January 29, 2020

BAM ~ Rosie Lee Tompkins: A Retrospective

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February 19 – July 19, 2020

        
          
  • Rosie Lee Tompkins: Untitled, 1986
    Photo by Sharon Risedorph Photography      
  • Rosie Lee Tompkins: Three Sixes, 1996; quilted by Irene Bankhead, 1996; polyester double knit, linen-weave cotton or polyester, cotton, rayon, and cotton muslin backing; 96 × 96 in.; BAMPFA, bequest of the Eli Leon Living Trust. Reproduced courtesy of the Estate of Effie Mae Howard. Photo: Ben Blackwell.
          
          
      
      
     
Rosie Lee Tompkins (1936–2006) is widely considered one of the most brilliant and inventive quiltmakers of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Her reputation has grown to the point where her work is no longer considered solely within the context of quilting, but celebrated among the great American artistic achievements of our time. Rosie Lee Tompkins: A Retrospective is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of the artist’s work to date, featuring approximately eighty quilts, pieced tops, embroideries, assemblages, and decorated objects. It reveals Tompkins to be an artist of extraordinary variety, depth, and impact.

Born Effie Mae Howard in 1936 in Arkansas, the artist later adopted the pseudonym Rosie Lee Tompkins. She learned quilting from her mother as a child but did not begin to practice the craft seriously until the 1980s, when she was living in the Bay Area city of Richmond. Often inspired by her belief in God, Tompkins made quilts directed toward her own healing and spirituality and to honor family members. She employed a wide variety of traditional patterns, including half-squares, medallions, and yo-yos, exploring and adapting these approaches through her individual sensibility and integrating such favorite fabrics as velvet, artificial fur, and various types of glittery material. She also frequently incorporated embroidery—stitching words and citations of Christian scripture—as well as printed images on recycled clothes, which suggest the artist’s commentary on contemporary social, political, and cultural events.

Made up almost entirely of works from BAMPFA’s collection, Rosie Lee Tompkins: A Retrospective is the first in a series of exhibitions celebrating the donation of approximately 3,000 quilts by African American artists from the estate of the collector Eli Leon. This transformative bequest makes BAMPFA a leader in the field of African American art with what is probably the largest public collection of African American quilts in the world.    
          
       
Berkeley Art Museum 
Pacific Film Archive
University of California, Berkeley
2120 Oxford Street #2250
Berkeley, CA 94720
(510) 642-0808
bampfa@berkeley.edu
       
          
  
        
         
Viewfinder links:         
       
Eli Leon       
Rosie Lee Tompkins          
        
Viewfinder links:                 

artnet ~ BAM an International Hub for African American Quilts    
BAM ~ Rosie Lee Tompkins / MATRIX 173           
BAM ~ Rosie Lee Tompkins: A Retrospective          
National Gallery of Art ~ Rosie Lee Tompkins   
NY Times ~ obit      




     
         
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, January 29, 2020        

Eli Leon articles/mentions

~   
Eli Leon ~ African-American Quilt Maven   
   
    
mentions:     
BAM ~ Rosie Lee Tompkins: A Retrospective  
   
    
   

 
   
    
Eli Leon - 2016       
photo by Styrous®
 
   
    
      
 
   
    
   

















Rosie Lee Tompkins articles/mentions

~
BAM ~ Rosie Lee Tompkins Retrospective  


       
mentions:   
Eli Leon ~ African-American Quilt Maven  
   
   
       
           
     
Rosie Lee Tompkins - 1986       
photo by Eli Leon       
   
     
    

   
   
     
    



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Bette Midler articles/menitons

  ~       

     
mentions:     
The Andrews Sisters ~   
       Boogie Woogie Bugle Girls          
John Barry ~ King Kong & Jessica Lange   
Loring Eutemey ~ vinyl LP illustrator    
Leo Friedman ~ Broadway's Photographer   
Arif Mardin ~ Glass Onion      
USA For Africa ~ We Are The World         
     
     
     

date & photographer unknown
            
     
        
        















The Pointer Sisters articles/mentions

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Cold Blood ~ Thriller!!        
USA For Africa ~ We Are The World   
  
