New England Music Scrapbook Newsletter
Alan Lewis, Editor

Our Corner of the Rock 'n' Roll Life

December 13, 2008
Issue 2008:305
.

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We've got Thrills, chills, Dirty Water
: : : What more do you need?
When the big beat hits ya
Comin' from your transistor
: : : Like the T at full speed
When the big beat hits ya...

"Boston Lullaby," Dudick/Naihersey.
: : : Copyright c. 1980 by Camaraderie Music, BMI.
: : : All rights reserved. Used with permission.

:

:

BRATTLEBORO, VT, Saturday, December 13 - Actually, now I can see that
the original intro I wrote for this newsletter issue has since become
irrelevant, so let's get right into the main matter, shall we.
.


BOSTON CELTICS

Congratulations to this year's record-setting Boston Celtics players.
Paul Pierce talks of how it is post-season achievements that really
count. But it is still wonderful that the Celtics have gotten off to
such an amazing start to the team's 2008-2009 campaign.

I suspect we may have a veteran 76ers fan in our midst.

One of the true superstars of 76ers history actually has really strong
ties to western New England, a gentleman named Julius Erving ("they
double-teamed him ever since he could crawl").
.


RECORD RELEASES
Drawn From the Weekly
Newbury Comics List

I'll say it again ... The weekly e-mail new releases list is a Wicked
Good service Newbury Comics provides. Here are some visual samples
from the latest mailing:

COLLECTIVE SOUL-Afterwords-$15.99
<> This Collective Soul disc, which is now generally available, was
previously a Target exclusive.
DAMNED-So, Who's Paranoid?-$11.88
HENDRIX, JIMI-Electric Ladyland (CD/DVD)-$19.99
<> Gee...
JUSTICE-A Cross The Universe-$14.99
<> I have not even the faintest idea what Justice sounds like nor how
popular this act may be. But we get a heck of a lot of e-mail about
Justice, so this is an outfit that certainly has name recognition
around here. Do we have any Justice fans among our readers?
MAROON 5-Call And Response-$11.88
<> A person who listened to available audio samples of this disc told
us it may be a must-have item for Maroon 5 fans.
RACONTEURS (W/Ricky Skaggs)-Old Enough-$2.99
<> As one might guess from the price, this is The Raconteurs' new single.
SOUNDTRACK-DARK KNIGHT (Collector's Edition)-$54.99
STEREOPHONICS-Decade In The Sun (Deluxe Edition)-$19.99
TEGAN AND SARA-If It Was You-$9.99
<> Does anyone know what is new about this Tegan and Sara release? We
definitely do not. All I can think of is that it may have been
unavailable for a time and now there is a new printing. Or not.

SOURCE: December 8 Newbury Comics: Radiohead, Pink Floyd, and Neil
Young Sale, Coupons, and More," December 8, 2008.

:: jimi hendrix, teagan and sara, teagan and sarah, tegan and sarah ::
.


WHAT'S SPINNIN' AT THE NEMS COMPOUND?

RICK BERLIN
"Old Stag"

NAOMI SOMMERS
"Gentle as the Sun"

Things are frantic here, time-management-wise, and stacks of new
records have been building up, unplayed. I am in great hopes of
giving each a listen soon to see how they stack up in other ways. As
fate would have it, I started with a couple real winners.

"Old Stag" by

: : RICK BERLIN

is the more challenging of the two, and there is no way I can much
more than begin to do it justice after a single play. But it presents
an intriguing set of contradictions. For instance, musically "Old
Stag" is very much in a theatrical song tradition. Many if not most
listeners should have no trouble whatsoever imagining someone, age 20s
or 30s, singing some of these songs from a theater's stage. Yet the
language is occasionally stronger than anything in, say, "South
Pacific," and certain aspects of the subject matter have not by any
means traditionally been pitched to general music and drama audiences.

The first impression is likely to be that Berlin's voice sounds about
age-appropriate, yet some of the singing on "Old Stag" would more
nearly bring to mind a young guy. This is actually one of the
features I like most. Experienced voice, energetic delivery.

Another thing that is not at all hard to picture is a few cuts from
this album getting serious airplay. Berlin has long shown a true pop
sense.

One listen is not enough to capture the essence of "Old Stag." But it
IS enough to understand why this disc is being widely praised.

