Center Stage: An Abandoned Albums Podcast

Too busy for the full episode? We got you.   

Bill HIcks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material—encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy—was controversial and often steeped in dark comedy. At the age of 16, while still in high school, Hicks began performing at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas. During the 1980s, he toured the U.S. extensively and made a number of high-profile television appearances, but it was in the UK that he amassed a significant fan base, filling large venues during his 1991 tour. He also achieved some recognition as a guitarist and songwriter. Hicks died of pancreatic cancer on February 26, 1994, at the age of 32. In subsequent years, his work gained significant acclaim in creative circles—particularly after a series of posthumous album releases—and he developed a substantial cult following.  In keeping with the way his career unfolded, in 2007, he was No. 6 on Channel 4's (UK)  list of the "100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics", and rose to No. 4 on the 2010 list.  Here in the US, in 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him No. 13 on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time. LINKS Bill Hicks Website LBJ Great Society American: The Bill Hicks Story - the full documentary Why did David Letterman cut Bill Hicks  New Yorker Article by John Lahr All Clips of Bill Hicks on Letterman (including Mary Hicks) The Great Society Speech It’s Just A Ride Love and Fear Bill Hicks on Religion Bill Hicks Interview from 1988 Bill Goes Off on a Heckler

Buffalo Tom is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. Its principal members are guitarist Bill Janovitz, bassist Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginnis. Released on March 10, 1992, Let Me Come Over is the band's third album. Take your Xanax  Gen X’ers; that makes the album 30 years old. We're fairly certain some of the concert t-shirts around the office are even older... but they've been washed The album's peculiar cover art is taken from an issue of National Geographic and shows an Aboriginal Australian stockman. LINKS: Face Cluture Face Culture 2 Radio BDC  120 Minutes from 1992 Bill J Retrospceives Interview Culture Codes: Charting the Rise of Boston’s Hardcore Punk Scene - quote from Filmmaker/Musician Derek Stone  Abandoned Albums episode 106 - Go! Dog! Go! - Writer/Musician Eric Beetner Bill J on De Laatste Show Magnet Magazine - The Making of Let Me Come Over Sit and Spin Boston Herald with Jed Gottlieb Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on The Rolling Stones Face Culture Interview with Bill J  Yahoo Finance Artist Interviews & Performances  

WARNING: This episode mentions alcohol abuse, depression, and self-harm. This album is a long-time favorite around the offices. The Holy Bible (The Manic Street Preacher's third album, not necessarily the book) is caustic, relentless, and at times, verbally claustrophobic... and as it approaches 30 years of age, it's still one of music's most potent. In the early nineties, rising above the noise of the scene from Manchester and the budding dominance of Brit-Pop, was no easy task. These four childhood friends from Wales found a way.  Ripping pages from The Clash, Guns-n-Roses, and even Public Enemy, the band blazed new territory with their unique sound and lyrics that sometimes begged you to have a dictionary handy - (this was pre-internet). You either know the story of Manics rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards, or you don't.  On this episode, we tell the story of the band's seminal third album, The Holy Bible. Well, we don't; we let the band tell it in their own words. Interview Links, etc.: Planet Rock Richey Edwards Last Interview Trash Theory Documentary PMRC The Filthy 15 Evidence Locker Podcast 20/20 Sound The Making of Radio Interview 2012 BBC1 News Report Feb 1, 1996 Itv Report on Missing Persons NYTimes Retro Review on PMRC Rock and Roll True Stories BBC From There to Here

After reading a profile of Richie Weeks in The New York Times, we thought: "if ever there was an artist that should be on the pod, it's this guy."  In the spirit of transparency, Keith is a rock-n-roll guy, so dance music/disco isn't his jam. But he couldn't help but bop up and down and smile while listening to Richie's music. We're confident his music will have the same impact on you.  Richie's story is not atypical to the music business - talent, exploitation, and redemption. The first two are much too familiar. The third is more elusive.  Past Due Records majordomo and DJ/producer Jerome Derradji and Richie stopped by to talk about their first release together. Richie Weeks, The Love Magician Archives - Disco - New York City 1978-79 vol. 1.  They shared with Keith the rest of the story that The New York Times article didn't tell.  After the usual battle with a record label, Richie and Jerome are lining up a release schedule re-packaging Weeks' entire catalog. And they're planning the release of new music. And maybe even a tour. Did we forget to mention that he was a full-time US Postal Worker at the height of his musical career?  In this episode, we tell the complete Richie Weeks story... so far. LINKS Richie Weeks on Spotify Richie Weeks on Soundcloud Qmax LLC on Soundcloud Still Music/Past Due Records NY Times Article Variety Magazine - Article on BMG’s Discriminatory Contract Terms for Black Artists’ The Conversation - Article on Denying Black Musicians Their Royalties Rolling Stone - BMG Finds Disparity in Black Artists' Contracts Patrick Adams Salsoul Records Prelude Records Kool & the Gang Kashif  

