Thursday, December 30, 2021

SAVAGE RADIO PLAYLISTS FOR DECEMBER 2021: WVMO 98.7 FM-THE VOICE OF MONONA

SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #298
DECEMBER 1, 2021
1. "You Are The Girl" performed by The Cars
2. "Someone's Gonna Break Your Heart" performed by A Girl Called Eddy
3. "Stop Your Sobbing" performed by Pretenders
4. "I'm Wrong About Everything" performed by John Wesley Harding
5. "Skin Deep" performed by Nick Lowe
6. "Nothing Between Us" performed by The Grays
7. "Northern Star" performed by Hole
8. "Cloudburst Flight" performed by Tangerine Dream
9. "Don't Fade On Me" performed by Tom Petty
10."Talking Nonsense" performed by Kainalu
11."Love Alone" performed by Utopia
12."Lester Diamond" performed by Free Nationals
13."Waterloo Sunset" performed by The Kinks
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #298
"JOHN, GEORGE, DAD"
DECEMBER 8, 2021
1. "Across The Universe" performed by The Beatles
2. "This Is Love" performed by George Harrison
3. "Borrowed Time" performed by John Lennon
4. "Englishman In New York" performed by Sting
5. "Secondhand Love" performed by Pete Townshend
6. "Take Five" performed by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
7. "If I Fell" performed by The Beatles
8. "'Round Midnight" performed by Miles Davis
9. "Bring On The Lucie (Freda People)" performed by John Lennon
10."Let It Be Me" (demo version) performed by George Harrison
11."Got To Get You Into My Life" performed by Earth, Wind & Fire
12."Cosmic Empire" (Day 2 Demo/Take 1) performed by George Harrison
13."Love Is Green" performed by Jeff Beck
14."Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" performed by George Harrison
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #299
"THE MUSIC OF 2021"
DECEMBER 15, 2021
1. "Get Sun" performed by Hiatus Kaiyote
2. "Cloudspotter" performed by Foo Fighters
3. "High In The Grass" performed by Sleater-Kinney
4. "Wolves" performed by Garbage
5. "Brando" performed by Lucy Dacus
6. "Ba Ba Ba" performed by Liz Phair
7. "Slide Tackle" performed by Japanese Breakfast
8. "Metal Man" performed by La Luz
9. "Water Lillies" performed by Astral Drive
10."Check The Record" performed by Prince
11."Going Down South" performed by The Black Keys
12."Water" performed by Naia Izumi
13."I See You" performed by Aimee Mann
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #300!!!!!!
"CHRISTMAS JAMS 2021"
DECEMBER 22, 2021
1. "Thanks For Christmas" performed by XTC
2. "I Wish You A Merry Christmas' performed by Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva
3. "Just Another Christmas Song (This Time I'll Sing Along)" performed by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
4. "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (live) performed by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
5. "December 25" performed by Sloan
6. "Christmas Won't Be The Same This Year" performed by The Jackson 5
7. "Skating" performed by The Vince Guaraldi Trio
8. "25th December" performed by Everything But The Girl
9. "Sound The Trumpet" performed by The Wailers (ft. Bob Marley)
10."Christmas Wrapping" performed by The Waitresses
11."Snowfall" performed by The Monkees
12."I Want To Spend Christmas With Elvis (Heartbreak Noel)" performed by Debbie Dabney
13."Merry Christmas Darlings" performed by Cheap Trick
14. "Let's Unite The Whole World At Christmas" performed by JAMES BROWN
15. "Funky New Year" performed by Eagles
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #301
"GOODBYE 2021"
DECEMBER 29, 2021
1. "Regularly Scheduled Programming" performed by My Morning Jacket
2. "Being Beige" performed by The Smashing Pumpkins
3. "How Can I Make It OK?" performed by Wolf Alice
4. "Time" performed by Lindsey Buckingham
5. "Maybe I'm Amazed" (live) performed by Paul McCartney & Wings
6. "Coloratura" performed by Coldplay
7. "Goin' On" performed by The Flaming Lips
8. "What Did I Do With My Life?" performed by Lenny Kravitz
9. "Suture Up Your Future" performed by Queens Of The Stone Age
10."Drive" performed by Todd Rundgren
11."Someday We'll Know" performed by New Radicals

