TamTam Books' Tribute to Lotte Lenya

The first record that I remember of is Lotte Lenya's songs from "Three Penny Opera." To this very day (50 some years later) it reminds me of my childhood. Even my German Grandmother played this album on a consistent basis. So there was no escape for me!

This is a mere introduction to the great Lenya, and do watch the documentary down below. Meanwhile here are some of her recordings and the 'children' who are deeply influenced by Lotte Lenya (and the music of her husband Kurt Weil, with Brecht of course).


Lotte Lenya sings Pirate Jenny in German (of course) from "Three Penny Opera"


Lotte Lenya singing "Mackie the Knife" from "Three Penny Opera"


Lotte Lenya singing "Alabama Song" (just music not much of an image)


Marlyn Manson sings "Alabama Song" Nice footage by the way. If not actuality, he is the grandchild of Lotte and Kurt.


David Bowie performing (greatly) "Alabama Song" The son of Kurt and Lotte. This is great footage as well.

The documentary down below has great imagery and songs by Lotte Lenya.


Lotte Lenya Documentary Part One Great footage of Lenya.


Lotte Lenya Documentary Part Two


Lotte Lenya Documentary Part Three

Sparks Rare footage

Why Sparks and France are so good together


Sparks and France again, with the underrated great song "A Big Surprise"


No. 1 Song in Heaven on "Top of the Pops"

Consumer Alert: Get this Serge Gainsbourg Box Set

A couple of years ago I picked this box set at the Paris airport, and it's one of my most played sets in my office. Serge Gainsbourg's "Mister Melody" is 98 tracks by various artists who worked with Gainsbourg. All songs are by Serge, and the artists who are invovled are Nico, Dominique Walter, Dalida, Isabelle Aubret, France Gall, Serge Reggiani, Valerie Lagrange, Juliette Greco, Nana Mouskouri, Brigitte Bardot, Petula Clark, Michele Arnaud, Les Freres Jacques, Helene Martin, Mireille Darc, Jane Birkin, Catherine Deneuve, Anna Karina, and lots of others! It's a great collection of great songs and all in four disks.

My favorite online store (and they have a real location in Chicago) Dusty Grove is selling the package for only $34.99! Their website address is http://www.dustygroove.com

Buy it! I swear to anyone that this is a great package with great music. A must for someone who is putting their toes for the first time in the bath water that is Gainsbourg. Also a lot of hard-to-find recordings are in this package. A strong TamTam Books' recommendation.

Dennis Hopper Exhibition in Paris with Artwork by Wallace Berman

Dennis Hopper is having a retrospective of his films as well as his artwork and photographs in Paris at the La Cinematheque. Not only that he will also be exhibiting his personal art collection. And in that collection with fellow artists like Ed Ruscha, Warhol, Rauschenberg among others is Wallace Berman.

Dennis has some great Berman works in his collection and I strongly suggest that if you are in Paris, one should drop by and see the exhibition. And the catalogue is fantastic as well.

The show runs from October 15 to January 19, 2009.

The address:

La Cinematheque
51, rue de Bercy
75012 Paris France

Access:

Metro: Bercy
Bus: 24, 64, or 87