   
   
       
       
  
 
  
   
  
The Pointer Sisters      
date & photographer unknown      
 
  
   
  
      
  
 
  
   
  












Cyndi Lauper articles/mentions

~   
She's So Unsual              
               
                
mentions:         
Big Top Pee-wee         
The Marcels ~ Blue Moon & John Dillinger   
USA For Africa ~ We Are The World       
   
    
   
    
    
    
   
   
    
Cindi Lauper - 2019
photo by Ruven Afanador    
    
   
    
   
   
    














January 28, 2020

20,000 vinyl LP 206: USA For Africa ~ We Are The World

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USA For Africa ~ We Are The World 
vinyl LP front cover detail 
front cover photo by Harry Benson
detail photo of album cover by Styrous®


We Are The World is a charity single originally recorded by the supergroup "USA (United Support of Artists) for Africa" in 1985.  It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World. The single was recorded on January 28, 1985.     

The song was released on March 7, 1985, as the first single from the album. I remember when the song came out; the uplifting felling I got from the message it delivered. We are a nation that welcomes the world to come and be one with us. It was one of the times in my life I was proud to be an "American." Van Cliburn was one of those times (link below).         
             
A worldwide commercial success, topping music charts throughout the world and becoming the fastest-selling American pop single in history. The first ever single to be certified multi-platinum, We Are The World received a Quadruple Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.     

With sales in excess of 20 million copies, it is one of fewer than 30 retail singles to have sold at least 10 million copies worldwide.        

=
USA For Africa ~ We Are The World 
vinyl LP front cover 
front cover photo by Harry Benson
photo of album cover by Styrous®

The idea for the creation of an American benefit single for African famine relief came from activist Harry Belafonte. The historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time: Al Jarreau, Anita Pointer, Bette Midler, Bill Gibson, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Hayes, Cyndi Lauper, Dan Aykroyd, Daryl Hall, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Harry Belafonte, Huey Lewis, Issa Pointer, Jackie Jackson, James Ingram, Jeffrey Osborne, John Oates, Johnny Colla, Kenny Loggins, Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, La Toya Jackson, Lindsey Buckingham, Lionel Richie, Mario Cipollina, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Randy Jackson, Ray Charles, Ruth Pointer, Sean Hopper, Sheila Escovedo, Steve Perry, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Waylon Jennings, William Robinson, Jr., Willie Nelson.           


USA For Africa ~ We Are The World 
vinyl LP front cover detail 
front cover photo by Harry Benson
detail photo of album cover by Styrous®


The first take had a mysterious jingling in it, so had to be redone. It was discovered the jingling was caused by the jewelry Cyndi Lauper was wearing during the recording session; leave it to Cyndi!     


Cyndi Lauper: jingling caused by jewelry
 Datebook, SF Chronicle
Tuesday, March 12, 1985
photo by Styrous®
  

USA For Africa ~ We Are The World 
vinyl LP back cover
photos by Ken Lei Chung & Sam Emerson
photo of album back cover by Styrous®


In addition to the title track, the album includes nine previously unreleased songs by donating artists, including Prince And The Revolution, Chicago, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Tina Turner, The Pointer Sisters, Huey Lewis & The News, Steve Perry, and Kenny Rogers. In addition, Grace, by Quincy Jones, is not included in this album but appeared as the B-side of the title track when it was released a month earlier.        


USA For Africa ~ We Are The World 
vinyl LP back cover  detail
photos by Ken Lei Chung & Sam Emerson
detail photo of album back cover by Styrous®

The album includes a 1985 charity single, Tears Are Not Enough, recorded by a supergroup of Canadian artists, under the name Northern Lights (Canadian All Stars). It was recorded to raise funds for relief of the 1983–85 famine in Ethiopia.

Both songs were part of a series of such supergroup singles recorded between December 1984 and April 1985, along with Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid in the United KingdomCantarĂ©, cantarás by a supergroup of Latin American and Spanish singers, Éthiopie by Chanteurs sans Frontières in France, and Les Yeux de la faim by Fondation QuĂ©bec-Afrique in Quebec.    

