Lost in translation

In grade school, Mrs. S., the vocal music teacher, showed our class a production of The Music Man--as a series of slides.  As the class sat in silence, I thought, "I'm sure this is no one's fault, but wouldn't this be more effective if we saw it as a film or a video?  A soundtrack playing under stills of a performance isn't nearly as captivating as seeing the actual performance."

I didn't hate what I saw, but I kept thinking, "This is basically a View-Master presentation with audio."

Online radio sampler highlights CCXCVII

Today's standout tunes:

KOPN (Columbia, MO)

• (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, And Understanding-The Holmes Brothers (A good version of the Nick Lowe-penned tune, sung with the necessary sincerity.  Rhythmically, George Harrison's or Olivia Newton-John's versions of "If Not For You" would flow well into this.)

KVNF (Paonia, CO)

• Me Skotose Giati Tin Agapousa-Elif Sanchez (A sorrowful folk tune, sung compellingly by this Turkish vocalist.)

WGDR (Plainfield, VT)

• Out Of Nowhere-Django Reinhardt (It sounds like Leon Redbone should be singing over this 1937 instrumental.  Rhythmically, this reminds me somewhat of "Begin The Beguine."  Also recommended: "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.")

WJCU (University Heights, OH)

• Here's That Rainy Day-Nancy Wilson (A captivating performance, due in equal measure to Wilson's vocals and the gravity of orchestral strings.)
• Have You Ever Seen The Rain?-Karen Souza (Vocally and instrumentally, this is an interesting blues-meets-lounge-music take on this Creedence Clearwater Revival hit.)

WXYG (Sauk Rapids, MN)

• You're Gonna Get What's Coming-Bonnie Raitt (A strong version of the Robert Palmer song, with appropriate energy and bite.  Before tonight, I'd never heard any radio station play this 1979 cover, so kudos to WXYG, "The Goat.")

Dibs

I was going to listen to Acoustic Alchemy's "The Beautiful Game" CD today, but my cat, Collette, wanted to hear it first:

I don't blame her.  "Trail Blazer," in particular, has a welcoming, upbeat melody, and the group turns U2's "Big Sky Country" into a credible jazz instrumental.

"Tonight's interminable baseball game, sponsored by..."

I think I was in second grade when my dad gave me a book listing the official rules of baseball.  As I read it, I thought, "I wonder if someone reads these rules aloud to the spectators before each game.  It would take a long time, but it's good for everyone to know what is and isn't allowed on the field."  I started listening to KMOX baseball broadcasts sporadically, making sure to catch the pregame features, thinking that there might be a reading of the rules before the game started.  I thought an umpire or perhaps the home team's president would announce to the crowd, "These are the rules of this official game!"

Alas, that never happened.  

"Oh, well," I thought.  "Baseball games are already pretty long, so it probably isn't realistic to expect someone to recite the rules.  I guess everyone just has to read the rules on their own time."

I have no desire to be a kid again, but it makes me smile to remember how endearingly naive we all are to some extent when we're young. 

SiriusXM highlights CLXXII

Eight standout tracks heard today:

Bakersfield Beat

• I've Got My Fingers Crossed-John Jorgenson Quintet (Instrumentally, this is an appealing blend of Dixieland and Grand Ole Opry styles.  Vocally, John Pizzarelli wound sound right covering this.)

Classic Folk

• Down By The Riverside-Joe & Eddie (A vocally spirited rendition.)

Escape

• One On One-Ronnie Aldrich (This Hall & Oates hit translates easily to a piano-and-strings easy listening instrumental.)

Hawaiian Vacation

• Kaliponi Slack Key-Keola and Kapono Beamer (A pleasant, upbeat slack key guitar melody, suitable for driving or traveling by train.)

Holiday Traditions

• Silver Bells-Margaret Whiting/Jimmy Wakely (The stronger vocal renditions of "Silver Bells" are often unhurried and capture a nostalgic feeling about Christmas.  This is one such version.)

Real Jazz Just Music

• Prime Time-Joe Farnsworth (This propulsive, drum-powered instrumental could segue into "Compared To What" by Eddie Harris and Les McCann.)

RockBar

• Take Me Down-The Pretty Reckless (Committed vocals over a rhythmically solid foundation.  Lyrically, "Take Me Down" confronts the question, "How much are you willing to do to become a rock star?") 

SiriusXM Chill

• Behind Her Eyes-Sultan & Shepard (A steady beat without the underlying turbulence that underscores a lot of Chill genre tracks.) 

One cool cat

Earlier this week, I was pleased to see my cat, Collette, get on board right away with Joe Henderson's "So Near, So Far" album.  She picked right up on the rhythm of the opening track, "Miles Ahead," and started washing her fur in time to it. 

I'm proud to have a cat who appreciates Henderson's masterful tenor sax playing--and a strong Miles Davis tune, as well.

A petty fixation LI

I was irritated with myself once when I finished an air break on KCOU.  "'Sit back and relax?'  Did I really just say that on the air?" I thought.  "That's such a cliche.  From now on, I'm resolving not to tell listeners to sit back and relax, even when I'm about to play relaxing music.  For good measure, I won't tell them to be tense and uptight, either--not that I was planning to say that anyway."