Gloria's in her thinkin' chair again! Is she thinking about: a) Mmm. I am one luscious-sounding singer, or b) those flowers in the foreground are trying to upstage me and they're losing, or c) I loved working with PJ, my music producer son.
If you guessed all three, you win. Hooray! But even if you didn't, you still win. Because today is the day we're celebrating her 1963 LP, "After Hours," a Glorious Gloria Cheerful Exclusive! just for you.
If you guessed all three, you win. Hooray! But even if you didn't, you still win. Because today is the day we're celebrating her 1963 LP, "After Hours," a Glorious Gloria Cheerful Exclusive! just for you.
Lots of Gloria has been featured on The Cheerful, so what makes this LP so special? I honestly don't know how to answer that without reverting to this: every Gloria LP highlights her astonishing vocal expressiveness and smooth-as-silk technical prowess. Plus, how many singers can perform a dog-eared tune like "Am I Blue," like she does on this album, and make it all their own?
And now, the only Cuban diva who really matters:
Yes, it's La Lupe, the supernova songstress who blazed a trail all her own - both on stage and off. Will you "get" La Lupe on first listen? Maybe, maybe not. Or think of it this way: a while back, a reader on The Cheerful said that he never really understood Anita O'Day until he saw a documentary about her - and then she "popped" for him. He got her at last. Because he saw her performing.
For my part, I was introduced to La Lupe by my Cuban Luvuh through her TV performances on the internutz, and I have to admit, I might not have fully appreciated her as a vocalist without actually watching her first. Recently, we saw a Youtube documentary about her life and - wowza! - I appreciated her anew.
Her 1966 LP, "They Call Me La Lupe," is explosive fun. Her singing - which ricochets from raspy Latin music stylings, to rock 'n' roll, to blinding-fast patter - goes way beyond standard vocal pyrotechnics. In fact, she redefines what it means to communicate with every inch of your body and soul. Oh, and marvel at how she completely devours and reinvents "West Side Story's" "America" ("Amore Ciego"). There's no one like her. And si, this La Lupe album is Cheerfully, Exclusively yours!
In the mood to dance? Shimmy and shake? Me, too.
Sometimes, I want my dance music cool and jazzy. Nicely paired with cocktails, a few good friends and canapes 'n' such.
Other times, I want my dance music in a deep house mode, and joined with something stronger than booze, along with, let's say, a glitter ball and a few dangerous strangers 'n' such. I won't say which is better to shake your booty with, because I like it both ways (don't you?). And believe me, both of these albums are stellar examples of their kind.
Speaking of partying and dancing and even dangerous strangers, Lana Turner seemed to welcome it all in her scandalous life.
You probably already know about her tumultuous and deadly relationship with mobster Joe Stompanato, but did you also know that Sean Connery was involved?
It was only briefly, while he and Lana were filming "Another Time, Another Place," a quickie 1958 sudser. As the story goes, Sean was not amused when Joe stormed on set and pulled a gun on him in a presumed jealous rage. So Sean wrested the gun from Joe's hand and - kapow! - socked him in the nose, causing Joe to flee before police arrived. All of which has little do with Douglas Gamley's voluptuously romantic score. It almost sounds like the last triumphant gasp of Golden Age movie music (just skip the third track) ('cause it's annoying) (trust me).
The Secret Song File believes in The Rule of Three. For jokes, of course, and for story titles ("The Three Little Pigs," anyone?), but also for LPs. "What-whaaa," you say? See, a singer's first LP is usually good, but perhaps dumb luck; the second LP confirms the dumb luck and is charitably called a sophomore slump; while the third, if you really have talent, is when everything hits the bullseye.
Such is the case with this jazzy British singer, whose third, self-titled (*cough*hint*) album is a ravishing, spellbinding listen. And why shouldn't it be? The singer's name adheres to The Rule Of Three! No, really.
Did'ya know? A rim-shot follows the Rule Of Three, too!
Make your own omne, trium, perfectum in the comments, if you like!
