If you scooted here from the Program Notes---bless you. A free service and people should take advantage of it. If they did more important news could be up here---say, things like the travails of Tiger Woods, the importance of viewing the 11 PM news so that you do not miss any stories of fires and mayhem, or other such major moments such as the terrible auto accident recently in The Bronx where a woman was killed and all the headline said was--"....Tom Brokaw Unhurt in Crash".
On to what this is supposed to be all about now. You read earlier about the concert at The Orangeburg Library with Gathering Time. A wonderful event it was and one that is a delight to put on at this time of year as we have done for the past five years with the likes of Pat Wictor, Red Molly, Modern Man, and, now, Gathering Time. It was my delight to introduce them and sit with the audience to appreciate their talents. After the show we schmoozed with a compatriot of theirs who I have now come to know and appreciate for his talent and his openness. He will be a guest on TRADITIONS shortly and in the meantime check out a sample of his work here:
Larry Siegel is a truly creative songwriter, agent, booker, and you name it. His material will be heard this coming Sunday on TRADITIONS and he will soon be a guest on the program. As soon as his busy schedule between Europe and the U S permits.
As you see and hear it is his take on Calypso---Calypso always tells a story and this is a true one as they all are. For more on the Calypso Traditions check Smithsonian Folkways website, :Bermuda Websites (for their take on it with some classics you have heard on TRADITIONS), and listen to TRADITIONS for more this weekend.
SO--why not more Calypso---here is Lord Invader with the original lyrics of this song--see the true meaning:
See you Sunday for some more great music and insights.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Check Your TV LIstings---Or Get An Invitation
At last. Mel Brooks will be honored shortly at the Kennedy Center in the annual Kennedy Center Awards and it will prove to be a riotous evening of laughter commemorating a comic genius who, along with Carl Reiner, have been long-time friends and have overcome great recent losses in their lives.
Since I have commented that this site will stick to more lighthearted things here is an early clip from one of their earliest appearances---not as the 1,000 or 2,000 year old man:
Short ending---check the listings for when the Kennedy Centers Honors will be Telecast. A Must See TV Moment---probably more than the NBC Must See TV promos.
Since I have commented that this site will stick to more lighthearted things here is an early clip from one of their earliest appearances---not as the 1,000 or 2,000 year old man:
Short ending---check the listings for when the Kennedy Centers Honors will be Telecast. A Must See TV Moment---probably more than the NBC Must See TV promos.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
ERIC BOGLE and some comments
Admittedly I was going to reserve this site for comedy and also for some topical commentary. Stick with me because here you will find some of the things I sign off with on WFDU on Sundays on Sunday Simcha---"...the eclectic sound of...
ERIC BOGLE has been a favorite and influential part of the various programs I have been doing on WFDU. He is now retiring from touring and what you will see here part of his farewell tour with John Munro and also the title song that I have played many a time on Traditions on WFDU.
I had the privilege and honor of meeting and chatting with him a few years back prior to one of his bi-annual appearances at The Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club in NJ. He actually turned down a NYC appearance to be there that evening.
John Munro, who as you know from my program, is a traveling companion and, also, a wonderful artist in his own right accompanies him in this video from the farewell tour and I could have chosen a different piece but, I do believe this is one that captures their music and camredrie and you will be hearing it this Sunday on TRADITIONS:
ERIC BOGLE has been a favorite and influential part of the various programs I have been doing on WFDU. He is now retiring from touring and what you will see here part of his farewell tour with John Munro and also the title song that I have played many a time on Traditions on WFDU.
I had the privilege and honor of meeting and chatting with him a few years back prior to one of his bi-annual appearances at The Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club in NJ. He actually turned down a NYC appearance to be there that evening.
John Munro, who as you know from my program, is a traveling companion and, also, a wonderful artist in his own right accompanies him in this video from the farewell tour and I could have chosen a different piece but, I do believe this is one that captures their music and camredrie and you will be hearing it this Sunday on TRADITIONS:
Friday, November 13, 2009
Humor Par Excellance
One has to ask why it is that Amos and Andy (as well as The Goldbergs) are persona non grata on TV. Taste sure cannot be the issue. The Goldbergs were surely not offensive. The gave some real life insights into ethnic and familial situations. Amos and Andy, which is what I really want to focus on, are a different matter.
