WFMU's Beware of the Blog

Great Moments in WFMU History #27

Broken Windows and Bullet Holes - by Ken Freedman and Liz Berg

WFMU’s old house on Springdale Ave. was located in a crime-ridden sector of East Orange, NJ, adjacent to the Upsala College campus. WFMU was not immune to the area’s problems, which became evident after a visiting band’s van was stolen directly from the front driveway within a week of the station’s move from a basement dormitory on the Upsala campus.

This initial van theft foreshadowed countless staff muggings, a beating or two, and many vandalized vehicles. One time a police chase ended on WFMU’s front lawn, where a car thief bailed out of the stolen vehicle and the East Orange cops opened fire. Another time, gunshots rang out during an outdoor staff meeting. Staffers discovered that the East Orange police were engaged in some leisurely post-BBQ target practice on the abandoned Upsala soccer field just across the backyard fence.

Illustration by Edward Lasala

 

Great Moments in WFMU History #26

Live Before the Acropolis - by Ken Freedman and Liz Berg

Back in the midst of WFMU’s halcyon prog years, DJ Richard Ginsburg went against the collective flow of airing 19-minute guitar journeys, hosting an electronic space jam show called “Synthetic Pleasure.” The program was wildly popular, as many New Jersey music fans had recently embraced the power of keytar, and it even went down in the books for being the first show on WFMU to play CDs. But perhaps Ginsburg’s most significant innovation was that he broke Yanni. Yes, that Yanni. In fact, Yanni used to visit WFMU fairly often to play his demo tapes and chat on-air. This was, of course, prior to his being widely recognized as an adult contemporary new age pimp.

Illustration by Matthew Thurber

Billy Jam presents: Back in Eighty Eight: Hip-Hop, Version 1988

Back in eighty eight, twenty long hip-hop years ago, hip-hop, or "rap" music as it was more generally referred to back then, was experiencing arguably (and it has been argued and debated, tirelessly by many a passionate hip-hop head) its finest moment. A part of hip-hop's much lamented, so-called "golden era" 1988 has been labeled many things by many people such as "The year hip-hop peaked" or "The last year for real hip-hop" or "The main year of the golden era." So revered is that year in the history of hip-hop music and culture that it has become the subject matter of many diehard hip-hoppers including the Rhymesayers emcee Blueprint who titled his 2005 album "1988" as a tribute to "the beats, the breaks, and themes" of what he (and many others) see as "hip-hop's heyday."

"Blueprint, who started his hip-hop career in the late 90's, was too young to have experienced 1988 hip-hop firsthand. But I wasn't. I was there and totally into hip-hop at the time: as a journalist writing about it, as a radio DJ playing all this great new music on the air at a time when there was little hip-hop to be found on the radio dial, and most importantly as a dedicated rap fan buying all these great new records and cassettes as they came out. Note at this stage in hip-hop it was still possible to buy near every new release without going bankrupt. I still am a big fan of '88 hip-hop: records like Public Enemy's "It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back," BDP's "By All Means Necessary," Eric B & Rakim's "Follow The Leader," EPMD's "Strictly Business," Too $hort's "Life is....Too $hort," and NWA's "Straight Outta Compton" etc. etc.  But while I love 1988 hip-hop today as much as I did all them years ago, I am not one of those aging b-boys who hates everything new in the genre. Sure I agree that there is a lot of shitty hip-hop coming out today but there is also lots more really great & innovative new hip-hop music being made today. But the classics will remain the classics. And 1988 was a classic year in hip-hop.

Great Moments in WFMU History #25

Wesley Willis Head-Butt - by Ken Freedman & Liz Berg

Late musician Wesley Willis dropped by WFMU to play live on the air in 1996. A sweet guy, Willis was plagued by schizophrenia and the voices inside his head, and would frequently scream out of fear. He was on tour with a Chicago metal band called The Fiasco, who were incredibly disrespectful to the tortured man. During his time at WFMU, Wesley took a liking to a young, attractive female volunteer, who had just started helping out at the station that very day. Willis repeatedly hugged his new muse, and was finally so enamored that he dealt her a hearty head-butt (a token of affection that he was well-known for offering fans, as evident by the unicorn bump on his forehead), which may have scared her away from the station for good.

