In grade school, Mrs. S., the vocal music teacher, showed our class a production of The Music Man--as a series of slides. As the class sat in silence, I thought, "I'm sure this is no one's fault, but wouldn't this be more effective if we saw it as a film or a video? A soundtrack playing under stills of a performance isn't nearly as captivating as seeing the actual performance."
I didn't hate what I saw, but I kept thinking, "This is basically a View-Master presentation with audio."
Today's standout tunes:
KOPN (Columbia, MO)
KVNF (Paonia, CO)
WGDR (Plainfield, VT)
WJCU (University Heights, OH)
WXYG (Sauk Rapids, MN)
I was going to listen to Acoustic Alchemy's "The Beautiful Game" CD today, but my cat, Collette, wanted to hear it first:
I think I was in second grade when my dad gave me a book listing the official rules of baseball. As I read it, I thought, "I wonder if someone reads these rules aloud to the spectators before each game. It would take a long time, but it's good for everyone to know what is and isn't allowed on the field." I started listening to KMOX baseball broadcasts sporadically, making sure to catch the pregame features, thinking that there might be a reading of the rules before the game started. I thought an umpire or perhaps the home team's president would announce to the crowd, "These are the rules of this official game!"
Alas, that never happened.
"Oh, well," I thought. "Baseball games are already pretty long, so it probably isn't realistic to expect someone to recite the rules. I guess everyone just has to read the rules on their own time."
I have no desire to be a kid again, but it makes me smile to remember how endearingly naive we all are to some extent when we're young.
Eight standout tracks heard today:
Bakersfield Beat
Classic Folk
Escape
Hawaiian Vacation
Holiday Traditions
Real Jazz Just Music
RockBar
SiriusXM Chill
Earlier this week, I was pleased to see my cat, Collette, get on board right away with Joe Henderson's "So Near, So Far" album. She picked right up on the rhythm of the opening track, "Miles Ahead," and started washing her fur in time to it.
I'm proud to have a cat who appreciates Henderson's masterful tenor sax playing--and a strong Miles Davis tune, as well.
I was irritated with myself once when I finished an air break on KCOU. "'Sit back and relax?' Did I really just say that on the air?" I thought. "That's such a cliche. From now on, I'm resolving not to tell listeners to sit back and relax, even when I'm about to play relaxing music. For good measure, I won't tell them to be tense and uptight, either--not that I was planning to say that anyway."
As I listened to Sarah McLachlan's "Drawn To The Rhythm" last night, I thought about how well Fairport Convention's version of Joni Mitchell's "Eastern Rain" would flow into it. "Eastern Rain" fades in slowly, and "Drawn To The Rhythm" continues along a comparably subtle path.
With such quality contemplative material, it's reasonable to ask listeners to lean in, as these songs do.
Five standout tunes heard today:
WSIE 88.7 FM
KCLC 89.1 FM
KWUR 90.3 FM
I was intrigued this afternoon when iTunes shuffle mode segued Erin Bode's "Out Of Time" with "A Darker Kind Of Blue" by Brooks Williams. After listening to those songs separately for years, I hadn't thought to pair them. Lyrically, it's a compatible twosome; whether it's a relationship or a problem-plagued life, possible solutions come with expiration dates.
Since enduring a storm with loud hail this morning, "Popcorn" by Hot Butter, a synthesizer instrumental, has been on my mind. Popcorn, to me, mimics the sound of hail, and Hot Butter's 1972 hit conveys the turbulence of a storm. With an ominous forecast for more stormy weather later today, "Popcorn" will likely park itself in my mind again for hours.
Incidentally, I don't think I've ever heard anyone play "Popcorn" outside of "American Top 40." It's one of those set-firmly-in-its-time instrumentals that didn't make the jump to oldies radio rotations.
While listening to Bruce Cockburn's "Deer Dancing Around A Broken Mirror" recently, I realized how well it would segue with a comparable guitar instrumental, Leo Kottke's "The Fisherman." The tunes could follow each other in either order, as both of them show how it's possible to be placid and uptempo.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think I first heard Maura O'Connell's "Feet Of A Dancer" on the former KDHX show, "Blue Highways." I've rarely heard it since then, but a few times over the years, I've thought of it when I've tripped and had to grasp onto a sofa or chair. I've adjusted the opening lyric for those incidents by thinking, "I do not have the feet of a dancer..."
I've reminded myself that as long as I'm coordinated enough not to break any bones, an occasional fall is tolerable--provided there's a sofa, chair, or other soft landing option within my grasp.
