Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Ovaries-eez + Guest Producer – Nico Gray

10:00 – Station ID

1. “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / 1980 [WMM’s theme song]

2. Labelle – “I Believe I Finally Made it Home”
rom: Something Silver / Warner Archives / Feb. 11, 1997 [orig, from Moon Shawdow, 1972]
[Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles made a fantastic transformation into LaBelle, a band that reinterpreted many rock classics, and also wrote many of their own best songs. This one was written by LaBelle member Nona Hendrix Sarah Dash, and patti laBelle taing turns with the verses.]

3. Charles Bradley – “Ain’t It a Sin”
from: Changes / Daptone / April 1, 2016
[Release almost three years after his criticallty acclamed, Victim of Love from April 2013, one of Wednesday MidDay Medley’s 113 Best Recordings of 2013. Charles Bradley was born Nov 5, 1948, Charles Bradley was raised by his maternal grandmother in Gainesville, Florida until the age of eight when his mother, who had abandoned him at 8 months of age, took him to live with her in Brooklyn, New York. In 1962, his sister took him to the Apollo Theater to see James Brown perform. Bradley was so inspired by the performance that he began to practice mimicking Brown’s style of singing and stage mannerisms at home. When he was fourteen, Bradley ran away from home due to his poor living conditions — his bedroom was in a basement with a sand floor — and lived on the streets during the day and slept nights in subway cars for two years. Later, he enlisted in Job Corps which eventually led him to Bar Harbor, Maine to train as a chef. One time while working, a co-worker told him he looked like James Brown. When asked if he could sing, he was at first shy but eventually admitted that he could. He overcame his stage fright (when a crew member pushed him through the curtains onto the stage) and performed five or six times with a band. After his band mates were drafted into the Vietnam War, the act never re-formed. Bradley worked in Maine as a cook for ten years until deciding to head west, hitchhiking across the country. He lived in upstate New York, Seattle, Canada and Alaska before settling in California in 1977. There, Bradley worked odd jobs and played small shows for 20 years. In 1996, Bradley’s mother called him and asked him to move back in with her in Brooklyn so she could get to know him. It was there he began making a living moonlighting as a James Brown impersonator in local clubs under the name “Black Velvet.” During this time, Bradley experienced more hard times, including almost dying in a hospital after being given penicillin (to which he has an allergy) and waking to the police arriving to the scene of his brother’s murder just down the road from his mother’s house. While performing as “Black Velvet,” he was eventually discovered by Gabriel Roth, co-founder of Daptone Records. Roth introduced Bradley to Daptone artist and his future producer Tom Brenneck, then the songwriter and guitarist for The Bullets, and later for Menahan Street Band, who invited Bradley to his band’s rehearsal. Bradley asked that the band simply perform while he made up lyrics on the spot. After writing several songs, with Daptone releasing some of them on vinyl starting in 2002, ten were chosen and released as Bradley’s debut album No Time For Dreaming in 2011.]

[Charles Bradley will play Middle of the Map Fest, Saturday May 7, at The Midland w/ Aimee Mann.]

4. The Quivers – “Sugar Tease”
from: Sugar Tease / Domino Records / released March 4, 2016
[Follow up to the band’s full length debul recording, Hot Young Mess, from March, 2014. The band has also released to EPs. The Quivers are: Terra Skaggs on vocals & bass, Todd Grantham on vocals & organ, Bernie Dugan on drums, and Gary Parades on guitar. The album also features special guests: Kyle Dahlquist on trumpet & trombone, and Jesse Howes on saxophone. Recorded, mixed & mastered at Weights and Measures Soundlab by Duane Trower.]

[The Quivers play Ollie’s Local, Sat, Mar 19, at 5:00 pm w/ Timbers, presented by Money Wolf Music.]

5. La Sera – “High Notes”
from: Music for Listening to Music To / Polyvinyl Records / March 4, 2016
[4th full length record from band formed by Katy Goodman (former bassist of Vivian Girls) in 2010.]

[La Sera will play Middle of the Map Fest.]

