Depth, please

I was perplexed when I read a review of an album that just said, as I recall, "At this point, (this band) is a mainstream rock band whose songs alternate between (the names of two musicians.)"

Alright, then...Care to elaborate on the music?

Context? XCVI

During a 2004 pledge drive on KDHX, a DJ referred to a commercial station that was proud of airing 50 songs a week.  Presumably, it had a top 40 format.  The gist of the DJ's argument was that the commercial station hardly provides any variety and needs to be supported by commercials.  KDHX, in contrast, offers scores of different songs in a wide variety of genres every week, many of which aren't immediately familiar to listeners.  When you pledge your support, you get so much more in return than you get from a commercial station that's confined to playing only current hits.  If your appetite for music goes beyond the most popular hits, it's hard to refute the DJ's reasoning. Non-chain media, when it's done well, offers the listener so much more.

I wonder how many minds his spiel changed that day and how many listeners pledged to KDHX in response to his prodding.

Steering into the skid V

I've never watched a full episode of "Three's Company," but its theme song came to mind today.  After my cat, Collette, had bitten my feet, I sang to the tune of "Three's Company," "You have bitten my feet.  You have chewed them with glee."

The transition from irritation to grudging acceptance is a quirky one, I've found.

Perfect time for a tremolo

It's amazing how much of a difference a tremolo makes on a guitar when conjuring up the sensation of floating.  Check out Steve Hackett's new track, "Adriatic Blue," for an example of well-placed tremolo.

Online radio sampler highlights CXXII

Seven standout tunes heard today:

KUTX (Austin, TX) 

• Anniversary Song-Cowboy Junkies (A more uptempo companion piece to the band's "Angel Mine," arguably the band's most movingly written and sung tune.)
• Emotion-Molly Burch featuring Wild Nothing (Burch's vocals on this new tune replicate 1978's dance scene with a hint of Prince.)

KVSF (Santa Fe, NM)

• It's You I Adore-Jimmy McGriff (Jimmy Smith meets Booker T.-style organ, with tenor sax and a strong walking bass line, for good measure.)
• Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea-Howard Roberts (Roberts plays guitar with a light touch, serving this standard well.)

WCCR (Williamsburg, KY)

• Nobody I Know-Peter And Gordon (One of the better "I'm the one for you because I'm convinced of it" oldies of its time; this is how you sound confident without sounding pushy.)

WDIY (Allentown, PA)

• Too Much Heaven-Barry Gibb featuring Alison Krauss (A strong, new rendering of the Bee Gees hit; while I never imagined this pair as a duo, the vocals of Gibb and Krauss mesh perfectly.)
• Train Is A-Comin'-Pete Seeger (Seeger sings this in the same humble style he uses on "Mary Had A Baby.")

The value of pre-listening

I remember the first time I played the song, "And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine," on WEW.  I've forgotten whose version it was.  I hadn't heard it before but thought, based on the title, it would be a sensitive lament, suitable for a segue with another sad song.

That wasn't quite the case.  After hearing the lyrics about a rotten man punching his wife and not leaving any insurance for her after he dies, I thought, "Usually, I either know a song well before I play it, or I've listened to it at least once ahead of time.  Lesson learned.  When I'm choosing the music, I need to know the tune first.  If I'd heard this song beforehand, I wouldn't have played it."

The way the backup singers sing, "And her tears flowed like wine," so matter-of-factly is still jarring to me.  To say the least, it's not a song for modern sensibilities.

Steering into the skid IV

One night recently, I forgot I'd left the Classical station on before going to sleep.  When I woke up, soft, angelic music was playing.

I mused to myself, "How did that happen?  I don't remember turning on any music.  Am I in Heaven?  Does Heaven replicate my living room?  And is that Collette playing the cello?  If so, that's impressive for a cat.  No, wait; Collette's sleeping right over there."

The station must have been playing a recording of Collette playing the cello; that must be it.

My all-or-nothing request policy

When working at radio stations that played listeners' requested songs, I never broke my own rule; if the station didn't have or I couldn't find the exact song the listener requested, I didn't substitute another song by the same artist.  If the listener requested "anything" by a particular artist, that was another matter.  I always thought, "If you want tomatoes on your sandwich, would you want someone to tell you, 'I don't have any tomatoes, but here's a strawberry for you.  It's another red fruit?'"  I've always found it awkward when a DJ announces, "Sorry that we don't have the song that the listener requested, but here's another song by that artist that's also good, (or sounds somewhat similar, or has a similar title.)"  

