Oh, dear. Are you surprised like Pearlie? Maybe dumbfounded? Because the world as we know it has been mighty strange lately - to put it mildly. But we mustn't get down in the dumpity-doo! Not when there's still so much Pearlie to listen to. In 1957, her self-titled LP was one of just 7 released under her name. That's 7 as in s-e-v-e-n. Can you imagine any pop-tarlet even approaching that today?
Add to that the fabulous tracks, including her irresistible version of "Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye," which, in her hands, somehow sounds both innocently bouncy and downright raunchy. In "Drunk With Love," she's both singing in the present and glancing back in memory, giving the tune a bifurcated emotional potency (is there such a thing as Brechtian singing, 'cause she pulls it off here). She's still amazes after all this time.
Meanwhile, our next luminary went from trained classical pianist to porn legend to Disco Queen. "Scooby-wha?" you say.
There's only one Andrea True. Back in the late-1960s and 70s, when porn movies where cultural events, Andrea was a star, baby, a star. Quite a trek for a gal who traveled from a strict Catholic upbringing in Tennessee to New York City, where she hoped to become an actress. And guess what happened? Meh, she didn't quite set the town on fire. She found a little extra work (in "The Way We Were," amongst other films), and given her training as a classical pianist, composed music for TV and radio commercials and sang in various clubs around town. But when she hit the porn scene - ka-boom! - the world was hers.
Yet she wasn't finished. You see, Andrea was quite the canny businessperson. In 1976, having socked away money from her porn shoots, she co-wrote and recorded a demo, the disco smash "More, More, More," which peaked at Number 2 on the charts. It was not a fluke. The hits continued, though unfortunately, vocal surgery in 1980 ended her career. Her songs are remarkably accomplished, and, yes, they really do stand the test of time.
As for Andrea, she made bank on song residuals and continued her life as a substance abuse counselor and a much in-demand astrologer. Whoever her heirs are, they're making bank, too, because "More, More, More" has been sampled and used in several hit songs, movies and TV shows. And who can forget that "Honey Bunches of O's" TV commercial? Porn's loss was disco's gain was a breakfast cereal's memorable jingle.
Few sounds are as reviving, even in the dead of summer, as Nancy Wilson's voice.
"Fancy Nancy," as she was known amongst her besties, cut "The Sound of Nancy Wilson" in 1968, and trust, it's everything you want in a Fancy Nancy LP. Her rendition of "By Myself" alone is enough to make this album, a must, but there's a whole lot more, including her powerful, full-throated rendition of "Black Is Beautiful. It's easily one of her best early releases. In other words, it's a must.
Don't you love a good sax number? And, no, I'm not talking those bleak, moaning sax solos - though I love them, too, when the mood strikes - but the kind of upbeat, rousing numbers that make even highly particular puddytats yowl with glee.
When I say puddytats, I also speak of hepcats like you and me, because this classic Ultra-Lounge compilation from 1996 - which begins with Les Baxter's turbo-charged "I Dig" and never once lets up - is giggly and essential for us all. If you haven't heard it, or lost your copy years ago (by lending it to that shady-ass friend who never returned any CD, cassette, VHS or book of yours), now's your chance.
The Secret Song File's aging Auntie called yesterday via FaceTime and proceeded to talk and eat and chew and swallow and teensy-burp - sometimes all at once - because "In These Trying Times," being oblivious to what you're doing on live video calls is so very on trend!
You know who's always been on trend? A certain Cuban songstress (she almost died in a bus accident, ya'll!). She only recently discovered Brazilian music (or so she says), and is offering up her old hits and new songs with "Brazilian stylings" in her new CD. Is it essential listening? Maybe not, but it's fun and booty-shaking and just a mite silly. These days, that's a good thing!
Wheeeee! Let's samba like there's no tomorrow.
Samba carnavalesce in the comments, if you like!
