WEEKLY EDITION OF :

As always a tip of the hat to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT........

1) I was saddened to hear about Mike Seeger's entering a Hospice and stopping his cancer treatments portending the final scene of the last act.

2) Saddened to hear about the passing of Sandy Paton who was a mainstay of "traditional" music after suffering some personal tragedies in recent times.

3) The 50th anniversary of the start of the Newport Folk Festival is this weekend and I guess that means you can go home again---but the home is re-decorated.

4) I love the quote from Mike Murphy (Republican strategist)--"...if Sarah Palin looked like Golda Meir would we still be talking about her?"

5) Why did the Republicans just figure out that she is like some chemical elements----unstable

6) How come people who claim devotion to a higher spirit settle for making material deals for profits from politics and human organs

7) Perhaps the now late Reverend Ike was right---he also worshipped the mighty dollar and made no secret of it.

8) Wouldn't it be nice if we went back to Television with great content and less technical improvements. Or, perhaps, we could have both--

9) A President should focus on issues of import to the nation and not on something instigated by a reporter in search of a story; and also defer that question for a later time---diplomatically.

10) I don't give a damn what beer the parties to this ludicrous affair drink since it seems to demean the office to think a "brew" will calm the seas of controversy. Something I would have felt GW Bush was more apt to think would work---but he doesn't drink anymore---so I hear.

11) Don't you think that obscenity can also be defined as banks and financial firms that give huge bonuses after they received bail-out funds and then proceeded to foreclose on homeowners and not modifying their terms?

12) What a delight to see that a cartoon series has been nominated for a best in Comedy and not as a cartoon---Family Guy.

(OK--it should be on later than it is--but it is, after all, FOX---nuff said.)

13) You really have to listen to the new Eric Bogle CD in its entirety.

14) You really have to listen to TRADITIONS and SUNDAY SIMCHA to know about these things. That is, if you actually care.

15) It is nice to just sit in Piermont and get involved in conversation with people and find you cannot truly judge a book by its cover---for further cliches there will be a nominal charge.

More next week.

A NEW REGULAR ITEM--Nobody Asked Me But....

Your choice about this---let me know if you want it on this page or on The Almost Daily Rooster I hope to make this a weekly or bi-weekly feature. It would be nice to have it on the page with the most traffic. Your choice.

That is a picture of Jimmy Cannon who was one of the great sports writers of any time. Besides sports he created a wonderful column which many have emulated and I now become a member of the vast group. The column dealt with much more than sports---and it was so simple. Without going into his journalistic history; suffice it to say he worked at the end for the NY Post---yes, the NY Post. Not the one that the fish look forward to being wrapped in today but in a day when it was a "newspaper".

The column was called (and it came out sporadically) "Nobody Asked Me But....."

I have started doing it on Facebook and it seemed to elicit interest and so I am hoping that you will take to it as well and leave some comments---pro or con. What follows is the latest entry on the Facebook site of that column (with, always, due respect to Jimmy Cannon). The point of it is varied topics--as you will see---that will, hopefully, interest people of varied interests and opinions.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1) People say that Folk Music attracts only older people but how many of us oldsters (elders sounds so pontifical) go to Rock Concerts?

2)Bet a certain generation can answer questions on Jeopardy about earlier Pop or Folk categories and cannot answer the queries during the College Bowl weeks about those musical items.

3) Do you think there is a musical group called the Underarms---I hope they have a strong deodorant

4)Pres. Obama got sucked into an incident that he should have avoided and answered in much better terms---the Police / Gates brouhaha

5)If I saw a break in I would call the police.

6)Do you think it possible that someone could commit murder and steal and ID from the victim?

7)Even though I don't go to ball games I still curse the traffic near the parks which I will still call SHEA and Yankee Stadiums---and The Triboro Bridge is still not the RFK Bridge to me.

8)I am delighted that so many venues on Long Island honor Harry Chapin

9)I think Medicare is great (the original plan) but why is it that the government will spend untold sums adding years to old lives and leaving younger people in a financial bind? (Not, of course, the congress ---their coverage is great)

10)The NY Times article on Medical Rationing was right on the mark---we just need better terminology.

So--make comments and let me know if you want it on this page or The Almost Daily Rooster. Disclaimer---I make no profit, as usual, from either site.

Some Misc. Program Notes

A few updates on some of the upcoming things on both TRADITIONS and SUNDAY SIMCHA as well as some other items.

