Programming & Appearances Updates

Hopefully you found today's program interesting and also stuck around for the hour with the brilliant Kate Campbell.  The next program I will be doing will be Memorial Day wknd. so you know you can expect some commemorations there and some commentary about respecting this holiday and what it stands for.  It, surely, does not stand for bargain hunting at sales.  Perhaps memory hunting for sacrifices made that allow us to even think of the former.

If you have any requests for Memorial Day material please do let me know.

The playlists for both Sunday Simcha & Traditions should be available tomorrow

Now for the updates I had mentioned on the air today---

TRADITIONS---I will be recalling the music of Bob Marley that day  in the segment reserved for that. 

CONCERT CALENDAR UPDATES--In no particular chronological order

June 9   Songwriters By The Sea w/ Willie Nile, Dan Bern and more---Acoustic Cafe --Park Ridge, NJ
www.cafeacoustic.org

June 3    Uptown Coffeehouse---   Rod MacDonald    www.uptowncoffeehouse.org

June 3    Borderline Folk Music Club---Travers, Chandler & Avery  www.borderlinefolkmusicclub.org

May 20  The Turning Point---The Refugees                    www.theturningpointcafe.com  

Future announcements will be on the air, as always.   As a matter of policy I do want to say that I do try to keep the announcements solely for fairly local venues who's admission prices are well below what one gets on Ticketmaster and the larger venues.   Frankly,  my opinion,  I think you get just as good entertainment and a great bang for your buck.  Actually---sometimes better entertainment and a chance to mingle with the artists--backstage passes are not required for you to be slighted.  At the same time you are supporting local venues and helping newer artists (in general).

 

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)  It’s not great literature but if you like high toned gossip Frank Langella’s book, “Dropped Names” is worth a read.   I think it should have been called “”Name Droppings” since a lot of the acidity might be in certain bird droppings.

2)            It is so interesting to see how things change and never change---life just goes on in full circle and repetitions.  When there used to be back yard playhouses that got removed as the owners and their children aged---and died---they are replaced with—you got it.  New families, new playhouses and so the cycle continues.  Happily.

3)            I still have to, once again, comment on the fact that Terry Gross (Fresh Air) is, in my opinion, the best radio interviewer around who just has wonderful conversations with her truly interesting guests.

4)            Maurice Sendak died this week and he was a truly brilliant writer who, and now we go back to Terry Gross, had some of his interviews with her replayed that day.  What insight and reality facing comments by him about death, faith, and comfort.

5)            Having met the most interesting people while doing “Tabletalk” (WFDU) for a number of years I had always hoped to emulate Ms Gross.  Hopefully, I was interesting, but I did not come close to her insightful interviews.  I did carry on, I believe, a good conversation as I do on my other two programs---when we have a guest.

6)            This Sunday I do hope you will tune in to TRADITIONS on WFDU at 3 PM ET when I have a conversation---truly interesting one---with Kate Campbell and explore her music and her thinking.  You can listen on the web at www.wfdu.fm

7)            I am always amazed to find that some 30-40 year old British Sitcoms still hold more humor (humour) and interest than today’s crop banal U S ones.   Add to that list the brilliant Judy Dench (not a comedy) in “As Time Goes By” and you have a lineup for the ages.

8)            They say that they are not making things like they used to---well, think of this---Cars last longer and Film actors are more versatile and interesting.  On the negative side appliances break down readily and it is not worth repairing them---nor old broken down film actors.   Think about this---Jimmy Stewart was always Jimmy Steward, Cary Grant was always Cary Grant and the list goes on.  Kenneth Branagh is different in all he does; as are (and were) Olivier, Pacino, Hackman, amongst others.

9)            You have to wonder about male politicians and women---is “power” really that much of an aphrodisiac?  What about the females politicos?  On the list of “tawdry” I guess John Edwards is outdoing his competition---lot of them to beat there starting with Elliot Spitzer, JFK, and Ben Franklin was no slouch, I hear.  But, with Ben, you did have the risk of electrocution since he liked to do it in thunderstorms---and, yes, I am old enough to bear witness.

10)     “What Hath God Wrought” were words used by Samuel Morse on his invention of the telegraph.  Had he been around today he might well have used it to describe the predatory practices of so many allegedly pious folks of many religions  and asked that question and then this word  “Pedophilia?”

