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Ken Nordine: Colors
Originally intended as a nine-part series of commercials for a paint company, Ken Nordine’s 1967 classic is still a brilliant and, um- colorful trip through the big crayon box. Re-released with ten new 90 second shades,
Colors (the American spelling, thank you!) gives form and flesh to a J. Crew catalog full of familiar but perhaps underappreciated tones. Though the usual suspects such as Yellow, Brown and Black are in revue, Nordine also reaches out to such colorfully entitled tints as Ecru, Chartreuse, Azure, Muddy, Russet, Sepia and Nutria. From fat Burgundy to cautious Beige, Nordine breathes baritoned life into hues that often pass our eyes but which can now color our ears as well. In the process of encouraging an otherwise drab Olive, Nordine explains the regality of Purple and captures the neutrality of Amber. While "Maroon" is simply a reading of a rhyming dictionary, "Blue" is a self-descriptive swing and "Black" is full of dark simile. Despite his best efforts, however, even the creator of ‘Word Jazz’ can not find a rhyme for "Orange" ... though he has fun trying!
Track Listing
1. Olive
2. Lavender
3. Burgundy
4. Yellow
5. Green
6. Beige
7. Maroon
8. Ecru
9. Chartreuse
10. Turquoise
11. White
12. Flesh
13. Azure
14. Puce
15. Magenta
16. Orange
17. Purple
18. Muddy
19. Russet
20. Amber
21. Blue
22. Black
23. Gold
24. Crimson
25. Brown
26. Rosey
27. Hazel
28. Mauve
29. Fuschia
30. Sepia
31. Nutria
32. Cerise
33. Grey
34. Coral
Personnel
Album information
Title: Colors
| Year Released: 2003
| Record Label: Asphodel
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