Superhero Sandbox Playlist 1/28/15

The Superhero Sandbox may be heard weekly on Royalton Community Radio (royaltonradio.org).

Anything Goes (Lady Gaga-Tony Bennett-- Cheek to Cheek-- 2015)

Come Fly With Me (Frank Sinatra-- Sinatra at the Sands-- 1966)

I’ve Got a Crush On You (Frank Sinatra-- Sinatra at the Sands-- 1966)

Let’s Have Another Cup of Coffee (Glenn Miller-- The Complete Glenn Miller Vol. VIII-- 1942)

Time Out of Mind (Steely Dan-- Gaucho-- 1984)

But Beautiful (Lady Gaga-Tony Bennett-- Cheek to Cheek-- 2015)

Salvation Song (Avett Brothers-- Southern Cultures Special Issue-- n.d.)

Edison (Bee Gees-- Odessa-- 1969)

Shine a Light (Rolling Stones-- Exile on Main Street-- 1972)

If I Wanted Someone (Dawes-- Nothing Is Wrong-- 2011)

Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (Neil Young-- Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Celebration-- 1993)

Mission Statement (Weird Al Yankovic-- Mandatory Fun-- 2014)

Keep the Customer Satisfied (Simon and Garfunkel-- Collected Works-- 1983)

I’ll See You In My Dreams (Ben Light at the Steinway-- Tempo-- n.d.)

Lost in the Harbor (Tom Waits-- Alice-- 2003)

Wall Street Village Day (4 Seasons-- Genuine Imitation Life Gazette-- 1969)

Getting Better (The Beatles-- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-- 1967)

No Cops (They Might Be Giants-- Dial A Song 2015)

I'm The Guy Who Found the Lost Chord (Jimmy Durante-- "In Person"-- n.d.)

Music Jail Pt. 1 and 2 (They Might Be Giants-- Dial A Song 2015)

Tenderness Is His Way (Gladys Knight and the Pips-- I Feel A Song-- 1974)

Live Forever (Billy Joe Shaver-- Victory-- 1998)

The Pilgrim (Chapter 33) (Kris Kristofferson-- The Silver Tongued Devil and I-- 1970)

He's A Mighty Good Leader (Beck-- One Foot In the Grave-- 1993)

O Bone Jesu ((Holy Cross Seminary Choir-- Dunkirk, NY-- n.d.)

Ride the Chariot (Trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton, NJ-- 1992)

Come Thy Font Of Every Blessing (Youth in One Accord-- "O For A Thousand Tongues"-- n.d.)

A Man Needs The Lord (Buelah Baptist Church-- Gospel Gold-- 2007)

I Saw The Light (Blind Boys of Alabama-- Gospel Gold-- 2007)

Music In the Air (Sister Rosetta Tharpe-- Best Of)

Introduction to Rock and Roll: 1950-1959

During the Spring 2015 semester, I am teaching an Introduction to Rock and Roll course at Vermont Technical College. Designated as a 1000-level arts and humanities elective, the class meets once a week, on Wednesday evenings. Students compose a series of short non-fiction essay, examining key individuals, groups, musicians, producers, studios, concerts, films, etc. from each decade (1950-1999), and participate in discussions in class. This course is by no means comprehensive, in representing the evolution of the rock and pop genres. This and other blog posts will provide highlights from this teaching experience, and document some materials used in class. 

Please note: this listing is neither sequential, nor cited in any standard form. Media includes vinyl, VHS cassette, DVD, and videos available online.

1950-1959

Robert Johnson, "Crossroads"

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, "Didn't It Rain"

Louis Armstrong, "Hello, Dolly"

Guy Lombardo (78rpm)

Elvis Presley, "Hound Dog" (Ed Sullivan appearance)

Elvis Found Alive (2012), segments two and three

Elvis Presley, Tupelo 1957

Elvis Presley, Sun Sessions

Hank Williams, "Your Cheatin' Heart"

Hank Williams, "I Saw The Light"

Conway Twitty, "It's Only Make Believe"

Danny and the Juniors, "At The Hop" (American Bandstand, 1958)

Carl Perkins, "Blue Suede Shoes"

Bill Haley and the Comets, "Rock Around the Clock"

Ernie Warren, Latin From Manhattan in Hawaii

Battle of the Groups Vol. 2 

Elektra Folk Pop Jazz Sampler

The Weavers, Live at Carnegie Hall

Pete Seeger, "It Takes a Worried Man" (Pete Seeger On Campus)

Hail Hail Rock and Roll (1987), 0:00-0:14

 

Superhero Sandbox Playlist 1/15/15

The Superhero Sandbox is heard weekly on Royalton Community Radio (royaltonradio.org).

Live Forever (Shaver-- Victory-- 1998)

Slow Down Old World (Willie Nelson-- Who’ll Buy My Memories?-- 1992)

January Wedding (The Avett Brothers-- And I And Love And You-- 2009)

Comin’ Down From Denver (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys-- For the Last Time-- 1974)

When I Paint My Masterpeice (The Band-- Anthology Vol. 2-- 1978)

Oh, The Wind And Rain (Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band-- Almost Acoustic-- 1987)

Sell-Out Agitation Waltz (Richard and Mimi Farina-- Reflections In a Crystal Wind-- 1966)

Blessed (Simon and Garfunkel-- Collected Works-- 1993)

"Heroes" (David Bowie-- Heroes-- 1977)

Time Is On My Side (Rolling Stones-- Hot Rocks 1964-1971-- 1986)

Bad Days (Flaming Lips-- Clouds Taste Metallic-- 1995)

I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Stereo Backing Track) (Beach Boys-- Pet Sounds Sessions-- 1996)

Til There Was You (uncredited-- Music of Music Man-- Ultraphonic 50297)

Near You (Andrews Sisters-- Centurion Jazz-- 2004)

It's A Cold Cold World (Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens-- Cold World-- 2014)

I Don't Know (Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens-- Cold World-- 2014)

Power of Love (Joe Simon-- Soul Hits of the 70s Vol. 8-- 1991)

Coming In From the Cold (Bob Marley and the Wailers-- Uprising-- 1980)

I Wasn't Listening (They Might Be Giants-- Dial-A-Song-- 2015)

Madam I Challenge You To A Duel

El Relicario (Tango) (Larry Ferrari-- Two Sides of Larry Ferrari-- 1958)

Be My Life's Companion (The Mills Brothers-- 20th Century Masters-- 1999)

Say Dear, When Will Your Frowning Leave (Wilbye Consort-- Madrigals by Thomas Weelkes-- 1969)

It's Been a Long Time Comin' (Eric Burdon and the Animals-- Eric Is Here-- n.d.)

Time Slips Away (Elvis Presley-- An Afternoon in the Garden-- 1972)

Burden of Freedom (Kris Kristofferson-- Border Lord-- 1972)

What You Want (The Original Gospel Singers Ensemble-- Gospel Gold-- 2007)

Power Lord (The Victory Travelers-- Gospel Funk-- n.d.)

If I Could Help Somebody (Blind Boys of Alabama-- Down In New Orleans-- 2008)

Music In the Air (Sister Rosetta Tharpe-- Best Of)

The Superhero Sandbox Playlist 1/8/15

The Superhero Sandbox is a weekly program, heard on Royalton Community Radio, and produced by Christopher Smith. This show celebrated the 80th birthday of Elvis Aron Presley. For more information, and to stream The Superhero Sandbox on-demand, visit royaltonradio.org

2001 -- Elvis Presley-- Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite-- 1/14/73-- RCA VPSX-6089

See See Rider-- Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite-- 1/14/73-- RCA VPSX-6089

Harbor Lights-- Elvis Presley-- Sun Session Outtakes-- July 1954-- RCACPM6-5173

That’s All Right Mama--Sun Session Outtakes-- July 1954-- RCACPM6-5173

One Night-- Elvis Presley-- The Complete 50’s Masters-- RCA66050-2

Your Cheatin’ Heart-- Elvis Presley-- Elvis For Everyone-- AYL1-4232

Summer Kisses, Winter Tears-- Elvis For Everyone-- AYL1-4232

Moody Blue-- The Essential 70’s Masters-- RCA 66670-2

1957 Press Conference, Vancouver-- The Elvis Tapes-- Redwood Music RED1

Trouble-- Elvis Presley Sings Leiber and Stoller-- RCA 3026-2-R

I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine-- Sun Session Outtakes-- July 1954-- RCA CPM6-5173

Good Rockin’ Tonight-- Sun Session Outtakes-- July 1954-- RCA CPM6-5173

Milk Cow Blues-- Sun Session Outtakes-- July 1954-- RCA CPM6-5173

You’re So Square (I Don’t Care)-- The Complete 50’s Masters-- RCA A66050-2

Don’t Leave Me Now-- The Complete 50’s Masters-- RCA A66050-2

Welcome to My World (Live)-- Welcome to My World-- 1977-- RCA APL-1-2274

Help Me Make It Through the Night-- Welcome to My World-- 1977-- RCA APL-1-2274

Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)-- Welcome to My World-- 1977-- RCA APL-1-2274

Men With Broken Hearts (Poem)-- The Essential 70’s Masters-- RCA 66607-2

Walk A Mile In My Shoes-- The Essential 70’s Masters-- RCA 66607-2

Hound Dog (Milton Berle Show)-- This Is Elvis-- 1981-- RCA CPL2-4031

Excerpt from Hy Gardner Interview--  This Is Elvis-- 1981-- RCA CPL2-4031

That’s When Your Heartaches Begin-- The Complete 50’s Masters-- RCA66050-2

I Can’t Stop Loving You (Live)-- Welcome to My World-- 1977-- RCA APL-1-2274

Never Been to Spain (Live)--The Essential 70’s Masters-- RCA 66670-2

Blue Suede Shoes-- Burbank, California-- 6/27/68-- RCA CPM6-5172-6

Tiger Man--Burbank, California-- 6/27/68-- RCA CPM6-5172-6

Loving You-- Elvis Presley Sings Leiber and Stoller-- RCA 3026-2-R

The Wonder of You-- The Legendary Magic of Elvis Presley-- RCA DVL1-0461

Got a Lot of Livin’ To Do-- Elvis: The Great Performances-- RCA 2227-2-R

The King Is Gone-- George Jones--

Stranger In My Place-- Orion (Jimmy Ellis)-- Sunrise-- Sun-101

If I Can Dream--  Elvis: The Great Performances-- RCA 2227-2-R

So High-- Elvis Sings How Great Thou Art-- RCA LPM 3758

Take My Hand, Precious Lord-- The Complete 50’s Masters-- RCA 66050-2

It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)-- The Complete 50’s Masters-- RCA 66050-2

Where Could I Go (But to the Lord)--  Elvis Sings How Great Thou Art-- RCA LPM 3758

By and By-- Elvis Sings How Great Thou Art-- RCA LPM 3758

Music In the Air-- Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Suffering the Flaming Lips Gladly

“For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise” – Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians

There is no longer a need to sing the praises of the Flaming Lips: their triumph has coincided with what many are calling the exhaustion of originality within the rock genre. Well-respected as a groundbreaking punk, grunge, and now pop music outfit, the group has lived on well past the middle age of its members. Descending into others' songwriter's canons of music and lyrics is, in my view, always a fine challenge for non-professional musicians, but for those who make a (comfortable/ecstasy-filled) living, perhaps we listeners should expect more. 

Especially from the Flaming Lips. A few years ago, the Flaming Lips were (and maybe still are) opening their show with an instrumental riff borrowed from an old song of theirs, recorded during the sessions that produced their masterwork, The Soft Bulletin. Its title--“The Captain Is a Cold Hearted and Egotistical Fool"-- has come to represent the neo-pop circus that is Wayne Coyne's big band. Still the ringmaster, the lead singer's withered voice sounds crippled, weak somehow, against the anthemic noise-rock, as he tries but fails to sing along with songs everyone already knows, and is singing along to already. Over the summer of 2014, the Lips played shows from Belgium to Edinburgh, Dublin to Austin, and from Bonnaroo to The Hudson Project, a new fest in Saugerties, New York (where VIP ticket packages cost over $1500). The band has amassed extensive pop fodder to fill their setlists: in addition to their own glam-punk catalog that stretches back into the 1980s, the group covered Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon in the studio and in live performance, as well as large chunks of the Who's Tommy. Besides a series of collaborative, limited-edition vinyl releases that trickled out during the last decade, featuring generally uninspired instrumental studio blunders with the Lips and "fwends," the group's label-- Warner Brothers-- helped the band reissue its previous works, in deluxe vinyl form. Throw in more than their fair share of gummi skulls, a 24-hour-long song with as much aesthetic appeal as watching paint dry, and the ongoing traveling feelgood roadshow, and there is still no excuse for slipping from being an inventive, dynamic music organization, into what appears to be little more than a stoner cover band. The Grateful Dead never needed confetti cannons, laser light shows, glittered costumes, or other cheap thrills to make their point; even today, Phish packs venues tight, without adorning the stage with as much as a disco ball. On tour, the Flaming Lips appear compelled to carry along with them a planetarium of effects, creating a theatrical spectacle that belongs in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee or Branson, Missouri, to augment tireless renditions of chestnuts from the rock canon. With their recent television appearance, when Miley Cyrus emerging from Wayne's crotch during "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," the Flaming Lips have more than 'jumped the shark'-- they established a new low for musical schlock, one where even the regurgitation of the anthems of the rock genre's heyday are needlessly cloaked in overstatement, collapsing under its own psychedelic weight. 

In an interview with the Detroit Free Press in June 2014, and following a public falling out with the band's longtime drummer over an allegedly-racist slip of the tongue by the band's burnt-out front man, Wayne Coyne rationalized his own behavior, and more largely the band's meandering direction, in this way: "I think we’re living through this arc of what I call the sensationalized offended, the people who are so offended that they have to go on this wonderful thing with no authenticity required — the Internet — and say anything they want. And if someone wants to believe it, they can. But I think it runs its course so quickly." If, through the Internet, fandom has lost its need for authenticity, are artists and performers to create and behave as though their shtick-- whatever it is-- will 'run its course quickly?' The "arc of the sensationalized offended" may be Wayne's drug-addled characterization of what he sees as his and his band's role in society; it may, too, be an attempt at understanding the ever-vapid and ever-fluid public taste. Since the group's inception in the 1980s, The Flaming Lips have seen musicians come and go; they have licensed their hits for use in commercials (from cars to cell phones); they have released products that, in form and substance, are at best unwieldy and challenging (the Zaireeka vinyl box set, made of four vinyl LP records to be played simultaneously, comes to mind). 

Full cover albums of others' work raises questions about an artist's creativity, and about their ability (at that time, anyway) to actually create original material. Phish's tradition of covering another band's album at a Halloween show was tainted in 2013 when the audience at the Atlantic City Convention Center was "treated" to a cover of a Phish album that had not yet been released (this past year in Las Vegas, Phish rekindled the tradition, albeit via an extended and jammy exploration of a 1964 Disneyland Records release, Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House). At SXSW a few years back, Bruce Springsteen declared with a shrug the music industry had entered the age of the "post-authentic" (see separate blog post, titled "Who's the Boss?"), a time when musicians are not just conscripted but in fact doomed to imitate, emulate, or downright steal from previous pop recordings. 

Am I the only one who hopes Springsteen's next "Pete Seeger Sessions" will actually feature the songs, if not the ideology of, Pete Seeger? That Phish will find something more profound to cover on Halloween, than a children's sound effects record? That the Flaming Lips will rediscover and regain their cool and their mojo? Or are we to 'suffer fools gladly,' to learn to love the Lips in all their gummi-skull splendor, regardless of how hideous the digital artifacts inside may be?

Regardless of what The Boss tells the hipsters gathered in Austin, the quest for authenticity may never trump earnest efforts of musicianship. The Lips' in-studio, collaborative cover of Dark Side of the Moon far surpasses in-concert renditions of the same work from years prior. Psychedelic and incandescent, reflecting the glow of a global music scene, Wayne Coyne's Lonely Hearts Club shall saunter into the New Year. The fodder for the Lips' feelgood set lists has never been more extensive; the bland socialized angst and paranoia that has fueled their few original compositions and lyrics during this decade have never been more available, in major American cities but also on side streets and back roads their tour bus will never see. While the band's traveling road show may likely evolve into something even more vaudevillian and whacked-out (and for many, sadly, an excuse for bad choices in substance use), I can remain ever-hopeful the Flaming Lips can and will find their way back to whatever fount of lyrical and musical inspiration they knew in the nineties (I hope they didn't lose those brain cells backstage somewhere). In 1997, it couldn't have taken much for Wayne to turn the opening track of Zaireeka from a mere bass line into a mournful ode of acceptance, and one of the finest rock recordings ever produced: "OK, I'll admit/that I really don't understand." Perhaps that is how we are supposed to feel about today's manifestation of the Flaming Lips, Miley Cyrus and all. But oh, Michael Ivins, how do you endure?

http://www.freep.com/article/20140611/ENT04/306110015

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/opinion/brooks-suffering-fools-gladly.html?_r=0

The Superhero Sandbox Playlist 12/18/14

The Superhero Sandbox is a weekly program, produced by Christopher Smith, and heard on Royalton Community Radio (royaltonradio.org). 

Frosty the Snowman (Christmas with the Chipmunks-- Liberty-- 1980)

Happy Holiday with "The Best of the Mummers" (Sure Records-- 1960)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Burl Ives-- Videocraft-- 1969)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Disney's Merry Christmas Carols-- Disneyland-- 1983)

O Tannenbaum (Vince Guaraldi Trio-- A Charlie Brown Christmas-- Fantasy-- 2006)

Bored in the USA (Father John Misty-- I Love You, Honeybear-- Subpop-- 2014)

Auld Lang Syne (Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians-- New Years' Eve With-- MCA)

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon-- The Ultimate Christmas Album-- Lampshade-- 2001)

Nutty Jingle Bells (Al Hirt-- The Sound of Christmas-- RCA-- 1965)

White Christmas (Darlene Love-- A Christmas Gift for You-- Abkco-- 1963)

Adeste Fidelis (Jose Melis and his Orchestra-- Christmas With Melis-- Bronjo-- ???)

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Don Kinnier-- Christmas in the Ballroom-- 2013)

Joy To The World (Sufjan Stevens-- Silver and Gold-- 2013)

Welcome Christmas (How the Grinch Stole Christmas-- King Leo Series-- 1966)

In the Bleak Midwinter (West Chester United Methodist Church-- 2004)

O Come All Ye Faithful (Christmas Sing A Long-- Premier Albums NYC-- ???)

O Little Town of Bethlehem (Richard Tucker-- A Tenors Christmas-- 1969)

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Willie Nelson-- Pretty Paper-- 1979)

O Holy Night (Jordanaires-- Christmas to Elvis-- Classic Christmas-- 1978)

There's No Place Like Home.../I'll Be Home For Christmas (Larry Ferrari-- I Wish You the Merriest-- Sure Records-- 1960)

First Beatles Christmas Flexi Record (The Beatles-- The Ultimate Christmas Album-- 2001)

The First Noel (The Toreador Brass-- Tijuana Christmas-- 1970)

The First Noel (Sufjan Stevens-- Songs for Christmas-- 2006)

I'll Be Home For Christmas (Elvis Presley-- Elvis' Christmas Album-- 1970)

A Christmas Carol (Ives) (John Roark-- 2001)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Christmas at Tosca-- Tosca High School, Amarillo TX--1966)

Angels We Have Heard On High (Don Kinnier-- Christmas in the Ballroom-- 2013)

Sweet Little Jesus Boy (Mahalia Jackson-- Silent Night-- ???)

Music In the Air (Sister Rosetta Tharpe-- Best Of)

Superhero Sandbox Playlist 12/11/14

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Sufjan Stevens-- Silver and Gold-- 2012)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (The Crystals-- A Christmas Gift for You-- 1962)

Sleigh Ride (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass-- Christmas Album-- 1968)

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day (The Jordanaires-- Christmas to Elvis-- 1978)

The Bell That Couldn't Jingle (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass-- Christmas Album-- 1968)

The Midnight Clear (Sufjan Stevens-- Silver and Gold-- 2012)

Peace on Earth/Silent Night (Dean Martin--Frank Sinatra and His Friends… -- ???)

A Christmas Carol (Ives) (John Roark-- Music from a Glad and Joyous Heart-- 2001)

Jingle Bells (Sammy Davis Jr.-- Frank Sinatra and His Friends… -- ???)

Winter Wonderand (Darlene Love-- A Christmas Gift For You-- 1963)

I'll Be Home For Christmas (Elvis Presley-- Elvis' Christmas Album-- 1970)

We Need a Little Christmas (Sufjan Stevens-- Silver and Gold-- 2012)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (The Toreador Brass-- Tijuana Christmas-- ???)

March of the Wooden Soldiers (Don Kinnier-- Christmas In the Ballroom-- 2013)

The Christmas Song (Frank Sinatra-- A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra-- ???)

Second Beatles Christmas Flexi Record 1964 (The Beatles-- The Beatles Ultimate Christmas Album-- 2001)

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles-- Merry Christmas From Motown-- 1968)

Lo How A Rose Ere Blooming (Sufjan Stevens-- Songs for Christmas-- 2006)

O Little Town of Bethlehem (Mills Brothers-- Merry Christmas-- 1979)

Christmas Gloria (Pote) (South County Chorus and Orchestra-- Christmas Concert-- 2006)

And the Glory of the Lord (Handel) (Revelation Philharmonic Orchestra and the One Experience Choir-- The New Messiah-- 1970)

Hallejuah (Handel) (Revelation Philharmonic Orchestra and the One Experience Choir-- The New Messiah-- 1970)

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Don Kinnier-- Christmas in the Ballroom-- 2013)

In the Bleak Midwinter (Choir of New College-- Carols from New College-- 1985)

Deck the Halls (Snap-On Male Chorus-- Carols of Christmas-- ???)

Sleigh Ride (Sufjan Stevens-- Songs for Christmas-- 2006)

O Tannenbaum (The New American Guitar Ensemble-- A Collection of Favourite Christmas Carols-- 1983)

O Come All Ye Faithful (Mormon Tabernacle Choir-- Greatest Hits of Christmas-- 1981)

In the Bleak Midwinter (Royal College of Music-- Carols for Christmas-- 1984)

Music in the Air (Sister Rosetta Tharpe-- Best Of)

z

Superhero Sandbox Playlist 12/4/14

The Superhero Sandbox is a weekly program heard on Royalton Community Radio (royaltonradio.org).

Times They Are A'Changin' (Bob Dylan-- The Wittmark Demos-- 1962)

Any Major Dude Will Tell You (Steely Dan-- Pretzel Logic-- 1974)

Something So Right (Paul Simon-- Greatest Hits, Etc.-- 1977)

All Things Must Pass (George Harrison-- Songs By George Harrison-- 2009)
I'm So Tired (The Beatles-- The Beatles-- 1968)
Blackbird (The Beatles-- The Beatles-- 1968)

Ain't Nobody But Me (Supertramp-- Crisis? What Crisis?-- 1975)
The Age of Adz (Sufjan Stevens-- The Age of Adz-- 2010)
I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (Beach Boys-- Pet Sounds-- 1966)

Gentle On My Mind (Wayne Newton-- Live at the Frontier, Las Vegas-- 1969)
Alumni Blues (Phish-- The White Tape-- 1984)
The Cap'm (They Might Be Giants-- The Else-- 2007)
Get Off Of My Cloud (The Rolling Stones-- Hot Rocks 1964-1971-- 1986)

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) (Jr. Walker & The All-Stars-- Motown Winners' Circle-- 1969)

White Christmas (Darlene Love-- A Christmas Gift For You-- 1963)
Sleigh Ride (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass-- Christmas Album-- 1968)
Lo! How a Rose Ere Blooming (Sufjan Stevens-- Christmas Singalong Vol. 5-- 2006)

The Christmas Song (Sammy Davis Jr.-- The Nat Cole Songbook-- 1965)
A Christmas Carol (Ives) (John H. Roark-- Music From a Glad and Joyful Heart-- 2001)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Tammy Wynette-- Christmas With Gusto-- 1970)

Fourth Beatles Christmas Flexi Record (The Beatles-- The Ultimate Christmas Album-- 1966)
Silent Night (Greater Kensington String Band-- Happy Holiday with the Mummers-- ???)
The Bells of St. Mary's (Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans-- A Christmas Gift For You-- 1963)
Blue Christmas (Elvis Presley-- Elvis' Christmas Album-- 1970)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Jordanaires-- Christmas to Elvis-- 1978)

Jingle Bell Rock (PK and the Sound Explosion-- Christmas Disco-- 1977)
And The Glory of the Lord (Handel) (South County Chorus and Orchestra-- Christmas Concert-- 2006)
Auld Lang Syne (The Platters-- Christmas With the Platters-- 1973)
Angels We Have Heard On High (Don Kinnier-- In the Ballroom at Christmas-- 2013)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass-- Christmas Album-- 1968)
Happy Christmas (War is Over) (John Lennon-- Ultimate Christmas Album-- 2001)

Music In the Air (Sister Rosetta Tharpe-- Best Of)

Superhero Sandbox Playlist 11/13/14

The Superhero Sandbox is a weekly program, heard on Royalton Community Radio WFVR

Tupelo Honey/Just Like a Woman (Richie Havens-- Richie Havens On Stage-- Stormy Forest 1972)

Sleep Late, My Lady Friend (Harry Nilsson-- Pandemonium Shadow Show-- RCA 1967)

Day In, Day Out (The Page Cavanaugh Big Band-- Something's Happening At Page Cavanaugh's-- Reprise 1962)

Keep the Customer Satisfied (Simon and Garfunkel-- Bridge Over Troubled Water-- Columbia 1969)

Straighten Up and Fly Right (Sammy Davis Jr.-- The Nat Cole Song Book-- Reprise 1965)

Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby) (Buster Poindexter-- Buster Poindexter-- RCA 1987)

Send Me Some Lovin' (Sam Cooke-- The Best Of Sam Cooke-- RCA 1970)

Pretty Little Angel Eyes (Curtis Lee-- Phil Spector Back To Mono-- Abkco 1991)

Beyond the Sea (Bobby Darin-- The Bobby Darin Story-- Atco 1960)

Exactly Like You (Benny Goodman Quartet-- Trio and Quartet Sessions Vol. 1-- Bluebird 1987)

Lover (Frank Sinatra-- The Voice-- Columbia CL743)

As Long As I Live (Count Basie-- Basic Basie-- MPS 1970)

Bad Days (The Flaming Lips-- Clouds Taste Metallic-- Warner Bros 1995)

My Way (Elvis Presley-- This Is Elvis-- RCA 1981)

I Love Every Little Thing About You (Stevie Wonder-- Music Of My Mind-- Motown 1972)

Cloud Nine (The Temptations-- Cloud Nine-- Motown 1969)

Time Out Of Mind (Steely Dan-- Gaucho-- MCA 1984)

Secret Agent Man (Johnny Rivers-- And I Know You Wanna Dance-- Liberty)

The Shadow Government (They Might Be Giants-- The Else-- Idlewild 2007)

Once In a Lifetime (Talking Heads-- 

Love's Recovery (Indigo Girls-- Indigo Girls-- Epic 1989)
Me and God (The Avett Bros.-- A Carolina Jubilee-- Ramseur 2003)

Highland Guitar (The Virtues-- Guitar Boogie Shuffle-- Strand SL/SLS 1061)

I'll Tell It (Rev. Claude Jeter-- Gospel Gold-- Q Records 2007)

Music In the Air (Sister Rosetta Tharpe-- Best Of)

On Funding to Support Affordable Public Higher Education

This appeared as an editorial in the Herald of Randolph, November 13, 2014. 

###

This is a difficult time for higher education. Declining enrollments, due to what some have called a “demographic iceberg”, have left some colleges and universities struggling to fill classrooms. Student loans, once considered open to all, are more difficult to obtain, making it more difficult for students to obtain funding. Vermont is in a unique situation, as dwindling state appropriations for the Vermont State Colleges have necessitated consistent tuition increases. Now is the time to assess state appropriations for the Vermont State Colleges, the University of Vermont, and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, to ensure that each is as effective as possible in making available to Vermonters a quality, affordable experience in higher education.

 

Affordable access to a college education is critical. A bill passed in the spring of 2014 (formerly S.40, now Act 148) established a study group to assess Vermont’s investments in higher education, and to find a way to return state funding for higher education back to 1980 levels. This group includes representatives from UVM, VSAC, and the Vermont State Colleges, and has met numerous times at the State House in Montpelier. The only new plan that has been presented to the Act 148 study group was created by AFT VT, in collaboration with representatives from UVM and the VSC Faculty Federation.

 

Rather than reallocating existing monies, and while still calling for increased state appropriations, this plan identified potential new sources of funding for the VSC and UVM, including new taxes on break open lottery tickets, changes to how Vermont taxes funds stored in overseas tax shelters, and how the state uses the federal domestic production deduction.

 

Also, the plan submitted to the Act 148 committee by the AFT VT not only proposes a limit on unrestricted portability of VSAC funds, to encourage more Vermonters to attend college in Vermont, but also increases investment in public higher education in Vermont. Currently, millions of dollars of state appropriations for higher education are provided by VSAC, to students who choose to go elsewhere for college. These funds may be better spent on investing in Vermont’s own institutions, instead of incentivizing college-bound Vermonters to seek higher education outside of Vermont.  

 

In conjunction with dismal state appropriations for the VSC since 1980, declining enrollments have created a major structural problem. The plan proposed by AFT VT caps expenditures on administrative costs at both UVM and within the VSC, increasing investment in instructional costs. The role of the state legislature cannot be underestimated in determining responsibility for the State Colleges.

 

Discussion of how Vermont invests in its systems of public higher education is critical. The public is encouraged to attend and participate in the penultimate meeting of the Act 148 study group, scheduled for November 14^th 2014, at 10 AM in Room 10 of the State House in Montpelier.

Superhero Sandbox Playlist 11/6/14

The Superhero Sandbox is a weekly program heard on Royalton Community Radio, 96.5FM WFVR-LP, and online at royaltonradio.org

Some People (Chuck Berry-- Back Home-- 1970)

Too Much Monkey Business (Steve Forbert-- King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents-- 8/4/82)

Goin' Down To Laurel (Steve Forbert-- King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents-- 8/4/82)

Rat Race (The Revolutionares-- High Note Records-- ???)

Spirit Voices (Paul Simon-- The Rhythm of the Saints-- 1990)

Twelve O'Clock, eh, Sonny (Butch Robbins-- Fragments of My Imagination-- 1977)

Nobody Left to Crown (Richie Havens-- Nobody Left to Crown-- 2008)

Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down (The Temptations-- Puzzle People-- 1969)

America (Simon and Garfunkel-- Bookends-- 1968)

I'm Allright (Little Anthony and the Imperials-- Battle of the Groups Vol. 2-- ????)

Head Held High (Early Version) (Velvet Underground-- Loaded-- 1968)

Jump In the Line (Acker Bilk-- Stranger No More-- 1961)

Mansion Over the Hilltop (Elvis Presley-- Amazing Grace His Greatest Sacred Performances-- 1994)

If He Changed My Name (Nina Simone-- Nina Simone Live at The Village Gate-- ???)

What Is His Name (Lou Ann Harris-- Gospel Gold-- 2007)

What It's Worth (King Curtis and the Kingpins-- King Sized Soul-- 1967)

Harvest (Neil Young-- Decade-- 1970)

Turkey Cobbler (George Barnes and His Orchestra-- Country Jazz-- ???)

Lady Stardust (David Bowie-- Ziggy Stardust-- 1972)

The Word (The Beatles-- Rubber Soul-- Capitol T2442-- 1966)

Mohammed's Radio (Warren Zevon-- The Best Of-- 1986)

Smile (Sammy Davis Jr.-- The Nat Cole Songbook-- 1965)

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Les Brown and his Band of Renown-- Moments to Remember-- 2001)

Momma Jive (Charles Kynard-- Your Mama Don't Dance-- ???)

I Can Hear Music (Mark Wirtz Orchestra and Chorus-- Mojo Presents In My Room-- 2007)

Bewitched (Frank Sinatra-- The Concert Sinatra-- 1963)

La Vie En Rose (Louie Armstrong-- On the Road-- 1992)

Blessing Glory and Wisdom (Bach) (PA Music Educators' Association SW District Chorus 1958)

In My Room (

Superhero Sandbox Playlist 10/30/14

Wednesday Morning, 3 AM (Simon and Garfunkel-- Wednesday Morning, 3 AM-- 1966)

Mink Car (They Might Be Giants-- Mink Car-- 2001)

Go! CHICAGO! Go! Yeah! (Sufjan Stevens-- Illinois-- 2005)

Painted Eyelids (Beck-- One Foot In the Grave-- 1994)

Where Do You Hide In A Haunted House? (Casper the Friendly Ghost-- Haunted House Tales)

Theme From A Clockwork Orange (A Clockwork Orange Soundtrack-- 1972)

War Of the Worlds Pt. 1 (Mercury Theater On the Air-- Orson Welles' War Of the Worlds-- 10/30/38-- Longines Symphonette Society release)

Water in the Sky (Phish-- The Story of the Ghost-- 1998)

Make the World Go Away (Elvis Presley-- Welcome To My World-- 1977)

Gentle On My Mind (Elvis Presley-- Welcome To My World-- 1977)

I Can't Stop Loving You (Elvis Presley-- Welcome to My World-- 1977)

Title Music From A Clockwork Orange (A Clockwork Orange Soundtrack-- 1972)

War Of the Worlds Pt. 2 (Mercury Theater On the Air-- Orson Welles' War Of the Worlds-- 10/30/38)

Pass Me Not (The Richbury Singers-- Gospel Gold-- 2007)

As Good As You've Been To This World (Janis Joplin-- I Got Dem Ol' Kosmic Blues Again Mama!-- 1969)

Music In The Air (Sister Rosetta Tharpe-- Best Of)

The Superhero Sandbox airs weekly on Royalton Community Radio WFVR 96.5FM, and at royaltonradio.org

Superhero Sandbox Playlist 10/23/14

Tara's Theme (Gone With the Wind-- Max Steiner-- 1961)

Suspicious Minds (Elvis Presley-- The Essential 70's Masters-- 1973)

Mustang Sally (Paul Revere and the Raiders-- Live-- 

Proud Mary (Elvis Presley-- The Essential 70's Masters)

Tara's Theme (Gone With the Wind-- Max Steiner-- 1961)

Mammal (They Might Be Giants-- Apollo 18-- 1992)

My Hometown (Neil Young-- A Letter Home-- 2014)

Never Been To Spain (Elvis Presley-- The Essential 70's Masters)

I Get A Kick Out of You (Ginny Simms and Orchestra-- An Hour of Cole Porter-- 1952)

Happiness Hotel (The Muppets-- Great Muppet Caper soundtrack)

Bye Bye Blues (Mickie Finn-- Saturday Night at Mickie Finn's-- 1966)

Why Don't You Write Me (Simon and Garfunkel-- Bookends-- 1969)

Joy 'Round My Brain (Richard and Mimi Farina-- Memories)

All I Really Want To Do (The Byrds-- Mr. Tambourine Man-- 1996)

You Gave Me a Mountain (Elvis Presley-- Essential 70's Masters)

If I Can Dream (Elvis Presley-- 1968 Comeback Special)

Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Domenico Modugno-- Volare and Other Favorites)

Laugh and Be Happy (Randy Newman-- Harps and Angels-- 2012)

Born Free (Dick Delaney-- Dick Delaney Presents)

Long Way Home (Tom Waits-- Orphans-- 2011)

I Feel A Song In My Heart (Gladys Knight and the Pips-- I Feel a Song-- 1974)

Life in the Psychotropics (Bruce Hornsby-- Solo Concerts-- 2014)

Summer's Almost Gone (The Doors-- Waiting for the Sun)

Vein of Stars (The Flaming Lips-- At War With the Mystics-- 2006)

Rhythm, Rhythm (Lionel Hampton-- Hot Mallets-- 1937)

A Wing and A Prayer (The Song Spinners-- This is My Country)

I'll Be Satisfied (Rosie Wallace-- and the First Church of Love, Faith and Deliverance)

I Hear Music (Sister Rosetta Tharpe-- Best Of)

Free Parking: A Brief Atlantic City Photo Essay

The closure of four casinos in Atlantic City has created only an eerie sense of vacancy in the resort town: the Atlantic Club, the Trump Plaza, the Showboat, and the newly-built Revel are all empty now. Of these, only two-- Trump Plaza and the Atlantic Club-- publically admitted to having not turned a profit. Upon making their closure announcement, Showboat management made clear that they had been making money, but not as much as they wanted, to make continued operations worthwhile. The Revel, its owners having declared bankruptcy during construction to obtain a taxpayer-funded state bailout from Gov. Christie, chose to close their shiny facility that took over the far end of the Boardwalk strip when attendance dropped. Word on the street is that the Revel owners are going to "pull a Burger King"-- that is, re-emerge as a new corporation based in Canada, and purchase back the facility for a song. The Revel has been the only casino in AC to deny its workers a right to organize. The place has the feel of a Monopoly game pitifully lost, the handful of deeds remaining in the hands of the bank until everyone else gives up. 

There are still plenty of places of luxury available in AC, for the reasonably-to-extraordinarily wèalthy (the Borgota, built in 2003 as the first off-Boardwalk casino, seems to have this market cornered). But luxury for the ultra-rich can be found in most places, and that has never been the point of the place anyway: the Boardwalk is wide enough to hold thousands of vacationers, meandering and staring at the sea. Except for the homeless and the mentally ill, everyone walks fast on the boards now, and especially ay night. Regardless of whether or not the owners of the Trump Taj Mahal recieve the tax break they're requesting from the state, what will the spectacular rebound of Atlantic City look like? Will the state of New Jersey continue to "reinvest" in Boardwalk properties? Will the new convention center being erected at Harrah's replace the famed hall on the other side of the city? Will the buffet at the Golden Nugget find an effective way to prevent homeless people from filling their pockets with food? And will I ever see another performance at the Showboat's House of Blues? 

These photos were taken on October 16 and 17, 2014. Locations include the former Atlantic Club, the Showboat, Ceasar's, the Tropicana, the Irish Pub, the Boardwalk, and elsewhere. The "American College of Wealth"-- at least a sign representing such-- is located at Boardwalk and St. James Place. 

Note: click on any image to see a larger, high-rez version.