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I discovered ebay on Tuesday, 28 December 1999. My user name stems from my love of the Bee Gees' music and... Tweety bird. Although I have stopped seeking new Tweety items (the house was turning yellow) and downsized my collection, I did keep a manageable amount of rare, cute and useful objects, my favorites being PVC figurines depicting his conflicted relationship with 'puddytat' Sylvester. The bird's attitude cheers me up and is a great source of inspiration.
* * * * * The Gibbs in Gibbsongbird * * * * *
The Bee Gees' music has been a part of my life since I first heard To Love Somebody as Mark Lester won Tracy Hyde's heart in Melody when I was nine. Main Course is probably my favorite album but when I think of their First LP and of Odessa, Living Eyes, Still Waters, Size Isn't Everything... I just can't make up my mind. I enjoy their earliest performances collected on Brilliant From Birth as much as the masterful latest efforts found on This Is Where I Came In. With sublime three-part harmony, intriguing lyrics and lovely melodies the Bee Gees crafted a singular musical universe that skillfully blends rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country and yes, occasionally disco... although I certainly don't think of them as a disco group.
I am always looking for rare Bee Gees songs (b-sides, demos, live versions...), significant interviews and articles documenting their career. I also collect 7" records (singles, EPs) with picture sleeves. That all started in 2001 when I felt compelled to own Robin Gibb's 1983 single Another Lonely Night in New York - with the twin towers of the World Trade Center in a moonlit background. I now have several hundred records, safely stored in clear Plexiglas cubes that allow me to display and enjoy them. I thought I'd share some of my favorites on this page. They come from Australia, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Norway, Japan and Italy.
The Bee Gees' career spreads over five decades and the records' sleeves make it possible to take a pictorial trip down memory lane, comparing how the same song is being marketed in different countries and how graphic design has evolved from the quirky, colorful, psychedelic innocence of the 60s to the slick, conservative and somewhat darker tones of later decades.
Virtually all you ever wanted to know about the Bee Gees' work can be found on Joseph Brennan's wonderful Gibb Songs site. While increasing understanding and appreciation of their music, this exhaustive chronicle of the well over 1000 songs written, recorded and produced by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb provides invaluable help to fans. Each song is abundantly documented, so you will find titles and alternates, writers and performers credits, recording date, studio and place, lead vocal, time, type of mix and formats available (single, LP, CD, unreleased...) and the occasional anecdote. The only downside is... you will also realize just how many songs you never heard, which might trigger a time-consuming and financially-hazardous quest for the elusive ones. Since Maurice's death, not much is happening on the
Bee Gees' official site, so I suggest visiting Gibb Service International for the latest news.
Other interests -- some might call 'obsessions' -- of mine
* * * * * Elliott Smith * * * * *
"deep in my heart
separate from the rest
where I like you the best"
(Elliott Smith, Between the Bars)
Elliott Smith may be dead but his voice will never be silenced. His thought-provoking lyrics, sublime chords and haunting melodies will resonate in our souls for as long as we play his music. He was a great poet and an amazing guitar player, a knight clad in threadbare t-shirts, the emotional rescuer of the lost and lonely. His songs still bring people together and give them a place where they belong and can go back to. Elliott's orphans can find solace at Sweet Adeline. Rare treats await fans on Elliott Smith B-Sides. May this sweet prince rest in the peace he wasn't able to find in this life.
* * * * * Rufus Wainwright * * * * *
The only man who makes me feel sorry to be a girl. As a songwriter, I think Rufus is up there with Cole Porter, John Lennon, Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen, complete with flamboyant orchestral textures, lavish tunes and tension-filled lyrics. He plays the guitar and the piano like a god, he's got opera chops, matinee idol looks and killer clothes. He likes Verdi, The Golden Girls, John Singer Sargent and bitching about Bush. He's fearless. How many artists would dare open a mainstream album with a latin song Agnus Dei and throw in a few French ones? And I can attest from meeting him that he's really, really nice. You'll have hours of fun exploring his official site and bulletin board.
