FM dial scan highlights LXXII

Wednesday afternoon highlights:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Rewards-Kylie Auldist (It's hard to believe this is a 2016 release, as its dance vibe and vocals would have segued smoothly with Madonna's "Holiday" in 1983.)
• Midnight Rider-Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (An impressive cover of the Allman Brothers Band tune, with horns handling the original version's guitar part deftly.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Deck The Halls-Herbie Hancock (Possibly the most raucous version--the most raucous jazz version, at least--of this carol.  The carol's familiar theme is apparent near the beginning and end of the tune.  In between, the brass players, especially trumpeter Woody Shaw, and rhythm players take the melody and fly with it.  Everyone spits the notes out at a breakneck tempo, making listeners almost forget they're hearing "Deck The Halls."  This is one of the standout tracks on the various artists "Jingle Bell Jazz" compilation.  Dave Brubeck's "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" cover is another highlight.) 
• Silent Night-Ann Hampton Callaway (Tasteful, elegant vocals, as I'd expect from a singer of this caliber.)
• I'll Be Loving You-Gabriela Anders (Smooth, sultry vocals that fit into traditional and smooth jazz formats easily.  There's a pleasant consistency to "Wanting," the CD from which this comes.)

KEZK 102.5 FM 

• I Saw Three Ships-Sting (Sting's brisk, upbeat take on this carol serves it well.)

Remember, he was benevolent...

I won't name the ensemble, but I've heard a version of "Good King Wenceslas" in which the vocalist assuming the king's role gets a little too into the part.  Yes, Wenceslas was a king, but he was known for his kindness.  The singer I heard takes a little too much pleasure in sounding high and mighty.  I'll admit that it's a decent version of a good carol, but as I listened, I kept thinking, "Let's hear more of the 'good' in this interpretation and less of the 'king.'"  Maybe it's best to just listen to the Muppet Brass Buskers or Philadelphia Brass Ensemble perform it as an instrumental.

Persistent earworm alert XLII

I've hardly ever eaten Kix cereal.  I can't even remember the last time I bought it.  I haven't seen a commercial for Kix in many years.  And yet, inexplicably, a Kix TV commercial jingle from the '80s lodged itself in my mind this morning.

You might remember the jingle, "Kids like Kix for what Kix has got.  Moms like Kix for what Kix has not."  I always thought it was smart to market Kix equally well to the kids who would eat it and the parents who would buy it.  Apparently, kids like the cereal's corn taste, and moms like that Kix has low sugar content and lacks the additives that many other cereals have.

Decades later, that jingle won't leave my mind.  I can't be the only susceptible viewer who's considering buying Kix at this moment.  After all, when you have taste and fewer additives on your side...

Light hostility among conductors

My high school orchestra director, Mr. D., gave me a ride home one year from All-State Orchestra.  Or, he eventually did, at least, after getting together for drinks with the All-State conductor and another orchestra director.  It was interesting for me to watch three conductors one-up each other in their stories.

"I remember waiting forever to receive that music," one conductor said.

"And I remember waiting forever for the payment for it," another responded.

The three of them had a seemingly good time, laughing at each other's memories.

After the other two conductors left, Mr. D. said to me, "That's known as penance time in the business."

Staying mellow while conducting

Whenever choral directors conducted any of the orchestras in which I played, I noticed that they never seemed very temperamental.  Unlike orchestra conductors, I don't recall any choir director getting all that upset with an orchestra.  Most likely, it's because they were used to working with singers.  When you get angry with your choir, you risk making the singers' voices tense up, which could result in them sounding strained and tentative.  I'd like to think that a calm, cool approach is best, generally, when conducting any orchestra or chorus.  It's good to see a conductor's mellow demeanor reap rewards.

Who was that rebel Yuletide music enthusiast?

Now that it's the Christmas season, how do you acknowledge it musically?  I heard someone blasting "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms through an open window yesterday.  Although playing music that loud is usually ill-advised, it's nice to know that someone likes Christmas enough to want to crank up "Jingle Bell Rock."  Turning up the volume to 11, per Spinal Tap, isn't usually done with Christmas music, so it was refreshing to hear--for those 30 seconds, at least.