Willis was very unsatisfied with his on-air performance, and actually wrote a self-deprecating song about the experience, called “I Fucked Up At WFMU,” which he performed the following night at a show in Washington, DC. The song title was later changed to “I Done A Poor Job” and appears on Wesley’s New York New York album.

Illustration by Dimitri Simakis

Vinyl Finds: Merzbow - Dradomel LP 1992 (Hannover Interruption)

Masami Akita (aka Merzbow) is one of my heroes.  Not only is he one of the innovators of noise-as-music, with an incredible range of stylistic applications in his repertoire, he also shames most creative artists in terms of sheer productivity.  The amount of Merzbow/Masami Akita solo releases and collaborations on LP, 7" vinyl, cassette tape and CD is absolutely staggering, approximately 400 since 1980; that's an average of 14 releases per year, making him something like the Fassbinder of Noise.  The thing about his catalog, at least from this fan's perspective, is that so much of it is really very good, the constant experimentation and variation of his approach, and the collaborations with other artists bearing proof of an extremely bountiful creative spirit. 

This LP, apparently titled Hannover Interruption (at least according to Wikipedia and Discogs, though no such information appears anywhere on the package, not in English characters anyway) was a joint release of Dom Elchklang and the short-lived Dragnet Records label.  Almost everything both labels have touched is pure gold to me, and Dradomel in particular also released one of my all-time favorite LPs, Rowenta/Khan's Tiefpunkte Moderner Tonkompositionen (also 1992, now on CD.)

This album finds Merzbow in full-on, harsh-noise mode, at least at first listen.  The more one becomes acclimated to the sound, the more layers of activity emerge:  electric groans and roars, bird-call-like feedback, moog sirens, percussive analog static, thousands of pots and pans falling down a hill, even the occasional vocal.  It's this artful layering of sound (among other things) that separates Merzbow from some jag-off that just turns on a noise generator and walks away.  To my knowledge, these recordings are not included in the massive 50-CD Merzbox (Extreme, 2000) though the Merzbox does include a disc called Hannover Cloud dated 1990.

Merzbow continues his prolific tide, with some notable recent releases being Electric Dress (with Carlos Giffoni and Jim O'Rourke), Merzbuddha, and Merzbear (the latter two being part of his mostly animal-devoted Merz series on the Important label.)  In the past several years, Masami has also become an activist for animal rights, including the PETA url alongside his own merzbow.net on CD sleeves.  (Just imagining the Noise-God rubbing shoulders at a charity event with Pamela Anderson gives me a big fat grin for uncountable reasons.)

Side A Untitled
Side B Untitled

Next time:  My Merzbow singles!

Great Moments in WFMU History #24

Burnt Orange - by Ken Freedman & Liz Berg

In 1998, a few years after Upsala College went completely bankrupt, closed its doors, and abandoned the East Orange, NJ campus, WFMU was on the brink of a move to its new home in Jersey City. During the final program on the final night of the last-ever WFMU fundraising Marathon held in the station’s Springdale Ave house next to the campus, a gratifying farewell symbol presented itself. The empty Upsala Business Office, a site of countless financial battles between the station and college administration, burst into flames and burnt to the ground. DJ Frank Balesteri (aka The Vanilla Bean) grabbed volunteer Phil Catalano’s cell phone, galloped toward the blazing inferno, and called in to the on-air line to give a play-by-play of the mayhem, even managing to interview a firefighter.

Art by Aaron Zimmerman

Early Musical Robots

One blog reader asked what the the story behind the picture with the walking, talking, and yodeling "radio man" for last week's post was. The article is from a 1939 issue of Popular Mechanics, and "Radio Man" was designed by Swiss engineer August Huber in the 1930's. Like all early robots, he looks way cooler than the modern ones. That's all I know. And instead of wasting my time researching more about Radio Man, here are a few more early robots, all stolen from the "Robot" section of the excellent Modern Mechanix blog. (Click on the images to get a larger version.)

