ROBIN WILLIAMS LAST FILM MERRY FRIGGIN CHRISTMAS
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Robin Williams |
WILLIAMS FILM FINALE --- Lakeshore Records will release the A Merry Friggin’ Christmas – Original Soundtrack (the last film featuring Robin Williams) digitally and on CD on November 4, 2014. The album features original tracks and exclusive covers – making this the perfect alternative rock holiday album. Artists featured on the album include Rufus Wainwright, The Belle Brigade, Ben Kweller, FM Radio, Anna Su, and Ryan Culwell.
The album kicks off with a new version of “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” performed by Rufus Wainwright with a 55-piece orchestra. Wainwright also contributes the new soon-to-be classic “Christmas is for Kids." Ben Kweller has two tracks on the album, the original song “Try to Love (Joy to the World)” and a new version of “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane).”
Other original songs on the album include “Going Home For Christmas” by The Belle Brigade, “It’s Christmastime I Know (Ho, Ho, Ho)” by Ryan Culwell, “Santa Will Be Flying Over the Moon” by Anna Su, “Best Time of the Year” by Alex Rhodes, and “The Weather Outside” by Spencer Shapeero. Other new songs include “Up on the Housetop” by California Feetwarmers, “Jingle Bells” by Chuck Meade, and FM Radio’s “More Than I Wished For.”
A Merry Friggin’ Christmas is directed by Tristram Shapeero and stars Williams, Joel McHale, Lauren Graham, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Clark Duke, Candice Bergen and Oliver Platt.
KEYS DOWN --- The Rolling Stones are ready to begin their long delayed run of dates in Australia and New Zealand, but longtime sax player Bobby Keys won't be along this time.
The band broke the news on its official site, saying Keys is “a bit under the weather” and adding that he’s “under doctor’s orders to take it a bit easy for the next month and hopes to see everyone soon.” He'll be replaced for those dates by Karl Denson, who’s quoted on the Stones’ site as saying, “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to see the world through a giant pair of lips. It’s going to be amazing to get even closer to this music that I have listened to all my life.”
Denson paid tribute to Keys on his own Facebook page, telling fans and followers, “While we celebrate my good fortune, let’s also pray for Bobby Keys’ quick recovery. I’ve been studying his playing since I was 19 or 20 years old. He is what I call the original ‘slow hand’ saxophonist. Sometimes less is more. Get well soon Bobby … ”
Whatever befell Keys must have happened recently, as he was profiled in an Oct. 14 article in the West Australian that found him looking forward to the tour. “It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve played ‘Brown Sugar,’ I never get tired of playing it,” he insisted. “It’s pretty scripted on the road; very organized and compartmentalized, and that’s the way it has to be with so many people involved in a Stones tour. It’s quite a bit different to when I first joined the band and there were only two security guys. But I’m not complaining. The music is still good, the checks still cash, and I still enjoy playing.”
Keys’ signature-Stone sax riffs have filled their music for years. He’s lived with them, partied with them … and, hopefully will continue with them. Get well Bobby … soon!
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| Adam Lambert |
LAMBERT ROCKS --- Adam Lambert rocked a fierce cowboy hat as he hit the red carpet while attending the Marco Marco: Collection Three Runway Presentation held at the Vibiana Cathedral on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Later the same day, Adam was spotted making his way through LAX Airport after returning from his New York City flight, where he performed an intimate acoustic set at the AT&T Live Proud Concert.
HAUSER TRANSFER --- Tim Hauser, the only member of the Manhattan Transfer to have been with the group from their forming until today, died on Thursday from an undisclosed cause. He was 72.
The group announced Hauser's passing on their Facebook page:
*It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Tim Hauser’s passing with you all... As many of you know, Tim was the visionary behind The Manhattan Transfer. We spent more than 40 years together singing and making music, traveling the world, and sharing so many special moments throughout our lives... It's incomprehensible to think of this world without him.
