unicorn meat

2009-07-09T12:53:00.002-04:00

In lieu of spending a lot of money collecting records, I mostly spend a lot of time collecting and organizing mp3s. I have all these different itunes smart playlists so I can make my way through piles of music that I haven't heard. A lot of it is stuff I don't even like and will never listen to again.. but I just always want to hear new things.
The other day I spilled water on my keyboard and while blotting it up I accidentally deleted my shoegazey playlist. I didn't notice until it was too late to do anything. It took me a long time to think of all the possible things to add in there.
So I had to go to a previous version of my itunes library.
The problem now is that it reset the play counts on all this crappy stuff I already listened to, so it's back on my unlistened new downloads playlist. So now I'm driving around giving all this stuff a second chance.
This is inconsequential but I have nothing better to do.
I just like contemplating the different ways to enjoy music, and how they change over time. When I was a child I'd start at the bottom of the radio dial and listen to one song on each channel. It's sort of like that now except with free mp3s.
Sometimes I'll think of a song, weeks after I've listened to it, and only then do I realize that I like and want to hear that song again.
Sometimes I'll hear a song and I know I need it.
Mostly I listen to thousands of songs and forget who they're by and what they sound like, and they fade into the oblivion of my hard drive, probably forever. This is what the digital age has allowed me to do.

3 videos I enjoy

2009-06-29T14:12:00.002-04:00

I've realized I can search youtube for videos I used to have.

cuisine

2009-06-21T18:32:00.003-04:00

A few weeks or months ago I went to a show and saw Ed Schrader. One of his songs that night was like "I CAN'T STOP EATING SUGAR. WHEN YOU CAN'T STOP DOING SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO STOP!"
I think about it a lot because I really can't stop eating sugar.
I've been making all kinds of pies because it's the summer time and fruit needs to be worshipped in pie form.
So I'm going to start making more savory stuff, hopefully some condiments and stuff. I was thinking maybe I should try all Maryland recipes and "blog" about it.
I think Maryland is the culinary south. Some farmers in PA make and provide some good food and ingredients, but overall I think everything north of here basically sucks. Lobster.. sorry it's lame! Buffalo wings.. well I can get into a good wing now and then but really it's a bit of a scam to unload some useless chicken. I can appreciate useage of all the crappy bits, but Sports Bar USA or whatever isn't a farm trying to make do.
I can get into a good crab now and then but Maryland food isn't just about god-damned crabcakes! We have tender fried chicken with gravy, stuffed ham and white potato pie.
Well anyway I do at some point want to make this cake, which has like nothing to do with Maryland. I remember my aunt making it for my cousin's birthday.

baltimore related update

2009-06-12T10:16:00.002-04:00

-Jean Marbella is the worst writer ever. She is so annoying and tries so hard.

-last weekend some woman came up to me and kicked me out of the farmers market for having my tiny dog with me. which would have been ok except there were like 30 other dogs around us and she walked away looking right at all of them. i'm still annoyed at her crappiness and avoiding the JFX farmers market even though I suspect she doesnt even work there

dudes

2009-03-23T11:16:00.000-04:00

I got a puppy, and like.. the room with my computer in it is still too messy to let her hang out in. I miss listening to my records but I've got work to do with this little gal.

your dirty mind

2009-02-25T00:19:00.004-05:00

I get the feeling I recognize this guys voice. Might be one of the artists of of Listen To The Banned. But the party record page says it's Ben Light And His Surf Club. Just now I discovered the party record page is up and running! whoo! I need to contact Java and see if I can do some kind of story in Bachelor Pad Magazine, if that's still goin, with the economy and all.
This song's about swimming in Atlantic City. Watch this song play games with your dirty mind.
Man I can't wait until it's nice out and I can go to the beach!

Ben Light And His Surf Club
The girl From Atlantic City

Coming soon: lots of Elmo Tanner whistling goodness, if anyone still reads this thing.

movie music

2009-02-02T21:47:00.005-05:00

yesss
Hi Lloyd!!

