Sunday, October 28, 2007

KCAC Tape Update

Hi Folks -

After a long delay due to several factors (including a major computer crash and loss of software), I'm back working on the KCAC tapes provided by Jeff and Jennifer Crawford. Specifically, I've just digitized "Tape 5, Side 1", containing about 3 hours of audio recorded in late July 1971. The sound quality is rough to say the least, and the speed remains problematic. I tried synching up three different music tracks on the tape with modern CDs of the same recordings. Guess what - if I get one song matched up just right, the next one is noticeably off. My theory is that one of the turntables at KCAC ran slower than the other. I am not a technician, but using the software that I now have available (a shareware program called Audacity), I will do my best to clean up the audio, find an acceptable middle ground on the speed, and make it as listenable as possible.

Content-wise, the tape starts off with a half-hour of Bill Compton interviewing a guy from "Country Comfort Natural Foods" - does anybody remember anything about them? (I don't.) Hank Cookenboo and Eric Harris appear later on the tape, and Marty Manning makes a cameo as well. The music includes Jethro Tull, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Kris Kristofferson, and Elton John - but most of the songs are just fragments, with the taper starting and stopping to concentrate on spoken-word material. Fortunately, this includes a number of staff-produced ads for the Valley Art Theater and various other local hippie-friendly businesses.

The tape also includes a number of "Life Line" segments; this was a right-wing syndicated radio show from Dallas that was broadcast locally on KPHO-AM. I'm editing out those segments as I encounter them, keeping only the KCAC material. (Editing in the digital domain, I mean. The tapes themselves are not being tampered with.) As much as half, but probably a third or less, of the tape is devoted to "Life Line" but that will still leave us with a lot of KCAC material.

Now: what about that KCAC reunion?

Tom

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Two completely unrelated posts at once!

(1) By all means, let's have another annual KCAC reunion while the weather is agreeable! There's been a good string of blog entries lately (scroll down through the last few items to see them), so let's go with the momentum and have a party! Mariah is the organization genius here, but I for one publicly volunteer to help in whatever way I can to make it happen.



(2) Andy Hersey is the finest singer/songwriter to emerge from the Grand Canyon State in several decades. There's a terrific interview with him online at http://www.songfacts.com/int/2007/09/andy-hersey.html, in which he talks about his life and his music and his love for Arizona. If the above link doesn't work, just go to his website at http://www.andyhersey.com/ and you can access it from there. Remember John Stewart's "California Bloodlines" album, a KCAC/KDKB favorite? Andy is our modern, home-grown equivalent to John Stewart, with the same sort of range and depth as a songwriter. He's a fine live performer as well. He'll break your heart with a slow sad ballad, kick-start it with a rocker, and send it soaring with his epic tributes to the land and the people of the American Southwest. Please follow the link to the interview and read it all the way through; I think you'll be glad that you did, and please post your response on the blog! Thanks,



Tom

Monday, October 15, 2007

Photos referred to in Marty's previous post in reunion string

Here's a shot of Steve Zind and myself in the studio on 24th St. The carts I referred to in a previous post about the theft on Camelback can be seen in the background. They were about 8" wide, made of wooden sides and plastic top & bottom. They were originally used by Channel 12, who donated them to Charles Buzzard at Phx College, who headed up a fledgling program that featured station KFCA, which later became KMCR, and is now KJZZ. They were primitive (or should we say, prototypes) but they worked! And note to Cammie Noel: We used them to play commercials!
One of Mariah's favorite albums that she referred to in that string was The Point" by Harry Nillson, in which he tells the story of a little boy name Oblio, and his dog Arrow "Me & My Arrow". Everyone in the land has a pointed head except for Oblio, so being different he is banished to the Pointless Forest. It was actually the first feature length animated cartoon for television and was an ABC Movie of the Week in 1971.
The Point! is a fable by American songwriter and musician Harry Nilsson about a boy named Oblio, the only round-headed person in the Land of Point, where by law everyone and everything had to have a point.
"I was on acid and I looked at the trees and I realized that they all came to points, and the little branches came to points, and the houses came to point. I thought, 'Oh! Everything has a point, and if it doesn't, then there's a point to it.'" -- Harry Nilsson



