Music And All Things BrookJersey (Moran)

[logen]

Three from David Bromberg, who provided me some of the best live music experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend. The first is from the 1970 Philadelphia Folk Festival with John Hartford on banjo and Tom Paxton on guitar doing the traditional “Sitting On Top of the World”.
The second is, IMO, the finest version of “Mr. Bojangles” there is; no video with it though, the first third or so just a picture of Bromberg, the rest just a black screen.
The third, Bromberg gives a whole new dimension to The Fleetwoods doo wop classic “Mr. Blue”.

 

[jackfro]

The discussion regarding “Sloop John B” led me back to this cover version of The Beach Boys classic by the band that was not a band, The Fendertones. They were a conglomeration of musicians from various bands in the Philly area who got together to record Beach Boys songs trying to exactly replicate Brian Wilson’s complex arrangements and harmonies. The recordings were done over periods of time as their schedules permitted. I offer the covers of the two classics discussed on the thread, the other being “God Only Knows”. They were finally persuaded to do the songs live for charity and this version is just that.





Finally, Sebaya Project from Indonesia doing a great song which is unfortunately the poster child for ripped off music copyrights. The song was written by a South African, Solomon Linda, original name Mbube, was ripped off and became The Lion Sleeps Tonight in English and made a ton of money for many people while Linda died destitute.
Nevertheless, a great cover of the song.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens charted in the Top Ten in the 1950's

 

[NCJohnnie]

We just saw the Tina Turner musical in Charlotte. The woman who played Tina was phenomenal.

 

[logen]

We just saw the Tina Turner musical in Charlotte. The woman who played Tina was phenomenal.

Good for her, Lord knows Tina Turner is a VERY tough act to follow!!

 

[NCJohnnie]

Good for her, Lord knows Tina Turner is a VERY tough act to follow!!

She has a phenomenal voice. They took lots of liberty with the songs as far as mixing them with Tina's solo career and the days with Ike but we really enjoyed the show. My wife is a huge Tina fan and her birthday was Thursday so I'm a star for 24 hours which always helps lol.

 

[redmannorth]

She has a phenomenal voice. They took lots of liberty with the songs as far as mixing them with Tina's solo career and the days with Ike but we really enjoyed the show. My wife is a huge Tina fan and her birthday was Thursday so I'm a star for 24 hours which always helps lol.

Please wish your wife a happy belated birthday for me.

 

[MainMan]

Good for her, Lord knows Tina Turner is a VERY tough act to follow!!

It’s funny how in her 60s catalog and 80s comeback catalog, “River Deep, Mountain High” kind of gets lost.

And yet it is one of the great vocal performances ever recorded. No one ever sounded better than Tina Turner on that single. And Spector’s orchestration/production lifts it to something otherworldly.

 

[austour]

No one ever sounded better than Tina Turner on that single.

You obviously have never heard Sid Vicious's rendition of My Way.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

Three from David Bromberg, who provided me some of the best live music experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend. The first is from the 1970 Philadelphia Folk Festival with John Hartford on banjo and Tom Paxton on guitar doing the traditional “Sitting On Top of the World”.
The second is, IMO, the finest version of “Mr. Bojangles” there is; no video with it though, the first third or so just a picture of Bromberg, the rest just a black screen.
The third, Bromberg gives a whole new dimension to The Fleetwoods doo wop classic “Mr. Blue”.

Agreed, David Bromberg is as talented as musician as there is and terribly under appreciated.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

Please wish your wife a happy belated birthday for me.

Likewise, NCJ, here's wishing a belated BD to your lovely wife.

 

[logen]

Old music trivia question; Bromberg took a sabbatical from music for a spell to pursue his other passion; what was that “second career”?

 

[austour]

Agreed, David Bromberg is as talented as musician as there is and terribly under appreciated.

When I was working at the Bottom Line he was doing his annual New Year's Eve shows there. Was a fun night.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

When I was working at the Bottom Line he was doing his annual New Year's Eve shows there. Was a fun night.

