Showing posts with label Ken Russell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ken Russell. Show all posts

February 20, 2024

Roman Ryterband article/mentions

 ~        
Chamber Music     
     
     
mentions:           
     
     
     
     
     
date & photographer unknown
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
      
 
 
 

November 12, 2020

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov articles/mentions

 
~  
     
     
mentions:      
Ken Russell ~ The Planets     
Tchaikovsky ~   
   1812 Overture     
     
      
     
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - January 1, 1866
photographer unknown
      
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

March 19, 2020

20,000 vinyl LP 215: The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)

~   
The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP front cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®


On March 19, 1975, the movie version of Tommy, based on the rock opera by The Who, opened in New York City.                         


The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP front cover
photo by Styrous®


The movie was directed by Ken Russell. Russel is responsible for some pretty amazing and surreal films; Tommy is right up there at the top of them.              


The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP back cover
photo by Styrous®


The music world people in the film is outstanding: Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, all Who members, of course, as well as, Caleb Quaye, Phil Chen, Eric Clapton, Arthur Brown, Nicky Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Tina Turner, Ronnie Wood, Elton John and many others.         
                                  

The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP gatefold cover interior
photo by Styrous®


The Theater and film world was well represented by amazing talent as well: Oliver Reed, Jack Nicholson, Robert Powell, Paul Nicholas and Ben Aris.           


The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®


Russell admitted he did not like the music - he disliked rock music in general - but he loved the theme of the film, being about a messiah. Russell and Townshend worked on the film together for a year. Russell had been working on a script called The Angels which was to star Mia Farrow about a pop star called Poppy Day who becomes a messianic figure, and reworked some of that script's sequences for Tommy. He also used scenes from another unfilmed script of his, Music Music Music about a composer who writes music for TV commercials (this turned into what became known as the "baked beans" scene with Ann Margret (link below).       


The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®


Mick Jagger was reportedly offered the role of The Acid Queen but insisted on singing three of his own songs so the role was given to Tina Turner. What a fantastic stroke of fortune. Turner's perfomance absolutey MADE the film stunning. Of course, Elton John as the Pin Board Wizard was an extraordinary stroke of luck. Russell says Pete Townshend wanted Tiny Tim to play Pinball Wizard but Stigwood overruled him. Elton John initially turned down the role of the Pinball Wizard and among those considered to replace him was David Essex, who recorded a test audio version of the Pinball Wizard song. However, producer Robert Stigwood held out until John agreed to take the part, reportedly on condition that he could keep the gigantic Dr. Martens boots he wore in the scene. 


The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP record sleeve
detail photo by Styrous®


Tommy was written in 1968 and recorded by The Who in 1969. Three years later a version of the opera was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. The two albums sold ten million copies between them.          
       
Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1     Prologue - 1945 - 3:00
A2     Captain Walker/ It's A Boy - 2:37
A3     Bernie's Holiday Camp - 3:43
A4     1951/ What About The Boy? - 2:49
A5     Amazing Journey - 3:19
A6     Christmas - 3:39
A7     Eyesight To The Blind, written by Sonny Boy Williamson - 3:21

Side 2:

B1     Acid Queen - 3:47
B2     Do You Think It's Alright - 0:56
B3     Cousin Kevin, written by John Entwistle - 3:07
B4     Do You Think It's Alright - 0:45
B5     Fiddle About, written by John Entwistle - 1:40
B6     Do You Think It's Alright - 0:30
B7     Sparks - 3:05
B8     Extra, Extra, Extra - 0:45
B9     Pinball Wizard, Producer – Gus Dudgeon - 5:14
C1     Champagne - 4:42
C2     There's A Doctor - 0:22
C3     Go To The Mirror - 3:57
C4     Tommy Can You Hear Me? - 0:56
C5     Smash The Mirror - 1:22
C6     I'm Free - 2:36
C7     Mother And Son - 3:26
C8     Sensation - 2:49
D1     Miracle Cure - 0:23
D2     Sally Simpson - 5:13
D3     Welcome - 4:15
D4     T.V. Studio - 1:15
D5     Tommy's Holiday Camp, arranged by Martyn FordOrgan – Gerald Shaw, written by Keith Moon - 1:30
D6     We're Not Gonna Take It - 5:47
D7     Listening To You / See Me, Feel Me - 3:13

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – Polydor Incorporated
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Polydor Incorporated
    Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
    Published By – Track Music, Inc.

