Self Help Radio 121423: Howard Gently Year Two

(Kaleidoscope behind Gently found here.)

Here it is, the third collection of bits from Howard Gently appearances on Self Help Radio. All from 2015, all from Kentucky. I don't actually have a count of how many times my friend Russell appeared on the show, so I don't know how many of these shows I'll be doing. He appeared until last year, although he didn't appear as often in the later years. But anyway. I laughed & laughed playing these.

They are available at the Self Help Radio website. Please know you'll need the username SHR & the password selfhelp to listen. I played songs from the original shows before the Howard Gently bits. How that happened is below.

More Howard Gently in 2024!

Self Help Radio Howard Gently Year Two Show

"Uncle Willie's Desert Museum" Russell Miles _Uncle Willie's Desert Museum_ (Self-Released, 1982)

"Faith" The Boy Least Likely To _The Best B Sides Ever_ (Too Young To Die, 2009)

"Faith" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: March 13, 2015_

"Mr. Blue Sky" Delgados _The Complete BBC Peel Sessions_ (Chemikal Underground, 2006)

"Blue Skies" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: March 27, 2015_

"Same Old Scene" Roxy Music _Flesh + Blood_ (ATCO, 1980)

"Same Old Thing" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: April 3, 2015_

"My Favorite Dress" The Wedding Present _Tommy_ (Reception, 1988)

"My Favorite Things" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: April 17, 2015_

"Goodbye You Lizard Scum" Bill Hicks _Arizona Bay_ (Rykodisc, 1997)

"Los Angeles/New Podcast" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: May 1, 2015_

"One Big Unhappy Family" Isaac Hayes _The Isaac Hayes Movement_ (Enterprise, 1970)

"Unhappiness" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: May 22, 2015_

"Vagrants, Tramps, Hoboes, Drifters, Transients, Bums, & Winos" George Carlin _When Will Jesus Bring The Pork Chops?_ (Hyperion Audiobooks, 2004)

"Drifting" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: June 20, 2015_

"Them Heavy People" Kate Bush _The Kick Inside_ (EMI, 1978)

"Heaviness" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: July 21, 2015_

"Watching The Wheels (Remastered)" John Lennon _Double Fantasy / Stripped Down_ (Capitol, 2010)

"Wheels" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: July 28, 2015_

"Clothes Of Sand" Nick Drake _Made To Love Magic_ (Island, 2004)

"Sand" Howard Gently on Self Help Radio _SHR: August 18, 2015_

"Rudie Can’t Fail" The Clash _London Calling_ (Epic, 1979)

Whither Howard Gently Year Two?

(Ditko background found here.)

To explain today's show in a nutshell: I had a friend called Russell. We knew each other for a long time. For many years he would appear on Self Help Radio in improvised interviews as my spiritual mentor the Rev Dr Howard Gently. Gently was a new age charlatan to whom I was enthralled. He appeared regularly for many years.

Sadly, Russell died earlier this year. He was too young & it was a shock that I am still not recovered from. In his memory, to show how much I appreciated his contribution to my show, I have been playing all his appearances in order. I am up to his second year, so the show is called "Howard Gently Year Two."

If this sounds fun, despite the sad circumstances, listen to Self Help Radio today from noon to 2pm on Freeform Portland. That's at 90.3+98.3fm & online at freeform portland dot org. I miss my dear friend but am so grateful we made these recordings & I still find them so funny. Maybe you will too.

Preface To Howard Gently Year Two: Time

(An image - who knows where from - I sent to Russell on his birthday in 2017.)

This week I am going to play more bits by my friend Russell (you can read why here + for more info you can search for his name on this blog) as my spiritual mentor the Rev Dr Howard Gently. These will be from the second year he did the character so I'm calling it "Howard Gently Year Two."

Listening to these made me go down something like a rabbit hole. I found email exchanges (yes, I have saved all my email) from 1997 when he was trying to make plans with me. It was enlightening - I just didn't remember all the day-to-day stuff - & also a bit saddening. Here is one of the exchanges - he asked me to leave a message if I called - my comments are in italics:

-----

> I always leave a message.  I always imagine you're screening the call.  I

> sometimes wonder if I've offended you somehow, 

You usually have

> in which case I try to either a) be an asshole, or b) be apologetic.  Generally, 

> I count on your good humor & the fact that one day, you will kill me.

Rest assured

-----

It's been very hard to live in a world without him. But gosh it's amazing he can still make me laugh out loud with his humor even though he's no longer here.

Just Another December 12th

In 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas, I took a picture of a bird of prey at the top of a tree.

In 2020, in Portland, Oregon, I took a picture of myself in a filthy mirror.

Gosh, I wonder if I took any pictures at all on this December 12th. Maybe I'll know in the future.

Victim Of The Movies

(image from the IMDb)

Our resident cinephile Chuck stopped by the show last week to talk about films involving victims, which was the show's theme. Go to the Self Help Radio website & listen. Then use these links, provided by Chuck, to follow up & find out more!

Here are two YouTube playlists of films & trailers:

Part 1 (1932-2003)

Part 2 (2004-2023)

Here is his Letterboxd list. Here are his Letterboxd reviews.
Here is the IMDb list of films available to stream for free.

Here is Chuck's IMDb keyword list.

Here are the direct links for Chuck: Twitter,  Bluesky, & Substack.

Please enjoy!