David Bowie: early years

David Bowie today is older statesman and veteran of the rock aristocracy - that is why I find his very early recordings (mid to late 1960s) so interesting because they have almost nothing in common with his later work. That is - if you don't consider that he always was a highly gifted chameleon ready to adopt and re-invent himself so actually all these various disguises actually fit perfectly in his profile. What is the most fascinating is the fact that he had this particular, dry voice immediately from the start (you can always clearly recognize it is David Bowie) and took everything very seriously no matter what music he toyed at the moment.

"I Dig Everything: 1966 Pye Singles" is collection of earliest Bowie work - it is basically young artist trying to find his voice on than-current british music scene and at that time he was r&b/Britbeat singer. He was a angry young man and it shows - its the sound of "swinging London" and in fact no better or worse than hundreds of other young punks around. All the material was written by Bowie himself and there is nothing really exceptional here - love songs sung from perspective of frustrated young man who questions himself and everything around him. It brings to mind the movie "Absolute Beginners" that was actually set in these times, but of course at the time when movie was made Bowie himself was already completely different artist. The only reason why these early recordings survive and often surface on compilations is not because music is particularly interesting or innovative (frankly,it could be anybody from "Kinks" to "Them") but because its curiosity to hear familiar voice in such period piece - from the first to the last minute,listener is aware this must have been in 1960s. Almost like some strange experiment to place current artist in a time machine. The results are still fascinating because young Bowie was completely into it and absolutely in command of his voice. These early singles are actually far closer to hip, mod crowd and what was "in" than his next step.With this I mean that this music could have been played and accepted by listeners who wouldn't really get his first solo album - I can easily see rock purists liking these early singles more than what's around the corner, which many consider embarrassment.

David Bowie's self titled first album is unjustly remembered today as mistake better forgotten - rock critics often dismiss it because it has nothing to do with his later (or previous) work. This is not a "cool" Bowie that would appeal to kids who would like his various images and rock music - rather this is a quirky, sunny collection of peppy songs with a dark undertones and completely weird lyrics about grave diggers, cannibals and child molesters. Many dismiss this album completely as unworthy of rock legend and surely there is some funny things here but personally I find it fascinating - here is a young songwriter trying absolutely everything in order to get noticed, what IS noticeable is that he is literate and full of ideas,no matter how quirky they are. "Theatrical" yes, but everything about David Bowie was always theatrical. I think that what bothers people the most is music background (full of strange,gimmicky sound effects) and grandiose oh-so-british orchestration that often sounds like movie soundtrack - later we got used to his rock experiments and different soundscape so to hear Bowie chirping enthusiastically with this strings,trumpets and Disney-like background makes rock purists squirm in discomfort. How bizarre that most of the listeners don't get that this is basically same artists who would later dress in female clothes and continue doing "weird ideas" under umbrella of commercial success - thin line between acceptance and failure - as others have noted, this album actually explodes with ideas far more than say "Let's dance" album that sold in millions.

I have expanded edition with extra CD that brings even more rarities and goodies from the same era - notorious "The Laughing Gnome" is there, together with lots of previously unreleased recordings, stereo and mono mixes and few gems from BBC radio archives. There are 25 extra tracks on second disc, if you listen carefully he actually sings "...waste of fucking time" on "The Gospel According To Tony Day". I like this early album very much and wonder how would public accept it if he never turned out to be Ziggy Stardust later - I am absolutely sure it would be a cult classic and people would rave about it and discuss it like its something only rare cognoscenti know and appreciate. In a way that is what this album became - only few are aware of it and with an open mind one can enjoy it a LOT.

"Warren Zevon" (1976) by Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon was around a decade or so before he got a chance to record this excellent, self-titled album and even though to many he might be better known as a songwriter who was successfully covered by other singers, to me this is one of the best debut albums I had ever heard.

The music is easy, relaxed West Coast pop/rock and songs are almost without exception true little gems that shows Zevon as first-rate songwriter who can in turns be cynical, romantic, swaggeringly macho, ironic or tender. To many of his contemporaries back than he wasn't much of a singer but to my ears he sounds excellent - I actually love his voice and it somehow suits these little music stories better than other, more commercially successful voices. To me there's nothing wrong with his voice - sure,he wasn't shouter or belter like many others but I don't care for that anyway (vocal showing off is after all still showing off). Randy Newman comes to my mind as an obvious comparison but as much as I like Newman's songs I never got over his basically ugly and unattractive voice. When Zevon roars, laughs or gets sentimental it moves me.

