The Hot Stove League Season is Beginning

Since the baseball season ended with the Red Sox wining the World Series in 6 games it is time to concentrate on basketball and hockey.  When I get off the computer I'll have a choice of watching the Rangers or the Knicks.  However, a different type of baseball season called the Hot Stove League begins where free agents are signed and trades made for the next season.

There are certainly plenty of sports related internet sites that generate rumors which may or may not be substantiated.  I certainly have no control over what will happen.  Very often free agents are signed for long term contracts with big bucks and just don't work out.  There is an old saying that the best trades are the ones you don't make.  The Yankees and Mets will try to improve themselves.  I think the Mets have players with potential in their farm system while the Yankees don't.  We can only wait and see.

A Portrait Of Dylan Influences 1969-70

Readers of Bruce's Journal know that I have written about the deluxe box set of Another Self-Portrait.  This albu differs from other Dylan albums since none of the songs were written by him.  When I don't listen to Dylan I often read about him.  One of the most popular fanzines is called ISIS which is published in Great Britain.  In the last isssue there was an advertisement for a CD called A Portrait Of Dylan Influences 1969-70 .  It includes original versions of the songs that Dylan covered in his Self-Portrait.  Many of those songs are classic country hits.  There were several Everly Brothers hits as well.  If you want this CD, you must order it from ISIS.

Remembering Lou Reed from Singing Foot of Pride at the Bobfest

I heard the news today about the passing of Lou Reed best known as the singer, vocalist and songwriter for the Velvet Underground.  I best remember him for his performance of the Bob Dylan rarity of Foot of Pride played at the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert in 1992 known at the Bobfest.  I remember I could not get tickets for this historic concert, but saw it on Pay Per View and heard the simulcast on WNEW-FM.  When Lou played Foot of Pride, I just could not recognize the song.  Dylan's version can be heard on Bootleg Series Volume 1-3.  I am sorry to hear of Lou's passing.

Random Thoughts on a Saturday Evening

Since we hadn't seen a movie in several weeks we walked over to the local multiplex to see Captain Phillips starring Tom Hanks.  It was nice to see a film based on an actual event.  As I have said before, I am a little too old for these fantasy movies.

Two weeks ago Joe McCoy, the former program director of WCBS-FM, did an oldies show on WICC Bridgeport, Ct.  For the second week in a row I tuned in and there was an oldies show with no DJs.  Apparently it was a one time event.

Since none of the local teams are in the World Series, I thought I'd skip the first few innings and listen to some oldies on SirusXM 60s on 6.  Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits fame does a show before Cousin Bruce.  Near the end of his show he played Next Plane to London by Rose Garden which is one terrific lost hit.  Please give it a listen.

New Morning by Bob Dylan

IMHO this is one of Bob Dylan's most underrated songs.  The version above is from the album of the same name.  There is an alternate version on the new CD Another Self-Portrait.

Baseball Games are Just Too Long These Days

Albert Spaulding must be spinning in his grave as he sees how long baseball games are these days. Back in his days ball games were likely 2 hours or less.  But in recent years the length of games has increased for the following reasons:

• Batters work out deep counts
• Batters foul off many pitches
• Pitchers and Catchers have too many conferences
• Pitchers throw too many times to try to pick off a runner
• There are long intervals between innings to get more commercials on TV
• Too many pitchers come in to face just one or two batters

These issues seem to be worse during the postseason.  Many 9 inning games last 4 hours.  If a World Series game starts at 8 PM, I likely will not stay up until the end.

This Weekend's Radio Log

Starting late Friday afternoon.

Friday

Pop Gold Radio

Hy Lit Radio

Rewound Radio - Bob Radil's 60s 70s Show

Saturday

WINS - gotta hear the weather and sports report

WCBS-FM - Been listening to Sue O'Neil on weekends since 2007

WBGO - Saturday Morning Function

DylanRadio.com - Thanks Pete Freckleton for the Traveling Wilbury's Weekend

WFAN - long time listener, never called.

