All
Day Thumbsucker Revisited: The History Of Blue Thumb Records
(1968 - 1974/Verve/Universal Music CD Set)/Ray
Conniff: Laughter In The Rain/Love Will Keep Us Together
(1975/Sony/Vocalion Super Audio CD/SACD/SA-CD Quadrophonic Hybrid
Albums)/CMA Awards
Live: Greatest Moments: 1968 - 2015
(Country Music Awards/Time Life DVD Set)/Doctor
Dolittle
(1967/Fox/Twilight Time Limited Edition Blu-ray)/Holiday
Inn: 75th
Anniversary Edition
(1942/Paramount/Universal Blu-ray Set)/Patti
Cake$ (2017/Fox Blu-ray
w/DVD)
Picture:
X/X/C+/B/B- & D/B+ & B- Sound: B/B+ B B-/C+/B/B-/B+ &
B- Extras: C/C/C/B-/B-/B Main Programs: B/B-/B/B-/C+/C
PLEASE
NOTE:
The Doctor
Dolittle (1967)
Blu-ray is now only available from our friends at Twilight Time, is
limited to only 3,000 copies and can be ordered while supplies last,
while the Ray
Conniff: Laughter In The Rain/Love Will Keep Us Together
Super Audio CD is CD player compatible and
is now only available from Vocalion. All can be ordered from the
links below.
This
next group of interesting music releases offer many more rarities
than expected...
All
Day Thumbsucker Revisited: The History Of Blue Thumb Records
(1968 - 1974) is a reissue of a hits set that covers the amazing, if
too short, run of one of the great smaller record labels you may not
have heard of before. You probably have heard at least a few of the
songs in this new CD set, a reminder of how small companies used to
be able to deliver big, important music, but that the environment of
great smaller record labels into the 1970s (of which there were many)
contributed to one of the greatest periods of music ever. Now
handled by Verve and Universal Music, the songs on this CD set are as
follows....
Disc
One
Only
You Know and I Know - Dave Mason
The
City - Mark Almond
Put
It Where You Want It - The Crusaders
A
Song For You - Leon Russell
Stimela
(Coaltrain) - Hugh Masekela
By
The Light Of Magical Moon - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Yes
We Can Can - The Pointer Sisters
Darkness
Darkness - Philip Upchurch
Son
Of Mirror Man / Mere Man - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Ban
Sugar
on the Line - The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
Little
Mama - Luis Gasca
Canned
Music - Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
Riffin'
(A.K.A. A Motif Is Just A Riff) - Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Junior
Mance
I've
Been Loving You Too Long - Ike & Tina Turner
Fat
Jam - Ben Sidran
Southern
Man - Sylvester and the Hot Band
Disc
Two
1.
Delta Lady - Leon Russell
2.
Shiver 'n Shake - Albert Collins
3.
Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave - Dave Mason
4.
Blackbird - Bossa Rio
5.
Ride A White Swan - Tyrannosaurus Rex
6.
I Scare Myself - Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
7.
The Everlasting First - Love
8.
The Frog - Joao Donato
9.
Safe As Milk - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
10.
Breezin' - Gabor Szabo
11.
Sitting on the Outside - John Mayall
12.
Images - Sun Ra
13.
Bird's Word - The Last Poets
14.
Roger - Ken Nordine
15.
How Long (Betcha' Got A Chick On The Side) - The Pointer Sisters
16.
So Far Away - The Crusaders
Needless
to say some of these are big name acts, here often in their early
years. Captain Beefheart was very popular at the time, as was Leon
Russell, T. Rex had its amazing run that was all too short, people
still talk about Sun Ra, John Mayall, Hugh Masekela and Albert
Collins retain their huge reputations, Ike & Tina Turner are
least as legendary and besides the many one hit wonders, we get the
early hits of The Pointer Sisters.
I
had not heard some of these some of these songs in a long time, while
there are at least a few I don;t remember hearing at all, but similar
to healthy radio back in the day, you get something different and new
with each track and that is what the excitement of music is supposed
to be all about. A very pleasant surprise that would make a great
gift set to any true music lovers you know, especially if they love
more than one genre of music, it is a set as serious music fans need
to hear.
The
one extra is an illustrated booklet on the music including
informative text and an informative essay so you can learn more about
the two albums and the star artists, some of whom moved on to even
bigger success. You also learn about how the label was so key in
music history.