Credits:

    Acoustic Guitar – Alan Ross (2) (tracks: A5, B2, B4, B6, B8, C2, C4 to C5, C8 to D1, D6), Chris Stainton (tracks: C4)
    Arranged By – Nicky Hopkins
    Arranged By [Assistant] – Nicky Hopkins
    Bass – Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels (tracks: D6), David Wintour* (tracks: B3), Dee Murray (tracks: B9), John Entwistle (tracks: A6 to B1, C5), Phil Chen (tracks: A5, B2, B4, B6, C3, C8, D2), Tony Stevens (tracks: B8, D1)
    Brass – John Entwistle (tracks: A1, B5, C6)
    Co-producer – Ken Russell (tracks: A1 to B8, C1 to D7), Pete Townshend (tracks: A1 to B8, C1 to D7)
    Drums – Graham Deakin (tracks: B2, B4, B6, D2), Keith Moon (tracks: A6), Kenny Jones (tracks: A7 to B1, B8, C2, C5 to C6, D1), Mike Kelly (tracks: A4, D6), Nigel Olsson (tracks: B9), Richard Bailey (tracks: C3), Tony Newman (tracks: A5, B3, C8)
    Featuring – Pete Townshend (tracks: A1 to A2, C7, D3 to D4), The Who (tracks: A3, B5, B7, C1, D7)
    Guitar – Caleb Quaye (tracks: A4, C3, D6), Davey Johnstone (tracks: B9), Eric Clapton (tracks: A7, D2), Mick Ralphs (tracks: A4), Ronnie Wood* (tracks: B1, C2)
    Horns – John Entwistle (tracks: C8, D6 to D7)
    Keyboards – Pete Townshend
    Organ – Chris Stainton (tracks: A4, D6 to D7)
    Percussion – Ray Thomas (tracks: B9)
    Piano – Chris Stainton (tracks: C2), Elton John (tracks: B9), Nicky Hopkins (tracks: A4 to A6, B1 to B2, B4, B6, C3 to C4, C6, C8, D2, D6 to D7), Pete Townshend (tracks: B8, D1)
    Producer – Kit Lambert
    Synthesizer [Arp] – Pete Townshend
    Vocals – Alison Dowling (tracks: A3, A6), Ann Margret (tracks: A3 to A4, A6, B2, B4, B6, C1, C3 to C5, D3 to D4), Elton John (tracks: B9), Eric Clapton (tracks: A7), Jack Nicholson (tracks: C3), Keith Moon (tracks: B5, D5), Margo Newman (tracks: A2), Oliver Reed (tracks: A3 to A4, A6, B2, B4, B6, C2 to C3, D3 to D4), Paul Nicholas (tracks: B3), Pete Townshend (tracks: A2, A5, D2), Roger Daltrey (tracks: C1, C3, C6 to C8, D2 to D3, D6 to D7), Simon Townshend (tracks: B8, D1), Tina Turner (tracks: B1), Vicki Brown (tracks: A2)
    Vocals [Choral] – Alison Dowling (tracks: D6 to D7), Billy Nicholls (tracks: D6 to D7), Helen Shappell (tracks: D6 to D7), Jess Roden (tracks: D6 to D7), John Entwistle (tracks: D6 to D7), Kit Trevor (tracks: D6 to D7), Liza Strike (tracks: D6 to D7), Margo Newman (tracks: D6 to D7), Mylon La Fevre* (tracks: D6 to D7), Paul Gurvitz (tracks: D6 to D7), Pete Townshend (tracks: D6 to D7), Sarah McIntosh (tracks: D6 to D7), Simon Townshend (tracks: D6 to D7), Vicki Brown (tracks: D6 to D7)
    Written-By – Pete Townshend (tracks: A1 to A6, B1 to B2, B4, B6 to D4, D6 to D7)

Notes:

Very similare to Monarch Pressing Various - Tommy (Original Soundtrack Recording) but with a "R" on the label which notes a different pressing plant.

