The JC Group Giveaway/Review - Jimmy Scott - If You Only Knew

Lois Gilbert · January-11th-2005, 01:26 AM

Jazz singer's 'raw deal' life makes a compelling story
January 10, 2005

By THOR CHRISTENSEN / The Dallas Morning News

Jimmy Scott's body stopped growing at age 12,
the result of a rare hormone deficiency. But his heart
and his ambition kept right on going.

Cristina Cotter
Jimmy Scott’s requisite jazz shines in If You Only Knew .

Jimmy Scott
Grade: A
If You Only Knew
(Rhino Home Video)
In stores Tuesday
Today, at 78, Mr. Scott is a cult figure. Most people, if they've even heard of him, know him only as that jazz singer with the high, feminine voice.

But the documentary If You Only Knew shows him as one of the most fascinating stories in popular music – a feather-voiced waif who might have easily wound up in a freak show, but instead battled the odds to win the acclaim he long deserved.

When Mr. Scott says "I was given a raw deal," he's not talking just about Kallmann Syndrome, but his life in general. When he was 13, his mother was killed in a car accident – he and his nine siblings were split up and sent to foster homes around Cleveland.

By his 20s, his singing talent took him to New York City, where he became known as "Little Jimmy Scott." But he rarely got his due. He sang lead on records with Lionel Hampton and Charlie Parker, but inexplicably, his name was left off both discs.

In 1962, under the tutelage of Ray Charles, he cut an LP that experts consider his masterpiece, Falling in Love is Wonderful. But as soon as it came out, it was pulled off the shelves in a contract dispute with a vindictive record-biz exec – a recurring theme in his career.

Mr. Scott's personal life was just as rocky. Plagued by self-doubt over his feminine features – and the rumors that he was a she – he tried to act macho by drinking hard, packing a pistol and living with prostitutes, one of whom became his wife.

In the '60s, he'd dropped out of music and faded into obscurity, working as a waiter at Bob's Big Boy Restaurant in Cleveland. By the mid-'80s, most of his fans assumed he was dead.

But at age 60, he moved to New Jersey and began a remarkable career revival. It started slowly at first: Warner Bros. publicist Bill Bentley recalls seeing him perform for an audience of four fans but still acting "like he was playing the Apollo Theater for 5,000 people."

That passion wasn't lost on songwriter Doc Pomus, who wrote a letter to Billboard magazine in 1987 demanding someone sign Mr. Scott. Nobody did, but when Mr. Pomus died four years later, Mr. Scott sang at his funeral and the record honchos finally took notice.

A day after Mr. Pomus was buried, Warner Bros. signed Mr. Scott to a contract, and in 1992, put out the Grammy-nominated All the Way. He's released eight acclaimed CDs since then and become a star in Europe and Asia: If You Only Knew captures him performing for adoring crowds in Japan and gleefully greeting strangers as if they were long-lost buddies.

Director Matthew Buzzell does a brilliant job of telling Mr. Scott's story via interviews with his siblings, band-mates and biographer, David Ritz. But the most lasting scenes are of the singer performing – gesturing impishly as he croons "Pennies From Heaven," and wringing every last drop of melancholia from his voice in "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child."

If You Only Knew isn't just the story of Mr. Scott's incredible life – it's a celebration of his sad, exquisite jazz.

http://www.wcnc.com/sharedcontent/fe....971f992f.html

Lois Gilbert · January-11th-2005, 01:48 AM

Jazzcorner has 10 copies to give away for your enjoyment and commentary.

Special feature include surround sound, photo gallery and a short film, audio commentary, etc.

BTW, there's also a new book called Faith in Time by David Ritz (he wrote Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye), but I only have my copy of that one.

This is a new year - everyone is invited to participate - winners will be chosen at random, but you are eligible only by emailing me at lois@jazzcorner.com

your screen name
real name
address
email address
tel #

Good luck and enjoy!

jazzy mary · January-11th-2005, 11:37 AM

Oh, I hope I win this!!!!!!!!!! I saw this on PBS when it aired. When I was in Japan w/ Jimmy in Nov. 2000, the filmmaker, Matthew Buzzel, was following us around. I was there for the extraordinary rendition of "Motherless Child" which Jimmy does in the film! It was in a theatre in Tokyo, I think. What a trip, I got to hear Jimmy every night for 10 nights!!

This is a great video. Wait, no it's not!! What am I saying?? Now everyone will enter this contest!! Damn!