Ray Noble's band with vocal by Al Bowly
Midnight with the Stars and You

2009-01-16T10:51:00.004-05:00

Oh hi. Hi. Happy New Year.
Time flies between these entries. I had another that was half-written and I never published.
I have spent a lot of my time working on jewelry projects, both serious and just for fun.
I've been reading.
You know how I love teens.
So I was naturally drawn to this book when I saw it at the bookstore.
I've been slowly reading it, taking breaks to read other things. Mainly Chesapeake by James Michener. That book took me forever.
However, if I had a lot of time on my hands and didn't have a huge pile of other books I wanted to read, I'd read another Michener book.
I enjoyed it partially because of the subject matter.. if you read this blog regularly you know all about my Maryland obsession. This book took place on the Eastern Shore, however, and my east shore experience is overshadowed by my Chincoteague experience.
Anyway, I think Chincoteague should be part of Maryland. The lifestyle is pretty similar, as most of our fishing was done on the Chincoteague Channel and bay as opposed to the frightening Atlantic.
And I have spent my fair share of time on the Chesapeake of course. So the book starts out with Native Americans and gets really sad and swells up with more sadness about slavery, but I think it never again achieves the effectiveness of that first storyline as the Choptanks respectfully live off the largesse of the bay, only to slowly fade away and die off, watching their lands invaded and destroyed.
So it was pretty good anyway. It spanned centuries and sometimes moved nice and slow only to brush over other time periods. Believe it or not I prefer the slow going, detailed storylines to the sweeping encapsulations of decades.
I ended up buying a copy of the book because I'd checked it out from the library maximum amount of times. I will give my copy to my mom now. She will look at it and assume I read it in a week, because I used to be a bright, fast reader. I'm not anymore.
It's been bothering me how my intelligence has withered away. I'm trying to read more, and learn to retain information like I used to. It's very frustrating.
I have a feeling that practicing some math would help stretch my brain a little but I never cared for math.
So I've been slowly making my way through "Teenage," barely gaining any knowledge of the subjects covered, but enjoying the book nonetheless.
It's just chock full of facts about early adolescent murderers and the devastating effects of World War I, and the rise of mass marketing and all that.
While reading about the crappy "Bright Young People" and the fascinating Brenda Dean Paul and the behavior of these people and their influence and portrayals in literature of the period, I decided to put "Teenage" down yet again, and read some of the books mentioned. This might be my way of prolonging the enjoyment of reading this book. Having my cake and eating it, or something.
I just finished Les Enfants Terribles, and I liked it and noticed its similar themes to other things, like Cruel Intentions, which was actually based on a much earlier French novel about decadent assholes, and my favorite movie as a teen, The House of Yes. Not just because of sibling intimacy, but indulged children in suspended adolescence, as well as the male characters reciprocal insanity being somewhat more subtle, bubbling below the surface or whatever.
So next I am reading "This Side of Paradise" and "Vile Bodies."

I'm hoping this will help me get smarter.
I also checked out two Gossip Girl books because it's another undertaking I feel obligated to somehow. I guess I enjoy them? I don't even know. I like talking about them. They're good for conversations. I tried to talk about Les Enfants Terribles and I just sounded like an ass.

speaking of departed.. belated Bettie Page mp3

2008-12-30T22:32:00.004-05:00

I don't know why I didn't make a post here... so here it is, belated, for the end of 2008.
I may not have agreed with her personal beliefs, but her career impact
and talent and beauty still impress me nonetheless.
She was kind of an inspiration way back when I did some pin-up modeling myself..
A shared fascination in her career put me in touch with some interesting folks, some of whom I still have the good fortune of
being in contact with.

Bettie Page
New York - The Klaws (excerpt)
The Complete Interview

Eartha Kitt's Lovin Spree

2008-12-26T12:04:00.004-05:00

By now you may have heard that the iconic Eartha Kitt passed away. Im not going to post any photos because I don't have any of my own. I recommend, as always, the galleries at Java's Bachelor Pad.
I do however, have a 78.. I think this may have been one of my first 78s. It's been awhile since I listened to it. Of course she was present in many of our consciousnesses(consciousness?) due to the annual holiday presence of her classic Santa Baby. That vibrato kills me.