Amos and Andy, admittedly, were created by two white writers and actors---on Radio. Freeman Gosden and Andy Correl. The show was so popular that water pressure dropped during the commercial breaks. True story. That was how many people were tuned in during the golden age of radio.
Fast forward ahead to the age of Television in its infancy. Amos and Andy moved to TV and employed a brilliant Black cast of actors in the program. They truly captured the characters---the hard working Amos, the befuddled Andy, the slick (cornerstone) Kingfish, and all the others---lawyers, judges, wives, and more.
It was the 1950s and here was work for some wonderful Black actors that was not available elsewhere and also presented them in situations that were relevant across the spectrum. Today this program (The Goldbergs as well) are, as said, persona non grata on TV. Were it not for You Tube resurrecting the past (can they go back to Palaeolithic times?) these episodes would be lost forever. What a shame that would be since later TV shows employed characters much more offensive with less redeeming qualities than Amos and Andy. The Jeffersons is a case in point. How could anyone think of that as in better taste? Moronic Whites, inane Blacks, and a script that was devoid of any sensibility or sensitivity.
The following would be in the sidebar were it not for the glitch with Google at this time so--------------Harking back to that earlier era please take a look at this brief segment that, as Perry Mason used to say--"...I offer to use as evidence"(I sure hope he said that)
There you have the final part of the episode of " The Rare Coin". A nice cross section of people---the con man, the patsy, the disbarred lawyer, and more. Not any different than White sit-coms of years later and earlier. As to the actors---Tim Moore was the Kingfish---it was a great gig at that time and they were brilliant performers.
Amos and Andy, admittedly, were created by two white writers and actors---on Radio. Freeman Gosden and Andy Correl. The show was so popular that water pressure dropped during the commercial breaks. True story. That was how many people were tuned in during the golden age of radio.
Fast forward ahead to the age of Television in its infancy. Amos and Andy moved to TV and employed a brilliant Black cast of actors in the program. They truly captured the characters---the hard working Amos, the befuddled Andy, the slick (cornerstone) Kingfish, and all the others---lawyers, judges, wives, and more.
It was the 1950s and here was work for some wonderful Black actors that was not available elsewhere and also presented them in situations that were relevant across the spectrum. Today this program (The Goldbergs as well) are, as said, persona non grata on TV. Were it not for You Tube resurrecting the past (can they go back to Palaeolithic times?) these episodes would be lost forever. What a shame that would be since later TV shows employed characters much more offensive with less redeeming qualities than Amos and Andy. The Jeffersons is a case in point. How could anyone think of that as in better taste? Moronic Whites, inane Blacks, and a script that was devoid of any sensibility or sensitivity.
The following would be in the sidebar were it not for the glitch with Google at this time so--------------Harking back to that earlier era please take a look at this brief segment that, as Perry Mason used to say--"...I offer to use as evidence"(I sure hope he said that)
There you have the final part of the episode of " The Rare Coin". A nice cross section of people---the con man, the patsy, the disbarred lawyer, and more. Not any different than White sit-coms of years later and earlier. As to the actors---Tim Moore was the Kingfish---it was a great gig at that time and they were brilliant performers.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
LOU JACOBI---A Rememberance
As the title says---you read it on the main page and since Google has problems with the posting of side-bar videos this seems the way to go and this seems to be the spot, given the numbers, where the misc. and comedy segments are welcomed.
LOU JACOBI aka---see the first page---was more than a comedian---here are some clips in different modes:
That is from Little Murders---the Jules Pfeifer film. His very clever commercials are not available to show but to see some of his great performances do see those classic films---listed on the first page.
Think of all the weight you will lose from this exercise of going from page to page.
LOU JACOBI aka---see the first page---was more than a comedian---here are some clips in different modes:
That is from Little Murders---the Jules Pfeifer film. His very clever commercials are not available to show but to see some of his great performances do see those classic films---listed on the first page.
Think of all the weight you will lose from this exercise of going from page to page.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Great Comedy from a Great Artist
Glad you scooted over here. Given that nothing dies in cyberspace and humans do it is wonderful to find the never aging and never deceased (virtual) performers.
Some background. I had rcvd a video of the ever popular swinger L. Welk and it got me to thinking who was hip around that time and were not some of the comics then just so good. They made points and created brilliant characters as opposed to some of the stand-ups of today. To them it is shock for shock's sake with no point---check Comedy Central for these "brilliant" artists.(do not include Stewart and Colbert in that sentence).
