Frank O'Toole often opens More Exciting Moments with a mix of Brian Wilson's "Let's Go Away For Awhile" and the Mr. Lucky theme by Henry Mancini. Both represent elegant orchestration: In the 1960s, such composers could draw a razor thin but razor sharp line between easy listening swill and rich art. On Shrunken Planet with Jeffery Davidson, The Beach Boys track was played in full next to The Soft Hills, followed by Aborea.
If you like the sixties work of Wilson and Mancini, check out Gary McFarland's "80 M.P.H. Through Beer Can Country" used as talk over music by Mr. Finewine on Downtown Soulville. The track is from America The Beautiful: An Account Of Its Disappearance--an ironic orchestral portrait made in perhaps America's most turbulent year, 1968.
Daniel Blumin played "Sunshine" from Peter Hammill's 1971 solo album, Fool's Mate. This Donovan-like piece is a surprise, as Hammill often used a wailing, tormented voice singing in the ultimate heavy prog band, Van Der Graff Generator. Compare the zippy solo track to Generator's "The Sleepwalkers" played by Daniel in 2009.
Do you know nothing I said above matters? According to TV preacher Harold Camping, the world is ending tomorrow, May 21.
Of course Camping also said Judgement Day was in September, 1994. Believe or not, Scott Williams marked the occasion starting with "Take Me Away" by Ween, then playing Blondie's "Rapture," tape of his daughter, Lila, and 1970 Jesus rock by Friends. He threaded the entire set together with Forrest McCullough's "Flight F-I-N-A-L: A Dramatic Companion To Death." Last year, he played "No Room For Two On The Poll" from 1972 by the Israeli band, Apocalypse.
More doomsday radio: On Underwater Theme Park, Meghan spent her show on songs that count time, starting with Emergancy Broadcast Network, The Cure, and Clouds. On Teenage Wasteland, Bill Kelly played Skeeter Davis' "The End Of The World." Mike Sin played "Paths and Planes and Future Gains " by Keith Reif's 1970's band, Armageddon.
But in the likely case we're all here Sunday morning, here are two bonus archives. New material from The Indelicates was sandwiched between Billy Preston and Queen on Music From Daddy's Hideaway, and on Miniature Minotaurs With Kurt Gottschal, my favorite segue of the week: the soothing pop of The Carpenters played against the throbbing anxiety of the Crazy Dreams Band. Sometimes the best pairings are polar opposites.
Camping's not a TV preacher. He's the man behind Family Radio. They have no TV presence of which I'm aware. The videos of him are surprising to me, as I've been listening to him for at least 20 years whenever I can get the local Bible station in the car. His voice is fascinating and soothing, and he's a great speaker. I don't share his beliefs at all, but he's amazing to listen to.
Posted by: Andy Lester | May 20, 2011 at 12:44 PM
he's on my cable. it most likely depends on what your cable company carries
Posted by: dj handi | May 20, 2011 at 01:10 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8UQ6x91vWc The end is near
Posted by: terribletim | May 20, 2011 at 08:46 PM
when we get to Monday...
Posted by: fxo@wfmu.org | May 21, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Yes Andy, TV presence, broadcasting 200,000 watts strong in the New York City area.
http://www.wfme.net/about/
Posted by: abarth | May 22, 2011 at 02:40 AM