Rantings of a manic loon

One of the side benefits of having radio announcing experience is getting to do voice-over work.  As an announcer for an information-by-phone service in the '90s, I recorded a lot of short commercials and "brought to you by..." tag lines.  The only client who ever second-guessed my delivery worked for a law firm that represented people in workplace harassment suits.  I recorded what I thought was an appropriate read of the firm's copy.  One of the salesmen at our company, however, told me that this client wanted me to sound louder and more urgent.  I tried again, sounding more forceful and direct.  Once again, the salesman told me that the client wanted an even louder, more urgent read.  In the version the client accepted, I thought I sounded like a maniac.  "IF YOU FEEL THREATENED AT WORK, GO ON RECORD!!!!" I shouted while pounding on a desk and knocking over office supplies.  "GET MANAGEMENT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM!!!!"  For a soft-spoken person whose background had been in smooth jazz and Classical formats, sounding that unhinged was no easy feat.  Typically, I had a soft sell approach, but on that day, for the only time in my life, I got paid to sound like a crazed, menacing loon.  Looking back, it amuses me to have done that one voice-over segment that was unlike anything I recorded before or after it.

SiriusXM highlights XVI

Impressive selections that got my attention on Sunday and Monday:

'60s On 6

• Summer Samba-Walter Wanderley (A refreshing instrumental that brings to mind Ernie Hays playing the organ at Busch Stadium.)

The Bridge

• Scenes From An Italian Restaurant-Billy Joel (Joel's best song, in my opinion; the way the song comes full circle, the well-told coming together and estrangement of Brenda and Eddie, an impressive piano part...There's a lot to like here.)

The Coffee House 

• Anniversary Song (Exclusive)-Cowboy Junkies (If "Angel Mine" moves you, "Anniversary Song" likely will, too.)

Deep Tracks

• Room To Move (Live)-John Mayall (A great, brisk harmonica line.  Also recommended: "Play The Harp.")

Escape 

• People-Beegie Adair (One of many elegant Adair piano instrumentals.)

The Loft

• Burgundy Shoes (Live @ SiriusXM)-Patty Griffin (Piano and cello enhance Griffin's heartfelt lyrics about taking a bus ride as a child with her mom.  The piano part reminds me of Sarah Jarosz's "Long Journey.")

Real Jazz

• You Stepped Out Of A Dream-Toshiko Akiyoshi (An energetic, piano-dominated combo captures virtually every ounce of this famous tune's energy.  For a strong vocal rendition, check out John Pizzarelli's version.)

Siriusly Sinatra

• More-Nat King Cole (I'm used to hearing Bobby Darin's faster take on "More," but Cole shows that it also works in a slower tempo.)

Symphony Hall 

• Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella (Royal College Of Music/Sir David Willcocks, conductor) (One of many Christmas carols played Sunday morning in memory of Willcocks, who passed away September 17.  The choir's warm rendition of this carol stood out to me...)
• Good Christian Men, Rejoice (Royal College Of Music/Sir David Willcocks, conductor) (...as did this one.)

Watercolors

• Estrella-Turning Point (A breath of fresh air from the days of a former smooth jazz station, WSSM; a tuneful, upbeat guitar instrumental that would segue well with Acoustic Alchemy's "Wish You Were Near.")

Alternate metric version?

In the early '80s, there was a rock music trivia board game I used to play.  Having heard The Who's "I Can See For Miles" many times on album rock stations, one true/false question from the game that still amuses me is, "The Who had a hit with, 'I Can See For Meters.'"  If they'd ever recorded such a song, it likely would have been the first time a band recorded a metric and non-metric system version of the same song.  Now, that's covering all the bases.

Stingray Music highlights VIII

Good selections that I heard yesterday:

Canadian Indie

• Inside And Out-Feist (A good cover of a Bee Gees chart-topper, "Love You Inside Out.")

Cocktail Lounge 

• Seu Encanto-Marcos Valle (A smooth, uptempo blend of vocals, saxophone, flute, keyboard, bass, and drums.)

Cool Jazz 

• Birds-Branco Stoysin (Elements of Latin jazz, smooth jazz, and traditional jazz come together in this guitar piece.  Also recommended: Stoysin's versions of "Look To The Sky" and "'Round Midnight.")

Folk Roots

• 4 June 1989-Mary Chapin Carpenter (What was it like to be a soldier who had to follow orders during the massacre in Tiananmen Square?  This is one soldier's account.  Carpenter, as usual, tackles a difficult subject gracefully.)

Jazz Masters

• Deep Night-Sonny Clark (A solid, straight ahead, piano-anchored tune.)
• Good Lookin' Out-Stanley Turrentine & Shirley Scott (Strong dialogue between saxophone and organ.)

Smooth Jazz

• Good Day-Peter White (A breezy guitar track that's easy on the ears.)
• Ordinary People-Al Jarreau & George Benson (A pleasant, laid back groove that, at times, brings to mind a Luther Vandross melody, "Don't Want To Be A Fool.")