USA For Africa ~ We Are The World 
vinyl LP gatefold cover 
front cover photo by Harry Benson
back cover photos by Ken Lei Chung & Sam Emerson   
photo of album cover by Styrous®


We Are The World, the album, sold over 3 million copies. According to Billboard on April 27, 1985, it reached number one in 2 weeks, something only formerly accomplished by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.        


USA For Africa ~ We Are The World 
vinyl LP gatefold interior 
interior photos by
Harry Benson, Ken Lei Chung
and Sam Emerson 
photo of album cover by Styrous®
  



Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 – USA For Africa - We Are The World, Conductor – Quincy Jones, Handclaps – Cathy Worthington, Elaine Phillinganes, James Ingram, Khaliq Glover, Marcel East, Steve Ray*, Performer – David Paich, Humberto Gatica, Ian Underwood, John Barnes, John Robinson, Louis Johnson, Michael Omartian, Michael Melvoin*, Paulinho Da Costa, Tom Bahler, Performer, Handclaps – Greg Phillinganes, Programmed By [Oberheim-8] – Marcus Ryles, Programmed By [Synclavier] – Kevin Maloney, Programmed By [Synclavier], Handclaps – Mark Ross  Programmed By [Synthesizer] – John Barnes, Michael Boddicker, Steve Porcaro, Vocals – Al Jarreau, Bette Midler, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Dan Aykroyd, Hall & Oates*, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Harry Belafonte, Huey Lewis & The News, Jackie Johnson, James Ingram, Jeffrey Osborne, Kenny Loggins, Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, La Toya Jackson, Lindsey Buckingham, Lionel Richie, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, The Pointer Sisters*, Randy Jackson, Ray Charles, Sheila E., Smokey Robinson, Steve Perry, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Tito Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, written by L. Richie*, M. Jackson* - 7:02

A2 – Steve Perry - If Only For The Moment, Girl, Bass – Bob Glaub, Drums – John Robinson, Guitar – Mike Landau*, Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa, Piano – Randy Goodrum, Saxophone – Joel Peskin, written by R. Goodrum*, S. Perry* - 3:44

A3 – The Pointer Sisters* - Just A Little Closer, Guitar – Dennis Herring, Pual M. Jackson, Jr.*, Percussion – Terry Santiel*, Synthesizer, Drums [Fills] – Howie Rice, Synthesizer, Programmed By [Drum Machine], Keyboards [Mini Moog] – Jeff Lorber, written by M. Mueller*, R. Nevil* - 3:53

A4 – Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band* - Trapped, Bass – Garry Tallent, Drums – Max Weinberg, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Nils Lofgren, Organ – Danny Federici, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Patti Scialfa, Saxophone, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Clarence Clemons, Synthesizer – Roy Bittan, Vocals, Guitar – Bruce Springsteen, written by J. Cliff* - 5:11

Side 2:

B1 – Northern Lights (Canadian All Stars)* - Tears Are Not Enough, Acoustic Guitar – David Sinclair, Drums – Jim Vallance, French Horn – Steven Denroche, Guitar – Paul Dean, Keyboards – David Foster, Synthesizer – Doug Johnson, Vocals – Aldo Nova, Anne Murray, Baron Longfellow, Brian Good, Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Murray, Bryan Adams, Burton Cummings, Carole Pope, Carroll Baker, Catherine O'Hara, Claude Dubois, Colina Phillips, Corey Hart, Dan Hill, Don Gerrard*, Eugene Levy, Frank Mills, Geddy Lee, Gordon Deppe, Gordon Lightfoot, Graham Shaw, Ian Thomas, Jane Siberry, John Candy, Joni Mitchell, Kim Mitchell, Leroy Sibbles, Liberty Silver, Liona Boyd, Dalbello*, Lorraine Segato, Marc Jordan, Mark Holmes, Martha Johnson, Mike Reno, Murray McLauchlan, Neil Young, Oscar Peterson, Paul Hyde, Paul Shaffer, Richard Manuel, Robert Charlebois, Robin Duke, Ronnie Hawkins, Salome Bey, Sharon Lee Williams, Sylvia Tyson, Tom Cochrane, Tommy Hunter, Veronique Beliveau*, Wayne St. John, Zappacosta, written by D. Foster*, written by B. Adams*, J. Vallance* - 4:21

