On this day in music history: Strange Toys, by Joan Jeanrenaud (2008):

The album Strange Toys,

by Joan Jeanrenaud,

was released on November 18, 2008.

On this day in music history - A Celtic Dream, by Michele McLaughlin (2008):

The album A Celtic Dream,

by Michele McLaughlin,

was released on November 14, 2008.

On this day in music history - And Winter Came..., by Enya (2008):

The album And Winter Came...,

by Enya,

was released on November 7, 2008.

On this day in music history - Close to Home, by Laura Sullivan (2008):

The album Close to Home,

by Laura Sullivan,

was released on November 7, 2008.

On this day in music history - No Love for the Poisonous, by Roxanne Potvin (2008):

The album No Love for the Poisonous,

by Roxanne Potvin,

was released on October 28, 2008.

On this day in music history - The Ry Cooder Anthology: The UFO Has Landed, by Ry Cooder (2008):

The album The Ry Cooder Anthology: The UFO Has Landed,

by Ry Cooder,

was released on October 28, 2008.

On this day in music history - Heavy Rotation, by Anastacia (2008):

The album Heavy Rotation,

by Anastacia,

was released on October 24, 2008.

On this day in movie history - Loft (2008):

Loft

directed by Erik Van Looy,

written by Bart De Pauw,

was released in Belgium on October 22, 2008.

Music by Wolfram de Marco.

Cast:

Koen De Bouw, Filip Peeters, Matthias Schoenaerts, Bruno Vanden Broecke, Koen De Graeve, Veerle Baetens, Tine Reymer, An Miller, Charlotte Vandermeersch, Wine Dierickx, Maaike Cafmeyer, Marie Vinck, Jan Decleir, Gene Bervoets, Sara de Roo, Dirk Roofthooft, Laura Verlinden, Ruth Beeckmans, Barbara Dzikanowice, Ina Geerts, Sophie Van Peel, Olivier De Smet, Carl Van Baelen, Ben Mouling, Veronique Boubane, Lindsay Bervoets, Tiffany Van den Brande, Pam Borgoo, Sara Giulini, Tessa Van Winkel, Sylvie Kruppa, Els Talloen, Imke Courtois, Véronique Billon, Marianne Bolle, Nana Jans, Adia Panteleeff, Britt Van Driessche, Bente De Graeve, Elise Regaert, Cindy Ghijsel, Patrick Roef, Renée Fokker, Cela Yildiz.

On this day in movie history - Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film (2008):

Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film

documentary directed and written by Constantine Nasr,

was released in the United States on October 21, 2008.

Narrated by Alec Baldwin.

Cast:

Alec Baldwin, Rudy Behlmer, Robert Benton, Sheri Chinen Biesen, Joan Blondell, Humphrey Bogart, John Bright, Daniel Bubbeo, James Cagney, Drew Casper, Bernard Dick, Christopher Frayling, Alan Gansberg, Patricia King Hanson, Molly Haskell, Howard Hawks, Foster Hirsch, Richard B. Jewell, Eric Lax, Mervyn LeRoy, Joan Leslie, Tony Maietta, Leonard Maltin, Gregory W. Mank, Mardik Martin, Virginia Mayo, Colin McArthur, John McCarty, Glenn Mitchell, Mike Newell, Kim Newman, Nicholas Pileggi, Dana Polan, George Raft, Richard Schickel, Martin Scorsese, Alain Silver, Robert Sklar, Anthony Slide, Peter Travers, James Ursini, Jeffrey Vance, Mark Vieira, Raoul Walsh, William A. Wellman, Terence Winter.

On this day in music history - Un frisson français: A Century of French Song, by Susan Graham (2008):

The album Un frisson français: A Century of French Song,

by Susan Graham,

was released on September 29, 2008.

On this day in movie history - The Brothers Warner (2007):

The Brothers Warner

documentary directed and written by Cass Warner,

was released in the United States on September 25, 2008.
Narrated by Cass Warner.
Music by David Campbell.

Cast:

Dennis Hopper, Cass Warner, Bette-Ann Warner, Harry M. Warner, Tab Hunter, Norman Lear, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Leo Braudy, Nancy Snow, Steven J. Ross, Samuel Goldwyn Jr., Benjamin Warner, Betty Warner Sheinbaum, Michael Birdwell, John Steel, Albert Warner, Angie Dickinson, George Segal, Haskell Wexler, Debbie Reynolds, Jack Warner Jr., Lina Basquette, Stephen Farber, Johanna Blakey, Sam Warner, Lita Heller, Jack L. Warner, Roy Edward Disney, Lewis Warner, Sherry Lansing, Frank Pierson, Eddie Bockser, Lois McGrew, Robert Greenwald, Jim Meskimen, Heinrich Himmler, Frank Sinatra.

On this day in movie history - 2:22 (2008)

2:22

directed by Phillip Guzman,

written by Mick Rossi, Phillip Guzman and Eric Saavedra,

was released in the United States on September 24, 2008.
Music by Danny Saber.

