High Times, Hard Times

High Times, Hard Times by Anita O’Day and George Eells (1981) This is a great memoir, even if you’re not a fan of Anita O’Day, or even if you haven’t heard of her—of course, I can’t imagine someone reading this and not wanting to listen to her music—and liking it. I was a fan from way back—she’s a unique jazz singer. You can’t find her records (cheaply, like any jazz) but it’s easy to find her music online. It took me years to read this book, but that is no criticism—on the contrary, I was able to take time off and go back to it—no problem—and I looked forward to it. Of course, I’ve forgotten a lot now and could probably re-read it. Anita O’Day was a real character, eccentric both in artistry and lifestyle—really inspiring to me, and I’d think inspiring to musicians, and jazz enthusiasts, and women, in general. She had to deal with sexism from the beginning, of course, in the entertainment industry, and society—and as she had close personal and professional relationships with Black artists, she saw a lot of racism firsthand. As a longtime drug user, she also had to deal with law enforcement and the justice system. Her voice in this book is always full of determination, intelligence, and humor. I know that memoirs are always part fiction, part myth, part truth—and I’m not sure how the co-writer, Eells, contributed, but the book is very well structured, if relentless. Always entertaining—no matter how harrowing. Overdoses, death of friends, some particularly harrowing depictions of abortions, at a young age. She had several close important relationships, but you get the sense that she spent a lot of time alone (with a beloved dog)—and she was good at being alone. The best stuff of all, though, is her talking about music, her learning, and accomplishment, philosophies, and intimate takes on other great jazz musicians.

5.4.25