B2 – Prince And The Revolution - 4 The Tears In Your Eyes, written by Producer – Prince - 2:45

B3 – Chicago - Good For Nothing, Bass, Vocals – Peter Cetera, Drums – Danny Seraphine*, Guitar – Paul M. Jackson, Jr.*, Horn – Jimmy Pankow*, Lee Loughnane, Walt Parazaider*, Keyboards, Synthesizer – David Foster, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals – Bobby Lamm*, Vocals – Bill Champlin, written by D. Foster*, R. Marx*, R. Lamm* - 3:35

B4 – Tina Turner - Total Control, Bass – John Trivers, Drums – Jack Bruno, Guitar – Paul Warren, Keyboards – Jimmy Phillips, written by M. Davis*, M. Jourard* - 3:38

B5     –Kenny Rogers - A Little More Love, Backing Vocals – Kin Vassy, Marc Beeson, Terry Williams, Bass – Joe Chemay, Drums – Paul Leim, Guitar – Billy Joe Walker*, Keyboards – Steve Goldstein, written by F. Knoblock*, T. Schuyler* - 2:54

B6 – Huey Lewis & The News - Trouble In Paradise, Bass – Mario Cipollina, Drums – Bill Gibson, Guitar, Vocals – Chris Hayes, Horns – Tower Of Power Horn Section, Keyboards, Vocals – Sean Hopper, Saxophone, Guitar, Vocals – John Colla*, Vocals, Harmonica – Huey Lewis, written by H. Lewis*, J. Colla* - 4:34

Companies, etc.

    Phonographic Copyright (p) – United Support Of Artists For Africa
    Copyright (c) – United Support Of Artists For Africa
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Inc.
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Planet Records (5)
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Bruce Springsteen
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Northern Lights For Africa Society
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Capitol Records, Inc.
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – RCA Records
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Chrysalis Records
    Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman
    Published By – Security Hogg Music
    Published By – Random Notes
    Published By – Street Talk Tunes
    Published By – MCA Music
    Published By – Music Corporation Of America, Inc.
    Published By – Controversy Music
    Published By – DebDave Music, Inc.
    Published By – Briarpatch Music
    Published By – Good Sport Music
    Published By – Montage Music
    Published By – Island Music
    Published By – Frettssongs
    Published By – Clean Sheets Music
    Published By – Foster Frees Music, Inc.
    Published By – Adams Communications, Inc.
    Published By – Calypso Toonz
    Published By – Irving Music, Inc.
    Published By – Mijac Music
    Published By – Brockman Music
    Recorded At – Record One, Los Angeles
    Recorded At – Studio 55, Los Angeles
    Recorded At – Meadowlands Arena
    Recorded At – Manta Sound
    Recorded At – Little Mountain Sound Studios
    Recorded At – Record Plant, N.Y.C.
    Recorded At – Black Truck
    Recorded At – Sunset Sound
    Recorded At – Lion Share Recording Studios
    Mixed At – Studio 55, Los Angeles
    Mixed At – Clover Recorders
    Mixed At – Lion Share Recording Studios
    Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering

Credits:

    Art Direction – John Coulter
    Executive-Producer – Ken Kragen
    Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
    Photography By – Harry Benson (2), Ken Lei Chung, Sam Emerson
    Supervised By – Humberto Gatica

Notes:

"P" in runouts denotes a Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman pressing.

Includes an order postcard for merchandise (sleeve includes pictures of available merch).

