Leslie Sansone - Walk Away the Pounds: 2 Miles

Leslie Sansone - Walk Away the Pounds: 2 Miles

*special thanks to KL from NYC for this one

I have declared this week to be fitness week. We could use some exercise. We all need to get in better shape, right. I know I do. I sit on my butt behind a computer at work and I sit on my butt behind a computer on my time off from work. I need to be more proactive in maintaining physical fitness. I'm not just talking about bending and moving my arms while digging through crates and boxes of records either. Since all the good looking and popular people are exercising, I might as well do it too to get in shape and I need all the help I can get in getting dates. Being healthy is nice too.

Leslie Sansone is a fitness professional in the health industry. She has several DVDs currently on the market. She is also on a few CDs such as this one. This CD is meant to be listened to while walking. This one is the 2 mile version not no soft 1/4 mile version. We here at the Basement believe in doing things right and doing them to the max. Actually, this is the only one we have.

The idea behind this CD is to play this to let Leslie motivate and preach to you while you are walking to lose some pounds or to prevent gaining any pounds. It seems awkward walking with a CD player and the things usually cause the CDs to skip if the player is budged an inch. The exercise CD may not have been a great idea or was it? With mp3 players and CD-ripping tools included on affordable computers, this CD can be ripped as mp3 files on the computer then the files can be transferred to an mp3 player. Now CDs like this can work as people can use their mp3 players when exercising.

The background music is high BPM dance cover versions of Motown hits. There are tracks with just the music, but I didn't include those as I found the music too unbearable. Only the tracks with Leslie's voice are included.

Tracklisting:

1. Leslie Guided Walk [Voice-Cued Walk] {5:04}

2. Leslie Guided Walk [Voice-Cued Walk] {5:03}

3. Leslie Guided Walk [Voice-Cued Walk] {4:09}

4. Leslie Guided Walk [Voice-Cued Walk] {5:04}

5. Leslie Guided Walk [Voice-Cued Walk] {4:56}

6. Leslie Guided Walk [Voice-Cued Walk] {6:39}

Rod McKuen - Life Is

Rod McKuen - Life Is

released on LP

Ah, Rod McKuen. That sensitive sentimental poet mired in love and heartbreak. Just about everyone had a Rod McKuen album back in the day. His albums sold billions of copies which means that copies of his albums are often seen in thrift stores almost as much as Herb Alpert and those Firestone Christmas albums. Interestingly his material does not get any airplay on any oldies radio station or any radio station as a matter of fact. So, I first heard about Rod McKuen or actually seen anything about the man at some thrift store having seen a few of his albums such as The Sea, The Sky and a few others. This was when I first started seriously browsing in thrift stores in the first half of the 2000s. My parents may have been among the few people not into Rod McKuen as there wasn't anything by him in their collections (or they hid his albums very well from my nosey fingers and prying eyes). The former is highly likely as I never heard them speak his name to this day. And yes, they are into mainstream music not any of the weird stuff I like.

Anyway, this brings me to the album in this post. As already mentioned, many people know Rod McKuen as a sentimental romantic poet. However, Rod McKuen once had an edgier persona that his devoted fans may not have known about or care to know about. Life Is is a reissue of the album Beatsville which was released in 1959. Life Is was reissued in the late 1960s. The material on Life Is/Beatsville was written and recorded when Rod McKuen was a young man trying to be cool especially a beatnik. Most of the poems are a depiction of the beatnik or San Francisco bohemian lifestyle. The liner notes mention that many of these poems were first read at The Cellar, probably the coolest happenin place in San Francisco and America overall. Along with poetry about living the bohemian lifestyle there are episodes of sex and violence, two staples that usually make art worthwhile. Rod McKuen does demonstrate that he is struggling to be cool as in the poem, "No Pictures, Please". Eventually Rod McKuen ends up being rich and famous and beloved for being an uncool romantic sentimental sap; in other words being himself. He doesn't need worry about trivial things such as growing a beard, wearing turtleneck sweaters or assembling a collection of Lenny Bruce records in his pad (that means someone's home for you squares out there). The masses wanted love poems and Rod McKuen could deliver with ease.

There was another reissue of Beatsville called Rod McKuen Takes a San Francisco Hippie Trip aimed at you guessed it, the then-trendy hippie crowd. For some reason, the salacious material and language was edited out of this particular reissue.

The music accompanying McKuen's readings was arranged by McKuen himself. The liner notes credit Howard Heitmayer on guitar, Buddy Colette on flute and Paul Gray on string bass.

Come take a trip through the cool part of mid-20th century culture with all of the salicious material and language included courtesy of one of the least coolest people in existence.

Tracklisting:  (link will be back soon)

Side 1

1. Co-Existence Bagel Shop Blues {1:01}

2. Bearded Ladies {3:16}

3. Haiku Poems {1:53}

4. No Pictures, Please {2:19}

5. Back to Sausalito {1:24}

6. Three Songs for "S" {2:43}

7. RSVP {1:20}

8. Joue {0:19}

9. Reflections on a Plane Trip Home {1:04}

Side 2

1. Life Is {0:44}

2. The Elegant Prison Downstairs {2:14}

3. The Bird Boy {2:05}

4. Grant Avenue Square Dance {0:19}

5. A Gallery of Assorted Beats {3:58}

6. Get the Hell Out of My World {3:18}

7. Like {0:39}

8. What is a Fabian? {3:41}

Directional Sound - The Sound of Sounds

Directional Sound - The Sound of Sounds

released on LP

This is a stereo test/ sound effects record that I found at the same "community garage sale" and bought from the same people as The Darts LP in the previous post. Most of these sound effects records that I encountered in my years of digging usually have a random assortment of sounds arranged in their tracklistings and each track usually lasts a minute. The tracks on this LP each last about a minute too, but some of the sounds are organized into groups of tracks especially on side one. For example, the first four tracks are recordings of sounds of jets and planes. Side one has car noises grouped into four sequential tracks. One of them even has a sound of a crash. No, the crash was not arranged as the liner notes say and the driver was not seriously injured.

