An overlooked cover tune CVIII

It has never occurred to me to play the original versions of these 1966 oldies back to back, but guitarist Chris Proctor illustrates their compatibility: He intertwines "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & The Papas with "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones, showing how both tunes share a similar feeling of rumination.  By slowing down the tempo of "California Dreamin'" and strumming "Paint It Black" forcefully, he demonstrates that two melancholy tunes of notably different speeds can segue smoothly.

I suspect Leo Kottke would approach a medley of these tunes similarly.

Late night humanity

Within the last two years or so, I heard a noncommercial DJ say on-air, "I'd like to give a shout out to my kids."  This surprised me, as it was the middle of the night, and the DJ had just played some fairly hard rock.  I thought it was considerate, though.  I hope his kids were listening.  If not, I hope they heard his kind wishes later on the station's recorded stream.

In a world of reduced humanity, it's good to hear a thoughtful display of kindness.

Not an arduous effort, but...

Over 30 years ago, I won $50 from a soft rock station for listing three songs I'd heard in a row on the station, mailing the contest form to the station, and calling the request line within the specified time frame when my name was announced.

Granted, I would have listened to the station anyway.  There's nothing like a financial incentive, though, to keep a person tuned in even longer.

Context? CLII

While at broadcasting school in the '90s, I mentioned to an instructor that I'd been listening to early Genesis albums.

"Yeah, back when Steve Hackett was in the band," he replied, "and Phil Collins was just the drummer."

"Just the drummer?" I thought.  "Lucky for you, Phil Collins--or any other drummers who take their craft seriously--aren't here to hear you say that."

Context? CLI

This morning, an AM radio talk show host, while talking about an upcoming trip, said, "Collette makes travel so easy."

If she was referring to the travel agency my cat, Collette, runs, I fear Collette might have pressured her to say that under penalty of foot-biting.

I hope that's not the case.

Persistent earworm alert CCLII

Here's a "same song, different trigger" situation: This afternoon, I discovered that my cat, Collette, had tangled two of her favorite toys together.  Untangling complex knots has never been one of my strongest life skills, but somehow, I unsnarled the toys faster than I thought I would.  

Nevertheless, while sorting out the dragonfly toy from the Cat Dancer, I said/sang, imitating The Offspring's "Come Out And Play," "You gotta keep 'em separated..."

...So far, Collette has complied.  Granted, this was only about an hour ago, but I'm still considering it a win.

Only in college XCI

One early morning, I'd chosen Prince's "Party Up" as the first song I'd play on my KCOU shift.  I cued it up over and over, making sure the song would begin exactly when I started the turntable.

Upon hearing the opening keyboard cascade for about the 10th time, the DJ whose shift was before mine said, "You should play it on the air that way."  

Playing that keyboard fragment repeatedly over the right backdrop would have sounded interesting.  I couldn't bring myself to do that, however.  After all, listeners were expecting a proper song after the hourly station ID.  Battles lines were drawn.  Lives were on the line.  There was no turning back...

...So, perhaps I was taking this a tad too seriously.  Nevertheless, I started "Party Up" precisely when I should have, getting my four hours of air time off to a roaring start.

It's important to finish strong.  A strong beginning, however, sets the tone.

Retro FM dial scan highlights IV: 1/24/02

Some of the more appealing music I heard on this day 20 years ago:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• I'll Always Need You-Dean Courtney (The intro might make you think The Supremes are about to sing.  This overlooked brisk burst of energy from 1966 is a sincere way of telling your significant other, "You are and always will be the one for me.")
• Our Love Is Getting Stronger-Jason Knight (Rhythmically, Maxine Nightingale's "Right Back Where We Started From" would sound good after this 1967 release.)
• Helpless-Kim Weston (Another 1966 R&B gem with forthright lyrics about pining for someone.)

KFUO 99.1 FM

• Antonin Dvorak: Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor, Op. 46 (Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell, conductor) (An appealing contrast between a serious, foreboding melody and a much more lighthearted, mirthful one.)

