Favoriting Explorers Room with Flash Strap: Playlist from July 16, 2015 Favoriting

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This is where all of culture and all of time are collapsed into one seductive portal and viewed through the panoramic lens of the exotic. Come and embark on an armchair-travel virtual-voyage to the heart of timeless darkness and beyond; embrace the numinous monolith of the exotic immensity. Let us find that place where hybridization meets its destiny as pure fantasy. Let us become observers observing those others who are ourselves. You wear your mask and I'll wear mine.

Thursday 7 - 10pm (EST) | On WFMU's Give the Drummer Radio
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Favoriting July 16, 2015: Excavating "Discover America": A Love Affair Between Van Dyke Parks and the Music of the West Indies

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Artist Track Album Year Comments
  Intro        
Van Dyke Parks  Jack Palance   Favoriting Discover America  1972  Sung by Mighty Sparrow, written by Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 
Van Dyke Parks  Introduction   Favoriting Discover America  1972  By "Samuel Alter" 
Van Dyke Parks  Riverboat   Favoriting Discover America    written by Allen Toussaint 

Music behind DJ:
 
 
 
 
"I Am Waiting" by Lawrence Ferlinghetti followed by "Cissy Strut" by Trinidad Steel Drummers 
  Van Dyke Parks on Song Cycle        
  Van Dyke Parks on Discover America        
Van Dyke Parks  Palm Desert   Favoriting Song Cycle  1968   
Van Dyke Parks  Bing Crosby   Favoriting Discover America    written by The Lion 
Van Dyke Parks  The Four Mills Brothers   Favoriting Discover America    written by The Lion 
Van Dyke Parks  Occapella   Favoriting Discover America    written by Allen Toussaint 
Robert Mitchum  What Is This Generation Coming To   Favoriting Calypso - Is Like So...  1957   
Bing Crosby  Heat Wave   Favoriting Bing Sings While Bregman Swings  1956   
The Lion  Bing Crosby   Favoriting Roosevelt in Trinidad: Calypsos of Events, Places, and Personalities     
The Radio  Four Mills Brothers   Favoriting Roosevelt in Trinidad: Calypsos of Events, Places, and Personalities    written by The Lion 
The Mills Brothers  I Ain't Got Nobody   Favoriting     From a Fleischer Screen Song Cartoon, 1932 
The Tiger  Movie Stars   Favoriting Roosevelt in Trinidad: Calypsos of Events, Places, and Personalities     
Young Growler  Pussy Galore   Favoriting Calypso: Musical Poetry In The Caribbean 1955-69    Soul Jazz comp 

Music behind DJ:
Southern Tropical Harmony Steel Band 
Never On Sunday   Favoriting
Limbo Party 
 
Followed by "Limbo" 
Mighty Sparrow  Jack Palance   Favoriting      
Lee Dorsey  Riverboat   Favoriting Yes We Can  1970  written by Allen Toussaint 
Lee Dorsey  Occapella   Favoriting Yes We Can  1970  written by Allen Toussaint 
Rudy Mills  John Jones   Favoriting   1968   
Van Dyke Parks  John Jones   Favoriting Discover America     
The Mills Brothers  F.D.R. Jones   Favoriting London Sessions: 1934-1939     
Wilmoth Houdini  Roosevelt Opens the World's Fair   Favoriting Calypsos (Decca Album 78)     
The Atilla  Roosevelt in Trinidad   Favoriting Roosevelt in Trinidad: Calypsos of Events, Places, and Personalities     
Van Dyke Parks  FDR in Trinidad   Favoriting Discover America    written by Fitz McLean 
Van Dyke Parks  Sweet Trinidad   Favoriting Discover America     
Van Dyke Parks  Ode to Tobago   Favoriting Discover America    written by Lord Kitchener 
Van Dyke Parks  G-Man Hoover   Favoriting Discover America    written by Sir Lancelot 
Sir Lancelot  G-Man Hoover   Favoriting      
Van Dyke Parks  Your Own Comes First   Favoriting Discover America    written by Lord Kitchener 
Lord Kitchener  Your Own Comes First   Favoriting King of the Road  1969   

Music behind DJ:
The Guinness Cassanovas 
Stormy   Favoriting
West Indies Funk 
 
 
Joseph Spence  Out on the Rolling Sea   Favoriting Good Morning Mr. Walker  1972   
Van Dyke Parks  Out On The Rolling Sea When Jesus Speak To Me   Favoriting Van Dyke Parks: Arrangements Vol. 1     
Van Dyke Parks  Van Dyke Parks   Favoriting Song Cycle  1968   
Esso Trinidad Steel Band  Aquarium   Favoriting Songs Cycled    (originally appeared on Van Dyke Parks Presents the Esso Trinidad Steel Band) 
Van Dyke Parks  Ice Capades (Moog Music '67)   Favoriting Van Dyke Parks: Arrangements Vol. 1     
Van Dyke Parks  Steelband Music   Favoriting Discover America     
Esso Trinidad Steel Band  I Want You Back   Favoriting Van Dyke Parks Presents the Esso Trinidad Steel Band  1971  (produced by Van Dyke Parks) 
Esso Trinidad Steel Band  Apeman   Favoriting Van Dyke Parks Presents the Esso Trinidad Steel Band    by the Kinks, produced by Van Dyke Parks 
Mighty Sparrow  English Diplomacy   Favoriting Hot And Sweet  1974  (produced by Van Dyke Parks) 

Music behind DJ:
The Invaders 
It's Your Thing (part I and II)   Favoriting
Spacing Out 
 
 
Mighty Sparrow  Chinese Love Affair   Favoriting Hot And Sweet  1974  (produced by Van Dyke Parks) 
Van Dyke Parks  City on the Hill   Favoriting Clang of the Yankee Reaper  1976  written by Winston Monseque 
Van Dyke Parks  Cannon in D   Favoriting Clang of the Yankee Reaper    written by Martin Luther 
Van Dyke Parks  Wall Street   Favoriting Wall Street / Money Is King 7"  2011   
Van Dyke Parks  Money is King   Favoriting Wall Street / Money Is King 7"  2011  written by Growling Tiger, elaborated upon ("picked up where it left off") lyrically by Van Dyke Parks 
Bonnie Raitt  Wha' She Go Do   Favoriting Van Dyke Parks: Arrangements Vol. 1  1973?   
Dino Martin  Sitting Here In Limbo   Favoriting Van Dyke Parks: Arrangements Vol. 1    from a 1972 7" single, written by Jimmy Cliff 
Van Dyke Parks  Sailin' Shoes   Favoriting Discover America    written by Lowell George, originally performed by Little Feat 
Lord Kitchener  Ode to Tobago   Favoriting King of the Road  1969   
Van Dyke Parks  Farther Along   Favoriting Van Dyke Parks: Arrangements Vol. 1    from a 1966 single b/w "Come to the Sunshine" 

Music behind DJ:
Van Dyke Parks 
 
Super Chief: Music for the Silver Screen 
2013 
selections: Road Runner and Rattler, A Date with Valentino, A Short Chat with Miss Crawford, Joan Crawford, The Water is Wide 
Beach Boys  Heroes and Villains   Favoriting Smiley Smile  1967  lyrics by Van Dyke Parks 
Van Dyke Parks  Stars and Stripes Forever   Favoriting Discover America    written by John Phillip Sousa, obviously 


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Listener comments!