 

Two more robots after the jump.

The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus (and Walter Patrick Ireland) - MP3

Retired Pasadena firefighter Walter Patrick Ireland, aged 94, died earlier this week after a short illness.  In 1949, Ireland was involved in the two-day effort to rescue 3-year-old Kathy Fiscus from an abandoned well in San Marino, California.  Kathy had been playing in an open field with friends when she disappeared underground after falling into the 14" opening of the uncapped well.  Kathy was already dead by the time she was pulled up from a depth of nearly 100-feet.  Accounts differ as to who pulled her up.  The Pasadena Star-News article linked above credits Ireland, while the TIME magazine article (also linked above) indicates that it was firefighter Bill Yancey.  In any case, Ireland joined the Pasadena Fire Department in 1940 and retired as a captain after 34 years of service.

For 27 hours, Los Angeles TV station KTLA pre-empted its regularly-scheduled programming to broadcast live news coverage of the event to its viewers, instantaneously bringing them each new wrinkle in the horrifying story.  Media historians generally agree that KTLA's coverage of the event set the standard for the kind of live on-the-scene reporting that we still see today.

Within weeks, Kentucky singer Jimmie Osborne had recorded The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus for the King label, which became a top ten hit.  In 1964, Starday released the Howard Vokes version of the song, which can be heard below.

Howard Vokes  -  The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus  (2:26)

Great Moments in WFMU History #23

Making Old Ladies Cry Since 1995 - by Ken Freedman & Liz Berg

Fig. 1 - During an episode of talk show Seven Second Delay, callers provided hosts Andy Breckman and Ken Freedman with the name and number of someone who needed cheering up. A young woman called in and suggested that the hosts phone her Aunt Tess, who was living in a nursing home. Andy called up Aunt Tess, and when he explained that her niece had asked him to send her good cheer, the poor woman began to cry. Andy milked more tears by gushing about the thoughtfulness of the niece’s gesture. Sept. 25, 1995.

Fig. 2 - Two high school kids in a band called up during an episode when callers were asked to play their answering machine messages over the air. The band members played a message that another bandmate had left for them, in which he earnestly chatted about the group’s new songs and expressed excitement about their next practice. Trouble was, the callers wanted him out of the band. Andy jumped at this opportunity to call the unsuspecting teenager and kick him out of the band over the air.

Fig. 3 - On another occasion, Andy offered $50 to any kid who delivered their tooth to WFMU before the end of the hour instead of leaving it for the tooth fairy. A kid named Henry called in on a cell phone and his mother Wendy agreed to drive him to the station to trade the tooth for Andy’s money. The pair were stuck in traffic on the way, but upon reaching the station, the situation appeared favorable to Henry… until he and Wendy hopped into the station’s notoriously slow elevator. Still on the phone, Andy berated the mother and son, building the pressure and making it sound as though they were too late for the money. At this point, poor Henry lost it and broke into tears in the elevator. But in the end, Henry made it to the studio in time, and gladly took Andy’s $50. Listen to this archive in real audio here.

Illustration by Mark Kaufman

Great Moments in WFMU History #22

Upsala Sells WFMU - by Ken Freedman & Liz Berg

In late 1993, it became clear that Upsala College, the university that owned WFMU’s broadcast license and housed its studios, was on the verge of implosion. Seeing Upsala’s financial demise as a golden opportunity rather than the end of WFMU as he knew it, Station Manager Ken Freedman offered to purchase the station’s license from a reluctant Upsala administration.

As the college’s financial problems escalated to desperate, Ken convinced them to sign an agreement stating that he would run the station on their behalf and Auricle Communications, a non-profit group made up of DJs, listeners, and volunteers, would manage the station.

Finally Ken received a call from Upsala’s Vice President of Finance, who asked him “How quickly could we sell the station to you?” “Right away,” was Ken’s reply, even though Auricle did not have enough money to do so. A generous listener-donor loaned us the funds, papers were signed, and a rush order was sent to the FCC. Upsala’s final payroll barely squeaked by on funds from Auricle’s purchase of WFMU, and the college declared bankruptcy 2 weeks later. June 22, 1994.