Almost all the songs here are my favorites - "Carmelita" is on the top of the list, beautiful mexican-flavoured ballad that could have easy turn into cheesy corn in somebody's else hands but Zevon brings it to Hevens with his voice and yes, lyrics are unusual story (junkie song,basically) so this grabs the attention. I love this debut album so much that I  dived head on in the rest of Zevon's discography but curiously enough, nothing I heard later matched inspiration and intelligence here.

Gertude "Ma" Rainey

Talking about "beautiful people" here is another of my favorites.
Gertude Rainey was a blues singer from 1920s - black, poor and illiterate she still somehow found her way to the legend as the "Mother of the Blues" and was very much loved and admired by her audience. In a time when black women had only few limited professional options (servants or prostitutes) Rainey led a whole traveling show with dancers, singers and comedians, recorded lots of now classic recordings and was clearly independent woman in her own right. This was also a time when black women were preferred to be light skinned and hair had to be straightened in imitation of their white counterparts. To many of her contemporaries, Rainey was ugly woman - there wasn't much she could do with her stocky figure, face or hair - she simply covered herself in a lots of flashy jewelry, dressed in outrageous costumes and used her big smile as a weapon.

Not much is known about her private life. They say she was illiterate, big hearted and always ready to help people in need. It seems that at certain point she employed young Bessie Smith and had teaching  her about performing - however, Smith was such a original genus in her own right that I doubt she was really copying anybody, she probably got her professional start with Rainey's traveling circus and later even overshadowed (but never forget) the older woman. When today people discover old 1920s blues music, its because of Bessie that they eventually find their way to Gertude "Ma" Rainey who was her direct music ancestor and influence. Listening her music, you can hear (trough cracks of primitive recording techniques of the time) this deep, gruff, earth-shaking moan of the soulful voice that came from somewhere deep inside. If you think Bessie was impressive (and she certainly was) wait until you hear "Ma" Rainey - she sounds like Mother Earth.

There are only three contemporary photos known of her - the one most familiar is her promotional photo that shows Rainey in a full jewelry and big smile shining like a lighthouse on a old black & white picture. Scarf, golden teeth and flashy jewelry, earrings hanging to the ground. I remember seeing that photo long time ago and thinking "My God,who was that woman?" But she had a beautiful big smile and even on the old picture she seemed very likable person. There is picture of her with her band (again used often for album covers) and a very rare one where she poses in a photo studio, with a young man giving her the book (how strange considering she couldn't read and even when she was recording music in the studio, she would draw herself little pictures of what she was singing about on the piece of paper). In the last picture she was dressed as "respectable" woman and again there is this huge, beautiful smile on her lips. To me she is epitome of 1920s blues and I even love her pictures, she seems like a genuinely nice person (golden teeth and all) - another of the people whom I consider beautiful in their own way.

Simone Signoret

This is Simone Signoret in a movie "Madame Rosa" made from a book " The Life Before Us" (in Croatia published as "Momo,zašto plačeš?") by Émile Ajar.
The movie won "Oscar" in 1977. as the best foreign movie that year and Signoret herself was awarded with César Award for Best Actress as well. I vaguely remember the novel which was about elderly retired jewish prostitute who takes care of other prostitutes children, hunted with memories of WW2 and Auschwitz,her savings, money and health long gone - at the end its only herself and little muslim boy Momo taking care of each other. It was heartbreaking, touching story about social outsiders who are surviving helped by other outsiders (prostitutes, transvestites, criminals and immigrants) and I should re-read it again.

I had selected this photo to discuss "ageism" or in other words criticism against people who chose to age gracefully. It seems that particularly in a movie/music industry this is a big problem because public opinion prefers plastic surgery, constant addiction to facial creams, masks and treatments that would somehow desperately keep the illusion of youth as long as its possible (and even longer,when it turns into completely false and tragicomical effect). Diets, gym, anything that would show outside how well we look. Like most of the people, Signoret was beautiful woman in her youth and than later was criticized for "letting herself go" and for getting older. In her autobiography Signoret mentions how often she would hear people telling her openly about it and how disappointed they were that movie illusion did not survive forever.On the other hand, she herself lived interesting, full life with constant traveling, work in theatre and movies so as for herself she never seemed concerned with such trivial preoccupations - she simply accepted it. At the time of "Madame Rosa" she was 56 years old and definitely reached the point when one doesn't care for opinion of others.

