Making Records with the World's Biggest Stars

What do the following legendary musical artists all have in common? Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Sting, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan, Karen Carpenter, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Quincy Jones, Art Garfunkel and dozens more. They are have worked with producer Phil Ramone. 

The now deceased genius producer and artist goes behind the scenes of American Popular Music and reveals stories about the creation of one iconic song after another. How he did it and how he worked with some of the most gifted writers, musicians and singers to walk the planet. He'll mention the exciting work behind something like Still Crazy After All These Years, and the reader needs to turn on the record to hear what was put into it.

Who is the artist Phil said was most open to feedback? Who was terrified to meet Ray Charles and why? What song took over a decade to complete and which were written in a matter of minutes? 

Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music is a fan's dream book! Phil and co-author Charles L. Granata make this one a must-read... and a must listen to.

Fly Me to the Moon

Tomorrowland really was once a "World on the Move". At least it was during the first re-Imagineering of the land in 1967. Walt Disney had to cut some corners due to budget restrictions during the planning and execution of Disneyland. But he's to be forgiven for that decision because what he did had never been accomplished before. Not so with todays suits who have had the audacity to pass off the original Disney-MGM Studios, the Walt Disney Studios Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland as full day Disney quality theme parks. Never before was the arrogance of the suits more obvious as when Michael Eisner, Robert Iger and company debuted California Adventure 1.0, opening the same year while giving the Japanese Tokyo Disney Sea.  But I digress.

Imagineering concept art has been a long time favorite of this blog. If you look at the piece above, not only will you see the People Mover, Carousel of Progress, and Rocket to the Moon, but you'll notice a shiny new Space Mountain part of the image. Yes, it had been in the planning stages for that long before it came to be in the 70s. 

With the glistening submarines, the skyway buckets, and even the train running through the land, Tomorrowland was once a place of action. Nowadays, it's really just disjointed, a pathetic shell of its former self. Perhaps the opening of Star Wars Land / Experience - or whatever it will be named- will give the suits the guts they need to totally reimagine, even demolish, large sections of the land, and create something stunning. Aside from die-hard Disney park fans, it's a pretty well kept secret that the original magic kingdom now has the dullest and worst Tomorrowland of them all. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Timeless Shows Potential

What on earth could Abraham Lincoln, Frank Sinatra, and James Bond have in common? The answer: Seeds for a potentially captivating television series.

After the disappointment of what happened to Castle- an end of a series less than idyllic- I was skeptical we would find a television show of much interest, something with substance, humor, heart, and style. Then along came Timeless. 

Missing the first half of the premier episode was not a good way to begin judging a show for long term viewing. As my wife turned the channel to it, I was captured by the late 30's focused episode about the Hindenburg. Granted, the music of the era is truly timeless and the fashions beyond cool (the fedora is still being worn today), but I was still not 100% sold. 

Abigail Spencer's Lucy Preston is a likable if nervous history professor turned spy. She balances a fine line between compelling and not yet being the focus of the show. On the other end of the spectrum, Wyatt, played by Matt Lanter, started off written as fairly one dimensional. The most interesting of the trio so far is Rufus, Malcolm Barrett's hero caught in the middle of some spy on spy melodrama. 

I was satisfied enough to give the show a second viewing... and a third, and a fourth. The series continues to get more interesting as the characters grow richer, deeper, more complex. The artistic direction is beautifully done, and the tales increasingly of interest- even if history is altered a la Forrest Gump. 

Overall, it's not Beckett and Castle, but it is what it is. Who knows? It could end up being a favorite of mine. With likable characters, stylish representation, growing humor, and limitless ideas to draw from, the series could last awhile. The possibility of it becoming this fan's favorite new show increases each week. Unlike so many others, I'm happily willing to give this one a chance. 

Barbra Streisand and Michael Bublé Partner to Mixed Results

What began with incredible potential ends up with mixed results. Michael Bublé is one of my favorite musical artists. When I'd heard he was teaming with Barbra Streisand on this old Frank Sinatra classic, I had a fair amount of hope for a great number. After all, who didn't love Sinatra's take on It Had to Be You when Billy Crystal realized he did love Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally?

Frank's subtle style worked perfectly. 

That same style works equally well when Ms. Streisand opens up the song. Truly, she hasn't sounded this good in a decade. Michael comes in softly to great effect. It seems a good pairing, right? It is until the song kicks into high gear with horns blaring and subtlety gives way to fanfare, including the now obligatory "I love you Barbra" moment. The song winds down, returning to the gentleness of the opening. 

This Partners-hip had a lot of potential, but it was lost due to a bombastic approach.  

Gloria Estefan Sings The Standards

Well now... September 10, 2013 seems oh so very far away. That's the release date for Gloria Estefan's new album, The Standards. The way I see it, it is about time that she covers some classics! Can you imagine her warm, smoky voice doing the great tunes of the 20th Century? Boy, I can! Can't wait to hear her versions of What a Wonderful World and The Way You Look Tonight. 

If you want a little preview of what she can do with this genre, listen to her fairly recent duet with Tony Bennett on "Who Can I Turn To?" or "Come Rain or Come Shine" with Frank Sinatra.