He began his career in the 1940s, playing with Benny Carter and Stan Kenton (1946-52). By the 1950s Pepper was recognized as one of the leading alto saxophonists in jazz, epitomized by his finishing second only to Charlie Parker as Best Alto Saxophonist in the Down Beat magazine Readers Poll of 1952. Along with Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan and Shelly Manne, and perhaps due more to geography than playing style, Pepper is often associated with the musical movement known as West Coast jazz, as contrasted with the East Coast (or "hot") jazz associated with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Pepper was a member of Buddy Rich's Big Band from 1968 to 1969, and in 1977 and 1978 made two well received tours of Japan.
Perhaps most famous for his recurring legal transgressions, stemming from his addiction to heroin, Pepper had several memorable and productive "comebacks" throughout his career. Remarkably, his substance abuse and legal travails did not affect the quality of his recordings, which maintained a high level of musicianship throughout his career until his death from a brain hemorrhage.
Examples of Pepper's most famous albums from this period are Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, Art Pepper + Eleven - Modern Jazz Classics, Gettin' Together, and Smack Up. Representative music from this time appears on The Aladdin Recordings (three volumes), The Early Show, The Late Show, The Complete Surf Ride, and The Way It Was!, which features a session recorded with Warne Marsh.
Pepper lived for many years in the hills of Echo Park, in Los Angeles. He had become a heroin addict in the 1940s, and his career was interrupted by drug-related prison sentences in 1954–56, 1960-61, 1961-64 and 1964-65; the final two sentences were served in San Quentin. In the late 1960s Pepper spent time in Synanon, a drug rehabilitation group.
After beginning methadone therapy in the mid-1970s, Art had a musical comeback and recorded a series of highly acclaimed albums. Albums from this later period include Living Legend, Art Pepper Today, Among Friends, and Live in Japan: Vol. 2.
His autobiography, Straight Life (1980) (transcribed by his third wife Laurie Pepper), is a unique exploration into the jazz music world, as well as drug and criminal subcultures of mid-20th century California. The documentary film Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor, available on DVD, devotes much space to music from one of his late groups featuring pianist Milcho Leviev. There is also an interview with Laurie Pepper available on NPR.
Too Close for Comfort
Art Pepper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be wise, be smart, behave my heart
Don't upset your cart when she's so close
Be soft, be sweet, but be discreet
Don't go off your feet
She's too close for comfort
Too close, too close to know just when to say when
Be firm and be fair, be sure, beware
On your guard, take care
When there's such temptation
One thing leads to another
Too late to run for cover
She's much too close for comfortâ?¦
Doo-ba-um-doody-doo-ba, doo-doo-doo
Be wise, be fair, be sure, beware
Put on your old thinking cap, boy
'Cause if you don't look out, you
Will find that you are much too
Too close for comfort
Go ahead, and for a mishap, boy
The first thing that you know she
Will have you up that old tree
She's too close for comfort
Too close, too close, ah, too close
Ba-doo-da
Be firm and be fair, be absolutely sure, beware
On your guard, take care
When there is such temptation
One thing leads to another
Too late to run for cover
She's much too close for comfort now
One thing leads to another
Too late to run for cover
She's much too close for comfort now
One thing leads to another
Too late to run for mother
She's much too close for comfort now
Be wise, be fair, be sure, be there, behave, beware
She's too close, too close, for comfort now
Art Pepper's song "Too Close for Comfort" is a warning against temptation and the urge to give in to it. The repeated use of the phrase "be wise, be fair, be sure, beware" serves as a mantra emphasizing the need for caution and self-control. Pepper urges the listener to "be soft, be sweet, but be discreet," implying that one can still be charming and alluring without being too forward or aggressive.
When Pepper sings, "Don't upset your cart when she's so close," he's advising the listener not to get ahead of themselves and rush into things. The line "too close to know just when to say when" reinforces the idea that it's easy to lose one's sense of boundaries and let things spiral out of control.
The repeated refrain "she's much too close for comfort" creates a sense of unease and urgency in the listener. The song is a reminder that sometimes it's better to err on the side of caution and avoid potentially dangerous situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Be wise, be fair, be sure, be there, behave, beware
Be smart, be reasonable, be confident, be present, act appropriately, and be cautious
Be wise, be smart, behave my heart
Use your intelligence, act wisely and appropriately, and keep your behavior in line with your emotions
Don't upset your cart when she's so close
Be careful not to ruin a good thing when this person is near you
Be soft, be sweet, but be discreet
Be gentle and kind, but also be careful to not be too open or revealing
Don't go off your feet, she's too close for comfort
Don't lose control of yourself, this person is making you uneasy
Too close, too close for comfort, no, not again
This person is too close for comfort and you've been in this situation before, it's not a good feeling
Too close, too close to know just when to say when
This person is too close and it's hard to determine when the right time to end the situation is
Be firm and be fair, be sure, beware
Be unwavering and impartial, be confident, be cautious and on guard
On your guard, take care, when there's such temptation
Be alert and careful, especially when faced with temptation
One thing leads to another, too late to run for cover, she's much too close for comfort
Once you start down a certain path, it's hard to turn back and escape the situation with this person who is making you uneasy
Put on your old thinking cap, boy, 'cause if you don't look out, you will find that you are much too
Use your mind and think about the situation you are in, or else you will end up feeling uncomfortable
Too close for comfort, go ahead, and for a mishap, boy, the first thing that you know she will have you up that old tree
Feeling too comfortable in a situation with this person may lead to a mistake or misfortune, and you'll find yourself in trouble with them
Too close, too close, ah, too close
This person is too close and it's an uncomfortable feeling
Be absolutely sure, beware, on your guard, take care
Be completely certain and cautious, be alert and careful
One thing leads to another, too late to run for mother, she's much too close for comfort now
The situation with this person is only getting worse and there's no avoiding it, it's uncomfortable and you can't run away from it
She's too close, too close, for comfort now
This person is currently making you very uncomfortable by being too close
Lyrics © BOCK IP LLC, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George David Weiss, Jerry Bock, Larry Holofcener
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
vova47
Thanks! Always good to hear criminally underrated Carl Perkins...
TheTerrarian056
I wish Art Pepper was my dad.