My Fellow Americans, Life is actually just a microscopic, deluded moment in time, so let's cut to the freakin' chase. One look at our impending election debacle can solidify my case. It has been my contention since birth, that the answer to every difficulty we encounter on this sacred yet demented Stone, can be revealed with ultimate clarity through the ultra neurotic engagements of Music, Art, Literature, Film, Poetry and a good Pastrami sandwich. Why would any sane human spend so must time ...
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "PUT ON A STACK OF 45's" - LITTLE WILLIE JOHN- "COTTAGE FOR SALE" - Featuring The Splendid Bohemians, Rich Buckland and Bill Mesnik
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Little Willie John was a teenager when he recorded his first hit, “All Around the World,” for King Records, in 1955. When his career faded in 1962, John was a grizzled veteran of 25. Although rock & roll was once the province of the young, few singers under the age of 20 have been able to communicate more than jittery restlessness or poignant ache.…
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"CAPTAIN BILLY’S MAGIC 8 BALL" -SEASON TWO- EPISODE TWO - JONI MITCHELL- FEATURING THE ALBUM "THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS" IN HIGH DEFINITION - THE ENTIRE ALBUM WITH THE CAPTAIN'S MAGNETIC NARRATIVE -THE ...
44:51
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THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS by Joni Mitchell (Asylum, 1975) Hail, hail Joni Mitchell! A survivor with a roller-coaster history of adventures, both artistic and existential. She’s still standing, albeit with a cane - (Polio couldn’t fell her; an aneurysm? Piffle!) From folkie goddess who pierced her madrigals through with a brutal, autobiographical …
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "SCOTT MCKENZIE- THE POWER OF THE FLOWER "- FEATURING THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS, RICH BUCKLAND AND BILL MESNIK- SCOTT AND JOHN PHILLIPS MET WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL- TOGETHER THEY DEFINED ...
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August 20, 2012- Scott sang a gentle song that became a hit and something of a theme song for 1967's "Summer of Love." Scott McKenzie, best known for San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair, died Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 73. According to the singer's website, he "had been very ill recently and passed away in his home after two we…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #69: MONTANA by Frank Zappa (DiscReet, 1973)
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Hang on to your hats, folks, it’s Frank Zappa time! Love ‘im or Hate ‘im, you have to admit that Zappa was an all-American original. Virtuoso guitarist, ground-breaking jazz-fusion orchestral arranger, and scathing social satirist, Zappa stood alone against legions of corporate sycophants, carving out a successful empire built from sheer hubris and…
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"CAPTAIN BILLY’S MAGIC 8 BALL" -SEASON TWO- EPISODE ONE- THE BEATLES- FEATURING THE ALBUM "LET IT BE" IN HIGH DEFINITION - THE ENTIRE ALBUM WITH THE CAPTAIN'S MAGNETIC NARRATIVE -THE CAPTAIN EXPLORES HIS ...
37:00
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I was 11 when the Beatles first appeared in America, and I literallyowe my life, my career, and my marriage to the guitar I bought and learned to play because of their influence. I have the entire Beatles catalogue on 8 Track, including the post break up solo albums, so picking one for the return of Captain Billy’s Magic 8 Ball presented a real qua…
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA OF DOUBT" -A CAUTIONARY AND MELODIC MEDITATION FOR THE AGES & THE YOUTHFUL- FEATURING THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS, RICH BUCKLAND AND BILL MESNIK- WITH VINCE ...