This is the cover art which features a needlepoint done by ????? I can't remember! maybe somebody knows.
Marty


Dig It.... Blues For The City


A cool new event,
Blues for the City
รค, will be held in downtown Phoenix on Saturday, October 20th and Sunday, October 21st. The Saturday block party will be held on Jackson Street just south of USAirways Arena, with the Sunday show taking place in the courtyard at Alice Cooperstown
101 E. Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ. View Map
This event is "Help for its Kids" and will benefit Rosie's House, the Arizona School for the Arts, Young Sounds of Arizona and the Phoenix Youth Symphony.
Saturday's show, which will run from 11:00 am until 11:00 pm, will feature Kal David & the Real Deal, Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy, Eddie Turner, Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns with Jerry Lawson, Big Nick & the Gila Monsters, The Rocket 88s, The Chuck Hall Band, Jimmy Peyton's Midnite Blues, Sir Harrison & the Blues Kings, Honeyboy Dupree & the Smokehouse Players, and Nina Curri with Charles Bond.
Sunday's show, running from noon until 9:00 pm, will feature Zac Harmon, Hans Olson, Big Daddy D and the Dynamites, Lisa Otey & Diane van Deurzen, Scotty Spenner, Jim Glass Band, Mikel Lander, KC Blues Band, Soulcatcher, and The Top Cats.
Check the special PBS Blues for the City page for Schedule and Artist Bio’s.
Co-Producers:
· Phoenix Blues Society www.phoenixblues.org
· Alice CoopersTown www.alicecooperstown.com
· Independent Events www.ietickets.com

Friday, October 05, 2007

KCAC Reunion Fever!

Just got an newcomer email from the blog (will post below this) thought it was time to put THE LIST up again. Anyone who wants to see THE LIST with pictures from the KCAC days go to the archives May 22, 2007.

We are gearing up for another KCAC LIVES REUNION at Alwun House!!! "You're Either On the Bus or Off the Bus" to quote Tom Wolfe's cult classic "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" Grab a seat!


C'MON 'N GET SOME BUZZ GOING! IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER BLAST! LAST TIME WAS EXPENSIVE AND KIM AND DANA KNOCKED THEMSELVES OUT FOR US. THIS TIME WE NEED TO ALL CONTRIBUTE SOME MOOLA FOR THE CAUSE. I'VE ALREADY STARTED STASHING MY LATTE MONEY IN A JAR (NOT STARBUCK'S JAR!) LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THE WEATHER'S FINE. Kim Moody called me last week. We are working on a date in November or possibly late October (not as likely just coming off the AMEHOF event) Pass the word and send suggestions!!

