See Hear 125 - Interview with Kenny Vance about Heart And Soul: A Love Story

 

The use of non-diagetic songs in cinema is often designed to provoke a type of nostalgia, or at least an understanding of the era the film is set in. Apocalypse Now opens very effectively to the sounds of The End by The Doors. Goodfellas keeps updating the jukebox as the story travels over the years (Scorsese is a master of that). So, if you watch a film set in the 50s like American Graffiti or That’ll Be The Day, the jukebox soundtracks to these films are like characters constantly reminding the viewers where they are timewise. The romantic (and sometimes lascivious) songs of the doo wop era paint a picture of American life in the 50s somewhat removed from the turmoils of segregation, a conflict in Korea, and McCarthyism….they paint the picture that many films are trying to portray.

Welcome to episode 125 of See Hear Podcast.

One of the singers in the latter part of the original doo wop era was Kenny Vance, a member of beloved group, Jay & The Americans. His experience as a young man singing with the group brought him into contact with so many other doo wop groups and eventually figures in the soul and pop world (he supported The Beatles on an American tour). He went on to be a musical director consultant for many films focusing on the 50s era. Eventually, he decided to become a director and document the original doo wop scene as he and some of his colleagues recalled it, what they went on to do, and how their pioneering sound influenced many others who don’t even realise the gigantic shoulders they’re standing on. The film he directed is called “Heart & Soul: A Love Story”, and it is a thing of beauty.

Tim and I were joined by Melbourne doo wop guru Peter Merrett (of the Malt Shop Hop radio show) to chat with Kenny not only about his film, but a vast number of topics all related to his time in doo wop, the people who ran the labels, the session musicians, and the singers he worked with. WE get stories about Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Flamingos, The Chantels and so much more.

I have to say that Kenny’s memory is sharp and he regaled us with many incredible stories from a life in music. He’s a true mentsch….and he even sang for us!!!! We’ve done our share of episodes, but this is one I will be remembering for a long time. If you haven’t tuned into an episode in a while (or never have), start here….you don’t need to have seen the film to appreciate this wonderful conversation, but we would certainly encourage watching it first chance you get.

Our thanks not only go to Kenny for hanging out with us, but also to executive producer Liz Nickles who put us in contact with him. Tim and I also are grateful to Peter Merrett for bringing his expertise to the conversation.

For details about screenings, go to https://www.heartandsoulthemovie.com/

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify). 

You can download episode 125 from here.

See Hear Episode 124 - Inside Llewyn Davis

We've recently lost one of the great directors over the last few decades in David Lynch who was known for showing the dreamy and nightmarish side of America (and we need you now, David). The other great tellers of American stories over the same period have been Joel and Ethan Coen. They have protagonists who start out in precarious positions in life....then things go downhill.

Welcome to episode 124 of See Hear Podcast.

There's definitely a rhythm to the Coen Brothers' films....even if their films are not ABOUT music or musicians, they feel musical (and having Carter Burwell score many of their films doesn't hurt in that regard). Two films, however, stick out as music films in their catalogue – O Brother, Where Art Thou and Inside Llewyn Davis – it's the latter that is the focus of this episode.

Sadly, neither Kerry nor Tim were available to record this show, but I welcome back film professor, author, and fellow podcaster Neil Fox back to the show. He selected Inside Llewyn Davis for our discussion, and I couldn't have been happier to revisit this 2013 film that has seemingly divided people on its merits (spoiler alert – we both love it).

The film starts off in Greenwich Village in 1961, and is about a few days in the life of folk musician Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) as he moves from couch to couch, gig to gig, kindness to kindness....and he responds poorly despite being the recipient of others' good nature towards him. Is he an awful human being, or is he lashing out due to a terrible event regarding a former musical partner?

Neil and I had a great conversation about this film and a variety of related issues. Since the film is Bob Dylan adjacent, we had to bring in our thoughts about the recently released Dylan biopic focusing on his early years, A Complete Unknown and see how its tone contrasts with the Coens outlook.

