland ditties than Albanian singer Rona Nishliu who looked like some out-of-space alien singer and wailed until I thought she would explode - it was bizarre experience and not much of the song but she left strong impression. Guy from Lithuania sang "Love is blind" and actually was blindfolded, hm. Than bunch of russian grandmothers dressed up like babushka's and they were cute but this was clearly a gimmick, not a song.

 French singer Anggun was striking - not only her song was very strong Eurhytmics-like pop but she looked shapely and had three half naked acrobats jumping around her - the song was actually the first one when I listened. Than another favorite - Italy with leggy Nina Zilli who looked and sounded like Amy Winehouse - it was clearly a tribute to Winehouse and not bad at all. Estonia had a very good rock ballad titled "Listen" sung by young Ott Lepland and I really liked him, alone on the stage with just a beautiful voice and nice song. Another favorite was Germany with a gentle pop song "Standing Still" (Roman Lob) that had cool young guy singing radio-friendly pop hit,finally nice song. East european countries were of course embarrassment as they always use same old folk motives and it goes more and more bombastic, they always vote for each other and it's all terribly predictable. The only exception was Macedonia who had singer Kaliopi - she belted hard-rock ballad and was really charismatic though perhaps too witchy for this mainstream TV program but I thought she was very good, at least she was not wiggling her bottom in mini dress like bimbos from Romania, Greece and Cyprus. 

Somewhere in the audience was wonderful Lys Assia who was the winner of the very first Eurovision in 1956 - she actually somehow got convinced to participate again but Switzerland wouldn't send her this time so she only graced the audience with her presence and was shown in close-up,what a nice lady. The winner ended up being some creature from Sweden with a high energy/dance tune "Euphoria" that to my ears sound like zillions other similar mindless "songs" always blasting in bars, just refrain and than more refrain and repeating forever, couldn't care less for that one. Russian grandmothers came second (proving this is all about circus) and Serbian ethno-pop third. Guy was interesting years ago when he first competed (that was probably the last time I watched Eurovision, in 2004) but now this was just re-hashed and lukewarm, if you ask me.

Favorites: France, Estonia, Germany. 

 Will I watch it again next year? You bet I will.

"Hypnotist" by Lars Kepler

Recommended by friend who told me "you would not be able to put it down" and she was absolutely right.

Another "nordic noir" with sadistic twist, strange when one consider these countries are not known for violence (except some isolated outbursts that shock the typically well-behaved nations) and certainly following the footsteps of celebrated Larsson's "Millenium trilogy" - in fact, if not for Larsson who started the ball rolling, I wonder would we ever know about so many talented thriller writers from north of Europe.

"Lars Kepler" is of course a pseudonym shared between husband-and-wife writing team,almost like Anneserge Golon who wrote famous historical saga "Angelique" (it was Anne and Serge Golon) - they use similar approach like Larsson with many suspects and plots thrown around just to neatly connect everything towards the end in a very unexpected way. In centre of the story is a hypnotist who unwillingly helps police though everything is against him, including some very old and forgotten enemies. I won't describe the plot here but it goes on in some very unexpected directions and there is quite unforgettable (and perhaps avoidable) cruelty that had me upset. It was a very good and gripping read. If you like this, you might enjoy Caleb Carr's "Alienist" where psychiatrist helps police to profile mass murderer.

"Piccolino" by Mina

Every new album Mina releases has to compete with her classic work from decades ago when she had best of the italian composers bringing brilliant songs at her doorstep - they still do,but music and times have changed and lady's discography have not the same resonance as before. There is still a part of audience who welcome her new releases with admiration - and it IS admirable that this artist still works on new music at age of 70 so tirelessly - however, to my ears this sound like a long,unnecessary autumn of career and most of her music today is not only uninspired but lady herself sounds (shall we say it loud?) tired and worn out.

The distances between strong and uninspired albums in Mina's discography in the last two decades are longer and longer - last really enjoyable release was "Bula Bula" and that was in 2005 - we continued to buy new studio albums, expecting miracles but get lukewarm results. New album shows that perhaps Mina is not really interested in pop music that grab at first listening - "Piccolino" has usual share of the current first-class composers and music is gloomy and depressing at first,but slowly grows upon a listener and actually gets better with each listening. This might be a secret of her longevity - songs are melancholic and autumnal, but have their own beauty that has no competition in current pop scene where jingles rule charts.For example, very first song "Compagna Di Viaggio" sets the tone of the whole album with its poetry and gothic atmosphere - yes it is gloomy and perhaps not as necessary as her work from 1970s but still has power to move. Surprise is quasi-classical "L'Uomo Dell'Autunno" that looks back at songs she did so well back in the day.

