Self Help Radio 091423: Howard Gently Year One Continued

Yes, I'm reusing the terrible graphic. There aren't a lot of pictures of Howard Gently out there!

Also this should be called "Howard Gently Year One Concluded" as we did get through the first year of Howard Gently on Self Help Radio. The show is mainly bits from Self Help Radio that aired on WRFL in Lexington, Kentucky, in the period between July 2014 & March 2015. My dear friend Russell improvised all of it & it came so easy to us because we made cassette tapes when we were kids doing this very thing. There's almost certainly a part of me that doesn't really think I'm on the radio - just pretending.

In-between segments, I play songs from the shows that I thought Russ would approve us. & I started the show with one of his original compositions. Later in the year I'll start Howard Gently Year Two. I miss him so but am so grateful I have so many recordings of him being funny. He really was the funniest person I ever knew.

Show at the Self Help Radio website. Username SHR password selfhelp required. Tracklist below.

Howard Gently Year One Continued

"Because She's Beautiful" Russell Miles _Six Tunes By "Russ"_

"Up The Hill Backwards" David Bowie _Scary Monsters_

Howard Gently on the theme "Backwards"

"The House Of The Rising Sun" Nina Simone _Nina Simone Sings The Blues_

Howard Gently on the theme "Sunrise"

"Watch Out For The Normal People" The Boomtown Rats _A Tonic For The Troops_

Howard Gently on the theme "Normal"

"Panic" The Smiths _Louder Than Bombs_

Howard Gently announces his new magazine

"Heaven" Talking Heads _The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads_

Howard Gently on the theme "Heaven"

"My Daddy Is A Mummy" Richard Thompson _The Life & Music Of Richard Thompson_

Howard Gently on the theme "Mummies"

"Seasons In The Sun" Black Box Recorder _The Worst Of Black Box Recorder_

Howard Gently on the theme "Seasons"

Howard Gently on the Christmas holidays

"Party Girl" Elvis Costello & The Attractions _Armed Forces_

Howard Gently calls the show 1/16/15

"Jerkin' Back 'N' Forth" Devo _New Traditionalists_

Howard Gently calls the show 1/30/15

"Razor Edge" Ranee & Raj _Don't Tell Me I Must Go_

Howard Gently calls the show 2/20/15

Howard Gently calls the show 3/6/15

Whither Howard Gently Year One Continued?

It made my friend Russell so happy when I found that picture of that stranger who became Howard Gently. I added the pince-nez glasses & the Hawaiian shirt & beach background. Maybe even the moustache? I've probably mentioned this before. Anyway. It's nice to have a memory of making someone for whom I cared so very much so happy.

Words cannot express how grateful I am he spent so much time being my friend, talking to me, & of course being my spiritual mentor on Self Help Radio. Sitting with him improvising his segments was always one of the joys of my week. We did it on Skype. It often lasted more than ten minutes. It was difficult but exciting to edit them down to five. I would cut as much of my part as possible to maximize the Gently.

We started in 2014, & today on Self Help Radio, I'll finish the bits he did that year. You can listen to the previous installment here. Like on that show, I'll preface each bit with a song from the original show - & all these aired when I was on WRFL in Lexington - & I am picking a song from the show that I hope Russell would approve of.

Listen for lots of Howard Gently today from noon to 2pm on 90.3+98.3fm & online at freeform portland dot org. He may well make you a believer.

Preface To Howard Gently Year One Continued: I Miss My Friend

(A picture of the Gently Command Center from the now-defunct Howard Gently Facebook page.)

On this day three years ago, my mother died. I wrote about it at the time. I woke today feeling a little off, like there was something I was supposed to do. When I napped this afternoon, I dreamed I kept losing my wallet. When I woke I remembered weird advice my mother gave me about keeping my wallet in my front pocket, which I do to this day. My little brother wrote on Facebook about the anniversary of her death - which I know I would've eventually remembered.

