Dirty Dancing @ 41
mentions:
Grease with a corkscrew & a Duck's Ass
Patrick Swayze - 1976
photo: Michael Ochs Archives
Showing posts with label Dirty Dancing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dirty Dancing. Show all posts
June 7, 2024
Patrick Swayze articles/mentions
Dirty Dancing @ 41
mentions:
Grease with a corkscrew & a Duck's Ass
October 4, 2021
Kenny Ortega articles/mentions
April 26, 2021
Eric Carmen articles/mentions
February 11, 2019
August 21, 2018
20,000 Vinyl LPs 144: Dirty Dancing @ 41
vinyl LP front cover
album cover photo by Adger Cowans
photo of album cover by Styrous®
Dirty Dancing was released on August 21, 1987. It is an American romantic drama dance film written by Eleanor Bergstein, directed by Emile Ardolino and starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, and featuring Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach. According to Huffpost, Swayze and Grey hated each other (link below).
The film used moves exactly like those I used in the "Love Act" I performed when I was dancing at the Hungy i in '77 - '78 (link below). I've wondered if perhaps someone saw my act and used the moves ten years later for this film.
The film used moves exactly like those I used in the "Love Act" I performed when I was dancing at the Hungy i in '77 - '78 (link below). I've wondered if perhaps someone saw my act and used the moves ten years later for this film.
vinyl LP back cover
album phsoto by Adger Cowans
photo of album cover back by Styrous®
It was a fun film and the cast was young, beautiful and exciting but the music used in the soundtrack was the standout for me; in particular the old songs from the 50's & 60's.
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo of album cover back by Styrous®
It has some of my very favorites songs from the 50's: Love Is Strange performed by Mickey & Sylvia, that wonderful doo-wop song written by Fred Parris, In the Still of the Night dreamily sung by The Five Satins. Oh, how I loved this song! (links below)
vinyl LP sleeve
sleeve photos by Adger Cowans
photo of record sleeve by Styrous®
The 60's were represented by the sensual Stay by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Be My Baby by The Ronettes and Hey! Baby sung by Bruce Channel (links below).
vinyl LP sleeve detail
sleeve photos by Adger Cowans
detail photo of record sleeve by Styrous®
My favorite modern song for the film is Hungry Eyes (link below), which was written in 1984 by John DeNicola and Franke Previte, whose father was an opera singer. It was performed by Eric Carmen. What a great dance song. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the Cash Box Top 100 in 1988.
vinyl LP sleeve detail
sleeve photos by Adger Cowans
detail photo of record sleeve by Styrous®
The album became a huge commercial success. It went on to sell 32 million copies worldwide and is one of the best-selling albums of all time.
In the United States the album spent 18 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 album sales charts and went multi-platinum.
vinyl LP sleeve
sleeve photos by Adger Cowans
photo of record sleeve by Styrous®
Originally a low-budget film by a new studio, Vestron Pictures, Dirty Dancing
became a box office hit. As of 2009, it has earned over $214 million
worldwide. It was the first film to sell more than a million copies on
home video, and the Dirty Dancing soundtrack created by Jimmy Ienner generated two multi-platinum albums and multiple singles, including (I've Had) The Time of My Life, which won both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a Grammy Award for best duet.