Side two mostly has recordings of nature such as waves, a thunderstorm, horses, livestock, birds, along with hogs being slaughtered. This is the first sound effects record I've encountered that has hogs being slaughtered. Shhhh, don't tell PETA about this post.

The back cover says: The recording contained in this jacket is the direct result of the skills and efforts of DIRECTIONAL SOUND's team of engineers, who spent hundreds of hours recording what we believe to be a unique Sound Effects album. Reproduced with the utmost fidelity and precision are the maximum extremes of sound ever recorded ... from the quiet babbling of a country brook to the dynamic take-off of a 707 Jet; from the chirpings of crickets to the unbelievable power of a full-fledged thunderstorm. Here is an array of sounds to excite any listener and to test to the maximum your playback equipment.

Tracklisting:  (link will be back soon)

Side One

1. Jet Engines in Test Cell, with Afterburner {0:47}

2. Sonic Boom & F-104 Supersonic Jets {1:10}

3. F-86's Taking Off & Flying Overhead {1:49}

4. Boeing 707's Takeoff {1:04}

5. Trains, Steam & Diesel in Yard {0:59}

6. Steam, Electric, Diesel Passing Country Crossing {1:28}

7. Harbor Scene S. S. Matsonia Leaving {1:34}

8. Speed Boats in Race, Passing Under Bridge {1:46}

9. Sports Cars in Pit Area (Elkhart Lake, Wis.) {1:05}

10. Sports Cars on Straightaway {1:29}

11. Sports Cars on Approach to Curve {1:02}

12. Sports Cars on Curve, with Crash {1:20}

Side Two

1. Pigeons in Hayloft {1:19}

2. Passing of a Thunderstorm, with Cicadas {1:58}

3. Incoming Tide at Malibu, with Seagulls {1:39}

4. Horses, Horses {1:10}

5. Jungle Scene {1:07}

6. Hogs Slaughtered {0:53}

7. Wild Geese & Birds {0:39}

8. Babbling Brook {0:51}

9. Frogs {0:39}

10. Livestock {0:58}

11. Day Crickets {1:00}

12. Children Playing {0:53}

13. Fireworks at Pallisades Park {1:01}

14. Magic Mechanical Orchestra {1:05}

The Darts - Hollywood Drag

The Darts - Hollywood Drag

released on LP

I was browsing through one of those "community garage sales" which was actually more like a swap meet where people from almost all over town gathered in a parking lot to sell their stuff. People would have their own spots usually with a couple of tables and their vehicle behind them. I came across a couple who had a couple of boxes of records. Most of the records were easy listening or sort of "space age pop" material. They did have three records I wanted to buy and the record featured in this post was one of them. The price of each record was $1.

At first, I thought this was a car sounds record as I didn't look at it closely enough. The liner notes only list drag racing terms and their definitions such as "drop the hammer", "put the can in", "haulin' mother", "feather footed", etc. along with a brief background of drag racing. It would be nifty to have another record of car noises as you know by now I like these things if you've been visiting this blog for a while. This turned out differently than I expected.

The LP is actually an album of early rock 'n' roll instrumentals which the style is referred to as hot rod music on the back cover. No date of release was given, but I'm guessing early 1960s. I'm not really disappointed that this wasn't what I thought it was as I actually enjoy this LP. I'm fond of the fifth track, "Monkey Do" where a tape containing a guitar part sounds like it's been slowed down while all the other parts seems to be at the correct speed; perhaps an early attempt at studio experimentation. Yes, there are car noises mixed with the music. Since summer is almost here in the northern half of the planet (for those in the southern half, stay warm), it is a good time as any to bring out this LP as the music was made for doing fun outdoor activities like cruising, making people envious by showing off one's hot rod, and drag racing as already mentioned.

Tracklisting:  (link will be back soon)

Side 1

1. Alky Burner {2:28}

2. Top Eliminator {2:16}

3. Hippy's Delight {2:19}

4. Street Machine {1:43}

5. Monkey Do {2:14}

6. Gaucho {2:00}

Side 2

1. Slauson & Soto {1:28}

2. Detroit Iron/Hollywood Drag {4:10}

3. Cruisin' {1:46}

4. Shop Talk {1:40}

5. Corn Pone {2:08}

James Walker - Christian Science: Illusion, Confusion & Delusion

James Walker - Christian Science: Illusion, Confusion & Delusion

released on cassette

Although not credited on the tape, I recognize James Walker's voice from the other Watchman Fellowship tapes (previously posted here and here, BTW) as the man giving a long lecture about Christian Science. At the lecture, manuals were given to attendees which are referred to on this tape. I didn't find the manual, but it's probably not necessary for listening. Walker takes on the Christian Science denomination. According to Walker, Christian Science deviates from the correct belief system (i.e. the scriptures). Walker asserts that Christian Science is neither Christian nor science.

Christian Science was first articulated by Mary Baker Eddy around 1875 when she published her ideas in the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. In 1879, Mary Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, the formal organization of Christian Science, in Boston, Massachusetts. Basically according to the Christian Science FAQ on its website, Christian Science "is based upon a set of spiritual principles - laws relating to the nature of God and His creation - that can be applied with expected, consistent results" and it "is based on the Bible, and Christian Scientists follow the teachings and ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, the virgin birth, the crucifixion, the resurrection and ascension of Christ Jesus, and so on, are all central to Christian Science theology." Prayer rather than remedies by modern medicine (a product of science) is usually the Christian Scientist's first choice for methods of healing. Christian Scientists claim that healing through prayer has worked for various ailments even for fixing broken bones.