WCBS-FM - always glad to hear Randy Davis

WCWP - we were in  the neighborhood to see LIU Post football

WFUV - Don McGee does a terrific job with Mixed Bag.  I still miss Pete Fornatale

WICC - They played oldies, but Joe McCoy was not on

SiriusXM 60s on 6 - Cousin Brucie

Sunday

WINS

WCBS-FM Sue O'Neill

WAXQ - Breakast with the Beatles with Ken Dashow

BBC2 - Podcast of Sounds of the 60s with B

WCBS-FM - I was really happy to hear Pat St. John play Handle with Care by the Traveling Wilburys

WCBS-FM - Al Bernstein

WROR Boston - Lost 45s with Barry Scott

SiriusXM 50s on 5 - Cool Bobby B's Doo Wop Stop

There is less time to listen during the week since my employer does dont pay me to listen to the radio.  I will catch Hy Lit Radio and others not listed above.

LIU Post 58 Pace 0

Since the cost of tickets to the Jets and Giants is prohibitively high, we took a drive to LIU Post in Brookville.  It was homecoming day at Post as there were several hundred alumni on campus.  The game was a rout as the home team won 58-0.

Game Summary

WOR Will Carry the Mets on Radio in 2014

Neil Best of Newsday and Bob Raissman of The Daily News report that the Mets are close to making a deal to carry their games on WOR next season.  This will likely be a multiyear deal.  At least the Mets will be on a 50,000 watt station with a long range.

Today is our 30th Anniversary

It is hard to believe that Karen and I have been married for 30 years.  Where did all these years go?  It was a sunny and mild day on October 16, 1983 when we wlked down the aisle at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation as Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner officiated.  It is just sad to look at our wedding album and see how many people passed away over the 30 years.

Happy Anniversary Karen and many many more.

Happy Birthday Roy

My good old friend Roy is 63 years young today.  We have been friends since our Forest Hills High School Days as our parents were friends.  I remember meeting Roy on Saunders Street and walking to school while we talked about the WMCA and WABC surveys.

Roy retired after working for many years in the New York City Office of City Planning.  He can best be described as a "culture vulture" as he spends 9 days a week going to movies, operas, ballets, and Broadway shows.

Happy Birthday Roy.

By the way today is the 8th anniversary of Bruce's Journal.  There have been almost 2400 journal entries over those 8 years.

Happy Birthday Cousin Brucie

The Cuz is 78 years young today.  Happy birthday and many many more.  You are the #1 Radio Mensch. Here is an obvious dedication to you - Birthday by the Beatles.

A Night With Janis Joplin - For Broadway or Concert Hall?

This afternoon Karen and I went to see A Night with Janis Joplin at the Lyceum Theater.  Whenever a "jukebox musical" opens I like to see it shortly after its release since many of them fail.  Twyla Tharp's The Times They are a Changin' was the biggest flop while the Jersey Boys has succeeded on the Great White Way for years.

I enjoyed the show as Alison Cusano (the understudy) did an excellent job of belting out the Janis Joplin song book.Mary Bridget Davies the advertised Janis had the afternoon off.  The Janis character gave some biographical information to the audience, but there was absolutely no story line.  There were appearances by actresses portraying Chantel, Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Odetta, Aretha Franklin, and Etta James.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear a version of Dylan's I Shall Be Released.

My question is should Broadway theaters be concert halls? There are many tribute bands out there who play in concert venues rather the Broadway stage.

Review in the New York Times.

Good News and Bad News for Bob Dylan Today

The good news is that after break for about two months the Never Ending Tour resumed today in Oslo, Norway. He will be played in several European Countries during this leg of the tour.  The bad news is that Bob did not win the Nobel Prize for literature.  The honor went to Canada's Alice Munro described as the master of the contemporary short story.

