tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55132174380418677882026-07-14T16:35:24.501-06:00A portfolio of my past writing, and new stories as I develop them. Almost always deliberately funny.BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.comBlogger397125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-48434284706508542732026-07-14T16:35:24.501-06:002026-07-14T16:35:24.501-06:00

 NRR Project: “The Little Engine That Could” Narrated by Paul Wing Recorded 1949 13:44 This children’s classic receives its definitive oral rendition here. The story, narrated by Paul Wing, is written about by Roy E.Plotnick here. The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order.

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-58245586731400621832026-07-14T16:09:05.288-06:002026-07-14T16:10:59.680-06:00

 NRR Project: “Kiss Me, Kate” Words and music by Cole Porter Original Broadway cast album Released Feb. 15, 1949 54:44 Cole Porter (1891-1964) was one of America’s songwriting geniuses. Along with Irving Berlin and Frank Loesser, he wrote both his music and his lyrics – a standalone talent.Coming from a wealthy background, Porter attended elite schools, traveled widely, and lived well.

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-11403482580768640342026-07-09T11:21:07.571-06:002026-07-09T11:25:58.641-06:00

 NRR Project: “The Jazz Scene” Various artists Produced by Norman Granz Recorded 1949 2 hrs., 33 min. Wow! I had heard pieces of this before, but I had no idea this album existed. It’s a jazz masterpiece, consisting of many talents contributing to a view of American jazz in the year 1954. Giants perform on this recording, and they play not their hits but new, challenging work that

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-11704687980029982312026-07-06T12:09:53.613-06:002026-07-06T12:11:26.313-06:00

 NRR Project: “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” Written by Earl Scruggs Performed by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs Recorded Dec. 11, 1949 2:20 Wow. This iconic musical selection is interpreted by not one, but two expert essayists – Thomas Goldsmith and Brian Bader. Read their pieces! Flatt and Scruggs were the first musicians to defect from playing for the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. IT

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-28377145206481184912026-07-03T12:05:18.665-06:002026-07-03T12:20:30.864-06:00

 NRR Project: Harry Truman’s speech at the Democratic National Convention Delivered July 15, 1948 It was the first presidential nomination acceptance speech to be broadcast on TV. To really understand the effectiveness of this speech, one must understand the circumstances preceding it. To do so, read David Pietrusza’sessay on it at the National Recording Registry. It was delivered at

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-34100495822991194102026-07-02T18:48:35.490-06:002026-07-02T18:48:35.490-06:00

NRR Project: The Jack Benny Program“Jack Is Robbed of Ronald Colman’s Oscar” Performed by Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, “Rochester” (Eddie Anderson), Don Wilson, et al Performed March 28, 1948 28:59 It was the best comedy show on radio, hands down. It lasted from May 2, 1932 to May 22, 1955, one of the longest-running and most successful shows in the history of media.

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-7140609004191414752026-06-28T18:00:42.511-06:002026-06-28T18:00:42.511-06:00

 NRR Project: “Move On Up a Little Higher” Composed by W. Herbert Brewster Performed by Mahalia Jackson Mildred Falls, piano; Herbert James Francis, organ Recorded Sept. 12, 1947 First read the expert essay on this piece by Robert F. Darden at the National Recording Registry. Mahalia Jackson was gifted with an enormous, resonant voice. She represents a new force in gospel music. Her

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-9906920856378855762026-06-25T15:12:27.453-06:002026-06-25T15:12:27.453-06:00

 NRR Project: Piano Sonata No. 2 Composed by Charles Ives Performed by John Kirkpatrick Recorded 1945; released 1948 First, read Drew Massey’s excellent explanatory essay on this piece at the National Recording Registry. At first listen, the music seems pure chaos. Is this even music, much less classical music? It is the music of Charles Ives (1874-1954), an absolute original who

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-88753609506805988242026-06-22T16:23:16.880-06:002026-06-22T16:23:16.880-06:00