Adams, Lynne
Alves, Jack
Apicella, John
Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall Of Fame
Arnold, Linda
Bailey, Jim
Baldwin, Mike
Baldwin, Russ
Beals,Ken (AMEHOF)
Bell, Bob Boze
Bennett, Fran
Bentley, Connie
Bethancourt, Joe
Botkin, Jim
Bowen, Ray
Boyle, Liz (AMEHOF/Radio Free Phoenix)
Bradychocks, Julie
Brazil, Susie (contact Mariah Fleming)
Brown, Rob (www.mdgaz.com)
Cahal, John (REBIRTH) (private - contact vagabondvet)
Carroll, Todd
Carter, Marsha
Carver, Sue
Clark, Doug
Collins, Michael
Compton, Bill (R.I.P.)
Compton-Glenn, Carole
Cookenboo, Hank (R.I.P.)
Covington, Dan
Crazy (Jan Isbell)(R.I.P.)
Curry. Robert S.
Curtis, Mike
Davis, Marc (TERROS)
DeGray, Helen
Deerhake, David
Dickinson, Ted
Dixon, John [Johnny D[\] (AMEHOF; KCAC; KDKB)
Drake, George F. (Springfield/Amherst Mass)
Dunn, Bob
Emery, Vince
English, Alton
English, Jerry "Magic"
Fendelman, Jane
Fenimore, David
Flannigan, Julie
Fleming, Mariah (AMEHOF/RADIO FREE PHX)
Frank, Bruce (REBIRTH FOUNDER)
Frank, Raman (REBIRTH)
Frank, Gregg (REBIRTH - Contact Bruce Frank)
Friedman, Barry
Frieflander, Karen
Galindo, Alicia
Gant, Pegi {Cookenboo} (KDKB)
Garneau, Joe (REBIRTH FOUNDER.)
Garneau, Larry (REBIRTH)
Garneau, Michelle (REBIRTH) (private - contact vagabondvet)
Gately, Bill (R.I.P.)
Gately, Bob cowboysonmars.com
Geist, Barry (REBIRTH)
Goodman, Mike
Grieger, Kathy (contact through Bruce Frank)
Griffin, Dan
Harris, Ron (Eric) 'Pappa'
Harshberger, Dan
Herbert, Kimmer
Holmes, Chuck
Hoyle, Rich
Johnson, Don
Johnson, June
Johnson, Mike (REBIRTH)
Jones, Scott
Kerr, Jon (KCAC/KDKB) (contact Mariah Fleming)
Kinsey, Gary "Toad Hall" KCAC; KDKB (R.I.P.)
Kinsey, Filipa
Kitchell, Nancy
Kollassa, Mike
Koors, Tim
Kothrade, Michael (REBIRTH)
Lange, Patrick
Lederman, Cindy
Lehr, Bob
Magahern, Jimmy (KCAC LIVES!)
Manning, Marty (KCAC/KDKB)
Martin, Peter
McBroom, Dennis (KDKB)
McCarty, Chris
McCarty, Steve
Meighan, Bob
Mell, Ed
Migdoll, Susan
Moody, Kim (ALWUN HOUSE)
Morrison, Barbara
Murray, Jim
Nadworney, Nina "Nina Joy"
Niccolson, Scott (KCAC/KDKB)
Norton, Virginia
Nussbaum,Belle "Belle Starr"
Nykanan, Mark
Olson, Andy (RADIO FREE PHOENIX FOUNDER)
Olson, Hans (AMEHOF)
P.J.
Paceley, Ken
Page, Daniel "vagabondvet" (REBIRTH)
Peterson, Linda (REBIRTH)
Peterson, Marsha
Porter, Sharon Elaine
Powell, Lee
Price, Bill
Pyle, Slagge T. (KDKB)
Radina, Kathy
Rameesh
Robb, Gary (R.I.P.)
Robertson, John (KDKB)
Robinson, Duane (REBIRTH)
Rogers, Bob
Rogers, Rich
Roland. Ed
Schneider, Sue
Shaw, Russell "Wonderful Russ"
Schecter, Eric
Skaggs, Ken - (AMEHOF)
Slagle, Bonnie
Smith, Doug
Smith, Erica
Soderquist, George (R.I.P.)
Soderquist, Skio
Stratton, Ted
Sussman, Terri (AMEHOF)
Sweet, Cheryl
Thomson, Betty
Thomson, Ray (Private - see Freespeak@gmai.com )
Thompson, Linda
Thrift, Bill (TERROS)
Tindle, Dwight www.dwightindle.com (KDKB FOUNDER) (R.I.P.)
Usry, Kent
Vascocu, Tommy
Wakefield, Ken
Wales, Lissa www.drumpics.com (R.I.P.)
Webb, Kevin (DO IT NOW FOUNDATION) (R.I.P.)
Whitener, Kasey
Wortham, Ron (KCAC/KDKB)
Wright, Tom
Zelisko, Dan

Please leave a comment to kcaclives@gmail.com to have information added, updated, edited or deleted. Clicking hyperlinked (underlined) names will launch an email to that person. Have a great day!

If you are an anonymous [new] poster or reader with memories, tapes, pictures, wine, food, love and would like to be added to The List, please drop a line to kcaclives@gmail.com kcaclives@gmail.com to be added. You can email your contribution or inquiry the first time and we will send you an invitation to join the conversation with our merry band of regular posters. All you need is a memory, picture, tape or hug - to share.

The List has become a reference point for memories and emails to old friends. It also has become kind of a Social Register and will be something of a reference list for reunions and such in the future. Not only that, SOMEONE - maybe someone special from the old days, MAY be trying to find YOU.