This week's edition of the Big Show is about precious gifts.
One of my earliest was the gift of music. The gift of a love of music, and records . . . and ultimately a love of sharing that great bequest with others. That gift -- music -- I got from my mother at a young age. I remember as a little kid, maybe 4 years old, playing my parents' 78s and 45s and even LPs on the big Silvertone console and thinking it was one of the coolest things ever. And I've been doing it ever since.
IT'S A GIFT that has enriched my life and ultimately led me to the radio -- and being on the radio. And it has reached its fruition, so far, in this little endeavor we call 3 Chords & the Truth. The gift of music came from my mother some 50 years ago now. It's probably the greatest thing she ever gave me, apart from life itself. Mama passed away in a hospital here in Omaha early the morning of March 21, three days before my 54th birthday. This episode of theBig Show is for her. God bless you, Mama. And thank you for the music.
This week's edition of 3 Chords & the Truth is for me to know about and you to find out about.
You can find out all about it by trekking here. Or, you can just click on any of the podcast players splattered all around here and call it good. When it comes to theBig Show, you have all sorts of options. OK, I'll tell you this: The show starts with E.L.O. and closes with The Three Suns. And there are other songs in between. Now go. Listen. It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there.Aloha.
Really big speakers. For that matter, if you're an audiophile, this week's 3 Chords & the Truth might be a hell of a way to test out that new setup you've been bragging to people about. Play it loud. Play it proud. And if someone calls the cops, my work here is done.
Actually, that's not true. My work here is done if your neighbors come rushing over to ask you about that wonderful music you're listening to . . . loud.
I GUARANTEE there's one part of the show that will give your goosebumps goosebumps. You'll be amazed at what you're hearing, and at the incredible -- and incredibly unlikely -- mix of music. Note well, however: It's only unlikely before you think about it a minute, or if you don't listen to the Big Show much. For regulars, it makes perfect sense. That's freeform radio for you -- even if its on the Internet. OK, I'm done teasing you for now with this foray into high-fidelity click bait. Click on the links to the show . . . or on one of the embedded players for the show . . . and you'll hear the Big Show, and all will be well with the world. And your curiosity. It really is amazing, though. It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.
Rock on, Beethoven, and tell Chuck Berry the news.
Rock on, Beethoven! Rock on, Beethoven! Rock on Beethoven, and tell Chuck Berry the news. The news is that this week on 3 Chords & the Truth, classical music isn't just for the stuck up, the snooty and the hopelessly square. I mean . . . in case you haven't noticed, some of your favorite rock bands have deep classical roots. Likewise, some of your favorite rock icons have composed some nice classical pieces. We're talking about you, Sir Paul. So who says you can't play classical music along with everything else in our little musical stew? Not me, because here we go . . . an entire set about how the classics can dig those rhythm and blues.
IN OTHER WORDS, rock on, Beethoven! Rock on Beethoven!
Rock on, Beethoven, and tell Chuck Berry the news. You know, that's a lot to chew on for one episode of the Big Show. But here's the thing: That's only about a third of this week's edition of 3 Chords & the Truth. And here's the other thing: If you want to find out what the other excellent two-thirds of the program is . . . you need to click somewhere to stream or download the Big Show, because I ain't spilling the beans on nothing else. So there. That is all. For now. It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.
Wondering what the deal is with 3 Chords & the Truth?
This, pretty much. Anymore, you'll be hard-pressed to find freeform radio on your radio dial, AM or FM. But you will find it here on the Big Show.
Of course, we add our own little twist to the concept . . . but then again, it's freeform. Everybody adds their own little twist to the concept.
That's the beauty, and the vitality, of freeform radio. Which you'll find right here on 3 Chords & the Truth. Just on the Internet. And a new episode's coming in just a couple of days. Be there. Aloha.
You remember the episode when button-down, Madison Avenue, gimme-a-bourbon-and-a-girl, 1960s ad exec Roger Sterling dropped some acid? This ePisode of 3 CHORdS & THE tRuTh iS kiNd OF lIKe ThAt, maN!
ANYWAY . . . this episode of the BIG SHOWis GUARANTEED to, lIkE, TOTALLY blow your mind, MaN!!!
So, take a piece of paper. Write your name and address on it. Say you've been listening to the Big Show. Then write "Please Help Me." Now, pin the note to your shirt.
I say, now, pin the note to your shirt. Now, pin the note to your shirt. Now, pin the note to your shirt. Now, pin the note to your shirt. To your shirt.To your shirt.To your shirt.To your shirt.To your shirt.To your shirt.To your shirt.To your shirt.To your shirt.
To your shirt.
NOWYOU are prepared to listen to the podcast this week. Sit down, tune in, turn on and enjoy, man. It will be a mind-expanding experience. It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there.Aloha.
