Musiclectic

"Amoreena" - Elton John

I thought I was familiar  with all of Elton John's hits in the 1970's so I was surprised to hear Amoreena at the opening of Dog Day Afternoon (which we recently watched, but which I was too young to watch when it came out in 1975):

 

Amoreena comes from his 1970 album, Tumbleweed Connection, which I need to get someday.

• Popdose article:  Cratedigger:  Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection.  
• Rolling Stone:  1971 Review of Tumbleweed Connection:

...Tumbleweed Connection is simpler than John's last album and next time around I hope he goes all the way and gets down to nothing but the basics. He is one of the few who is good enough not to need anything else.

"New York, New York" - Liza Minnelli

After hearing strains of this song over and over in the background during the Macy's Day Parade, I had to post it tonight. 

The movie, New York, New York, came out in 1977 at the beginning of the great movie musical drought.  For some strange reason, I've never seen the movie, even though I've always loved the jazzy soundtrack.  This song has been covered by many singers, including an excellent version by Frank Sinatra, but, to me, there's no version as wonderful as Liza Minnelli's.  That being said, the first time I've actually seen this clip is tonight when I found it on YouTube. 

The title song was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb (who also wrote Chicago and Cabaret).  Kander and Ebb grudgingly rewrote "New York, New York" because Robert DeNiro (the other star of the film) insisted that they do so because the first version was too weak.  After it became one of the most recorded songs in history, they concluded that they were glad he insisted.

"Crazy World" - Julie Andrews (from "Victor/Victoria")

I've always thought that Julie Andrews was born too late.  Her talent would have had more outlet had she been in Hollywood during the golden age of musicals, rather than the ending of an era. 

However, the 1982 film,  Victor/Victoria was a wonderful opportunity for her (and it's one of my favorite movies).  Here, a quiet spot where she's singing "Crazy World."  She also performed this role in the Broadway version of "Victor/Victoria'" in 1995. 

"If They Could See Me Now" - Shirley MacLaine (from "Sweet Charity")

Shirley MacLaine is full of energy as Charity Hope Valentine, a taxi dancer who always has hope for the future, no matter how badly things go, in Bob Fosse's first film as a director, Sweet Charity.  The story was written by Neil Simon (from the story of the Fellini film, Nights of Cabiria), although the screenplay was written by Peter Stone.  The choreography was also Fosse's, and it's based on Fosse's Broadway musical (which starred his wife, Gwen Verdon).  The songs are by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields.  

Here, Charity is celebrating her good fortune at getting the interest of an actor (played by Ricardo Montalban).