Wonderful writing. I don't know how long Playboy After Dark ran, but you can probably still find on YouTube videos of a show called Playboy Penthouse, which Hefner had in the late 1960s. There are some interesting people who show up there, too, such as Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate, and Harry Nilsson.
I'm blanking on her last name, but the young jazz singer, Beverly Something, who committed suicide in March, 1960, is also in one of the Playboy After Dark programs. It had to have been taped only weeks before her death.
I'm thrilled to see Ev'ry Day mentioned. Until now I didn't know that there was another living human being who knew of the song's existence. Why it didn't become the classic in The Great American Songbook which it should have been I do not know. Your writing has certainly persuaded me to buy the Basie album, which I've always loved, but I didn't know that there was a version of Ev'ry Day on it. Before this, the only recording of it I've known has been the Billy Eckstine/Sarah Vaughan version.
Hope you enjoy the record - it's a classic. Yusef Lateef also recorded a version of 'Ev'ry Day (I Fall in Love)' which is quite nice (think he's on oboe on it). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhXLPYi_w2w
Top notch prose that describes the ins and outs of a classic collaboration.
Thank you, Marco, for the kind words.
You are welcome Robert. Your reviews are not only a pleasure to read but also throw light on aspects of the music that educate as well.
Very kind of you to say and much appreciated.
Wonderful writing. I don't know how long Playboy After Dark ran, but you can probably still find on YouTube videos of a show called Playboy Penthouse, which Hefner had in the late 1960s. There are some interesting people who show up there, too, such as Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate, and Harry Nilsson.
I'm blanking on her last name, but the young jazz singer, Beverly Something, who committed suicide in March, 1960, is also in one of the Playboy After Dark programs. It had to have been taped only weeks before her death.
I'm thrilled to see Ev'ry Day mentioned. Until now I didn't know that there was another living human being who knew of the song's existence. Why it didn't become the classic in The Great American Songbook which it should have been I do not know. Your writing has certainly persuaded me to buy the Basie album, which I've always loved, but I didn't know that there was a version of Ev'ry Day on it. Before this, the only recording of it I've known has been the Billy Eckstine/Sarah Vaughan version.
Beverly Kenney.
Hope you enjoy the record - it's a classic. Yusef Lateef also recorded a version of 'Ev'ry Day (I Fall in Love)' which is quite nice (think he's on oboe on it). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhXLPYi_w2w