Lucy Woodward: Hot And Bothered

A daughter of a teacher friend of my fellow retired tech teacher and ed blogger friend Norm (whew!). There is unfortunately no link at all to Knickebocker Village except her grandparents' NYC immigrant roots and to a KV baby boomer era heart throb, Julie London, who Lucy is a fan of. Lucy is a featured artist this month a Barnes and Noble According to her bio:

The title song, “Hot and Bothered” takes the melody of a Yiddish lullaby Lucy’s grandmother sang to her as a baby. “It turned out pretty racy, but I still think Grandma Sylvia would approve if she heard it now,” Lucy says

I keep reminding myself that I have a daughter older than her

All day long I sit home
Channel surfing alone
Waiting for your unexpected
Visit through my window
You take me and undress me
Educate and test me
Breathless and bewildered
Then like magic you're gone
It doesn't really matter
When you come or where you go
And it doesn't really matter
I really don't want to know
Cause you're the only thing
That gets my boring life
Hot and bothered
So baby come back
And hot and bother me
It's 3 a.m. I wake up
I get myself all dressed up
I wait for you to kiss and burn me
Melt off all my make-up
Your crazy thoughts are unkind
But in the back of my mind
I think that you would love me, need me
It's just a waste of my time
And it doesn't really matter
When you come or where you go
And it doesn't really matter
I really don't want to know
Cause you're the only thing
That gets my boring life
Hot and bothered
So baby come back
And hot and bother me
And maybe it's what I deserve
For all the times that I've
Hurt, and burned, and toyed
And played with your heart
Look at me caving in
You win...
Oh, you're the only thing
You're the only thing
That gets my boring life
Hot and bothered
So baby come back
And hot and bother me
Baby won't you come back
Baby won't you come back
Baby won't you come back through my window and bother me
Baby won't you come back
Baby won't you come back
Baby won't you come back and hot and bother me

What Was I Thinking? Don Rickles

I watched an HBO special on Don Rickles last night. I was looking for a good laugh. It was directed by John Landis and it was done with all kinds of editing flourishes. The bottom line, "Why is this guy considered a comic genius?" I laughed at him back in the 60's and 70's etc with my father, especially when Rickles was on the tonight show. But the insult act is so tired and his rationalizations so bogus. It's one thing to "shoot down" a Sinatra and the rich and powerful and pretentious, but not a Mexican immigrant.
Compare him to the timeless comic genius of a Steve Allen and a Sid Caesar, not a chance. Ok, I'm thru pontificating.
Now the above clip I find funny, Rowan And Martin roasting Rickles with his own material

LES Meets Harlem, 1956

I found this amazing clip on youtube. A rehearsal recording of Billie Holiday from 1956 singing My Yiddishe Momme. The images are those of Barbra Streisand and her mother. Billie has a rough beginning but ends up strong
lyric source
My Yiddishe momme
I need her more than ever now
My Yiddishe momme
Id like to kiss her wrinkled brow
I long to hold her hand once more
As in days gone by
And ask her to forgive me
For things I did that made her cry

How few were her pleasures
She never cared for fashion styles
Her jewels and her treasures
She found them in her baby's smiles
Oh I know that I owe what I am today
To that dear little lady who's gone away
To that wonderful Yiddishe momme
momme, momme of mine

As Good As It Gets

From 1965. The Chairman of the Board and a Riddle arrangement! Looking back how could Fabian, Avalon, etc. be so popular? I know every generation needs to define itself and bring with them their own music, but I don't think this happened in the 30's and 40's. I remember, I was about 15 and I played this as a 45 and I thought, "How did I miss this?" Appreciating Frank, the music, not necessarily the man, should be part of a mandatory test for those seeking political office.

Those fingers in my hair
That sly come hither stare
That strips my conscience bare
Its witchcraft

And Ive got no defense for it
The heat is too intense for it
What good would common sense for it do

cause its witchcraft, wicked witchcraft
And although, I know, its strictly taboo

When you arouse the need in me
My heart says yes indeed in me
Proceed with what your leading me to

Its such an ancient pitch
But one I wouldn't switch
cause theres no nicer witch than you

Light, But Pleasant Thoughts: Let It Snow From The Chairman Of The Board

A post that has very little to do with Knickerbocker Village, but..

One More Time

I love this song. Here's the Count's version. Eric Dixon and Sal Nistico I believe are the tenor sax soloists. Sonny Payne on drums. Freddie Green, of course, on guitar.
This has very little to do with Knickerbocker except the link to Bobby Darin, which is a suspicious link in itself. Well, also it's a very 1950's-60's era piece.

You're Walking Along The Street Or You're At A Party

Written by Steve Allen
You're walkin' along the street, or you're at a party,
Or else you're alone and then you suddenly dig,
You're looking' in someone's eyes, you suddenly realize
That this could be the start of something big.

You're lunching at twenty-one and watchin' your diet,
Declining a charlotte russe, accepting a fig,
When out of a clear blue sky, it's suddenly gal and guy,
And this could be the start of something big.

There's no controlling the unrolling of your fate, my friend,
Who knows what's written in the magic book.
But when a lover you discover at the gate my friend,
Invite her in without a second look.

You're up in an aeroplane or dining at sardi's,
Or lying at malibu alone on the sand,
You suddenly hear a bell, and right away you can tell
That this could be the start of something grand.

This could be the start of something very big,
Why don't you play your part?
Please give your heart to me....and see.
This could be the start of something wonderful,
Why don't you take a chance?
Just try romance with me....and see.

Your watchin' the sun come up and countin' your money,
Or else in a dim cafe you're ordering wine,
Then suddenly there he is, and you wanna be where he is,
And this must be the start of something...
This could be the heart of something...
This could be the start of something big.