Radio Broadcast - The H. G. Wells' War Of The Worlds by Mercury Theatre feat. Orson Welles, October 30, 1938 (@256)

It's been 70 years from the notorious radio broadcast that dramatised the H. G. Wells' novel "The War Of The Worlds". The broadcast was directed by Orson Welles who he also played the role of professor Pierson. Since most of the part of the broadcast was in the form of news bulletins of developing events that were reporting an invasion of aliens from Mars, many listeners actually believed it to be true.
While the broadcast certainly fulfilled its entertainment intentions, it is also sure that it's been used many times since as a framework for social manipulation through the mass media.

Images scanned from the highly recommended book The Complete War of the Worlds - Mars' Invasion of Earth from H.G. Wells to Orson Welles (Brian Holmsten & Alex Lubartozzi).

download link: here

Various Artists - Brother Can You Spare A Dime: Songs Of The Depression (@256)

It's always the same plot isn't it? The deadly combination of greed with the lack of control by the state always leads to situations similar to what we experience today. The reasons that caused the Great Depression these days back in 1929 are more or less the same with those of the Crisis today. Easy credit, (in 1929 for stocks, in 2008 for houses) led us to the same result. The reasons and the conditions which created our Crisis (or should we better name it "the Great Depression of 2008") were described by a single statement of Nicholas Lazares, a former manager of Lehman Brothers, who had resigned before the Crisis started: "Greed trumped everything (...). They were willing to make a loan to an orangutan." So, for some scumbags' bonuses it's the whole world now that is seriously affected. It seems that we have entered into a downward spiral with no visible end.
It is self-evident that today's (or should we say yesterday's) form of capitalism faces severe function problems. The 'funny' thing is of course that the 'experts' who were asserting that the market always balances by itself and were repulsing any state control, are now in the queue begging the state to finance (with the tax-payers' money) their failure.
History also teaches us that the US finally got over the Great Depression through the war economy of WWII, and also that fascist regimes in Germany and Italy found a very fertile ground through promises of "law and order" to the, horrified by the Depression effects, citizens...

Today's upload is a compilation of some of the songs written during and for the Great Depression. Unfortunately, it looks like we might be hearing a lot of songs like these soon. Some (if not all) of the lyrics depict today's Crisis perfectly; take a look at the lyrics of 1931's song "Cheer Up! Smile! Nertz! (Ballyhoo)".

Sure, business is bunk,
And Wall Street is sunk,
We're all of us broke, and ready to croak.
We've nothing to dunk,
Can't even get drunk,
And all the while, they tell us to smile:

Cheer up, gentle citizens, though you have no shirts,
Happy days are here again. Cheer up, smile, nertz!
All aboard prosperity, giggle 'till it hurts!
No more bread-line charity. Cheer up, smile, nertz!
Cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer,
Up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer, better times are here.
Sunny smilers we must be, the optimist asserts,
Let's hang the fat-head to a tree! Cheer up, smile, nertz!

The world's in the red,
We're better off dead,
Depression, they say's in session to stay.
Our judges are queer,
Our banks disappear,
And all the while, they tell us to smile:

Cheer up, gentle citizens, though you have no shirts,
Happy days are here again. Cheer up, smile, nertz!
All aboard prosperity, giggle 'till it hurts,
No more bread-line charity. Cheer up, smile, nertz!

Cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer,
Up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer, better times are here.
Sunny smilers we must be, the optimist asserts,
Let's hang the fat-head to a tree! Cheer up, smile, nertz!

Nertz!
The following video gathers some of the staggering Great Depression photos of Dorothea Lange.


download link (with booklet info etc.): here

OST - Mame (1974) (@256)

We read from NME.com: "David Bowie's 1972 album 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars' has been voted the gayest album of all time by a panel of "gay experts".
Out.com polled a panel including Boy George, Rufus Wainwright and Cyndi Lauper to determine the 100 most homosexual albums of all time, with Bowie's effort emerging as Number One.
According to the compilers, albums included were "not only records by queer musicians but also any records that have had relevance to those voting".
The Smiths have two albums in the top ten and a total of four in the top40 (while Morrissey has another one in the top100), Madonna has five albums in the top100, Queen and Bowie have from three albums each. To read the whole story go here.
Well, this poll reminded me of a similar list that was compiled by Sirius satellite radio DJ Frank DeCaro in order to determine the gayest song ever. The title went to Jerry Herman 's "Bosom Buddies" as sung by Lucille Ball and Beatrice Arthur for the soundtrack for the 1974 movie version of Mame.