Saturday, December 11, 2021

SAVAGE RADIO PLAYLISTS FOR NOVEMBER 2021: WVMO 98.7 FM-THE VOICE OF MONONA

SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #293
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
1. "Taking Me Back" performed by Jack White
2. "Baby Don't Cry" performed by Sunflower Bean
3. "Broken Horses" performed by Brandi Carlile
4. "In Color" performed by My Morning Jacket
5. "And You And I" performed by Yes
6. "Street In The City' performed by Pete Townshend
7. "Digging In The Dirt" performed by Peter Gabriel
8. "Just Like U" performed by Universal Honey
9. "Lying Through My Teeth" performed by Anna Wang
10."Love Comes Tumbling" performed by U2
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #294
"HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY TO SAVAGE RADIO"
1."Turn It On Again" performed by Genesis
2. "What You Need" performed by INXS
3. "Girlfriend" performed by Phoenix
4. "Feel Too Good" performed by The Move
5. "I've Got A Feeling" performed by The Beatles
6. "Black and White" performed by Todd Rundgren
7. "All My Dreams' performed by Prince
8. "The Salvation Army Band" performed by Imperial Drag
9. "Oh Candy" performed by Cheap Trick
10."Shadow" performed by Slow Pulp
11."Hold This Side Close" performed by Post Social
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #295
NOVEMBER 17, 2021
1. "The Tipping Point" performed by Tears For Fears
2. "The Disappointed" performed by XTC
3. "Wild Horses" performed by Prefab Sprout
4. "Lost In Yesterday" performed by Tame Impala
5. "I'm Leaving" performed by Taxxi
6. "The Game" performed by Liz Phair
7. "You've Changed, I've Changed" performed by Ben Watt
8. "Come Back" performed by Foo Fighters
9."I Know You" performed by Sloan
10."Want It To Be True" performed by Ex Hex
11."For You" performed by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #296
"HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2021"
NOVEMBER 24, 2021
1. "Thank You Friends" performed by Big Star
2. "You're My Best Friend" performed by Queen
3. "Take The Long Way Home" performed by Supertramp
4. "Days" performed by Kirsty MacColl
5. "Brother, Brother" performed by The Isley Brothers
6. "Oh Daddy" performed by Fleetwood Mac
7. "Daughter" performed by Pearl Jam
8. "Son" performed by Scott Weiland
9. "Dinner At Eight" performed by Rufus Wainwright
10."Gratitude" performed by Paul McCartney
11."We Fight We Love" performed by Q-Tip
12."Home Again" performed by Michael Kiwanuka
13."Augie Nieto" performed by Five For Fighting

SAVAGE RADIO PLAYLISTS FOR OCTOBER 2021: WVMO 98.7 FM-THE VOICE OF MONONA

SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #289
"REMEMBERING TOM PETTY 2021"
OCTOBER 6, 2021

