Solve A 46 Year Problem

This Earth Day will see the remix’s release,

Please help me!  I wrote this song in 1976. The recording I made got the attention of the record company guy (me at the time), who got my message. I want the message to get out to everyone.  I didn’t perform it because I thought it was an obvious sentiment. I’m now too old to want promote this song live or on social media, ergo I NEED YOUR HELP.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

I was walking through an exhibit of player pianos in 1975 and saw a one-man-band playing “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa. It was so cool! I recorded it with Glen Kolotkin. I wrote a ditty incorporating a nursery rhyme about being kind to web-footed friends in my duck voice. I was helped by Jon Sargent of Purple Earthquake , who arranged the vocals and Tommy Dunbar, Rubinoos, who added electric guitar in the “Pete” tradition of working with Beserkley band members.

The song was released in 1976 to coincide with the America’s 200th birthday. I never toured, I was not an act.. After the recording paid for itself, I stopped working the song. I felt the premise of the song was so obvious and forgot about it until

IT GOT ERIC DIN’S ATTENTION.

THE SONG GOT ERIC DIN’S (another record company guy) ATTENTION.

Says Din: “We’re excited to get this timely remix out to the streaming services on Earth Day 2022. I was surprised to learn Pete did the “duck” vocals himself, and when I read the lyrics, this suddenly became more than a novelty song for me. It’s an unexpected environmental anthem, and we’re proud to release it on Berkeley Cat Records.

I made the original video with Calvin West, drawings by Trimla Rose, and I posted it on Youtube.

AVOID SWISS CHEESE BRAIN

This song is personal favorite of mine. Carl Martin’s humorous admonition to all prize fighters, telling them to stay off Joe Louis’ beat is a classic. There isn’t a wasted word in this song, and Martin’s delivery is as solid as a punch from the champ himself. It’s a shame the 78 has the snap, crackle, pop of an old recording.

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Duke Ellington – “Louisiana”

Duke Ellington-PianoHere’s a magnificent recording of Duke Ellington’s orchestra performing “Louisiana.” Back then there was no such thing as an overdub, much less any auto-tune or fancy editing software. Heck, you even had to mix the record while you were playing it into one mic! These cats could play for real. What a joy to hear such craft and art, delivered with humor and heart.

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Leadbelly – “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?”

The great Leadbelly, with one of his classic sides that helped define American music in the 20th century and beyond. Over his own distinctive, relaxed guitar accompaniment, Leadbelly’s vocal on this recording is simply magnificent. Widely revered by music fans and covered by blues scholars, “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” was also sung by Kurt Cobain on Nirvana’s Unplugged album.

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Mississippi John Hurt – “Nobody’s Dirty Business”

Mississippi John Hurt sings on this thinly-veiled song about domestic violence in “Nobody’s Dirty Business.” According to John, the sadism works both ways. Eventually his woman leaves. But John writes her a letter begging her to come back. She eventually returns and I suspect the dynamic keeps cycling over and over again. An important message brought to you from way back in 1935 – sometimes relationships just plain old don’t work out.

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VOTE-“STATE OF THE UNION (STFU) by PUBLIC ENEMY

We all know voting is important. Voting by mail in the time of pandemic makes sense, but it is something we need to discuss. Watch this live stream and learn.

Encouraging Public Enemy hasn’t lost a step in the all these years. Chuck D lets us have it, his anger is as fierce as I remember, but I hope this time people will listen and vote.

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Bertha Lee with Charley Patton – “Mind Reader Blues”

Recorded shortly before Charley Patton’s death, “Mind Reader Blues” is a song he performed with his common-law wife, Bertha Lee. In her magnificent voice, Lee scolds Patton for his womanizing even as he lovingly accompanies her on guitar. The lyrics are auto-biographical: “I remember a day when I were livin’ at Lula town, I remember a day when I were livin’ at Lula town, my man did so many wrong things ’til I had to leave the town.” Bertha Lee hailed from Lula, Mississippi, and Patton lived there with her for a time. What exactly he did so they had to leave, one can only wonder! This is a clean transfer from 78RPM platter from 1934.

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MY WORLD IS BURNING-”FIRE by THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN

9/11 of all days and this is the post? It’s burning outside! Australia was first and now California is burning. I hope climate change becomes a big issue in the 2020 election. If you are a climate change denier you have a candidate and if you are concerned about climate change you have candidate too. First you need to register to vote. Voting is so important these days.

 

The song i choose is ”Fire” by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. What a gr8 song about fire! The Crazy World of Arthur Brown was ground breaking. This experimental group only had one big hit, this one in 1968, but it still rocks today.

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The Charleston 7 – “Toodles”

This great performance of the instrumental Roaring 20’s romp, “Toodles,” by Edison Recording Artist, the Charleston 7, stands the test of time on this MP3 from the original Edison Disc. You may recognize a theme or two from this piece, which were later borrowed by the Looney Tunes gang for Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons! Step into the Wayback Machine in your finest flapper apparel, and dance the Charleston to this high energy combo!