It was extra strange because I spent the day listening to bits created by my friend Russell, who died in June. I wrote about that too.  As I hope you know, Russell played a character for nine years on my radio show, my spiritual mentor the Rev. Dr. Howard Gently. I will play more of his appearances on the show tomorrow.

Russell lost his mother early, she had a rare form of dementia that took her from him when she was still quite young. His mother was very kind. She seemed to me like a housewife in an old sitcom, one who is mock-stern but smiles ridiculously when her kooky son does something goofy. Russell loved her dearly, & he went to live with her after his father died in the mid-1990s.

There are so many stories to tell about our mothers & our friends. I am so grateful I have recordings of Russell being funny because although he & I went through some tough times, the things which initially bonded us - our love of music & our sense of humor - are there in the radio shows I made which he guested on. So many people love Russell's prank calls that I am a little shocked they haven't all become massive fans of Howard Gently. Maybe Gently is too subtle for them. Maybe he isn't making fun of religious people so directly.

Maybe you'll enjoy more of him. Having spent all day with him, I am glad to say I do. & I miss him so.

The Outdoor Cats Of September 12th

Here are three pictures, the first one taken in Kentucky on September 12, 2014, & the other two taken in Portland on September 12, 2021+2022. It seems like September 12 is (sometimes) a day for taking pictures of kittens allowed outdoors.

For whatever reason, I don't remember the cats in the top & bottom pictures, but the one on the sofa in the middle was a regular sight on our dogwalks for a time. I haven't seen it lately, though. We have dogs with us so I don't approach the cats (especially if they're on someone's porch or property), which means I never really get to know them. But that cat, with a cute black spot on its head as if it had a 1930s slick-backed haircut, is quite memorable. I hope it's all right.

We get coyotes around here & it's the best reason not to let your cats wander around outside. So many kitties go missing & people lament their loss on social media. I have no data about how many might have been carried away by predators at night, but my own paranoia suggests it's somewhere between all & nearly all. I would be beside myself if one of my dear felines disappeared in such circumstances.

Now I'm trying to think if I took a picture of a cat on a porch today. I don't think I did. Darn it.

Invitation To The Movies

(image from the IMDb)

You were invited to last week's Self Help Radio, a show about invitations - you are still invited & can listen at the Self Help Radio website - & I invited as well our resident cinephile Chuck to talk about movies featuring invitations. After you've listened, please follow the following links Chuck has provided:

Here is his YouTube playlist of films & trailers.

Here is his Letterboxd list.

Here is the IMDb list of films available to stream for free.

Here is Chuck's IMDb keyword list.

& remember Chuck is on Twitter, on Bluesky, & on Substack.

Thanks Chuck! Glad you accepted the invitation to be on the show!

Self Help Radio 090723: Invitations

(original image here)

Did many people accept the invitation to hear Self Help Radio's show about invitations? I dunno! I do radio in a little room with headphones on! But I did invite some guests to talk to - they showed up - & there was lots of music to keep me company. I will pretend it was the best-attended radio show about invitations of the season!

It turns out though that you're still invited to listen - because the show is now online. Listen whenever you feel like it at the show's website - your RSVP will be a username - SHR - & a password - selfhelp. The schedule of events is below. Welcome! I hope you have a lovely time.

Self Help Radio Invitations Show

"Invitation" Dinah Washington _A Night Out With Verve_

"The River's Invitation" Percy Mayfield _The Chronological Percy Mayfield 1951-1954_

"Invitation To The Blues" Ella Mae Morse _Barrelhouse, Boogie, & The Blues_

introduction & definitions

"(You're All Invited To) Henrietta's Wedding" Champ Butler _Down Yonder With Champ Butler_

"Invitation To A Wedding" Barbara Jackson _Girls Girls Girls Volume 12_

"Invite The Mall" Space Ghost _Yeah, Whatever..._

"Invitation" A Band Of Angels _British Soul Vol. 1 (Classic British Label Northern Soul Rarities)_

"Been Invited To A Party" Glenda Collins _Been Invited To A Party_

our resident cinephile Chuck stops by!