Ray
Conniff: Laughter In The Rain/Love Will Keep Us Together
(1975) has a cover that suggests the holidays, even if this ultra
high fidelity reissue was not made with that in mind. The great
people at Vocalion Records (out of the U.K.) continue their release
of really great, interesting materials in the Super Audio CD (aka
SACD or SA-CD) with its insanely clean, clear and amazing
ultra-dynamic range abilities. This is part their series of 4.0
Quadrophonic Hybrid Albums and this single disc offers two of them.
This is the kind of music that might be dubbed 'elevator' or played
in doctor's offices at the time (whole channels used to be devoted to
music like this, specifically here with hits sans any rock, soul or
edge) with 'fascinating' results.
These
days, some of the songs remade here in their original form are
considered lite in themselves, but that tends to be seen through the
angry current lens of post-modern music. That the songs covered here
are often pop classics (1, 3, 4, 6, 9 on the first album, 11 to 15,
18 & 19 on the second) bares that out. You got to admit when
these singers and Conniff remake hits, they at least definitely
demonstrate good to great taste, even if you might not like their
versions.
They
are at least not as bad as what Pat Boone used to do to music of the
time. The tracks are...
LAUGHTER
IN THE RAIN
1.
Laughter in the Rain (Sedaka; Cody)
2. I Honestly Love You (Allen;
Barry)
3. Sundown (Lightfoot)
4. Angie Baby (O'Day)
5. Mandy
(English; Kerr)
6. Seasons in the Sun (Brel; McKuen)
7. Eres Tu
(Calderon; Hawker)
8. Cat's in the Cradle (H & S Chapin)
9.
Feel Like Makin' Love (McDaniels)
10. (You're) Having My Baby
(Anka)
LOVE
WILL KEEP US TOGETHER
11.
Please Mr. Please (Welch; Rostill)
12. Midnight Blue (Sager;
Manchester)
13. Rhinestone Cowboy (Weiss) / Wildfire (Cansler;
Murphey)
14. Feelings (Albert)
15. My Little Friend (Budd;
Cahn) theme from the film Paper
Tiger
16.
I'm Sorry (Denver)
17. At Seventeen (Ian)
18. Solitaire
(Sedaka; Cody)
19. Love Will Keep Us Together (Sedaka; Greenfield)
/ How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You) (Holland; Dozier; Holland)
All
in all, I found these more interesting ans amusing than I expected
and am certain I heard some of them back in the day, but like most
remakes, they did not stick with me. Another way to explain the
music style is almost like Lawrence Welk or The King Family, but
closer to The Ladybirds on the classic Benny
Hill Show.
Hearing them in 4-track sound, I actually respect them more since
you can tell they were not cutting these records as a joke, but doing
alternate harmony versions that can make you rethink some of the
songs. Not bad and being two albums worth, worth a good listen.
The
one extra is an illustrated booklet on the music including
informative text and an informative essay so you can learn more about
the two albums and the star artist.
CMA
Awards Live: Greatest Moments: 1968 - 2015
is the new 10-DVD set of highlights from the annual Country
Music Awards
TV specials set up to further promote the genre past the Grammys and
in the face of changing tastes in music and the counterculture.
Issued by Time Life, it goes back to its early black and white shows
and delivers some of the biggest names in the history of the genre,
though many of the giants (Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton,
Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers) did more than crossover, they became
American Music icons beyond the genre.
This
includes one hit wonders, other major stars who did not cross over as
much and captures the mood of the genre at the times of the
broadcasts. Country had to adjust in the face of Rock by the
mid-1950s, not to mention Soul, but by the later 1960s, what we now
call root music and a more graphically honest idea of what Country
could be (especially with the rise of more women in the genre) gave
the music a new golden period that lasted until the early 1980s that
I not discussed enough. However, to some, it was just good and even
great music, genre labels just generic.
Sadly,
the music became like the Western film genre, older and a
quasi-obsolete with no new innovators, so it took its cue from Rock
(and post-Rock, another bit untouched by analysts) that would work
spectacularly well with the likes of Garth Brooks, but not as well
with others. This set lands up addressing that by default, making it
more interesting than expected. Historically, it is often priceless,
but musically, has its ups and downs. Now fans and the curious can
see for themselves.
Extras
include...
Newly
produced bonus interviews with country legends including Charley
Pride, Kenny Rogers, Naomi Judd, Ronnie Milsap and more. Plus CMA
bonus features with Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Vince Gill,
George Strait, Carrie Underwood and many other country music stars.
44-page
memory book including show photos, a history of the CMA Awards, plus
a year-by-year guide to 50 years of Award winners, plus a smaller
booklet inside the case listing the contents of the discs.
NOTE
that a smaller 3 DVD version was recently issued with the same title,
so double check the disc count before you purchase.
