Rednecks, Racists and Reactionaries: Country Classics

Well, I probably could have filled up this playlist with just the recordings of any one of these artists, but the RIAA has recently issued me a warning, so I’m not going to tempt a shutdown, lawsuit or a hefty fine. (Link to rant on this subject)

I’m defining classic country as pre-hippie-country, pre-alt-country, pre-outlaw-country — before Graham Parsons, Bob Dylan, Emmylou, Willie, the Flatlanders and scores of others made the genre accessible to folks who usually associated country music solely with rednecks, racists and reactionaries (hey, that would have made a good album title!) Those changes began in the late 60s and early 70s, so most of this stuff was done before that. I haven’t gone back to the real early rootsy stuff either, and there’s lots of incredible stuff left out, but it’s a pretty good sampling. (FYI, The best basic introductory sampler I’ve ever heard of this stuff is the Smithsonian’s box set. Our government cut through the red tape and inter-record-label squabbling and did something right for a change. Their jazz survey is pretty good, too.)

As much as I complain and rant about the policies of the U.S. government the people of North America have produced an amazing body of popular music — and this is only a sampling of one genre during one era! Something to be truly patriotic about — well, if you like this music, which I do.

— DB

Old School Club Music

This month is all old school club music. To be honest, though I like these songs, they have also served as kind of research for a current music project. These songs may have been what folks were referring to when a certain portion of the population held up “disco sucks” banners in the 80s. These self-proclaimed music critics often stated that what bothered them was that these songs were made by machines (they often were, and proudly so) and therefore lacked sincerity or realness. I think what they were really afraid of was the fact that many of these songs emanated from a mostly Black and often gay subculture — a combination which was so unimaginably scary that its musical representation simply had to be fought off at all costs.

The songs are, as mentioned, proudly artificial studio creations. Linn drum machines and synthesizers abound, and there are no attempts to disguise, for example, the synthesizers as pianos or organs — they are made to sound all squirmy and slithery in reference to bodies on the dance floor — and elsewhere. And maybe linking these with the mechanical programmed beats was a way of taking the oppressive aspects of the modern world, a mechanized world controlled by distant suits (especially if you were stuck in the projects) and turning it on its head — using a thing that represented the worst of modern life and making it ecstatic and celebratory.

— DB

All Missy

Last month was Bobby Zimmerman. This month, all month, is all Missy. Missy Elliot (born Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia) — formerly known as Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott. She is one of my role models.

Not afraid of anything. Not afraid of wearing a ridiculous balloon costume in a music video. Not afraid of her own or Timbaland's radical beats. Not afraid of singing backwards (“Work It”). Not afraid of not being model skinny.

Rumor has it that she works 3 instant message accounts simultaneously — one for friends, one for business, and one for porn.

— DB

All Bobby

This month everyone and his brother salutes Bobby D. What with the Scorsese documentary, a contentious Starbucks CD and revelations from the vaults, the PR mill is humming, forcing us all to bow down before the altar of the old testament prophet and Jewish proto-rapper from Minnesota. I have left out some obvious songs. And sometimes, when a cover is in my opinion better than the original, I have used the cover — at least ones that I had or could borrow. What? The cover better than the original?! Yeahuh!

— DB

Psychedelic

This month, in celebration of the IRA cease fire and cessation of violence in Northern Ireland — the end of a 30 year war! — we trip out olde style. 3+ hours of nonstop psychedelic beauty. Most of it old school, though I mixed in some newer additions to the canon. There are pathetically few tunes from non-English-speaking lands. Maybe Luaka Bop can handle that area? This collection is mostly songs — no 15 minute jams or noisefests. Druggy lyrics alone don’t count.

What is this exactly? Often it’s some fusion of classical sounds and textures with groove-based tunes. Do the sounds of French horns and choirs in pop songs necessarily proceed from hallucinogenic drug use? Who knew?

In general there is a celebratory vibe present in these songs. Hope and exultation. Maybe that explains the classical connection — the association with lofty spiritual evocations of sunsets and vast landscapes. Except maybe for The Rolling Stones, who just can’t bring themselves to sing “We Love You” without heapfuls of menace and irony.

— DB

Italian Favorites

This month we go to Italy. I have picked my favorite songs from the work of only 3 artists. Piccola Orchestra Avion Travel is a semi-theatrical group from Naples. To my ears they are continuing the deep and popular tradition of Neapolitan songs. Their Cirano CD was produced by Arto Lindsay. Fabrizio De André passed away a few years ago. He mixed Sardinian and other regional styles and dialects with a beautiful poetic sensibility. His records were hard to find until he died, then everyone missed him. He used to be in the rock band PFM. Franco Battiato is known for his rock techno pop material, but he also strayed from the pop world from time to time to produce tuneful atmospheric records — one of which was a collaboration with a philosopher!

Have some wine and some copa or cheese and take it easy.

— DB

A friend who relocated to California from NY said she missed hearing all the odd variety of music that was played around the office here.  “I miss hearing what you all are listening to,” she wrote. This “radio” is my response. It will stream for a few hours and then it will recycle. Maybe it will run longer in the future. The artists played here are respectful of one another and gunplay is forbidden. Click on the button and the player will begin automatically. As songs play they will be identified in the popup window, along with the artist — so if you like something you can see what and who it is. The song list will be updated at the beginning of each month.

Like many people, I listen to a wide variety of music, and some of it is, ahem, more appropriate at certain times of day than others. We here are not responsible for adverse affects from playing the wrong music at the wrong time. Hope some of this is enjoyable.

— DB