Rare Gator Creek Vinyl LP from 1970

Rare Gator Creek Vinyl LP from 1970

I was very lucky to spot this album for sale within the UK this week, I’ve been after it for a very long time, but they’re usually tucked away deep within the United States rather than in Coulsdon in the London Borough of Croydon. The stars were perfectly aligned - not only was it the first pressing, but also the PRC Pressing (Philips Recording Company, Inc.) The LP of course is the self-titled album by Gator Creek - (in fact, it turned out to be their only album). The group had a pretty impressive line which included future High Plains Drifter composer Dee Barton, Gene Pello, Kathy Deasy, Kenny Loggins (yes, that’s Kenny Loggins of Footloose fame), Michael Omartian, Mike Deasy and Ray Neapolitan.

I suppose it’s fair to consider that Clint first got to know Barton from this project which may have led to him scoring High Plains Drifter.

Above Gator Creek - Dee Barton is far left.

I should at this point explain why this album is so significant. The album includes a great little track called Dirty Boogie, which may not mean a lot to some fans - while others will instantly recognise it as the main theme to Play Misty for Me. 

With all my years of collecting Eastwood and his movie music, there has never been anything officially released from Play Misty for Me - which is a great shame, the soundtrack is sprinkled with some classic cuts (inc all those performances from the Monterey Jazz Festival footage), Roberta’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Misty (of course) and Dee Barton provided a pretty cool and creepy score. So, landing the main theme from Misty isn’t a bad thing at all. 

Anyway, well worth looking out for, especially if you can avoid having a copy sent over from its native America. 

Cat details: Mercury – SR-61311,Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, PRC Pressing U.S.A. 1970. 

Credits: Arranged By – Dee Barton

Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Merry Clayton, Venetta Fields

Baritone Saxophone – Allan Beutler

Bass – Ray Neapolitan

Drums – Gene Pello, Nick Ceroli

Flute – Allan Beutler

Guitar – Kenny Loggins, Larry Knechtel, Louie Shelton, Mike Deasy

Keyboards – Dee Barton

Percussion – Kathy Deasy

Performer – Allan Beutler, Dee Barton, Gene Pello, Kathy Deasy, Kenny Loggins, Mike O'Martin*, Mike Deasy, Ray Neapolitan

Piano – John Banister, Mike "Smackwater" O'Martin*

Producer – Bob Todd, Dee Barton

Trumpet – Chuck Findley, Louie Gasca*

Vocals – Dee Barton, Kathy Deasy, Kenny Loggins, Mike Deasy

This Record was specially made to be played loud.

          

Rare finished concept artwork for the Quad cinema poster "Play Misty for Me" (1971)

Rare finished concept artwork for the Quad cinema poster "Play Misty for Me" (1971)

As comparison with the printed Quad shows, this was the finished concept that was commissioned for illustration for the UK Quad for the first release of the film. Artist John Stockle's composition features a photo-mechanical print showing a rough drawn image of Clint Eastwood's head with a dagger shaped aperture. In the aperture is the hand-painted design which was subsequently re-painted for the Quad but the image of Clint Eastwood was carried over onto the Quad without further alteration. The Donna Mills image appears more smiley and happier in the finished version. Hand annotations indicate Stockle wanted the Quad printed with a "pea green" background. There is an acetate overlay that largely mimics the finished Quad though cast/credits information was later added. John Stockle worked alongside the artist Vic Fair & the juxtaposition of imagery in this design was clearly influenced by Fair's fondness for this device (commercial artists frequently "borrowed" & adapted ideas from each other). 

Below: With the clear acetate overlay

The artist John Stockle was particularly known for his caricature illustrations (the kind used often for British comedies in the 1950’s-60’s) but he also did some posters for Hammer (Terror of The Tongs, The Revenge of Frankenstein, Camp on Blood Island) & others like Cockleshell Heroes, Obsession, Squirm and Virgin Soldiers. In the 80’s Stockle went through a period of “black” background compositions. Stockle (1928-2000) was a commercial and film poster artist, who worked in Wardour Street, London, from the 1950 to the 1980s. He worked with fellow poster artist Brian Bysouth (b.1936) and joined the notable and prolific commercial artist Eric Pulford (1915-2005) at the top London film publicity agency Downton Pulford.

Original Clint Eastwood movie poster artwork is rare. In 2017 Heritage Auctions sold Enzo Nistri finished art for the Italian poster for "High Plains Drifter" (1973) for £7,100. This lovely piece of original artwork is approx. 15"x 22" . It’s interesting also that the acetate overlay has a slightly different tagline – ‘and his Nightmare began!’ as opposed to the finished quad version, ‘and his Nightmare begins!’

Anyway, I’m very pleased and happy to own this rare and unique piece. 

Above: The production shot from which the main artwork was based, this would also be used later on The Eiger Sanction UK artwork

Above: The finished UK quad poster for Play Misty for Me

Below: The original art in a custom 'vintage Green' Gold edged frame

Cinema Retro’s latest issue featuring an extensive feature on The Eiger Sanction

Cinema Retro’s latest issue featuring an extensive feature on The Eiger Sanction

Well, at last I can announce this great piece of news. Cinema Retro’s latest edition has a great Film-in-Focus cover story (some 10 pages) on The Eiger Sanction. This excellently compiled piece is written by Simon Lewis. I was very proud to contribute many images to this piece, including the spectacular cover photo scanned from a photo I obtained from a Film Fair back in the early 80’s. 

The article is packed with information and is well worth ordering – or even better – sign up for a subscription. 

Also featured in this latest edition: Roger Moore’s Crossplot, Dave Worrall takes a look at Cliff Richard’s Sixties Musicals The Young Ones and Summer Holiday. Lee Pfeiffer pays tribute to Brigitte Bardot and Robert Duvall. We also take a look at Robert Mitchum’s The Good Guys and the Bad Guys, as well as all the latest Books, Blu-rays and DVD releases. Not to be missed. 

For ordering and subscribing please visit the Cinema Retro website HERE

Photo Opportunity #73: Dapper Days – Clint in Incident on the Road Back

Photo Opportunity #73: Dapper Days – Clint in Incident on the Road Back

For our May Photo Opportunity I thought we’d travel back to the Rawhide years and a rare chance to feature Clint as Rowdy – rarely seen out of his usual costume attire. Clint’s dress was rather dapper in the 1961 episode “Incident on the Road Back” (aired on February 24th). 

"Incident on the Road Back" was the sixteenth episode of the third season, and features the drovers Gil Favor and his crew as they gather for the next drive. The episode is regarded as something of a slow starter, which included a lengthy discussion about hangovers, followed by slapstick comedy and a prank by Gil Favor. However, the story picks up with Gil Favor's arrest for horse stealing, leading to a series of events involving the sheriff's wife and a mysterious plot involving the $50,000 he is carrying. The episode was directed by George Templeton. The Director went on to work on 33 episodes of Rawhide and work on the Elvis Presley western movie, Charro! (1969).