WSSM 106.5 FM

• Love Will Conquer All-George Howard (I would argue that the 1986 Lionel Richie & Marva King hit fares even better in Howard's sunny saxophone incarnation.)
• Droptop-Jeff Golub (One of my favorites from this former smooth jazz station; a steady, inviting midtempo guitar groove, ideal for driving.) 
• Talk To Me-Anita Baker ("Same Ole Love" is still my favorite Anita Baker song.  "Talk To Me," however, is my second favorite.  Lyrically, this is an inviting way to extend an olive branch to someone.  I also recommend Bob Thompson's strong piano rendition of it.)
  

"After you..." "No, after you..."

Being "Midwestern nice" is most frequently evident at four-way stops here.  Often, drivers arrive at four-way stop signs here and wait for others to go, even when it isn't their turn.  After being in that situation a few days ago, I sang to the tune of Paul Simon's "Something So Right," "When at the stop sign, I'm the fourth to arrive there.  I'm the fourth to arrive there and the second to go."

In memory of Meat Loaf

Meat Loaf's passing jogged my memory of broadcasting school.  His song, "Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through" came up frequently in the rotation when I did CHR format shows in broadcasting school.  I looked forward to it, as his emoting on that tune reminded me to keep the energy level up--which wasn't generally natural for me. 

On its own, the tune still holds up when you want to feel resolved about achieving something, even if it's only driving from one place to another.

A petty fixation IX

"Now, that's a pretty good ring tone," I thought.  "With one less note, it would sound like a robotic version of Nika Rejto's version of 'Emily'--the three central notes in the chorus, I mean."

 I might be the only person on Earth who would react to a new cell phone's ring tone this way.

Online radio sampler highlights CLIV

Six of the better tunes I've heard tonight:

KFJC (Los Altos Hills, CA)

• Make Out Fall Out Make Up-Love Is All (The prominent organ part brought to mind Echo & The Bunnymen's "My Kingdom," at first.  As the tune progressed, the mysterious-sounding lead female vocals and supporting male vocals kept me tuned in.) 

KQAL (Winona, MN)

• Atomic-Blondie  (Spy music with a surf guitar sound underscores Debbie Harry's vocals compellingly.  "Call Me" and "The Tide Is High" were huge hits before and after it, so this track was somewhat overshadowed in 1980.  This is a solid, sustained groove, though.)

KUVO (Denver, CO) 

• Journey To Akumal-Eric Gunnison (This pleasant, upbeat instrumental brings the airy, welcoming feel of Pat Metheny's music to mind.)

WRTI (Philadelphia, PA)

• Misty-Renee Rosnes Trio with strings (Of the all CDs I reviewed as KCOU jazz director, the CD from which this rendition comes, "Without Words," is still my favorite.  The entire disc is strong, but this beautiful, elegant, piano-centered version is one of its best tracks.  Also recommended: Every track, but "I've Got You Under My Skin" is another stellar highlight.)
• If I Were A Bell-Miles Davis Quintet (Davis shows how the trumpet can carry this melody as convincingly as a voice.  It's intriguing to hear the more traditional side of Miles and his outstanding rhythm players.)

WWOZ (New Orleans, LA) 

• How Do I Get There?-Don Bryant (If these lyrics don't make Heaven sound enticing, what would?  This is an impressive fusion of jazz and gospel.)
  

Persistent earworm alert CCLI

My cat, Collette, was at it again today in the hallway.  She chased me around in circles, caught my feet and bit them. Inevitably, Tommy Roe's "Dizzy" entered my mind and hasn't let up yet.  This has happened multiple times in recent weeks and will likely happen many more times, given Collette's boundless energy and foot-biting fanaticism.

I'll just have to accept feeling unbalanced for at least a few minutes each day.

Farewell, WEW...

...as I knew it, at least.

WEW still exists on 770 AM here but changed formats and jettisoned its local presence earlier this month.  What was once a big band/jazz/oldies station and later a mostly international station is now an outlet for religious programming.

