The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea is a master showman always in search of a new direction on the bass. But as Polyphonic points out, it’s the way he plays with his bandmates that make him one of music’s greatest bassists of all time.
Watch Charles Mingus get evicted from his NYC apartment in 1966
In 2017, ask any artist how much they think they have to reveal about themselves in the world of music and social media, and the answer would likely be ‘too much.’ Consider the great artists of the 1960s, who got to choose, somewhat, what they choose to let their fans know about themselves. In 1966, jazz legend Charles Mingus got evicted from his apartment at 5 Great Jones Street due to nonpayment of rent. A young documentary filmmaker named Thomas Reichman had a crew on hand the night before Mingus had to vacate the premises, and he left with some incredibly revealing footage of Mingus in a mood full of surprise, anger, calmness and resentment. If Twitter was around, he would be a trending topic in moments of the film being released to some gossip site.
Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968 from BPows on Vimeo.
Prince’s Cherry Moon Personal Notebook with Handwritten Working Script
Amazing 8 x 10.5 Mead college-ruled notebook containing fifteen single-sided pages of Prince’s handwritten working script for the 1986 film Under the Cherry Moon. In the middle of the notebook there are two consecutive pages with messages written by Susannah Melvoin in red colored pencil, with large happy and sad faces drawn in the center. These are soon followed by the fifteen pages of Prince’s working screenplay for Under the Cherry Moon, written by him in pencil; several pages are annotated by Prince in purple pencil, with notes indicating scenes and page numbers. The dialogue begins with a line from “Tricky,” “I like ’em nice 2, u know that certain special way.” Mary replies, “Special. What do u mean?” Tricky: “U should know, Mary. That’s what u are.” Prince then writes some stage directions: “Mary smiles. She likes Tricky.” The dialogue continues with a line from Mary: “Have u ever been 2 Maxim’s?” Tricky: “Oh yes, honey Chris & I, we…No.” Mary: “Tomorrow night at 8. We’ll see how well u adapt 2 the finer side of life. (Just then Chris comes up & takes Mary’s hand).” Chris: “We’ll be there. (beat) May I?”
It is interesting to note that this scene plays out in the film in essentially the same manner envisioned here, with one exception: the name of the restaurant is changed from “Maxim’s” to ‘Le Pavillon.’ The next page has a scene that takes place slightly later in the film and features some memorable dialogue. Tricky says, “Man that was a dog thing 2 do. You mean she set u up 2 bust into her old man’s private business?” Christopher replies, “She don’t know what’s good enough 4 Isaac Sharon is even better 4 me.” Tricky: “She’s bad, cuzzin.” Christopher: “She’s tricky, Tricky.” Tricky: “But she ain’t as smart as us.” Christopher: “She’s smarter. But she ain’t got no street. U know I wish there was some way 2 bring her down 2 our world then she could experience the real fun.” Tricky: “Gimme a dark room & a Johnny Mathis album and I’ll show her the real fun.” In the film this conversation differs slightly, with “Johnny Mathis” swapped out for ‘Sam Cooke.’
A few pages later is the famous ‘Wrecka Stow’ scene in the restaurant. Prince sets up the joke: “(He begins 2 write on a napkin) ‘It’s obvious Little Miss Mary has never been off the city block.’ He shows the napkin 2 Mary. There are 2 words—Wrecka Stow.” Mary: “What is that? Some new language?” Christopher: “Read it. Do u know what it is?” After some back-and-forth, Mary says, “Wrecka Stow. Wrecka Stow. It’s nothing. Admit it. (Tricky is laughing harder now. People are starting 2 stare).” Christopher: “Surely you must know. Again. This time say it louder.” Mary: “Wrecka Stow! Wrecka Stow!” Chris: “Louder!” Mary: “(very loudly) WRECKA STOW! I give up. What is it?” Christopher: “If u wanted 2 buy a Johnny Mathis album where would u go?” Mary: “(very embarrased) The Wrecka Stow.” As in the previous dialogue, “Johnny Mathis” is changed to ‘Sam Cooke’ in the film.