Although DJs in those situations deserve points for honesty and good intentions, they're not fulfilling the listeners' requests.  I usually liked it more when a listener called and asked to hear "anything by 10,000 Maniacs," "any song by George Duke," or "anything from David Bowie's '70s output."  Leeway is built into those requests.  For a specific song request, however, the station either has the song, or it doesn't.  It can play it, or it can't.  Substitutions in those cases are generally ill-advised.

Persistent earworm alert CCXVII

Since my cat, Collette, started biting my feet regularly, I've had a recurring dream.  Django Reinhardt's rendition of "Brazil" is playing.  Over Reinhardt's guitar playing, Collette is biting my feet in time to the tune, while singing, "Bite, bite, bite, bite-bite, bite-bite-bite."  I'm not sure how she's managing to sing and bite simultaneously.

Luckily, no law says dreams must make sense.

FM dial scan highlights CXLVI

Six highlights from this morning:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Puzzle Me-You-Kaki King (An airy, atmosphere guitar piece, suitable for a cloudy day or surveying the landscape from a train.  The pared down version I watched on YouTube reminds me somewhat of Tommy Emmanuel's guitar playing.)
• When I Get Home-The Searchers (I don't think I'd heard this track before today, but it stands up to the band's hits, "Needles And Pins" and "Love Potion Number Nine.")
• Prelude To A Kiss-Teddy Wilson (It's a pleasure to hear such an elegant piano version of this Duke Ellington tune.) 

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Sweet Honeybee-Cal Tjader (Vibraphone and horns fit for a spy thriller.)
• Turn The Music Up!-The Brand New Heavies (Joyous, warm, uptempo guitar, horns, and vocals; this strong cover of a 1979 tune by The Players Association could segue with "Just Don't Know" by The Urge.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Making Do-Lake Street Dive (The lyrics illustrate one of many reasons I'm relieved that Joe Biden is our new president.  The effects of climate change, among other burdensome, handed-down legacies, need to be addressed.)

Three cheers for nuance

In the too short-lived TV series, "Frank's Place," there's a scene in which Frank, played by Tim Reid, considers joining a social club.  This gives a vocal ensemble a chance to perform an impressive version of "If I Didn't Care."  In a later scene, Frank marvels at how he thought he was listening to The Ink Spots.

Unfortunately, that's something you'd be less likely to see in a network TV series today.  With sitcoms, dramas, and attention spans being shorter now than in 1987,  you wouldn't likely see such a performance and a character's appreciation of it today.

That's everyone's loss.

A long-awaited new day

I wondered what music would come to mind as I watched today's presidential inauguration.  "This Will Be Our Year" by The Zombies struck me first.  This moment "took a long time to come," indeed.  The divisiveness, destruction, and lies of the previous regime felt to me like they'd lasted for at least 20 years.

"This Will Be Our Year" quickly gave way to GrooveLily's "Weight Of The World" for me, however.  President Biden and Vice President Harris, both of whom have shown repeatedly that they care about and will help the people they've been elected to govern, are now in office.  Despite the pandemic, the state of the economy, and the hateful elements of our society, it feels like "the world's getting lighter today."

May the new president, vice president, and all of us stay healthy and safe during and beyond this new day for America.

Only in college LXXXV

Now, I remember.  I think I know one reason why the psychology teacher didn't choose me to make the weekly mix tapes for the class during my freshman year.  One of the songs I put on my demo mix tape was "The Doctor" by The Doobie Brothers.  The Doobie Brothers had a lot of quality hits, but in retrospect, "The Doctor" was an average comeback tune.  It sounded more like product produced to meet a deadline than a song that would make college students sit up and take note.  

Lesson learned--a tad late, but lesson learned nevertheless.

Need reassurance...

...that you're where you're supposed to be, life is worth living, and no one should question your determination?

It's all found in Stevie Wonder's "As."  

Listen to all seven minutes and nine seconds for the full effect.

Living in cryptic times

It's almost always easier to find out the title and artist of a song I don't recognize today than it was when I was a kid.  In pre-Internet times, you had to hope the DJ would announce the title and artist.  If (s)he didn't, you could call the radio station and ask.  If no one answered the request line phone, however, you were out of luck.  If the song was a current hit and you were lucky enough to snag a copy of Billboard magazine from the library or a store, you could attempt to find it on the charts.  Similarly, Joel Whitburn's The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits is still valuable for looking up titles, artists, and chart success going back to the start of the rock era.

