July Emptiness
Not much to report this week. Monday, July 15 is the closed Executive Session meeting of the KDHX Board of Directors during which they will discuss legal and financial matters. We have no idea if that meeting will lead to any actions visible to the public.
July 29 is the court date for the lawsuit our side brought against KDHX to get the three people we as active Associate Members voted onto the Board of Directors to be actually seated on the Board. We are confident that we followed every step required legitimately to vote those people in, but we can’t know what will happen until the judge makes a ruling.
Former Riverfront Times writer Sarah Fenske is now contributing to St. Louis magazine. Last Friday, she published an article which says KDHX staffers aren’t being paid right now. If this is true, it’s further damage caused by terrible decisions of management and the Board.
So, let’s talk a little about music, shall we?
What I Would Have Played in Tribute to Those We Lost Pt. 4
by Rich Reese
Here is the 4th of several parts where I tell you what I would've played to pay tribute to the many musical folks we've lost since having my radio show taken away from me by KDHX last September.
One thing I've noticed about the first three parts in this series is that I've been saying, "I would've played this or that particular song", but that isn't always the case. What I want to play and what ends up making it onto my playlist can vary. I consider the songs around those I'm considering, as well as elsewhere on the playlist. Is there another song by that artist that might flow better, fit the mood of the set better? I'd also try and find the connections to the music I play regularly on the show. Is it an artist that doesn't seem to fit, but has had an impact on what get played regularly? So, with that said...
Richard Tandy was most known for his long tenure and core member of Electric Light Orchestra. He was 76 May 1, 2024 when he died. He was also in The Move with ELO members, Bev, Bevan, Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood, all of whom would go on to form ELO. He played harpsichord on "Blackberry Way" which was a huge hit in the UK, so I'd start off my tribute with that. He was only in The Move for a short while before he joined a band called The Uglys. I'd have played "A Friend" by them which features Richard's keyboards prominently. From there he moved on to ELO. So many great songs to choose from. I'd go with "Evil Woman" with his clavinet playing, "Mr. Blue Sky" with his synthesized vocals. I'd also play solo Jeff Lynne song, "Every Little Thing" and "I Want You Bad" by Dave Edmunds on which he plays synthesizer. Also "Cheer Down", the George Harrison song would be placed in the Beatles Grab-Bag portion of the show. Richard played the piano on that one.
Steve Albini Rock musician and record producer was just 61 May 7, 2024 when he died of a heart attack. He produced (although he preferred to be called an engineer) so many great records. I would have played something from Superchunk. How about "Cast Iron".
Dennis Thompson was the drummer for MC5. he died at the age of 75 May 8, 2024, just a couple months after MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer. I wouldn't repeat any of the songs and would play something with prominent drumming. Well, that's just about everything he played on. I'd have gone with "The Human Being Lawn Mower".
David Sanborn Saxophonist and St. Louis native died at age 78 on May 12, 2024. His style of smooth jazz was hard to fit onto my show, but did session work with many artists whose music did. Like, on David Bowie's "Young Americans". I'd have also played Paul Simon's “Late in the Evening” and The Rolling Stones' "Pretty Beat Up" to round off the three-song set.
Jimmy James was a singer who died at age 83 on May 14, 2024. I don't know much about Jimmy James who, according to info on the Second Hand Songs website says Jimmy was a "Soul music/ska singer. Moving to the UK in 1964 with his band, he was one of the earliest ska artists to record in the UK before jumping (onto) the disco train." I only have one song by Jimmy, and it's a good one. A terrific soul cover of the Beatles' "Good Day Sunshine". You would have heard that right after the top of the 11 o'clock hour on the Beatles Grab-Bag.
John Hawken was a member of Renaissance, Strawbs and other bands. He died at age 84 on May 15, 2024. John played keyboards. He was a founding member of The Nashville Teens. He's featured prominently on "Widdicombe Fair", which would get the nod for his tribute. Also, I would have spun "Northern Lights" by Renaissance. Between those two bands he was a member of The Strawbs for two of their records. I'd have played "Don't Try To Change Me".
