THE CYCLE OF LIFE - ENTIRE SERIES PARTS 1 THRU 8

[Mike Pell]

Here is some of a back and forth between RJ and I, regarding a series I did- The Cycle Of Life- and he suggested I put it out here.
He had asked me about my disappearing in a huff one time.
And yes, it is true- I did quit radio for a while over this and some other things.
Possibly a couple of more people will listen to the series, cause I still feel not enough did, lol!
Maybe next I’ll put up the other tipping point series, Money & The Financial Crisis, another somewhat neglected one in my attempts to present music in a different way.
Enjoy…I hope!
Your humble Professor, lol,
Mike

Dear RJ,
The Financial Crisis was about the most political I ever got on the radio.
It is good and I am proud of it.
Before that, and in combination with the Financial shows, I did get disgusted after I did my most ambitious project ever- The Cycle Of Life!
It was 8 parts, and went from pre-birth to after-death.
I thought it was as smart as anything had been on the radio, and I was disappointed at the lack of response and listeners to it.
So much so, I quit for about a month and a half!!
That's the story on that, plus I was going through a rough time with my brother.
I had to get away for a while.
Now I realize even more how much I appreciate the smart people who do listen to my Rockollections and get what it is I do.
Radio is horribly stupid nowadays, and I refuse to talk down to the listeners and I will continue to present things in a more scholarly fashion.
I respect my intelligent listeners- I just had to realize there aren't that many of them, they are a cult, lol!

Here are the 8 links, for The Cycle Of Life:

Part 1
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1668


Part 2
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1669


Part 3
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1673


Part 4
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1674


Part 5
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1678


Part 6
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1680


Part 7
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1681


Part 8
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1684



Thanks,
Mike

[Mike Pell]

Dear RJ,
Hey congrats on the two sons, I didn't know that.
Hell, I didn't even know you were married...MORE than once, LOL!
You should hear the 6 part Fathers Day series I did years ago- songs from Fathers To Sons & vice versa, as well as Fathers to Daughters, etc.
One website plays it every year even though I am no longer on their internet station- the owner always asks me if he can.
That is a great Lennon song, and is in the Fathers Day shows, as well as McCartney.
About time you got into Lennon, he was a Beatle for chrissake, lol!
Neil Diamond is one great songwriter, but not as underrated and underappreciated as the great lost American songwriter John Sebastian, with & without the Lovin' Spoonful.
Now THERE is a group you should investigate!
I had to go back and listen, I forgot I played Chuck Berry, lol!
There were a lot of Sixteen songs I could have played, but I had to keep it moving.
I was playing for a whole life, a big project, lol!
If I am not mistaken I think I ended a show with Billy Joel's "Lullabye (Godnight, My Angel) in a sad series I did on Angels.
And opening & closing songs have an important and deep meaning for me.
Thanks again for the insightful comments,
Mike

[Mike Pell]

Dear Scott,
Like I told RJ, there was no better song I could pick to start than George.
I tend to agree with you about Dire Straits, and even Mark Knopfler's solo albums are terrific- that boy can PLAY!
Sorry, no Paul Anka on the menu, lol!
Nothing came to mind while I was doing it, and I always have a crapload of songs left over when I do these series, with those time constraints.
Hope you like Pt.2 and all the other parts, I am damn proud of what I did here,
Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

This show was wonderful. The last part (part 3) had mostly songs unfamiliar. This one is just the opposite. I love the contrast. Quite simply, this playlist is all killer, no filler. Well,that's not exactly true. You did make one mistake. You played "There Is Love", which was played at my first wedding (obviously, the marriage didn't last). But hey, I'm happy now, so everything's cool.

All the songs were great, but my favorite was Carly Simon's tune (she has such a beautiful voice) and the Springsteen song. That one was new to me.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Part 3:

I really enjoyed that show Mike. Almost every song is new to me. I love all the songs, but especially the ones directed towards the vocalists sons, because both of my children are boys. "Katie" and "Dancing Boy" were great.

Probably my favorite from this show would be John Lennon's Beautiful Boy. That is one incredible song, and although I should be familiar with it, I'm not. You see, I've just never been much of a Lennon fan. But I am starting to come around. Sooner or later I'll get around to more of his music.

I absolutely loved the Neil Diamond tune. He is such a great songwriter.

I also liked Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen. Along those lines you could have played Only Sixteen by Dr. Hook or Christine Sixteen by Kiss, but those may be themed more toward the Lolita perversion.

One other song that would have fit very nicely would be Billy Joel's "Lullabye (Godnight, My Angel). Have you heard that song?

[Scott]

Im starting to listen to the series...

Loved the George Harrison - All Things Must Pass is one of my favorites! And there is no Dire Strait tune that is bad, in my view anyway...

I suspect we will hear some Paul Anka in the next one or two...

onto the second one....

[Mike Pell]

Dear RJ,
That Seals & Crofts song and I go back a long time together.
Unborn Lullaby I came upon by accident, I was listening to the CD somebody sent me and bingo!
A real nice one.
I was actually worried about playing the Starship & Stevie Wonder with their length in the same half hour.
But I couldn't not play A Child Is Coming when I was talking about being born, and I refuse to alter songs or their length.
It is indeed trippy, lol! But those lyrics were too good.
I LOVE that Springfield song, really amazing he could have such insight so young!
You want it?
I would have spent the money on the Beatles too, The Greatest Band That Ever Existed!
What did you get, the remastered Beatle CD's? I got them and they sound fabulous.
As for the Stevie Wonder song, don't sweat it, a lot of people aren't always aware of what songs are about.
They can't always pay close attention.
That's MY job, lol!
And the more you listen to my little Free-Form No-Playlist Radio Show the more you will hear things like that.
Thanks for listening, the comments, and paying attention,
Mike

[Mike Pell]

Dear RJ,
I thought that was the perfect starting song, couldn’t think of one better.
I think The Walk Of Life is my favorite Dire Straits song.
Life Is A Minestrone is the correct spelling- as all Italians know, lol!
It’s always fun to introduce songs to people who haven’t heard them.
Nice grab on Jethro Tull- didn’t think anyone would predict that one- very impressive.
Thanks for the kind words.
And in answer to your question, Life’s A Long Song, your comments are definitely NOT, lol!
Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

Part 2:

Very nice segment.

I love the Seals and Croft tune as well as the song Unborn Lullaby. That's a beautiful song.

The Jefferson Starship song was pretty long and kind of trippy. Not bad.

I agree 100% on the Buffalo Springfield tune that was written by Neil Young. That's a great song. I almost bought his archives vol. 1 but shelled out 200 bucks on the Beatles box set instead. I may still get his archives eventually.

And my surprise of the day, I had no idea the Stevie Wonder song was about his child. If I had listened closely at some time prior, I would have noticed the early lyric "less than a minute old". Never paid attention to it before. Great call on that song.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Part one:

I’m gonna tackle this series starting today. I see there are 8 parts, and part 1 is “What is life?”. Part 2, according to part 1, will be about giving birth. I presume part 8 will be about death. So that leaves 5 parts that I’m very interested to see where you take it.

For part 1, a perfect starting song that, although I’ve heard it several times, I can never seem to remember that it’s George Harrison. And I’ve always loved Dire Straits “Walk Of Life”, and what a great video to go with this song.

Of the songs I’m not familiar with, I really like Life Is A Carnival, Life Is A Ministroni (which I have no idea how to spell), and Sha Boom was wonderful. I love the contrast between the higher pitched voices and the bass voice, that’s awesome.

And I was guessing Jethro Tull on the final song, but only because of the flute.

Great start.

By the way, are my comments too long?