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Clayton McMichen – “Grave In The Pines”

ClaytonMcMichenPDBorn in January of 1900 in Allatoona, Georgia, Clayton McMichen had his great success recording with Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers and Hometown Boys, and also as a solo artist. His solo effort performance of “Grave In The Pines” is a starkly sweet and sincere lament to a fallen love. McMichen performed regularly in Louisville, Kentucky until retiring in 1955, and later returning to the stage at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964.

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WARREN AVEREL – HARK THE HERALD ANGELS


Christmas music is omnipresent during the holiday season. Some of these melodies and the songs themselves were sung as long ago as the 1850s. Some were written for the holidays more recently. I have tried to make an accounting of popular holiday songs. That does NOT mean the recorded version of any of these songs are also in the public domain. Please remember both the copyright in the song and the recording have to be expired for the public to own the piece of music to be used. But no performing rights society can collect from public performances.

Here is a quick listen and an instrumental version of a Christmas standard

Songs I found to be in the public domain

  • Angels We Have Heard on High
  • Away in a Manger
  • Go Tell It on the Mountain
  • Hallelujah Chorus
  • Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
  • Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
  • Joy to the World
  • O Come, All Ye Faithful
  • O Come, O Come Emmanuel
  • O Holy Night
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem
  • The First Noel

Songs that are not in the public domain and have been written within the last 95 years

  • Carol of the Bells
  • Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
  • Little Drummer Boy
  • The Christmas Song
  • White Christmas

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Paul Whiteman Orchestra – “Doo Wacka Doo”

The Paul Whiteman Orchestra famously pushed the boundaries of jazz by incorporating classical orchestration into big band arrangements. Whiteman commissioned and debuted George Gershwin’s groundbreaking “Rhapsody In Blue” in 1924, and his symphonic jazz style influenced many greats who followed – including Miles Davis, Gil Evans and later Winton Marsalis. Here’s an early recording by Paul Whiteman Orchestra – the classic horn player anthem, “Doo Wacka Doo.”


Check out our Enhanced Audio version

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FIND THIS RARE TRUMPET RECORDING FROM THE BEST MUSIC LIBRARY ON OUR PLANET

Noble work from Brewster Kahle, who founded the Internet Archive. They compiled a treasure trove of music recorded when the recording industry was in its infancy, and records were cylinders, or 78 RPM discs. From this collection I’ve learned so much about music that was made before I was born. Converting these recordings to digital storage is complex, and done by music-loving collectors. Serving these works on-demand is the Archive’s role, as the best music library on the planet. I found this stupendous recording by Johnny Dunn’s Original Jazz Hounds (not to be confused with Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds.) The trumpet work is great, once you’re past the 78 needle-noise at the beginning. “Hawaiian Blues” is performed by the first lineup of the Jazz Hounds, before they added Edith Wilson as vocalist.

Brewster Kahle

Listen:

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Blind Lemon Jefferson – “One Dime Blues”

Although the subject matter of “One Dime Blues” may be cliche in the world of blues, no other artist has such a powerful cadence as the great Blind Lemon Jefferson. Jefferson’s quick-chords and toe-tapping rhythm is sharp juxtaposition with the song’s subject matter, each verse tackling the plight of the poor in the 1920s.

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VOTE-”SAY MY NAME” by DESTINY’S CHILD

Beyonce made a passionate plea to get out the vote upon receiving the Humanitarian Award at the BET award show. Michele Obama gave her the award. Her message “Vote Like Your Life Depends On It, might not resonate immediately. I bought a pie at ”Pizza to the Polls.” I want to help feed those grumbling tummies that are forced into long lines to vote, Because Beyonce might be right.

 

I chose Beyonce’s 1st group, Destiny’s Child, The song is gr8 and ever so meaningful. I was going to use a lyric’s video, but I wanted to show some early Beyonce, so I chose the official video.

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Glenn Campbell, Ed Sheeran, Jack White, And Johnny Cash Versions Of A Classic

Written in the 18th century, this song has been sung by many. I remember this song from when I was frequenting the coffee house/folk scene. The site thebluegrasssituation.com is totally worthwhile, and this post is classic, including different versions of this song done by 20 gr8 voices – Glenn Campbell, Ed Sheeran, Jack White, and Johnny Cash to name a few. Check out Jack White singing this song on YouTube.

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The Mississippi Sheiks – “Please Baby”

Mississippi_ShieksThe Mississippi Sheiks from Bolton, Mississippi were a popular band in their time, and their recorded songs have been covered by an impressive list of artists that includes Howlin’ Wolf, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte and Bob Dylan. Three of the Sheiks were brothers Lonnie, Sam, and Armenter Chatmon, the latter of whom is famously known as Bo Carter, who enjoyed a successful solo career while he managed and was a part time member of the band. This recording of “Please Baby” captures their distinct blend of country, folk, and blues.

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I LIVE IN THE DARK AGES, I FOOLISHLY THOUGHT I DIDN’T

I must have been fooled by the 60s, we are living in the dark ages. I wrote a song for patriotic reasons that was obvious to me,  and I thought to everyone else back in the 70s.  There has been so much denial about our relationship with nature I’ve been shocked.  I have been stupified and numbed by the outright assault on science during the pandemic. Then the light bulb went off” it’s the dark ages” and the 60s was an enlightenment blip. 

