Les Blank : always for pleasure
(DVD)

Title from container.

Originally released as documentary films 1968-1995.

Accompanying booklet (55 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 19 cm) comprises background information about the films, an essay by film scholar Andrew Horton, and a recipe.

Special features: Disc 1. The blues accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins: "The sun's gonna shine" (lyrical recreation of a memory from Hopkin's youth when he decided to stop chopping cotton and start singing for a living, 10 min.) ; "Mr. Charlie, your rollin' mill is burnin' down" (7-min. outtake from the film featuring The Bluesman singing this classic song) ; "Lightnin' Les" (Hopkins performing a song he wrote in honor of the filmmaker's futile efforts at the card table trying to convince him to be filmed) ; Making "Lightnin'" (interview with Skip Gerson), (2014, 8 min.) ; An appreciation by Taylor Hackford (a 2013 interview with Hackford discussing the film), (2014, 10 min.) -- God respects us when we work, but loves us when we dance: Flower power (features Skip Gerson and Les Blank's son Harrod discussing the origins of Blank's production company and the Love-in of 1967), (2014, 6 min.) -- Spend it all: An appreciation by Werner Herzog (2013 interview with filmmaker Herzog discussing his admiration for the film), (2014, 10 min.).

Special features: Disc 2. A well spent life: No man like Mance (short documentary features interviews with Skip Gerson, Blank's sons Harrod and Beau, and Chris Strachwitz), (2014, 13 min.) ; Meeting Mance (interview with Chris Strachwitz where he tells the story of meeting Mance Lipscomb), (2014, 7 min.) -- Dry wood: A cultural celebration (short documentary about "Dry wood" and "Hot pepper" features interviews with Maureen Gosling, Les Blank's collaborator on the films, Blank's son Beau, and filmmaker Taylor Hackford), (2014, 18 min.).

Special features: Disc 3. Always for pleasure: Lagniappe (short film features 25 min. of additional footage shot during the filming of "Always for pleasure" compiled by Les Blank and Maureen Gosling), (2006, 25 min.) ; Celebrating a city (short documentary featuring interviews with Maureen Gosling and David Silberberg), (2014, 10 min.) -- Garlic is as good as ten mothers: For the love of garlic (features interviews with Maureen Gosling, Les Blank's son Harrod and Alice Waters), (2014, 10 min.) ; Remembering Les (conversation between Tom Luddy and Alice Waters about Blank and his film contributions), (2014, 10 min.).

Special features: Disc 4. Sprout wings and fly: "My old fiddle" (a visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge; 17-min. film composed of footage shot during the making of the film), (1994, 17 min.) ; "Julie" (old time tales of the Blue Ridge; 12-min. film composed of footage shot during the making of the film, focuses on Julie Lyons), (1991, 12 min.) ; An elemental approach (Maureen Gosling discusses her approach to editing the film), (2014, 5 min.) -- In heaven there is no beer?: Polka happiness (interview with Chris Simon who collaborated with Les Blank on numerous films), (2014, 8 min.) -- Gap-toothed women: Mind the gap (interviews with Susan Kell and Chris Simon, Blank collaborators, and Blank's son Harrod), (2014, 11 min.).

Special features: Disc 5. Yum, yum, yum!: Marc and Les (features Chris Simon and Chris Strachwitz), (2014, 7 min.) -- The maestro: "The maestro rides again" (30-min. follow up-film), (2005, 29 min.) ; The maestro (interview with Gerald Gaxiola - a.k.a. The Maestro - provides his uniques perspective on the film and his time with Les Blank), (2014, 12 min.) ; Art for art's sake (features an interview with Chris Simon), (2014, 7 min.) -- Sworn to the drum: A master percussionist (interviews with the film's producer, Tom Luddy and Chris Simon), (2014, 10 min.).

God respects us when we work but he loves us when we dance: music by Spontaneous Combustion.

Spend it all: with the music of Dewey Balfa and his brothers Will, Rodney, Drew and Rodney's son, Tony, plus Nathan Abshire.

A well-spent life: camera + editing, Les Blank.

Dry wood: featuring the music of "Bois Sec" Ardoin, his sons "Bud", Morris & "Black" and Canray Fontenot ; camera + editing, Les Blank.

Hot pepper: camera and editing, Les Blank.

Always for pleasure: photographed and edited by Les Blank ; additional editing, photography by Maureen Gosling ; paintings by Bruce Brice.

