WRFN Barnraising #2

There was no show this weekend. WRFN was off the air to prepare for our big switch to 107.1 LPFM. In the low power FM world, these station-establishing events are known as "barnraisings". I was not around here when Radio Free Nashville had its inaugural one in 2005, but I understand it was quite the undertaking, with folks from around the country and even around the world coming in to take part. I've shared some video on that here.

Lots of work to do on the first morning. We early crewbies hauled equipment out of the studio and office to get the place ready for painting. We cleaned out an old, musty trailer, unearthing lots of trash and perhaps a few treasures. The tech crew, led by Matt the PM (and host of RFN Weekend, Saturdays at 5 p.m.), got the broadcast and computer prep going, with folks even going under the house. Stepping stones were dug up and moved and then the studio painting began.

There was food galore with tons of goodies from Bread and Company and some most marvelous chili from Kristi Rose (of Pulp Radio, Wednesdays 5-6 p.m.). The great thing, though, about any of these rare occasions for the WRFN programmers to get together is the chance to see each other and learn about each other's shows.

Barnraising day two began at noon Sunday. This was the day when the new antenna was scheduled to be put up and work at the studio and office finished up. Unfortunately they ran into some delays with the new antenna installation, but we will be broadcasting on 107.1 in this coming week...it'll just be with our old antenna until things get worked out. There's a lot of detail that's gone in to this transition and it takes a lot of dedicated folks to make this happen. It was great to meet and work with so many different people with great skills.

T.J. and Rene Kirby and I were there from morning to evening on both days and worked as a team in many spots. We were a tired but happy team when it was all done and we all agreed it was a very interesting experience being involved at this level beyond our shows. Now we just can't wait to get at the new broadcast board!

See you November 1 at 107.1!

10/18/09 Blog/Playlist: Devil or Angel

Opening: Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass - So What's New
Segment 1: Theme - Devil or Angel
What side do you come down on? Do you come off like an angel or do you have a bit of a devilish side to you? We'll take a look at a few songs that cover either or both sides of that coin starting with a song that covers the theme and this question.

Bobby Vee – Devil or Angel
Elvis Presley – (You're the) Devil In Disguise
Beatles – Devil In Her Heart
Shelby Flint – Angel On My Shoulder
Neil Sedaka – Next Door To An Angel
Aretha Franklin – Angel

I almost forgot about that Aretha Franklin song, even though I'd always loved it.

Many times, as I do these sets, I get some folks guessing about what I'm going to play. But more often than not I either won't have the song since I use my own collection or occasionally the station's. Plus, when given a choice I really try to avoid the obvious song that any other stations that still air this music would pick.

Segment 2: Picking Through the Record Box
Well, with Halloween coming up, I wanted to get at least one weird song in. This one's got sort of an eerie and spooky storyline to it: Dickey Lee, with the story of "Laurie".

Dickey Lee – Laurie
Ral Donner – You Don't Know What You've Got Until You Lose It
Sarah Vaughn – Broken Hearted Melody
Lou Christie – Two Faces Have I
Impalas – Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)

I got hold of another in the Hard To Find 45 CD series from which I played the Impalas and Sarah Vaughn songs. I was just noting on the Eric Records site which produces the series that the Volume 1 CD is now pretty rare. I got this copy out of the library, so it was pretty cool that I was able to find it under those circumstances!

Just a reminder that next weekend we'll be off the air because we'll be getting ready for the switch over to 107.1 FM. So be sure that you set your dials for 107.1 and be back with me on November 1 when my guest will be Lance Hoppen of Orleans. Also coming up on the show is singer/songwriter Marc-Alan Barnette on November 8 and coming soon "Complicated Love—the sequel"!

