The site is for information and comments about the artists, authors, and persons of interest that I have had the honor and privilege of welcoming to the 3 radio programs I host or have hosted on WFDU--TRADITIONS, SUNDAY SIMCHA, TABLETALK.
There is commentary on a weekly or bi-weekly basis on other topics that are, hopefully, of interest.
In addition you will find playlists on a seperate page---link is just below. In additon I have hosted a guest version of TRADITIONs on XM Radio.
1) the release of the N. Korean detainees was pre-arranged and Bill Clinton was the messenger. It was a good thing===Bolton and Fox not withstanding
2) the lady who drove the vehicle that crashed on the Taconic Pkway. (NY) was deemed drunk and high and I would like to see more evidence since it is so hard to believe. But, sadly, it is probably true---a fact I, an many, try to deny.
3) I hope David Buskin packs lightly for his trip to Avalon Festival in PawPaw, Va. for good reason.
4) I still feel that Branaugh is the defining interpreter of Shakespeare in this generation
5) It was nice to see Sotamayor confirmed and have to wonder why a, supposedly, judicial and neutral body is now defined by the gender and ehtnicity of its members.
6) Why was Thomas approved when it seemed merely a racial balancing act and he does not hold a candle to another "Black" member---Marshall.
7) I am surely looking forward to seeing Julia and Julie---Meryl Streep is an amazing actor---yes, actor---leave gender out of it.
8) Why does the NYC police department act in a professinal manner (generally) and suburban-- overpaid police departments act as if they own their town.? Perhaps they do. Their pensions of over 250,ooo for some reflect it. To the taxpayer's detriment and burden
9) Does anyone recall when you paid .25 on the East River crossings in NYC and .50 (and they sold coupon books) on the PA crossings?
10) Who remembers the Grand Concourse in the Bronx in its prime and the premier theatre that was there?
The first comment I have to make is that we did lose a treasure of the "Folk Community" in Sandy Paton and I compliment my co-host, Ron Olesko, on a wonderful tribute to this person who helped keep traditional music alive and vibrant at great sacrifice to himself and his family. The nice thing is that he succeeded.
The second comment is to wish peace and tranquility to Mike Seeger in his final days and his decision to stop his treatments for cancer and await what portends to be the end of a truly fruitful and wonderful life.
Moving on to the header now---Program Notes and Suggestions. It occurred to me that so many times there is a wonderful song out there and it becomes a big hit because someone with name recognition recorded it---and did it well---but many a time it was recorded earlier by someone that does not have that name recognition and to my subjective way of thinking is, actually, a better version. The writer is happy with the hit and does not forget who introduced it so well. I know for a fact that Julie Gold feels that.
Bette Midler made this a huge hit and to me the Nanci Griffith version is still the unequaled interpretation (don't you hate "cover"?) of this song.
Many of you have heard me play Kate Long on TRADITIONS and with special interest to her song "McNamara's Tear". I know that Nanci Griffith had a copy of it from an inside source. Unfortunately this great piece is not on her newest CD. If you feel the spirit please do contact Nanci Griffith at her website and request that she record this piece. The same way Christine Lavin gave Julie Gold's beautiful composition to Nanci Griffith and it was picked up by Bette Midler I am hoping that some groundswell for this meaningful song will also move things along. I also know that Julie Gold backs me on this----AND if you ever want to hear once again the interview I did with Julie Gold (some 12 years ago now--go figure) which included some 15 or so versions of From A Distance (not to fear it is not that long---we excerpted the various languages) just let me know and it shall be scheduled on TRADITIONS.
That, by the way was the suggestion in the header---contacting Nanci Griffith.
This coming Sunday on TRADITIONS I shall be doing a few songs that were huge hits by some name people but were introduced to the world by people I thought had a better version. You know the old cliche---you get what you pay for. Does not always work that way. Think of the other cliche---less is more.
The upcoming Sunday on TRADITIONS will also feature some really great new recordings---yes, you heard a few today with Ron Olesko this past Sunday and you will hear more of those--including the brilliant Jonathon Edwards-- but there is a bevy of wonderful material that has come in over the always open transom---including one group that I featured on SUNDAY SIMCHA and are a truly universal folk ensemble---Beyond The Pale.
Another item for TRADITIONS this Sunday is something I wrote about above that put me in mind to play some songs and then the parodies of them. You know when a song becomes very popular there is sure to be a great parody. See if yuo can figure out what they will be---only 3 or 4 which translates to 6 or 8 if you count the parody after the original. If you have any you can think of future reference please do e mail me or leave a comment here.
Not to leave SUNDAY SIMCHA out of this missive let me say that next Sunday we have a rare comedy appearance by the pre-cursor (I suppose) of Andy Kaufman---or, at least, in the same vein along with some wonderful new material from the Canadian group---Beyond The Pale.
THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER has not had a new entry in a long time since it seemed more germane to put things on this site. I am hoping to add a few things in the next week of a non-folk, non-music, and more topical and personal nature there.
Please do check out the videos on all three pages since there are some new ones that, I believe, will be of interest and, certainly, worthy of your attention. Or---watch the damned things and either laugh or cry.
Nest week the Nobody Asked Me But... column will be posted---your input is always welcome.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Emigrating from Austria in the late 1930s and arriving in the U S via U K (and Blitzkrieg) we settled in NY.
A lifelong love of "folk music" evolved after discovering The Weavers and later the politics, music, and thoughts of Phil Ochs.
Further bonding happened when the Sloop Singers appeared at one of my birthday fests. At this point I must make mention of my wife and her arranging that. Also changing my life and focus. After that I produced 5 yrs of benefit concerts featuring Tom Chapin.
A relationship with Ron Olesko ( of WFDU) came from that and years later I also came aboard the station and the program.
Some 20 yrs (at this writing) have elapsed and I now host 2 programs there--Sunday Simcha--Jewish Programming,and Traditions (with Ron Olesko).
So--we all come down in the place just right(as the Shaker Hymn tells us)--in this case WFDU-=-The right place on the left side of the dial.
Follow the links below by clicking on the name to listen to archived interviews from TABLETALK / TRADITIONS/ SUNDAY SIMCHA--New ones added from time to time:
HAVE A FEW MORE SHOTS--NOT ALCOHOLIC JUST PHOTOGENIC
Just go to www.flickr.com/photos/billhahnprogramnotes and see another bunch of the family pictures. Who knows you might be in them. Just scroll past the ones you have seen---as Jolie said---Ah Got A Milllion of 'Em
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". 