We join his loving wife, Barb, his beautiful children, his family, and the rest of the world in mourning the loss of our dear friend and partner in song.
Love,
Janis, Cheryl and Alan
Hauser was born in Troy, N. Y. but spent much of his youth in and around Asbury Park, NJ where he began singing professionally at age 15. His doo wop group, the Criterions, recorded two songs for Cecelia Records and they appeared on Alan Freed's Big Beat Show.
In 1969, Hauser, Gene Pistilli, Marty Nelson, Erin Dickins and Pat Rosalia formed the first version of the Manhattan Transfer and, in 1971, they released their only album under this lineup, Jukin'.
After working in a number of odd jobs, Hauser met Laurel Masse and, a short time later, Janis Siegel. The three decided to reform the Manhattan Transfer, officially becoming a group on October 1, 1972 with the addition of Alan Paul.
The group started performing at NY clubs like Max's Kansas City and Reno Sweeney where Atlantic's Ahmet Ertegun saw their act and signed them to the label. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1975, going to number 33 on the Billboard charts and spawning the hit “Operator” which reached number 22.
More albums were released through the rest of the 70's including Coming Out (1976 / #48) and Pastiche (1978 / #66) and they hosted their own summer replacement variety series in 1975 on CBS but it was in the U. K. where they were becoming a major sensation. Pastiche went to number 10 on the British charts and the follow-up Live album hit number 4 while they had a number of hit singles including a remake of the 50's hit by Art and Dodie Todd, Chanson D' Amour, which went to number 1.
In 1978, Laurel Masse was seriously injured in a car accident and left the group to be replaced by Cheryl Bentyne, rounding out the lineup that remained together until Hauser's death. Their first album together was a jazz and pop landmark, Extensions (1979), which modernized their sound and included such hits as Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone (1980 / #30) and their extraordinary version of Weather Report's “Birdland.”
Overall, Hauser and the Manhattan Transfer won ten Grammy Awards, won numerous Downbeat, Playboy and JazzTimes polls and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
Hauser released his only solo album, Love Stories, in 2007. A classic-group, they will be missed.
CLOSING NOTES --- There'll be a reception next week in NYC for Mark Bego’s new book (written with Debby Campbell), Life With My Father Glen Campbell. The book, since its release on September 25, has been a consistent Top Ten Amazon best seller. It’ll be interesting to meet Debby Campbell in person as the fabulous documentary on her father Glen (entitled I’ll Be Me) will be released on October 24 … looking forward to this one …
David Letterman's three-segment interview with actor Michael Keaton (tub thumping his brilliant new movie Birdman) shows why he's unquestionably the best talk-show host since Carson. Funny, poignant and just plain good entertainment, Dave knocked it out of the park ... yet again. If you didn't know about the movie, after this interview not only did you now know, but you'll probably run to the theaters today to see it. Just superlative work from both Dave and Michael Keaton; one my all-time favorites ...
Actress Sean Young (Blade Runner) expected at the Robert Funaro-directed play How Alfo Learned To Love Women; written by brilliant new playwright Vincent Amelio. We'll be there and have more Monday ...
November 2 is the date for a tribute in L. A. to the genius of writer/satirist Stan Freberg. This evening at The Egyptian Theater will be hosted by actor Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, Le Show, This is Spinal Tap) and will feature special appearances by “Weird Al” Yankovic, Micky Dolenz (Freberg appeared on The Monkeess/NBC TV show), award-winning filmmaker Bob Kurtz, animation experts Jerry Beck and Eric Goldberg, and many other Freberg colleagues and celebrity fans. Ad Age dubbed him "the Father of the funny commercial" ...
Jon Shecter, has just overseen the publication of an expansive appreciation of Larry Smith, the hugely influential -- and now largely forgotten -- producer Run-DMC's and Whodini's first albums. The writer is Robbie Ettelson.
Check it out HERE.
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