See Hear Bernard Stickwell, Tim Merrill, Maurice Bursztynski

Disco music had been a thing from the early 70s on, but not so much in the mainstream. Parts of the African-American, Latino and gay communities had been cherishing the music as an event - going out to dance in discotheques was the thing. There's are books that go through the history of disco music and what put that music underground. Some of the music became top forty success stories, but disco really exploded in 1977 thanks to a movie featuring a TV actor and songs by a group past their glory days.

Welcome to episode 108 of See Hear Podcast.

Robert Stigwood bought the film rights to a fictitious article by Nik Cohn called “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night”. He invested $3.5M into making the film, and made sure his act The Bee Gees were going to be featured on the soundtrack. John Travolta in between Welcome Back Kotter seasons starred as a young working class man from Brooklyn who hates his job and home life, and only finds solace when dancing at the 2001 Odyssey Discotheque. The film is a great character study of what drives people and their self esteem.

Kerry, Tim and I welcome first-time guest to the show, Dan Fisher. Dan has started a great new podcast called Let's Talk Ten where he and guests run off lists about all manner things devoted to pop culture. I invited him to our virtual table and Saturday Night Fever was his pick.....it triggered a great discussion, although as Frank Santopadre would say, we barely scratched the surface.

The film has so many thematic elements to riff on. We cover some of those, but we also look at disco as a phenomenon (and how it influenced Chasidic music and Joe Raposo), 70s Hollywood movie anti-heroes, the violent backlash to disco music, and aspiring for something better in life. A warning: I sing – twice.

We're grateful that Dan came to us with this pick and was such an active participant in the episode. It won't be his last time with us. You should search for him on Facebook to follow his “Rank 'Em” posts (explained at the start of the episode), and you can find Let's Talk Ten at https://letstalktenpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ or whatever app you use to listen to podcasts.

Also, we're giving a shout out to fellow Pantheon Podcasters Bruce and Ryan over at Prisoners of Rock and Roll. Their latest episode is called Does Disco Suck? It will make a good companion piece to ours. Catch it at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/does-disco-suck/id1534602232?i=1000625127339

Canned Heat might have meant it differently, but the message is the same: Don't forget to boogie.

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.

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You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.
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To some people, Ornette Coleman represents the adventurous spirit of jazz. To others, Kenny G is as exciting as it gets. This episode is more dedicated to the former.....

Welcome to episode 107 of See Hear Podcast.

This month, Tim has selected the film under discussion. It's a documentary filmed in a jazz club in Budapest called “Free The Jazz”. Released in 2014, but seemingly filmed in 2007, its format is simple. Director Czabán György interviewed a range of jazz musicians from Germany, England, Japan, America and Norway about their love of free jazz and what it means to them. After each 2 minute interview, we see that musician in action....then it moves onto the next performer.

On the surface, this doesn't sound like a great film format. However, it allows people who may not necessarily be familiar with many of these artists to listen to what they have to say and sample their music. If you don't like one, you only have to wait a brief time to the next one – the jazz sampler equivalent of speed dating if you will. In that regard, this film is highly worth watching, both if you're a fan of free jazz or even if you're not. It's informative enough for it's format, and allows you to follow up on those artists that may take your interest.

Kerry, Tim and Maurice discuss their histories with free jazz, how it's different from tonal and modal jazz, and the politics that inspired some of the musicians. They debunk the notion that it's groups of musicians playing what they want with no thought.....oh, and they discuss the film....

They dedicate the episode to the memory of the recently deceased Peter Brotzmann, a giant in the field of free jazz.

“Free The Jazz” is on YouTube in its entirety to watch at: https://youtu.be/KHlshNgkmOE There are hard subs in Hungarian, but much of the film is in English, and you can activate the English subs for those musicians speaking in other languages.

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

Check out the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/seehearpodcast/?hl=en

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

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The history of cinema is loaded with films about siblings and the problems that go with loving and competing with your flesh and blood: The Godfather, A Simple Plan, Hannah and Her Sisters, Eat Drink Man Woman.....and Hilary & Jackie.

Welcome to episode 106 of See Hear Podcast.

Classical music history records that among the greatest of cellists was Jacqueline du Pre'. Her interpretations of the cello concertos of Elgar and Dvorak amongst others are considered amongst the pinnacle of the recorded canon. She had a sister, Hilary, who started life equally talented as a flautist. Circumstances worked against her continuing, so she married and carried on life domestically without concern. Sadly, Jacqueline died of MS in 1987. Hilary and their brother Piers wrote a memoir called A Genius In The Family which stirred up controversy with classical musicians who'd worked with Jackie, as well as fans. The film that followed, “Hilary and Jackie” caused similar issues. Hilary defended her stance in writing about her relationship with her sister citing that no one who worked with her knew her the way she did.