SiriusXM highlights XV

Some of the better tracks I heard this morning:

'50s On 5 

• It Happened Today-The Skyliners & Jimmy Beaumont (I read an interview with Paul Simon in which he mentioned that music from the '50s had a sound of its own.  This tune's doo-wop style exemplifies that sound.)

'80s On 8 

• Puttin' On The Ritz-Taco (An unlikely choice for a cover tune in the '80s; not making it sound overly contemporary was a smart choice.)

The Bridge

• All I Want-Joni Mitchell (The leadoff track on Mitchell's acclaimed "Blue" album, which defines what the protagonist seeks after a breakup.)
• I Can See Everything-Poco (The lyrics illustrate how giving someone another chance might be advisable.  If you like the band's harmony singing on "Crazy Love," this will likely appeal to you.)

The Coffee House 

• Fade Into You-Mazzy Star (Subtle indie rock with a waltz-like tempo and a fuzzy guitar sound that holds up.)

Escape 

• Moon River Cha Cha-Henry Mancini (Not the most obvious style for this standard, but it works.)

Lithium

• Closing Time-Semisonic (The tune still works as a theme for leaving a bar but also works on a more general level for graduations, moves, and job changes.)

Love 

• Shadows In The Moonlight-Anne Murray (One of Murray's more appealing, uptempo hits that doesn't get much radio airplay today.)

Real Jazz 

• I'll Remember April-Erroll Garner Trio (A combo that cooks, with Garner's piano leading the way.)

Soul Town

• Stay In My Corner-The Dells (Smooth harmony singing.  Oldies stations should play this more often.)
• Then Came You-Dionne Warwick & The Spinners (A great blend of lead and backing singers pull off timeless lyrics.)

Velvet

• Prayer For The Dying-Seal (One of Seal's most gripping songs; somber lyrics, sung with exactly the right degree of emotion.)

Only in college IX

"Remember, we can't swear on the air," KCOU's chief announcer said to the assembled staff.  "If a swear word is part of a song title or album title, leave it out, or say something like blanking, bleeping, or effing.  It's an FCC rule that we can't say certain words on the air.  You might not agree with that.  I might not agree with that.  It's not worth risking the station's license over this, though, so we need to follow it."

Shortly after this station meeting, the chief announcer walked by the studio just as the DJ on the air was promoting that evening's featured album.  Because the f-word was part of the album title, the DJ was saying it repeatedly while talking about the album, oblivious to the warning everyone had just been given.

As soon as the mic went off, the chief announcer said to the DJ, "Arrrrrggghhhhh!  What were we just talking about?!"

"Did I say something wrong?" the DJ asked.

The chief announcer sighed as he repeated what he'd said less than 30 minutes earlier.

Stingray Music highlights VII

Some of the better selections I've heard on Stingray yesterday and today:

Baroque 

• Francesco Maria Veracini: Concerto a otto in D major (Accademia I Filarmonici/Alberto Martini, conductor) (An invigorating steeplechase of a melody.)

Classic R&B And Soul 

• Natural High-Bloodstone (A vocal harmony throwback; The Stylistics would have done a great job with this tune, as well.)

Cool Jazz

• Down The Road-George Duke (An appealing walking keyboard groove and scatting.)
• Samba saravah-Stacey Kent (The guitar, piano, saxophone, and vocals all click in this pleasant rendition.)

East Africa Gospel 

• Maisha-Gloria Muliro (Uplifting, ear-catching vocals.)

Folk Roots 

• Last Train To Clarksville-The Grascals (I'd never thought of this hit by The Monkees as suitable for a bluegrass arrangement, but The Grascals prove that it's a natural fit.)
• Lines In The Land-The Levins (A well-written, beautifully sung and played tune of hope for the new year.)
• The Road To Ensenada-Lyle Lovett (Some of Lovett's most effective lyrics; it's easy to feel the protagonist's angst.)

Jazz Masters

• Things Are Getting Better-Cannonball Adderley & Milt Jackson (A great, straight ahead number for vibes and saxophone.)

Nature

• All The Pretty Little Horses-Chemayne Del Mastro (Soft, sensitive instrumentation that's ideal for a children's lullaby.  The cover art of the album, "Nighty Night, World," matches the music's sensitivity, as it shows different species of animals getting along peacefully.)

Retro R&B 

• Superstition-Stevie Wonder (Still one of Wonder's best hits; considering how high the benchmark is there, that's saying a lot.  Lyrically, it holds up well as a reminder to not think irrationally.  James Corden had a great "Carpool Karaoke" segment with Wonder on "The Late Late Show" recently, in which they both sang along with "Superstition" and many of Wonder's other hits.  "For Once In My Life" was particularly impressive in that format.)
• Time Is Tight-Booker T. & The MGs (One of the band's best instrumentals; it's catchy and concise.) 

World Carnival

• Ou Kaas-Themba (A cool, neo-jazzy tune with a bounce and effective use of the flute.)