WLSO.FM

ROCKOLLECTIONS: ETTA JAMES PT.2 & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Continuing with Etta James, I had some songs to identify for you.
Providing her with some Rock credentials, I should point out the she IS in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
And did you know she sang background vocals on Chuck Berry’s Back In The U.S.A.?
Or that she was the opening act on one of the Rolling Stones American tours?
I’ll play some tunes this time from her 1960 debut LP on Chess Records- her song choices were very interesting, including a Muddy Waters cover.
I will close this show out with a song I always relate with the New Year.
There was a group of British studio musicians in the late 60’s, who decided to form a band called Magna Carta.
Included in this not very well known group, were such people as Tony Visconti and brilliant keyboardist Rick Wakeman (who went on to form the group Yes!).
They did a song in 1969 called Seasons- which actually was one whole side of an album, clocking in at 22:57.
I have distilled it down to its relevant parts, please listen to the words, and it is a great song dealing with the Turning Of The Year.
You have made 2008 a thoroughly enjoyable year for me.
Hope I was able to bring something to you too, and I have some exciting plans about shows for the coming year, at least to me, lol!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Oh, plus I have some good news.
I talk to Uncle Shag regularly, and he assures me there will be a Longtown Sound Podcast featuring Oldies & Indies coming on January 2nd.

Mike

ROCKOLLECTIONS: ETTA JAMES PT.1

Keeping reasonably up to date, I see that Beyonce is portraying Etta James in the current movie Cadillac Records.
So the featured artist is Etta James- and I sort of asked how she felt about waiting so long for that designation.
Discovered by Johnny Otis, her first hit was The Wallflower (Dance With Me Henry), the answer record to Work With Me Annie by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters.
I should point out that Dancing and Working are euphemisms for things of a more adult nature (GASP!).
In fact, a listen shows she NEVER says DANCE With Me Henry!
Her song was a big hit, but sales were undercut by the cleaned up version done by Georgia Gibbs.
That was not uncommon back in the days of what was called “race music”, where white artists put out, sometimes rushed out, watered-down versions of the original R&B songs.
The result was often those inferior versions becoming the bigger seller, although the young people were tuned in to the more lively, rocking originals.
A trio of songs will demonstrate all about it, and I don’t feel like writing anyway, lol!
Her success with the song though, presented the opportunity for the teenaged Etta James to go on a tour with madman Little Richard- the poor kid, Richard was even wilder than he is today!
We’ll close this one out with an early Women’s Lib song, a good old Rock & Roll song about Rock & Roll, and a standard, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, (and I don’t, but I am working on it, lol!).
This is good, solid, and overlooked for far too long, music.
I’ll have another chapter to follow.

Mike

Tags: "Race Music", Beyonce, Cadillac Records, Dance With Me Henry, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Georgia Gibbs, Hank Ballard and The Midnighters, Johnny Otis, Little Richard, Rock & Roll, The Wallflower, Women's Lib, Work With Me Annie

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS SHOW 2008 PT.2 END

 

I forgot to mention that because I was so late, and as I was undressing as this show was beginning, I was wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Makes a difference, lol!
Okay, in searching for a Theme for this year’s Christmas show I realized it would be Christmas Eve.
Ergo, the Theme is Christmas Eve!
So please join me as we celebrate this very special day and night of the year, with songs you will hear presented this way nowhere else.
Certainly not on commercial radio- they wouldn’t dare!
Included in this episode is a very rare 45 RPM recording by of all people, actor Cary Grant- the only record he ever made, and I’ll have more about that.
This might be a good show to listen to before or after you go to Midnight Mass, which is what I will be doing.
But really it doesn’t matter what your plans are, you are all dear friends to me.
For this year at least, Merry Christmas To All… And To All A Good Night!

Mike

Tags: Cary Grant, Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, Rare 45 RPM

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS SHOW 2008 PT.1

 

Wow, a fun and scary one today.
I was scheduled to broadcast live today, and I fell asleep en route on public transportation!
Overshooting my destination, I managed to get to the radio station with seconds to spare, and was truly taking off my coat as the show began.
What a pro I have become, LOL!
I opened up a with a couple of songs about the arrival of Christmas, which will include the BEST Christmas song I have heard in the last 15-20 years.
I have felt so since I first heard it in 2000 or 2001.
And what a name the band has- I LOVE it!
We will have our annual playing of Run Rudolph Run, (who is it this year?- HINT: a woman rocker).
I’ll have a song for our soldiers fighting overseas, which is not unprecedented.
As a matter of fact, the following song will prove that.
A tune you have heard many times by many different artists, but you may be unaware dates to World War II and deals with battlefront yearning.
You may never listen to it the same again.
I’ll end this first half with another annual tradition, the Beatle Christmas Message, this year 1968, to their fan club members.
As we keep a close, breathing-down-their-neck pace of 40 years behind, lol!
One thing I can promise you is that you will NOT hear the same old same old Christmas music!
Final portion of Christmas 2008 coming very soon.
It better, I am running out of time.