6. Maria The Mexican – “Carried Away”
rom: South Of The Border Moonlight / Independent / March 11, 2016
[Follow up to their Oct. 2013 debut full length, Moon Colored Jade. Influenced by traditional Mariachi music, Maria The Mexican is a hybrid of Mexican folklore and Rock. For over ten years, Teresa and Maria Elena Cuevas have performed with Marachi Estrella founded by their grandmother Teresa Cuevas in 1970. As one of the first all female mariachi bands in the country, Maria Teresa Alonzo Cuevas is a pioneer in the Hispanic musical community. Her band flourished in the 80s but was struck by tragedy when four of the seven members were killed in the Hyatt Skywalk collapse in 1981. Once Teresa recovered she began teaching her grandchildren Mariachi music. In 2000, Teresa and Maria began exploring other genres of music while simultaneously co-directing Mariachi Estrella. Today the fusion of Maria The Mexican is mixed with a touch of blues, soul, funk, and rock n’ roll enhanced by the musical knowledge and sounds of Garrett Nordstrom.]

[Maria The Mexican Play a special CD Release show on Friday, March 25, at 8:00 PM zt Uncle Bo’s in Topeka w/ special guest Chris Meck & The Guilty Birds]

[Maria The Mexican Play a special CD Release show on Friday, April 1st at 6:00 pm, Replay Lounge in Lawrence w/ special guest Kirsten Paludan]

[Maria The Mexican Play a special CD Release show on Friday, April 8. at 8:00 pm, at Knuckleheads]

7. Fullbloods – “Money”
from: Mild West / High Dive Records / February 26, 2016
[Second full length release from Fullbloods: Ross Brown; Jared Tomasino; David Seume; and Bill Pollock. Recorded at Westend Studios in Kansas City, Kansas by Mike Nolte. Mixed by Fullbloods. Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering. (Starfucker, Of Montreal).]

[Fullbloods play Riot Room, Thur, March 17, w/ See Through Dresses, The Author and The Illustrator.]

10:28 – Underwriting

10:30 – Interview with Amber Hansen, Johni Lacore & Monica George

The Ovaries-eez debut full length, I Saw You in My Dream, was recorded & mastered by John Griffin at Sound + Vision Studio at Lawrence Public Library and released on Whatever Forever. The Ovaries-eez play a special Album Release show, Friday, March 18, at 7:00 pm, at Revolution Records, 1830 Locust St, KCMO with Jametone, and Teri Quinn.

8. The Ovaries-eez – “ Blue Screen” (Live)
a new song written by Monica George, with guitar and vocals by Monica George and Johni Lacore and Amber Hansen on vocals

9. The Ovaries-eez – “Backbreaking” (Live)
a new song written by Monica George, with guitar and vocals by Monica George and Johni Lacore and Amber Hansen on vocals

10. The Ovaries-eez – “Don’t Take Your Guns To Town” (Live)
a new version of the Johnny Cash song, with lyrical arrangements by Nicholas Ward and musical arrangements by Amber Hansen on guitar & vocals and Monica George and Johni Lacore on vocals.

The Ovaries-eez new debut full length, I Saw You in My Dream, was recorded and mastered by John Griffin at Sound + Vision Studio at Lawrence Public Library and released on Whatever Forever.

The Ovaries-eez play a special Album Release show, Friday, March 18, at 7:00 pm, at Revolution Records, 1830 Locust St, KCMO with Jametone, and Teri Quinn.
More info at: http://www.theovarieseez.bandcamp.com

11:00 Station ID

11:00 – Guest Producer – Nico Gray

We welcome back to the show, our friend Nico Gray, who joins us as “Guest Producer” for our second hour. Nico is a former theatre actor, performance artist, writer, and is currently a marketing and advertising consultant. He once worked at Limelight in Chicago, and once won a Mick Jagger look-a-like contest. Rooted in KC, Nico grew with radio, learning to communicate through music and lyrical expression. Nico writes that, “Music has always served as the ‘passport’ through spiritual journeys that have transplanted him to the brownstones of Chicago, the rooftops of Paris, the sea-side of Marseille and the balconies of NYC. ”

11. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orch – “2001: A Space Odyssey
from: 2001: Music from the Films of Stanley Kubrick / Silva Screen America / 2005

12. Bran Van 3000 — “Rainshine”
from: Glee / Audiogram Records / 1998

10:08 – Nico Gray

The Best Sex I Never Had was on a dance floor!