To me, she looks beautiful. Yes, she is much older here than in her 1950s movies but so what. People age and its a natural fact. Some look better when they are older, some when younger, some never do. Signoret was intelligent woman and this spirit shines trough her eyes, no matter what chapter of her life you look at. This beauty has nothing to do with proportions or how good one looks in a swimming suit, This is a certain magnetism clearly visible and probably hard to explain to the ones who can't see further than a surface. When we are young and completely unaware of the fact that youth gives us this beautiful glow, we are too concerned with what others tell us. Later we get confidence but naturally this slim look of freshness is gone, replaced with experience, compassion and maturity. There is no point to compete with new fresh spring flowers when we had already turned into something else - I truly believe that we are all beautiful in different ways and maturity, even old age has its own beauty. This is something I would not think when in my teenage years but the realization came with age. Yes, its good to take care of one's appearance in order to stay healthy and flexible - but up to the point. To me personally there are no wrinkles or white hair that could ever hide the intelligence and the spark of the eyes that clearly speaks without words for anybody who can see it. I truly believe that eyes are "the windows of the soul" and Simone Signoret was very spiritual and soulful person, maybe even more as she got older. Just look at this picture.

"Nostalgia isn't what it used to be" by Simone Signoret (1976)

As life-long book lover,I don't have books in only one place.
There are books I have left like some old skin behind me in Amsterdam and London. Than there is a book collection in Croatia, which I always cherish once I return from my sailings. Once somebody on a ship asked me "but... why don't you just throw them away once you read them?" (this was a lady who was buying her paperback novels at the airports and using them as paper tissue,once used, she would simply throw them away) - I love books too much to simply throw them away & know myself too well, in a future I might read them again from different perspective. Yes,its a pain in the ass to carry all these books in a luggage but I manage. I sweat and swear through airports and promise myself never to buy so many (around 12 is what I can manage to carry in a backpack) but good read is worthwhile and it makes my life richer. Than I bring them back like some squirrel and glow over my collection. Sure there are some duplicates and occasional dud that makes me wonder what was I thinking. Far too many celebrity biographies that I explain with my "journalistic curiosity". And there is sometimes, an old friend that I re-visit and marvel how good it is, I read it now as completely different person.

Completely different from usual movie biographies that mostly serve as narcissistic celebrations of vanity,this one is a memoir of one actual artist who had something interesting to say. The name of Simone Signoret might not be so well known today by kids who are fed on celebrity gossip, but during 1950s and 1960s she was one of the biggest international movie stars and often used her fame to openly confront injustice - in tandem with her husband Yves Montand, Signoret would petition, sign and use her name to protest against than current political regimes (her signature would be next to Simone de Beauvoir, Marguerite Duras, Jean-Paul Sartre and biggest names of french public life). Never a member of any party (and often criticized for her political involvements) Signoret was always provocative, intelligent and compassionate - and ironic enough to be aware that any time she would visit a prison or join a street protest, some would see it as a photo opportunity. As a first european actress who won "Oscar" she is also surprisingly clear-headed about her professional success and laughs at mistakes.

I had read this book long ago, when I was much younger and my curiosity was mainly focused on what she had to say about her husband affair with Marilyn Monroe - today I am older and far more interested about everything else Signoret had to say. How difficult was to be jewish and deprived of work during WW2. Her early life and how it blossomed and changed once she met Montand who was her life partner in every meaning of the word - she writes far more about him than about herself, clearly she is delighted with his success far more than with her own.
How they both travelled trough Eastern Block and met Khrushchev, Tito, local politicians and her impressions of them - and how it all basically blocked her entry to U.S. where she finally got opportunity to work in Hollywood and international recognition. Endearingly free of typical movie star's anecdotes but full of interesting perceptions about people around her, political opponents, cowards and hypocrites, Signoret lived dignified life and her memoirs are brave, inspiring read.

