Ringo Starr
DARK HORSE ---HBO has acquired the rights for director Marty Scorsese's documentary on George Harrison – George Harrison: Living In The Material World, and will air it in two parts on October 5 and 6. It will trace the arc of the Beatle's life with interviews with Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Terry Gilliam, and Phil Spector, who’s now in prison. Harrison died in 2001 at the age of 58 after a battle with cancer. Harrison's wife Olivia Harrison, will release a book in late-September. It's a personal archive of photographs, letters, diaries and memorabilia from his life. On a personal note: I was always moved by Harrison's music. The more I listen to it now, I'm impressed still by its high caliber of creativity. His musicianship, from All Things Must Pass to his last full album Brainwashed just bristles with excitement. I know in Scorsese's hands, this will be a documentary well worth watching. George was my favorite Beatle … and, still is! A must-see for sure.****
Ray Davies
RAY RAY RAY --- I just listened the other day for the first time to the newest release from one of the most brilliant artists ever … Ray Davies, called See My Friends. Davies rose to prominence as the primary force for the English rock band, The Kinks. Formed in 1964, the band is formally recognized as one of the most important and influential bands of the era. Their third single, released in 1964, written by Davies, “You Really Got Me” became an international hit, topping the charts in the U. K. And reaching the Top 10 in the U.S. Between the mid-60's and early 70's, the group released a string of commercially and critically acclaimed singles and albums and gained a reputation for songs and concept albums reflecting their English culture and lifestyle.Songs like “Lola,” “Waterloo Sunset,”and “Celluloid Heroes” were positively cinematic in their scope and magnitude. Needless to say, they became an instant institution. They had five Top 10 singles here in the U.S. Nine of their albums charted in the Top 40. In the U.S., the group has seventeen Top 20 singles and five Top 10 albums. The four original members were inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in 1990. Tensions between Ray and his brother Dave resulted in several splits and eventual re-unions, but created a break in their development. That said, The Kinks for the most part ultimately became a legacy band. Both brothers put out solo albums but they didn't approach what they were able to create together. Ray continues to be a vital force, and this latest album is a series of duets with several significant names on the current music scene. The lead-off track, “Better Things” with Bruce Springsteen is spot-on perfect as there's no mistaking the grunts-and-groans from The Boss. It’s actually a terrific duet as the two play off each other brilliantly. “Celluloid Heroes” with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora sounds like, well, a Bon Jovi song; however, there's no denying the power of that song. The imagery remains as vivid as ever. Davies says in the liner notes that he wrote the song when the band first visited Los Angeles and reflects his appreciation of film and the conflicts within stardom and failure-how fleeting fame is and how people deal with it. "Hollywood boulevard is a beautiful, iconic place. A place of glamour and glitz; but, it can also be a very cheap and trashy place. That combination is appealing. What stardom does to people.” My favorite pairing has got to be “Waterloo Sunset” with Jackson Browne. Just an acoustic gem of a production with each of their vocals just so endearing; singing those beautiful lyrics. Davies says, “This is the most unexpected casting. Jackson was on tour in Europe and came to do the track. I first thought this a rather odd selection for him, but he turned up and played the song not in its original key, which gave it a renewed resonance. The interesting thing about it is, it made me realize the song's got a lot of soul to it. The combination of his voice and style of playing made it very unique. It's one of the most un-complicated arrangements on the record.” Mumford & Sons; Metallica and Paloma Faith are also represented on one of the finest albums I've heard in quite some time. For some reason, it reminds me of the terrific Micky Dolenz album of last year King For A Day, as the artist sang the terrific songs of Carole King. Maybe the comparison is because it's a true artistic rendering; hearing a classic artist who has already proven their worth trying something new which proves so ultimately rewarding. Check this one out … a must-hear for sure!****
CHRIS HANSEN --- So the catcher got caught! For year's, on NBC, Chris Hansen has been catching the bad-guys in the act; be it someone who answered an ad in Craigslist to a would-be-predator approaching his prey ...Hansen has been there ... with his cameras. I always thought it somewhat odd when someone who was-about-get-caught would say to the broadcaster ... you know, you look like that guy on TV ... and, they were usually right! Now, I don't know if I'd put Hansen into the same category as a John Walsh ... a true hero; but, I'm quite sure Hansen would love it. Several weeks back he himself got caught on camera with a woman ... not his wife. Of course, he denied it through-and-through, but he just lost out on a crucial new deal at the network. He always seemed to love the spotlight a little too much. Even Saturday Night Live did a sketch on him; usually a sure sign of national recognition. Me, all I can say is: karma's a bitch!
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STEVENS GETS HUEY --- Congrats to our Jersey-based pal, singer/songwriter Larry Stevens who just got a plum-assignment; opening up for Huey Lewis and the News on Tuesday, June 19 at BergenPAC.
Photos By: RD/Dziekan/Cortes/Kirkland/Retna
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