1. "The Nightwatchman" (live) performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
2. "Won't Last Long" performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
3. "I Might" performed by Wilco
4. "Long Way" performed by Eddie Vedder
5. "Confusion Wheel (Home Recording)" performed by Tom Petty
6. "Who Is Going To Love Me Now, If Not You?" performed by Ryan Adams
7. "Try Again" performed by Big Star
8. "Hungry No More" performed by Mudcrutch
9. "Illumination" performed by Jonathan Wilson
10."Straight Into Darkness" performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
11."The Best Of Everything" performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #290
"THE MUSIC OF 2001: HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY"
OCTOBER 13, 2021
1. "Battlefield Of Love" performed by Lenny Kravitz
2. "Dumb Love" performed by Stone Temple Pilots
3. "Zak And Sara" performed by Ben Folds
4. "The Other Man" performed by Sloan
5. "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground" performed by The White Stripes
6. "She Just Wants To Be" performed by R.E.M.
7. "I Don't Like Mondays" performed by Tori Amos
8. "The Vagabond" performed by Air featuring Beck
9. "Silence Is Golden" performed by Garbage
10."Sometimes" performed by Bilal
11."Monica" performed by Tortoise
12."Left Hand Suzuki Method" performed by Gorillaz
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #291
OCTOBER 20, 2021
1. "Babooshka" performed by Kate Bush
2. "Rush" performed by Little Dragon
3. "Lingus" performed by Rodrigo y Gabriela
4. "Chivalry Is Not Dead" performed by Hiatus Kaiyote
5. "What If" performed by Coldplay
6. "Flying Junk" performed by 10cc
7. "Am I Too Comfortable?" performed by The Mommyheads
8. "Burning Rope" (live 1978) performed by Genesis
9. "North, South, East & West" performed by The Church
10."To Reach Me" performed by The Go-Betweens
11."Down And Out Downtown" performed by St. Vincent
12."Electric Blue" performed by Arcade Fire
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #292
"HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2021"
OCTOBER 27, 2021
1. "I'm So Afraid" performed by Fleetwood Mac
2. "Scary Monsters (and super creeps)" performed by David Bowie
3. "Strange Days" performed by The Doors
4. "What I See Part 1" performed by Planet P. Project
5. "Burn The Witch" performed by Queens Of The Stone Age
6. "Trollkarlen Och Fageldrakten" performed by Dungen
7. "Wyttch" performed by The Smashing Pumpkins
8. "Pet" performed by A Perfect Circle
9. "On Graveyard Hill" performed by Pixies
10.""Coming For You" performed by Ric Ocasek
11."Once Upon A Daydream" performed by The Police
12."Terrified" performed by The Pursuit Of Happiness

SAVAGE RADIO PLAYLISTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2021: WVMO 98.7 FM-THE VOICE OF MONONA

SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #284
"A TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE WATTS"
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
all songs performed by The Rolling Stones
1. "Street Fighting Man"
2. "It's All Over Now"
3. "Miss You"
4. "Undercover Of The Night"
5. "Hang Fire"
6. "Miss Amanda Jones"
7. "Tumbling Dice"
8. "Till The Next Goodbye"
9. "Almost Hear You Sigh"
10."Dead Flowers"
11."Play With Fire"
12."Emotional Rescue"
13."Paint It Black"
14."Shattered"
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #285
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
1. "I Can Dream" performed by Astral Drive
2. "Private Revolution" performed by World Party
3. "Pretty Boys" performed by Paul McCartney & Khruangbin
4. "Rockin' The Suburbs" performed by Ben Folds
5. "Short And Sweet" performed by David Gilmour
6. "Marquee Moon" performed by Television
7. "Memoria" performed by Sunflower Bean
8. "Kalendar" performed by The Pursuit Of Happiness
9. "Greens and Blues" performed by Pixies
10."End Over End" performed by Foo Fighters
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #286
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
1. "Throwback" performed by Tony Banks
2. "Born 2 Die" performed by Prince
3. "Making Do" performed by Lake Street Dive
4. "Recoil" performed by New Order
5. "It Takes Two To Tango (This Is For The Girls)" performed by Todd Rundgren
6. "Seeking New Gods" performed by Gruff Rhys
7. "Why Don't You Touch Me" performed by Leon Bridges
8. "Ride" performed by Lenny Kravitz
9. "I'll Take The Rain" performed by R.E.M.
10."You Saved Me" performed by Gary Clark Jr.
11."Feel Flows" performed by The Beach Boys
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #287
"LOCAL ARTISTS, LOCAL HEROES"
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
1. "Time And A Half" performed by Post Social
2. "Kamikaze Mushroom Palace" performed by Kainalu
3. "See Go" performed by Wilder Deitz
4. "Farthest Star" performed by Squarewave
5. "Perspective" performed by Skyline Sounds
6. "Kata" performed by Able Baker
7. "The World's On Fire" performed by Gentle Brontosaurus
8. "Falling Apart" performed by Slow Pulp
9. "Fun Song 4" performed by Disq
10."Clover" performed by Dash Hounds
11."Voices Carry" performed by The Smorchers
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #288
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
1. "Spirit Power And Soul" performed by Johnny Marr
2. "Scream" performed by Lindsey Buckingham
3. "Love Love Love" performed by My Morning Jacket
4. "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" performed by Led Zeppelin
5. "Shadow Town" performed by Sleater-Kinney
6. "Aja" performed by Steely Dan
7. "It's In Your Eyes" performed by Sloan
8. "Anno Satana" performed by The Smashing Pumpkins
9. "My Friend Of Misery" performed by Cherry Glazerr
10."I Disappear" performed by Metallica

