The first time I saw "Blue Velvet" was the first showing on its first day of release. The theatre was sparsely populated; just me, a friend, and few Upper East Side golden agers who weren't at all prepared for what soon unspooled. I wasn't, either.
I had never seen such a spectacularly cruel, funny, outlandish movie - my jaw hit the floor several times - and sure enough, the golden agers were up on their feet and stomping out within the first thirty minutes, one of them grousing, "You're all sick!" to no one in particular. This only added to the fun (of course).
Cult movies have that effect and I've learned how to sniff them out and race to the theatre before too many of their jolts and surprises have seeped into the ether. There's nothing quite like being a part of an audience when they're first gasping at a movie which goes too far, like "Blue Velvet," of course, or more recently, "Elle."
Which brings us to this terrif 1995 compilation! It has all your favorite "cult" movie songs, including Bobby Vinton crooning "Blue Velvet," of course, along with a bevy of tunes that you'll automatically associate with the movies they're from: Nilsson's "Everybody's Talkin'" from the epically seedy "Midnight Cowboy;" Isaac Hayes' rousing title tune from "Shaft;" and Henry Mancini's menacing title track from "Touch of Evil," co-starring an impossibly glam Marlene Dietrich:
There's more (much more) and it's all very well curated, as Miss Marlene herself would have demanded.
Speaking of "Touch of Evil," Henry Mancini's entire score has been refurbished 'n' such for the first time - and it sounds just as swingin', hepcat and crazy-man, crazy, as you remember. Plus it reminds you how good Janet Leigh was, and how ridiculous Charlton Heston looked in brown face, though for some reason, not quite as silly as this.
Have you noticed? This is the season when record companies haul out their big CD box sets for your gifting and listening pleasure, some of them worth your time, some of them to be avoided at all costs. In 2011, a 10-CD Billie Holiday gift box was dropped. Yes, 10. And it's nothing short of magnificent.
This is not just a collection for Billie-completists, though it includes practically everything she ever recorded from the mid-1930s to the mid-40s (along with some tunes that were never released before). All of the songs have been scrupulously remastered, so while you may already have some of them in your collection, trust me, they've never sounded this good. I'm not kidding. I can't praise this box set enough (or Holiday, for that matter). You're welcome. Happy Early Ho-Ho (and all the rest and suchlike).
Now on to someone who may be unfamiliar, Indianapolis' own, jazz singer and pianist extraordinaire, Miss Flo Garvin.
Tragically, I've been unable to find out if Flo ever released a complete LP or even recorded one. If you know of one, tell me, as I've only found her on compilations, like the hugely entertaining "I'm A Bad, Bad Girl," which includes tunes from Flo, Big Mama Thorton, Faye Adams, and a whole gaggle of other divas who don't get nearly enough notice, along with great tracks from established artists like our friend Billie Holiday.
As for Flo, did you know? She was a trailblazer. She was the first black woman to host a local TV show (called "Sentimental Journey"), and the first black entertainer period to appear in previously segregated nightclubs in the early 1950s. Her trademark soft-and-sultry delivery can be heard in this collection on "Let Me Keep You Warm." It's divine.
It's almost Halloween! Do we care? We do (provisionally), especially since "It's the Great Punpkin, Charlie Brown" is being re-aired for the billionth-trillionth time. Maybe this time Snoopy will finally destroy that dastardly Red Baron:
Oh, and get this. The soundtrack has just been remastered (everything is being remastered these day, amirite?), and Vince Guaraldi's tunes sound even more festive than ever before.
The Secret Song File knows how to keep warm and relax as fall turns to winter. Booze, watching old John Waters movies (don't you even think of judging that), and, of course, this. Another way? Chillax music. Something new. Like, from 2017. Say whaaaat?
Let me explain. A new (ish) CD by a multi-talented Frenchman was released across the pond last year and is only now being distributed in North America. Why? Becausewhocaresletsmoveon (portrait of how much I know about music distribution). Let's just say that it's one of the better electro-debuts in quite some time, with jazzy rhythms and nicely cooled out vocals. With mid-terms almost here and driving me bonkers, it's what we need right now.
Actually, I wouldn't mind some of this.
Tell The Secret Song File everything you desperately need in the comments!
I swear, she won't make fun at all!