Their conversation continues with a few similar jokes before transitioning into the sole musical performance of Under the Cherry Moon, a restaurant-crashing rendition of ‘Girls & Boys.’ Tricky: “Wait, wait I got one. (He writes FLO on the napkin). Mary: “(spells it out) F, L, O. It not a nickname 4 your cousin Florence is it?” Tricky: “No, cuzzin! (He rises from the table and does a spin Jackie Wilson would be proud of and drops into a full split. The kids in the restaurant are amazed and he slides up smooth.)” Tricky: “When I be dancin’ I split rat down 2 da FLO!” Prince continues to describe the scene: “Again they laugh. Loudly. The M’tre ‘d runs 2 the tele. The waiters begin the nightly ritual of moving the tables back so that people can dance. Christopher smiles at Tricky who asks Mary 2 dance. Christopher runs 2 the bandstand and asks the piano player if he can sit in. He obliges and Christopher immediately raises the tempo. Christopher: ‘Bb fellas. Girls and Boys.’ The groove gets right after a second or 2 and the place starts jumping. Christopher signals Tricky who grabs the boom box and runs 2 the stage. He puts a microphone on the deck. ‘Girls and Boys’ the song blasts loudly into the air. Tricky starts dancing on the stage. Everyone cheers and parties harder. Just then Mr. Sharon and his aides burst into the restaurant.” Mary is removed from the restaurant by her father, and the scene ends—as does this notebook.
For the most part, it seems that few changes were made between the dialogue as written here and in the final film—some short sequences were omitted, and some words were changed here and there, but in general this draft matches what became the final script for Under the Cherry Moon. It is rare to have so much of Prince’s handwriting in a single item, and outstanding to see the evolution of his creative thought process as it was committed to paper. His sense of humor shines in this script, and that it so closely resembles the final product makes it all the more remarkable.
https://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=6078Via
Read Prince’s Purple Rain Nine-Page Handwritten Notes
Prince’s amazing handwritten notes for the soundtrack and musical enhancements of the 1984 film Purple Rain, nine total pages, lightly gridded, each 5.5 x 8.5, with one sheet written in pencil and the balance in blue ink or felt tip. The first page is penned and then traced over in bold blue felt tip and lists seven of the soundtrack’s nine songs: “Let’s Go Crazy,” “The Beautiful Ones,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “Baby I’m a Star,” “Computer Blue,” “Darlin’ Nikki,” and “Purple Rain.” The second sheet, in accordance with the screenplay, features notes that appear to open towards the end of scene 53, in full: “1. Glove box opens, Jerome fingers camisole, hands it back 2 Morris, 2. Morris takes it. Uh, 1 more thing here’s a little something. 3. If u get cold when u wear it, call me. Points, car pulls off. 4. My POV of Apples.”
The remaining seven sheets are numbered 1-75 and capture Prince’s thoughts on the integration of music within many of the film’s scenes, in part: “1. After Jungle Love going home stop after, 2. fill scene pretty 40’s chord before I’ll be here, 3. Let’s Go mischievous music no music on shoe shine…12. 40’s Horn, Funk Beat fades after, ‘Wow’ ends on end…16. Expensive thought music for Apollonia and camisole, Horns on dolly when she turns to camera, 17. Door opens ascending note then drops on me, 18. Love music disappears when we leave frame silence on cycle, 19. Cape drops—ascending crescendo to music, 20. Sting segue to Prince end before I turn…25. Piano during—mother father dialogue…26. Burst into orchestrated synthesizer, 27. ‘I would die 4 u’—Tympani-1…49. Thought music that slows VSO—crossfade—heart beat that slows then beep/when light comes on the left…52. Suspended chords on each alley I’m not there, 53. After skid start drums on her shot introduce Toms and other elements of song Take Me-minor, 54. Long Hair Fog-whole groove starts, 55. After embankment fade music coming up to door…62. Police-orchestra fade going up stairs end on me, 63. Silence on look up after stairs, White noise after look down, Tympani before look up…68. White noise on dolly Double Tympani starts on gun finishes before hands go up, 69. Thought music on pacing fast chords on ropes, and gun—Tympani orchestrated, 70. Electrical noise on hanging…73. Emotional swell on Morris…74. Purple Rain pickup after Jill’s Hi drums, 75. Violin, playing, guitar solo—.” In overall fine condition, with a single set of staple holes to upper left of each page. From the collection of Prince’s former assistant.
A month before pre-production of the film, Prince began recording sessions for the Purple Rain soundtrack in August 1983. While the majority of songs were recorded in studios like Hollywood’s Sunset Sound or St. Louis’ The Warehouse, the tracks ‘I Would Die 4 U,’ ‘Baby I’m a Star,’ and ‘Purple Rain’ were taped live from a show at Minneapolis’ First Avenue Club, with overdubs and edits taking place later on. Additionally, the Purple Rain soundtrack was the first album to feature the Revolution as an officially credited back-up group, a distinction that added a denser, more dynamic scope to Prince’s eclectic brand of R&B and pop rock. These musical enhancement notes yield even greater insight into how Prince wanted the film to sound, his ideas and thoughts congruent with the notably experimental sheen of the soundtrack. As a result, Prince’s ambitious and innovative decisions earned him an Oscar for Best Original Song Score at the 57th Academy Awards.
