Self Help Radio 032525: Silhouettes

That silhouette up there - of the cat, not the Self Help Radio logo which has rudely attached itself to the other silhouette - is named Aubrey. Somewhere in the show is a story about her. I'm not going to tell you where. Because I am a little embarrassed about the stuff I create for the show & don't want to draw attention to it.

Also the show includes technical difficulties. This has happened on my last two KBOO programs. I keep forgetting to mention it to people at the station who might be able to fix it. But oh well. I don't know if it hurts the listening enjoyment, mainly because I'm not sure if anyone actually enjoys listening to my show.

The show! Oh yeah! You can listen to it at the KBOO website or at the Self Help Radio website. If you choose the latter, you might need the username SHR & the password selfhelp. Everything that happens on the show is below. Except the story about Aubrey The Silhouette. Although I'll tell you now. It's after the Call & Response song.

& now to the playlist.

Self Help Radio Silhouettes Show

"Silhouetted In The Moonlight (vocal, Martha Tilton)" Benny Goodman Trio _The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings_

"A Cigarette & A Silhouette (with Red Norvo & His Orchestra)" Mildred Bailey _The Complete Columbia Recordings Of Mildred Bailey_

"Miss Silhouette" The Volumes _The Golden Era Of Doowops: The Groups Of Chex Records_

introduction & definitions

"Dancing Silhouettes" Thurston Harris _Little Bitty Pretty One: Complete Early Recordings_

"Silhouette Of My Dream" Ricky Morvan & The Fens _The Story Of Ricky Morvan & The Fens_

"Silhouettes" Andy Griffith _The Wit & Wisdom Of Andy Griffith_

"Heartbreak In Silhouette" Jim Reeves _Chronological Classics 1962-1963_

"Silhouette" Marlo & Lutia Lauzon _Marlo & Lutia Lauzon_

interview with author Roderick Nelson

"Silhouette" Razorcuts _Storyteller_

"Silhouette Town" East River Pipe _Goodbye California_

"Silhouette" Call & Response _Winds Take No Shape_

"Silhouette" Nasmak _Silhouette_

"We Will Become Silhouettes" Postal Service _Give Up_

interview with director Matt Sherman

"The Moon Turns Branches To Silhouettes" Trembling Blue Stars _Little Darla Has A Treat For You Volume 25: Endless Summer 2007-08_

"Just A Silhouette" Exlovers _You Forget So Easily_

"Silhouette" Julia Holter _Have You In My Wilderness_

"Silhouette" Le Couleur _Concorde_

"Silhouette City (ft. Andreas Gregor)" Datafreq _Fun For The Whole Family_

silhouette making workshop Ned Dry & McCheese interrupt

"Moonlit Silhouette" Henry & The Bleeders _This Is Psychobilly (25 Years Of Rockin' & Wreckin')_

"Silhouette" Ceremony _Rocket Fire_

"Silhouettes" Viet Cong _Viet Cong_

"The Sea In Silhouette" Roselit Bone _Ofrenda_

"Silhouettes (feat. Veronique Vincent)" Aksak Maboul _Figures_

conclusion & goodbye

"Pseudo Silhouette" Placebo _England's Trance_

Whither Silhouettes?

(image from here)

Tonight's Self Help Radio has the theme "silhouettes." You probably know what a silhouette is. It's an image. What comes from the radio is sound. Sometimes that sound includes voices which talk about images. In that case you have to use your brain to create the images in your mind.

Nothing I am saying right now is new, of course. But I saw a series of silhouettes in someone's backyard a month or two ago & my brain started thinking about songs about silhouettes. It seemed like such an interesting thing to use words & music about a subject matter that was so specifically visual. In a sense, letting you hear a silhouette.

That led to tonight's show. Which is on midnight to 2am on 90.7fm here in Portland & online everywhere at kboo dot fm. If you're around. & wanna listen.

