MUSIC PROGRAMMING
by
B.
Michael
Klein
Tomorrow's Favorites
I'm vacating the premises. I'm
leaving . I need a break from
everything that has to do with work.
As many writers say, "I'm burning
out." This term has to do with
having no ideas left. The mind
becomes a total blank. Writer's
block if you will .
So, I'm packing up a few good
friends, my wife and my sailboat,
and heading off towards Catalina
Island. The trip witt take us about
six hours.
Catalina Island is a
paradise that one can only reach by
boat, and since it is a good trip as far
as time is concerned , not too many
people flock over there. What is to
be found on the island?
Wild
buffalo, boars, wild mountain goats,
and hardly any people. And, by the
same token, hardly any civilization.
No stores. No fresh water. No
television , and no music. So I'm
making a tape to take along with me
on the trip.
And luckily I got some very good
music to bring along, in the way of
singles I can tape. Below, I'm going
to list my favorites of this month .
And there's no reason why you
can 't put any of them in your
jukeboxes ... they might very well
become your customer's favorites .. .
Waking Up Alone- Paul Williams/
A&M Records 1961
This is a newly-recorded version
of this tune. If my memory serves
me right, this tune is not new, and
by that I mean a couple of years
old ... not just a few months. I liked
the album version much better, but
Paul has still retained the original
music, the only thing that has
changed is the arrangement. It's a
bit faster, and a bit "slicker." This
is a fine tune for all you middle-of-
the-roaders.
Paul's voice hasn't
changed one bit over the years, and
for his public, I think it's great.
Some artists try to change their
style too radically, and end up
loosing admirers. This tune is super.
No One Remembers My Name -
Burt Bacharach / A&M Records 1960
Hmm ... we haven't heard from
Burt for awhile, I wonder if the title
of this song has something to do
with his comeback .
The only
memorable thing I can remember
about Burt lately is his television
commercial for Martini and Rossi
(on the rocks).
Anyway, he is great, and always
has been .
Hal David's lyrics,
combined with Burt's tunes are
simply wonderful.
There is no
genious here, but there is pure
enjoyment . This nostalgic song has
only one fault ... and that's no credit
given for the vocalist . Great tune,
great arrangement and great lyrics.
What else can I say? On the flip
side, we have the title track from the
lp, FUTURES . The single number is
the same as above ...
Futures is still a definite Bacha-
rach tune . I don't care for it as
much as the previous tune . But this
one still has its merit . It's totally
instrumental, with some fine horn
solos . The arrangement is "super-
slick" and flies. It's quite a trip .
One can imagine a sailboat cutting
the water, or a plane flying through
a cloud bank ... whatever your mind
desires. I would buy this record for
the other side, and as an added
bonus, you get the tune Futures.
If You're Not Back In Love By
Monday- Millie Jackson / Spring
Records 175
I've always been very fond of
Millie Jackson, but the frustrating
part is that the only other people
who seem to like her are the record
companies that put out her singles.
I don't recall her ever having a big
hit. And it's a shame. She is a very
talented lady. This number is a
soul song, like most of her material
(She does jazz tunes very well too)
and punches a great story right on
home to anyone who has ever had a
break-up with a lover. The lyrics
remind me of the type you would
hear in a country song.
Very
honest. Very frank . This tune has a
complete horn section , and lush
strings. It is a tear jerker, and for
those die-hard romantics who pa-
tronize your jukeboxes ... th is is a
must .
I'm going to finish taping now.
And believe me, all of these tunes
will be playing as I head out of the
harbor towards Catalina Island,
reciting my favorite poem , " I must
down to the sea again, to the lonely
sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall
ship and a star to steer her by ... "