11)     One last “bravo” for WFDU for allowing the free-form  programming of radio to continue and to allow the creativity of the various on-air folks be allowed to flourish.   So little left of that; including alleged “college” and “community” stations.   Having said that I also have to add my appreciation for the artists who gained a foothold on the air here and have commented and been loyal to that fact over the years.

12)    You do have to go out on a light note so let me tell you of the panhandler who stopped the Hedge Fund manager on his way to work to ask for $5.00 for a cup of coffee.  The Hedge Fund manager said there is no way coffee will cost you  $5.00. I will give you $1.00.  The response to that was---Give me 5.00 or give me nothing but DO NOT TELL ME HOW TO RUN MY BUSINESS.   Though, he should have said he was going to Starbucks.  It would have made sense and gotten him $5.00.  And the Hedge Fund Manager can then be well perceived as an idiot.

                                                                              

With the usual flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)            A few personal thoughts today as opposed to the usual format.  Still the fedora is still tipped to Jimmy Cannon for that title and thought.

2)            Phil Ochs.   Admittedly I am a Johnny Come Lately to the talent of this great talent since I only started to appreciate his work in about the 1970s—the late 1970s at that.  But, having come to the realization of his great talent I have to wonder as so many probably do what he might have accomplished had he lived longer than his short span of life.   Would, and I would hope, he have eclipsed or been on a par with Bob Dylan?  Would all those honors have accrued to him since he may not have reinvented himself so many times.  I am assuming the non-re-invention and, frankly,  I find it hard to believe in change so I only hope he would not have re-invented himself. As the current expressions goes---“it is what it is” and I would hope “he would have been what he was”.  If that makes sense.

a. My compliments to his sister--Sonny Ochs. I had the honor of meeting her so many years back (thanks to my wife) and for her keeping the music of Phil alive with the Phil Ochs Song Nights she presents.  Once again, as I said when introducing Work O The Weavers last week---I am delighted that I was there at the beginning.

    2)   The Weavers, as you know, were the foundation of the “Folk Revival” of the 1950s and 1960s and also so much more in a political sense.   Happily there is a group that is now celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its founding---Work O The Weavers.  As I said in my introduction to them at a concert in Nanuet NY---“...bringing the music of this group (The Weavers) to another generation..”.  Interestingly, all the people I have spoken with recently said they wished they knew of this event since they loved The Weavers. Too bad they did not tune in to TRADITIONS---or read a local paper.  The good news is that this group, as many know, are perfect in their representation of them and, even better,   they now do new material they have created in the mode of The Weavers.  All greatly talented artists.

3)   You all have heard of the death of Pete Fornatelle. I cannot, in all honesty call him a colleague since the only contact I had with him was quite some time back when I was doing a Harry Chapin Tribute and he would not come on the air due, I believe, to contractual reasons with his employer at the time.    My sympathies go out to his family and multitude of friends and fans since, I do believe, the death of anyone diminishes all.   It is, however, life.  Some leave us sooner than others. 

        That said, one can only hope that I am so appreciated by people in the radio community when my time comes.   I know, and I hope it is not soon, that my response to my WFDU colleagues would be equal to that of the folks at WFUV.

3)            Now for a simple thought and query.  This item is linked to Facebook and I am always amazed by how we value privacy and yet open our souls to the soulless entity of Facebook.   The query is this----why do serious comments get little response there and nonsense such as---dental problems, birds in backyards, bowel movements (?), and cute kittens amongst other things get inundated with comments---nonsensical comments posted seriously.

4)            Since this personal diatribe is now over I will return you to your regular programming which, one can only hope, is better than what today’s TV can offer you and, also, leave you with these few thoughts or recommendations.

a. Read Lunatics by Dave Barry &   Zweibel

b. Read Dropping Names by Frank Langella

c.Dickens is a good choice if you do not want to follow my suggestions.  Stick with classics and bore yourself to death in the 21^st century.  Seriously---they are great and classic but one needs a laugh a day for good health. 

d.Tune in to Sunday Simcha and Traditions where we do try to raise the level of the presentations and the artists.  This Sunday will be a perfect example of both items---I do hope you like some of the greats you will hear on both programs.

                                 

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)            Isn’t interesting that on the very first hot day of the year the ants and other bugs make an appearance along with all the folks you know that wintered in Florida and you wished stayed there.

