The King and I (1956)

My Mum was a big fan of musicals.

'South Pacific' was her all-time favourite.

I grew up watching this stuff on TV

as well as being dragged along to numerous cinema re-runs.

'The King and I' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein:

Based on Margaret Landon's novel 'Anna and the King of Siam' (1944)

which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens,

governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s.

King Mongkut (far right) with his heir Chulalongkorn seated next to him

and some of his other children. A wife is seated at left:

Mongkut with Chulalongkorn dressed in naval uniforms:

A non-musical version had already been filmed in 1944:

The original musical premiered on March 29th 1951

at Broadway's St. James Theatre. It ran for nearly three years

making it the fourth-longest-running Broadway musical in history at the time

Yuliy Borisovich Briner was born in Vladivostok on July 11th 1920.

He steals the show with a performance that put him on the map

and earned the Russian-American actor two Tony Awards.

Yul in the original stage production:

For the movie, he was forced to shave off what little hair remained.

He apparently resented that but it went on to be his trade mark.

Brynner's 1943 photo (bit more hair) after emigrating to the United States:

The role was revisited (with Yul starring) as a TV  series 'Anna and the King' in 1972.

That was also very popular as I recall.

Was Yul Brynner the inspiration behind The Hood from Thunderbirds?

Optional subtitles in various languages are included.

Whenever I feel afraid I whistle a happy tune

regards

Titus

link

The Pacific War in Color (2018)

Episode 8 - From the Ashes

This is the last episode in the series.

President Harry Truman decides to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Emperor Hirohito surrenders and Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrives

to oversee the country's occupation.

Enemies must now become partners in Japan's rebirth.

regards

Titus

link

Earth, Wind & Fire

Motor Speedway

Ontario, CA

April 6th 1974

Earth, Wind & Fire at the 1974 California Jam.

This is my remastered version of the 'mics-on-stage' reel to reel recording.

regards

Titus

01 Power

02 Evil

03 Time is on Your Side

04 bass solo

05 Keep Your Head to the Sky

06 C'mon Children

link

The Day Today (1994)

A British satirical TV series which parodies news and current affairs programmes.

It was created by Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris.

From the over-dramatic music to the insane graphics it 'only just' oversteps reality

and there were stories of Old Dears ringing in to ask if it was authentic.

I particularly like the loud "color" they used for the USA reports. Nice touch :)

regards

Titus

link

Emerson & Lake

Place des Arts

Théatre Maisonneuve

175, Sainte-Catherine West

Montreal, QC, Canada

April 13th 2010

Remastered audience recording.

Les enfants terribles strutting their stuff north of Lake America.

regards

Titus

Disc 1

01 From The Beginning

02 I Talk To The Wind

03 Bitches Crystal

04 Take a Pebble

05 Tarkus

06 The Barbarian

Disc 2

01 C'est la Vie

02 Prelude to Hope

03 America/Rondo

04 audience questions

05 Pirates

06 Lucky Man

link

Richard Thompson Band

Wolfgang's

San Francisco, CA 

October 1st 1986

Remastered Soundboard (to celebrate it's 40th anniversary)

RT with a full band and sounding marvellous.

Worth the price of admission just to hear Clive Gregson sing 'Like a Man'.

regards

Titus

Disc 1

01 A Man in Need

02 Valerie

03 When the Spell is Broken

04 You Don't Say/Warm Love Gone Cold

05 The White Friar's Hornpipe/Shreds and Patches

06 Ghosts in the Wind

07 Wall of Death

08 Two Left Feet

09 Al Bowlly's in Heaven

10 Mind Your Own Business

Disc 2

01 Shoot Out the Lights

02 band intros/Like a Man

03 Fire in the Engine Room

04 Long Dead Love

05 Bone Through Her Nose

06 Tear Stained Letter

07 End of the Rainbow

08 Nearly in Love

09 Great Balls of Fire

link

The Pacific War in Color (2018)

Episode 7 - No Surrender

By the spring of 1945, the United States begins to take back the Philippines.

On Borneo, the Australians invade Labuan.

