Hollywood On 52nd Street
Something’s Gotta Give was composed by Johnny Mercer for his friend Fred Astaire who starred in the 1955 film Daddy Long Legs. It is the love song duet between him and Leslie Caron. The song playfully uses the irresistible force paradox – which asks what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object – as a metaphor for a relationship between a vivacious woman and an older, world-weary man. The man, it is implied, will give in to temptation and kiss the woman.
The film also stars Terry Moore, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark and Ray Anthony who appears as himself with his orchestra. Filming took place on location at 20th Century Fox Studios in Hollywood and the Andrew Carnegie Mansion in Manhattan.
Storyline
On a trip to France, millionaire Jervis Pendleton III (Astaire) sees an 18 year old girl Julie Andre (Caron) in an orphanage. Immediately enchanted with her, but mindful of the difference in their ages and what the press may report should his involvement be discovered, he anonymously sponsors her to attend fictional college in New England. She writes him letters, which he doesn’t read. After 3 years, he goes to visit her at a dance, not telling her that he is her benefactor. They fall in love, but the usual movie-type difficulties get in the way before they can get together at the end.
Hollywood On 52nd Street
Too Late Now is a song composed by Burton Lane and the lyrics written by Alan Jay Lerner for the 1951 film Royal Wedding. The song was performed by Jane Powell.
The Story: The film centers around brother and sister dance team Tom and Ellen Bowen whose show closes in New York. Their agent, Irving Klinger (Keenan Wynn), books them in London for the same period as the Royal Wedding. They travel by ship where Ellen (Jane Powell) meets and becomes involved with Lord John Brindale (Peter Lawford). This causes her to miss a rehearsal. Tom (Fred Astaire) uses the time to dance with a hat rack and gym equipment.
Later Tom and Ellen attempt a graceful dance number as the ship rolls to and fro. Upon arrival brother and sister are met by Edgar Klinger (Wynn) who settles them into their hotel. Shortly afterward Tom holds auditions and meets Anne (Sarah Churchill). There is much indecision by the siblings about their romantic partners even though they are in-the-clouds. Ellen sings her third ballad, this time an open declaration of love, to Lawford with Too Late Now. Tom dances on the walls and ceiling of his hotel room. All ends well in this light musical. By the way, there is a vaudeville-style dance number in their show that features slapstick.
Too Late Now is the only song from this film that was to become a jazz standard.
Requisites
Hard Driving Jazz by the Cecil Taylor Quintet was recorded in New York City on October 13, 1958 at United Artists Records. This hard bop and modal session was licensed by United to Dillard et Cie, Imp. and released in 1959 on La Voix De Son Maître in Paris, France.
The cover photography was taken by Tom Burnside and the design of the cover was made by Griner/Lewis, the recording engineer was Fernando Vargas, Tom Wilson was the session producer and the liner notes were written by François Postif.
Four tunes made up this session composed by Chuck Israels, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Kenny Dorham, John Klenner and Sam Lewis. Double Clutching, Like Someone In Love,Shifting Down and Just Friends for a short 33:14.
The players were Chuck Israels on bass, Louis Hayes on drums, Cecil Taylor on piano, Kenny Dorham on trumpet and on tenor saxophone was Blue Train (John Coltrane).
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Requisites
Bird at St. Nick’s is a 1950 live tape recording by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. Unfortunately, for those jazz patrons who experienced the live performance never received the opportunity to relive the night until forty-one years later. It was released in 1991 on the Blue Moon Record label.
The released session was just 33 minutes and 53 seconds and is comprised of the following thirteen original and standard compositions: I Didn’t Know What Time It Was, Ornithology, Embraceable You, Visa, I Cover the Waterfront, Scrapple From The Apple, Star Eyes, 52nd Street Theme, Confirmation, Out of Nowhere, Hot House, What’s New, Now’s The Time and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes/52nd Street Theme.
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Requisites
The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vol. 1 is the debut album by pianist Herbie Nichols in 1955. The album, released as a 10 inch LP on the Blue Note label, features six performances recorded by May 4th – 13th in the bop, hard bop and post bop styles.
Nichols begins his statement with Dance Line, then Step Tempest, The Third World, Blue Chopsticks, Double Exposure and Cro-Magnon Nights all follow to make up the complete album and were all composed by Nichols.
An interesting note, from 1947 he spent half a decade trying to get a contract with Blue Note and his persistence finally paid off when he finally inked a three album deal. The art was conceived by New York School abstract expressionist painter Martin Craig providing a rare and befitting cover for the purveyor of art piano music.
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