Is it kicking in? BeCAUse I'M rEAllY Not FeElInG aNYThing Yet. !!!
I'm your captain, the Mighty Favog, and we're ready to take off on a journey of musical discovery, courtesy of 3 Chords & the TruthTours. We will be departing from the Group Vocal Lounge sometime in 1957, and we'll journey to the farthest reaches of jazz, with a lounge-sound layover before returning to Jazz Junction, then embarking on a whirlwind journey through exotic places and exquisite enclaves of rock 'n' roll artistry. YOU'LLHEAR fascinating rhythms and have an immersion experience in late 20th century pop music on theBig Showbefore stopping for an extended stay in 1965, where you may even encounter a cannibal and headhunters. Please fasten your seat belt as we get under way, and have a most pleasant journey on 3 Chords & the Truth. And as the locals say . . . It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there.Aloha.
Yes, I'm in another one of my musical moods here in the 3 Chords & the Truthstudios in central Omaha, by God, Neb. But I also am a trained professional, more than qualified to act upon those musical moods and share the results with you. In other words, leave this thing to me and nobody gets hurt. More importantly, nobody's gonna be transitioning from the Backstreet Boys to Metallica. Eww.
Andblecch!
AS FAR as this week's edition of theBig Show goes, you'll be hearing lots of classic soul and lots of classic pop, jazz and easy listening, too. Mood. Mine. Fortunately, my little musical moods lead to good stuff on 3 Chords & the Truth pretty much every time. I would say "positively all the time," but everybody hates a braggart. Oh . . . before I forget, we also have some excellent -- and absolutely free -- advice for you at the end of the program this week. Stay tuned for that. AND THAT about covers it. Stream it or download it, it doesn't matter. TheBig Show will be the same Big Treat for your ears. It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all.Be there. Aloha.
WE GOT IT ALL, and you won't believe how we get from there to here. We are the Big Show.
We are 3 Chords & the Truth, the podcast for people who love music. It's a journey -- yes, it is -- and it happens every week at this same Bat Time on this same Bat Channel. Be there.Aloha.
Pass the New Wave from the left-hand side. Pass the 30-something-year-old inside jokes from the top. Ugh. At least this week's edition of 3 Chords & the Truth gets off to a better start than this week's post about this week's edition of the Big Show. Now . . . where was I again?
I think I was going to mention just a couple of things about this week's podcast, which you can hear by clicking any of the BOLD RED LINKS. Or by pressing the little arrow on the PodOmatic player below. Or by clicking on the first episode on the 3 Chords & the Truth player over yonder on the right hand side of the page.
Times your host says "ummmm." Ummmm . . . I just made that up. I . . . ummmm . . . don't . . . ummmm . . . think it was nearly that many . . . ummmm . . . times.
5.
Five straight records on theBig Show that happen to be vintage 78 r.p.m. singles. A whole set consisting of 78s, as a matter of fact.
Furthermore, one of them probably will surprise you.
3.
Three songs about magic.
1.
One song -- OK, probably three songs -- that had to have been staples on Omaha's supremely middle-of-the-road KFAB radio back in the day, back when the station actually played music.
4.
Four country records on the program this go 'round.
99 44/100.
Ninety-nine and forty-four one-hundredths percent pure fun this week on the show. The other .56 percent is just you being a bloody crank.
SO THAT'S IT. This week's edition of 3 Chords & the Truthby the numbers. Your mileage may vary, but probably not. Of course, the only way to know for sure it to give it a listen. He says, cajolingly. Anyway. . . .
Ummmm. . . . It's 3Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there.Aloha.
Let me assure you . . . this edition of the Big Show is funner than having medical implements of cauterization shoved up your nose.
Don't ask. Not my nose, per se, but just don't ask anyway.
It's also more fun than navigating around the remodeling of your kitchen, which will keep me out of the studio this week when I'm usually in it to do each excellent episode of 3 Chords & the Truth. Thus, this edition of the podcast is up and posted on the Internets a bit early this go around.
I guess that could be called a good thing.
Though the putting together of the Big Showmight be a wee quick and dirty this week -- though one hopes not terribly so -- it's here. Right now. So there you go.
Did I mention that this week's edition of the Big Show is funner than having medical implements of cauterization shoved up your nose? Again, don't ask. ACTUALLY, this week's 3 Chords & the Truth is pretty damned spiffy, if you ask me, an admittedly biased source. We have some tasty Top-40 goodness from years gone by. We have some beautimous Americana. We have some country. We have some rock.
Anyway . . . good show this week, despite everything. I mean, you have no idea. Buy me a drink or six, and I might tell you. And give it a listen -- while you're buying me those drinks. Sooooooooooo. . . .
I could tell you all about how much of this special Christmas edition of 3 Chords & the Truth has its genesis in thrift stores, estate sales, hand-me-downs and family treasures. (Answer: A lot.) I guess, too, that I could tell you all about turning lost audio history into modern Big Show podcastery. (Interesting stuff if you're as big a geek as your Mighty Favog.)
