Imperial Hotel????

thewhitewingedd · #1 01-03-2003, 01:18 AM

Are there 2 versions of IMPERIAL HOTEL?...

Johnny Stew · #2 01-03-2003, 02:17 AM

Adam,

To the best of my knowledge, there is only one officially released version of "Imperial Hotel."
A lot of times, they'll list a track as being the "LP version" or "album version" on a single, simply for informational purposes.
The notation isn't really meant to imply that another version is available.

Hope that helps clear up any confusion!

Johnny Stew

Jessica Leigh · #3 01-03-2003, 02:31 AM

i freaking love this song to death... don't know why... don't understand it... but i freaking love it.... just blast it in the car.. sing at the top of my lungs... don't care of people in surrounding cars stare at me.... in love with it... "sits across the table... same glass table.. cries to her friend why am i so alone he says whoah baby baby baby baby this is the path you have chosen.... " don't know why.... it floors me.

Sorcerer386 · #4 01-03-2003, 02:48 PM

Imperial Hotel was one of the initial songs I liked right away on Rock a Little because it's just got so much energy in it. Of course I can't be sure, but I know Stevie sometimes just records songs live in the studio without a lot of work being done to them afterward, and this seems like one of those songs. But Stevie just uses her voice to near maximum capability in this song...I might be mistaken, but I don't think too many people like this song. I love it...couldn't imagine it as a single, but it's definitely one of the better tracks imo.

Sugar · #5 01-03-2003, 03:43 PM

Chalk me up as another one who loves this song! It's just straight ahead Stevie, unlike most of the album which is so synthisized. I always figured it was because of the "Heartbreaker" influence (i.e. Mike Campbell). To this day it's one of my favorites on the album, and yes, it sounds like it came easily.

I love the last "Well she knows in her heart that/well he will stand by her/ anywhere!"

Yeah, It's a keeper!

Johnny Stew · #6 01-03-2003, 04:58 PM

One particularly interesting thing about "Imperial Hotel," is that Stevie seems to have once again drawn some level of inspiration from the 1977 movie 'Julia'... which also happens to have provided muse for both "Rock A Little (Go Ahead Lily)," and "Julia."

The movie (which is a true story, yet somewhat embellished) depicts playwright Lillian Hellman's remembrances of her relationship with her lifelong friend, Julia, who is involved in an underground anti-fascist movement in Vienna, in the late '30s.
In a few scenes, the characters interact in a hotel called 'The Imperial.'

Stevie once said that she saw herself as Lily (who was portrayed by Jane Fonda), and that she viewed Robin Anderson as the brave Julia (portrayed by Vanessa Redgrave).

But, as usual, Stevie's lyrics are far deeper, and more personal, than something that's just "based on a movie"... using Lillian Hellman and Julia's story as the springboard, she fashioned songs that reflected her own experiences, and her feelings regarding what was going on around her.

Johnny Stew

David · #7 01-03-2003, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
One particularly interesting thing about "Imperial Hotel," is that Stevie seems to have once again drawn some level of inspiration from the 1977 movie 'Julia'... which also happens to have provided muse for both "Rock A Little (Go Ahead Lily)," and "Julia." The movie (which is a true story, yet somewhat embellished) depicts playwright Lillian Hellman's remembrances of her relationship with her lifelong friend, Julia, who is involved in an underground anti-fascist movement in Vienna, in the late '30s.

It seems odd that Stevie has found so much inspiration in Hellman's memoirs. Hellman fabricated a lot of these allegedly true stories, including Julia's very identity. In fact, the actual model for Julia, a woman named Gardiner, told the world after "Pentimento" was published that she (Gardiner) never even knew Hellman. Hellman actually cooked up what is essentially a fabrication & called it a memoir. The great Mary McCarthy called Hellman a liar & got sued for it; Hellman could be petty & vindictive & just plain cruel. It's odd to think of Stevie comparing her relationship with Robin to that of Hellman & "Julia" when the former is a real friendship & the latter just an elaborate hoax.

Hellman wrote a fantastic play called "The Little Foxes" that was filmed in the early '40s with Bette Davis, Carl Benton Reid, Charles Dingle & Patricia Collinge. It has some of the best ensemble work in American movies of the time.

#8 01-03-2003, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thewhitewingedd
I thought it was like STRAIGHT BACK which has a different LP version then the CD version....Thanks for clearing it up for me Brian...

Later
________________
Adam

I don't have Mirage on cd (only vinyl)...what's the difference?

Johnny Stew · #9 01-03-2003, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David
It's odd to think of Stevie comparing her relationship with Robin to that of Hellman & "Julia" when the former is a real friendship & the latter just an elaborate hoax.

Very interesting points, David.

I assume Stevie had already written her songs by the time those revelations were made, but I'm not entirely sure when the information came to light.

Then again, maybe Stevie just chose to ignore the less savory aspects!

Johnny Stew

Phil · #10 01-04-2003, 08:13 AM

I would rate "Imperial Hotel" among Stevie's greatest songs and consider it easily the best song on the RAL album. It has the Heartbreakers written all over it (don't forget that it's dedicated to Benmont Tench) and her gutsy lead vocal has the spontaneous feel of a live take to it.

The great thing about Stevie in the studio is that she never cared that much for technical perfection but was more concerned with the vibe of a performance. You can imagine her dancing around as she did during "Angel" in the Tusk documentary video - as if she were on stage. It is difficult to capture the energy and intensity of a live performance but I think she pretty much nailed it with "Imperial Hotel".

I actually think "Imperial Hotel" was an excellent choice for a single and in another time or place, it may have charted well but who cares anyway.

Thanks Johnny Stew for the insight regarding the connection between the film 'Julia' and that trilogy of Stevie songs. "Rock A Little (Go Ahead Lily)" is my other favourite from the RAL album so it's interesting to learn of the inspiration behind this and the others.

Sorceress · #11 01-04-2003, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jessica Leigh
.... just blast it in the car.. sing at the top of my lungs... don't care of people in surrounding cars stare at me.... in love with it... "sits across the table... same glass table.. cries to her friend why am i so alone he says whoah baby baby baby baby this is the path you have chosen.... " don't know why.... it floors me.

Yes, this is one of my favorite Stevie songs--especially of those from Rock a Little. It IS excellent for singing in the car at the top of your lungs. Come to think of it, I need to pull out that album and do that immediately! In addition to the above section, I just love "well you can get her, but you can't keep her and you can't catch her fall..." It's so like Stevie, isn't it?

I think this song is really under-appreciated and I don't understand why. Any thoughts on that?

David · #12 01-06-2003, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sorceress
Yes, this is one of my favorite Stevie songs--especially of those from Rock a Little.

One of mine, too. I've always loved it. The L.A. fans used to dig this one & "Sister Honey" the most. Talk at the time was that "Imperial Hotel" had something to do with the old Sunset Marquis on Sunset Blvd., where apparently Stevie used to hang out.