Preface To Silhouettes: Silhouette Spring

That picture above was taken with a pretty cheap & terrible digital camera on April 9, 2015. Nearly ten years ago. How different my life was then! I mean, I was doing Self Help Radio, & I was married to the love of my life, & I was surrounded by wonderful animals I loved too much. But.

Ten years later, I've lost half of those animals. I have three left, & they're oldies now. I'm doing Self Help Radio but twenty-five hundred miles to the west. The only constant is the love of my life, & she's the reason I have all the animals - she helps me care for them - & why I no longer live where that picture was taken.

Sometimes I think the dumb pictures I take are a little like diary entries but that picture above brings back no memories - I have no idea where in Lexington, Kentucky, where I was living at the time, it was taken. Just that it was taken at a lovely time of year - spring. My favorite time in Lexington!

The tree is in silhouette, it's true, not the blossoming leaves tho. But the picture is not called "Silhouette Tree." It's called "Silhouette Spring." It's poetical. Or pretentious, anyway.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Near Miss Day

(image from here)

March 23 is Near Miss Day - according to National Today dot com, "People around the world celebrate this day to be grateful that [an] asteroid didn't wipe us out!"

Perhaps that was written before the current political situation, but even if that's the case, we at the Dickenbock Report still feel we can report dispassionately about asteroids & meteors coming at us, threatening our destruction.

So we shall, tomorrow, noon to 1pm, on 91.1+ 107.1fm in Portland, online at xray dot fm.

Although if I were an asteroid, landing on Earth on Near Miss Day would be pretty cool.

This Week In Self Help (March 16 18 + 20)

A dumb announcement. I was on the radio a bit more than regularly this week. What happened? I'll tell you. But remember: if you click on any link for the Self Help Radio website, you may be asked for a username & password - try SHR & selfhelp.

The Dickenbock Report reported on Lips Appreciation Day. Listen on XRAY. Listen at Self Help Radio.

Self Help Radio was my eighth episode of the chronological appearances of Howard Gently on the show. Listen on KBOO. Listen at Self Help Radio.

Corporate Standardized Programming featured more artists we lost. It's on the KBOO file above. Listen to the show by itself at Self Help Radio.

Finally yesterday I helped my pal DJ Pete Rose (Not That Pete Rose) do a show on Freeform. Eclectic like they do. Listen over at Spinitron (for a couple weeks). Listen at Self Help Radio.

& I'll be hosting the Songcircle today but I'll post that next week.

Current radio fundraisers:
KBOO's All Thrills No Frills 4   +   Freeform Portland's Spring Fundraiser

Please help if you can.

Self Help Radio 031825: Howard Gently Year Four

Here it is, the eighth collection of improvised radio interviews performed by my friend Russell as "the Rev Dr Howard Gently" & me as "the mark." It's a very strange experience listening to these because I haven't since pretty much we recorded them - eight years ago! - & because of course I am hearing the voice of a friend I miss very much. Over & over I am impressed with how quick Russ is on his feet - when I bring up a collections agency calling me, he does not miss a beat - he confirms he's hired someone to collect my delinquent "donations." He was magnificent.

We had a lot of fun with what a weasel Howard Gently was. When he talks up a "Fates Ahoy!" cruise, I keep bringing it up in subsequent weeks, & his story changes every time. Poor me! I am trying to book a room on the cruise & the dates change even within the same conversation. I actually sound disappointed when he tells me I missed the cruise!

As you can see below, the segments are from 2017. I paired a song from the original show with the interview so it wouldn't be too talky. & I tried myself to talk as little as possible in-between. I am sad that one day I'll run out of these interviews. But I am glad we have a few more years to cover before that happens.

Listen to the show at the KBOO website or at the Self Help Radio website. For the latter, username SHR & password selfhelp may be helpful. The list of songs + bits is below. I truly hope you find this as funny & brilliant as I do.