The background of founder Mary Baker Eddy explains the Christian Science belief described above:

Without a doubt, the Bible was the most significant influence in Eddy’s life. She was a devoted student of the Scriptures from early childhood and gradually gained the conviction that spiritual healing was not limited to biblical times but could be practiced as effectively today. Chronically ill, she also investigated the medical systems of her time and gained insights into the mental factors of health from her study of homeopathy. For a time, her health improved under the care of Phineas P. Quimby, a self-taught healer in Maine who combined mental suggestion or hypnosis with what today might be called therapeutic touch. The improvement was not permanent, however, and she moved beyond his methods after his death in 1866. Convinced that genuine healing was rooted in God, not the human mind, she experienced a profound spiritual healing at age 44 as she read an account of Jesus’ healings. She spent the next three years of her life researching the Bible to understand how she had been healed and applying what she was learning to healing others through a system she eventually called Christian Science.

James Walker attempts to refute Christian Science beliefs and Mary Baker Eddy's ideas throughout the tape. One of the Christian Science beliefs is that evil is illusory and only good is real. Walker asserts that evil does exist especially emphasizing that Satan is alive and well. Walker implies that Christian Science has been perpetrated by demons or dark occultic forces. Despite the membership of Christian Science declining, Walker sounds alarmist over Christian Science's supposed influence in the world and asks people to "witness" to Christian Scientists to convert their beliefs to line up with Walker's beliefs and those of the Watchman Fellowship. Check out the Watchman Fellowship's perspective on Christian Science.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Christian Science: Illusion, Confusion & Delusion {44:34}

Side 2

1. Christian Science: Illusion, Confusion & Delusion {44:33}

Charles S. Kendall - Patriotic Chimes

Charles S. Kendall - Patriotic Chimes

released on LP

Charles S. Kendall has a prolific discography of albums full of chimes. Some of his other releases are listed on the back cover. Kendall's repertoire consist mostly of religious (i.e. Xian) standards along with American patriotic standards which are on this album.

I was going to post this later on the 4th of July, but I'll be on vacation during the first week of July. I didn't want to wait to post this so I'll post it now. The tunes on this album do not excite me, but I do like listening to music played on chimes so I occasionally enjoy listening to this record.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. America {1:25}

2. America the Beautiful {1:52}

3. God of Our Fathers {1:49}

4. God, Known of Old {1:23}

5. God, the Omnipotent {1:35}

6. O Valiant Hearts {1:15}

7. Our Thought of Thee, Dear Country {1:07}

8. Come, Ye Thankful People {1:39}

9. Come! Peace of God {1:31}

10. God Bless America {1:57}

Side 2

1. Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean {1:24}

2. Hail, Columbia {1:48}

3. Battle Hymn of the Republic {1:54}

4. Dixie {1:20}

5. Battle Cry of Freedom {1:52}

6. Just Before the Battle Mother {1:29}

7. We're Tenting Tonight {1:39}

8. Army Air Corps/Caissows Go Rolling Along/Anchors Aweigh/The Marine's Hymn {3:09}

9. Over There/Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition {1:16}

10. The Stars and Stripes Forever {0:53}

11. The Star Spangled Banner {1:38}

David Bubar - David Bubar Speaks to You

David Bubar - David Bubar Speaks to You

David Bubar was a Southern Baptist minister. Not only that, he was "a Christian clairvoyant" who is claimed to have "a gift of clairvoyance from God." Bubar founded the Spiritual Outreach Society (S.O.S.) based in Memphis, Tennessee (USA). The S.O.S. was later renamed First Century Church.

There is not any information available online about any of Bubar's LP releases or his discography. I am only aware of him releasing this album and another one called Psychic Sitting. I found a copy of the other album being sold on some online second-hand record merchant. Bubar speaks to you on this album saying you have some sort of special spiritual abilities. Bubar does not talk about psychic powers on this album though he seems to be hinting at the possibility of people possessing psychic powers. This is mostly David Bubar the Southern Baptist minister talking to you.

Back then, David Bubar has been gaining a reputation for his supposed psychic abilities as well as a spiritual advisor. The liner notes say that:

An advisor to governors, a counselor to clergymen, a personal guide to entertainment luminaries, an inspiration to space research engineers, a university lecturer, the personal friend of professionals, college students and common folk in trouble across the nation, David Noble Bubar's phone is ringing night and day.

The liner notes quote a prominent person speaking highly of David Bubar:

Charles Moeller, president of Ohio Decorative Products Corp., and Edgerton Metal Products Corporation, auto and home appliance accessories manufacturing firms, said, "We have been very fortunate since I met David ... you don't just break into the auto industry as fast and as good as we have. He seems to 'see' things." David Bubar is a member of the board of directors for Moeller, serving without pay.

David Bubar supposedly saw something or rather "got vibrations of an impending explosion." An article in Time magazine published on May 5, 1975 reported that Charles Moeller was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to blow up the Sponge Rubber Products factory in Shelton, Connecticut, United States. Ohio Decorative Products Corp. was the parent company of Sponge Rubber Products.

The article further reports:

According to the indictment, Moeller paid $50,000 in company funds to David Bubar, 47, a trim, wavy-haired Baptist minister and self-proclaimed clairvoyant from Memphis who purports to have foreseen a variety of specific deaths, illnesses and other disasters. Bubar met Moeller about ten years ago, became his spiritual guru and ultimately a director of Ohio Decorative Products. He supposedly served Sponge Rubber Products as a water-purification consultant, annoying various managers by poking around the main Shelton plant unescorted and as he pleased. But the plant, so far as anyone knew, had no water problems.

Two weeks before the bombing, according to his brother John, a minister in Cheshire, Conn., Bubar "got vibrations" of an impending explosion. The Government contends that the psychic preacher indulged in a bit of self-fulfilling prophecy: Bubar allegedly paid out part of Moeller's money to Peter Betres, 54, a Butler, Pa., hotelkeeper who in turn paid off a gallery of other suspects. Thus recruited, the arson team bought dynamite, detonating material and 24 drumfuls of gasoline. Then they gathered at the plant on the day of the crime, together with Bubar, who arranged to let them in. They proceeded to blow up the factory.

