Independence Day, a.k.a. Fourth of July

I'm getting music together for that day. I reckon a lot of bloggers will be putting up the usual military-themed stuff, but the Fourth of July is really about 1776 and the Declaration of Independence, which makes the day's theme one of patriotism, liberty, and the flag. It's not about the armed forces, in particular. So, I'm giving the WWI/WWII songs a rest.

I will, however, post some music related to the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, for obvious reasons. Just to let you know my game plan. (I hate the term "game plan.") And, actually, as plans go, it's not too game, really.

So, that's what I've been busy doing, mostly. And dealing with Huff-Po crazies. My conclusion, after "arguing" for days with the Hitchens- and Harris-ites, is that they have no case against religion; they're just trying to appear smart by trumpeting their secular-whateverism as loudly as possible. It's a mentality that dates back to high school--"smart" as a metaphor for conforming. I'm wearing red, so I'm cooler than you. You have to put your brain in pre-adult mode to truly appreciate the emptiness of the attitude.

And we have the hip tradition that smart means not religious, and dumb means religious. As a rule, the guilty parties lie about it, but we know better. It take five minutes, at best, to pick up that attitude loudly and clearly from the Bogged-Down-osphere. And, as I've demonstrated at this very blog, the attitude even predates Lenny Bruce. 1952's It's In the Book--a big comedy hit--is the purest example of a mindset whose origin I used to assign to the hippie and jazz counterculture of the late Fifties/early Sixties. Right there on the pop charts. Yet the hipsters acted like they invented the stance. Thieves!!

No, the anti-God-Squad has nothing to say against faith--they write at length, but they say nothing. This is not to say that a "case" can't be made against religion--I'm sure that some actual intellects could pull it off, but neither Hitchens nor Harris have the ability to make sense past the comma separating two clauses, so whatever missiles are going to bring down belief ain't coming from their emaciated arsenal. I watched Hitchens on MSNBC last night (I'm amazed Huff-Po isn't shilling for him as we speak) and I observed that the man is not only an ass, but pretty dull, to boot. Al Sharpton had him for lunch.

Even Chris Matthews had had enough of the William-F.-Buckley wannabe by the show's end--he said something like, "God is not great, and you are not God." Something that held together better than that. Hitchens' least human moment came during the question-and-answer period, when he looked down at the ground while describing a student's question as "gibberish." This, as Al Sharpton pointed out, from a man who apparently thinks Saddam had WMD's. Bev is of the opinion that some of the young, smirky Hitchens fans in attendance were stunned to discover their muttering hero is so enamored of Bush. I have three words for them: Serves you right.

In other, um, news, twice have I been censored at David Steinberg's post. Here's what someone wrote: "Great post and of course the Bible was written by people, men, humans... I envy those that (sic) have faith. They seem happier then those of us who think and are logical."

Now, as far as I know, Steinberg is a person who--I mean, that--"has" faith. So am I, and I loved his essay. All I did was point that out. In fact, I used the word "brilliant" to describe Steinberg's humor. But no go. HP found something unacceptable about my comments. You tell me what.

Maybe I should have insulted the guy? Huff-Po is pretty insult-oriented, after all. After all, elsewhere its blogsters are gleefully trashing both Clintons, trashing the Democratic party itself, and so on. These people, on the whole, aren't progressives. They're crank bloggers. I mean, really.

Bev has actually suggested Huff-Po is a troll blog. She may be absolutely right. I mean, if they were on the left's side, I'd be easier on them, but I don't think they're on anyone's side. Even their own. The site is like one big ego trip, and, for every post by John Kerry, there are embarrassing keyboard byproducts from Steven Weber and some Air America person who can't punctuate. Look, I don't keep the most adult blog here, but the Huff-Po folks have no right to churn out such puerile stuff while demanding the world accept them as post-teens. Playing the adolescent is something that young adults do to appear smart--it's a rite of reversal, the idea being that the participants have elected to behave childishly, whereas before they had no choice. In other words, while they have little idea of what it means to play the adult, they do know what it means not to play the child.

Ah, the primitive complexity of human social rites. (Burrrp!) Who said that??