vinyl LP, side 1
photo of record by Styrous®
vinyl LP label, side 1
photo of record by Styrous®
vinyl LP, side 2
photo of record by Styrous®
Side 1:
1 – Bill Medley And Jennifer Warnes - (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life, Arranged By Gene Page, Arranged By [Additional Arrangements By John D'Andrea, Arranged By [Additional Arrangements] – Michael Lloyd, Engineer – Carmine Rubino, Engineer [1st Assistant] – Dan Nebenzal, Engineer [2nd Assistant] Jeff DeMorris, Producer – Michael Lloyd, Remix – Carmine Rubino, Dan Nebenzal, Jimmy Ienner, Michael Lloyd, written by Donald Markowitz, Franke Previte, John DeNicola - 4:47
2 – The Ronettes - Be My Baby, Producer – Phil Spector, written by E. Greenwich*, J. Barry*, P. Spector* - 2:37
3 – Patrick Swayze - She's Like The Wind, Engineer – Carmine Rubino, Engineer [Assisted By] – Dan Nebenzal, Featuring – Wendy Fraser, Orchestrated By [Additional Orchestrations By] John D'Andrea, Producer – Michael Lloyd, written by Patrick Swayze, Stacey Widelitz - 3:51
4 – Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes, Engineer – Jim DeMain, Engineer [Remix Engineer] George Sipl, Jim DeMain, Producer – Eric Carmen, written by Franke Previte, John DeNicola - 4:06
5 – Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs* - Stay, written by M. Williams* - 1:34
6 – Merry Clayton - Yes, Arranged By Gene Page, Engineer – Carmine Rubino, Engineer [Assistant] Jimmy Hoysan*, Producer – Michael Lloyd, written by Neal Cavanaugh, Terry Fryer, Tom Graf - 3:15
Side 2:
7 – The Blow Monkeys - You Don't Own Me, Engineer – Ben Kape, Producer – Peter Wilson, written by D. White*, J. Madara* - 3:00
8 – Bruce Channel- Hey Baby, written by B. Channel*, M. Cobb* - 2:21
9 – Zappacosta Overload, Engineer – Jeff McCulloch, Engineer [Assist.] – Andy Koyama, Walter Soeczak*, Producer – Alfie Zappacosta*, written by Marko Luciani*, Alfie Zappacosta* - 3:39
10 – Mickey And Sylvia* - Love Is Strange, written by E. Smith*, M. Baker*, S. Robinson* - 2:52
11 – Tom Johnston - Where Are You Tonight?, Engineer – Gene Foster, Music Consultant – Inside Track, Inc.Producer – Leon Medica*, written by Mark Scola - 3:59
12 – The Five Satins - In The Still Of The Night, written by F. Parris*
- 3:03
Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – BMG Music
Distributed By – BMG Music
Mastered At – Fullersound
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Vestron Music Inc.
Credits:
A&R [A & R Direction] – Bob Feiden
Art Direction [Soundtrack Art Direction] – Pam Rodi
Design [Mechanical Design] – The Hub Graphics Corp.
Executive-Producer [Soundtrack] – Jimmy Ienner
Mastered By – Mike Fuller
Other [Theatrical Campaign] – Sharon Streger / Seiniger Advertising
Photography By – Adger Cowans*
Notes:
Mastered at Fullersound in Miami, Florida.
Booklet comes with lyrics and information on where each track was recorded.
Packaging: Jewel Case
Total Playing Time: 39 mins, 32 secs
Made in U.S.A.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode (Text): 7863-56408-2
Barcode (Scanned): 078635640823
Matrix / Runout: W.O. # 8058-11 64082R
ASIN (com): B007SAT2SG
ASIN (com): B000002W9Q
Viewfinder links:
Golden Globe Award
Leatherneck, Pillow, a Hungry i
Jerry Orbach
Net links:
Lion's Gate ~ Dirty Dancing
The Guardian ~ Why Dirty Dancing would never be made today
NY Times ~ Dirty Dancing: Where Kellerman’s Came to Life
Huffpost ~ 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Dirty Dancing
YouTube links:
Dirty Dancing ~ "Dirty Dancing" Clip
Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
The Ronettes - Be My Baby
Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs - Stay
Bruce Channel - Hey Baby
Mickey And Sylvia - Love Is Strange
The Five Satins - In The Still Of The Night
Patrick Swayze Talks About Working With Jennifer Grey
Jennifer Grey Reveals Dirty Dancing Secrets
Rogerebert ~ review
Styrous® ~ Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Jerry Orbach articles/mentions
Jerome Bernard Orbach (October 20, 1935 – December 28, 2004) was an American actor and singer. His professional career began on the New York stage, both on and off-Broadway, where he created roles such as El Gallo in the original off-Broadway run of The Fantasticks (1960) and became the first performer to sing that show's standard Try To Remember.
Viewfinder links:
The Fantasticks
Jerry Orbach - January 01, 1970
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
September 12, 2016
20,000 Vinyl LPs 68: Betty Davis ~ They Say I'm Different
vinyl LP album cover detail
costume by Kaisik Wong
cover photo by Mel Dixon
detail photo of cover by Styrous®
Many albums have influenced my life, one way or another. They Say I'm Different
was THE most influential album in a massive way. I know, that sounds like an
exaggeration; but in no way is this an overstatement. I
have been wanting to write about it since I started the Vinyl LP series (link below)
but because of its significance in my life I wanted it to be
right. After mulling it over for the last couple of years I feel I'm
ready to have at it now.