Lois Gilbert · January-12th-2005, 12:15 AM

Please email me no later than Friday

patricia · January-13th-2005, 12:14 AM

I was first introduced to Jimmy Scott's music by my first mentor, who also directed me to Jazz Corner, in the mid-nineties.
I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of Scott, or heard his unique voice until then. But, since then I have three of his CDs, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" [when he was still "little" Jimmy Scott], "Mood Indigo", which is my favourite and "Holdin' Back The Years" which is even more of his wonderful stylin'. WOW. Truly one of a kind.

Lois Gilbert · January-14th-2005, 03:54 AM

Just remind everyone today (Friday) is the last day for submissions to score the Jimmy Scott dvd....

I'll announce winners on Monday

john williams · January-14th-2005, 06:55 AM

I'd very much like to see this DVD. Like Patricia I've only discovered Jimmy Scott recently. I first heard him on Lou Reed's Magic and Loss album and Scott's contribution is wonderful. I adore Motherless Child but can only think of the version by Crime and the City Solution but I bet Jimmy's version is something else.

jazzy mary · January-14th-2005, 01:44 PM

Patricia and JBW, Jimmy is the greatest!! Patricia, you MUST get Jimmy's cd "All the Way". I think it's his best!! You can find it for a very reasonable price on half.com.

Funny you should mention "Holdin' back the Years". I love that cd and I LOVE Jimmy's version of that song. I always liked Simply Red's version too. At any rate, Jimmy fought doing those new tunes for that session and hates doing them.. The producers insisted he do these new tunes. He rarely, rarely does them when he performs, although he does do "Jealous Guy" and the Elvis Costello song sometimes (I can't recall the name right now) and his renditions are wonderful!

JBW, NO-one and I mean NO ONE, can beat Jimmy's rendiiton of "Motherless Child" and this cd captures one of the best times I've heard it! I always cry when I hear him sing that song. I can't help it. His phrasing, his heart...when he sings "this world........is so lonely and cold.....*this* world is so lonely and cold", I effing lose it! Everyone in the band knows it and they always smile at me when I reach for my handkerchief (I don't sob openly, but I do have to dab my eyes) I'm a sentimental sap, that's all.

Jimmy will be at Iridium is Feb. I can't wait to see and hear him again. He's such a sweetie!!

jazzfiend · January-14th-2005, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patricia

I was first introduced to Jimmy Scott's music by my first mentor, who also directed me to Jazz Corner, in the mid-nineties.

Anyone I know?

And who was your 2nd mentor?

Lois Gilbert · January-15th-2005, 06:12 AM

And the winners are

1. Patricia
Calgary, Canada

2. Jazzy Mary
Brooklyn, NY

3. Ron Thorne
Anchorage, Alaska

4. Jonathanjazz
Bronx, NY

5. Mike Schwartz
San Jose, CA

6. David Gitin
Monterey, CA

7. Lynn
Las Vegas, NV

8. Gentle Giant
Melrose, MA

9. JBW
Australia

10. Ryan B
New York, NY

Gentle Giant · January-16th-2005, 09:56 PM

Thank you thank you thank you thank you.

I'm very excited about checking this out. And honored to be in such distinguished company!

Ron Thorne · January-17th-2005, 03:04 AM

Thank you very much, Lois! I look forward to seeing this award-winning documentary again, and at my leisure...over and over, too.

Distinguished company, indeed.

Dr Dave · January-17th-2005, 01:56 PM

I entered too late. Sorry.

patricia · January-17th-2005, 02:56 PM

YESSSSSSS!!!!! Thank you Lois. Can't wait.

Note to JM. I mentioned that I have "Holdin' Back The Years" and you're right. Excellent!! I'll look for "All The Way". Thanks.

Jazzfiend, My second mentor, as was my first, was someone who used to post here, but doesn't anymore. I am forever grateful to them both.

jazzfiend · January-17th-2005, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patricia

Jazzfiend, My second mentor, as was my first, was someone who used to post here, but doesn't anymore. I am forever grateful to them both.

That's strange! I do recall meeting you at the J. Ray site and directing you to J.C. shortly thereafter. I was posting under a different handle at the time.

In Full Cry,

killer h

patricia · January-17th-2005, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzfiend

That's strange! I do recall meeting you at the J. Ray site and directing you to J.C. shortly thereafter. I was posting under a different handle at the time.

In Full Cry,

killer h

Is my face red??? I had forgotten that you had changed your onscreen name here. My humblest apologies. You get to wear the coveted prime mentor beanie, with the eight ostrich feathers [for ceremonial occasions only].
Since then I have re-discovered vinyl and I blame both you and my second, equally revered mentor for that. There is much old jazz that can only be appreciated on vinyl. I now have tons of it and a young man at work GAVE me a new, high-end turntable when he heard me say that I collect records. He had never owned a record and wasn't ever going to. Kids. Don't you just love them??

