Sunday, September 27, 2009

When TV Stars Sing - Part 3

I conclude my look at the vocal adventures of TV stars with a batch of vinyl gems from the ladies of action shows.MOD SQUAD star Peggy Lipton released a eponymous LP of mod tunes in 1968. Among the ditties on this disc was a little something by the great songwriter Laura Nyro: Stoney End, which was later famously and fabulously covered by a certain someone named Barbra.Not sure what this is, I'm thinking it's a reissue of the above album with an attempt to cash in on her sudden MOD SQUAD fame.
This single was released in 1970 and was written by Donovan (Mellow Yellow).
Peggy recorded another Nyro tune, Lu in 1970. This was the last recording made by the lovely Lipton to date. After the MOD SQUAD, Peggy married record producer Quincy Jones. Their beautiful and talented daughter, Rashida Jones has starred on TV in THE OFFICE and more recently PARKS & RECREATION.The late Farrah Fawcett (Majors) released a self-titled album in 1977 during the peak of her CHARLIE'S ANGELS fame. Not sure what songs she recorded. Can't really find any info on it other than the fact that it did exist. Wish I owned it.
In 1978, Cheryl Ladd replaced Farrah, and she was already a professional singer, having recorded vocals for Hanna-Barbera's JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS earlier in the decade. This single featured the B-side Here is a Song for those people who were confused as what exactly was recorded on that piece of vinyl.
Cheryl donned her cowboy boots in 1979 for Missing You and Thunder in the Distance. Is it me or do the B-sides always sound much more intriguing than the A-sides?And evidently it was imported to Japan.
An finally, we have 1978's Portrait by Lynda Carter. Yes, the WONDER WOMAN star recorded an album of songs–two of which she performed on the series.In 1980 she released a single called The Last Song. This was not accurate since Linda continued to sing, both on television and in acclaimed concert appearances.
After WONDER WOMAN was cancelled, CBS awarded her with a string of musical specials: Lynda Carter's Special (1980), Encore! (1980), Celebration (1981), Street Life (1982) and Body And Soul (1984). After several years of performing on the cabaret circuit, the still-stunning Ms. Carter released a second album entitled At Last earlier this year. Suck on that Sally Field! (see Friday's post).

3 comments:

pup don said...

OMG, I recently got the made for tv movie "Last Song" on DVD in which Linda Carter sings the title track. It's an obvious rip from a vht recording from tv. I remember seeing this when it aired and was absolutely horrified at the scene where this guy tortures my heroin wonder woman with a gas mask and a tank of carbon monoxide. The movie confused me as a kid and as an adult I still couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. And the song, well it was actually much better in memory than it was actually hearing it again. I also remember hearing Aretha Franklin sing a song on SNL a year or so later that had the exact same melody.

Ookie said...

Lynda Carter is Wonderful

Ookie said...

Wonderful
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