Online radio sampler highlights XLIX (Thanksgiving edition)

Once again, WXPN has programmed an impressively diverse array of family, home, and Thanksgiving-related themes.  Other radio stations have played scattered harvest-themed selections, as well.  Among the highlights I've heard today:

KQAC (Portland, OR)

• Shenandoah (Lara Downes, piano) (A moving arrangement for solo piano; it's easy to imagine pastoral landscapes during the harvest as you listen.)

KWMU-3 (St. Louis, MO)

• We Gather Together (Dale Warland Singers) (A tasteful, solemn choral rendition with effective crescendos.)

WXPN (Philadelphia, PA)

• Driving Home-Cheryl Wheeler (Sensitively sung lyrics about driving home in no great rush.  Thanksgiving is a great holiday on which to slow down and appreciate what's around you.)
• Friendships-Ellis Marsalis Trio (A contemplative, elegant piano instrumental.  If you've never heard Marsalis play, check this out, and then check out everything on his "Heart Of Gold" CD.)
• Homegoing-LisaBeth Weber & Maggie Marshall (Nice folky violin, guitar and vocals, appropriate for a "welcome home" song.)
• Follow That Road-Anne Hills (As far as I know, no GPS is this thorough or considerate.  Hills sings street directions endearingly, tailored to each season.)
• Home-Karla Bonoff (It was a pleasure to hear the original version, in all its sincerity and conviction.  The Boxcar Lilies released a beautifully sung cover of it last year.)

Thank you to everyone who enjoys reading my blog!  Here's wishing all of you a pleasant Thanksgiving, or if you don't celebrate it, a pleasant Thursday.

The new director for the past quarter-century

I've written about my middle and high school orchestra director, Mr. D., many times on this blog.  His successor, Mr. J., built the district's program into a powerhouse.  The high school now has two orchestras, which would have been unthinkable during my years there.  What I heard of the upper level orchestra made me think I was listening to an All-State or Youth Symphony concert.

And yet, because this transformation started after I graduated, Mr. J. is still the new orchestra director to me.  The new orchestra director--who has been there for 25 years.

It's interesting how we often filter things through the lens of our own experience.

KCOU playlist flashback: Kruzin' Music--11/22/92

On this day 23 years ago, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at KCOU's predecessor.  KCOU had previously been KCCS.  KCOU's files included the KCCS featured A, B, and C tracks from the week of November 15-21, 1972.  I searched the station's library, pulled all of the LPs I could find with those cuts, and grouped them into sets.  This was my playlist:

   1.  Living In The Past-Jethro Tull
(The most appropriate choice for a leadoff track, encapsulating the concept of "Kruzin' Music" and that day's show, in particular.  The track sports some of the best flute playing and carefree vocals of any classic rock tune.)
   2.  Lies-J.J. Cale
   3.  Summer In The City-B.B. King
(King's bluesy cover of The Lovin' Spoonful's oldie contrasts the difference between Summer days and nights effectively, in an appropriately slower tempo.)
   4.  One Way Out-The Allman Brothers Band
(Talk about an intro primed to make the audience clap along...)
   5.  Stop And Start It All Again-Jonathan Edwards
   6.  I'll Tell The World About You-Joe Walsh
---
   7.  Tomorrow's Dream-Black Sabbath
   8.  Good Time Sally-Rare Earth
   9.  I Wanna Be With You-The Raspberries
(One example of why The Raspberries are revered as a power pop group.  The Sneetches and Shoes sing a great collaborative cover of it.)
 10.  Sea Cruise-Sha Na Na
 11.  Tragedy-Argent
(I'm surprised I haven't heard this recently on KSHE's Sunday morning "Klassics" show.  There's strong guitar work, a groove that stays with you, and a vibe that had to have gone over well live.)
---
 12.  Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu-Johnny Rivers
 13.  Angel-Rod Stewart
 14.  Sweet Surrender-Bread
 15.  Rocky Mountain High-John Denver
(Still one of Denver's most deservedly enduring hits.  I wonder how many listeners were inspired to take guitar or voice lessons because of this song.)
---
 16.  Dialogue-Chicago
(Captures the era in which it was recorded; the back-and-forth exchanges between Terry Kath and Peter Cetera make it one of their strongest hits.  No one makes album rock like this today.)
 17.  You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio-Joni Mitchell
 18.  Jamestown Ferry-Doug Kershaw
 19.  Does Anybody Love You?-Cass Elliott
 20.  Tumbleweed-Joan Baez
(Vocally and instrumentally, "Tumbleweed" segues well with Jim Croce's "Time In A Bottle.")
---
 21.  What Would The Children Think?-Rick Springfield
 22.  Long Dark Road-The Hollies
 23.  Walk On Water-Neil Diamond
 24.  Sitting-Cat Stevens
(From the "Catch Bull At Four" album; Stevens' vocal delivery became more gruff on this album but was no less effective.  Also recommended: "Angelsea.")
 25.  One More Mile-Jose Feliciano
(A good of-its-time vocal and instrumental arrangement, fit for a road trip.)
---
 26.  Lady Sings The Blues-Diana Ross
(A short a cappella prelude that you don't usually hear on the radio today; given that most of the other A, B, and C cuts on the list were album rock and singer-songwriter tunes, this tune stands out.)
 27.  Superstition-Stevie Wonder
("Superstition ain't the way," indeed.  Still one of his best-written and performed tunes.)
 28.  Corner Of The Sky-The Jackson 5
---
 29.  Your Mama Don't Dance-Loggins & Messina
(Not one of my favorite tunes of theirs...Oldies stations still play it, though, so apparently, it still has a following.)
 30.  Blind John-Mickey Hart
---
 31.  And You And I-Yes
 32.  Dawn Of A New Day-Mom's Apple Pie
 33.  The Jean Genie-David Bowie
 34.  Lady In Love-Megan McDonough
(The guitar and vocals here would segue smoothly with Carrie Newcomer's "The Love Letter.")
 35.  Latin Bugaloo-Malo
(Ending on an energetic note with some good Latin jazz-rock...)
---

--- indicates a station break between songs. 

Freezing time

So, why record what you've heard on the radio?  Even someone with an extraordinary memory won't remember every nuance of every pleasant moment, so it's good to jump-start your memory with recordings.  Even if some of your memories are just reminders of everyday activities, it's still enjoyable to look back.

An example: Unearthing a jazz program recording from KOPN in Columbia, Missouri one night in October 1990 brought back a flood of memories.  I remember it was a cool night, and I was doing some reading for my 20th century American history college class.  The DJ played both of my requests, "Quiet Storm" by Ramsey Lewis and Cannonball Adderley's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," which I appreciated.

I'm not sure I would have justified my recording in this way back then, but I especially appreciate how such recordings freeze time.  As I wrote in a commercial about sports yearbooks that aired on KMOX, "You can't relive the past, but you can preserve it."  Hearing a radio show from the past triggers so many memories and takes me right back to the time it was recorded.  Hearing KOPN's jazz show from that Autumn night 26 years ago put me right back in my dorm room, hearing one compelling tune after another while I studied for an interesting class.  That, in turn, triggered other memories of how I went on the air at KCOU the following year, played those Lewis and Adderley songs and many other enjoyable ones on the air, and met so many interesting people there.

None of us will remember everything, nor can we step into a time machine and go back to 1990.  It's comforting to know that we can remember at least some of the pleasant times, however, thanks to our recordings.

FM dial scan highlights LXXI

Friday through Sunday highlights:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• This Land Is Your Land-Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (Rest in peace, Sharon Jones.  Far too many talented musicians have passed away this year.  Jones sings this with an effective, sobering undercurrent.  Strongly recommended: "Got To Be The Way It Is.")
• Over The River And Through The Woods-Dog On Fleas (Debbie Lan's vocals here fall somewhere between Suzanne Vega and Petra Haden.)
• We Gather Together-Elizabeth King & Otto Krease (This Thanksgiving favorite works well as a mandolin instrumental.)
• No Regrets-Tom Rush (For times when saying goodbye is the right thing but not the easiest thing...)
• If You Live-Mose Allison (Allison is another talented artist who passed away recently.  Allison conveys of-its-time coolness on the piano and in the vocals here.  I also recommend his versions of "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."  While no one can top Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington, respectively, Allison's cover versions are impressive.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Temptation-Diana Krall (Krall's vocal delivery is appropriately sultry.  Check YouTube for her 2010 concert performance of "Temptation" in France.)
• Chillin'-George Duke (The tune's laid-back keyboard groove and sunny backing vocals warrant regular airplay on smooth jazz stations.)

