Blue Valentine Productions

With March Madness right around the corner I thought it would be nice to put some perspective on why athletics are so important. Cory Weissman was a freshman at Gettysburg college when he suffered a stroke. He saw limited action his first year and never scored a point. After the stroke he vowed to make it back to the basketball team. He worked his tail off and after three hard years of work was named captain of the basketball team. Even though he didn’t play during the games he participated in practice and pregame warmups. On Senior night, his coach put him in the starting line up, where he was in for the tip off before assuming his usual spot on the bench. Then, something special happened. Late in the game the Bullets were getting blown out and the coach decides to put Cory in. The opposing coach realizing what had just happened immediately calls a time out. He instructs his players to foul #3 as soon as he touches the ball. After years of hard work and a stroke, Cory Weissman is finally given a chance to score his first points in a college basketball game. The best part is he still had to earn the point. It wasn’t given to him. A lesson we can all learn from.

As a young DJ, I was given the choice of introducing Dave Matthews at Red Rocks or introducing Etta James and B.B. King at Fiddlers Green. I chose…. Etta James and B.B. King and I will never regret that decision. Ms. James was truly a ground breaking singer who overcame more than her share of struggles to become one of the greatest of all time. If you have never seen the film “Cadillac Records” I strongly recommend watching it and raising a glass to Etta James. A note to young singers out there, this is how you perform even well into your 60′s. Rest in peace Miss James. You will be missed.

http://kgnu.org/audio/MorningSoundAlternative_2012-01-18.mp3
This was an awesome show. Lots of new music from Little Willies, Ryan Adams and Kasey Chambers. Lots of covers and some classics that fit the mood perfectly. Here is the complete play list:
Andrew Bird - First Song
Largo Chieftains - Largo
Calexico & Jim James - Goin’ To Acapulco
The Holmes Brothers & Van Morrison - Thats Where It’s At
Flogging Molly - If I Ever Leave This World Alive
Warren Zevon - Keep Me In Your Heart

The Little WIllies - Jolene
The Avett Brothers - I Would Be Sad
Paul Thorn - You Might Be Wrong
Rainville - Lonely Everywhere
Tom Waits - Talking At The Same Time

The Harlem Experiment - A Rose In Spanish Harlem
Beirut - East Harlem
Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues
Leonard Cohen – Various Artists I’m Your Man
Kasey Chambers - Little Bird

Mighty Mo And The Winchester Seven - The Next Message
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears – Sway
Jimmy Cliff - Guns Of Brixton
Toots Hibbert - (I’ve Got) Dreams To Remember
The Manhattans - Kiss And Say Goodbye

Joe Ely & Joel Guzman - Where Is My Love?
Alejandro Escovedo - Wave
Drive-By Truckers - Daddy’s Cup
Patty Griffin - Useless Desires
Ryan Adams - Invisible Riverside

Massive Attack - Protection
Beck - Que Onda Guero
The Mountain Goats - This Year
Graham Parker - No Holding Back
Elvis Presley - Crawfish

The Wood Brothers - Smoke RIng Halo
Ry Cooder - John Lee Hooker For President
Preservation Hall Jazz Band & Paolo Nutini - Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea

I have several Johnny Otis stories. My favorite one is the time I watched him do his radio show live on KPFA. He was broadcasting from the Powerhouse Brewing Company in Sebastapol, CA. In the middle of a break the waitress walked by, he stops the break so he could have the her fill up his coffee before returning to the show. I hope I can get away with that on the air some day. On a side note, I was sitting at a table with Jeremy Gelbwaks who I found out afterward played Chris Partridge on the Partridge Family. That was definitely one of the most surreal days of my life. So, here’s to the man who despite being white always said he was a part of the black community. Johnny, you helped make Rock and Roll what it is today and for that we are all grateful. Rest in peace my friend.

http://kgnu.org/audio/RootsBranches_2012-01-15.mp3
This was a fun show with a tip of the hat to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and some classic stuff from Ry Cooder Roger Miller Plus a duet featuring Johnny Cash and Oscar the Grouch. Here is the complete play list:
Ry Cooder - Paris, Texas
Ben Harper - Like A King
Sass O’Frass Tunic - Stop Wha’cha Doin’
Bright Eyes - Landlocked Blues
Jim Lauderdale/ Ralph Stanley - You’ll Find Her Name Written There

Mandy Barntett - I’ve Got A Right To Cry
Cowboy Junkies - Walking After Midnight
Gillian Welch - Elvis Presley Blues
Robbie Fulks - Roots Rock Weirdoes
Calexico - Crystal Frontier