Richard
Fleischer's Doctor
Dolittle
(1967) is the Best Picture Oscar nominee musical with Rex Harrison
(hot off of My
Fair Lady
(1964) as the title character who can 'talk to the animals' and was
made decades before Eddie Murphy revisited the material non-musically
with less acclaim if bigger box office. A very British production,
it has since gained a cult following of its own and may not be very
successful as a fantasy musical all around, does have its moments
including in its locations, production design and supporting cast
that includes Anthony Newley (who co-wrote the songs with Leslie
Bricusse), Samantha Eggar, Richard Attenborough, Geoffrey Holder and
a cast that is in tune with the energy intended.
Fox
has decided to release this upgraded version of the film via Twilight
Time in their Limited Edition Blu-ray series, quite a thing for such
a major production, but not because the presentation lacks anything
sonically or the film is somehow not the final cut. All in all, it
is more hit than miss, but an uneven experience, but as Harrison has
been re-immortalized as the inspiration of Stewie on the hit animated
TV classic Family
Guy,
the film suddenly has a new cache and curio factor thanks to pop
culture at its best. The songs are the kind that can work while you
watch, but don't necessarily stay with you.
Also,
despite Director Fleischer and Director of Photography Robert Surtees
delivering a true big screen entertainment, we were getting a glut of
British musical fantasy event films (think Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang
and Oliver!,
the latter also issued by Twilight Time and one that won the Best
picture Oscar!) so I always get a sense and feel of overlap in all
these films, no matter which one I watch. However, since they did go
all out, they always have their moments and that is why it is worth
seeing the original Dolittle
to see what they did pull off.
I
would note since Bricusse and Newley's hit stage musical Stop
The World I Want To Get Off
(reviewed elsewhere on this site) was successful in its
deconstructionist way, that might have given them a different angle
here that allowed this not to be too grouped into the other such
films of the time.
Extra
Special Features include an Isolated Music Score Track in lossless
DTS-MA sound, an Audio Commentary Track with Songwriter/Screenwriter
Leslie Bricusse and Film Music Historian Mike Matessino, the
biographical TV special Rex
Harrison: The Man Who Would Be King,
an Original Theatrical Trailer and another great illustrated booklet
on the film (standard for Twilight Time) with more excellent thoughts
in the latest essay by film scholar Julie Kirgo. All fans will
consider this a serious collector's item, so get it while you can.
Mark
Sandrich's Irving
Berlin's Holiday Inn: 75th
Anniversary Edition
(1942) is the film that launched Bing Crosby's hit ''White
Christmas''
as one of the best-selling songs and singles of all-time, anywhere or
anyhow. The remake film would be named after it and even help
introduce the great large-frame film format VistaVision, so major was
the property considered. Berlin is still
one of the most prolific hitmakers/writers ever. With that all said,
This also has Fred Astaire, who stops the film from becoming even
less relevant than it otherwise would be. However, this hit for
Paramount (now part of Universal's catalog) has some racist and
politically incorrect moments (one of the reasons to remake it even
then) and was never my favorite film to begin with, especially as a
holiday film. It has only aged oddly and more since.
The
plot has the guys both going after Marjorie Reynolds as Bing turns
his back on showbiz to run the title small venue, but Astaire is not
far behind. This makes it a Backstage Musical by default, but even
then, not a very good one. The leads can both sing and Astaire's
dancing is unreal as usual, but unless you are already a fan, only
have so many expectations. This Blu-ray set also has a hideously
colorized version (maybe for Satanists who hate the holidays?) and a
bonus disc.
Bonus
Features include a very new version Irving
Berlin's Holiday Inn: The Broadway Musical,
A full-length Broadway production based on the timeless classic film
that differs from both the 1942 film and White
Christmas
remake a good bit, presented here on a separate Blu-ray, plus A
Couple of Song and Dance Men:
An intimate retrospective of Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire featuring
an interview with Ava Astaire-McKenzie, All-Singing,
All-Dancing:
Experience the making of the unforgettable song and dance numbers,
the most unfortunate Coloring
a Classic:
Learn how the film was color-designed to transform the black and
white classic, while the Blu-ray with the movie itself adds a Feature
Commentary by Film Historian Ken Barnes, including Archive Audio
Comments from Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, and John Scott Trotter and
an Original Theatrical Trailer.
You've
likely seen seen Eminem in 8
Mile
but you haven't seen a rags to riches rap story like this one.