Segment 3: Soul Stew
I would have loved to fit the first song in last week's feelgood show but didn't have it handy.
Spinners – I'll Be Around
Edwin Starr – Agent Double O Soul
Stylistics – You Are Everything
Tony Clarke – The Entertainer

Segment 4: Non-oldie/Current/New

There is an organization called Bring Peace Not Pain which has been having a Peace Song Challenge. One of the songs entered in this challenge is this angel song by Randi Perkins.
Randi Perkins – Army Of Angels
Eve Selis- Angels and Eagles
Alan O'Day – I Hear Voices

Alan O'Day will be the featured writer, performing with his producer Denny Martin, at the Commodore Grill Wednesday evening, going on at about 8 p.m.

Frequency To The Heart:
If you've been listening closely to the devil and angels songs in the show this morning, you can probably tell that I tend to favor angels. We can encounter wolves in sheep's clothing. We've all probably come across people like that. But I like to think of this world as basically good. I believe there are angels among us in our everyday lives and I know I can speak to that personally. There are a lot of hurting people out there right now. Think about how you can be an angel to someone in need.

Closing: King Curtis - Soul Serenade

I'd rate this week's show pretty good. My throat had a bit of junk in it at times. It's probably not a good idea to be clearing it on mike so I just had to roll with it...but oh well.

Everybody sleep in next week--back on November 1 on 107.1 FM!

10/11/09 Blog/Playlist: Music That Heals

To be honest with you, it's been a rough week. Disappointments, hurts, unexpected expenses, passings, other annoying problems. A dear friend of mine brought me over for lunch and we watched a video of Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire together in concert. Both of those bands still had it...and the songs we loved and the energy that poured forth did a lot of good for my soul. I think we all know that music has healing properties. There are a lot of soothing instrumentals that are created just for that purpose. It can be, and often is, about song lyrics that manage to express just what it is that you feel at that moment. Other times, like on the video, it's just an energetic and uptempo song that gives you a lift. You just want to feel good, ya know? So I'm starting with a set of songs which for me serve that purpose. Now on this first one you may not understand the language, but I don't think you need to – the spirit's universal.

Miriam Makeba – Pata Pata
Nathaniel Mayer - Village of Love
Brenda Lee – Dum Dum
Major Lance – Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (This guy had the right idea..come up with a melody to hum when you're feeling down)
Johnny Nash - Hold Me Tight (very last minute change and a good one--with the "ba ba ba ba" etc. fitting in well with the previous two songs)
Reflections - Just Like Romeo and Juliet

There's talk from time to time about getting a camera here in the studio. If there had been, you'd have seen me rocking in my chair. People have noticed that I do that when I'm out listening to music. I've been doing it since I was about 3 years old. I just can't sit still when I'm listening to music. You can't always get up and dance, so I "chair dance" when the spirit moves. There were times when I was younger I'd get so into it that I've even broken a chair or two (but I watch it here in the studio!). But it's also a comfort thing for me, too.

Record Box
One of my all time favorite albums is the Drifters Golden Hits. I played one of my particular favorites, one that doesn't get as much play as some of their better known hits.

Drifters – Dance With Me
Swinging Medallions – Double Shot of My Baby's Love
Beatles – I'll Be Back
Go West - King Of Wishful Thinking

Soul Stew
Nothing like a good dose of Motown to perk you up, right? Starting out with something by the Supremes.

Supremes – Come See About Me
Four Tops – It's The Same Old Song
Temptations – Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Wilson Pickett – 634-5789
Temptaions - Get Ready (hard to decide between two Tempts songs--so decided to do them both!)

Current/Non-oldie/out of the box

Sometimes when things are not going well, you just have to get away to regroup and recover. Here's a lovely song on that subject by Eliza Gilkyson.

Eliza Gilkyson – Coast
Matchbox 20 – Unwell (Live acoustic version. Maybe slightly out of show demographic but there's something about Rob Thomas for me. Whether it's something in his voice or his songs, he just seems to nail whatever I'm going through.)
Mark Lowry – When The Sun Comes Out Again

(OK,that set together just about did me in...glad I had tissues...)

