Crossed Combs - retro, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, tiki and all that jazz.

Bettie Page Varietease on DVD

THE HOLY GRAIL OF BURLESQUE MOVIES! The legendary Queen of the Curve, Bettie Page, America s greatest pinup model, stars in Varietease, a unique peek of the wonderful world of burlesque complete with singers, slickers and saucy strippers! Flashing her sexy smile and gyrating in a harem girl costume, Bettie Page does her Dance of the Four Veils and easily steals the show. Another legend, the sophisticated and sparkling Lili St. Cyr, shows us just how elegant a striptease can be. Aiding and abetting are jokester Bobby Shields, bikini-clad Chris La Chris, Warblers Cass Franklin & Monica Lane, exuberant contortionist Twinnie Wallen, and fame female impersonator Vickie Lynn. First released in 1954. Produced and directed by girly-pix impresario Irving Klaw (the man who photographed Bettie in bondage).

Find out more about Varietease [DVD] at Amazon

King Records of Cincinnati Images of America

We recently featured a book called King of the Queen City. Even though we simply love to read a good book, we also enjoy looking at photos from time to time. King Records of Cincinnati is an excellent companion to the aforementioned book, filled as it is with photos, advertisements, sheet music covers, copies of the company newsletter and more.

Check out King Records of Cincinnati on Amazon

 

Miles Davis box set

Released by Sony Music on the 23rd of November, a limited edition box set of 52 albums by Miles Davis on 70 CDs in mini replica vinyl jackets. The box also includes an exclusive bonus DVD – Miles Davis Quintet: Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams / Live In Europe ’67 (the only footage of this legendary group commercially released). There's also a 250 page color book with essays, rare photographs and memorabilia, previously unreleased/rare audio on Quiet Nights, At Plugged Nickel Chicago, In Paris Festival International De Jazz and We Want Miles and the first-time ever complete audio release of 8/29/70 Isle Of Wight festival performance.

Check out the Complete Miles Davis box set on Amazon

Jim Jones Revue on tour with Chuck Berry

The Jim Jones Revue will be playing with Chuck Berry on his November UK tour.

Here are the tour dates:

November

21...OLYMPIA THEATRE W/ CHUCK BERRY - LIVERPOOL, UK
22...JOURNAL TYNE THEATRE W/ CHUCK BERRY - NEWCASTLE, UK
23...O2 ACADEMY W/ CHUCK BERRY - GLASGOW, UK
24...O2 ACADEMY W/ CHUCK BERRY - LEEDS, UK

Tickets are on sale now and available from http://www.ticketline.co.uk/chuck-berry-tickets

King of the Queen City (Music in American Life)

King of the Queen City is the first comprehensive history of King Records, one of the most influential independent record companies in the history of American music. Jon Hartley Fox tells the story of a small outsider record company in Cincinnati, Ohio, that attracted an extremely diverse roster of artists, including the Stanley Brothers, Grandpa Jones, Redd Foxx, Earl Bostic, Bill Doggett, Ike Turner, Roy Brown, Freddie King, Eddie Vinson, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, and even a young James Brown. While other record companies concentrated on one style of music, King was active in virtually all genres of vernacular American music, from blues and R & B to rockabilly, bluegrass, western swing, and country.

More about King of the Queen City (Music in American Life)

Thanks to RWR

The ballads of Charlie Rich

Charlie Rich (1932-1995) is one of our favourites here at Crossed Combs. He is the subject of an upcoming compilation by Bear Family Records, or rather his ballads.

Nearly 15 years after his death, Charlie Rich remains a hero to country and rockabilly collectors. Forget about the slick, over-produced hits of the 1970s and '80s. This collection goes way, way deeper in revealing the soul of Charlie Rich. 

This generous album of ballads, compiled from three different label affiliations during the earliest years of Rich's career, showcases the finest features of his composing and vocal talent. Considered by many to be the finest white soul singer of his time, Charlie Rich really lets it fly on this exceptional compilation. As usual, Bear Family Records digs deep into the vaults and brings together a stellar combination of known, semi-known and utterly obscure selections from Rich's earliest work.

Includes some previously unissued tracks, a detailed musical commentary and original biographical notes by Sun and Rich historian, Hank Davis.

More over at the Bear Family website