And most people grow out of this phase pretty quickly. Those who don't write smart-assed blogs.

Anyway, I've got some great stuff coming up for the Fourth. Really, I do.


Lee

78 City, U.S. of A.!

Just thought I'd take a break from ranting and re-list the 78s I have up right now.

Here's some previously-used photo art to go with these:


















Forgive the tack cut-and-paste jobs below!

(Click to reach folder): More of Lee's 78s!

Playlist

Peter Gink (Cobb)--Columbia Band, Directed by Charles A. Prince, 1918.

Oriental (Rose)--Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orch., 1918.

Down Yonder (Gilbert)--The Happy Six, 1921.

Arabian Nights (David and Hewitt)--Columbia Band, 1918.

My Wonder Girl--Coral Sea--Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Hotel Orch., 1920.

Prelude in C Sharp Minor (Rachmaninoff)--Victor Concert Orch., 1928.

Ruby--Medley (Robinson)--Vincent Lopez and His Orch., 1921.

Gems from "Oh, Kay!" (Geroge and Ira Gershwin)--The Revelers, 1927.

Virginia Belles--Barn Dance (Kendall)--Prince's Orchestra, 1909.

MORE...
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Chant of the Weed (Redman)--Andre Kostelanetz Presents, 1935.

Rumba Medley--Andre Kostelanetz Presents, 1935.

Swamp Fire (Moody)--Andre Kostelanetz Presents, 1938.

The Man on the Flying Trapeze (O'Keefe)--Andre Kostelanetz Presents, 1938.

Bugle Call Rag--Andre Kostelanetz Presents, 1938.

Gems from "Lady Be Good" and "Tip Toes"--Nat Shilkret and the Victor Salon Group, 1938. With Jane Froman, Sonny Schuyler, Felix Knight.

Medley of Gershwin Tunes--Nat Shilkret and the Victor Salon Group, 1938. Featuring Jane Froman, vocal.

Deep Purple (Peter De Rose)--Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orch., 1934.

"Gimme" a Little Kiss, Will "Ya"? Huh? (Turk-Smith-Pinkard)--Jean Goldkette and His Orch., 1926.

Where'd You Get Those Eyes? (Walter Donaldson)--George Olsen and His Music; vocal: Fran Frey, 1926.

Hi-Diddle-Diddle (Carelton A. Coon-Hal Keidel)--George Olsen and His Music; vocal: Trio from the orchestra, 1926.

O (Oh!) (Gay and Johnson-Gay)--Ted Lewis Jazz Band, 1919.

Barkin' Dog (Fiorito-Gorman)--Gorman's Novelty Syncopators, 1919.

Best Ever Medley (Arr: Paul Whiteman)--Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orch., 1920.

Wang Wang Blues (Arr: Ferde Grofe)--Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orch., 1920.

Wow!--Shimmy (Ted Baxter)--Benson Orch. of Chicago, dir. by Don Bestor, 1923.

Stop Your Kiddin' (Mills, Grofe, McHugh)--Frank Westphal and His Orch., 1922.

Greenwich Witch (Confrey)--Frank Westphal and His Orch., 1922.

Down Home Blues (Morde Berk)--Waring's Pennsylvanians, 1924.

Allah's Holiday (Friml)--Joseph C. Smith and His Orch., 1917.

My Sweetie (Irving Berlin)--Joseph C. Smith and His Orch., 1917.

That's Got 'Em (Sweatman)--Wilbur Sweatman's Jazz Band, 1919.

Indian March (Sellenick)--Creatore and his Band, 1929.

San--Oriental (McPhail-Michaels)--Paul Whiteman and His Orch., 1924.

Laff It Off (Kalmar-Ruby)--Bob Haring and His Orchestra, 1924.

Singapore (Gilbert-Friedland)--Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orch., 1919.



Lee

Earth vs. the Discs!!

Once upon a time, I thought 78s were made of wax. I was young and foolish.

I used to wonder how they got the wax to feel and look so much like shellac. No, not really.

As is often the case, some of these are repeats--but they sound better than ever. Or at least better than the last time I put them up. Think of this blog and its posts as a living document.