Below is the set list for tonight's concerts from Bill Pagel's Boblinks page

Oslo, Norway SpektrumOctober 10, 2013

1.	Things Have Changed
2.	She Belongs To Me
3.	Beyond Here Lies Nothin'
4.	What Good Am I?
5.	Pay In Blood
6.	Tangled Up In Blue
7.	It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
	(Intermission)
8.	Early Roman Kings
9.	Simple Twist Of Fate
10.	Summer Days
11.	Forgetful Heart
12.	Spirit On The Water
13.	Scarlet Town
14.	Soon After Midnight
15.	Long And Wasted Years
	(encore)
16.	All Along The Watchtower
17.	Blowin' In The Wind

Happy Birthday John Lennon

Today would have been John Lennon's 73rd birthday.  Although he was tragically killed in 1980 his music with the Beatles and as a solo artist lives on.

Congratulations to Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein for 10 years on Q-104.3

Jim Kerr and Bruce at the November 2012

Oldies Meet and Greet

From what I have observed radio personalities come and go quickly at radio stations.  But Jim and sidekick Shelli Sonstein have been together at Q-104.3.  Jim and Shelli were also the morning team at WPLJ.  Jim is originally from Detroit, but has worked for almost 40 years in New York radio.  In additon to working at Q104.3 Jim is heard on SiriusXM.  In the past he has worked at:

• WPLJ
• WYNY (NYC country music station at 103.5 FM)
• WYNY (a Westchester country music station known as Y107)
• WPIX-FM
• Mix 105
• Fill-in host on WOR

My best wishes to Jim and Shelli for continued success in New York radio.

Review of My Father and the Man in Black

As I have stated several times before in this journal my son Lee has been a big fan of Johnny Cash for many years.  I had read on the internet several accounts of the documentary My Father and the Man in Black.  About a month ago it played at one theater in Greenwich Village, but I decided that it was more cost effective to wait until the movie was released on DVD.

Don't expect any music here since it considered the relationship between Johnny and his long time manager Saul Holiff.  The film was actually produced by  Saul's son Jonathan.  There was much biographic information about Johnny.  I didn't realize that since his problem with drugs was so bad in the mid 1960s many concerts were cancelled.  The relationship between the two was somewhat contentious over the years.

This is very much a niche film appropriate for county music historians and fans of Johnny.

2013 Oldies Meet and Greet to Honor Alan Berman

I am paying tribute to Alan Berman

There was certainly a void at this Oldies Meet and Greet since we still feel the loss of Alan Berman.  About 40 people came to gather and share are love of oldies on the radio.  There were several radio personalities including Rich Appel, Cool Bobby B, Scott Lowe, Kristin LaBar and Bob Radil.  Old friends that attended included Mary Shaw, Linda Cohen, Frank D'Agostino, Jeff Scheckner, Bill Dillane, and Terri Durr.  In the photo above I gave a 5 minute tribute to Alan.  There were other tributes by Jeff, Bill, Mary and Frank.  I wa disappointed that Frank cut short his speech, but he sent me a written version.  Louise Murray sng

I would like to thank Jon Binstock (at the right) for making a trip from the Washington, D.C. are to attend this gathering.  I have known Jon since the mid 1990s when we "met" on the Prodigy radio boards.

My photos

Bob Radil's photos  - You may have to friend Bob on Facebook to see them

I will add links to other photos when they become available.

My Interview on Bob Radil's 60s 70s Show about the Oldies Meet and Greet

Bruce and Bob Radil at the November 2010

Oldies Meet and Greet

Photo by Pete Ritzert

There have been several mentions of Bob Radil and the 60s 70s show in this journal over the past few years.   Fridays are always busy with Jeopardy and ball games, but I always find some time to listen to at least part of his show from 6 - 10 PM on Rewound Radio. I phoned his show tonight to talk about the Oldies Meet and Greet.  The interview was about 11 minutes.  Listen here.

Should There Be Volunteers for Jury Duty?

I don't have anything new to report right now, but I have been thinking of the thought of there being a volunteer group for jury duty.  Back in October 2010 I there were several journal entries documenting my long and very boring jury duty experience.  I did not discuss the case, but the miserable experience have having to sit around waiting for things to happen.

At any point in time there are people who are unemployed or retired.  Perhaps many of those would volunteer to serve on juries.  The state should pay more than $40/day to attract people.  As usual the judge and attorneys would have the right to question all prospective jurors before their selection to hear a civil or criminal case.

Any thoughts on this?