Thursday, April 29, 2010
WABC Rewound is gone
It is possible that new airchecks made by collectors have surfaced over the past year, but the management of WABC radio has retired the show. I am probably repeating what I said a year ago is that we must think about this in a logical way. Over the years the euphoria over Rewound has waned. The station can not program to the radio geeks who are a small number. I am not in the radio business, but I presume that few people listen to talk radio on a major summer holiday. Apparently, WABC feels it can make more money by airing reruns of their regular weekday programming.
I like thank Johnny Donovan, Peter Kanze, Rob Frankel and many others for making it possible over the years. Thanks to Allan Sniffen for providing it this year online.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Look Who's Number 1
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tonight's Met game was rained out
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Blue Monday by Fats Domino
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Memphis the Musical - Our Birthday Treat
Friday, April 23, 2010
Deep Blue - George Harrison
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Finally, something is coming to the Caldor's Site in Flushing
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
6 years and 1 day Apart
Life is a highway and today I completed Highway 61
I thank everyone for their kind birthday wishes.
According to the Dylan covers database Highway 61 Revisited was covered over 300 times. I am posting the version by Ben Sidran which I first heard on WBGO. He has a CD of covers called Dylan Different. My name for this CD is Dylan with Diction. Facebook friends can see and hear it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFTbqz_6pGI
Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?”
God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin’ you better run”
Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killin’ done?”
God says, “Out on Highway 61”
Well Georgia Sam he had a bloody nose
Welfare Department they wouldn’t give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard where can I go
Howard said there’s only one place I know
Sam said tell me quick man I got to run
Ol’ Howard just pointed with his gun
And said that way down on Highway 61
Well Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
I got forty red, white and blue shoestrings
And a thousand telephones that don’t ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things
And Louie the King said let me think for a minute son
And he said yes I think it can be easily done
Just take everything down to Highway 61
Now the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren’t right
My complexion she said is much too white
He said come here and step into the light, he says hmm you’re right
Let me tell the second mother this has been done
But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61
Now the rovin’ gambler he was very bored
He was tryin’ to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said I never engaged in this kind of thing before
But yes I think it can be very easily done
We’ll just put some bleachers out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61
Copyright © 1965 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1993 by Special Rider Music
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Google Analytics and this Journal
- This journal averages about 25 hits per day
- The most popular post is about my top 10 followers on Facebook
- All of a sudden a book review I wrote about Bill O'reilly has gotten many hits. I commented that he has very strong Catholic values
- For a while an entry about kosher delis closing in Queens closing received a lot of hits
- For over a year articles that I wrote about Don K Reed and Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor have been popular.
- Google analytics can not reveal the identity of a viewer, but sometimes I can figure out who it is from the geographic location.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Moody Blue - Elvis Presley
Sunday, April 18, 2010
At least the Mets won this game
Perhaps the rules in Major League Baseball should be changed to allow for players to return to a game after they are taken out. Baseball is the only sport where a player is disqualified when he leaves a game. Hockey (the shoot out to break a tie), pro football (the 2 point conversion after a touchdown) and basketball (the 3 point goal) have made major rule changes over the years. Perhaps baseball can make some changes as well.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Long Island Radio and TV Day at CW Post
- Alan Berman
- Linda Cohen
- Mary Shaw
- Paula Ross
- Andrea Wiener
- Bill Dillane
- Larry Stoler
- Alan Seltzer
I also met several people in the radio business for the first time. Many of them are Facebook friends:
- Don K Reed - Former WCBS-FM radio personality (see photo above)
- Don Tandler - WHTG (AM) The Breeze and Thunder 98.5 under the name Kris McNeil
- Big Tom Lawler - WMTR
- Pete Fornatale - WFUV (see photo above)
- Tony Warren - former WCBS-FM newsman
- Keith Allen - B-103
- Famous Amos - WCBS-FM - he is a cousin of Barbara Kebbekus who retired a few years ago as a chemistry rofessor at NJIT
There were many other people in the radio business. I would have like to have met Ted David, but he was really busy everytime I saw him. There are more photos of mine at http://picasaweb.google.com/Bigtownman/LongIslandRadioDay2010. They are also posted to my Facebook account.
I also met Clay Cole there. I had met him back in November at the Beatles show in Stamford, CT
The highlight of the day was hearing Pete Fornatale talk about Woodstock. He played a short tape of his doing a commercial on WNEW-FM for Woodstock in July 1969. The funniest thing was a video he played of Joe Cocker singing With a Little Help From My Friends at Woodstock. Much of his singing was garbled, so video had some funny lyrics in the song. Pete debunked a story that there were babies born at Woodstock.
It was a very enjoyable day.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Montague Street (Journal of Bob Dylan)
In an introduction to the first issue Nina and Lucas state that the scope of this work is in the artistry of Dylan. Some years ago I subscribed to the fanzine On the Tracks which ceased publication. I am aware of Isis and a few other intellecutal Dylan publications, but this is the only academic journal I am aware of devoted to Dylan. I did a search in a humanities database and there are many peer reviewed articles about Mr. Zimmerman.
When I got the journal I looked at the credentials of the contributing authors. Several of them are Professors at prestigious universities. I actually had the magazine with me yesterday when I had my long train delay. About half of the articles were devoted the the album Oh Mercy for its 20th anniversary. This was not my favorite Dylan album, but I still enjoyed it.
This periodical is not for the casual Dylan fan. I enjoyed reading it though it was a little too intellectual for me even with a masters degrees in chemistry and library science. The authors give very detailed analyses of Dylan's words while my approach to his analysis is somewhat cursory. I can pick lines out of context and ignore the rest of the song.