Memories of WW2:
"The battle for Arnhem was in a full swing. We were sandwiched between Allied and German armies. Than, for two or three days we lived without friends and without enemies - except for one, a poor fifteen or sixteen year old boy who hid in the woods. He got riddled with a shot from local commando; they had gotten together twenty or so guys to shoot him down and drag him into town hall as a trophy. He died in his oversize uniform like a little dog."

"We take no orders or instructions. We move when the heart is stirred."

"Hitchcock" (2012)

Everything that was wrong in Thatcher's movie biography was perfectly done and very entertaining in "Hitchcock".

For the start - the frame of the story was not desperately trying to squeeze legendary director's life in two-hour movie but instead focused on one particular chapter, when Hitchcock was already 60 years old and had to keep up the pace with young and up-coming talents before everybody started to ask about retirement. There is one particular scene where nervous and worried Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) reads the newspapers article where new young directors are hailed as "next Hitchcocks" - searching for interesting story he finds gruesome cheap pulp fiction "Psycho" and decide this is going to be his next project - from now on,basically movie focuses on making of "Psycho" and what was going on behind the scenes.

Contrary to expectations (and basics of the story) this turns out to be very funny and entertaining movie that cleverly mixes facts and fiction. Facts are that elderly Hitchcock was searching for something that would intrigue and inspire him, that he had faithful and loving wife Alma supporting him trough everything and that he often toyed with his movie characters/actors in his playful, macabre tone (very british, very typical of his background). Fiction is almost everything else in a movie but this does not change our pleasure and inside jokes about film-making.

It is not Anthony Hopkins (almost unrecognizable under heavy make up) but Helen Mirren who holds the whole movie on her shoulders - as movie historians knew all along,she was the driving force behind most of Hitchcock's career and whatever success or failure he had, she was right there, responsible but not recognized for her contribution. The real Alma Hitchcock belonged to different generation that did not need celebrity status and enjoyed simply to work together with her genius husband - in the movie Helen Mirren gets the best lines, she appears far stronger, wittier and capable than her spoiled and somehow perverted husband. It goes so far that movie almost turns into "Alma" instead of "Hitchcock" but its still very entertaining, funny and enjoyable - I laughed out loud several times and had really a good time. It is also a clever movie, full of references to other movies and names from contemporary era that every movie lover like me would cherish - perhaps this little movie is too clever and sophisticated for a large mainstream success specially now where mainstream success means comedies like "Hangover" and here we have "Hitchcock" describing background of cult horror movie. Young kids would first need to understand what "Psycho" is to actually get the point, but that's another story. I know lots of them who wouldn't even watch black-and-white movies, not to mention references to Grace Kelly, censorship or than current political atmosphere.

Interesting photo of young Hitch:

The Faithful Storks

Cutest little story that soon might be well known everywhere around the world.

In a deep countryside of Croatia, there is a lady stork who for some reason can't fly (something wrong with her wings,I believe). Her name is "Malena" ("The Little One") and she is very much loved and cared for by locals. Her boyfriend "Klepetalo" ("The Cackling One") goes with other Storks to Africa every October and for many years he always returns to her every Spring. Every Spring they are overjoyed to be together and every Autumn he lovingly kisses her before he leaves. This Spring it was exceptionally cold and the boyfriend was late. "Malena" was so sad that she refused all the food - immediately all the newspapers were alarmed and everybody for a moment forgot their usual daily preoccupations with politics, it was the news of the day. Luckily for her (and for all of us concerned) the boyfriend came back with the first sunny day and the Stork couple was happy once again, in fact now they already have eggs and they are proudly cackling from the top of the roof where they have their little nest. This bird couple who love each other so clearly and faithfully has caught the attention of all the media not only in Croatia but around the world - some asian journalists have recently visited this little village and made a documentary about them.It is a beautiful story that for a moment had everybody paying attention to a real life instead of usual squabbles.