Monday, August 30, 2021

SAVAGE RADIO PLAYLISTS FOR AUGUST 2021: WVMO 98.7 FM-THE VOICE OF MONONA

SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #280
AUGUST 4, 2021
1. "Texas Sun" performed by Khruangbin & Leon Bridges
2. "Too Close For Comfort" performed by Thompson Springs
3. "At It Again (Again)" performed by Slow Pulp
4. "It's So Quiet, It's Loud" performed by Ryan Adams
5. "Partner In Crime" performed by Lucy Dacus
6. "Sheridan Road" performed by Liz Phair
7. "Storms" performed by Fleetwood Mac
8. "Nobody Dies Anymore" performed by Tweedy
9. "Name Of The Game" performed by Badfinger
10."Daisy Glaze" performed by Big Star
11."Finest Actor" performed by A Girl Called Eddy
12."Supernatural Radio" (extended version) performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #281
"1976: HAPPY 45TH ANNIVERSARY PART 1"
AUGUST 11, 2021
1. "Something's Happening" (live) performed by Peter Frampton
2. "Serenade" performed by The Steve Miller Band
3. "Come Dancing" performed by Jeff Beck
4. "Good Vibrations" performed by Todd Rundgren
5. "Robbery, Assault and Battery" performed by Genesis
6. "Contusion" performed by Stevie Wonder
7. "2112: Overture/The Temples Of Syrinx" performed by Rush
8. "TVC-15" performed by David Bowie
9. "Zoot Allures" performed by Frank Zappa
10."Let Me Take You Home Tonight" performed by Boston
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #282
"1976: HAPPY 45TH ANNIVERSARY PART 2"
AUGUST 18, 2021
1. "I Want You" performed by KISS
2. "Blitzkrieg Bop" performed by Ramones
3. "Achilles Last Stand" performed by Led Zeppelin
4. "Dr. Funkenstein" performed by Parliament
5. "Haitian Divorce" performed by Steely Dan
6. "Pretty Maids All In A Row" performed by Eagles
7. "Wot Gorilla?" performed by Genesis
8. "Mission (A World Record)" performed by Electric Light Orchestra
9. "Beware My Love" performed by Paul McCartney & Wings
10."Asleep In The Desert" performed by ZZ Top
SAVAGE RADIO EPISODE #283
"GOODBYE SUMMER 2021"
AUGUST 25, 2021
1. "Find The River" performed by R.E.M.
2. "Perfect World" performed by Talking Heads
3. "Positivity" performed by Prince
4. "Hear Me Lord" performed by George Harrison
5. "Feelin'" performed by Van Halen
6. "Jungleland" performed by Bruce Springsteen
7. "It's Not" performed by Aimee Mann
8. "Sacrificial Bonfire" performed by XTC
9. "Farewell and Goodnight" performed by The Smashing Pumpkins

Saturday, August 21, 2021

THE FUNK BIBLE BOOK II: PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST- a review of "Prince and the Parade & Sign O' The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986" by Duane Tudahl

PRINCE AND THE PARADE & SIGN O' THE TIMES ERA STUDIO SESSIONS 1985 AND 1986
DUANE TUDAHL
forward by Elton John

Published by Rowman and Littlefield Publishers
728 pages
Published June 10, 2021 

Nearly four years ago, when I finished reading Author Duane Tudahl's exquisitely compiled, meticulously researched, exceedingly well written masterwork Prince and the Purple Rain Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984 (published 2017), I knew that, without question, I had completed reading the finest written work devoted to exploring and examining the life, art and artistry of the artist forever known as PRINCE. 

