Johnny E Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 August 16, 2005 Clinton album shows how he likes to be a big hitter From Tom Baldwin in Washington YOU’VE read the book and you’ve seen the interviews but if you were thinking that there is no more juice to be squeezed out of the Bill Clinton experience, think again. The former President is producing a CD, The Bill Clinton Collection: Selections from the Clinton Music Room. The 11-track compilation goes on sale for $15.95 (£9) next month. Mr Clinton is so taken with the album that he is reported to have been “blasting it” loudly through the open windows of his people carrier as he drives. The William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, which more usually seeks to present itself as a “focal point in the worldwide battle against HIV-Aids”, has been working quietly away for months to acquire licensing rights to his top songs. The CD does not feature Mr Clinton performing on his beloved saxophone. Instead, he has personally selected jazz and gospel tracks, including My Funny Valentine by Miles Davis and The Town I Loved So Well by Phil Coulter. The CD is being produced for the Clinton Museum Store near the Presidental Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, which has adopted a sharply commercial strategy since opening nine months ago. Revenue is already more than £1 million which, with the proceeds of the CD, will go to fund Mr Clinton’s work on HIV-Aids, economic empowerment, leadership development and ethnic or religious reconciliation. Connie Fails, who runs the store, said yesterday: “I’m so excited. I hope this will become a big hit and be the first in a series of albums.” She disclosed how Mr Clinton had telephoned her after hearing a demo tape to insist that it had the “wrong version” of Chelsea Morning. The album now includes his favourite version of the song after which his daughter, Chelsea, was named. Visitors to the Clinton Presidential Library can see a reproduction of the White House music room, where he was able to pursue one of his ways of relieving the pressure of office by playing the saxophone. The exhibit includes samples from his eclectic CD collection, a video of him playing in the Arkansas All-State Band as a teenager and some of the many musical instruments presented to him during his eight years in power. There is also rock’n’roll memorabilia such as Bono’s handwritten lyrics to The Hands that Built America, a song that the politically active star sang at the library’s dedication in November, a huge portrait of B. B. King, and a whole wall dedicated to Clinton’s childhood idol, Elvis Presley. Jordan Johnson, of the Clinton Foundation, said yesterday that he believed that this was the first time that a president had produced a CD. “But unlike some of his predecessors, music was a very big inspiration for Mr Clinton.” CD TRACKS My One and Only Love, John Coltrane Harlem Nocturne, David Sanborn My Funny Valentine, Miles Davis The Town I Loved So Well, Phil Coulter There Will Never Be Another You, Art Tatum Summertime, Zoot Sims In the Presence of Jehovah, Mickey Mangun Nostalgie, Igor Butman I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free, Nina Simone Take My Hand, Precious Lord, Mahalia Jackson Chelsea Morning, Judy Collins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregK Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 what? no fleetwood mac?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Fitzgerald Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 Egads - one bonehead's mix tape. Stop the presses. Big deal. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Skid Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Man, I thought this was about a different Clinton! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 No bone problem there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son-of-a-Weizen Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 To actually buy a collection of songs because he happens to like them is hero worship gone totally nutso... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 What do you want to bet it will be a big seller? "Nutso" is fashionable these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Man, I thought this was about a different Clinton! ← Glad I wasn't the only one who thought this.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeCity Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Yeah, this is totally stupid! I mean, sure, it might help introduce tons of people to Trane, Miles, Zoot and Tatum, and it might generate a mountain of dough to help control the worldwide HIV-AIDS problem... But, man! I would've picked MUCH hipper tunes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Man, I thought this was about a different Clinton! ← You KNOW that this Clinton's CD would have been a whole lot cooler without even half trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Anyone want to venture a guess as to what Chelsea and/or Hilary's mixes might include? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolff Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 I think it is fine. At least they got licensing and I'm guessing the artists or their reps are happy, too. I'd buy this long before I bought some European public domain CDRs that so many love and praise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 I think it is fine. At least they got licensing and I'm guessing the artists or their reps are happy, too. I'd buy this long before I bought some European public domain CDRs that so many love and praise. ← At least it contains the great jazz horn triumvirate of Miles, 'trane, and... Sanborn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 (edited) August 16, 2005 She disclosed how Mr Clinton had telephoned her after hearing a demo tape to insist that it had the “wrong version” of Chelsea Morning. The album now includes his favourite version of the song after which his daughter, Chelsea, was named. ← Well who doesn't prefer the great Judy Collins to that also-ran Joni Mitchell? Actually, it's cool that Zoot Sims is represented; but how hackneyed a choice of tune is "Summertime"? Edited August 17, 2005 by Kalo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny E Posted August 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Yeah, this is totally stupid! I mean, sure, it might help introduce tons of people to Trane, Miles, Zoot and Tatum, and it might generate a mountain of dough to help control the worldwide HIV-AIDS problem... But, man! I would've picked MUCH hipper tunes! ← Some people just hate Bill Clinton more than they love jazz I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 What, no Ornette? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTMX Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 No Brotzmann? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 No Cecil Taylor? No Andrew Hill? C'MON, Bubba! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son-of-a-Weizen Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 it might generate a mountain of dough to help control the worldwide HIV-AIDS problem... That's a joke, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Kat Posted August 18, 2005 Report Share Posted August 18, 2005 Clinton IS a Kenny G fan, just bare in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeCity Posted August 18, 2005 Report Share Posted August 18, 2005 it might generate a mountain of dough to help control the worldwide HIV-AIDS problem... That's a joke, right? ← I'm not counting on the proceeds to find the cure, but every little bit helps. If people are gonna buy some compilation disc, I'd rather the money go to a charitable organization than to Starbucks... --Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted August 18, 2005 Report Share Posted August 18, 2005 how come there's no: She's Having My Baby; Puppy Love; River of Shit (the Fugs, and I know he's a big Fugs fan); Moose the Mooche; Hello I Must Be Going; Breaking Up Is Hard to Do; My Heart Belongs to Daddy; Poon Tang; Satisfaction - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny E Posted August 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 Or "Devil with a Blue Dress On'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted August 19, 2005 Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 how come there's no: She's Having My Baby; Puppy Love; River of Shit (the Fugs, and I know he's a big Fugs fan); Moose the Mooche; Hello I Must Be Going; Breaking Up Is Hard to Do; My Heart Belongs to Daddy; Poon Tang; Satisfaction - ← The "Backdoor" Clinton compilation. When's Monica's compilation coming out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted August 19, 2005 Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 Also missing: 'Have You Met Miss Jones?' Pink Floyd's 'Have A Cigar'. Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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