Gatefold sleeve: inside USA For Africa information, 25 session photos
Inner sleeve: track credits, thank you's, session photo of all/most artists

A2 recorded at Record One, Los Angeles, CA
A3 recorded and mixed at Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA
A4 recorded live at the Meadowlands, August 6, 1984 on the Record Plant (L.A.) remote truck. Mixed at Clover Recorders, Los Angeles, CA
B1 recorded at Manta Sound, Toronto and Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver
B2 recorded at Record Plant, New York and Black Truck, New Orleans
B3 recorded and mixed at Lion Share Studios, Los Angeles, CA
B4 recorded at Sunset Sound Studios, Los Angeles, CA
B5 recorded at Lion Share Studios and Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA. Mixed at Lion Share Studios.
B6 recorded live in San Francisco on February 21, 1985 on the Westwood One remote truck

℗ 1985 United Support Of Artists For Africa
© 1985 United Support Of Artists For Africa

A1: ℗ 1985 United Support Of Artists For Africa
A2: ℗ 1985 CBS Inc.
A3: ℗ 1985 Planet Records
A4: ℗ 1985 Bruce Springsteen
B1: ℗ 1985 Northern Lights For Africa Society
B2, B3: ℗ 1985 Warner Bros. Records Inc.
B4: ℗ 1985 Capitol Records Inc.
B5: ℗ 1985 RCA Records
B6: ℗ 1985 Chrysalis Records
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Barcode (Scanned): 074644004311
    Barcode (Text): 0 7464-40043-1
    Matrix / Runout (Label side A): AL 40043
    Matrix / Runout (Label side B): BL 40043
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, etched, variant 1): PAL 40043-1AD P-AP
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, etched, variant 1): PBL 40043-1AN P-AP
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, etched, variant 2): P (T) PAL 40043-1B
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, etched, variant 2): P-AP PBL 40043-1AD
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, etched, variant 3): P (T) PAL 40043-1B
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, etched, variant 3): P (T) PBL 40043-1B
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, etched, variant 4): P (T) PAL 40043-1B
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, etched, variant 4): P AP PBL 40043-1AH
    Rights Society: ASCAP
    Rights Society: PROC
    Rights Society: BMI

USA For Africa ‎– We Are The World
Label: Columbia ‎– USA 40043
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Pitman Pressing
Country: US
Released: January 28, 1985
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Soft Rock, Pop Rock, Synth-pop, Ballad

       
Viewfinder links:     
   
Harry Belafonte         
Van Cliburn & Sputnik ~ 1958       
Bob Dylan                 
Michael Jackson         
Al Jarreau           
Waylon Jennings     
Quincy Jones          
Cyndi Lauper          
Bette Midler       
The Pointer Sisters       
Lionel Richie         
Kenny Rogers        
Diana Ross         
Paul Simon     
Bruce Springsteen         
Tina Turner           
Dionne Warwick         
    
Net links:     
     
ABC News ~ We Are the World: 30 Years After Recording the Classic Song 
The Atlantic ~ We Are the World Stars Will Never Be That Earnest Again  
CNN ~ We Are the World at 30: Where are they now?             
RollingStone ~ We Are the World: Minute-by-Minute Breakdown 
Songfacts ~ We Are The World        
usaforafrica ~ We are the World turns 35       
Vulture ~  Ranking the 37 Contributors to We Are the World       
We Are The World lyrics         
WTVR ~ Why Prince was not part of We Are the World         
    
YouTube link:     
       
USA For Africa ~ We are the World         
       
        
         
I wonder if I will ever have that pride again? 
      

             
Styrous® ~ Tuesday, January 28, 2020 
         
       








January 27, 2020

20,000 vinyl LP 205: The Latin Rascals ~ 12" of Macho Mozart (Disco Daze 5)

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photos by Styrous®





The Latin Rascals ~ Macho Mozart
12" vinyl single album cover detail




On the 27th of January, in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. He composed music and performed before European royalty from the age of five.    


painted in 1763 on commission from Leopold Mozart


The Latin Rascals celebrated Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in 1986, with this 12" single, Macho Mozart, which was played at discos in New York and San Francisco. The song is based on the third movement, Alla turca, of the Piano Sonata No. 11 written by Mozart, in 1783, It is also known as the Turkish Rondo or The Turkish March.    
       

The Latin Rascals ~ Macho Mozart
12" vinyl single album front cover
        
   
The Latin Rascals is a duo organized by Tony Moran, a DJ, record producer, remixer, singer and songwriter, and Albert Cabrera in 1981.        


