8/30/09 Blog/Playlist: in-studio guests Rick and Janis Carnes

I know it's really difficult for some of my guests to get up at the hour of 8 a.m. on Sunday morning. I mean, I've been getting up at early hours since I was in high school because I always got stuck with 8 a.m. classes. Since I've been working a temp job for the last couple of weeks, I've had to get used to the whole routine again. But I know it's not the norm for a musician. So I do appreciate those guests who make the extra effort and wake up and come on down to my little show on Sunday morning.

My guests today were Rick and Janis Carnes, singer/songwriters with a number of hits to their credit by Reba McEntire, the Whites and many others...and Janis has a new CD out, "Hoagy and Me" which is a tribute to Hoagy Carmichael. It was way unusual for Rick and Janis to be up at this hour and Janis wondered if her voice would be up for some live songs. But they ended up doing two songs live in studio and it was.

Opening theme: So What's New - Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass

Segment 1: Record Box
I was at a concert out at Pegram Park last night where my fellow DJ and good buddy TJ Kirby emceed a fun segment during the band break. Of course he got me in on the act—we played some music, we danced and had some kids doing their thing with hula hoops and just having a blast. Here's one of the songs we played:

Beatles – Twist and Shout
Grass Roots – Things I Should Have Said
Lovin Spoonful – Younger Girl
Verdelle Smith – Tar and Cement
Chiffons – I Have A Boyfriend
Lesley Gore – Look of Love (last two songs were a tribute to Ellie Greenwich, who with her partner Jeff Barry was one of the great writers of the Brill Building. Ellie passed away this week of a heart attack.)

Guests: Rick and Janis Carnes

Some of their writing credits from their bios:
In 1983, Rick wrote Reba McEntire’s first number one hit "I Can’t Even Get the Blues No More" and co-wrote with Janis and Chip Harding three top ten hits for the Whites; "You Put the Blue In Me", "Hangin’ Around" and "Pins And Needles". Rick also had success with album cuts on such artists as Conway Twitty, Karen brooks, Loretta Lynn, Lacy J. Dalton, Johnny Rodriguez, Janie Fricke, Ronnie McDowell, T.G. Sheppard, Pam Tillis and many others including three more Reba McEntire cuts.

Janis, along with Rick and Chip Harding, co-wrote three top ten singles by the Whites; You Put the Blue In Me, Hangin’ Around and Pins And Needles. She also had numerous album cuts by Reba McEntire and Eddy Raven, Lacy J. Dalton, the Kendalls, Karen Brooks, J.C. Jones, Steve Wariner and others.

Rick and Janis talked a lot about their writing process in general. I asked them about what it was like to hear songs they wrote on the radio for the first time. Rick recalls hearing his song which was Reba's #1 on the radio: he was driving down the road and heard the song come on, but his car radio conked out at that moment!

We focused a lot on Janis' project "Hoagy and Me" with covers of Hoagy Carmichael songs woven seamlessly with songs Janis wrote in the same style. It's a two disc CD with the vocals on one disc and all instrumentals of the songs on the other. Most of the tracks were done in one day, and in one take!

Songs played:
After Dark (live in studio)
Up With Love (Track from "Hoagy and Me")
Am I Naive (live in studio)

Plugs:
website: www.janiscarnes.com

Upcoming appearances:
Round at the Bluebird Café September 16, 9 p.m.
Commodore Grille September 6 (evening starts 7 p.m.)

Frequency To The Heart

Another one of those job questions is "what would your co-workers say about you?" Think about it: what do you think people around you would say about you? Sometimes we're pleasantly shocked when we find out, and sometimes we wince and say ouch. Have you treated those around you in a way that would make people speak well of you? The good you give comes back to you. Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Closing theme: Soul Serenade - King Curtis

I thought it was a good interview with some fun comments and good insights on writing with Rick and Janis. I was a bit sloppy this morning, though...my timing was off in spots and I forgot to get the camera and take a picture of Rick and Janis for the blog, so I do apologize for that. (Update: I snapped a shot of them performing at the Commodore Grille on September 6.)