Cast:

Mick Rossi, Robert Miano, Aaron Gallagher, Jorge A. Jimenez, Peter Dobson, Val Kilmer, Bruce Kirby, Sile Bermingham, Sean Power, Luis Caldeira, Brian Foyster, Eric Shani, Tom Knight, Laura McLean, Cheryl Meyer, Sandy Duarte, Maja Mandzuka, Manny Barbosa, Vicki Rivard, Dan Fox, Steve Boyer, Andrew Robichaud, Jean-Marc Fontaine, Christian Bako, Beverley Ellis, Kelly Ames, Donald Mitchell, Domenic Bitondo, Mathew Bitondo, James LaMarr, Angela Froese, Darrel Gamotin, Louis Rossetti, Zach Humphreys, R Austin Ball, Roberto Caprara, Mike Guzzo, Philip Roy, Phillip Guzman, Katelyn Vanier, Mike Woodbridge, Alex J. Campbell, Richard Hasan, Matthew Campbell, David M. Frost, Billy Barbosa, Frank Consiglio, Vincent Tedesco, Diego Caprara, Anna Caprara, Rolando Marcello, Katie Spencer, Serena Karson, Andrew Risi, Loraine Guzzo, Michelle Guzzo, Manuel Brito, Salvatore Cangialosi, Seymour Abramovitz, Tommy Massis, Nikola Caloger, Natali Jones, Justin Kelly, Matt Greyson, Gene Burns, Gabriel Byrne.

Recommended reading - Pulp Fiction: The Dames (2008):

Pulp Fiction: The Dames

Omnibus.

Edited by Otto Penzler.

Introduced by Laura Lippman.

Published 2008.

Published by Quercus.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1847242316

ISBN-13: 978-1847242310

Description:

Laura Lippman introduces 23 dames, femmes fatales, avenging angels, broads, molls and dolls from the golden age of pulp fiction and the dawn of modern crime writing.

From Sally the Sleuth to The Girl Who Knew Too Much, these women knew how to steal a guy’s heart – or his gun – and they weren’t afraid to use their fists if their charms couldn’t get them what they wanted. Risking their lives and ending others, these dames are certain to set your heart racing, whether you’re a pulp novice or a hard-boiled fan.

With stories from Raymond Chandler, Cornell Woolrich and Dashiell Hammett, and a strip cartoon from Adolphe Barreau, Pulp Fiction: The Dames shows that some writing has an edge that time just can’t dull.

Contents: Preface, by Otto Penzler; Introduction, by Laura Lippman; Angel Face, by Cornell Woolrich; Chosen to Die, by Leslie T. White; A Pinch of Snuff, by Eric Taylor; Killer in the Rain, by Raymond Chandler; Sally the Sleuth, by Adolphe Barreaux; A Shock for the Countess, by C. S. Montanye; Snowbound, by C. B. Yorke; The Girl Who Knew Too Much, by Randolph Barr; The Corpse in the Crystal, by D. B. McCandless; He Got What He Asked For, by D. B. McCandless; Gangster's Brand, by P. T. Luman; Dance Macabre, by Robert Reeves; The Girl with the Silver Eyes, by Dashiell Hammett; The Jane from Hell's Kitchen, by Perry Paul; The Duchess Pulls a Fast One, by Whitman Chambers; Mansion of Death, by Roger Torrey; Concealed Weapon, by Roger Torrey; The Devil's Bookkeeper, by Carlos Martinez; Black Legion, by Lars Anderson; Three Wise Men of Babylon, by Richard Sale; The Adventure of the Voodoo Moon, by Eugene Thomas; Brother Murder, by T. T. Flynn; Kindly Omit Flowers, by Stewart Sterling.

On this day in music history - Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs, by Renée Fleming and Christian Thielemann (2008):

The album Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs,

by Renée Fleming and Christian Thielemann,

was released on September 16, 2008.

Recommended reading - L.A. Noir: Nine Dark Visions of the City of Angels (2008):

L.A. Noir: Nine Dark Visions of the City of Angels

By William Hare.

Published by McFarland & Company.

Published in 2008.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0786437405

ISBN-13: 978-0786437405

Description:

Los Angeles is an ideal city for film noir for both economic and aesthetic reasons. The largest metropolitan area in the country, home to an ever-changing population of the disillusioned and in close proximity to city, mountains, ocean, and desert, the City of Angels became a center of American film noir.

This detailed discussion of nine films explores such topics as why certain settings are appropriate for film noir, why L.A. has been a favorite of authors such as Raymond Chandler, and relevant political developments in the area. The films are also examined in terms of story content as well as how they developed in the project stage. Utilizing a number of quotes from interviews, the work examines actors, directors, and others involved with the films, touching on their careers and details of their time in L.A. The major films covered are The Big Sleep, Criss Cross, D.O.A., In A Lonely Place, The Blue Gardenia, Kiss Me Deadly, The Killing, Chinatown, and L.A. Confidential.