They were a Polish couple in their early 30’s named Reba and Bogusla- or BOGIE as we called him. They were patrons at a downtown Chicago nightclub where I worked in the 80s. They lived just outside the city limits and would take the El train to town, and always a taxi home. Her Polish accent was thick as was her Chanel No. 5- and she was as strikingly beautiful and sexy as he was tenderly shy and classically handsome. Reba and Bogie were always well dressed, she in designer dresses and he in tailor made suits. They wore a different outfit with every visit as I never saw them in the same set of clothing. Fashion was a high priority, and being seen by others- even higher. On those cold windy nights when Reba checked-in her fur coat at coat check, we would ask for her last name – to sign for insurance purposes. She always replied, “Just Reba, darlink’- NO LAST NAME- just Reba.”

Occasionally, I would see Reba and Bogie at other nightclubs, bouncing from club to club. Depending on the night’s theme and the DJ that was spinning- they made their rounds and were well known. They always arrived together, and they always left together. But we knew that Bogie was gay. However, Reba once told me, “Darlink’ I can turn any man straight! I know you watch me on the dance floor.” She made a valid point. She moved like a fox. Slick, smooth, svelte and alluring. Her body- full breasted and curvy demanded attention, and easily given by suitors and admirers – male and female alike. She would be the attention of any dance floor with sometimes hundreds of people watching. Eventually she would dance her way off the floor and pave her way to the bar, where a napkin taken to her forehead would blot her facial and underarm sweat- and she would slyly turn to me and say, “I am sexy, no?”

More than a few times Bogie would see me on the dance floor and dance next to me. Sometimes he would dance by himself, or with Reba- but any time they saw me dancing alone, they would join me. We’d dance very close to each other’s bodies; and like a scratch-n-sniff, the pheromones would be released. Pungent- mixed with Chanel No. 5 from Reba, the smell of Bogie’s musky underarms, and my illegal late teenage body. Chemistry was in the making. At some point I’d have to stop, catch my breath and wipe the sweat from my body and drink water. Only to go at it for another round. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat.

There was a bartender who would always say to his patrons who he thought were getting too sexual at his bar or on the dance floor “I don’t drink in your bedroom, so please don’t have sex at my bar!”

Well, these next two songs are suitable for doing BOTH as I had done with Reba and Bogie!

13. Lords of Acid — “Am I Sexy”
from: Private Parts / Fingerlicking Good Records / 2001

14. Liz Phair — “Supernova” (special LIVE radio edit)
from: Whip-Smart / Capitol Records / 1994

11:18 – Nico Gray

All that I need to know about love, I learned from my mother. When asked by any of her seven children growing up ‘which one of us do you love more?” She always replied the same, “OH HONEY, I don’t DIVIDE my love, I MULTIPLY it!”

And for her birthdays, when asked, “What would you like for your birthday, Momma?” She’d say, “All I want is for all my kids to get along!” Her role as a mother was relentless, and the virtue of patience a necessity.

Six weeks ago my partner and I adopted a 12-week-old kitten. His 2 ½ pound frame and aqua colored eyes already found his way into our hearts. We had watched him grow through internet pictures from the day he was born last November. He came from a litter of seven, but now separated from his littermates and in search of his new home with us.

For SIX days and FIVE nights, I kept the new little one separated from our other two Adult Cats that we’ve raised. I wanted to build their curiosity, but allow them play with each other’s feet and smell each other under the door. We could only hope that this NEW kitten would eventually be welcomed with playful paws by ‘his NEW playmates’. It was early on that I knew this kitten was VERY playful, EXTREMELY loving and affectionate, and INCREDIBLY curious about his new life.

Last weekend, I went to a ‘SIP and SEE’ party for a newborn baby. While there, I held an 18-month-old baby in my arms for at least half an hour and then minutes later the 8-week-old infant. If it weren’t for others in the room waiting in anticipation to do the same, holding the newborn, then I might have overstayed my welcome and held them all night. There is something beyond what words can convey when I feel this type of love that I speak of; babies, kittens and puppy love. Instead I’ll let these next two songs sing the same type of sentiment.

