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Clive Davis Plans Annual Pre-Grammy Soiree with A List Guests from Aerosmith to Nancy Pelosi to Ricky Martin and Apple Chiefs Cook and Cue

Roger Friedman
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Clive Davis Plans Annual Pre-Grammy Soiree with A List Guests from Aerosmith to Nancy Pelosi to Ricky Martin and Apple Chiefs Cook and Cue

We are getting ready for Grammy week, which means the annual Saturday night Pre-Grammy gala aka the Clive Davis party. Already revealed: Nancy Pelosi will be there in the Beverly Hilton Ballroom. Pelosi loves the Grammys. She always comes to MusiCares Person of the Year– this year it’s Dolly Parton.

No one knows yet who Clive has gotten for the show part of his night. Could Lady Gaga make a special appearance? You don’t know. But the guest list is already shaping up as a night of nights.

I’m already hearing that Apple chiefs Tim Cook and Eddy Cue will make the scene, as well as Quincy Jones, the members of Aerosmith, Brandi Carlile, New Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, Swizz Beatz (but no Alicia Keys– she’ll be at rehearsal since she’s hosting the Grammys), Netflix’ Ted Sarandos and Nicole Avant– her dad, Clarence Avant, is getting the Industry Icon Award. That’s not all:  Rita Ora, ABC News’ David Muir, NBA All-Star Chris Bosh, Stephen Stills, G-Eazy, Rob Thomas, Ricky Martin, Dua Lipa, and Lou Adler. And I would be very surprised if we didn’t see some others — like Earth, Wind & Fire, and maybe even Zayn Malik– in the audience.

And that’s only the beginning. This year, Clive and co. return to the Beverly Hilton after last year’s turn in New York. The New York guests were blown away– they’d only heard about Clive’s dinner over the years. Now back to Hollywood, which should also mean lots of legendary stars like Joan Collins and Jane Fonda.

 

 

 

Beatles Film “Let it Be” Finally Being Restored for 50th Anniversary Release, Plus Peter Jackson Making Documentary

Roger Friedman
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Beatles Film “Let it Be” Finally Being Restored for 50th Anniversary Release, Plus Peter Jackson Making Documentary

Buried at the end of a press release this morning is excellent news: Michael Lindsay-Hogg is restoring “Let it Be,” the Beatles’ infamously semi-released final film, for its 50th anniversary in 2020. “Let it Be” was first released briefly in May 1970 and then vanished as the Beatles broke up. It’s been the subject of heated discussion for decades: what happened to it?

At the same time, Apple Records really announced this morning that they’ve turned the outtakes over to “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson to make a documentary about the making of the rooftop concert. I’ve inverted the importance of these two headlines from the press release. News of the restored actual film was a footnote to the Jackson news.

Well, all of this is good news. It’s actually quite interesting because “Let it Be” is said to show the band as it was falling apart. Paul McCartney himself has said he doesn’t come off well in it. So to counter that, very cleverly, we’ll get a pro-band film.

One of the issues at the time of “Let it Be” was that Yoko Ono, long before she became a beacon for peace and wise sayings on Twitter, was a controversial figure in the studio. Lennon had there as almost a fifth member of the group. When she appeared in the video for the song “Let it Be” shown for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show, fans freaked out about this looming figure in the background.

Jackson’s quote in the press release is a clear indication that history will look brighter and shinier. He says: “I was relieved to discover the reality is very different to the myth,” Jackson said. “After reviewing all the footage and audio that Michael Lindsay-Hogg shot 18 months before they broke up, it’s simply an amazing historical treasure trove. Sure, there’s moments of drama, but none of the discord this project has long been associated with. Watching John, Paul, George and Ringo work together, creating now-classic songs from scratch, is not only fascinating. it’s funny, uplifting and surprisingly intimate. … I’m thrilled and honored to have been entrusted with this remarkable footage. Making the movie will be a sheer joy.”

Here’s another interesting twist: yesterday the New York Post had a really great piece by Michael Starr, who interviewed Lindsay Hogg about the film but didn’t mention any of this other stuff. Coincidence? Are there any?

Of course, none of this addresses the next Beatles 50th project, “Abbey Road.” Apple is just coming off the very successful “White Album” anniversary. It’s been a big hit, just like “Sgt. Pepper” was the year before. “Abbey Road” was released on September 26, 1969. It continues to be a best seller for the Beatles, topping this past year’s Vinyl Record sales. Unlike “Sgt. Pepper” and the “White Album,” “Abbey Road” was recorded at much higher level of technology in the first place. McCartney has been reluctant to remix it. A remastered version from 2009 is now the CD of record. But The Beatles won’t miss the anniversary this fall. We can expect some kind of commemoration.