Hear the Tale ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ From Walt Disney
Ahoy me hearties! Here be a video featurin’ the captain himself, Walt Disney, tellin’ the tale a how Pirates of the Caribbean came to be.
Kelly Clarkson, Hedley, Vanessa Hudgens, Lilly Singh, Hannah Alper, and More Unite at 10th Annual WE Day Toronto
WE Day, an international series of stadium-sized live-changing events, announces the initial list of speakers and performers attending WE Day Toronto on September 28, 2017 at the Air Canada Centre. Alongside partners led by National Co-Title Sponsors RBC and TELUS, and Broadcast Partner CTV, the 10th annual WE Day Toronto will host 20,000 engaged youth and educators, and thousands more from all around the world watching live online on MTV.ca/weday. With celebrity speakers, renowned performers, and global thought leaders, WE Day Toronto will celebrate the power of young people coming together to change the world.
WE Day Toronto will be taped for a special broadcast premiering on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV. The special encores on CTV Two on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 10 p.m. ET, and again on Monday, December 18, 2017 at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.
Hosted by Kelly Clarkson, a cast of new faces and returning favourites will take the stage this year including Sabrina Carpenter, Sofia Carson, Andre De Grasse, Mia Farrow, Rick Hansen, Hedley, Vanessa Hudgens and Shawn Hook, Ban Ki-Moon, Gaten Matarazzo,Penny Oleksiak, Lilly Singh, George Takei, Jacob Tremblay, Alexandre Trudeau, Spencer West and more to be announced including a surprise special guest. With WE Day Toronto event hosts Tyrone Edwards, E!/Much Host; and Liz Trinnear, ETALK reporter and Much host; alongside youth hosts Hannah Alper and Tai Young, this star-studded lineup will join international activists and WE co-founders, Craig and Marc Kielburger. Together they will share their passion for change and energize the crowd with unforgettable performances and motivational speeches to define a stronger world—this year and beyond—and what people of all ages can do to make this dream a reality.
“Each and every person at WE Day Toronto is proof that this generation is standing together to make a difference in our world,” said Grammy award winning superstar, Kelly Clarkson. “I’m inspired by this family of young leaders who not only believe in themselves, but believe in each other. They’re redefining what’s possible and I’m so proud to be a part of this special day celebrating these incredible students.”
More than a one-day event, WE Day is connected to the free, yearlong educational program WE Schools. Providing schools and community groups with curriculum, educational resources and action campaigns, the program is designed to enhance a school’s existing social initiatives or spark new ones. WE Schools encourages students to further their curricular learning and develop life skills for success beyond the classroom. In the 2016/2017 school year, schools and groups across the province improved their communities through WE Schools, volunteering more than 1.8 million hours and raising over $6 million in support of more than 2,200 local and global causes including hunger, poverty, the environment and bullying.
“WE Day celebrates a generation of empowered youth, who have come together in the hope that the world can be better a place,” said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of WE. “You couldn’t imagine a more incredible energy as the stadium fills with the country’s next generation of change-makers, committed to making a lasting difference across the globe. This year alone, we saw more than 3,000 schools and youth groups from across Ontario rise to the challenge of creating sustainable change, proving that together, we can make doing good, doable.”
Students can’t buy a ticket to WE Day—youth from across the country earn their way by the actions they take on one local and one global cause of their choice. This year WE Day is celebrating Generation WE—a generation filled with young people coming together to show their strength in numbers, Generation WE has the power to change local landscapes, for good. Generation WE is also about tackling global issues beyond one’s local sphere, expanding horizons to build worldwide cultural and social bridges. WE Day—the world’s largest youth empowerment event—is free of charge to students and educators across Canada, thanks to the generous support of partners led by National Co-Title Sponsors RBC and TELUS.
Over the lunch hour, WE Day will host WE run: fast like De Grasse, a special one-time outdoor event and celebration with Andre De Grasse, Canada’s fastest man. The Markham, Ontario sprinter first made a name for himself sweeping the 100m and 200m events at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games before winning medals at the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympics. Andre will showcase his speed against special WE Day racers, including local star students and WE Day speakers and performers, on 60m track on Air Canada Centre’s Bremner Loop. The free public event will take place during the WE Day Toronto intermission, where fans of sport and social good alike are invited to cheer on Andre and his opponents.
WE has been empowering young people to transform communities at home and around the globe for more than 20 years—and now the movement is also helping families across Canada make doing good, doable. The second annual WE Day Family event will take place on September 28, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Air Canada Centre following WE Day Toronto. Families will enjoy an evening of music and inspiration, while learning how to make their local communities, and the world, a better place. For tips and social actions that are easy to build into families’ busy lives, as well as to sign up for the weekly WE Families newsletter, visit: WE.org/we-families.