Avatar 6:40pm
Wilbo:

Soooo ready for this one.
Avatar 6:49pm
Flash Strap:

Oh, me too, Wilbo!
Avatar 6:58pm
Walking Daydream:

Speaking of Bus: i.imgur.com...
Avatar 6:58pm
Wilbo:

Listening in my tropical Tiki garden. It's 85 degrees . Hammock is comfy-. Rum horchata is mixed- Speakers set to 11.
Avatar 7:00pm
ndbob:

Heya Evan and everyone!
Avatar 7:01pm
Flash Strap:

Hey hey WD! Heya Bob!
Avatar 7:02pm
quinn:

Yeah, what the France ARE you doing in a nightclub?
Avatar 7:02pm
ndbob:

nice theme here - I remember being really excited when this came out
Avatar 7:03pm
quinn:

I'm excited for this show
Avatar 7:03pm
Flash Strap:

Hi Quinn! Welcome
Avatar 7:06pm
Carmichael:

Hello, People of the Stream.
  7:11pm
Doug Schulkind:

A flash most strapping!
Avatar 7:11pm
hyde:

hi all.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:13pm
melinda:

Hi!
Avatar 7:18pm
Flash Strap:

Hi Carmichael! Doug! Melinda! Hyde!
Avatar 7:21pm
Flash Strap:

I neglected to mention that i read that poem because it was the source of the title of Discover America
Avatar 7:21pm
Flash Strap:

just want to say, Wilbo, that garden setup sounds perfect
  7:22pm
Dean:

My parents had this Esso Trinidad Steel Drum Band LP, purchased when they appeared at a shopping mall in town: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3Cq45cwss4I/hqdefault.jpg
Avatar 7:24pm
Flash Strap:

That's so cool. I love that VDP "discovered" them playing with Liberace
  7:25pm
Dean:

When the band appeared at the mall, I mean. My parents appeared there so many times I lost track.
Avatar 7:28pm
Flash Strap:

The Lion = Roaring Lion, or Rafael de Leon
  7:29pm
Doug Schulkind:

This sounds so much better on your show than when I play it on my home stereo. Really.
Avatar 7:30pm
Flash Strap:

what magic could explain that?
Avatar 7:31pm
quinn:

I saw VDP in 2010 and in between songs I yelled out "I love you!" which made him stop still and go on a curmudgeonly rant about how that was too harsh and "insular" and ended with "If any of you aren't nice to eachother, I'll kill you"
Avatar 7:33pm
Flash Strap:

He's a real wit. I envy you seeing him! My sister saw him once at Moogfest and it sounds like he was incredible
  7:35pm
Doug Schulkind:

Are you speaking of Moogfest in Asheville, Evan? I think this year's event is just around the corner.
Avatar 7:36pm
Flash Strap:

I am! are they doing it this year? last I heard it was on hiatus until it was moved to Durham. But I could be entirely confused
  7:36pm
Dean:

If you mentioned it at the top of the show, my apologies for the replay, but the earliest quotations in OED associated with "calypso" are from Aldous Huxley's 1934 "Beyond the Mexique Bay." Looks like a worthy read. Google's ngram viewer, however, finds occurrences in the early 1750s, with a steep incline beginning around the time of the publication of Huxley's book.
Avatar 7:37pm
Flash Strap:

wow, that sounds like an INCREDIBLE etymology
Avatar 7:37pm
hyde:

Moogfest is on hiatus until 2016 in Durham.
  7:38pm
Dean:

From a 1955 issue of (London?) Times: "Calypso is a form of doggerel lampoon composed and sung to a guitar, often extempore...""
Avatar 7:39pm
Flash Strap:

By then, I will be living a stone's throw from ol' Durham town. See you all there
  7:39pm
Doug Schulkind:

Oh you're right. I think I did see that it was in Durham. Speaking of Durhan, I was just there. My wife's cousin's son owns a wonderful used book store there. It's called Letters, on W. Main St. Highly recommended.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:41pm
melinda:

There is a Moogfest in NC? I'm clearly new to all of this.
Avatar 7:41pm
hyde:

recently i've been toying with the idea of an NC barbecue joint road trip.
Avatar 7:43pm
Flash Strap:

Dean, you are doing some top-level googling right now! I really just boggle at the Western tendency to not even try to understand other art forms, and then just declare it all formless babble. When Cook's sailors first saw the Polynesian boats, they were entirely flummoxed by them. Their ultimate conclusion that it was meaningless visual anarchy/grotesquery is really just a testament to the visual sophistication of the other - British sailors just don't GET this shit
Avatar 7:44pm
Flash Strap:

Doug, I wish I was around to intercept you whilst you were trampin my stampin grounds
Avatar 7:46pm
Flash Strap:

And I'm definitely gonna check out that book store
Avatar 7:50pm
Flash Strap:

this dude totally thinks Pussy Galore is the name of the actress. This fact drives him WILD. I love this song, dammit!
  7:54pm
Dean:

Well, despite the volume of the ngram corpus, it isn't anywhere near exhaustive. We would expect to find the word "Calypso" in reference to the Greek nymph much earlier.
  7:56pm
Doug Schulkind:

My visit to Chapel Hill/Durham was exceedingly brief. Would like to go back.
Avatar 7:57pm
ndbob:

I would too Dean
Avatar 7:59pm
ndbob:

excellent show Evan - catch the rest on the archive as always
Avatar 8:00pm
Flash Strap:

always hate to see you go bob
Avatar 8:01pm
Flash Strap:

That's really interesting Dean, for some reason I hadn't ever really considered the Greek connection
Avatar 8:02pm
Flash Strap:

When you really think about this song, it's pretty rough: "Step aside and give your daughter a chance"
Avatar 8:03pm
hyde:

i like that Douglas Sirk movie where Jack Palance plays Atilla the Hun
Avatar 8:03pm
Flash Strap:

"as long as the yankee get what is his"

!

Calypso is always taking the piss out of US occupation in the slyest ways
Avatar 8:05pm
Flash Strap:

is it really good, Hyde? never seen it. Doesn't John Wayne do Atilla in a film as well?
Avatar 8:07pm
Flash Strap:

god this stuff is just thick with soul
Avatar 8:07pm
Flash Strap:

got the meters in on the session, i think
Avatar 8:10pm
Flash Strap:

I love to picture how wide his mouth-opening would have to be on the word "JOOOOOOOOONES", his throat just opened up like el Munstro so you can see into his belly and Gippetto is down there just fishin'
Avatar 8:11pm
hyde:

Sign of the Pagan is actually only OK. But I mean, it's Jack Palance as Atilla the Hun! It has its moments. The John Wayne thing is as Genghis Kahn (in The Conqueror), which is also sort of spectacular.
Avatar 8:12pm
Flash Strap:

ah yes. never seen either, would love to.
Avatar 8:17pm
Flash Strap:

it's worth pointing out to anyone who doesn't know: virtually all these instrument sounds are done with their mouths
Avatar 8:22pm
Flash Strap:

I mean, just as a piece of political history, this song is a mind-blowing historical document
Avatar 8:54pm
Flash Strap:

hey, uh, anybody still out there?
Avatar 9:00pm
hyde:

heh, i, for one, am still here
Avatar 9:02pm
Flash Strap:

as long as i got you around Hyde, that's good enough for me
Avatar 9:02pm
Wilbo:

Oh yeah. And enjoying every minute.
Avatar 9:04pm
Flash Strap:

Wilbo, you didn't have to get out of the hammock just to say that!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:05pm
melinda:

I love this song! Great to hear it as calypso.
Avatar 9:06pm
northguineahills:

Got home too late :(
Avatar 9:06pm
Flash Strap:

hard to imagine a curmudgeon like VDP gettin into the Jackson 5
Avatar 9:07pm
Flash Strap:

hey hey NGH, plenty left to go
Avatar 9:07pm
northguineahills:

W00! moar!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:08pm
melinda:

Kinks!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:12pm
Alex In Illinois:

Yes, I tuned in late too, and I am glad to hear that there is more to go, but later I am still going to listen to the archive. Mighty Sparrow yeah, but produced by Van Dyke Parks? Wow.
Avatar 9:25pm
Flash Strap:

Hi Alex! thanks for tuning in
Avatar 9:26pm
Flash Strap:

it's not that bad!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:27pm
Doug Schulkind:

A show of greatness, Evan. Again.
Avatar 9:29pm
Flash Strap:

Thanks Doug! Aw shucks, ya make me blush!
Avatar 9:29pm
northguineahills:

I've been going through Alan Lomax's Trinidadian recordings lately, and I had no idea how much French Creole was spoken there.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:30pm
Alex In Illinois:

I didn't think the Van Dyke Parks produced Mighty Sparrow track was bad at all. It just never occurred to me that Parks would produce anything by Mighty Sparrow
Avatar 9:32pm
Flash Strap:

oh, the Sparrow track is pretty great, I think. The whole album is more "ok" than a lot of other Sparrow LPs, but it's still got huge greats on it. What I was referring to was the sort of suffering-to-stay-on-its-feet City on the Hill, which is tough but still very interesting
Avatar 9:33pm
Flash Strap:

This was his reaction to September 11, by the way.
Avatar 9:39pm
Philthy woman:

Loved that one! thnx for all the good stuffs!
Avatar 9:39pm
hyde:

this calypso bus just keeps rollin'!
Avatar 9:40pm
Flash Strap:

Anybody got the skinny on this track? I don't even know what album it showed up on, or who wrote it (was it her?).
Avatar 9:41pm
Flash Strap:

Hey there Philth, always great to see ya
  9:44pm
Dean:

Just sent an email to a friend in which I invoked Little Feat. It's that kind of evening here on the West Coast.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:46pm
Uncle Michael:

I'm pretty much a crazed Little Feat fan. Greetings! I also love VDP's Discover America album.
Avatar 9:47pm
Flash Strap:

Hello Uncle! What's the best Little Feat? I've never been able to get into them for some reason, despite a desire to
Avatar 9:48pm
hyde:

i used to love Little Feat, but i don't think i've listened to them in decades. may have to dust that off.
  9:50pm
Dean:

I'm a belated and now approaching crazed fan. I sold their records in the '70s and always thought, "Meh," or whatever the term of art was at the time. I saw them live with LG when they opened for ELO. Even then I knew I was watching "something important." Now I'm collecting their records.

Folks say Waiting for Columbus is amazing. I have the Mobile Fidelity LPs, and they are something, but I prefer the original vinyl early albums or the 5-CD set of their first few albums. In other words, start everywhere.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:50pm
Uncle Michael:

I really like the live album, Waiting for Columbus, in spite of some notorious overdubs. Also, the rarities collection Hoy Hoy is very good.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:52pm
Uncle Michael:

I should get some LF on the show a week from tomorrow. I know just the one I want to play.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:53pm
Uncle Michael:

It's a shame that VDP recently gave his farewell live performances.
Avatar 9:59pm
hyde:

cool show. thanx!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:59pm
Uncle Michael:

I'll have to wallow in every bit of this amazing playlist on the archive.
  9:59pm
Dean:

Discover? I thought it was Disc Over!
  10:01pm
Dean:

"Utterly fucking transcendent collaboration"...such a worn cliche. Or did you say "trend setting"?
Avatar 10:03pm
Flash Strap:

if only it were trend setting in a way worth celebrating! sadly I trotted out that hoary old nut: transcendent. absolve me of my sins, lord
Avatar 10:05pm
Flash Strap:

Night, all. Thanks for listening
  10:06pm
Dean:

So VDP and The Residents both tried to decode the oracle that was Sousa?
Avatar Swag For Life Member 12:16am
Gary:

Sad to have missed this live, but looking forward to listening to it this weekend!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 9:35am
Brian in UK:

Always enjoyed The Clang of the Yankee Reaper but had great difficulty with Song Cycle. Then loved his production of Phil Och's Greatest Hits. That might sum up the man's variety and difficulty to pin down.
Great show, boss.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 10:18am
Brian in UK:

On one of my favourites Music Fuh Ya' by Taj Mahal, The Four Mills Brothers is credited to Drurrie Parks. Odd.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 12:03pm
Brian in UK:

Never heard Brer Rabbit. The Wall Street pieces makes me think it might sound like that.
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