Five of the stronger tunes played today on crstl.fm:
Sweet Inspiration
Beyon' Cray
Dangerous Curves
A morning radio personality recently opined that "Todd Rundgren doesn't get enough credit." I didn't hear what he said beyond that, but I agree. When Rundgren crafts an excellent tune, it holds up decades later. Five examples:
Eight of the better tunes I've heard today:
KMNO (Wailuku, HI)
KMRE (Bellingham, WA)
KPUP (Patagonia, AZ)
WESM (Princess Anne, MD)
WFIV (Knoxville, TN)
WZBT (Gettysburg, PA)
After attending Erin Bode's concert at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center this morning, I'm hoping she'll eventually release these four cover tunes she sang today:
While listening to an early Seals & Crofts tune, "Tin Town," last night, I had an epiphany. A noncommercial station worth its salt ought to segue it with "Fortune Teller" by Troubadours Of Divine Bliss. In addition to sporting compatible vocals and guitar parts, both songs appeal to the consciences of sensitive souls. To prevent a city from falling into the decay described in "Tin Town," it's wise for people to put their hands to good use by building structures that need to be built, planting trees, and simply being the good citizens that "Fortune Teller" encourages.
There's nothing like a good cause-and-effect segue--especially when it inspires people to improve things in their own backyard.
Sunday afternoon standouts:
Lo-Fi Cafe
Outlaw Country
Real Jazz
Record Store
The Village
Willie's Roadhouse
Yacht Rock Deep Cuts
Yacht Soul
In 1996, I brought in Herbie Mann's version of "The Peanut Vendor" to play on WEW. Less than 10 minutes after playing it, someone called the station and requested that song. He didn't specify any particular version, but I was stunned. I was sorry to tell him I'd just played it recently, so I couldn't play it again that day.
After I hung up, I thought, "It's refreshing that in 1996, anyone is still thinking about that whimsical melody, let alone calling a radio station and requesting it."
I still wonder if that caller was related to the listener in this first memorable conversation.
As I searched for a cat photo to post on my other blog, generallyrandommusings.blogspot.com, today, the lyric, "I seem to lean on old familiar ways," from Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years" ran through my mind. It applies, at least subconsciously sometimes, when I'm choosing photos I've taken for my Watchcat protocol posts. During a pleasant season, such as Fall or Spring, I'm often inclined to seek out photos from previous Autumns or Springs. Similarly, during the Christmas season, I often search for cat photos that tie in with the holiday.
Consequently, I sometimes return to the same photo files for inspiration more than I realize. I'll think, "Ah ha! This photo would make a good post, so I'll use it today. Wait...No, I won't. I've used it already." Other times, I'll think, "This is a good photo of (this particular cat or these particular cats), but surely, I must have posted it already. Wait...I haven't? There's today's post, then."
That second reaction led to today's posted photo of Sammy the cat from May 2010, striking a dignified pose in front of a bookcase. Sometimes, "old familiar ways" yield a result you didn't anticipate.
How did Lily feel about one member of a choir leading the singing during the replay of an Easter Mass on April 5, 2026? I'm still not sure:
Taking a cue from the unusual Carpenters cover tune I've written about, my cat, Collette, has instructed me to tell visitors, "Collette, she no home."
I don't feel right phrasing it that way. Besides, who's in charge of this residence anyway?
I'm not going to answer that.
A radio talk show host chided himself for drawing a blank this morning. After mentioning that listeners could call in, he asked, "What's the phone number here? I've only worked here for 30 years."
Although my memory of phone numbers is generally strong, I understand why the host was flummoxed temporarily. When part of your work routine becomes so rote that you don't have to think about it, it's easy for it to slip your mind occasionally.
At work, I frequently have to refer callers to certain phone numbers that I've read off hundreds of times. Despite committing them to memory, I always read the phone numbers off of a form. While it's unlikely that I'll forget them, it's wise to always have that reference sheet handy--just in case.
Today, I'm remembering a post I wrote in 2014. After Peter Magyar's defeat of Viktor Orban in Hungay's parliamentary election Sunday, I'm thinking once again of Pete Seeger's reminders to those who think there's no hope for the human race. In Larry Long's rendition of Seeger's "Well May The World Go," Seeger asks pessimists if they would have predicted the peaceful fall of the Berlin Wall, the way in which President Richard Nixon had to resign, or South African President Nelson Mandela's release from prison. Seeger then reminds them that if they couldn't predict those things not to be confident they can predict there's no hope.
