GREY GARDENS RESTORED A BIG HIT 40 YEARS LATER

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. HARDING
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Grey Gardens



MAYSLES PASSES --- Documentarian director Al Maysles has died at the age of 88. With his brother David he directed Grey Gardens, one of the most famous docs of all time. With DA Pennebaker, Richard Leacock and Bob Drew he made countless other films and worked with the Rolling Stones on several legendary project, including Gimme Shelter on The Stones and more recently Gray Gardens.




Maysles (pronounced May-zuls) departed from documentary conventions by not interviewing his films’ subjects. As he explained in an interview in 1994, “Making a film isn’t finding the answer to a question; it’s trying to capture life as it is.”




That stark immediacy was a hallmark of the brothers’ films, beginning in the 1960’s, when they made several well-regarded documentaries. But it was “Gimme Shelter” (1970), about the Rolling Stones’ 1969 American tour that brought them widespread attention. It included a scene of a fan being stabbed to death at the group’s concert in Altamont, Calif., and the critical admiration for the film was at least partly countered by concerns that it was exploiting that violence.




Concerns about a different kind of exploitation were expressed about Grey Gardens (1975), a double portrait of Edith Bouvier and her daughter, Edith Bouvier Beale, both cousins of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who lived in squalor and with what some saw as mental confusion in a once-grand house in East Hampton, N.Y.




Their films weren’t everyone’s cup of tea; cinema verite is often a difficult and frustrating medium; yet his work will continued to be mandatory in every film class around the world. Huge loss.



A beautifully restored version of the Maysles brothers’ Grey Gardens opened at Film Forum in New York a day after the film’s great co-director Albert Maysles died at age 88, grossing $12K in the single venue. There is still time to see this great masterpiece.




H&O --- The new Hall & Oates album, Live In Dublin, is a stone-cold smash. H&O, the #1 best selling duo in history –and, newly inducted into Jann Wenner’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame- had never played there before, so when plans were formulated for the live set, the destination seemed a slam-dunk.




Their live set, recorded at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, July 15 last year, shows the band in top form and presents what may well be their best lineup ever, including long-time horn player Mr. Casual, aka Charlie DeChant.




I’ve been a fan of theirs since their very first singles,"She’s Gone” and "Las Vegas Turnaround,” which now seems like eons ago.




The two also had the uncanny ability to pick some of the best musicians around for their band. Their line ups have included the likes of GE Smith, Todd Sharp, TB Wolk and DeChant, who played all those pivotal horn riffs.




After just-massive success in the 80's, things seemed to chill a bit, but with their release of the 4-CD set Do What You Want, Be Who You Are: The Music of Hall & Oates, their rise became inevitable again.




Also, Halls’ tremendous success with his show Live From Daryl’s House, further solidified his cred and became a must-stop for musicians; from Darius Rucker to former-producer Todd Rundgren.




This live set is just sensational and the liner notes by industry-vet Roy Trakin are insightful too.




Hall has perfect pitch and one of the most soulful voices I ever heard. His vocal work of “Do Want You Want, Be Who You Are” and “She’s Gone” is just brilliant.




The set list for the show, the first-ever in Dublin includes, all their top hits from their four-decade career. “Sara Smile,” “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do),” “Out Of Touch,” “Kiss On My List,” “Private Eyes,” “Rich Girl,” and “Maneater,” are just some of the highlights. Must see and hear for sure!




CHAPPIE --- Varèse Sarabande will release the Chappie – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, digitally on March 10 and on CD March 17, 2015. The film features original music by Hans Zimmer (Interstellar; 12 Years A Slave) – his first all-electronic score in 25 years.




“Finally a movie that lets us unleash a completely Electronic Music score,” said Zimmer. “A director (Neill Blomkamp) who encourages us mad boffins to drag out forty-year old analogue synthesizers and lets us spend days fiddling in lab-coats with patch-cables, blowing up valves and transistors ... Steve Mazzaro, Andrew K., Andy Page, Ed Buller, Michael Tritter, Rich Walters, Junkie XL and a chap whistling ... Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to present to you The Chappie Elektrik Synthphonia!”




Zimmer has scored more than 120 films, which have, combined, grossed over 24 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. He has been honored with an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, three Grammys, an American Music Award, and a Tony Award.




His most recent Academy Award nomination for Interstellar marked his 10th career Oscar nomination with the Academy. In 2003, ASCAP presented him with the prestigious Henry Mancini award for Lifetime Achievement for his impressive and influential body of work.




Other recent releases include The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave, Ron Howard's Rush, Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, History Channel's miniseries The Bible; the Christopher Nolan-directed films Inception, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises; and Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.




CLOSING NOTES --- Corner-favorite-Micky Dolenz (who'll be in the Apple next week) had a big birthday over the weekend. We're calling it his 7th. Best wishes…




Manager Ken Levy’s client Matthew Szlachetka dazzled at Rockwood Music Hall this past Saturday night. His music is transcendent while immediately accessible. Destined for stardom for sure. Guests included legendary-A&R man Mitchell Cohen; PR-pasha David Salidor and Steely Dan/Frank Shiner-producer Gary Katz …





Most anybody with an interest in club land’s hallowed history knows Club Zanzibar. Located in a broken-down stretch of Newark, New Jersey, it was the spot where famed spinner Tony Humphries rose to fame. Here’s an amazing article on the little club that could … and, did.



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