Speaking of kids and mentoring, I have two young people for whom I am doing just that, one with jazz and the other whom I am helping with his interest in photography. It's kind of nice to have two young men who think I'm God, or at least God's next-door-neighbour.

john williams · January-17th-2005, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

JBW, NO-one and I mean NO ONE, can beat Jimmy's rendiiton of "Motherless Child"...

That's great to hear jazzy as I simply adore that song.

Thanks Lois, I've rarely won anything in my life.

The only other time I remember winning anything was one of my earliest and most cringeworthy memories. I must have been five or six and I was at a school open day with my parents and there were various games for children. There was one where you roll wooden balls down a chute and get varying scores depending where the ball goes. If you got a high enough score you win a prize. The prizes were varied but I had my eye on a nice blue die cast Model T Ford. I scored pretty well and won some bubble bath! I was so intent on winning the car that I burst into tears and pointed at the car helplessly. The lovely women running the game, in a moment of true kindness, let me swap the prizes. That story deserves to be in the most embarrasing moments thread. What a big big baby I was.

I really look forward to receiving the DVD of Jimmy Scott. Fantastic!

patricia · January-17th-2005, 08:40 PM

JBW, don't open that can of worms. I still feel bad about winning THREE bottles of my choice of booze in an office draw. The draw was at Christmas and was called "Three Cheers". Clever. I was pressured into buying three tickets for a dollar, above my protests that I rarely drink. When I won, everybody hated me. Go figure.
This is certainly more happy-making than that experience was.
I too am looking forward to the DVD's arrival.

But, as an aside, you really should go out and get some appropriately scented bubble bath stuff. It's nice. Light some candles, put on some JAZZ and relax. I recommend it, even for our most masculine cats here on JC. Many's the time that I have bubble-bathed my way out of the moodies and the angrified nasties.

john williams · January-17th-2005, 08:58 PM

Thanks Patricia. I do have some terrific minerally bath stuff (not sure if it's super bubbly though) which goes down a treat for these somewhat older bones and muscles after a hard day at the office.

Oh, and happy belated birthday too Patricia! (I know, wrong thread)

patricia · January-17th-2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBW

Thanks Patricia. I do have some terrific minerally bath stuff (not sure if it's super bubbly though) which goes down a treat for these somewhat older bones and muscles after a hard day at the office.

Oh, and happy belated birthday too Patricia! (I know, wrong thread)

Thank you, JBW.
As for the bubble bath stuff, now in your possession. Go for it!!!!
Older, shcmolder.

Don't forget the candles and, of course, the JAZZ.

GoodSpeak · January-17th-2005, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

Please email me no later than Friday

Done and done.

jazzy mary · January-18th-2005, 11:14 AM

Yeah!!!!!!!!! I'm so glad I won! JBW, just *WAIT* til you hear Jimmy sing "Motherless Child" on this video!!

Lois Gilbert · January-18th-2005, 03:23 PM

We need to thank Rhino Records as well

Here's the link, so you can score your dvd

http://www.rhino.com/store/ProductDe...?Number=970373

jazzy mary · January-18th-2005, 03:26 PM

Lois, are we supposed to go there to somehow get our cd? Or are you sending it to us or is this the link so people can buy it themselves---and they should!

Ryan B. · January-18th-2005, 04:59 PM

Supercool. Thank you Lois, thank you Rhino.

patricia · January-18th-2005, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

Lois, are we supposed to go there to somehow get our cd? Or are you sending it to us or is this the link so people can buy it themselves---and they should!

Mary, I think that Lois asked for our addresses, when we entered the contest, in order to mail us our copies, should our name be drawn.

The link would be for any fellow posters who want to get a copy of the DVD.

Lois???

Lois Gilbert · January-19th-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

We need to thank Rhino Records as well

Here's the link, so you can score your dvd

http://www.rhino.com/store/ProductDe...?Number=970373

I'm sorry I didn't make this clear - this is for anyone who didn't win and would like to purchase the dvd.

The 10 winners had their DVDs sent out today.

Props to Rhino!

Lois Gilbert · January-19th-2005, 12:16 AM

PS Ladies and gents who won - let me know when you get it. This won't be a formal review, but if you can share your comments it would be appreciated!

Gentle Giant · January-19th-2005, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

PS Ladies and gents who won - let me know when you get it. This won't be a formal review, but if you can share your comments it would be appreciated!

Will do, and I'll be glad to post a review that will be helpful to Scott fans and others who may be curious.

patricia · January-20th-2005, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

PS Ladies and gents who won - let me know when you get it. This won't be a formal review, but if you can share your comments it would be appreciated!

Of course I will.