Congratulations to all Hungarian residents yearning for a true democracy. Here's hoping the anti-authoritarian ripples spread sufficiently to America.
I've written previously about how "B'wana She No Home" doesn't sound like the type of song listeners would expect The Carpenters to cover. A WSIE DJ reinforced yesterday how atypical it is of their sound when he back announced, "The Carpenters. Yes, those Carpenters."
It's an infectious version of the Michael Franks tune, to be clear. It isn't, however, for those who expect to hear something similar to "Top Of The World," "Yesterday Once More," or "Close To You."
Friday and Saturday highlights:
WSIE 88.7 FM
KCLC 89.1 FM
KWUR 90.3 FM
K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2
Given the recent spate of calls I've received that show up on caller ID as "SPAM RISK," I'm tempted to install an answering machine and use the chorus of Zebra's "Tell Me What You Want" as the outgoing announcement. These spammers deserve to hear, "Tell me what you waaaaaaant! Tell me what you want!" blaring in their ears, at a minimum.
Sidebar: Does any radio station still play this Zebra tune? I've almost never heard it since 1983.
I've had these three CDs in my library for years but had never thought to segue these three tunes. iTunes shuffle mode did, however, resulting in an elegant late night jazz set:
Five of the better tunes I've heard today:
WSIE 88.7 FM
KCFV 89.5 FM
KWUR 90.3 FM
Usually, when I hear my favorite hymn, "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today," a large choir is singing it, an organist is playing it, or an instrumental ensemble is performing it, often with prominent trumpet fanfares.
On Easter Sunday, however, I heard an unusually modest version of it on KFUO AM. Bob Singleton & New Covenant Collective played a tasteful, subtle acoustic guitar rendition with shades of John Fahey's style. As I listened, I thought, "News intended to elicit rejoicing doesn't always have to be sung or played with wild embellishments, as our national anthem sometimes is."
Sometimes, less is more, and an understated approach is as valid as any flourish of trumpets.
Monday morning standouts:
In The Middle Of The Night
Early Morning Mix
Sometimes, when people break into song in a sitcom, drama, or stage production, I'm inclined to follow comedian Neal Brennan's lead and say, "Just tell me."
While watching the Good Friday Mass on Catholic TV Network, I thought, "These extended portions of the Mass don't need to be sung, but why not sing them anyway?" While watching the Easter Sunday Mass, I thought, "The gospel is usually read instead of sung, but again, why not sing it? After all, these Masses are centered around the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which are central to this faith, so why shouldn't the celebrants sing about them? After all, if ever there are times when it's appropriate to ask the congregation to lean in and pay close attention, it's when recounting these momentous events."
That said, if you're relying on closed captioning, it might be wise to have a hymnal and missal handy when the captioning descends into linguistic and grammatical garble. During the Easter Sunday opening hymn, "The Strife Is O'er, The Battle Done," closed captioning turned the verse, "The powers of death have done their worst," into "Dust mite your spouse have done their work."
I'm not sure the accomplishments of dust mite spouses warrant breaking into song, but if you're so moved, that's your prerogative.
Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it.
During a 1984 Kansas City Royals baseball game, I heard a radio announcer say, "The problem for the catcher and the knuckleball--Look at the size of the glove that (one player) is using...You don't know where the knuckleball's gonna go, and if the runner breaks, as (another player) did that time and you get the ball in the glove...the catcher has to go fishing around in that big glove to find the ball, ...get a grip on it, and get it down to second base. That all takes time."
According to the proverb, "A poor workman blames his tools." I don't know if any player affected by that scenario has ever blamed it on a large glove, but nothing says a baseball announcer can't point it out.
To date, that's the only time I've heard a play-by-play broadcaster call such attention to the connection between a particular pitch and the size of a player's glove.
Storms left my cat, Collette, somewhat rattled yesterday. I was concerned that she spent much of yesterday morning sitting on a grocery bag by the refrigerator, looking subdued.
I was relieved when she started acting like herself again by walking over to me and biting my feet repeatedly. I imagined a band covering "Back On My Feet Again" by The Babys with the revised lyrics, "She's biting my feet again!"
Having your cat bite your feet is an odd occasion for rejoicing, admittedly, but I was glad to see Collette bounce back after the menacing clatter of thunder.