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55:40
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55:40
"I have reached an age when, if someone tells me to wear socks, I don't have to." Albert Einstein (1879-1955) "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you was*?" Satchel Paige (1906-1982) "By the time you're eighty years old you've learned everything. You only have to remember it." George Burns (1896-1996) "The wiser mind mourns less for wh…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #68: I’M READY by Muddy Waters (Chess, 1954)
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4:57
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Are you ready? Ready for action? Ready for… whatever? I hope you are, because when opportunity knocks you better at least have your drawers on when you answer the door. They say success is when preparation meets opportunity, so you best be ready to jump when the light goes on. This sassy stop-time number was written by the Mozart of the blues, bass…
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HOTEL BOHEMIA WELCOMES "RICHARD SAMET "KINKY" FRIEDMAN -THE WILD MAN FROM BORNEO " - November 1, 1944 – June 27, 2024 - FEATURING THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS, RICH BUCKLAND AND BILL MESNIK
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Kinky Friedman, the singer, songwriter, humorist and sometime politician who with his band, the Texas Jewboys, developed an ardent following among alt-country music fans with songs like “They Ain’t Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore” — and whose biting cultural commentary earned him comparisons with Will Rogers and Mark Twain — died on Thursday at his …
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #67: MOTHER, PLEASE! By Jo Ann Campbell (Cameo-Parkway, 1963)
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Back in the day there was a commercial for a pain reliever called Anacin, which was so psychotically hilarious that its catch phrase instantly became a “viral” meme, way before that term was invented. Even as 10 year olds, we would go around screaming: “Mother, PLEASE, I’d rather do it myself!!” Imitating the emotionally wrecked housewife in the ad…
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The Splendid Bohemians Present An R&B Special - "Juke Kooper"- The Blue Rocks Of Ages With Horns"- Part Two
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“I wasn’t bound to a style,” Al Kooper has said. He was talking about his guitar playing but just as easily could have been talking about the totality of Al Kooper, songwriter, musician, singer, producer, band director. “If anything, I was known for being in the right place at the right time and playing the right thing.” Kooper has been at the hear…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #66: LOVIN’ YOU by Minnie Riperton (Epic, 1975)
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This is the story of a love song that sings from beyond the grave. Lovin’ You started life as a lullaby for baby Maya Rudolph, the child of singer Minnie Riperton and songwriter Richard Rudolph. Stevie Wonder, who co-produced the record, plays the gorgeous electronic keyboard accompaniment. It was a late-entry addition to MInnie’s solo album Perfec…
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "POINT BLANK" -THE LEE MARVIN STORY "- WITH THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS, RICH BUCKLAND AND BILL MESNIK- FROM "M SQUAD" TO "THE DIRTY DOZEN" LEE MARVIN WAS A WANDERING STAR WHO ILLUMINATED ...
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30:29
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February 18th of this year would have been Lee Marvin's 100th birthday. ROGER EBERT'S 1973 REVIEW OF "THE ICEMAN COMETH" "There isn't a bad performance in the film, but there are three of such greatness they mesmerize us. The best is by the late Robert Ryan, as Larry, and this is possibly the finest performance of his career. There is such wisdom a…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #65: GOTTA GET UP by Harry Nilsson (RCA, 1971)
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Harry Nilsson was a man in a hurry. There’s no time, people! Life is happening now, and if you don’t act fast and grab it, you’ll be outta luck. Dead at 52, the former Wunderkind, one of Rock’s most innovative song stylists, exited this earthly realm, having burned out his candle from both ends - in terms of life, work, and alcohol consumption - bu…
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "THE DAY I SAW BO DIDDLEY IN WASHINGTON SQUARE "- FEATURING WILLIE NILE, MY GAL SAL, A TOUCH OF ORANGE AND OF COURSE, THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS, RICH BUCKLAND AND BILL MESNIK
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Segment One: A TASTE OF MONEY, A SCENT OF ORANGE Segment Two: WILLIE NILE “The unofficial poet laureate of New York City.” - Uncut "Better than most performers have to offer by far." -- Rolling Stone “Clash/Social Distortion meets Pete Seeger…a true master songwriter!” – Hits “Willie’s so good I can’t believe he’s not from New Jersey!” – Little Ste…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #64: IT’S COLD OUTSIDE by The Choir (Roulette, 1966)
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Can a song about unrequited love be considered a “Sunny Song”? Absolutely, if it’s as poppy and refreshing as this cut by Cleveland one hit wonders, The Choir, previously known as The Mods. At the time of the song’s recording, the midwest was teeming with British Invasion, Carnaby St wanna-be bands who had longer hair than their peers and groovier …
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #63: WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM by Jackie De Shannon (Liberty, 1963)
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One of the greatest rock and roll songwriters, Jackie De Shannon has a way of marrying a catchy pop melody with a fresh lyrical insight that is unparalleled. During that shift from Rockabilly into the British Invasion, Jackie (often with partner Sharon Sheeley), kept the pop charts humming - amassing an impressive discography for anyone - let alone…
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The Splendid Bohemians Present An R&B Special - "The White Knight Meets Mr. Brown- The Blue Rocks Of Ages With Horns"- Part One- Wayne Cochran and James Brown Are Explored Along With The Horn Stylings ...
