Tenderness (it ain't illegal yet): Busy Doing Nothing with Charlie

Listener comments!

11:59am Sarah N:

Love me tenderrrr

12:00pm bobdoesthings:

helllo

12:02pm Parq:

Times change.
www.inetours.com...

12:04pm listener james from westwood:

How do, Charlie and all!

Parq, I'm still getting over the time change to EST.

12:04pm testingwithfire:

good afternoon Charlie and idlers. Psychumbia!

12:05pm Charlie:

Good morning/afternoon/evening, Sarah, bobdoes, Parq, James, testingwithfire -- very happy to see you all here today!

12:06pm Listening Out There:

Nothing doing. Busy!

12:06pm Brian in UK:

Hello Charlie. I know this sounds naive but what is a peep show?

👻

12:07pm doctorjazz:

Hello. Started listening o the Sam Segal archive (fine show-thanks LJFW), interrupting now for the live GTDS stream.

12:07pm mauri:

a rose for a tango

12:07pm Michael:

Hiya Charlie and all. Gloomy day suddenly brightened at noon.

12:07pm Uncle Michael:

I have nothing on my mind.

12:09pm Uncle Michael:

I love love love this Dusty.

12:09pm Charlie:

Brian in UK: extras.mnginteractive.com...

12:09pm Charlie:

hey DrJazz, Mauri, Michael, Uncle Michael!

12:10pm Brian in UK:

Looks like a sugar-based confection.

12:10pm Uncle Michael:

That guitar...Reggie Young.

12:12pm Jeff Golick:

B.A.D.!!

12:13pm Brian in UK:

How did Dusty go from singing in The Springfields with her brother Tom and Mike Hurst to being a 'soul' singer.

12:15pm Gaylord Fields:

@Brian in UK: When it comes to Dusty, it's best not to ask yourself questions and instead just revel in her musical omnipotence.

12:15pm Peter Nelson:

Ch Ch Ch....ChChCh.....Ch....oh, nuttin'

12:16pm Sarah N:

I have nothing to say!

12:17pm Charlie:

Helloo, Jeff G, Gaylord, Peter -- yay!

12:17pm Brian in UK:

Gaylord personally I liked the transformation POP period best.

12:19pm Gaylord Fields:

Whenever I play "Dusty in Memphis," I literally get chills up and down my spine. And I don't mean "literally" as in figuratively — I mean my spine feels a tingling sensation. Yes, it literally actually does that thing.

12:20pm listener james from westwood:

The Ennio birthday love continues! Not that Ennio is ever less than loved in BDN Town.

12:21pm ndbob:

afternoon Charlie and everyone!

12:22pm Charlie:

hi there, ndBob!

12:29pm Gaylord Fields:

@Brian in UK: But that's just it — if you call yourself a music lover and you can't find a way to relate to some aspect of Dusty's mastery of so many genres, then make certain to have someone water that lily resting on your chest, because Jack, you're dead!

12:30pm listener james from westwood:

Morricone = lord of the leitmotif.

12:33pm jan:

"L'Assoluto Naturale= lovely

12:34pm Gaylord Fields:

@Charlie: I recall your gracing us with "L'Assoluto Naturale" before, and I fell in love that time as well.

12:34pm Brian in UK:

Gaylord, I grew up listening to Dusty's pop so it is ingrained.
Your analogy reminded me of this film I saw recently. The heroine has a lily growing in her lungs.
drafthousefilms.com...

12:35pm Uncle Michael:

Dusty's version of this one kills too.

👻

12:36pm doctorjazz:

The good BS&T (at least, better to my ears).

12:36pm mauri:

didn't know it was his birthday. I suddenly felt like listening to duck, you sucker soundtrack couple of weeks back.

12:37pm Listening Out There:

"Smile" is from the Al Kooper days of BS&T, right?

12:37pm Charlie:

Hello, Jan!
Yes, Unk, that it do.
"If Dusty don't quicken your pulse, you ain't got one."

12:37pm Michael:

Morricone wrote the score for Once Upon A Time in the West before production and in consultation with Leone, each character represented by their own theme. Leone would then sometimes playback the score while filming. One of my favorite films and highly recommended if never seen.