KWMU 90.7 FM

• 25 Years Of Rootabagas-Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts (Drummer Wilson anchors an impressive ensemble.  I was surprised to learn this track is from 2007.  Gary Versace's atmospheric organ playing and Terell Stafford's throwback trumpet part made me think I was listening to a Verve Records release from the '60s.) 

KSHE 94.7 FM

• Keep On Trying-Strawbs (You don't usually hear inspirational rock tracks sung in this style on the radio today.  Also recommended: "Simple Visions," "Charmer," and "(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You.")

KLOU 103.3 FM

• Linus And Lucy-Vince Guaraldi Trio (Could there be a more perfect match than Guaraldi's piano arrangements and the "Peanuts" characters?  It's astonishing that after viewing "A Charlie Brown Christmas" the first time, the network executives weren't immediately sold on the music--or the special itself.)

K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. KNOU-HD2

• Claude Bolling: Picnic Suite (Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute; Alexandre Lagoya, guitar; Claude Bolling, piano) (It was a pleasant surprise to hear Radio Arts Foundation turn over so much of its 1 p.m. hour Friday to this impressive Bolling piece that's at the intersection of Classical music and jazz.  The piece's pick-me-up quality made the overcast skies not feel so gloomy.)

Context? XIX

While listening to short excerpts of NPR's "Morning Edition" on KWMU Friday, I heard the phrases "the color of Pepto-Bismol" and "will clear your sinuses" come up.  "A medicine that clears up stomach trouble and allergies?" I thought. "That's intriguing."

The segment wasn't about medicine, however.  In looking it up, I discovered it was about correspondent Susan Stamberg's enthusiasm for her mother-in-law's cranberry relish.  The recipe includes not only cranberries and sugar, but onions and horseradish, as well.

Although those ingredients seem to clash, I won't pass judgment.  I've never tasted that relish, after all.  Also, I tasted a surprisingly delicious smoothie recently that included such disparate ingredients as blueberries and cucumbers.  That odd combo goes down easily, so perhaps the relish does, too.

I still wish someone would invent a medicine that combines the healing powers of Claritin and Pepto-Bismol, though.

Gratitude for one's home state, in song

I've rarely heard it on the radio, as it wasn't a hit, but it's one of Dan Fogelberg's best album tracks.  In "Illinois," from the "Souvenirs" album, Fogelberg sings movingly about his home state and how much he enjoys returning to it.  "And it looks like you're gonna have to see me again..." is a heartwarming refrain, and the lyric, "I may miss the harvest, but I won't miss the feast," is ideal for Thanksgiving. 

With all due respect to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," "Illinois" is about as heartfelt as a tribute to one's home state can be.

FM dial scan highlights LXX

Eight highlights from the St. Louis radio dial today:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Prince Of Peace-Leon Russell (The world lost a talented songwriter Sunday in Russell.  Lyrically, "Prince Of Peace"'s "Do unto others..." reminder to humanity is very of its time, i.e. 1970, but needs to be heard and absorbed in today's divided world.  Also recommended: "A Song For You" and "Bluebird.")
• Beware Of Darkness-George Harrison (DJ Rich made a smart, lyrically compatible segue here.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Georgia On My Mind-Shirley Horn (A fine tribute to Ray Charles.  Horn's vocals and organ accompaniment proceed in their own unhurried time.)
• Precious Things-Jonathan Butler (A pleasant, uplifting guitar instrumental that stacks up with the best of Earl Klugh's work.)

KEZK 102.5 FM

• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-James Taylor (KEZK and KLOU are now playing continuous Christmas music, and this has been one of the low-key highlights.  Taylor sings it with a tempered optimism, making "if the fates allow" sound especially poignant.)
• Winter Wonderland-Bing Crosby (More often than not, when commercial stations play Crosby's Christmas music, they tend to gravitate mainly toward his version of "White Christmas."  That's understandable, as his rendition is excellent and sung with the right proportion of warmth and grandeur.  It's refreshing to hear his take on "Winter Wonderland," however, which isn't played as often.  He sings it in a fairly brisk tempo with big band accompaniment, and it's an enjoyable throwback.)