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37:31
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Nov. 27, 2017 Wayne Cochran, who wrote a classic love-and-loss pop song while still in his early 20s, then morphed into an energetic rhythm-and-blues singer with a devoted following and an outrageous pompadour before finding a new purpose in a Christian ministry near Miami, died on Nov. 21 in Miramar, Fla. He was 78. His son, Christopher Cochran, s…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #62: WELCOME BACK by John Sebastian (Reprise, 1976)
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5:32
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In my opinion, the song was better than the sit-com that spawned it. And, it had staying power, making it to the top of the pop charts. There is something transcendent being expressed here. As Thomas Wolfe said: “you can’t go home again,” Maybe not, but it’s something we all long for, and in this joyful three minute tune John Sebastian ties a ribbo…
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "ELECTION DAY BLUES " - A MURDEROUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION APPROACHES AND THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS BREAK CONVENTION WITH A LOOK BACK AT SOME POLITICAL TUNES, GOONS, HEROES AND A PORTRAIT ...
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19:41
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FROM THE "WILD, WILD WEST" DEPARTMENT: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be on the ballot in Florida, his campaign announced Friday, after he secured a nomination from the obscure “Reform Party”—as his campaign deploys an aggressive and laborious strategy to secure his place on ballots in all 50 states. The Reform Party, founded by former independent pres…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #61: I WANNA BE SEDATED by The Ramones (Sire, 1978)
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4:54
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Not to glorify the use of narcotics, or anything, but this is the most joyous celebration of bored nihilism I’ve ever heard. Joey Ramone said he wrote the song when he was stranded in London during Christmastime, with nothing to do and nowhere to go. And, here, the boys are symbolically kicking down the doors of their hotel room and running amok fo…
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DIG THIS PRESENTS- "GARAGE BAND CONFIDENTIAL-PART TWO"- THE HISTORY OF A MUSICAL PHENOMENON! FROM SURF TO SOUL TO PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS TO MYSTERIANS TO HEARTLAND ROCK AND THE PAISLEY UNDERGROUND, THIS IS ...
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THE BEST GARAGE ROCK ALBUMS OF THE 1960'S: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/genre/11-garage-rock/1960s/#google_vignetteBy Rich Buckland and Bill Mesnik
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #60: HAUNTED HOUSE by Jumpin’ Gene Simmons (Hi, 1964)
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4:48
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I love that the new home owner portrayed in this song squares off against a threatening demon, declaring: “Ain’t no Ha’nt gonna run me off!” This is one ballsy gentleman, Mr. Jumpin’ Gene Simmons. And, fittingly Mr. Chaim Witz of Kiss fame, (another ballsy guy), took his name in tribute to this man. Morris Eugene Simmons (1937-2006) started his car…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #59: CAUSE WE’VE ENDED AS LOVERS by Jeff Beck (Epic, 1975)
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8:25
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This cut off Jeff Beck’s second solo effort was produced by the magisterial George Martin, the Beatle’s north star. The song was gifted to Jeff by Stevie Wonder, who did so, (according to JB), as an apology for having released the barn-burner Superstition first, after promising to let Jeff have it. He needn’t have worried - the plangent tone and hu…
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "RAGGED GLORY"- A FATHER AND SON'S EXPEDITION TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA TO SHARE AND DOCUMENT THE BURNISHED BRONZE OF NEIL YOUNG, AND HIS LOVE EARTH TOUR
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Neil Young, Talking Stick Amphitheater, Phoenix, AZ, 4/27/2024 RAGGED GLORY Maybe Neil Young isn’t as spry as he used to be, but who is? At 78, to be playing hard core rock with the passion he displays isn’t only a goddam miracle, it’s a revelation. And, just like young Micah Nelson, who filled in for Nils Lofgren (who’s on tour with his other Sens…
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DIG THIS PRESENTS- "GARAGE BAND CONFIDENTIAL"- THE HISTORY OF A MUSICAL PHENOMENON! FROM SURF TO SOUL TO PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS TO MYSTERIANS TO HEARTLAND ROCK AND THE PAISLEY UNDERGROUND, THIS IS WHERE IT ...
