Va-va-voom. Cherchez la femme. Ommph. All are appropriate responses to Monique Van Voreen, who only recently hot-cha-cha-cha'd her way to the heavens. Monique, as you may know, had a highly eclectic and unusually long career. I say "unusually," because a long career is not generally associated with an actor who's first introduced like this:
Back in the 1950s, she was the movie's latest sex-bomb. Yet she kept on working - well past the regulation sell-by date for sex symbols - in roles both large and small. She even conquered the Broadway stage (twice!). And, oh, in her spare time, she published a successful novel and a cookbook (which I must get my paws on). Trooper that she was, she was still acting in movies well into the 2000s. One of her more memorable later roles, in Andy Warhol's "Frankenstein," had her snuggling up with Joe Dalesandro (in 3-D, no less).
She was also a successful cabaret star (what didn't she do?), but tragically, cut only one LP, the delectably titled "Mink In Hi-Fi," a Va-Va Voreen Cheerful Exclusive! for you and yours. And yes, the song selections are everything you'd hope for, like "My Man Is Good" and "Call Me Again When You're In Town," and more. As an added bonus, her vocals are lovely. Rest well, Monique.
Hold on tight - wheeeee! - we're taking a u-turn. And it's taking us straight to the heart of Memphis soul.
Yes, it's the invincible Ann Peebles. She started by singing gospel in her father's church, then she slayed-slayed-slayed in the 1960s and 70s with gritty, deeply felt R&B.
She was often compared to Muddy Waters and Aretha Franklin, but Peebles is wholly different, I think. Her vocals have a trembling urgency - as if her petite frame were about to explode from the all the emotions bursting forth.
She earned renown for her hit single "I Can't Stand The Rain," but frustratingly, her career stalled in the late 80s, and a late career resurgence, enjoyed by the likes of Tina Turner, was not to be. Yet I'd be hard-pressed to think of another R&B singer who's so criminally overlooked. If you're unfamiliar with her, this fantastic compilation will be a revelation, I swear.
Do you know anyone named "Corky?" It's such a chipper name, isn't it? Well now you do. Meet Miss Corky Shayne.
Corky only released one LP in 1956 - a Fearlessly Corky Cheerful Exclusive! - and while it's a spare affair with just a small quartet as accompaniment, Corky's vocals are skilled and ever-so-slightly kittenish. I also love her relaxed delivery on "Autumn In New York," a song which most performers either over or under-sing. Corky gets it just right.
Who was Corky? Where did she go? After she recorded this LP at age twenty-four in Chicago - poof! - she moved to Los Angeles and worked for years as an assistant for top music executives. "This is Corky, may I help you?" is a phone introduction I would have loved to hear.
Have you ever seen Vincente Minnelli's 1948 musical "The Pirate?"
I ask, because even though I'm a Judy-head, I only recently watched it, seeing as peeps had told me for years that it was a dirge. It's not - or at least not quite (Minnelli's too visually gifted for it to be a total waste of time). But get this: even though he was married to Judy at the time, it's abundantly clear from the movie who he was really focused on:
Yes, I'm talking about that dancing sex bomb, Gene Kelly. During the shoot, the MGM crew were said to have joked that Minnelli was putting Gene in "hot pants." And, yes, yes he did, in a fiery sequence which looks a whole lot like a Kenneth Anger leather movie.
Minnelli and Garland divorced in 1951, which I guess came as no big surprise to anyone on the lot, since Minnelli sometimes arrived on set in full make-up and eyeliner and was known about town as a "Nancy Man." Not so incredibly, given the time period, he would marry three more women.
As for "The Pirate," it has a festive Cole Porter musical score, fantastic vocals by Judy, and that lush MGM orchestra. What's not to like?
It's Leap Year - did you know? - which means an extra day in February. And what else? Ice cream? Gift bags? Anything? The Secret Sing File would like gifts, thankyouverymuch, and will surely get them (because, sheesh, look at her).
Another gift, a gentle one, comes to us by way of San Francisco from a band whose genre is called "Nu Jazz," but also "Electropop" and also "Broken Beat" (whatever the hell that means). But all you need to know is that the tunes are ravishing and the female vocalist sounds celestial in the best possible way. Play it while opening your Leap Year gifts!
I'll take money. Money's always good.
Leave your li'l gift of a comment below if you like!
