RADIO HANNIBAL

Van To Preform Astral Weeks

Van Morrison To Deliver A Complete 'Astral Weeks' Concert

The Hollywood Bowl was where the complete "Pet Sounds" concept was birthed,making it a suitable home for Van Morison to revisit "Astral Weeks."
Morrison will perform "Astral Weeks," his 1968 solo album, at the Hollywood Bowl with a band featuring the musicians who appeared on the landmark album. Morrison used a rhythm section of jazz players on the album, among them the great bassist Richard Davis who's now 78.
This event, being held Nov. 7 and 8, is being recorded for an Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl DVD. Like Brian Wilson did with "Pet Sounds," it's likely a tour of the work will follow.
This clip gives you an idea of what he sounds like singing 40-year-old songs.

My 9 to 5

Aside from my obsession with music and DJing private events I also design and sell high end audio/video systems in people's homes and offices.  I've been doing this for nearly 15 years now. Interior design is a big part of the equation. 
Here's a recent shot of a customer's Media Room that plays to my personal taste in design as well.

Favorite singles 1965 - 1974

A few years ago, I and a number of others were asked to come up with lists for our favorite singles and albums from 10 year periods.  The results were tabulated and weighted and a final list for each was made. Yes, this is what music geeks do. 

We decided on breaking up the 10 year periods at mid decade as opposed to simple decade splits.  This was intriguing because if you think about it, the big shifts in music happen during mid decade.  Look at punk and disco for example. 

Anyway, from time to time I'll post my personal list for posterity sake.  As is the case with all lists, they are fluid, and I'm sure this one would go through some changes if I were to give it some thought. 

Here's my list of top 100 singles for the years 1965 through 1974.  Mind you, I was a child during much of this time and the songs that are near and dear to me were on AM radio.  This isn't about music criticism and ranking Hendrix, Dylan, etc. singles.  That's revisionist history and not a concern for this exercise. 

1.    Waterloo Sunset  The Kinks 1967
2.    Different Drum – The Stone Poneys (Linda Ronstadt) 1967
3.    Daydream – The Lovin’ Spoonful 1966
4.    Wichita Lineman – Glen Campbell 1968
5.    Itchycoo Park – The Small Faces 1967
6.    Everybody’s Talkin’ – Nilsson 1969
7.    Paperback Writer The Beatles 1966
8.    Sunshine Superman – Donovan 1966
9.    No Matter What – Badfinger 1970
10.    The Tears Of A Clown – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 1970

11.    Something In The Air – Thunderclap Newman 1969
12.    96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians 1966
13.    I’ll Take You There – The Staple Singers 1972
14.    I Hear You Knockin’ – Dave Edmunds 1971
15.    It’s Cold Outside – The Choir 1967
16.    Heart Full Of Soul – The Yardbirds 1965
17.    Time Won’t Let Me – The Outsiders 1966
18.    There’s A Kind Of Hush – Herman’s Hermits 1967
19.    Band Of Gold – Freda Payne 1970
20.    Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) – Edison Lighthouse 1970

21.    Daydream Believer – The Monkees 1967
22.    The Rain, The Park & Other Things – The Cowsills 1967
23.    Let’s Pretend – The Raspberries 1973
24.    Kind Of A Drag – The Buckinghams 1966
25.    Just A Little – The Beau Brummels 1965
26.    Don’t Sleep In The Subway – Petula Clark 1967
27.    Hank Panky – Tommy James And The Shondells 1966
28.    One Bad Apple – The Osmonds 1972
29.    What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted – Jimmy Ruffin 1966
30.    If You Want Me To Stay – Sly And The Family Stone 1973

31.    Do You Know What I Mean – Lee Michaels 1971
32.    I Can Help – Billy Swan 1974
33.    The Israelites – Desmond Dekker 1969
34.    Seasons In The Sun – Terry Jacks 1974
35.    Walk Away Renee – The Left Banke 1966
36.    Tumbling Dice – The Rolling Stones 1971
37.    Spirit In The Sky – Norman Greenbaum 1970
38.    Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969
39.    Bernadette – The Four Tops 1967
40.    Superstar – The Carpenters 1971

41.    I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight – Boyce and Hart 1967
42.    I Want You Back – The Jackson 5 1970
43.    Stoney End – Barbara Streisand 1971
44.    Overnight Sensation – The Raspberries 1974
45.    Cracklin’ Rosie – Neil Diamond 1970
46.    Come See About Me – The Supremes 1965
47.    Laugh Laugh – The Beau Brummels 1965
48.    Secret Agent Man – Johnny Rivers 1966
49.    Skinny Legs And All – Joe Tex 1967
50.    Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag – James Brown 1965

51.    Waterloo – Abba 1974
52.    It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones 1965
53.    She’s About A Mover – The Sir Douglas Quintet 1965
54.    Poor Side Of Town – Johnny Rivers 1966
55.    This Guy’s In Love With You – Herb Alpert 1968
56.    Lighting Strikes – Lou Christie 1966
57.    Last Song – Edward Bear 1974
58.    Bus Stop – The Hollies 1966
59.    Come On Down To My Boat – Every Mothers Son 1967
60.    Carrie-Ann – The Hollies 1967

61.    Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) – John Fred  & His Playboy Band 1967
62.    Bend Me, Shape Me – The American Breed 1967
63.    Nobody But Me – The Human Beinz 1967
64.    Baby, Now That I’ve Found You – The Foundations 1968
65.    Sugar Sugar – The Archies 1969
66.    Honky Tonk Woman – The Rolling Stones 1969
67.    Color Him Father – The Winstons 1969
68.    Ball Of Confusion – The Temptations 1970
69.    Tighter Tighter – Alive And Kickin’ 1970
70.    Clean Up Woman – Betty Wright 1971

71.    Groove Me – King Floyd 1970
72.    Have You Seen Her – The Chi-Lites 1972
73.    Rose Garden – Lynn Anderson 1971
74.    Little Willy – The Sweet 1973
75.    Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel 1973
76.    Behind Closed Doors – Charlie Rich 1974
77.    Rocky Your Baby – George McCrae 1974
78.    Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival  1969
79.    Baby I’m Yours – Barbara Lewis 1965
80.     With A Girl Like You – The Troggs 1966

81.    The Beat Goes On – Sonny and Cher 1967
82.    Goin’ Up The Country – Canned Heat 1968
83.    Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March 1968
84.    Hitchin’ A Ride – Vanity Fare 1970
85.    Walk On The Wild Side – Lou Reed 1973
86.    I Think We’re Alone Now – Tommy James And The Shondells 1967
87.    These Boots Are Made For Walking – Nancy Sinatra 1966
88.    Patches – Clarence Carter 1970
89.    We Gotta Get Out Of This Place – The Animals 1965
90.    Son Of A Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield 1969

91.    I Fought The Law – The Bobby Fuller Four 1965
92.    Kicks – Paul Revere And The Raiders 1966
93.    Rainy Night In Georgia – Brook Benton 1970
94.    Stone Soul Picnic – The Fifth Dimension 1968
95.    Respect Yourself – The Staple Singers 1972
96.    Hey Jude – The Beatles 1968
97.    Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks 1966
98.    The Weight – The Band 1968
99.    Chestnut Mare – The Byrds 1969
100.    The Kids Are All Right – The Who 1966

Camping Close To Home

Some pix from last Sunday at our own private camping spot 10 minutes from home in the suburbs of Cleveland.  A friend owns a 40 acre horse farm and a river oxbows his property.  The other side of the river is the Metroparks, but on our side it's private so we can have fires, beer, etc.  And, as I say, ten minutes from home so if one of the kid's gets too dirty or wet they can run home and be back in no time. 

Radio Hannibal New Show 8.26.08

Dr. Dog - The Old Days
Eno - I'll Come Running
Randy Newman - A Few Words In Defense Of Our Country
Rodney Crowell - Don't Get me Started
Conor Oberst - I Don't Want To Die (In A Hospital)
Bob Dylan - Most Likely You'll Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine
Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
Gene Love Jezebel - Desire
Hercules & Love Affair (featuring Antony) - You Belong
Herb Alpert Remixed (featuring Ozomatli) - Whipped Cream
The Hold Steady - Lord, I'm Discouraged
Lucy Wainwright Roche - Chicago
Leonard Cohen - Dance Me To The End Of Time (live)
Howlin' Wolf - Killing Floor
Albert Hammond - It Never Rains In California
My Morning Jacket - Sec Walk
Glen Campbell - All I Want Is You

Radio Hannibal 8.26.08

DJing With The Dinosaurs

Not much to say except always fun DJing in unique spaces.
Tonight I DJ'd at the Cleveland Natural History Museum in the dinosaur room. 
Of course I played Was Not Was - Walk The Dinosaur.  Oh, and Blue Suede's Hooked On A Feeling.  Ooga chaka indeed.  Just couldn't fit in Troglodyte by The Jimmy Castor Bunch.

World's Largest Record Collection

This story has been reported on fairly extensively over the past few months.  The gentleman had the collection up on ebay for 3 million dollars. 
He lives in Pittsburgh along with his collection and closed record store. 

This is a very well done short documentary on it.

The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

Springsteen at the Agora 30 Years Ago

It was 30 years ago this month that Bruce and the E Street band played the Cleveland Agora as part of WMMS 10 year anniversary.  This was a small club show in the midst of his Darkness tour.  The Boss owned Cleveland and the connection between him, the fans in Cleveland and WMMS was magical. 

It's a highly bootlegged show because it aired live on radio stations throughout the Midwest on that hot August 9th night in 1978. 

This is the complete show beginning with Denny Sanders studio intro in which he goes through the list of stations carrying the show including WXRT and WDVE.  Of course there's Kid Leo's stage intro and various comments about Leo, the station and Cleveland by Bruce throughout the show.  It also ends with "Twist And Shout" which never aired.  The band came out well after the transmission ended to play one last song.  So, this boot actually comes from the WMMS archive. 

Never did understand these multiple part files (not mine) because it seems the whole show is in part one.  Also note that the last half of CD3 and all of CD 4 are other live shows and not the Agora show.  Artwork is included too.

 Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Bruce Springsteen - The Agora Ballroom 1978 FM Broadcast (4CD)

Size: 495 MB
Bitrate: 320
mp3
Found in OuterSpace Long Time Ago
Artwork Included

Disc 1:
01. Intro
02. Summertime Blues
03. Badlands
04. Spirit In The Night
05. Darkness On The Edge Of Town
06. Factory
07. The Promised Land
08. Prove It All Night
09. Racing In The Street-Thunder Road
10. Jungleland

Disc 2
01. Intro
02. Paradise By The C
03. Fire
04. Sherry Darling
05. Not Fade Away
06. Gloria-She's The One
07. Growin' Up
08. Backstreets
09. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)

Disc 3
01. Intro
02. 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
03. Born To Run
04. Because The Night
05. Raise Your Hand
06. Twist And Shout
07. Incident On 57th Street *
08. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out *
09. Kitty's Back **
10. Point Blank **

* 16 sept The Palladium, New York, NY 1978.

** 17 sept The Palladium, New York, NY 1978.

Disc 4 - Interview, San Diego 9th July 1978. King Biscuit Flower Hour. Dave Herman, KBFH Radiostation.

01. Paradise By The C *
02. What's Up?
03. The Product!
04. Get Some Specific From You!
05. The Sign on Sunset Strip!
06. The Name Boss, Get Started!
07. Any Kind of Life
08. Feel Close To Them Fans
09. Get Together! The E Street Band
10. Terrific Time!
11. Prove It All Night! *
12. 13-14 Year When You Heard Those Records? I was Nine!
13. The Point Was!
14. It's a Continuation!
15. Meet The Producer, Jon Landau.
16. None Specific.
17. Long Time! Didn't Take That Long Actually!
18. I Like It!
19. Lots More Songs!
20. Maybe So! Hard To Sing!
21. Be A Star! Trapping.
22. Defination: That Contridiction.

* Recorded at Berkeley Community Theater, Sat 11th July 1978.

Top 40 Radio - a blast from the past

If you are a music kook like myself and a lover of radio as well (ok, maybe not so much these days), then have I got a site for you. 

Reel Radio is an archive of old mostly top 40 radio recordings from roughly the 1950's through the 1970's.  There are newer exhibits (that's what they call them) but the focus here is on classic top 40 radio. 

The exhibits are actual recordings of a DJ on the radio.  Some are what we call airchecks or scopes.  This means that the music itself  is missing.  Jocks would roll tape in order to keep their resume up to date and to perfect their performance.  Other exhibits include the music and the old commercials too.  These are typically done by folks who used to record radio shows.  Thus the reason it's called "reel" radio, as in reel to reel tape. 

Reel Radio has been in existence since 1996 and in that time has archived thousands of exhibits from radio stations across the U.S.  Many were donated by the DJ's themselves and others were found treasures in peoples attics, flea markets, etc. 

The annual subscription is a mere $12.  Well worth the price for being able to send your mind reeling (pun intended) back to your youth.  Or as an ear-opening discovery for those who missed out.

Shark Bite Capital Of The World

A belated greetings from the shark bite capital of the world, New Smyrna Beach Florida.  Located just south of Daytona Beach on the Atlantic coast, my son and I had a great week of R&R.  I would've been blogging while there but the condo's wi-fi was out and I was without internet for a week!  Now that's a real vacation. 

We headed out on Sunday flying first class both ways to Orlando airport.  It was Jack's second flight and first time up front.  It was only my second time rubbing elbows with the elite.  If you've never experienced it, well, words don't do it justice.  Suffice to say there's better food served with real china, glassware and silverware, warm towels, free drinks, a drink offer before take off, and very attentive service.  Have I mentioned how much I love Continental Airlines.

We arrive at Orlando airport on schedule and are shuttled to my favorite car rental agency, Enterprise.  I'd reserved a simple compact car but was offered an upgrade to a Cadillac DTS that had been sitting idle for awhile.  Another 10 bucks a day and we were riding in fine style to the shore.  Here's a shot of it on the beach in Daytona.  In case you weren't aware you can drive on the beach there for a small charge. 

My son asked why we were getting such good deals.  I told him it's because I was dressed in sport coat, tie and slacks.  I'm from the old school where you used to dress up while flying, like going to church.  Nowadays hardly anyone does so and thus you stand out as someone important amidst the slovenly dressed.

We arrived at our beachfront condo around 7pm.  A co-worker of mine was the one who suggested I go to New Smyrna, as he and his family have been going there for 17 years.  It's not as well known, meaning less crowded and is a getaway spot for many Floridians.  The condo unit is owned by a friend of his who gave us a great deal on it since it was going unoccupied that week.  We were not expecting the close proximity to the beach and were in awe of our good fortune.  Here's a photo of the complex from the beach.  Ours was on the right side, second floor, closest to the beach.  That's Jack playing in the sand. Here's a few more condo shots.  Breakfast on the balcony. Relaxing poolside. Chillin' in the shade on the balcony after a swim. Most of our time was spent either at the pool or boogie boarding.  I am in need of a boogie boarding fix every year and this sure satisfied me.  Here's Jack in action. As it's prone to do in Florida during the summer, the afternoon thunderstorms would roll in.  This would give us a chance to cruise down to Flagler St., the heart of New Smyrna Beach and about 2 miles north of us.  There's some great shopping from art galleries to unique gift shops to surf shops.  There's also some great well worn bars and restaurants as well.  Here's Jack at the much photographed Flagler Ave. sign.  Being an early riser I was fortunate to catch some spectacular sunrises.  Sometimes while just lying in my bed and looking out the window at the ocean, or in the case taking a sunrise stroll along the beach.

I never did mention as to why New Smyrna Beach is known as the shark bite capital of the world.  This year alone 15 people have been bitten.  Most of them occur north of Flagler at the inlet where the intercoastal waterway empties into the Atlantic.  This is where much of the surfing is done and also where sharks come to feed.  The bites mainly come from baby sharks who can't tell the difference between fish and a human.  Though there have been some more serious bites inflicted by adult bull nose or nurse sharks.  Fortunately Jack and I saw none.  It was in my mind most of the time while boogie boarding but I didn't venture in much past my waist.  Here's a photo taken a couple months ago that's been seen world wide.  It's a remarkable shot taken by a surfer/photographer in New Smyrna.  He was just snapping away at some friends who were surfing and caught this adult shark leaping out of the water right behind them.  So, my son Jack and I, bid you adieu from the sunny shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

The complete Flickr photo set.