Eartha Kitt
Lovin' Spree
Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell
RCA Victor 1952

R.I.P. Eartha, you were fucking awesome:

well okay it's a Christmas album

2008-12-18T22:45:00.005-05:00

The Three Suns
A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas!
RCA Victor 1959

Christmas music.. why not? Everybody's doin it. Instead of posting some oldass 78-era carols and whatnot, I'm just posting one I actually listen to.
Easy-listening, Lounge, Exotica, cha-cha, instrumental.. whatever you want to call it.. it's like that kind of thing, if you're not familiar.
I'm always finding The Three Suns records at thrift stores or at Normals.

what killed the dog?

2008-12-15T22:10:00.004-05:00

Nat M Wills
"No News" or "What Killed the Dog"
Victor 17222-A 1908

Why do I do things backwards? Grr. Usually I go through my records, pick out one, record the track and then research the artist/recording. But sometimes I find out the song is readily available in mp3 format and I feel silly.
I should research it before BUYING it, let alone recording it.
Of course the mp3 I put up here is the one I made, but you can also find this track at the wonderful archive.org's collection of Nat M Wills' recordings.
What's more, there's a schnazzy CD collection released by the nearly-as-wonderful Archeophone Records, doubtless complete with an educational booklet.
I also discovered this blog, "Vitaphone Varieties", which I am enjoying and hoping will continue to be updated.
Well, these are the breaks when you're on your own in the cold lonely world of 78s and vaudeville.
I think mine is the last generation that will remember when information was hard to find. Writing to indie labels for their catalogs, reading bands 'thank you' lists, taking note of Kurt Cobain's T-Shirts, wandering the library stacks, and even calling up strangers with questions... thanks to good ole internet I can put those desperate acts behind me. It's trite but yeah, I mean I'm posting an mp3 and including a link to another (likely better) mp3 of the same track.. I excel at redundancy .

1930s Shanghai Lounge music

2008-12-09T21:57:00.004-05:00

From the Wikipedia Mandopop entry:

1930s-1940s: The Seven Great Singing Stars era

The original "Seven Great Singing Stars" of the Republic of China essentially paved the way for the industry. Their individual style was unique to any Chinese music before it. The young film industry benefited greatly with their acting and soundtrack roles. Zhou Xuan is generally considered the most remarkable Chinese popstar of the era due to her successful dual singing and film career. By the end of this generation, female singers went from "song girls" to "stars". The era, however, would be short lived as Shanghai became occupied with the Second Sino-Japanese War and eventually World War II.

I've downloaded some compilations and tracks of these glamorous "1930s Shanghai Lounge Divas." I've uploaded the 2nd CD from this one. I believe the first CD is just a bunch of "remixes for today," which I am not too interested in.
This is uploaded into two zips because of megaupload restrictions.

Various Artists: Shanghai Lounge Divas
part 1
part 2

2008-12-07T21:06:00.000-05:00

More from the "Baltimore's Best Rock" album. I was going to do the first three songs but the first song skips for no apparent reason. In addition, the song is so boring I decided to start writing this blog entry while listening to it and my computer can't handle that. It's true. My computer cannot load a mainly text page and record a song at the same time.
It can't really run itunes either. I plug in my ipod and then go do something for a couple of hours.
SO some time in the next few months I hope to buy a newer computer. I think Dells suck but I can't afford a mac and I don't know about any other computers. Any ideas?
I'll probably just end up buying a Dell. If I ever buy anything at all. Ole faithful Dell 4550 here's been going strong for 6 years. And it's sucked for 5 of those years.
ANYWAY I'm delivering a timeless party jam, entitled "Fish Bait." In addition, another boring song called "Hideaway," with lyrics about wizards and fantasy. Yet it still manages to be dull. These are tracks 3 and 2, respectively, off of this compilation.
Play Fish Bait at your holiday party. Videotape people dancing to it. Put that video on youtube. Send me the link. I will post it here on unicornmeat.com.
Oh and while I was recording I became engrossed in a magazine and let the 4th track, "Texas City" play as well. I'm embarrassed that this song was on a record in the name of Baltimore.
I just know that one of these posts is gonna bite me in the ass because these band members are still around and probably search for mentions of their old bands only to find me dissing their corny glory days.