When I wasn't able to find out a song's title and artist from one of those sources, however, I ended up in situations like these:

• A soft rock station played a tune with sincere lyrics and a fast, welcoming guitar part.  Based on the lyrics, I thought the title might be "One Day, We'll All Understand."  That was a logical guess, as it's sung three times in the chorus.  I didn't hear it on the radio again for several years.  Eventually, I learned it was Dan Fogelberg's first--and, in my opinion, best--hit, "Part Of The Plan."
• One radio station had the peculiar habit of saying multiple times, "Here's (or That's) Elton John," without giving the song title.  I thought, "This should be easy to find in the top 40 hits book.  This station only plays hits (or so I thought), and he has had about a gazillion hits, so I should be able to find the title."  I thought the tune might be called "Ballerina," since that what John's singing about.  I didn't find the title in my most reliable source, however, because the song was "Tiny Dancer," and it wasn't a hit.
• When a station played a new Steve Winwood single, I thought, "The fragment of it I heard sounds good enough, but it's a little difficult to decipher what he's singing in the chorus.  It sounds like he's singing, 'The fire thins,' but that doesn't make sense.  Even poets don't refer to a fire that's subsiding as thinning."  The next time I heard the song, the DJ announced it as "The Finer Things."

Yes, we had it rougher back it then.  Well, not really.  We still got to hear the music, even if we didn't always know a song title or who was singing.

Persistent earworm alert CCXVI

Since seeing a 1977 performance of Boney M.'s "Daddy Cool" on Pluto TV Thursday, I haven't been able to scrub that song from my mind.  I'll admit it's catchy, but it isn't just the song that stays with me.  The unusually mixed nature of the audience dancing along with the tune stands out.  There are dancers who are right at home in a club and other older audience members who look like they've just been to the opera.

The song's rhythm also makes me think it could segue with "Stomp!" by The Brothers Johnson.  I wonder if there's any similar footage from 1980 of an eclectic crowd dancing along with it.

Positive promotion without the hype

One rule I did my best to follow at any radio station: I would promote the DJ following me on the air by sounding positive but not oversell his or her show.  I've never been of the "Just wait until you hear so-and-so; (s)he's got three hours of the best tunes you'd ever want to hear" school.  For all I know, the DJ about to go on the air after me might have a cold or the flu.  If it's a station where the music was preprogrammed, I couldn't promote the DJ's song selection abilities.  Even if it's a station where the DJs get to choose some or all of the music, that's a subjective call anyway.  When signing off, I would just ask listeners to "stay tuned for so-and-so, who will continue the smooth jazz (or will bring you however many hours of another genre of music.)"

Asking listeners to stay tuned is the key.

Only in college LXXXIV

A KCOU memory: New albums that went into format included a review which a station music director wrote.  One such review elicited several compliments about the reviewer's insight, written below her review.  After the barrage of compliments, the reviewer wrote, "I feel like I'm being eulogized!"

Compliments, when they're not written in the subject's presence, sometimes have that effect.  Anyway, let's raise a glass and toast to the memory of Reviewer X, who penned a commendably thorough review of "Trudging Through The Indifferent Miasma Of Existence" by The Greeble Freebles.  Her perceptive comparisons to many early prog rock bands were right on the mark, and her recognition of a retro organ hook shows that she knew the Booker T. & The MGs catalog inside out...

Wait...She's still alive?  Then, let's raise a glass and toast in honor of Reviewer X, who penned a commendably thorough review of "Trudging Through The Indifferent Miasma Of Existence..."

Context? XCV

A broadcasting school memory: A student walked in while the instructor was playing the tape of a mock radio show I'd done.  The student listened for a minute and said, "That's good.  That's really good.  That's damned good."

I appreciated the compliment.  It also occurred to me that not everything I would ever say on the air would rise to that level...

...It reminded me, though, that I should always strive for that level of preparation and confidence.

Context? XCIV

An AM radio talk show exchange from the '90s I'd rather forget I heard:

Host: What did you do?

Caller: I done somethin' bad.

Host: You hit her, didn't you?  No sympathy.  I don't hit you; you don't hit me.  Them's the rules.

The host then went on to his next caller.  I still wonder, if the caller did assault someone, why he did that and why he would admit to it, at least indirectly, to a stranger on a talk show.

Context? XCIII

If I'd heard this on a talk show, I wouldn't have been as surprised.  I didn't expect the host of a bluegrass show, however, to take a relative of his to task on the air.  Last night, the host of an FM music show talked about a relative who had been with the rioters during last Wednesday's invasion of the U.S. Capitol.

