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ROCKOLLECTIONS: 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11- LOVE AND PEACE, OR AT LEAST HOPE PT.2 FINALE

Well this is it, the Finale.
It’s been a long trip, gathering Reflections and Remembrance.
After all, apart from some deeply personal instances, 9/11 is THE single most affecting event in my life!
For some reason tonight, I have this vivid memory of the Mets’ Mike Piazza hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning to beat the Braves in the first Baseball game played in New York after those damnable attacks on Sept. 11th 2001.
And how much that tiny incident in the scale of things meant to me and the city…we were desperate for something good!
What I don’t remember ever happening is what took place opening this 2nd half of the show- going in I didn’t have a clue as to how I would end this whole series.
Now, months ago I knew what the opening song would be, but the last one?
Nothing!
It is Free-Form Radio, but with something as important to me as an ending, that sometimes is the first thing I think of- either the ending song or the opening song or both-  if not, I usually have a few ideas, and I make the choice at the last moment.
Some possibilities were a gentle My Country ‘Tis Of Thee done by David Crosby, or The House I Live In by Frank Sinatra from a short movie produced in 1945- but they just weren’t cutting it.
And this had been an introspective journey for me, trying to find something good inside using Music as my guide.
So I went ahead and started this last chapter with songs of Love and Peace, and while that’s a nice way to think, they don’t do much to heal the still open wound in me, or the anger.
Suddenly I thought of Hope…there should always be that.
And I had my ending!
After 4 shows, 4 hours, seeking some kind of solace, am I any different?
I’ll answer that in here.
And I’d be interested in how you feel after 10 years, with or without listening to what I played.
God Bless America!
Now that will always remain proudly the same for me!

Mike

Tags: david crosby, Finale, First Baseball Game Played in New York, frank sinatra, Free-form Radio, God Bless America, Mets' Mike Piazza, My Country 'Tis Of Thee, Reflections and Remembrance, Sept 11th 2001, The Atlanta Braves, The House I Live In

ROCKOLLECTIONS: SALUTE TO MOTHERS PT.4

After playing songs about Good Mothers last chapter, I promised you Bad Mothers.
And this is a Salute, lol?
Yes, Good, Bad, it takes all kinds.
I’ll start with the most notorious Bad Mother I could think of- and this Mom is from one of the most successful albums around.
After that, two songs I will undoubtedly be introducing you to.
If you recall, during my Psychotherapy series last summer I played a pair of strange, but well-received by listeners, songs by Janis Ian and Dory Previn.
This time we’ll flip-flop the artists and start with Previn, and her sad and spooky tale.
They are from vinyl LP’s and sound like it, but that’s the only way I have them.
The common thread connecting these Bad Mothers is that they are manipulative, and most especially possessive.
Not wanting their child to ever leave them!
You’ll hear what I mean.
After that, a song by the Who I CHOSE to play from the vinyl- I heard the CD version and found it to be so lacking in sparkle and life it was no contest…the old vinyl copy wins.
And that Mother in the Who song goes beyond Bad into insane, I mean what the…?
I’ll close this episode out with an interesting change in direction regarding Mothers- one that is not often talked about, never mind playing songs about.
I hope you enjoy this Part 4, as it is a curious mix of known and unknown!
And with so many Mother songs left, I will continue with them next week for two final installments.
Hey, it’s free-form radio, and I pick the music, lol!
You should trust me by now!

Mike

Tags: Bad Mothers, Dory Previn, Free-form Radio, Good Mothers, Janis Ian, Psychotherapy, The Who, Trust, Vinyl LP's

