KPFK Public Radio Show: Steve Bartek & Ego Plum talk about Raymond Scott, and play vintage and new recordings. 

KPFK Radio: Steve Bartek & Ego Plum talk about Raymond Scott

Although there's no indication that Miles Davis met Raymond Scott, it appears he may have been a fan. Approx 3 years-ago, I found a Miles Davis 'Blindfold Test' from 1968 — listening to Sun Ra (a tune titled "Brainville"), Davis said: "That's gotta come from Europe. We wouldn't play no shit like that. It's so sad. It sounds funny to me. Sounds like a 1935 arrangement by Raymond Scott. You mean there's somebody around here that feels like that? Even the white people don't feel that sad."

	I've now discovered another Davis 'Blindfold Test,' this one from 10 years earlier, in which he also mentions Raymond Scott. Here is a brief audio clip I excerpted from the complete 35-minute recording (and I transcribed it because Davis can be difficult to understand):	

	• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 
	1958 “Blindfold Test” (excerpt)
	• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

	MILES DAVIS: Well, now it’s sickening because everybody plays the cliches that they played 5 years ago. 

	LEONARD FEATHER: Hmm, or 10 years ago.

	MD: And them ‘modren’ (sic) musicians. I really can’t stand to hear too many of those guys now — very few. 

	LF: What do you think about the West Coast guys?

	MD: They can have that. They got all of that… on the West Coast. 

	LF: Do you think it lacks emotion?

	MD: Yes, I think it’s the heat out there. (both laugh) And the movies. I really don’t understand that. You know, I like [jazz drummer and bandleader] Chico [Hamilton], he’s a good friend of mine, ya know, but his band makes me sick!

	LF: Well, a lot of it is not Jazz.
	
	MD: I don’t know what it is. I’d rather listen to Raymond Scott’s old quintet.	

	LF: (laughs)

http://raymondscott.blogspot.com/2015/05/miles-davis-raymond-scott.html

Miles Davis mentions Raymond Scott, 1958 “Blindfold Test” (excerpt)

"Our extremely homemade first CD. Done on a bedroom 4-track setup, drum-free. Audiophiles may have a problem with the tape hiss; everyone else had better damned well love the stuff. Fancy 'Hardy Boys' packaging and everything."

LYRICS:

I've seen you around
You're the shadow of the man who ruled the world
You're a big name in this town
On the lips of every boy and every girl

When you're in Vegas with the clock stopped
Drunk off the body shots
And trying to get the top off a beautiful girl

You'll be rocking like a copper top
Your pocket full of top stocks
Every indication you're the king of the world

But the dawn comes calling and the chick hits the road
She's taken from your wallet what she felt she was owed
Your head keeps screaming that it doesn't feel right
'Cause you're older in the morning than you were last night

Things have started breaking down
You're no longer in control of all you see
And you can't seem to leave this town
And you can't even make the sun go down
No, you can't even make the sun go down

Another day breaks over your face like a
Cold wet hand cuffed to a new briefcase
The hot water never seems to make it to the tap
The hot coffee always seems to make it to your lap

You clock in and it's the same every day
Living in the future doesn't make it go away
You smile at the women but there's nothing you can say
When everybody's only passing you by

And you'll be sitting in the corner though you ache for the stage
Sick of taking orders from a punk half your age
Dreaming every night that you're a snake in a cage
And everybody's trying to get a look at your blood

But the clock starts buzzing and it's back to your cell
Another 10 hours in your workaday hell
You think you're gonna lose it but you never can tell
When everybody's looking at you, boy

And things have started breaking down
You're no longer in control of all you see
And you can't seem to leave this town
And you can't even make the sun go down
No, you can't even make the sun go down

Every city's got its own sad song
Every city's got its own way of speaking
But you're the one who's been here all day long
And you don't want to have to live for the weekend

©2001 Speechwriters LLC

Speechwriters LLC was initially conceived as a cautious alliance between West Coast songwriters Dave Lowensohn and Misha Chellam, who quickly became inseparable and spent most of the Bush years touring the country in borrowed minivans. They have since managed to strike a delicate balance between California sunshine and Northwest navel gazing, resulting in a weirdly three dimensional folk-pop that resonates with Red and Blue staters alike. The Speechwriters have toured 38 states, won countless, meaningless awards, and once loaned Jay Farrar their amp.

Dave Lowensohn (vocals/guitars) is a veteran of Portland’s music scene and a regular on the college tour. When he’s not the unrecognized face of Speechwriters LLC, he plays bass in Ramona Falls and Lost Lander.