Moeller was aquitted while Bubar wound up in prison. When Bubar was given a long prison sentence, the S.O.S./First Century Church did not last long.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. You Have a Spiritual Gift {15:23}

Side 2

1. The Divine Element Within You {14:51}

Brother Al - Brother Al's Health and Happiness Sermons

Brother Al - Brother Al's Health and Happiness Sermons

*special thanks to KL from NYC for this one

KL says that Brother Al is the "usual used car salesman" which he is. Brother Al says that one will achieve health and happiness by reading The Bible and embracing the text contained within. Brother Al also says to write him to his Fresno, California (USA) address quite a lot. I wonder if he read every letter and answered back. Each side includes one gospel song on each side of the LP which are intermissions between the sermons. The songs should appeal to gospel fans.

The United Faith Foundation still has an address in Fresno, California at the present. The first link retrieved when I typed "united faith foundation" and "fresno" in everyone's favorite search engine is a map on Google Maps to the organization's location. Surprisingly, the United Faith Foundation does not have a website which is unbelievable in the year 2010 and free or cheap hosting by Geocities and Tripod are available along with a bunch of social media websites. It's not on Facebook. It doesn't have a blog. Not even a page on that eyesore known as MySpace. Does the United Faith Foundation know anything about the Internet? I bring this up because I want to know if Brother Al is still alive and to find out what it's up to today. I suppose that it would prefer you still write to them at their Fresno, California address instead of e-mailing them.

Here's their address if you want health and happiness or to find out if Brother Al is still alive:

1921 East Belmont Avenue
Fresno, CA 93761

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Sermon {6:48}

2. Hymn {2:15}

3. Sermon {12:46}

Side 2

1. Sermon {8:30}

2. Hymn {3:32}

3. Sermon {8:39}

Dollond and Aitchison - Congratulations, You've Got the Job!

Dollond and Aitchison - Congratulations, You've Got the Job!

*special thanks to jay strange for this gem

Sometime back in the 1970s, if you were hired to be a receptionist at Dollond and Aitchison, a UK (United Kingdom) chain specializing in eye glasses and eye tests, you were given this record to listen to as your orientation to working for this company. A male narrator is your guide throughout this record which may or may not be interesting since you were most likely a young female if you had the job of receptionist back then. This narrator explains how customer service is done in the company and a little bit about the company's background. Several work situations are played out depicting examples of what not to do and how to correctly handle the situation.

I was told by jay that companies in the UK often made orientation records although most of them were 7 inches and very few 12-inch records were produced by companies. This is one of those 12-inch records. These records were made apparently before everybody could afford the technology to produce orientation videos which is the norm now.

The founding of Dollond and Aitchison dates all the way back to 1750(!) as a company founded by Peter Dollond as Dollond & Co. In 1927, Dollond & Co. merged with Aitchison & Co. which was founded by James Aitchison in 1889. In 2009, Boots Opticians merged with Dollond and Aitchison which Boots bought a controlling share in D&A. D&A/Boots are one of the four big companies that have around a 70% share in the eyeglasses and contact lenses market in the UK.

If it's cool to have vinyl now at least according to the hipsters, it would be cool if some enterprise produced an orientation to working on vinyl. That would send a message that the company is cool meaning the cool kids want to work there and/or buy its products and services. If I owned a company, that's what I would do. Forget the orientation video on DVD and VHS. Since I have been wearing glasses since childhood, of course, I would choose to own an optical company. (Now you can tell how this record resonates with me.) I know something about the glasses market and I am a customer of optical stores so I know the mindset of the customer base. Anyway, I think I need all the help I can get attracting the cool kids (to increase market share) since I am uncool and unhip. I bet this record once stodgy years ago is now cool.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Congratulations, You've Got the Job! {13:44}

Side 2

1. Congratulations, You've Got the Job! continued {13:13}

Gertrude Behanna - God Isn't Dead

Gertrude Behanna - God Isn't Dead

released on LP

In the area where I live, a copy of this recording can often be found in thrift stores. I almost see as many copies of this as Barbara Streisand, Mantovani, or those Firestone Christmas albums (all guaranteed to make one's thrift store browsing experiences depressing). The copies of God Isn't Dead are usually beat-up or worn. I wasn't sure if I really wanted this anyway.

Earlier in the year at the annual library sale, I spotted a copy in very good condition and finally gave in. I bought a copy. The cover was in very good condition, however the condition of the LP itself was only in good condition.

Gertrude Behanna was among the small percentage of humans in the world who was wealthy because she was fortunate to be born to wealthy parents. That does not mean she was happy throughout her life of glamour, not having to do any actual work, and having a near unlimited amount of money to spend. She lived a life of misery. She was an alcoholic and drug addict who had three marriages that were disastrous. Something tells me her misery was mostly caused by Gertrude herself although her family situation was not exactly wonderful. At one point in her life, Gertrude was not feeling well physically and mentally. Her physician recommended that Gertrude seek psychiatric help. Instead, Gertrude decided to seek out Jesus.

Apparently, it worked out for her according to the liner notes: At age 53 she discovered that God was not dead ... that through the miracle of Christ's divine love and power ... drugs, liquor and despair itself could be conquered. Her health regained, she has spent the past 15 years touring the country, telling her story, giving hope and encouragement to thousands in all walks of life.

Gertrude wrote an autobiography, The Late Liz, that was supposedly a best-seller plus she recorded this record of confessions and testimony.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. God Isn't Dead {29:18}

Side 2

1. God Isn't Dead continued {29:33}

Henry Blythe - Stop Smoking

Henry Blythe - Stop Smoking

*special thanks to jay strange for this

Yes, this is another "stop smoking" or "quit smoking" album. If the other ones didn't work, perhaps this one will. Henry Blythe is a hypnotist whose method is to, of course, hypnotize you into a state where you're supposed to be suggestive to Henry's words stating that you will quit smoking. (I couldn't find anything on Henry Blythe, BTW.) Henry uses a (metaphorical) tool called a hypnotic sponge to cleanse your thoughts of desires of wanting to smoke filthy cigarettes. Will the hypnotic sponge cure you smokers? At near the end of Side 1 "Stop Smoking", Henry brings the listeners out of their hypnotic state. Henry claps but it is inaudible. However, he raises his voice when counting to five and goes into a more frantic pace which I suppose he seems to try to make up for the inaudible clap. Not sure if people came out of their hypnotic states though. ;) Side 2 "How to Relax" is I am sure self-explanatory.