My favorite Dilbert cartoon, that. Wally: "This is a living document." Boss, letting go of memo as he falls over: "AIIIEEEEEE!!!"

Anyway... these are all from my personal collection and restored by MAGIX and me. Note that Ross Gorman, of Gorman's Syncopators, played clarinet on the original recording(s) of Rhapsody in Blue.


"Gimme" a Little Kiss, Will "Ya"? Huh? (Turk-Smith-Pinkard)--Jean Goldkette and His Orch., 1926 .

Where'd You Get Those Eyes? (Walter Donaldson)--George Olsen and His Music; vocal: Fran Frey, 1926 .

Hi-Diddle-Diddle (Carelton A. Coon-Hal Keidel)--George Olsen and His Music; vocal: Trio from the orchestra, 1926 .

O (Oh!) (Gay and Johnson-Gay)--Ted Lewis Jazz Band, 1919.

Barkin' Dog (Fiorito-Gorman)--Gorman's Novelty Syncopators, 1919 .

Best Ever Medley (Arr: Paul Whiteman)--Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orch., 1920.

Wang Wang Blues (Arr: Ferde Grofe)--Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orch., 1920.

Wow!--Shimmy (Ted Baxter)--Benson Orch. of Chicago, dir. by Don Bestor, 1923.

Stop Your Kiddin' (Mills, Grofe, McHugh)--Frank Westphal and His Orch., 1922.

Greenwich Witch (Confrey)--Frank Westphal and His Orch., 1922.

Down Home Blues (Morde Berk)--Waring's Pennsylvanians, 1924.

Allah's Holiday (Friml)--Joseph C. Smith and His Orch., 1917.

My Sweetie (Irving Berlin)--Joseph C. Smith and His Orch., 1917.

That's Got 'Em (Sweatman)--Wilbur Sweatman's Jazz Band, 1919.

Indian March (Sellenick)--Creatore and his Band, 1929.

San--Oriental (McPhail-Michaels)--Paul Whiteman and His Orch., 1924.

Laff It Off (Kalmar-Ruby)--Bob Haring and His Orchestra, 1924.

Singapore (Gilbert-Friedland)--Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orch., 1919.



Lee

Sunday morning gospel: Another terrific LP by the Looper Trio.

This is one of two Looper Trio LPs donated to my blog by Val and Gene Johnson--be sure to check out Val and Gene's site.

You know, I was almost afraid to listen to this one, given that the Trio's Holy Hills of Home is one of the best gospel efforts ever stamped on vinyl. Like, how could this album hope to measure up?

Well, for the most part, it does. A little slower-moving, but nothing wrong with that. The same great voices, the same Smith's-Sacred-Singers feeling in spots, the same utter honesty, the same excellent production, the same sheer, message-filled entertainment. I'm impressed. Uplifted. Delighted.

And I even find a message in the plain packaging of the LP--the way it contrasts with the great stuff inside. It's a matter of essence, not adornment. A very Christian message, there. (Then again, that is a nice photo.)

And, so, this is my third (?) full-album download. I once promised to never do a full-album download. And I tried to keep that promise--truly, I did. But no way am I NOT going to share in full a gem like this one. Enjoy. And my continued apologies for Box.net's file-downloading feature not working. I wrote them about it, Byron wrote them about it, and no go. Box thinks the feature works. Maybe it does for them. Dunno.

On to something that works beautifully and fully--The Looper Trio's Life Beyond Death:

Click here to reach folder: The Looper Trio--Life Beyond Death (probably late 1960s)

Tracklist (credits as listed on LP):

Life Beyond Death (Melba Montgomery-Earl Montgomery)
We'll Have a Good Time (Unknown)
One More Valley (Dottie Rambo)
Don't Take My Cross Away (P.D.)
Walk Around Me Jesus (Traditional)
Too Much Sinnin' (Unknown)
On the Other Side of Jordan (Unknown)
Too Much to Gain to Lose (Dottie Rambo)
I'm on My Way (Unknown)
What a Wonderful Savior Is He (W. Bruster)
What Will the Coming of the Lord Mean to You? (P.D.)
Here Today--Gone Tomorrow (Kitchen and Benson)


Lee