FM dial scan highlights CL

Saturday and Sunday highlights:

KWMU 90.7 FM

• A Little Sweetness-Stanley Turrentine (Turrentine's ringing saxophone tone fits this on-the-prowl number perfectly.)
• Esperanto-Sean Jones featuring Carolyn Perteete (A compelling pairing of trumpet and an intimate voice.)
• Four Brothers-Howard Alden (The Manhattan Transfer recorded an impressive vocal rendition of this, but Alden and company make a compelling case for how well this melody also swings on the guitar.)

KSHE 94.7 FM

• Emma-Little River Band (Good lyrics about a relationship being a two-way street; I'm puzzled that this wasn't a hit.)
• Company's Coming/Slowpoke-Poco (Infectious bluegrass-style pickin' and fiddlin'; it's somewhat unusual to hear this from an album rock band.  The vocals in the chorus have stayed with me hours later.)

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

• Get Back Together-Everything But The Girl (It was a pleasant surprise to hear the hopeful yet wistful vocals on this overlooked track during "The Jazz Collective.")
• Jean-Rod McKuen (Typically, there isn't a local radio outlet for poetic lyrics and vocals from "The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie"--except during "The Slatkin Shuffle.")

"Good job, me!"

In January 2001, I heard a DJ say matter-of-factly, "Music always sounds best when The (DJ's initials) is at the helm."

My reaction today is the same as it was 20 years ago.  Admittedly, the DJ had just chosen and played a strong set of music, featuring artists who aren't household names for most listeners.  Showing confidence on the air also makes most listeners assume you know what you're talking about.  Also, this was a noncommercial station, so the DJ was working for free.

But...referring to yourself in the third person and congratulating yourself on the air for your musical selection acumen?  For humility's sake, it's better to let the listeners do that.

A petty fixation IV

To everyone who has ever brightened my day by posting videos of pandas or polar bears frolicking in the snow:

Thank you.  Those videos never fail to make me smile.  When you post them without whimsical music fit for a circus dubbed in, they're even better.

Context? CIII

"Everyone loves the look and feel of beautiful hardwood floors."

Or, was it "Everyone loves the beautiful look and feel of hardwood floors?"

Either way, the radio commercial announcer said it with such matter-of-fact assurance today that it must be true.

It's great to know that in these polarized times, we all agree on that, at least.

FM dial scan highlights CXLIX

Five impressive tunes heard today:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• The Clock Won't Tick-Quantic & Eddie Roberts (A strong new brass/guitar vamp; I kept expecting the Rolling Stones to hijack the tune and go into "Jumpin' Jack Flash.")
• Packin' Up-The Underbelly featuring Roxie Ray (An attention-getting showcase for flute and rhythm section.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Back Together Again-Kim Scott (An energetic new flute melody that's ideal for a smooth jazz station's workday rotation.)
• Back Here Again-Bluey (A laid-back groove for guitar and throbbing keyboard.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Everybody's Lonely-Jukebox The Ghost (The vocals are reminiscent of Queen, and the piano underscoring early in the tune reminds me of John Cale's "Darling, I Need You.")
  

Online radio sampler highlights CXXV

Six standout tunes heard this morning:

KDRU (Springfield, MO)

• Rise-Jahnavi Harrison with Willow Smith (The guitar intro made me think a Tracy Chapman or Tasmin Archer song was starting.  This new age/international genre-blending tune sports a hypnotic "I can't go 'round again" refrain.)
• Nominated-Ginger Root (An interesting, catchy blend of spacey indie rock, jazz, and R&B in the vocals and instrumentation, especially the keyboard.)

KWMU-2 (St. Louis, MO)

• Go Where The Road Leads-Kenny Blake & Maria Shaheen (A brisk, pleasant stew of vocals, saxophone, keyboard, and bass make lyrics about taking a risk inviting.)
• I'll Keep Loving You-Andy Laverne Trio (A classy, elegant, uptempo piano arrangement.)

WBER (Rochester, NY)

• Can't Help Falling In Love-Lick The Tins (Upon seeing this song title, the majority of readers will probably think of Elvis Presley's rendition.  Credit to Lick The Tins for an inspired Celtic interpretation.)

WXRT (Chicago, IL)

• Be The One-Poi Dog Pondering (To my ears, this is immediately accessible and singable.  It puzzled me that the "Volo Volo" CD received a generally tepid reaction from KCOU staffers; perhaps not everyone liked the slicker, more produced sound, compared to the band's earlier work.  My favorite Poi Dog Pondering tunes are still two of their earlier ones, "Postcard From A Dream (Toast And Jelly)" and "U Li La Lu," but I played "Be The One" on the air in 1992--and still would today.  Also recommended: "The Hardest Thing" and "Lackluster."  It was a surprise to hear WXRT air this amongst a playlist of more predictable songs by The Beatles, The Eagles, Beck, Pearl Jam, and Talking Heads.)
  

