Annabelle Short aka Annie Ross was born in London in 1930 to two Scottish vaudevillians. After spending most of her childhood in show business she changed her last name to Ross and decided to establish a singing career.

In 1952, Ross met Bob Weinstock (Prestige Records owner) who asked her to write lyrics for a single. The next day she handed him lyrics that perfectly fit saxophonist Wardell Gray's composition of the same name.

“Twisted” is a satirical take on insanity and psychoanalysis and is one of the funniest songs ever recorded. This is the original version and features legendary musicians Percy Heath on bass and Art Blakey on drums.
​
Ross passed away last week, two days shy of her 90th birthday. She was most known for her work with Lambert, Hendricks & Ross and helping to establish “vocalese”,  but she also had success as a soloist and actress.  She was a truly trailblazing and talented woman who will be missed.

Lauren Culjack is a very talented composer and singer who has been producing music for various networks including CW, ESPN and Hulu. Lately she performs under the moniker Kotomi (her mother’s Japanese name), and has quietly released some excellent ethereal pop music.

“A Good Thing” is a brilliant single she released last month. It’s the perfect mix of wistful summer breezes and Sunday drives that harkens back to the British trip hop scene of the early 90’s.
​
Don’t sleep on Lauren and her Kotomi project, she’s a clever musician who deserves more attention.
 
 
For more information on Kotomi:  https://soundcloud.com/kotomi  

Bruno Nicolai was a prolific and inventive Italian composer and orchestra director who was best known for composing the soundtrack to the erotic historical drama Caligula. He is also known for his working relationship with Ennio Morricone, conducting the soundtrack for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and many other spaghetti westerns and giallo exploitation films.
​
“Allora, Il Treno” (So, the train) is the lead track and title from the documentary and album. It was recorded and released in 1975 on the classical label Edipan, and features famed Italian vocalist Edda Dell'Orso. It is an interesting song in that it combines cinematic orchestral elements and the aural dramatic operatic vocals of Dell’Orso against a fairly funky rhythm section. It’s also the perfect mid 70’s soundtrack to a soft top sports car drive through Tuscany. 

My friend Tom is the only other person I know that also loved the New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits.  In 1992 Andrew Brough, the jangly and popp-ier cowriter from the Fits formed Bike, and in 1997 released Take in the Sun, and my friend Tom was the first to turn me onto that record. To this day, it’s one of our all-time favorite albums and one that I especially love to listen to in the summer.

I was excited to share this song and album with you this week as I feel it’s one of those underrated and fantastic records that only New Zealanders and a hundred or so Americans know about. And then I found out that Andrew Brough passed away in February. I had no idea, and I’m truly saddened by the news.
​
I hope you all enjoy this song and if you have a chance check out Take in the Sun. It’s a fantastic little record if you’re a sucker for shimmery guitar driven pop and love songs.

https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/welcome-to-my-world-1997