In all honestly I can't think of an album that is more important than Sparks' "Exotic Creatures From The Deep." I bet my life on it. If you don't think it' s not that magnificent , then please don't even talk to me. We're not on the same planet. It's as simple as that.
Mike Leander, arranger, songwriter, and the man behind Gary Glitter. But alas, he had a huge music past. For instance
Marianne Faithfull singing "As Tears Go By." Arranged by Mike Leander (with interview by Brian Epstein)
Marianne Faithfull singing "Summer Nights" Arranged by Mike Leander
And he worked for Atlantic Records where he worked as a Producer and Arranger and recorded this song
The Drifters singing "Under The Boardwalk" (Arranged by Mike Leander)
Even the great Billy Fury
Billy Fury singing "In Thoughts Of You (Produced and Arranged by Mike Leander
Billy Fury singing "I'll Never Find Another You"
As an one -off studio project, Leander and the Kink's manager of the late 60's got together to write, produce a single called "The Changing of the Guard." The lead singer is Robert Wace, the Manager of The Kinks. The video down below is Wace's voice but not his face or body. They found a good looking bloke on King's Road - and his moment of fame
Marquis of Kensington singing 'The Changing of the Guard" (1967)
The great and totally underrated Paul Jones. A song by Mike Leander for the film "Privilege"
Paul Jones singing "Privilege" (1967) Produced and Written by Mike Leander
The Punk and Horror version of Paul Jones singing "Privilege" Produced and Written by Mike Leander (this is a classic!)
Patti Smith singing "Privilege" Shot sometime in 2007
Gary Glitter and Mike Leander were really tight as friends, and it took many years for the both of them to discover the sound of "Gary Glitter."
Here are the results:
Gary Glitter "Do You Wanna Touch Me" Co-written, produced and arranged by Mike Leander
Gary Glitter "Hello, Hello I Am Back Again" (Co-written, Produced and Arranged by Mike Leander
Gary Glitter "Rock and Roll Part 2" (Co-Written, Produced and Arranged by Mike Leander
I brought up to the dinner party the subject of color photographs that were found recently of the German occupation of Paris. When I saw the catalogue in a bookstore I was shocked in seeing these images in beautiful color. The shocking aspect is that the city itself hasn’t changed since the Occupation. So when I see the images it is like seeing Paris now, but there are Nazis roaming around the streets. Everyone looks happy and going through their daily schedule except for the occasional old women or young man with a bright yellow star sewed on their winter coat. What are captured in these images are the banal aspects of evil doing what they do best – acting totally normal. Frank told me that these were propaganda images from the Occupation and he was quite emotional about them saying that they told a lie. But to my eyes the images are just plain creepy and weird. Really scary and just awful yet fascinating at the same time. The image often, doesn't represent the reality.
Here is the layout I believe from the Sunday Times Magazine. Photographs by André Zucca.
And here is the song list on the CD that was given out free to the audience:
1) Susan (The Sage) The Chico Hamilton Quintet / Elmer Bernstein 2) Cora (1958) Alain Goraguer 3) Ce Mortel Ennui Alain Goraguer Et Son Orchestre 4) Blues Andre Hodeir 5) Témoin Dans La Ville Barney Wilen 6) Final Pour Pierre et Béatrice Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers 7) Le petit commerce Boris Vian 8) Brigitte Strip Blues Georges Arvanitas Quintet 9) No Hay Dinero Caballo (1961) Gonzalo Fernandez & Martial Solal 10) Générique (Le Saint Mène La Danse) (1960) Michel de Villers 11) Cha Cha Cha Du Loup Serge Gainsbourg & Alain Goraguer 12) Fuite Du Rouquin Serge Gainsbourg & Alain Goraguer 13) Maxim's Serge Gainsbourg 14) Generique Miles Davis 15) Danse André Hodeir 16) Trope A Saint-Trop Andre Hodeir 17) Tom Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers 18) Amanda (1958) Alain Goraguer 19) Jazz Et Jazz Andre Hodeir
I am working on a book about Sparks and London and other things as well. These following images are what I am using for the work I am doing at the moment. I will put them up and you'll try to figure out what it means. ok?
My wife Lun*na Menoh just did a performance with her band Jean Paul Yamamoto, that did include music - but not in the regular way. I guess you had to be there to hear the amplified sewing machines mixed in with the music. Nevetherless here's lun*na's introduction to the afternoon
"Hello! I am Lun*na Menoh from Jean Paul Yamamoto, a Los Angeles based band. We are known for combining high fashion, art performance, and rock n' roll theatrics. Today we have a special event that is not our regular 'live music' performance. Jean Paul Yamamoto will be doing an improvised sewing show in front of the audience. We will design and make 12 one-of-a-kind T-shirts (100% white cotton) and they will be completed during the art performance. If you would like to have a designed T-Shirt, please come inside and place an order – and yes, this is "Instant Couture!"
Also during our performance, we will have a floor fashion show, where every 5 minutes a series of models will be walking around the floor wearing stage costumes worn by Jean Paul Yamamoto from their various live music shows of the recent past.
Fashion models:
Maki Asako Sachi Nina Sam Morgan Yuki Stacy
Hair and make up: HAZUKI RIN
Special appearance Logan
Also a continuous DVD screening of Jean Paul Yamamoto & Seksu Roba performances, Relah Eckstein’s films (with Lun*na doing the art direction and costumes) and Lun*na Menoh’s previous Fashion/Art events in the Royal T’s VIP Room located back of the gallery.
Enjoy the Event"
Photographs by Hana Kidaka of the "Instant Couture" event that took place at Royal T in Culver City - July 6, 2008
For the past month or so, this area had become a home to me. The streets, not anyone's house - but just me getting on and off buses, and eating on Upper Street before going to the Sparks' shows at the Carling Academy located in N1. So in a sense this is what i know of London, and today for some reason I really miss it.
Happy Birthday Elliott Gould
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Happy Birthday to one of the all-time greats and one of the coolest of the
cool Elliott Gould. From my 2019 New Beverly interview with Elliott Gould
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