The Latin Rascals ~ Macho Mozart
12" vinyl single album back cover




The Latin Rascals ~ Macho Mozart
12" vinyl single album back cover detail









The Latin Rascals ~ Macho Mozart
12" vinyl single record



The Latin Rascals ~ Macho Mozart
12" vinyl single record label
        
   
Tracklist:

side 1:

A1     Macho Mozart (12" Version)     6:40
A2     Macho Mozart (Bonus)     2:17

side 2:

Macho Mozart (Dub 1)     7:47
B1     Macho Mozart (Dub 1)     7:47
B2     Macho Mozart (Dub 2)     5:10

Credits:

    Arranged By – A. Cabrera*, T. Moran*
    Co-producer – Gary Rottger
    Mixed By, Edited By – The Latin Rascals
    Producer – Latin Rascals Productions, Inc.*

Notes:

Another pressing exists with different labels (Side A and B instead of Side 1 and 2).

Contains arrangements of 'Rondo A La Turk' by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Original Version on 'Bach To The Future'     

The Latin Rascals ‎– Macho Mozart
Label: Tin Pan Apple ‎– 885 567-1
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro, Freestyle
     
       
Viewfinder links:       
 
Cher         
Disco Daze       
Aretha Franklin          
Madonna         
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart       
Donna Summer       
        
Net links:       
        
Cuepoint ~ How The Latin Rascals Mastered the Megamix     
Ring of Color ~ Latin Rascals       
     
YouTube links:       
      
The Latin Rascals ~ Macho Mozart      
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ~  
    Piano Sonata No. 11 (Rondo Alla Turca) The Turkish March   
       
          
           
   Styrous® ~ Monday, January 27, 2020     















Cher articles/mentions

~     
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves        
  
    
     
mentions:       
The Andromeda Strain      
The Latin Rascals ~ 12" of Macho Mozart    
     
      
  
Cher - 1986   
Academy Awards    
Bob Mackie design      
photo by Elisa Leonelli        
  
    
        

         













January 26, 2020

20,000 vinyl LPs 204: Douglas MacArthur ~ The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier'

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 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
vinyl LP back cover detail
date & photographer unknown  



Today is the birthday of American General Douglas MacArthur, who was an American five-star general and Field Marshal of the Philippine Army. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He was born on the 26th of January, 1880, in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, into a military family (link below).    
        

 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
vinyl LP front cover
photo by Styrous®


MacArthur is famous for two expressions: "I shall return!" and "Old soldiers never die!" the last having been made into a popular song. 

When he retired in 1951, MacArthur's farewell speech to Congress included the declaration, "Old Soldiers Never Die" which inspired the song by the same name written by Tom Glazer and sung by baritone, Vaughn Monroe. Old Soldiers charted at #7 that year. There are several versions of the song, one by Herb Jeffries about the same time; it is my favorite.     
        
Glazer was an American folk singer and songwriter known primarily as a composer of ballads  recorded by The Weavers, Peter, Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan. He wrote the lyrics to the songs Melody of Love (1954), and Skokian (1954).      
       

 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
vinyl LP back cover
back cover photographer unknown
photo of cover by Styrous®


In the fighting on the Western Front during World War I, MacArthur rose to the rank of brigadier general, was again nominated for a Medal of Honor, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice and the Silver Star seven times.          


Brigadier General MacArthur
September 1918, France
photographer unknown

 
In 1930. when he became Chief of Staff of the United States Army. President Herbert Hoover ordered MacArthur to "surround the affected area and clear it without delay". MacArthur brought up troops and tanks and, against the advice of Major Dwight D. Eisenhower, decided to accompany the troops, although he was not in charge of the operation. The troops advanced with bayonets and sabers drawn under a shower of bricks and rocks, but no shots were fired. In less than four hours, they cleared the Bonus Army's campground using tear gas. The gas canisters started a number of fires, causing the only death during the riots. While not as violent as other anti-riot operations, it was nevertheless a public relations disaster. However, the defeat of the "Bonus Army" while unpopular with the American people at large, did make MacArthur into the hero of the more right-wing elements in the Republican Party who believed that the general had saved America from a communist revolution.   