Randy Fuller played bass as a member of The Bobby Fuller Four. He was 80 when he died last May 16. It's hard to choose, but I would have played one of the two Beatles covers The Bobby Fuller Five did; "I Want To Hold Your Hand" or, "Things We Said Today". I'd also have played one of the most perfect pop songs ever recorded, "I Fought The Law". After Bobby Fuller died in 1966 Randy carried on for a short while as the Randy Fuller Four.. I would have played "The Things You Do" to give listeners an idea what Bobby Fuller Four sounded like without Bobby Fuller.
Doug Ingle was the founder, organist, primary composer and lead vocalist for the band Iron Butterfly. Doug was 78 on May 24, 2024 when he died. I don't think I've ever played "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". Maybe the edited version. Anyway, I would've played that long-ass unedited version during The Beatles Grab-Bag. And It would be there, because Ringo Starr admitted to being inspired by the drum solo from that song when the Beatles recorded "The End". I also would have played parts of both drum solos back to back to illustrate the similarities.
Paul Harris was a session player who played multiple instruments, but primarily known for being a keyboardist. He was also a member of Manassas and the Souther–Hillman–Furay Band. Paul died at age 78 on October 24, 2023. Sometimes I'd miss hearing about the passing of an artist until months later. Well, it happened when I was doing this piece. Paul played on Ian & Silvia's "Lovin' Sound" from 1967, and "Morning, Morning" by Richie Havens from 1968. I would have rounded off the set with "Don't You Write Her Off Like That" by McGuinn Clark & Hillman.
Françoise Hardy was a singer-songwriter and actress who died at age 80 on June 11, 2024 from cancer. I think "Le Temps de L'Amour" and "Ca A Rate" were pretty representative of her sound in the mid to late 60's so I'd have spun those two.
Arthur "Gaps" Hendrickson was in the second wave ska band, The Selecter. He was 73 when he died on June 11, 2024. I would have played one that he sang on, "Too Much Pressure".
Kinky Friedman was a country singer-songwriter who as 79. He died on June 26, 2024. I would have played one of Kinky's song, "Men's Room L.A." on the Beatles Grab-Bag. Included on the song is according to the credits the voice of God. Well, this God's voice has a distinctly Liverpudlian accent, provided by Ringo Starr.
Joe Egan from Stealers Wheel was 77 on July 6, 2024 when he passed away. Joe Egan co-wrote the big hit, "Stuck In The Middle With You". I would've played a different version of the song, one by Susanna Hoffs. Also would have played one that he wrote by himself, the beautiful, "Next To Me".
That takes us through June of this year, which means it's the final installment of the series. I don't have time to get it together for this piece, but for next week's issue, I might put all the tracks from the four parts together on a Spotify Playlist that you can link to.
What Might You Be Hearing if Universal Default Was Still Around
These are some records Brian Lock wishes he could play for you.
Står Op Med Solen by Amalie Dahl's Dafnie
Translated as Rising With the Sun, the group's second release earlier this year is one of my favorite listens of 2024. I don’t seek out jazz, so what I hear is usually by accident. The sounds progressively move more toward the outer realms as you move through the tracks, but they maintain a rhythm and structure that strikes the perfect balance for me.
Jame Chance RIP
James Chance, the singer, saxophonist, and composer who melded punk, funk, and free jazz into bristling dance music as the leader of the Contortions, died in June.
His track, Sax Maniac, is a fantastic feverish build-up of skronk.
Other People’s Songs Vol I by Damien Jurado & Richard Swift
I initially found this on the Aquarium Drunkard website about ten years ago. It has since been released on vinyl and is now widely available—nine covers, mostly ’70s AM gems, with Kraftwerk’s Radioactivity to throw you for a curve.
The Big Beast by Magnolia Electric Company
I have no idea if I’ll ever be on air again, but lately, I’ve been daydreaming about getting back on KDHX and starting with this song to wash this whole ordeal away.
Thanks, Steve!! I subscribe and am proud I can. I might be guilty of wishful thinking, but if the July 15 closed board meeting includes a proper "executive session" in which only Board members should be present (hopefully they swept the room for bugs) they should be adding "discussions about executive staff" to their financial and legal agenda.