On this day in movie history - Righteous Kill (2008):

Righteous Kill

directed by Jon Avnet,

written by Russell Gewirtz,

was released in the United States on September 12, 2008.
Music by Edward Shearmur.

Cast:

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson), Carla Gugino, John Leguizamo, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Dennehy, Trilby Glover, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Alan Rosenberg, Sterling K. Brown, Barry Primus, Melissa Leo, Alan Blumenfeld, Oleg Taktarov, Shirly Brener, Frank John, Terry Serpico, Liza Colón-Zayas, Malachy McCourt, Ajay Naidu, Charles F. Krichman Jr., Rob Dyrdek, James Shanahan, Terrell J. Ramsey, Mia Barron, Andre B. Blake, Chris Cenatiempo, John Cenatiempo, Judy Del Giudice, Bryan Chatlien, Shalaya Patty Ford, Shaun Kelvin, Merritt Wever, Les Chantery, Katie Bukovsky, Tyrone Smith, Jim Jones, Darryl Pittman, Margaret Head, Katarzyna Wolejnio, Tony Borea, Harold Bridgeforth, Taylor E. Brown, Edrick Browne, Gail Bruno, Franco Bulaon, Jon Dainty, Kim Donovan, Kimberly Dorsey, Tanisha Grant, Catie Lazarus, Paul Lucenti, Kimberly Magness, Adrian Martinez, Laura Maselli, Antonino Paone, Peter Riga, Harry L. Seddon, Brian Stapf, Cindi Woods.

On this day in music history - One Kind Favor, by B.B. King (2008):

The album One Kind Favor,

by B.B. King,

was released on August 26, 2008.

On this day in music history - Blue Dream, by Fiona Joy Hawkins (2008):

The album Blue Dream,

by Fiona Joy Hawkins,

was released on August 1, 2008.

On this day in music history - Winter & Christmas, by Amy Lauren (2008):

The album Winter & Christmas,

by Amy Lauren,

was released on July 31, 2008.

Recommended reading - The Stanley Kubrick Archives, by Alison Castle (2008):

The Stanley Kubrick Archives,

by Alison Castle (2008).

Made in cooperation with Jan Harlan, Christiane Kubrick and The Stanley Kubrick Estate.

Published by TASCHEN.

ISBN-10: 3822822841

ISBN-13: 9783822822845

Preface:

The making of this book has been something of an odyssey: two years of traveling through time and space to the heart of Stanley Kubrick's universe, where I not only had the unprecedented privilege of having access to his archives, but also the invaluable guidance of those who were closest to him. Kubrick's wife, Christiane, and executive producer, Jan Harlan, were not only immensely generous in allowing me to "excavate" the various parts of his St. Albans estate where the archives are stored, but they were also exceedingly kind, supportive, and helpful during the entire process. In addition, I was very fortunate to have the aid of Anthony Frewin and Leon Vitali, Kubrick's longtime assistants, who tirelessly answered my questions and offered invaluable advice and assistance.

Endeavoring to uncover each and every artifact that could cast light upon Kubrick's creative process, I scoured the archives, gathering the most illuminating items, from bits of paper covered with hurriedly scribbled notes to photographs taken by Kubrick on the sets of his films. Hunched over hundreds upon hundreds of contact sheets with my loupe, I was able to select images that had never been printed before, let alone seen; rifling through screenplay drafts I found references to scenes that were never filmed, and among the photos I found images of sequences that were abandoned; reading Kubrick's notes and letters, I discovered not only clues to his thought processes but also his curious love affair with various types of stationery, typewriters, and pens. Searching through the often chaotic mountains of material was an exhilarating experience: each and every "discovery" was like a minor miracle, a defining moment, an epiphany.

Part 2 of this book features the result of this gleaning: an eclectic collection of material that represents the nuts and bolts of Kubrick's creative history. To help guide readers through the expedition is a selection of articles and essays by noted Kubrick scholars as well as a generous selection of material "from the horse's mouth" (i.e. Kubrick letters, essays, and interviews), refuting the popular misconception that Kubrick was a recluse who didn't or wouldn't talk about his work.

The items presented in Part 2 offer valuable insight into Kubrick's filmmaking process, though the most important material from the archives is unquestionably the films themselves. Kubrick once said, "The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good." Part 1 offers plenty of opportunities for readers to test their affection: from Killer's Kiss to Eyes Wide Shut, Kubrick's twelve feature films are represented by a vast selection of stills (not including his first feature, Fear and Desire, which he withdrew from circulation). The stills, which were scanned directly from the film reels, are presented chronologically, unadulterated and without text.

In an interview about 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick made a statement that reflects one of his central tenets: "Reactions to art are always different because they are always deeply personal.... [T]he film becomes anything the viewer sees in it." The goal of this book is to allow readers the chance to explore Kubrick's archives intuitively, absorbing the various puzzle pieces and assembling them into a personal interpretation. This is, I hope, the way Stanley Kubrick would have wanted it.

– Alison Castle, Paris, 2004.