I know–it’s a lot of Paul McCartney news this week. He gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday afternoon. Then at 7pm Pacific Time he’s doing a concert live from Capitol Studios in Hollywood. The show is a live stream on ITunes featuring the whole new “Kisses on the Bottom” CD that Tommy LiPuma has made into a kind of instant classic. It’s unclear how big the audience can be since the Diana Krall band and all the recording equipment are filling the place up. I’m told the show will be turned into a PBS fundraising special at some point soon. Then of course Paul is honored at the MusiCares dinner on Friday night, and plays the Grammys on Sunday. If he makes a surprise appearance at Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy show and dinner on Saturday that will be the trifecta, so to speak. A long and winding weekend!
James Franco Shooting Cormac McCarthy Movie in West Virginia
Usually the New York Daily News’s Gatecrasher gets things right, so I want to help them: James Franco wasn’t at a wrap party in Hollywood for the “Linda Lovelace” movie because he’s working in West Virginia. Franco is directing and starring in an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy‘s “Child of God.” The novel was McCarthy’s third, preceding “Blood Meridian” by five years. Originally, Franco had wanted to direct “Blood Meridian,” but when he and producer Scott Rudin fell out on a number of projects, the “Blood Meridian” plan was scuttled. “Child of God,” about a loner (Franco) also stars Tim Blake Nelson and a number of West Virginia locals. Franco tells me from the set that the shoot is going extremely well, and he’s very excited about the results. Having just finished a six month shoot for the big budget studio film “Oz the Great and Powerful,” an indie film must be a relief. By the way, he only taped one or two scenes for “Lovelace” as a favor to the director. And he’s no longer a part of the Writer’s Room bar in Hollywood, although it’s still a very fun place.
Marriott Sets Death Plan for New York Institution
No said it yesterday, but the culprit in the death of the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel is Marriott. The hotel chain took over the legendary New York hotel a few months ago and imnmediately announced a six month shut down for renovations. Their first act: replace the vaunted Oak Room — home to cabaret singers for 30 years — with a breakfast lounge. (Anyone who’s ever stayed in a Courtyard by Marriott can tell you about their legendary cold egg buffet.) This won’t be Marriott’s only change, I fear. The main lobby and dining room — with the legendary “round table” that used to seat Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley–will no doubt be replaced by vending machines and plastic orange chairs.
The fact is, the end of gracious New York life has been over for some time. Down here in Greenwich Village, we’ve long ago lost the famous Balducci’s and Jefferson Market. The great communal gathering place diner, Joe Jr.’s, has been gone for two years. The 40 year old Bagel Buffet was replaced by Dunkin Donuts. New York University–an institution I am embarrassed to say I matriculated from–has already swallowed huge chunks of the fabled village. Now unless they’re stopped they threaten to continue–by building massive, height defying structures in a neighborhood where the sky has always been unobstructed. Am I fatalistic? NYU gets what it wants.
We have no hospital on the lower West Side of New York since the closing of the lamentable St. Vincent’s Hospital. From 59th St. to the Battery, there is nothing. St. Vincent’s is shuttered and being replaced by hundreds of high priced condos. On the application, you must promise not to ever fall ill, because the chances of getting across town to Beth Israel Hospital on the east side, in traffic, are sketchy at best. (Maybe the really rich keep home hospital set ups, like Michael Jackson. Propofol is an option, along with granite counter tops.)
New York used to be full of book stores and record stores. They are almost completely gone. The writers and musicians and artists gatherered at Elaine’s (gone — sold by its inheritor for over $8 million to a redeveloper). The famed Cedar Tavern on University Place, an iconic little building that looked like a log cabin–is now an anonymous brick apartment house. The bottom level, where the Cedar once proudly stood, is a vacant ‘for rent’ cold white box. Whoever winds up selling $300 sweaters in there will never know about the beautifully carved bar, and the famous artists like Larry Rivers and Robert Rauschenberg who crowded the tables.
Depressing, no? Behind me on 9th St., where the Village restaurant was always noisy fun, a security guard is stationed in front of the miserable Lion restaurant quizzing entrants for their acceptability. (It’s hilarious.) The Waverly Inn is still buzzing socially, all by itself. But landlords in the West Village and right over here are advertising “Lower level available”–attempting to turn their mice-ridden storage spaces into “speak – easies” from the 1920s– i.e. “fake hip.” There are no real hip restaurants anymore–from Moomba to 150 Wooster to One Fifth Avenue–the ghosts dance til four while the city that never sleeps is full of shoe stores and outpost banks.