Illustration by Danny Hellman

Ride The Cyclone!

Great Moments in WFMU History #21

Panties is Fundamental - by Amanda Barrett

Bronwyn C.'s "Read 'em and Weep" was a radio book club, and in 2003 her fundraising premium giveaway was a thong with a picture of a winking book and the slogan "Panties is Fundamental." Which they is.

During her Marathon show (listen), Bronwyn was diligently hustling pledges on mic when DJ Kenny G dropped trou and stuffed his mighty man-unit into a pair of the teeny girl-undies. The shocked volunteers let the phones ring as Kenny G panty-danced behind the momentarily unaware Bronwyn.

Suddenly, Kenny G released his big ol' bookworm and rested it on Bronwyn's shoulder. She was somehow able to soldier on until Kenny began whacking her cheek with the thing. Luckily, no permanent physical injuries were sustained. Following post-traumatic stress counseling, Bronwyn said, "I knew Kenny G was nuts, but that's when I realized he was completely out of his mind." March 5, 2003.

Illustration by Steve Hogan

A Quick Memory Of Johnny Thunders

Johnny Thunders has been dead for 17 years now. Whoa. I had the opportunity to see Thunders live in a few different bands he was in, but my most vivid memory of him was actually less musically oriented, and more humor and food oriented, sorta. Flash back to Englander's; a club/pub/bar in Hillside NJ that held shows (The Smithereens concur that their first gig was there). It was October or November sometime in the early eighties. I could not find the date searching online & am not great at retaining exact dates so far back. Fill in your own if it makes you happy. Englander's was situated on a main street, and I was parked with friends on that street somewhat down a hill from where the club was. We were early, and Thunders was notorious for playing late, if at all, so we were hanging out in the car probably smoking weed and listening to tunes. I was sitting in the front passenger seat, and lo & behold I see a person struggling with something at the top of the hill, close to where the bar was. It was an object that was fairly large - larger than a bastketball, and they were having trouble handling it - it was obvious it was heavy. There was just a sheen of ice/frost on the sidewalk, and I could see that was making it difficult for the person we now were watching -  deal with this item.

Vinyl Finds: Gumpert-Malfatti-Oxley – Ach Was!? (FMP 1981)

The proliferation of good music blogs continues to stagger the mind.  Vinyl hoarders the world over are ripping and posting their collections and it's simply impossible to keep up, unless you're spending 100% of your time at the computer—even then you're bound to miss out on a lot.

Records that previously lurked only in the dark corners of my memory, my personal collection and/or the WFMU library are turning up on music blogs all over the Web.  For example, when impLOG's Holland Tunnel Dive e.p. showed up about a year ago on Mutant Sounds, I had what has now become a familiar "haven't thought about that one in years" reaction.

It's also become harder, from a blogger's viewpoint, to excavate recordings that haven't already been celebrated and offered for download elsewhere online, though I believe I may have one here.

This rarely seen FMP release turned up in the used vinyl new arrivals at Amoeba Music's San Francisco store when I was working there in 1999.  For the sheer gloat potential, I probably should have left the price tag on, which I think was $1.99.  With my employee discount, this record cost me, well—less than that—an obscene bargain to be sure.

While this LP finds drummer/electronic musician Tony Oxley at the more experimental end of his tether (i.e., not playing in a straight or out jazz combo), both sides have a warmth and delicacy that may make this record appealing to those typically wary of free-improvised music (though things do get a little wilder during the latter half of side 2.)  Personally, I have a real affection for the primordial plink-plonk of sessions like this one.

Pianist Ulrich Gumpert is a well-known figure in European jazz and a respected interpreter of Erik Satie's music, with a career that also includes compositions for film and TV.  Austrian Trombonist Radu Malfatti is another giant of European jazz, having collaborated with a veritable who's who of improvisers, but since 1981 has focused more and more on composition (perhaps this record blew his wad!)  All three players on Ach Was!? have lengthy discographies, including other recordings for FMP.

