The Styrous® Viewfinder: 03/01/2025

March 30, 2025

45 RPMs 93: Martine Bijl & Don McLean ~ Vincent

Martine Bijl & Don McLean 45 RPM front cover

date & photographer unknown

Today is the birthday of artist, Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. To me, the song, Vincent by Don McLean, is the most evocative tribute to him I can imagine!

Martine Bijl & Don McLean 45 RPM back cover

date & photographer unknown

This is one of my Turkish Delights treasures (link below). The "A" side of the record is a bouncy Dutch song.

side 1:

Martine Bijl & Don McLean 45 RPM Even Wachten

The "B" side has the song written by Don McLean and that was a huge hit for him. It is a soothing, dreamy song written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh.

side 2:

Martine Bijl & Don McLean 45 RPM Vincent

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Even Wachten (Real Emotion), written by A. O'Day*, M. Bijl*

Side 2:

B - Vincent, written by D. McLean*, M. Bijl*

Companies, etc.

    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Ariola Music Benelux B.V.
    Record Company – Ariola Benelux B.V.
    Lacquer Cut At – Bovema / EMI Studios – 46049
    Lacquer Cut At – Bovema / EMI Studios – 46050

Credits:

Producer – Henk van der Molen

Notes:

A-side is in Dutch translated song 'Real Emotion' (Anne Murray); B-side is in Dutch translated song 'Vincent' (Don McLean).

Matrix/runouts are etched including cutting number and unknown 'CR' symbol(s).

Made in Holland.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Rights Society: STEMRA
    Matrix / Runout (Label side A): 102.469-A
    Matrix / Runout (Label side B): 102.469-B
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A): CR 102.469-A\\ 46049-1-Y
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B): 102.469-B\\ 46050-1-Y

Martine Bijl – Even Wachten / Vincent
Label: Ariola – 102.469
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: Netherlands
Released: 1980
Genre: Pop
Style: Vocal, Chanson

Viewfinder links:

Martine Bijl

Vincent van Gogh

Don McLean

Turkish Delights

Net links:

YouTube links:

Martine Bijl - Vincent

Don McLean - Vincent

Styrous® ~ Sunday, March 30, 2025

45 RPMs Archive
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Martine Bijl articles/mentions

Martine Bijl & Don McLean ~ Vincent

mentions:

Martine Bijl - 1978

publicity photo

Music People

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Don McLean articles/mentions

Martine Bijl & Don McLean ~ Vincent

mentions:

Don McLean - 1976

publicity photo

Music People

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Vincent van Gogh articles/mentions

mentions:
Martine Bijl & Don McLean ~ Vincent

Vincent van Gogh - 1873

Photo: The Hague, Van Gogh Museum

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Art people

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Napoleon Sarony articles/mentions

mentions:

Napoleon Sarony - 1850

self-portrait

Photographers
Photography Articles
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Carlos Gardel articles/mentions

mentions:

“Just the cover, ma’am”

The United States postal music stamps

Carlos Gardel - 1923

photographer unknown

Music People

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March 25, 2025

Styrous Viewfinder 2,000,000 Pageviews

The Styrous Viewfinder - March 25, 2025

Two Million Pageviews

screen shot by Styrous®

Today the Viewfinder hit Two Million Pageviews!

Viewfinder links:

The Styrous Viewfinder Pageviews

Net links:

Youtube links:

Styrous® ~ Tuesday, March 25, 2025

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Events
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March 19, 2025

Mary Young aka Jenny Diver

Two hundred and eighty-four years ago, on March 18, 1741, Mary Young, the most notorious pickpocket in history was hanged. Perhaps you think you never heard of her but you have. Also known as Jenny Diver, she was immortalized in the 1728 John Gay play The Beggar's Opera; this in turn was the basis for Pirate Jenny in the 1928 Threepenny Opera by Elisabeth Hauptmann, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill.

Pirate Jenny costume

Threepenny Opera

Diver was born around 1700 in Ireland the illegitimate daughter of an unknown father and the lady's maid Harriet Jones. After her mother deserted her, Diver grew up in various foster homes. She was a skilled seamstress, and eventually emigrated to London, England, where she became an apprentice of Anne Murphy, who was the leader of a gang of pickpockets. She soon became so skilled as a thief that she became the leader of Murphy's gang and nicknamed Jenny Diver as she was so deft at diving into people's pockets.