Yes, just as that title announces, the reader is indeed only given access to the time period of January 1983 through December 1984, but oh what happened during those almost two full years in Prince's life! Tudahl, through his exhaustive work, delivered a tome that far extended itself--and in fact, transcended itself--from its journal/day-by-day logbook into a full portrait of a uniquely talented and endlessly creative individual on the rise from cult artist to pop superstar and the intensified, self-imposed work ethic placed upon himself in order to achieve his dreams as well as a dissertation upon the nature of art and the inspiration and creativity involved in order to realize said art.  

And to think, that book was only Volume One!

With the arrival of Prince and the Parade and Sign O' The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986, Duane Tudahl has far outdone himself. This second volume in his planned series is the rare sequel that outdoes the original as it takes what came before as its base and then further extends, expands, and deepens its narrative, emerging with another meticulously researched and exquisitely written work but also one that was surprisingly emotional, one where I often found myself with tears welling behind my eyes, and my heart aching due to the sequence of events and the impact placed upon all principals involved, most notably the artist himself. 

And as always, what music was created...the music!!!!

As with the first volume, Duane Tudahl continues to adhere to the same structure as before: a  journal/day-by-day logbook covering the time period between January 1985, when Prince and the Revolution were ensconced in the Purple Rain concert tour, and December 1986, a few months before the release of the "Sign O' The Times" album (released March 30, 1987) and then supported by an entirely new band featuring Sheila E. as his formidable drummer. 

Again, and especially as I was a teenager during the period when these albums were originally released, reading this diary format of Prince's day to day activities is beyond astonishing. It is not even just about his untouchable work ethic, relentless drive and unending inspiration and creativity. It is truly this unfathomable ability to seemingly stretch the limits of time itself as he was compulsively recording nearly daily, often all by himself. 

This was the period during which he composed, produced, arranged and performed (to varying degrees), and often released, a mountain's worth of material, which included, but was not limited to the (then) just about to be released Prince and the Revolution album "Around The World In A Day" (released April 22, 1985), the (then) upcoming "Parade" (released March 31, 1986), and all of the various configurations of what would ultimately become "Sign O' The Times," including the aborted projects, the double album "Dream Factory" and his hoped for magnum opus, the triple album of "Crystal Ball." 

This would be more than enough for any musical artist to involve themselves with, but as we all know by now, Prince was no ordinary musical artist. In addition to the material released under his own name and musical identity, this was also the period during which Prince involved himself or fully oversaw eponymously titled albums by Madhouse, Jill Jones, Mazarati, Sheila E., including her ornate second solo album "Romance 1600" (released August 26, 1985) featuring the transcendent 12 minute "A Love Bizarre" and most notably, the one and only album The Family (released August 19, 1985), which featured the original version of "Nothing Compares 2 U."

And even then, this was the same period of time that produced a collection of B-side singles, the enormous amount of unreleased material that was rapidly populating his ever growing and increasingly mythical Vault and somehow, he also continued to manipulated time evermore to perform live concerts, create his Paisley Park record label, begin the eventual construction of his dream studio of the same name, and to finally conceive, direct and star in his second motion picture, the Parisian set, 1930's comedy inspired "Under The Cherry Moon" (1986).

There are still only 24 hours within one day, seven days a week and twelve months to a year and Duane Tudahl details each and every one in the day in the life of Prince through studio logs, and the inclusion of extensive interviews, both archived and newly conducted for this book, with nearly every principal participant during this phase of Prince's career, including words from the man himself. In doing so, we are gifted with a release that inspires yet another reason to return to the music itself, as the dialogue and events surrounding the genesis of every song and album affords us the change to hear the music as if anew, now that we have been given a greater context to the origins. 

That, in and of itself, would already made this book an excellent resource. What makes Tudahl's book as vital as it is indispensable is how the work operates on multi-levels, therefore delivering even more than we, as fans, may ever hope for.   

