MY(P)WHAE update

So... I wrote my first Amazon.com review in ages, and the site won't let me correct a grammatical mistake I made. It's only a matter of changing -ed to -ing, but it won't take.

Oh, well, that's life in the 21st century.

Meanwhile, I found a super-cheap 24-hour off-brand Claritin (Loratadine) that works better than the CVS version of Claritin. It just makes me a little edgy, is all.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Sorry. Don't know what came over me.

And I finally got the new (1996-new) edition of David J. Schow's The Outer Limits Companion. It's bigger and better, and it would have been worth the list price. But I'm glad I didn't have to pay same.

In other news, Rudy caught and killed a bird. He was very proud of himself. I found cardinal feathers in the yard. "Rudy, Rudy..." I said.

Ragweed is here. I've been sneezing a lot, and I have a tuffy dose. I mean, huffy pose.

Stuffy nose, I mean. A backed-up Jimmy Durante.

Eventually, I'll be waiting impatiently for the first killing frost. Funny, it seems I was in the same spot last year.

Under Bev's guidance, I pruned/clipped what very well may have been four ragweed plants in our yard. It's hard to tell unless they're fully bloomed. Which we were trying to avoid. Snip, snap. Goodbye, potential ragweed.

Ahhhhh-choooo!! But we didn't get them all, apparently. I also pruned a number of trumpet vines. Oddly enough, they made no noise at all.

For the past couple of days, the raccoons were visiting local cornfields, but now they're back to eating our birdseed. What, corn isn't good enough for them?

Coyotes were howling last night, but I slept right through the concert. Bev asked me if I'd heard the coyotes, and I replied, in all honesty, "No. Were they howling?" No, said Bev, they were singing Puccini. Just kidding. She didn't say that.

Anyway, it was something to aurally behold, apparently.

I wonder what the coyotes are saying? I mean, besides "Ow-oooooo"?

Box is still down. What's up (I mean, down) with Box?

I missed Ghost of Frankenstein on Chiller TV. I've always wanted to see that. But Chiller TV shows everything a zillion times, so it'll be back. The super-scary (not) Suspicion has had four or five showings there. Boy, that Cary Grant is really scary. Scary Grant, they should call him.

But they show real horror films, too. Like Frankenstein 1970 and Monster on the Campus. And stuff like the remake of Village of the Damned, which falls into the "Why are they showing this?" category.

Well, I guess that covers everything to date. (Exciting theme music, fade)



Lee

Family Favorites, Organ Magic--selections from

As I type this, Box.net is still down (anyone else having this problem?), so I've uploaded some stuff to another service. I kind of like it--I think it's very user-friendly. For the moment, I'm using the free version.

This link will bring up all the MP3s in a single folder, but... I don't know how to offer everything as a zip file. I plan to find out. Assuming the zip feature is available with the free version.

Every selection comes from my latest trip to Goodwill, where I found the 1977 Reader's Digest boxed set Organ Magic. It should have been called Moog Magic--you'll hear what I'm talking about. I also found my twenty-thousandth copy of 25 All Time Family Favorites, except that I decided to buy it this time. "It" isn't the right word, since the series exists in who-knows-how-many editions. And I have no idea what the label is, "An All-Disc Production" being the only clue we're given. And it's definitely all coming from the disc, so they (whoever they are) aren't lying.

I hope that clears up any questions.

We begin with one of the best performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony I've ever heard. It is called, appropriately enough, The Ninth Symphony and is credited to Beethoven. It's heartfelt and involved. Three titles later, Eddie Layton, on the Hammond organ, rocks out the themes from Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley. Bill Thomas performs Rhapsody in Blue, and four others on the Yamaha organ, and these are the most synthesizer-sounding tracks in the entire Reader's Digest set.

Oh, and there's the Three Suns (in this case, Morty Nevins, Eddie Layton, and Roy Glover) with Avalon.

Here is the link: Family Favorites, Organ Magic.

TRACKLIST:

1. The Ninth Symphony (Beethoven)--from 25 All Time Family Favorites.
2. Oh Sussana (sic) (Foster)--from same LP.
3. Silver Threads Among the Gold (Danks-Rexford)--same LP.
4. Happy Days/Making our Dreams Come True--Eddie Layton, Hammon Organ, 1977.
5. Avalon--The Three Suns, featuring Eddie Layton and Roy Glover, 1977.
6. Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin)--Bill Thomson on the Yamaha Organ, 1977.
7. Gladys P. Muelbach Boogie (Thomson)--Bill Thomson.
8. Ebb Tide (Sigman-Maxwell)--Bill Thomson.
9. Crazy Organ Rag (Joplin-Woody)--Bill Thomson.
10. Malaguena (Lecuona)--Bill Thomson.