Basement Floor, Both Worlds, & Kashmir
WKTK presents Baltimore's Best Rock
1978

Lilly Christine for irrelevant Eye Candy

return of the Japanese China Night

2008-12-02T20:35:00.008-05:00

This is a piano-roll disc of "Scott Joplin's New Rag," on ebay. I wish it was a 78. I need to look and see if that song was ever recorded from a contemporary piano roll or on a 78. I have the version of Max Morath playing it and I like it a lot. I never learned any ragtime aside from The Entertainer. Outside of that it was all classical stuff, and I regret that. If I'd known about jazz when I was young enough to learn things I'd have learned to play it.
I was recording some songs with this guy Tim Kaye a few years ago and he had the sheet music for all of Scott Joplin's songs, so I made him play it for me. And he did, because he can actually read music. Like.. look right at it and play it. There's a lot of people in the world who can do that but I've only ever met a few and I envy them all.
If I could still learn things I'd learn "Scott Joplin's New Rag." But I'd also be happy to have an old scratchy record of it. No lovely clear tones recorded on a nice piano in the 1970s.
I like having things on 78 because all the best music is on 78rpm records. I've known this from the first time I noticed them being played, at the Circle Bar in New Orleans, around Christmas 2000 or 2001.
I finally found a few podcasts catering to my tastes. Unfortunately I don't think most of them are still being updated.
I really like Shellac Stack but it hasn't been updated in months and seems defunct. It's good and always averages in the 45-50 minute range.
The Sound of 78s is about as good but its only about 20 minutes long.
The Antique Phonograph Music program on WFMU is over an hour but some of that hour is the beginning of the show after it. Plus, there's not archives of the show except in RealAudio.

And now, an update on China Night. I noticed tonight that I have another record with the exact same song... sung in English. And the singer is "Grace Amemiya." Searching her name turns up very little but it's nice to know anyway. A friend commented that the song can be attributed to "Hamako something and the Columbia Orchestra." These answers probably consolidate somehow.
It is with great regret that I warn you that the record is scratched. So I also put up the B-Side, a song which reminds me of an old Disney fairy tale cartoon.

Grace Amemiya
China Night
Apple Song
late 1940s - Nippon Columbia

"Baltimore's Best Rock".. if you say so..

2008-11-30T18:41:00.009-05:00

OHO
Seldom Bought
WKTK presents Baltimore's Best Rock
(1978)

I believe I got this record from The True Vine. I simply can't pass up a piece of trivial Baltimore music history. If you ask me, this song is pretty bad. Yet maybe I like it. I don't know. It's so ridiculous and I like to imagine being the child of a guy who was in this band, and being like "what the hell, Dad?"
I chose this track because of the keyboards and sound effects, but there's a track on Side A that's got a moog and is perhaps catchier. I may present that track tomorrow or something.
I didn't think I'd find much information about OHO, but the blogosphere never ceases to amaze, and I have uncovered not only that they did have not onw but two full-lengths, and that they reissued some material, but also:

OHO started in late 1973 in Baltimore on the ashes of the band Little Hans. They played experimental progressive rock influenced by Frank Zappa, as well as British prog bands of the first echelon, such as King Crimson and Yes. The band name was an acronym of its core members' surnames (O'Sullivan, Heck and O'Connor). After two proper albums, Okinawa and Vitamin Oho, the band disbanded, with Jay Graboski and Mark O'Connor moving on to form the more new-wave influenced Food for Worms. OHO has been sporadically reuniting throughout the 1980s, most notably in 1989 when they recorded their first new album for more than ten years, called Audition. 2004 saw the release of the album Up recorded by the latest incarnation of OHO that has been put together by the veteran Jay Graboski.
- Mutant Sounds.

I guess this is the WKTK staff. Lower felt-hand corner dude was pretty attractive.

podcasting in the new year

2008-11-29T14:57:00.002-05:00

OK I promise a new song up this weekend.
But I've also been meaning to announce that I may be collaborating with Fevered Brain Radio and doin a little podcast. I've been considering that for some time anyway so this is motivation.
This guy does everything by the law so if you are able to assist with donations to pay the evil BMI/ASCAP fees and whatnot, go to the site:
http://www.thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com/

Plus listen to the existing show and keep checking for updates, etc. Woo

More Jayne stuff: Diamonds to Dust

2008-11-17T15:21:00.000-05:00

Amazon.com removed the review I wrote of this Jayne Mansfield book.