Did I mention banks? There’s no money. People are out of work. And yet there are banks everywhere with dozens of ATM machines. They are giant, coldly lit, empty places. We’re getting one right here at my corner–a First Republic. They’ve bought the old Ansonia Pharmacy building and are gutting it–literally scooping it out from top to the very bottom. The old apartments over the Ansonia will now be luxury homes. On a block of Sixth Avenue where small businesses have always thrived, there will now be a white glowing edifice with a huge vault in the basement and 24 hour access to money no one has. Maybe Marriott and NYU can set up a breakfast lounge in the lobby. With a defibrillator.
There’s more: Eighth Street and Bleecker Street have been destroyed. On the latter, it’s all charmless Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren. And I’m not even getting into the horrors facing the folks on Second Avenue every day with the endless subway dig. Or the fact that Broadway south of Houston Street to Canal is now basically a sidewalk with one lane of traffic flow. Or the unnecessary move of the Washington Square Park fountain so it lined up with the Arch. For more read http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/
PS One happy announcement: after 18 months, the Jefferson Market Library clocktower is back in service. The bell rings on the hour. It’s the most beautiful sound in lower New York.
Giants Win, But So Does Madonna- Big Time
Her movie is a dud, she’s involved in a crazy cult, but listen–Madonna is a show person. Her half time show at the Super Bowl was just perfect, from the opening of “Vogue” to the closing of “Like a Prayer.” Give her credit–she knew she was playing to a conservative audience. There were to be no lesbian kisses or wardrobe malfunctions. Did she sing live? Sometimes. Whatever. It didn’t matter. And bringing Cee Lo in for “Like a Prayer” was magic. It’s her best song, and you can’t beat a gospel choir. Otherwise, there’s not much to say about the new song, which isn’t very good. “Music” sounded like a cacaphony. But all in all, it was upbeat, ebullient, entertaining. So, you see, even Madonna’s naysayers can find something to love in her. But all the women at our Super Bowl party thought she looked uncomfortable in those boots. Madonna, it’s a win, grade A. And the Giants– god bless each and every one of them.
Super Tuesday This Week: McCartney, Van Halen, Flack, Fray and Bentley
Circle Tuesday February 7th–yes, it’s already February 7th, believe it or not. A big crop of A list albums are released on Tuesday. Paul McCartney‘s wonderful “Kisses on the Bottom” is not the only Beatles-eque CD of the day.Roberta Flack is delivering her long-awaited “Let it Be Roberta,” a stunning reimagining of Beatles songs like “We Can Work it Out,” “In My Life,” “Come Together,” George Harrison’s “Isn’t it a Pity,” and –shockingly–a three minute version of “Hey Jude.” On the latter, Roberta simply turns the main song into an acoustic rendering and drops the long “na-na” section. Her versions of “Let it Be” and “The Long and Winding Road” are terrific, too. Go straight to amazon or ITunes right now for these CDs. Then of course Van Halen has “A Different Kind of Truth” with David Lee Roth returning as lead singer and Wolfgang Van Halen replacing Michael Anthony as bassist. There are also two more contemporary releases: from the Fray, and from country star singer Dierks Bentley. McCartney is all set for a big Grammy weekend (MusiCares Person of the Year and the Grammy show.) I’d be surprised if Van Halen doesn’t rear its many heads also over Grammy weekend. But if the record business is looking for a push, this Tuesday is it–at least until March 6th when Bruce Springsteen releases “Wrecking Ball.”
PS Leonard Cohen released an exquisite album last week. For some reason he called it “Old Ideas.” This is like a marketing buzzkill. How about “New Ideas,” Leonard? Or how about any of the nine titles of the songs on the CD? Anything but “Old Ideas.” For a guy who lost all his money, and needs to make some, you’d think he’d pick something a little more exciting or enticing. Anyway. It’s not like the album is just Lenny crabbing away. The lyrics and melodies are magical, and he adds great female back up singers. Get it.
Sister Sledge Files Class Action v. Warner Music: “We Are NOT Family”
Popular seventies recording act Sister Sledge–“We Are Family” was their monster hit– and country star Ronnie Blakely of the movie “Nashville”–have filed a class action suit against Warner Music Group. This is a big deal. The suit is based on Eminem’s successful similar suit against Universal Music Group from last year. It’s based on the record companies’ alleged non payment of royalties on digital downloads, mostly to “legacy” artists whose contracts never foresaw the advent of ITunes and the disappearance of physical records.