Gatefold cover with color inner sleeves with lyrics.
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (Side A ): PD2-9502-1 TML-M #88
    Matrix / Runout (Side B ): PD2-9502-1 TML-M #JP
    Matrix / Runout (Side C ): PD2-9502-3 TML-S #8b
    Matrix / Runout (Side D ): PD2-9502-4 TML-S #3
    Pressing Plant ID (Printed on labels): R

Various ‎– Tommy (Original Soundtrack Recording)
Label: Polydor ‎– PD 2-9502
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: Rock, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Classic Rock, Mod

       



The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP record sides 1 & 2
detail photo by Styrous®






The Who ~ Tommy (the soundtrack)
vinyl LP record sides 3 & 4
detail photo by Styrous®


     



Viewfinder links:    
     
Eric Clapton        
Roger Daltrey            
David Essex          
Mick Jagger        
Elton John          
Jack Nicholson       
Tommy: 50 years on        
Tina Turner       
The Who       
        
Net links:    
        
Rolling Stone ~ Tommy (Original Soundtrack Recording)     
The Who website         
       
YouTube links:    
       
Elton John ~ Pinball Wizard      
Ann Margret - Tommy (Smash the mirror)            
Tina Turner ~ The Acid Queen (good audio)     
Tina Turner ~ The Acid Queen (bad audio. gppd video)     
          
       
     
       
          
        
          
         
Styrous® ~ Thursday, March 19, 2020       
        
        
        
        














August 5, 2019

Alexander Glazunov articles/mentions

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Alexander Borodin  
Ken Russell ~ Gustav Holst's The Planets    
Roman Ryterband ~ Chamber Music      
    
   
 

    
Alexander Glazunov      
date & photographer unknown    
     
     
   
     
     
   
     
     
   
     
     






July 3, 2019

1,001 LaserDiscs 12: Ken Russell ~ Gustav Holst's The Planets

LaserDisc front cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®


Today, July 3, is the birthday of British film director, Ken Russell who was born in Southampton, England, in 1927. He is best known for his Oscar-winning film Women in Love (1969), The Devils (1971), Tommy by The Who (1975), and the science fiction film Altered States (1980). Russell also directed several films based on the lives of classical music composer: Elgar, Delius, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Liszt.           
           

LaserDisc front cover
art director ~ J. J. Stelmach
cover art ~ Jeffery Schrier
photo by Styrous®


The Planets is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst.         
   
The premiere was at the Queen's Hall on 29 September 1918, conducted by Holst's friend Adrian Boult before an invited audience of about 250 people. The first complete public performance was finally given in London by Albert Coates conducting the London Symphony Orchestra on November 15, 1920.     


LaserDisc back cover
art director ~ J. J. Stelmach
cover art ~ Jeffery Schrier
photo by Styrous®


Each movement is intended to convey ideas and emotions associated with the influence of the planets on the psyche, not the Roman deities. The idea of the work was suggested to Holst by Clifford Bax, who introduced him to astrology when the two were part of a small group of English artists holidaying in Majorca in the spring of 1913.      

When composing The Planets Holst initially scored the work for four hands, two pianos, except for Neptune, which was scored for a single organ, as Holst believed that the sound of the piano was too percussive for a world as mysterious and distant as Neptune. Holst then scored the suite for a large orchestra. 

The influence of contemporary composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg, as well as late Russian romantics Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov can be heard.   

John Williams used the melodies and instrumentation of Mars as the inspiration for his soundtrack for the Star Wars films (specifically The Imperial March).       
   
The visuals were chosen by Russell to illustrate associations with the The Planets written, it should be remembered, before the discovery of the planet Pluto.       
  