Or perhaps I could tell you about the amazing, tuneful Christmas party inside the 3 Chords & the Truth studio . . . and now just a click away from being inside your favorite audio device. Which makes it just a click away from putting a big smile on your face. (Would that be too immodest?Too much like a TV infomercial or something equally unauthentic?)
OF COURSE, I could just say that the expanded Christmas edition of the Big Show is really, really good this year. (WARNING! WARNING! Bragging detected. Ego suppression activating in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . .) On the other hand, perhaps I'll just repeat a beautiful passage given to us long ago. It tells why we celebrate . . . why we are filled with joy in the remembering:
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
THAT, FRIEND, is reason for a party. Two millennia ago, hope came to a hopeless world, and the darkness shall prevail not. Merry Christmas . . . and party on. It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there.Aloha.
Do not adjust your TV set. It's 1963. There is no HD.
You'll have to settle for some great music instead. And the hi-fi equipment is kinda cool here, to tell you the truth. So while we at 3 Chords & the Truthlinger in Mid-Century Modernland, we'll take the opportunity to adjust the color wheel so it shines better onto the aluminum Christmas tree -- and we'll throw a few LPs on the phonograph while we do that.
Have you heard about this group of long-hairs that has the kids going crazy over in England? The Beatles, I think they are. Whatever. They can't even spell "beetles" right. Geez Louise.
ANYWAY, we'll linger a while here a half century past before we venture elsewhere along the musical timeline. The Big Show will even stop for a time in 1915.
Everywhere we stop, though, the music will be spiffy. That's our Christmas gift to you, the 3 Chords & the Truth listener.
Spiffy music also happens to be your Hanukkah gift, your Thanksgiving gift, your Easter gift, your Labor Day gift, your Fourth of July gift, your birthday gift and your "Hey! It's the weekend!" gift. That's about all I have to say about that. The proof's much more in the listening, to tell you the truth. So, go listen. There's links to the Big Showhere, there and everywhere. And audio players, too. Really, you can't miss it. THAT'S a good thing, because missing it would be a crime. It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there.Alo-ho-ho-ho-ha.
You ever wonder from whence all this fine music on 3 Chords & the Truth comes?
You do? I'm glad you axed. Sorry, "asked." You can take the boy out of south Louisiana. . . .
Well, much of the music on the Big Show, I've been collecting since I was a kid. Some was my parents, particularly some especially tasty 78 RPM records. Other stuff was other people's tuneful treasures that ended up in antique stores, the used-record bins at various music stores . . . and on sale for 99 cents at the local Goodwill. One treasure featured on this week's edition of 3 Chords & the Truthwas in the collection of the parents of a dear friend since our days at Baton Rouge High School, taken from a real album -- an album of several 78s, which is why we call multitrack records or CDs "albums" even today. The song is "Embraceable You" from the "Strictly From Dixie" album released in 1942 by Henry Levine's Strictly From Dixie Jazz Band, featured on a regular program on NBC radio, The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street. It's also an album that never was later released on an LP, much less a CD. The popularity of the radio show on the NBC BlueNetwork might be why my friend Doug LeBlanc's mother, Janice, had the album. She still had it when she died earlier this year at age 87, which is how I came to possess it and how you're hearing some of it on theBig Show this week -- Doug sent it and another 78 album to me when he and his brother cleaned out Janice's house.
MUSIC IS special on its own accord, but it also is special because of the love people have for it. The feelings, thoughts and memories it evokes in us. In honoring music, we acknowledge that we matter -- matter apart from what we do, how much we earn or what status we have attained.
By honoring vintage music, of which we play our share on 3 Chords & the Truth, I think we also honor those upon whose shoulders we stand -- those who lived and struggled and loved before us. We Catholics refer to those souls as "the communion of saints," who are not gone but are with us still.
They may have passed from this world to the next, but the best parts of them live on here in blessed memory and in our hearts. And what they knew . . . what they loved also can be part of what we know and what we love.
Christmas is coming upon us fast, a time of the year when our thoughts turn to those we love and times gone by. I think this show -- indeed, most episodes of the Big Show -- are right nice listening for a cold winter's night, "when all through the house not a creature (is) stirring, not even a mouse."
It is then when we cab be alone with our thoughts, with our memories, and with our dreams. And we can be alone with the music, the music of our lives . . . and that of the communion of saints.
THAT'S WHY I do this show, and that's why no decent "radio" program is just a radio program, even if it's on the Internet and not the airwaves. I guess I could have said this on the show this week, but then it would have run a even longer than it already has, which would be a wee bit longer than normal. But I didn't, so I'm saying it now.
Because it's worth saying. It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there.Alo-ho-ho-ho-ha.
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