2)            There was a punchline somewhere but it would have made it too long---so—punchline---“it is God’s waiting room so why did they not keep waiting there as they do in all the medical offices they visit?”

3)            I wonder about Capital punishment.  Perhaps some crimes truly deserve it and not the mish mash we have here.  Norway is, perhaps, too civilized and too naive given the patience with the admitted mass murderer Breivik who brags of his murders.

4)            One has to wonder about what some folks think important.  Today, after all those fatal twisters in the mid-west, I heard a couple on their way to a medical office on this beautiful sunny day say: “That’s the trouble with W. Nyack---too windy”.    One wonders what they or people like them would have said while walking down the street and hearing the news in about 1940 about the bombings of London—“..New York is just so damned crowded and noisy..?”

5)            I am fortunate to have a GP (sort of              like the old family doc of years back) that can second guess all these specialists.   Specialists are wonderful (and I truly respect one I know) but they do not, many times, see the whole person----the GP does (as does the specialist I mentioned---if not for him I would have major problems).   Moral of this tiny tale---don’t over use and over believe all the specialists----and you better have good genes.

6)             I going out now for a dip in the deep end of the gene pool and hope it all works out well.

7)            Since it’s OK for a Pres. to philander in the “People’s House” but not off-duty Secret Service agents in a Public House you have to wonder how puritanical we really are.

8)            We still recall the Titanic tragedy---how quickly we have left the story of the Concordia---and what will be the final outcome of that humanly created tragedy?

9)            How far we have fallen from the heights of civil discourse in Presidential elections to the depth we are at now from the ranters---Ted Nugent (that Mitt Romney still cannot fault by name) and such others of his ilk.   Perhaps it is this instant communication via phone, internet, and everyone being a pundit (more properly a “putz”) as opposed to the time of serious thought and discussion that happened until, even, the time of Ronald Reagan.  Credit where it is due.

10)     Since I am not a bird I do not tweet, and “text” was always a publication I do not do “texting”.  Moving right along into the 21^st century E-Mail (electronic mail) works for me (to the detriment of the USPS) along with a flat screen TV (whatever happened to those days of B/W and only 6 channels and a few UHF ones?).

a.For extra credit----trivia question (no Googling---do real research)—prior to its current incarnation what was the name of the network that was (in the NYC area circa 1950s /1960s) on Channel 5---and featured Jackie Gleason?

11)    If you are in the NYC area you have to appreciate that Scott Stringer (Manhattan Boro Pres) might run for mayor and will say things that are so popular and will not in any way have an effect on his campaign since the city has no control of the issues he speaks of---his comments on  “commuter taxes” is an example.

a. Extra points again-----David Dinkens was a Manhattan Borough Pres. ---who preceded him?  
12)  Kate Campbell's latest album is a marvel and like all the others---unique and different from the earlier ones.  Two tracks truly memorable---"From Montgomery to Mobile" and "God Bless you Arthur Blessit"---out of an album of all memorable musical  moments.  The album title---1000 Pound Machine---her piano on which she plays rather than guitar.

                             

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora (as always) to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT...

1)   All I have are a few updates and thoughts for this alternate Thursday which comes with a lot of breaking items and also some thoughts about this week's coming programs---so---let is change the format a bit---upcoming moments on the programs first--
              a)  SUNDAY SIMCHA--- Do listen this Sunday as we once again commemorate the sad occasion of Yom Hashoah with some rare radio items that will commemorate it and also bring some icons back to you that you may have not recalled recently.

              b) TRADITIONS---This Sunday, besides some wonderful new material, we have the features and I do believe you will like the rarity to goes along with a new artist that commemorates Hank Williams.   Let's just say it complements what he sings of and done live--years back--obviously--by the master---Hank W.


     2)   One has to pass on some life lessons.  Change is hard to do and, sometimes, you will find it all works out for the best.   Personally, it is a mundane tale.  My dryer broke after 48 years of service (without a service call---NORGE--if you are interested) and I find, now, that a laundromat is a wonderful thing.  The people who patronize it and the staff are just great----no more service calls for me.   
  
    3)  Why are there knee jerk reactions when a poet writes something that might be critical of Israel?  Gunt(h)er Grass has written a poem that should be judged on its poetic quality and not on political thought.  He has shown, many times, his impartiality and his guilt for the Hitler years and should be listened to as an honest critic of Middle East politics and problems in addition to his poetic pronouncements.

