William N. Law Blog: Bill, Benny and Jimmy

In The Wall Street Journal this week, my monthly "Anatomy of a Song" column looked at Alice Cooper's Eighteen, a potent hard-rock single in 1970 about teenage uncertainty and self-doubt (go here). The song became the band's first hit just as the group was about to go under. What changed? A young producer who was sent to blow them off but wound up working with them on their recordings, and vast support by fans in the Midwest. Of course, Alice Cooper would go on to pioneer theatrical shock rock. I interviewed Alice, guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, manager Shep Gordon and producer Bob Ezrin. Here's Alice Cooper in 1990...

Also in the WSJ, I interviewed restaurateur Dan Barber for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). The celebrity chef and owner of Manhattan's Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, N.Y., talks about growing up without knowing his mother, why he was aimless for many years after college, his grandmother's farm atop a hill in the Berkshires, the big turning point in his career, and the day that David Rockefeller ate at his restaurant and the offer he made Dan. [Photo above courtesy of Dan Barber]

And finally, I interviewed Mario Livio for my "Playlist" column in the Review section (go here). The Israeli astrophysicist talked about why the Platters' Only You (and You Alone) was so important to him in Tel Aviv in the early 1960s and what happens at his house every time he plays the song today. [Photo above courtesy of Mario Livio]

Jimmy and Benny at 92Y. Last Wednesday's concert at New York's 92Y, featuring Jimmy Heath and Benny Golson, was perhaps the finest jazz performance I've seen since seeing Duke Ellington in the early 1970s. The concert, directed by pianist Bill Charlap, featured Jimmy and Benny backed by trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, Bill Charlap, bassist David Wong and drummer Kenny Washington. Bill wisely had Jimmy and Benny together for a couple of standards and then featured them individually playing their original compositions. Jimmy's sets (one before intermission and one after) included C.T.A. and Gingerbread Boy while Benny's featured Whisper Not, I Remember Clifford and Along Came Betty among others. Bill's impeccable piano knocked out everyone in the audience and on stage, at points luring Benny and Jimmy to stand next to him to watch, often with admiration and disbelief. Jeremy, David and Kenny were equally spectacular. [Photo above, clockwise from left, Bill Charlap, Kenny Washington, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Heath and Benny Golson (not shown, David Wong)]

Dave Pell. A couple of weeks ago, Jordi Pujol of Fresh Sound released a smashing two-CD set—The Dave Pell Octet: The Complete Trend and Kapp Recordings 1953-1956. This two-CD set includes three Dave Pell Octet songbook albums: Plays Irving Berlin, Plays Rodgers & Hart and Plays Burke & Van Heusen. If you don't have these already or your copies are sub-par, this set sounds great. In addition to Dave in all his eight-part glory, you get to hear the extraordianry Don Fagerquist on trumpet throughout all of the recordings. Liner notes are by Jordi, who knew Dave well and considered him a second father. Go here or here.

Jessica Williams. Doug Paterson alerted me that pianist Jessica Williams is ailing and needs financial help. You can be of assistance by making a donation or buying her recordings here.

Here's an interview-performance video with the pianist...

Jackie and Roy. Chris Laughbon reminded me last week that Jackie and Roy's hip rendition of Mountain Greenery had a second life years later on TV's Dick Van Dyke Show. Here's Jackie and Roy singing the standard in 1955...

And here's Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke on the Dick Van Dyke Show singing the same song in the style of Jackie and Roy, who went unaccredited, in 1962...

Georgia Mancio. Last week, singer Georgia Mancio reached out to let me know that her Songbook album featuring her lyrics set to pianist Alan Broadbent's music (reviewed here) is back on sale at CDBaby.com here.

What the heck. Here's Lou Rawls singing his big 1976 hit You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine on Midnight Special in 1977...

Oddball album cover of the week.

Albert Babbitt sent this one along. Yes, Liberace, the rococo pianist, had an equally treacly older musical brother. This 1957 album from Imperial included "songs" such as Teenage Holiday, 3 X 7 = 21 and Lost Dreams. Yes, teens really went for George. After all, what 17-year old could keep his or her feet from moving when George's fiddle lit up.

Wait a minute. Maybe the cover was referring to British teens in the late 1950s...