"You're Invited To A Party" The Victorians _Girls Go Zonk!!_

"An Invitation To Cry" The Magicians _Nuggets (Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968)_

"Party Invitation" Todd Barry _Medium Energy_

"Don't Send Me An Invitation" Honey Cone _Love, Peace, & Soul_

"Invitation To The Blues" Tom Waits _Small Change_

interview with etiquette expert Teresa Connor

"Invitation Inn" Mates Of State _A House Full Of Friends_

"Let's Invite Them Over (with Iris DeMent)" John Prine _Live From Sessions At West 54th_

"Invitation" Frankie & The Heartstrings _The Days Run Away_

"Chant D'Invitation A La Danse" Maboudana & Badolo _Hot Women: Women Singers From The Torrid Regions Of The World_

interview with professional inviter Travis Corn

"Invitation" The Feelies _Time For A Witness_

"Invitation" Filthy Friends _Invitation_

"Invitation To The White House" Kinky Friedman & Little Jewford _Classic Snatches From Europe_

"Uninvited Dream" Peggy Lee _The Man I Love_

"Open Invitation" Grant McLennan _Horsebreaker Star_

interview with my friend Todd Campbell

"Invitation" Eden's Children _Sure Looks Real_

"Invitation Au Silence" Laetitia Sadier _Silencio_

"On Invite Only" Jimmy Pursey _Alien Orphan_

"Invitation Day" Low & Dirty Three _In The Fishtank 7_

conclusion & goodbye

"Invitation" The High Violets _To Where You Are_

"An Invitation" Fairmont _We Will Burn That Bridge When We Get To It_

Whither Invitations?

(a classic tweet from someone who no longer has an account on dying twitter)

The show this week is about invitations. I don't know if I've ever received a formal invitation. & I am unsure if I've sent one. Maybe a formal e-vite? Is that possible?

Luckily on the show we'll have a person who is knowledgeable about the etiquette of invitation. & someone who is a professional inviter. & much more. I hope it sounds inviting. Because you're invited!

That's today! Noon to 2pm on Freeform Portland. Which you can find on the air in Portland at 90.3+98.3fm & online at freeform portland dot org.

No need to RSVP! I'll assume everyone I invited - which is everyone - will come.

Preface To Invitations: By Invite Only?

(image from here)

Let me just quell a few fear that have almost certainly not been circulating about this week's show, the theme of which is "invitations." You do not need an invitation to listen to the show. Like any other radio show I do, it just goes out over the airwaves & through the vast tubes of the internet & you can choose to tune in or, like pretty much everyone, not.

But if you feel an invitation is needed for a show about invitations, let this be your invitation: you're invited! When you listen, you are a welcome invited guest of the show. It's all for you! So please enjoy.

Stairs To Nowhere

It's been a few years since I started taking pictures on dog walks & other adventures with an admittedly crappy digital camera. ("Why do you have that when you have a phone?" is a question I get asked a lot.) On days like today when I have nothing radio to talk about (as if I ever really have anything radio to talk about), I like to go back through the photos I've saved on this day & see if they spark any memories.

This one is from 2014 & I think it was taken in Lexington. We went to some festival & these were shots I took somewhere on the city's north side. It was a part of town I didn't much get to, & I wouldn't have thought about that day much at all if it weren't for these pictures. So hooray for a kind of diary they serve as for me!

Abandoned places fascinate me. I told the wife today that if I had a lot of money I'd just buy lots of houses in places where the property values are low. They'd be terrible investments as I wouldn't really want to develop them, just let them sit there & exist, but I'd still have to pay property taxes & also deal with angry neighbors, but there's a certain beauty to dilapidation & ruin.

First I'd give a lot of money to radio stations, of course. But if I had a lot left over, yeah, I'd own places where the stairs didn't go anywhere.

Now You Know

Nunavut, the largest, northernmost, & newest territory of Canada, is 6.6% larger than Mexico.

What you do with such information I can't say. But you now have it.

Image from here.

(& happy Labor Day!)