All of this lands on the shoulders of Giles Martin, son of the late Beatles producer George Martin. I guess he just sleeps and eats in the studio at Abbey Road until this is all over!

Joni Mitchell Birthday Celebration Concert Film, “Joni 75,” Will Play One Night in Theaters Across the Country with James Taylor, Chaka Khan, Graham Nash, More

Roger Friedman
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Joni Mitchell Birthday Celebration Concert Film, “Joni 75,” Will Play One Night in Theaters Across the Country with James Taylor, Chaka Khan, Graham Nash, More

Joni Mitchell and her music are coming to a movie theater near you for one night on February 7th. In what looks like a wide digital release, Trafalgar Releasing is sending out a film made from Joni’s 75th birthday concert held last November over two nights. There’s an all star cast of musicians performing Joni’s music (see below). Joni was in the audience and obviously loved every bit of it.

The list below is for the CD, which will be out on streaming services on March 8th. I don’t know if there are more songs in the concert film. But if you’re not up on Joni Mitchell, now is the time. She’s one of the most important and innovative artists of all time. Start with “Blue,” then “Court and Spark,” then my favorite, “The Hissing of Summer Lawns.” After that, there’s so much to choose from including “Ladies of the Canyon,” “Hejira,” and “Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter.”

PS It’s a nice touch that James Taylor is included. Before he met and married Carly Simon, James had a fling with Joni. She appears on his first two Warner Bros. albums, which also feature Carole King at the time she was making “Tapestry” and “Carole King Music.” Read Sheila Weller’s book, “Girls Like Us,” for more info.

1. Dreamland – Performed by Los Lobos
2. Help Me – Performed by Chaka Khan
3. Amelia – Performed by Diana Krall
4. All I Want – Performed by Rufus Wainwright
5. Coyote – Performed by Glen Hansard
6. River – Performed by James Taylor
7. Both Sides Now – Performed by Seal
8. Our House – Performed by Graham Nash
9. A Case Of You – Performed by Kris Kristofferson & Brandi Carlile
10. Down to You – Performed by Brandi Carlile
11. Blue – Performed by Rufus Wainwright
12. Court And Spark – Performed by Norah Jones
13. Nothing Can Be Done – Performed by Los Lobos
14. The Magdalene Laundries – Performed by Emmylou Harris
15. Woodstock – Performed by James Taylor
16. Big Yellow Taxi – Performed by La Marisoul, James Taylor, Chaka Khan, and Brandi Carlile

James Ingram, Great R&B Singer, Dead at 66, Quincy Jones Says: “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James Ingram was simply magical”

Roger Friedman
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James Ingram, Great R&B Singer, Dead at 66, Quincy Jones Says: “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James Ingram was simply magical”

James Ingram, the great R&B singer and protege of Quincy Jones, has died at age 66. He suffered from brain cancer but had been in ill health for some time.

Ingram was the consummate singer, with a big, rangy voice perfect for ballads. His biggest hit was “Just Once.” But he also had duet hits with Patti Austin– “Baby, Come to Me”– and Michael McDonald– “Ya Moh Be There” among others. (He also made two records with John Tesh, but he will be absolved in heaven for those.)

Condolences to his family and friends including Debbie Allen, who posted a Tweet this afternoon.

Here’s an exclusive quote from Quincy Jones:
“There are no words to convey how much my heart aches with the news of the passing of my baby brother James Ingram. With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James Ingram was simply magical. From the minute I first heard his voice on the demo tape for “Just Once,” to “One Hundred Ways”, his classic duet with Patti Austin “How Do You Keep The Music Playing”, “Secret Garden,” “We Are The World,” and all of our recordings, every beautiful note that James sang pierced your essence and comfortably made itself at home. But it was really no surprise because James was a beautiful human being, with a heart the size of the moon. James Ingram was, and always will be, beyond compare. Rest In Peace baby brother. You will be in my heart forever.”

“Green Book” Finally Hits $50 Million As It Fights Way to Possible Best Picture Oscar Win, Gaining Fans Bit by Bit

Regina Weinreich
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“Green Book” Finally Hits $50 Million As It Fights Way to Possible Best Picture Oscar Win, Gaining Fans Bit by Bit

“Green Book” finally is crossing $50 million tonight.

