Viagra Commercial Soundtrack

Joan’s World: Viagra commercial music

Do you know the name of the blues song in the current Viagra commercial — the one with the guy and a car? Sorry my clues are vague. Since we aren’t music download-friendly, where can we buy a CD?

Tony and Helen, Antioch

Dear Tony and Helen:

That would be “Smokestack Lightnin’ ” by the truly phenomenal bluesman Chester Arthur Burnett, more popularly known as Howlin’ Wolf.

Burnett played guitar and harmonica, and had a voice as powerful as his massive frame. The best description I ever read about him was this: “No one could match Howlin’ Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits.”

You can find “Smokestack Lightnin’ ” on the original album, “Howlin’ Wolf,” although that might be difficult to locate, or pick up a “best of” collection. Check your favorite music store — ask them to order it for you if they don’t have it; or search for it online. (Amazon.com has a number of his albums and you can listens to bits of them as well.)

I purchased a Nat King Cole album in the early 1960s titled “The Party’s Over.” I have been searching for it on CD to no avail. I would most appreciate your help in finding this recording on CD.

Midori G., cyberspace

I couldn’t find an album by Cole with that title, but you can find the song on a number of his albums, which are still in circulation. Try “Greatest Love Songs,” “The One and Only Nat King Cole,” “The Ultimate Nat King Cole Collection” or “Nat King Cole: The Billy May Sessions.”

Last September we were in London and saw an outstanding performance of “Les Miserables” with Alfie Boe playing the lead. In October there was a “Les Miserables” 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena in London with the London cast, which was recorded and we were able to see it at the theater last month.

There is a DVD of this performance on sale at Amazon U.K. but it is formatted for European DVD players. Can you find out if this DVD concert recording will be available in a version that is playable in the U.S.?

Jeanne, Castro Valley

I have mixed news for you, all on the good side, but nothing you can act on now.

Word is that the Blu-ray version of the DVD is region-free. Apparently, it is up to the company releasing the DVD to make the decision on Blu-rays about formatting them for different regions, and about 70 percent of the releases will play in any Blu-ray player. It also appears that the Blu-ray version was set for release Nov. 30; however, it’s not showing up at any of the usual sites.

I also found that a regular version of the DVD, formatted for our region, is slated to be released “in early 2011.”

So it looks like you’ll eventually be able to get it, just not yet.

In the closing scenes of “North By Northwest,” one of my favorites, there is a house that is quite beautiful architecturally. I’ve always thought it was one of the prettiest houses ever shown in the movies.

Can you tell me where it is located and anything else you might be able to find out about the house?

Bob C., cyberspace

One of my favorites, too. Alas, the house was not real. It was built on a Culver City sound stage, and designed to look like it might be a Frank Lloyd Wright creation.