Another link in already rich discography, the autumn of long and successful career.For fans only.

Farewell Donna Summer

Donna Summer passed away.

So many things I could write here - she was important as an early music influence in my life (I believe her "Live and more" was one of the very first LPs I ever bought), disco queen and pop star who defined the 1970s decade.
For me, as a teenager growing in Eastern Europe she was smiling face from LP cover, a beautiful lady that initially confused with Diana Ross but quickly learned to love her strong,powerful voice and of course it was trough her that I was introduced to disco - a love that lasted a lifetime.
Being far away from US media I didn't initially know much about Summer - except her music - and learned the story more-or-less much later. There was a rich discography to be discovered, her muscular alto belting everything from disco hits to ballads, rock and even occasional jazzy standard. Surely, she exploded on international music scene because of sexy,breathy gimmick called "Love to love you baby" and worked hard for many years to move away from that embarrassing image - interestingly enough, when she moved away from disco, her career suffered and since than she had spend decades trying to repeat that first success - the voice stayed the same,material was not. In fact, I must admit I disliked her later music almost as much as I loved the 1970s albums.

And now she's gone, forever into a legend. Most of us were completely unaware that she was ill. And it's fitting that everything bad is forgotten, outpour of genuine grief sincere all over the world and everybody is suddenly aware what a beautiful and talented lady Summer was. We might forgot her a little bit, with all the other stars competing for our attention and getting more media space, but Donna Summer will always stay Disco Queen Nr.1

John IV Laskaris

In my last blog entry I wrote about the book that I am currently reading, "Istanbul - the imperial city" and noted that I was amazed with brutality of life back than. If you look at the way emperors disposed of their enemies, queens intrigued in order to get their sons on the throne and so on, you soon realize this by far overshadows anything romans did.

Interestingly enough, author John Freely don't really pay much attention to this and cooly describes amazing episodes from history of Istanbul - probably the way writer should do,detached and cool as cucumber - but as I read one chapter after another,I was shocked beyond words with cruelty of the ruling classes,than how quickly masses would turn against the same ruler they crowned yesterday. While John Freely describes what happens and than simply goes on to another story,I had to pause and re-read again what I just read because I couldn't believe my own eyes - note how detached and calm Freely is while I get all upset.

To illustrate the point,here is the story of ten year old John  Lascaris who was the last of the great imperious family Laskaris. His father died and boy was supposed to be ruler when he grew up,but grand duke Michael Palaelogus got child imprisoned and than blinded on his 11th birthday,just to make sure competition is completely out of the way. Two church leaders excommunicated new emperor out of the church than the third welcome him back in the church with the great pomp and celebration in Haghia Sophia. John Freely goes on with the story, never to mention again what happened to the blind boy but I really got upset and tried to find some information about him on the internet - he had spend the rest of his days in the monastery,secluded behind the walls and living in a shadow world under the name Joasaph. In 1290 he was visited by Andronikos II Palaiologos, who sought forgiveness for his father's blinding of John IV three decades earlier. What was his later life like? Did anybody ever remembered him? He was just 11 year old boy whose father died and monks took care of him! I was deeply upset with all this.

Of course this is just one of the many stories from the book. Blinding,mutilating and killing competition was very common back than - when Mehmet III came on the throne, the first thing he did was to order all of his 19 younger brothers to be killed so his throne is safe from competition,following the same tradition as his father and grandfather did before him! Not to mention war with the bulgars where in 1014 emperor Basil blinded 1500 captives and sent them back to Bulgaria, leaving one in each hundred with one eye so they could reach home. There was one emperor who was disposed and his nose cut, but he later returned on the throne nose-less anyway (if I remember correctly,he had golden nose instead). Perhaps it makes thrilling reading but surely it was very dangerous world and reality for people who lived back than - and not just royalty but ordinary people as well,since nobody protected them - one sultan was alcoholic murderer who used to roam the streets in drunken stupor and simply kill for fun whoever happens to walk on his path.I actually can't wait to finish this book now because it just upsets me.

Istanbul - the imperial city by John Freely

It's already a part of tradition that I always find and buy a book about the places I visit - fortunately Istanbul have not one but two excellent english bookshops in the central area (same owner) that cater for tourists, visitors and diplomats - there is a nice selection of books about Turkey and Islam in english so I selected "Istanbul - the imperial city" by John Freely as my first introduction to this beautiful and exciting city, since I don't know much about its history except basic informations.