I am grateful for Neil giving over his time to chat with me. He brings a perspective I was fascinated to hear. If you wish to hear more of Neil, you should tune into his show The Cinematologists hosted with Dario Llinares. Info at https://cinematologists.com/ Also, look into his great book “Music Films: Documentaries, Concert Films and Other Cinematic Representations of Popular Music”.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify). 

Download episode 124 from here.

 

See Hear Episode 123 - Heavy Metal

1981.....music and film fans could only guess as to what the coming decade held – both in art and in the real world. If art reflects the real world, then a portmanteau film centred around a force that contains the sum of all evils seemed like a reflection of the environment the film was born into.

Welcome to episode 123 of See Hear.

In 1981, following on from the magazine it aligned itself with, Canadian animated film Heavy Metal was sent out into the world. Ralph Bakshi may have paved the way for this to be possible – make no mistake, this was no Disney cartoon. The stories here were filled with gore, naked flesh, fantasy and music (only some of it was heavy metal)....in other words, it was exactly what 14 year old teenage boys were clambering to watch.

Usually, See Hear focuses on films that are ABOUT music or musical culture. Despite its name, Heavy Metal isn't such a film, but Kerry, Tim, our friend Paul and myself discuss why we think it is a See Hear film nevertheless. Our conversation incorporates film noir, Looney Tunes, 2001: A Space Odyssey, how a ball of green goo can influence mankind to evil, and....of course....the soundtrack....and a lot more. Not many other films feature the music of Black Sabbath, Devo, Stevie Nicks and Prendecki.

Huge thanks to Paul for joining us and for his great insight and historical knowledge.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify). You can also download from the website at https://seehearpodcast.blogspot.com.

Download episode 123 from here.

 

See Hear Podcast Episode 122 - Swing Girls

 

When you attended high school, did you have a music program? If so, were you enthusiastic about playing what was selected for you? In the early days of music tuition, chances are you had to play dull tunes that were in line with your limited abilities...on a recorder. Within 3 or so months of picking up an instrument, could you play tunes made famous by, say, Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman? No? The girls (and a boy) at Yamakawa High School did.

 

Welcome to episode 122 of See Hear Podcast.

 

Kerry was unavailable, but Tim and myself carried on to discuss the 2004 film “Swing Girls”, directed by Shinobu Yaguchi. Beat for beat, this is the same film as Yaguchi’s 2001 film “Waterboys”, but replacing a group of inept boys learning synchronised swimming with a group of inept girls learning to play jazz and form a swing band. A jazz version of School of Rock? It seems similar on the surface, but these kids are motivated differently to learn their music.....their only drive IS the music, not to win a competition. They learn to love swing jazz (essentially, it's pop music) and realise it's not – as they first surmise – for “brandy snifters”.

Cards out on the table – we adore this film. We look at its universality (Japanese school kids playing a distinctly American art form), how a film with no villains or conflict can still be compelling, and mostly we celebrate a love of music. Tim rightly compares this film to an earlier one we discussed about a love of music for its own sake but the style was vastly different – home is here your musical interests lie.....the rest is detail.

Swing Girls is available in full to watch on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEz_TNtkCRc&t=381s

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify). You can also download from the website at https://seehearpodcast.blogspot.com.

Download Episode 122 from here.

See Hear Episode 121 - Interview with Neil Fox about his book "Music Films"

Do you like music films? Dumb question, I guess, because if you've deliberately downloaded an episode of See Hear, you know that music films are our niche in the podcast world. For us to discover that there was a new book about the subject that drives this very podcast....well, there was much cheering and jumping for joy.

Welcome to episode 121 of See Hear Podcast.

We welcome to the show Professor Neil Fox of Falmouth University. He's written a terrific book called “Music Films: Documentaries, Concert Films and Other Cinematic Representations of Popular Music”. He felt that music films were poorly regarded in the wider space of cinematic genres.....which is stupid. As our show has proven, the wider umbrella of music cinema can include discussion of class divides, social structure, civil rights, the cult of celebrity, mental health, and knocking down Stonehenge.