KLOU 103.3 FM

• Sleigh Ride-Amy Grant (I'm not sure many other artists could pull off calling, "Yoo-hoo!" as sincerely as Grant and have it brighten an already cheery version of "Sleigh Ride" to this extent.)
• Frosty The Snowman-Gene Autry (Autry conveys the right amount of wonder and whimsy without being over the top.  It would be churlish not to smile at least once while hearing this.)

Kudos to the Ray Conniff Singers...

...for interpreting "Carol Of The Bells" (retitled "Ring Christmas Bells" in their rendition) accurately.  The scream that the choir unleashes from 2:01 to 2:10 in the studio version conveys the carol's pessimism and terror that were never far from the surface.

"The ballroom is closing shortly..."

Before any ballroom closes for the evening, it would be well-served to play "Eydie's Tune" by Marshall Crenshaw.  The opening guitar notes signal, "This has been a lovely evening.  Thank you for coming.  Please come back and see us again.  Now, here's one more number before the lights go out..."  For that matter, "Eydie's Tune" is a great pick for any radio station sign-off.  It's ideal for announcing, "(Name of station) now concludes its broadcast day..."

Not just any instrumental is such an effective closer.  "Eydie's Tune" is, however.

The Amazing Drew and his vanishing act

A DJ with whom I used to work didn't want anyone else in the studio during his air breaks.  I understood that.  One of radio's most appealing contradictions, to a lot of us who have been on the air, is getting to reach a lot of listeners without having to communicate face-to-face.  Just before one of this DJ's breaks, however, I realized there wasn't enough time for me to step out without swinging the door open and causing distracting background noise.  So, just before the microphone went on, I dropped to the floor behind the console.

Once the DJ's break was over, I reappeared. 

"While I was on the air, I kept thinking, 'Where did you go?'" he said.  "You just disappeared."

"I thought it would be distracting if I opened the door while you were on the air," I replied.

When the same scenario happened later that morning, he said, "Almost time for another break.  Time for you to fall on the floor..."

...Which I did, once again.  After all, I didn't want to create a distraction.

The right context: Reappraising a familiar tune

This might sound like heresy to Leonard Cohen fans, especially in light of his recent passing.  Until last night, I'd respected Cohen's song, "Hallelujah," but it wasn't a tune I usually wanted to hear.  I feel the same way about the Beatles classic, "Yesterday."  I respect the lyrics and the performance, but the song's melancholy outlook makes me want to hear it only occasionally.

Hearing "Saturday Night Live"'s Kate McKinnon sing "Hallelujah" and accompany herself on piano last night made me appreciate the tune more than I ever had, however.  The context in which she sang it--as Hillary Clinton and with the admonition, "I'm not giving up, and neither should you,"--was a perfect acknowledge-your-post-election-grief-and-move-forward opening for the show.

Context is everything sometimes.  In this case, it made me reassess one of Cohen's most covered songs and realize that I hadn't been giving it its due.

Well done, Kate.  Well done, SNL.

"Bravo! Way to explain syncopation!"

In high school, a guest lecturer giving a talk about music asked if someone would explain the concept of syncopation.  I raised my hand and said, "Syncopation means stressing beats in a measure where you wouldn't expect them to be.  It's part of what makes jazz sound like jazz instead of like Classical music.  Typically, in a Classical piece, if you have a 4/4 time signature, you'd expect the accents to fall on the first and third beats.  In a jazz tune, though, the accents are more likely to fall on the second and fourth beats..."

The lecturer complimented my answer, and I was surprised that multiple students did, as well, after the talk.  I remember at least four students considerately telling me some variation of, "That was impressive, the way you explained syncopation." 

I walked out of the auditorium feeling as though I'd created a life-saving vaccine.  That made me wonder, "How must people who have actually accomplished something, such as inventing a vaccine, feel?  If you don't feel as though you can walk on water then, when would you ever feel that way?"