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https://garagehangover.com/WELCOME TO THE 60'S GARAGE https://www.the60sofficialsite.com/60s-Garage-Bands.html GET READY FOR A GARAGE HANGOVERBy Rich Buckland and Bill Mesnik
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "POETRY IN MOTION- THE ODYSSEY AND TRIBULATIONS OF WILLIAM BLAKE"- FEATURING JACK KEROUAC, TOM WAITS, HARRY DEAN STANTON, KURT COBAIN, PATTI SMITH, WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS, JIM CARROLL ...
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26:37
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ALL THINGS BLAKE: THE POETRY FOUDATION https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-blakeBy Rich Buckland and Bill Mesnik
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #58 - "THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC"- LOUIS PRIMA AND KEELY SMITH- Capitol Records-1958
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In 1948, New Orleans veteran trumpeter and singer Louis Prima stumbled into a young girl named Keely Smith. She was barely a performer at all, almost half his age, destined for a relatively quiet life; their encounter was pure coincidence. But they went on to invent “The Wildest,” the most exciting and successful lounge act Las Vegas has ever seen,…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #57-: "ONCE IN A LIFETIME"- TALKING HEADS- Sire Records-1981
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6:51
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The Meaning of “Once in a Lifetime” Byrne might have used preacher cadences as a jumping-off point for the song. But his message is more universal than regional, as he hints at the idea of someone living a life that has developed almost beyond their control. The refrain of You may find yourself supports this notion. Byrne implies that a person’s lo…
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HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENTS "THE HIT PARADE OF CAMPAIGN SONG CAROLERS "- AS THE MOST MURDEROUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AMERICAN HISTORY APPROACHES, THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS BREAK CONVENTION WITH A LOOK BACK ...
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COME VISIT THE BILL MESNIK SONG SAMPLE SITE! http://www.billmesnik.com/Samples.htmlBy Rich Buckland and Bill Mesnik
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #56: DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY by Bobby McFerrin (1988, EMI - Manhattan)
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Inspired by a quote attributed to the eastern mystic Meyer Baba, Bobby McFerrin created this a cappella masterpiece. And, although Michael Musto of the Village Voice has proclaimed it the “worst song of all time”, and Blender Magazine snarked “it’s difficult to think of a song more likely to plunge you into suicidal despondency,” this irrepressible…
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"DIG THIS" WITH THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS -"CHIP TAYLOR- PART TWO" - WRITTEN PROOF THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN THE HEART HEARS WITH LUMINOUS CERTAINTY- THE TRUTH OF CHIP TAYLOR GOES MARCHING ON
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Like a cat with nine lives, Chip Taylor’s persona has embodied many iterations. Starting with his successful “songwriter for hire” status, penning golden hits like Wild Thing, and Angel of the Morning, up through his phoenix-like resurgence as an Americana elder statesman, the story of this man’s artistic survival, emerging as it did, out from the …
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"DIG THIS" WITH THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS -"CHIP TAYLOR- FROM WILD THING TO NEW UKRAINIAN" - PART ONE- RICH BUCKLAND AND BILL MESNIK PRESENT THE TALE OF AN UNPARALLELED SONGWRITER AND POET, PRACTITIONER ...
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41:50
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41:50
Like a cat with nine lives, Chip Taylor’s persona has embodied many iterations. Starting with his successful “songwriter for hire” status, penning golden hits like Wild Thing, and Angel of the Morning, up through his phoenix-like resurgence as an Americana elder statesman, the story of this man’s artistic survival, emerging as it did, out from the …
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #55: POPCORN by Hot Butter (Musicor, 1976)
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5:06
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What was that Frankenstein music machine with all the dials, sliders, patch cords etc., that made other-worldly sounds that were supposed to resemble “real” instruments, like strings, horns and flutes, but didn’t? It was the mighty Moog, invented by Cornell doctoral student and Theremin salesman, Robert Moog. He hooked up with musician-educator Her…
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PUT ON A STACK OF 45s: "HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads (Stiff, 1977) Bill and Rich of the Splendid Bohemians explore the gleaming vinyl treasures of yore.