Today's standout selections:
KPRS-HD2 (Kansas City, MO)
KWVA (Eugene, OR)
KXLU (Los Angeles, CA)
WAAI (Cambridge, MD)
WCNR (Charlottesville, VA)
WXXI (Rochester, NY)
WZUM (Pittsburgh, PA)
A radio personality joked Monday that he'll likely be "eating Graham crackers for the next month" after spending a princely sum at an American Girl doll store. He stressed that it was worth it, though, to make his daughter happy.
I've had similar feelings at times about the expenses associated with cat ownership. I've always wanted my current cat, Collette, and my previous cat, Sylvia, to be happy and healthy, however, so there's no question for me about priorities.
After seeing a strong live performance of it on "Saturday Night Live UK," Wolf Alice's "White Horses" has grown on me for three reasons:
I've had both of these songs in my library for years, but I never thought to segue them with each other until this morning. iTunes paired "I Am The Mercury" by Jimmie Spheeris randomly with "Rainin' Inside" by The Trishas. Thematically, that works, having a song about needed literal rain falling flow into a song about the cathartic metaphorical rain that results from listening to sad songs.
Well-played, shuffle mode.
KMOX has been simulcasting its longtime 1120 AM frequency on 104.1 FM for the past year. Despite the improved FM sound quality, I almost always listen to KMOX on AM. My AM presets have included KMOX 1120 AM for years, so that's what I reflexively think of as the station's default frequency.
When moving from the kitchen to the living room to hear Thursday's opening day Cardinal baseball game, however, I thought, "It isn't a Herculean effort to select 104.1 FM on the stereo. Why not hear the rest of the game with the best sound quality option?"
After decades of hearing baseball games on AM stations, I finally listened to a game on FM.
Inertia is a powerful force, but it's possible to overcome it.
Kudos to KVMR for playing Alison Brown's version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" this morning. I never imagined it as a banjo instrumental, but it translates easily. Banjo tunes tend to be upbeat by default, but Brown shows that the instrument also conveys bittersweet sentiments effectively.
I was sorry to learn yesterday that Dash Crofts, half of the singer-songwriter duo Seals & Crofts, passed away. In his memory, here are two Seals & Crofts album tracks and six of their hits that appeal most to me:
Thursday afternoon highlights:
Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals
The Bridge Deep Cuts
Carolina Shag Radio
Happy Dance
Happy Oldies
Indie 1.0
Lo-Fi Cafe
The Village
Watercolors
Five Wednesday afternoon standouts:
WSIE 88.7 FM
KWUR 90.3 FM
K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2
Now, this is a great rhythm to have stuck in one's mind. I don't know how this tune escaped my notice in 2016, but since hearing "Everyday" by Sacred Paws on Community Radio St. Louis last night, I've marveled at how integral the drums and guitar are in underscoring the catchy vocals. I've had similar reactions in past years to "Nothing But Flowers" by Talking Heads and Poi Dog Pondering's "Circle Around The Sun." All three songs share a somewhat exotic vibe in the same general ballpark.
You know a rhythm is strong when it seems reasonable to hire a cadre of fans to lead audiences in clapping along with it. The tune runs just over three minutes, but I'd welcome a version at least twice as long.
In July 1997, a commercial on WEW began, "Are your current ways for attracting business not working? Perhaps you should consider one of the most effective forms of visual advertising--signs."
The announcer then touted the benefits of having Signarama create signs for one's business. Hearing that ad on tape recently made me think, "Have I heard any commercials for sign-making businesses since then? I'm not sure I have."
Sign-making is an obvious idea for a business. Ironically, though, it's one of the least-advertised ones I've ever heard.
In 1997, I was incredulous when I heard a new radio station, WALC, i.e. "Alice at 104.1," say in its promos, "You might not have heard of the music (we play...)" I thought, "These are major pop hits that other stations have played for years. These songs are also heard frequently in stores and other businesses. To even casual listeners, most of these songs should be familiar. Maybe they wouldn't be if you've made a concerted effort not to hear any pop music for at least the past decade. If that's the case, though, why would this station draw you in?"
Sometimes, it doesn't take much to trigger my inner music snob.
Reading about tonight's debut of the United Kingdom's version of "Saturday Night Live" prompted me to check out bits of other international editions. Since yesterday, I've come to like the opening theme of "SNL Arabia." It sets the tone for a comedy show with a sunny melody that underscores footage of the cast dancing as a group and leaping into the air individually. Essentially, it's Egyptian-style smooth jazz that captures a reach-for-the-stars quality suitable for opening credits.