Many thanks to singer-songwriter-guitarist Noam Weinstein for calling
my attention to the music of

: : NAOMI SOMMERS

I have since heard a solo album, her Gray Sky Girls duo with Lisa
Bastoni, and some demo tracks. The most striking thing about these
may be how quickly Sommers has blossomed. Her own previous album was
still fresh from the pressing plant, when she circulated an even more
recent demo recording on which she positively nailed one of
Weinstein's songs. I think it was after this that she and Bastoni put
out the Gray Sky Girls CD - one of the best new albums I have heard in
recent years. "Gray Sky Girls" is a gentle, subtle take on old-timey
and bluegrass music, reportedly intended as a soundtrack for makeout
sessions; but it holds up remarkably well over time and over repeated
playings even if you listen to it alone, as sadly I have. "Gray Sky
Girls" isn't going to hit anyone over the head, but it is a darned
fine album and a major credit to both the singers. If you get a
chance, I strongly recommend giving it a few spins.

Naomi Sommers' "Gentle as the Sun" is most similar, in one way, to the
eponymous album by Hungrytown (Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson). If you
have heard Sommers perform solo, in her duos with Bastoni and
Weinstein, or in any other combination, and you like her music,
chances are excellent "Gentle as the Sun" is the album you have been
waiting for. The same is true for Hall and Anderson's "Hungrytown"
CD. If all is working as it should, "Gentle as the Sun" ought to bump
up Sommers' career not one notch but a lot of them. It is hard to
imagine how she could have come up with a better match than this one
with producer Jim Rooney, one of our operation's music heroes from his
Keith and Rooney and Club 47 days. His book, "Baby, Let Me Follow You
Down," written with Eric Von Schmidt, is brilliant.

If Naomi Sommers and people working with her can get her new music
into a lot of ears, "Gentle as the Sun" should earn her many, many new
fans and plenty of bookings. And solid record sales.

These new releases by Rick Berlin and Naomi Sommers are really
impressive, each in its own way.
.


GRETA GERTLER

Noam Weinstein additionally introduced me to the work of New York
City's Greta Gertler. Her latest album, "Edible Restaurant," also has
strong dramatic qualities. If she were to listen to Rick Berlin's
"Old Stag" and Berlin should hear Gertler's "Edible Restaurant," it
seems highly likely each would find points of interest in the other's
music.
.


ART BELL

Coast to Coast AM claims to be the Number One overnight radio talk
show worldwide, and I have no reason to doubt it. The program's
specialty is an informed, enthusiastic consideration of the
unexplained phenomena of this universe and others. But the three main
highly capable hosts - George Noory, George Knapp, and Ian Punnett
also delve into hard news.

Coast to Coast audiences are so big that it is not at all uncommon for
a Web address to be given out, followed by the host server crashing
because it is overwhelmed by the volume of Coast-inspired visits.

None of this would happen if not for Coast to Coast AM pioneer Art
Bell. He ought to make any short list of the all-time greatest
characters of radio.

According to Ian Punnett, the best of the current hosts, Art Bell will
be back doing two Coast to Coast broadcasts. Check me on this, but I
believe Punnett gave the dates as December 30 and December 31. For my
own part, I am going to start tuning in for Art Bell starting December
29, and I'll check in nightly until I catch him.

Art Bell has been away from the microphone altogether too much (he is
lately back from a family sea cruise), and this is an opportunity not
to be missed.
.


SUNRISE, SUNSET

This is a glorious spot on the calendar. As I note every year,
changes in the times of sunrise and sunset are not quite in sync.
Starting pretty much right this second, sun-SET starts getting later.
The number of minutes of afternoon daylight starts going up.

Glory hallelujah!

This is just what is needed.

Days, overall, don't begin getting longer for another week. But our
path back to summer and warm weather has to begin sometime and
somewhere, and it starts right here and right now with afternoons on
the rise.

In the first few weeks after the winter solstice, days lengthen at an
extremely slow pace, but it doesn't much matter to me. The main thing
is that the sun starts going in the right direction - higher - and the
length of the day starts going in the right direction - longer.

Starting now-ish, we're going the right way.
.


MAINE MUSIC AS A BENEFIT
To Help Feed the Hungry

I don't recall us ever posting anything before on a benefit MP3, but
we have just such a posting now. Charlie Gaylord, who in his Cornmeal
Records capacity puts out those fantastic "Greetings From Area Code
207" compilations, sent an announcement of the WBLM Band's "The Blimp
That Saved Christmas" MP3, which is a fundraiser for the Good Shepherd
Food-Bank. I have copied the announcement in whole, as is, just after
the Brief Items section below.


:

:

BRIEF ITEMS :
: : : : :
.


VERY BRIEF ITEMS

For some reason, work on this week's newsletter issue is going more
slowly than usual. I assure you it is not for lack of coffee. So I
am resorting to the old-fashioned expedient of putting pen to paper
and am passing along the following from my own handwritten notes.
This introduces some more opportunities for error, so please check me
on these things.

<> Sometymes Why's "Your Heart Is a Glorious Machine" is to be out on
the Signature Sounds record label early in 2009.

