Center44 Presents "The Shout Out" Archives

Besides being a resource for a wide range of American and European modern furniture, lighting and accessories, including 20th Century abstract paintings, outsider art and funky “outside the box” sculpture, new Center44 boutique, “I would…You Should!” has a great collection of material that can only be described as “Mod.” 

Here are some samples and there’s more below in New This Week.

    Pair of 70s Plastic Swivel Chairs

Life-Size Plastic “Runway” Floor Lamp

“Chinook (Sing From The Valley of Doubt)”
by Louise Burns

 Vancouver-based pop singer Louise Burns composed “Chinook(Sing From The Valley of Doubt)” while horseback riding through the mountains of British Columbia. Grappling with what she describes as “emancipating myself from that world of uncertainty,” the track’s yearning retro-pop vibe owes as much to Buddy Holly and The Shangri-Las as it does to the rest of her pantheon of pop heroes: the Pretenders, The Pixies, Neil Young, Nick Cave, Johnny Cash and June Carter, Harry Nilsson, Sam Cooke, and The Smiths. A sweetly picked country mandolin runs through a gooey wall of luscious “oohs” and builds to a gorgeous climax that’s sure to satisfy the most discerning of sweet tooths. “Chinook (Sing From The Valley of Doubt)” was featured on Monica’s October 16th show on WFMU and can be found on Louise’s recently released album Mellow Drama, available on iTunes.

The pared down, masculine design features unpolished metal hardware reminiscent of vintage Vuitton trunks.  Only 50 of these highly coveted Record Cases were produced for sale.  It holds up to 70 albums with detachable compartments for CDs and accessories. It’s in mint condition and was only used for display in original owner’s office. 

Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk, c. 1910 from Robert J. Walsh & Co.

 “You Broke My Heart And I Broke Your Jaw”

by Bobby & Sylvia

Bobby Hebb and the recently departed Sylvia Robinson would both score enduring hits in their lifetimes, Sylvia with sultry siren call “Pillow Talk”  and Hebb with the all-time pop classic “Sunny.” But not before they recorded their over-the-top homage to domestic violence, “You Broke My Heart And I Broke Your Jaw,” in 1962 as Bobby & Sylvia. Robinson’s storied career as an R&B singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and label honcho includes her early 50s recordings with Hot Lips Page, the sinuous blues number “Love Is Strange” as part of Mickey & Sylvia, her own “Pillow Talk” and “Shame, Shame, Shame” for Shirley & Company in the 70s, and the founding of the mothership of hip-hop labels, Sugar Hill Records, with the first global rap smash “Rapper’s Delight” in 1979. “You Broke My Heart And I Broke Your Jaw” was featured as part of a two-hour tribute to Sylvia Robinson on Monica‘s October 2nd show on WFMU.

. . . especially when it comes to shoes!  The completely refurbished Shoe Salon at Bergdorf Goodman has just reopened to great buzz,  The perennially amazing design team of Susan Homan and Linda Fargo, deftly joined by James Aguiar, found many fabulous items at Center44 to enhance the space. 

While attending the launch of the new line of clothing and accessories by Kelly Wearstler (who happens to be another cherished C44 client), we had a chance to grab a quick look at the results on the second floor – and it’s a knockout.  (We’ll do a full feature on the space in the near future.)

Though not yet lit, the central display highlights an extraordinary smoky Murano  glass tower floor lamp, c. 1960, by Mazzega, which came from C44 boutique Quotient Fine Furnishings.

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 ”Happiness” by The Blue Nile

The Blue Nile was described by one pop connoisseur as “a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a raincoat.” The Glaswegian band’s melancholic and evocative melodies have only seen release on four critically acclaimed albums recorded over a twenty year period. However, the enduring beauty of their sparse catalog, coupled with rare live appearances, has secured both their mystique and their place in the pop pantheon. “Happiness” from the album “Peace At Last” (1996) is one of those heartbreakingly beautiful songs that’ll give you a lump in your throat it’s so damned sad.”Happiness“  was featured on Monica‘s July 24th show on WFMU and can be downloaded via iTunes and Amazon.

Murano Cased Sommerso Glass Vase

Silver Necklace by Pedro Castillo

Mexican Sterling Silver Cuff

Gold, Silver, Pyrite and Pearl Earrings

 “Ticket to Ride” by The Swingle Singers

The original Swingle Singers formed in Paris in 1962 and were a surprise hit on the radio with their innovative scat and swing interpretations of Bach fugues. The group was comprised of eight crack session singers best known for their work with Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf, and Michel Legrand as well as their previous alliances with pioneering vocal acts like Blossom Dearie’s Blue Stars of Paris and Mimi Perrin’s Les Double Six. Over the years, leader Ward Swingle guided a rotating cast of Swingles through explorations of music by Mozart, Handel, Vivaldi, Dvorák, Lennon, Mancini, Bizet, Rodgers and Hart, Debussy, and more. Fifty years later, the Swingle Singers are still thriving. Their haunting 2002 a cappella version of “Ticket To Ride”  was featured on Monica’s August 7th show on WFMU  and can be purchased via Amazon.