In Memoriam - The Bookshops I loved

The bookmarks - never have enough of them and to some of them I am actually quite attached.
(Its one of the pleasures of holding the real book in hands instead of simply reading it trough electronic device - subject for another essay?)
Recently one old bookmark felt out of some pages - it instantly reminded me of the bookshop where I got it years ago. Bravely I went on to sail between Texas and Mexico, completely unaware where exactly I am going and what will I find there - honestly, in my mind Texas was all about desert, cactus and cowboys so I did not even know about the sea between Texas and Mexico. I had a hand luggage full of books to read, "just in case" because lots of times during my travels there were no bookshops to be found anywhere. So I found myself in Galveston,Texas that turned out to be cute little holiday spot with reconstructed historical center and some nice little shops, restaurants and museums all in a walking distance on "Strand District" - yes,it was all very commercial but quaint and sweet. Not only that I found the spots to drink coffee and write my diary,but I also browsed trough antique shops, found a privately owned little shops that had goodies from all over the world (even "Domaćica" cookies from my own country!) and to my biggest surprise there were a few bookshops. The nicest one was called "Midsummer Books" and I loved it - it was fairly small, cosy,comfortable and the books selection was very interesting. The guy working in there (the owner?) was always very helpful and friendly, in fact I could order some titles from him and get it next time I sailed in the port. I even asked him can we order some music CDs and he did it for me. At that time I was very interested in pop music of 1960s so for some reason I wanted to get recently released CD box compilation of girl-groups and it came in a ridiculous package (like a hat box!) that I had to carry on my ship embarrassed,it looked like something for Jacquie Kennedy.

Contrary to my expectations, I learned to enjoy Galveston,its charming little corners and of course "my" bookshop. That it why I was horrified to hear about Hurricane Ike that had devastated and completely destroyed the whole area in 2008. I knew that everything was flooded and lots of people had died,but deep in my heart I hoped that by some miracle "Midsummer Books" was saved. Intrigued with my new-found old bookmark friend, I checked it on the internet - unfortunately "Midsummer Books" was one of the Ike's victims and along with all those nice shops and restaurants it got hit with 8 feet of muddy water so everything inside was completely destroyed - books, furniture, computer, everything is gone. The owner Tim Thompson decided to close the door - owning a bookshop is more a labour of love than making big bucks and in situation like this, he did what was best for him. I am truly sad to hear about this.

Another bookshop I loved was in Juneau,Alaska. I remember it because it was called "Rainy Day Books" and I thought it was the cutest name for a bookshop. Century ago it was the town full of gold miners, saloons and prostitutes (in fact, the book I bought there was called "Good time girls" and it was about ladies who came right after gold miners in search of career) . "Rainy Day Books" in on sale now as its owners decided to retire, who knows what will happen to it now. Someone said jokingly how funny it is that today Juneau has three bookshops and not one single whorehouse - well, the times are changing. If I have what I don't have, I could easily imagine buying "Rainy Day Books" and living happily and quietly as a bookshop owner in Alaska.

Leo Martin

There are lots of us,kids who grew up in socialistic society of 1970s Ex Yu with memories of popular culture the way it was back than - according to my blog, these memories had immense effect on my character starting from common places like jokes, meanings of certain phrases, recognition of actors, singers and politicians to memories of things heard/learned in school. The older I get, the more affectionate these memories become - the world moved on, the country as such does not even exist anymore and new generation of kids mostly don't even get what am I saying when paraphrasing something funny from my childhood. But internet searching for cultural roots of my generation became hobby and here am I today, looking back at 1970s of my childhood with curiosity and wonder, sometimes recognizing certain voices from radio days (before the school, cold breakfast and tea, music in the background) - one of those voices is Leo Martin.

With his decidedly anti-star image, Leo Martin was ubiquitous TV and radio presence from the childhood of kids growing in 1970s Ex Yu - today he probably wouldn't pass TV talent shows because singers of his generation had no choreography, image advisors and any of the visual gimmicks required nowadays, those singers either knew how to sing or they didn't. Martin was so darn serious and theatrical that even vague memories of his name bring dismissive comments and laughter, ah yes, imagine that funny guy with thick glasses.

Quick visit to his first LP album immediately erases memories of WW2 movies from my head (why do I always connect these movies with him, the guy was not acting in them? Probably because I was watching "Sutjeska" and "Neretva" at the same time Martin ruled radio waves!) and reveals superbly talented baritone who had a penchant for bombastic, pathetic ballads where his mighty voice thundered above huge orchestration. Be it title song ("Odiseja") or cover of "Speak softly love" ("Godfather" theme) or swinging slovenian number ("Prva ljubav" also recorded by Neca Falk) Martin was self-assured and actually really awesome singer - he might sound like a joke today but this is someone who toured with Tom Jones and Dusty Springfield during 1960s and I dare say he roared like Jones and was soulful as hell. Beside now boring and overused title song that unfortunately will forever be associated with his name, album has some surprisingly strong blue-eyed soul moments ("Biću uvek sam") not to mention strong german language number "Sweet Susanna" that as to be heard to believed - the mix of this superb voice singing truly exciting r&b in german is surreal.