Let me know how everything works, site- and link-wise. Enjoy!



Lee

Merv Griffin in hospital

Merv, in a younger moment (1953).

I just discovered that Merv Griffin has been hospitalized for a return of prostate cancer. Here's an update from Merv's site:

HEALTH UPDATE: Merv is resting comfortably at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he is being treated for a recurrence of prostate cancer discovered during a routine examination a few weeks ago. His sense of humor and optimistic outlook remain intact. His son Tony reports: "He's getting great care and his medical team want to monitor his progress in a controlled setting." Merv says of this health setback: "I'd rather play Jeopardy! than live it. I was ready for a vacation; however, this wasn't the destination I had in mind." Thanks to all his many friends, fans and media who have expressed concern. He doesn't want flowers but, as the Chairman of the Young Musicians Foundation Board, he'd be happy if you would send the equivalent of your planned floral arrangement as a tax-deductible donation. YMF, 195 S. Beverly Drive, Suite 414, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, or call 310/859-7668.

Of course, we wish a full and fast recovery for Mr. Griffin. At the moment, Box.net's site seems to be down, so I can't post any Merv sounds at the moment. But Merv still rules at MY(P)WHAE!

Believe it or not, I've had the pleasure of sharing two CD-Rs' worth of early-Merv material with the man himself! Honest. A super-nice lady named Stace Bass, who does PR work for a number of folks, including Griffin and Michael Andrew, wanted to hear some of my vintage Griffin material, and I sent her an hour's worth. Which she, in turn, forwarded to Merv as a belated Birthday gift. She heard back from Merv, who said, "I played the old records and roared laughing at some of them. I don't have any copies other than what you sent, so a BIG thank you."

It made my day, and Stace's. There's nothing like the opportunity to give back to an entertainer.

And... I need to thank Stace for sending me some first-rate Swingerhead (great retro-big band) CDs. And to let her know I'm praying for the irrepressible Merv of All Trades. Watching Griffin on Jay Leno a while back, I found myself wondering why he hadn't gone into stand-up--the man is hilarious when he allows his sharp-witted humor to shine through.

We hope he gets well soon....



Lee

Around the Blogosphere: Harry Shearer on a droll; three chords in four; interesting Tammy and Jim history; more!

When is an unrelenting three-chord piano riff comprised of four chords (in the verse) and five chords (in the chorus)? Answer: Krissie.

Harry Shearer cares. About something. Not people. Harry the Humanitarian and Harry the Humanitarian, Part 2. How droll.

Kind of brings a tear to your eye, don't it?

Gabriel Rotello, a co-producer of the documentary The Eyes of Tammy Faye, tells us some things we didn't know (well, that I didn't know) about Tammy Faye and Jim. Something told me the couple's crimes weren't all that out there (especially by 2007 standards!). This'll make you sick, unless you're Harry-droll: The Lies About Tammy Faye. A damned fine thing for Mr. Rotello to do in tribute to the lady, and beautifully written, to boot.

And... fabulous photos at Ernie (Not Bert): Dig these shots.

I'm not the least bit envious of Ernie's photo-taking talent. I mean, if I had his gifts, I'd be just as good. (Same is true re Louis Lortie's job on both books of Chopin Etudes. If I had Lortie's scary ability, I could play that well.)

Steven Strauss gives us (MP3 audio of) Keith Olbermann's latest masterful rant. Thanks, Steven. Keith rocks!

Oh--buy Steven's CD. Now.

Don't miss the latest batch o' shellac at Brad's Shellac Shanty. Great stuff: Terrific 78s restored by Brad.

Andy Senior is on the map: See the latest post at Radiola!

I've got a lot of catching up to do at Diane Werts' Glued to the Tube site. I'm not as much of a TV geek as Diane (my geekery is all about records), but her writing is such a joy, I just love soaking in the words. Even if I don't know, half the time, what shows she's talking about. This is because my idea of TV-watching is MSNBC, Gunsmoke, and Bela Lugosi movies.

I watched two minutes of The Sopranos, once.

Louis Lorte is giving concert-piano tips. Oh, sure--how to play Chopin perfectly. We're right with you, Louis. Louis, making it look and sound easy.