Frequency To The Heart
I might call this a note to self for this week, but this is for all of you too: When you're going through a rough time, it's very important to take care of you. Be sure you are surrounding yourself with supportive and encouraging people who care for you, who give you energy and don't drain your soul and your spirit. Don't settle for less...it may mean stepping back from people and situations that can't serve that purpose, however difficult it may be to do. Do those comfort things that will help your heart until you see that peek of sunshine coming through again.

Opening theme: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – So What's New
Closing theme: King Curtis - Soul Serenade

Coming up on NTO:
Next week – Devil or Angel theme set
Then we are off for the weekend of October 23/24 for the WRFN barnraising, where we prepare to switch to 107.1 and install a new antenna and make some studio improvements. I will be back on November 1 at 107.1 when my guest will be Lance Hoppen of Orleans. So I do hope you'll follow me for that!

I was VERY happy with how the show went. I think it was one of the best shows I've ever done. I hope it helped some folks who may have been needing a lift.

Next week will be better.

10/4/09 Blog/Playlist: in-studio guest George Adams

I was excited because I had a guest with me this morning that I've wanted to have on the show for a long time...George Adams, a guy in my list of top male vocalists. I asked George what he wanted to hear, so I started with a few of his requests. It was mostly a different set of songs than I normally play on my show except for two, but there was a reason for that...stay tuned.

Lovin Spoonful - Darlin Be Home Soon (until the gremlins invaded. Rats.)
Critters - Mr. Dieingly Sad
Jimmy Webb - Galveston (lovely version of the song by its writer)
Dan Fogelberg - Part Of The Plan
Kenny Chesney - That's Why I'm Here

You may have heard me say from time to time in the little over a year that I've been here on Radio Free Nashville that I've gotten much more out of this gig than I bargained for. I started out on Saturday afternoons in September of last year. I used to follow a show called "Geo On the Radio". Back then I used to show up a half hour or so early to get prepped for my show, go through the station's online catalog and look for songs and check out Geo's show because I really liked it. One day I'm doing all that and I hear this drop dead gorgeous voice. I said to Geo "WHO is THAT??" He says "oh, you've never heard George Adams?" Um, no, I hadn't. He told me where his MySpace page was, I checked out his song samples and was completely blown away. Now it's hard to get that reaction from song samples and I hadn't been that impressed in about seven years. I went to see him at a gig a month after that and gave him the kind of a five star review in my Wendy V's Nashville Blend blog that I rarely give anyone. Suffice it to say I have since become a major fan of this guy – I love his voice and the music.

George considers himself more of a vocalist than a songwriter, but we heard some of his songwriting live and from studio cuts.

Song list:
Why Don't I Know It's Over
It's Just Love (these first two were done live and are unrecorded as yet)
Stronger Than Words (studio track)
Turn The Knife (live)

George is from Boston originally. He was working in the auto parts business but started developing his singing. He joined a group called the Secrets and moved to Nashville in 1988. He also played at the Stockyard Restaurant and Bullpen Lounge in the 90s as a strolling balladeer and later as part of the house band. He just finished a five month run as a performer on the Carnival Legend cruise ship. The ship carried over 2,000 passengers a week...out of 900 crew members he was one of only 10 who were American.

We also divulged one of the worst kept secrets of low-power FM radio. If those who listened to WRFN on weekends since last year thought George sounded just a little bit familiar when he spoke, yes, George Adams and "Geo On The Radio" are one and the same. Obviously, I've known him for quite some time, having followed his show back when I was on Saturdays last year. The opening set was very much like what you'd hear on a typical "Geo On the Radio" show. George picked those songs because they were songs or artists that he loved. The Kenny Chesney song "That's Why I'm Here" has great personal significance to him...like the characters in the song, he made the decision nearly five years ago to stop drinking and he called it the best decision he ever made.

Plugs:
Gig Friday, October 9, 7 p.m. - Red Tree Coffee, 385 Main Street, Kingston Springs, TN

Info/Contact:
www.myspace.com/george.adams
www.reverbnation.com/georgeadams
www.geoontheradio.com
email: geoontheradio@gmail.com, geoontheradio@yahoo.com or george.adams@myspace.com

Go to any of the above websites to hear more of George's music and e-mail him to find out how to get a copy of his "Anthology" CD he mentioned on the show.