I was almost shocked to read that Nina Goss started listening to Dylan in 2005, while I started back in 1965 after I heard Like a Rolling Stone on Top 40 radio. I guess 45 years of listening and reading about Dylan should qualify me to write an article. The editors say that the credentials of the author are less important than the substance of the contribution . The theme of the next issue is confinement. Let me scratch my head.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Bad Commute Home Tonight
To add insult to injury New Jersey Transit is raising it fares 25% on May 1. Why can't they maintain the signals so they don't break down. Read about my last major delay last October.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Me, The Mob and The Music by Tommy James
For a number of years WCBS-FM played his hit Mony Mony to death. I had to turn off the radio or change the station every time it came on, since I was so tired of hearing it. It was never a bad record, it was just overplayed.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Tangled Up in Blue - Bob Dylan
Monday, April 12, 2010
Good Reviews for Million Dollar Quartet
Will it be a box office hit like Jersey Boys? There were many empty seats in the theater when we saw it on March 28. There have been TV ads for it lately, so hopefully it will catch on.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Random Thoughts on a Sunny Sunday
2. I read one article from Montague Street: The Art of Bob Dylan , a new magazine edited by Nina Gross. I am going to have to sit down with this and write a review for this journal.
3. We walked around Douglaston and Little Neck early this afternoon.
4. The Mets have not looked good so far as they have lost 4 out of their first 6 games. Pitiching seems OK, but they just can't hit in the clutch. It is still very early, but if the team is not competitive this season, Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel must go.
5. The Rangers lost 2-1 in an overtime shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers and missed out on the playoffs.
6. The Knicks lost their 52nd game of the season. Only two games to go. Donny Walsh had better keep David Lee. If the teams sucks next season that he and Mike D'Antoni must go.
7. I reconnected with Jean O'Conner from P.S. 139. She said she enjoyed reading this blog. I'm glad you enjoy it Jean.
8. Barry Scott featured 1977 on the Lost 45s tonight. That was not a very good year for me, so I turned it off. It is still a very good show and I recommend it highly.
9. Million Dollar Quartet opens tonight after 4 weeks of previews. I will check the reviews and report here.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Our First Met game of the Season - Mets lose 4-3 to the Nationals
Our seats wer behind home plate in the upper deck. We met Alan Berman, the Dean of Oldies Listeners who is also a big fan of the Mets. The bad Oliver Perez was the starting pitcher as he allowed 4 runs, 4 hits, and 4 walks. Those bases on balls can really kill you. Willie Taveras drove in all 4 runs while Willie Harris made a diving catch to end the game as the Mets left the bases loaded and failed to score. You must hit in the clutch to win ball games.
Game Summary from ESPN
Friday, April 9, 2010
Random Thoughts of the Day
Congratulations to Jeremy Garritano of Purdue University for earning tenure and being promoted to Associate Professor.
I recieved the following items in the mail today:
- Soundtrack CD of the musical Memphis that we will see on April 24
- Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge's Greatest Hits
- Neil Sedaka's new CD
Umpire Joe West complained that Yankee-Red Sox games take too long. I must agree with him. How many times must the catcher have to run out to consult with the pitcher. Why must the batter call time so often? A good pitcher should know how to through to right and left handed batters.
Associate Justice John Paul Stevens has announced his retirement from the Supreme Court. There will obviously be a big fight when the president announces his nominee.
Have a nice weekend everybody.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Linda Cohen - Mary Shaw - Facebooks Friends of the Day
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Blue on Blue by Bobby Vinton
Monday, April 5, 2010
Opening Day of the Baseball Season 2010
Game Summary
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Reviewing the Color Songs on Bruce's Journal
Colours - Donovan - November 20
She’s a Rainbow - Rolling Stones - November 25
White Room - Cream - November 30
Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues - December 4
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Dec 7
Black is Black - Los Bravos - Dec 9
Baby’s in Black - Beatles - Dec 14
Black Magic Woman - Santana - Dec 16
Black and White - Three Dog Night - Dec 18
Shades of Gray - Monkees - December 21
Yellow Submarine - Beatles - December 24
Mellow Yellow - Donovan - December 30
Tie a Yellow Ribbon - January 7
Yellow River - Christie - January 12
Green Tambourine - Lemon Pipers January 22
Green Onions - Booker T and the Mgs - January 27
Green, Green Grass of Home - February 16
Green Green - New Christie Minstrels March 3
Jolly Green Giant - Kingsmen March 5
Orange Blossom Special - Johnny Cash - March 10
Green Grass - Gary Lewis and the Playboys - March 16
Blue Moon - Marcels - March 18
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Willie Mays The Life The Legend
I like Hirsch's chrnological method as the reader knows the time frame of each chapter. He includes some personal aspect of Willie's life without being gossipy. There were significant racial issues when Mays broke into baseball in the early 1950s. Jackie Robinson was traded to the Giants before 1957, but retired instead of reporting. It is a shame that Jackie and Willie never played together. I was aware the Mrs. Joan Payson, first owner of the Mets tried to trade for Mays for years, but didn't get him until 1972 when his skill had greatly eroded. He played poorly and spradically during his tenure with the Mets.
The book is very detailed and does not bore the reader with insignificant minutae. It was over 550 pages so it will require several hours over a number of sittings to finish. I spent much time on the rainy days this week reading it. I highly recommend this book for all baseball fans.