Freddie Gage - Drugs and Youth

Freddie Gage - Drugs and Youth

released on LP, no date given

Freddie Gage is a Southern Baptist preacher who seems mostly known for the cover of his album All My Friends are Dead. I have yet to see that LP in the real world. However, I did find this "gem". Back then, Freddie tried to sound hip to attract people to his way of thinking about the world. As the back cover says, Freddie is a "turned-on" preacher who is "out of sight" and "on the in to what's happening."

The reason Freddie tried to act like he was cool was because he focused on America's youth. From looking at the back cover again, apparently the public schools didn't have any problem letting Freddie (and probably others of the same ilk) come and preach at school assemblies (i.e. indoctrinate a captive audience of teenagers). The sermon on this album was recorded during a school assembly consisting of an audience of over 3,000 high school students (according to the album cover) in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Freddie preaches against the evils of LSD, pot, other drugs, and hippies, tells a few jokes that are surprising funny, and tells a few anecdotes about kids whose drug experiences end up in tragedy. Freddie is in hysteria mode most of the time as Freddie emphasizes that America's youth is in danger of becoming a bunch of junkies and by implication a bunch of smelly rebellious hippies. While not being explicit, Freddie's take-home point is that the youth of America can find peace and be upstanding citizens by not doing drugs and having the same beliefs as the "turned-on" Freddie. Like out of sight, man.

Can anyone tell me the name of the tune that the school band plays at the beginning? It's familiar, but I can't remember the title and who originally performed it.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Drugs and Youth [side 1] {14:35}

Side 2

1. Drugs and Youth [side 2] {13:53}

Irma Glen - A Bridge to Higher Consciousness

Irma Glen - A Bridge to Higher Consciousness

released on LP

About over a month ago, I picked up several records at a new (to me) local flea market. I was browsing at one of the record vendors who has priced most of the records at $1 each. Most of these $1 records were definitely not in mint condition or even very good condition as probably expected. I came upon this one. Her name was familiar to me as I recall downloading her new age ecology record several years ago. It's been a long while since I've heard it. It didn't seem to make much of an impression on me. So, I wasn't sure about getting this one I've found in the flea market although the title sounds impressive.
I looked on the back cover and noticed a few blurbs on the top. One of those blurbs was by one of my favorite people, Dr. Joseph Murphy, who is quoted as saying "I have never before heard such music coming from an organ." After reading that quote and thinking "wow", right then I needed this record. It is some serene meditative organ music. I'm sure this will enable people to reach that higher consciousness.

I was surprised that there is not much info about Irma Glen on the Internet. Here's a bit of info about Irma Glen from the liner notes:

Irma Glen contributes to her New-Age Music Therapy all the skill and musicianship of one of America's top-flight organist-composers, combined with the insight of an experienced minister. She holds doctorates in both music and religion, and has recently returned from a world tour during which she spoke and played in such far flung places as Tokyo, Jerusalem, and Pondicherry, India.

Dr. Glen began her musical career at the age of fourteen when she made her concert debut as a young pianist. At age fifteen she was America's youngest orchestra leader, so widely known that she was engaged for five weeks at the Teatro Empire in Buenos Aires. Next, Irma and her mother toured Europe. Back in Chicago, she became feature organist at a large theatre and from this stepped up to a position as staff organist for N.B.C. [National Broadcasting Company] During the next twelve years, Irma Glen appeared in as many as twenty three broadcasts a week and was regarded by her fans as the nation's top woman organist.

In her programs of Prayer-Music Therapy, Irma Glen has reached a peak in an outstanding career. The programs have been tested and acclaimed by vast audiences, and the music is now being offered for the first time on this recording in response to popular demand. The record consists entirely of Irma Glen's original compositions, and presents a new approach to the Power of Prayer ... through Music.

The liner notes also say that there is a companion record available called "Music-Prayer Therapy" which is a spoken-word mediation. I'll post it here whenever I can find it.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Man of God {2:10}

2. Contemplation {2:15}

3. Communion {2:12}

4. Isis {2:39}

5. Covenant {3:15}

6. Devic Joy {3:59}

7. Rose of God {2:33}

Side 2

1. Meditation {4:17}

2. Dionysian Hymn {4:40}

3. So is He {2:11}

4. Constancy {3:57}

5. Listening {3:31}

John Hagee - Witchcraft Repackaged

John Hagee - Witchcraft Repackaged

released on VHS tape, audio ripped from VHS tapeNote: I have yet to learn how to rip video from VHS tapes. I thought the audio was interesting enough to rip to mp3 format then post here.

"Witchcraft Repackaged" is a program from John Hagee where Hagee conducts interviews with two "experts" on the occult, Robert McGee and Caryl Matrisciana, about the massive-selling Harry Potter series of novels of which I am sure almost everyone has at least heard about.
The gist of this is that the Harry Potter books are not really meant to be entertaining stories for children and teens, they are really manuals for children and teens to learn how to engage in witchcraft and get involved in the occult. I admit that I know very little about Harry Potter or have very little interest in reading the books or even watching the movie adaptations. (I should point out that I did sit through a showing on TV of some of the first Harry Potter movie some evening.) If I remember right, Hogwarts is the name of the school Harry Potter attends and Voldemort is one evil dude. Yeah, that's all I know about the Harry Potter series.

