Temptations miniseries

These are the fake Temptations from the miniseries, The Temptations. They're very much like the real thing.

David Ruffin

I rented The Temptations miniseries which led me to go on Youtube and see the real Temptations. David Ruffin, the lead singer during their heyday, who sang "My Girl", was so charismatic and handsome. The actor who played him in the movie was the whole movie - everyone else was a little boring. David Ruffin's voice is so soulful, passionate, and sexy. I love his song, "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)", because it has a dub echo in it. Very advanced for that time (1970s).

Pandora Radio (not related to the photo)

OK, I got a picture that says Pandora on it, but this isn't about that. I'm probably the last person to know about Pandora. It's a free web radio where you tell them a song or artist you like, and they find that artist plus related ones. This creates your own customized radio stations. And it's free!! There are also shared stations where someone sets up a station that you can tune into. Right now I'm listening to "Burning Spear Radio" by Patty. Pandora is listenable on iphone and itouch ipods. Fantastic public service.

Photo from www.dvdbeaver.com

Divna Ljubojevik

I just discovered this wonderful singer on YouTube. She sings Byzantine Orthodox sacred songs. Usually those hymns are sung by rumbling voiced monks. Her voice is angelic.

Maksim Mrvica

I was browsing around YouTube when I came across this rather gorgeous young pianist. He was playing a Chopin piece in a disco like theater, dressed in punkish attire. He played so beautifully. I saw some of his other videos, they're all good. When he played, he sometimes looked up to the ceiling in a mystical way. I really liked that.

Age

This angelic, Botticellian person turned into someone who looks 110. This is a flattering photo of him. But so what - Bob Dylan is the greatest.

Bottom photo is AP, Bob Dylan at Jazz Fest 2006 in New Orleans.

That's Church

I don't know if you've ever been to a black church. It's pretty exciting and emotional. I used to go to one all the time, when I lived near Richmond, CA. If you go to about the middle of the video, people are shouting and getting the holy ghost.

Photo by Peter Helms Feresten, Altar Call, Truth Tabernacle, Fort Worth, TX, 1978.

http://www.afterimagegallery.com/ferestenaltarcall.htm

Franz Liszt

Portrait of Franz Liszt painted by Henri Lehmann in 1839.

Franz Liszt had an incredible life, spanning much of the 19th century. He was the equivalent of a rock star in his youth, when he traveled through Europe giving piano recitals. Liszt had a brilliant, charismatic personality, and yet he was a charming and nice man: a true romantic. There is too much to say about him, so I highly recommend the biography by Alan Walker. It is three volumes, but they are page-turners.

Speaking of hotness

The late Peter Tosh.

Marvin Gaye

God he was sexy!

And now for something completely different

He actually wasn't that great a dancer. And the way he prances around...lol. But I love his Italian male look, the skin-tight clothes, the platform shoes. This is a lot of fun.

Horne, Sutherland, and Pavarotti sing trio from Norma

Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, and Luciano Pavarotti perform the trio from "Norma"
New York City Opera Orchestra
Conducted by Richard Bonynge
Lincoln Center 1981.

Cecilia Bartoli sings Bel Raggio lusinghier

From Rossini's opera Semiramide. I love how triumphant and pleased she is at the end.

Ciao Pavarotti

This article lists some great recordings (click on this post's title):

"I Puritani," Bellini; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Caminada, Luccardi, Ghiaurov, London Symphony Orchestra (Decca)

"La Fille du Regiment," Donizetti; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Malas, Sinclair, Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden (Decca)

"L'Elisir d'Amor," Donizetti; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Cossa, Malas, Casula, English Chamber Orchestra (Decca)

"Lucia di Lammermoor," Donizetti; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Ghiaurov, Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden (Decca)

"La Boheme," Puccini; Karajan; Pavarotti, Freni, Harwood, Panieri, Berlin Philharmonic (Decca)

"Tosca," Puccini; Rescigno; Freni, Pavarotti, Milnes, National Philharmonic Orchestra (Decca)

"Guglielmo Tell," Rossini; Chailly; Pavarotti, Freni, Milnes, Ghiaurov, National Philharmonic Orchestra (Decca)

"Rigoletto," Verdi; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, London Symphony Orchestra (Decca)

The Library's personal favorite: Bellini - La Sonnambula / Sutherland · Pavarotti · Ghiaurov · NPO · Bonynge.

Beautiful classical album

I'm listening to this album of Beethoven piano and violin sonatas. Szeryng and Rubinstein play so beautifully together.

Boney M

Somehow, I missed this group completely during the 1970s. They're the Black ABBA or something. Their songs are really catchy - I especially like the one about Rasputin. I even watched a video of it on YouTube, something I rarely do. (click on post title to go directly to YouTube for the video.)

Closed on Account of Rabies

This could be the worst album cover of all time. It's a CD of people reading Poe against eerie musical backgrounds. Some of the tracks are unlistenable, while others are excellent! The excellent tracks: Ulalume read by the late Jeff Buckley, For Annie, read by Gavin Friday, The Raven, read by Christopher Walken, The Masque of the Red Death, read by Gabriel Byrne, and The Tell-Tale Heart, read by Iggy Pop.

Soul Sisters

I've been getting into 1960s soul music, especially female singers. These women blow me away with their soulfulness. They're still around, too.
Bettye LaVette - does a fantastic version of Cry Me a River
Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts
Betty Everett - You're No Good (later a hit by Linda Ronstadt)
Irma Thomas - does a famous version of Time is On My Side

Great recording

I heard this recording on the radio and had to buy it. It is gorgeous, magical. The voices are all perfect and the orchestra is sublime. Best version of this opera I've ever heard. It's available very cheaply (used) from Amazon. And yes, the CD cover is just awful!
Conductor: Jeffrey Tate
Performers: Barbara Bonney, Barbara Hendricks, Eva Lind, Andreas Schmidt, Anne Sofie von Otter, et al.
Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bayerischen Rundfunkorchester
Audio CD (October 15, 1990). Angel Records.

A young pianist

This is Serg van Gennip. From his website:

Born in Kazan, Russia, in 1985. Serg van Gennip lived in St. Petersburg until the age of five. During this tender age, he always felt a certain attraction to the musical part of life, watching many great artists at work in theatres and concert halls. How can someone be attracted to this art so early? The answer could lie in the genes. Serg van Gennip is a far relative of Sergei Rachmaninov.

I'm listening to his playing and it's fantastic! And many pieces are available for free download. He supposedly has a podcast but it doesn't work. However there are pieces on his site that can be downloaded as MP3s.

http://www.serg.vangennip.com/www/home.html