The initial list of WE Day Toronto hosts, speakers and performers in alphabetical order, announced to date includes:
Broadcast Host (and Performer): Kelly Clarkson
Event Hosts: Hannah Alper, Tyrone Edwards, Liz Trinnear, Tai Young
Speakers: Sofia Carson, Celeste and Crystal Cere, Lisa Charleyboy, Millie Davis, Andre De Grasse, Mia Farrow, Robyn Hamlyn, Rick Hansen, Craig and Marc Kielburger, Ban Ki-Moon, Bailee Madison, Gaten Matarazzo, Penny Oleksiak, Lilly Singh, George Takei, Carol Todd, Jacob Tremblay, Alexandre Trudeau, Valerie Weisler, Spencer West
Performers: Sabrina Carpenter, Celebrity Marauders, Hedley, Vanessa Hudgens and Shawn Hook
The initial list of WE Day Family speakers and performers in alphabetical order, announced to date includes:
Speakers: Ashleigh and Emma Dzis, Mia Farrow, Rick Hansen, Marc and Craig Kielburger, Ban Ki-Moon, Mpumi Nobiva, Penny Oleksiak, George Takei, Carol Todd, Jacob Tremblay, Alexandre Trudeau, Valerie Weisler, Spencer West
Performers: Sofia Carson, Kenyan Boys Choir, Marlowe Stone
Man Performs Song With A Band Of Industrial Robotic Arms
AUTOMATICA is the new video of musician Nigel Stanford performing the song with the help of a group of KUKA industrial robotic arms. I, for one, welcome our new musician overlords.
Morrissey Releases “Spent the Day in Bed” Single And That Explains His First Tweet
Morrissey has returned with the first single from his forthcoming album, Low in High School, his 11th solo album since leaving The Smiths. It also explains his very first tweet this week.
Spent the day in bed…
— Morrissey (@officialmoz) September 18, 2017
Here’s the tracklist for Low in High School, which contains two references to Israel – The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel, and Israel.
TRACKLIST:
01 “My Love, I’d Do Anything For You”
02 “I Wish You Lonely”
03 “Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up On The Stage”
04 “Home Is A Question Mark”
05 “Spent The Day In Bed”
06 “I Bury The Living”
07 “In Your Lap”
08 “The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel”
09 “All The Young People Must Fall In Love”
10 “When You Open Your Legs”
11 “Who Will Protect Us From The Police?”
12 “Israel”
JOHN LEE HOOKER: KING OF THE BOOGIE Curated by the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live
Legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker, born near Clarksdale, Mississippi on August 22, 1917, remains a foundational figure in the development of modern music. With a career spanning over five decades, he influenced countless artist around the globe. Hooker is known to music fans as the “King of the Boogie.”
In the 1990s Hooker released five studio albums, including Mr. Lucky, which once again teamed Hooker with an array of artists; Boom Boom, which aimed to introduce new fans to his classic material; the GRAMMY-winning Chill Out; and a collaboration with Van Morrison, Don’t Look Back, which also garnered two GRAMMYs. Throughout the decade, Hooker’s great body of work and contributions to modern music were being recognized not only by his peers, but also by a younger generation.
“John Lee Hooker was truly a seminal blues artist. Many of his songs are part of America’s blues music treasury,” said blues historian and Founding Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum Bob Santelli. “In addition to impacting blues history, Hooker’s music influenced great rock bands like the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Yardbirds and ZZ Top. We’re thrilled to honor the King of the Boogie’s legacy and tell the story of his incredible career in his own home state.”
GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, in conjunction with the John Lee Hooker Estate and Craft Recordings, the Catalog Division of Concord Music Group, is celebrating the centennial of this legendary GRAMMY-winning bluesman with the opening of a new exhibit titled John Lee Hooker: King of the Boogie. The exhibit opened on what would have been the late blues icon and Mississippi native’s 100th birthday, August 22, 2017.
The exhibit is part of a year-long celebration honoring Hooker’s lasting musical legacy through rare recordings, photos and one-of-a-kind artifacts. It will also feature special releases from Craft Recordings, a conference at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and the Memphis-based Blues Foundation.
On display at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi through February 18, 2018, the exhibit includes:
- Rare and never-before-heard recordings from Hooker
- Instruments, such as Hooker’s Gibson es-335
- Hooker’s Best Traditional Blues Album GRAMMY for 1997’s Don’t Look Back
Rare photos, performance outfits, and more.
| Following it’s display at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, the exhibit will travel to the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. |