Online radio sampler highlights XLVIII

Pivoting away from politics, at least directly, this evening...Here are seven impressive tunes I've heard this afternoon and evening:

KBEM (Minneapolis, MN)

• Temperance-Wynton Kelly (Kelly's at the helm of this trio on piano, guiding a melody that cooks and simmers.)
• How Can It Be?-Bria Skonberg (No wonder Skonberg has received such enthusiastic reviews as an artist to watch.  Her silky vocals, which bring Diana Krall to mind, and commanding trumpet playing carry this tune impressively.  Check out her Madison Square Park performance of it on YouTube.  This is one of the highlights from her latest release, "Bria."  Also recommended: "Malaguena" and "Down In The Deep.")

KZSC (Santa Cruz, CA) 

• Forgive Them Father-Lauryn Hill (Do you forgive those who have wronged you?  If so, when? Hill's lyrics bring these questions to mind, along with the anguish it takes to answer, "Yes," to the first question.)

WUMB (Boston, MA)

• We Are More-Erin McKeown (I'm not sure Nietzsche was entirely correct in saying, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."  Nevertheless, McKeown presents a good lyrical argument about how it's possible to survive adversity.)
• Bird On The Wire-Leonard Cohen (Rest in peace, Leonard Cohen.  These are some of his best lyrics about the consequences of being yourself and how it isn't really possible to be completely free.)
• Higher Ground-Stevie Wonder (See my review, two songs up, of "We Are More.")
• I'll Get Along-Michael Kiwanuka (Easy-going vocals paired with a refreshingly sunny instrumental backdrop that, despite being released in 2012, would make me swear it was recorded in the early '70s.)

Wondering about July 4

In light of the presidential election result, I've been wondering about what music will resonate with a large portion of America, including me, on the next Independence Day.  Right now, I'm thinking portions of Paul Simon's "American Tune" will have added resonance, and sadly, Gil Scott-Heron's "Winter In America" will, as well.  We'll see.

On the other hand...

...Adding to yesterday's post, if the result of an election isn't what you desired, it's at least a little cathartic to play The Police's "When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around" on a loop--and to remember that, in all likelihood, the pendulum will eventually swing your way again.  Until then, there's the partially healing balm of music--and Pepto-Bismol.  Or, so I'm telling myself.

Only in college XXV

At least one KCOU DJ used to play a long Miles Davis tune while he went off and watched the presidential election returns.  Those inclined to step away from the radio got to watch the election coverage and see how their fellow citizens voted, while those who wanted to hear music got to hear one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time.  I thought that was a win-win scenario for the audience either way.

SiriusXM highlights LV

Noteworthy tracks heard over the weekend:

Bluesville

• Hobo's Hop-Mary Flower (A fun uptempo melody for guitar and tuba.)
• Make Believe Stunt-Ernie Hawkins (Nice hints of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" in this acoustic guitar piece.)

The Bridge

• Thinking Of You-Loggins & Messina (Loggins & Messina sing lyrics fit for a Valentine that's somehow bold yet cautious.  That's a neat trick to pull off while sounding this upbeat and accessible.  I'm puzzled that oldies stations don't play this regularly.)  

Escape

• The Phoenix Love Theme (Senza Fine)-The Brass Ring (This 1966 instrumental was in tune with the lounge music zeitgeist of the time.  I'm reminded of The Baja Marimba Band.)
• Something's Gotta Give-Beegie Adair (I used to play vocal renditions of this on WEW, but Adair shows that its melody translates well to the piano.)

Holly

• Merry Christmas Darling-The Carpenters (Ironically, the first Christmas tune I've heard a streaming service play this season has lyrics most appropriate for late Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  With lyrics and vocals this sincere, however, I'm fine with hearing it this early.  It's not surprising that it has held up for decades as one of the radio's most-played Christmas tunes.)

The Loft

• Danny Boy-Eva Cassidy (I hadn't expected to praise another version of this standard just one week later, but this cover deserves its due.  Cassidy's voice pulls off the mixture of tenderness and soaring gravity the song requires.  Also recommended: Cassidy's live version of "Autumn Leaves.")