LaserDisc back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®


In the late-1980s, Russell directed the music video for It's All Coming Back to Me Now, a song written and produced by Jim Steinman for his project with the female pop group, Pandora's Box. The production featured a range of erotic imagery, including studded bras and spiked codpieces. He'd also directed the Elton John video for Nikita which featured a bit of John wearing the same boots he wore as the Pinball Wizard in the film adaptation of Tommy by The Who.   


LaserDisc label detail
detail photo by Styrous®


The films of Ken Russell are often surreal as witness the YouTube links (below). Russell died on November 27,  2011, at the age of 84 after a series of strokes.    




Viewfinder links:      
     
Adolph Hitler 
Gustav Holst    
Elton John        
Arnold Schoenberg       
Star Wars   
Jim Steinman         
Igor Stravinsky               
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky                   
The Who         
John Williams       
    
Net links:      
   
John Coulthart ~ The Planets by Ken Russell         
Music Web ~ Ken Russell’s view of The Planets      
Jeffery Schrier website              
     
YouTube links:      
      
Ken Russell ~       
          The Planets ~ Jupiter  
          The Boyfriend     
          Dance of the Seven Veils (1970) complete (57 min., 29 sec.)  
          A Kitten For Hitler (8 min., 21 sec.)             
          The Music Lovers ~ 1812 Overture          
The Films of Ken Russell (15 min.)     
Ken Russell: Sex, God and Tchaikovsky (15 min., 19 sec.)     
Ken Russell on his filmmaking career (45 min., 23 sec.)      
William Friedkin ~ Ken Russell's The Devils         
   
     
         
         
Ken Russell ~ Gustav Holst's The Planets LaserDisc is for sale on eBay       
       
          
          
        
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, July 3, 2019
         



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1,001 LaserDiscs archive
MAIN MENU - Blog Articles
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The Who articles/mentions

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Tommy: 50 years on       
Tommy (the soundtrack)       
  
mentions:   
The Lemon Pipers ~ Through w/You   
Ken Russell ~ Gustav Holst's Planets  
Woodstock ~ after 50 years       
  
 
The Who   
date & photographer unknown      



  












Jim Steinman articles/mentions

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Paradise by the Dashboard Light lyrics    

mentions:   
Meat Loaf ~   
         Bat Out of Hell     
         Hits Out of Hell     
         A slice of Heaven      
Ken Russell ~ Gustav Holst's Planets 


  
 

date & photographer unknown 
       
 



  








Elton John articles/mentions

 ~        
Chorus of Light     
Billy Joel ~ Piano Man, John & Joel   
     
     
mentions:      
Mick Ronson ~ Slaughter on 10th Ave.   
Ken Russell ~ The Planets    
The Who ~ Tommy (soundtrack)  
     
     
Elton John - 1975
photo by Charles Knight/Rex
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 

June 27, 2019

Ken Russell articles/mentions

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Kiss of the Spider Woman     
Gustav Mahler ~ Death In Venice    
The Who ~ Tommy: 50 years on    
     
       
     
     
     
      
    
     
Ken Russell - 1969   
BAFTA Award         
Central Press/Getty Images
     
    
     
     


















March 20, 2019

20,000 Vinyl LPs 175: Kiss of the Spider Woman & William Hurt

Kiss of the Spider Woman soundtrack
vinyl LP front cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
 

Today is the birthday of screen actor William Hurt. The list of the films he has starred in and the actors with whom he has performed is astounding. It was difficult to decide which of his films to feature for this blog; I settled on Kiss of the Spider Woman as of all his films, this one totally blew me away and it demonstrated his extraordinary acting talent.   


Kiss of the Spider Woman soundtrack 
vinyl LP front cover
photo by Styrous®


Kiss of the Spider Woman (Portuguese: O Beijo da Mulher-Aranha) is a 1985 Brazilian-American drama film directed by Argentine-born Brazilian director Héctor Babenco, and adapted by Leonard Schrader from the Manuel Puig novel of the same name. William Hurt, Raúl Juliá, Sônia Braga, José Lewgoy, and Milton Gonçalves star in the leading roles.

