One of the funniest gags in the Mel Brooks classic Blazing Saddles (and there are plenty to choose from) must be the running joke about the character Hedley Lamarr – that’s Hedley, not Hedy! Supposedly, the Austrian-born actress took exception to the unauthorised use of (almost) her name for the Harvey Korman character and threatened … Continue reading
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Funk / Jazz / Lyrics / Music / Pop / R&B / Songwriting / Soul / Uncategorized / Writing
Lining up for summer jazz
Two of the summer’s big jazz festivals have announced their 2014 line-ups – here’s Pink Pie’s look at what’s in store at Brecon and Love Supreme. The 30th anniversary Brecon Jazz Festival is headlined by Burt Bacharach, who opens the event on Thursday 7th August. I’m not being disrespectful by saying Burt was never the … Continue reading
A monster of a night in a spooky castle – with real bats
The Monster carries his victim into a spooky cave, and a fake bat on a string flaps in front of him, just as real bats flit more convincingly in front the screen. Special effects? Nature can provide something much more special, when films are shown in unusual locations. In this case, it was the 1935 … Continue reading
Jazz / Lyrics / Music / Songwriting / Writing
Ah, oui. J’aime L’Amour
With an album called L’Amour, you know what you’re going to get – love songs, right? Yes, but don’t expect any saccharin-sweetness here. Brigitte Zarie is much more sophisticated than that. This eagerly-anticipated follow-up to 2012’s Make Room For Me is a stunning collection of jazz numbers – all but two of them new, but … Continue reading
Cardiff / Comedy / Film / Jazz / Music / Pop / Songwriting / Theatre / Uncategorized / Wales
The musical that rains supreme
It doesn’t have much of a plot, its songs were mostly recycled from earlier productions, and the star was suffering a fever when he had to film the title song-and-dance routine, getting soaked to the skin in a shrinking wool suit. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it? But this was Singin’ in the … Continue reading
Crime / Drama / Horror / Serials / Television / Victoriana / Writing
Farewell to the Rozzers of Ripper Street and their daily dealings with dippers and dollymops
Ripper Street, BBC’s intelligent crime drama set in late 19th century Whitechapel, has been cancelled after two series. We asked the lead character, Detective Inspector Edmund Reid, for his thoughts. I have been surprised and gratified to learn that reports of our work in H Division have spread beyond London to the Provinces, and – … Continue reading
Sherlock, Sherlock’s mum, and a bloody great moth
Most reviewers dismiss the 1968 horror movie The Blood Beast Terror as unremarkable at best, but I reckon there are at least six reasons why you might consider spending an hour and a half of your life on it. 1. Peter Cushing. The master of British horror (and more) brings his class and gravitas to … Continue reading
Music / Pop / Rock / Songwriting
More Leigh-on-Sea than LA, meet the Essex Steely Dan
Much of Steely Dan’s music oozes California sunshine. Which is odd because Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are born-and-bred New Yorkers. But here’s something odder – jump a further 3,000 miles east and you find a new bunch of Dan-alikes, who are actually more Leigh-on-Sea than LA. I say “bunch”. Actually, I don’t know how … Continue reading
Dracula in a castle – fangs very much
Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre deserves a vote of fangs for a tricksy Halloween treat this week – a screening of Hammer’s classic Dracula in a real castle. Tuesday night’s (29th October) sell-out show in the spooky undercroft of Cardiff Castle gave us a rare chance to see this revered 1958 production as it was intended … Continue reading
Film / Funk / Jazz / Lyrics / Music / Pop / R&B / Rock / Songwriting / Superheroes / Television / Uncategorized / Writing
If you’re seeking a pop-inspired philosophy, be a driver, not a rollercoaster rider
Maybe pop songs aren’t the best place to seek your philosophy of life, but if that’s where you’re looking, may I recommend you pay more heed to the acid-jazz/funk of Brand New Heavies than to the pop-pop/pop of Ronan Keating? Ronan told us in 2000, “Life is a rollercoaster/ Just gotta ride it” and I’ve … Continue reading
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