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With its distinctive 16-notes-to-the-bar bassline and unashamedly honky sax solo (played on two saxes at once), Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ signature hit was certainly one of the more idiosyncratic No 1s of the 1970s. The same could be said of their inimitable frontman, who exemplified the post-punk era’s particular ability to allow unlikely and e…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #54: BOBBY’S GIRL by Marcie Blane (Seville, 1962)
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5:28
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At the outset, let me apologize for liking this song. It was outre almost immediately after its release. At this point it is so retrograde that I think a person might be able to enjoy it once again for it’s ironic naïveté. But, I have always loved the way her voice swoops up on the name “Bobby”. It still brings chills. I was nine years old, and I w…
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BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #53: GLAD ALL OVER by The Dave Clark 5 (Epic, 1964)
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It came roaring out of the car radio speakers like a sonic boom, powered by Dave Clark’s “Air Hammer” pulsating drum beats and Denis Payton’s beefy saxophone. (Clearly, this was inspirational to Clarence Clemons, when crafting Bruce Springsteen’s, E-Street sound.) Mike Smith, on double-tracked lead vocal and Vox organ may have looked like the leade…
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BILL AND RICH OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND ART OF "LITTLE" JIMMY SCOTT, INVITING YOU TO BATHE IN THE HONEYED TONES OF THIS INIMITABLE VOICE.
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20:57
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Jimmy Scott / James Victor Scott (1925-2014) When Jimmy was first heard on records, the audience assumed it was a woman. He was a one of a kind jazz vocalist, a phenomenon who lived a challenging existence, trying to negotiate his intersexuality with the prejudicial attitudes and toxic stigma of the 1940s and 50s. This caused him to adopt an aggres…
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A SPECIAL SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTATION: BILL MESNIK'S TIME MACHINE - SONGS ON THE SUBJECT OF TIME.
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https://www.rpmchallenge.com/ “We work not only to produce but to give value to time.” (Delacroix) Ten years ago I participated in the RPM Song Challenge: 10 songs in 30 days. I chose the theme of “Time” - (a fertile and elastic subject), for my inventions. Included here are 4 songs from that creative surge. It is said that time moves more quickly …
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BILL AND RICH, THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS EXAMINE THE QUESTIONABLE CAREERS OF THE MOGULS THAT KEPT THE VINYL SPINNING: DJ ALAN FREED, MORRIS LEVY (Roulette Records), BEATLES AND STONES MANAGER ALLEN KLEIN ...
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41:38
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The lifeblood during my youth was infused by the artists who plied their magical trade via the 45 rpm discs of the 60s and 70s. I never stopped to think about the business men who signed and recorded these artists, distributed their records, and got them played. Art is Art, and Business is Business, and apparently you can’t have one without the oth…
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BILL MESNIK PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #52: THE MEXICAN SHUFFLE by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (A&M, 1964)
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Herb Alpert: you’ll never find a more beloved figure in the pop music world. A mensch. Did you think he was Latin? Nope. He IS an Angeleno, but….he was a Jewish kid, born in Boyle Heights; went to Fairfax High and USC. Before “cultural appropriation” became a dirty word, Herbie had a revelation while attending a bullfight in Baja - came back with “…
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BILL MESNIK PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #51: MR MUDD AND MR GOLD by Townes Van Zandt (Poppy, 1971)
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The first time I heard this tune was on Ricky Jay’s collection of songs about cards and card players. Subsequently, I heard Steve Earle’s story about how, when he was playing some dive for 4 or 5 people, Townes Van Zandt stumbles in and starts heckling him. It’s Outlaw Country lore: Townes demands Earle play Wabash Cannonball- repeatedly. Finally, …
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The Splendid Bohemians Present “Hotel Bohemia”- The Rat Pack Edition- The Infamous 1962, 4AM Show Live From The 500 Club In Atlantic City- Only 250 Vinyl Copies Were Pressed For Special Guests- Frank ...