Self Help Radio 083123: Indiepop A To Z # 72

(all images from Discogs)

There have now been 72 installments of this series. What more can I say? I was thinking I'd tell you I met a sweet little mutt named Teeny today - she was about a year old - she's being fostered by a neighbor & it's a good thing I have a wife who tells me no or else we'd have a new dog now. Wow she was adorable. I hope someone adopts her soon.

Anyway, that's all. Lots of great indiepop on the program this week. As should be expected with this series. The show is where it's supposed to be: at the Self Help Radio website. Use the username SHR & the password selfhelp to access. Look at the bands I played in glorious alphabetical order below.

& next time we finish the letter R. I promise!

Self Help Radio Indiepop A To Z # 72

"Cinnamon Eyes" Riverside _One_

"Heaven Knows I Love You" Riviera _Heaven Knows I Love You_

"Right Side Of The Tracks" Rizzo _Phoning It In_

"How Many Friends" Roberta Junk _Untitled Flexi_

"Volunteers Conquering Fires" Mark Robinson _Tiger Banana_

"Elephants" Anthony Rochester _Music For Listening & Relaxation_

"Love Eyes" Rocket Or Chiritori _Love Eyes_

"Pink Cashmere" Rocket Punch _Blood On The Ukulele_

"I Love You Like The Way That I Used To Do" Rocketship _A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness_

"Mörder" Rockformation Diskokugel _Airpop: An Apricot Records Compilation_

"Drifting" The Rockingbirds _The Rockingbirds_

"Lenny & Jenny Had One Too Many" The Rocky Nest _The Rocky Nest_

"Nimby" Roguery _Living On The Edge_

"19th Nervous Breakdown" The Rolling Stones _Singles Collection - The London Years_

"Brand New Day" Roly Poly Rag Bear _Hana_

"20th Summer" Romeo Suspect _Another World_

"He's Outta Sight" The Rondelles _Fiction, Romance, Fast Machines_

"Small Town (Is A Strange Place)" Roof _Out Of The Blue_

"Things Have Learnt To Walk That Ought To Crawl" The Room _Indoor Fireworks_

"Blue Sunday" The Ropers _Why Popstars Can't Dance_

"Gabriel" Rorschach _The Sound Of Leamington Spa Volume 8_

"Leaving" The Rosaries _Forever EP_

"Sorrow" Frankie Rose _Herein Wild_

"Freedom Riders" The Rose Mary's _Freedom Riders_

"Room In Your Heart" The Rosehips _The Rosehips_

"Sparkle" The Rosemarys _The Rosemarys_

"(Whatever Happened To) Alice?" Rosemary's Children _Southern Fields_

"A Good Café On George Street" The Rosie Taylor Project _This City Draws Maps_

"Smiling Sweetly" Malcolm Ross _Wrong Place, Wrong Time 1995-1999_

Whither Indiepop A To Z # 72?

(This is Pete. Beagles are the official dogs of indiepop.)

It was many years ago that I began this series, Indiepop A To Z. What is indiepop? Does it just mean "independent pop"? It certainly seems like that's what people think, but here's a good definition.

The idea for the series came from the band list at Twee Net. I was overly ambitious & irritatingly completist so I added bands that I felt that list weirdly excluded plus I thought it would be fun to also play bands that were influential to indiepop. This meant that over time the list got bigger & bigger. If I had stuck to the Twee Net list, I would be done now. But I would've also felt that I had neglected lots & lots of artists.

So here we are - the seventy-second installment & we're still at the letter R. Many of the previous installments are at the Self Help Radio web page. The best way to find them is to go to the "table of contents" & click on the letter I. Like this. One of these days I will put them all on a single page - I keep promising that! - but so far that has not happened. I kinda forget about the series except when I return to it roughly every four months.

Will I ever finish? I don't really know. The letter S will take some time. But for now, let's continue to enjoy the letter R from noon to 2pm today on Freeform Portland - 90.3+98.3fm in town & online everywhere at Freeform Portland dot Org. We'll travel all over the globe & hear some wonderful tunes. I promise.