Here was the review:

I am writing this review so that others who order this book may know what to expect, since I did not and was a little disappointed.
This book appears self published, and unfortunately seems entirely unproofed. The grammar is full of run-on sentences and misspellings, which is distracting from an otherwise nice story.
The book is written by one of Jayne's biggest fans. He has the facts straight, and has access to insider information from the family of Jayne. Unfortunately he editorializes often. Having not been present for the actual events, writing in the first person in a biography comes off as unprofessional.
My final gripe is the mentions of latter-day celebrities Tara Reid and Anna Nicole Smith. By referring to current events, the book trivializes and dates itself.
I've read all the biographies of Jayne, and certainly agree that they're altogether inadequate. My disappointment in this book resulted from my hope that it might be "the one."
What it is, however, is a loving tribute and a quick read. It's worthwhile as a brochure for those curious about the true story of Jayne's life.
Maybe one day the book can be proofread and expanded upon, with the photos printed in higher resolution.
In the meantime, I must say that this book put forth the life story of Jayne in a very honest and linear way.

I can only assume the author had it taken down or something. Pity. So I thought I'd post it here for posterity, since it's irritating that they would do that.

Were the Thirties actually wonderful?

2008-11-12T21:30:00.000-05:00

Hey! A whole dang record. Actually, two records.
Over the last few weeks I've been taking my time and recording to mp3s the songs from both discs in this compilation. I have no idea what year this was released but I assume it caters to some rich people who thought the thirties were wonderful. I wasn't there, but I'd heard otherwise.
Furthermore, according to the 1930s Tin-Pan Alley compilation "The Music Goes Round and Around,", the thirties weren't that important music-wise either.
To further entice you to download "Those Wonderful Thirties: The Stars of Broadway, Night Clubs and Vaudeville," I'll admit that it's not the greatest. A lot of the recordings are actually from the 40s.. but they were hits in the 30s.
Lastly, I will reveal that I put varying degrees of effort into the recording and tagging of the four sides. It's sort of a grab bag.
There are some songs and a George Jessel comedy bit that I enjoyed. I'm gonna keep on with this 30s theme and record the other volumes of "Those Wonderful Thirties," including a Hollywood and I think a radio version. And then i'll save best for last and upload that "Music Goes Round and Around" comp.
Enjoy!

Download:
Those Wonderful Thirties: The Stars of Broadway, Night Clubs and Vaudeville

Jayne Mansfield - As Clouds Drift By

2008-11-05T17:49:00.003-05:00

As Clouds Drift By
Jayne Mansfield

This does not sound like the voice of Jayne Mansfield as I know it. But it's on both the Too Hot To Handle collection, and the Jayne/Marilyn compilation Dyed Blonde.
Anyway, whatever. I shall supplement it with this photo from the Modern Man 1957 Yearbook of Queens, a spiralbound girlie mag featuring a LOT of boobs.

women's thighs should touch in the middle, like Jayne's.

Jean Harlow Side 2 & Many Sides of June Harlow

2008-10-28T13:02:00.001-04:00

Great Motion Picture Themes From Jean Harlow Films (Side 2)

later in the article she talks about her planned boob job

update your feed!

2008-10-28T09:54:00.001-04:00

it's just
http://unicornmeat.com/atom.xml
now (and for the past month or so...)

love, karamae

The plight of June Harlow and the plight of Kara Mae

2008-10-25T00:14:00.006-04:00

I've had trials and tribulations. Record needle failures and record player failures, technical difficulties and life distractions.
I got some new needles for the LP player, got an entirely new Califone 1430K to play my 78s, and tried to learn just a little bit more about easier ways to export mp3s and normalize and tag files en masse. I am in the process of digitizing many of my 1930's-related LPs.
After some frustration with sound quality, I discovered that this record I'm posting (half-of) sounds better when played with the 78 needle. So I went ahead and did that.
Here is side one of "Great Motion Picture Themes from Jean Harlow Films." I haven't tagged everything thoroughly enough to name all of the songwriters and movies and stuff.
Frankly, I'm not convinced this blog currently has the readership to necessitate me putting forth too much effort (at this time.) So here's one side of a record. I need to go to bed.