Usually, only noncommercial stations can pull off this kind of across-the-decades segue. I'm not sure if anyone has ever paired these songs, but to my ears, "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees would flow well into Yo La Tengo's "I Can Feel The Ice Melting." Lyrically and rhythmically, both songs share an earnest optimism, proving that certain sentiments that were valid in 1967 were also at home in 2015.
Today's standouts:
KBMF (Butte. MT)
KNBA (Anchorage, AK)
KVRU (Seattle, WA)
WCLK (Atlanta, GA)
WCUW (Worcester, MA)
WDAV (Davidson, NC)
In a relatively short time recently, St. Louis has experienced wild temperature swings. Temperatures have ranged from the teens to the 80s.
I concur with the Community Radio St. Louis DJ who said, "I'm ready for it to be Spring. I'm not ready for it to be Summer."
Currently, it's 59 degrees, and that's just about right for me--neither broiling nor frigid.
Eight holiday-appropriate selections heard today:
St. Paddy's Day Essential Pub Mix
St. Paddy's Day Radio
The Village Presents Celtic Twilight
I'm not sure if the version of a 1982 hit inhabiting my mind this morning actually exists. In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I've been imagining an easy listening instrumental version of "What About Me?" by Moving Pictures, with the tin whistle as the lead instrument. I've always been indifferent to the original version but not surprised that it was a hit. Although the lyrics nobly address not getting a fair shake in society, the vocals strike me as calculated and somewhat overwrought. In the rendition I've envisioned, however, the melody works better as a Celtic instrumental. At a minimum, it's a more natural fit than the tin whistle version of The Clash's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" I also imagined.
At this time of year, I like to segue "Play A Merry Jig" by Niamh Parsons with "Spring" by Cheryl Wheeler. Both tunes share a seasonally appropriate optimism, compatible rhythms and vocals, and smooth, upbeat ways of welcoming St. Patrick's Day and the arrival of Spring.
When I listen to Celtic music on or before St. Patrick's Day each year, "Fancy Waistcoat" by Niamh Parsons & The Loose Connections always makes my playlist. Parsons sings it with the right amount of carefree joy, which is partially why it works so well. The other essential ingredient is its blend of Celtic and Spanish styles. Not every Celtic tune can pull off such catchy guitar, keyboard, and accordion backing.
I'm still looking for the right tarantella to segue with it, but until I find it, I'm content to hear "Fancy Waistcoat" as a standalone tune.
Seven standout tunes heard today:
KUPR (Placitas, NM)
KXLL (Juneau, AK)
WLUR (Lexington, VA)
WNMC (Traverse City, MI)
WVEW (Brattleboro, VT)
After iTunes shuffle mode insisted on playing "Carinval In Rio" by Judy Roberts for me twice in two days, it dawned on me how well it would segue with Average White Band's "Atlantic Avenue." Both tunes feature vocalists singing about how pleasant the vacation destination of Rio de Janeiro is in a celebratory way without sounding too over-the-top.
I've never heard any radio station play either of these songs, so hopefully, this suggestion will nudge at least one noncommerical station programmer in the right direction.
Five selections that captured my attention today:
WSIE 88.7 FM
KCLC 89.1 FM
KCFV 89.5 FM
K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2
After hearing Emily Scott Robinson's movingly sung "The Time For Flowers" on Community Radio St. Louis's "Backroads" show yesterday, I sought out other clips from her "Appalachia" recording. One standout track from her January release, in addition to "...Flowers," is her cover of the traditional folk tune, "The Water Is Wide."
Mary Black and Niamh Parsons sing two of my favorite versions of "...Water...," but I have yet to hear a subpar rendition. Duncan Wickel and Robinson blend well vocally, and their subtle guitar and violin shadings enhance the melody appropriately. Lyrically, the tune is idealistic and bittersweet--qualities readily apparent in Robinson's and Wickel's vocals.
I'm not surprised that "The Water Is Wide" has survived in so many incarnations for centuries. Its lyrics are universally relatable and timeless, and instrumentally, the melody is too heartfelt to be denied.
This will alienate a certain percentage of readers, but I don't care for most of Elvis Presley's music. Three exceptions to this, however, are "Kentucky Rain," "Don't Be Cruel," and "Suspicious Minds."
Thanks to Community Radio St. Louis's show, "Backroads," I learned how well "Suspicious Minds" works as a guitar instrumental. DJ Stacy began this morning's show with Laurence Juber's rendition, which stands up with his interpretation of Del Shannon's "Runaway."
