Ministry of {Theme Time} Radio
There’s this guy. His name is Robert. You can call him Bob. He does a lot of things. Some popular, some not so much. Much of it is real interesting. Here’s an example. This guy Bob is a big fan of one Woody Guthrie. Woody Guthrie, you see, was the voice of a theme-based radio show thought up by one Alan Lomax.
The show, titled Back Where I Come From, was written by Alan Lomax, directed by Nicholas Ray, who would later go on to direct Rebel Without a Cause, and featured Woody Guthrie.
To give the series the creative basement it needed to be more than just another hillbilly radio show, Lomax came up with the idea to have each of the programs surround a theme - trains, marriage, animals - and would include skits and dramatic readings as well as songs on that night's subject. The theme idea could have come from the all-night singing contests that Guthrie, Lomax others delighted in, where the group would challenge each other to name as many songs as they could on a given subject.
During one six-hour shank of the evening, Lomax once retraced, he and Guthrie came up with over 200 songs about animals and stopped the hootenanny only after neighbors threatened to call the police.
Just like the first episode of Bob's Theme Time Radio Hour some 66 years later, the theme of the first episode of Back Where I Come From would be... the weather.
Would you like to hear it? Here tis:
Why bring this up? ‘Cause this Bob fella also likes Baseball. He even made a whole episode of his show about it. Would you like to hear it? Just click on the player at the top of this email.
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Ministry of {Pirate} Radio.
Oh London. The home of the best pirate radio in the history of Pirate Radio. You got your Radio Caroline, Dubwise FM, Attitude FM, Kurupt FM the list goes on and on. Think we’re kidding. Have a peek mate: https://www.transmissionzero.co.uk/radio/london-pirate-radio/
Before internet radio. Pirate radio was the place to hear the music of the kids. Here’s a recent find of stupid dope reggae vibes from 1984, South London. Remembering the late Great Tony London circa Aug-Oct 1984.
Ministry of {Oklahoma Rock n Roll} Radio.
It’s Sunday. That means we get to spend tonight with Uncle Steve Ripley. Who is that?
Uncle Steve distinguished himself by producing and/or engineering projects for Leon Russell, J. J., Cale, Roy Clark, Johnnie Lee Wills and many others. And he played guitar with our pal Bob mentioned previously
In addition to his work as a recording artist, Ripley was a songwriter, producer, engineer, studio owner, radio host and inventor of the “stereo guitar” favored by such fellow musicians as Eddie Van Halen, Ry Cooder and Dweezil Zappa, according to the news release.
Ripley guides the listener through the music of Oklahomans such as Leon Russell J.J. Cale, and Lowell Fulsom and their direct links to people like Dylan, Clapton, and Joe Cocker. He explores the roots of Rockabilly and Oklahomans such as Wanda Jackson and The Collins Kids.
“The picture starts to emerge of an art form that owes its heart to a mixture of hillbilly, gospel, blues, rhythm & blues, and jazz,” said Ripley. “Interwoven are Native American and African American influences.this is America’s music.Oklahoma Rock and Roll.”
How good is the dang show? There is now a moratorium on leaving the house Sunday nights. Oh, and did you know that Lee Hazlewood was born Barton Lee Hazlewood was born in Mannford, Oklahoma?
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http://oklahomarockandroll.com/
Till Next Time Y’all.
Can't Live without My Radio