Roger Miller - Do-Wacka-Do
Buddy Miller & Julie Miller - You Make My Heart Beat Too
Old 97′s - Barrier Reef
Statler Brothers - Flowers On The Wall
Leftover Salmon/Cracker - Sweet Potato

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
Johnny Cash & Oscar The Grouch - Nasty Dan
Delta Spirit - Salt In The Wound
Matthew Ryan - It Could’ve Been Worse
Lucero - Wandering Star

Ry Cooder - El Corrido De Jesse James
Asylum Street Spankers - Blade Of Grass
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Your Baby Ain’t Sweet Like Mine
Don Williams - Tulsa Time
Marty Jones & The Pork Boilin’ Poor Boys - Drinkin’ In Every Bar In Town

Split Lip Rayfield - Never Make It Home
Ryan Bingham - Southside Of Heaven
Steve Earle - Me And The Eagle

http://kgnu.org/audio/MorningSoundAlternative_2012-01-04.mp3
This was a great way to start the new year. New music from Raphael Saadiq, The Black Keys and Tom Waits. Plus classics from Michael Penn, Crowded House and The Pogues. Here is the complete playlist:
James - Ring The Bells
MC 900 Ft. Jesus – The City Sleeps
Otis Taylor - Looking For Some Heat
Johnny Cash - I Came To Believe
Howard Tate - Get It While You Can

TV On The Radio - Will Do
Clem Snide - Beautiful

Crowded House - Fall At Your Feet
Michael Penn – Long Way Down (Look What The Cat Drug In)
Gillian Welch - Hard Times

Raphael Saadiq – Radio
Jamie Lidell - Little Bit Of Feel Good
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Endicott
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Your Thing Is A Drag
Trombone Shorty - Buckjump (feat. The Rebirth Brass Band, 5th Ward Weebie)

Jimmy Cliff  -Ruby Soho
James Hunter – Carina
Ella Fitzgerald  – I Got It Bad(And That Ain’t Good)
Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton - Kidman Blues
Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra - I Turn My Camera On

The Little WIllies – Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves
Lucero – Drink ‘Til We’re Gone
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - I Want You
Bright Eyes - Trees Get Wheeled Away
Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

Tom Waits – New Year’s Eve
The Pogues – The Sunny Side Of The Street
The Iguanas – Boom Boom Boom
Wilco – Black Moon
The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines

Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile & Aoife O’Donovan – Helping Hand
The Waifs – Love Serenade
Amos Lee - El Camino
James Carter Organ Trio Oh Gee

Fairytale Of New York – Kirsty Maccoll & The Pogues from lovesongsoundtrack on Vimeo.

Merry Christmas every one. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays than this classic from the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. Be Safe.

http://kgnu.org/audio/MorningSoundAlternative_2011-12-21.mp3

This was a fun show on the first day of winter. Unfortunately, there were server problems so no play list but, enjoy the audio. It is worth checking out.

http://kgnu.org/audio/RootsBranches_2011-12-11.mp3
Terrific show with new music from The Gourds, David Bromberg and Laura Veirs. Classic tunes from k.d. Lang and John Prine plus a tribute to Howard Tate and Barbera Orbison. Here is the complete play list:

Michelle Shocked - If Love Was A Train
The Shins - Gone For Good
Old 97′s – Indefinitely
Violent Femmes - Country Death Song
Kelly Willis - Truckstop Girl

Howard Tate - Get It While You Can
Lyle Lovett - Christmas Morning
Nick Lowe - Endless Sleep
Kris Kristofferson – The Silver Tongued Devil And I
Robert Earl Keen -That Buckin’ Song
Roy Orbison – Crying

Ry Cooder - No Banker Left Behind
Van Morrison – Let’s Talk About Us
K.d. Lang - Luck In My Eyes
Jerry Reed - Another Puff

The Gourds - I Want It So Bad

David Bromberg - Use Me
Jim White – That Girl From Brownsville, Texas
Lambchop - About My Lighter
Bonnie Prince Billy - Time To Be Clear
Southern Culture On The Skids - Country Funk

Split Lip Rayfield - Train Song
Asylum Street Spankers – Blade Of Grass
Laura Veirs – Why Oh Why
David Wax Museum - Yes, Maria, Yes
John Prine - The Late John Garfield Blues

Here is a great video and song to help get you in the Holiday spirit.