When the U. S. invades Okinawa, Japan makes a strong stand

and launches the biggest kamikaze attack of the war.

regards

Titus

link

Dr. Schwamp

Tunes, Tall Tales & Tinctures plus

I saw Dr. Schwamp play at a festival some years ago

and was so impressed I bought a T-shirt:

Swingin' jazzy Motown blues with attitude and a hint of mariachi.

Hats off to their (ambitious?) commitment to incorporate bagpipes.

It was really fun live but that can a terrible instrument (of torture)

except, perhaps, when utilised by Alex Harvey.

The Doc (Sean MacGloin) sadly died in 2021.

This is my (mp3) collection of their recorded work.

It doesn't quite reach the fevered high energy of their live shows

but it still rocks so pick up your prescription now!

regards

Titus

01 Condemned to Swing

02 Kinda Blew

03 Dr. Schwamp's Brand New Cure-All-Tonic

04 One Foot in the Groove

05 The Box

06 Whetstone

07 Miss Igination

08 Come with Me to Heaven

09 Bonnie & Clyde (A Story of Love)

10 Make Your Mind Up

11 M.M.M.

Bonus tracks:

12 Shine (single)

Fourtunes (E.P.)

13 Gold Digger

14 Gold Fever

15 Wild Cougar Love

16 Last Chance Saloon

link

The Uninvited (1944)

An American supernatural horror directed by Lewis Allen.

Starring Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, and Donald Crisp.

The film is based on Dorothy Macardle's novel 'Uneasy Freehold' (1941)

A fairly languid production despite it's 'horror' tag

which has some humour and is surprisingly enjoyable to watch.

Solid performance from, American staple, Ray Milland

who was actually Welsh and only went to the US in 1930

He was born Alfred Reginald Jones on January 3rd 1907 in Neath, Glamorgan.

trivia corner:

The musical piece 'Stella by Starlight' was later adapted into a popular song

with music by Victor Young and lyrics by Ned Washington.

It was recorded by many artists including Harry James and Frank Sinatra.

Charlie Parker covered it in 1952 as did Stan Getz.

More than a dozen other artists, recorded it over the following two years.

The song was performed by several jazz musicians

including Chet Baker, Bill Evans, and Miles Davis.

Optional subtitles in several languages are included.

Other languages are available on request.

regards

Titus

link

The Magic Band

BBC studios

Maida Vale, London

July 7th 2004

Reposted from February 2023

Here's an off-the-shelf CD which sounds really good.

Great session hosted by John Peel who was famously a Beefheart enthusiast.

John (Drumbo) French stands in for Don Van Vliet when vocals are required.

(Michael Traylor occupying the drumstool when needed)

Great to hear Mark Boston play.

Denny Wally and Gary Lucas are well qualified to handle the guitar parts.

It would have been the icing on the bake had Bill Harkleroad been involved.

You Rush fans might like their version of 'Circumstances'.

regards

Titus

01 Diddy Wah Diddy

02 Circumstances

03 Nowadays a Woman's gotta Hit a Man

04 Hair Pie (bass bake)

05 On Tomorrow

06 Syeal Softly thru Snow

07 Abba Zabba

08 My Human Gets Me the Blues

09 Alice in Blunderland

10 Hair pie (bake 2)

11 Evening Bell

12 Electricity

13 The Floppy Boot Stomp

14 Mirror Man

15 Moonlight on Vermont

16 Big Eyed Beans from Venus

link

Progglådan Box D: Melodisk Rock CD 406

Ola Magnell/John Holm

(both are completely new to me)

Nils Olaus Lennart Karl Magnell (January 20th 1946 – February 6th 2020)

was a Swedish pop-rock singer and guitarist.

This 1983 recording may not show him in his best light.

I'm told Ola's 70s work is preferable

but this is OK as I guess he's doing some 'oldies'.

In 1975, Swedish singer-songwriter John Holm

went on his very first concert tour and appeared on Swedish television

having previously concentrated on studio recordings.

A difficult to work with perfectionist (apparently)

Really good with tasty guitar ala Wishbone Ash, John Miles or Allman Bros.

regards

Titus

link

Translation: Paid for by the U.S. tax-payer.

regards

Titus

Rory Gallagher

Funky Quarters

San Diego, California

October 3rd 1972

Remastered soundboard.