   4)   It is truly a wonder that there are all these Visa problems with entertainers coming to this welcoming nation.   Emma Lazarus wrote for the Statue of Liberty about welcoming the masses and all those poor starving people---you do know of starving artists--right?   Please do not let overpriced tickets get in your way of sympathizing for these poor folks for their problems with Visas to the U S.   Is it not amazing what a bunch of A**Hole suicide bombers can create (thanks to the incompetence of our own FBI/CIA folks).  The Japanese should have had it so easy in 1941. 

   4)    With all the Twitter, Tumblr, Iphone, Facebook,etc; are we not losing some time to really think about an issue or a problem and making snap judgements that are usually not correct?   What happened to "Time will tell" or  "Let's sleep on it" or "Good point but let me think about it"? 

  5)   To put a fine point on it---Eric Bogle does not tour here anymore, an Opera singer(from UK--our friends) (or his agency) lost $25,000 due to visa problems/ red tape that caused him to miss his engagements.  


  6) The light note to end today---or as my old friend Wolgang Amadeaus Mozart said, with so much insight,  Meine Leit Motif--  Of the 4 questions asked at the Passover Seder would it not be wise to add a few that  update the historical concept--


                a)   If Jesus were resurrected would he say---I came back for the buffet?  (thanks to Paul Rudnick--New Yorker for that)
                b)   If your child married a Podiatrist would you say---my daughter the wife of the guy who did what Jesus did before Easter?
                c)   Why is this night different from all others since we still have the same issues and same tsuris and that Elijah never keeps his appointed rounds anyway---why bother.

                                                        
 Still--- let me wish one and all a Ziessen Pesach and a Joyous Easter.   We don't have to think about it---let's just do it.

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon---

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)            It is hard to take time out from reading the wonderful book “Lunatics” by Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel.  Time is available because one cannot laugh after 2 or 3 sentences and keep breathing.  So this is a time of breath catching.

2)            When did Broadway “musicals” become tourist attractions that stay on forever and ever as “destination” sites (think Lion King, Phantom---unbelievable for, basically, expletive deleted) as opposed to such wonders as South Pacific or A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum---and I might mention my favorite (never revived) New Girl In Town.

3)            Shamefully Broadway shows have gotten so expensive that unless you are either on an expense account (a forgiving one) or very wealthy it is out of reach.   Of course if you own a condo purchased in the 1960s on the Upper West Side of NYC you unwittingly became one of that blessed group.  Who knew.

4)            There are some people who’s voices and presentation are memorable and unforgettable.  Peggy Seeger has a new recording out---LIVE.  I dare you to have a dry eye in your head after hearing it.

5)            There are a lot of complaints about the NYPD and their surveillance tactics.  Ask yourself this question---the French gendarmes had surveillance on the shooter of the children and soldiers prior to the acts.  Why, then, did they not stop it?  The NYPD (which has many faults for sure) has prevented such acts by folks that have been watched.

6)            I do hope you will be tuning in to my program Sunday Simcha on April 8 when I am delighted to be able to present on WFDU “The Witches of Lublin”---a Passover special starring Tovah Feldshuh.   My thanks to the producers for letting us put this on and I am sorry, if you have visited the WFDU website for not seeing it there.  I also hope you will join me the prior week when I will present the current Passover program.

7)            It would be nice to know if you believe that having instant streaming on your computer (or other app) of what song is being played is of any importance to you.  In other words---do you truly give a damn?   Let me know.  Just write to me sundaysimcha@yahoo.com

8)            Do you not sometimes wonder why some folks always seem to be appreciated by people and others not?   I know of one person who, I do believe, has the secret.  He says, as he is being nice to everyone---even the local ^#^*@ ---it does not cost anything to be nice.  Good for him---I prefer honesty.

9)            Technology seems to be changing at a much more rapid pace these days than it has in all previous times.   Just think of these things:

a.Major labels are discontinuing production of CDs

b.DVR unties one from the network (whatever of them still remain) schedules.

c.Telephones actually let you speak on them but more and more that seems like a secondary function.

10)    The wheel was a great invention---and look what has evolved .

11)    I still like reading a book and not a “tablet”, a newspaper and not the on-line version.   Any tablet I use is by prescription.