8/23/09 Blog/Playlist: World

Pretty much threw this show together today due to my temp job schedule...been working a lot this week.

Opening theme - So What's New - Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass

Segment 1: Theme - World

I thought we'd get a little worldly on the show today. I've got a few songs with a unique look at the world, starting with a song which was a hit in 1957 by a British teenager, Laurie London.

Laurie London – He's Got the Whole World In His Hands
Cilla Black – You're My World
Vogues – Five O' Clock World
Sam Cooke – Wonderful World
Deon Jackson – Love Makes the World Go Round
Ricky Nelson – Young World

Segment 2: Record Box
This first song was my theme for a little bit when I first started here on Saturday afternoon.
Beatles – Rock and Roll Music
Roy Head – Treat Her Right
Four Jacks and a Jill – Master Jack
Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs – Sugar Shack

Dates In Music History (courtesy www.musicorb.com)
Some Beatles-related items:
1962 - John Lennon weds Cynthia Powell
1963 - Beatles release "She Loves You" in UK
1963 - Ringo admits he wrote a song "Don't Pass Me By"
1968 - Ringo quits Beatles over a disagreement, temporarily
1974 - John Lennon reports seeing a UFO in NYC
Notable birthdays:
1936 - Rudy Lewis, rocker (Drifters)
1947 - Keith Moon, English rock drummer (Who-I'm A Boy)

Segment 3: Soul Stew
Temptations – Ball of Confusion
Brook Benton – So Many Ways
Brenton Wood – Gimme Little Sign
Aretha Franklin – Call Me
Impressions – I'm So Proud

Segment 3: New/Current
Sort of a hat tip to "world music" with this cut. I played something by one of the good guys in the singer/songwriter community here in Nashville, a great friend to a lot of folks–-Sam Cooper, from his CD Sam Cooper Boulevard. Hanging on to what's left of summer...

Sam Cooper – Reggae Summer
Randi Perkins – Little Girl In A Lady's Shoes
Randi is another of the writers who will be playing at my birthday round on September 9. Find more info about this on my Nashville Blend blog.

Frequency To The Heart

Speaking of "the world", if you think you can't impact anyone's world, think again. The world indeed can be a brighter place, one person at a time...and it starts with each of us. It can only take a kind word, a word of encouragement at just the right moment. There are so many stories out there about how encouragement has impacted people's lives. Be willing to give and accept encouragement, and yours can be one of them.

Closer – Soul Serenade – King Curtis

Another pretty good show today. I know I'm getting good at doing tight segues between songs. I attribute this to the mentorship I've been getting--thanks, TJ.

8/16/09 Blog/Playlist: Weddings

Opening theme: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass-So What's New

Segment 1: Set Theme-Weddings
Today my opening set theme is about getting married. No, I have nothing to announce for myself there..don't get excited! But my dear friend and fellow RFN DJ, TJ Kirby and his lovely Rene did get married this past week—I was there, I took a lot of pictures for them, it was sweet and I had fun at their reception as well. So this set goes out to them today. I'm going to start with a song on that subject which really touched my heart as no other song has. So, I'll play this and I hope you're as moved by this as much as I am.

Johnny Otis – Wedding Boogie (LOL! I heard this song on the NPR show "American Routes" and laughed my head off..so I tracked it down and got it. Had to play it today! I made a "bit" out of it too, as if I were too choked up to spit the intro out..)
Laura Nyro – Wedding Bell Blues
Ronnie and the Hi-Lites – I Wish That We Were Married
I got a kick out of this song—this fellow was only 12 years old and here he is, crying his heart out in this song about wanting to get married. Don't grow up so fast, go out and play baseball or something!
Chuck Berry – You Never Can Tell
Danny Williams – White On White
Julie Rogers – The Wedding

Segment 2: Record Box
Two significant happenings in music history this time of year: one being the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock festival and the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. So in this set I had some Elvis and music from some of the artists who were at Woodstock.
Richie Havens – San Francisco Bay Blues
Arlo Guthrie – City of New Orleans
Jefferson Airplane – Somebody To Love
Elvis Presley – (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame
John Sebastian – She's A Lady
Elvis Presley – Little Sister

Artists who were NOT at Woodstock (from Wikipedia) because they declined:
The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, the Doors, Led Zepplin, Jethro Tull, Byrds, Tommy James and the Shondells, Moody Blues, Joni Mitchell.