I know that's the nature of business, especially the radio business.  Nothing says a ministry can't have a radio station.  Still, it's sad to hear America's second oldest radio station go from being a place where I once chose all the music I played to being just one of many outlets for a non-local ministry.  I take solace, at least, in knowing that it took a literal century for that to happen.

I'm thankful to have been at least a small part of the station's history and to have enjoyed its quirky-in-a-positive-sense programming for many years.  For decades, WEW's music was intended to evoke nostalgia, so I'm thankful to have my memories of the station--as a DJ and a listener.

Context? CL

One recent morning, I heard an AM radio talk show host say to his co-host, "I've been on a kick lately..."

I thought, "Oh, he's going to tell (his co-host) that he's making sourdough bread, reading an author whose work he doesn't know well, or listening to a band or artist whose music is largely unfamiliar to him."

Instead, the radio host continued, "I've been watching 'The Waltons...'"

I shared his co-host's surprise at that revelation.  There's nothing wrong with "The Waltons" as binge watching fare.  That's just not a sentence I'd ever guess would follow one's announcement of a kick.  I suppose this ongoing pandemic has brought out unexpected layers in a lot of us, though.

FM dial scan highlights CLXXX

Eight Sunday morning highlights:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Lill Lisa-Kirsten Braten Berg (Credit to this vocalist for her compelling a cappella singing.  Credit, also, to the KDHX DJ who saw the humor in her slip of the tongue.  Initially, she referred to the tune as "a medieval battle" before laughing and correctly calling it "a medieval ballad.")
• Stare At The Sun-Death By Unga Bunga (Catchy power pop; this is how The Sneetches might have sounded as a Norwegian indie rock band.)
• Ruhverikko-Varttina (A rhythmic test for vocalists and instrumentalists.)
• Malort-Hoven Droven (An infectious rhythmic workout for fiddle, bass, and anyone clapping along.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• The Hippity Hop-Hank Mobley (The impressive results of a tenor saxophonist and rhythm section giving it their all.)
• South Of Market-Joyce Cooling (An easy digestible uptempo smooth jazz groove; the piano punctuates Cooling's guitar part well.)

KSHE 94.7 FM

• Goodnight and Goodmorning-Daryl Hall & John Oates (A tasteful description of a relationship that's starting to click.  It was a pleasant surprise to hear this underplayed 1972 track.)
• Peacemaker-Loggins & Messina (It was great to be reminded that this 1976 sound--with its idealism, long instrumental passages, and optimistic flute accompaniment--used to be in vogue.)
  

Persistent earworm alert CCL

Maybe it was last night's rain to snow transition that triggered it, but I haven't stopped thinking of It's A Beautiful Day's "White Bird" since then.  In addition to using strings effectively, the tune shows how to milk a syllable without overdoing it.  A co-worker at a previous job used to sing an exaggerated version of it which sounded like, "...the white birrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd in a golden cage..."

"White Bird" doesn't get a lot of airplay these days, but it's still a standout blend of album rock with Classical influences.

Online radio sampler highlights CLIII

Nine early morning highlights:

KWMU-2 (St. Louis, MO)

• Body And Soul-Johnny "Hammond" Smith (A swingin' organ-propelled rendition.)
• Singing In My Soul-Lizz Wright (Who wouldn't want to approach a new day with this positive outlook?)
• Blues March-Frank Cunimondo (A strong piano rendition of a Benny Golson tune; multiple versions of "Night Train" would sound right after it.)

KXCI (Tucson, AZ)

• In C (Terry Riley)-Dylan Henner (A strangely comforting instrumental loop, suitable for a documentary about plants blossoming or possibly an alternate theme song for "13 Reasons Why.")
  

WOMM (Burlington, VT)

• Some Imaginary Cause-Ben Patton Band (Tuneful, lyrical, and catchy in a low-key way.  This solid AAA-format track has good lyrics about squandering one's opportunities.)

