Colour My World

This one from the 1970 Chicago II album is on heavy rotation lately. It’s good. That’s all.

Colour My World- Chicago

Would You Like To Unfasten My Braid?

The first time I heard Dory Previn , my mind was blown. Who was this mystical woman? When I got her biographical details, the music all made sense. After a traumatizing childhood (her father, suffering from the results of gassing during WWI, was extremely depressed and paranoid-  he held his family captive at gunpoint for several weeks), she began writing, acting, and modeling. After the release of her first album, she became acquainted with the composer Andre Previn, whom she married. They wrote music together (Theme to Valley of The Dolls, anyone?) but the marriage was rocky. Dory suffered from depression, and Andre fell for Mia Farrow (she must have been pretty seductive, though I can’t see it. I mean, Sinatra was nuts for her. Personally, I find her rather annoying. How could Sinatra go from Ava Gardner, arguably the sexiest woman who ever existed, to Mia Farrow, perpetual child?). Anyway, it was with Previn that Mia Farrow began assembling her massive family,which included adopting Woody Allen’s wife. Here she is with Previn and their first set of twins.

After the divorce from Previn, Dory entered a rough period of questionable psychiatric care (electroconvulsive therapy). Dory then turned to song again to work out the kinks of her life. This is where Dory’s real music career began. Life wasn’t over yet.

The 45-year-old began recording stark, confessional albums. Hiding behind the groovy sunglasses was a woman scarred and scorned, a brilliant songwriter with acerbic lyrics of disappointment in humanity. We’re all a bunch of assholes, it’s in our nature. And the world is going to get blown up soon, by the way. Just saying.

Here are a couple of Dory tracks, from her two 1971 releases (she had a lot to say that year) Mythical Kings and Iguanas and Confessions In a Mud Puddle.

“Lady With The Braid” is pure, unadulterated desperation. Please sleep over, please don’t go. I’m living in a mad house.

Lady With The Braid- Dory Previn

It doesn’t get tighter lyrically than “Doppelganger.” You know where she’s going with it the whole time, yet the bomb she drops at the end is still chilling.

Doppelganger- Dory Previn

Dory is still around. I’d like to see here rise from the ashes again, and condemn us all.

When The Day Is Done

I’m sorry to hear of the passing of Mary Travers, whose unique voice was a fixture in my house growing up.

Here she is with Joan Baez, singing “Lonesome Valley” at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival. I chose this song because Joan kind of showboats in this song, but Mary, more subdued and warm, really takes it  in my opinion.

Lonesome Valley- Joan Baez & Mary Travers at Newport, 1966

On a more superficial note, Mary was quite a style icon, with her long blonde hair and short bangs and long mumus she wore in the 1970s and 80s. I was looking for a good picture of her to illustrate this period but couldn’t find one.

Here she is with the boys singing “Moments of The Soft Persuasion” from their 1968 album Late Again.

Moments of the Soft Persuasion- Peter, Paul, and Mary

And singing the Gordon Lightfoot song “For Lovin’ Me” on British television fairly early in their successful, long partnership.

Flowers Come In The Spring

I  have been on the Dennis Wilson love train lately. Here he is singing “Lady,” the b-side to Dennis’ first single in 1970. When I found out that in the later-seventies Dennis and Christine McVie were in love, that made total sense to me.

Lady- Dennis Wilson

Brian Wilson recorded his wife Marilyn’s group, American Spring, singing the song under it’s alternate title, “Fallin’ In Love” in 1973. This is the version I first fell in love with, but Dennis’ is catching up fast with it.  It’s nice that Brian is supporting his wife’s music by sporting an American Spring shirt in this pic with the family.

Fallin’ In Love- American Spring

I’m posting these songs because it’s perfect music if you’re in love and it’s the last day of August- a cool, sunny day- in Brooklyn.

The Real World

 

This Bangles track is outstanding. I always thought Susanna Hoffs had a special voice. This is a sunshiny, melodic confection from L.A.’s underrated “Paisley Underground” scene. God, “underrated” is such a gross term and I use it so much lately. Anyway. Great stuff. Check it out, from 1982. 

I do realize I just wrote a whole lot of nothing.

The Real World- The Bangles