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ROCKOLLECTIONS: TOM PETTY’S HIGHWAY COMPANION PT.2 END

It took a while after I began playing Rock & Roll at the radio station for record companies to begin sending us CD’s.
But they did- not too many- after all, I was the only one playing our music (still am), and only for one hour once a week- but enough to keep Engineer Ken Stanley and I fairly up to date with new releases.
We’d split them and take them home to listen.
Occasionally we would play one of these NEW albums all the way through on a show, not an old classic one, just for something different.
Well, Tom Petty’s 3rd solo album Highway Companion in 2006, caught Engineer Ken’s ear.
So he suggested we do that one.
As I recall, I hadn’t even ever heard any of it, but I went along with it.
Hey it was an easy show, any dope can play an album straight through…not much thought goes into that, lol!
As things turned out, we took the chance and the CD was a successful one.
Produced excellently by Jeff Lynne from ELO & The Traveling Wilburys, etc., it topped out at # 4 on the Billboard charts.
It was different from Petty’s previous releases, with songs about the road (as suggested by the title) and aging- they were darker but still rocked.
What we have here is a show from 2006, when this album was new, and we will be playing the songs in their arranged order.
Here is the closing half of what turned out to be a fun time for me, with a rather light-hearted, humorous presentation.
And because I never used to pre-read the copy, out of nowhere I came upon a word I was in no way expecting and not prepared to pronounce- if I had taken a moment to slow down it would have been easy, but no, not me.
So listen for the battle between me and that word…the word won, lol!

Mike

Tags: 2006, Billboard, ELO, Engineer Ken Stanley, Jeff Lynne, Rock & Roll, The Traveling Wilburys

ROCKOLLECTIONS: TOM PETTY’S HIGHWAY COMPANION PT.1

It took a while after I began playing Rock & Roll at the radio station for record companies to begin sending us CD’s.
But they did- not too many- after all, I was the only one playing our music (still am), and only for one hour once a week- but enough to keep Engineer Ken Stanley and I fairly up to date with new releases.
We’d split them and take them home to listen.
Occasionally we would play one of these NEW albums all the way through on a show, not an old classic one, just for something different.
Well, Tom Petty’s 3rd solo album Highway Companion in 2006, caught Engineer Ken’s ear.
So he suggested we do that one.
As I recall, I hadn’t even ever heard any of it, but I went along with it.
Hey it was an easy show, any dope can play an album straight through…not much thought goes into that, lol!
As things turned out, we took the chance and the CD was a successful one.
Produced excellently by Jeff Lynne from ELO & The Traveling Wilburys, etc., it topped out at # 4 on the Billboard charts.
It was different from Petty’s previous releases, with songs about the road (as suggested by the title) and aging- they were darker but still rocked.
What we have here is a show from 2006, when this album was new, and we will be playing the songs in their arranged order.
Here is the opening half of what turned out to be a fun time for me, with a rather light-hearted, humorous presentation.

Mike

Tags: 2006, Billboard, ELO, Engineer Ken Stanley, Jeff Lynne, Rock & Roll, The Traveling Wilburys

ROCKOLLECTIONS: MELLENCAMPCOUGARJOHN PT.2

Continuing on, John Mellencamp’s breakthrough album was American Fool.
He won a Grammy and had his only # 1 song on Billboard.
I mentioned in this episode that in my life I have always been known to be somewhat rebellious.
Engineer Ken started laughing hysterically.
Even after the show, and I had forgotten about it, he was still laughing and breaking my chops about it!
Since he knows me so well, he found great humor in my rather casual statement.
In fact, I am a Class A Rebel and always have been, lol!
So, a song for that, which is how the subject came up, and I have loved it since the first time I heard it.
And IT ALWAYS MAKES ME DANCE- even sitting down!
“Been doing it since I was a young kid…”
We’ll close this chapter with an interesting contrast.
One by John and one by a group that did their song 7 years earlier.
And an awful lot of people think they sound a little too much alike!
More John Whatshisname coming.

