Episodes 21-30
EPISODE 30: Paramount Records
From 1917 to 1932 a record label in Grafton, Wisconsin may have captured more important American recordings than any other label or person before or since. Not a single one of those recordings feature the accordion or performers wearing lederhosen.
Episode 30 of Highway Hi-Fi focuses on Paramount Records, a chair manufacturing company, and blues recording giant.
Listen Here:
The Four Records Featured on this Episode:
Henry Pedro - Midnight Sun
Green on Red - That's What Dreams
Jodi Gales - You Gotta Push
The Dirtbombs - Do You See My Love For You Growing
Further Reading:
THE BALLAD OF GEESHIE AND ELVIE from New York Times Magazine:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/04/13/magazine/blues.html
Paramount Records: The Label Inadvertently Crucial To The Blues
http://wlrn.org/post/paramount-records-label-inadvertently-crucial-blues
New York Times: They’ve Got Those Old, Hard-to-Find Blues
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/arts/music/12petr.html
Jack White Rescues Paramount Records [video from CBS This Morning]
EPISODE 29: Peter Pan Records
In this episode, we talk about growing up with the king of the Children’s Music Industry, Peter Pan Records. The weird childhood records that still haunt our memories.
We continue with weird by having a quiz about how Prince spells song titles.
Also, what's a Peanut Duck and how is it sweeping the nation?
Listen Here:
The Four Records Featured on this Episode:
Marsha Gee - Peanut Duck
Maureen Tucker - Hey Mersh!
The Handsome Family - Drunk By Noon
Bill Anderson - Cocktails
EPISODE 28: The Mal Evans Conspiracy
What if we were to tell you that there was a single man, who you may have never heard of, who co-wrote Sgt. Pepper with the Beatles? Was responsible for Dylan going electric? Pushed Brian Wilson over the edge? Borrowed Frank Sinatra’s Lear Jet? Let down his childhood idol Elvis Presley? Had Thanksgiving with The Band at Big Pink? Conjured a curse that leads several of the world’s brightest musicians to early deaths? And was assassinated just as he was about to reveal the truth about the most famous cover-up in rock and roll history?
Today, the fantastic and tragic tale of rock n roll’s greatest conspiracy victim, Mal Evans. A simple man who just happened to be around rock’s biggest stars and ultimately fell into the buzzsaw that was Paul McCartney’s vengeance.
Also, songs and trivia. And Joe's fantastic impersonations.
Listen Here:
The Four Records Featured on this Episode:
Papa M - Mama, You've Been On My Mind
Pavement - Box Elder
Black Heart Procession -
It's A Crime I Never Told About the Diamonds in Your Eyes
Labelle - Wild Horses
More Mal:
EPISODE 27: Finding Nimoy
In this, the most special of episodes, Ryan & Joe tackle a subject that is near and dear to their hearts: the music of Leonard Nimoy.
Leonard Nimoy produced 5 albums over 3 years and these have, for the most part, fallen by the wayside. They're actually pretty good. Ryan & Joe go through how they happened and what could have been.
Also, songs & trivia!
Listen Here:
The Four Records Featured in This Episode:
Zarelli - Electric Winds
Goldberg - Hollywood
Kris Kristofferson - Same Old Song
Lou Rawls - Season of the Witch
Episode Related Links:
- Maiden Wine Defunct Musical Nimoy Website
- Ballad of Bilbo Baggins Video
- Nimoy's Moustache in Stunning Magnavox Laserdisc Quality
- Brent Spiner and the Sunspots
- Nimoy's Musical Career in Mad Magazine:
More Pics:
EPISODE 26: Eno's Spine-Twistingly
Oblique Strategies
A perfect episode for those of you feeling stuck inside of a creative rut. Today, Ryan & Joe learn to "be less critical more often" as they cover the nebulous advice practice that is Eno's Oblique Strategies Cards.
Hear stories of artists who "discard an axiom" and either loved or lamented these innovative and ambiguous creativity aphorisms. Most notably, Phil Collins petulantly throwing beer cans.
So remember:
Do we need holes?
Trust in the you of now.
Slow preparation, fast execution.
Use an unacceptable color.
