Scary Record

One of my favorite records growing up was a Power Records/Peter Pan Records LP called, according to the front cover, A Story of Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein. (On the LP itself the title is listed as A Story of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman, while inside the back cover of the LP book it's called A Story of Dracula Werewolf Frankenstein.) Regardless of the proper title, it's a pretty good listen. Basically the story attempts to bring together all the heavy hitters of horror history by interweaving tales about Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, and a werewolf.

Like most kids' records, there aren't any credits for the actors or musicians. Which is sad because I'd like to know who does the voice of Torc.

I thought it might be an enjoyable Halloween listen for you, so download it and give it a spin (15MB Zip file). We actually have this at WXYC, but I digitized this from the copy I listened to as a wee lad.

The illustrations from the book are included as well. Turn the page when you hear the beep!

Scary Music

There's an Ennio Morricone soundtrack for every occasion, and Halloween is no exception. A few years ago I put my stereo in my front window and played the Gothic Dramas soundtrack for the trick-or-treaters and received compliments from all manner of super-heroes, monsters, football players, angels, devils, and their parents. The recordings are from a 1970s Italian television series, but it was only released in the 1990s by DRG Movies. Check it out. And from there you might look into his soundtracks to three Dario Argento horror flicks lovingly collected on An Ennio Morricone/Dario Argento Trilogy again by the fine folks at DRG. And DRG also released a 2-CD compilation called The Thriller Collection if you want yet more spine-tingling Morricone. And of course he scored Exorcist II: The Heretic. And don't forget Gli Occhi Freddi Della Paura/The Cold Eyes of Fear (the lone Morricone score performed by his free jazz ensemble Il Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza). I could go on, but you get the idea.

What will be the soundtrack to your Halloween?

One Trick Pony: Names Proposed For "I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness" Before The Current Name Was Chosen

(People apparently liked this. So now this. I'm sorry)

I Love You But I'm Not in Love With You

I Love The Concept of You But I Don't Love The Actual You

I Love You But I'm Afraid That Our Very Different Backgrounds and Upbringings Will Turn Out To Be Incompatible in the Long Run

I Love You But I Am a Man With Needs That I Don't Think You Really Understand

I Love You But I've Chosen Popular British Rock Band "The Darkness"

I Love You But I Think I Might Be Attracted to Other Men

I Love You But I Think I Have A Chance With Someone Who Is More Attractive

I Love You But I Think That Maybe It Might Be A Good Idea If We Start Seeing Other People For A While

I Love You But I've Chosen World of Warcraft

Hoobastank

These Boots Are Made For the Dukes of Hazzard

I recently stumbled across Jessica Simpson's mutilated version of Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazelwood's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" which she recorded as a "duet" with Willie Nelson for the soundtrack to the recent blockbuster knockoff of the Dukes of Hazzard, starring Johnny Knoxville and that dude from Dude! Where's My Car (No, not Ashton, it was that other dude, you know, the dude with the hot mom). From Songfacts:

Jessica Simpson and Willie Nelson did a duet on this song for the soundtrack of the 2005 movie The Dukes Of Hazzard. Their version was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with some additional lyrics written by Simpson. Nelson played Uncle Jessie in the movie and Simpson played Daisy Duke. In the video, a brawl breaks out at The Boar's Nest but it turns into a hoedown when a bunch of girls come in wearing daisy duke shorts.

A ho-down, indeed. Inspired by the vomit I puked on my keyboard after hearing Simpson ask "Can I get a sooie? Can I get a yeehaw?" during the song's close, I set out to compile a mashup of various covers of the song, including Simpson's take, but sadly lacking the Megadeth version. So here is the completed collage, which contains versions from the following:

Nancy Sinatra
Jessica Simpson
Billy Ray Cyrus
The Artwoods
Patsy Cline
Shania Twain "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under"
Jim Carrey "Dumb and Dumber"

Hopefully, it's at least better than Simpson's garbage, which she should be ashamed of. But then again, she doesn't really get embarrassed by much.

Black Taj at WXYC

Black Taj stopped by the station Friday to chat with Robin S. about Judas Priest, sports, and late-night food in Chapel Hill. Oh, Black Taj guitarist Dave Brylawski's mom called in, too. The visit was in support of their free show later that night at WXYC's Backyard BBQ Live at the Local 506 with Embarrassing Fruits, The Nein, and The Moaners. If you'd like to hear the interview, click here (18MB MP3).

Hopefully you made it out to the show for some excellent music by four local bands and excellent barbecue provided by the BBQ Joint. If you missed it, we can't help you out with the food (until the next installment in the Live Backyard BBQ series), but be sure to tune in to the Backyard BBQ this Sunday, October 29th at 8pm WXYC-time for a recap of the concert complete with live recordings made at the show!

A Common Complaint

"There's too much Noise on WXYC!"

We've heard you, and we're listening. We know that what you really want is "more noise, please!" Oh, you're all so coy. Thus, the Feedback Farmers brought the noise last night for over an hour. If you missed it, or if you want to hear that British guy griping again, or if you want to relive the entire thing, click here (30MB MP3).

Stay tuned to WXYC for your noise fix, and be sure to check out Feedback Farm #5 on November 1st at 9pm WXYC-time.

Feedback Farm Parts 3 & 4

Two Weeks ago our Feedback Farm soothsayers brought you the future (18MB MP3).

Be sure to tune in tonight (Wednesday the 18th) at 9:30pm WXYC-time for the 4th installment of Feedback Farm. Word on the street is that it's going to be a noisy one. It's bound to rouse the ire of that peeved British listener who couldn't stand episode 3 (you can hear his rant in the above MP3).

Nostalgia

maddwaxxcylinders

HO LEE CRAP.

The University of California at Santa Barbara has lots of MP3s and WAVs of old wax cylinders, (Edison, Columbia, etc., including what appear to be home recordings!) and they're giving them away for free!

Zither recordings, crying babies, offensive ethnic humor.... they had it all before 1930, and minus the scratches, it doesn't sound bad at all.

Tinfoil.com also has lots of wax-cylinder-related resources and sounds, if'n you're interested. Enjoy yourselves.

FEEDBACK FARM PT. 3 AIRS WEDNESDAY NIGHT!!!!

What do you think about the future? What does the future hold in store? What IS the future? You can find out the answers to all(none) of these questions tomorrow night on WXYC at 9:30 pm, as we air the third installment of our new show entitled "Feedback Farm." For a whole 30 minutes, we'll be airing an array of mashups, sound collages, distorted interviews, manipulated phone conversations, general weirdness and even a sped-up King Crimson sample that will make you smile with glee - all dedicated to the topic of the future!


Here's a little taste of what you might expect . . .

So tune in and contemplate days to come with us at WXYC, and feel free to call in at 962-8989 to offer your comments and join in the fun. If anything, we promise that you will be thoroughly entertained, and probably confused. We're very stoked about this show, so remember - 9:30 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Tune in and detune. The future is coming! The FUTURE!