<> Mieka Pauley has the distinction of having been named the winner of
the first-ever Cosmopolitan magazine StarLaunch(TM) Search for the
Next Fun Fearless Female Rock Star contest. Congratulations to fun,
fearless female Mieka Pauley!

<> Session Americana hosts its annual holidays show at Club Passim in
Cambridge, Massachusetts tonight, Saturday, December 13, 2008, with
Laura Cortese, Rose Polenzani, and Sarah Borges as guest artists.
There's some real talent on that bill.

<> The Weisstronauts, not to be outdone, host a show Saturday,
December 13, 2008 (tonight) with guests Mercy James Gang, My Own Worst
Enemy, and Logan 5 and the Runners.

<> Dino Club, which around here we know as a Mark Cutler band, holds
its last show of 2008 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, at The Blackstone.
I happened to jot down one of the Web addresses included with Cutler's
announcement:

http://www.mcutler.com/

This is all I could write down in a hurry. My handwriting skills lag
behind my typing ability.
.


THE VILLAGE GREEN
1960s Maine Rock Band
A Query

We have a correspondent who is looking for information about the
late-1960s Maine rock band, The Village Green. This group, according
to the inquiry we received, played a Bar Harbor, Maine club, The
Casino, and according to my own recollection also played the Lucerne
country club.

Our correspondent supplied this list of band members:

: : : Jay Clough

: : : Dennis Mitchell

: : : Buddy Adams

: : : Rob Riley

: : : Leroy Clements

Buddy Adams is said to be still active around my old hometown, Bangor,
Maine.

The Village Green released a single which apparently received decent
airplay. Our correspondent is hoping to get a copy of this single or
of any tracks the band cut.

Please don't e-mail recordings to us. But if you could help our
correspondent in his quest for more information and sound, please
write us by way of

: : : FredRemainsLost At Yahoo Dot Com

but first convert this into a conventional, all-lowercase e-mail address.

:: NEMS query, NEMSquery ::
.


THREE DAY THRESHOLD
Work-of-Art Album on Exhibit

"Some of you may know that Three Day Threshold is putting a new album
out called 'Lost in Belgium;' it was recorded live on our last
European tour. So far reviews have been great. In fact, our album is
on display as part of an award winning gallery exhibit at Northeastern
University's new art gallery, 'Gallery 360.' The gallery is located
in the center of campus. Please stop by and check it out if you are
in the area."

SOURCE: Three Day Threshold, "3DT Shows, Live Album, Holiday Album,
and Art Gallery Exhibit," December 5, 2008.
.


IMPROPER BOSTONIANS
"Set You Free This Time"
A Query

We received what you might call a time-delayed request for an MP3 of
"Set You Free This Time" by the 1960s, uh, Boston band, The Improper
Bostonians. We are currently checking to see whether our
correspondent still needs this recording. If he does, could you send
him a copy?

[We have since learned that he is definitely still looking for "Set
You Free This Time."]

Please do not e-mail us an MP3. This is a simple yes or no question.
If you could supply our correspondent with a copy of the Improper
Bostonians record, please let us know by e-mail at

: : : FredRemainsLost At Yahoo Dot Com

only first convert this into an all-lowercase, conventional e-mail
address.

Not much of anyone, by the way, would dispute that the person looking
for this Improper Bostonians recording is one of the greats of New
England rock radio history, and his influence spread far, far beyond
the bounds of this region.

:: NEMS query, NEMSquery ::
.


BALLAD OF YODELING SLIM CLARK
A Query

<> Many years ago, Jackie Woodbury, a Maine country singer, wrote,
recorded, and released, on a vinyl single, his original song, "The
Ballad of Slim Clark." I am hoping someone can either send me the
song's lyrics or send an e-mail address for Jackie Woodbury. An
e-mail address for Slim's widow, his daughter, or his son also could
be good. If you can help, please e-mail me at

: : FredRemainsLost At Yahoo Dot Com

only convert this to an all-lowercase conventional e-mail address. A
current postal address would be another possibility, but e-mail would
be lots better. Though some amount of expense would be involved,
another alternative would be for someone to burn the song to a CD-R
and mail it here.

I was able to make out most of the Ballad of Slim Clark lyrics. But
the song references a number of Slim's own song titles. Though I
bought a good many of his Palomino Records releases, apparently more
than a few of his most beloved songs never made it onto my Palomino
vinyl. And I am not at all confident I am getting right the titles
Jackie Woodbury sings in his song.

Here, by the way, are the lyrics that come quickly to mind.

I heard all the country stars
And they all sing okay
But I still love the yodel songs
Sung the Slim Clark way.
Dah-dah dah dah dah-dah dah dah
As the house lights dim
Everybody's come tonight
To hear my friend Yodeling Slim.
: : (which is followed by a line of yodeling)

Notice I choked on even one of these lines.

