The Explorers Club Shines with "Wattage"

Remember listening to your AM radio in the 1960s and 1970s, when just the twist of a dial could land you on a great pop, rock or soul tune? Then you need to check out Wattage, the latest release from The Explorers Club. The band was founded in 2005 by singer-songwriter Jason Brewer, and features a rotating group of supremely talented musicians on each of their excellent records. The group has released terrific retro-styled pop albums such as 2012's Grand Hotel, and 2016's Together. If you're a fan of bands like The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Burt Bacharach, Paul Revere & The Raiders and The Turtles, the you'll really dig The Explorers Club. In 2020, the group issued a pair of outstanding albums, the self-titled The Explorers Club, which includes a dozen stunning baroque pop originals such as "Ruby" and "One Drop Of Rain," as well as To Sing and Be Born Again, a collection of covers of songs by bands like The Lovin' Spoonful and The Zombies.

Wattage is a marvelous record, featuring eight terrific cover versions of songs by The Rascals, The Four Tops and Little Anthony and The Imperials. The concept for the album is that you're listening to a broadcast on a vintage radio station, complete with song intros and commercials. It's a clever idea that will have you thinking about listening to your local radio station on your transistor radio in your backyard, or driving around with the windows down and blasting your car's radio back in the day. But the idea wouldn't work if there weren't some great tunes on the album, and there are some excellent songs on Wattage. Things kick off with the sunshine soul/pop tune "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy," featuring a fantastic performance by Las Vegas based singer Lannie Counts, who also provides vocals for covers of Brenton Wood's "Gimme Little Sign" and The Four Tops classic "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever."

The album also includes top-notch versions of Little Anthony and The Imperials "Hurt So Bad," performed by Jeff Celentano, a veteran performer who has been a member of The Beach Boys tribute band Good Vibrations, and a wonderful cover of the Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions hit "I'm So Proud," featuring vocals by Ryan Williams. Jason Brewer himself takes on lead vocal duties for "Tragedy" a song originally released by Thomas Wayne and The Delons. Brewer provides us with a touching, powerful performance. The wonderful production on the album by Brewer and the backing work by the usual assortment of talented musicians adds to the record's rich atmosphere and overall success.

Wattage, like the rest of The Explorers Club's catalog, is recommended listening if you're a fan of 1960s pop, rock and soul. Jason Brewer and company have provided us with another enjoyable album full of splendid music, deeply steeped in good vibes. The track list is a marvelous combination of classics and lesser known but equally amazing and memorable songs. Wattage is currently streaming online, and a CD and vinyl release is forthcoming. Here's a link to a very cool retro-styled promo video for the album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWcMUsIWeLA, as well as a link for ordering info on the record: https://wattage.theexplorersclub.com.

Grey DeLisle's Haunting "Valentine"

For many of us, Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate the love in their lives. For others, it's a time to remember loves that are lost, or wistfully recall the ones that were never meant to be, or perhaps didn't get a chance to flower. There are just as many songs about heartbreak as there are about the joy of love, and few are more wistful than "Valentine," written by Murry Hammond, and originally recorded by his band the Old 97's. There's a beautiful new cover of the song by Grey DeLisle, which is now available as a single on Regional Records.

Grey DeLisle is a wonderful singer and songwriter who has released several acclaimed albums, including Iron Flowers. She's a veteran voice actor and performer whose work has been featured in series such as The Simpsons and The Fairly Odd Parents. DeLisle is also the long-time voice of Daphne in the Scooby Doo franchise, and has portrayed a variety of characters in the DC Animated Universe. Her cover of "Valentine" is a rich, emotionally resonant version of this memorable song, and you can absolutely feel the heartache in her compelling and passionate vocals. It's a stunning performance that will remain with you long after you hear it, and have you reaching for the replay button multiple times.

In addition to Grey's powerful vocals, the single features Murry Hammond on acoustic guitar, and the amazing pedal steel work of Greg Leisz. "Valentine" was produced by Marvin Etzioni, of Lone Justice fame, who's a founder of Regional Records. The song is part of Borrowed, a forthcoming covers album from DeLisle. You can check out the song, and purchase the single, by following this link: https://redonred-greydelisle.bandcamp.com/track/valentine, and you can also listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s04saIeR_A4. "Valentine" is haunting, beautiful, and a terrific showcase for the enchanting and magnetic work of Grey DeLisle.

Retro Film Noir: Tangled in "The Web"

Vincent Price was a wonderful actor who had a long career in movies, television and on stage. He's beloved by fans for his many appearances in horror films like Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe cycle, the original version of The Fly, and The Tingler. The talented actor also appeared in comedies, romantic dramas, period films, and thrillers. During the 1940s and 1950s, he appeared in several noir films, including the memorable Laura (1944) and Leave Her To Heaven (1945). One of the most entertaining of the films noir that Price starred in was The Web, which was originally released in 1947.

The movie tells the story of Bob Regan, who crosses paths with Andrew Colby, the owner of Colby Enterprises. Regan meets Colby while trying to collect on a small claims case. Colby is impressed by Regan's style, and hires him to be his bodyguard. It seems that Leopold Kroner, a former associate of Colby's, has just gotten out of prison for embezzling money from Colby's company. Colby's worried that Kroner may try to exact revenge on Colby for having helped send him to prison. Regan ends up shooting Kroner when he appears to be threatening Colby with a gun. A friend of Regan's on the police force, Lieutenant Damico, investigates the killing. Damico isn't so sure things are what they seem, and thinks that there's more to the story.

 

Regan becomes suspicious as well. He and Colby's secretary, Noel, start to look into Colby and Kroner's past dealings, and suddenly things don't seem to add up. While they try to piece together what really happened, Colby is setting a plan in motion that will land Regan and Noel in hot water. The clever and resourceful Colby is one step ahead of both the police, and Regan. Will Regan and Noel figure out what Colby is up to? Will Damico arrest Regan for Kroner's murder? Everything comes to a head on an eventful night at Colby's house, where all the twists and turns of what Colby is up to are revealed.

The Web is a fast-moving thriller, well-directed by Michael Gordon, who made films in a number of genres, but may be best known for his work with Doris Day on Pillow Talk (1959) and Move Over, Darling (1963). The moody cinematography for The Web is by Irving Glassberg, who also worked on the noirs Larceny (1948) and The Price of Fear (1956). The film features some excellent dialogue, courtesy of writers William Bowers and Bertrand Millhauser, whose screenplay is based on a story by Harry Kurnitz. 

The cast is superb. Edmond O' Brien (The Killers) is solid as Regan, who gets misled by the scheming Colby, marvelously played by Vincent Price. He gives a wonderful performance, fully embodying Colby with the style, wit and energy of those "villains you love to hate." Speaking of wit, the crackling dialogue and excellent chemistry between O'Brien as Regan, and noir veteran Ella Raines (Phantom Lady, The Suspect) as Noel is one of the highlights of the film. William Bendix is very good as the sharp and intuitive Lieutenant Damico. Character actor John Abbott, a familiar face from his many roles in film and television, appears as Charles Murdock, Colby's right hand man.

The film is available on DVD and Blu-ray and is often screened on cable channels such as Turner Classic Movies. If you're looking for an enjoyable, twisty noir featuring Vincent Price at the top of his villainous game, look no further than The Web, which features a score by Hollywood stalwart Hans J. Salter. This is a fine example of the kind of well-crafted classic studio film "they don't make anymore." Here's a look at the trailer for The Web: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcE8ESlRJDU.