Blossom Dearie Fans? (OT)
Paul O'Neill
Many of you may have read of the passing of the great American
chanteuse, Blossom Dearie, this past February, in NYC. She had
a large, almost 'cult' following for many years, which cut across
many musical/societal lines. I remember Regine Crespin always
tried to catch Blossom Dearie, in live performance, when she (RC)
was singing at the Met.
Some of Blossoms old LPs have been reissued as CDs, but much
of her classic material remains 'in the vaults' and collectors, who
are in the know, tend to hold onto her rare vinyl. I have been
trying tind a viable copy of the song, PROMUSICA ANTIGUA,
for years, with no luck. This song is mentioned over and over
whenever someone writes about Blossom's life and output. It
was singled out in every obituary I found, after her passing. But
it seems to be totally unavailable, for years. Even YouTube,
which often comes to our rescue, does not have it, among their
60 song collection of Blossom Dearie material.
So, are there any fans of the lady in our midst, who might take the
time to find this song and share it here, (and maybe on YouTube,
as well) This wee gem should NOT be allowed to fall between the
cracks.
If somebody could make a good quality MP3 transfer of the song,
but might not wish to publicly post it, would you send me a copy
privately?
Thanks! from Paul, in Massachusetts (read below)
Here are the lyrics, to jog your memories:
PROMUSICA ANTIQUA
I'll sing you a song of the Cloisters if you hark.
I'll sing of the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park.
Where I used to go in the month of June
To listen to the riddle of an ancient tune
At a concert given in the afternoon
By the Pro Musica Antiqua, the Pro Musica Antiqua
The Pro Musica, the Pro Musica, the Pro Musica Antiqua.
It was at precisely such a recital I recall
That I met a young man, like an oak tree, straight and tall.
As we sat there together, and we spoke no word
As within our hearts ---Ah, something stirred
As we listened there to Buxtehude, Purcell and Byrd
At the etc.
He invited me to his flat
For a cup of tea and a chat.
For he said he had a batch of recordings to play
Of Dufay and Dupres, so what could I say, but "Yes"!
What a fool I was to go.
What an idiot from tippy-top to toe.
For behind that face and charming smile
Lay a motive base and a manner vile.
What a fool I was to go!
But how could I nonny nonny nonny know?
Well he took me up to his flat as he had said
And he locked the door and he sat on his great double bed
And he looked at me with eyes that lied
And I knew when I saw that look in his eye
That he had no recordings of Dupres and Dufay
From the etc.
Well there I stood. I was rooted in my place.
As I viewed with dread my deceitful lover's face.
For I knew from the lovesick look in his eye,
He could lay me low with a single sigh
Well he laid me low...and he laid me high
At the etc.
Now if you go to concerts on the grass
And you're overfond of Gabrielli brass
Or a gay Bonsel, Beware! Beware!
Of what may come to pass.
Of what may come to pass.
Now the sound of a consort of viols makes me ill,
And the lute and the zither make me sicker still.
And every morning at the crowing of the cocks
I wash my face and I comb my locks
And I brush my teeth and I put a pox
On the etc.
Now maidens take fair warning from my tale.
Beware! Beware of the music-loving male.
You can go to the Cloisters if you choose
And seek enchantment in the muse
But I hate to tell you what you might lose
At the etc.
(Lyrics to a classic BLOSSOM DEARIE song.)
William Sommerwerck
> That I met a young man, like an oak tree, straight and tall.
Hmmm... What about this man's acorns?
Was this song inspired by "Madeira"?
Blossom Dearie had a voice that matched her name. She was a unique talent,
indeed. I never bought any of her recordings, partly because I thought they
would categorize me as a Judy Lover.
Richergar
I heard her many times. Life is not easy for cabaret artists...very
little money, actually, tough conditions, and so on, and they are
about as close to troubadours as remain imho. A number of her
performances are available on the Ben Bagley albums, SOME of which
(and I HAVE the rest) are available on cd and are irreplacable for
people interested in Broadway musicals.
Andrew Clarke
wrote:
> Blossom Dearie had a voice that matched her name. She was a unique talent,
> indeed. I never bought any of her recordings, partly because I thought they
> would categorize me as a Judy Lover.
Dear Bill,
She has a considerable following in Australia, including myself and
spouse, so her appeal is by no means limited to Friends of Dorothy. I
have 5 CDs of her, including two of the French ones in which she
appears either as a pianist or as a member of Les Blues Stars. They
mostly contain her recordings of the American songbook rather than the
Dave Frishberg numbers that she became renowned for. But let's be
thankful for "The Party's Over" "Manhattan" "Rhode Island is Famous
for You" and the improvised "Blossom's Blues" ('Ray Brown says that
I'm built for speed ...') not to mention her exquisite piano playing.