It is a film that could never have been made in the United States and if it had been, it would never have been as powerful nor brilliant. The film tells of two very different men who share a prison cell in Brazil during the Brazilian military government: Valentin Arregui, who is imprisoned (and has been tortured) due to his activities on behalf of a leftist revolutionary group, and Luis Molina, a pederast in prison for having sex with an underage boy.    


 
William Hurt as Luis Molina 
 

Hurt captured the character of Molina with an insight that is skillful, shocking, and brilliant. His speech, movements and innuendos are astounding. It is no surprise he won an Academy Award for the role. During filming of Kiss of the Spider Woman, Hurt and a friend were threatened at gunpoint but were let go several hours later.             

In 1985, Hurt garnered critical acclaim and multiple acting awards for Kiss of the Spider Woman including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award for Best Actor and the Best Male Performance Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.           

 
vinyl LP back cover
photo by Styrous®


Hurt was born William McChord Hurt in Washington, D.C. on the 20th of March, 1950. He studied at the Juilliard School and began acting on stage in the 1970s. Hurt made his film debut in 1980 as a troubled scientist in the Ken Russell science-fiction feature Altered States, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year.


vinyl LP record sleeve, side 1
photo by Styrous®

Hurt played a leading role, as a lawyer with Kathleen Turner, in the neo-noir Body Heat (1981) and The Big Chill (1983). He appeared in the thriller Gorky Park, also in 1983, opposite Lee Marvin.   


vinyl LP record sleeve, side 2
photo by Styrous®

Hurt received another two Academy Award nominations for his lead performances in Children of a Lesser God (1986) and Broadcast News (1987). He remained an active stage actor throughout the 1980s, appearing in Off-Broadway productions, including Henry V, Fifth of July, Richard II and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He received his first Tony Award nomination in 1985 for the Broadway production of Hurlyburly.          



vinyl LP record, side 1
photo by Styrous®


vinyl LP record label, side 1
photo by Styrous®






vinyl LP record, side 1
photo by Styrous®


vinyl LP record label, side 2
photo by Styrous®



Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 - Kiss Of The Spider Woman Overture - 0:50
A2 - The Most Ravishing Woman - 2:25
A3 - Visions Of The Ultra Rhine - 1:15
A4 - Kabaret - 1:14
A5 - Je Me Moque De L´Amour, lyrics by David Weisman, Manuel Puig, Vocals – Sonia Braga - 2:48
A6 - Molina`s Fantasies - 0:48
A7 - Lunapark - 1:32
A8 - Novela Das Nove - 3:23
A9 - Spider Island - 1:42

Side 2:

B1 - Pavilhao IV - 5:15
B2 - The Avocado Scene (Dialogue) - 1:04
B3 - Kiss Of The Spider Woman Theme - 3:44
B4 - The Call - 1:04
B5 - Valentin`s Message (Dialogue) - 0:19
B6 - Blue For You - 0:42
B7 - Goodbye Mama - 0:58
B8 - Spider Woman Finale - 2:58

Credits:

    Producer – Danny Holloway

John Neschling / Nando Carneiro and Wally Badarou ‎– Original Soundtrack With Music & Dialogue: Kiss of the Spider Woman
Label: Island Visual Arts ‎– 90475-1-E
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Non-Music, Classical, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Modern Classical, Spoken Word


     

Viewfinder links:              
           
Gay Gaze 'n Daze             
Golden Globe Award               
William Hurt           
           
Net links:               
          
William Hurt Filmography     
Kiss of the Spider Woman website   
LA Times ~ Art, Commerce and Hurt     
New York Times review   
Roger Ebert review      
Variety review              
     
YouTube links:              
        
Kiss of the Spider Woman - Trailer            
Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) (complete 1 hr. 46 min., 45 sec.)   
Kiss of the Spider Woman (9min., 34 sec.)       
Kiss of the Spider Woman Gay kiss: William Hurt and Raúl Juliá 
      


¡Feliz cumpleaños!







     
Styrous® ~ Saturday, March 20, 2019