Let us start with

TRADITIONS: This coming Sunday there are a few things you should know in advance. KATE CAMPBELL is not a featured artist (it is not the usual thing for TRADITIONS) but you will hear a lot by her because she is one of the most insightful and prolific songwriters and, as it happens, she touches so many bases on this week's program. That also includes a song about the Moon Landing that has been in the news this past week---and a whole different take on it.

DEBRA LYNNE will be another artist which, while it is not an introduction to her, will present you with some of her new work and, of course, some schmoozing from me on how I got to it and to meet her. Quite the charming person and wonderful songwriter. My never so humble opinion---why oh why do they say on the internet--IMHO---how about IMNSHO. Lots of letters but more truth. Sorry---here is Debra:

Lots of other things that I hope will surprise and also intrigue you this week including some requests with special attention to one that should be truly meaningful.

The Thrills of The Hills, The Best in The West, and The Tops in Pops is a bit longer this coming Sunday but, I believe, worth the time. Some nostalgia and some updating---sort of what that WPAT segment might be like today---and I feel you will pick up on the thread of it.

Speaking of threads. If you have an idea in any week what the thread was just e mail me at wfdutradions@yahoo.com No prize---just a mention that you are a Traditions Treasure the next week---if it were SUNDAY SIMCHA--a Tzadick. That alliteration does not work with Sunday Simcha ---unfortunately.

Speaking of SUNDAY SIMCHA: This coming Sunday I am delighted to be able to present to you some wonderful new material from SUSAN COLIN as well as THE ALEXANDRIA KLEZTET .

Since the show ends each week with the pre-cursor of Stephen Colbert, Sascha Baron Cohen, and others---ANDY KAUFMAN. A comedian who never told a joke--always stayed in character (which Cohen does not always do and Colbert does) why not feature this brilliant artist in Comedy Corner---and there he will be.

Some Web and Program Suggestions and Notes

Not a very interest grabbing headline but, perhaps, this will get some of your attention. After all, I have found that mistakes and misunderstandings garner more interest and calls than straightforward programming and comments. Yesterday's TRADITIONS program proved that. So many calls and all of them quite flattering and complimentary along with requests that could not be filled. A wrong website address garnered another call.

In truth, I appreciate them all and also the loyal support of so many listeners to both TRADITIONS and SUNDAY SIMCHA.

One of the things that I am delighted to mention is that my interview with Clement Talbot about Calypso in Bermuda and his family got quite a few people to go on line and order the book with the CDs and one person won a copy of the interview (I had it on CD) with the music.

It seems apparent that many of you are quite taken by Calypso and the earlier incarnation of it--say, back in the 1950s or 1960s. Some of the listeners also requested some Steel Drum Music. More about that after you watch this:

Steel Drums. A while back The Mighty Sparrow (Calypso Singer) was interviewed (not by me) and at the end was asked to say the first thing that came to his mind when he heard these names---Lord Invader, Lord Necktie, and, finally, Belafonte---for that one he said "Commercial".

Not to denigrate Harry Belafonte in any way given his popularizing the music, his involvement in Civil Rights, and so much more it was a true statement.

The other side of that coin is that without the aid of the commercial artists in popularizing things many would be consigned to the dustbin of musical history. It is a dichotomy. We want the music recognized but we don't want it commercialized. That also includes the "folkies" (which I mean in very complimentary terms). To be brutally frank---Pete Seeger has created a legacy of good will, good works, and wonderful achievements. He is now 90 and, frankly, they used the likes of John Melancamp and Bruce Springsteen to fill MSG for a benefit for Clearwater. I assume with his blessings and underwritten by Live Nation===pure commercialism. Theodore Bikel (85) used Carnegie Hall for a smaller benefit with people that really connected with him.

That led us off the track a bit and as I say on the program---I digress and am seeing a doctor about it. Digression is such an insidious disease.

I am hoping you will click on some of the new videos that I have put on this site---some on the right side of this page. I don't think they need any explanation since they are related to the Calypso I was speaking (writing) of.

If you will follow this site to Playlists(top of the page) and then to The Almost Daily Rooster which you can also get from the link or the right side of the page or on Playlists you will find some more interesting videos. I do hope you find them interesting. On the Playlists page you will find things oriented to the Yiddishkeit (sort of ) from Sunday Simcha. Right now a wonderful video of Leonard Bernstein creation---MASS. I saw it when it was originally presented at Lincoln Center--circa 1960s. Brilliant--encompasses all the music from the various religions and in their language as it follows the Christian Mass in its form. It also includes a folk section. Brilliant.