Plus trivia and four songs featuring hobos, fevers, underwater soul singers, and Bay City Roller fanboy imposters.
Listen here:
The Four Records Featured on This Episode:
Billy Storm - I Never Want to Dream Again
Tartan Horde - Bay City Rollers We Love You
Eno - Fever
Bobby Charles - Street People
Original Versions of the Cards:
EPISODE 25:
Contractual Obligation Albums
(Sticking it to the Man!)
What happens when recording artists are legally required to make albums? Well, how about: a horrible dance craze called The Screw, an hour of feedback loops (more if you count locked grooves), the meanest divorce settlement album of all time, robot Neil Young, Major Tom's triumphant return, songs about Danishes, and names that can't be pronounced. This week Ryan & Joe explore the wacky, bitter world of contractual obligation albums.
Also, four super songs for super people. And trivia backwards and forwards.
Listen:
The Four Records Featured in this Episode:
KORT - Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries
Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth For Christ Choir - Like A Ship
Langley Schools Music Project - Wildfire
Sammy Davis, Jr. - You Can Count on Me
Clips Featured in the Episode:
- The Crystals - The Screw Part 1
- The Rolling Stones - Schoolboy Blues
- Van Morrison - Various songs from the Bang Sessions
- Lou Reed - Metal Machine Music
EPISODE 24: The History of Bootleg Records
Ryan and Joe get all unauthorized and talk about the wild, seedy 'other' music industry: Bootleg Records.
From Bob Dylan's alleged motorcycle accident through home taping's destruction of the music industry - and beyond. Hear about the rise and fall and rise again of illegal records and the mysterious people who risked getting brained by mafia goons to make a lousy $35 so some hippie could have a recording of a show he got high at.
And, for even more of your listening pleasure, 4 songs you can't live without and trivia that, honestly, you could probably live without.
Listen:
The Four Records featured on this Episode:
Other Episode Information:
- Bootleg: The Secret History of the Other Recording Industry Book
- Neil Young shaking down a record store clerk about a bootleg
Bootleg Labels:
Some Bootleg Records Mentioned (or forgotten) in the Episode:
Remember, when you need to throw off the fuzz...
It's MADE IN HOLLAND
EPISODE 23: RSD Interview
with Chris Brown
Record Store Day Bonus Episode!
In this episode, Ryan and Joe ramble on (and on) with Chris Brown of Bull Moose, the inventor of Record Store Day. Chris recounts the rise of RSD, where it's headed, and gives an insider perspective on record store coalitions.
The three talk about some of their favorite releases past and present.
Questions answered in this episode: Who is the Caretaker? Which Harry Nillson reissue is arguably the greatest release ever for Record Store Day? Who is considered the Leonardo DaVinci of record etching?
Huge thanks to Chris for his expertise, openness, and willingness to participate in impossible trivia.
Listen:
Discussed during the interview:
The Dwarves Amazing Etched RSD Record:
The Talking Heads Screen Printed Rauschenberg:
One of Chris' Favorite RSD Reissues:
Recommendations by Chris:
Voyager Golden Record (see Chris talk about it)
Ryan's RSD Target:
Joe's RSD Target:
Chris' RSD Target:
Happy Record Store Day! Long Live Physical Media!
EPISODE 22: Record Store Day
In preparation for Record Store Day on April 21st, Ryan and Joe walk through the history of RSD. How did one email become the genesis of the biggest record buying day in the world?
As always, Trivia and songs you need to hear.
Stay tuned for a bonus episode featuring an interview with Record Store Birther: Chris Brown!
Listen Here:
The Four Records Featured on This Episode:
Episode Related Links:
- Record Store Day Official Website
- This Year's RSD List!
- Flaming Lips Pink Beer Record
- Bull Moose Website
Joe's Favorite Release From Last Year:
And a Public Service Announcement:
EPISODE 21: Finding The House of the Rising Sun
Ryan & Joe break down the history of the song "The House of the Rising Sun": how old is the song? Where did it come from? Is there a real House and, if so, where the heck is it? Has Eric Burdon ever not been a jerk?
As always: Trivia and songs we want to stick in your craw.
Listen:
The Four Records Featured on this Episode:
