Re: weird Muzak experiences
Geff King said: On the Muzak thread - perhaps Mike Woods will weigh in on this one, as rumour has it he actually used to *work* for the Evil Ones... It's true. I'd have chimed in earlier, but I'm in digest mode these days. I had a summer job with the Washington DC Muzak franchise back about 1970. I was the Credit Manager. This is a big title for someone who calls up the folks who are behind in the payments. I'll tell you how things worked back then, but it's probably changed by now. There was a room with a bank of about six tape machines with 15 inch reels. These started and stopped automatically. I'm not sure how they were controlled -- this was long before there was a computer on every desk. For fifteen minutes one tape would roll -- this was the "office" program. Then it would stop and another would roll -- the "factory" program. Muzak's theory was that it was most effective as an efficiency tool if it was on for fifteen, off for fifteen. There were different song selections for clerical and industrial applications. Most of our customers, though, were restaurants and office building lobbies, and they wanted background music all the time. The music was broadcast over one of the local radio stations, using a sideband or subcarrier or something technical like that. Every customer had a radio receiver. They were billed so much for the receiver, so much for each amplifier, and so much for each speaker. The account cards for each customer indicated the equipment they had, the price for each piece, the total monthly billing, and the amount that went to ASCAP and BMI. The bigger portion went to ASCAP. We used account cards and typewriters then -- computers were beyond the grasp of small business. Every week we'd receive a shipment of tapes with this week's program. We'd use a set of tapes for a week and then ship them to the next franchisee. We got a typewritten list of the program, with scheduled times, with the tapes. That made possible some office games of "Name that Tune." Sometimes customers would call in asking to know what song had just played. I worked in the tape room and had my own private volume control. I'd scan the day's program every morning looking for the two or three good cuts they had so I'd know when to turn up the jams and have a boogie moment. I remember I liked their version of "Vehicle," and there were a few others that rocked pretty well. A few. Their engineers as a policy trimmed out a lot of the low frequencies, so there was no way to have the bass punch you in the gut. And that's just about everything I know about Muzak! -- Mike Woods
Hillbilly Boogiemen
I just want to say a few words about these guys. They're from Holland, and currently on a three-week tour of the states. They opened for Honky Tonk Confidential at IOTA in Arlington, VA on Thursday night and did a hell of a fine show. They bounce back and forth from bluegrass to CW to rockabilly, and do pretty well at all of them. Their favorites seem to be Jimmy Martin, Ray Price, and Webb Pierce. They stayed at our house Wednesday and Thursday nights, and proved themselves to be fine young gentlemen. They speak good English, and give all the credit for that to American TV. They're on their way to New York City to play the Rodeo Bar on Saturday night. Then they turn west toward Columbus, OH, then to Michigan I think, then southwards again towards Austin where they started from. If they come to your town, go see them, they're great. Tell them I sent you. -- Mike Woods
Bad gigs
Nancy Apple is a trouper. I've never had a cap knocked out, 'cause I don't have caps. But I have some chips in my front teeth that exactly match the grill pattern of a Shure SM-58. That's the best reason for using those foam rubber "pop filters" -- it doesn't hurt when a drunken dancer slams into your mike stand. I don't have any gigs from hell to report, all my worst ones have been merely boring. But I will 'fess up on my all-time dumbass move. One time I was distracted by too many things, and called out "Okay, guys, Tennessee Waltz. Key of A. One, two, three, four..." -- Mike Woods
DC Twang
I don't think we've been letting P2 know much about our concert series called the District of Country Barn Dance and Show. Sorry! We put out a CD a few months ago called "Greeting from the District of Country," which featured a lot of DC acts. We figured the next step was to put on shome shows. Since the Twist and Shout closed, things have been getting tight arond here, and sombody's got to start opening it up, Currently the only (occasionally) twangy venues in the DC area have been the Birchmere and IOTA. They're both great venues in their own way, but we (Honky Tonk Confidential) don't think they're enough. So we started our own shows. Maybe we'll fail, maybe we'll get rich, most likely we'll just put on a series of shows for a few months until we can't afford to lose any more money... In March, we hosted The Oklahoma Twisters. These guys are DC locals, but are the most authentic Western Swing band I've had the pleasure to have heard, with the exception of Asleep at the Wheel. The DC swing dance folks sure know them. Also on the bill was Classic Country. In that band are Buddy Charleton, who spent years with Ernest Tubb, and Speedy Price who is one of my personal guitar demigods. Jack Greene used to work for him! Coming up on April 9th, we have rockabilly singer-songwriter Brian McGuire and his band '52 Pickup and also Angry Johnny and the Killbillies. In May we'll have the Ghost Rockets, and Elena Skye and the Demolition String Band. So if you're going to be in the DC area (when your company sends you in to negotioate some contracts with Leviathan) come and check us out! http://www.muddypaws.com 202-544-7011
Re: Texans and odd hats
On Wed, 10 Feb 1999, Geffry King wrote: Disclaimer: I was bit by a Tibetan KyiApso (sic) on Christmas Day, and I still hold a grudge.. Geff has the distintion of being bitten by the rarest dog in North America. There are only between 50 - 60 Tibetan KyiApso's in the Western Hemisphere, and he got bitten by one. -- Mike Woods np - How Much is that Hound Dog in the Window?
Re: Hank Snow's toupee
On Fri, 5 Feb 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 99-02-04 19:51:11 EST, Joe writes: I wonder if this is true of other fields like politics or big business, etc. I'm sure Hitler could be a charming dinner companion... No, everyone said he was a big bore. Hermann Goering, on the other hand, was a fun guy. -- Mike Woods
RE: Other Artists' Early Work (was Re: Dixie Chicks)
On Fri, 29 Jan 1999, Walker, Jason wrote in re Emmylou Harris: Middle-class kid from Washington DC? I don't think so, man - I believe she's from Birmingham, Alabama. That's the official legend, and I think she was born there. But as I understand it, most of her formative years were spent in Woodbrige, VA. Definitely a DC suburb. The entire population of Woodbridge migrates north up I-95 every morning to work at the Pentagon. Some social climbers claim to be from Woodbridge when they're actually from Dumfries. -- Mike Woods
Re: Buddy Guy (was Re: soul)
On Fri, 29 Jan 1999, Kelly Kessler wrote: Who can tell me more about Johnnie Johnson? I can't tell you a damn thing. Listen to some Chuck Berry records, Johnnie's all over them. Also, rent that Keith Richards flick about celebrating Chuck's birthday. Johnnie's in that, with some good shots of his hands. -- Mike Woods
Re: why we hate line-dancing
I wouldn't hate line-dancing so much if it weren't for one little thing: in joints where line-dancing is found, that's all that's found. They take over the entire floor, and expect to be catered to. -- Mike Woods
Re: old people's music
On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Chris Orlet wrote: Mention country or alt.country and they look at me like I just fell off the turnip truck. My favorite dumb reaction: "You're in a country band? Do you wear chaps?" -- Mike Woods
Re: Americana guesswork
On Thu, 21 Jan 1999, Budrocket wrote: Q: Well, if you hate shovelling elephant shit so much, why don't you get another job? A: What, and give up SHOW BUSINESS??!! "Being a comedian is pretty rough, I haven't worked in three years!" "Why don't you quit the business?" "What? How would I make a living?" -- Mike Woods
Re: Americana discussion
On Thu, 21 Jan 1999, Neal Weiss [I think] wrote: I'm curious to know what you think about retro acts like Wayne Hancock and the Derailers. Do you like 'em? Would you call them timeless? There's a *really* good question: what's the difference between Retro and Timeless? -- Mike Woods
RE: the fifth beatle
On Tue, 19 Jan 1999, Walker, Jason wrote: I believe that if there was a fifth Beatle, it was Carl Perkins. Any takers? Junior That should have been the Beatles' reunion tour: Paul, George, Ringo and Carl. -- Mike Woods
Re: the TNN awards
On Mon, 18 Jan 1999, Diana Quinn wrote: ...the line-dancing bars are all closing (that's true) and the western wear shops are starting to fall like dominoes. And that's a good thing. In country music we've had several waves of popularity fueled by folks who want to wear the clothes and do the dances, or ride the mechanical bulls. After a while they get bored and go away, and we're left with the folks who actually enjoy country music. I'm looking forward to it. -- Mike Woods
re: The Fifth Beatle
On Tue, 19 Jan 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I can't believe that with all the pop culture geeks on this list that no one's gotten the "Clarence, the Fifth Beatle" reference. It's from an Eddie Murphy Saturday Night Live sketch, I've heard of Saturday Night Live! That's that Lake Wobegone radio show, isn't it? But who's this Murphy guy? Does he do Irish jokes or something? -- Mike Woods
Re: the fifth beatle
On Mon, 18 Jan 1999, Jeff Wall wrote: At 11:17 PM 1/17/99 -0600, you wrote: Clarence, the fifth Beatle. I am aware of four gentlemen who can claim, with varying degrees of justification, the title of "The Fifth Beatle." - The late Stu Sutcliffe who was the bassist in their Hamburg days. There actually were five Beatles at that time. - Pete Best, the original drummer (Ringo was a big improvement). - George Martin, their producer. George had a lot to do with shaping the sound of their recordings, and played on a number of their tracks. - Murray "the K" Kaufmann, New York DJ who awarded himself the title. How Clarence White, admirable guitarist that he is, qualifies for this is beyond me. -- Mike Woods
Re: the fifth beatle
On Mon, 18 Jan 1999, Jeff Wall wrote: I had heard that Billy Preston could also make the claim. Or am I thinking of the Stones? He did some session work for the Fab Four, I think especially the Let It Be album (am I remembering the name right?) But a bunch of people played some parts here and there, so I don't think Billy becomes Beatle 5. -- Mike Woods
Re: old vinyl numbering systems
On Thu, 14 Jan 1999, William F. Silvers wrote: John Wendland wrote: I still remember the noise it made when the LP was dropped from the spindle and the grooves of one album rubbed against the grooves of another. Yeah, me too. Didn't they mold a thicker "lip" around the edge though, to prevent that rubbing? I don't THINK so... ...thought about it the other night when BR5-49 covered "Battle Of New Orleans". Flip side on that old 45 was "Sink The Bismarck". Then you don't have a very old 45. I'm pretty sure that was a reissue pressed in the 60's or 70's. Going on a *really* old memory here, I think the original B-side was "All for the Love of a Girl." The original had a cool sleeve with little cartoons depicting the story of the battle. Sadly, all my 45's were ripped off by an ex-roommate so I can't check. -- Mike Woods
Greetings from the District of Country
We had the CD release party for the above-mentioned title tonight. We've discussed it on the list previously: it's the one that includes Honky Tonk Confidential's version of (the apparently controversial) "Fujiyama Mama." In spite of the ice storm that made driving treacherous, we filled Iota to standing room only, the only act that cancelled was Kevin Johnson and the Linemen (although a few sidemen couldn't make it, and there was some inter-band borrowing of drummers and bassists). The lineup included: The Oklahoma Twisters Julia Altstatt and the Honky Tonk Troubadours The Atomic Hillbillies The Reluctant Playboys Rodeo Motel Ruthie and the Wranglers Louise Kirchen Fannie Zollicoffer Honky Tonk Confidential '52 Pick-up David Kitchen and the Demolition Randy Austin and the Throwbacks When we sober up a little, we'll post some more details! -- Mike Woods