57:58
57:58
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The 4AM Rat Pack performance presented here was privately pressed on vinyl as a special gift to very special 500 Club patrons. We present this untouched audio from the original acetate as it represents the taste and feel of this historic occasion. What tomfoolery! It’s 4 o’clock in the morning, and these bad boys are just getting started. This reco…
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BILL MESNIK PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #50: CHERRY BOMB by The Runaways (Mercury, 1976)
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5:00
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A Cherry Bomb is a spherical exploding device, banned in 1966, but whose pop is enjoyed throughout the nation as a salute by rebellious teenagers everywhere. A “cherry” is also a moniker for a virgin’s hymen, the “popping” of which was a badge of honor for teenage boys everywhere. Cherie Curry, the lead singer of The Runaways, an all-girl, hard roc…
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THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT: GUITAR GURUS! A TRIBUTE TO THREE LEGENDARY MASTERS OF THE INSTRUMENT: ARLEN ROTH, THE REVEREND GARY DAVIS, AND RY COODER.
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42:56
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Today The Splendid Bohemians pay homage to three not only consummate artists of the guitar, but teachers of their craft as well - responsible for passing on the mysteries of their music to generations of thankful acolytes. ARLEN ROTH: Arlen Roth is the ultimate sideman and guitar teacher who has played with everybody. His first book, Slide Guitar, …
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BILL MESNIK PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #49: DIRTY BLVD. by Lou Reed (Sire, 1988)
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6:01
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There was nobody like Lou Reed, and there is no Sunny Song like Dirty Blvd: a black and white hellscape, described by a cynic past being surprised by any indignity - yet, still managing to extract beauty and hope out of the filthy miasma. When the Statue of Bigotry says: “give me your hungry, your tired, your poor, I’ll piss on them” you know this …
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THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT: DIRECT FROM THE STARLIGHT LOUNGE IN THE WORLD FAMOUS "HOTEL BOHEMIA"- COMEDY NIGHT WITH TRIBUTES TO RICHARD LEWIS, NORM McDONALD, SHECKY GREENE AND LEO GORCEY
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34:43
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Richard Lewis "This is Joyce, Richard’s wife. Thank you for your loving tributes. He would be beyond thrilled and so touched, as am I. In response to the many queries , I know Richard would appreciate donations in his memory to the Los Angeles based charity http://comedygivesback.com or the charity of your choice." "If you wish to know who Richard …
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BILL MESNIK PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #48: I WENT TO A MARVELOUS PARTY by Noel Coward (Columbia, 1956)
5:21
5:21
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Noel Coward (1899-1973), that epitome of British sophistication, was an invention. He was entirely self educated, having left school at 9 years old to pursue a career on the stage. After a modest success as an actor, he switched to playwriting in 1924 with The Vortex - (in order to write a good part for himself) - and set the theatrical world on fi…
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Bill Mesnik Presents a musical tale that could hit a nerve with you....THE NERVE: TOGETHER AGAIN! (A "live from the garage" document of my reunited rock'n'roll brethren).
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22:23
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THE NERVE REUNION This is Bill Mesnik of the Splendid Bohemians with a musical tale that could Hit A Nerve with you: Sometimes life surprises you, and families are created and sustained where you don’t expect. I belong to a garage band brotherhood, consisting of five late-life Peter Pans, swaddled in the moon-glow of teenage rock n roll dreams, and…
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THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS WELCOME YOU TO "HOTEL BOHEMIA"- EPISODE ONE-RICH BUCKLAND AND BILL MESNIK INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOST JOHNNY CASH TREASURE, THE WORLD OF BROTHER THEODORE AND LINDA RONSTADT REFLECTIONS ...
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33:11
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Welcome To Hotel Bohemia Eccentric. Rebellious. Amoral, quite often. But bohemianism was, maybe still is, about much more than just frightening the horses. The writer Virginia Nicholson recently told the Today programme that "in a sense, we are all bohemians today". But what is a bohemian, how do you spot one, and might you be a boho, too? "Bohemia…
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THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET with THE "MIGHTY MEZ" - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #47: TIKI TORCHES AT TWILIGHT by David Lindley and El Rayo-X (1988, Elektra)
6:13
6:13
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David Lindley was one of a kind - The ultimate sideman. “The Prince of Polyester” played a mind-boggling array of exotic stringed instruments and musical genres with swing and inventiveness. One of the pillars of the Southern California folk-rock sound that dominated the airwaves in the 70s, this Sancho Panza to the dueling Quixotes of Jackson Brow…
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