Mike Pell's Blog (1,459)

THE ROCKOLLECTIONS 2010 CHRISTMAS PARTY PT.1

As I write this on a late Monday evening, it is snowing here in New York City.

Perfect for the opening chapter of our annual Christmas Party!

However I don't feel like writing, as I have one eye looking out the window waiting for enough snow to stick so I can go out and throw snowballs- those of my…

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Added by Mike Pell on December 14, 2010 at 1:00am — 6 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS PARTY 2009 PT.1 & PT.2

Here are the the first 2 of 4 parts I did for Christmas last year.

It's a long story, but because of my love for Christmas, they are notable for being the FIRST shows I did from home- with a mixing board, padded mic, etc.

You will hear me complaining about it, I was VERY uncomfortable back then, lol!

It is typical of the annual Christmas presentation- songs you will know and songs you will be introduced to- but all picked for a free-form…

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Added by Mike Pell on December 12, 2010 at 12:37pm — 6 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: BEATLE JOHN LENNON ON THE BBC, AND MORE

We move on to John Lennon in our annual remembrance of the lives of two men who were a part of something that probably will never happen again, the phenomenon that was the Beatles.

Dec.8th is the 30th anniversary of John's death, just astonishing to me, where has the time gone?

I won't bore you again with my personal memories of that night, but it was a shocker.

John is 30 years gone...for most of us, that's almost twice as long as he was an active, significant part of our… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on December 9, 2010 at 1:26am — 7 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: BEATLE GEORGE HARRISON ON THE BBC, AND MORE

I don't know why it took me so long to listen to the Beatles BBC Sessions, guess I thought it would be dull, and besides, I had those new re-mastered CD's they put out last year to listen to.

Well, looking for a new approach for this year's annual remembrance of the deaths of George Harrison and John Lennon, I finally gave the BBC tapes a shot.

And these selections from 1963 are a JOY, a REVELATION!

Full of humor, they play so many both known and obscure old American Rock &… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on December 7, 2010 at 12:59am — 10 Comments

‘ERMAN’S ‘ERMITS PT.2 END

Like all the British bands, Herman’s Hermits were no exception when it came to doing good old American Rock & Roll.

But these bands would put their own unique stamp on them, making them sound fresh and new.

So, I will open this episode up with the Hermits interpretation of a Rays song done here in the 50’s.

The next one I call the CPR song.

After that they had a big hit over here with a tune that was written and originally done by my man Ray Davies, with the… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on December 3, 2010 at 3:18am — 10 Comments

'ERMAN'S 'ERMITS PT.1

The featured artists for this week are Herman’s Hermits, one of the early British Invasion bands that swept this country.

They were considered part of the Merseybeat Sound despite being from Manchester and not Liverpool.

These 2 parts are dedicated to a great friend of mine, Denise.

And you will hear me debating with myself just how important a group they were.

Didn’t want to tick Denise off, lol!

Ironically, the more serious songs they did were relegated to… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 30, 2010 at 11:42pm — 6 Comments

HOME FOR THANKSGIVING 2010 PT.4 FINAL

This final chapter is out here a bit early because I am traveling for Thanksgiving myself.

My favorite shows to do are the Thanksgiving and Christmas ones.

I get to make a statement, send a message- as I have said before, music is my form of a Western Union telegram.

This episode definitely feels like Thanksgiving Day to me!

I'll start this finale off with a beautiful song by Lucy Kaplansky, with some noticeable help from Richard Shindell.

Then, saving the best for… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 24, 2010 at 2:01am — 7 Comments

HOME FOR THANKSGIVING 2010 PT.3

Oh baby, Thanksgiving is getting real close now!

We have been listening to songs about going Home, Home For Thanksgiving.

But what if the Home is YOURS?

So I'll start off with songs for people who have guests coming to their Home.

Got a true story in here too, a dumb drunken story regarding inviting semi-strangers to my house from a Manhattan bar that does actually make for a fun memory.

Damn, I didn't think they would really come, and I couldn't even introduce most of… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 23, 2010 at 5:17am — 6 Comments

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: AUTOMOBILES PT.3 & PT.4 FINAL

Here are the final two halves of the Trains, Planes & Automobiles series.

Hope I haven't overloaded you.

And tomorrow we begin to wrap up Thanksgiving 2010.

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: AUTOMOBILES PT.3

Moving on down the highway in our Automobiles, as we get closer to Thanksgiving you may find yourself in a Traffic Jam.

Lots of other cars out there, so I’ll try to musically help you avoid that Road Rage.

After that, a song written by Woody… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 22, 2010 at 12:29am — 2 Comments

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: AUTOMOBILES PT.1 & PT.2

Well here are the first two halves of the Automobile portion of Trains, Planes & Automobile.

Although we commonly call them Cars, lol!

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: AUTOMOBILES PT.1

Alright, after playing those Trains & Planes, based on the movie Trains, Planes & Automobiles or something like that, lol, we are caught up and ready for 2008 with Automobiles.

You might say, this year’s model!