Preface To Indiepop A To Z # 73: Here's A Picture Of My Cat Bluto

He's grown up a bit - I guess he's about eleven months old now. You'd see lots of pictures of him if we were friends on Facebook or if you followed my dumb old Tumblr blog.

Anyway, it's more of the Indiepop A To Z stuff this week. I do it every four months. You know.

Maybe more details tomorrow?

Three Years Ago

In the midst of a global pandemic, the wife & I decide to cross over into Washington state & walk the dogs along the Columbia. As usual, we didn't know exactly where we should go, so we found a more-or-less state-parky area & walked up & down the river's edge.

One thing I recall is that the Washingtonians had very different ideas about mask protocols than we did. They didn't wear any masks. They were happy to get into your space. It was like the pandemic had never happened in Vancouver, Washington. Of course all of those people are dead now.

Portland lives in the shadow of Mount Hood, but you can't always see it from where you are, so it's a little startling for folks like me who are like whoa there's a giant mountain over there. Look at how large it looms in that photo up there. It's awesome.

It was a fun day. Our walks are always fun. I miss the dog who was there that day who is not with us today but otherwise I am happy for that memory.

Are We STILL Talking About Neptune?

(Now that's what I can an infographic - it's from here.)

There were so many songs about Neptune that were instrumental, I really felt I should play them somewhere, so I will play them tonight on Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO. & I'll let you know when it's available if you wanna hear & it's not late at night.

So: tonight! Midnight to 3am! 90.7fm in town. KBOO dot fm everywhere!

Rocket leaves exactly at 12 sharp. Don't worry, it's a quick trip - just bring your phone & some snacks.

Self Help Radio 082423: Neptune

(original image here)

Yesterday I said there were more songs about the god Neptune than the planet Neptune. So after the shows was done - & not counting the music over which I spoke or the interstitial bits, which were all about the planet - I counted ten (10) about the planet, nine (9) about the god, & two (2) that could be about either. I really wish I could've done an entire show about the planet though. & I could've, if I'd played more instrumentals. But for whatever reason I don't want to do that on Self Help Radio.

The interviews though were skewed heavily in favor of the planet - 3 to 1. I do so adore the planet Neptune. I'm glad I've been alive when we got a chance to take a look at it. & I hope one day we discover that it truly does rain diamonds there.

Anyway, you'll have to settle for a radio show. It's at the Self Help Radio website right now. Use the username SHR & pass the password selfhelp to access. Listed below are all the songs I played & all the things that happened in-between. Hope you enjoy!

Self Help Radio Neptune Show

"Have You Heard The Latest News From Neptune" Sun Ra & His Arkestra _In The Orbit Of Ra_

introduction & definitions

"Gloire À Toi Neptune!" Tri Yann _Abysses_

"Neptune" Ian Brown _Golden Greats_

"Neptune" Glenn Tilbrook _Transatlantic Ping Pong_

"The Neptune Freeze (feat Fred Schneider)" Ursula 1000 _Esoterique_

interview with the god Neptune (!)

"Neptune" Barry McGuire _Barry McGuire & Featuring Members Of The New Christy Minstrels_

"Father Neptune" Anna & Elizabeth _Anna & Elizabeth_

"Neptune" Terrible Sons _Half Awake, Half Asleep_

"Neptune's World" Strapping Fieldhands _Gobs On The Midway: Singles 1991-1995_

interview with Paul Norton, who says he's visited Neptune

"Neptune Sun" The Ghost Ease _Raw_

"Neptune" Higher Authorities _Neptune_

"Diamonds On Neptune" Old 97's _Twelfth_

"Nervous On Neptune" The Aqua Velvets _Nomad_

interview with Queen Neptunia of Neptune (!!)

