Author Archives: Jack Shalom

Rainy Day People: Gordon Lightfoot

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RIP Gordon Lightfoot. One of the handful–very small handful, IMO–of musicians whose recordings were the complete package–great melodies, lyrics, singing, guitar playing, and arrangements. I was lucky enough to see him in concert in the early 70s. I think If You Could Read My Mind is one of the most perfect songs ever recorded, but here’s a more upbeat song.

More at Gordon Lightfoot

Dirty Work

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The opening quote of this book Dirty Work by Eyal Press is from James Baldwin which says, “The powerless must do their own dirty work. The Powerful have it done for them”–which is a simple yet devastating analysis of what power really means.

Click on the triangle or mp3 link above to hear my review of Dirty Work as broadcast today on the Arts Express radio program on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the country.

32 Sounds

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It’s quite wonderful how powerful and evocative our sense of hearing can be. Worlds can be conjured up and recalled from just a subtle sound. It may seem contradictory, but my guest on Arts Express this week was the creator of a new film all about sound, 32 Sounds, Sam Green. We had lot of fun discussing that favorite topic of ours.

Click on the triangle or mp3 link above to hear my interview with Sam Green as broadcast today on the Arts Express radio program as heard on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the country.

Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now

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Monday morning, McFadden and Whitehead, who, incidentally, wrote “Bad Luck” and “Wake Up Everybody” for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, with their biggest hit.

Thanks to YouTuber Disko Heaven

Jack & Rick Ride Again

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“Welcome to the Silver Age of Radio. We’re sorry to say we’ve reached the end of our run of Gunsmoke episodes starring William Conrad, Zazu Pitts, and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, after airing a grand total of 32,647 episodes. But have no fear, we’ve dug down deep into our dusty archives and have come up with episode two of the Jack & Rick Bob & Ray homage, first broadcast way back on April 19th 2023 on the Arts Express radio network. So, without more ado, it’s Jack & Rick…”

Click on the triangle or mp3 link above to hear our second Bob & Ray homage as broadcast today on the Arts Express radio program heard on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the nation