Pickpocket's Tale -

painting by Dan Craig

Once she'd made her fortune and could afford the finest clothes, Diver was described as attractive, educated and well dressed, and was able to mix among wealthy people without attracting suspicion. The best known of her methods was to feign illness, during which she robbed people and handed over the objects to her accomplices. She would also use false arms which made it possible for her to rob people with her arms seemingly visible in her lap. On one occasion she removed a diamond ring from a man’s hand without him knowing until he missed it later.

She was also adept at playing the so-called “Badger Game.” A wealthy gentleman would be lured to her lodgings with the promise of sexual favors. The gang would then relieve the unsuspecting fellow of his valuables and clothes. One of these escapades is said to have yielded 100 guineas, an amount that would be equivalent of at least $13,000 today (estimates vary widely).

She was arrested twice under false names and was convicted to deportation as a first-time criminal. On January 10, 1741, she was arrested for a third time, but this time she was correctly identified and could not give a false name and was accused not only of theft but also of having returned after deportation, which was a capital crime, thus, her execution on March 18.

Driver was mentioned in the The Newgate Calendar, subtitled The Malefactors' Bloody Register, a collection of moralizing stories about sin, crime, and the criminals who committed them in England in the 18th and 19th centuries. Originally a monthly bulletin of executions, produced by the Keeper of Newgate Prison in London, the Calendar's title was appropriated by other publishers, who put out biographical chapbooks about notorious criminals such as Sawney Bean, Dick Turpin, and Moll Cutpurse.

Newgate Calendar -

There's a lot more to know about her on the Strange Company blog and I discovered the writer of that blog used some of the same images I used but has others (link below).

Susan F. Craft wrote a novel, The Chamomile, based on the life of Diver which won the SIBA Okra Pick award (link below).

Viewfinder links:

Bertolt Brecht

Jenny Diver

Elisabeth Hauptmann

Lotte Lenya

Threepenny Operas

Kurt Weill

Net links:

Colonial Quills ~ Jenny Diver, The Queen of Pickpockets

Hubpages ~ Jenny Diver: Criminal Life of a Pickpocket

Strange Company ~ Jenny Diver, Queen of the Pickpockets

YouTube links:

Styrous® ~ Tuesday, March 18, 2025

History

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March 17, 2025

Barbara Lee town Hall meeting @ the Gray Loft Gallery

waiting with anticipation for the arrival of

Barbara Lee - March 12, 2025

photo by Styrous®

I had the fortune of attending a town hall meeting with U.S. representative Barbara Lee a few days ago. She represented California's 12th congressional district (numbered as the 9th district from 1998 to 2013 and as the 13th district from 2013 to 2023), which is based in Oakland and covers most of the northern part of Alameda County. She was picked by Ron Dellums to replace him in congress in the 1990's. She is now running for mayor of Oakland to fill the vacancy left by the recall of former Mayor Sheng Thao.

Gray Loft Gallery owner Jan Watten hosted the event and residents of the Oakland Jingletown area were in attendance to hear what Lee had to say about the future of our city.

On the left is Cynthia Elliott,

the unofficial "Mayor" of Jingletown.

Jan Watten with Lee's spokesman

Lee firmly stated that contrary to some opinions that Oakland is a broken city, "Oakland is NOT!" She spoke about the economic opportunities waiting to be tapped into. She dealt with the 12% vacancy and what to do about it. She talked about the homeless situation and that affordable housing was a right not a privilege; that resources, agencies, etc. are needed to address the problem. Services would be a priority. Department efficiency needed to be looked into.

Lee spoke about business theft, the bankruptcy the city of Oakland is facing and the threat of federal funding being cut off. Regarding the city's budget deficit she would include an audit, a focus on bringing in revenue and a deeper look at the city's spending.

I voted for her all the years she was in congress because in spite of what she had to deal with in Washington, she did her best for California. I think she's the best thing that could happen to Oakland.

I pray the local bureaucrats let her do her job and help her do it. She has my vote!

The supporters of Barbara Lee have argued she’s the only candidate who can provide stability in a turbulent time given her decades of elected experience, powerful connections and sterling reputation in the city.

I also discovered there is a new motto for the City of Oakland.

"Love Life"