Category Archives: New York

Song of the Day: “Then He Kissed Me” by the Crystals featuring LaLa Brooks, plus Phil Spector and Scorsese’s “Goodfellas”

Today’s “Song of the Day” is a shout-out to both the girls – and the “Goodfellas.” With Dolores “LaLa” Brooks of the Crystals performing at July 30’s Ponderosa Stomp showcase “She’s Got the Power! A Girl Group Extravaganza,” we present to you two versions of the Crystals’ Phil Spector-produced smash hit “Then He Kissed Me.”

First is the famously sweeping, one-take scene from Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas,” in which “Then He Kissed Me” plays as Scorsese’s camera continuously follows gangster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) escorting future wife Karen (Lorraine Bracco) through the Copacabana nightclub. Click here to see the scene with the Crystals in the background.

According to Wikipedia:

“The long tracking shot through the Copacabana nightclub came about because of a practical problem: the filmmakers could not get permission to go in the short way and this forced them to go round the back. Scorsese decided to do it in one shot in order to symbolize Henry’s whole life is ahead of him and according to the director: ‘It’s his seduction of her [Karen] and it’s also the lifestyle seducing him.’ This sequence was shot eight times.”

And here is “Then He Kissed Me” without the distractions of movie dialogue – just the Crystals’ spine-tingling vocals and Spector’s universally acclaimed “Wall of Sound.”

For a full schedule of “She’s Got the Power!” festivities, which run July 30 in New York in association with Lincoln Center Out of Doors, see here.

The concluding concert features LaLa Brooks (formerly of The Crystals) and Lesley Gore With Arlene Smith (former lead singer of The Chantels), Baby Washington, Barbara Harris (of The Toys), Beverly Warren, Brenda Reid and Lillian Walker (of The Exciters), Louise Murray (of The Jaynetts), Margaret Ross (of The Cookies), Maxine Brown, Nanette Licori (of Reparata and the Delrons), Peggy Santiglia Davison and Jiggs Sirico (of The Angels®). Backed by The Boyfriends, with musical director Jeremy Chatzky.

3rd Annual Ponderosa Stomp Music History Conference Schedule & Artists

General Information for 2010 Music History Conference: The Conference takes place Friday September 24th and Saturday September 25th, at the Louisiana State Museum’s historic Cabildo in Jackson Square. An array of iconic musicians will be interviewed at the conference including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees: Duane Eddy, Ronnie Spector, and Dave Bartholomew. See … Continue reading 3rd Annual Ponderosa Stomp Music History Conference Schedule & Artists

Detroit Breakdown – 7/31/10 NYC

Flyer for the Detroit Breakdown – 7/31/10 in NYC. Plus The Gories song that inspired the name.

Death – Keep on Knocking – Song of the Day

The Death story. Three brothers from Detroit, Bobby (bass, vocals), David (guitar), and Dannis (drums) Hackney form funk/r&b band in 1972. Convert to rock n’ roll after witnessing Alice Cooper concert in 1973. Rename themselves “Death.” Put out 500 copies of a self released 7” in 1976: “Politicians in My Eyes” b/w “Keep on Knocking,” … Continue reading Death – Keep on Knocking – Song of the Day

Rock ‘n’ Soul Ichiban!

Whoa, WFMU’s Debbie D and company have gone bonkers over at the Rock ‘n’ Soul Ichiban site. There are photos of Phil Spector, circa 1958, looking remarkably sedate. A picture of Tennessee Ernie Ford standing atop a pile of coal, advertising “Sixteen Tons.” A portrait of burlesque star Coco Barr brandishing a pair of pistols. … Continue reading Rock ‘n’ Soul Ichiban!