Frequency To The Heart:
You're special. Who among us wouldn't want to hear that...or feel that? What are some ways to show people in your life how special they are? Keep your full focus on them, show your undivided attention when you are with them. Do something kind just for them, maybe make them a surprise lunch or do some other unexpected gesture. You may be making a big difference in their world just at a time when they most need to feel special.



You might think because you have a guest on that you know pretty well personally that it would be easier, right? Wrong. You want everything to be right and go well and be in the pocket. My nerves got the best of me in places. I'm used to dealing with the usual tech glitches, but this was NOT the day that I wanted any of them. I wish I'd been better on a show I'd been so psyched for.

Thanks for getting up early and coming on the show, George.

9/27/09 Blog/Playlist: Never Say Never?

I had very little sleep this weekend because of two awesome concerts. I will have a report on those in my Nashville Blend blog soon. But I knew this would be an interesting show in terms of my functionality here, to say the least...I warned the audience accordingly and I was right. Some interesting pronouncements came out of my mouth.

Segment 1: Never
I was originally going to call this theme set "Never Say Never". But I realized that, here I am with a show called "Never Too Old" and how would it look doing a never say never theme when I'm telling people they're never too old? So maybe that doesn't make sense. I planned a song called "Never Say Never Again" in the last part of my show, so I think that's okay. Thus I'll just take the first word of the show title and make it a "never" theme...and start with a classic from the Association.

Association – Never My Love
Lovin Spoonful – Never Going Back (Joe Butler on lead vocal, written by John Stewart. also the first "glitch of the day" I had in quite some time. I had the wrong track and was bound and determined to have the right one play.)
Gene Pitney – True Love Never Runs Smooth (and neither does a radio show when you've had little sleep...)
Seekers – I'll Never Find Another You
Laura Nyro – I Never Meant To Hurt You

Segment 2: Picking Through the Record Box
I have been searching and searching for a long while for a couple of songs I've always loved that I wanted to play on the show...and finally, I've found them! This first one is a song that came out in 1964 and was a hit on the pop charts right in the middle of the Beatles and the British Invasion. One of those stylistic anomalies (believe it or not, didn't stumble over that word in my zombie-like state!) that turned up as pop hits around that time. It's one that would be an unlikely favorite of mine for that time and would really be considered "square" by a rock and roll kid such as myself. But for some odd reason, it's one that always stayed with me...not sure why I liked it then but I do now. Just like those Lawrence Welk shows I did call square as a 60s kid but occasionally watch now for the pop culture factor. Anyhow, the song I'm talking about to start off with is Love Me With All Your Heart, by the Ray Charles Singers.

Ray Charles Singers – Love Me With All Your Heart
Peter Paul and Mary – If I Had A Hammer (in tribute to the late Mary Travers)
Ruby and the Romantics – My Summer Love
Simon and Garfunkel – Homeward Bound (live version)
Rose Garden – Next Plane To London

In case you haven't heard, WRFN is moving to 107.1 in October! With that move, we will be heard clearly all over Nashville. That will be happening around the weekend of October 24-25, so we'll be off the air during that period to install a new antenna and make station improvements. We do need your help in raising money for all of this. Please go to www.radiofreenashville.org to see about the many ways you can donate. And, if you are in the Nashville area you can also find out there about a benefit classic car and motorcycle show/concert event happening on October 2.

Segment 3: Soul Stew

A couple more "never" songs in the soul set. I'll start with this one by Eddie Floyd:
Eddie Floyd – I've Never Found Me A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)
Temptations – I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)
Dixiebelles – Down At Papa Joe's
Wilson Pickett – Funky Broadway

Segment 4: Non-oldie/Current/New

George Adams - Stronger Than Words
(George is a guest on my show next week. A singer's singer and I've been hoping to get him on the show for a long time. So I'm throwing out the format on this one and having him for the hour.)
Boomer Castleman – Never Say Never Again

Now what did those two songs have in common? A great big triple axel hitting, move in for the kill falsetto note at the end. When Boomer was here on the show a couple of months ago, he hit it live at 8:00 in the morning.