Self Help Radio Howard Gently Year Four

"Human Race" Russell Miles _Human Race_ (Self-Released, 1986)

"Apple Scruffs" George Harrison _All Things Must Pass_ (Apple, 1970)

Howard Gently on the theme "Apples"

"Sweetheart Darling" Rose Batiste _Ladies Of Detroit Sound Vol. 1_ (Bar, 1997)

Howard Gently on the theme "Valentine's Day 2017"

"The Killing Moon" Echo & The Bunnymen _Ocean Rain_ (Sire, 1984)

Howard Gently on the theme "Fate"

"Spirit In The Sky" Norman Greenbaum _Super Hits Of The '70s - Have A Nice Day, Vol. 2_ (Rhino, 1990)

Howard Gently on the theme "In The Sky"

"Maybe You're Right" Cat Stevens _Mona Bone Jakon_ (A&M, 1970)

Howard Gently on the theme "Maybe"

"Ferris Wheel" Barbara Keith _Barbara Keith_ (Verve Forecast, 1969)

Howard Gently on the theme "Ferris Wheels"

"We Had A Really Smashing Time" The Hangovers _Slow Dirty Tears_ (Kill Rock Stars, 1998)

Howard Gently on the theme "Smash"

"Whales Tails" Cocteau Twins _Victorialand_ (4AD, 1986)

Howard Gently on the theme "Tails"

"Future Legend/Diamond Dogs" David Bowie _Diamond Dogs_ (RCA Victor, 1974)

Howard Gently on the theme "Diamonds"

"Bus Stop" The Hollies _Bus Stop_ (Imperial, 1966)

Howard Gently on the theme "Umbrellas"

"Johnny" Suicide _Suicide_ (Red Star, 1977)

Howard Gently on the theme "Johnny"

Howard Gently on the theme "Firsts"

"One Of These Things First" Nick Drake _Bryter Layter_ (Island, 1971)

Whither Howard Gently Year Four?

Tonight on the program I continue a tribute to a dear friend whom we lost almost two years ago. His name was Russell & he was very funny & for years he appeared on Self Help Radio on my "spiritual mentor" the Rev Dr Howard Gently. These bits were improvised around the show's theme, of course, & since Russell's death I've been playing them about every three months in chronological order.

This time around we'll begin with his 79th appearance on the show, which aired February 1, 2017. & I'll play a song from that show as well - one I hope Russell would approve of. & I'll talk a bit & hopefully not start crying & hope instead you'll focus on how funny he was, & how utterly committed he was to the bit.

That's tonight from midnight to 2am on KBOO. Which is on 90.7fm in Portland, & at kboo dot fm everywhere.

Here's a reminder that we're in our fundraising campaign & there are lots of specials so click here to listen to what's already happened & see what's coming up - & to donate of course. Thank you!

Preface To Howard Gently Year Four: Big Country

(image from Discogs)

This week on the show I am continuing my remembrance/celebration of my dear friend Russell whom we lost nearly two years ago. He appeared for years on Self Help Radio in improvised bits as my "spiritual mentor" The Rev Dr Howard Gently. I have almost finished his first three years as the character - he always felt we would run out of funnies with him but we never did.

& it's funny when you think about a person & their obsessions & what delighted them. Russ was utterly blown away by the debut album by Big Country. When it came out he was in his sophomore year in high school & I in my freshman year. & he all but made me go out & buy it. He talked about it endlessly, saw the band when they made it through Dallas, & followed them up until lead singer/songwriter Stuart Adamson's death.

What made me think about them is the song I'll play at the beginning of the show, a Russell original which has a Big Country-like guitar sound. I have so many memories of Russell talking about the album & its songs - there's one song where Adamson sings something like "aay yee yi yo" & Russell would joke about how educational the song was, seeing as it taught you all the vowels, & he would jokingly sing "aay yee yi yo yu sometimes y."

But perhaps the most poignant memory is what he wrote in my high school yearbook that year. I don't have the yearbook in front of me but I can remember it pretty clearly. He probably referred to me as "Dicker-bud," which was a kind of nickname he gave me, but almost certainly he wrote something like, "Remember, in the words of Big Country, 'stay alive.'"

