I wish I could say, "This show is for the losers!" That's the sort of thing someone would say triumphantly in a "Revenge Of The Nerds" type movie, where the losers end up on top. But that hardly ever happens. Or else why would they be called losers?
However, if you want pretend this is a contest - which has obvious winners & losers - then it must be admitted that Self Help Radio - which has been barely been noticed in its ten years - nearly eleven years? - on the air - is a total radio loser. So this show is for Self Help Radio! Wait. It's impossible to say that triumphantly.
From 4 to 6pm today on 88.1 fm WRFL Lexington, online at WRFL dot FM. I hope you'll join us.
But if you're a winner, be nice. We're feeling a little low.
Random thoughts & other unrelated information from the dude who does "Self Help Radio" - a radio show which originated in Austin, Texas & now makes noise in Portland, Oregon. Listen to new & old shows & look at playlists at selfhelpradio.net.
Friday, June 07, 2013
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Preface To Losers: Did I Like That Comic Book?
I was never a big fan of war comics, even though my older brothers used to bring home every damn kind of comic, & I was reading comics voraciously by at least the first grade, if not sooner. (In second grade, I once brought all my comics to school with me, to show a friend. They fit in a giant grocery bag.) I was familiar with The Losers, & I did read enough issues to know who the characters were. I think in retrospect I didn't appreciate the art - the lines of Joe Kubert aren't as attractive to a seven-year-old as they might be to an older comic lover. (I remember similarly, as a little kid, being somewhat turned off by Neal Adams.) I liked the people who drew super heroes best. They made them more cartoony - or at the very least larger than life.
I haven't read the updated version but I did see the movie which, since it featured Idris Elba, is worth watching, especially if you're a little drunk. But it didn't make me want to read the comic.
I see DC Comics has a collection of Jack Kirby's run on the original Losers:
I'd be curious to read that, but only, you know, because it's Jack Kirby.
If someone had a collection of Losers comics they'd let me read, sure, I'd read them now. I miss having those old comics around. But did I like the comic & do I remember it fondly? No, I guess not.
I feel a little like a loser for saying so.
I haven't read the updated version but I did see the movie which, since it featured Idris Elba, is worth watching, especially if you're a little drunk. But it didn't make me want to read the comic.
I see DC Comics has a collection of Jack Kirby's run on the original Losers:
I'd be curious to read that, but only, you know, because it's Jack Kirby.
If someone had a collection of Losers comics they'd let me read, sure, I'd read them now. I miss having those old comics around. But did I like the comic & do I remember it fondly? No, I guess not.
I feel a little like a loser for saying so.
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Christine
It's strange how few Christines I have known in my life. It seems like such a popular name. I don't even think there was a Christine in my high school class. But! It's a name that lends itself to song!
There are thirty Christine songs for the Christine in your life or the Christine in you. You can listen now to the entire show at the Self Help Radio website or! if you're impatient! you can listen to the show directly (it's in two parts): part one & part two. Christine songs played on the show are listed below.
Thanks for listening, any & all Christines!
(part one)
"Miss Christine" Brownie McGhee & The Jook House Rockers _The Best Of Harlem & Jax Records, Vol. 2_
"Christine" The Dells _Time Makes You Change 1954-1961_
"Christene" Little Hank Crawford & The Rhythm Kings _Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues 1945-1970_
"Christine Keeler" Phil Ochs _Broadside Tapes 1_
"Christine" Burt Blanca _La Collection Sixties Des EPs Francais_
"Christine" Marisa _Ultra Chicks, Vol. 1: Filles In The Garage_
"Christina" Waylon Jennings _Destiny's Child_
"Christine's Tune" Flying Burrito Bros. _Sacred Hearts & Fallen Angels - The Gram Parsons Anthology_
"Christine" Big Walter Horton _Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell_
"Kirsteen/Christinn" Gordon Bok _Bay Of Fundy_
"Dear Christine" Klaatu _Sun Set: 1973-1981_
"Little Christine" Mott The Hoople _Backsliding Fearlessly: The Early Years_
"Christine Sixteen" Kiss _The Casablanca Singles 1974-1982_
"Christine" Garland Jeffreys _Escape Artist_
(part two)
"Christine Keeler" Glaxo Babies _Dreams Interrupted_
"Christine" Siouxsie & The Banshees _Kaleidoscope_
"Life For Christine" Bombay Ducks _Dance Music_
"Christine" The House Of Love _1986-1988: The Creation Recordings_
"Pristine Christine" The Sea Urchins _CD86: 48 Tracks From The Birth Of Indie Pop_
"Christine Norden" The Nivens _From A Northumbrian Mining Village Comes The Sound Of Summer_
"Christine" The Monochrome Set _The Best Of The Monochrome Set_
"Christine's World" Nits _Ting_
"Li'l Christine" Material Issue _International Pop Overthrow_
"Capital Christine" Smoking Popes _Destination Failure_
"Christine, ND" Tullycraft _Beat Surf Fun_
"Opening On Thompson" Baskervilles _Baskervilles_
"Come Crash" A.C. Newman _The Slow Wonder_
"Christine" Paul Roland _Roaring Boys_
"Christine" Baby Woodrose _Love Comes Down_
"Oh Christine" The Cave Singers _Invitation Songs_
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
Sunday, June 02, 2013
Junk
Gah! Look at all this junk! It's like I need a radio show to keep it in!
I do! Self Help Radio's junk show is rotting away at the SHR junk yard (pictured above). You can go through a couple of piles if you want - there's a pile here & there's a pile over there. I even made a list of what's in the piles below. Have you had a tetanus show recently?
Enjoy the scavenging!
(one pile)
"I Don't Want That Junk Outa You" Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy _Queen Of The Country Blues: All The Published Sides - 1929 - 1937_
"Junk Man" Spirits Of Rhythm _1933 - 1945_
"I Sold My Heart To The Junkman" The Four Tunes _The Complete Jubilee Sessions_
"Please Mr Junkman" Penguins _The Legends Of Doowop, Vol. 3_
"Leave That Junk Alone" Johnny Cash _All Aboard The Blue Train_
"Junk Maker Shoppe" Yellow Balloon _Yellow Balloon_
"Junkman's Song" The Stark Reality _Now_
"Turnstiled, Junkpiled" Townes Van Zandt _Anthology 1968 - 1979_
"The Streetbeater" Quincy Jones _You've Got It Bad Girl_
"Radio Junk" Yellow Magic Orchestra _Faker Holic_
"The King Of Junk" Virgin Prunes _Over The Rainbow + Heresie EP_
"Junkyard" Birthday Party _Junkyard_
"Junk Mail" Circle Jerks _Golden Shower Of Hits_
"Jack Junk" Itchy Rat _Go & Do It: The Aberrant Compilations_
"Junk" Bronski Beat _The Age Of Consent_
(another pile)
"The Junk Keeps Piling Up" The Higsons _The Curse Of The Higsons_
"3Junk" Three Johns _Atom Drum Bop_
"Junkyard" Alex Chilton _High Priest_
"Oscar's Junk Band" Oscar The Grouch _Sesame Street: Oscar's Trashy Songs_
"So Much Junk" Frank Allison & The Odd Sox _Monkey Business_
"Junk Shop Clothes" The Auteurs _New Wave_
"Junk Man" The Fall _Middle Class Revolt_
"Junk" Monaco _Music For Pleasure_
"Junk" Hefner _Dead Media_
"Junk" You Am I _You Am I's #4 Record_
"Junk" T-Model Ford _She Ain't None Of Your'n_
"Junked!" The Mayfair Set _Young One EP_
"Spacejunk" The Bats _Free All The Monsters_