Austour, you mentioning the Bottom Line conjures up tons of memories for me. Saw dozens and dozens if not more shows there over several decades. Even spoke a few times with owners Alan Pepper and Stanley Snadowsky. Great venue, sound, and so close to the stage. I was so sorry to see NYU yank it out from under us.

Question if you don't mind, Alan and Stanley said when it closed they were looking for a new spot, and that they had to find just the right spot, but nevertheless after many years The Bottom Line never re-surfaced. Any reason besides tough real estate market and bad timing. Was it too many other places filled in the gap?

Last Bottom Line point, they almost always had an early show and a late show, because the venue was small, it was demand and a way to sell more tickets obviously. If you went to the early show and bought tickets for the late show and stood at the bar on the side, they wouldn't make you leave and re-enter.

 

[austour]

I can't really answer that question. Both Alan and Stanley have now passed away but they did indicate they were hoping to relocate when it was closed over 20 years ago. I have no further info on that but that was the story at the time. given the financial shape the club was in not sure if it was really possible. Bruce, who apparently had many legendary nights there before my time, tried to save the club as I recall.

I was there only for about a year 20 years before that. Stanley was quiet and pretty much stayed upstairs but Alan was a pretty kind man. Didn't really pay us anything but kind nonetheless. I went back a few times and Tony Giovanni, the house manager, would let me come in gratis if there was enough room. The booker at the time was dating the drummer from the Smithereens (before they even had a recording contract) so they hung out at the bar with us most nights after the late show and before the after hours club. They're still married I think.

It was a very fun year. I have a pretty narrow taste in music but saw so much stuff I otherwise wouldn't have been exposed to from jazz greats like Stsnley Clark and Buddy Rich to klezmer bands, comedy from Soupy Sales and friends to a beginning of my NRBQ fandom. Lots of funny stories and some sad ones too, like having to keep Jaco from stumbling in drunk/stoned off his face on more than one occasion. It was around the time that Alan and Stanley were trying to get a Phil Spector musical off the ground starring Darlene Love who played the Christmas Shows there in the early 80s that relaunched her career a bit, and she was there all the freaking time along with a long list of celebs who always got those 6 round tables in the center of the venue.

Favorite night was the weekend after I quit when I saw one of my all time faves Aztec Camera for both shows and went home with an absolute stunner of a girl. She ended up being a problem but it was fun while it lasted.

 

[bamafan]

NM

 

[Shannon]

Agreed, David Bromberg is as talented as musician as there is and terribly under appreciated.

was fortunate to see him once, opening up for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at Red Rocks in the late 70's. Funny guy too.

 

[NCJohnnie]

was fortunate to see him once, opening up for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at Red Rocks in the late 70's. Funny guy too.

My oldest daughter and her family live in Denver and go to Red Rocks fairly often - supposed to be a wonderful place to see a concert. One of these days, I have to time a visit to them with an act appearing there I'd like to see and have her get us some tickets.

 

[austour]

My oldest daughter and her family live in Denver and go to Red Rocks fairly often - supposed to be a wonderful place to see a concert. One of these days, I have to time a visit to them with an act appearing there I'd like to see and have her get us some tickets.

It's a beautiful spot. I've only been there for a Michael McDonald show for a large convention event but I plan on going next summer. My sister in law lives there. We were going to go to see Brandi Carlile this summer but we have a wedding on Long Island that weekend and some other trips planned over the summer so it'll have to wait another year.

 

[NCJohnnie]

It's a beautiful spot. I've only been there for a Michael McDonald show for a large convention event but I plan on going next summer. My sister in law lives there. We were going to go to see Brandi Carlile this summer but we have a wedding on Long Island that weekend and some other trips planned over the summer so it'll have to wait another year.

My daughter loves Brandi Carlisle and was planning on going to see her there over Labor Day weekend. I’ll try to combine a visit and show at Red Rocks once their 2026 event calendar comes out.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

My daughter loves Brandi Carlisle and was planning on going to see her there over Labor Day weekend. I’ll try to combine a visit and show at Red Rocks once their 2026 event calendar comes out.

Brandi Carlisle and Belinda Carlye met up once and had a gas going over people somehow confusing the two. Very different people but I guess the names are close.