In episode 2.015, we catch a glimpse of two vinyl albums laying next to Evelyn Marsh before being confronted by James Hurley. I love when the real world collides with the Twin Peaks world. Considering I collect vinyl albums and I’m a fan of mid-century lounge/exotica, I knew I had to identify these records. As it turns out, finding them (and buying copies) was easier than I thought.
EVELYN MARSH’S FINGERS RUN ALONG VINYL ALBUM COVERS
The scene opens with Evelyn running her fingers down the two overlapped album covers. The script by Harley Peyton and Bob Engles makes no mention of this on-screen action.
INT. MARSH HOUSE – NIGHT
Evelyn Marsh steps through the dark living room. She carries drink and cigarette, sits upon a large sofa. Evelyn drinks deeply. Blows smoke-rings toward the shadows that ripple across the ceiling. Just then: a VOICE in the dark.
JAMES’ VOICE
Why did you do it?
In the episode, Evelyn does blow smoke rings but she gets up from the couch to find James throwing open a sliding door to ask her the poignant question.
The camera followers her fingertips as they move from one album to another. These close up looks offered some of the first clues to identifying the records.
The music playing in the background of this scene is a mix of three tunes (thank you Ross Dudle from the Twin Peaks Soundtrack Design website). We hear “Annie and Cooper” which fades into “Audrey’s Prayer” and ends with “James and Evelyn.”
After James and Evelyn discuss how much they enjoy each other’s taste, Malcom attacks. It’s at this point we get a better look at the album covers.
They are seen again later in the episode when Donna Hayward attempts to save James from being shot.
WALDO DE LOS RIOS – KISS OF FIRE
The first album I identified was the 1957 album “Kiss of Fire” by Waldo de los Rios. I found it by searching “Kiss of Fire.”
Fellow author Vinnie Guidera discovered the cover photo was taken by Charles Varon. He provided cover art for many notable artists, including Della Reese, George Jones, and The Platters, whose single “My Prayer” would be included on the soundtrack to Twin Peaks’ third season.
He was an Argentine composer, arranger and conductor best known for his “ability to transform European classical music into pop music. His 1971 arrangement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, recorded with the Manuel de Falla orchestra, reached the top spot in the Dutch charts and scored a top 10 hit in several other European countries.” (See: Wikipedia).
Most likely the album was selected for its cover image by Charles Varon and title rather than its musical content. You can listen to the album on YouTube.
THE GEORGE SHEARING QUINTET AND ORCHESTRA – BLACK SATIN
The second album was also originally released in 1957 (and later in 1959 as a stereo album).
“Black Satin” by The George Shearing Quintet and Orchestra features easy listening arrangements by Shearing and Billy May. He was a “composer of over 300 titles, including the jazz standard “Lullaby of Birdland”, had multiple albums on the Billboard charts during the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s and 1990s.” (See: Wikipedia).
Similar to “Kiss of Fire,” the album was most likely selected for it’s cover photo and title.
Here are images of the front and back of the actual vinyl album. I found both copies on eBay for about $15 (with shipping). The “Kiss of Fire” album was slightly more than the “Black Satin” album. I attempted to recreate some of the shots of the album cover from the episode (sans a woman’s hand – my finger nails aren’t long enough).