Garlic is as good as ten mothers: editing by Maureen Gosling ; music: Flamenco songs with guitar by Anzonini del Puerto, with guitar by Kenneth "El Lebrijano" Parker, and clapping by Roberto Zamora ; Cajun music, The Balfa Brothers with Danny Poullard and Tracey Schwartz and the Louisiana Playboys ; French provincial music, Le Camembert ; Swiss-Italian music, Irene Herrmann and Paul Hostetter, Ricardo Tunzi and Matteo Casserino ; "Bar-be-que Bess" sung by Bessie Jackson ; Mexican string music, The Marin String Band ; Vera Cruz harp group, Sones Jarochos ; Morrocan music, Feenjon Group ; "The garlic waltz" composed and sung by Ruthie Gorton.

Sprout wings and fly: editing by Maureen Gosling.

In heaven there is no beer?: editor, Maureen Gosling ; photography, Les Blank.

Gap-toothed women: edited by Maureen Gosling ; photography by Les Blank.

Yum, yum, yum!: edited by Maureen Gosling ; cinematography by Les Blank.

The maestro: edited by Maureen Gosling ; commentary by Peter Mollica.

Sworn to the drum: photographed by Les Blank ; edited by Marianne Yusavage.

The blues accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins: featuring Lightnin' Hopkins, Billy Bizor, Mance Lipscomb, Ruth "Blues" Ames.

Spend it all: featuring Adam Landreneau ; starring Maurice Cormier, Viola Matte, Glenn Allensan, Eraste Fontenot, Ada + Drew Fontenot, Noah Daigle, Berlene Savoy, Cyprien Landreneau, Savy Augstine, Revon Reed ; presenting Marc Savoy with Lurlin LeJeune, PeeWee Broussard, Don Guillory, Russell Thibodeaux, Benton Daigle.

A well-spent life: featuring Mance Lipscomb, Elnora Lipscomb, Hattie + Alfred Franklin.

Hot pepper: featuring Clifton Chenier "Zydeco Accordion King" and his brother Cleveland Chenier (rub-board), Robert St. Julien (drums), Felix James Benit (guitar), Charles Goodman (bass), Junius St. Julien (rhythm).

Garlic is as good as ten mothers: narration, Chris Pray.

Sprout wings and fly: Tommy Jarrell with Julie Lyons, Togie McGee, Edith Hicks, Earlie Jarrell, Wayne Jarrell, Ardena Moncus, Benny Jarrell.

Yum, yum, yum!: features Marc Savoy.

The maestro: featuring Gerry Gaxiola, Alice Gaxiola, Peter Mollica, Peter William Brown, Nadine Starbuck, Kent Cabral, Charlie Frizzell, Dennis Hartelius, Rowan LeCompte, Casey Lewis, Tyler Hoare, Linnaea Phillips.

Sworn to the drum: narrator, John Santos.

The blues accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins: A portrait of Texas bluesman Lightin' Hopkins created via a collection of musical performances and oral histories.

God respects us when we work, but loves us when we dance: A look at hippies and flower children as they dance and create rituals during the Los Angeles "Love-In" of Easter Sunday, 1967.

Spend it all: A portrayal of the lives and music of the French-speaking Cajuns of Louisiana.

A well-spent life: A tribute to Texas songster Mance Lipscomb.

Dry wood: An exploration of black Creole life in French Louisiana.

Hot pepper: A musical portrait of zydeco king Clifton Chenier.

Always for pleasure: An insider's portrait of New Orleans' street celebrations and unique cultural gumbo.

Garlic is as good as ten mothers: A paean to garlic that explores the history, consumption, cultivation, and culinary/curative powers of the "stinking rose."

Sprout wings and fly: A tribute to Appalachian culture that profiles old-time fiddler Tommy Jarrell.

In heaven there is no beer?: An exploration of the dance, food, music, friendship, and even religion of the polka.

Gap-toothed women: A valentine to women born with a space between their teeth that explores issues of self-esteem and societal attitudes toward standards of beauty.

Yum, yum, yum!: An exploration of the cooking and other enthusiasms of French-speaking Louisiana.

The Maestro: A profile of cowboy artist Gerald Gaxiola.

Sworn to the drum: A tribute to Cuban drummer Francisco Aguabella.

DVD; NTSC; region 1; full screen (1.33:1) presentation; Dolby digital stereo (Sworn to the drum) and monoaural (all other films).

In English, with some French with English subtitles (Spend it all, Dry wood, Yum, yum, yum!), in English, with some Spanish with English subtitles (Garlic is as good as ten mothers, Sworn to the drum), and in English (all other films); optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired (SDH).