12:38pm Brian in UK:

It's a big step from Island of Dreams to Breakfast in Bed. Toast crumbs notwithstanding

12:38pm Charlie:

I forgot I was going to make a connection between Dusty Springfield and WFMU's new mascot, Dusty the chinchilla! (picture right now on the WFMU home page).

12:44pm βrian:

I somehow knew nothing was happening somewhere. Then I remembered.

Hello.

12:47pm Webhamster Henry:

I've only seen "Once Upon A Time in the West" in Austria, where it was called "Spiel Mir das Lied von Tod"

12:47pm Charlie:

I knew you were out there somewhere, ßrian.

12:48pm Webhamster Henry:

And speaking of tender: John Hubley's THE TENDER GAME
www.youtube.com...

12:48pm jan:

Beautiful Stravinksy- unfamiliar to me. Thanks.

12:48pm Charlie:

Hi Henry -- "sing me the death song"?

12:51pm Sarah N:

ah....Kate Mitchell Joni Bush inspired lady...

12:51pm Uncle Michael:

To me, Dusty's "Breakfast in Bed" is as perfect a little tableau as "For sale; baby shoes, never worn."

12:51pm Webhamster Henry:

Close enough!
www.moviepilot.de...

12:51pm Peter Nelson:

Newsom's new album 'Divers' is out. Still barmy and beautiful.

12:55pm Charlie:

Yes, Peter, and cinematic.

12:55pm Lizardner Dave:

Fun factoid: Jean Shepherd used "Sally Go Round The Roses" as bed music.

12:55pm Uncle Michael:

I'm getting tired of affected vocals of that sort...even when they're delivered by talented artists like Newsom.

I held a copy of this Jaynetts 45 in my hand yesterday but it was beat to hell.

12:55pm Parq:

TV Tropes (which, despite its name, covers most entertainment media) has a nice page on Newsome. (Warning: if you are going to be going to the site for the first time, make sure you have time to kill.)

12:57pm Parq:

I agree with Uncle Michael, by the way; those child-woman voices detract much more than they enhance, IMO.

1:00pm βrian:

When is Sarah Vowell going to record her singing debut?

1:01pm Uncle Michael:

I blame Macy Gray but that's probably wrong.

1:03pm Brian in UK:

You might as well accuse Blossom, Dearie.

1:05pm Carmichael:

Heya Charlie and friends. I haven't heard Sandy Bull in 20 years! Was just reminded of him after seeing Richard Thompson last Sunday and wondering where have all the old players gone?

1:05pm Charlie:

Hi Lizardner Dave.
@ Uncle M -- I understand and agree in theory, but some women win me over and I make exceptions. Personally, I think it's some distortion of Billie Holiday via Karen Dalton. Why it's become so ubiquitous I don't know.

1:07pm Uncle Michael:

I think you're right about the lineage, Charlie. Why it's gone pop...I have no idea.

1:08pm Webhamster Henry:

My band, Mamalama, has songs that kind of fit in with todays theme.

1:09pm Gaylord Fields:

Maybe some women just have high voices. Tread lightly, fellas.

1:10pm People Like Us:

did you play The Jaynetts track because the riff in that sounds just like that track by Tipsy? This may sound like a vague question but I'm sure you know the riff i mean since you must know Tipsy music as well as I do!

1:10pm βrian:

Bill Callahan and Joanna Newsom might be an interesting duet.

1:11pm northguineahills:

@Parq: I guess you're not a fan of the Cranes, I suppose?

1:11pm βrian:

Amurka! Good Lord, that's fun!

1:12pm Charlie:

Hi People Like You! I know the track you mean, but I didn't think of it when I played the Jaynetts. I just love that Jaynetts song :)

1:13pm Peter Nelson:

Is that The Jaynetts' own song? I only know The Pentangle's version.

1:14pm Charlie:

Don't worry, Gaylord, there are probably plenty of annoying male vocal mannerisms we could discuss.

1:15pm βrian:

Not Van Morrison, surely!

(Well, maybe. Yup. For sure.)

1:16pm Charlie:

Well, Peter, I think the Jaynetts version is from 1963 or so. The Great Society (pre-Jefferson Airplane) does a nice version too.

1:16pm Parq:

NGH, not familiar with the Cranes, but I'm thinking of things like the Cardigans, the lead singer of Altered Images (even tho I dig the band over all), that kinda thing. If you tell me the Cranes fall into that category, I'll take your word for it.