Actually, it is not so much the album but the cover that had such a profound effect on my career and where it went a few years after I bought it. A hint as to its impact on me is that my copy of the album has been signed by Kaisik Wong, the designer of the costume Davis is wearing (link below).
vinyl LP album cover detail
costume by Kaisik Wong
cover photo by Mel Dixon
detail photo of cover by Styrous®
This
is my favorite funk/pre-disco album of all time. It is moderately slow funk at its very best; turn down the lights and it sets up a mood for the discriminating dancing fool. I enjoyed it for several years
before I met Wong. The Wire (magazine) placed They Say I'm Different
in their list of "100 Records That Set the World on Fire (While No One Was Listening)". And that seems to sum up what happened with this
talented woman.
They Say I'm Different is a gatefold album so along with full credits, the costume is displayed in all its glory. It is the second studio album by Betty Davis released in 1974. As well as singing, Davis wrote the songs and produced the album.
The cover design is by Ron Levine; the art direction by Bill Levy. As mentioned earlier, the costume was designed by "Kai" (Kaisik Wong). The album was recorded at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California.
The cover design is by Ron Levine; the art direction by Bill Levy. As mentioned earlier, the costume was designed by "Kai" (Kaisik Wong). The album was recorded at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California.
cover photos by Mel Dixon
photo of cover by Styrous®
cover photos by Mel Dixon
photo of cover by Styrous®
The lineup on the album is stellar. Pete Escovedo plays timbales and Buddy Miles along with Merl Saunders soar into heavenly heights on guitar. Hershall Kennedy and Tony Vaughn, both of Graham Central Station,
are amazing with clavinet, acoustic piano and trumpet on their
respective songs. Amazing! The total is far beyond the individual parts.
vinyl LP album cover personnel detail
detail photo of cover by Styrous®
The back up vocals are amazing! These include: Elaine Clark of The Voices of East Harlem, Ted Sparks (also backup singer for Natalie Cole and Keni Burke, the Five Stairsteps) and Cordell Dudley who toured with the George Clinton superstar band, Parliament-Funkadelic.
With every album I have favorites. On this one it's They Say I'm Different, He Was a Big Freak and 70's Blues; some for the musical elements, some for the lyrics; Different and Freak are the very
best you can find for A-Class, get-down, "Dirty Dancing".
vinyl LP album cover detail
costume by Kaisik Wong
cover photo by Mel Dixon
detail photo of cover by Styrous®
They Say I'm Different is a moderately slow, sensual song with some wicked guitar work by Jimmy Godwin backed up by Cordell Dudley on lead guitar and Larry Johnson, bass. Tony Vaughn plays a great acoustic piano and Mike Clark builds the foundation with some nice drum work (links to music & lyrics below).
vinyl LP album cover detail
costume by Kaisik Wong
cover photo by Mel Dixon
detail photo of cover by Styrous®
He Was A Big Freak literally dances on the edge of kink; the lyrics border a PG rating. She opens the song with a banshee screech that raises serious goose-bumps. Also, it is "Dirty Dancing" par excellence.
He was a big freak!
Pain was his middle name
He was a big freak!
He used to laugh when I’d make him cry
He was big freak!
A big freak, yes he was!
I used to whip him with my turquoise chain
(link to music & complete lyrics below)
Boogie K sampled the voice of Davis at 1:45 seconds into his song, Troubleman, on his album, Moonshine Sister.
Betty Davis was born Betty Mabry on July 26, 1945, and grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and just outside Pittsburgh. One of the first songs she wrote, at the age of twelve, was called I’m Going to Bake That Cake of Love. When she was 16 she went to New York City and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
In New York City, she met Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, soul singer Lou Courtney, and many other music giants. She wrote Uptown (to Harlem) for the Chambers Brothers (link below to song on YouTube)
Davis was a pioneer of fusion music, she mixed up funk, rock, soul and blues into a style all her own; she influenced many fusion artists including Miles Davis.