Bonus Army protesters from Washington, D.C. - 1932
        

In 1934, MacArthur sued journalists Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen for defamation after they described his treatment of the Bonus marchers as "unwarranted, unnecessary, insubordinate, harsh and brutal". In turn, they threatened to call Isabel Rosario Cooper as a witness. MacArthur had met Isabel, a Eurasian teenager, while in the Philippines, and she had become his mistress. MacArthur was forced to settle out of court, secretly paying Pearson $15,000.       

In 1941, a series of disasters followed, starting with the destruction of his air forces on 8 December 1941 and the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. MacArthur's forces were soon compelled to withdraw to Bataan, where they held out until May 1942. In March 1942, MacArthur, his family and his staff left nearby Corregidor Island in PT boats and escaped to Australia, where MacArthur became Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area. Upon his arrival, MacArthur gave a speech in which he famously promised "I shall return" to the Philippines. After more than two years of fighting in the Pacific, he fulfilled that promise.      


Conference in Hawaii, July 1944
photographer unknown 


 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo of back cover by Styrous®


During the Korean War, after China drove the U. S. backed NATO Alliance from the Chinese border to the middle of Korea; shortly after, there was talk of using nuclear bombs on Manchuria and the Shantung Peninsula (link below). Fortunately, calmer minds prevailed. However, MacArthur was interested in expanding the war against the wishes of President Harry S. Truman. Truman relieved him of his command.  

The relief of the famous general by the unpopular Truman for communicating with Congress led to a constitutional crisis, and a storm of public controversy. Polls showed that the majority of the public disapproved of the decision to relieve MacArthur. By February, 1952, almost nine months later, Truman's approval rating had fallen to 22 percent. As of 2014, that remains the lowest Gallup Poll approval rating recorded by any serving president.       


April 30, 1951

      
On January 26, 1971, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the U. S. Postal Service issued a 6¢ stamp to honor MacArthur on his 91st birthday. The stamp was designed by Paul Calle and was issued in panes of fifty, with an initial printing of 135 million.      

 
Douglas MacArthur 6¢ postage stamp - 1971


The Douglas MacArthur ~ The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' vinyl LP contains speeches and events of his life, many obtained from Hearst Metrotone news reels (links below).       


 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo of back cover by Styrous®


 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo of back cover by Styrous®

  
The  narration for the album was provided by Mexican-American actor, Luis Van Rooten who did narration in addition to acting in live television and radio dramas, such as The Affairs of Peter Salem, The Mysterious Traveler and I Love a Mystery.      


 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo of back cover by Styrous®


Douglas MacArthur died of biliary cirrhosis, an autoimmune disease of the liver, at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on the 5th of April, 1964, in Washington D.C., USA.          


 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
photo by Styrous®



 The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier' 
vinyl LP label details
detail photos by Styrous®


Tracklist:

A - Opening    
B - MacArthur In Australia

Douglas MacArthur* ‎– The Life And Legend Of 'The Old Soldier'
Label: MGM Records ‎– E 4245
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Genre: Non-Music

         
       
Viewfinder links:
  
Bob Dylan         
Vaughn Monroe    
PĂ©rez Prado        
        
Net links:
      
Arago ~ General Douglas MacArthur stamp issue     
PBS ~ MacArthur: Three generations      
World War I      
World War II     
Occupation of Japan     
Korean War       
       
YouTube links:
      
Douglas MacArthur ~  
       5 Things You Don’t Know about Douglas MacArthur     
       The Five-Star General (18 min.)       
       Return of a Legend (41 min.)       
       General MacArthur Retires (6 min.)       
       Macarthur's Welcome   
       What if America Had Nuked China?          
       General Douglas MacArthur Farewell Speech to Congress     
Perez Prado ~ Skokiaan       
Herb Jeffries ~ Old Soldiers Never Die (1951)       
Vaughn Monroe ~ Old Soldiers Never Die              
     
        
        
          
      
        
        
Styrous® ~ Sunday, January 26, 2020