Misha Chellam (vocals/guitars) is a globetrotting techno-nomad who has worked on MIT’s One Laptop Per Child program and been a coordinator at TEDx. Besides ghostwriting his own speeches, he has been instrumental in making Speechwriters LLC more famous in Southeast Asia than they have any right to be.

"Worksong" [original] by Speechwriters LLC

• written by jeff winner • performed by ego plum •

LYRICS:

her name is jes, with one s

jes with one s
jes with one s

well, i’m on this microphone
to say she hates styrofoam 

jes with one s
jes with one s

and her pix are authentic
cuz she’s mad photogenic 

jes with one s
jes with one s

she drinks that chocolate milk
so her hair is just like silk

jes with one s
jes with one s

then the girls say:
“ms. alemi? you slay me!” 
“you slay me, ms. alemi!” 
“ms. alemi? you slay me!”
“you slay me, ms. alemi!” 

her name is jes with one s!

her name is jes, with one s

jes with one s
jes with one s

she's got ink from skull to toe
and I want you all to know:

jes with one s
jes with one s

“ms. alemi? you slay me!”

jes with one s
jes with one s

“wanna play me, ms. alemi?!”

jes with one s
jes with one s

her name is jes, with one s

 •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • 
©2015 PlumWin, inc.

http://JeffWinner.com
http://EgoPlum.com

"jes with one s" • by jeff winner & ego plum

from the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:
“It is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.”

"Sweet Francis" by Mike Doughty

Clear vinyl: "Song Of The Milk Bottle Moppets" by Raymond Scott, 1955

"Song Of The Milk Bottle Moppets" by Raymond Scott

Performed by Ego Plum in the style of 1950s-'60s electronic Raymond Scott: "A Boy Scout In Switzerland"

April Fools' Day stunt revealed: Although I did make many discoveries during my recent research mission to Mitzi Scott's home, the track I uploaded yesterday was in fact created by composer, musician, and prankster, Ego Plum (the voice is me, Jeff Winner). The recording was commissioned for the forthcoming 2-CD compilation "SONGBOOK," produced by Takashi Okada.

http://raymondscott.blogspot.com/2012/04/vintage-recording-discovered-listen-now.html

Performed by Ego Plum in the style of 1950s-'60s electronic Raymond Scott

From berkeley.edu: "Join Rubberband Girl as she showcases the brilliant work of this composer and engineer — from his quirky, swinging arrangements (famously adapted for Warner Brothers cartoons), to his innovative work in electronic music and instrumentation. Special guest is Jeff Winner."

KALX Radio • guest: Jeff Winner • hosted by Rubberband Girl

If 6 Was 9: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix

MONKS OF DOOM: "Spanish Castle Magic"

MIKE HOOCH

MOON DOUGHTY

"JEFF, SUZY, & ROSS"
Written & performed by G.T. Thomas (http://soundcloud.com/gtthomas)
with Berend Dubbe (http://soundcloud.com/berenddubbe)
____________________________________________________
LYRICS:

Sure, Jeff is a genius
And Suzy's a smarty
But Ross is the boss
With the plan in his paws

The man and the lady
(Man and the lady)
Might throw him a party
(Throw him a party)
If doggy does tricks
That incite oohs & aahs

So why go on waiting?
His magical sources are real

Don't put it past him
Go on and ask him:

"Rossi, know where Leasa Podloski
can find an Optigan idler wheel?"

____________________________________________________
© Thomas & Dubbe
____________________________________________________

VAN DYKE PARKS: "We carry G.T. Thomas' album in our car to reduce road rage in LA and it's a great intro into her subtlety and power as an arranger/songwriter and orchestrator. Check it out!"

"JEFF, SUZY, & ROSS" by Thomas & Dubbe

[ http://JeffWinner.com ] JEFF WINNER is a music & film producer, historian, and researcher. He has written for the Oxford University Press "GROVE DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN MUSIC (2nd  Edition)," the MIT Press anthology "SOUND UNBOUND" (with Chuck D of Public Enemy, Moby, Scanner, and Steve Reich), features in "ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN" magazine, and liner notes for the DVD/CD series "OHM: THE EARLY GURUS OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC" (with Sonic Youth, Bob Moog, John Cage, and Brian Eno). Jeff was also editor/interviewer for "WE ARE DEVO," the band's first biographical book (Firefly Press), and is the Consulting Producer of the forthcoming official DEVO documentary film… CONTINUED: http://JeffWinner.com

Jeff Winner

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