Downtown Los Angeles, circa 1983

Downtown Los Angeles, circa 1983
STMcC in downtown Los Angeles, circa 1983

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

IT WAS A RAINY NIGHT IN NINETEEN EIGHTY-EIGHT...

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SIGNATURE
by Richie Cole
released: 1988
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...and back East, the underDOdGers were performing miracles -- publicly humiliating the cocky New York Mets. I was working the night watch in the City Of Angels. Angels my patoot! I was parked on a dark side street watching the rain pelt my windshield and listening to that cat blow his alto. It gave great meaning to the rain. His notes bruised my heart like a set of brass knuckles to the jaw! "That was RICHIE COLE with IF EVER I WOULD LEAVE YOU from his latest release, SIGNATURE", the whiskey-voiced disc jockey told me over the thunder clap.
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I immediately turned the engine over and spun a u-turn. Fishtailing on the slick street, I nearly flattened a drenched and darting tomcat. I could see in his eyes that we were both searching for the same thing: redemption. Or just a warm place to spend this cold night. I negotiated the sedan through the neon light-splashed concrete jungle boulevards. There was an empty parking space right in front of the record shop. They must have expected me. I pulled my fedora down and the collar on my trench coat up as I approached the clerk. "John Doe", I said. He reached under the counter and came up with a battered, black briefcase. "I know, Mr. Doe. Now blow!" he said pushing it at me. The rain had let up and I sped home.
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Making sure that I had not been followed, I climbed the dilapidated staircase to my dark, shabby apartment. I poured a tumbler of amber tonic and lit a cigarette before removing the compact disc from the briefcase. I pushed 'Track Seven -- Repeat' and sat back. With the beginning of the piano intro, lightning flashed and the rain resumed right on cue. The cool cat, Cole, hit that cascading note in the very same moment that the Bourbon hit my bloodstream. There was nothing left to do now but wait. The dame was late. As usual. But I knew she would be here soon enough. We'd see a REAL storm then!*
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*And that's the true story of how I came by Richie Cole's album SIGNATURE. Give or take a cigarette and a tomcat or two.
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In the liner notes of this underrated little gem, our host tells us that "This album was composed and arranged in every airport bar from San Francisco to Juneau to New York to Helsinki to Kajanni to Copenhagen to Los Angeles to Auckland to Brisbane to Darwin to Gove to Perth to Melbourne to Sydney to Papeete and back...".Right away you know this is going to be good because nothing bad ever came out of an airport bar (except a few hangovers maybe, but those were deserved).
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FUN FACT: My biggest dream is to someday be so wealthy that I can afford to get drunk in an airport bar!
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This collection is for those who like their Jazz with pizazz! The highlights for me are SUNDAY IN NEW YORK with its snappy guitar and piano solos by Vic Juris and Tee Carson. The Pacific sea breeze-inflected, steel drum-laced TRADE WINDS (which could just as easily have been titled SUNDAY ON VENICE BEACH.) And the nearly equally breezy RAINBOW LADY. The real head-turner, however, is the emotionally heartwrenching and melodically gorgeous IF EVER I WOULD LEAVE YOU. It remains one of my very favorite instrumentals of all-time, and I defy you to find a more sublime soundtrack for a rain-soaked evening. That's what sold me on it! (And yes, I really did buy it within 10 minutes of hearing it played on my car radio that rainy night!)
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The odd man out is the two and a half minute version of AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. I've never figured out why this piece was tacked onto the album as a coda. My suspicion has always been that Mr. Cole's final flight was delayed and he was forced to wait just one Scotch & Soda too long at the airport bar. Oh well, no harm done. It was nothing that three Excedrin and a little hair of the dog wouldn't cure.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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6 comments:

  1. I felt I was back in the Film Noir 1940's with your excellent writing about taking in this music and not killing the cat:) I love that song "If ever I would Leave you". When I get a chance I will listen to some of his music.

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    1. Thank you, BIRGIT. I'm glad you liked it. I think the only thing I missed were shadows on the walls from "Venetian blinds". [;^)}

      I actually used Richie Cole's version of IF EVER I WOULD LEAVE YOU in my 31st BOTB contest. Needless to say, he won.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends

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  2. Stephen, you are one helluva talented writer! As Birgit said, I was caught up in the Film Noirish atmosphere throughout. In addition, your description of "Jazz with pizzazz" has prompted me to seek out this album. Thanks!

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    1. Aww, shucks. Gee willikers, DEBBIE, thanks a godzillion (*he says, blushing and kicking one shoe against the other*).

      Y'all are too kind! Stop it more!!
      ;^)

      I'm a fan of Film Noir generally, so I've seen a lot of it and learned how to fake it.

      In fact, if you're interested and have the time, here's a URL to something old that early on explains the little inside joke about "Venetian blind" shadows:

      http://stephentmccarthysstuffs.blogspot.com/2012/02/film-noir-my-top-ten-two-or-film-noir.html

      I have NO IDEA why this is so, but that blog bit is by far (at least in terms of "page views") the most popular thing I've ever posted on the Internet.

      I think you'll like "Richie's Signature". And I like your new avatar photo. Best one yet!

      Thanks again, DEBBIE! Very nice compliment.

      ~ DJ D-FensDogG
      Radio Station Call Letters: 1C4:7

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  3. Riveting scenes, Reno! Darn good yarn. Atmospheric descriptions such as fishtail, tomcat, trench coat and fedora - I nearly forgot about the album! But I do intend to check it out.
    Airport bars are okay, but by all means stay away from airport smoking rooms. Easiest way to quit smoking and get cancer in five seconds flat.
    Write on, Reno!

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    1. Thanks, dIEDRE!
      It's been so long since I was in an airport (2010) that I didn't even know they HAVE "Smoking Rooms".

      ~ D-FensDogG

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