Tony Oxley continues to dazzle the world with his brilliant, intuitive playing, adding to his impressive catalog most recently with The Advocate on Tzadik.  Oxley's first releases as a bandleader, The Baptised Traveller and Four Compositions for Sextet (from '69 and '70 respectively) are personal favorites.  As an added bonus, here's a link to a download of Oxley's ultra-rare Ichnos from 1971.

Ach Was!?:
A1 - Luft Gebacken
A2 - Ach Was!?
B - Kookin' at Charly's

Great Moments in WFMU History #20

Sharing a Beer with Joe Strummer (This Gob's for You!) - by Hova Najarian

“Kill your idols” sounds nice in theory, but the fact is DJ Hova worshipped Joe Strummer. Hova was in complete awe when Strummer stopped by WFMU for a guest-DJ set in July 2001, but he wasn’t the only star-struck staffer either. A few light-headed WFMU DJs loitered in the studio after Joe had left, savoring the moment. Mike Lupica kept stealing sidelong glances at the unfinished black-and-tan in front of Joe’s chair, finally asking, “Is that... ?”

“Go on,” Hova said. “You know you want to.”

Mike took a swig - gingerly, reverently. Transubstantiation ensued.

Brian Turner (jokingly?) suggested giving the rest away during our fundraising marathon, so Hova took the bottle home to his fridge. Several months later, Terre T. was visiting Hova, and he brought it out to show off.

“Behold,” Hova bragged. “Essence of Strummer.”

“Gimmee!” Terre blurted, snatching the bottle and chugging like a frat boy. Eventually, Hova got it back, salvaging enough beer/backwash to fill 20 small vials, which, accompanied by a certified letter of authenticity, made for a fine marathon premium. One of which Hova drank.

Joe Strummer guest DJ show:  playlist  |   listen
Strummer’s beer giveaway Marathon show:  playlist  |  listen

Illustration by Abby Denson

Happy Record Store Day

Have you noticed that record stores are going out of style?  Today would be a good day to support your favorite shop because it's Record Store Day.   Hundreds of independently owned record stores across the country are participating by offering discounts and entertainments all day long.  What is your favorite record store that's still open?  I go for Crypt Records in Brooklyn.  But I also must mention Wuxtry Records in Athens, Georgia since that's where I first became a record hound.  Other favorites are Shangri-La Records in Memphis, CD Alley in Chapel Hill and Princeton Record Exchange right here in NJ.  I also wish someone would open a record store called the New Bin.

Now go buy some rekkids!

Sun Ra - Daddy Gonna Tell You No Lies (45)
Bruce Culver - Square Record
Bull Moose Jackson - Big Ten Inch Record
Slim Gaillard - Jumpin' At The Record Shop

Great Moments in WFMU History #19

WFMU's Emergency Plan - by Mike Lupica

Given its proximity to downtown NYC, 9/11 was an especially lousy morning to wake up in Jersey City. With random road closures and a panicked citizenry all contributing to the general chaos, it took longer than usual for WFMU’s staff to arrive for work in JC that morning.

First onhand were JM in the AM’s Nachum Segal and freeform DJ Michael Goodstein, both of whom valiantly maintained the air signal during the crisis. Mike Lupica arrived next via mountain bike and was soon joined by Scott Williams, who’d sought emergency passage on public transit. DJs Rich and Tamar arrived later, and after watching the towers fall, it was universally decided that a visit to WFMU’s smelly but well-fortified basement was quite overdue.

As F-15s screamed overhead and social chaos reigned just beyond our foyer, no less a man than Bob Gruen (famed photographer who snapped the photo of John Lennon standing astride Lady Liberty) rang the doorbell and joined the fearful cellar-dwellers; earning his place as an honorary FMU staffer for the day. By mid-afternoon, overwhelmed with the dueling stenches of moldy records and raw sewage, the shaken group left the basement to seek the particular comforts that only aggressive drinking can afford. September 11, 2001.

Art by Robert Piersanti

Who Should It Be???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you don't count this guy (link) -  and I certainly don't - that means there is a scant 9 months and 7 days left for our current commander in chief to pick a rock/pop star for an historic photo op. Who Should It Be???