What makes this album better is that Henry wants you to show his picture while you are playing his record. The liner notes explain:

Place the portrait of Henry Blythe on the front of this sleeve on a table or mantle shelf and sit in an easy relaxed position facing the portrait whilst the record is being played.
Choose a room for this Hypnotic Treatment where you are not likely to be Disturbed. Follow Henry Blythe's spoken instructions very intently and BELIEVE that he is actually in the room with you, that it is not merely a photographic face and a recorded voice - but that he is in the room with you in SPIRIT - a BLYTHE spirit.
You will be astonished at the results.
Play this record EVERY day for FOUR days and treat very seriously this genuine effort to STOP YOU SMOKING.

I think that is an awesome idea. Why don't more people tell their listeners or readers to place their picture while listening or reading? I am printing out copies of Henry's portrait. I want to hang it on my wall. I can have the spirit of Henry with me most of the time. I may even print out a small copy of Henry's portrait to carry around in my wallet so I can have Henry with me all the time. If you didn't know Henry was a hypnotist, one could guess that he is a distinguished gentleman. He looks like he could be a Nobel-prize winning scientist or an acclaimed author of some brilliant novel or some sort of intellectual. You can put a picture of him on your wall and impress people by telling them what I said in the last sentence. They'll be impressed and yet no one will really know. I think Henry was aspiring to be idolized and maybe now he'll get his wish.


This post includes bonus material. The track is a collaboration between jay strange and The Bevis Frond (calling themselves The Bizaardvarks) named "The Hypnotic Sponge". It is a psych/stoner piece sampling Henry Blythe. Great stuff! "The Hypnotic Sponge" is from the compilation Woronzoid released in 1989 on vinyl.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Stop Smoking {10:33}

Side 2

1. How to Relax {9:42}

Bonus Track

1. The Bizaardvarks - The Hypnotic Sponge {8:40}

Bill Gove - Time: Its New Dimensions

Bill Gove - Time: Its New Dimensions

*special thanks to KL from NYC for this one

I've posted records by salesmen before. I have no doubt you already know that if you're a loyal visitor to this blog and paying attention or if you're a newbie and possess ESP powers. However, in over two years of this blog's existence, nothing by America's #1 salesman has ever been posted until today. That's right. I have the record by America's #1 salesman ready for you to listen to. I bet you that you woke up earlier in the day never guessing that you are about to listen to America's #1 salesman later in the day. Lucky you. It's almost as good as waking up on yet another ordinary day only to find out you won the lottery later in the day.

On this record is a recording of a speech given by the #1 salesman in America. From the title and cover, one would think that he talks about time which would be really cool especially if he talked about time travel and its possible effects on creating several alternate realities or something like that. That is not so. I think this record is about selling although it's sometimes hard to tell as he keeps cracking jokes.

A glance at the liner notes reveal what Bill Gove really means by the dimensions of time is:

We can't control the clock - but we can (if we want to) control the DIMENSIONS OF TIME: HABIT-ENERGY-ATTITUDE-and COMMUNICATIONS. Time is not a separate entity - it is merely an extension of habit - energy - attitude - and communications.

Um okay. If America's #1 salesman says so then so it is.


Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Time: Its New Dimensions {21:33}

Side B

1. Time: Its New Dimensions continued {22:40}

A. A. Allen - Did God Call the Apostle Paul to Preach the Gospel to the Black Man?

A. A. Allen - Did God Call the Apostle Paul to Preach the Gospel to the Black Man?

*special thanks to jay strange for sharing this one too

What is little known is that A. A. Allen was one of the few preachers who welcomed both black and white people into his sermons during the time of segregation in America (separate schools, bathrooms, water fountains, etc. for black and white people) when even the churches were segregated as most preachers back then did not encourage integration. As crazy as A. A. Allen was, A. A. Allen was an advocate of equality although Allen was most focused on winning souls rather than marching in the streets.

Allen brought black and white people in the same tent when some prejudiced white people did not even want to worship in the same room as black people or get baptized in the same fountain as black people. Allen's message is integration on this album. His message is based on his claim that God told his apostle Paul to preach to black people. So what Allen is implying is that God may have only talked to white people and God has not talked to any black people. If skin color does not really matter to God, why was God not calling upon any black people to preach the gospel?

The liner notes from the cover say: A. A. Allen is no doubt the first evangelist on a great national or international scale to preach integration to huge crowds in the north and the south to both the black and the white and to be successful in integrating multitudes in worship in his huge tent and auditorium campaigns. Allen declares, with God and in his campaigns there are no social or racial barriers. The Allen campaigns are for all people of all churches. Possibly, Allen's campaigns and his preaching have done more to make all people "one" than any other single effort in the nation or world. In Allen's campaigns, thousands sing, shout, worship God and are all baptized together in the huge Baptistry.

More notes:

The song "Every Man Has Got to Be Born Again" appears on side 2. Song written by Richard Littlejohn. Song performed by Gene Martin, Richard Littlejohn, Judy Blocksom, and Trinity Faith Tabernacle Choir (Toledo, Ohio, USA).

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Did God Call the Apostle Paul to Preach the Gospel to the Black Man? {18:27}

Side 2

1. Did God Call the Apostle Paul to Preach the Gospel to the Black Man? continued {19:09}

A. A. Allen - God is a Killer

A. A. Allen - God is a Killer

*special thanks to jay strange for providing this LP, you can visit him at ART INTO DUST or his numerous other blogs

I am not a big Ten Commandments guy. I do not think they should be posted on taxpayer funded public buildings or public property. I certainly do not agree with all of them. There is one commandment I do endorse and that is the one that says "You shall not murder."