Neil's book puts specific films under the microscope and links them thematically.....many made in the 21st Century. He shows that the wider umbrella of music cinema has much to say....regardless of whether you want something deep or something fluffy. It should be celebrated as much as anything out there. You may think you know a thing or two about music films, but Neil's book reveals so many interesting films that deserve a wider audience. You don't even need to be a fan of the music some of these films celebrate.....just an interest in stories well told....and that, dear friends, is what drives this very podcast.

Huge thanks to Neil for being such a great conversationalist. Extra thanks go to the host of the Beatles Books podcast, Joe Wisbey for making the connection.

If you want to get hold of a copy of the book (and it's highly recommended by Tim, Kerry and myself), you can order it from https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/music-films-9781839023439/

or wherever you get your books.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify). You can also download from the website at https://seehearpodcast.blogspot.com.

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 121 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 120 - Great Soundtracks Part 2

Movie music – any movie fan will acknowledge that a film score or a soundtrack can make or break how well a film works. The acting and cinematography and production values all count obviously, but imagine putting the 3 Stooges theme in place as “Mother” goes to see how Marion Crane is faring in the shower scene of Psycho.

Welcome to episode 120 of See Hear.

If you haven't caught up with the previous episode of the show, Tim, Kerry and myself were joined by our great friend Paul Ryan to talk about our favourite film scores, and they were widely diverse stylistically. That's what made the conversation so exciting. We had such a long conversation, I felt it best to split it up into two shows, so what you have downloaded / are about to download is part 2 of that chat.

Like last time, we are rapt to also present segments spread throughout the show featuring hosts of some truly excellent podcasts in the Pantheon Network. These hosts enlighten us as to THEIR favourite soundtracks. You will hear from:

Brett Vargo (Only Three Lads)

Jesse Jackson (Set Lusting Bruce / Perfectly Good Podcast)

Jason Whissell ( It's Not That Bad / There Can Only Be One)

More film score recommendations than you can poke a pointed stick at. These conversations incorporate what makes the music work in context of the films they represent, and we go off on tangents to discuss similar scores or others by the same composers.

Sounds interesting? We look forward to any feedback you may provide about the shows. Please, email us or post in the Facebook group with YOUR favourite soundtracks and scores.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify). You can also download from the website at https://seehearpodcast.blogspot.com.

Proudly Pantheon.

Download Episode 120 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 119 - Great Soundtracks, Part 1

 

As you know, our mission at See Hear HQ is to discuss, chew on, and pontificate (in that order) about music films. But.....what if we DIDN'T do that for a couple of episodes????? Shock horror!!!

Welcome to episode 119 of See Hear Podcast.

Don't panic....we're not straddling too far from our mission. This time around, instead of talking about films that are ABOUT music, we'll discuss the music itself from ANY film we jolly well please. Kerry, Tim and myself have invited previous guest and close friend, Paul Ryan to talk about our favourite movie scores and soundtracks. There are some who say that the best movie music is that which can be ignored while we focus on the film's action. We cry “balderdash”......great movie music can be noticed in its film context without distracting our attention from the film.

To that end, the four of us picked 5 films each to discuss, chew on, and pontificate. The thing is, we spoke for such a long time, that rather than have you listen to a Ben Hur length episode (a terrific film score by Miklos Rosza, by the way), we're breaking our show up into two parts. The one you've (hopefully) downloaded is episode 119, and we'll put out episode 120 in a few days.

We're privileged to have some additional film soundtrack nominations sent to us via some wonderful friends in the Pantheon network as well as a previous film director guest on the show who is something of a soundtrack expert.

Marc Shea hosts the Performance Anxiety podcast.

Markus Goldman is one half of the Imbalance History of Rock & Roll podcast.

(Both shows are regularly in my earholes.....I recommend 'em)

Amit Itzcar is the director of the Tel Aviv Soundtrack Festival.....so the subject matter is in his wheelhouse.

When episode 120 is released in a few days, we'll continue our conversation, and three more wonderful guests, all from the Pantheon Network will weigh in on this most important subject.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify). You can also find us on https://seehearpodcast.blogspot.com/

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 119 from here.