She met Miles Davis
in 1967 and married him in September 1968. In just one year of marriage
she influenced him greatly by introducing him to the fashions and the
new popular music trends of the era. In his autobiography, Miles
credited Betty with helping to plant the seeds of his future musical
explorations by introducing the trumpeter to psychedelic rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix and funk innovator Sly Stone. The Davis album Filles de Kilimanjaro (1968) includes a song named after her and her photo on the front cover.
Miles believed that Hendrix and Betty had an affair which supposedly
hastened the end of their marriage, but Betty denies this. Hendrix and
Miles stayed close after the divorce, planning to record until Hendrix's
death. The influence of Hendrix and especially Sly Stone on Miles Davis
was obvious on the album Bitches Brew (1970), which ushered in the era of jazz fusion.
The origin of the album's title is unknown, but some believe Miles was
subtly paying tribute to Betty and her girlfriends. In fact, it is said
that he originally wanted to call the album Witches Brew—it was Betty who convinced him to change it.
Music writer, Oliver Wang has said:
"She was this force of personality, writing all her own songs, and eventually producing her own albums," Wang continues. "She's this fascinating aberration. She wasn't the mouthpiece for a male producer or songwriter, but an independent black female artist in the early 1970s.'
In part, theorizes Wang, she was a victim of her own independence. Because she sought to control every facet of her own career, she eschewed outside management. "She wanted to knock down the gates herself. But that's really hard for any artist to do, let alone a black female artist."Nor was time on her side. Just a few years after Davis withdrew, musicians like Nona Hendryx and Grace Jones were completely overhauling notions of how black women should sound, look, and act. "If [Betty] had waited five years, and come out during the punk era, she would have killed it," insists Wang. Only now does the world finally seem ready for Davis. Whether they are aware of her work or not, pop stars like Kelis and Macy Gray embody the same fiery spirit she pioneered."
Track listing
- "Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him" – 3:57
- "He Was a Big Freak" – 4:07
- "Your Mama Wants Ya Back" – 3:27
- "Don't Call Her No Tramp" – 4:06
Side 2:
- "Git In There" – 4:46
- "They Say I'm Different" – 4:14
- "70's Blues" – 4:01
- "Special People" – 3:22
Personnel
- Betty Davis - Producer, Vocals
- Debbie Burrell - Vocals
- Elaine Clark - Vocals
- Mary Jones - Vocals
- Trudy Perkins - Vocals
- Mike Clark - Drums
- Nicky Neal - Drums, Vocals
- Willy Sparks - Drums, Vocals
- Ted Sparks - Drums
- Pete Escovedo - Timbales
- Victor Pantoja - Congas, Percussion
- Errol "Crusher" Bennett - Percussion
- Buddy Miles - Guitar
- Jimmy Godwin - Guitar
- Cordell Dudley - Guitar, Vocals
- Carlos Morales - Guitar, Vocals
- Larry Johnson - Bass
- Merl Saunders - Electric Piano
- Fred Mills - Keyboards, Vocals
- James Allen Smith - Keyboards
- Hershall Kennedy - Clavinet, Keyboards, Organ, Electric Piano, Trumpet, Vocals
- Tony Vaughn - Bass (Vocal), Clavinet, Keyboards, Piano, Electric Piano, Vocals
- Mel Dixon - Photography
- Bob Edwards - Assistant Engineer
- Tom Flye - Mixing
- Ron Levine - Cover Design
- Bill Levy - Art Direction
Released: 1974
| Genre | Funk Soul Rock |
|---|---|
| Length | 32:52 (original 1974 release) 51:60 (2007 re-release) |
| Label | Just Sunshine (1974) Light in the Attic (2007 re-release) |
| Producer | Betty Davis |
Net links:
Betty Davis, Kaisik Wong & Sandra Sakata ~ They were different
They Say I'm Different lyrics
He Was A Big Freak lyrics
Sleazy Listening - Betty Davis Rides Again
Nasty gal: Betty Davis
She Was a Big Freak
YouTube:
Chambers Brothers ~ Uptown (to Harlem)
Betty Davis songs
Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him
He Was a Big Freak
Your Mama Wants Ya Back
Don't Call Her No Tramp
Git In There
They Say I'm Different
70's Blues
Special People
He Was a Big Freak
Your Mama Wants Ya Back
Don't Call Her No Tramp
Git In There
They Say I'm Different
70's Blues
Special People
What a woman!
Styrous® ~ Sunday, September 11, 2016
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