So it was God who wrote the Ten Commandments, so does God not have to obey his own commandments? Does God have a right to take life as he pleases? Preacher A. A. Allen depicts God's acts of murder. Allen does not sound like he has a problem with God disobeying one of his own commandments. Allen seems to delight in scaring his own audience in telling them God will kill then send em to hell if they do not want to be saved. Allen seems to delight even more in God's murderous exploits. That's the impression I get anyway.

The liner notes from the LP tell who is A. A. Allen so I'll post a few tidbits from those liner notes:

* He is one of ten most influential ministers in the world today.

* He is the author of more than fifty books, covering every phase of faith - Christian living - healing - demonology.

* News headline of The Atlanta Constitution, dated May 5, 1969, "The Hottest Faith Healer in America Since Oral Roberts Went and Joined the Methodist Church."

* According to TIME Magazine in an article dated March 7, 1969, this evangelist is probably the best known so-called "Faith Healer" in the nation today.

[nice to know the mainstream media in 1969 was keeping up with faith healers. I wonder if The Atlanta Constitution or TIME Magazine had a hottest 20 faith healers list.]

* He is a man who fasted and prayed until he met God, and received power and authority over all sickness and to cast out devils. A recognized authority on demon oppression and possession. He is said to have cast out more demons than any other minister in the world today.

* Many times, thousands answer a single altar call following Rev. Allen's preaching. It has been safely estimated that in the extremely close schedule (almost nightly) more sinners are genuinely born again in his services than in any other campaigns in the world.

* A. A. Allen is Founder and President of Miracle Valley Bible College in Miracle Valley, Arizona, and of Miracle Revival Bible College in the Philippines.

* He is one of the few preachers to ever leave organized denomination and continue to be successful in an international ministry as an independent or undenominational minister, exposing the sins of denomination.

* He is no doubt the first evangelist on a national and international scale to preach integration to mixed multitudes in both North and South, and be successful in integrating the races in worship under his huge gospel tent. It has been declared by leaders that the Allen Campaigns and his preaching have done more to make all people "one" than any other single effort in the nation or world. Believers worship, sing, shout together, and all new converts are baptized in the huge baptistry under the tent.

[another Allen LP preaching about integration coming shortly]

Those credentials do sound impressive. Unfortunately, on June 11, 1970 in San Francisco, California (USA), Allen died from liver failure caused by alcoholism.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. God is a Killer {18:13}

Side 2

1. God is a Killer {18:15}

The Electric Moog Orchestra - Music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

The Electric Moog Orchestra - Music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

LP released in 1977

Apparently I am continuing the outer space theme started with an LP by a salesman who claimed to own outer space and including two cover albums of sci-fi soundtracks. This is another album of nicely done renditions of a John Williams soundtrack with Moogs. Like the Star Wars album, this record is kitschy, but a joy to listen to. Before I forget, I should point out that the last tracks on each side of the record are actually originals by The Electric Moog Orchestra. I was thrilled to find a copy of this record in some flea market sometime after I found the Star Wars album although the cover is worn.


Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Main Title and Mountain Visions {2:52}

2. Nocturnal Pursuit {2:28}

3. The Abduction of Barry {4:30}

4. The Arrival of Sky Harbor {4:25}

5. Galactic Force {2:24}

Side B

1. The Conversation {2:21}

2. The Appearance of The Visitors {4:43}

3. Resolution and End Title {6:42}

4. Space Symphony {2:31}

The Electric Moog Orchestra - Music from Star Wars

The Electric Moog Orchestra - Music from Star Wars

LP released in 1977

A couple of years ago, I posted this LP for a different online project. Now I thought that this would be a good place for a repost of this.

This one's a cash-in record, but a fun one with Moogs being used to play the soundtrack music of Star Wars. I think I enjoy this more than the original John Williams brass-oriented soundtrack. I was thrilled to find a copy of this record in a local thrift store as (I'm sure some of you already know) I like to collect moog/vintage synth records no matter how cheesy they are. The liner notes on the back mention that "we think you will find this album a stunning breakthrough in electronic music." I don't think so. But this album is an interesting retro kitsch artifact where the music is at least competently performed and a lot of fun to listen to.


Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Star Wars Main Title {3:57}

2. Princess Leia's Theme {3:41}

3. Imperial Attack {4:12}

Side B

1. Ben's Death and Tie Fighter Attack {4:21}

2. Cantina Band {2:23}

3. The Throne Room and End Title {4:22}

James T. Mangan - How to Sell the Prospect by Selling Yourself

James T. Mangan - How to Sell the Prospect by Selling Yourself

LP released in 1962

James T. Mangan was President of Mangan & Mangan, "a Chicago firm offering sales counseling, public relations, designed advertising, and creative advertising ideas", when this record was put out by the Businessmen's Record Club. No doubt Businessmen's Record Club LPs were common in the offices of corporate America back in the day. Anyway on this LP, Mangan has a 3-part formula which he explains:

1. How to sell yourself to the prospect
2. How to sell your product or service
3. How to sell the firm you represent

So before you can sell vacuum cleaners, swampland, or any other crap that people don't really want, you have to be able to sell yourself. You have to have self-confidence and it would help to have a network of contacts to establish your reputation. Hopefully your reputation will be a good one. I'm wondering how successful this formula was for Mangan's own company. I went to my online best pal to find out how the company is doing today. My online best pal did not turn up anything about the company. That should tell you something. Then I asked my online best pal to find out anything about Mangan. You can click on this link to see what was turned up. I was like, wow.

I'm sure that being owner of outer space would enable one to sell oneself. If a salesman (I mean salesperson) owned outer space, I would consider buying something from the salesperson.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. How to Sell the Prospect by Selling Yourself {15:40}

Side 2

1. How to Sell the Prospect by Selling Yourself continued {16:31}

Bob Harrington - The Second Coming of Christ

Bob Harrington - The Second Coming of Christ

A lot of people say that Christ is coming back soon. Their claim tends to be dismissed by yours truly. It's not like they have much evidence or any evidence that he is coming back to our world. Maybe some people have insider connections with the other side who may know if and when Mr. Christ is coming and when the plan gets underway to liberate the good people from this world headed for mayhem and chaos. I haven't seen any rumors or revelations from those in the know being reported in the mainstream media including TMZ, Fox News, and the National Enquirer. I'm really not losing any sleep over the possibility of being left behind.