 NRR Project: “I’ll Fly Away” Composed by Albert E. Brumley Performed by the Chuck Wagon Gang Recorded 1948 2:43 Oooh! Here’s a really good explanatory essay by Bill C.Malone at the National Recording Registry. This gospel standard is an elegant and tuneful number, easy to remember and easy to harmonize. No wonder it’s so popular! Its fervent energy speaks of the longing for spiritual

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-11285812914261000062026-06-19T11:20:43.276-06:002026-06-19T11:20:43.276-06:00

 NRR Project: “I Can Hear It Now: 1933-1945” Produced and co-written by Fred Friendly Co-written and narrated by Edward R. Murrow Compiled for Columbia Records 1948 46:44 Another excellent essay by Cary O’Dell is available here – it explains this entry quite well! The idea of producing an album of significant sound slices from recent world history was Fred Friendly’s. His experience as

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-45713840223671423432026-06-18T16:34:52.601-06:002026-06-18T16:34:52.602-06:00

 NRR Project: “Evangeline Special”/“Love Bridge Waltz” Performed by Iry Lejeune Recorded 1948 2:27/2:52 Another entry I had no awareness of! What does this say? It seems that no matter how hard you try to absorb all the sounds and the sights that’re out there, you’re going to miss some. OK, a lot. No matter how hard you try. But that doesn’t mean you should give up! Let them pry the

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-38511706985798982122026-06-16T11:38:52.648-06:002026-06-16T11:38:52.648-06:00

 NRR Project: “Boogie Chillen’” Written and performed by John Lee Hooker Released Nov. 3, 1948 3:10 How could a one-chord song sweep the nation? “Boogie Chillen” did. (Read Jas Obrecht’s essay on the song here at the National Recording Registry.) John Lee Hooker was a law unto himself. He was the youngest of 11 children, born to sharecroppers in Mississippi. His stepfather taught him

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-21759813263241133212026-06-11T16:51:58.655-06:002026-06-11T16:51:58.655-06:00

 NRR Project: The “Marshall Plan” speech Delivered by George Marshall Delivered June 5, 1947 12:33 First, read David Roll’s excellent essay on the subject here at the National Recording Registry. This relatively short speech, given at Harvard University by former general and then-Secretary of State George Marshall, was a revelation – and marked the beginning of the salvation of Western

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-27755605468779555312026-06-09T17:21:35.077-06:002026-06-09T17:21:35.078-06:00

 NRR Project: “Indians for Indians” Broadcast March 25, 1947 30 min. Another entry I know nothing about, and have little evidence of. This radio program was in operation since April 1941 through the mid-1970s, and provided a platform for Native American news and cultural expression. Read the essay by Josh Garrett-Davis. The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-21247606801708056322026-06-04T20:54:18.971-06:002026-06-04T20:54:18.971-06:00

 NRR Project: “Manteca” Composed by Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo, and Gil Fuller Performed by the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band with Chano Pozo Recorded Dec. 22, 1947 3:06 Read the excellent essay on this piece by Raul Fernandez! This song marks the birth of the strong influence of Afro-Cuban jazz. Jazz had first served as a dance music; bebop took away the beat. Afro-Cuban jazz restored the

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-39442113052905223292026-05-31T19:15:07.313-06:002026-05-31T19:15:07.313-06:00

 NRR Project: “Just Because” Composed by Joe Shelton, Sydney Robin, and Bob Shelton Performed by Frankie Yankovic and his Yanks Recorded 1948 2:59 I could not do better than Bob Dolgan’s expert essay on this subject. Read it here! Frankie Yankovic was an inspired accordionist, and his polkas appealed to the big Slavic audiences of the Midwest. This tune made him nationally popular!

