In looking through playlists from my KCOU days, I'm puzzled by a notation I made. On one playlist, next to Andy Gibb's "Shadow Dancing," I wrote, "request, kind of." I'm trying to remember why I specified "kind of" on the playlist. Did a listener call the station and request it in a deadpan voice, as someone once did when asking to hear USA For Africa's "We Are The World?" Did another DJ walk past the studio and say, "I haven't heard 'Shadow Dancing' in a long time?" Did another DJ suggest, "It might be unexpected, but 'Shadow Dancing' would segue with the song playing now?" Or, maybe a listener actually wanted to hear the song but felt awkward requesting it.
"Kind of," in this case, could have meant several things. I'm still wondering.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
"Mabel has a long list of school closings..."
...or she would have on a day like this in the '80s, when snow had fallen in St. Louis, and many schools were closed. Bob Hardy and Bill Wilkerson read the school closings on KMOX then, and Hardy frequently personified the computer that printed the listings as "Mabel." (i.e. "Mabel has been very busy, churning out the school closings this morning...") Hardy and Wilkerson would divide up the list and take turns reading sections of it, alphabetically. I remember listening to the school closings and starting to hold my breath when I thought Hardy or Wilkerson would announce my school district. More often than not, they wouldn't announce it because the superintendent was from Minnesota, and snow apparently didn't phase him easily. (I understand the district closed more often when his successor, who hailed from Texas, took over.) I remember one day 30 years ago when ours was one of only two districts open in St. Louis County. Perhaps a coalition of students should have offered Hardy, Wilkerson, and Mabel cash to say on the air that it was closed.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Online radio sampler highlights XXXI
Tunes and pieces that got my attention this evening:
KSJS (San Jose, CA)
KSJS (San Jose, CA)
- Cut The Cake-Average White Band (Minimalist lyrics, with instrumental backing in the style of "Pick Up The Pieces.")
- Lorelei's Lament-Hank Crawford (The feel of Crawford's emoting on saxophone brings to mind one of the best jazz sax solos ever, in my opinion--Bud Shank's on Sammy Nestico's "Samantha.")
- Imagination-Betty Carter (Straight-ahead scatting with the rhythm section's nimble support.)
- Gangsters-The Specials (Rock meets ska in one of the band's most memorable tunes.)
- Claude Le Jeune: Missa ad Placitum (Choir Of New College, Cambridge/Edward Higginbottom, director) (Captures the solemnity of a Sunday morning service...)
- Robert Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9 (Nelson Freire, piano) (Festive and contemplative, by turns; this is an engaging series of short movements for solo piano.)
- V2 sur mes souvenirs-Taxi Girl (Captures the synthesized zeitgeist of new wave in the '80s; every instrument would be a blast to play on this track.)
- I Don't Mind It-Screaming Females (Featuring impressive shredding and new wave-style vocals from Marissa Paternoster, "I Don't Mind It" would segue well with Dressy Bessy's "Just Once More" or the Blondie tunes, "Dreaming" and "One Way Or Another." It's from 2010 but sounds right out of the '80s. It speaks well of WHRB that it can accommodate music ranging from Robert Schumann to Screaming Females.)
Monday, January 18, 2016
It's funny to think now...
...that there was ever a time when you couldn't look up song lyrics on the Internet. In 1996, before song lyric web sites were common, I remember John Mellencamp's "Just Another Day" coming on the radio at work. A co-worker and I tried to decipher the names of the song's recurring characters; it sounded to us as though Mellencamp was singing about "Brolidar and Big Jim Nahgahro." A few years later, we learned that their names are actually Bobie Doll and Big Jim Picato. It was good to confirm that. After all, it's only right to know the names of two generous souls who are "always there with their free advice."
Sunday, January 17, 2016
KCOU playlist flashback: 6-9 a.m., 1/17/93
Looking back at the variety of music I played on the air 23 years ago this morning made me smile. Here's the playlist:
1. Walkabout-The Sugarcubes
(Bjork and her band recorded this late in the band's career. Vocally and instrumentally, the energy level is infectious.)
2. Come Inside-The Black Watch
(The fiddling drew me in, as I recall.)
3. Donatello-Jawbreaker
4. Sunnyslope-Fish Karma
5. Little Maggie-Bob Dylan
---
6. Me And Rock & Roll Are Here To Stay-David Ruffin
7. Some Kind Of Wonderful-Soul Brothers Six
(The hook can't help but stay with you.)
8. Zanse't Nou Yo-Boukman Eksperyans
9. A Shot In The Dark-The Skatalites
(If the title isn't familiar, you've still probably heard this tune, at least as background music. It's one of the most accessible, recognizable ska melodies.)
---
10. Last Up First To Go-Thousand Yard Stare
11. State Of Mind-Ten City
(One of the Ten City's most memorable grooves, along with "Whatever Makes You Happy.")
12. If I Can't Have You-Yvonne Elliman
(Elliman's smash hit still holds up. Also recommended: her cover of "Hello Stranger.")