WPKN (Bridgeport, CT)

• Nos Toca Decidir-Jose Madera Nino & 3er.mundo (Instrumentally and vocally festive and spirited...)
• No Sera Facil-Frank Marquez y Su Orquesta (...and it segues seamlessly with this similarly spirited, brassy track.)

WSCS (New London, NH)

• Sergei Rachmaninoff: Prelude in D major, Op. 23, No. 4 (Christopher O'Riley, piano) (Evidence that a romantic, lyrical piece can be appropriately forceful; it doesn't always have to be tender.)

WXPN (Philadelphia, PA)

• Light On-Maggie Rogers (This is an endearing way of admitting that being successful sometimes entails a dizzying array of choices to make and more public exposure than you might want.  The energetic, accessible hook sounds familiar but doesn't wear out its welcome.  In 2019, I rated this as my ninth favorite song of the year.  That's a compliment, as any song that makes the top 10 in any of my year-end countdowns is a particularly strong track.  If I were assembling that countdown now, I think I'd rank it even higher.)

FM dial scan highlights CLXXIX

Five of the better tunes I've heard today:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Don't Worry 'Bout What I Do-The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (Yet another seemingly Meters-Inspired rhythmic groove from this ensemble.)
• Silly-Alice Phoebe Lou (A relaxed way of saying, "We mesh well, so let's be together."  This was released last month but sounds extracted from the late '70s or early '80s.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Fallen-Lauren Wood (It speaks well of WSIE that its sound is broad enough to include this adult contemporary/R&B/jazz blend of universal heartfelt sentiments.)
• 3 Notes-Rodd Hogan featuring Allen Cato (An easy-on-the-ears, keyboard-powered smooth jazz groove.)

WFUN 96.3 FM

• Two Occasions-The Deele (One of the better R&B ballads of its time, i.e. 1987.  Just when you think you've heard every possible phrasing of the sentiment, "I think about you constantly," a song like this comes along.)
  

Persistent earworm alert CCXLIX

Since at least the mid '80s, Chicago's instrumental, "Anxiety's Moment," has run through my mind when I'm facing a deadline.  When I'm starting to make significant progress, I hear the band's horn section playing the song's victorious-sounding ascending scale.

That's one way of rewarding myself for sticking to a task and getting results.  It's also refreshing to remember that a rock band can be more than a rock band.  If you have enough instruments, and your players have the chops, you can incorporate Classical elements in an interlude that audiophiles like me will remember for decades.

Persistent earworm alert CCXLVIII

I haven't been in a Kroger store in decades.  Still, when shopping at other grocery stores, I often can't help thinking of the old jingle, "Let's go Krogering--for the best of everything, including the price."

That's a jingle with staying power.  Something about using the store name as a verb still resonates...

Context? CXLIX

Some questions are unique to religious radio formats.  Just as I tuned into an AM station this morning, a minister asked his congregation, "Are you reprobates?"

Presumably, the question was rhetorical--and not one you'd hear on a soft rock station between James Taylor and Carole King songs.

Context? CXLVIII

Sometimes, during high school orchestra class, a student just goes through the motions. (S)he'll play the music without regard for dynamics, rhythm, or intonation.  

I once saw a more overt display of this.  During a break in class, a student counted out a piece's rhythm by announcing, "One, two, three, (effing) four!  One, two, three, (effing) four!"

"Sounds like someone doesn't want to be here today," I murmured after hearing his profane counting.  "He sounds surprisingly calm, though."

Not so threatening in this light

I caught myself singing to the tune of Donovan's "Jennifer Juniper" this morning, "Omicron, Omicron--mild cold symptoms..."

In that light, Covid-19 seems a lot less menacing.  Granted, having the two vaccine shots and a booster shot put me in that frame of mind prior to my song parody.

Online radio sampler highlights CLII

Eight of the better songs I've heard this morning:

KCAT (Pine Bluff, AR)

• Gimme Little Sign-Brenton Wood (This was a relatively big hit in 1967, and it's easy to hear way.  It's instantly catchy, and Wood sings it with just the right amount of confidence.)
• Games People Play-The Spinners (Three voices in distinctly different ranges carry off one of the band's best-structured and best-written hits.)

