Know Your Remakes: Coen Bros. Reboot John Wayne Classic "True Grit"

Hollywood has had a decades-old obsession with the Wild West, though recently the box office has offered more vampire and zombie flicks than good ol' American Westerns. The Coen Brothers, mastermind directors behind modern classics like No Country for Old Men, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski, are serving up a remake of a classic American story with a bit of grit - True Grit, that is. Starring Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, Crazy Heart) and Matt Damon (the Bourne trilogy, The Departed), the film is set for a Christmas release. Check out the trailer:









If the guns and adventurous terrain didn't clue you in, then the Johnny Cash-propelled soundtrack MUST give you an idea that this film will be, in a word, badass. And how could it not be, with Jeff Bridges reprising the role originally played by John Wayne? Admittedly, the original 1969 flick had a bit less grit, but you can judge for yourself.







But hey, that was the 60s. In the two months we have to suffer until the new film's release, I highly recommend viewing the original, as well as getting into the True Grit spirit by picking up classic Wild Western music. Perhaps some Bob Wills? He and His Texas Playboys should set the mood for you until December 25th roles around. So in the meantime, sit back, brush up on your John Wayne flicks, and enjoy some Western Swing brought to you by Lost Gold Records.


Happy listening!


Alisa Hathaway
October 2010


Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys available for digital download here! Bookmark Digg Bookmark Del.icio.us Bookmark Facebook Bookmark Reddit Bookmark StumbleUpon Bookmark Yahoo Bookmark Google Bookmark Technorati Bookmark Twitter

In the Spirit of Bob Wills and Django...


Here is a review by the Guardian of The Hot Club of Cowtown album titled What Makes Bob Holler. Hot Club's unique music is inspired by the jaunty Western Swing of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys as well as the legendary gypsy jazz guitar of Django Reinhardt.

To experience the rowdiest sounds of the old West, visit here.

For a taste of European jazz with Django, go here!

And here's a track from Bob to get you jazzed up for Cowtown! Alternately, you can spend some time with Django.



Now go forth, with your newfound knowledge of the roots of Western swing!

Alisa Hathaway
October 2010




Bookmark Digg Bookmark Del.icio.us Bookmark Facebook Bookmark Reddit Bookmark StumbleUpon Bookmark Yahoo Bookmark Google Bookmark Technorati Bookmark Twitter

Classic Roots Jazz Presents Obscure Gems: The Music of Eddie South

 

Lost Gold Record’s sister label, DMusic Records, is proud to present its latest release, Eddie South: Classic Roots Jazz Violin. The Classic Roots series showcases seminal talent that hybridized emerging and traditional genres of the 20th century. Eddie South was a classically trained violinist. He made a name for himself, however, as a crossover success in the jazz scene. He infused his jazz performances with classical, gypsy jazz, and country influences. He is remembered as a technically gifted innovator of jazz violin. The evidence of this title is amply supplied in this next installment of the DMusic’s ongoing series of important retrospectives.

South, raised in Louisiana, Missouri, relocated to attend Chicago Music School. After graduating he played in several Chicagoland jazz outfits. Although observers of his prodigious talent would have expected him to achieve notoriety as a classical violinist, universal racism denied black musicians such options. In the more adaptable and accepting jazz world, Eddie South flourished.

He toured Europe twice, where Django Reinhardt invited him to several recording sessions. He also recorded with Stephane Grappeli. In America he maintained a lucrative gigging career, performing across the country with his famous Alabamian Quintet. His gigs were primarily in New York, Los Angeles, and especially Chicago. He also recorded several radio sessions.

Though he was never without work, he never achieved much commercial success and his career remains in relative obscurity. Therefore, snooty jazz enthusiasts, this artist is essential to add to your collection!

This compilation hosts fifteen tracks spanning Eddie South’s most successful years as a jazz musician. (1927-1941) The album features collaborations with other artists including Django and singer-actress Ginny Sims, Los Angeles radio station sessions with his Quintet, and an expressive performance of Austrian composer Fritz Keisler’s “Praeludium and Allegro.”

Eddie South: Classic Roots Jazz Violin is available for digital download on Amazon, iTunes and other online music providers.

You can purchase the album here.

Happy Listening!

Alisa Hathaway
October 2010 Bookmark Digg Bookmark Del.icio.us Bookmark Facebook Bookmark Reddit Bookmark StumbleUpon Bookmark Yahoo Bookmark Google Bookmark Technorati Bookmark Twitter

Upcoming Philly Rhythm Kings show!

Mark your calendars - everybody here at DMusic and Lost Gold Records hopes to see you there!
Bookmark Digg Bookmark Del.icio.us Bookmark Facebook Bookmark Reddit Bookmark StumbleUpon Bookmark Yahoo Bookmark Google Bookmark Technorati Bookmark Twitter

Music of Boardwalk Empire

HBO’s fledgling series “Boardwalk Empire” is taking off with the winds of history under its wings. Working shoulder to shoulder, historians, archivalists and producers cobbled together a staggeringly, compellingly detailed duplication of Prohibition-era Atlantic City. Art departments got deep and dusty researching American antiquity, but an unfortunate void in historical audio record nearly overcame music supervisor Randall Poster and his team.

In an interview last May, Mr. Poster described his team’s archaeological, nearly necromantic, effort to recreate the unrecorded music of nickeldeons, the first popular cinemas. Without of single note of it recorded to wax, the music department became band leaders, hiring musicians to perform from the original sheet music. No one knew what they had to work with until they heard it performed for the first time, said Mr. Poster.

Check out more Early 20th Century Classic music from Lost Gold Records here
Bookmark Digg Bookmark Del.icio.us Bookmark Facebook Bookmark Reddit Bookmark StumbleUpon Bookmark Yahoo Bookmark Google Bookmark Technorati Bookmark Twitter