ROCKOLLECTIONS: GOES TO THE MOVIES PT.6

Rockollections Goes To The Movies returns to the great Movies and Music of the 60’s- I can’t get out because I keep thinking of more terrific flicks and accompanying songs!
In fact, we’ll begin with one that is maybe as known for its Soundtrack as for the Movie itself!
Then it is on to a female singer who had great success singing Movie Songs- I’ll only play two but I could have played more.
And remember, Free-Form Radio means just that- anything goes!
Another female after that, from a much-recycled plot used by Movies over the years.
I have a friend who is a fellow Radio Host named Frank Todd, who does a great Rock Music show Frank Todd’s Trivia that can be found here, http://www.franktoddradio.com/.
Frank is on somewhere on the internet every single day of the week, he is painfully prevalent, lol!
Whenever we get together we talk about forgotten songs and ideas for shows (I have a limitless amount!).
Frank’s is one of maybe 2 other Radio Shows I listen to because he is not cookie-cutter, and like myself, he tries to break out of that sameness and predictability that is the norm in Radio today.
He called me last week and asked if I would be playing a few songs in this series, and one hit me that I should have thought of.
The song may be slightly more familiar than the Movie, which oddly happened to be on TCM last week!
If you like it…and here I get poetic…Thank Frank, lol!
I’ll close this chapter out with an ending song whose title is usually reserved for something very very different.
For personal reasons, I am going to take a short break from this series, an Intermission to use a Movie term.
But Rockollections Goes To The Movies will definitely return in a week, maybe two.
Enjoy this one, it’s got some varied and very good sounds in it!

Mike

Tags: Frank Todd, Frank Todd's Trivia, Free-form Radio, Intermission, Movie Songs, Movies and Music of the 60's, Much-Recycled Plot, Radio Host, Rock Music, Soundtrack, TCM

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE 2010 CHRISTMAS PARTY PT.4 END

DEDICATED TO FAY CINCO

Like any Party, there can be some unforeseen incident that threatens to put a damper on it- an argument, an accident, someone getting sick, etc.
But the Party continues, maybe a bit subdued, maybe not.
That’s the case here.
My very good friend Fay passed away the day before I did this show, leaving behind her husband Dan, another very very close friend.
I did my best to hide what I was feeling in Part 3, but we are friends here, and I do an honest little radio show, so I thought I would just come out and inform you of the circumstances.
There have been a few Christmases tinged with sadness in recent years, and I am sure I am not alone.
Giving it some thought, although it seems wrong that bad things should happen at Christmastime, they are still just days- people are born, people die.
And so it goes.
All things considered, if I never mentioned this, you probably wouldn’t even notice any difference in this closing episode.
But as usual, I leave how well or how horribly I pick my songs up to you.
The beauty of Free-Form Radio is that I can be me, and it is always a reflection of my mood at the time.
Again, this is a valid collection of music for an end to the Party- with songs you know, forgot about or will hear for the first time.
I will NOT be a buzzkiller!
Peace On Earth, and I’ve made peace with it.
I wish you ALL a heartfelt Merry Christmas, with all the joy and love you could ever hope for!
Let’s party again next year.

Mike

Tags: Christmastime, Dan, FAY CINCO, Free-form Radio, Merry Christmas, Peace On Earth

ROCKOLLECTIONS: HOME FOR THANKSGIVING 2010 PT.2

As we continue with our Home For Thanksgiving series, the Free-Form Radio nature of this show led me to take the last song played in the previous half hour and expand on it a bit.
So we will take some rural back roads Home- with none of the selections sung by authentic country folk, lol!
Then another song written by, and I’ve said it before, that most underrated and underappreciated American songwriter in all of Rock & Roll, John Sebastian.
An absolute beauty from him and the Lovin’ Spoonful!
I will take us out this time with songs about those who can’t go home- the homeless, the drunks, the druggies, all those who have no Home to go to.
A bit somber, but I won’t shy away from a part of real life.
As I recall, Engineer Ken Stanley was very deeply affected by the first tune.
I mean surprisingly so- he couldn’t look at me.
And in the final song, you will hear the story of a man’s life in precisely 3 minutes!
Even after many years, and I first heard it in the 60’s when Scott Muni played it on WNEW-FM, that one still gets to me.
When the going Home continues next week, I promise I will counter this with a very Happy beginning.
Please do come back and join me to find out just what I mean.
But until then, I hope you enjoy what is played here.
You can always let me know.
 