The Warner suit has far reaching implications because it encompasses not just Warner, but its especially lucrative catalog business via Atlantic Records (Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett) and Rhino Records (which has repackaged all that material for decades). It’s also a class action suit, which means dozens of artists from the heyday of Warner-Elektra-Atlantic-Rhino can join the suit as it progresses. Damning for WMG are former CEO Edgar Bronfman’s quarterly proclamations to shareholders over the last six years that “digital sales are booming” (I’m paraphrasing) while everything else was in the toilet. Recordings of those analysts calls are sure to be played before some jury in the future.
The suit can be distilled thusly: “However, in breach of its contractual obligations under its Standard Recording
Agreements, WARNER has treated its transactions with Digital Content Providers as “sales” rather than “licenses.” In so doing, WARNER has applied the incorrect formula for calculating royalties owed to Plaintiffs and Class members, taken unjustifiable deductions (including, but not
limited to, the Net Sales Deduction, the Container Charge deduction, and the AudiophileDeduction), and applied a royalty percentage that is, in general, less than half of what it should beapplying in its computation.”
The suit was filed by four law firms. The principal is Pearson, Simon, Warshaw, and Penny in San Francisco.
Madonna’s “W.E.” $45k Weekend
UPDATE SUNDAY MORNING: “W.E.” took in $45,000–estimated–over the weekend. That may be a bit high, and could still be revised. It’s unlikely it will get more of a push beyond its 4 screens.
UPDATE SATURDAY MORNING: Friday night–“W.E.” played on 4 screens, and took in $14,000. Basically, no one went to see it. Let’s compare: When “The Artist” — a silent, black and white movie made by French people with no stars– opened on 4 screens, it took in $75,000. When “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” opened on 4 screens, it took in $90,000 the first night, and $119,000 on the second night. Viewing comparative costs, Madonna probably spent $14,000 on eyebrow treatments yesterday. All that build up, millions spent by Cartier and other sponsors to drag “W.E.” all over the world for premieres. According to the New York Times from 1998, the lowest priced item that sold at the Duchess of Windsor’s estate was a Charles Baskerville painting for $19,500.
EARLIER: Madonna may be getting ready for her big Super Bowl half time show on Sunday. But her movie, “W.E.” has opened to the worst reviews of her entire horridso called film career. “W.E.”–cleverly redubbed “WTF?” by Kyle Smith in the New York Post, has scored a measly 18% on Rottentomatoes.com. That’s out of 100%. Critics around the country and the world-especially the British papers–hate it. I told you this would happen last September when “W.E.”–Madonna’s misinterpretation of the love story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor–opened at the Toronto Film Festival. Since then much has happened–including Madonna’s ex-communication of cast member Abbe Cornish, who, according to sources, “she simply doesn’t like.” Only actress Andrea Riseborough, who plays Wallis Simpson, has made the publicity rounds.
Ironically, just as Madonna is performing in Indianapolis on Sunday, the full weekend box office numbers should be out–and they won’t be pretty. That is unless you’re interested in seeing the Duchess of Windsor dance to Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” while her husband watches from his death bed. Or listening to Madonna dismiss the couple’s visit to Hitler and their support of Nazi Germany. Or see actor James D’Arcy– a six foot two slim model–play Edward, the five foot seven nincompoop who abdicated (thank goodness) the British crown to marry an already twice wedded American who reportedly cheated on him.
“W.E.” is an odd and off putting movie, that’s for sure. The dialogue is crass, the sense of history is derived from skipping high school classes. But I must take credit for one thing — I dubbed this film “Wally and Wallis” in July 2010 as a tribute to “Julie and Julia.” Now everyone’s hopping on the bandwagon. But when people from two different eras–one dead, one alive because she’s breathing–start talking to each other, you know there’e trouble.
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/07/29/madonna-film-on-the-windsors-wally-and-wallis
French Movie Ad Was Parody of James Bond (Duh)
Just in case the Hollywood Reporter still doesn’t get it, those French ads for “Les Infideles” were a parody of the ads for “For Your Eyes Only.” The James Bond film of the 1980s featured Roger Moore positioned beneath a female assassin’s legs. Here’s one of the posters that was not very scandalous then and isn’t very scandalous then. By the way, I’m told that “Les Infideles” is a harmless set of short films in which the men who think they’re getting away with cheating, don’t. The women wind up triumphing. It’s hardly misogynistic. It’s considered a date night movie a la “Love American Style.” And Jean DuJardin is said to be quite charming in it. What a surprise. Quel suprise!
McCartney MusiCares Show: More Stars and Grammy Camp
More stars have lined up for Paul McCartney‘s big MusiCares show on February 10th– Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Norah Jones, and even Duane Eddy. James Taylor will sing “Yesterday.”
