I am sitting here listening to my copy of the House M.D. soundtrack. The one I asked Jesse Spencer to sign. He did. What a nice guy!
The cover shows Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House. You probably have a copy too. It contains songs featured on the show. Good stuff. Why there wasn't a CD made for each season is beyond me.
The last track is my favorite. It's the Rolling Stone's anthem "You Can't Always Get What You Want" as done by the Band From TV. You'll hear Hugh taking the lead on it. Music legend David Foster brought the group into his studio to make it.
A second song was recorded also with a Hugh Laurie vocal though it never appeared on any CD. The Band From TV version of Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher" was available in download form only. Hugh has performed "Minnie" one other time as the good hearted but dimwitted Bertie Wooster in A&E's Jeeves and Wooster.
Oh you must have heard of the Band From TV! It was started by Greg Grunberg late of Heroes and co-creator of the mobile coupon app Yowza! Greg's son has epilepsy so to raise awareness and funds for research Greg started the band.
Remember in "Sex Kills" when he played a man whose wife had died in a car accident? House talked him into donating his wife's heart. His character kicked House in the nads. Remember now?
Well, Greg asked Hugh to be part of his band and Hugh, a gifted musician, agreed. Jesse Spencer (Dr. Robert Chase) who plays a mean electric violin was asked to join the group as well. You should hear him on "Baba O' Riley." He really flies.
The Band From TV website has videos you can enjoy. I also recommend YouTube for fan videos. Some put you in the front row of their concerts, a great place to be.
As well as Hugh and Jesse the band includes James Denton, Desperate Housewives, Bob Guiney, The Bachelor, Scott Grimes, ER and Adrian Pasdar, Heroes. Each actor supports a different charity.
Hugh performs for Save The Children (STC), which makes me very happy as I've been raising money for them since I was a teen. Hugh's father and sister have also been involved with STC. Last year Hugh was their Artist Ambassador for World Pneumonia Day.
Did you know you could get a Dr. House Martini at Chicago's famous Harry Caray's with all the proceeds going to STC? Hugh's recipe for the drink calls for "Belvadere vodka, a croaked whisper of fine vermouth, almond stuffed olives - served cold as a welsh grave."
It's a pity there isn't a Harry Caray's in every US city where House fans reside but you can't always get what ... you know the rest.
I spoke to the band's producer, Jeff Weber, to find out a bit more about the band and Hugh's contributions.
I had to ask whose idea it was to recorded a DVD/CD called "Hoggin' All the Covers."
"The idea came from Greg Grunberg. It is a recording of a live performance by the band. I was originally asked to clean up a previously shot and recorded DVD/CD by someone else," Weber told me.
But it turned out to be unusable under any circumstances and so Weber was hired to produce a brand new DVD/CD from scratch. He produced the 12 camera, robotic, high definition, 5.1 surround sound version that is available now, and that is scheduled to be re-released on November 9, 2010.
You can get a copy of "Hoggin' All the Covers" at Amazon. The proceeds benefit the band's various charities.
"It's going to be re-released as a separate CD and DVD by MDI Distribution," Weber explained. "They won't be a set [as they are now]."
The CD and DVD, Band From TV - Unleashed, has additional footage and the quality will be better as well.
By now you may have heard that Warner Music UK has just signed Hugh to do a CD of New Orleans Blues. He's delighted about the project saying in a statement,
"I am drunk with excitement at this opportunity. I know the history of actors making music is a checkered one, but I promise no one will get hurt."
If you are wondering if Hugh can play the blues check out "Too Long Johnny" on YouTube. Sure it's funny but the man can really lay it down.
I asked Weber if Hugh did any of the arrangements for Band From TV.
"Hugh has wonderful ideas as to material and arrangements for the band. Then, Chris Kelley, the band's musical director sits with Hugh and they work through the tunes until they are within the style and capabilities of the band," he said. "Horn arrangements are then added by the band's noted trombone player/arranger, Nick Lane."
What's in the band's future?
Weber announced, "The band will be returning to the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls for three evening shows during President's Day weekend, 2011. The dates are Saturday 19, Sunday 20, and Monday 21."
If you are in the area don't miss them. Bring a camera and expect a big enthusiastic crowd.
The Band From TV in the four years it's been performing has given away over $2,000,000. Not too bad for a bunch of actors who play music is it? If you try sometimes you get what you need and so do some worthy charities. Now that rocks.
Photo couresy of Save The Children