John Hagee focuses on Israel or is rather obsessed with Israel most of the time. It seems he has found some time to worry about our children possibly turning to Satanism after reading Harry Potter. Hagee seems like a reasonable guy, that is if your idea of reason is that Iran should be nuked by the US to help bring about Armageddon. I'm not going to rehash more info about Hagee. You can read this Wikipedia article about him or visit his site.

The beginning of the tape starts with an advertisement of Hagee's series of sermons called "Invasion of Demons." Then Hagee pimps his then latest novel which he calls a "blockbuster" called "Devil's Island." After hearing his pitch for his novel, it doesn't sound appealing at all. I think I would rather read something else like say Harry Potter.

After the two advertisements, the interview with McGee and Matrisciana appears. Robert McGee is most notable for writing a book called "The Search for Significance" which is a self-help book designed to turn people with low self-esteem onto Christianity. I suppose I can see why this guy feels that the Harry Potter books are threatening.
Caryl Matrisciana is a documentary film maker and producer who considers herself an expert on the occult, paganism, and what are called "world religions" i.e. any other religion other than her's, McGee's, and Hagee's religion. Caryl's purpose in life is to obtain converts to fundamentalist Christianity by telling people that other beliefs are wrong and evil. She was born in India and surrounded by Hinduism and "eastern mysticism". Something must have happened to her for her to be bitter towards India's belief systems to the point that she describes those belief systems as cults while Christianity is not.
Her targets also include fantasy novels such as the Harry Potter series. She made a documentary with nearly the same title as the VHS tape of this post, Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged - Making Evil Look Innocent. She claims that children and teenagers are becoming pagans after reading Harry Potter. There is a clip of this documentary on her website.

In the guise of an in-depth interview, Hagee, McGee, and Matrisciana propagandize for their religion in the form of claims that Harry Potter causes young people to try to learn spells and also claim that Rowling and Warner Brothers are attempting to indoctrinate young people into the occult.

The children and young people must be saved from the dark arts and probably brilliant displays of imagination found in Harry Potter. Why they could be seeing the light of goodness and advocating slaughter of millions of other human beings in other countries just because they don't practice the right religion instead of reading silly books like Harry Potter.




Tracklisting:

1. Advertisement for ''Invasion of Demons'' {2:09}

2. Advertisement for Hagee's Novel ''Devil's Island'' {2:11}

3. Witchcraft Repackaged {52:56}

4. Advertisement for John Hagee Ministries {0:21}

Zenith Radio Corporation - Getting Through: A Guide to Better Understanding of the Hard of Hearing

Zenith Radio Corporation - Getting Through: A Guide to Better Understanding of the Hard of Hearing

LP released in 1971

Cool, Just what I needed, a record for people who have problems hearing. The record includes demonstrations on how difficult it is to hear when certain frequencies are not present, guidance for helping people with hearing problems along with "an unfair hearing test" which a form comes included with the record for people to write their answers. Perhaps the previous owner(s) of this LP didn't need a hearing test as my form is unfilled and appears to be in the same condition as it was when this record was released. Gosh, I hope my visitors do not have hearing issues as I do not want anyone to miss out on the educational and entertaining offerings this blog provides. Just in case there are hearing problems, the record provides guidance on selecting a hearing aid. Come to think of it, I'll be needing this record soon as for quite a long time I have been constantly listening to loud music at a higher-than-normal volume level especially that noise stuff from the likes of Merzbow and Wolf Eyes.

Now for some words from Aram Glorig, M.D.:

The ear is truly a marvelous instrument. It can hear sounds which are but a tiny fraction of the sound generated by a dropped pin. And yet it can also cope with sounds which are a million million times louder, and infinitely more complex.The record you are about to hear is an unusual experiment in the field of sound and hearing. It has been made possible by steady progress in a number of fields. In otology, the branch of medicine that deals with the ear. In audiology, the science of hearing. In audiometry, the measurement of hearing. And in electronics, which today permits the precise reproduction of sound.
This material has been prepared for the layman: the hard of hearing, their families and friends. We have used simple language and simple demonstrations to make our points.
We believe that anyone working with the hearing impaired will also find the material useful and informative. In the interest of simplicity of presentation, we have purposely avoided the use of technical terms.



Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Introduction {1:41}

2. Frequency Range {3:06}

3. Filtered Speech {3:00}

4. An Unfair Hearing Test {5:00}

Side 2

1. How a Hearing Aid Can Help {2:45}

2. Difficult Listening Situations {2:42}

3. Getting Through {4:39}

4. How to Select a Hearing Aid {1:19}

Paul Twitchell - Knowledge and Understanding/Philosophy of No-Thing

Paul Twitchell - Knowledge and Understanding/Philosophy of No-Thing

released on cassette in 1995

I recently found this cassette in a local thrift store. I have been having a little luck lately finding "quality" stuff at the thrift stores. During most of the year, there was a long spell of not finding anything interesting. I should mention that I had not much time either to dig this year. Just about every time I had a little free time to browse the thrift stores, there was nothing interesting to be found.

Enough of my thrift store woes, it's onto the topic of the post. The cassette contains two lectures by an interesting fellow named Paul Twitchell who founded his own spiritual group called Eckankar in 1965. As mentioned on the cover, the first one, "Knowledge and Understanding", was recorded in 1970 at the 1970 International Youth Conference in Chicago, Illinois. I have not found anything about the 1970 International Youth Conference. Was it organized by Twitchell and Eckankar? Was it organized by some youth organization and happened to invite Twitchell to speak? The second one, "Philosophy of No-Thing", was recorded sometime in 1967. There is no mention of where it was recorded.