My message has been remixed and i’ve even got my “paid fors”in order (I’m donating any earnings from  Mankind), and I  have big business paying for rebalancing nature and mankind. So why hasn’t it been embraced? Why Is the only person who “gets it” was the label guy?

I realize it takes some searching, but the digital breadcrumb trail isn’t that hard to follow. I wrote this song, but I don’t have the energy or the desire to take my message to social media.  I HOPE YOU DO! I’ll just fortify my breadcrumb trail, and hope my message resonates with others.

WHAT FREE MUSIC MEANS

An opportunity to listen to music for paid for by someone else. As a music creator, I want to make sure the creator is compensated for the music he/she created. Either as writer or performer the MUSIC ARTIST NEEDS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR WORK.

Here’s my formula for  FREE music:

Free Music to the User = Music Knowledge

Music Knowledge = Cultural Enrichment and Music Enjoyment

 

A free to the user listener experience is at the heart of the sites I create.

I wanted to share my music knowledge and expand your music love. Knowledge is power, and with these I’ve help create, I’m repaying the language of music, that I profited from. Here’s something to listen to:

Source: matthewkingkaufman.com

VOTE-”SAY MY NAME” by DESTINY’S CHILD

Beyonce made a passionate plea to get out the vote upon receiving the Humanitarian Award at the BET award show. Michele Obama gave her the award. Her message “Vote Like Your Life Depends On It, might not resonate immediately. I bought a pie at ”Pizza to the Polls.” I want to  help feed those grumbling tummies that are forced into long lines to vote, Because Beyonce might be right.

 

I chose Beyonce’s 1st group, Destiny’s Child, The song is gr8 and ever so meaningful. I was going to use a lyric’s video, but I wanted to show some early Beyonce, so I chose the official video.

VOTE-“A CHANGE GONNA TO COME” by OTIS REDDING

This is such an important message!  I repeated my message  with same song, but a different singer. The ballot box is the way to change things, burning and looting will not lead to systematic change. Voting will allow for Change! Voter suppression is the only way tool left to those who resist change.

This Sam Cooke written song has been sung by many performers Otis Redding was among them. This soulful rendition is worthy of Sam’s message of change. If you never listened to Sam or  Otis you should. Their lives life were too short.

REGISTER TO VOTE-”POWER TO THE PEOPLE” by JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAND

To vote,  you must register first. Voting is a job citizens do. They elect the people who work for them. The low turnout in our country is saddening when we see the numbers of people who want to be heard and bring about change in our lifetime. We can peacefully choose who we trust to run this country with voting. You should become a registered voter.

 

John and Yoko’s band understood the role of people in today’s world. This anthem is the core of democracy.

VOTE – “A CHANGE IS GONNA TO COME” by SAM COOKE

After watching the protests this week it became apparent that to have a functioning country, democracy requires voting! The 56% of current voting is not something to be proud of. Our country can do better. On TV I see so many people who want to change things. They have to VOTE to change things. That seems to be how democracy works.

This official lyric video is the one I selected. Sam wrote and sang this classic song.

FIND A PLACE TO GO ON 6/19-“FIGHT THE POWER” by THE ISLEY BROTHERS

I found a gr8 site to help find a place to go on Juneteenth. There are holding events all over the world to remember the end of slavery in the U.S.  Protests are a way of life here in America. Black Lives Matter has used this end of slavery as a moment to demonstrate.

The Isley Brothers wrote and performed this classic song about protest while Ernie was visiting Disneyland.

 

VOTE-”POWER TO THE PEOPLE” by CURTIS MAYFIELD

I just read about the finding microplastics in national parks, This is a sickening development. If you agree then Vote please.

This song could have been written today. I’d call the song Power FOR the People. Curtis’s vision in 1990s include a plea fot the “sick and the hungry” who could be affected by disease. The question is:  “Was the future that obvious?” If so, why the delay and surprise about current events? I chose another lyrics video.

VOTE-“SAFE AND SOUND” by CAPITAL CITIES

This is a late entry because I just found out about today’s event at 830 EST tonite.

Calling Youth Organizers: Join The Vote Safe 2020 Rally!

The RSVP for today’s online event to help register voters to stay home and vote safely.

Again i chose a lyrics video for a song we’ve all heard. This familiar song by Capital Cities discusses that safe and sound feeling. It’s important to feel safe when voting .

VOTE-“WAITING” by TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS

I’m waiting and watching to see the voters turn out.Here’s a link to a gr8 voter resource. America is like a big ship, and the current direction is bizarre while the next person to lead must turn the vessel around. This is no easy task. I’ve got a front row seat to watch. The waiting seems to be the hardest part.

I chose this song written by Tom Petty because I think waiting is difficult, and this song elegantly captures the difficulty of being patient. Again, I chose the the lyrics video. If you’re not familiar with Tom, you should be.