1:18pm KevinfromBayRidge:

Hello Nothing-Doers. You're killing it today, Charles! Ditto on Gaylord's comment. Let's embrace our high frequency friends. They're all part of the FMU palette.

1:18pm Peter Nelson:

Regarding that 'girly' female vocal issue, Gary played all Jap pop last night, and much of it could be similarly criticised...not by me, though. And while we're onto Altered Images, did you ever notice the big scar on Clare Grogan's face from being glassed in a bar fight. She was/is no 'girly'!

1:20pm βrian:

Palate the palette!

1:21pm Charlie:

First heard this Fred Thomas song on a show Peter did prior to starting doing Eclectic Music for Mind and Bodhi on Give the Drummer Radio.

1:22pm Sarah N:

Yep - Charlie - I LOVE this!!

1:22pm Sarah N:

Pure poetry.

1:24pm Charlie:

I don't feel the discussion of singers has so much to do with sex as much as why a particular sound or vocal delivery (male or female) suddenly becomes popular. But I could be blind to my own prejudices.

1:25pm Sarah N:

I agree Charlie. It's not about frequency either.

1:25pm ndbob:

Scrolling back here -indeed Gaylord - yep the Jaynettes is the original - as for high voiced women it kind of depends - some I like some I don't - I find Joanna Newsom charming - but in small doses

1:26pm Sarah N:

To my ears, some deliveries sound "authentic" to my ears whereas some sound "contrived"...

1:28pm Peter Nelson:

Tracey Ullman nailed this one for me.

1:28pm ndbob:

right Sarah

1:28pm Parq:

Everybody is making fair and valid points, but I will still insist that some female vocalists intentionally affect (keep in mind that the Uncle Michael post that started all this used the word "affected") that baby-talk style because it sells. Now I gotta go out and buy a nice birthday present for Mrs. Parq (who, full disclosure, has been known to engage in a wee bit of baby talk). See y'all sometime during Matt's show. Charlie, none of this detracts from the fact that today's show is top notch as usual.

1:29pm Uncle Michael:

I didn't single out female singers. The issue is not pitch. I can hear affectation and it doesn't appeal to my ear.

1:31pm Gaylord Fields:

@Charlie: I just find my minority-spidey-sense tingling when a gendered characteristic such as women having (or being accused of affecting) a high, "girlish" voice is seemingly being dismissed out of hand, especially by a mostly male group. Of course this can and should be discussed, but I hope we can err on the side of sensitivity.

👻

1:32pm doctorjazz:

Some affectations can be affecting and effective (would anyone say Lou Reed isn't affected?). When it gets to be done just because it's a style and overused, it looses that communication aspect.

1:33pm βrian:

Vocal fries, anyone? It seems to be pan-gender, these days.

1:33pm Uncle Michael:

I may be entirely guilty of mansplaining and of being the oppressor but that isn't going to change whether or not that affectation sounds appealing to me.

👻

1:34pm doctorjazz:

Solo Duke is always a treat!

1:34pm ndbob:

@UM It's a matter of taste as you say

1:34pm Gaylord Fields:

@doctorjazz: I see your point, and raise you: I just get weary of hearing more women being criticized for their affected voices than criticism of men who also have affected voices.

1:35pm Brian in UK:

Betty Boop is my kind of gal.

1:36pm Uncle Michael:

I am resistant to most all affected vocalizing, Gaylord.

That said...Helen Kane is on my playlist for tomorrow.

1:36pm Gaylord Fields:

On one hand, there's having particular tastes — and on the other hand, there's how it's expressed. And on the third hand, there's a shoe.

1:37pm Peter Nelson:

I'd like to bring in Jimmy Scott at this point, just to confuse things.

👻

1:38pm doctorjazz:

Me, I'm just excited to see the Jets tonight, not bothered by anything! J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!

1:38pm Peter Nelson:

Not an affectation, of course, so much as a medical condition.

1:38pm Webhamster Henry:

I was going to mention Helen Kane, and Irene Franklin and bevies of other vaudeville stars .. I feel that as long as it serves the music, I don't care what the voice sounds like. My voice is kind of whispy at times and I don't even know it!

1:38pm βrian:

A contrarian and his contralto.