Since I am not highly familiar with Eckankar, which sounds like a melding of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, I'll post the explanation of Eckankar from its website:

Each of us is connected to God through Divine Spirit (the ECK), which can be heard as Sound and seen as Light. Eckankar offers a spiritual toolkit to help you experience the Light and Sound of God.
...
Eckankar means "Co-worker with God." It offers ways to explore your own unique and natural relationship with the Divine.

With the personalized study that is a part of Eckankar, you get divine guidance to apply in your everyday life and on your journey home to God. The full experience of God is possible in this lifetime!

Eckankar is mainly about your daily, personal connection with Divine Spirit. You'll also find people of like mind and experience in Eckankar who share your desire for truth.

Your spiritual experiences reach welcoming ears among ECKists, those who study the ECK teachings.

The What is Eckankar? page from which the above explanation is quoted also provides a pdf file for download a brochure that further explains Eckankar.

From the brochure:

The teachings of ECK define the nature of Soul more carefully than do other current religions. Each person is Soul, a particle of God sent into the lower worlds (including earth) to gain spiritual experience. Purified by the spiritual exercises, he comes into contact with the Holy Spirit. His goal is spiritual freedom in this lifetime, after which he becomes a Co-worker with God, both here and in the next world. Karma and reincarnation are primary beliefs.

Key to the ECK teachings is the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master. He has the special ability to act as both Inner and Outer Master for ECK students. He is the prophet of Eckankar, given respect but not worship. He teaches the sacred name of God, HU, which lifts one spiritually into the Light and Sound of God, the ECK.

The ECK (the Holy Spirit) purifies one of karma (sin), making it possible for him to accept the full love of God in this lifetime. Then he gains wisdom, charity, and freedom.

Personal experience with the Light and Sound of God is the cornerstone of Eckankar. Of all the religions on earth today, Eckankar offers the most direct teachings on the Light and Sound of God. These twin pillars are missing in whole or in part from the rest. People who truly find these two aspects of God undergo a complete spiritual change. Life becomes fresh and new again, as it was in early childhood. (Harold Klemp, current Mahanta, the Living ECK Master)

The Eckankar website obviously provides a biography of Paul Twitchell and so does the Om-Guru website and so does that awesome resource of information, Wikipedia. Wikipedia says that Twitchell was a plagiarist who stole from the likes of Kirpal Singh, L. Ron Hubbard, H. P. Blavatsky, Julian Johnson, and others. In the world of academia where I currently reside as a student, plagiarism is the biggest sin one can commit. Everywhere else, like in the real world, to steal would be genius or somewhere along the lines of what that quote is. This means that Paul Twitchell is a genius. After all, he is the original ECK Master.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Knowledge and Understanding [side 1] {36:51}

Side 2

1. Knowledge and Understanding [side 2] {9:35}

2. Philosophy of No-Thing {24:40}

The Basement Still Lives

Hello. How are you all doing? The long hiatus was unintentional. There were some matters in real life that I had to deal with. There are still some matters to deal with, but I thought I needed to post an update to let you all know that A Basement of Curiosities is not dead. It's not even a zombie (is it just me or is the zombie thing already played out?). It is alive.

The cobwebs and dust have increased due to neglect and I need to do some more cleaning. The Basement may need some remodeling, but I will address that down the road.

Hopefully some new posts will be added soon. I cannot say for certain when there will be new posts. In the meantime, I updated download links for some of the "classics" in the Basement archives. If you're new to this place or have yet to get around to adding some of these things to your collection, be sure to grab them as they will make you a winner and a happier person and all that:

Stag Party in London Vol. 2

Corelli-Jacobs - Music to Grow Plants

Jimmy Nelson - Jimmy Nelson's Instant Ventriloquism

Louise Egolf - Train Your Bird to Talk

Dr. Paul P. Parker - How to Use Tact and Skill in Handling People

Earl Nightingale - The Strangest Secret

Sydney Omarr - Virgo

Sam Chalpin - My Father the Pop Singer

Tom Massey - Guided Visualizations

Dr. Ed Sceery - Advanced Elk Calling

Paul J. Meyer - Positive Expectancy to Win

Jack Van Impe - Marked for Death: Can America Survive?

George L. Boston - The Final Houdini Seance

Dr. Robert Parrish - Listen and Lose

Dr. Robert Parrish - Listen and Lose

released on LP in 1972

From looking at the album's title, you would probably think that I'm trying to turn you into a loser, you know being contrary to the pro-winning attitude championed constantly on this blog because this is a blog for winners. You could not be more wrong. In fact, the "lose" part refers to losing weight. That's what this record is all about. Yes, we here at the Basement (actually meaning my lonely self and that stray cat that keeps hanging around the porch trying to mooch food off of me) do encourage you people out there to lose some pounds if there are too many pounds.

This LP promises that you can lose weight not by going on a diet (which I always doubted would work), but by imagining yourself to be slim and trim. I think the liner notes explains this quite adequately:

All you have to do to begin this weight loss system is to listen to a recording. The recording teaches you how to relax - and then it teaches you some eating habits. You learn these new ideas quickly, simply because you are so relaxed and therefore receptive to fresh ideas. ... There is a conflict between your will power and your preconceived ideas. When you resolve this conflict, you can begin to lose weight. "Listen and Lose" doesn't give you new will power. "Listen and Lose" gives you new imagination - a new image, if you will, of yourself and a system to help you achieve this image. ... [The record] can really help you. It can open the way for you to turn the imagined image into the real image of you. All you have to do is listen.