Mike

Tags: Beatles Christmas Message 1968, Run Rudolph Run

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS DAY 2007 PT.2

From Tiny Tim in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”-
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE!

That’s all I wrote last year, again possibly giving people the impression there was no podcast, just a written statement of a wish.
And so I continue to try to clear up any confusion because there very definitely was one, for the only time Christmas Day fell on the day of my show!
Alright, I will continue with our musical travelogue of Christmas in strange places.
Another long set to start us off.
Then on to a surpising interpretation of John Lennon’s Happy Christmas by a band I love but never expected them to do this.
After that, a wonderful song that was inexplicably held back for years after the singer’s death! Very very strange, because it is so good.
We will give the final word to a fellow named David Mead.
As he expresses my feelings and gift to you, my friends!
Again, an intentionally different show because it was Christmas Day.
And if no one listens this time around, I’ll know that maybe it just doesn’t appeal to the folks.
But nothing will change- I am set in my eclectic, free-form ways, lol!
Next up, this year’s 2008 Christmas Party.

Mike

Tags: Christmas Party, David Mead, Happy Christmas, John Lennon

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS DAY 2007 PT.1

PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN…

What you see written above was the first of several mistakes I made last year.
I think its brevity gave people the impression I was just quoting and that there was NO podcast.
Well there WAS one, TWO in fact!
Another mistake was waiting until Christmas Day, when people are busy enough, to put two podcasts up.
Now the reason was, for the only time in 10 years on the radio, Christmas Day fell on the day of the show!
Because of that, I wanted to post these in real time- which was Dec.25th.
Not realizing- and this was my biggest mistake- the unwritten rule that the folks by then have had enough Holiday music, and that no one plays Christmas music on Dec.26th- it all stops and gets put away- or until the next Yuletide Season.
So I stupidly gave people less than 24 hours to hear TWO podcasts, on a very busy day with a lot going on in their lives.
It all was dumb on my part, and I apologize.
Here is my second chance.
No rush to hear what was a very different Christmas show for me.
I wanted this only-time-ever on Dec.25th show to be special, and give it all the respect it deserved for being both a Holiday and a Holy Day.
As a result, both the music chosen and myself are a bit toned down.
I wanted to make a statement- have you get on the bus with me and take you somewhere!
And it was very important to me that you listen to the words in these songs, but that’s often the case, lol!
So I ask you to imagine it is Christmas Day…the opening songs will reinforce that.
After that, I thought it might be interesting to take a musical look at Christmas in strange and maybe not-so-strange places, with a LONG set that will be continued next chapter.
Beginning with a simply UNFORGETTABLE song…!
Hope I can get your attention this time around, lol!

And once again, if you are interested, I will be playing Christmas music on my weekly show at WJFN 99.7, Sundays from 6 to 7 PM New York Time, this December 21st.
I will be playing totally DIFFERENT music from the Christmas shows I will be putting here, and you can get there by going to this site:

WJFN997.com.
Thanks,
Mike

ROCKOLLECTIONS: JETHRO TULL- AQUALUNG PT.2 FINISH

 

We continue with this slightly above average moron calling this a radio show, as we turn the record over and play Side Two of Aqualung.
You’ll hear some terrific flute playing by Ian Anderson, who used to hop around on one foot onstage while doing so.
With this album, Jethro Tull joined the ranks of those who dealt with Rock and Religion.
And they take a look at the distinction between Church and Religion.
I guess that was new in Rock & Roll at the time, but by now it has been done to death in all forms of the Arts.
Alright, alright..I GET it!
Still, the album holds up, and is deserving of its highly regarded status.
Here is one of the few times you will see me publish a tracklist for a show, unlike Uncle Shag’s Longtown Sound podcast.
Side Two
“My God” – 7:08
“Hymn 43″ – 3:14
“Slipstream” – 1:13
“Locomotive Breath” – 4:23
“Wind Up” – 6:01
And if you are wondering where Uncle Shag is, I have spoken with him, and he is still in Washington lobbying daily for that WLSO.FM bailout!