Taking place in New Jersey, Patti
Cake$
(2017) is directed by Geremy Jasper (whose known for his music
videos) and whom creates a similar feel here. Her family life is
less than perfect, and her bank account isn't stellar, but Patti
Cake$ gets some formidable allies with help from her best friend, a
mysterious musician and her loving grandmother for a chance to
achieve her dream.
The
film stars Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Everett, and Cathy Moriarty.
A
digital UV copy is also included.
Special
Features include...
Director's
Commentary
A
slide of Cake$
Patti
Sea$on
Music Video
Lyric
Video
Making
the Music
Danielle
as Patti
Geremy
Jersey
Women
Gallery
While
it will appeal to rap and hip hop music fans more than many, Patti
Cake$
is your typical story of an unlikely musical prodigy that's a mix of
comedy and drama with some clever editing and filmmaking tropes to
make it stand out.
Presented
in this Blu-ray/DVD set with a 1080p high definition Blu-ray and
standard definition DVD, both version of Patti
have a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, with the Blu-ray offering a
solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track (5.1 lossy Dolby Digital track on
the DVD) that capture the film nicely for both formats. The film is
colorful and has a great soundtrack that suits this indie well.
The
1080p 2.20 X 1 digital High Definition image on Doctor
is still the best visual performer here, originally shot in the 70mm
Todd-AO format and color can be really rich and wide ranging by
DeLuxe. The makers did not go color crazy like this was Wizard
Of Oz,
so long segments are natural, outdoor color and then some are in
between the two, matching what the film was trying to work up to
narratively. However, this is slightly darker often in a way that
cuts a bit into the lighting and depth, holding back the film in
subtle ways. Otherwise, this is sourced from a great video master.
The
1080p 1.33 X 1 image on Holiday
is here is a horridly colorized version that was made for goofs who
at like black and white is a visual disease. The work here looks
deathly, color is awkward and seeing Crosby in colorized blackface
sums up the nightmare disaster that transfer version is. To call it
high definition is a real stretch anyhow. Thus, we get the film in
its real version, black & white, as a decent digital High
Definition image transfer can show the age of the materials used, but
this is far superior a transfer to all previous releases of the film
and has more than a few good shots while also having some that are
softer than they ought to be.
That
leaves the 1.33 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer on
the CMA
DVD set starting with black and white video, then moving into color
looking good for its age, but like all analog videotaped production
of the eras of the set, you get analog videotape flaws including
video noise, video banding, telecine flicker where film clips turn
up, tape scratching, cross color, faded color and even a bit of tape
damage. With that said, these look really good for what we get,
meaning someone took their time to remaster these the best they
could. The work pays off.
Finishing
on our sound coverage, the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix
on Doctor
easily matches and surpasses by a slim margin Doctor,
well mixed and presented from a film originally designed for 6-track
magnetic sound with traveling dialogue and sound effects with Academy
Award and blockbuster aspirations. Good thing the soundmaster was is
such good shape.
The
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Mono lossless mixes on both version of
Holiday
are simply the same, no 'colorizing; of the sound or other tampering
with the original optical theatrical mono sound, but maybe
now, it could be upgraded a bit when they redo this for 4K (and
hopefully, no more colorizing). The PCM 16/44.1 2.0 Stereo on the
Blue
Thumb
CDs are really nice, fine and well defined for the format, clear,
open and well-transferred tot he point that many will be surprised by
the improvements if they know these songs, have not heard them in
eons or have lower expectations for recordings of the time. The
songs themselves tend to be very well-produced and engineered, so you
can see why they are so critically acclaimed on top of the singers
and songwriters.
They
even sound a little better than the PCM 16/44.1 2.0 Stereo tracks on
the Conniff
Super Audio CD, but
the ultra high definition DSD (Direct Stream Digital) 2.0 Stereo are
smoother than the CD tracks here or on the Blue
Thumb
set and the DSD 4.0 Quad mix is the best of all, more than able to
compete with anything reviewed in this text. I was surprised this
type of music was so well recorded, but it is.
That
leaves the lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 sound on the CMA
DVDs, which start out as Mono, but land up simple stereo in the later
shows and stereo thereafter. The older audio can have issues, but
they are live recordings for the most part and include some rare
performances even no country fans can appreciate.
To
order the Doctor
Dolittle (1967)
limited edition Blu-ray, buy it and other great exclusives while
supplies last at these links:
www.screenarchives.com
and
http://www.twilighttimemovies.com/
… and
to order the Ray
Conniff
Super Audio CD, go to this link for to and many more great
web-exclusive releases at:
https://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CDLK4602
-
Nicholas Sheffo & James Lockhart (Patti)
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/