The back cover also provides Parrish's background and credentials:

The author of "Listen and Lose", Dr. Robert E. Parrish, is eminently qualified to write about the psychological aspects of becoming slender. Through his professional experiences as a University professor and a practicing psychologist he has developed a deep sensitivity to the problems and struggles of individuals who are desirous of a change in their personal lives but who are without positive goals and a realistic workable plan.
Since 1960 he has been researching and developing procedures for relaxation, utilizing effectively the laws of suggestions, visualizing procedures, and goal setting for learning and personal development.
Dr. Parrish received his Bachelors degree, Masters degree and in 1962 his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Introduction {13:25}

Side 2

1. Procedure {20:07}

Stu Phillips - Jud [soundtrack]

Stu Phillips - Jud [soundtrack]

released on LP in 1971 (no date given on LP, but I found the release year of the film online)

I found a copy of this promo LP in some thrift store a few weeks ago. I've never heard of the film, but I'm familiar with Stu Phillips with having heard his music over the years thanks to various generous sharity blogs and sharity sites. He's composed music for biker flicks and that Buck Rogers TV show that was on the air seemingly centuries ago among other film and TV projects. Still, I was a bit hesitant at first whether I should purchase this copy. I didn't know anything about the quality of the music on this album. Since the asking price was $1.20, I figured it would be worth taking a chance on. I'm glad I did obtain this record. I find the all instrumental side 2 to be awesome (I think that's what I kind of expected and hoped for anyway). (Yeah, it's wild and groovy at times.) Side 1 has rock/pop songs with performers I've never heard of. If you're familiar with early 70s rock/pop, that's what it sounds like, music of the period. I enjoy the Crow song (track 4) the most from side 1, but I couldn't really get into the rest of the songs.

From what I read on the web, Jud is about a soldier who returns home from serving in Vietnam and tries to get his life back together. Instead, he ends up in some difficult situations and his life goes downhill from there. I read some review that said that it had potential to have been a really good movie, but turned out to be more of an exploitation film instead. I lost the link to that review so you'll have to take my word for it at the moment. Anyways, it sounds like a flick I want to check out.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. One Too Many Mornings [with John Hartford] {2:58}

2. Solitary Sanctuary [with American Breed] {1:59}

3. Comin' Down Easy [with Mason Proffit] {2:25}

4. Something In Your Blood [with Crow] {2:34}

5. Come to Me, Anytime [with Barbara Robison] {3:01}

Side 2

1. Solitary Sanctuary {1:57}

2. Jud Escapes {2:15}

3. Bill Flips {2:02}

4. Retrospection {1:49}

5. Comin' Back {3:52}

Dr. Eugene G. Weinberg - A Child's Cry: A Clue to Diagnosis

Dr. Eugene G. Weinberg - A Child's Cry: A Clue to Diagnosis

released on LP in 1971

This is one of the weirdest records I've ever heard. It certainly is among the top 1% of the weirdest, most frightening and most awesome LPs in my collection. As one can figure out, this is a collection of recorded sounds of children (mainly infants) crying. The cries differ by the various illnesses and diseases that the children are afflicted with. I'm not sure this is something that would be played during parties, gatherings of friends and family, or romantic moments, but then again you never know. I'm sure this record has been helpful to other pediatricians and medical professionals. Why else would something like have been released, right?

This was put out by Phizer which is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies or to be more specific Phizer Laboratories Division. The image below this paragraph is actually the back cover which is advertising one of its products which very likely has nothing to do with treating the children recorded.

Here's the liner notes I read that sealed the deal for me to pick up a copy of this LP:

Dr. Eugene G. Weinberg of the Department of Pediatrics, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, has recorded characteristic sounds made by normal children and by those presenting with illnesses or defects. Here are the cries, coughs and sounds of infants and children - each cry or sound associated with either a normal state, a specific illness or a genetic defect. The physician who realizes the importance of his ability to recognize these and other pediatric sounds possesses an extra diagnostic tool of importance.

Now this is the part where I say enjoy.

Tracklisting:

Side I

1. The Cry of a Normal Newborn Baby {1:29}

2. The Cry of a Premature Infant {0:33}

3. The Normal Cries of Hunger, Pain and Contentment {0:55}

4. The Grunting Respiration of an Infant with Hyaline Membrane Disease {1:01}

5. The Sound of Stridor or Croup {0:48}

6. The Cry and Cough of Cystic Fibrosis {1:03}

7. The Soft Cry of an Infant with a Vascular Ring {0:44}

8. The Wheezing, Bronchospastic Sound of Bronchial Asthma {0:24}

9. The Grunting Sound of Severe Pneumonia {0:35}

10. The Cat-Like Cry of Cri-du-Chat or Cat-Cry Syndrome {0:34}

11. The High-Pitched, Laughing Cry of aChild with Microcephaly {0:46}

12. The High-Pitched Cry of a Child with Hydraencephaly {1:08}

13. The Weak Cry of Downs Syndrome or Mongolism {1:05}

14. The Characteristic Sound of Whooping Cough {0:36}

15. The Tremendous Cry of Kwashiorkor {0:42}

Side II

1. The Hoarse Cry of Congenital Hypothyroidism {1:14}

2. The Sound of an Infant with Snuffles {0:44}

3. The Forced, Artificial Psychogenic Cough {1:11}

4. The Persistent Spasmodic Cough of Bronchiolitis {1:36}

5. The Immature Growling Cry of the deLange Syndrome {1:19}

6. The Sea Gull-Like Cry of an Infant with Trisomy-E Syndrome {1:23}

7. The Hoarse, Whispered Voice due to Lipoid Proteinosis {1:21}

8. The Deep Sighing Respiration of Metabolic Acidosis {1:12}

9. The Mature Masculine Voice of Precocious Puberty {2:19}

Denby Brandon - Power for Your Purpose/The Secrets of Leadership

Denby Brandon - Power for Your Purpose/The Secrets of Leadership

released on LP

I suppose that winning sales contests or selling the most of whatever product or service in your company qualifies one to put out records like this one. Denby Brandon certainly qualified himself to put out a record. His Memphis office won first place in a sales contest that took place during one month in 1961 that was initiated by Pan-American Life Insurance company. Not only did Denby run an insurance office that somehow convinced lots and lots of people to buy life insurance, Denby also hosted some TV program called Your Future Unlimited. I think the show was about self-improvement. Denby dispenses tips on this LP on how to get power and keep power, inspiring advice for business leaders and leadership advice.

I sure learned a lot from this LP. Not only that, I feel inspired to gain power over others and create my own destiny and destiny for others. I'm sure glad my copy of this LP was sitting among the flea market racks for only one dollar. Who knew that the way to success could be so cheap?


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Power for Your Purpose {20:05}

Side 2

1. The Secrets of Leadership {19:32}

Arshad Mahmud and Majid Khan - Sitar Influence

Arshad Mahmud and Majid Khan - Sitar Influence

released on cassette supposedly in 1977

This album reminds me of those Balsara and His Singing Sitars LPs. It sounds like one of those cash-in pop sitar albums chock full of cover songs. I'm not really sure which ones are originals or covers as no credits are given. No liner notes or performer credits are given either (except for Arshad Mahmud and Majid Khan on the cover). It would have helped that this information be included on the release as there is really no substantial information about this release or about Arshad Mahmud and Majid Khan on the internet tubes.

I'm sure that anyone into pop-sitar or space-age lounge instrumental stuff could dig this. All of the songs performed have a slow tempo making suitable for playing while chilling out and trying to impress your cool friends who probably own actual copies of Balsara and His Singing Sitars or Lord Sitar LPs. Along with the sitar, tablas, violins, chimes and flutes can be heard. There is even a cheap-sounding drum machine used on a few tracks ("How Can I Be Happy", "Yesterday Gone", and "I'll Come Along") instead of tablas. It sounds like the drum machine feature on one of those Casio keyboards that cost just a little over 100 bucks at one of the national big-box retailers. The album is really pleasant and charming stuff although most of the time I prefer the more authentic or traditional Indian music.

Tracklisting:

Side One

1. 1/3 {2:38}

2. People {3:38}

3. Free For All {4:16}

4. Good Evening {3:15}

5. Tantalisation {3:24}

6. Hi Tides {4:34}

7. How Can I Be Happy {3:19}

8. Persuasion {3:42}

Side Two

1. Yesterday Gone {4:28}

2. Sometimes In Morning {4:04}

3. Velvet Touch {4:18}

4. Beautiful Day Today {4:22}

5. I'll Come Along {4:04}

6. In Your Arms {3:26}

7. Festival {3:37}

Art Wilson - The Religious Ecumenical Movement in Bible Prophecy

Art Wilson - The Religious Ecumenical Movement in Bible Prophecy

released on LP

I found a copy of this in one of the local flea markets a few months ago. I think the coolest thing about this copy is that the vinyl is red. I'm one of those people that still think colored vinyl is cool. Maybe it's because I don't often find colored vinyl in the field. I'm still trying to figure out what the cover has to do with the topic. Heck, I'm still trying to figure out what he's talking about. I think it's something about the Bible or the Book of Revelations predicting the various denominations of Christianity coming together which in turn leads to the end of the world with the Antichrist's arrival. Art Wilson seems to attempt to delve deep in what is called biblical scholarship. He never uses any pop culture references of the day or make any dumb outlandish statements about other people to make his points.

My new best friend, Bing, doesn't seem to know anything about Art Wilson. I tried my former best friend and nothing turned up. According to the back cover, Art Wilson has been the pastor at the Wichita Baptist Tabernacle for over 26 years at the time this record was released. The back cover also mentions that Art Wilson has spent many years in study of Bible prophecy and that he speaks about "Great Bible Prophecies" including the ecumenical movement or "one-world church theme". That is all I know.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. The Religious Ecumenical Movement in Bible Prophecy side 1 {22:03}

Side 2

1. The Religious Ecumenical Movement in Bible Prophecy side 2 {23:01}

The first Honorary Basement Dweller is...

Just the other day, I heard an interview that I thought was the best interview I've ever heard in my life. It had just about everything: insight, philosophy, inspiration, dialogue about political matters, humor, discussions about relationships, partying, love, hate, and even a conversation about baseball. If you haven't already heard it, I promise this will be the best interview you've ever heard in your life.

Now if you're wondering about the post's title, yes, I am granting someone the honor of not only Honorary Basement Dweller, but the first ever Honorary Basement Dweller. I'll make it clear that just not anyone will be given the honor of Honorary Basement Dweller. You have to be someone special or have done something really special or both. The first recipient is both. Now on to announcing this individual. The first Honorary Basement Dweller is ....