Rachel Griffiths and Emily Watson are superb in the title roles, but we discuss whether the film falls into the problems that many biopics suffer from. We also wonder how problematic is it to accept on face value some of the assertions Hilary du Pre' made about her sister (with denials from her daughter and Jackie's husband Daniel Barenboim). Do they matter when telling a story that everyone accepts is going to have facts altered for “dramatic purposes”? Do peoples' motivations to create art at its peak standard create divisions between them rather than bring them together?

The film is showing on Prime in the US (and hopefully other regions), and at the time of this writing is on SBS-On Demand in Australia. It's also worth watching a posthumously made documentary on Jacqueline that focuses more on her artistic side called Remembering Jacqueline du Pre' on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4w91_ilgw&t=2s

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

We're also on Instagram @seehearmusicandfilm

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on most podcast apps.

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Do you remember when you were a kid and you liked to make percussive sounds on biscuit tins, cushions, the neighbour's fence, or your own stomach? Of course you do!!!! No matter whether you took up an instrument or not, percussion is always fun......until nasty neighbours tell you to shut up because you're making noise and disturbing their peaceful afternoon listening passively to Kenny G!!!!!

Welcome to episode 105 of See Hear Podcast.

Tim, Kerry and I look at a Swedish film from 2010 called Sound of Noise. A guerilla group of percussionists (is that a snare of drummers????) come out of the shadows like a flash mob to perform their composed percussion pieces using any number of found objects – suction hoses, oxygen tanks, money being shredded, bulldozers - and the local constabulary are not pleased. They are determined to rid the city of “musician scum”, particularly one officer who has grown up hating music!!!!

We discuss the ubiquity of music in society and how we passively accept it when forced on us by some and reject it when brought on by others. We also talk about heist films, music futurism, and playing drum kit while in high pursuit by the police. There's plenty to take in from Sound of Noise, and we hope you enjoy our conversation.

The film is on Youtube in the US at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQhD3AmV1Y (you'll have to use a VPN if outside....but it is free of charge). I also believe it's on Prime in the US.

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

We're also on Instagram @seehearmusicandfilm

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

Proudly Pantheon.

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We've all seen 'em....films about people with a “dream”. They start out poorly, but triumph by the third act. Usually, they're comedic with a serious lesson to be learned.

Then there's Tapeheads.

Welcome to episode 104 of See Hear Podcast.

John Cusack and Tim Robbins star as a pair of underqualified entrepeneurs (especially Cusack) in the music video field. The film was made during the late 80s during the MTV era – when they supposedly played music videos. Tapeheads is loaded with cameos from musicians who wanted to make fun of the whole notion of visuals to sell music, especially when the visuals had nought creativity from themselves.

Tim, Kerry and I discuss the film, but also look into MTV itself, the nature of satire in cinema, films reflecting the culture of the period, and drunk tests....something for everyone.

Let's get into trouble.....

You can watch the film on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4kdKdibTMQ

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

We're also on Instagram @seehearmusicandfilm

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

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Biopics about contemporary musicians have been a very common thing in cinema, particularly over the last 40 to 50 years. As we've often discussed on the show, they often follow a familiar pattern – a grocery list, if you will, with all the known high and low points of the subject's life story the audience expects. However, before there was a glutton of such movies, there were a few that had no rules to follow so relied more on character study than cherry picking from 40 years of history.

Welcome to episode 103 of See Hear Podcast.

Kerry has made her first film selection for the show. It's the 1980 film about country singer Loretta Lynn, Coal Miner's Daughter. During the 1960s and 1970s era when it wasn't the done thing, Lynn wrote her own songs. When it wasn't the done thing, her songs were about being a strong woman who took no nonsense. Of course, life is never as simple as that. She also had to contend with her husband “Doolittle” Lynn who was part supporter / part tormentor. The film charts their relationship as well as her friendship with Patsy Cline, her family in a tiny town in Kentucky, and life as a highly loved singer. Yes, all these are talking points for most biopics, but this one tends to look more at Lynn's state of mind and her growth from shy youth to someone with self belief.

Our beloved Tim Merrill is back for his first show in nearly a year. The See Hear crew is a trio again. Tune in as we talk about our origins with country music, thoughts on the film, a scene I believe should have been in the film (my own shopping list check box, if you will), and Tim's suggestion on how Stephen King would have ended the film.

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.
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