For as singular an artist as Prince was, and for all that he did do alone, Tudahl's book makes great pains to showcase how Prince was never entirely alone and was in actuality, surrounded by a superior team of individuals who all contributed their crucial parts in order for him to fully realize his visions. If anything, the book is a tribute and testament to figures including Producer David Z., Engineer Susan Rogers, saxophonist Eric Leeds, composer Claire Fischer, singer Jill Jones and unquestionably, Revolution bandmates Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman plus Wendy's twin sister and Prince's fiancĂ©e, Susannah Melvoin, all of whom ensured that Prince's trajectory from cult artist to pop superstar to artist for the ages occurred at all, whether he wished to admit to that fact or not, especially as all the while, he was building his mythology as a singular force of nature dream weaver.    

This aspect of Prince's life extends to Tudahl's book as he has indeed created a psychological portrait of this intensely restless creative individual, this equally intensely private person who willingly created a wall of isolation in order to focus solely upon his art as a means to communicate with the world, obsessively recording daily, transcribing his life into music. 

Over and again, we hear stories from his collaborators of his tireless work ethic and seemingly impossible demands, which were often as frustrating as they were inspiring to life altering. We still hear the now familiar epiphanies extolling how Prince never required anything of others that he would not place upon himself, and in doing so, he pulled a level of performances from them they never thought possible, therefore revealing to themselves the fullness of their respective potentials.  

That being said, there are a the copious juxtapositions when existing within Prince's orbit, as one would be forced to deal with and navigate a variety of his personalities. Generous and stifling, jovial and uncommunicative, lavishly adoring and cruelly dismissive plus even more were always on the table and Tudahl's book presents it all--yet, not in a lascivious, exploitative fashion. Purely journalistic and one that allows us a wider canvas in which to view this artists during a time period which would prove to be exceptionally turbulent. 

How did it feel to be a member of The Revolution and therefore witness how Prince, Wendy and Lisa essentially became a band within the band? How did it feel to be a member of The Revolution and suddenly see their ranks expand to 12 members once Prince's collaborations with Sheila E. continued to blossom? How did it feel to exist in a constant cycle of rehearsal, recording and performance with songs at the top of the charts and a smash hit movie at the box office and still not personally seeing the more than deserved financial compensations for oneself? How did it feel to be within a relationship with Prince that was professional and romantic, resulting in promises made for a collaborative album but be put off and re-prioritized over and again?     
 
Again, Tudahl has created works exceedingly well as a psychological portrait in which the threads from Prince's difficult upbringing can easily be found within his adult relationships, both personal and professional and especially when the lines become blurred and newfound global fame, monetary riches and voluminous pressures are added into the mix. To be able to create at Prince's masterful level is one thing but to view that reality through the prism that he had amassed a one-man industry which now held the lives, finances and security in the balance over those who worked with and for him--and still within his late 20's at that--must have felt to be near impossible, making his more controversial behaviors understandable even as they are painful to even emotionally abusive. 

Even further, there were points when I wondered if perhaps Prince may have existed within the high functioning area upon the autism spectrum due to his ability of utilizing music as his most effective form of communication where standard interpersonal cues so often failed him. And that, actually leads me to the next level that Duane Tudahl so expertly presented in this volume. 

As much as Tudahl's book is about success, it is also a book about failure. After all of the success of the "Purple Rain" period, this specific time period is one of artistic transition, and turbulent change, often resulting in hardships that Prince did not anticipate. Subsequent singles did not chart as highly, critical and fan responses to his rapid stylistic changes were not always embraced, "Under The Cherry Moon" was a critical and commercial let down, his vision of a triple album masterpiece was rejected and forced to be reconfigured, tenuous relationships became increasingly fractured, his engagement to Susannah Melvoin ended and The Revolution was disbanded. 

All of this material is given equal weight to the music that was created and deservedly so, for there were real human lives and feelings at the core and Tudahl's recognition of these people and their feelings, especially for individuals that felt to be so indestructible, gave the book a powerful sense of empathy and humanity, that was bracing, urgent and even sorrowful to read. But even then, Tudahl is not finished as the book, as much as it is about failure, it is a book about perseverance. Because from every setback, we see how Prince re-grouped, placed one foot in front of the other and continued to move forwards.   