His name is Carlos Estevez, but he is better known as Charlie Sheen. He is the son of Martin Sheen and the brother of Emilio Estevez. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the man from seeing him in movies and/or on TV. Just in case you've lived under the metaphorical rock, he's starred in such classic films as The Wraith, Major League, Hot Shots, Men at Work, among many others. He's also starred in TV sitcoms Spin City and Two and a Half Men. I use the past tense because as of this writing, apparently the producers of Two and a Half Men halted production and it appears that they don't want Charlie around anymore. You may also have seen him on TMZ or read about him in tabloid publications.

Charlie's career as an actor while trying to ride the coattails of his more talented father and talented brother is not the reason why I'm naming Charlie the first ever Honorary Basement Dweller. There are other reasons. I found out that Charlie is one amazing bitchin' dude from listening to his interview with Alex Jones, an expert on international politics and current events, a highly acclaimed documentary film maker, and one of Charlie's best pals. I learned that Charlie is a Vatican assassin. But this gets even better.

Charlie is winning. That's right. The man is addicted to winning. He was able to overcome his alcohol and drug addictions with the power of his mind. Charlie is the type of person we like here in the Basement and that is why he has been named the first ever Honorary Basement Dweller. He is a winner in life who possesses great ability to use the power of his mind. Wait, there's more.

Charlie lives life to the fullest. He lives life on his own terms, the way it should be. While he is trying to uncover evidence that the New World Order or the Illuminati was behind 9/11, he is out partying in such majestic places as the Bahamas with young beautiful actresses who often act in shall we say a certain type of low-budget independent movie. He also does great things for his family too. He said that he loves them violently while he hates anyone violently who would oppose his family. You better believe it when Charlie says he is like an F-18. Charlie provides plenty of philosophical thoughts into how to live life or I guess they can be called gnarly gnarlyisms.

Charlie cares about his gnarly friends and family. However, if you make enemies with Charlie, you better watch out. I'm sure that dude what's his name again who created Two and a Half Men and his third ex-wife Brooke are finding out that it's not much fun to be among Charlie's enemies. Shortly after the interview, a few haters named Sarah Silverman, Zooey Deschanel, John Stamos, and Denis Leary posted derogatory tweets on Twitter about Charlie. They're just some second-rate actresses and actors who are jealous that they don't get to party with Charlie and be among his gnarly friends to learn lots of stuff from him everyday. They're among the numerous trolls and fools who live loser lives just like that weirdo cult Alcoholics Anonymous. They're also probably pussies just like Thomas Jefferson. I'm not sure it really takes much stones to call the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence a pussy. Now if he has called George Washington a pussy, I would probably bow down to him just because he called George Washington a pussy. Knowing Charlie, I'm sure he'll do just that sometime in the near future.

Charlie Sheen is one awesome gnarly Vatican assassin winning bitchin' badass and the first ever Honorary Basement Dweller. Charlie, you and your beautiful powerful mind are always welcome to inhabit the Basement. Not only did he and Alex put on a great interview, Charlie probably also caused Two and a Half Men to be canceled which frees up 30 minutes of airtime for CBS to air a better show. That in itself is awesome. I'm sure that you have adequate Internet search skills to find his fantastic interview with Alex. However, I am offering the videos of Alex's interview with Charlie as downloads so you can listen to it over and over without using your Internet minutes (for those of you still stuck with limited Internet usage) or you can transfer the videos on your iPod or whatever mobile device you use and play them anytime anyplace. The reason I'm doing this is because everyone should hear this interview as it will change lives and make everyone more enlightened.

Tracklisting:  (links will be back soon)

1. Charlie Sheen Interview with Alex Jones (02-24-2011) part 1 {14:59}

2. Charlie Sheen Interview with Alex Jones (02-24-2011) part 2 {15:18}

3. Charlie Sheen Interview with Alex Jones (featuring Lenny Dykstra) part 3 (02-24-2011) {13:25}

Kenneth McFarland - Are We Raising the Red Flag Over Ourselves?

Kenneth McFarland - Are We Raising the Red Flag Over Ourselves?

LP probably released in 1963 (no date given); McFarland references having spent time at some hotel bar in New York during the Cuban Missle Crisis

What he means by the title of the LP is that he believes the United States of America could end up becoming a socialist/communist nation just like the Soviet Union because of many things including the enactment of the New Deal to help the United States recover from the Depression (i.e. creating jobs for the millions of unemployed people and to help restart the economy) and of something called progressive education. Basically, progressive education focuses on the individual abilities of the child or student and that each individual has his or her own learning style. A key component of progressive education is diversity.

Before Kenneth McFarland embarked on a career of public speaking in front of rich businesspeople and recording many records like this one, he was a superintendent of the Topeka, Kansas school system which was the school system in the Brown v. Board of Education case during Mr. McFarland's tenure. I guess I know why he's bitter towards progressive education. McFarland is also not happy that schools no longer post all the students' grades on all students' report cards. McFarland advocates that everybody should live life in competition everyday including children. I guess that it doesn't matter that students may or may not actually learn anything despite getting A's and B's. It's all about getting better grades than one's classmates. It's not really about measuring how well students are learning. I always thought that letter grades are kind of pointless anyway and I made mostly A's and B's.

