A fun and enjoyable night at The Paradise in Kensal Green. Wait, it’s uncharacteristic of me not to complain about something -- well, the venue was freezing cold, so it was an evening of goose bumps and erect nipples (I speak only for myself here). There.
Our featured burlesque performer and model were both rising burlesque starlets making their Dr Sketchy debuts: performer Ava Iscariot made a real impression with her raven-haired Bettie Page wig and glittery black tarantula-shaped pasties. The gorgeous model Pia was actually a former audience member whose beauty and poise so impressed Dr Sketchy promoter Clare Marie she persuaded her to model for us (this is like a great show biz “discovery” story in the tradition of a nubile young Lana Turner being discovered drinking a milkshake at Schwab's drugstore by a Hollywood agent). Both undoubtedly have great futures ahead of them.
Emcee “Queen of Cabaret” Ophelia Bitz was on typically raucous form: a vision in leopard skin gold sequins, she warned the front row of the audience she wasn’t wearing any underwear and cautioned they might get a glimpse of “flange”. (The spirit of Tallulah Bankhead lives on). One of the definite perks of DJ’ing at Dr Sketchy is having Ophelia sing along to (and sometimes go-go dance along to) the CDs I’m playing in the DJ booth. It’s like being serenaded!
What Is This Thing Called Love? Lena Horne
I Remember You - Chet Baker
Work Song - Nina Simone
If I Should Lose You - George Shearing
You've Changed - Billie Holiday
The Man I Love - Hildegard Knef
Ebb Tide - Al Anthony
Willow Weep for Me - Lizabeth Scott
Harlem Nocturne - Martin Denny
The Immediate Pleasure - John Barry (Beat Girl soundtrack)
Intoxicated Man - Serge Gainsbourg
Un jour comme un autre - Brigitte Bardot
Night Scene - The Rumblers
Two Timing Loser - Johnny Thunders and Patti Paladin
Stop and Listen - Mickey and Ludella
You Got What You Wanted - Ike and Tina Turner
Bewitched - Shirley and Lee
Sea of Love - The Earls of Suave
Flower of My Heart - Sparkle Moore
Tear Drops from My Eyes - Ruth Brown
This Thing Called Love - Esquerita
Hump-a-Baby - Little Ritchie Ray
Pick-Up - The Corvettes
Rock'n'Roll Waltz - Ann-Margret
It's Only Make Believe - Billy Fury
Salamander - Mamie van Doren
Made You - Adam Faith
Intoxica - The Centurions
Love Potion # 9 - Nancy Sit
Yeh, Yeh! Mongo Santamaria
What Is This Generation Coming To? Robert Mitchum
Don't Be Cruel - Bill Black's Combo
Snow Surfin' Matador - Jan Davis
Woh! Woh! Yeah! The Dynamos
Womp Womp - Freddy and The Heartaches
Catwalk - Jack Constanzo
You Know I'm No Good - Wanda Jackson
Anytime - Bill Black's Combo
Crawlin' (The Crawl) - The Untouchables
A Woman Wouldn't be a Woman - Eartha Kitt
Harlem Nocturne - The Viscounts
Beaver Shot - The Periscopes
Dragon Walk - The Noble Men
Caterpillar Crawl - The Strangers
Sick and Tired - Lula Reed
Green Mosquito - The Tune Rockers
The Bee - The Sentinals
Fool I Am - Pat Ferguson
I Ain't in the Mood - Helen Humes
Bonjour Tristesse - Juliette Greco
Lonely Hours - Sarah Vaughan
Black Coffee - Peggy Lee
Sexe - Line Renaud
When Love Goes Wrong - Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell
Caravan - John Buzon Trio
The Whip - The Originals
Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Sam Butera
Frankie and Johnny - Mae West
Coquette - Dinah Washington
Summertime - Little Esther
Revellion - The Revels
/ Titty shaker du jour: the mighty "Womp Womp" by Freddy & The Heartaches - featuring Lili St Cyr (1918 - 1999) /
Mind-blowing clip from 1960 Italian horror / sexploitation flick The Vampire and The Ballerina. I think calling them "ballerinas" is a bit misleading ...
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