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| .99 Cent find at a Local Goodwill thrift store |
Finding good music for less than a dollar
The above is a perfect example of the type of music you can find digging the record bins in your local thrift store. It's an educational experience too, look what I have learned about Claudine Longet.Claudine Longet is a French born model, dancer, and singer. The album cover pictured is Longet's 1967 album Colours, and a stunning photograph at that. Claudine's life Reads like a Great Hollywood epic, since 1977, she has been almost completely out of the public spot light.
Had I not discovered this particular album cover at a thrift store, it is likely I would have never discovered the smooth and soothing vocals of Claudine Longet. Claudine was the wife of entertainer Andy Williams from (1961-1975), they remained friends until his death on September 25, 2012.
During 1976 she became embroiled in a Huge media firestorm, she was convicted of negligent homicide when she shot and killed her live in boy friend, former Olympic skier Spider Sabich. Claudine maintained that it was an accident while the gun was being demonstrated.
Many people at the time were critical that she received only a 30 day jail term, partly because of police errors handling the case, much of the evidence was thrown out. Since this was the last thing in the public's mind about Claudine, much of her musical career has been forgotten.
Claudine's Marriage to Andy Williams:
On December 15 1961 they were married, they had 3 children together and were separated by 1970, ultimately they divorced in 1975. Andy stayed by Longet's side all throughout the trial for the shooting death of Spider Sabich, saying: "She is the mother of my children" .
Williams went on to say he wanted to get his children to a safe place then get her good legal representation. Andy maintained he believed Claudine, that the shooting was an accident. Andy also said at the time they still loved each other, but they just didn't want to be married anymore.
The Death of Olympic Skier Spider Sabich:
The sheriff's department investigating the case, took blood samples and confiscated her diary, reportedly cocaine was in her system and the diary showed things were not all that great with Longet and Sabich, a search warrant had not been obtained, all of this circumstantial evidence was thrown out.
There have been any number of stories reported over the years to what actually happened, and why. I won't spread potentially libelous rumors or anecdotes, those articles always mention they were friends of the family etc... without any real proof. With the absence of that proof, I will take Claudine at her word, only her and God know the truth.
Is Claudine Longet's music any good, can she sing at all?
The style of music she is known for is pop mixed with bossa nova, her voice is soft and relaxing, probably how she speaks as well. Make no mistake about it though, we aren't talking about Aretha Franklin here, Claudine has a limited vocal range, and rarely goes out on a limb trying to be more than she is.
What she is, is the perfect soft-pop singer, who usually seems right on the mark. The late 60's Psychedelic influences also creep in with some of the arrangements, which do add a lot, and at least in my case, really surprised me on first listen. The style is jazz, bossa nova, 60's pop, a little bit of kitsch, a real varied back drop for her Vocals.
Herb Albert was not an idiot, he made sure that she was put in situations that would be successful, and he didn't ask her to go beyond what her vocal range could do. Claudine does have sort of a cult following these days, probably just as much for her past as for her singing ability. I find her records all the time in nice playing shape in the thrift store bins for no more than a dollar or two.