I held my breath for a moment, hoping the host wasn't about to say, "Good for him."  I was relieved when he said other family members and he were mortified that this relative had taken part.  He said this relative didn't have the easiest life growing up; after this person's father died in a tractor accident, the host said, this relative never had as much guidance or supervision as he needed.  The host also said, however, that "we're not insurrectionists," and that the other family members and he didn't support this relative's participation.  At first, the family considered staging an intervention via Zoom.  They didn't think this relative could figure out how to set up Zoom, though, so the host decided to use part of his radio show "to make him smarter."  He then kicked off a set of songs designed to educate this relative, beginning with Roy Zimmerman's "Give Measles A Chance."  While not especially melodic, Zimmerman's direct lyrics make their point about clinging to an absurd belief effectively.

If that song didn't set that relative straight, I hope his family got through to him.

Online radio sampler highlights CXXI

Six ear-catching tunes heard tonight:

KCSM (San Mateo, CA)

• Donde Estabas Tu-Tito Puente with Vicentico Valdes (An infectious rhythm for skilled dancers.  The English translation of the title is "Where Were You?")

KHUM (Cutten, CA)

• Big Nothing-Willie J Healey (The vocals and guitar remind me of Big Star; that's never a bad thing.)

KOPN (Columbia, MO)

• Para Comigo-Mart'nalia (Relaxing vocals and guitar with a melancholy feel; this makes me want to hear more from this Brazilian singer-songwriter.  The title's English translation is "For Me.")
• Shadows-Tony Rice (Sadly, this influential guitarist and singer passed away on Christmas Day.  Rice's vocals and guitar playing do Gordon Lightfoot's should-be-better-known tune justice.  This is also the case on "Song For A Winter's Night."  Also recommended: "Manzanita (1st Variation)," his take on "Shenandoah," and if you're feeling a bit depressed but confident enough to work through it, "California Autumn.")

WAYO (Rochester, NY)

• Sea Calls Me Home-Julia Holter (The echo on the vocals makes me think Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" would sound right after this.  Check out Holter and company's performance of this at KEXP; the violin and whistling add a lot to the feeling of being at sea.)
• Eva-Meesha Shafi (An energetic blend of forthright guitar, percussion, Pakistani vocals, and a hint of accordion.)
  

Persistent earworm alert CCXV

I'm even more puzzled by the way I sang, "Oh, Neef noff snorf gabeefsbop," today.  I thought, "To what melody did I just sing that?"  It didn't take me long to realize I'd just sang it to a portion of "The Muppet Show Theme"--the section in which Waldorf sings to Statler, "Why do we always come here?"

The mystery of the human mind continues.

For exemplary play-by-play...

I remember discovering the music of fictitious composer P.D.Q. Bach 35 years ago.  In early January 1986, I listened to the tape, "Report From Hoople: P.D.Q. Bach On The Air," and was impressed by the humorous compositions and commentary.

I asked Mr. D., my high school orchestra director, "Have you listened to the work of P.D.Q. Bach and Peter...Sickele?"  I suspected I hadn't gotten the name of the announcer and inventor of P.D.Q. Bach quite right.

"Schickele," Mr. D. corrected me.  "Schickele."

"Thanks," I said.  "Have you heard his play-by-play of the first movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony?  I thought it was funny, treating it like a football game."

"That type of play-by-play on a piece has been done by others, not nearly as well," Mr. D. responded. "Not nearly as well."

Likening a football player intercepting a pass and not letting go of the ball to a section of instruments taking a theme and running with it still amuses me all these years later.  All of "Report From Hoople..." is worth a listen.  The biggest highlight, however, is still "New Horizons in Music Appreciation: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony," with Robert Dennis and Schickele.  I haven't heard anyone else do play-by-play of a piece, but I wouldn't doubt that the Schickele-Dennis commentary is still the benchmark to emulate.

Persistent earworm alert CCXIV

I'm still processing yesterday's mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.  Prior to the invasion, Sting's "Brand New Day" was running through my mind, reflecting my relief about Democrats gaining control of the Senate.  While watching scenes from the insurrection, however, I kept thinking of the song, "Alas For You," from the "Godspell" soundtrack.  Jesus's last lyric in the tune, "Blind fools," was the one that came to mind most often.

That sums it up pretty well, I think.  You just can't reason with people who are that far gone.

Persistent earworm alert CCXIII

I probably spout gibberish syllables more than I realize--when I've dropped something, knocked something over, or when my cat has bitten my feet.  One of those impromptu outbursts, however, has become a recurring bit for me.  