Mike

Tags: American Songwriter, Back Roads, Engineer Ken Stanley, Free-form Radio, John Sebastian, Rock & Roll, Scott Muni, The 60's, WNEW-FM

ROCKOLLECTIONS: BACK TO BACK TO SCHOOL 2010 PT.1

This was the 3rd show I had planned before I was so rudely interrupted last September.
Well not exactly what I had planned, since I added songs in the course of the year, and a different time in free-form radio brings different results.
NO songs from last year will be repeated- all distinct selections for this 2010!
It is that most awful time of year again, resulting in going Back To Back To School, kicking and screaming!
I will open with a school that I might, just might, have had fun attending.
Continuing on with some good old Rock & Roll from the early days having to do with School.
Then another fond look back, this time at those wonderful School Days.
And I must emphasize that I mean the Time Period of our lives, NOT the actual tortuous hours physically spent IN School, lol!
Have fun if you can!
Another half coming.

Mike

Tags: 2010, Free-form Radio, Rock and Roll, School Days, Time Period

ROCKOLLECTIONS: IS YOUR SHRINK ON SUMMER VACATION? PSYCHOTHERAPY PT.1

Well I guess we can take the Gone Fishin’ sign down for a while.
I am back with an uneasy peace.
It was great to take over a month off, I feel refreshed, and yet the thought of continuing to do this weekly is a daunting one.
As Mom used to say, we shall see what we shall see.
And naturally, being the contrarian rebel that I am, I am back with a SERIES!
Dedicated to all who don’t like series, lol!
Since this show is a reflection of me and my rebellious ways, what else would you expect?
Series require the most thought and work, yet are the most fun for me.
I don’t know yet how long it will go- but when I feel I am done it will end.
No playlist, no restrictions, no limits- that’s what Free-Form is.
That is a picture above of Sigmund Freud.
Why?
It occurred to me during my mental rest that the month of August is notorious for being the time of year that Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Psychotherapists go on vacation, leaving their patients…oops…clients…fearful, anxious and on their own.
So I will fill the void, giving you 56 to 58 minute sessions instead of the 45 to 50 minute ones they do.
The Doctor is IN!

Mike

Tags: August, Free-form Radio, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Sigmund Freud, The Doctor is IN

ROCKOLLECTIONS: JUNE IS NATIONAL RIVERS MONTH PT.1

I think you can easily see where I am going with this Theme series for the next two weeks.
National Rivers Month is celebrated annually during the month of June to promote awareness and preservation of the country’s Rivers.
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake, a sea or another river.
In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely.
Small rivers may also be called streams, creeks or brooks.
For this event, I have gathered a bunch of my favorite River songs.
And as usual, there are far too many for me to have time enough to play.
So I just let the tide take me in that free-form and free-association way of choosing the songs, flowing along like a River.
I haven’t done the Parts 3 & 4 yet, but I can already see that some truly wonderful River songs will necessarily be left out.
In this opening chapter, I will take you down to the River and watch it flow, roll on it, realize how wide it can be, and play a River song that some people (including members of the Beatles) consider the Greatest Rock & Roll song ever made.
We will also hear a River song that would be a drunkard’s dream, one that speaks of how shallow they can be (although not as shallow as me, lol), a classic one from the Man In Black, and ending this episode, a warning about trying to cross a River.
Hopefully, you will enjoy this opening salvo for one of our most beautiful natural resources- it contains some very enjoyable music you will both remember and be introduced to.
Give me a Theme about something, and I will give you several shows, lol!

Mike

Tags: A Drunkard's Dream, Free Association, Free-form Radio, The Beatles, The Greatest Rock & Roll Song Ever Made, The Man In Black

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE KENTUCKY DERBY PT.1

Well it only took almost 12 years, but I finally realized in time to do something about it!
A show that has been bouncing around in my head for all those years, dedicated to the Kentucky Derby.
Because the only 2 vices I have avoided in my life are gambling and drugs, I never bet the ponies or the Derby, so it always sort of sneaked up on me.
But this year…voila…I am aware, lol!
So there will be much horsing around, and even imbibing in that famous traditional beverage.
There are some wonderful listeners I am blessed to have, who think along with me in these free-form-radio ventures.
And I am sure they figure there is a Rolling Stones song I HAVE to play.
They are correct of course, but I am going to throw them and everybody else a surprising curveball with that one, lol!
Something you may never have known about regarding that classic song.
Plus I have the chance to play within a Theme a song I have always loved, exquisite in its open to interpretation symbolism, that goes far beyond merely catching a horse.
Ah, there’s a lot here if you like Horses.
And we are only at the halfway marker- with a photo finish still to come.
You are invited to saddle up and join me.

