SONGS FOR AUTUMN PT.2 END

[Mike Pell]

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 out our Songs For Autumn.
We'll have music from local lad Al Kooper, a terrific pop song he did about Autumn from an album he titled, and this always brings a smile to me, Rare & Well Done.
Some Classic Brits will check in with contributions- including an exquisitely beautiful one I am sure you have heard.
Would War Of The Worlds be a hint for that one?
I'll play the BEST song ever written about about Autumn and the coming of Winter, pure poetry in my humble opinion.
In fact, I brought in FIVE different versions of the song, but ended up playing the one I always do, the first one I ever heard, by Tom Rush, and it seems that will always be my favorite version.
And I'll give the final word to the guy who has written and recorded more songs about Autumn than ANY other artist...it's non-negotiable!
We opened the show with him, so it's only right we end with him.
That's it, I have done enough writing lately, lol!
What it always comes down to is this- I hope you like what you hear, and I enjoyed playing what I did!
Here's the link to trip into Fall, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1864


Mike

[Mike Pell]

OK, I'll have 'em out there later.
They are actually good!
Screw the masses, lol!
Mike

[Mike Pell]

Dear Scott,
Oh I am always doing the Rock and Roll Songbook, lol!
It's those trips away from it that keep things even more interesting for me.
I like the Al Kooper tune, and I can hear that old Al Stewart feel, but more of a pop music thing going.
As for the Kinks, you blaspheme and are excommunicated, lol!
Glad you liked that fantastic Justin Hayward song.
I love it, and it being a solo effort I remember when it came out, I was so frightened that maybe the Moody Blues were breaking up. since I love them too.
They eventually did, but got back together and still are.
Tom Rush and Gordon Lightfoot are two of my all-time faves.
But I know them so well, I never think either sounds like the other, lol!
I opened and closed with Van Morrison mainly because he writes so MANY songs about Autumn, lol!
Nah, I don't think the North East is his target audience, especially since he is from Northern Ireland (a damn Orangeman!).
It's like writing about snow, a lot of folks here in America never actyually get snow falling, but they like songs about it.
And Van is just always Van!

The Almanac research you did is spot on for those climates that get winter. I wonder if there is a Southern Almanac....


A Southern Almanac?
It's the Farmer's Almanac!
Are you getting a complex down there, lol?
Thanks for the "great show" comment, listening and writing- I hope you get some snow for Christmas, lol!
It's always a pleasure to hear from you,
Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

I'm always interested in theme shows. Post 'em. I can't guarantee you that anybody other than myself will listen, but who cares? All you and I can do is put it out there for the masses, the rest is up to them.

[Mike Pell]

Dear RJ,
Aw, you're just being kind, lol!
Interesting take you have on the Al Kooper song: Beach Boys meet Chicago- but now that you mention it...!
Hahahahaha, it was just a matter of time before I played a Kinks song you didn't like.
With the exception of us, nobody's perfect, lol!
See now, there are songs I know so well, like the back of my hand, that I unfairly assume other people know them as well.
That's the case with Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward.
It never occurred to me that you or anyone else would be hearing it for the first time.
But that is a gem, ain't it?
Great line about Urge For Going- that's another thing that never occurred to me, lol!
I love that version by Tom Rush, always have, always will.
But Joni Mitchell wrote it, and all props to her for the poetry.
I gave some thought to playing Van Morrison's Autumn Song because it it so lengthy.
However as I usually do, I said what the hell, seems like a nice way to end.
Let's play it.
But as I said in the show, I should have said goodbye before playing it.
I would have left 10 minutes early, lol!
Hey, Thanksgiving is upon us, and that is what I will be doing next on the show, as I always concern myself with the fact that it is the most heavily traveled time of year in the U.S. as people Go Home for Thanksgiving.
Some years back I started a 3-year series based on one of the few Thanksgiving movies, "Trains, Planes & Automobiles".
Getting Home by each of them.
Would you be interested if I post that here?
Combined with the NEW broadcasts there will be a lot of me floating around here if I do.
It could be more than people can bear, lol!
Thanks again for the listen, the comments, and always the honesty,
Mike

[Scott]

Looking forward to the Rock and Roll songbook....

The Al Kooper tune is a bit quirky, not sure what to think about it. But maybe its suppose to be that way huh? A bit of an old Al Stewart feel...

I'm not a big Kinks guy. I think their stuff sounds best when remade by another band. Thats probably blasphemy to you Mike, so I'm sorry for that, but its my take on them...

Justin Heyward is a great and underrated songwriter! Love most of his work. And I liked this track as well!

Loved the Tom Rush tune. Had a real Gordon Lightfoot flavor to it.

Opened and Closed with Van Morrison. hmmm.... Are you going through a phase? hahahaha. I liked the tune ok enough, but I'm still not a VM fan. His voice stylings don't really work for me for some reason. And when I think of him I think of the North East as his real target audience, which leaves folks from the rest of the USA out of touch with his music. Am I wrong?

The Almanac research you did is spot on for those climates that get winter. I wonder if there is a Southern Almanac....

Great show as usual!

[RJhog (Admin)]

Good show Mike.

The Autumn Song by Al Kooper sounds to me like a Beach Boys meets Chicago song. I like it.

I think I said that the last time you played The Kinks that every time I heard a song by them I liked it. Well, this one ruined that streak. I didn't really like it. By the way, it was called Autumn Almanac.

Forever Autumn by Justin Heyward was outstanding. I've never heard it but it's a wonderful song.

I also like the Joni Mitchell written song Urge For Going (except the title makes me think of having to get up all the time to go to the john), in this case performed by Tom Rush. It has a great guitar sound and is very soothing to listen to.

The Van Morrison song (Autumn Song) was okay. He has a great voice that is very easy to listen to. The biggest hold up on this song is that it's quite long winded. When you said something about closing the show, my thought was, that was fast. Then I realized why.

Enjoyed it Mike.