Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Mae West: Ian Whitcomb

According to British musician and producer Ian Whitcomb, MAE WEST had a blast recording her rock and roll album in 1972. At that time, the legendary entertainer was 79 years old and Ian was 31.
• • Happy Birthday to Ian Whitcomb • •
• • Ian Whitcomb was born in Woking, Surrey, England on Friday, 10 July 1941.
• • Ian Whitcomb, among other things, was the producer for Mae West on her album "Great Balls of Fire" [MGM Records, 1972].  The movie queen also recorded a song he wrote.  He is an entertainer, actor, author of several titles as well as a record producer, singer, and songwriter.
• • We hope that Ian Whitcomb's birthday celebration today is simply record-breaking.
• • On Friday, 10 July 1931 • •
• • During July 1931 Mae West entered into a complex discussion with the Shuberts about a stage version of "The Constant Sinner," based on her bi-racial novel set in Harlem and published by Macauley in hardcover [November 1930].
• • The mainstage contracts were signed by Mae West the playwright (on Friday, 10 July 1931) and Mae West the Broadway star (on 20 August 1931).
• • When she brought her stage play "The Constant Sinner" to Atlantic City in August 1931, the crowds lined up for tickets, noted The New York Times.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • After finding out The Doors wrote "Light My Fire," supposedly Mae West said to Ian Whitcomb: "Well, that's one door that should be shut."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Guardian mentioned Mae West.
• • Christopher Hawtree wrote: According to the ragtime expert Ian Whitcomb, visitors to Mae West's apartment were always greeted at the door by an eyeball in the spyglass, then a shuffling and then Paul Novak, in blue blazer and black trousers. Novak then led visitors in to await Miss West in the sitting-room. Whitcomb thought Novak decent, kind, very shy.
• • Christopher Hawtree continued: Once he mentioned in print that Novak carried in some groceries. 'A star does not mention groceries,' she told him. But the only time that he saw Novak upset was during the making of her album "Great Balls of Fire." When Whitcomb said 'Cut!' during a vocal take, Novak was offended on her behalf and pulled out the gun he always carried. Novak was certainly always glad to see her, and she daily performed fellatio upon him because she thought it good for her skin. ...
• • Source: Article written by Christopher Hawtree for The Guardian [U.K.]; published on Wednesday, 21 July 1999.
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The A.V. Club mentioned Mae West.
• • Nathan Rabin wrote: In a fascinating interview included on the DVD for the West-starring 1978 rock/disco musical "Sextette," British singer-songwriter Ian Whitcomb, who worked extensively with West and produced her 1972 rock album "Great Balls of Fire," cheerfully relays his thought process for choosing suitable covers for the project: “I thought if Mae West sang ‘Great Balls Of Fire’ she would make the word ‘balls’ mean ‘balls’ in the other sense of the word.” (He’s talking about testicles!) To make sure everyone got the joke, Whitcomb even re-wrote (and I would argue immeasurably improved upon) the original lyrics by making them about West’s famous fondness for oiled-up musclemen of a much younger vintage. ...
• • Source: Article: "Insert Double Entendre Here" written for The A.V. Club by Nathan Rabin; posted on Wednesday, 29 February 2012  
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2689th blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo:
• • Mae West in 1972

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