Mike

Tags: Free-form Radio, Horses, Photo Finish, Rolling Stones

ROCKOLLECTIONS: MUSIC FOR MONEY & THE FINANCIAL CRISIS PT.1

Alright, this Theme has been nagging at me for a long time.
And our closeness to April 15th and Tax Day was the trigger.
I don’t like what I see going on here- we simply cannot keep spending Money like we are in this Financial Crisis that is far from over.
And I am tired of certain words like Bailouts, Unsustainable and especially Trillion, (who the hell ever even USED Trillion in conversation before a few years ago?).
A Trillion is a Million MILLIONS!
There are so many songs about Money, and others that can apply here, I again do not know how long the series will last.
It all depends on how the muse strikes me. This is free-form radio!
So a musical look at this topic, and I am not doing this Theme entirely all warm and fuzzy, but at times with a definite snarl!

Mike

Tags: April 15th, Bailouts, Billions, Free-form Radio, Millions, Tax Day, The Muse, Trillions, Unsustainable

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE CYCLE OF LIFE PT.1

Here’s another idea for a Theme Series that I have had for a long time that would bump into the annual Tribute/Memorials.
The Cycle Of Life!
And I would always be reminded by those people passing away, thereby completing the Cycle.
Well, no more excuses.
It’s a new decade, and after about 10 years of doing them, I am putting those Tributes to rest, at least for a while.
As you will hear me say, it is coincidental that this comes during my birth month, March. Thinking more about it, maybe…maybe not.
At any rate, in this first chapter I will be taking a musical look at just some of what the singers and the songwriters think Life is- including our major opening question.
But to give you a better understanding of our real beginning and how this journey is going to go, in the next chapter Rockollections Will Give Birth!
Yes, Life will begin and I will take it from there.
At this point I have no idea how long this Theme Series will take.
It’s free-form radio, and I’ll know when I get to the end.
But this is how it begins…

Mike

Tags: birthday, Free-form Radio, Life Is, March, Theme Series, Tribute.Memorials

ROCKOLLECTIONS: MY RETURN, AND BACK DOING IT AGAIN! PT.1

I have mentioned it here before, so some of you may know that I had a problem at the radio station where I have been for almost 11 years.
Serious enough to make me stay home and not return for four months- stubborn bastard that I can be, lol!
I don’t want to get into the details, but it had to do with my doing Talk and not Music for cost reasons.
There is enough mindless chatter on the radio without mine.
Well I guess I won, because I came back, I am not doing talk, and I continue to have no restrictions whatsover about the music I play- very rare indeed on today’s computerized playlist radio.
Chalk one up for the iconoclasts.
During those 4 months, I was sending out Encores of shows I have already done, and I will continue to do so when I think it appropriate.
It’s one of the perks of having a stockpile.
But here is the first truly NEW show since early February- and it is already old, lol!
It was broadcast June 23, 2009, and I believe in the next chapter you will hear me refer to Summer having begun just days ago, which it had.
I didn’t want to interrupt the Salute To Fathers and the Celebration Of America series I had going, so I held this back.
Finally here it is for your listening pleasure…hopefully!
Now it was suggested to me that I not say anything about my lengthy absence- typical of radio, people come and go without comment.
But that’s not my style, I consider my listeners my friends, and I would not insult their intelligence by ignoring the fact I was missing for so long.
So I dedicated the hour to the fact that I had been gone, now I was back, and tested the freedom to play what I want by choosing songs about returning to places.
I also wanted the people who cared enough to be concerned, to know that my not having been there for so long had absolutely nothing to do with any health problems on my part, and felt it proper to ask both aloud and musically about their state of health.
So that’s the background for this, the first of two parts.
And I had enough time away to think of the most PERFECT song to open with- about being Back Where You Started and Doing It All Again!
And I went from there…!

Mike

Tags: Free-form Radio, Music Radio, Radio Stations, Talk Radio