Soul Town

• Inner City Blues-Marvin Gaye (Gaye's version is markedly different from Gil Scott-Heron's take.  Gaye sounds mostly weary and frustrated about problems that aren't fixed easily.  Scott-Heron, on the other hand, brings out the anger in the lyrics.  Each version is effective in its own way, but the contrast is striking.)

In memory of co-worker Todd

I was shocked to learn of a former co-worker's death tonight.  Over the last two hours or so, I've found that several of my memories of Todd involved music.  Among them:

• I remember him imitating the retro keyboard part of Luscious Jackson's "Here."  Its throwback pattern would have been at home on the radio during the late '70s, and his imitation captured that.
• Todd's eclectic mix tape of his life in song, recorded in the mid '90s, contained an interesting preface.  He recorded himself calling Pizza Hut, ordering bread sticks, asking if it would be OK to pick them up, and stressing that he hoped they weren't greasy because "I don't respond well to grease." It was an amusing, offbeat way to kick off a musical summary of his life.
• One afternoon, Todd was leaving work as I was arriving.  We were startled to see that, without planning it, we'd both worn t-shirts with the cover of the Beatles album, "Rubber Soul," on them.  Todd remarked, "I suppose if a third person shows up wearing this shirt, we'll be able to say, 'Brethren!'"

Todd was a good person, easy to work with, and always willing to help his co-workers.  Here's hoping that he's able to hear all of the "Rubber Soul" tracks and other music he wants in the afterlife--and that all the bread sticks he consumes will be free of grease.

Just call it a song.

"Ditty" is a demeaning synonym for a song.  Whenever I hear the phrase, "this little ditty," I think, "Call it a song!  Or a tune, melody, or jingle."  When there are better, more dignified words you could use, I don't know why anyone would use a clunky-sounding word like "ditty." 

Persistent earworm alert XLI

Why did this opening guitar riff enter my mind while driving and stay there today?  I'm not sure, as I haven't heard it on the radio in some time, but to pass it on...

..."Ebony Eyes" by Bob Welch.

There.  That had to have been a fun lick to play live.

Only in college XXIV

Me, reading KCOU's Events Calendar on the air, 4/21/93:

"On Friday, April 23, at a location to be announced, because it still hasn't been confirmed yet, (and) we...need to clear this up...right away...Prozac Memory, Fragile Porcelain Mice, and Bent will be playing somewhere in Columbia.  We don't know where yet..."

I'm not sure when the venue was nailed down, but presumably, it was no later than April 23.

Only in college XXIII

One of my air breaks on KCOU, 11/4/92:

"...It's 3:46.  My name is Drew, and I will be with you until 6:00...Unfortunately, I can't take any of your requests...because the phone has been ripped out of the wall.  We do have a fax machine, but that would be sort of going to extremes, I think, at 3:46 in the a.m. here..."

To this day, I don't know why the studio phone was missing that morning.  At a noncommercial, freeform college station, though, you reach a point where you don't question such things.

FM dial scan highlights LXIX

Some of the more appealing tunes I've heard since Tuesday morning:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Unsound-Bettie Serveert ("Ray Ray Rain" is Bettie Serveert's most infectious tune, in my opinion, but "Unsound"'s ideal-for-driving rhythm segues well with it.)
• Dream All Day-The Posies (One of many well-produced tracks from a strong album, "Frosting On The Beater."  Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow are adept at crafting sing-along hooks that jump out of the speakers against a backdrop of jangly guitars.  Other highlights from the album: "Twenty Questions," "Flavor Of The Month," and "Solar Sister.")

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Through It All-Al Jarreau (Singing this type of ballad is as natural as eating and drinking for Jarreau.  Also recommended from the "Tomorrow Today" album: "Just To Be Loved.")

WFUN 95.5 FM

• Devotion (Live)-Earth, Wind & Fire (The audience is clearly on the band's side; that makes perfect sense, considering how soaring the vocals are in concert and how uplifting "Devotion"'s lyrics are.)
• Off The Wall-Michael Jackson (Taking nothing away from "Thriller," I contend that the best tracks from Jackson's "Off The Wall" album, including the title track, hold up as well or better than "Thriller"'s strongest tunes.)