McFarland advocates that people should succeed on their own, that is by competing against others. He thinks that those who are rich are the most successful and they should be treated better than anyone else. I guess that anyone born into a rich family is automatically a winner in life. He gripes that the rich pay more in taxes than anyone below them in the economic ladder. This is another way that the U.S. was supposedly headed towards becoming a socialist/communist country. The American way is competition and what he thinks of as "free enterprise" which really means no government regulation of business. McFarland is mistaking economic regulation by the government as control of industries.

On this record, McFarland speaks in front of a group of hospital and healthcare executives somewhere in southern California. It takes McFarland about 11 minutes to get into the topics mentioned already in this post. McFarland implies that the premier of the Soviet Union at the time, Nikita Krushchev, laughed in an evil way at the Americans are becoming a bunch of commies for progressive taxation and progressive education. Okay, Khrushchev didn't really laugh in an evil way at the U.S. (maybe he really did), but McFarland mentioned that Khrushchev said in a speech that the U.S. would someday raise the red flag (communism) over themselves. I can imagine McFarland boiling into some rage and his blood pressure rising at the mere thought of Khrushchev's speech and the fact that not every American shared McFarland's points of view on life. I'm sure everyone knows what happened after this LP was released. You can say that the opposite took place instead.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Are We Raising the Red Flag Over Ourselves? side 1 {27:32}

Side 2

1. Are We Raising the Red Flag Over Ourselves? side 2 part 1 {19:43}

2. Are We Raising the Red Flag Over Ourselves? side 2 part 2 {6:03}

Note: side 2 is broken into two parts because at one point the needle gets stuck in a groove; the stuck part lasted well over a minute and I had to gently nudge the needle forward

Cecil Todd - Wake Up America!

Cecil Todd - Wake Up America!

released on LP in 1975 or 1976

Like Jack Van Impe and his album in the last post, America in Prophecy, which was released around the same time as this LP, Cecil Todd is predicting doom and gloom for the USA. Unlike Van Impe, Cecil Todd does not mention anything about prophecy or hope in the end.

The album's cover and back cover says that this was recorded at a patriotic rally. Cecil preached at this rally about America's possible downfall because like 19 other nations or empires that once were mighty, America will fall because of all of the decadence that is taking place. Alcoholism, gambling, wife swapping, prostitution, and other similar enjoyable activities are increasing. Cecil emphatically claims that no one cares that these activities are on the rise. Also, Cecil tries to tie these in with illegal activities which he claims are increasing too. It sounds like the things that are legal to a degree (drinking, gambling, wife swapping) should be classified as illegal in the same group as murder and robbery.

Interestingly on side 1, Cecil does not blame these things on atheists, communists, or secular socialists. He hardly mentions them on side 1. On side 2, Cecil does talk about atheists. He says that they were successful in taking religious indoctrination out of taxpayer-funded public schools. At one point, he goes into a rant because Madalyn Murray O'Hair (perhaps the most notable atheist ever) was not too happy that some astronaut read from the Bible while in outer space. He points out that those commie nations and in general foreign nations won't cause America to fall, the downfall of America is coming from within (which I do seriously agree that the downfall of America will come from within). He thinks some people "want to take God out of America" and is afraid they'll succeed. Cecil never explicitly makes the connection between atheists and those fun things like gambling, drinking, promiscuous sex, but it seems to be implied I suppose.

Because of those immoral activities and atheism, Cecil says that America will lose its freedoms. I'm not sure how American freedom would be preserved by not allowing people to do things that could be interpreted as immoral but still legal or things that preachers don't like people to do. Is that what happens in other countries that do not have freedom where people are not allowed to do certain things or participate in activities because the rulers or governments say so? I'm not exactly getting the impression that Cecil Todd really understands the principles that make America a nice place to live (compared to most other countries) then again he is another guy that thinks that the founding fathers say that America is a Christian only nation.

The end of the album has a performance of Gospel music by The Gospel Lads.



Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Wake Up America! side 1 {16:31}

Side 2

1. Wake Up America! side 2 {16:43}

Jack Van Impe - America in Prophecy

Jack Van Impe - America in Prophecy

released on LP

The first share on this blog was an album by Jack Van Impe. I thought it would be fitting if year #4 of the Basement starts out with something by Jack Van Impe.

On this album released probably in 1976 (notably America's bicentennial year), Jack tries to make the case that America was predicted as a political Babylon in the Bible although America is not explicitly mentioned (just as Hilton Sutton claimed that the Bible predicted important biblical events involving America). Back then, things were not so great. According to Jack, there was a rise in crimes, drug use, gambling, pornography and other immoral behavior and a decline in moral values. Naturally, the blame was placed on folks such as athiests, intellectuals, the public school system for no longer teaching religion including the Christian version of the creation story, those who create and implement sex education classes in schools, anyone who is pro-choice, anyone who accepts evolution as fact, homosexuals, and just about anyone else who doesn't agree with Jack's line of thought. Most of the time, Jack talks about how these people allegedly have contributed to America's decline.

Then comes the part that America is supposed to be in decline after all because it's predicted in the Bible. That's what Jack says. The state of the world is awful, but instead of trying to come up with ways to make the world a better place, all one has to do is wait for the Rapture. It could happen any moment now where a lot of people will be magically transported from this world full of problems to Heaven. I guess it was already supposed to happen in the 1970s if Jack's sermon is any indication. It's 2011, 35 years later, things are still not so great and still no Rapture. But it still could occur, right. I guess we have to be patient.