Weeks ago, when my cat was about to start eating my dinner, I admonished her, "Neef noff snorf gabeefsbop!"

I have no idea if I was channeling some other language when asking Collette to stop eating my food.  I knew those syllables had legs, however, when I started singing them to the tune of "Big Rock Candy Mountain."

I've written before that I don't know how the mind works in these matters; in this case, however, I really don't understand.

Only in college LXXXIII

An early '90s memory: A listener called KCOU while I was on the air and said, "Hi, I'm sorry to bother you, but there's a song I heard called 'Counting Backwards,' and it's by a band called Throwing Muses.  Being a DJ, you'd know more about music than I would, so, if it's not too much trouble, I wanted to ask if you know what album that's from."

That's a lot of throat clearing.  It would have been more concise to just ask, "What album is 'Counting Backwards' by Throwing Muses on?" (Fortunately, I knew it was from "The Real Ramona" album because the CD was sitting right near me in the studio.)  However, in a world that sometimes lacks civility, we could use more of that politeness.  Even though it's taking the long way around, I hope that caller is still that courteous to everyone.

Context? XCII

I should be surprised, I guess, that I've only heard this happen once during our current pandemic.

Until last night, I'd never heard a DJ announce on the air that a listener could hardly hear him.  He explained, "I'm wearing a mask in the studio, as I always do, to keep my fellow DJs safe."

I had no trouble hearing him, though, so I wonder if the complaining listener was just too far away from the radio.

FM dial scan highlights CXLV

Seven standout tunes heard today:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Havana Moon-Mike Zito featuring Sonny Landreth (The tasty wailing guitar licks alone are enough to make this a strong cover of a Chuck Berry song.)
• Afro KungFu Beat-Tony Allen (A compelling instrumental from an accomplished percussionist; it was released in 2014 but has a definite early '70s throwback vibe.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• C'est Le Funk-U-Nam (Ray Parker, Jr.'s "For Those Who Like To Groove" would sound great after this brassy jam.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• How Come You Never Go There?-Feist (An honest question in these lyrics about a relationship that doesn't work.)
• The Wrong Year-The Decemberists (Who doesn't want to synchronize events or opportunities with the time in which you want them to occur?)

KWMU 90.7 FM

• After Hours-Butch Miles (A sly, slinky showcase for drums, flute, and trumpet.)
• Stairway To The Stars-Rachael Price (As strong as Price is as the lead singer of Lake Street Dive, her vocals on standards are just as captivating.)
  

A petty fixation

A memory from the '80s: While reading a newspaper article about the radio business, I became irked when reading about the incorrectly titled song, "Shake It Up, Baby," by The Cars.

"That's not right!" I exclaimed to the newspaper.  "The song is called 'Shake It Up!'  There's no 'Baby' in the title!  Good grief!"

I took stock of my reaction.  "I'm right," I thought, "but that's an overreaction to a minor mistake that doesn't affect anyone.  I'm indifferent to that song, at best--but, still, it should be titled correctly."

Then, I went back to scanning the newspaper for other trivial irritants.

Online radio sampler highlights CXX

Six noteworthy selections heard today:

KXCI (Tucson, AZ) 

• My Dream-79.5 (An impressive 2020 rendering of a Sunny & The Sunliners tune; if I hadn't known otherwise, I would have thought this was released the same year as the original version.  The vocals and flute sound straight out of 1968.)
• How Could I-Thao & The Get Down Stay Down (The trance-like vocals on this 2020 track reeled me in.)
• Move On Up (Single Edit)-Curtis Mayfield (It wasn't as much of an adjustment as I thought it would be, hearing this tune at about one-third of its full length.  The essence of the lyrics about determination and not giving up is still there.)

WFDU (Teaneck, NJ)

• Goodbye Cruel World-James Darren (I don't remember hearing this on oldies stations, so I was surprised to learn it was a big hit in 1961.  Although it hurts in the moment, the circus sound effects convey that the protagonist knows, deep down, that the scars of his rejection will heal.  To offer listeners some additional hope, radio stations should segue this with "You Baby" by The Turtles.)
• Hey, Leroy, Your Mama's Callin' You-The Jimmy Castor Bunch (A cool, jazzy slice of R&B that should have been a bigger hit in 1967 and could segue with George Benson's version of "Soul Limbo.")

WFMT (Chicago, IL)

• Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, "Italian": IV. Finale, Saltarello, Presto (Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell, conductor) (Have a tight deadline to meet?  Let the strings and winds bring the drama for you.  This is one piece--and one movement--that I wish I'd gotten to play on the double bass.)