---
13. I'm Gonna Make You Mine-Michael Schenker Group
14. Undercover Of The Night-The Rolling Stones (*)
15. Maria's Wedding-Black 47
---
16. You Make The Whole World Cry-Tanita Tikaram
17. Waiting Game-Swing Out Sister
(If you like the group's hit, "Breakout," you'll probably enjoy "Waiting Game"'s similar feel.)
18. Shake Down The Stars-Sarah Vaughan
19. Chelsea Bridge-Nancie Banks Orchestra
(An elegant, beguiling instrumental...)
20. Never Let Me Go-Katie Webster
(...that segues well with this classy vocal number.)
---
21. Fire-Jimi Hendrix Experience
(Still one of rock's most immediate, pay-attention-to-this guitar intros.)
22. Tumbleswan-Jacob's Mouse
23. Satisfied-Junk Monkeys
24. Parasite-Throw
25. Neptune-Grasshopper
---
26. In A Lemon Twist-Radioblue
27. Save It For Later-The English Beat
(The band's best sing-along melody, in my opinion.)
28. ...And I'm Thinking-The Sneetches
(I remember that the KCOU staffer who reviewed this 45 wrote that this power pop band "can do no wrong." Her assessment is correct. This band has written so many radio-friendly tunes that, unfortunately, receive little or no airplay.)
29. Blindside-27th City
---
30. Temptation-Heaven 17
31. Everlasting-Soup Dragons
32. Bob Says No-Popdefect
33. Stuck On AM-Rex Daisy
(This wistful tale of someone who "fell too fast and too far" still holds up. Proof that the world is smaller than we think sometimes: At my most recent high school reunion, I talked with a friend about the enjoyable times we'd had on-air at college radio stations in different states. To my surprise, he brought up this song out of the blue. As good as the song is, the song and the band aren't household names. In fact, we were probably the only two people at the reunion who knew this song. Of all the obscure indie tunes he could have mentioned...)
34. I Don't Mind-Kicking Giant
35. Downtown Train-Everything But The Girl
(I've praised this version previously, but it's worth recommending again. The acoustic, poignant arrangement makes the lyrics all the more effective.)
36. You Don't Have To Move That Mountain-Trisha Yearwood
(There's a reliable base of quality you can expect in Yearwood's music. Nickel Creek's version is also worth hearing.)
---
37. I Can't Hold Back-Pure Prairie League
(I'm still puzzled that this was never a hit.)
38. Mr. Wendal-Arrested Development
(Looking back, I'm surprised to see that I segued Pure Prairie League with Arrested Development. That said, this tune's message is well worth remembering in any era.)
39. Two Scoops Of Raisins-Common Sense
40. Juicy Fruit-Mtume
---
41. Time Won't Let Me-The Outsiders
(I don't hear this on oldies stations as much as I used to, but it still deserves airplay. The melody has held up well over the decades.)
42. Cold Feet-Albert King
43. T-Bone Shuffle-Buddy Guy & Junior Wells
---
(*) indicates a listener's request.
--- indicates a station break between songs.
1. Walkabout-The Sugarcubes
(Bjork and her band recorded this late in the band's career. Vocally and instrumentally, the energy level is infectious.)
2. Come Inside-The Black Watch
(The fiddling drew me in, as I recall.)
3. Donatello-Jawbreaker
4. Sunnyslope-Fish Karma
5. Little Maggie-Bob Dylan
---
6. Me And Rock & Roll Are Here To Stay-David Ruffin
7. Some Kind Of Wonderful-Soul Brothers Six
(The hook can't help but stay with you.)
8. Zanse't Nou Yo-Boukman Eksperyans
9. A Shot In The Dark-The Skatalites
(If the title isn't familiar, you've still probably heard this tune, at least as background music. It's one of the most accessible, recognizable ska melodies.)
---
10. Last Up First To Go-Thousand Yard Stare
11. State Of Mind-Ten City
(One of the Ten City's most memorable grooves, along with "Whatever Makes You Happy.")
12. If I Can't Have You-Yvonne Elliman
(Elliman's smash hit still holds up. Also recommended: her cover of "Hello Stranger.")
---
13. I'm Gonna Make You Mine-Michael Schenker Group
14. Undercover Of The Night-The Rolling Stones (*)
15. Maria's Wedding-Black 47
---
16. You Make The Whole World Cry-Tanita Tikaram
17. Waiting Game-Swing Out Sister
(If you like the group's hit, "Breakout," you'll probably enjoy "Waiting Game"'s similar feel.)
18. Shake Down The Stars-Sarah Vaughan
19. Chelsea Bridge-Nancie Banks Orchestra
(An elegant, beguiling instrumental...)
20. Never Let Me Go-Katie Webster
(...that segues well with this classy vocal number.)
---
21. Fire-Jimi Hendrix Experience
(Still one of rock's most immediate, pay-attention-to-this guitar intros.)
22. Tumbleswan-Jacob's Mouse
23. Satisfied-Junk Monkeys
24. Parasite-Throw
25. Neptune-Grasshopper
---
26. In A Lemon Twist-Radioblue
27. Save It For Later-The English Beat
(The band's best sing-along melody, in my opinion.)