True there are some in the later years---Carlin, Pryor, Bruce, and a few others (I believe Klein was earlier)--but in general the pantheon is intact. Which brings me to Flip Wilson and how I re-discovered him. Sort of like his great routines where he would stop in the middle--at times--and say in a high pitched voice---I discovered Ray Charles. You have to hear it. Or is the line---you had to be there?
In any case, my thoughts drifted to him when I rcvd. that You Tube video of the very un-hip Lawrence Welk and Co. Did they get it or did they not get it? My vote is that they did not. You can search You Tube for the piece. What I want to do is present to you via You Tube (which seems to have errors on the sidebar now) a piece by Flip Wilson. I would happily a dd more routines to the side bar it seems to be on functioning for videos. If you would like more comedy on this site just let me know.
The routine --or joke-- you will see here is one I have remembered--not necessarily by Flip Wilson--since late teen-age. His timing, however, is brilliant----you have got to love this routine:
Some background. I had rcvd a video of the ever popular swinger L. Welk and it got me to thinking who was hip around that time and were not some of the comics then just so good. They made points and created brilliant characters as opposed to some of the stand-ups of today. To them it is shock for shock's sake with no point---check Comedy Central for these "brilliant" artists.(do not include Stewart and Colbert in that sentence).
True there are some in the later years---Carlin, Pryor, Bruce, and a few others (I believe Klein was earlier)--but in general the pantheon is intact. Which brings me to Flip Wilson and how I re-discovered him. Sort of like his great routines where he would stop in the middle--at times--and say in a high pitched voice---I discovered Ray Charles. You have to hear it. Or is the line---you had to be there?
In any case, my thoughts drifted to him when I rcvd. that You Tube video of the very un-hip Lawrence Welk and Co. Did they get it or did they not get it? My vote is that they did not. You can search You Tube for the piece. What I want to do is present to you via You Tube (which seems to have errors on the sidebar now) a piece by Flip Wilson. I would happily a dd more routines to the side bar it seems to be on functioning for videos. If you would like more comedy on this site just let me know.
The routine --or joke-- you will see here is one I have remembered--not necessarily by Flip Wilson--since late teen-age. His timing, however, is brilliant----you have got to love this routine:
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
JOHN PRINE AND ORGAN DONATIONS
The song you will see (granted the audio is not great but it is better than good audio and silly pictures) started out as a really clever song and can now be thought of something else. Something that comments will be made about after you view this:
John Prine, as you know, doing Please Don't Bury Me. In thinking of the piece, after years of enjoying its humor, I realize that it would be a great song for people to think of organ donations.
It has been said, many times, that in humor there is always a segment of truth. Be it in Stand-up, in Opera, in Musical Comedy, and all other genres. That song is one that John Prine might not have thought of at the time of writing it as being something that might become an anthem for Organ Donation. It well could be that.
I will credit my daughter for having me sign the organ donors card on the NYS drivers license and I hope others will follow after hearing that song. Think of it---humor and a thought, unbeknown at the time of composition to John Prine, a new anthem. He is not an anthem writer---well, Flag Decal might be considered there.
Sometimes humor can do more to promote things than some serious commentary and diatribes. SO--pass it on and please, whatever you do, do not "kiss my ass goodbye"---all the other stuff is OK. Though, I cannot think of how the needy would need my knees--perhaps a tennis player and I would be OK with that.
John Prine, as you know, doing Please Don't Bury Me. In thinking of the piece, after years of enjoying its humor, I realize that it would be a great song for people to think of organ donations.
It has been said, many times, that in humor there is always a segment of truth. Be it in Stand-up, in Opera, in Musical Comedy, and all other genres. That song is one that John Prine might not have thought of at the time of writing it as being something that might become an anthem for Organ Donation. It well could be that.
I will credit my daughter for having me sign the organ donors card on the NYS drivers license and I hope others will follow after hearing that song. Think of it---humor and a thought, unbeknown at the time of composition to John Prine, a new anthem. He is not an anthem writer---well, Flag Decal might be considered there.
Sometimes humor can do more to promote things than some serious commentary and diatribes. SO--pass it on and please, whatever you do, do not "kiss my ass goodbye"---all the other stuff is OK. Though, I cannot think of how the needy would need my knees--perhaps a tennis player and I would be OK with that.
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