A musical feast…

After the cabaret on Saturday night, DJ Ben Brunnemer, will be setting the mood for us all to expose our inner Edies. Here’s one of Ben’s mixes from 45s: part 1 and part 2 I think it’s perfect music for a rainy day like today… or any day, for that matter.  Ben often DJ’s for fashion shows which I have to say I find that rather appropriate - considering Little Edie’s own constant fashion show that was Grey Gardens.

“Unless the man’s a dancer or understands music, there’s no point in my even meeting him. I found that out.” - Little Edie

It is well known that the two Edie Beales were solidly versed in the classics of the Musical stage. However, because copyright issues kept certain songs out of the original documentary, what few people know is just how diverse the Beales’ musical appreciation really was. On the one hand they listened to opera, 1950’s crooners and WWII era songs like the Andrew’s sister’s Rum and Coca-cola, but on the other Little Edie often remarked on her belief that the Rolling Stones were the best music group; showed avid appreciation for Carlos Montoya, Neil Young, the Beatles; and did a wild dance to Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground”. Big Edie also enjoyed the modern classics of 1973; while listening to Blood, Sweat and Tears she proclaimed that that’s what she’d to dance to, if only she could get up. If there was good music playing on the radio, you could be sure the Beales would appreciate it.

“You know what singing is, don’t ya? Just breath and brains, that’s all.” - Big Edie

And here’s Big Edie singing a strange song from her youth “The spider and the fly“, a song I could find no documentation of anywhere on the internet - anyone know where it comes from? (again, this is completely unmastered)

And while I have no rights cleared for Big Edie’s own singing of “Rum and Coca-cola”, someone kindly uploaded my favorite non-Beale version of that song:

Little Edie at her coming out party and a bevy of out Harlemites coming soon to the Maysles Cinema

“If you can get a fairy, boy, you’ve got a good man in bed.” - Little Edie

(The above links to - unmastered - audio of one of many of Little Edie’s theories on marriage, this one perhaps a little more befuddling to me than most)

East Village Radio

And here’s a link to the East Village Radio radio show, Andrew Andrew’SoundSound we were on yesterday.

During the show, one of the Andrews brought up the relationship between Grey Gardens and the gay community. I forgot to mention that we intentionally planned this festival as a part of pride month, followed by Homo Harlem, a celebration of the many incredible gay people who worked, lived and loved in Harlem including James Baldwin, Dorothy West, Audre Lorde, amongst others. As many know, a crucial component of the original Grey Gardens‘ core base is gay men and women. Many people have their own theories on just why there is such a deep connection. I like the theory that my father, Albert Maysles, likes to expound upon: Grey Gardens is the ultimate “coming out” story - two women neglected by society, living fabulously (in their own way), finally get recognized and loved for whom they are by the world at large.

Michael Henry Adams, a long time Harlem resident, writer and the curator of the Homo Harlem series, will also appear on our Unpacking Grey Gardens panel Friday night. A full schedule of Maysles Cinema’s roster for the month can be found here.