- Audio CD (April 11 2000)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Best of
- Label: Strange & Beautiful Music Inc.
- ASIN: B00004SBO1
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #145,260 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Track Listings
| 1. I'm A Doggy |
| 2. Small Car |
| 3. Now I'm Happy |
| 4. Power |
| 5. Runnin' Round |
| 6. Pancakes |
| 7. Bring Me Rocks |
| 8. Rubin |
| 9. Wanna Wanna |
| 10. Sleep At Night |
| 11. Arms & Legs |
| 12. She Ain't Going Home |
| 13. Little Fly |
| 14. No Kids |
Product Description
From Amazon.co.uk
You might not remember these Greatest Hits by the so-called Legendary Marvin Pontiac. That's because Pontiac is the alter ego of alternative movie star and Lounge Lizards saxophonist John Lurie. We're told that Pontiac was an itinerant bluesman who spent his last years in the Esmereld, a State Mental Institution, and ended up being hit by a bus in 1977. However, his backing musicians are clearly planted in today's New York and include Marc Ribot, John Medeski, members of Sex Mob and Lurie's own Lizards. These concise cuts don't even attempt to evoke the sound of the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s: Luriac also blows contaminated mouth-harp, chops funky wah-wah guitar or noodles on cheap keyboards, rarely picking up the alto when he's got sitar or banjo to hand. He also concentrates on a new vocal expression, oozing like a deep-sleaze Frank Zappa on the opening "I'm a Doggy", his lyrics invariably profound via the route of absurd triviality. He's the urbane brother of Wild Man Fischer, his key phrases always snagged by an infectiously childlike backing chorus. --Martin Longley
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Invented Bluesman,
By Michael Z. Jody "Psychoanalyst, amateur music... (NYC & East Hampton, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Legendary Marvin Pontiac - (Audio CD)
Yes it's a hoax! As somebody once said, "It's true even if it didn't happen!" This is some great blues and cool music. First song "I'm a Doggy" is great, funny, and worth the price of the CD right there. Not all of the album is as good, but definitely worth a listen.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A LITTLE FICTION, A LITTLE FUSION, A LOT OF FUN!,
By deepbluereview "deepbluereview" (SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Legendary Marvin Pontiac - (Audio CD)
Oddly enough, I stumbled upon Marvin Pontiac in January while reading Elmore Leonard's "Tishomingo Blues". In the book, fictional character Robert Taylor plays "guess that tune" with another character in the book. The tune in the novel is "I'm a Doggy" which, according to the novel, purportedly was recorded in 1952 and soon became a minor hit. In the novel, Robert Taylor reports that Mr. Pontiac only recorded one album during his career and only after the producer agreed to mow Pontiac's lawn. Other accounts of Mr. Pontiac life are just as mysterious. Some say he went insane after claiming to have been abducted and probed by aliens and he died in 1970 at the Esmerelda State Mental Institution in Detroit. Other accounts report that he was hit and killed by a bus in June of 1977. All in all, his life and death is probably the biggest sham since the "Paul Is Dead" rumors and clues circulated in the 70's. Careful attention to the liner notes reveals that Pontiac is, in fact nothing more than, the alter ego of John Lurie. Most notably, the lone recording of Pontiac appears on Lurie's label, "Strange & Beautiful" which did not exist in 1952 when Pontiac purportedly recorded and released "I'm A Doggy". Moreover, the CD features musicians that include Lurie's brother Evan, John Medeski and Marc Ribot who would have been infants at the time of the actual 1952 recording. Finally, this CD was recorded in 2000, 30 years after the latest purported death of Pontiac. Are these the vocals of a dead man or just Lurie having a little fun? I suspect it's the latter. Whatever the reason for the deception, the CD itself is delightful to listen to. It features an array of styles from back porch blues to lounge lizard jazz. All complimented with Lurie's Barry White styled vocals. Alter ego's aside, this is a fine production by Lurie. I am just sorry that Lurie buried Pontiac without recording a sequel. Buy it and contemplate the mystery while you enjoy the music.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Spoiled by its own "joke",
By
This review is from: The Legendary Marvin Pontiac - (Audio CD)
One of the most fascinating, witty, sexy and wacky of John Lurie's albums. To bad he had to tarnish it with the absurb "Marvin Pontiac" hoax. Given the uncomfortable historic relationships between black and white musicians in this country -- it just ain't funny enough and veers dangerously close to blackface. But all us cool people are supposed to be too post- post- post- post-everything to fret about such uptight concerns. Yeah, right. If only he'd done it as an obvious, upfront lark in the "Chris Gains" mode, or just released the thing without the hokum cover story.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