Gosh I miss him so much.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Lips Appreciation Day

(Image by Alastair Philip Wiper from here)

March 16 is Lips Appreciation Day. Many, if not all, XRAY listeners have lips. This seems to be true for a large portion of the United States population as well. We do not have reliable data about the rest of the world.

Since even Dick Dickenbock has lips - at least one functioning lip anyway - we thought it a good idea to report on Lips Appreciation Day on this week's Report.

That's tomorrow, Sunday, March 16, on 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere. As always, kisses will be optional.

This Week In Self Help (March 9 + 11)

That head read my mind!

It was a quiet week for this deejay, only on the radio in my prescribed times, for which that small portion of Portland that listens to the radio was very grateful. Here's what I did:

The Dickenbock Report on XRAY celebrated Check Your Batteries Day with a show about checks. I mean batteries. Yes, it was batteries. Of course. Listen: on the XRAY website. Listen: on the Self Help Radio website.

Self Help Radio on KBOO had a show with the theme telepathy. Listen: on the KBOO website. Listen: on the Self Help Radio website.

Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO played lots of new releases. It's included in the KBOO file linked above, but if you'd like to hear it on its own, listen: on the Self Help Radio website.

Oh shit! I forgot to mention! If you click on any link to the Self Help Radio website, you may be asked for a username & password - please use SHR & selfhelp respectively. Thank you!

Self Help Radio 031125: Telepathy

No, Self Help Radio wasn't reading your mind this morning. It's a radio show! Which has been described as "mindless"! & I couldn't read your mind because I am not a telepath because - spoiler alert - telepaths aren't real.

Nevertheless the show today was all about telepathy & telepaths & telepathic things. One song was even called "Telepathetic" & it's embarrassing how much I relate to that term. Nonetheless - lots of songs, some silly interviews, even - if you listen long enough - a story about a telepath named Henri.

You can listen to this show - if you have to use ears like non-telepaths - at either the KBOO website or the Self Help Radio website. If you choose the latter, use the username SHR & the password selfhelp to access. Most of what happened on the show is listed below.

Psi shields up!

Self Help Radio Telepathy Show

"Telepathy" Lene Lovich _Stateless_

"Telepathy" Sonic Tonix _Don't Go Away_

"Telepathy" A-Heads _Discography 1982-2009_

introduction & definitions

"Telepathy" Dave Davies _Glamour_

"Telepathy" Snips _La Rocca!_

"Telepathy" Eddy Grant _Going For Broke_

"Telepathy" The Drowning Room _Telepathy_

"Telepathy" New Bethel _Homemade Hits Vol. 1_

interview with telepath Zed Miller - the amazing Zed

"Mental Telepathy" B.T. Express _Give Up The Funk (The B.T. Express Anthology: 1974-1982)_

"Telepathy" Miles Kane _Colour Of The Trap_

"Telepathy" Whisper Hiss _Everything Must Go_

"Broken Telepathy" Soft Gang _Soft Gang_

"Telepathy" Swans _The Great Annihilator_

interview with telepathic defense trainer Julius Clark

"Telepathic Love" The Wipers _Alien Boy_

"Telepathic Traffic" Archers Of Loaf _Vee Vee_

"Telepathic World" Shalini _We Want Jelly Donuts_

"Telepathic" White Mystery _Telepathic_

"Telepathic Lover" Crocodiles _Dreamless_

interview with victim of telepaths Rosalie Jean

"Telepathetic" Sløtface _Sorry For The Late Reply_

"Telepathic Girls" Tochigi _A Crow So Large It Blocked Out The Sun_

"Telepathic Love" The Diableros _Aren't Ready For The Country_

"Telepathy Burns" Terminal Girls _Weird Lights_

"I Talk With Telepathy Baby" Outer Spacist _The Mind Is As Outer Space_

conclusion & goodbye

"Telepathic" The Bloodthirsty Lovers _The Bloodthirsty Lovers_

"Telepath" Boards Of Canada _Tomorrow's Harvest_

"Sexual Telepathy" Disappear Fear _Deep Soul Diver_

Whither Telepathy?