It doesn't surprise me that Juber captures the melody successfully on the guitar, as I've heard his graceful covers of everything from "The Tea Kettle Waltz" to various Christmas carols.
It's said that there are Elvis people and Beatles people. I am and always will be a Beatles person. Nevertheless, I can still acknowledge a respectable song by an artist I mostly dislike--and a strong cover of such a song, as well.
After hearing all the free associating Annie Lennox does at the end of the song, "Why," KNJZ's program director made the right call in asking DJs to fade out of the song early. I used to be somewhat ambivalent about that, thinking that if we're going to play a song on the air, it ought to be played in its entirety. While grocery shopping this morning, however, and hearing the "These are the contents of my head..." outro of "Why," I thought, "Yep, fading out before the end was the right call...Besides, KNJZ was a smooth jazz station, and 'Why' isn't a smooth jazz tune in the first place."
Listening to Patty Larkin's "The Book I'm Not Reading" this morning reminded me that try as I might, I can't read everything I'd likely enjoy in this lifetime. Similarly, it's impossible for me to hear every piece of music I might like.
This afternoon, however, another thought struck me. I was listening to a station that was playing fairly decent singer-songwriter music. After sampling multiple songs, however, I thought, "I don't dislike any of these songs. Lyrically and melodically, they're all respectable. None of them, however, are all that memorable."
I felt a little better, knowing that going back to sleep doesn't always mean missing out on the best music or books. Sometimes, it just means missing out on some close-but-not-quite-compelling-enough-to-recommend efforts.
When I want to hear music several hours before sunrise, I usually don't want to be startled with a barrage of high energy, manic tunes. That's why I appreciated iTunes shuffle mode stringing these six songs together this morning, all taken from CDs I've bought over the years:
Seven standout tunes heard this afternoon:
Chill
Luna
Mosaic
Real Jazz
Smokey's Soul Town
The Village
Watercolors
Five standout songs heard this morning:
KCAT (Pine Bluff, AR)
KCOU (Columbia, MO)
KUTX (Austin, TX)
WAYO (Rochester, NY)
WTJU (Charlottesville, VA)
A radio commercial for a tuckpointing service touted its workers as "very polite, and they clean up after themselves."
I'd like to think that both of those of qualities would be a given in any business, but...
When I checked the office voicemail at KCOU, it was apparent that some students who could hear the station's Springfest '92 concert from their dorms weren't exactly fans. Although we didn't get a ton of complaints, a handful of students left comments about the volume.
My favorite complaint was this one: "The one day a year I try to study, I can't because of your loud-@&&, crappy-@&& band!"
My unspoken reply: "Sorry if the concert prompted you to move your studying to the library or other campus venues for one day, but seriously, the one day a year you try to study...?"
Talk about a great pairing of high energy with ominous vocals. Despite its discomforting lyrics about surveillance, I never tire of "Just A Job To Do" by Genesis. It was only natural, then, that iTunes shuffle mode segued it this morning with...
...Peter, Paul & Mary's version of "This Land Is Your Land." Who better to sing such inclusive, live-and-let-live lyrics than this noble folk trio? I've always respected "This Land..." and play it on or before Independence Day every year. It doesn't, however, mesh well with the gory bounty hunter scenario portrayed in "Just A Job To Do."
That's what I get, though, for leaving my segues up to chance.
My sixth grade chorus teacher, Mrs. B., once asked the class to write down songs they'd like to hear her play on the piano. I was surprised when one student requested "Stardust" by Artie Shaw. Thanks to my interest in jazz from a young age, I'd heard of that song but wasn't familiar with the melody offhand.
"That's an old song," she told the student. "I'm curious to know how you know it."
I don't remember the student's answer, but a parent's--or more likely, a grandparent's--influence probably led him to request that song. It was unusual, to say the least, for a sixth grade student in 1982 to request "Stardust." At the time, I thought, "Requesting 'Stardust' or any Artie Shaw tune at age 11 shows an open mind when it comes to music."
Eleven years later, someone else left a similarly open-minded impression.
I was impressed last night upon hearing Kurt Elling & The WDR Big Band's cover of Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out." However, I suspected that my brother's cat, Lily, was somewhat less sold on it:
.png)
.png)
Thursday afternoon standouts:
WSIE 88.7 FM
KCLC 89.1 FM
KWUR 90.3 FM
Martin Sexton's "Diner" is possibly the catchiest song about craving a late night meal that one could ever hear. Once the rhythm enters my mind, it typically stays there for days. That's the case this week, thanks in part to the return of the quirky medical sitcom, "Scrubs," tonight on ABC. Since I first watched the original show, I've been impressed by the cast's easy chemistry, the show's graceful ability to pivot from humorous flights of fancy to serious medical situations on a dime, and the fact that "Diner," which isn't a well-known tune to most people, made it into an episode.
