Where to begin with this look? Stunning? Perfection? Heaven in a red chapeau? I'm almost speechless.
Like a lot of blaxploitation movies, "Cleopatra Jones and the City of Gold" is better in pictures and brief clips than in total - but what clips, and c'mon, those looks! As for the star Tamara Dobson, a former Essence and Vogue fashion model (and full-time sex-bomb), she's simply astounding (all 6 foot 2 inches of her).
The 1975 film was a sequel to the much more successful (and still very watchable) "Cleopatra Jones" from 1973. Though really, any excuse to gawk at Tamara and her jaw-dropping poses and costumes is cause for celebration.
The music? Imagine if Charles Fox - known for his "sunburst-happy" 1970s tunes, like the theme song for "Love, American Style" - were crossed with white boy jazz. It's completely incongruent with the loose, off-the-cuff style of the movie, yet it's so brightly Hollywood-ized that it works. Actually, it more than works. It's a minor miracle of kitsch. Which means, of course, that I love it.
Meanwhile, I have a question: who has the vocal smoothness of Etta Jones with the rhythmic snap of Della Reese?
If you guessed Helen Humes, you were right! Congrats. I happily toss confetti your way, as well as - heads up! - a bottle of champagne (if you didn't catch it, sowwy). As you may know from other Helen posts on this blog, Helen's a vanguard jazz and blues singer who sounds better and better, I think, the more you listen to her.
"Today I Sing" is a fantastic compilation, collecting most of the songs she released from the late-1940s to the early-50s, along with a generous sampling of live gigs. Listen to her vocals as they tease and shimmy round the lyrics on "Married Man Blues." It's delish.
Do you know who Bryan MacLean is? Yeah, I didn't, either, until my Cuban Luvuh pointed him out.
A singer, songwriter, composer and band member with the group "Love," he died at age fifty-two on Christmas Day in 1998 - but not before recording a mesmerizing folk album with his half-sister Maria McKee in the early 1980s. But wait, there's more. His record label didn't like what they heard and refused to release it. Bummer. End of story.
Or not, because it was eventually pulled from the vaults and released in the mid-2000s, and today it's a Cheerfully Chill-Out MacLean Exclusive! How to describe. In a word, it's lovely, an adjective I don't use very often, but the plaintive sweetness of it all is so disarming, like Jim Croce on the happiest, mellowest day. I can't with Bryan's headband, but otherwise, it's a gem of an album and perfect to listen to as you slip into a comfy, snuggly, post-Turkey Day coma.
Some singers hit it right out of the gate. Like Miss Gloria Lynne.
Have you heard her debut 1958 LP, called "Miss Gloria Lynne?" Oh, but you must. It. Is. Everything. And the song list is choice:"Just Squeeze Me," All Day Long," and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," amongst others.
Plus, and this is a biggie, there's that swingin' jazz organ, a perfect low-down match for Miss Gloria's simultaneously sweet and stinging vocals. It's not only her first LP - and a Cheerfully Go-Go-Gloria Exclusive! - it's one of her best. We have much to be thankful for this coming Turkey Day and Miss Gloria is near the top of the list for me.
The Secret Song Film has limited patience for "throwback jazz," or white boys gettin' together to gig, yo - just like the old days they never knew and have no feel for. So I was surprised when a certain Tall Guy actor (*cough*hint*) who once played a fly, had his way with Earth Girls and battled dinos (*cough*soobvi*cough*) gathered with some mostly white folk musicians and singers, many from Broadway, to play a li'l jazz. Surprised, because it's good.
Their spanking new CD is perfect background music for brunch or doing chores around the house, which is not meant as an insult, I swear. Is it a keeper? I'm not so sure. Is it fun for now? Yeah, it is. And sometimes, that's just what you want, especially when you need to clear your head after an overcrowded Turkey Day with family and friends 'n' such.
Here's hoping you have a spectacular Gobble-Gobble day (or if you're across the pond, have a nice Thursday)!
Swat a fly in the comments if you like!