At a celebration for Green Book at Patsy’s Restaurant recently, friends and family of both jazz pianist Dr. Don Shirley and his driver Tony Lip gathered to remember the real life characters of this crowd-pleasing road story. Daniel Craig hosted, and stuck around just long enough for the movie’s star, Viggo Mortensen, to arrive. As he left, a waiter requested a selfie with him, and the Bond actor obliged.

Viggo Mortensen is on every critic’s best actor list for his portrayal of the rough, mob-connected bouncer who landed a job managing a gay, black, elegant performer on a tour through America’s deep South when “colored only” was strictly enforced. Much of the movie is set in a car, with Tony literally eating his way cross country; he and Doc Shirley, superbly brought to life by Mahershala Ali, sparred on many a topic. Unlikely as it may seem, they become family to each other. While you can see it coming from the outset, that does not take away from the warm pleasures of the trip!

Tony LoBianco, Danny Strong, Brooke Adams, Carol Kane, Sean Stone and Danny Aiello were among the many actors attending, with waiters bringing out a salad Aiello favored for those at his table. Aiello knew Tony, and wanted everyone to know that he was tough, but angel-hearted, special. Peter Duchin lived above Carnegie Hall in apartments that many artists rented back in the day. He loves to tell the story of how residents went through an air duct to listen to the concerts onstage. Doc Shirley refused to go: “Isn’t it dirty?” “But it’s Bob Dylan.” “It’s too dirty,” the fastidious musician was said to have said. Duchin and many others praised the film’s characterizations.

Linda Cardellini plays Dolores, Tony’s wife. Tony’s letters to her provide an important motif, but also supply so much of the detail for the writing of this road trip. Nick Vallelonga, Tony Lip’s son and a producer on the film, said his original title was “Loveless Dolores,” so the film started as a son’s homage to his mother, and has come a long way. Cardellini, supplying lots of heat with Viggo, said, the Tony of the film had such an open heart, “I had to make home very important to him.” Cardellini also told me she is often asked what was it like to work with the exceedingly handsome Viggo. He had to transform in his gorgeous way—he gained 50 pounds—“so I never got to see him so handsome.” The same is true for her next movie, about Al Capone’s older days; shot in New Orleans, the film stars a similarly transformed Tom Hardy.

Director Pete Farrelly summed up the film’s message and relevance on a day when the president got on the air to justify his thuggish behavior to force the building of a wall. No matter how divisive everyone is, the movie shows what can happen “if you could just get the whole country in a car together.”

Outside Patsy’s, Radioman told anyone who would listen, this film will go all the way to Best Picture Oscar.

SAG Awards Topped All Cable Shows on Sunday with 2.6 Mil Viewers Thanks to “Black Panther,” Rami Malek Surprise Wins

Roger Friedman
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SAG Awards Topped All Cable Shows on Sunday with 2.6 Mil Viewers Thanks to “Black Panther,” Rami Malek Surprise Wins

Awards shows aren’t dead, after all. But it’s good news and bad news.

Sunday’s SAG Awards topped all cable shows that night. They pulled in about 2.7 million viewers divided between TBS and TNT, two channels most people think are the same. The amounts were evenly divided between channels.

The bad news is how far they’ve fallen since 2013 when the SAG Awards garnered 5.2 million fans. And 2.1 million of those were in the key demo. Six years, lots of erosion, many distractions.

The surprise wins for “Black Panther” and Rami Malek for Best Actor certainly helped. Plus the show had a breezy, economic feel to it. Megan Mullaly was a very good host.

What also helped this year was big box office movies like “A Star is Born” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the mix.

The Oscars should take note. Also, if you add in musical performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, etc. that can only boost the audience.

Exclusive: Media Rumor of the Week– Is Col Allan Returning to the New York Post as Editor in Chief? To Pump Up Trump? (Maybe)

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Media Rumor of the Week– Is Col Allan Returning to the New York Post as Editor in Chief? To Pump Up Trump? (Maybe)

There’s not much left to gossip about in New York media circles these days. Mort Zuckerman is gone, the Daily News is barely in business. The Village Voice is gone. The New York Observer is just online and just The Observer.

Over at the New York Post, publisher Jesse Angelo was pushed out in the last ten days. Now there’s a new rumor: Rupert Murdoch is bringing back Col Allan as editor in chief. Or something.

Allan knew how to sell newspapers and how to get watercooler buzz going after taking over in 2001. But Allan also got in some hot water in 2013 after the Boston Marathon bombing. A Front page story identified two men as the bombers– and they weren’t. They sued, of course. The headline was “BAG MEN: Feds seek these two pictured at Boston Marathon.”