Then I come across this. If even the Chaplain of Bourbon Street says that the savior is returning to Earth and The Rapture is about to occur, then I urge you to better start taking things more seriously. Perhaps Christ will shut down all the strip clubs and porno theaters for Mr. Harrington. I hope that there is an apostle on staff who is an IT or computer expert to advise Christ on current technology so he can shut down the millions of Internet porno sites too. Technology has vastly expanded over the past 2000 years, ya know. He will need to be caught up quickly and have basic computer and Internet skills if he is going to take over the world. At least he should know that the Internet is not just a series of tubes. Hopefully, even with all the porno sites gone, Christ will be in favor of net neutrality.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. The Second Coming of Christ {21:11}

Side 2

1. The Second Coming of Christ {21:07}

10th Naval District Steel Band - Pandemonia

10th Naval District Steel Band - Pandemonia

Recorded at Headquarters of the Caribbean Sea Frontier, U. S. Naval Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico

I picked this one up from the recent library sale a couple of months ago. So far, I have been disappointed with the few steel band records I bought previously. However, this album is by far the best one of the bunch that I've picked up and heard. Whereas the other steel band records I bought tried too hard to cater to tourists resulting in the music being watered down, the 10th Naval District Steel Band (a band made up of members of the U.S. Navy) sounds more authentic. It is quite pleasurable to listen to. A few of the tracks are original compositions by the band's director, Charles Roeper. That tells you that these people really care about this music.

The liner notes provide some background: One of the newest and most exciting musical forms to appear on the Hi-Fi scene in some time, the Steel Band is a native product of the West Indies. The drums - fashioned by cutting down ordinary oil drums, tempering them, and marking out 'notes' on the drum head with a steel punch - are played in xylophonic style with rubber-ended sticks.
The smallest of the drums, decorated in Caribbean hues of pink, black, orange and green, are called ping pongs. There are also tune booms or cellos, guitar pans, bongos, and basses. To round out the ensemble, there are maracas (chit chats), scratch sticks, and a cutter (the brake drum from a Model T Ford). The assorted drums cover a range of four octaves, and, from this unusual conglomeration of odds and ends, the steel band elicits a haunting and delightfully melodic sound ... a sound that has already captivated the Caribbean area; its popularity promising to spread throughout the world.
The 10th Naval District Steel Band - under the direction of Chief Musician Charles A. Roeper - is made up of 14 sailors from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Rear Admiral D. V. (Dan) Gallery, who formed the band, got his first taste of steel band music at a carnival in Trinidad. "It just got inside of me and shook me up", he said. The Admiral was so impressed, in fact, that he ordered a set of the unusual instruments and carted them back to headquarters in San Juan. The sailors in the band, who learned to play the drums in their spare time, took to them with immediate enthusiasm.



Tracklisting:

Side One

1. Steampipe Rhumba {3:17}

2. Merengue Universal {2:01}

3. Arrivederci Roma {3:09}

4. Over the Waves {2:19}

5. The Happy Wanderer {2:37}

6. Marianne {2:45}

Side Two

1. Lisbon Antigua {2:48}

2. Swab Handle Blues {2:48}

3. Moonia {2:36}

4. Trinidad Blue Basin {1:52}

5. Cindy, Oh Cindy {3:11}

6. Hawse Pipe Limbo {1:55}

Institute of Research & Development - Stop Smoking Forever

Institute of Research & Development - Stop Smoking Forever

cassette released in 1989

This tape is supposed to be helpful in helping smokers kick the habit. Some guy at the beginning emphasizes that the decision is up to the smoker, but there are stories from about 8 former smokers about how they got into the habit and their attempts to quit. There are findings from medical research and psychological tips. There are also reports of the then growing non-smoker movement not wanting to no longer tolerate smokers.

I'm all for quitting smoking, but the production of this tape seems a bit shady. It sounds like there are the same three or four people giving the testimonies of several people. I'm convinced that the people on this tape are actors. They seem to sound like the "testimonials" given by actors in infomercials for various useless crappy products. But hey, whatever helps. It's notable that there is not any info about this Institute of Research & Development operating from Nashville, Tennessee (United States). I wonder if it's still around despite the organization trying to save costs by not paying too many people (assuming that the actors and others involved in production were paid). Overall, the impression is given that this Institute was attempting to cash in on folks desperately trying to kick the habit. However, there is still some interesting material on this tape. And the cover is kinda cool.

Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Stop Smoking Forever {40:10}

Side B

1. Stop Smoking Forever {39:38}

Narciso Busquets and Antonio Gonzalez - La Santa Misa

Narciso Busquets and Antonio Gonzalez - La Santa Misa

*special thanks for KL from NYC for sharing this one

Narciso Busquets and Antonio Gonzalez are credited as the voices.

This LP may or may not be fitting with this weekend's Easter holiday. The title of this LP is The Holy Mass. It is entirely in Spanish and since I goofed off too much during Spanish class in high school, I can hardly tell what is being said. If I had known I would be listening to this record years after high school, I definitely would have paid more attention and made a greater effort in class rather than doing stupid stuff that teenagers (at least in America) usually do. I did find a free translation website to translate the liner notes. Having it done for free means that the translation will be rough. I have included the rough translation in the file.

It is supposed to be an LP explaining a religious ritual, I think. KL told me that he thinks it varies from unsettling to downright creepy and it's perfect for someone's Halloween mix tape. This LP is mixed with loads of reverb and includes chanting, hushed narration, bells, and a parlor organ. I think this LP sounds suitable at either Easter or Halloween. By the way, happy Easter to all.