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-74941473512711507382026-05-27T09:43:44.061-06:002026-05-27T09:45:54.608-06:00

 NRR Project: “Hula Medley” Performed by Gabby Pahinui Recorded 1947 2:58 Another entry that I’ve never heard of and have nothing cogent to discuss regarding it. Read J.W. Junker’s great essay on it at theNational Recording Registry. It’s a beautiful piece of music! And Pahinui is still remembered as the King of Slack Key Guitar. The National Recording Registry Project tracks one

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-33793733388471586152026-05-25T14:59:43.975-06:002026-05-25T14:59:43.975-06:00

 NRR Project: The Four Seasons Composed by Antonio Vivaldi Performed by Louis Kaufman and the Concert Hall String Orchestra Recorded: Dec. 28-31, 1947 37:18 For a while, Baroque music was in eclipse. It was the accepted art music of its day, wrought by musical giants such as Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741). However,

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-51090189560237851912026-05-24T09:56:10.922-06:002026-05-24T09:56:10.923-06:00

 “Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around” Traditional Performed by the Fairfield Four Recorded 1947 2:25 Wow. Another great group I would not have heard from save for this survey. First, you must read Opal Louis Nations’ essay on this group at the National Recording Registry. It gives a specific and detailed history of the quartet from its beginnings in 1921 down to the present day. The

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-42540634609445621172026-05-22T19:34:48.919-06:002026-05-22T19:34:48.920-06:00

 “Four Saints in Three Acts” Music by Virgil Thomson; lyrics by Gertrude Stein Performed by Virgil Thomson et al Premiered Feb. 7, 1934 Recorded June 1947 1 hour, 47 minutes A whimsical piece of pure music – as its libretto makes no sense. The author of the piece was the famous writer, American expatriate Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) She was known for her experimental, nonsensical,

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-48640007748331709792026-05-19T16:10:42.176-06:002026-05-19T16:10:42.176-06:00

 NRR Project: “The Churkendoose” Composed by Alec Wilder; lyrics by Ben Ross Berenberg Performed by Ray Bolger Recorded 1947 An amusing and sweet children’s record I’d never heard of. Read Holly Van Leuven’s essay on it at the National Recording Registry. The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-14941333254281133652026-05-19T15:45:00.993-06:002026-05-19T15:45:41.608-06:00

 NRR Project: “Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday’s Just as Bad)” Composed by T-Bone Walker Performed by T-Bone Walker, Lloyd C. Glenn, Bumps Myers, Teddy Buckner, Arthur Edwards, Oscar Lee Bradley Recorded Sept. 14, 1947 2:25 T-Bone Walker was a phenomenon. Read Brian Bader’s essay on him at the National Recording Registry. He was not the first to use the electric guitar. That honor

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-77667385499575424082026-05-18T16:51:49.312-06:002026-05-18T16:51:49.312-06:00

 NRR Project: “Blue Moon of Kentucky” Composed by Bill Monroe Performed by Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys Recorded 1947 2:06 First, read Richard D. Smith’s essay and Ricky Skaggs’ essayat the National Recording Registry. They are enthusiastic and comprehensive. I can only approach this musical giant with awe. I mean, the guy invented bluegrass. Who else has birthed a genre? Bill

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-14905348621153226332026-05-15T10:48:56.515-06:002026-05-15T10:48:56.516-06:00

 NRR Project: Mass in B-minor Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach Performed by Robert Shaw and the Robert Shaw Chorale Recorded 1947 2 hours, 12 min. This enormous work is a landmark in Western music, and Robert Shaw’s direction of this recording is rightly regarded as a landmark as well. Shaw’s comprehension of the text and his ability to evoke a vital and energized performance from any

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513217438041867788.post-15119920892109394392026-05-11T17:57:14.865-06:002026-05-12T09:14:55.852-06:00

 NRR Project: “Sinews of Peace” (aka “Iron Curtain”) speech Written and delivered by Winston Churchill Recorded March 6, 1946 46 min. This speech marks the beginning of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and America and its allies. World War II was not yet over a year when this speech was made. The United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union had formed a “Grand Alliance” to

BradWeishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473472881579089861noreply@blogger.com0