(image from Wikipedia)

One thing is true is that I wish I read more. I try to read more. I know people who read way more than I do. One of the things I do read a lot is science-fiction. Some fantasy, but a decent amount of sci-fi. I like the hard stuff but I'm okay with anything really if the story is engaging. & when taking inventory about the most recent books I read, I noticed something - they all seemed to feature either characters or entire group who had psychic abilities. Mostly telepathy - people taking with their minds. I thought that would be a nice theme for a show.

There's no guarantee of course but that's what tonight's Self Help Radio is about: all the recent sci-fi books I've read. No, I'm sorry. I misunderstood where I was going. I got a little confused. Is someone fucking with my thoughts? Tonight's show is about telepathy. If you already knew that, maybe you already know how the show is going to go. Or it that precognition?

Midnight to 2am on 90.7fm in Portland & online at kboo dot fm, Also, I know what number you're thinking of. It's 7.435.

Preface To Telepathy: A Warning About Pedanticism

Just a note - I found that picture above on Tumblr a million years ago & don't know where it's actually from, I apologize don't sue me.

The theme of this week's show is "telepathy" & the definition of telepathy is "the ability to know what is in someone else's mind, or to communicate with someone mentally, without using words or other physical signals." In other words, reading someone's mind.

When I mentioned to my wife that that was the theme she said, "Wow! There's got to be a lot of songs where people talk about reading other people's minds."

She's probably right. But I can get so weird about my show & its themes, I had to say, "Maybe, but if I can find two hours worth of songs that specifically mention telepathy or being a telepath or hell even things that are telepathic, I'll play those songs before songs that mention mind-reading."

She said, "What is wrong with you?"

But it's true! I've been spending time looking for songs about telepathy, not just mind-reading. The way I look at it, mind-reading might be a whole other theme.

Yeah, I guess something is wrong with me.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Check Your Batteries Day

March 9 is Check Your Batteries Day. We think it has something to do with ending daylight savings time but to be honest we haven't done a lot of research yet. Don't tell Dick Dickenbock! He thinks we've been working on this all week.

Lots of musical reports about batteries plus news & commentary. That's tomorrow from noon to 1pm on 91.1+107.1fm here in Portland & online at xray dot fm.

This Week In Self Help Radio (February 28 + March 2 3 4 + 6)

For some reason - maybe because they're more ubiquitous? - I have taken more pictures of slugs than snails. But I had a show this week about snails! Too bad. Here's a picture of a slug.

It was a busy week. There's a lot to cover. Remember: if you are listening to a show on the Self Help Radio website, you may need a username & password. Use SHR & selfhelp for those.

A week ago, on the last day of February, I subbed the Songcircle on KBOO. I played lots of new releases. How to listen? On the KBOO web page. On the Self Help Radio web page.

Sunday on the Dickenbock Report on XRAY, I celebrated Lou Reed's birthday with lots of his songs. How to listen? On the XRAY web page. On the Self Help Radio web page.

The last two hours of Monday - right before Self Help Radio on KBOO - I played a couple more hours of my favorite music from 1989. Sadly, KBOO doesn't archive sub shows but you can listen! How? On the Self Help Radio web page.

Like I said, this week's Self Help Radio was about snails. How to listen? On the KBOO web page. On the Self Help Radio web page.

Right after Self Help Radio, I had an episode of Corporate Standardized Programming in which I played music from artists we lost in November of 2024. How to listen? At the end of the Self Help Radio episode on the KBOO web page linked above. All by itself on the Self Help Radio web page.

Finally. I helped out a deejay - DJ Lance Armstrong (Not That Armstrong) - with his show Pardon This Interruption. How to listen? On the Spinitron web page (for a couple of weeks). On the Self Help Radio web page.

Sincerely I hope this was enough for you you insatiable radio monster!