"Laku noć draga" (1976) brings this excellent blue eyed singer in schmalz territory - title song is pathetic waltz about loveless marriage (complete with laughably serious female chorus) and now we have gifted singer doing wrong steps, namely milking pathos a little too much for my liking. Yes, there was this booming baritone voice but now proclaiming heartbreak and drama from a soap box - he was not old but lyrics of his songs already approached old age,loneliness and death at girlfriends door. Technically Martin was one of the most gifted male singers around, but this constant seriousness drags album down a lot. Only "Ko je taj čovek" and r&b number "Tražim te" lift atmosphere a bit but too late - if he focused more on r&b (that suited him fine,he could sing soul anytime) album could have been much more than exercise in corny material that framed him in grandfatherly music soap operas. Nothing to be completely ashamed - even with this overtly serious tone,Martin had certain style and was obviously literate, urban guy - its just that between the lines I hear excellent singer playing safe and going mainstream instead following his soul idols.

Senka Veletanlić 1st EP recording (1962)

Very typical early 1960s release for Belgrade-based PGP RTB that often had popular singers recording popular music with light jazz touch. Nothing wrong with that, except that most of singers of that generation sound very much alike - for some reason, personalities were subdued, restrained and controlled - even mighty Nada Knežević tweets like cheerful canary bird on her early recordings from same time.

The backing band is capable but of course, derivative, what else to expect when they play covers of Irving Berlin and such. It must have sounded very modern to our local ears unused to american songbook repertoire, but honestly this was light years away from current pop of 1962. As for the man star, the singer Senka Veletanlić, she had a very nice, smooth and light voice that was actually not bad at all - she was specially effective as a torch singer ("Midnight sun" or Edith Piaf cover) and could easily handle swing ("Only love me") of course these titles were all translated in serbian language. In retrospective, Veletanlić was pop singer who could also sing light swing when inspired. Was this commercially visible or successful is probably another story - to my knowledge (and ears) she sounds too polite and unobtrusive for major success - covers and performances on pop festivals were her destiny.

Mojmir & Majda Sepe

Very cute photo of famous music couple from Slovenia - Mojmir Sepe and Majda Sepe.

In my own Croatia we had some celebrated couples (Arsen Dedić & Gabi Novak, Hrvoje Hegedušić & Ksenija Erker, Karlo Metikoš & Josipa Lisac) where husbands groomed and supported their wives in music careers, but generally speaking most of other marriages have only one partner exposed as a celebrity. To have both husband and wife working in profession where everyday mundane financial problems are overshadowed by creativity and love must be a blessing in a disguise. To a ordinary anonymous people this probably looks like very glamourous life "oh they have it easy, they only sing, open the mouth and collect huge wealth" but as I heard many times in interviews (during my days as journalist) it also means constant touring, nomadic lifestyle and long absence from home and family. Ksenija Erker told me she really suffered knowing her children got first tooth or started to talk & walk without her being present. At the end, Erker and Novak decided to cut public performances and self-knowingly killed career in order to enjoy home life. Lisac decided not to have children at all. Many other celebrities divorced several times, others stayed alone.

Beautiful couple Mojmir and Majda Sepe were slovenian mirror image of Arsen & Gabi - she sang his songs and he supported her every step of the way. The only difference was that in croatian version wife got famous first, here husband was Pygmalion who nurtured young singer from capable into actually excellent. From what I know, there are few other female singers from Slovenia with perhaps more spark (Marjana Deržaj) or bigger voices (Elda Viler, Ditka Haberl, Alenka Pinterič) but no matter how much I love them and I do enjoy their voices, nobody moves me as soulful Majda who was singing straight from the heart and I believe her every word. Her early 1960s work is by far overshadowed by beautiful 1970s recordings where she finally found her voice in "chanson" repertoire, poetic and moving. I have never heard anything banal or superficial from her. As for husband, I know he is celebrated as composer/arranger but I have a little music gem in shape of his early Jazz album from early 1960s where he played mostly covers of Jazz standards - talented and intelligent man. I cant imagine how he felt when she passed away.