Context? CII

I think I just heard the difference between commercial and noncommercial radio in a nutshell: If a DJ on a commercial station almost played the wrong song, (s)he likely wouldn't mention it.  On a noncommercial station, however, a DJ is more likely to say, as I just heard, "Oops...The wrong track was about to play, and I'm not about to let that happen."

The DJ didn't have to acknowledge that, but I found it refreshing that she did.  In doing so, she admitted on-air how helter-skelter and down-to-the-wire some aspects of free form radio are.

Context? CI

I'd always wanted to say, "This just in...," on the radio to indicate the down-to-the-wire immediacy of a late sports score just becoming available.  Luckily, I got that chance once during basketball season when I was doing a live report from home and a co-worker was updating the sports tickers from the office.  I started printing the second batch of scores while reading the first batch.  In the nick of time, I was able to say, "This just in...," while ripping a piece of paper out of the printer.

To the uninitiated, however, the loud, abrupt sound of tearing the paper must have sounded like I'd inexplicably summoned superhuman strength and knocked over a car battery.  

I was going for more of a teletype sound effect, but during a live report, you take what you can get.

Teaching one's cat some musical respect

Recently, I admonished my cat, Collette, for scratching the cover of Ron Carter's "Pick 'Em" LP.

"Respect Ron Carter's albums," I told her.  "He played with Miles Davis and has a long, distinguished career as a jazz bassist."

I think Collette has learned her lesson.  She hasn't scratched the cover of that album or any other albums since then.  Instead, she has returned to knocking a calendar and napkin rings off the kitchen counter.

I'm resigned to calling that progress.

Context? C

My thought process yesterday while clicking on a radio station's stream:

Me: "Now, there's an out-of-town station I haven't listened to in a while.  Let's hear what they're up to..."  

Radio station: "Well, let me give you the phone number where you can pledge your support..."

Me: "...some other day, perhaps..."

Context? XCIX

A DJ for an out-of-town station said listeners could call the station and make song requests.  She also asked for "no judgment" about her voice, which she said had been "all over the place" today.  She said she'd been "singin' too much, singin' too loud, and singin' too hard" lately.

Given my own voice struggles, which, thankfully, have gotten a lot less burdensome since 2014, she'll get no judgment from me.

FM dial scan highlights CXLVIII

Five standout tunes heard today:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Twine Time-Alvin Cash & The Crawlers (Forthright saxophone and rhythm section playing and recurring vocal punctuation make this 1965 hit a catchy R&B dance number.)
• Ask The Lonely-The Four Tops (Convincingly sorrowful vocals; an appropriate tune for wallowing in heartbreak.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Where Are We Going?-Donald Byrd (An interesting approach for a tune about society's injustices, circa 1973; the sunny trumpet and flute stylings suggest that society will progress--but not overnight.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Alapathy-Fenne Lily (Appealingly breathy, free-spirited vocals over lively guitar strumming; although these songs weren't paired together on the radio, the tune's energy segues well with...)
• The Adults Are Talking-The Strokes (...this track.)
  

A petty fixation III

For most viewers, bumper music between TV talk show segments is just filler; it might sound pleasant, but for most people, it's transitional music before or after an interview segment.  For at least a few of us, though, it's more than that.

I've forgotten who the guest was, but I remember my ears perking up when I heard Earl Klugh's "Dr. Macumba" between segments of "The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder."  I thought, "I have no idea who chooses the music for this show, but I'm impressed that (s)he chose one of Klugh's strongest uptempo guitar melodies.  That Spanish-style guitar playing never wears out its welcome.  If this doesn't prime people to watch the rest of the show, what would?"

"Well," I thought, "viewers still have to be interested in the guest's answers and the host's line of questioning.  As prominent as music is in my life, to other people, it's just aural wallpaper or spice."

Still, kudos to whoever chose to use "Dr. Macumba" in that context.

Context? XCVIII

"Sadly, people lose their lives on days like today."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear from a radio talk show host as I drove home on snow-covered roads this morning.  The host advised everyone not to travel, if it all possible, and to stay in one's vehicle when getting stuck on the road.  The "people lose their lives" comment was intended for anyone who would get out of a vehicle and walk for help or assist a stranded motorist.