"Neptune's Daughter" The Divine Comedy _Promenade_

"Neptune's Daughter" Bert Jansch _Crimson Moon_

"Neptune's Daughter" Dennis Driscoll _Voices In The Fog_

"Neptune's Daughter" Luminescent Orchestrii _Neptune's Daughter_

interview with astronomer Peter Nance

"Kidnapped By Neptune" Scout Niblett _Kidnapped By Neptune_

"Neptune City" Nicole Atkins _Neptune City_

"Neptune Song" Ghost Camp _Great Lakes_

conclusion & goodbye

"Neptune" Motorbass _Pansoul_

"Peace On Neptune" UFOm _Aliens Are Real_

Whither Neptune?

(image from the Wikipedia)

Neptune is the eighth & last planet in our solar system (sorry Pluto!). Neptune is also the name of the Roman god of the seas. That Neptune gave the planet Neptune its name although the planet Neptune existed long before humans who invented Neptune. We have no idea what the planet Neptune was called before the god Neptune gave it his name. Maybe Poseidon?

Neptune was discovered in 1846 even though we're pretty sure it was there before that. I like the fact that they continued to give the planets Roman names even though I would've picked Neptune over Uranus when named Uranus. No one know who Uranus was! Plus, that's a Greek name, not a Roman one! Anyway. It's weird to think we've only known about Neptune for less than two hundred years. But it's even weirder that we never even saw close-up pictures of Neptune until Voyager 2 paid the planet a visit in 1989. That's in my lifetime!

Here's a confession: there are more songs about the god Neptune than the planet Neptune. So be ready for that. Also: there are more instrumental songs - in the jazz, rock, New Age, & electronica idioms - about Neptune than ones with vocals. We need to find a place for them!

Listen to Self Help Radio's show about Neptune (both the god & the planet) today on Freeform Portland from noon to 2pm. In Portland it's on 90.3+98.3fm & everywhere (maybe even on Neptune?) it's at freeform portland dot org. Something for the fans of the planet & fans of the god both!

Preface To Neptune: Intro Doc

If I did this right, embedded above is a video by Astrum about the planet Neptune, which is this week's theme. The direct link to the video is here. It's a very nice & delightfully succinct overview of a planet about which we knew very little until around 1989. It's true! I liked it so much I snatched samples of the vid to play throughout tomorrow's show.

Now, the show tomorrow will also be about the god Neptune, after whom the planet is named. But I'm an astronomy geek. I should probably look for a YouTube doc about the god Neptune. But I also probably won't.

Toys

This was a disappointing day, in ways that would seem dumb to you & so I won't bore you with the details. I spent a lot of it listening to music for this week's Self Help Radio - which is what I do most Tuesdays. As the day came to a close, I thought of the blog & that I had nothing really to say, & when I really have nothing to say, I go look at pictures I've taken on this day in the past few years. I started taking pictures when I realized I had a digital camera, & that was spring 2014. By August 22, 2016, we were living in Fort Worth.

It being summer, we needed to wake early to walk the dogs - it's sad to realize that of the four we had at the time, two of them are no longer with us. I had looked at maps & come up with what I hoped was a decent dogwalk to satisfy the wife. I did not. She found the route I had picked "dirty." So she suggested we walk under the highway to a neighborhood she liked, near an elementary school.

One of the homes near the school had two windows full of toys. I took a picture. I titled it "Toys." It looks more like stuffed animals, doesn't it? Oh well.

Let's hope tomorrow is a bit better than today. Today was disappointing.

The Charm Of Cinema

(image from the IMDb)

We had one charming show last week - why, you can still listen at the Self Help Radio website! - & in-between the songs, our resident cinephile Chuck talked about movies featuring a certain kind of charming - hypnosis! After you've listened, take advantage of what is almost certainly an untreated obsessive/compulsive condition & check out the following links:

Here is his YouTube playlist of films & trailers.

Here is his Letterboxd list.

Chuck's instructions: "Click on the 'read notes' icon - I have put links to the youtube videos, where the film may be streaming for free, & the occasional bit of other information."

Here are his Letterboxd reviews.

Here is the IMDb list of films available to stream for free.

Here is Chuck's IMDb keyword list.

& remember Chuck is on Twitter, on Bluesky, & on Substack.

Chuck will return in a few weeks!