A minimal frills 4th

It was refreshing to watch the Boston Pops Orchestra's July 4, 1978 concert this morning.  As I watched, I kept thinking, "In 1978, the powers that be didn't feel the need to have a celebrity host or pop stars singing with the orchestra.  The Boston Pops just put on an enjoyable light Classical concert with an off-screen announcer, and the audience responded enthusiastically."  Offenbach's "Overture to Orpheus In Hades," Copland's 'Hoedown' from "Rodeo," and "Pop Goes The Weasel," among other selections, received particularly boisterous cheers.  About the only musical concession the orchestra made to then-recent times was performing Walter Murphy's "A Fifth Of Beethoven."  Conductor Arthur Fiedler was restrained, as well, only introducing pieces occasionally and keeping his remarks brief.

Current conductor Keith Lockhart has done a fine job for decades with the annual July 4 concerts, and Craig Ferguson and Lockhart's 2009 impromptu "lords of the dance" commercial break interlude during the orchestra's performance of "Shipping Up To Boston" is the most amusing thing I've seen during any Boston Pops performance.

It's also nice, however, to remember a time when people just appreciated a full concert for the music itself and the fireworks--and that was enough.

Community Radio St. Louis highlights XI

Seven of the best songs I've heard today:

Sweet Inspiration

• The Ballad Of El Goodo-Big Star (Since first playing this on KCOU in the early '90s, I've always liked these lyrics about staying true to yourself.)
• Everyday Singing-Tift Merritt (This June release's lyrics illustrate how not everyone's efforts to make life fairer or better for others are acknowledged sufficiently.)
• When The Saints Go Marching In-Jimmy Smith (Many renditions of this treat the melody as a joyous free-for-all.  Smith's version, however, conveys the impression, "Let's not rush this; we'll get there in good time."  I'd expect no less when Smith is playing the organ.) 

Beyon' Cray

• Ponteio-Astrud Gilberto with Stanley Turrentine (I've glad crstl.fm played this, as it was a good reminder for me to pull out this CD and listen to it again.  These are appealing uptempo vocals, keyboard, and saxophone rhythms, with the immediately identifiable harmonica playing of Toots Thielemans.)
• Spiral-The Crusaders (This is one of many examples of why The Crusaders are my favorite jazz instrumentalists.  Every instrument contributes mightily to this jam, and Larry Carlton's blistering guitar playing is prominent.  Even after hearing this ensemble's stellar '70s releases for decades, I still want to hear them just as often today.  Also recommended: "Keep That Same Old Feeling.")

Dangerous Curves

• Golden-Jill Scott (These lyrics about making the most of one's freedom are empowering--and appropriate for Independence Day.)
• The Hump-Patrice Rushen (This strong 1977 funk groove acknowledges that life comes with obstacles--but resilience and this soundtrack should make overcoming them a bit easier.)

Online radio sampler highlights CCCIII

Today's standout tunes:

KHEN (Salida, CO)

• 8000 Days-West Texas Exiles (I was on the fence about this track initially, but its chorus and fit-for-a-road-trip feel won me over.)

KKJZ (Long Beach, CA)

• Maintenance Phase-Audrey Ochoa (There's considerable pep in this trombone-led combo-with-a-big-band-feel March release. Speaking of a big band feel...)  
• Moon River-Alexis Cole (...This cover has an appealingly assured swing in its vocals and instrumentation.) 

KRNN (Juneau, AK)

• Meeting Is Over-Moira Smiley (I can easily imagine Sarah Jarosz covering this.)

WNJR (Washington, PA)

• My Sunshine-The Rosie Varela Project (This guitar-heavy indie rock track with compelling vocals builds tension effectively. "Mont Blanc Massif" by We Met In Paris would sound right before this.)

WOMR (Provincetown, MA)

• We The People-Ben Sidran (A nice jazzy reminder of our common humanity.)
• Funky Fanfare-Keith Mansfield (It has to be gratifying to play a horn part or the piano on this track, knowing that you're part of a melody with a cool late '60s strut.)

WOOL (Bellows Falls, VT)

• American Tune-Allen Toussaint (Sadly, the lyrics of this excellent Paul Simon tune are disturbingly appropriate now.  There can't be too many sincerely sung covers of it, as far as I'm concerned. The piano adds appealing gravitas to this rendition.) 

WYXR (Memphis, TN)

• Banana Juice-The Mar-Keys (A hip-for-its-time, i.e. 1965, instrumental.)

Unlikely grocery store background music II

I know I'm not the only person who has heard "Trouble Me" by 10,000 Maniacs.  There's a good chance, however, that I was the only one singing along softly with it as it played over a grocery store's speakers today.

I'd add "Trouble Me" to the list of songs I've heard in grocery stores that I wasn't expecting.  Jesse Colin Young's "Song For Juli," "Since You Asked" by Judy Collins, and Fleetwood Mac's "Sunny Side Of Heaven" have been some of the other biggest surprises.

I'd like to think that whoever programmed "Trouble Me" is a gentle soul.  You'd have to be to choose a softly sung, sensitively written non-hit track with lyrics about helping people in need while you're still relatively young and strong.  "Trouble Me" was the first song I heard by 10,000 Maniacs, and back in 1989, I thought, "If this is typical of Natalie Merchant and company's efforts, this group must have a respectable following among introverts and kind people."

I'd never have guessed that I'd hear "Trouble Me" 37 years later while grocery shopping, but apparently, at least one other kind soul in the world hears what I hear in it.

Persistent earworm alert CDXLIII

I'm not sure what triggered Richard Marx's 1987 hit, "Don't Mean Nothing," to lodge itself in my mind tonight.  Soft rock stations played it frequently when it was a hit, but I don't hear it often today.  I'm not sure if I'm responding to the lyrics subconsciously about thinking in bottom line terms and not trusting anyone too easily.  Most likely, I'm just trying to stay alert by thinking of the tune's assertive rhythm.

An appealing directive

Dr. E., who administers botox injections in my vocal cords, told me recently that he'd spoken with a singer from the band The 11th Commandment.  He said that according to that singer, the 11th commandment is, "Thou shalt rock out."

I replied, "Considering that the actual 10 commandments are matters of common decency or common sense, it's refreshing to have one commandment that promotes self-expression."  

Context? CDXLIII

I did a double take after hearing a radio talk show host say recently, "Getting away from the topics of cheerleading and peaches..."

I suppose that's not unusual on a talk show, however.  With so much time to fill, hosts can easily drift from carpet cleaning to increased grocery prices to what it was like attending a baseball game.  Talk show topics are often derived from what's going on in the hosts' lives, after all, so you can't expect all topics to be related.