15. Jim James — “A New Life”
from: Regions of Light and Sound of God / ATO Records / 2013

16. Delaney and Bonnie — “Never Ending Song of Love”
from: Motel Shot / ATCO/Atlantic / 1971

11:28 – Underwriting

11:31 – Nico Gray

I am not a member of any religious congregation. However, I will attend services on Sunday morning with my partner, as he is a member of a ‘diversity celebrated’ congregation on The Plaza.

On those Sunday’s, we take Southwest Traffic Way Southbound -always passing by the historical Old Westport Wagon that sits on the corner of Westport road. The wagon is a symbol to me from a memory that’s been embedded since the spring of 1991.

At the time, I was living off 39th St and working at The Nelson Museum. It was a long and fun Saturday evening with my friend and colleague, Blake. And a full night of drinking and dancing at a popular club in Westport called Shadow. It was 1:30 in the morning, now and we were walking back to my apartment when we passed by the Old Westport Wagon. He was wearing a shirt and tie; I had on my blue shark skin vintage suit. We somehow talked ourselves into ‘a slumber party’ in the Wagon. We easily untied a few of the strings that were holding the canvas to the top part of the wagon, and we both squeezed our youthful lanky bodies inside and laid down with our heads positioned on both ends. It was a very narrow fit, but like sardines, we managed comfortably, and I was surprised how serene that would be. It would not take but 15 minutes before the both of us fell asleep.

Hours later, now 10am Sunday morning, we awoke to the tapping sound of a misty morning and the sound of cars passing by. Like bats out of cave, our eyes were squinting from lack of any light. And as our eyes slowly opened we noticed some of the expressions from those passing by in their cars as they watched us brush each other off in our suits from the cobwebs, dust and dirt.

The funny thing is, we didn’t think it to be funny. We were like boy scouts on a journey; or at least on a mission to make a unique memory our own. For obvious reasons, this one comes without a merit badge.

17. Johnny Cash — “Sunday Morning Coming Down”
from: The Johnny Cash Show / Columbia Records / 1970

18. Loretta Lynn with Willie Nelson — “Lay Me Down”
from: Full Circle / Loretta Lynn Enterprises / 2016

11:40 – Nico Gray

Leonardo Da Vinci was quoted as saying, “ONCE YOU HAVE TASTED FLIGHT, YOU WILL FOREVER WALK THE EARTH WITH YOUR EYES TURNED SKYWARD, FOR THERE YOU HAVE BEEN, AND THERE YOU WILL ALWAYS LONG TO RETURN.”

It is no surprise my fondness and attraction to France. Aside from heritage, family and friends, there are certain places and experiences that I’ve had in France – that a piece of my heart will forever be alive.

However, it is with GREAT influence, that a large part of these threads, these memories, have been woven by the African, Spanish and Catalan cultures that exist in France, especially in the South where either the architecture, food, clothes or the people made significant imprints on what many consider to be French. A wide variety of cultural French music on their radio waves are Spanish and West African based. I’ve chosen two songs that reflect the quote from Da Vinci that transports me back to a place where I will always long to be.

19. Baaba Maal — “Traveller”
from: The Traveller / Palm Recording / 2016

20. Ages and Ages — “Divisionary (Do the Right Thing)”
from: Divisionary / Ages and Ages / Partisan Records / 2014

21. Pavement — “Billie”
from: Terror Twilight / Matador Records / 1999

11:54 – Nico Gray

Thank you Mark for having me on today. Happy Early Spring to you and the listeners of MidDay Medley!

This last song I first heard with when I was with you, Mark at our friend, Karen Errington’s memorial service five years ago. Flogging Molly, performed this song live as the closing song to the ceremony. It was one of the most spiritually moving memorial services I’ve encountered- and never to be forgotten.

In honor of those who are celebrating their Irish heritage, and in honor in keeping the memory alive of those who taught us well, – here is Flogging Molly and “If I Ever Leave This World Alive”

22. Flogging Molly — “If I Ever Leave This World Alive”
from: Drunken Lullabies / SideOneDummy Records/ 2002

11:59:30

23. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003
[orig. 1957]

Next week on March 23 we welcome back Patrick Alonzo Conway who joins us to talk about the Gamelan Genta Kasturi.

Our Script/Playlist is a cut and paste of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

Nico Gray’s stories were written by Nico Gray

Wednesday MidDay Medley in on the web:

www.WednesdayMidDayMedley.org,
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM,
http://www.kkfi.org

Show #621