izzy wizzy, let's get busy

I may well have heard this modal reworking of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic first performed not by John Coltrane but by Harry Corbett and friends. With puppets. The son of a Yorkshire coal miner, Corbett's early ambition to pursue a career as a musician was thwarted by deafness in one ear.

I wonder how this sat with Syd ? I like to think it might have been a favourite.

John Coltrane: soprano saxophone;
Steve Davis: bass;
Elvin Jones: drums;
McCoy Tyner: piano.

Produced by Nesuhi Ertegun, Engineered by Phil Iehle and Tom Dowd.
Recorded at Atlantic Studios, NYC, October 21st, 1960.

▼ JOHN COLTRANE: MY FAVOURITE THINGS from "My Favourite Things" LP (Atlantic) 1961 (US)

mellow out, herr stockhausen

mellow |ˌmɛləʊ|
adjective
1 (esp. of sound, taste, and color) pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness : she was hypnotized by the mellow tone of his voice | slow cooking gives the dish a sweet, mellow flavor.
• archaic (of fruit) ripe, soft, sweet, and juicy : a dish of mellow apples.
• (of wine) well-matured and smooth : delicious, mellow, ripe, fruity wines.
2 (of a person's character) softened or matured by age or experience : a more mellow personality. See note at MATURE .
• relaxed and good-humored : Jean was feeling mellow.
• informal relaxed and cheerful through being slightly drunk : everybody got very mellow and slept well.
3 (of earth) rich and loamy.

ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [(of fruit) ripe, soft, sweet, and juicy] ): perhaps from attributive use of Old English melu, melw- (see MEAL 2 ). The verb dates from the late 16th cent.

Originally released on the 1998 Spoon CD reissue of Holger Czukay and Rolf Dammers' 1969 LP "Canaxis 5" - under the moniker Technical Space Composer's Crew - recorded at Inner Space, Cologne in 1968, "Mellow Out" actually predates those twin "Canaxis" experimmental samplings by some eight years; Czukay's first ever public performance of an original composition broadcast on WDR Köln in 1960 for the more traditional jazz audience.

This short piece was immediately cut in acetate and pressed on a limited four copy vinyl run for band members only.

A student of Karlheinz Stockhausen, as both "Canaxis" proper and his work with Can upholds, the mood here - as the title suggests - is a good deal more relaxed.

▼ HOLGER CZUKAY: MELLOW OUT from "Canaxis" CD (Spoon) 1998 (Germany)

HOLGER CZUKAY

apostle of the strung-out

Figure 3-29.–Correct way to take out a kink in wire rope.

kink |kɪŋk|
noun

a sharp twist or curve in something that is otherwise straight : a kink in the road.
• figurative a flaw or obstacle in a plan, operation, etc. : though the system is making some headway, there are still some kinks to iron out.
• a stiffness in the neck, back, etc.; crick : it takes the kinks out of stiff necks.
• figurative a quirk of character or behavior.
• informal a person with unusual sexual preferences.

I am not so much at a loose end as vaguely tied in knots. Nothing that won't ultimately unravel; maybe a kink in a length of string is nearer the mark.

Anyway. I was sitting idly keeping one eye open on the FEEDJIT stats - as one might do or even justify in such a predicament - when I chanced upon a visitor bouncing away from here to alight on Canon 2.0. Said site is essentially a "literary experiment" curated by Jorn Barger, of Robot Wisdom fame, an individual who has been kind enough to link to SibLINGSHOT ON THE BLEACHERS on occasion. Donovan and Patti Smith - dancing barefoot - spring to mind.

So. Interestingly, Jorn possesses some very sound literary tastes. None too meticulously, I found myself dipping into a list he has compiled on a number of authors up on Canon 2.0 when I happened on an entry with regard to Robert Stone. A list for the transiently listless. Stone is a writer I admire but know too little about. I had all but forgotten his name. Born in 1937 in Brooklyn, in addition to his string of successes as a novelist, he worked for a period too as a Vietnam War correspondent in 1971, an experience which culminated in the publication of "Dog Soldiers" three years later.

A solid book, but not quite as strong as his 1967 debut, "A Hall of Mirrors".

Many moons ago, my good friend Gus lent me an old paperback copy. It was a good read. It's style has been compared to that of the Beat Generation, and that is valid enough, but on balance I remember it reminded me more of Glaswegian author, Alexander Trocchi, whose incisive portrayal of heroin addiction, "Cain's Book", was famously banned in the UK on publication in 1960 after a lengthy showcase obscenity trial. Trochhi had a deeply entrenched habit. And a capacity for controversy on a par with Burroughs or Ginsberg.

Or Hubert Selby, jr.

A champion of outsiders Samuel Beckett and Henry Miller, Trocchi found an outlet amongst the pornographers of Paris in the 1950's, editing the literary magazine, "Merlin", before eventually settling in New York City where he operated a stone scow - a flat-bottomed dredger - on the filth of the Hudson river.



Anyhow. I digress.

I am glad I chanced on the Stone entry. The title for this post comes from a 1997 interview from the Salon, conducted by Dwight Garner.

I claim no credit whatsoever.

INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT STONE @ IDENTITY THEORY.COM

for your digital delectation

Written by Eric Spear - no relation to Albert with an 'e' - in 1960:
"a cornet piece, accompanied by a brass band plus clarinet and double bass."

A then unknown musician from Wimslow, David Browning, was contracted by Granada Television (ITV) to supply trumpet for the original theme - and its re-recording in 1964 - for the princely sum of £36. Of course, had he opted instead for royalty fees he would still be coining it in today. Under two score no doubt seemed like a relatively huge sum half a century ago.

As upbeat as Weatherfield, Greater Manchester itself.

If you ever wondered why Steven Patrick Morrissey is such an unapologetic miserablist, here is your cue.

▼ DAVID BROWNING: CORONATION STREET THEME from "Coronation Street" (Granada Television) 1960 - 2009 (UK)

A SITE DEVOTED TO CORONATION STREET

more west side stories

live is cool spray when you're a jet.

See. If I was even more of an anorak, I'd probably begin proselytizing that punk rock really started here. ib, you would say; get a life. We are heartily sick with your creaky attempts to lend some weight to your inane choice of song.



From the mighty sword sticks of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. I don't think the Oakland chapter of the "Hell's Angels" have much to fear, in all seriousness.


▼ RUSS TAMBLYN & 'THE JETS': GEE, OFFICER KRUPKE! from "West Side Story" LP (Columbia) 1960 (US)

PURCHASE WEST SIDE STORY