Again, Smiths and Bowie are present, sharing number 10 of the list. To see the respective list go here. As for "Bosom Buddies", I think that the homosexual references are not so apparent, apart from the lyric "I'll always be Alice Toklas, If you'll be Gertrude Stein".

album review link: here

download link: here

Various Artists - Stand Up And Be Counted (@256)

It's been exactly 40 years from possibly the bravest political statement in sports. Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 200m medal-award ceremony of the Mexican Olympics in 1968, raised their clenched fists in a black power salute as a stand against racial discrimination. As Tommie Smith later explained: "If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight". Shouldn't we also forget, that, in support of Smith and Carlos, the second place finisher, the Australian Peter Norman, wore the Human Rights badge. For all three, the consequences of their gesture for their carriers and lives were enduring and devastating. Unfortunately, in today's society athletes are considered entertainers who are not "allowed" to express their beliefs on social matters. It is their popularity and influence they have on young people that make them "dangerous". But, as Smith himself recently said: "Athletes have a responsibility to speak because they are in a position to make a difference and they have a responsibility to make that difference".

Today's upload pays tribute to that historical gesture. "Stand Up And Be Counted" is a fine compilation with its front cover commemorating the salute and packed with powerful gems of the late 60's-early 70's which focus on social and racial issues.

Tracklisting:
A1-The Flames - Stand Up And Be Counted
A2-Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
A3-The Impressions - Mighty Mighty (Spade And Whitey)
A4-Billy Paul - East
B1-Mike James Kirkland - Hang On In There
B2-Esther Marrow - Things Ain't Right
B3-James Brown - Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud ( Parts 1&2)
C1-The Last Poets - When The Revolution Comes
C2-Pace-Setters - Push On Jessie Jackson
C3-Archie Shepp - Blues For Brother George Jackson
C4-Eddie Kendricks - My People... Hold On
D1-The Pharaohs - Freedom Road
D2-Kain - Loose Here
D3-Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

album review link: here

download link: here

R.E.M. - Murmur (1983) (@256)

It's been a quarter of a century (sounds more impressive to refer to centuries rather than to years doesn't it) from the release of R.E.M.'s first lp. I guess they could never imagine that from a rather obscure band from Athens, Georgia, they would become at first (during their IRS years) one of the top alternative bands of the 80's, then they would dominate the charts with a rather weak album (Out Of Time) with sparkling singles, they would subsequently release one of the best 90's album (Automatic For The People) and, after 25 years from their first lp release, they would still remain in the limelight with decent albums and massive stadium concerts. One of these concerts we Greeks had the chance to enjoy for free in Kalimarmaro stadium (where the 1896 Olympic games took place) last Sunday; it will be uploaded upon request.

album review link: here

download link: here (link removed due to a DMCA)

Jacques Brel - Quand On N'a Que L'amour (@256)

Just to give you an idea, we are talking here about a composer and lyricist (but also an actor and director) who is often compared with Bob Dylan as for the power of his songs. He has also been a major influence for David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Scott Walker, Marc Almond, Momus, Divine Comedy, the Tindersticks and for most of the singer-songwriters of this world. Many of his songs have been "translated" in English and performed by Joan Baez, Judy Collins, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (my favourite pick with "Next"), Dusty Springfield, the Kingston Trio, Shirley Bassey, Dionne Warwick, Nina Simone, Gavin Friday, Nirvana, Walkabouts, Pearls Before Swine and Mitch Ryder to name just a few from the relevant extensive list. Finally, the off-Broadway act "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" which was based on his songs translated by Mort Shuman and Eric Blau, resulted in one of the most successful off-Broadway shows ever. Jacques Brel passed away exactly 30 years ago but his music continues to inspire.

This current upload is a brilliant compilation covering in chronological order his carrier up to 1972.

Jacques Brel info: here and here

album review link: here

download link (part 1): here
download link (part 2 with covers, info, credits etc.): here

All work and no play makes alan f a dull boy