One of the lesser quality recordings from my vast Rory archive

but I thought I'd put it through the old Luxor-mincer and see what came out.

(Mincemeat?...Ed.)

Have a stiff drink before listening.

Rory also played at this short-lived venue the night before.

Funky Quarters was burned down by arsonists after two years in business.

The owners were apparently "violently mugged" shortly before the fire.

Draw your own conclusions as to any connection between the two incidents.

"Nothing bad can happen, it can only good happen"

BTW  the flyer says England's No.1 guitarist...oh dear.

regards

Titus

01 Used to Be

02 I Should've Learnt My Lesson

03 When You'll Be Mine

04 Goin' to My Hometown (cut)

05 In Your Town

06 Bullfrog Blues

link

Mr Pye (1986)

A UK (Channel 4) television series written by Donald Churchill.

It's based on a 1953 short novel by Mervyn Peake and directed by Michael Darlow.

Mr. Pye is a quasi-religious evangelical tale with a strange vibe.

Like watching 'Last of the Summer Wine' but finding it a bit unsettling.

For those unfamiliar: 'Last of the Summer Wine' was a long running British show

set in rural Yorkshire with gentle humour aimed at a largely elderly audience.

Starring Derek Jacobi (later: Sir Derek George Jacobi)

Jacobi started his professional acting career with Laurence Olivier

as one of the founding members of the National Theatre.

He has appeared in numerous Shakespearean stage productions

but is probably most loved for his leading role

in the 1976 TV series 'I Claudius' (I CLAVDIVS)

for which he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.

Mr. Pye was filmed on the beautiful island of Sark (Peake's original setting)

and the scenery alone makes it worth watching.

Sark is an island in the southwestern English Channel, off the coast of Normandy,

which forms part of the archipelago of the Channel Islands.

It belongs to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency,

with its own set of laws based on Norman law and its own parliament.

regards

Titus

link

regards

Titus

Beat Club - episode 76

February 26th 1972

More gems from the Beat Club archives

including Dutch outfits Mouth & MacNeal and Earth & Fire.

(Wind having been expelled?) :)

(Not the same band, he's being stupid...Ed.)

regards

Titus

Livin' Blues - L. B. Boogie/Hitch Hikin'

Nazareth - Morning Dew

Bell & Arc - So Long Marianne/She belongs to Me

Earth & Fire - Storm & Thunder

Mouth & MacNeal - How Do You Do?

Atomic Rooster with Chris Farlowe - Breakthrough

link

THX 1138 (1971)

An American social science-fiction film with overt Orwellian influences.

Co-written and directed by George Lucas in his full-length feature directorial debut.

Produced by Francis Ford Coppola with Walter Murch sharing writing duties with Lucas.

It stars Robert Duvall and Donald Pleasence.

This is the Director's Cut which has been digitally restored and enhanced.

There is audio in English and Russian (just someone translating)

plus optional subtitles in various languages.

regards

Titus

link

The Pacific War in Color (2018)

Episode 6 - Fire from the Sky

The allies slug it out on the island of Peleliu

in a campaign to pave the way for Gen. MacArthur's return to the Philippines.

Japan unveils a devastating new tactic...the kamikaze.

regards

Titus

link

Santana

Montreal/NYC

Remastered soundboard.

This is a vague one.

I'm not sure of the dates or venues.

The recording seems to have first surfaced around 1993.

Some of it may be from Forum de Montréal, Canada November 3rd 1992.

The Russ Ballard cover 'Winning' is not a song they played that often.

I couldn't find any evidence of them performing it. in New York or Montreal,

during the early 90s and I'm not sure who sings it.

I suspect the 1980s as a more likely era for the New York portion.

That's assuming ANY of it is from Montreal or New York :)

Does anyone know anything more about this?

The sound quality is pretty good.

regards

Titus

01 Black Magic Woman

02 Gypsy Queen

03 Oye Como Va

04 Hold On

05 Evil Ways

06 No One to Depend On

07 She's Not There 

08 Winning

09 Spirits Dancing in the Flesh

10 Soul Sacrifice

link