Radio Update

We are moving our show, Occupy the Microphone, to WOLI, sister station of WOLT. After six weeks of shows at WOLT, yesterday was our last show there, although we may continue to use their studio for broadcast (not sure yet). After 14+ months on WFIS and 6 weeks at WOLT, I am finally feeling a wee bit like a pro!

Below, Jack Logan of Put the Guns Down, Young People talks about his organization with my co-host, Gregg. (as always, you can click to enlarge the photos)



Yesterday's show rocked, and we kept the pace going throughout. Our special guests were Jack Logan, Eric Wood of Another Voice with Jason and Eric and the legendary Sylvain Sylvain (of the New York Dolls) -- the latter interview was particularly exciting for me and Double A, the rock and roll diehard.

Below, co-host Double A (the magnificent) and Eric Wood.



We will be going DAILY after we move to WOLI on March 1st. We hope all of you will join us! ADVENTURE! PASSION! PROVOCATION! MOVIN ON UP! (screams for emphasis)

We'll be doing drive-time radio hour (Gregg's dream, finally come true) at 5-6pm, so tune in.

Below, my new Facebook photo. Can you tell it was three minutes before airtime?!? (EEEEEEEEP!)



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The Second Annual Occupy Film Series continues tonight, totally and absolutely free, at the Hughes Library in Downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Tonight we will be showing Food, Inc.-- a film very close to my heart. Yall come!

And more importantly, watch the movie and learn to hate Monsanto with the rest of us lefties.

Having some vehicle issues, so I may be late or absent. Therefore hoping some intrepid folks take my place and make some noise. Get that Q-and-A started, peoples. Somebody has to do it!

Got funk?

Great Ohio Players documentary, if you have 40 minutes to spare.

If not, just skip on down to the song.

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UNSUNG (documentary)- The Ohio Players



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My January 2nd post (about the infamous Ohio Players album covers) featured the fabulously-sensuous studio version of this song, which runs closer to 8 minutes... unfortunately it has since been yanked by awful capitalists.

Trying again.

Skin Tight (TV 1974) - Ohio Players



This video, introduced by Wolfman Jack, appears to be from the Midnight Special broadcast, which means it may also get yanked eventually, so LISTEN NOW! I am somewhat shocked to discover that my post of the New York Dolls on the Midnight Special is still intact. Of five songs on that post, only one has been removed since (Carole King), and that is much better odds than most of them.

Unfortunately, YouTube is constantly yanking videos, rendering many of my old posts DEAD as a DOORNAIL... and for those interested in which corporations/individuals are behind this nefarious scheme to deny us our online fun, check out the invaluable YouTomb for details.

Listen up!

Yeah, running waaaay behind... I guess these were supposed to be posted on MUSIC MONDAY, but I find that I get those sorts of things terribly confused. (Who decided on this stuff, anyway?)

Sorry for getting my blogging-traditions all tangled up! Hopefully, you will find at least one song you enjoy.

...

Below, Wishbone Ash, which is one of the all-time great rock-band names.

I wish they'd lasted a little longer, because I love that name.

In my dreams everything was all right...

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Blowin Free - Wishbone Ash (1973)



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I can guarantee that this won't last long, and the powers-that-be will likely yank it by nightfall. So, have a look NOW! It's from the old Midnight Special vault, currently selling as a box-set for astronomical amounts of money. (But I want it FREE.)

I don't know what's more amazing, Johnny Thunders' guitar, David Johansen leaping about on those deadly platform shoes and screaming like a maniac (meant in a good way), or Jerry Nolan, the drummer who actually came to party of mine once... possibly the highlight of my life and I didn't even know it. (Jerry Nolan, Johnny Thunders, Arthur 'Killer' Kane, R.I.P.)

Talkin bout PERS-ON-ALITY, YEAH YEAH YEAH!!

Personality Crisis - The New York Dolls (1973)



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Just finished the fabulous history by Sheila Weller titled Girls Like Us, about the lives of Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon. Gossip in triplicate! Highly recommended by DEAD AIR!

And it reminded me of all the cool songs by these wonderful wimminz. The book actually goes into details of what the songs were about, who inspired them, etc.

Interesting detail: Weller reports that they knew the following song would be a hit when secretaries at the record company started making copies of the demo for themselves.

When lots of us first heard it, we just stopped dead in our tracks. Calling it a "woman's song" is something of an understatement.

BTW, will you just LOOK at her? Natural beauty, totally stunning. We all wanted SO BADLY to look like Carly! (sigh)

That's the way I've always heard it should be - Carly Simon (1972)



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Of course, you all know that Carole King was writing hits when she was freaking 17 years old! An unbelievable protege and talent, as well as a national treasure.

She also liked to get married as many times as my mother. As her songs always made clear--a born-romantic, always starry-eyed, swooning and idealistic.

My God, I love this song with a passion--any version, by anybody. The line, "Tonight the stars put on a show for free," illustrated the way I always felt about the radio, that magic place where I first encountered Carole's immense talent as a wee one.

Up on the Roof - Carole King (first version by the Drifters in 1962, I don't know what year this live version was recorded)



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Listen to this voice effortlessly soar into the stratosphere, almost as if she were singing to herself in the shower or something. Bloody incredible.

Will you take me as I am?

California - Joni Mitchell (1970)

Church with David Johansen: All is well

The Mormons have taken a public beating this week, what with the trial of Warren Jeffs and the stories of his droogs all over the media, so I'd like to personally extend an olive branch and say: peace! (((holds up two fingers, trad peace sign))) Time for an LDS hymn!

If you saw the fascinating documentary New York Doll (2005), about Arthur 'Killer' Kane (1949-2004), bassist of the New York Dolls, you know that he converted to Mormonism and died shortly after the Dolls reunion that he had wanted so much. Also, after making amends with Johansen, with whom he had feuded.

I confess, that making up with old enemies and then promptly dying, is one of those weird fantasies of mine...it probably comes from the frequent joke one hears upon leaving the confessional: If you died right now, you'd be a saint! (Thus, I have always been fascinated by any church that declares they already ARE saints.)

And of course, this means there are only two of the original Dolls left, David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain.

At the end of the documentary, Johansen sung a lovely version of LDS Hymn #30 "Come Come Ye Saints", in tribute to Arthur Kane.

Stand for the hymn--there is only one verse here, so no excuses!

Everyone have a lovely sabbath!