Frequency To The Heart

Well, I've had an hour to think about this whole "never say never" thing. The more that I thought about it, there are some times when you should think "never say never". It could be that goal you think you may never accomplish. Or that job test you thought you'd never pass (true story here!). Even perhaps, that love you thought you'd never have in your life. At those points, you might want to try a "never say never" mindset, open yourself up to encouragement and confidence. It could happen.

And for you all, one more song that I didn't have on CD to play but surely would have if I did: Styx- Never Say Never

9/20/09 Blog/Playlist: in-studio guests Dr. Jay & Miss Diana

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

Well once again, I have some special guests in the studio: Dr. Jay and Miss Diana, a dynamic singer/songwriter duo and dear friends of mine.

But first, if you haven't already heard, we have some pretty exciting news to share here at Radio Free Nashville. In a couple of weeks, we are going to be moving to a new home on the FM dial! We will be moving to 107.1 FM...this is something we've been hoping to have happen for quite some time and we've now got the green light. The best news about it all is that we will then be heard all over Nashville. Before that happens, it's going take a bit of work. We'll need to invest in a new antenna and some studio improvements. So, this is where we need the support of all of you out there who love what we do here at Radio Free Nashville. Please go to our website at www.radiofreenashville.org and choose one of several ways to make a donation to the station. You can also go to www.goodsearch.com and designate Radio Free Nashville as your charity and every time you search there or shop through GoodShop WRFN will earn money.

I started out with a set of music.

Rascals – A Girl Like You
Swinging Medallions – Double Shot Of My Baby's Love
Supremes – Back In My Arms Again
Shadows of Knight – Gloria
Wildweeds – No Good To Cry
Survivor – The Search Is Over

My guests today: Dr. Jay and Miss Diana. I heard a little bit about them around town before I actually saw and met them at the Commodore Grille. The song that was the most memorable at that time was one that went I'm just trying to get your attention. And well, they certainly did. So much so that ultimately they were part of my birthday bash round at the Commodore.

They met when Dr. Jay (Jay Worth Allen) saw her as a telephone receptionist on an office visit. Once he heard Diana's voice decided he wanted to hear it the rest of his life. They hit it off personally and musically, married three weeks after they met and have stayed married for over ten years. Diana has sung in church choirs and folk settings, but didn't know any club songs. Jay brought her some recordings from some of the great female vocalists (Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, etc.) and they started off playing jazz.

Just hearing Dr. Jay and Miss Diana's music is half the picture. They need to be seen live. Diana is a performer who sings from her center and looks you in the eye as she sings. Believe it or not, when she first started performing, she sang with her back to the audience and kept checking with Jay to see if she was doing well!She emerged from her shell one day in the studio after getting frustrated with Jay telling her "that's not right". She decided she was going to sing her way, and out it came!

Besides the music, Jay is a prolific writer and artist. He's had a art exhibit going on this week...you can see samples of his art and writing on the website.

We played a few songs that will be on their upcoming Anthology CD which covers cuts from a few of their earlier CDs: Six Rhetoricals and Four Metaphors (named because a songwriting instructor told Jay you can't use rhetoricals and metaphors in Nashville!), Eleven Plays For the Radio, and Some Pretty Darn Good Songs.

I Do Believe
Just One More Time
I Love Only You
'Till My Money Runs Out


Plugs for Dr. Jay and Miss Diana:

www.drjaymissdiana.com
www.myspace.com/drjaymissdiana
Maxwell's (Millennium Maxwell Hotel in Nashville) regular Thursday night show starting 7 - 10 p.m.
10/2-3: Song Festival – Loretta Lynn's Ranch
10/23, 11/4: Commodore Grille

Frequency To The Heart

If it is true that our thoughts attract the types of things that come into our lives, then we all need to encourage each other to help keep our thoughts on track. We need to help one another maintain the positive outlook toward what we desire and keep those negative or fearful thoughts away. Find someone who needs a positive influence and show it and be it in their life. You can do more good than you can possibly realize.