P.S.
Once I mentioned the title of Majda's song to my friend who said "Look,I got goosebumps,just when I remember that song".

Jazz photos

Few photos from Jazz history.

"Lady Day" and Ella Fitzgerald together in some restaurant. To my knowledge this is the only picture of two of them together - I wonder what did they talk about?

Lady with her dog. Its almost never mentioned that she was childless and always kept dogs for company. Such a beautiful woman.

Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. Monroe was her biggest fan and often came to listen Fitzgerald when she performed live in clubs.

"The Iron Lady" (2011)

Margaret Thatcher passed away.
For the last two decades she lived very quietly and most of us had no idea she was slowly sinking into old age dementia - no doubt, these are private family matters and there is no reason why should this be made into public media circus. Winston Churchill lived his last years sunken in similar circumstances (Alzheimer's disease) but no one thought about making a Hollywood drama about senile old ex prime minister not being able to walk. Apparently people from previous generations behaved differently and respected one's right for privacy - today, we are brainwashed with cheap magazines and "scandalous" TV programs so everything has to go out and be visible. I disagree.

Was "The Iron Lady" made too early? Perhaps in the next decade or so, people might came to change their opinion about UK's feared Prime Minister and time might bring public opinion back to her favor. On the other hand, this is the exactly right time to utilize mighty acting powers of one of the greatest actresses of our time, who is in complete command of her talent. If we wait too long, we might get only a lesser replacement. Just as nobody could replace Margaret Thatcher once she stepped down and resigned, I don't see anybody coming close to Meryl Streep who is the ultimate acting chameleon and for this movie completely inhabited the skin of woman whose speech, looks and pose were world known.

This filmed biography is the most successful when describing young Margaret still struggling in post WW2 Britain and finding her way into politics where every step of the way she was reminded of her humble origins AND the fact she was a woman. Both director Phyllida Lloyd and Streep herself are clearly awed with Thatcher but film is maddeningly unsure was she a good or bad person - she survives threats, bombs, angry crowds and slimy colleagues only to be more or less forcefully retired and too much of the movie is focused on Thatcher as senile old woman struggling with hallucinations and old age paranoia. It might be a excellent way to present every acting trick from Streep's sleeve but I find it distasteful. Its almost like patronizing slap in the face of the once most powerful woman on earth to show her as a senile and feeble. What I think it is, its that people have problem with woman in the power - yes, they are admitted into politics but they get double criticism for being "wrong sex". With exception of Queen Elizabeth II (who is ceremonial figure anyway) I can't think of any woman in politics who has universal appeal and respect - from Hillary Clinton down to my own local politicians, they are all vilified one way or the other, strangely this also comes from female population who apparently detest seeing other women doing all they never dared. Authors of cookbooks or children novels might go unpunished, but being in politics and powerful equals crime. Movie quickly glosses over political issues that real Thatcher had to deal with (her political success and decisions are shown in basically 5 minutes) and overbalances everything with old age scenes - future generations might think she was a famous demented old lady who was somehow mysteriously called "The Iron Lady".

P.S.
Newspaper photos show people on the streets of London celebrating her death with champagne. How awful. Just like those horrible pictures of people gloating over dead bodies of Mussolini or Gadafi, now they are celebrating death of longest serving Prime Minister in UK's history. I can't imagine myself ever celebrating anybody's death. Only a compassionate goodbye to everybody who returns to the stars, the way we all will eventually do.

P.S.2
Very interesting line in a movie "Be careful what you THINK, because it leads to what you say and what you say leads to actions - they become habits,habits create the character, therefore what you think becomes who you are"  (or something like that)

Early 1970s LP albums by Gabi Novak

In early 1970s there were two LP albums simply called "Gabi" by Gabi Novak, they both covered completely different repertoire and were released by different companies.

"Gabi" (1973) was compilation released by Belgrade-based PGP RTB.
This serbian recording company had at certain point in early 1960s released string of highly visible and interesting EP releases (early forms of later long-play albums) that covered lots of than up and coming new singers performing popular music with jazz touch. Their production propelled many of the singers who were not neccesary from Belgrade,like for example Gabi Novak who had her very first album relased by them. The company also had rights to some big pop festival recordings ("Opatija","Zagreb","Split","Beogradsko Proleće","Pesma Leta") and later as Novak moved on to "Jugoton", RTB selected some of jewels from their archives for this album.