* * * * * Spencer Gibb and 54 Seconds * * * * *
When I found out that Robin Gibb's oldest son Spencer was a musician, I checked him out of curiosity. I listened to the 1997 album 4-Track Mind he recorded under the name Jez Spencer and I have been hooked on his work since. His music is quite a departure from his dad's and uncles' but he's an accomplished songwriter and he's definitely inherited the family vocal chords (complete with the irresistible vibrato!) In 1998, Spencer Gibb formed an indie band, 54 Seconds. They're based in Austin and turn out a mesmerizing combination of electronica, pop and classic rock with unusual harmonies, lush keyboards and inventive guitar-playing. As of late they seem to be too busy with their music to update their official site regularly but fortunately, some devoted fans have created great ones, so I suggest starting with Wanted, where you'll find the latest news, links, pics and clips.
* * * * * Ben Folds * * * * *
I love Majosha, Ben Folds Five and, well, Ben Folds in all of his incarnations. The guy's wit matches his songwriting and musical skills. Displaying pop prowess, sensitivity and depth, Ben is the perfect antidote to depression and I only wish he'd spent more time with Elliott Smith, about whom he wrote the very moving song Late.
* * * * * Antonio Gades * * * * *
Perfection was of this world. I was fortunate enough to see Spanish dancer Antonio Gades on stage and to interview him. The man's integrity matched his talent. The Antonio Gades Foundation is a haven for fans.
- - - - - Actors - - - - -
In my book, Al Pacino is God. He shares Mount Olympus with Peter Ooole, Jeremy Brett, Dirk Bogarde, Robert Stephens and son Toby, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes and last but far from least, Clive Owen. I'm especially proud of the fact that I 'discovered' Clive over 10 years ago - long before his Oscar nomination and persistent rumors regarding his being the next James Bond. As it turned out, Clive declined the 007 part and I'm happy because he's chosen to get involved in projects that are a lot more exciting than additional installments of a tired franchise. One of my favorite eBay finds is a theatre program of a production of Romeo & Juliet in which a teenaged Clive played a page to Paris. eBay is a great place to look for eye candy (purists call it "memorabilia" but they're fooling no one) pertaining to my favorite thespians but I also recommend checking out these great Web sites: Murph's absolutely fabulous Clive Owen site, Al Pacino's Loft, and A Dedication to Jeremy Brett.
- - - - - Writers - - - - -
When I'm not at the movies or listening to music, I love to read. I'm a huge fan of writers Patricia Highsmith, Ed McBain/Evan Hunter (whose official site is one of the most exhaustive and brilliant ones I have ever seen), Arthur Conan Doyle, Colin Dexter, Elizabeth George, Minette Walters, L.R. Wright, A.S. Byatt and Sue Grafton (a friendly and fun site to visit, where you'll even find recipes of Kinsey Millhone's favorite dishes). One of my all-time favorite mystery novel, Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, triggered a strong (some might say slightly obsessive) interest in King Richard III and the Middle Ages. I now consider myself a Ricardian (i.e. someone who believes Richard III is innocent of the crimes he's been historically accused of). More information on Dickon may be found on the Richard III Society Web site. WARNING: Explicit historical contents ;-)
* * * * * update * * * * *
On July 6, 2005, Salvatore Lombino passed away, but you probably know him better as Evan Hunter, Ed McBain, John Abbott, Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins, Ezra Hannon or Richard Marsten... In the 79 years he spent on this earth, this amazing storyteller wrote well over a hundred novels, short stories, screenplays and children's books, and took the detective novel to new realms by inventing the police procedural. How this clear-eyed chronicler of crime managed to keep the genre fresh is a mystery even Steve Carella or Matthew Hope can never solve. I shall miss the comforting knowledge that he was somewhere out there, hard at work on his next book, but I will find solace every time I read him. His legacy is immense, and so is the joy his work will continue to bring his fans.
On a break from his highflying adventures, Tweety with the Fab 3, whose Spiwits were also flying high. Tweety shared Mo's taste in hats.
Sometimes I have to sell stuff to buy more stuff...
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--- Do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions regarding one of the items I'm selling or if the image does not appear (I will email a scan). Being a collector who's experienced the frustration of receiving damaged goods, I pride myself on packaging each item with tender loving care. I am registered with PAYPAL and find it to be the most convenient, least expensive, fastest and safest way to send or receive payment. You may send payment in CASH by registered mail (or well concealed and at your own risk). The reason why I DO NOT ACCEPT MONEY ORDERS in US currency is the Canadian banks charge outrageous fees to cash them. Arrangements can be made but you MUST email me first. I strictly follow eBay's non-paying bidder policy and leave appropriate feedback on every transaction.
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