That's sound advice, but I don't like being reminded how perilous driving in bad weather is while I'm in it.  Next time, I think I'll just listen to music.

"A balmy high of eight degrees in store today..."

In the midst of a St. Louis deep freeze, I'm not sure why I would seek out radio air checks from similarly cold days, but I have.  I listened to one excerpt recently from a frigid night in 1977.  After mentioning that it was zero degrees, the newscaster said, per the gas company, that thermostats should be set at 65 degrees; that way, there would be enough gas to heat all the households that need it.

That's an admirable goal, but only a 65-degree setting in zero-degree weather?  If you can manage that without your pipes freezing, more power to you.

I prefer not to take that chance.

A linguistic irritant XXVIII

I'm generally not a fan of referring to the stomach as one's tummy.  I'll admit, however, that the Honey Nut Cheerios jingle wouldn't have worked as well if it had been phrased, "It's gonna tempt your stomach with the taste of nuts and honey..."

In that context, "stomach" would have sounded too stodgy--and wouldn't have come as close to rhyming with "honey."  The jingle writer was wise to have used "tummy" in that case.

"Average show in progress; no need to listen..."

Even when doing a mock radio show that won't be on the air, it's best not to be too self-deprecating.  I remember a broadcasting school instructor stopping a student's tape after her first song intro.

"The morning guys had a great show, but I'm here now," the aspiring DJ said over her first song.

"Don't undersell yourself that way," the instructor told her.  "Don't put the idea in the listener's mind that your show won't be as good as the one that just ended."

That's sound advice--for radio and life.

In memory of Chick Corea

The jazz world has lost a major composer, band leader, and keyboardist in Chick Corea.  Six of his most captivating tracks, in my opinion, are:

• Light As A Feather (A raucous fusion jam; Flora Purim's vocals float over the spacey instrumentation, especially late in the tune.)
• Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (I hear a Dave Brubeck influence in the piano and bass.)
• Spain (Since playing this on bass with my high school jazz band, I haven't been able to get enough of the tune.  Just try to scrub this memorable, energetic melody from your mind after you hear it.  Be sure to also check out versions by Al Jarreau and The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.) 
• Where Have I Loved You Before/The Shadow Of Lo/Where Have I Danced With You Before (An outstanding triple play of complementary and disparate styles, as I've written before.)
  

Online radio sampler highlights CXXIV

Five noteworthy tunes heard today:

KJHK (Lawrence, KS)

• Anxiety Feels-Goat Girl (Breathy, melancholy vocals coalesce compellingly with psychedelic-sounding instrumental backing.  There's nothing like a catchy "Na-na, na-na, na, na" hook to keep me listening.)

WUMB (Boston, MA)

• Blue-The Jayhawks (It's difficult to tire of the band's close, sincere vocal harmonies on this tune, even after a few hundred listens.)

WVAZ (Chicago, IL)

• Free-Deniece Williams (The tune's appealingly spacey intro would segue swimmingly after Flora Purim's "Dindi."  Williams had her first hit with this in 1977, and her warm vocals reminded me that radio stations should play "Free" more often.)

WWFM-HD2 (Trenton, NJ)

• By The Time I Get To Phoenix-Herbie Mann (I've written previously about the appeal of disparate versions by Glen Campbell and Isaac Hayes.  Add this to the list.  This rendition's blend of flute and vibraphone gives the tune a musty feel, in the best sense.) 
• Desafinado (Slightly Out Of Tune)-Karrin Allyson (This cover of an Antonio Carlos Jobim tune sports inviting vocals and vibraphone underscoring.)
  

Persistent earworm alert CCXVIII

When you're trying to read the news of the day, it's distracting when a song you haven't thought about since grade school enters your mind and won't stop playing.

For no apparent reason, the song, "Polly Wolly Doodle," which we had to sing in grade school vocal music class, has cemented itself in my mind--and I haven't even been to nor did I read about any reference to Louisiana--or Lou'siana, per the song--in the news.

Best to hear the actual music

Say, there's a CD I haven't heard in a while--"Sandbox" by Erik Voeks.  I remember buying that in 1994 at Sound Revolution.  Nektar's "Remember The Future" was playing in the store as I shopped; I'd wondered about the title and artist of the song since hearing it in the mid to late '80s on WMRY.  I remember telling a co-worker about the "Sandbox" CD the following week.  He was one of the few people I knew who also had it.  We agreed that it had some strong power pop tunes and that the guitar and vocals were right on the mark.

I remember the weather was great the day I bought that disc, and...Actually, I'll get even more out of this nostalgia if I actually listen to the CD...

Here it goes...

