Here’s this weeks show which was my look into a musical innovator from The Bronx, who meshed Latin rhythms with disco, August Darnell. Better known to all as Kid Creole, although he featured in or produced a number or other bands.

August Darnell. Photo by Hans Neleman

Playlist below;

1. Going Places – Kid Creole & The Coconuts
2. Sunshower – Dr. Buzzards’ Original Savannah Band
3. Goin’ To a Showdown – Don Armando’s Second Avenue Rhumba Band
4. Emile (Night < Rate) – Aural Exciters
5. He’s Not Such a Bad Guy After All – Kid Creole & The Coconuts

Link to all archived shows

Johnny Otis outside Capitol Tower in LA

The show is called “From the Other Side of the Mirror” and is broadcast every Monday at 3pm. You can find KOOP radio at 91.7 Fm in the Austin area, or stream it online at www.koop.org

This week subject was Part 2 of Johnny Otis. Playlist below;

1. Johnny Otis Radio Show Signature
2. Roll With Me Baby
3. Shake It Lucy Baby
4. Telephone Baby
5. Willie & The Hand Jive
6. Romance In The Dark
7. Well Well Well
8. Misery
9. Boogie Woogie Bye Bye

Link to all archived shows

Johnny Otis & Esther Phillips

The show is called “From the Other Side of the Mirror” and is broadcast every Monday at 3pm. You can find KOOP radio at 91.7 Fm in the Austin area, or stream it online at www.koop.org

This week subject was Part 1 of Johnny Otis. Playlist below;

1. Harlem Nocturne
2. That’s Your Last Boogie
3. Far Away Blues
4. Double Crossing Blues
5. All Night Long
6. Cry Baby
7. Hound Dog
8. Mambo Boogie

Link to all archived shows

So I was heartened to read this news item about the continued renaissance of vinyl.

“Record labels have been treated to a number of unexpected growth stories over the past decade, perhaps the most out-of-the-blue being ringtones.  But as the ringtone wanes, the trajectory on another unexpected contender, vinyl, remains on the up-and-up.

Make no mistake, vinyl is still niche, though it has now grown beyond its initial small footprint of deejays, die-hard collectors and other aficionados.  According to the latest data from Nielsen Soundscan, wax has already set a sales record in 2009 – at least for the 90s and 2000s.  Specifically, US-based sales recently crossed into the two millions, beating a 2008-year total of 1.9 million.

All together, HIP HIP HOORAY!

Part of that is coming from the retro-cool of it all, though other factors – including spacious artwork, lyrics, and lots of tangible satisfaction – are also playing a role.  Actually, that is great for niche retailers, and instructive for artists.  Outside of that, the payoff remains limited – in perspective, year-to-date album sales are now past 320 million, also according to Soundscan.”

The show is called “From the Other Side of the Mirror” and will be broadcast every Monday at 3pm. You can find KOOP radio at 91.7 Fm in the Austin area, or stream it online at www.koop.org

This week subject was Part 1 of Mary Lou Williams. Playlist below;

1. Now Cut Loose
2. Night Life
3. The Pearls
4. Little Joe from Chicago
5. Mary Lou Williams Blues
6. Scratchin’ in the Gravel
7. This and That
8. Timmie Time

Link to all archived shows

Thought I’d share this succinct encapsulation of the magic of Armstrong courtesy of Ben Ratliff, NYTimes.

This track “Dinah,” filmed on a sound stage in Denmark, 1933, is a short and efficient answer for why he was and is important. You sense he’s building his brand — the stuff with the handkerchief, getting up in the viewer’s grill, popping his eyes at .55 — but it’s still pretty extreme, and exciting.

Listen to the way he chopped up rhythm, sailing his phrases over the beat. You want to say he’s imitating a trumpet when he sings, but then you want to say vice versa, so neither can be true. He’s continuous, playing or singing something nearly all the way through, making his body part of the performance.

Also, watch the band’s feet.

This Saturday, November 28th, the Austin Independent Business Alliance presents Austin Unchained, a day of celebrating independent businesses by shopping locally. You can participate simply by doing all your shopping at locally owned businesses on Saturday and throughout the holiday season.

Take the Austin Unchained challenge! Start with one day and unchain yourself by purchasing only from local retailers. No need to purchase additional items, just purchase what you normally would. If everyone in Austin bought their goods and services at locally owned merchants for just one day, it would not only preserve Austin’s local character but it would put $14 million into our local economy!

This is based on actual sales tax figures and illustrates the economic impact of shopping locally owned. Just imagine what $14 million a day would do for our local economy!

Picture: courtesy 30Hertzrecords

The show is called “From the Other Side of the Mirror” and will be broadcast every Monday at 3pm. You can find KOOP radio at 91.7 Fm in the Austin area, or stream it online at www.koop.org

The idea behind the show is pretty simple. Each week the show will focus on a song, producer, label, musician(s), venue, etc. that has a major influence on music, their fingerprints are everywhere, but are forgotten or under most people’s radar. I will help listeners connect the musical dots. Like a documentary for your ears if you will. I will tell their story and showcase the various music they have created or been involved with.

Subject was Jah Wobble. Playlist is below;

1. Swan Lake – Public Image Limited/2nd Edition
2. Invaders from the Heart – Jah Wobble/The Early Years
3. What Will you Say – Jah Wobble/Without Judgement
4. Visions of You – Jah Wobble/Rising Above Bedlam
5. Hit Me – Jah Wobble/Heaven and Earth
6. Solitude – Jah Wobble/Chinese Dub

Link to all archived shows

The show is called “From the Other Side of the Mirror” and will be broadcast every Monday at 3pm. You can find KOOP radio at 91.7 Fm in the Austin area, or stream it online at www.koop.org

The idea behind the show is pretty simple. Each week the show will focus on a song, producer, label, musician(s), venue, etc. that has a major influence on music, their fingerprints are everywhere, but are forgotten or under most people’s radar. I will help listeners connect the musical dots. Like a documentary for your ears if you will. I will tell their story and showcase the various music they have created or been involved with.

Subject was again the inimitable Brian Eno. Playlist is below;

1. Sloppy – Devo
2. i-Zimbra – Talking Heads
3. Cross-Eyed & Painless” – Talking Heads
4. America is Waiting – David Byrne & Brian Eno
5. The Puppet Motel – Laurie Anderson
6. Miss Sarajevo – Passengers
7. Life is Long – David Byrne & Brian Eno

Link to all archived shows