Allan left in 2016 after a long run, and returned to Australia. He had a wild ride at the Post, and was in a frequent state of celebration at Elaine’s until the restaurant closed following the famed proprietor’s death. Another of his hotspots, Langan’s, is also gone.

The spectre of his return was raised by Joe Pompeo in Vanityfair.com over a week ago. But in that time the buzz has grown louder.

Allan is a big time Trump supporter, and would carry out Rupert Murdoch’s wishes to support the failing president. Right now, the Post has gotten a bit wishy washy in its Trump support, openly criticizing him– and seeming very rational in doing so. An Allan return would move the ship to the right again. It would also be a jolt in what has become a sleepy media town. He’ll have to pop his corks now at Pain Quotidien, or Sephora.

Watch Lost Video Interview in Which Michael Jackson Accuser Wade Robson Reminisces About Happily Being Discovered by King of Pop

Roger Friedman
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Watch Lost Video Interview in Which Michael Jackson Accuser Wade Robson Reminisces About Happily Being Discovered by King of Pop

 Here’s a “lost” video just posted on You Tube January 25th. It’s an Australian interview with Wade Robson, Michael Jackson’s accuser in “Leaving Neverland.” I don’t think this is in the new documentary. Wade happily recalls being discovered by Michael as a 5 year old, and how Jackson “sponsored” him and his family in their move to L.A. Around 2:10 Wade picks up the story. Thanks to Troy Krajancic from Auckland, New Zealand for finding the video. I guess it’s possible Wade was in total denial during the interview, or he deserves an Oscar. But he’s smiling and laughing as he reminisces, there’s no sign that he’s discussing his childhood abuser. It’s unclear when this was taped, but Wade is 36 now, he couldn’t have been less than 26 then.

 

 

Jeff Bezos Really Wants an Oscar Next Year: Amazon Studios Spends $27 Million on Two Sundance Films, Setting Records

Roger Friedman
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Jeff Bezos Really Wants an Oscar Next Year: Amazon Studios Spends $27 Million on Two Sundance Films, Setting Records

Jeff Bezos really really wants an Oscar next year.

At Sundance over the weekend, Amazon Studios spent a whopping $27 million on two new features.

The latest purchase, according to reports, is Scott Z. Burns’s “The Report,” starring Adam Driver. Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Ted Levine, Maura Tierney and Michael C. Hall co-star. Bening plays California Senator Dianne Feinstein. The film tells the true story of Daniel Jones’ comprehensive six-year investigation into the CIA’s use of torture on detainees suspected of terrorist activities. It was met with standing ovations and lots of offers. But Amazon is going to pony up $14 million.

Driver is a good investment these days. An Oscar nominee for “Blackkklansman,” he’s also Kylo Ren in the next “Star Wars” movie, which should hit around the same time next December. The rest of that cast ain’t chopped liver, either.

Earlier, Amazon paid $13 million for the Mindy Kaling written and produced “Late Night” starring Emma Thompson as a talk show host who is forced to hire Mindy as a writer in a diversity bid. The much loved film comes with a new song written by 10 time Oscar nominee Diane Warren. (Singer to be determined.)

Amazon is swinging for the fences now after a lot of misfires with indie films made by auteurs like Todd Haines and Richard Linklater. This year they’ve had to depend on “Cold War” as a foreign film nominee.

Amazon TV, however, is booming with “Mrs. Maisel.”

 

Hey– it’s only Monday. Sundance still has several days to go.

Starbucks Owner Howard Schultz, Now Considering Presidential Run, Used to Play Cards in Brooklyn Mob Social Club

Roger Friedman
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Starbucks Owner Howard Schultz, Now Considering Presidential Run, Used to Play Cards in Brooklyn Mob Social Club

Now that Starbucks owner Howard Schultz has declared his intentions to run for president, his past is about to come rolling out.

First up: journalist Tom Robbins tweeted out today that Schultz used to play cards with mobsters in Canarsie in the early 80s. The story was in Robbins’ and Jerry Capeci’s 2013 book, “Mob Boss.” Robbins says Schultz declined to answer questions about this episode. The Bruno Howard Schultz used to hang out with was Bruno Facciola, an Italian-American mobster in the Lucchese crime family from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, who worked under Capo Paul Vario. He was the brother of Gambino crime family mob associate Louis Facciolo. He was a hit man, and I don’t mean in the record business. He was executed by a fellow mobster in 1990.

And so it begins. Will Schultz’s ego about running for president lead to lots of unfortunate revelations? What do you think?

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