Keith manning the keyboard here - On this episode of Abandoned Albums I sat down with singer/songwriter Chris Canterbury stopped by to chat about Quaalude Lullabies. This album is the first album in a very long time that made me stop and listen to the lyrics. There was a time when that would’ve been standard practice listening to new music, but now? Well, you know…life.  Chris Canterbury is one of those rare singer/songwriters, his songs are straight-ahead and hit you where it matters most - the head and the heart. The nine songs on this new record are the type of songs that build careers and become legendary. If you're not identifying with one of the characters he’s singing about, then you know someone who will. Given the title, Quaalude Lullabies, you go into it with an understanding that these songs will be a bit on the sad side. In more simple terms, as Chris points out, “the album is a collection of downers.” That said, these characters may be sad, and lonely, and they’re definitely damaged, but they’re not tragic.  Achieving that kind of symbiosis is no easy task, and on Quaalude Lullabies, Chris Canterbury does.   LINKS Chris Canterbury website American Songwriter article Will Kimbrough Bill HIcks Arizona Bay Denis Leary No Cure for Cancer The Sceneius Explained Yellow Mama

Hailing from the great plains of Witchita, Kansas, The Embarrassment, like their contemporaries R.E.M., The Replacements, and Husker Du,  helped blaze the trail for what would become college or alternative rock in the early to mid 1980s. Affectionately known as The Embos, their smart, catchy, and quirky songs were a ballast to the moodier sounds of early R.E.M. and the more punkish sounds of the mats and Husker Du.  The band was guitarist Bill Goffrier, lead singer and organist John Nichols, bassist Ron Klaus and drummer Brent Giessmann. Bill stops by Thunderlove Studio to talk about how the band went from a name like The Elastic Wasteband to The Embarrassment and how R.E.M. allegedly had them removed as an opening act - for fear they would outperform the headlining guys from Athens, Georgia.  Keith and Bill talk about the band, its place in history, and the upcoming documentary We Were Famous, You Don’t Remember. LINKS The Embarrassment Wiki We Were Famous, You Don’t Remember Bill Goffrier  Chucky Fume - Thoughts From the Universe Bar None Records Last Laugh Records Fresh Sounds Records Big Dipper The Del Fuegos Article about Documentary We Jam Econo - The Minuteman Documentary Los Straight Jackets

As the principal songwriters and creative forces, Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger brought a Lennon/McCartney aspect to their songwriting. This is to say that Andy’s view is a little left of center while Adam leans a little more commercial and when combined with Dominique Durand's voice, it’s astounding.  The music of Ivy is the convergence of three very distinct voices… and personalities, but with a shared vision. Whether you call it “shoegazing” or “indie pop” or “indie” or whatever, the band’s entire catalog is pure pop perfection.  Despite their lack of commercial success here in the United States, for over 15 years, Ivy was one of the most licensed bands in the business. You may not know their name, but you definitely know their music. LINKS Ivy Website Fountains of Wayne (Adam’s other band) Camera2 (Andy’s other band) Les Inrockuptibles (French Rock Magazine) Andy’s Eulogy (full transcript) and “Song for Adam” Bar None Records Atlantic Records Melody Maker James Iha Llyod Cole Edwyn Collins Orange Juice  

Zero Boys frontman Paul Mahern drops by Thunderlove Studio to talk with the guys about the band’s album Vicious Circle… and Punk Rock. In addition to fronting what is arguably the seminal pop-punk band Zero Boys, Paul Mahern is a Grammy-Nominated producer/engineer and manned the boards behind several platinum albums. He’s worked with artists as varied as Afghan Whigs, Iggy Pop, The Fray, and Neil Young and built a very successful working relationship with John Mellencamp.  Paul is also a music archivist and a college professor (he teaches a class called The History of Punk) - go figure. :) Check out the links below to his work. LINKS: Paul Mahern  Archives of Traditional Music CREEM Magazine The Ramones Iggy Pop The Stooges John Mellencamp MC5 The Sex Pistols The Adverts - “Looking Through Gary Gilmore’s Eyes” Dr. Demento Brian Eno

Irwin Chusid is to outsider music as Irving Azoff was to Atlantic Records. Here in Part Two, Irwin gives us the low-down on music rights. He goes into his involvement in a Lizzo song, a Lady Gaga song, and how that led to his involvement with Sun Ra.  You don't NEED to listen to Part One to follow along here, but it is strongly encouraged. It provides better context. Once again, Irwin shares with us his tremendous knowledge and his unique storytelling skills. LINKS Jim Flora Sun Ra WFMU The Mischievous Art of Jim Flora by Irwin Chusid The Curiously Sinister art of Jim Flora by Irwin Chusid & Barbara Economon The High Fidelity Art of Jim Flora by Irwin Chusid & Barbara Economon The Sweetly Diabolic Art of Jim Flora by Irwin Chusid & Barbara Economon Always in Trouble by Jason Weiss Lucia Pamala Shooby Taylor Lizzo (feat. Missy Elliot) - “Tempo” Lady Gaga - “Venus” King Radio, The Lion, The Tiger; Gerald Clark and his Caribbean Serandaers - “Ask No Questions”