Did she ever record "Peel Me a Grape"?
Andrew Clarke
Canberra
Andrew Clarke
Canberra
Curtis Croulet
> chanteuse, Blossom Dearie, this past February, in NYC. She had
> a large, almost 'cult' following for many years, which cut across
> many musical/societal lines. I remember Regine Crespin always
> tried to catch Blossom Dearie, in live performance, when she (RC)
> was singing at the Met.
I did not know of her passing, and I'm saddened to hear of it. I don't own
any of her records, but I fondly remember her performances on TV in the
1960s.
--
Curtis Croulet
Temecula, California
33�27'59"N, 117�05'53"W
number_six
I had never heard her until about ten years ago, when I tried one of
her CDs from BMG Once Upon A Summertime). I thought she had a very
fresh, distinctive style, and especially loved her recording of the
palyful, carefree Doop-Doo-De-Doop (a Doodlin' Song).
Later I got a self-titled CD, her Verve Jazz Masters CD, and Gentleman
Friend. Wish I had seen her perform sometime...
number_six
wrote:
> > It was at precisely such a recital I recall
> > That I met a young man, like an oak tree, straight and tall.
>
> Hmmm... What about this man's acorns?
>
> Was this song inspired by "Madeira"?
>
I only know the Madeira song from my old Limeliters albums. Was it
more associated with somebody else, or is that the version you're
thinking of?
William Sommerwerck
news:1f5fc024-3c20-4ad4...@f37g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>>> It was at precisely such a recital I recall
>>> That I met a young man, like an oak tree, straight and tall.
>> Was this song inspired by "Madeira"?
> I only know the Madeira song from my old Limeliters albums.
> Was it more associated with somebody else, or is that the
> version you're thinking of?
The song was written by Flanders & Swan. The Blossom Dearie song is about a
similar situation, so...
Stephen Jay-Taylor
williepitt
<grizzledgee...@comcast.net> wrote:
> "number_six" <cyberi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
I assume that's "Have Some Madeira, M'Dear" rather than the Kingston
Trio song "The Wines of Madeira".
Andrew Clarke
wrote:
> I didn't know she'd died, and am sorry to hear it. She was lovely, and I'm sure will be much missed.
>
> SJT
See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4572560/Blossom-Dearie.html
and http://www.jazzinbelgium.com/musician/bobby.jaspar
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAiSHxWuoA0
andrew clarke
canberra
Andy Evans
I have to give you the lyrics for "I'm hip" - it was great the way she
sang it! I think she made some changes like "Look at me go - Rodeo-do"
I'm hip
I'm no square
I'm alert
I'm awake
I'm aware
I am always on the scene
Makin' the rounds
Diggin' the sounds
I read playboy magazine
'Cause I'm hip
I dig
I'm in step
When it was hip to be hep, I was hep
I don't blow but I'm a fan
Look at me swing
Ring a ding ding
I even call my girlfriend man
I'm so hip
Every Saturday night
With my suit buttoned tight
And my suedes on
I'm gettin' my kicks
Watching arty French flicks
With my shades on
I'm too much
I'm a gas
I am anything but middle class
When I hang around the band
Poppin' my thumbs
Diggin' the drums
Squares don't seem to understand
Why I flip
They're not hip
Like I'm hip
I'm hip
I'm alive
I enjoy any joint
Where there's jive
I'm on top of every trend
Look at me go
Bobby Darrin knows my friend
I'm so hip
I'm hip
But not weird
Like, you notice, I don't wear a beard
Beards were in but now they're out
They had they're day
Now they're passe
Just ask me if you're in doubt
Cause I'm hip
Now whatever the fads
And whatever the ads
Say is neatsville
I'll be keeping abreast
Out in front with the rest of elitesville
'Cuz I'm cool as a cuke
I'm a cat,
I'm a card
I'm a kook
I get so much out of life
Really, I do
One more time play Mack the Knife
Let 'er rip
I may flip
but I'm hip
I'm hip
I'm hip
FAT ASS RON
Spam Stopper
> [snip]
Mr. "Fatass", posting through the "Asia Pacific Network Information
Center," looks like one of those ChiCom-Spam-boys that have been
clogging up this NG lately.
His pedigree is dubious.
cdjm...@ozemail.com.au
The Pro Musica Antiqua
Blossom Dearie (vocals), Blossom Dearie (piano)
ABC Classics 481 2006