Tracklisting:  (link will be back soon)

Side One

1. Introduction {0:48}

2. Part I {14:32}

Side Two

1. Part II {15:49}

Changes Coming to Blog

I am going in a new direction in my life. This blog will reflect the change in my life that I need. It just occurred to me that my life is sad. All I do really is shop in thrift stores and other places that sell used junk. No I don't just wonder in these places. What I do is look for old records and tapes. Not just any old records and tapes. They are records and tapes that no one has probably heard of and no one probably wants, from records consisting entirely of car noises to off-the-wall atonal 20th century chamber music. Usually I just grab whatever junk is there even if they're beat to hell since they're dirt cheap and I'll have money left over to buy food and car insurance. What's even sadder is that I post these things on a blog such as this one. I cannot believe where my life has gone. I don't think I even have a life. Good lord, did you see my post yesterday? It's a tape of some woman repeating phrases over and over and they're really intended for people to play to their pet parrots. I buy stuff like that, digitize this stuff then post this stuff. I can't believe it.

I should make an attempt to be a part of the mainstream. From now on, I will quit looking for moldy old recordings. Besides, if they were any good, they would be out on CD and fully stocked at Wal Mart or Target and remastered so I don't have to hear those ugly clicks and pops that vinyl records make. Apparently most of them aren't any good which is why they just sit in junk shops and collect dust. Anyway there is so much good new music out there that I don't need to bother with old stuff especially weird old stuff that no one even listened to back in the day. From now on, I'm watching American Idol. It's amazing that there is so much talent in the world. I'm liking listening to the young people on the show sing and perform. I even like the way some of them look. It's great that there is no one over 30 performing as pop stars tend to be washed up at 30 anyway, right. I like the Logan's Run rule. Sure there is some British guy on the show that can be overly critical at times, but I know his heart is in the right place. He believes in good music. Millions of people believe in good music as they're tuned in every week. After the show is over, everyone is talking about it even the mainstream news media. So I am now joining the masses. Hopefully I can find some new friends since it shouldn't be too hard to find other people who enjoy American Idol. I'm watching with anticipation to see who will be the next American Idol.

I am resetting my stations on my radio to the top-40 stations along with some classic rock and country stations. Have to have a little variety and those genres are also good. I'm especially enjoying country music. I mean the new kind not that sad whiny genuinely moving cry-in-your-beer stuff. I like me some Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift. Toby Keith is now one of my favorite artists. I'm trying to sell my crap (i.e. weird records and tapes) in order to have money to buy all of Toby Keith's CDs as well as all of Kenny Chesney's and Taylor Swift's CDs and all of the CDs by everyone who won American Idol such as David Cook and Ruben Studdard. Then I'll look next to buying CDs from whoever is popular. I am also watching popular TV shows such as Gray's Anatomy, Desparate Housewives, and Survivor. I'm watching every reality show on the air because they're great and all about real life. That's why they get high ratings. I am also planning on reading popular books. Wait, hardly anyone reads. Never mind. I guess I don't need books now.

Now that I am listening to mainstream pop music and watching the TV shows that everyone else watches, I am able to be a part of mainstream life. I want to shop at stores that sell new stuff and consume. I want the newest car and all that stuff that's on the commercials. I want to fit in. I want to make money, have a big house, live in the newest gated subdivision, and make friends with other people like me preferablly the ones that are successful in life of course.



Speaking of successful people, I am now a devoted reader of The Pioneer Woman. It may sound odd at first that I am a man who reads a blog everyday aimed at women especially mothers. It's not really that aspect that draws me to The Pioneer Woman although her tales with her children (or "punks" as she refers to them) are delightful. I just like reading about her wonderful life and checking out her delicious recipes and viewing her lovely produced photographs. The Pioneer Woman has a blog that is widely read by millions all over the world. Her posts receive an average of approximately 500 comments while I am lucky to get a comment at all on my small insignificant obscure blog. Yes, I am a fan of The Pioneer Woman because she is a hugely successful blogger plus she is so amazingly talented in so many areas (such as cooking, photography, and home schooling). Meanwhile all I do is post recordings of old crap created by other people. She has also published a cookbook. She is definitely not posting parrot training or elk hunting cassettes.

Her blog has won many real awards. Her blog won Weblog of the Year at the Weblog Awards. Not only that, her blog also won in two other categories: Best Photography and Best-Designed Weblog. Wait there's more. The Pioneer Woman was also named one of the best 25 blogs by Time magazine. It's on the same list as other popular blogs such as The Huffington Post, BoingBoing, Lifehacker, and others although The Pioneer Woman is superior to all of them.

Not only does The Pioneer Woman has the greatest blog of all time, she has a great life story. She was raised in the slums of some country club golf course in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, which the town is inhabited by wealthy oil barons and home of the annual Mozart Festival by the way. Then she moved to Los Angeles, California and got a degree at the University of Southern California, a private school. Then she lived a life of being a fashionable spoiled city girl just like on that show Sex and the City. Then she met some cowboy from you guessed it, Oklahoma. She fell in love with this cowboy whom she named Marlboro Man. She married him and moved to his ranch back in Oklahoma. Now she is roughing it on the ranch with Marlboro Man who happens to be in one of the richest families in the area and is probably amazingly handsome and rugged in a suave way. The Pioneer Woman's depictions of her life on the luxurious estate on the ranch are riveting. Now the news has come that Reece Witherspoon is going to play her in a movie based on her life. Wow! I do not dare to think who would play me in a movie.

I am just a smalltime blogger who is now another devoted follower of The Pioneer Woman. Did I mention that she is the greatest blogger ever? Anyway, I plan on writing blog posts on things people care about such as anecdotes from my life, American Idol, recipes, tips on success, tips on how to use Photoshop to make pictures look professionally done, celebrity and pop culture news along with posting pictures of celebrities and cats. That's what's coming on this blog from now on. I strive to be a successful blogger like The Pioneer Woman and go on national TV, publish real books, win awards for blogging, and make lots of money. Yes, I strive for success. That should be my focus and ambition. That is all for today. If memory serves, there is a holiday today although I can't quite recall which one it is.