The best type of highlight

Although most my radio sports reports didn't contain this type of highlight, I always hoped for contests in which someone scored a game-winning touchdown with three seconds left, hit a home run in extra innings, or scored a game-winning goal in double overtime.

There's nothing wrong with a report in which you list people's accomplishments. (i.e. "John Doe ran in three touchdowns," or "Jane Doe went three for three, scored two runs, and had an RBI.")  It's more exciting, though, when you can spotlight a game-clinching highlight.

Alas, you can't manufacture drama.  You can always hope for it, though.

Online radio sampler highlights CXXIII

Five distinctly different standout tracks heard today:

KBCU (North Newton, KS) 

• Lockwood-Adam Steffey (This uptempo mandolin bluegrass instrumental sounds compatible with "Jefferson" by Sara Watkins.)

KRUI (Iowa City, IA)

• The Sandman, The Brakeman, And Me-Monsters Of Folk (An appealing lo-fi track, with appropriately airy production; riding a train should always feel this idealistic.)

KUSF (San Francisco, CA)

• Sad Day-FKA Twigs (A beguiling approximation of how Kate Bush might sound with contemporary techno accompaniment.)

WBGO (Newark, NJ)

• You Know You Want To Be Loved-Keith Barrow (An ideal track for a Quiet Storm format; Greenflow's "I Got'cha" sounds right before it, and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Can't Hide Love" flows well after it.)

WREK (Atlanta, GA)

• Autumn's Gift-Tom June (A life-affirming piano instrumental; the Genesis (Steve Hackett) track, "Horizons," works as a prelude for it.)

FM dial scan highlights CXLVII

Five noteworthy tunes heard this morning:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Just A Little Rain-Garrison Starr (A well-produced powerful wall of guitar and vocals, with lyrics fit for facing a daunting challenge; it's from the "Girl I Used To Be" release, due out March 5.  Also recommended: "No Man's Land," a standout track from 2005.)
• Peacock Alley-Cindy Cashdollar (Sweet, ringing guitar and organ tone; this would be a great way to start a concert.  "Cole's Boogie" by Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders would sound right after it.) 

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Tap Dancer-Sunnie Paxson (Traditional piano-led swing/combo jazz that's not out of place in a smooth jazz playlist.)
• Fx-MO E All-Stars (A smooth, bouncy, keyboard-dominated groove; I can imagine Steely Dan's Donald Fagen singing over this, although the melody holds up perfectly well on its own.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Trouble Me-10,000 Maniacs (A heartfelt, graceful way of saying, "I'm here for you, even if you just need me to listen.") 
  

Working up a sweat?

There are times when it's appropriate to convey exertion at a job--when you've just lifted a large bag of cement, for instance.  Plucking one note on a guitar doesn't fall into that category, however--as much as some artists might to try to convince you of it in concert.

The next time I type a sentence at work, I'm going to grimace in pain as I place my hands on the keyboard.  Then, I'm going to wipe the nonexistent sweat from my brow and fall on the floor, exhausted.

Of course, I won't forget to say, "Thank you, St. Louis!"  It's important to remember the fans.

Context? XCVII

I heard two AM talk show hosts talking today about an upcoming tour that the travel company, Collette, is offering.  I imagined my cat, Collette, running a one-cat travel operation and attempting to convince travelers that biting their feet is a traditional island greeting.

I wonder what percentage of travelers would adopt a "When in Rome..." mentality and accept this.

A petty fixation II

After my demo tape session, my first full hour on KCOU, it occurred to me that I hadn't filled out the tracks played sections of the current LP and CD music review forms.  I ran back to the station as soon as I realized this, marking my initials and track numbers played on each album.  

After all, if I hadn't done that...nothing would have happened.

Actually, maybe it would have.  Maybe, by not marking the tracks I'd played, the tabulations of songs played might have fallen just short of being eligible for inclusion on the College Music Journal chart. Thus, readers of that trade publication wouldn't have seen a band's name in the rankings, wondered what it sounded like, bought the album, and played it on their own stations.  The band members, then, would have been deprived of the growing groundswell of support they would have had, forcing their band to remain obscure and stay with dishwashing or telemarketing jobs longer than they would have liked.  I'm glad I did the responsible thing and gave the bands I'd played credit for their airplay.

If anyone doubts the flapping of a butterfly's wings has ripples...

Two rhythms for one meal

My cat, Collette, impressed me with her pawing at the door for food this morning.  I thought, "That's talented.  She's pounding out one rhythm with one paw and a different one with the other paw at the same time."

I gave her a little extra food, as a result.  As I told Collette, "That's an impressive polyrhythmic request for food."