Oops, oops--he missed a note! Sign of the End Times. Anyway, even since hearing Lortie's Chopin (on a library cassette), I can't stand anyone else's. Seriously. Dessert Island Disc #1--Lortie's recording of Chopin's Op. 10 and Op. 25 etudes. There are no other recordings of these pieces, as far as I'm concerned.

At Probe Is Turning-on the People!, Tammy Faye's own The Ballad of Tammy Faye, from 1987. I like it!

Check out "Tammy Faye" at eBay. We're in the stupid-bidding phrase of her passing. Are people nuts, or what? You don't pay $50-plus for such easy-to-find LPs. Good grief.

I guess the dealers are taking advantage of the moment. Oh, well. It's their job.



Lee

Cats in Space!!

My latest, from the mind of me and the software of Noteworthy Composer®.

And the magic of MAGIX.

Took me a couple of hours. Or, about 80 minutes per minute of music.

Enjoy:

Cats in Space (Hartsfeld)--Composed by Lee Hartsfeld on Noteworthy Composer® (2007).





Lee

Monday morning magic--Casio sounds by Lee, Blind Willie, Elvis, Eddie Kirk, and more!

Some original pieces by me, some fun-with-MAGIX song interspertions (as I call them), some Blind Willie McTell sounding like Bob Dylan long before Bob was born, and some Freight Train Breakdown. Better Monday morning sounds you (possibly) won't find anyplace.

Just to have an image to go with this post, here's (possibly) my favorite cute-cat email attachment of all time:

















Video Arcade Lost in Tunnel (Hartsfeld)--Lee Hartsfeld, Casio synthesizer, 1992.

UFO Abduction Fugue (Hartsfeld)--Lee Hartsfeld, Casio synthesizer, 1992.

The Joys of Summer in Ohio--Waltz (Hartsfeld)--Lee Hartsfeld, piano, 1995.

The Godzilla Rag (Hartsfeld)--Lee Hartsfeld, Casio synthesizer, 1993.

The Belly-Dancing Rag (Hartsfeld)--Lee Hartsfeld, Casio synthesizer, 1999.

The Cable-Ready Rag (Hartsfeld)--Lee Hartsfeld, Casio synthesizer, 1998.

Lots o' Cats Rag (Hartsfeld)--Lee Hartsfeld, Casio synthesizer, 1998.

Riders in the Sky, Raymond-Scott-Style (Jones, Hartsfeld)--Lee Hartsfeld, Noteworthy Composer ® software, 2006.

Love My Train (Edited by L.H.)--Elvis Presley and Junior Parker, 1955 and 1953.

When This Land's on Fire (Edited by L.H.)--The Carter Family and Woody Guthrie, 1930 and 1944.

Statesboro Blues--Blind Willie McTell, 1928.

Freight Train Breakdown--Eddie Kirk, 1951.



Lee

R.I.P., Tammy Faye

Tammy Faye was a person of great courage, and something of a feminist to evangelical women. I had other words to offer in her memory, but I thought I'd quote from Tammy's own website. She wrote this on July 18, two days before she left to join her Lord. A reminder that amazing grace isn't just a great hymn; it's a synonym for one inspiring and classy woman.

"I genuinely love you and I genuinely care, and I genuinely want to see you in Heaven someday.

I want you to find peace.

I want you to find joy."

And we want no less for her. Rest in peace, Tammy Faye.

Glory for Me (Charles H. Gabriel)--The Rice Family Singers.

Heaven's Really Gonna Shine--Chuck Wagon Gang.

Palms of Victory--Singing Revivers.

The Bible Tells Me So (Evans)--Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

When We All Get to Heaven--Plainsmen Quartet.

When God Dips His Love in My Heart--Millie Pace Trio with Bob Summers, 1965 or 1966.

Where the Gates Swing Outward Never (Gabriel)--Ron and Pat Secrest.

Amazing Grace (Newton)--Myrtle Baptist Church Choir.

At the Ending of the Journey--Harmony Four.

Brighten the Corner (Ogden-Gabriel)--Ella Fitzgerald.

Higher Ground (Oatman,Jr.-Gabriel)--Tabor Family.

How Tedious and Tasteless the Hours (Newton-Bach)--Homer Rodeheaver, circa 1950.

Heaven's Joy Awaits--Harmony Four.

Joy Is Coming--Rock of Ages Quartet.

My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast (Haskell-Bradbury)--Smith's Sacred Singers, 1928.

One of These Mornings--Statesmen Quartet, 1953.

Pentecostal Fire Is Falling (Bennard)--Circleville Bible College Choir.


Lee