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
Style: Beyond Jazz
Published: January 20, 2003
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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!