Duane Tudahl's Prince and the Parade & Sign O' The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986 is a staggering, and again, essential work for anyone who has ever loved, or has even been curious about Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson. Filled with anecdotal riches and bottomless integrity, it is continuously illuminating as it is compulsively readable, making me anxious for whatever arrives in the third volume, while also inviting me to read it all over again. 

And as for Duane Tudahl, this is a massive undertaking in which he has proven to be the absolute BEST person for the job, making himself a literary/scholar contemporary of author/historian Mark Lewinsohn's legendary work chronicling The Beatles.

As a lifetime Prince fan, I wish to reach out and shake Tudahl's hand and personally thank him for committing himself to ensuring the life, art and artistry of Prince is commemorated and preserved so highly and brilliantly.

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

SYNESTHESIA'S SESSION NOTES FOR AUGUST 2021

FROM THE DJ'S STUDIO DESK:
Hopes and dreams indeed...

Dear readers and listeners, I am feeling myself beginning to get angry. Believe me, I am as mentally exhausted from this pandemic as much as anyone else. I am tired of the constant anxiety, living with the dread of uncertainty, feeling afraid of becoming ill, remaining so exclusively to my pods and bubbles to the extent that I have still not seen relatives in almost two years, and being surrounded by people who seem to think if they wish hard enough, COVID-19 will vanish into this air...and we all know only too well that it won't.

But, then a sliver of hope began to reveal itself once the vaccines began rolling out. I became fully vaccinated in March while friends and relatives followed suit over the subsequent two months. By June, life was just starting to look a little different. While I did feel that the world was perhaps opening back up too quickly, the pandemic numbers were looking considerably better...better enough where I actually began entertaining the thought of when I would possibly try to go to a movie theater again--which I finally did on the last day of July--and equally, when might I try to see live music again.

My friends in the Madison based band Squarewave were scheduled to play their first show in nearly two years on August 6th. Back in early June, with life looking hopeful, or at least more hopeful than it had been since the end of 2019, I made internal plans to not just return to a movie theater but to potentially see my friends again performing live--which would be fitting since the last live show I attended was in December 2019 starring my friends in both Disq, and that evening's headliners, Slow Pulp.

But as of this time of writing, August 6th has passed and I ended up not seeing Squarewave...and that was due to the rise in COVID-19 cases via the Delta variant and entirely due to the sector of society that not only refuses to wear a mask but further refuses to get themselves vaccinated, for a whole host of reasons, none of which have anything to do with the safety of the public at large and all for a sense of self.

Synesthesia is not designed to be a political platform and I really do not intend for it to be. Yet, for all of this talk of "freedom," I wish to make one thing clear: one person's sense of personal freedom does not supersede my personal freedom to not be infected by a deadly virus by you, or completely hinder and upend the personal freedoms of everyone else in our completely symbiotic society to live their lives as fully and as richly as possible. People want to go to live music events and feel as if they are not rolling the dice with their lives by doing so. Musicians need to play and earn their livings as do all of the individuals who make the shows happen--from promoters, roadies, venues and theaters and festivals and so on. 

We ALL want our lives back and yet, it is a sector of society that has effectively handcuffed that collective hope to themselves, jeopardizing the health, safety and survival of ALL and I am pissed about it!!! I am not one that possesses a laundry list of needs. Look...I just want to see a concert and not get sick and die because I did so. I do not want lockdown again but will accept it if it has to happen to ensure safety and survival. I say that because what we are facing is not about me as an individual but again...for ALL of us. 

Also, as of this time of writing, COVID cases in Wisconsin have now returned to the levels at which they were in January of this year. Yes, it has happened that fast and it never had to. What will it take to just get our shit together? Do you want to see the other side of this pandemic or not?

Wear a mask. Get vaccinated. I want to see a live show again with peace of mind. Now...I need to listen to some music. Maybe you do too.

PLAY LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!