Mike

Tags: American Fool, Billboard, Class A Rebel, Engineer Ken Stanley, Grammy, john mellencamp, John Whatshisname

ROCKOLLECTIONS: BILLY PRESTON, UNOFFICIAL 5TH BEATLE PT.1

After a dopey question from me, we open this show with a better question from Billy Preston.
Although he never quite answers it.
I’ll have some very interesting biography to share with you about Billy- and one of my off-the-cuff remarks that made me want to head for Outta Space.
It still strikes me funny though, lol!
After listening to tapes made during the Beatle sessions, it may surprise you just how close Billy Preston came to being officially the 5th Beatle!
Going to play 2 songs next, one was on the Billboard charts at # 22 and the other # 62.
I will leave it to you to judge the better song, but my feelings will be known.
Did you know that the first recorded version of My Sweet Lord was on a Billy Preston album?
Produced by his good friend George Harrison. And Billy appeared on all of George’s 1970’s albums, at least.
Although ill himself, he took George’s passing very hard.
We will close out this opening chapter (of two) with one of Billy’s remarkable performances at the Concert For George Harrison.

Mike

Tags: 5th Beatle, Beatles, Billboard, Concert For George Harrison, George Harrison, My Sweet Lord, Outta Space

ROCKOLLECTIONS: SEX AND THE RADIO

CHAPTER SEVEN: SEX AND THE RADIO

I am back in Brooklyn and it looks like I may just make it under the wire New York time.
It was on this day ten years ago, October 21, 1998, that I did the first Rock & Roll show at a station that never played that music.
Back then it was quite a bit different- more emphasis on talk rather than music.
I would read the Billboard album reviews and tell what were the top 10 or 20 songs on the charts.
But one of the most fun things was Engineer Ken and I each time wondering what we could get away with.
Could I play 2 songs in a row without coming on in between, could I play an 8-minute song and get away with it, could I do a whole hour dedicated to one theme holding the songs together?
All these things developed slowly, as each week I would try something different until the show evolved into what it is now- and I am pretty happy with it.
This is almost ideally what I always had in mind- the only thing preventing complete satisfaction are those damnable time constraints.
If instead of an hour, I need an hour and 13 minutes or 2 hours, well that would be just fine, lol!
The show should be over when I am done, and that changes from week to week!
But I can’t really complain, as I have far more freedom than the folks at those big corporation commercial stations.
My 10th anniversary was the impetus for this whole Salute To Radio- as I wanted to do something special, but not put the emphasis on me.
And there are no guaranties I will be there 10 years from now.
I will explain the odd fact that although I am on only one day a week, it falls 10 years to the day.
This will be a fun episode, beginning with a fun couple of songs for you and I.
Then a set I am calling Sex And The Radio.
That should arouse your interest- or arouse something!
There wasn’t enough time for the last song, which although a drastically different situation, I felt sort of fits in there. So listen to me stretch to the break with my wonderful gift of gab, lol!
And we will get to that very interesting storysong first thing in the next chapter.
Hope to see you then!

Mike

Tags: Billboard, Engineer Ken, Salute To Radio, Sex And The Radio

Kate Voegele starring on One Tree Hill!

 

 

 

Has it been that long? As I was reviewing my library of podcasts, I noticed that I had posted the interview of Miss Kate Voegele on February 11, 2007. For those of you who heard it last year, you may want to refresh your memory. It’s fun to listen to interviews, etc of artists when they were first starting out. And to those of you who didn’t yet hear what this musical powerhouse is all about-here’s your chance to get to know her a little. I am currently trying to get an updated interview with her, so let’s hope. I know she’s extremely busy at the moment, but I’m going to keep trying!

It’s been a busy year for this rising young star- She signed and released her MySpace Records debut album, “Don’t Look Away”, which has been very successful.

Kate Voegele is “Mia” on One Tree Hill!

She has been headlining all over the country and playing with artists like John Mayer and Ben Lee. She was interviewed by numerous websites, magazines and TV shows, including Billboard Magazine, Cosmogirl.com and CBS Saturday Early Show’s Second Cup Cafe. Her music is receiving national radio airplay. And most recently, she won the role of “Mia” on the popular CW series, “One Tree Hill, which started with its January 22 episode. The show airs Tuesdays, 9/8 central. This is her first acting role as she sings and performs her own original music on show. She has a few more episodes left this season, so check her out! I did and she’s amazing! This 21 year old singer/songwriter and now actress is rockin’ the socks off the USA and beyond!

Kate Voegele is “Mia” on One Tree Hill - performance clip!

At the moment, she is planning a full tour itinerary surrounding the set’s re release, which will feature a new album cover, reflecting her role on One Tree Hill. Copies of the album were first released in May 2007 . You can purchase her CD/Digital Downloads at Target, iTunes! or her official store on her website.

Kate Voegele’s main site

Kate’s MySpace site

Tags: Billboard, Don't Look Away, One Tree Hill, Target