Inappropriate Conversations

If I had been younger when record companies began putting warning labels on albums and tapes, responding to pressure from the Parents Music Resource Center and others, I'm sure I would have responded like almost every teenager I observed while working in a record store. The "Tipper sticker" served as a beacon, telling them which albums to buy. Only very rarely did I observe this attempt at censorship (some associated with the PMRC openly hoped their approach would lead to album bans) go in the other direction, with the sticker telling "concerned parents" not to fund a purchase. It did reveal some significant ethics and intelligence lapses within the United States Senate. In that respect, the sad spectacle delivered some nominal value.

Different Drummer: Frank Zappa

Friends have recently called to my attention that I've insufficiently emphasized the most important of my human relationships. It is true. One reason is trying to keep some private things private. Another is that I forget how a passionate lifelong romantic partnership is, perhaps, strange. I'd never want to take anything for granted though.
Note: I could have gone without the explicit language tag -- arguably -- but it's a practical joke on my wife to have this Inappropriate Conversation labeled that way.

Different Drummer: David Sanborn

Night Music episode 212

A long trip and a long interval between podcasts may call for a long episode. This nostalgia show covers my recent journey through England, Scotland, and Wales. Please, mind the gap while you are listening to this show. Our next stop will be the verticality of time. Thanks for listening!

Different Drummer: John Peel

Rather than noting what is in this World Storytelling Day episode, I'll note what is regrettably missing.

* Not much personal storytelling, despite a commitment to return to nostalgia a few weeks ago.
* Repeating some material from Inappropriate Conversations #50 about Lilo & Stitch.
* Insufficient callout to the band The Peddlers for the theme song to The Lost Continent.
* Planned but forgot to connect the "sound" of Dana Gillespie to Candye Kane.
* Missed an opportunity to feature at least a clip from the blues singing of the Different Drummer.
* Perhaps even fell short on fully noting the impact of an actress and costume designer on me at a young age.

Despite missing some elements, the "monsters and dragons" topic for storytellers this March 20 brought out my memories of good monsters, both literally and ironically.

Different Drummer: Dana Gillespie

My position on gambling tends toward indifference. I'm less likely to make obvious observations about criminal activity or other societal implications than I am to reject ideas that state-sponsored gambling lowers taxes or drives tourism. In narrow (and largely long past) circumstances, that may have made some sense. Now, it is clearly less sustainable than the average "reality TV" show.

Different Drummer: Tom Waits

From "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" to "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" Rankin/Bass Productions seemingly could do no wrong. Output from there was far less consistent, including Nestor -- "Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" from 1977.

Different Drummer: Fred Astaire

I've been known to sarcastically say "life has dealt you a rotten set of cards" to people who lose track of the blessings they have received in the midst of temporary, and often small, setbacks. For example, I could complain that I've never had the talent to see a musical note on a page and fight the correct tone with my voice. As a music-by-ear singer, I tend to follow others rather than truly joining the choir. On the other hand, I should be grateful for all of the music I've imitated. Thanksgiving, as a day or a state of mind, means being grateful even when circumstances are much more severe.

Different Drummer: Horatio Spafford