So far I am really enjoying it - not too much space was focused on early settlers but very soon author moves on to explain it greeks and roman roots that have left much more traces than people who lived here before. Right now I am at the Chapter 12 and romans are in full swing - lots of interesting and brutal anecdotes about emperors being killed by mobs and queen mothers having their tongues sliced (!), noses cut off and such stories. We also get informations about all the important palaces,temples and public buildings built around this time as well as occasional story about ordinary people who lived there, famous courtesans, saints, priests and soldiers who were remembered in history. Very gripping story and I am truly enjoying it - and so far its still a roman city, at this stage of the book muslims are only distant treat from far away.

Ike & Tina Turner "Dynamite" (1962)

Where Ike leads super-tight band, Tina channels Little Richard and The Ikettes provide spirited backing vocals.

It's all great fun and Turners sound as they are on a roll, as they might have been in the first excitement of their success. 

Of course, these recordings sounds very simple and primitive compared to later more sophisticated work, but it must be pointed that Turners never again sounded so happy and enthusiastic. Tina is in the spotlight but there is one song ("Won't you forgive me") where she actually duets with hubby in a interesting attempt to go commercial and cutesy.

Millie Jackson "Still caught up"

Sequel to excellent "Caught up" album that finds Jackson returning to her role of "other woman" - her singing is passionate and music strong but the idea is not so new second time around - this gives edge to previous album simply because it was first. Perhaps its just me,but she seems to talk much more here which gets tiresome after repeated listening.

La Belle "Chameleon" (1976)

Frenzied r&b from mad soul sirens who split soon afterwards.

You would be pressed very hard to find better,bigger or more powerful voices anywhere around of the time of this release. Ballads are forgettable but when sisters start to gallop, they are invisible ("Who's watching the watcher", "Gypsy Moths") and just to make a point how far they are removed from their early girl-group beginnings, Patti ends the album with a soaring ode to cunnilingus.

Etta James "Tell mama"

One of the classic soul albums from 1960s and highlight in artist's discography, this album finally matches fierce vocals with right material and excellent musicians.

Almost every song here is soul classic and expanded version unearthed some more goodies ("I got you babe"!) recorded around the same time. 

Plenty of horns and James is on fire.

Isaac Hayes "Joy"

Seduction music before Barry White.

It is patented Isaac Hayes sound where he whispers,groans,moans and basically enjoys his black stud/pimp/ladie's man act (that can be both convincing or comical, depends on point of view) .Musicians are excellent but after a while it really does start to sound repetitive and bit embarrassing - these are not so much songs as much as soundtrack to some imaginary porn movie, with every sound imaginable. Unwittingly, I played this at work and got some strange looks from customers. Makes you wonder what was all the fuss about Donna Summer's "Love to love you baby" about - it was already done on this album.

Ike Turner "Here and Now"

Notoriety brings r&b veteran back in the studio (if not exactly in the spotlight) and he delivers gutsy blues album that reflects on various music styles he played decades ago. There's a little bit of everything and if it sounds familiar,it's because Turner recycles his old ideas (did he really thought nobody would notice?).

His singing is lousy as usual but instrumentals are smoking hot and newly recorded "Rocket 88" is great fun.

Irma Thomas "After the rain"

Melancholic - not surprisingly,considering the time of its recording - and reflective r&b album by New Orleans music legend who sounds warm and comforting as usual.

The most interesting thing about Thomas is that she never over-sings - her singing is deeply felt,soulful and simple,completely lacking ornamentation young singers use today. This makes her old-fashioned and original at the same time.

James Carr

Overshadowed by commercially more successful singers in the 1960's James Carr was nevertheless as good as any soul star of the decade - his "Dark end of the street" is in the same league as "When a man loves a woman" by Percy Sledge - this collection of singles presents Carr in the best possible light,as a powerful, expressive singer who was particularly strong at dark,dramatic ballads. 

His excellent version of "To love somebody" reminds us what a interesting and talented composer Barry Gibb was before disco came along.

Esther Phillips goes country

In one of her incarnations Phillips was a country/soul singer following Ray Charles in his path: her soulful cover of "Release me" was actually a hit and it would lead Phillips to record covers for the rest of her career. 

Her unusual, sweet & sour voice was actually very good match for country music and Phillips milks drama out of every heartbreaking ballad. Arrangements and backing choruses are squarely, corny and absolutely typical for the time but artist is so original that she lifts the material on another level. 

Since she was heavily influenced by Dinah Washington,this is probably the closest we would ever get to D.Washington country album.

Chaka Khan 1978. LP

Perhaps the most accessible entry in artist's discography - not only because of the monster disco hit that opens the album (& that I usually skip,it's over-used and over-played) but because everything is polished & radio-friendly. 

Khan is in full power here,sounding exuberant and happy. As usual,singer by far overshadows the material but this is somehow less obvious here than on the other albums. Disco Chaka.