28. ...And I'm Thinking-The Sneetches
(I remember that the KCOU staffer who reviewed this 45 wrote that this power pop band "can do no wrong." Her assessment is correct. This band has written so many radio-friendly tunes that, unfortunately, receive little or no airplay.)
29. Blindside-27th City
---
30. Temptation-Heaven 17
31. Everlasting-Soup Dragons
32. Bob Says No-Popdefect
33. Stuck On AM-Rex Daisy
(This wistful tale of someone who "fell too fast and too far" still holds up. Proof that the world is smaller than we think sometimes: At my most recent high school reunion, I talked with a friend about the enjoyable times we'd had on-air at college radio stations in different states. To my surprise, he brought up this song out of the blue. As good as the song is, the song and the band aren't household names. In fact, we were probably the only two people at the reunion who knew this song. Of all the obscure indie tunes he could have mentioned...)
34. I Don't Mind-Kicking Giant
35. Downtown Train-Everything But The Girl
(I've praised this version previously, but it's worth recommending again. The acoustic, poignant arrangement makes the lyrics all the more effective.)
36. You Don't Have To Move That Mountain-Trisha Yearwood
(There's a reliable base of quality you can expect in Yearwood's music. Nickel Creek's version is also worth hearing.)
---
37. I Can't Hold Back-Pure Prairie League
(I'm still puzzled that this was never a hit.)
38. Mr. Wendal-Arrested Development
(Looking back, I'm surprised to see that I segued Pure Prairie League with Arrested Development. That said, this tune's message is well worth remembering in any era.)
39. Two Scoops Of Raisins-Common Sense
40. Juicy Fruit-Mtume
---
41. Time Won't Let Me-The Outsiders
(I don't hear this on oldies stations as much as I used to, but it still deserves airplay. The melody has held up well over the decades.)
42. Cold Feet-Albert King
43. T-Bone Shuffle-Buddy Guy & Junior Wells
---
(*) indicates a listener's request.
--- indicates a station break between songs.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Picking one's battles
This morning, as I was having my groceries bagged, the clerk taped up the prepared food containers so they wouldn't pop open in the bag. "Thank you for putting tape on those," I said. She replied, "You're welcome. Some customers don't like it when we put tape on the containers. One customer recently got very upset when we did that, so we try to do it quickly before a customer notices and complains about it."
Thinking about how customers sometimes become unhinged for no good reason brought to mind a radio station meeting I attended in the '90s. An announcer asked the program director, "How should I respond to a caller who gets upset when we talk over the instrumental intro to (a syndicated program), as we're required to? A guy called and said he likes to record pristine copies of each week's show and doesn't like his recordings ruined by us talking over the instrumental." The program director rolled his eyes at the thought of a caller acting that way and said, under his breath, "Tell him where to go." He followed up quickly, in his regular voice, "Actually, say, 'I'm sorry that upset you.'"
Sometimes, it's easier just to say, 'Sorry,' to a listener even when an apology isn't deserved.
Thinking about how customers sometimes become unhinged for no good reason brought to mind a radio station meeting I attended in the '90s. An announcer asked the program director, "How should I respond to a caller who gets upset when we talk over the instrumental intro to (a syndicated program), as we're required to? A guy called and said he likes to record pristine copies of each week's show and doesn't like his recordings ruined by us talking over the instrumental." The program director rolled his eyes at the thought of a caller acting that way and said, under his breath, "Tell him where to go." He followed up quickly, in his regular voice, "Actually, say, 'I'm sorry that upset you.'"
Sometimes, it's easier just to say, 'Sorry,' to a listener even when an apology isn't deserved.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Eccentric criteria for successful playing
Rehearsing an experimental piece requires a lot of open-mindedness. Sometimes, you'll discover that a composer has crafted an original, refreshing melody that no one else would have conceived. In other cases, however, the end result is simply strange.
In high school, one orchestra in which I played tried its hand at a seldom-played avant-garde piece. Among other unusual requirements, bassists were required to rotate their bows on the strings in a circular motion, which made them sound like planes taking off. Different members of the same sections were required to enter on different beats of a measure. The brass and wind players used only their mouthpieces during certain stretches. The finished product sounded, at times, like disgruntled ducks sparring over who's entitled to the most bread crumbs.
During one rehearsal, the conductor clued us in, indirectly, on what he thought of the piece. After stopping the orchestra, he told us, with mock seriousness, "This has to be played correctly, or else, your parents are not going to like it." We all had a laugh. Then, we went back to sounding like planes and ducks.
In high school, one orchestra in which I played tried its hand at a seldom-played avant-garde piece. Among other unusual requirements, bassists were required to rotate their bows on the strings in a circular motion, which made them sound like planes taking off. Different members of the same sections were required to enter on different beats of a measure. The brass and wind players used only their mouthpieces during certain stretches. The finished product sounded, at times, like disgruntled ducks sparring over who's entitled to the most bread crumbs.
During one rehearsal, the conductor clued us in, indirectly, on what he thought of the piece. After stopping the orchestra, he told us, with mock seriousness, "This has to be played correctly, or else, your parents are not going to like it." We all had a laugh. Then, we went back to sounding like planes and ducks.
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