Meantime, MusiCares and the Grammy Foundation are gearing up for other events next week including Grammy Camp and Grammy in the Schools–next Wednesday, February 8th, featuring one of my favorite contemporary R&B stars, Anthony Hamilton. Here’s the press release:
THIRD ANNUAL GRAMMY IN THE SCHOOLS® LIVE! CONCERT WILL FEATURE GRAMMY® NOMINEE TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON,
GRAMMY WINNER ANTHONY HAMILTON,
EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENTS, AND
HOST PAT PRESCOTT FROM 94.7 THE WAVE
GRAMMY Foundation® Event Sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund and the Starkey Hearing Foundation with Support from Best Buy, Converse, and 94.7 the Wave
WHO: Members of the GRAMMY Camp® — Jazz Session, along with student alumni from
GRAMMY Camp and GRAMMY® Signature Schools, with special guest performances by current GRAMMY nominee Terri Lyne Carrington and GRAMMY-winning artist Anthony Hamilton. Pat Prescott from 94.7 the Wave will be the evening’s host. For real-time coverage and updates on this event, plus all GRAMMY Foundation events during GRAMMY Week, please like “GRAMMY in the Schools” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/grammyintheschools.
WHAT: Third annual GRAMMY In The Schools® Live! — A Celebration Of Music & Education, sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund and the Starkey Hearing Foundation with support from Best Buy, Converse, and 94.7 the Wave.
WHEN: Feb. 8, 2012
6 p.m.: Media Check-In
6:30 – 7 p.m.: One-on-Ones with Terri Lyne Carrington, Neil Portnow, Pat Prescott, and sponsors
7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: One-on-Ones with Anthony Hamilton
7:30 p.m. Performance
WHERE: University of Southern California, Grand Ballroom
3607 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, CA 90089
310.581.8682
*Dinner tickets start at $75 per person; dinner begins at 7 p.m. Concert only tickets are $20 per person; concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.grammyintheschools.com or https://www.formstack.com/forms/?1047456-IfE0zhkr9A to purchase.*
WHY: GRAMMY Camp, GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session and GRAMMY Signature Schools are programs for U.S. high school students and high school music programs. They are part of the GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY in the Schools offerings and are supported in part by Best Buy, Converse, Ford Motor Company Fund, and the Starkey Hearing Foundation. The 2012 GRAMMY Camp application deadline is March 31, 2012. Financial assistance is available to qualified applicants. The deadline for the 2013 GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs is Oct. 22, 2012. Applications are available at www.grammyintheschools.com.
GRAMMY Camp is a signature music industry camp that will be held in Nashville (June 17–24), Los Angeles (July 9–18) and New York (Aug. 2–8) in summer 2012. GRAMMY Camp offers an interactive residential summer music experience focusing on all aspects of commercial music, with instruction by artists and industry professionals. GRAMMY Camp Nashville will be held at Black River Entertainment located on Nashville’s legendary Music Row. GRAMMY Camp L.A. will be held at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and other professional venues
throughout Los Angeles. GRAMMY Camp N.Y. will be held at Rubber Tracks, Converse’s new state-of-the-art recording facility in Brooklyn, N.Y.
High school singers and instrumentalists can audition for the GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session. Selectees will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the host city for the annual GRAMMY Awards, and students will participate in high-profile GRAMMY Week performances and recording sessions and will attend the GRAMMY telecast.
Just as the GRAMMY Award recognizes excellence in recording, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top public high schools across the country for outstanding commitment to their music education programs. Each of the GRAMMY Signature Schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant to benefit its music program.
Springsteen-Sopranos Reunion Last Night: Talk of the Apollo
Last night, the E Street Band and The Sopranos had their own reunion. The occasion was a screening of “Lilyhammer,” the Netflix original series starring Steve van Zandt–Little Steven, to you–at the Crosby Street Hotel. Both gangs came out to celebrate van Zandt including Mr. Bruce Springsteen, as well as Tony Sirico (“Paulie Walnuts”) and Steve Schirippa (“Bobby Bacala”) from the heralded and much missed HBO show. Tony Bennett. Chloe Sevigny and Harvey Weinstein were also in the house.
And what was everyone talking about besides “Lilyhammer”? Why the Springsteen show just announced for the Apollo Theatre on March 9th. It’s the kickoff for the “Wrecking Ball” tour. Springsteen now joins Sting, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon and Stevie Wonder, and just a few others who’ve used the Apollo to test launch their new shows via Sirius XM Radio. Hopefully Bruce will include a little nod to soul history at his Apollo show, which should even be more fun. SiriusXM’s Scott Greenstein knows how to put these things together–he just ushered VanHalen through their nifty comeback show at Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village.