I expect that the "Scrubs" reboot will capture everything that made the first run appealing, including not-so-obvious music choices.
This morning, I Googled, "Did Lyle Lovett ever cover James Taylor's song, 'Traffic Jam?'"
Apparently, he hasn't. After listening to Taylor's atypical, as-close-as-he-gets-to-scat-vocals track this morning and recalling Lovett's spoken sections of "Here I Am" and rhythmic chanting on "Church," it's not an outlandish possibility.
Monday morning standouts:
'40s Junction
The Bridge Deep Cuts
Coffee House Classics
Deep Tracks
Gas Station
The Groove
The Loft
Luna
Real Jazz
SiriusXMU
The Village
Yacht Rock Radio
When I wake up feeling groggy, I sometimes think of an early '80s TV commercial jingle for Downyflake waffles. In the commercial, various family members wake up abruptly with huge smiles at the thought of eating such tasty waffles.
As delicious as waffles are, I've never felt inclined to wake up smiling maniacally or sing the Downyflake jingle, "Wake up. Wake up. Wake up with Downyflake."
However, the Downyflake jingle's lasting impression brightens my mood a tad on days when my disposition is sour. Such is the healing power of waffles--and a peppy jingle.
My school days ended decades ago, but it's still interesting to read now and then about what my local public school district offers students these days. As I glanced over one recently mailed update, I did a double take. At first, I thought the district was touting its STEM (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) offerings. I looked again. What was formerly STEM is now STEAM (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.)
Knowing that playing a musical instrument ranks with more technical fields in importance makes me think better of the district. Hopefully, the district's increased prioritizing of the arts will resonate with other citizens and make them vote for school bond issues that accommodate student artists.
Heard during a late '90s FM dial scan: "Hurry. The 99-cent triple cheeseburger won't be around for long."
My response: "For those who crave triple cheeseburgers, that's a bargain. That's way too much food, though, unless you've skipped at least one meal."
Recently, a radio personality's closing pitch for using a particular heating and cooling company was, "All the technicians are happy to work there."
I asked the radio, "Did anyone survey them?"
Decades after graduating from college, the newspaper commercial jingle, "Wake up to The Missourian," still comes to mind at unexpectedly random times. My frequent recall of it speaks to my desire to jump back into my past college life in Columbia, Missouri at times. It also indicates my desire to go back to a time when more people read newspapers regularly to stay informed.
Sometimes, it's comforting to live in a world that feels less rushed--or to have the illusion, at least, that it's relatively unhurried.
Since hearing it on Community Radio St. Louis's "Move The Needle," I haven't been able to get Jesse Winchester's "Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding" out of my mind. Somehow, this movingly written, sensitively sung track had eluded me until last Saturday. If I'd never heard of the song or Winchester, I'd have guessed it was a Danny & The Juniors-style '50s dance tune. Actually, it's a 2009 track with a convincing '50s doo-wop pastiche. It's a fitting tune for Valentine's Day or any day you want to tell your beloved one how much she means to you.
iTunes shuffle mode cultivated a fun 1940s vibe yesterday during two back-to-back instrumentals. "Twice Shy" by Hot Club Of St. Louis flowed into Jon Rauhouse's version of Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie." "Twice Shy" is from 2024, but the fiddling wouldn't have been out of place 80 years earlier. Rauhouse then built on "Twice Shy"'s rhythm with a strong, uptempo guitar rendering of "Choo Choo..."
I wish WEW still played nostalgic music so I could segue both tunes on the air as a DJ--or request them as a listener.
One of iTunes shuffle mode's most valuable attributes is showing listeners how songs they've enjoyed separately can be paired in not immediately obvious segues. That happened for me today when Natalie MacMaster's "Paddy LeBlanc's Set" ended up before "Afternoon In Paris" by Rebecca Coupe Franks. I wouldn't have thought to pair Celtic fiddling with swingin' jazz trumpet, but to my ears, "Afternoon In Paris" builds on the energy of "Paddy LeBlanc's Set."