One other thing, if you are interested, I will be playing Christmas music on my weekly show at WJFN 99.7, Sundays from 6 to 7 PM New York Time, on December 14th & 21st.
I will be playing totally DIFFERENT music from the Christmas show I will be putting here, and you can get there by going to:

WJFN997.com.
Thanks,
Mike

ROCKOLLECTIONS: JETHRO TULL- AQUALUNG PT.1

 

Every once in a while, I play a Classic Album on the show.
I don’t usually put them up as podcasts, because any moron can just play an album and call it a show.
But then, I figure I am at least slightly more entertaining than the average moron, lol!
So here we go, pehaps inspired by the lyrics, “Do you still remember December’s foggy freeze?” .
And we will do it like in the old days, Side One of the album, pick it up and turn it over.
Put on some Aqua Velva, here’s the tracklist:
Side one
“Aqualung” – 6:31 (Ian Anderson, Jennie Anderson)
“Cross-Eyed Mary” – 4:06
“Cheap Day Return” – 1:21
“Mother Goose” – 3:51
“Wond’ring Aloud” – 1:53
“Up to Me” – 3:15

Mike 

ROCKOLLECTIONS: IN THEIR OWN WORDS- REMEMBERING GEORGE & JOHN 2008 PT.2 END

Odd, how life and history affect us.
To one generation, today Dec. 7th brings memories of the bombing of Pearl Harbor- and they can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when they got the news.
To many of the next couple of generations, they can do likewise for tomorrow Dec. 8th, when they heard of the senseless killing of John Lennon.
So now it is John Lennon’s turn In Their Own Words- and of course music too!
For some reason, all Lennon’s appearances on WNEW-FM are highlighted…except this one.
It took place on May 30, 1969 when he phoned Rosko (Bill Mercer), who was then on the air.
What followed was a far more incisive interview than when he talked to the others.
John talks about being a tough kid, not wanting to hear You Can’t Do That.
Then again, I didn’t like hearing that either, lol!
Oh, I mistakenly said it was a live track. Wrong, sorry- just made to sound that way. But a good remix!
John talks more about being a troublemaker with a chip on his shoulder.
But he found his peace.
Rosko asks him flat-out about his use of Christ in The Ballad Of John & Yoko, and you may be surprised with his answer.
Some more music and conversation, and I will close this year’s remembrance with a beautiful song by John.
Let’s all meet here next year, and I’ll have some more off the beaten path recordings by two guys who meant an awful lot to me!

Mike

Tags: , Bill Mercer, George Harrison, John Lennon, Pearl Harbor, Rosko, The Ballad Of John & Yoko, WNEW-FM, You Can't Do That

ROCKOLLECTIONS: IN THEIR OWN WORDS- REMEMBERING GEORGE & JOHN 2008 PT.1

Well this was an easy show for me.
I just let George Harrison and John Lennon do the talking- so In Their Own Words is what we’ll call it.
In this first half, George talks about the first song he wrote.
During the Beatles’ bloody Let It Be sesions, they were being filmed and there was a soundtrack, so he was caught on audio quitting the band.
When I first met my buddy Mike Hennessy, it was in a bar, and one of the songs on the jukebox he was playing was Blue Jay Way.
I thought that was very cool, not your casual Beatle song nor fan, and we are still pals to this day!
I have a different version of Blue Jay Way, Take 3- significantly different.
You’ll hear George’s appearance on Rutland Weekend Television…as a pirate!
And about his involvement with those Monty Pythoners.
Incidentally, that Rutland was the inspiration for the Rutles- that wonderfully funny parody of the Beatles.
Lots of rough mixes of George’s songs, and there was his love for the ukelele.
We will have Mr. Lennon up next!

Mike

Tags: Beatles, Blue Jay Way, George Harrison, John Lennon, Let It Be, Mike Hennessy, Monty Python, Rutland Weekly Televison, The Rutles

ROCKOLLECTIONS: REMEMBERING GEORGE & JOHN PT.2 2006 VERSION

I will now continue with the 2006 show I did, and a good time to point out that in 2007 I did full shows for EACH of them. You can hear them here by simply scrolling back on the words “previous posts”.
And also to announce there will be another new George & John show within the next few days, from this year 2008.

While most were watching Monday Night Football, I remember I was watching a hockey game (it’s a BETTER game!) on TV with a buddy when the phone rang and another friend told me John was shot.
I quickly put the stereo on to WNEW-FM, then the best rock station in the world, and Vin Scelsa was playing Springsteen’s “Jungleland”.
My heart sank, I knew instinctively we had lost him!
In this episode, I decided to play songs ABOUT John- as a little cottage industry has sprung up regarding that. And as it turned out, I didn’t have enough time to even play what I brought with me.
I remarked that there was a great shortage of songs about George Harrison or his death. None really. Maybe that is because it didn’t come so suddenly and in such a violent fashion.
But with intentional irony, I mentioned even George had written a song for John, and of course we will open with that.
I think you will hear some very interesting things here. George Martin’s comments on John’s death. A Letter To John written and read by Paul McCartney at Lennon’s induction ceremony to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and of course the song he wrote for John. An underrated song by Mickey Hart, drummer for the Grateful Dead, that has never gotten any airplay, and includes John Lennon and others.
And the other usual surprises I hope you have come to expect.
Rest in peace, George and John. We are diminished by your absence. Mike

Tags: A Letter To John, Bruce Springsteen, Grateful Dead, Jungleland, Mickey Hart, Monday Night Football, Paul McCartney, Vin Scelsa, WNEW-FM