Segment 3: Soul Stew

Joe Jeffrey Group – My Pledge of Love
Sam Cooke – You Send Me
Aretha Franklin- Until You Come Back To Me

Segment 3: New/Current
A little bit more into the wedding theme—this song by one of my favorite artists, Samantha Mooney, has been played frequently at weddings, so I thought we'd do this one.

Samantha Mooney – Love of My Life
Louise Mosrie – Maybe I'm Your Angel
Louise is another of the artists who will be at my birthday bash at the Commodore Grille on September 9.

Frequency To The Heart

I was at a job networking meeting the other day and the subject of interview questions came up. One of the questions we asked each other was "if you were a tree, what would you be?" I said I wanted to be a fruit bearing tree, so I chose a cherry tree. It brought up good memories for me as well because when growing up there was a cherry tree in our back yard.

If you were a fruit-bearing tree, what kind of fruit would you bear? Would it be nourishing by being affirming, uplifting, encouraging to those around you? Think about the kind of fruit you bear—make it as sweet and healthy to others as you can.

Closer – Soul Serenade – King Curtis

The show went pretty smoothly. I'm coming close to my first anniversary of doing this show. Maybe I'm getting the hang of it?

8/9/09 Blog/Playlist: Black and Blue

Segment 1: Theme: Black and Blue

My theme today was black and blue. Why did I pick this theme? Well, I had a bit of a freak mishap at home this past week. I caught my toe on the cord of my cell phone charger which was lying on the floor, and it yanked my foot. I ended up with a sprained foot which was black and blue in spots. It was pretty painful for a couple of days but now it's doing much better.

(Yeah, I should have read the underwriter announcement for Sole Supports, right? But I did it last week and it would have been too cheesy!)

I had a few suggestions for this set from my Facebook friends but alas I had none of them on CD. So here is what I did come up with.

Los Bravos – Black Is Black
Bobby Vinton – Blue On Blue
Beatles – Baby's In Black
Temptations – Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)
Checkmates – Black Pearl
Patsy Cline – Blue Moon of Kentucky

Segment 2: Record Box

I started this set with a couple of "hurt" songs (yes, I'm sucking as much sympathy as possible!).

Bill Deal and the Rondells – I've Been Hurt
Lou Rawls – Love Is A Hurtin' Thing
Blood Sweat and Tears – Just One Smile
American Breed – Bend Me Shape Me
Essex- A Walkin' Miracle

I threw that last one in for obvious reasons. Some people with foot injuries are laid up for a while but that's just not an option for me and I had no intention of stopping my life for it...just something to work around for a little bit.

Segment 3: Soul Stew
I haven't played Sam Cooke in a while lately so I got a track in by him. I played one that's a favorite of mine.
Sam Cooke – Nothing Can Change This Love
Barbara Lewis – Make Me Your Baby
Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes of the Brokenhearted

Dates in Music History
I thought I'd try adding a new segment today. When I went to the website I'll be using for this feature, I saw that today's date was actually pretty boring. But there was one event in music history which happened the day before back in 1969: the famous shoot for the Beatles' "Abbey Road" album cover.

Segment 3: New/Current
I'm going to start plugging an event that is coming in a month from now. I am having a birthday celebration on September 9 at the Commodore Grille on the West End of Nashville, I got to pick some writers to play a couple of rounds for an hour (no, I am not one of them!) so I am going to feature music by some of those writers in the next few weeks in this spot. Festivities start at 6:30 pm on the 9th with the Wild Oats Records round featuring my friends Steve Haggard and Kimberly King, my birthday round following at 7 p.m. I'll have more info on that in the Nashville Blend blog at wvnashblend.blogspot.com so if you're in the area, hope you'll stop by that evening.