"The Ballad of Slim Clark" is a good song and well worth hearing and
singing.

:: NEMS query, NEMSquery, jacky woodbury ::
.


YAHOO NEWS HEADLINE
Friday Afternoon and Evening

: : : Actor Van Johnson, 1940's heartthrob,
: : : dies at 92

Long ago there was a pretty ordinary Pied Piper movie. But Van
Johnson was brilliant at its beginning, and it is the scene I will
most remember him by. He was a VERY versatile performer.

Rest in peace.
.


AND BY THE WAY...

Right after the election, I noted here that Steve West, a local
Brattleboro VT/Keene NH talk show host, once competed in the WBCN Rock
'n' Roll Rumble; but I couldn't recall the name of his Rumble band.
It was Wadi Trip; and though I never heard the group, I understand
Jack Drag was a member. Pretty doggone neat!

Steve West was also in the trio, The Relative Strangers, and - I
imagine this was his best-known rock-band tour of duty - Connecticut's
Miracle Legion.
.


YAHOO NEWS HEADLINE
Friday Afternoon and Evening

: : : Archaeologists unearth 2,000-year-old
: : : brain in Britain

Isn't this find a little late to be of any help?
.


end BRIEF ITEMS


102.9 WBLM-FM ("The Rock And Roll Blimp") proudly announces the
December 3rd 2008 release of "The Blimp That Saved Christmas", an
original
Christmas song written and recorded by Eben (AKA Mr. Man) and The BLM
Band. 100% of the proceeds from the online sale of the song will go
to Good
Shepherd Food-Bank, a non-profit Auburn-based organization that has
been helping feed Maine's hungry for 25 years. The song is available as
a digital download from WBLM.com for a suggested donation of $2 and
listeners can pay for the song using PayPal, the web's safest and easiest
online payment service. "WBLM is wicked proud of our tradition of
helping fellow Mainers in need and to have the BLM Band involved this
year
only makes it that much sweeter," said Herb (The Captain) Ivy, WBLM
program director. "Everyone pulled together to make this happen and we
couldn't be happier that it's all for a great cause."

The BLM Band consists of Brian (The Party Guru) James on vocals and
keyboards, Dominic Lavoie (Dominic And The Lucid) on guitar and vocals,
Jason Effin' Stewart (Sidecar Radio, 6gig) on drums, John (Johnny Venom)
Sullivan (East Wave Radio, Jaye Drew) on bass, Charlie Gaylord (Diesel
Doug and The Long Haul Truckers) on guitar and Holly Nunan (As Fast As)
on vocals. All are WBLM and Citadel Broadcasting employees. "Some
companies have employee softball teams, we have an employee rock band!",
laughed Ivy. Joining them is Eben (AKA Mr. Man), a frequent WBLM morning
show contributor, who wrote the song, played piano and provided
narration. The song was engineered and co-produced by Jim Begley at The
Studio, Maine's premier audio recording facility.

For more information, contact Herb Ivy at 207-774-6364
(herb.ivy@...)

WBLM-FM www.wblm.com
Good Shepherd Food-Bank www.gsfb.org
The Studio www.thestudioportland.com
Eben www.myspace.com/therealebenmusic


:

:

NEMSnews

New England Music Scrapbook
Brattleboro, Vermont

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<> If you have friends who would be interested in any of the items in
this issue, please forward this newsletter to them. Thanks! We
believe this is one of the main ways we pick up readers.
.


<> As a rule, we do not post SHOW LISTINGS. The reason is quite
simple. Though our name is the NEW ENGLAND Music Scrapbook, probably
an easy majority of our readers are based outside the six New England
states. The great majority of show listings would be of no interest
at all to the great majority of our readers.

We make exceptions when show listings are part of an item of more
general interest. CD-release events are great examples. For us, the
main point of an item of this sort is that an act has a new record.
The show being announced is of secondary interest to us - if that - as
far as the contents of our newsletter goes.

In the very few, truly exceptional instances where we post show
listings...
.

... Shows can be canceled, sold out, or even moved to another date or
location. We recommend checking the Web, calling ahead or otherwise
confirming details.
.


To SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter:
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E-MAIL us via:
http://www.geocities.com/nemsbook/fred.htm
(Please do NOT click the Reply button.)

NEWSLETTER's Yahoo Groups Home Page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uridfm/

General CONTACT Information:
http://www.geocities.com/uridfm/contact.htm

:

:

Issue 2008:305

Published no less often than monthly.
We're guessing eventually we'll settle
into an every-other-week schedule.

Copyright © 2008 by the New England Music Scrapbook. All rights reserved.

: : :