Closer – Soul Serenade – King Curtis

Upcoming shows:
9/28 - "Never" opening theme set
10/4 - George Adams

A fun show this morning with great folks. Thanks Jay and Diana. And you all go see them live.

9/13/09 Blog/Playlist: in-studio guest Laurie McClain

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

Laurie McClain was my guest on the show this morning. She's got a CD out called "Ascend" and she has an upcoming CD release show this Friday night at Fiddle and Pick in Pegram.

But first a couple of personal indulgences, if I may: today marks the first anniversary of the start of "Never Too Old". The show began on Saturday afternoons at 3 p.m. when I first came to Radio Free Nashville. It moved to this time slot at the first of this year. It's been a great journey, I've learned a lot since the beginning of this thing and I really appreciated everyone who has ever listened or read my show blog. Of course I want to thank Beau, Ginny, Greg and Matt here at the station for all their support and as I've always said, the best thing for me about being part of Radio Free Nashville is that I've made some life-impacting friendships here...and you know who you are.

Also, I want to thank everyone out there who came to my birthday bash at the Commodore Grille this past Wednesday. It was a great turnout and there were a couple of other RFN folks who turned out for it, my buddy TJ Kirby and his lovely Rene and Steve Haggard and Kimberly King played that evening and did a great job. So I did a brief set this morning and in honor of my party and Judy and Johnny who took such great pictures for me, I started with Lesley Gore!

Lesley Gore – It's My Party
Beatles – I'll Be Back
Joni Mitchell – Help Me
Sonny and Cher – Baby Don't Go
Janis Ian – Society's Child

Laurie McClain moved here in 1997 with four daughters from Lincoln, Nebraska. She and I had much in common. She grew up loving to watch the old Johnny Cash which always had such great artists as Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, etc. She knew from age six that she wanted to be a singer. And so she has, going on to do that and writing lovely songs. She did very well in the recent Just Plain Folks awards, with "Ascend" coming in third in the New Folk Album category.

Another thing she and I had in common was she had spent time playing in the Twin Cities, where I moved here from. One person we both know is folksinger Jerry Rau, a dear friend of hers who sang a duet on the tribute album to Kate Wolf that she made a few years back.

Plugs for Laurie:
www.lauriemcclain.com
www.myspace.com/lauriemcclain
9/16 Richards Café and French Quarter Cafe
9/18 CD release party at Fiddle and Pick, Pegram, 8 p.m.

Songs:
He Smiled Like An Angel (live in studio)
Somewhere In Kentucky (from the "Ascend" CD)
Rosy Glasses (live in studio)

I do understand what it's like to be on fire for an artist and want to share that music with everyone you come across. Laurie asked if I would play a song off a CD by an artist she met at the JPF awards. He's an Irish-born artist named Danny Ellis, who grew up in an orphanage. His CD, 800 Voices, is made of his songs about his life in that setting. We played a track called "Artane Boys Band". It was quite striking and he has a wonderful voice.

Frequency To The Heart:

When It's Not A Fit – Encouraging Words July 2007

Closer – Soul Serenade – King Curtis

As always with a guest, the time ends up flying and I wished I had more time in the hour for her music. However, I also like to hear the guests talk about themselves and their music. You can always buy a CD and listen to it however often, but it's not as often you get to hear from the arists themselves about their music and their inspiration...so I like to allow a chunk of time for that.

I hope I didn't come across as too self-indulgent today. There were some things regarding the past week that I needed to express. Plus, at times my interview with Laurie was more like a friendly conversation but I hope I didn't focus more on me and less on her than I should have.

Upcoming guests:
September 20 - Dr. Jay and Miss Diana
October 4 - George Adams (strong tentative)