Nino Rota

Listen to “Jazz at the Movies” – music from “Pete Kelly’s Blues” and more

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

Our friend and fellow-Hobbledehoy Wayne Cresser contributes the latest installment from his terrific weekly radio program, Picture This.

This week, Wayne further explores Jazz at the Movies, leading with a few choice cuts from crime movies, notably 1955’s “Pete Kelly’s Blues.” (The Hobbledehoy goes cuckoo for anything sung by Peggy Lee!)
There’s also music composed by Michel LeGrand, the great Duke Ellington and Herbie Hancock, and more. Dig it.

THE PLAYLIST:

  • “Hero to Zero” and Main Title from Anatomy of a Murder composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn 
  • Title Theme from Paris Blues, composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn 
  • “Strollin’ Blues” from Touch of Evil, composed by Henry Mancini
  • “Pete Kelly’s Blues” from Pete Kelly’s Blues, written by Pete Heindorf and Sammy Khan and performed by Ella Fitzgerald 
  • “Alfie’s Theme Differently” from Alfie, composed and performed by Sonny Rollins 
  • “Alfie” from Alfie, composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David performed by Cher 
  • Medley: Blues/La Dolce Vita Nobili from La Dolce Vita composed by Nino Rota 
  • “Sugar” (That Sugar Baby of Mine) from Pete Kelly’s Blues, composed by Edna Alexander Maceo Pinkard and Sidney Mitchell, performed by Peggy Lee
  • Main Title from New York New York composed by John Kander, performed by Ralph Burns 
  • “Flip the Dip” from New York, New York, composed by George Auld, performed by Ralph Burns 
  • “Movin’” from Hear My Song, composed by John Altman and Adrian Dunbar, performed by John Altman
  • “Song of the Twins” from The Young Girls of Rochefort, composed by Michel LeGrand, lyrics by Jacques Demy, and performed by Anne Germain and Claude Parent
  • “When I Fall in Love” from Good Luck and Good Night, composed by Victor Young, performed by Dianne Reeves
  • The Theme from Route 66, composed and arranged by Nelson Riddle 
  • “Bring Down the Birds” from Blow-Up, composed and performed by Herbie Hancock 
  • “Chan’s Song (Never Said)” from ‘Round Midnight, co-written by Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder
  • “Farewell My Lovely” from Farewell My Lovely, composed by David Shire
“Strollin’ Blues,” indeed! Orson Welles as Police Captain Hank Quinlan in Touch of Evil .

For the complete playlist from this and other episodes, proceed to Wayne’s blog Mischief Time

“Picture This” airs Monday evenings on WRIU: 90.3 FM the radio station for the University of Rhode Island. You can hear live streaming at wriu.org.

Letters to The Hobbledehoy, October 2022

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

Aedan writes:

Hi there! Thanks so much for doing the research on “Long Time Sun” and posting your findings. I was told it was an old Celtic prayer, but the way I’ve heard it sung by the yoga people didn’t make much sense. I specialize in Celtic music on Celtic harp, and am glad to finally know it’s origin. Interestingly enough, like Mike Heron, I use it as a closer to performances. After listening to his rendition, like it much better than what I’ve heard. Thanks again!

Hi Aidan!
Thanks for visiting The Hobbledehoy. The post on “Long Time Sun” remains one of The Hobbledehoy’s most popular. Very big fans of Mr. Heron and the Incredible String Band.

Don writes:

Are you aware that Fellini made a movie titled, I Vitelloni. It was translated different ways across the world. In the UK it was translated variously as, The Spivs and The Hobbledehoys! Thought you might like to know. I recently acquired a copy of a theater handout synopsis with that title listed. If interested, I will send you a pic. I will soon upload it to my Fellini website. Cheers

Hi Don!
Thank you for your letter. I did not know that bit about Fellini and The Hobbledehoys – excellent! Good luck with the website on Fellini. I’m a big fan of Nino Rota who contributed music to Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, as well as Coppola’s Godfather trilogy, for which he won an academy award in 1974.

Stella writes:

Hi there. I’m a retired American who just stumbled onto your webpage, and though it hasn’t been updated much lately, it doesn’t look like your dead. That’s a good thing.

I’ve been thinking of trying to do a pub tour of at least some part of the UK, since I’ve expanded my taste in beer and have always wanted to travel more. Searching tours mostly only brings up very costly and busily planned packages, but if I come alone it’s a bit daunting, and not just because you all drive on the wrong side of the road. You seem like a person with a wide enough range of interests to suggest some kind of idea. Would it even be feasible for a blue-haired lady (of the modern kind) to set out alone on this adventurous and liver-challenging quest?

Hi Stella!

The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated! The Hobbledehoy is once again being updated regularly.

I was in Edinburgh a few years back and there are daily tours available featuring Scotch whiskey tastings. Not sure about pub tours, however I’d recommend a night of pint pounding at The Royal Oak (try a pint of “Heavy” a dark Scottish beer.) The Royal Oak is also a great venue to hear folk music. Among those to have performed in this 200 year-old Edinburgh pub have been legendary Scots Billy Connolly, Dick Gaughan, and Hobbledehoy recent favorite Karine Polwart. I would say most Edinburgh pubs would be safe travels for a blue haired lady, though Glasgow – not so much.

Check out this article written by travel authority Rick Steves, Britain’s Pub Hub. We’ve been in Rick’s company many times and enthusiastically recommend his tours. Here’s Rick’s advice for seniors traveling in Europe