When the Rapture does take place, that is when the Antichrist will start to take over America and the rest of the world and rule with an iron fist for seven years. Then Christ is supposed to come back by defeating the Antichrist and his evil forces. Afterwards, the world that we know will become a blissful wonderful place free of problems such as robberies, gambling, drug use, sex education classes, etc. and likely free of those intellectuals, secular socialists, Darwinists (i.e. those who accept evolution), homos, and other undesirables. So does anyone who was raptured get to come back to Earth when Christ returns? America sounds like a depressing place to be when one listens to Jack's sermon. It sounds worse than it actually was (or is). Yet, Jack tries to be reassuring that if you're a good person, you won't have to be around when shit gets worse. Thanks Jack for another moment of terror and comfort at the same time.


Tracklisting:

Side One

1. America in Prophecy side one {24:33}

Side Two

1. America in Prophecy side two {23:50}

Tom Vu video clips

Come in. We're still having our birthday/anniversary party here in the Basement. There's a little cake and ice cream left. It's all chocolate, of course.

While I've been celebrating, I've been watching some inspirational video clips of a rich gentleman named Tom Vu. As you have seen from the video clip in the previous post, Tom wants to help people make money by conducting seminars explaining how he was able to make his millions and people can use his techniques to make millions too. He put out an infomercial back in the late 1980s advertising his services while displaying some of his possessions. Tom may have asked some of his female friends (which is quite notable that they conform to society's standards of beauty enabling them to have confidence for them to wear only bikinis) to help out on his infomercial just by hanging around with him. (Most likely, what really happened is that he paid them handsomely).

Tom Vu apparently made a killing in real estate investments especially from bankruptcies and foreclosures. He was able to buy yachts, cars, mansions, "waterfalls", polo shirts, etc. According to his infomercial, Tom used to be poor where he grew up with 9 siblings. Tom held low-status, low-paying jobs including one where he worked at a country club which he tells about in the video clip below. Then Tom ended up where he was because he is such a hard worker. I believe that Tom retired from real estate investing and is now a professional poker player. I also heard rumors that he's still doing real estate investments particularly with condos in Las Vegas.

The video clip below this paragraph is just Tom all by his lonesome. No young women in bikinis are present. It's just Tom by one of his luxury cars and in front of his "waterfall" installed in his front yard. Tom explains how he was determined to be successful. As mentioned already, Tom asked some old rich guy how he got rich and how Tom too can become rich. The old rich guy told Tom three words that is the secret to success. Of course, Tom does not tell what are those three words. Instead, Tom says that he will only tell those three words at one of his seminars. Tom goes on to say that his friends and strangers thought he was crazy for trying to be successful, to be rich. Those people who doubted Tom are losers while Tom is a winner. It seems he got some new friends when he became successfully rich.



The second video clip below this paragraph is more of Tom's infomercial. This time his friends, the women in bikinis, are in full display. Tom tries to inspire the viewers with his success stories and advertises his seminars. Tom says his course is not the same as everybody else's. If he brought along his friends in bikinis to his seminars, then he would be definitely be right. (I wonder if he actually did just that.)



I also have these clips and a few others available for the taking if anyone wants to watch these on their mp3/video players or not have to be connected online.

There will be the usual oddball LPs, tapes, and maybe CDs and Internet finds forthcoming. There's some "good" stuff in the pipeline. Also, sometime in the next few months, I may upload some videos myself from my collection rather than just posting other peoples' video uploads that are on YouTube. BTW, thanks to the folks who originally posted these video clips.

Tracklisting: (link will be back soon)

1. tom vu [waterfall clip in this post] {2:20}

2. Tom Vu commercial {4:51}

3. Tom Vu and his babes [clip from previous post] {1:39}

4. Tom Vu - another clip (with music) [also in this post] {3:20}

A Basement of Curiosities is Three Years Old!

I was hoping to gain fame and fortune as well as meeting a lot of hot chicks doing this blog. My pockets have not gotten fatter and I certainly am not famous (as I didn't think those things would happen anyway), but the big disappointment is that I have not met any hot chicks during my 3 years doing this blog. I have not even met any chicks who claims she is a hot chick but is really the opposite of hot. I don't get it. I'm charming and amazingly handsome and I have a blog plus I have a car that works. I would think that would be all I need. I am wrong. Perhaps I need to be like the guy in the video clip above this paragraph. He sure has a lot of babes hanging around with him. He seems to be charming and handsome. Interestingly, he also is wealthy which I guess he's generous enough to conduct seminars to teach people how to make boatloads of money like he has done.

However in all seriousness, I did meet quite a number of nice, interesting, funny, smart, and probably good-looking people during my 3 years running A Basement of Curiosities. First, I would like to thank all of the wonderful folks who kindly gave "love donations" to me for this blog during this blog's existence. (Yeah, I'm calling them "love donations". That's what Paul Crouch and his TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) station calls them so that must be okay.) I enjoy sending out "love gifts" to people over the webs (that's what Paul Crouch and TBN calls them too). The love gifts will keep coming and hopefully a few more love donations will come my way. That way, the love donations usually become love gifts to you all.

I would like to also thank all of the visitors to the blog. Without you all, this endeavor is just something to amuse myself with which is only fun for a short period of time. Of course, I do hope that this blog is inspirational and educational to you too. ;)

If I haven't already said it, happy new year to all of you and may your wishes come true in 2011. (Hopefully they will, cause the world's ending next year, right.)