Is it possible? Can there really be more new Judy?!
The thrills just don't stop, do they? And just in time for spring 'n' such. This second collection of "Judy's Lost Tracks," comprised of newly discovered radio tracks, alternate takes and countless never-before-released recordings, is sure to be nirvana for Judy-fans - and I know you're out there. Why? Because the first "Judy's Lost Tracks" is one of the most visited pages on this blog.
Of particular interest this time around - for me at least - are the recordings of young Judy. And I'm talking young young. You only have to hear her once to understand why people were so bowled over that such a gorgeous voice was coming from that little girl pictured above. More than that, it was her scarily instinctive sense of dramatics - she knew exactly how to find the heart of a lyric - but then it wasn't so instinctive, was it? It had already been honed from years on the vaudeville circuit. From age three (for reals).
Meanwhile, June Christy's feelin' sporty!
She was born Shirley Luster, and I don't know why she didn't keep that name (quick, some drag queen out there claim it!). It's been said that she's one of the most neglected singers of all time, but is that really true? She doesn't seem to be ignored these days - and with good reason. Her voice is pure honey.
Still, she was overshadowed during her career by Stan Kenton, the vanguard jazz composer, arranger and band leader who was also known to be
All of which is to say that June was always wonderful, though it didn't help that Stan not-so-subtly claimed credit for her vocal prowess. This took its toll in terms of critical opinion, and after she broke with Stan's band (twice), her solo efforts were seldom received with as much enthusiasm. Yet time had as had its revenge. Stan is still the vanguard, but June is the one doing the eclipsing now.
Love the sinner, hate the sin? Watch old Woody Allen or Roman Polanski movies - or not? Maybe I'm a clinical sort, but I'm fully capable of separating the art from the artist and have no urgent plans to stop appreciating works by Picasso, for example, or watching movies by Hitchcock.
Yes, these guys (and gals, too; here's looking at you Leni!) were frequently awful beyond redemption in their personal lives - and time will never heal everything - but in some cases, the hellscape of their existence at least left us with a few gifts. Case in point, Kenton's "The Stage Door Swings" a1958 sugar rush of big band brass and razzmatazz.
And now for a radical u-turn. Let's do the hula with Wilma and Velma!
As a wee one, I loved watching "The Flintstones" after school (when I was allowed) and had no idea that it was once a prime-time hit based largely on "The Honeymooners," a prime-time hit from a decade or so before. All I knew was that the characters were fun. Plus dinosaurs! They were the clincher.
I had a friend whose mother wouldn't allow him to watch it. The show "destroyed imagination," as she told him, a declaration which surely flew over his eight-year-old head. He only wanted to be entertained. Plus dinosaurs! Now that I'm (somewhat) older, I can sort of understand what she meant. Once you see how the show utilizes dinosaurs and rocks and everything else prehistoric to create its own unique world, it's impossible to "un-see" it. It's just too indelible. This difference between my friend's mother and me is that I don't think it destroys anything.
Not surprisingly, the show's skyrocketing popularity resulted in a 1966 feature - it played on the matinee circuit - which used the Flintstones characters to parody James Bond movies. It's surprisingly clever, while the score and songs - led by Hanna-Barbera vet Doug Goodwin - are still delightful, sending up Henry Mancini and John Barry's jazzy Bond scores, amongst other playful targets.
Sometimes The Secret Song File is late to the shuffle, as the kids used to day, or tardy to the party. She loves this dance-punk group and has all of their albums - or so she thought. Wouldn't you know, just last year, they released a brand new album and it's a blast (no, really). Why didn't anyone tell her sooner? And why isn't this group more popular?
The only hint she can give is the punctuated band name (it's exclamatory) (times three). They're always on The Secret Song File's playlist - because they're just that good. Tell only the cool kids or she'll cut a bitch.
And by cut, I mean she'll slash up your clothes and make you wear this. Or this.
Which reminds me, don't you miss Tim Gunn on "Project Runway?" Discuss.