On the Almost Daily Rooster page you will find some work by the brilliant Tom Lehrer.. Work not to be missed and if you listen to Sunday Simcha you will hear a piece by the Budapest Orpheum Society (they did Dancing Under a Volcano--and have a brand new album out) entitled--Poisoning Pigeons. One has to wonder, as I say on the program, if Tom Lehrer got his idea for Poisoning Pigeons In The Park from that.

So, give it a listen and see what you think.

Since this page is devoted to things "folk" and the various programs I would urge you to click on the Almost Daily Rooster in the next day or so for some opinions on the hearings about the potential new Supreme Court Justice. One quick thought here---more there---along with the videos I have spoken of---she is proud of her involvement in Affirmative Action. Contrast that with Judge Thomas---he took advantage of it and now denies it to others. Strange. More on that other page.

A few personal thoughts now about the July 12 TRADITIONS program. My thanks for all the nice calls and also my congratulations to the ticket winner for Falcon Ridge. I know the feeling of excitement myself when I win something---enjoy the weekend. I am also sorry that I forgot to tell the story about my riding on a steam train back in the 1940s. That is what made me do the segment about disappearing passenger trains. The Almost Daily Rooster has comments on it about my sojourn at Summer Camp in those long gone years.

Finally, I thank you for your calls and notes about the final piece---Eric Bogle. Check the playlist. A song of truth of what we all do.

July 12 Programming and Some Other Thoughts

Let us start with TRADITIONS:
On July 12 you will be hearing some brand new recordings by, among others, Carolyn Hester (more about that lovely lady on the program), Some Fiddle and Violin virtuosi with custom made instruments, and a few interesting topics---Michael Jackson for one --without him---as said years ago on That Was The Week That Was about General Franco---"...gee, he is still dead."---The Banks as compared to Bernie Madoff (what an appropriate name), and, of course some truly interesting story songs----oh, yes, a tip of the hat to the late Secty of Defense---McNammara---a very appropriate and meaningful piece of music. Much more---including, if you feel it is of great importance---ticket giveaways for Falcon Ridge Folk Festival----and also some CDs. Here I thought I was like Sally Field and you just ---" ...like me---oh you like me".
OH YES!---One more thing Trains and how they are disappearing---which leads me to a thought about my early days at summer camp===see below or go to THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER on the right side of the page.

SUNDAY SIMCHA: On July 12 we have a brand new show for you and it features some requests and a lot of "Yiddishkeit". On July 19 we leave the Yiddishkeit a bit and focus on a brilliant new album from the same folks who gave you Dancing on The Edge of A Volcano---Cabaret Music before World War 2 from the Jewish perspective---along with a few surprise artists that should grab you.

FINALLY: Click on the right side of this page to reach The Almost Daily Rooster. You will find some pictures and thoughts about summer camps and very little about trains. Someday we can discuss the values of different types of summer camps and the related costs---awesome. Now! Then---probably but not as bad.

A JULY 4th SURPRISE AND TREAT FOR YOU

Are you a person of taste and insight? Do you think that one of the great painters of the 20th century was Earl Scheib? Are you an afficianado of the great talents of Jerry Lewis---and not French? Well---read on because this is a show for you.

You know that for the years that I had the pleasure of hosting TABLETALK we always featured THE CAPITOL STEPS on the quarterly programs. WFDU and Susan Telser Schwartz have kindly allowed me to air their 4th of July Program at 8 PM on July 19. It will be archived for two weeks. Should you want a scoop you can listen to it right here. Trust me---clever, topical, and, as always, on point. The Capitol Steps.

If you have an Ipod player all to the good. If not I am sure you can access it via whatever player you have installed---if not---contact me and I shall guide you. You know---Blind Leading Blind. In any case this is the thing to click on and I guarantee---trust me---a brilliant and topical 29 minutes will be spent. You can also hear it live on WFDU on July 19 at 8 AM---if you feel inspired to get up that early. In any case---this is the spot to hear it

http://www.capsteps.com/radio/depot/broadcast.html

Not overly complicated complicated (password and screen name are already there) and no videos but, trust me, you will be delighted and have a heads up prior to air on WFDU on July 19.

Just think---topical material, no Michael Jackson, and the shennanigans of the famous in a comical manner---too bad nothing about good old Bernie Madoff---too early. Think about this though. He is thinking of subscribing to a Zagat Guide to prison dining---hope it helps. they do leave out the business about "better not forget your checkbook"---none reqired. You know---he may well be living better than the people he fleeced. Free food and free dining and free beds.

If you want a copy of one of their earlier CDs merely e mail me and the first 10 writers will receive one--- wfdutraditions@yahoo.com Make sure you put in an e mail address and a mailing address.