Great Moments in WFMU History #18

The Misfits Take On Terrorists - by Mike Lupica

“This one goes out to Pat Duncan! It’s called ‘Dig up her Bones!!’”

Eternal bearers of teenage sleaze culture, the re-activated Misfits performed on Pat Duncan's show just weeks after 9/11. The band's lineup read like a roll call of intergalactic superheroes, with genuine Misfits Jerry Only and Robo donning leather trousers and devil locks, teaming up with drummer Marky Bell (whom one FMU staffer mistakenly called “Tommy” -- earning blank stared non-recognition from the erstwhile Ramone) and Black Flag's Dez Cadena. The oldies revival set list comprised a bevy of Ramones and Black Flag covers, plus all the expected Misfits tunes into one skateboard-wielding teenager’s aural wet dream.

During the on-air interview with Pat, things took an unexpected turn for the surreal when in regard to the 9/11 attacks, the affable but fast talking Jerry Only brought calm to our wounded spirits by reasoning that America, with help from the Misfits, would hunt down those responsible. And kill them. October 4, 2001.

Listen to the Misfits, as they admonish terrorists and perform a great live set (real audio).

Illustration by Diego Medina

Yearning For Big Love

As a fan of the HBO show Big Love - about an LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) splinter-group member with three wives - I was heartened to see the news this week of the government raid of a polygamist compound in West Texas. Why "heartened", you wonder? Because I have no idea when the show's coming back and the news coming out of the Yearning For Zion compound (Investigators determined that there is a widespread pattern and practice of the ranch in which young, minor female residents are conditioned to expect and accept sexual activity with adult men at the ranch upon being spiritually married to them...) should hold me over until Harry Dean Stanton once again dons the creepy mantle of Roman Grant, patriarch of the fictional Yearning For Zion ranch, Juniper Creek.

Jowe Head, Renaissance Man

I still occasionally (well, very occasionally) step out of my role as cubicle drone and Suburban Dad to make an artistic contribution to the world, and I'm pleased and proud to say that I'll be playing guitar for a series of performances this week with the great Jowe Head.

I first met Jowe by way of a live interview on my WFMU show in 1993, where I gave lame, super-casual interview (as was my "style" in the day) and Jowe proceeded to capsize the station's little wheezing chord organ, then rendering an impromptu performance of the song "Shiny Black Shirt," later immortalized on the Upsalapalooza compilation CD.  Jowe's mid-90s tours with the Television Personalities provided sweet entertainment and some post- and pre-gig opportunities for further socialization.  When the call came out in early 1996 to play a series of NYC shows with Jowe, I was more than ready.  I am eternally indebted to Hamish Kilgour and Lisa Siegel for this opportunity; a chance meeting with Hamish at WFMU's last record fair led to the current arrangement.  My long-time association with the station strikes again!

Jowe, as many of you know, was a founding member of the legendary Swell Maps (along with the brothers Epic Soundtracks and Nikki Sudden, sadly both no longer with us, and Richard Earl aka Bgls), blazing icons of the UK post-punk era, a "cross between Can and T.Rex" put simply, who created 2 brilliant studio LPS, a double LP of live sessions and jams, and several dynamite singles, all originally for the Rough Trade label (reissues and compilations available on Secretly Canadian, Alive, Munster and Overground.)  Jowe has gone on to front or contribute to a great many projects (The Palookas, Televison Personalities and The Househunters, to name only a few; Jowe currently fronts Angel Racing Food), as well as squeeze out a few unforgettable solo LPs, in particular 1986's Strawberry Deutsche Mark (tracks available on the Unhinged CD on Overground.)

Jowe's band this time consists of myself, Hamish Kilgour, Lisa Siegel and Danny Tunick, though the lineup will vary a bit from show to show.  Here are the dates:  a studio session for WFMU (interview with Jowe to air this Saturday, 4/12, recorded set to air in about 2 weeks, both on Terre T.'s Cherry Blossom Clinic), two nights at Cake Shop NYC (this Friday and Saturday, 4/11 and 4/12, 8 p.m. shows), Sunday 4/13 at Eat Records, 124 Meserole Ave., Brooklyn NY (5 p.m. show), and Friday 4/18 at Claude's Bar in Phoenicia, NY.  Also at Cake Shop, and The Arts Upstairs in Phoenicia, an exhibit of Jowe's artwork will be on display and available for purchase.