KRUI (Iowa City, IA)

• 11 11-Penelope Isles (Endearingly cathartic vocals and guitar.  This is one way of processing one's sadness.)
• One Theme-Sam Wilkes (Fitting electronica instrumentation for gazing at a pinwheel, looking through a kaleidoscope, or experiencing a virtual reality scenario with ocean waves crashing around you.)

WAER-HD2 (Syracuse, NY)

• Midnight Sun-Nancy Harms (Pleasant, just-breathy-enough vocals with warm piano, bass, and percussion accompaniment.)
• Work Song-Nat Adderley (The feel of this tune reminds me of the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross version of "Moanin'."  There's an impressive call and response between Adderley's cornet and the rhythm section.)

WFDU (Teaneck, NJ)

• A House Is Not A Motel-Love (This tune brings to mind The Moody Blues from the late '60s and early '70s.) 
• Someday, Someway-Marshall Crenshaw  (Tight, infectious guitar and vocals; this is how rockabilly music should sound.  This tune's hook never wears out its welcome, as far as I'm concerned.  Why wasn't this a bigger hit?)

Progress?

I was slow to adapt to texting.  Even now, I don't text people that often.  For the longest time, it irked me when a DJ or talk show host would announce a contest and say, "Send a text to (our station) at..."

I'd think, "Send a text?  That's not a proper contest.  A proper contest is one in which you call the station, get a busy signal, hang up, try again quickly, and repeat the process far too many times until you hear the announcer say there's a winner or you win unexpectedly and convey mild enthusiasm."

Of all the nerve...I don't know what the world thought it was doing, progressing without clearance from me. 

Context? CXLVII

A commercial I heard tonight for a Virginia dental practice concluded wisely.  After listing the services the dentist offers, the commercial repeated her name, adding, "also known as Doctor Painless."

That's a smart strategy, considering how many listeners might dread seeing a dentist.

A petty fixation VIII

On New Year's Day, some people wake up full of regret about missed opportunities during the previous year.  Other people wake up full of resolve, determined to make the new year as positive as it can be.

I, on the other hand, woke up with a slight dilemma.  I realized I'd forgotten to include "Nobody's Fault" by Benny Sings in my "Favorite music of 2021" countdown.  I'd heard the song early in 2021 but hadn't thought about it as much in recent months.

There wouldn't have been any consequences for leaving the countdown as it was, but not having that song represented has gnawed at me slightly for the last few days.  Thus, I revised my rankings.

Still Winter, after all III

Grappling with the first day back at school after Christmas vacation was always challenging.  Even in classes where I was on solid footing, such as orchestra, my thoughts sometimes drifted back to the vacation I'd just finished.

I'd think, "Wait...Which piece are we playing again, the Corelli or the Scarlatti?"  I didn't have much concern for the dynamics on the page.  Muscle memory got me through those pieces as I remembered the anticipation of Christmas Eve and the warmth of Christmas Day I'd experienced just over a week earlier.

The same principle applies as an adult.  Right after Christmas, I've taken calls I needed to take, typed what I needed to type, and edited what I needed to edit.

Much of the time, however, Philadelphia Brass Ensemble versions of various carols came to mind, or I wondered if my cat was playing with her Christmas chew toy.

Making that Christmas to everyday responsibilities transition always happens--but not easily.

Still Winter, after all II

Once you've heard your fill of Christmas music and year-end countdowns, how do you kick off a new year of music listening?

When it's a frigid night, and you feel like hearing a thoughtful instrumental with a semi-Christmas feel, I recommend "One Winter's Night" by Strength In Numbers.  That was the first non-countdown, non-Christmas tune I listened to this year.

Persistent earworm alert CCXLVII

Just because the calendar changed, I don't expect much in the way of major world changes this year.  Throughout the day, I've been thinking of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."  In my mind, however, the lyrics near the end are modified as, "Yeah, meet the new year--same as the old year..."

On January 1, that's a reasonable perspective.