Great Motion Picture Themes From Jean Harlow Films

Since you already know all about Jean Harlow, and have access to tons of photos of her lovely face, I'll randomly include the tangentally related burlesque star "June Harlow," alleged niece of the Hollywood star. Due to her butt chin I'll believe it.
In an interviews in Cabaret magazine in 1956, she talks about getting into stripping at age 16 because she knows she's gotta use it or lose it. She laments that Marilyn Monroe gets comparisons to her aunt Jean. Coincidentally, June was apparently married to Joe DiMaggio's brother. In another Cabaret feature one year later she talks up her plans to become a movie star, and disses the acting chops of Marilyn and Jayne, declaring that she won't have to be a good actress because they aren't.
I scanned her centerfold but then I realized there's already a decent scan of it online. So when I do the second half of the Jean Harlow themes record, I'll try to mix in some more photos of her "niece."

click the photo for a huge image or click here for the whole page.

blow up your tv throw away your papers...

2008-10-01T22:47:00.006-04:00

My brother called me with an extra ticket to go see John Prine in DC.
I've seen him a number of times since my childhood but it's been awhile. In the past few years of listening to music and playing some guitar and singing to myself, I've chosen new favorites.. growing up I really liked "Paradise" and "Hello In There."
A few years ago I got really into "Christmas In Prison." I guess I haven't really listened to much of his later stuff. I didn't like it as much. Like the "In Spite of Ourselves" song which has Iris DeMent and a sweet melody going for it but the lyrics are just too dumb for me.

John Prine & Nanci Griffith
Streets of Baltimore

I've said before that I am not really a fan of this arrangement. The subtle changes in the lyrics.. the monologue..
But you know, i've got this theme going on so here it is.

Noooooo

2008-09-29T21:01:00.009-04:00

AAAAHHH. MY CALIFONE! IT'S BROKEN!
What the hell man. Tonight it just wouldn't spin. The sound works, the light works, but it never makes the shift from "standby" to "play." I opened it up and all wires are secure and fuse is fine, etc. So I guess the motor died or something. How infuriating. And sad. So.. no 'party record' tonight.
Instead, something that's actually funnier, yet also more substantial. I have no idea how I got this record. Well I know how I got it. I bought it online because it contained two of my favorite themes - burlesque and drag queens. But I have no idea how I got it for ten dollars. On the back of this record sleeve it lists 9 other Ray "Rae" Bourbon releases, which I just looked up on ebay and are for sale at around $50 each.
Why are these such collectors items? Well, Rae Bourbon is a pretty special character. The best information can be found in this tribute site.
Rae Bourbon was a female impersonator and gay icon, performing from the 1930s up until his imprisonment in the late 1960s. He'd been convicted of "Accomplice to Murder with Malice," against a man who had disposed of dogs that Rae had put in his care. He died in prison in 1971.
He appeared in a few silent films in the 1920s after entering his photo (as a female) in a Photoplay contest. In the early 1930's he performed in the "pansy shows", gay and mainstream nightclubs, and vaudeville.
Another bit of his story from this site offers some enlightenment regarding party records:
From 1935 through the early forties, Ray would record with Bob and Chet, Howard, and other musicians in a series of sides released under various small labels such as "Bourbana", "Liberty Music Shop" and "Imperial" (not related to the R&B label of the fifties). Like other "blue" party records of the period, they were sold at Ray's shows, through mail order, and "under the counter" by discrete record dealers. A surprising number of Ray's records were pirated under anonymous labels and many were pressed in small quantities for use in jukeboxes in adult establishments such as bars and nightclubs.

Rae seems to be an expert about vaudeville, burlesque, and Mae West. Now there's a broad after my own heart.
Seriously, I urge you to read this life story.

Rae Bourbon
Strip Queen
Ladies of Burlsque
UTC 1950s

Hey. For extra fun here's a wav of me singing into an answering machine a few years ago.
If you have any 78 player recommendations, let me know. I'm mostly likely to just get another Califone exactly like the one I have.