To further dangle the carrot, here are a few tracks on mp3 that should provide enhanced enticement to savor this very rare musical experience in the flesh:

Baby Bounce  |  Merman Blues  |  Swiss Air  |  The Palookas - Virginia's Wolf

Great Moments in WFMU History #17

World Record Broadcast - by Scott Williams

Glen Jones is WFMU's reigning bad boy. But in May 2001, he flirted with respectability when he reached for, and briefly held, the Guinness World Record for longest ever radio broadcast. A media blitz ensued, Katie Couric repeatedly checked on Jones' progress, and some began to worry: would all this attention mellow Our Jonesey? 100 hours and 42 seconds later, as Tom Waits's "You're Innocent When You Dream" spun on turntable #2, a haggard and exhausted Jones reflected on the 1,128 songs, dozens of guests, and several on-air massages. Witnesses to this feat look back fondly on one particular portion of the record-breaking broadcast: Jones’ phone interview on the Howard Stern show, where Jonesey told Howard "I don't respect you", right after saying "shit" -- on Stern's airwaves, and not WFMU's. May 25-29, 2001.

Real audio links to all 100+ hours of the Jones-a-Thon broadcast are available here.

Illustration by Lyman Dally

Born for Hard Luck

I'm happy to see more and more websites including video players (that actually work) on their pages that include all manner of things that aren't necessarily available on YouTube. I recently discovered the archives of FolkStreams.net, a fantastic site generally devoted to the American working class experience as it pertains to music. Here are some of the great documentaries you can view on their site for absolutely free. They are, for the most part, available in four different formats, making viewing easy to do.

Born for Hard Luck is a sensational little black and white documentary from 1976 profiling the life of a one legged blues man from North Carolina named Peg Leg Sam Jackson. Tom Davenport's gritty black and white look lends itself well to the subject matter. I believe a clip from this was used in the film Amelie (2001).

It Ain't City Music captures the spirit of a 1973 country and western festival held in a small rural community in Virginia and its ability to unite hillbillies and hippies alike.

The Popovich Brothers of South Chicago is another winner, this one from 1978. The documentary chronicles the extra-curricular musical activities of poor, working class Serbian-Americans.

There are close to forty more rarely seen documentaries following the lives of unsung Blues, Gospel, Country and Folk legends from around the USA. Most of the docs are from the sixties or seventies and several from the eighties. Here's the menu.

Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968) MP3

Forty years ago today, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was tragically shot and killed at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.  King was in Memphis  to lead that city's 1300 sanitation workers in a strike, eventually settled in favor of the workers,  over the right to unionize.  In the aftermath of the assassination, riots erupted in over 100 cities though somehow not in King's hometown of Atlanta.  This page features a sampling of how the streets of Chicago looked after two days of tumult.

In 1991, the former Lorraine Motel was converted to the National Civil Rights Museum.

Here is Norm Burns' tribute to Dr. King.

Norm Burns & The Five Stars - Rev. Martin Luther King (4:24) MP3

Great Moments in WFMU History #16

Elvis Phone Sex Prank - by Ken Freedman

One of the most inspired phone pranks on record was orchestrated by WFMU’s Frank Balesteri (aka The Vanilla Bean): he called a phone sex outlet in Memphis, Tennessee and pretended to be a guy with an Elvis fetish. But Frank’s real stroke of genius was turning the tables on the actress/operator and getting her to fantasize about Elvis - his guitar-shaped swimming pool, Elvis getting laid in heaven, the jism on his blue suede shoes. Frank even got her singing "It's Alright, Mama," or at least all the lyrics she could remember. Too bad this was never aired.

The outrageously dirty conversation is available on WFMU’s 2-CD set, Radio Archival Oddities, Vol. 2, or can be downloaded here (MP3).

Illustration by Brian Musikoff