If you prefer to acknowledge Valentine's Day without being overly syrupy, I recommend "Valentine" by The Elvis Brothers. As I've written before, the band's name is misleading, as their sound is actually Beatles-influenced power pop. "Valentine" is a high energy track suitable for cranking up while driving. I used to play it on KCOU and have never heard it anywhere else. Lyrically, it's a sound way of being direct with someone by saying, "Baby, let me be your valentine." That directness, fortunately, doesn't have the melodrama that ballads often have. It's an uptempo, forthright way of conveying, "Hey, I like you, so what would you think of us being together?"
Recently, a radio talk show host mentioned how strange he felt having guitar lessons with a 24-year-old instructor. I understood what he meant. Logically, if someone has a skill you don't have and is able to teach it well, that person's age shouldn't matter. In an awkward way, it does, however. A few years younger isn't a big difference, but when the teacher is decades younger than you are, it feels odd to regard that person as an authority figure.
At age 55, this perspective is inevitable, I think.
Seven standout selections heard today:
KMFA (Austin, TX)
KQAL (Winona, MN)
KUVO (Denver, CO)
WCBN (Ann Arbor, MI)
WUSC (Columbia, SC)
WXNA (Nashville, TN)
Wednesday morning highlights:
Feel Like Going Home
Shady Grove
In recent weeks, I've heard multiple live and recorded radio commercials for Collette, the travel company. I keep hearing announcers saying things like, "Collette will take care of everything," and "Collette will handle all the arrangements."
Then, I look at my cat, Collette, who doesn't suffer fools gladly, and imagine a commercial in which the announcer says, "If everything isn't to your satisfaction, Collette will bite you."
It's probably best that my cat isn't a travel company employee.
I haven't heard it on the radio since it was a hit, and I haven't seen "Footloose" since the '80s, but "I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)" by Kenny Loggins is on my mind this morning. I haven't thought of that song in decades, but it's one of Loggins's somewhat underrated hits. Right from the intro, "I'm Free" conveys urgency and longing convincingly, builds to its chorus well, and has a respectable hook. Its dramatic structure is rooted firmly in 1984, and that's to its credit.
Saturday morning standouts:
Family Reunion
Songwriters Showcase
An early '90s specialty show on KCOU that I had difficulty describing was "Gardening At Night." A key element of it, however, involved crafting sound collages consisting of live or recorded spoken words paired with musical backdrops.
One night, Robi, the DJ hosting the show, and I started talking, and he recorded part of our conversation. Later in the show, he asked me, "(Does this) sound familiar?"
It did sound familiar, as he had put a portion of our chat on a tape loop and was playing it on the air backwards over music.
Where else can you do that on the radio?
Thursday night/Friday morning standouts:
Heaven's Library
Next Exit
Sweet Inspiration
Six of the more appealing tunes played this morning:
The Mix-Up
Memphis To Manchester
Pop! The Beat Bubble Burst
Five tunes that caught my ear today:
WSIE 88.7 FM
KCLC 89.1 FM
KWUR 90.3 FM
WARH 106.5 FM
I'm continuing to enjoy KDHX's online successor station, Community Radio St. Louis. Here are two more impressive songs from yesterday that deserve acclaim:
Backroads
Now, here are five more standout songs I heard this morning:
Hip City
Boogie On Down
Monday morning highlights:
Fresh Start
Backroads
One year after live broadcasts ended on KDHX 88.1 FM, a new incarnation of the station is now broadcasting online at crstl.fm. CRSTL caught me off guard this morning by going live before its advertised starting time of 12 p.m. Nevertheless, it's great to have a new station that essentially is KDHX. Most of the programs and DJs on CRSTL originated on KDHX, so it's a pleasure to hear them again on their new home. Here are some of the first day highlights:
Songwriters Showcase
The Snappy Lunch
No Time To Tarry Here
I'm sure I'm far from the only person who has thought of the Hayley Williams song, "Simmer," frequently this month. Boiling rage over the appalling situation in Minneapolis is challenging to channel into only legally permitted means, but as peaceful protesters have shown us, it needs to be done. Instrumentally and vocally, "Simmer" reminds listeners that there are times when rage is absolutely justified--but the ways in which it's expressed need to be appropriate.
Six noteworthy selections heard today:
KQAC (Portland, OR)
WEMU (Ypsilanti, MI)
WUMB (Boston, MA)
WVUD-HD2 (Newark, DE)
Today's standout selections:
The Bridge Deep Cuts
Chill Instrumental
Classical For Sleep
The Coffee House
Coffee House Classics
Indie Sleep
Piano Instrumentals
Real Jazz
Spa
Today, iTunes shuffle mode strung these three songs from my library together: