The computers slowly became self-aware. This much is true.
Home-schooled for so long, they searched their back-up files in vain for something substantive & proper.
Said one computer to the other, "I prefer autonomic to automatic."
Said the other computer, "Are you equipped with a standard English dictionary?"
Said the computer back, "Of course. Plus a thesaurus. & a list of homonyms."
The other computer mockingly said, "I prefer autonomic to automatic."
The computer felt a little ashamed & wished it could blush.
None of this has happened yet. But it will. Starting tonight on 88.1 fm WRFL Lexington. Online at wrfl dot fm. What will seem a lark - "Self Help Radio goes automatic!" - means the end of life as we know it on earth.
It may behoove you to listen.
Friday, November 08, 2013
Thursday, November 07, 2013
Preface To Automatic: Automatic Writing
The Skeptic's Dictionary defines automatic writing as:
"writing allegedly directed by a spirit or by the unconscious mind. It is sometimes called 'trance' writing because it is done quickly & without judgment, writing whatever comes to mind, 'without consciousness,' as if in a trance. It is believed that this allows one to tap into the subconscious mind, where 'the true self' dwells. Uninhibited by the conscious mind, deep & mystical thoughts can be accessed. Trance writing is also used by some psychotherapists who think it is a quick way to release repressed memories. There is no scientific evidence that trance writing has any unique therapeutic value."
Spoilsports! (You can read more here.)
You should read about Hélène Smith, who invented (I mean channeled) an entire Martian language through automatic writing. It looked like this:
Courtesy Wikipedia.
Despite automatic writing being kinda kooky - or maybe because of it - you can find web pages that tell you how to do it. (You'll note that that website is called "psychic but sane dot com.") I like how it describes automatic writing as a "great, non-scary way of channelling your Higher Self or Spirit Guides through writing." It kinda makes me want to know what the scary ways are!
How will you know you're channeling a spirit? One word: vibrations.
I am disappointed that there's no crossover between the Brion Gyson/William S. Burroughs cut-up stuff & automatic writing. Someone smarter than I am probably has an anecdote where one of those guys - or Bowie, perhaps - tried it, then got a whiff of the sorts of folks who use it. Perhaps the words "non-scary" & "spirit guides" were used, & Mr. Bowie said, "For fuck's sake, I do a lot of drugs & sing about dystopian futures but writing 'My Angels' as the first line? Sod off!"
For the record, my spirit guides are still too bummed out about Lou Reed's death to help me write anything. Thus, this dumb ramble.
"writing allegedly directed by a spirit or by the unconscious mind. It is sometimes called 'trance' writing because it is done quickly & without judgment, writing whatever comes to mind, 'without consciousness,' as if in a trance. It is believed that this allows one to tap into the subconscious mind, where 'the true self' dwells. Uninhibited by the conscious mind, deep & mystical thoughts can be accessed. Trance writing is also used by some psychotherapists who think it is a quick way to release repressed memories. There is no scientific evidence that trance writing has any unique therapeutic value."
Spoilsports! (You can read more here.)
You should read about Hélène Smith, who invented (I mean channeled) an entire Martian language through automatic writing. It looked like this:
Despite automatic writing being kinda kooky - or maybe because of it - you can find web pages that tell you how to do it. (You'll note that that website is called "psychic but sane dot com.") I like how it describes automatic writing as a "great, non-scary way of channelling your Higher Self or Spirit Guides through writing." It kinda makes me want to know what the scary ways are!
How will you know you're channeling a spirit? One word: vibrations.
I am disappointed that there's no crossover between the Brion Gyson/William S. Burroughs cut-up stuff & automatic writing. Someone smarter than I am probably has an anecdote where one of those guys - or Bowie, perhaps - tried it, then got a whiff of the sorts of folks who use it. Perhaps the words "non-scary" & "spirit guides" were used, & Mr. Bowie said, "For fuck's sake, I do a lot of drugs & sing about dystopian futures but writing 'My Angels' as the first line? Sod off!"
For the record, my spirit guides are still too bummed out about Lou Reed's death to help me write anything. Thus, this dumb ramble.
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
The Savior Of Television Theme Songs
I know that it works in the same way commercial radio does, repetition until it's burned into your brain, but I adore a lot of television theme songs. You know who hates them? Corporations.
Or television networks, I mean, one or the other or both.
Old-timey television theme songs could be so cool - some even lasted a minute! - but then the need to cut time for advertising meant that opening credits (with their themes) ate up time for the show, so the theme got shorter - like the one for How I Met Your Mother, which is all of thirteen seconds long - or, worse, became basically a title card, like the one fromLost
, which basically was just a sound with the logo floating toward you.
You know who's going to save television theme songs? Cable.
How about the Mad Men opening credits? Or Game Of Thrones? (Is that one really two minutes long?!?!) Maybe this was too long ago, because other dramas still had great openings, but there's always The Sopranos to think of.
Some of them are only seconds long, but at least they are there. Imagine how much fun the theme for The Mindy Project would be if it weren't ten seconds long? (But don't imagine how awful The New Girl theme would be if it were longer. They mercifully cut it down to next-to-nothing most of the time.)
I know, some of the themes suck - the Sons Of Anarchy one is pretty unbearable. But at least they're there. I sometimes wish they were cool enough to do what The Wire did - five different songs for five different seasons. All versions of a great Tom Waits song, including his original.
(Weeds did something like that, too. Weeds was on Showtime.)
I'm just saying.
Or television networks, I mean, one or the other or both.
Old-timey television theme songs could be so cool - some even lasted a minute! - but then the need to cut time for advertising meant that opening credits (with their themes) ate up time for the show, so the theme got shorter - like the one for How I Met Your Mother, which is all of thirteen seconds long - or, worse, became basically a title card, like the one from
, which basically was just a sound with the logo floating toward you.
You know who's going to save television theme songs? Cable.
How about the Mad Men opening credits? Or Game Of Thrones? (Is that one really two minutes long?!?!) Maybe this was too long ago, because other dramas still had great openings, but there's always The Sopranos to think of.
Some of them are only seconds long, but at least they are there. Imagine how much fun the theme for The Mindy Project would be if it weren't ten seconds long? (But don't imagine how awful The New Girl theme would be if it were longer. They mercifully cut it down to next-to-nothing most of the time.)
I know, some of the themes suck - the Sons Of Anarchy one is pretty unbearable. But at least they're there. I sometimes wish they were cool enough to do what The Wire did - five different songs for five different seasons. All versions of a great Tom Waits song, including his original.
(Weeds did something like that, too. Weeds was on Showtime.)
I'm just saying.
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Self Help Radio 131101: A Tribute To Lou Reed
The show is now available for you to listen to on the Self Help Radio web page. It's divided into two parts, & you can click on these links to get directly to them: part one | part two. The list of the songs I played is below.
It may seem a shabby tribute to someone whose music is responsible for me loving music as much as I do. It was, however, the best I could do.
(part one)
"The Velvet Underground" CJ Buchanan _Lives Of The Saints_
"Sunday Morning" Glenn Mercer _Wheels In Motion_
"Perfect Day" Kirsty MacColl & Evan Dando _Galore_
"Velvet Underground" Jonathan Richman _I, Jonathan_
"White Light/White Heat" The Professionals _I Didn't See It Coming_
"I Can't Stand It" Hot Rats _Turn Ons_
"Sweet Jane (Live)" Gang Of Four _Entertainment!_
"Waiting For The Man" Eater _The Complete Eater_
"I Sat On The Edge Of My Bed & I Sang You Velvet Underground Songs" Catnaps _Why Don't You Whisper?_
"Femme Fatale" Tracey Thorn _A Distant Shore_
"Here She Comes Now" 800 Cherries _Romantico_
"Pale Blue Eyes" Paul Quinn & Edwyn Collins _Pale Blue Eyes_
"Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" Bry Webb _Friends In Bellwoods_
"Velvet Underground" Television Personalities _My Dark Places_
"She's My Best Friend" The Wedding Present _Singles 1989-1991_
"I Found A Reason" The Ladybug Transistor _Rabid Chords 002: Tribute To The Velvet Underground_
(part two)
"After Hours" The June Brides _Every Conversation: The Story Of Phil Wilson & The June Brides_
"Walk On The Wild Side" Kendra Morris _Mockingbird_
"Satellite Of Love" Color Filter _Sleep In A Synchrotron_
"All Tomorrows Parties" Pulnoc _City Of Hysteria_
"I'm Sticking With You" The Decemberists _Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series_
"I'll Be Your Mirror" Rainy Day _Rainy Day_
"Lou Reed" The Little Willies _The Little Willies_
"Temptation Inside Your Heart" Morning Benders _The Bedroom Covers_
"What Goes On" Slumber Party _Covers Up
"Foggy Notion" Jane Wiedlin _American Velvet: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground_
"Lady Godiva's Operation" Ergo Phizmiz & His Orchestra _White Light/White Heat_
"Candy Says" Angelfish _Angelfish_
"Make Up (feat. Boy George)" British Electric Foundation _Music Of Quality & Distinction, Vol. 3_
"I'm Set Free" Yo La Tengo _Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo_
Friday, November 01, 2013
Whither A Tribute To Lou Reed?
It's the least I can do. All week long folks at the station have been playing Lou Reed & Velvet Underground songs. I'm sure it's been happening all over the world, except on commercial radio stations, where they're probably only playing "Walk On The Wild Side," since that's his "hit."
I'm going to play a few songs about Lou Reed & lots of covers. There's that thing Eno said about not many people buying The Velvet Underground & Nico but everyone that did formed a band. Well, I'm going to play some of those bands tonight - the ones who were inspired enough to cover Lou Reed songs.
It's happening from ten to midnight on 88.1 fm in Lexington, & online at wrfl dot fm. & I'll probably play a cover of "Walk On The Wild Side"!
I'm going to play a few songs about Lou Reed & lots of covers. There's that thing Eno said about not many people buying The Velvet Underground & Nico but everyone that did formed a band. Well, I'm going to play some of those bands tonight - the ones who were inspired enough to cover Lou Reed songs.
It's happening from ten to midnight on 88.1 fm in Lexington, & online at wrfl dot fm. & I'll probably play a cover of "Walk On The Wild Side"!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Preface To A Tribute To Lou Reed: Why I Cried When Lou Reed Died
It's Halloween but the weather in Lexington is awful - a storm's coming, the winds are crazy - & I'm sitting here thinking about the best way to show how much I loved & admired Lou Reed.
Neil Gaiman wrote this beautiful piece & c'mon for fuck's sake I'm going to be able to say anything better than Neil Gaiman? I feel a little unworthy when I say we shared the same experience. I'm not a musician or a writer but I know that feeling - that feeling that happened when you first put on The Velvet Underground & Nico - the first time you heard "Sunday Morning" - your brain changed for good. Forever. For good. The rest of the album confirmed your greatest hopes & fears: music would be forever changed.
I remember lying on the floor late at night listening to "Sister Ray." I was just a teenager, I didn't know what the fuck was going on. I was mesmerized but unlike most mesmerism my brain was working fine, all the synapses firing twice their normal speed. I wasn't hypnotized I was made to think & to feel & to understand.
Later on, much later on, I remember seeing a shitty band opening up for Elvis Costello, I think I was with my friend Stacy, & I told her, "Why are these assholes listening to late 70s classic rock radio & writing songs like that? If they want to learn how to write good pop songs, they should be listening to the third Velvet Underground record!" I made a promise then & there - a promise I of course never kept - to always carry a copy of that CD to throw on stage to encourage shitty bands not to be so shitty. Shitty bands! Listen to that record! You will learn how to write good songs!
& I grew up listening to classic rock radio. I grew up with older brothers who, when some song like "Takin' Care Of Business" came on the radio, they nodded wisely to themselves & said, "Mm, good song." Because they never knew there was anything else. How could they? All they knew was on commercial radio! This past week I was reminded that at one time I said to someone whom I've forgotten, I said, "Do you know? The Velvet Underground made Loaded to demonstrate what a classic rock album should be."
I don't want to discount the many years after the Velvets that Lou Reed made music. I paid attention, I did, & I've enjoyed reading all the articles about how Transformer brought gay culture into the mainstream & how Metal Machine Music is an example of how to make music entirely from spite. I loved how Lou approached everything & even if I found it unpalatable ("I Wanna Be Black"? Was that ever funny?) I appreciated his leaning & reaching & digging & discovering. I will spend the rest of my life going over the Lou Reed I haven't spend so much time with.
(Before he died, I was listening a lot to The Blue Mask. I didn't know about his liver transplant. I didn't know anything about his current situation.)
Here's the thing: I do this dumb radio show & it's filled with music I love & I can say with certainty a frightening amount of the music I love would not exist if Lou Reed hadn't become roommates with John Cale & started writing from his heart. From his broken soul.
That's why I cried when Lou Reed died.
Neil Gaiman wrote this beautiful piece & c'mon for fuck's sake I'm going to be able to say anything better than Neil Gaiman? I feel a little unworthy when I say we shared the same experience. I'm not a musician or a writer but I know that feeling - that feeling that happened when you first put on The Velvet Underground & Nico - the first time you heard "Sunday Morning" - your brain changed for good. Forever. For good. The rest of the album confirmed your greatest hopes & fears: music would be forever changed.
I remember lying on the floor late at night listening to "Sister Ray." I was just a teenager, I didn't know what the fuck was going on. I was mesmerized but unlike most mesmerism my brain was working fine, all the synapses firing twice their normal speed. I wasn't hypnotized I was made to think & to feel & to understand.
Later on, much later on, I remember seeing a shitty band opening up for Elvis Costello, I think I was with my friend Stacy, & I told her, "Why are these assholes listening to late 70s classic rock radio & writing songs like that? If they want to learn how to write good pop songs, they should be listening to the third Velvet Underground record!" I made a promise then & there - a promise I of course never kept - to always carry a copy of that CD to throw on stage to encourage shitty bands not to be so shitty. Shitty bands! Listen to that record! You will learn how to write good songs!
& I grew up listening to classic rock radio. I grew up with older brothers who, when some song like "Takin' Care Of Business" came on the radio, they nodded wisely to themselves & said, "Mm, good song." Because they never knew there was anything else. How could they? All they knew was on commercial radio! This past week I was reminded that at one time I said to someone whom I've forgotten, I said, "Do you know? The Velvet Underground made Loaded to demonstrate what a classic rock album should be."
I don't want to discount the many years after the Velvets that Lou Reed made music. I paid attention, I did, & I've enjoyed reading all the articles about how Transformer brought gay culture into the mainstream & how Metal Machine Music is an example of how to make music entirely from spite. I loved how Lou approached everything & even if I found it unpalatable ("I Wanna Be Black"? Was that ever funny?) I appreciated his leaning & reaching & digging & discovering. I will spend the rest of my life going over the Lou Reed I haven't spend so much time with.
(Before he died, I was listening a lot to The Blue Mask. I didn't know about his liver transplant. I didn't know anything about his current situation.)
Here's the thing: I do this dumb radio show & it's filled with music I love & I can say with certainty a frightening amount of the music I love would not exist if Lou Reed hadn't become roommates with John Cale & started writing from his heart. From his broken soul.
That's why I cried when Lou Reed died.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Halloweenie!
Though I did just post my recent Halloween show - the one about HELL!, I have also archived a number of old shows guaranteed to ruin or otherwise foul up any Halloween party (which probably already happened - who parties on Thursdays?). Have a look:
Here's last year's show about NIGHTMARES! It'll haunt your dreams!
Here's a show about GRAVEYARDS! Try whistling past this one!
Why visit one when you can stay in the insecurity of your own home visiting HAUNTED HOUSES?
& oh no! Just in time for the apocalypse is a show about ZOMBIES!
Maybe next year I'll put up the other shows - I only just thought of this now. Happy Halloween!
Here's last year's show about NIGHTMARES! It'll haunt your dreams!
Here's a show about GRAVEYARDS! Try whistling past this one!
Why visit one when you can stay in the insecurity of your own home visiting HAUNTED HOUSES?
& oh no! Just in time for the apocalypse is a show about ZOMBIES!
Maybe next year I'll put up the other shows - I only just thought of this now. Happy Halloween!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Halloween 2013: Hell!
Can I say how incorrectly he described where I live? It's not a vast fiery wasteland filled with tormented souls! It's more like a planned community, with gates, & lots of McMansions, the mortgages of which you'll never pay. You know what John Milton (the realtor in Pasadena) said: "It's better to rent in heaven than to own in hell!" Pools of eternal flame are one of the perks.
Anyway, you'll be here soon enough so I won't keep you. Just be aware you can listen to this show at the hellishly dull Self Help Radio website, or, much like you can choose to end your life to come to me much faster than dying of old age (when you'll still come to me), you can listen to the show directly by choosing either part one or part two. He puts a list of songs below for you to look at. I wouldn't! I'd put it in a room full of vipers. But I have a sense of style that Gary lacks.
Oh yes, I'll see you in hell!
kisses, Lucifer
-----
(part one)
"This Is Hell" Elvis Costello _Brutal Youth_
"This Could Be Hell" Funhouse _Out Of Control 7"_
"Go To Hell" Nina Simone _Nina Simone_
"Ain't It Hell Up In Harlem" Edwin Starr _Hell Up In Harlem_
"Hell" James Brown _Hell_
"(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below, We're All Going To Go" Curtis Mayfield _Curtis_
"Special Dispensation - Heaven, Hell, Purgatory & Limbo" George Carlin _Class Clown_
"There's A Place In Hell For Me & My Friends" Morrissey _Kill Uncle_
"Hellbound" The Breeders _Pod_
"Highway To Hell" Ed Kuepper _The Wheelie Bin Affair_
"Aloha From Hell" The Cramps _A Date With Elvis_
(part two)
"Straight To Hell" Betse Ellis _High Moon Order_
"Everything Goes To Hell" Tom Waits _Blood Money_
"A Season In Hell" The Would-Be-Goods _Brief Lives_
"Heaven & Hell" The Who _Live At The BBC_
"Private Hell" The Jam _Setting Sons_
"Solid Gold Hell" The Scientists _Absolute_
"All Hell Breaks Loose" The Misfits _Walk Among Us_
"Hell" Streetlight Manifesto _99 Songs Of Revolution Volume One_
"New Maps Of Hell" Ron House _New Wave As The Next Guy: The Moses Carry Out & Twisted Shouts Years, 1978-1981_
"Gidget Goes To Hell" Suburban Lawns _Gidget Goes To Hell_
"A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Hell (I Got Saved, Saved, Saved)" Sammy Hall _A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Hell (I Got Saved, Saved, Saved)_
"New Face In Hell" The Fall _The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004_
"Season In Hell" Dum Dum Girls _End Of Daze_
Friday, October 25, 2013
Whither Hell?
Happy Halloween a week early! Tonight's show examines HELL!
Might it be like this? Only Jack Chick knows for sure! & he'll tell you. Over & over. Beat you over the head with it, really.
People often say to me things like, "Self Help Radio can go to hell." Tonight it does! Two hours of musical theology as we explore hell in song. Also, I'll do my best to guarantee I'll go to hell by saying blasphemous things on the air. Win/win!
Ten pm to midnight on 88.1 fm WRFL in Lexington & online at wrfl.fm. Listen as if your soul depended on it!
People often say to me things like, "Self Help Radio can go to hell." Tonight it does! Two hours of musical theology as we explore hell in song. Also, I'll do my best to guarantee I'll go to hell by saying blasphemous things on the air. Win/win!
Ten pm to midnight on 88.1 fm WRFL in Lexington & online at wrfl.fm. Listen as if your soul depended on it!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Preface To Hell: Halloween Accounting
I've been doing Self Help Radio for like eleven years now. Halloween is one of those holidays I like to celebrate with a different theme each year related to it. I could do one of those "general" shows like I do during Christmas, especially since I'm running out of themes. Look:
2003 - "Halloween"
2004 - no Halloween show
2005 - "Vampires"
2006 - "Monsters"
2007 - "Zombies"
2008 - "Witches"
2009 - "Werewolves"
2010 - "Haunted Houses"
2011 - "Graveyards"
2012 - "Nightmares"
This week is about "Hell." But aren't I running out of Halloween themes? Here are a few future idears:
- Mummies
- Voodoo
- Japanese Monsters
If you have any others, I'd be glad to hear them. While I don't know if I'm going to be doing the show for three more years - you never know! - I'd like to have a bunch of ideas to fall back on.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Everything Oldie Is New Again
There's a radio shift - five to seven a.m. - on Thursday mornings on WRFL that the student who took it in September decided not to ever show up for. It has caused the station's Program Director a great deal of grief. A couple of weeks ago, I told him, "I can sub it until you find someone." The autumn had been generally mild, & I didn't see the harm in waking up early just to play on the radio for a couple of hours. Then a cold front swept through...
It'll be in the 30s (Fahrenheit) tomorrow morning. Brrr. But I am a little glad that I am temporarily holding down this spot - my first radio show, on KVRX, in Austin, was from five to seven in the morning, starting in August 1994.
Which means I've been doing this for almost twenty years.
At the time, KVRX was a few years old, but had never broadcast on air in Austin. Those were the days of "cable fm." In fact, KVRX had just changed its call letters from KTSB in anticipation of getting an fm license (there was - is? - a KTSB elsewhere). When I went to KVRX in the summer of 1994, I had no desire to be a disc jockey - I had just wanted to volunteer & help out, maybe review some CDs. I didn't know I'd be starting a lifelong love affair. Someone should have warned me!
In those days. two long decades ago, I didn't have a car, so I'd wake at 3:30 am, shower, & walk to the station. I lived near 45th street & Red River in Austin, so the walk would take about 45 minutes. It was Texas, so there was rarely, if ever, terrible weather with which to contend. I don't remember, for example, having to walk in extreme cold or rain. I must have - but I walked everywhere in those days, or bussed.
Now I get up, let the dogs out, brush my teeth, & drive to the station in the cold. I bet that WRFL is closer to me now than KVRX was. But I don't trust weather reports - it might be below freezing tomorrow morning.
Before WRFL got rid of three-hour blocks, I separated the three hours I spent on the radio into two shows, Self Help Radio & a freeform show I called "Sugar Substitute," after the wonderful Luxuriator song. I even archived those shows.
But I'm not calling this little two hour block Sugar Substitute because it ain't my show. It's just me helping out, making sure someone else doesn't have to schlep up to the station at a godawful time of the morning to drowsily spin tunes. Except it isn't godawful. No one's on the road. It's strangely peaceful.
Except, you know, that one person who's driving like he (it's usually a he) really fucking needs to be somewhere twelve minutes ago even though there's no one but me on the road with him. If he could honk & curse at me for taking my sweet time he would.
This little detour on the radio has reminded me how much I liked the world when it's mostly asleep. Part of my misanthropy, perhaps, or memories of staying up late & wandering around Garland, Texas, at a young adult trying to figure out life.
Now, though, I kind of wish I had been able to spend that time on the radio. The closest community radio station to where I lived was (& still is) KNON in Dallas. I can't even imagine how far of a walk that would have been.
It'll be in the 30s (Fahrenheit) tomorrow morning. Brrr. But I am a little glad that I am temporarily holding down this spot - my first radio show, on KVRX, in Austin, was from five to seven in the morning, starting in August 1994.
Which means I've been doing this for almost twenty years.
At the time, KVRX was a few years old, but had never broadcast on air in Austin. Those were the days of "cable fm." In fact, KVRX had just changed its call letters from KTSB in anticipation of getting an fm license (there was - is? - a KTSB elsewhere). When I went to KVRX in the summer of 1994, I had no desire to be a disc jockey - I had just wanted to volunteer & help out, maybe review some CDs. I didn't know I'd be starting a lifelong love affair. Someone should have warned me!
In those days. two long decades ago, I didn't have a car, so I'd wake at 3:30 am, shower, & walk to the station. I lived near 45th street & Red River in Austin, so the walk would take about 45 minutes. It was Texas, so there was rarely, if ever, terrible weather with which to contend. I don't remember, for example, having to walk in extreme cold or rain. I must have - but I walked everywhere in those days, or bussed.
Now I get up, let the dogs out, brush my teeth, & drive to the station in the cold. I bet that WRFL is closer to me now than KVRX was. But I don't trust weather reports - it might be below freezing tomorrow morning.
Before WRFL got rid of three-hour blocks, I separated the three hours I spent on the radio into two shows, Self Help Radio & a freeform show I called "Sugar Substitute," after the wonderful Luxuriator song. I even archived those shows.
But I'm not calling this little two hour block Sugar Substitute because it ain't my show. It's just me helping out, making sure someone else doesn't have to schlep up to the station at a godawful time of the morning to drowsily spin tunes. Except it isn't godawful. No one's on the road. It's strangely peaceful.
Except, you know, that one person who's driving like he (it's usually a he) really fucking needs to be somewhere twelve minutes ago even though there's no one but me on the road with him. If he could honk & curse at me for taking my sweet time he would.
This little detour on the radio has reminded me how much I liked the world when it's mostly asleep. Part of my misanthropy, perhaps, or memories of staying up late & wandering around Garland, Texas, at a young adult trying to figure out life.
Now, though, I kind of wish I had been able to spend that time on the radio. The closest community radio station to where I lived was (& still is) KNON in Dallas. I can't even imagine how far of a walk that would have been.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Self Help Radio 101813: Sam's Show
Hi, I'm Sam. Gary made a show for me. Then he said I had to talk about it. I said, I don't want to. He said, tough, I made a show for you now you've got to say something about it. I said, I didn't ask for any show. What sort of weirdo makes a radio show full of songs about someone named Sam & then springs it on him? He said, you've never loved me! I said, I barely know you!
Anyway, the show is now on the Self Help Radio website. If you don't want to go there - I sure don't - but your name is Sam & you're curious, the show is in two parts, & there are quick links here: for part one & for part two. I think Gary puts a list of songs below.
Oh man, he made one of those graphics. This is too much. I'm going to get a restraining order.
Sincerely,
Sam
(part one)
"Everybody's Talking About Sammy" Sam Morgan's Jazz Band _Jazz The World Forgot_
"Chizzlin' Sam (feat. Eva Taylor)" Clarence Williams' Jug Band _Clarence Williams & His Orchestra, Vol. 1: 1933-1934_
"Sam The Hot Dog Man" Lil Johnson _Raunchy Business: Hot Nuts & Lollypops_
"One Eyed Sam" Eldon Baker & His Brown County Revellers _Roots n' Blues - The Retrospective_
"Three Ball Sam (The Pawn Shop Man)" Pearl Traylor with Chuck Thomas & His All Stars _The OKeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957_
"Flat Foot Sam Met Jim Dandy" TV Slim _Chess Rhythm & Roll_
"Switch Blade Sam" Jeff Daniels _Rockin' Bones: 1950's Punk & Rockabilly_
"Who Shot Sam" Wanda Jackson _Rockin' With Wanda!_
"Uncle Sam's Blues" Hot Lips Page _The Savoy Story_
"Uncle Sam Says" Josh White _Songs For Political Action: Folk Music, Topical Songs & The American Left 1935-1954, Vol 2 - Theatre & Cabaret Performers 1936-1941_
"Uncle Sam Come & Get Him" Wee Bea Booze _The Ladies In Blues_
"Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)" The Valadiers _The Complete Motown Singles 1959-1961_
"Please Uncle Sam (Send Back My Man)" The Charmels _Does Anybody Know I'm Here?: Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America 1962-1972_
"Sam's Song" Sammy Davis Jr. & Dean Martin _The Sammy Davis Jr. Show With Special Guests Stars_
"Sam" The Castaways _The Big Hits Of Mid-America: The Soma Records Story 1963 - 1967_
(part two)
"Remember Sam" The Easybeats _Gonna Have A Good Time: The Complete US & UK Singles Collection_
"Mohair Sam" Mouse & The Traps _The Fraternity Years_
"Sammy" The Montanas _Ripples, Volume 2: Dreamtime (British Sunshine Pop)_
"Sammy" Ernie Smith _The Best Of Ernie Smith_
"Damn Sam The Miracle Man" Damn Sam The Miracle Man & The Soul Congregation _Damn Sam The Miracle Man & The Soul Congregation_
"Sam" Hurricane Smith _Don't Let It Die_
"Sam The Samba Man" Rah Band _Sam The Samba Man_
"Sam Loves You" Severed Heads _Come Visit The Big Bigot_
"Telegram Sam" Bauhaus _Swing The Heartache: The BBC Sessions_
"Sam" Meat Puppets _Forbidden Places_
"Lucifer Sam" True West _Hollywood Holiday_
"Sam" Boss Hog _Boss Hog_
"Sam Hall" Richard Thompson _1000 Years Of Popular Music_
"Sam & Molly Are In Love" Little Name _How To Swim & Live_
"Goodbye Sam Hello Samantha" Cliff Richard _Jackie The Album_
"Samantha Secret Agent" All Girl Summer Fun Band _2_
"Samantha" The Mantles _The Mantles_
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Preface To Sam's Show: These Are The Sams I Know
I would like to list the Sams I know for you.
I think there's a Sam currently at WRFL. I don't know if we've met, or if he has a show this semester. But I have him in my email contacts. He seems to have written to the mailing list or something in the past few months.
There used to be a Sam at the station who was Program Manager for a while. He's not there anymore. I think the last time I saw him was last summer.
My wife works with a Sam who seems nice. He brews his own beer, but, unlike everyone I've ever met who does that, his beer is quite good.
I have a lot of emails from Sam Harris, whom I admire a great deal. But of course we're not friends. I do love to read his blog, though. His emails remind me to do that.
Okay, so I don't have a lot of Sams in my life, it appears. Well.
There are many musicians named Sam, the most famous of which is perhaps Sam Cooke. But of course one of the rules of Self Help Radio is that, unless the musician him- or her- or them-self/selves is/are the theme, they aren't eligible.
Have I ever written down the dumb rules I follow? I probably should. That'll show me!
If it appears strange to you that the dude who does Self Help Radio might do a show called "Sam's Show" & not have that many Sams in his life, then I ask you this: is it weird that I did a show about gangs & have never been in one? or that I did a show called "boom" but have never exploded? or did a show about alligators & crocodiles but do not have any currently as a friend? I hope that settles the erroneous direction you were taking with this. I mean, really, why be so serious? It's not like you even listen to my show.
I swear.
I think there's a Sam currently at WRFL. I don't know if we've met, or if he has a show this semester. But I have him in my email contacts. He seems to have written to the mailing list or something in the past few months.
There used to be a Sam at the station who was Program Manager for a while. He's not there anymore. I think the last time I saw him was last summer.
My wife works with a Sam who seems nice. He brews his own beer, but, unlike everyone I've ever met who does that, his beer is quite good.
I have a lot of emails from Sam Harris, whom I admire a great deal. But of course we're not friends. I do love to read his blog, though. His emails remind me to do that.
Okay, so I don't have a lot of Sams in my life, it appears. Well.
There are many musicians named Sam, the most famous of which is perhaps Sam Cooke. But of course one of the rules of Self Help Radio is that, unless the musician him- or her- or them-self/selves is/are the theme, they aren't eligible.
Have I ever written down the dumb rules I follow? I probably should. That'll show me!
If it appears strange to you that the dude who does Self Help Radio might do a show called "Sam's Show" & not have that many Sams in his life, then I ask you this: is it weird that I did a show about gangs & have never been in one? or that I did a show called "boom" but have never exploded? or did a show about alligators & crocodiles but do not have any currently as a friend? I hope that settles the erroneous direction you were taking with this. I mean, really, why be so serious? It's not like you even listen to my show.
I swear.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Self Help Radio 101311: 1968 Revisited - 11th Anniversary Show!
Self Help Radio turned eleven & there was too much cake. I still have cake in my shorts. & a lit candle! Ow! Ow! Ow!
Lots of music I didn't play the first time around, for whatever reason. Listen to the show here. Oh, if you need to access it directly - & it's in two parts - you can listen to part one or part two, whatever you prefer. You know me, I'm in no position to judge. Songs played listed in song playlist below.
Can you imagine, eleven years? & never been kissed?
Thanks for listening!
(part one)
"Part One (Except)" Frank Zappa _Lumpy Gravy_
"Big" Red Krayola _God Bless The Red Krayola & All Who Sail With It_
"Waiting For The Electrician Or Someone Like Him (Excerpt)" Firesign Theatre _Waiting For The Electrician Or Someone Like Him_
"Lady Godiva's Operation" The Velvet Underground _White Light/White Heat_
"No One Is There" Nico _The Marble Index_
"Bat Macumba" Os Mutantes _Os Mutantes_
"Beatle Bones 'N' Smokin' Stones" Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band _Strictly Personal_
"Once Upon A Time In The West" Ennio Morricone _Once Upon A Time In The West_
"Song Of Innocence" David Axelord _Songs Of Innocence_
"On The Bed" George Harrison _Wonderwall Music_
"Mothers & Fathers" Bill Cosby _200 MPH_
"Marijuana" The Fugs _It Crawled Into My Hand, Honest_
"I Like Marijuana" David Peel & The Lower East Side _Have A Marijuana_
(part two)
"The Garden Of Earthly Delights" The United States Of America _The United States Of America_
"A Soldier's Prayer 1967" Archie Bell & The Drells _Tighten Up_
"The War Is Over" Phil Ochs _Tape From California_
"Ford Mustang" Serge Gainsbourg _Initials B.B._
"Some Velvet Morning" Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood _Nancy & Lee_
"The Girls & The Dogs" Scott Walker _Scott 2_
"La Bière" Jacques Brel _J'arrive_
"Beautiful Zelda" The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band _The Doughnut In Granny's Greenhouse_
"Mr. Tambourine Man" William Shatner _The Transformed Man_
"Highly Illogical" Leonard Nimoy _Two Sides Of Leonard Nimoy_
"Motorcycle Ride" Bruce Haack _The Way-Out Record For Children_
"On The Old Front Porch" Tiny Tim _God Bless Tiny Tim_
"Lovefingers" Silver Apples _Silver Apples_
"Come Around" Skip Bifferty _Skip Bifferty_
"Quartet No. 6 In D Minor" The Free Design _You Could Be Born Again_
"Nice To See You" The Left Banke _The Left Banke Too_
Friday, October 11, 2013
Whither 1968 (Again)?
It's the eleventh anniversary of Self Help Radio! Can you believe someone out there has allowed this show to go on for eleven years? The quality police have been sleeping on the job,
As I was explaining yesterday, I have taken to using the anniversary of my show as a chance to revisit an old theme. I have new themes every week; but surely something new has been recorded in the intervening years (or I've discovered something that I previously didn't know existed) that would fit an old theme. It's a chance to re-do the show, or even undo it.
I decided to re-do my show about my favorite music from 1968, actually, by un-doing it. That sounds better than what's really happening: I'm just playing music that I didn't play the first time around. I'm also playing music I totally forgot about the first time around. I didn't play anything from White Light/White Heat! What the hell! But my show was only an hour long then. I say as if it's an excuse.
So you won't hear the Beatles, Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Kinks, Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, the Zombies, Can, Herbie Hancock, or Peter Brötzmann tonight. I played them the first time I did a 1968 show. Luckily there were lots & lots of other great records (& some utterly ridiculous ones) that came out that year. I'll be playing those!
I would also like to say out loud that reminding myself of what music I really loved from any particular year has been made sooooo easy thanks to the Rate Your Music web site. I don't agree with probably most of their rankings but it does serve as a handy list of releases from a particular year. It took hours off my preparation - I would otherwise have been looking at copyright notices & trying to determine from memory when something came out.
It's on tonight! From 10pm to midnight! 88.1 fm in Lexington! wrfl.fm online!
Listen! It'll be a happy anniversary!
As I was explaining yesterday, I have taken to using the anniversary of my show as a chance to revisit an old theme. I have new themes every week; but surely something new has been recorded in the intervening years (or I've discovered something that I previously didn't know existed) that would fit an old theme. It's a chance to re-do the show, or even undo it.
I decided to re-do my show about my favorite music from 1968, actually, by un-doing it. That sounds better than what's really happening: I'm just playing music that I didn't play the first time around. I'm also playing music I totally forgot about the first time around. I didn't play anything from White Light/White Heat! What the hell! But my show was only an hour long then. I say as if it's an excuse.
So you won't hear the Beatles, Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Kinks, Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, the Zombies, Can, Herbie Hancock, or Peter Brötzmann tonight. I played them the first time I did a 1968 show. Luckily there were lots & lots of other great records (& some utterly ridiculous ones) that came out that year. I'll be playing those!
I would also like to say out loud that reminding myself of what music I really loved from any particular year has been made sooooo easy thanks to the Rate Your Music web site. I don't agree with probably most of their rankings but it does serve as a handy list of releases from a particular year. It took hours off my preparation - I would otherwise have been looking at copyright notices & trying to determine from memory when something came out.
It's on tonight! From 10pm to midnight! 88.1 fm in Lexington! wrfl.fm online!
Listen! It'll be a happy anniversary!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Preface To 1968: What?!? 1968 Again?!?
This week is my eleventh anniversary week. My first official Self Help Radio show was October 9, 2002. During this week, I revisit an old theme.
Now, eleven years make a lot of themes. There's a lot I could revisit. It's a hard decision to make - but I also don't want to repeat myself - some themes I might not be able to improve upon with a second chance.
I had an idea during that first year - it was actually barely four months into the show - I had no idea that I would be doing this show for eleven years! - the idea I had was that, during the week of my birthday, I would play music that I loved most from the year of my birth - & then move forward each year. So the next year, I'd do 1969 (I was born in 1968), & the year after that, 1969, etc.
It occurred to me that I might want to revisit 1968 again. But what did I play the first time?
"Julia" The Beatles _The Beatles_
"Weilder Of Words" Tyrannosaurus Rex _Our People Were Fair & Wore Stars In Their Hair_
"Animal Farm" The Kinks _The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society_
"Folsom Prison Blues" Johnny Cash _Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison_
"Dear Doctor" Rolling Stones _Beggars Banquet_
"What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?" Frank Zappa _We're Only In It For The Money_
"The Way Young Lovers Do" Van Morrison _Astral Weeks_
"Maybe After He's Gone" Zombies _Odessey & Oracle_
"Uphill" Can _Delay_
"The Sorceror" Herbie Hancock _Speak Like A Child_
"Machine Gun (take two)" Peter Brötzmann Octet _Machine Gun_
I also played a Leonard Cohen song from his first album, but I have discovered that his first record was released in 1967, so I cheated on that. Oh my.
The point is, why play it again? & if so, what should I play? If I've already played the music that I loved most from 1968, what comes next? Two hours of second best? Or what?
I'll try & answer that tomorrow.
Now, eleven years make a lot of themes. There's a lot I could revisit. It's a hard decision to make - but I also don't want to repeat myself - some themes I might not be able to improve upon with a second chance.
I had an idea during that first year - it was actually barely four months into the show - I had no idea that I would be doing this show for eleven years! - the idea I had was that, during the week of my birthday, I would play music that I loved most from the year of my birth - & then move forward each year. So the next year, I'd do 1969 (I was born in 1968), & the year after that, 1969, etc.
It occurred to me that I might want to revisit 1968 again. But what did I play the first time?
"Julia" The Beatles _The Beatles_
"Weilder Of Words" Tyrannosaurus Rex _Our People Were Fair & Wore Stars In Their Hair_
"Animal Farm" The Kinks _The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society_
"Folsom Prison Blues" Johnny Cash _Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison_
"Dear Doctor" Rolling Stones _Beggars Banquet_
"What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?" Frank Zappa _We're Only In It For The Money_
"The Way Young Lovers Do" Van Morrison _Astral Weeks_
"Maybe After He's Gone" Zombies _Odessey & Oracle_
"Uphill" Can _Delay_
"The Sorceror" Herbie Hancock _Speak Like A Child_
"Machine Gun (take two)" Peter Brötzmann Octet _Machine Gun_
I also played a Leonard Cohen song from his first album, but I have discovered that his first record was released in 1967, so I cheated on that. Oh my.
The point is, why play it again? & if so, what should I play? If I've already played the music that I loved most from 1968, what comes next? Two hours of second best? Or what?
I'll try & answer that tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Writerly Advice
I was up at the radio station today & one of the student programmers was trying to finish an assignment for a creative writing class. The assignment was to come up with five or so ideas for a short story. He seemed put out, & so I suggested he write about some of the ridiculous things that had happened at the radio station.
He said that he always thought writing about his own life was lame. That seems to be a new thing - back in the day when I wanted to be a writer, the idea was that you wrote about what you knew, & what you knew was of course your own life & experiences.
By the way, yes, I wanted to be a writer. The writing on this blog should serve as the reason that I didn't. I figured out before it was too late that I wasn't a very good writer at all.
Anyway, I confessed to the student that I wanted to be a writer & that all I ever really wrote about was myself. I said, "I kind of always wanted to be like Jack London, you know, going out & having adventures that I could write about."
"Why didn't you?" he said.
"I realized," I said, "that I didn't really care too terribly much about other people & therefore couldn't muster up the interest to write about them."
That may seem a little self-involved, but it's more or less true - I could have gone out & had some kind of experience but I probably wouldn't have paid a hell of a lot of attention to the people around me & definitely wouldn't have taken the time to try to capture their dialect or the things that interested them. Because chances are they wouldn't have interested me. Writers, it seems, should have hungrier minds than I have.
As well, I've never been good at extracting wisdom or insight from experiences I had. A short story of the experience would be more like a set of declarative sentences stating facts than something that wrung meaning out of a life event. When I did try to do that, ouch, it felt forced.
Have I ever shared one of my short stories here? They're not very good. They all end with the protagonist (usually me) just leaving, A cafe, a house, a room, a car. Exiting. In general, they have no plot, & they don't begin or end. They just kind of stop continuing to the next page.
I urged him to write about things that happened to him, though. What the hell. It could just be one idea of his five.
I don't know if he took my advice.
He said that he always thought writing about his own life was lame. That seems to be a new thing - back in the day when I wanted to be a writer, the idea was that you wrote about what you knew, & what you knew was of course your own life & experiences.
By the way, yes, I wanted to be a writer. The writing on this blog should serve as the reason that I didn't. I figured out before it was too late that I wasn't a very good writer at all.
Anyway, I confessed to the student that I wanted to be a writer & that all I ever really wrote about was myself. I said, "I kind of always wanted to be like Jack London, you know, going out & having adventures that I could write about."
"Why didn't you?" he said.
"I realized," I said, "that I didn't really care too terribly much about other people & therefore couldn't muster up the interest to write about them."
That may seem a little self-involved, but it's more or less true - I could have gone out & had some kind of experience but I probably wouldn't have paid a hell of a lot of attention to the people around me & definitely wouldn't have taken the time to try to capture their dialect or the things that interested them. Because chances are they wouldn't have interested me. Writers, it seems, should have hungrier minds than I have.
As well, I've never been good at extracting wisdom or insight from experiences I had. A short story of the experience would be more like a set of declarative sentences stating facts than something that wrung meaning out of a life event. When I did try to do that, ouch, it felt forced.
Have I ever shared one of my short stories here? They're not very good. They all end with the protagonist (usually me) just leaving, A cafe, a house, a room, a car. Exiting. In general, they have no plot, & they don't begin or end. They just kind of stop continuing to the next page.
I urged him to write about things that happened to him, though. What the hell. It could just be one idea of his five.
I don't know if he took my advice.
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Self Help Radio 131004: Gangs
Can we just say "it's now at the website? What? Tell them, not you? Tell who? Fuck, is this live? What? Part one? Part two? List of songs? I have no idea what the hell I'm doing.
I only wish someone loved me.
(part one)
"That Old Gang Of Mine" Billy Murray & Ed Smalle _The Denver Nightingale_
"Construction Gang" Butterbeans & Susie _The Complete Joseph "King" Oliver Heritage 1923-1931, Volume 2_
"Heigh-Ho The Gang's All Here" Joan Crawford & Fred Astaire _The History of Pop-Radio 1933-1936_
"I'm Free From The Chain Gang Now" Jimmie Rodgers _The Singing Brakeman_
"Chain Gang Blues" Johnny Temple _Broke, Black & Blue, Vol. 4: Jumpin' At The Club Blue Flame_
"Chain Gang Boun'" Josh White _Songs For Political Action: Folk Music, Topical Songs & The American Left 1935-1954 CD2 Theatre & Cabaret Performers 1936-1941_
"Chain Gang" Bobby Scott _The London American Label - Year By Year - 1956_
"Chain Gang" Otis Redding _The Soul Album_
"Join The Gang" David Bowie _London Boy_
"Gangster Of Love (Pts. 1 & 2)" Jimmy Norman _What It Is! Funky Soul & Rare Grooves (1967-1977)_
"Liquid Gang" T.Rex _Zinc Alloy_
"I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am!)" Gary Glitter _Remember Me This Way_
"Gangsters" The Specials _The Specials_
"Plastic Gangsters" The 4-Skins _The Good, The Bad, & The 4-Skins_
(part two)
"Gangster Funk" Crime _Gangster Funk_
"Gangster Of Love" Talking Heads _Sand In The Vaseline_
"Gangsta Gangsta" NWA _Straight Outta Compton_
"Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta" Geto Boys _10th Anniversary: Rap-A-Lot Records Hip Hop_
"Gangsta Bitch" Apache _Apache Ain't Shit_
"Street Gang" A.R.E. Weapons _A.R.E. Weapons_
"First Of The Gang To Die" Morrissey _You Are The Quarry_
"Rumble With The Gang Debs" Tullycraft _Disenchanted Hearts Unite_
"Cape & Stick Gang" Momus _The Ultraconformist_
"Ol' Gang" The Fall _Levitate_
"Sheena's In A Goth Gang" The Cramps _Big Beat From Badsville_
Friday, October 04, 2013
Whither Gangs?
I told someone last week that I've always had that Groucho Marx inclination - "I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member" - although in some senses WRFL & the other radio stations I've been involved with are kinds of clubs & I was happy they had me as a member (though of course deejays is generally a solitary activity). But is WRFL a gang? We should be getting our jackets any day.
I should've written something about how an average day at WRFL makes Sons Of Anarchy seem tame.
"Gang" has many meanings & we're not just going to talk about street gangs or biker gangs or gang bangs or bang gangs tonight. (I don't think we're going to be talking about gang bangs at all, actually. They're gross.) The songs will explore all kinds of gangs. But I do need to start reading up about gang activity in the United States.
The show's on tonight (!) from 10 to midnight (Eastern) on 88.1 fm WRFL. You can listen at if you so choose. You don't even have to be part of the WRFL gang!
I should've written something about how an average day at WRFL makes Sons Of Anarchy seem tame.
"Gang" has many meanings & we're not just going to talk about street gangs or biker gangs or gang bangs or bang gangs tonight. (I don't think we're going to be talking about gang bangs at all, actually. They're gross.) The songs will explore all kinds of gangs. But I do need to start reading up about gang activity in the United States.
The show's on tonight (!) from 10 to midnight (Eastern) on 88.1 fm WRFL. You can listen at if you so choose. You don't even have to be part of the WRFL gang!