1:38pm Dominick:

I'll add Fanny Brice to the stew

1:39pm Uncle Michael:

Jimmy was affecting nothing.

I'm comfortable with the way I expressed myself.

1:39pm Peter Nelson:

I've yet to meet a DJ who doesn't speak with an affected voice on air.

1:40pm Sarah N:

Bee Gees!

1:40pm Webhamster Henry:

Which I guess is a kind of sideways plug for the fairly new WFMU Show "Vocal Fry", with Dan Bodah.

👻

1:40pm doctorjazz:

I LOVE Regina Spector and her ways of singing...drives my wife out of the room!

1:41pm βrian:

Or a waitperson, really. It's hard to play it straight when one is on stage.

1:41pm Uncle Michael:

Peter, monologizing is an affectation in and of itself. It could be argued that sounding conversational while giving a monologue would constitute an affectation as well.

👻

1:42pm doctorjazz:

Busy doing nothing, but REALLY passionately!!!

1:45pm Peter Nelson:

@UM. Yup.

1:45pm KevinfromBayRidge:

The fact that we're all here, risking hearing something that may drive us crazy, kinda says it all.And why FMU exists.

1:45pm Uncle Michael:

AMPLIFIER!

👻

1:45pm doctorjazz:

More dBs, great band! Love this song!

1:46pm Gaylord Fields:

You'll have to pry my 78 of Rose Murphy's "Busy Line" out of my cold, dead hands — as soon as I buy a copy, and then die of natural causes at age 114.

1:47pm Ike:

Hi. Sounds good!

1:47pm Uncle Michael:

I'm going to differentiate between character voices and affectations...but I'm not going to do so successfully.

👻

1:47pm doctorjazz:

New Stamey album is pretty good...

1:47pm Roberto:

Wow, the bass on this is really prominent when listening via headphones.

1:49pm Charlie:

Hello Kevin -- good point!
Hi Ike, Roberto, Dominick.

1:49pm Ike:

@Gaylord, you may have inadvertently helped me get a job. Someone who digs yr show interviewed me and noticed my FMU volunteer work on my CV.

👻

1:49pm doctorjazz:

Well, Toodles you nothingness DEARS!!!!

1:50pm Gaylord Fields:

@KevinfromBayRidge: Hear! Hear! And the fact that we can have this incredibly civil discussion without it devolving into what usually happens among a virtual roomful of mostly strangers is also a WFMU-community cap feather.

1:50pm Roberto:

I wonder what bass amplifier he used.

1:51pm Gaylord Fields:

@Ike: Congrats, and god luck — and I do accept tithing.

1:51pm ndbob:

Indeed Gaylord - a good discussion

1:51pm Gaylord Fields:

*good luck

1:52pm Dominick:

@Roberto: What makes you think he used an amp?

1:52pm Charlie:

Yes, Gaylord! (spoken in affected Tom Waits-ish voice).

1:52pm Uncle Michael:

I'm proud to have provided the microagression at the root of all this civility.

1:52pm Roberto:

Well he probably used one at some point in his career.

1:53pm Charlie:

Good luck Ike -- we should all only get jobs working with people who appreciate WFMU.

1:53pm Charlie:

Speaking of taste, I am about to play an arrangement of one of the most overplayed pieces in history!

1:54pm βrian:

Taco Bell canon, of course.

1:54pm Ike:

Thanks Gaylord. Tithes will indeed go to you -- or rather, yr show at pledge time (assuming I'm still employed by then).

1:54pm Gaylord Fields:

@Charlie: To think just yesterday I was reading how the Buffalo Springfield's label coerced Neil Young into giving all his songs to Richie Furay to sing because of not caring for Neil's voice.

1:55pm Charlie:

@Gaylord -- Ha!

1:56pm KevinfromBayRidge:

@ Gaylord, Are we not men( and women). We are FMUers.

1:56pm Ike:

@Chaz, thx. The Gaylord fan isn't my boss, but the boss seems OK too. Nice place so far. Big company.

1:56pm Charlie:

What was that tepid comment about Fred Astaire's screen test -- something like "Not a bad voice; can dance a little."

1:56pm Sarah N:

When do the cannons kick in?

1:57pm Uncle Michael:

thanks for the great show, Charlie