John Velora – Holdin Out
Steve Haggard – If She Only Had A Heart

Since Steve Haggard and Kimberly King of the Haggard-King Radio Hour which is heard here on Tuesday afternoons from 4-5 were so kind to put their show in my hands for a couple of weeks while they were out touring, I thought I'd play something from Steve Haggard's CD which is called Love Conquers All. That one's a catchy tune I like a lot.

Frequency To The Heart
Since I was ruminating about my injured foot, I thought I'd share a piece I wrote some years ago called "If The Shoe Fits".

Closer – Soul Serenade – King Curtis

One of the cleanest, glitch-free shows I ever had! Did run a little short on stuff and had to fill, so it's sure a good thing to have the computer in the studio with me to grab info to read to fill in.

8/2/09 Blog/Playlist: In-studio guest: Denny Sarokin

First, a few quick words about a couple of other WRFN shows I was on this past week.

I had fun co-hosting "The Haggard-King Radio Hour" with Garry Jackson. Things went a little more smoothly for me this time. We threw the history/births/deaths material together at the last minute. However, we may have had too much of a good time talking--even though we happened to start a couple of minutes early, we cut it close so one song had to be left out.

Saturday was my guest appearance on TJ Kirby's show "TJ and Company". I think it went pretty well...I know I had a great time being there and my face hurt from laughing. TJ is one very talented and dear person. He made me feel very relaxed. I did one of my "Encouraging Words" pieces and I was grateful for his comments and the discussion he set up after it. Since much of that appearance was talk, I may do some editing and post some excerpts from it on my website at a later date.

Tried out something new this morning...took my netbook to the studio with me. I thought it might be handy, especially if there's a guest on and you want to look up some last-minute information or something quick while you're on air. It was cool to have Denny's web page up in front of me to refer to. So I'll probably do it regularly as long as the thing works.

Opening theme: So What's New - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Segment 1: Record Box - A short music segment relating to Denny and who he's worked with.

Buffalo Springfield – Rock and Roll Woman
Rick Nelson – Young World
Every Mother's Son – Come On Down To My Boat

Guest: Denny Sarokin


Denny Sarokin is pretty much a "Renaissance man" here in Nashville. He's been the lead singer of the aforeplayed Every Mother's Son and bandleader for Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band, he's an author, guitar instructor, session musician, songwriter and perhaps a few other things!

Before being part of Every Mother's Son, he was doing a folk duo with his brother. As with many young bands, having a big hit was Every Mother's Son was exciting. He and the bands were on one of the first promotional tours of its kind, played on the bill with artists like the Box Tops, Blues Magoos, Herman's Hermits and even the Who as the opening act! From there, he went on to become bandleader and guitarist for Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band.

Denny has a wonderful story about his song "Sanibel" being written recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (he claims it probably holds the record for the longest "hold" on a song!). Read that story "Sanibel: A Songwriter's Odyssey" on his website.

If you're a budding guitarist who knows a few chords but want to learn much more in the way of tips and tricks, check out Denny's Licktionary package of a DVD and workbook.

I just had to squeeze in a song that Denny did for me when I ran into him at an event a couple of months ago, "Never Too Old To Rock and Roll". You may be hearing it in bits and pieces on the show in weeks to come, as Denny very graciously offered it up for future use. He performed it live this morning and it was great fun.

Other songs played:
Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band - One Night Stand
Denny Sarokin - Sanibel
Denny Sarokin - Never Too Old To Rock and Roll

Closing theme - Soul Serenade - King Curtis

Plugs:
Denny will be at the Commodore Grille for Debi Champion's writers nights on Sunday, August 9 (I mistakenly said the 6th on air, but it is Sunday, August 9) and Sunday, August 23.

Websites:
www.dennysarokin.com (website is being revamped soon)
www.licktionary.com
e-mail: info@licktionary.com

Frequency To The Heart:
Wendy V's Encouraging Words - August 2009: Go The Distance

A great show, a great guest (who by the way was no stranger to Radio Free Nashville--Denny once hosted a political show on the station). Thanks, Denny!

All in all, a good and fun week for radio for me.