There are some record labels that bring us new material that is meaningful and also keep alive artists and genres that might be neglected or forgotten by different generations. Appleseed Recordings is a leader and one of the few that are in that group. Smithsonian Folkways is another.
Circuitously we are getting to the subject which is a wonderful new issue from Appleseed Recordings -- Pete Seeger "Live In '65". Recorded in February 1965 at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, PA and restored to ---well, what do they say, "living color". It is a 2 CD set that brings you all the feeling of being at an early Pete Seeger Concert---the music, the commentary, the lightheartedness , and the amazing charisma of Pete Seeger. It is a wonderful mix of his blend of topical and traditional music captured in a live concert in his prime.
The restoration of these old tapes has been lovingly re-created and the quality of the audio is as if you are in the auditorium In fact, if you were to put this 2 CD set on you player and just sat back and listened you would be transported to another place and another time and realize what a good concert and what meaningful music is all about.
When I say "good music" I realize it is in the eye of the beholder. Still, recalling the chain that leads us to what we may call meaningful---the Ochs, Paxtons, etc; does not negate what is popular---and even Pete Seeger recognizes that by singing some Hit Parade pieces---OK they were from the 1840s. In fact, that was pop music and is now "folk". Would not Woody Guthrie's Talking Blues be a pre-cursor to Rap (which I do despise) if one is honest?
The bottom line to all this is that this CD from APPLESEED is really something to own and to just enjoy and, perhaps, realize that it is the roots for some of today's music and it got its material from earlier roots.
Moving on to some Program Notes and Updates Now:
On November 1 I am hoping to be able to air a brief conversation with Theodore Bikel on TRADITIONS and I will surely air it on November 8 on SUNDAY SIMCHA in anticipation of his one man program at the Baruch Auditorium of CUNY which will run from Nov. 8-Dec. 13. THEODORE BIKEL will be appearing in his own creation of a one man show (with music form others) entitled--SHOLOM ALEICHEM--LAUGHTER THROUGH TEARS.
A show not to be missed.
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As to TRADITIONS----Many of you may know that I usually play a segment that has to do with Story Songs---songs that talk of life's meanings and challenges. One of the major factors in that is RICHARD BERMAN. He will be, finally, joining me for a nice segment on Nov. 15. Some live and some recorded music from this professor and insightful musical innovator.
Not to leave SUNDAY SIMCHA out in the cold---THEODORE BIKEL joins me on Nov 8 and I do hope that you will be tuned in for a very special program on November 1. That day our Comedy Corner will be filled with some 29 minutes of the CAPITOL STEPS in their quarterly send-up of the political foibles of our "leaders". I am also proud to say that this program and WFDU are the exclusive outlet for the quarterly bits of humor and wisdom from this brilliant group.
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