Just as they did on their similar LP portraits of Tereza Kesovija or Novak's husband Arsen Dedić (released around the same time) RTB focused on 1960s recordings that would otherwise stay forgoten in radio archives - here we have young Gabi Novak singing torch ballads of the time, heavily orchestrated and mostly backed with vocal chorus. Very first,jazzy "Nitko na svijetu neće te voljeti kao ja" (from early Zagreb festival, that Novak performed along the better known version by Drago Diklić) nicely presents her unusual horn-like voice, she was perfectly poised for stardom even at the start. Almost everything here is highly polished, sophisticated and torchy,but with exception of "Vino i gitare" (in original version) this was relatively less sucessful chapter of Novak's career - next decade will bring marriage and collaboration with Arsen Dedić who would compose her best work and give her much better material.

This compilation of early work is therefore interesting from historical perspective - young singer still finding her voice - besides following metarmophosis of the voice, it also presents lots of today forgotten titles that even fans might not remember,like "Sedam galebova" (lyrical and musical relative of "16 Lavandera" by Vice Vukov), "Zbogom", "Mili" or self-penned "Biće još takvih dana". Many of these songs were originally performed simultaneously in variations with other singers, like the biggest hit here ("Vino i gitare") that Novak shared with Dragan Stojnić on festival "Opatija '65". She would re-record this title again for "Jugoton".

"Gabi" was 1970. compilation released by "Jugoton" and it catches singer at the very peak of her popularity.
Novak had a nice if slow-burning career that lasted some 40+ years but work preserved here shows her at her very best, at the time when music,image and public adulation made her superstar on national level (her marriage to Arsen Dedić actually made TV news in time when this was unheard of). Because "Jugoton" back than hardly released LP album with completely new material,they preffered to play safe and focus on already succesful hit singles collection - here they collect some of Novak's best loved material from that time,like "Pusti me da spavam", "Život to smo mi" and "Adrese moje mladosti" that still stand the test of time as some of her most important work. Some of titles here are re-recordings,like "Vino i gitare", "Još uvijek" and "Malo riječi treba kad se voli" because another company (PGP RTB) had rights to originals and these new versions are by far superior in every way. Best of all are songs by Arsen Dedić ("Sve što znaš o meni", "Bit' ćeš uvijek moj") who removed her from lightweight jazz sound into waters of french "chanson" and here Novak matured way beyond expectations.

This LP compilation graced many homes back than - in fact,it collect such high quality material that today it sounds unbelievable that this type of music was actually charting on pop charts and sold as hit singles. Everything from Novak's smooth,seductive and calm voice to sophisticated music,arrangements and poetic lyrics spells class and preserves memory of the time when these things actually mattered.

Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong

Lovely photo of "Lady Day" and "Satchmo" taken probably some time in late 1940s (they made a movie together in 1947. titled "New Orleans").

They are both remembered today as Jazz legends - she like eternaly melancholic, self-distructive lady with gardenia, he as clowning, grinning abasador of Jazz. Public perception is one thing, contemporary media coverage another, recorded music lives on as a testament of how vibrant and creative they were. Somewhere between these broken pieces of a mirror I have my own impression about living,breathing people who happen to live at particular time when lots of doors were closed to them,no matter how big,important and influential they were. Nothing is ever black-and-white so these two people were not what image showed - Armstrong was not always happy,clowning old uncle who entertained the world (he lifted himself from a crashing poverty of New Orleans slums and knew his place in a basically white world of show bussiness, basically knowingly accepting protection of a white manager) while Holiday was not only a depressed drug addict who scandalized contemporary society but a outgoing, outspoken and brave woman who loved good time and knew hot to party. Everybody who knew them describes them as fun, slightly eccentric and much loved friends - unfortunately Holiday got her reputation posthumously cemented with silly Hollywood movie biography that outraged her colleagues and contemporaries. At the time when this photo was taken, Holiday was around 32 and Armstrong only few yers older - they both look delighted to be in each other company and glow happilly here, this is the way I prefer to remember them.