By the way, Automobiles are the overwhelming choice for… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 21, 2010 at 2:43am — 6 Comments

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: PLANES PT.3 & PT.4 END

Funny to put this up now, when everyone is so worked up about the TSA and their new scanning/groping techniques!

These are the final two halves about Planes.

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: PLANES PT.3

I think I figured out why I used so many vinyl records in this series.

The holidays seem to subconsciously bring back memories of happy times past, so I think I just decided to do “Throwback Shows”- back to a time before CD’s, internet downloads, etc.

Good old… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 20, 2010 at 1:34am — 2 Comments

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: PLANES PT.1 & PT.2

Moving on and back in the studio, where at least I sound better, I'll continue this series Trains, Planes & Automobiles with year 2.

And to no one's surprise Planes- the best and most interesting songs I could think of!

This is the first week, Pt.1 & Pt.2.

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: PLANES PT.1

This year, thankfully I am not at home, but at the studio!

If you come up with an acceptable premise one year, and you can use it again, why not?

We… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 19, 2010 at 3:54am — 2 Comments

HOME FOR THANKSGIVING 2010 PT.2

As we continue with our Home For Thanksgiving series, the Free-Form Radio nature of this show led me to take the last song played in the previous half hour and expand on it a bit.

So we will take some rural back roads Home- with none of the selections sung by authentic country folk, lol!

Then another song written by, and I've said it before, that most underrated and underappreciated American songwriter in all of Rock & Roll, John Sebastian.

An absolute beauty from him and the… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 18, 2010 at 2:22am — 2 Comments

HOME FOR THANKSGIVING 2010 PT.1

Over the years we have travelled Home by Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

Last year, we even went by Boats.

This year the means of Transportation is up to you!

The important thing, and the one I will musically concentrate on, is getting Home For Thanksgiving.

I'll open with a great old rocker that in fact has nothing to do with our topic, but it's title and content have long reminded me of Thanksgiving- and this year it was finally time to play it.

After that, another… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 16, 2010 at 2:11am — 5 Comments

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: TRAINS

Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I thought you might be interested in this.

Some years ago, I had the bright idea it might be fun to use one of the rare Thanksgiving movies, "Trains, Planes & Automobiles" to help celebrate the Holiday.

It would naturally be a 3-year project.

Took me 3 years to realize the movie is actually titled "Planes, Trains & Automobiles", LOL!

Now the first year's shows somehow got lost, so I re-created it from home.

Back when my home… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 14, 2010 at 2:56am — 5 Comments

SONGS FOR AUTUMN PT.2 END

Late with this one because as some of you know, I am the Staff Announcer at a TV station and worked well into the night yesterday, recording promos in a flurry of activity for the coming Christmas season.

That will continue as I barely scratched the surface.

And I also write the promos- they tell me what they want, how much time I have for each of the spots, and then leave me alone- very much like the radio station- maybe it's my abrasive personality, lol!

This episode will close… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 12, 2010 at 2:41am — 6 Comments

SONGS FOR AUTUMN PT.1

This is a sort of change of pace show for me.

There is something about The Fall Season that lends itself to a certain melancholy, a wistfulness, as the days get shorter and the nights colder.

That is the case here, as I will be playing more topical Songs For Autumn, and even dip into that Great American Songbook.

For example, the Leaves are a popular song topic at this time of year.

Included is one by Eva Cassidy- the sad story of that artist should be known to you.

She… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 9, 2010 at 1:24am — 6 Comments

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR RADIO PT.2

Alright, as we celebrate the Fall Foliage, it is time for you to meet, or become re-acquainted with, ROY G BIV!

Any idea who that is?

Well, honestly he is not a person but rather a teaching aid used by the nuns when I was in grammar school.

It was a way to remember the Color Wheel, an acronym.

I am shocked that since I did this show that only a couple of people have told me thay have heard of this- even to the point of folks on the East Side of Manhattan not knowing what I… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 4, 2010 at 1:38am — 4 Comments

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR RADIO PT.1

Here is the start of a Series I did some years ago, celebrating the arrival of Autumn and its beautiful Colors.

In fact, George Pataki was then Governor, and I will read a bit of a letter from him- meant for ALL New Yorkers, not just ME.

The nerve of that guy, lol!

I played much more vinyl records back then, which you may be able to hear.

Listening to it now, I love the opening set!

No ego there- after all this time it's like someone else played it.

And then a… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on November 2, 2010 at 1:26am — 7 Comments

HALLOWEEN 2007- VAMPIRES PT.1 & PT.2

Sometimes you think things will work on a radio show, but as I listen to this 2007 show I think I carried in the wrong music with me.

I remember in the 2nd half Engineer Ken and I looked at each other and knew...this maybe wasn't our kind of music...at least so many in a row.

But I could be wrong.

I leave it up to you to decide whether I get a thumbs up or thumbs down.

In any case, hope you enjoy it and Happy Halloween again!

Here are both halves of the show from… Continue

Added by Mike Pell on October 29, 2010 at 8:12pm — 5 Comments