Podcast 29!

After a few weeks of no podcasts (but of posts of other natures!), I bring you the latest and greatest podcast. This one features a lot of stuff from the likes of Wolfman Jack, Depeche Mode, Those Darn Accordions, White Stripes, Roger Miller, Martin & Lewis, Elvis Presley, Karen Carpenter and so much more. This one is a lot of fun! Enjoy!

Dartman's Wacky Podcast #29

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 8

After hearing Augie Rios find out all about Santa yesterday, it's time to sit back and relax with a nice beverage. You'll find it behind door #8. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 8

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 4

Guy Lombardo sang us a great song yesterday, so let's go ahead and open up door #4. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 4

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2010: Day 22

Today we find the sweet sounds of another one of my musical compatriots. A few years back, a guy named Frank Proccacini and I played together in a band called The Caribbean Beach Bums. Frank is an amazing musician and an even better teacher. He has inspired the kids he teaches for many years and they all love him. It was Frank who teamed up with a harpist named Margaret Day and recorded an entire album of Christmas standards back in the late 90s. Here is a track from that album. It's Frank on the trumpet playing "O Holy Night". I am sure you will love this! Enjoy!

Frank Proccacini and Margaret Day - O Holy Night

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2010: Day 18

What's a Christmas without a polka? How would we create enough merriment without the classic Polish tradition of dancing around the tree? That's why today we find a nice little number by 'Lil Wally and the Harmony Boys! It's a festive little ditty entitled, "St Nick Is Coming". Grab your partner and dance! Here we go! One-step-step-one-step-step . . . Enjoy!

Lil Wally and the Harmony Boys - St Nick Is Coming

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2010: Day 15

Today I get to introduce you to one of the greatest musicians I know. His name is Rob Phillips and he is a musical genius. I know that word gets used a lot but with Rob, I mean it. I went to college with Rob and have always been fascinated not just by his ability on the guitar but of his knowledge of music in general. Years ago, Rob started to do some extensive home recording and would send his friends the fruits of his labors in an annual CD he titled, "A Winter Sampler". This great works always featured some kind of holiday songs on them and today I bring you one of my all time favorites. In the tradition of the great, Duke Ellington, Rob took a stab at twisting Tchiakovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Here is his version of the Waltz of The Sugar Plum Fairies. In Rob's world, it is "The Cha Cha of the Sugar Plum Fairies". Enjoy!

Rob Phillips - Cha Cha of The Sugar Plum Fairies

BTW - to listen to more of Rob's great work, you can check him out here!

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2010: Day 8

The 8th flap gets pulled back and we get a glimpse at a Christmas of days past with the great Lester Lanin and his Orchestra. Lanin came to fame quite by accident. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time. In 1930, he was hired to play at a private party for Barbara Hutton. The event garnered so much press in the New York newspapers that it made Lanin an instant star and a must have musician on the social circuit. Soon he was hired worldwide to play for kings and queens, in addition to a recurring invitation to play at White House inaugural balls from the Eisenhower administration to the Carter administration. Here is a medley of Christmas tunes from the aspiring socialite, himself. Enjoy!

Lester Lanin - Let It Snow/Auld Land Syne/ A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight

Singles Collection Episode 58: Johnny & The Hurricanes Take Us To The River

Originally known as The Orbits, Johnny and the Hurricanes burst out of Toledo, Ohio in 1957. Led by saxophonist Johnny Paris, they were school friends who played on a few recordings behind Mack Vickery, a local rockabilly singer. Their first hit on their own was a song called "Crossfire" which they recorded in a vacant cinema to provide echo. It became a nationwide U.S. hit which they promptly followed with an instrumental version of "Red River Valley". That became a Top Ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic and sold over a million copies. They chose these songs because they were well recognized and easier to accept with the rock and roll beat of the accordion which then led to the Hammond Chord Organ. Johnny Paris and the Hurricanes were the first rock and roll group to introduce these instruments to the rock and roll world. Here, straight from my father's singles collection, is that great version of "Red River Valley". Complete with it's flip side, "Buckeye", here's Johnny and The Hurricanes with "Red River Rock". Enjoy!

Johnny & The Hurricanes-Red River Rock/Buckeye

A Good Scream

I just finished watching the classic Brian Depalma flick, "Blow Out". I hadn't seen it in years and I was so psyched to see that it still holds up after all this time. If you've never seen it, it's a definite must for you to put it on your list at Net-Flix or wherever you get your films. I've always been amazed that when people talk about John Travolta's career, they never mention this film. I consider it to be one of his best. What adds to it is the fact that Travolta suffered from insomnia during the shoot. His lack of sleep helped him create a very moody performance and is why his character seems so downtrodden throughout the movie. His work in this film is what made Quentin Tarentino cast him in Pulp Fiction, the film that revived Travolta's popularity. The score by Pino Donaggio is absolutely amazing. In fact, it calls to mind the work of Joseph Harnell from "The Incredible Hulk". Here is that amazing soundtrack for you. Here is "Blow Out". Enjoy!

Pino Donaggio- Blow Out OST

The Best of The World of Wonder: Feed Me!!!

At the time of the original posting of this, I was playing in the pit orchestra for a local high school version of "The Little Shop of Horrors". I love the musical but nothing compares to the original 1959 Roger Corman film version! It is amazing and features great performances from Jonathon Haze, Jackie Joseph, Dick Miller and a then-unknown actor by the name of Jack Nicholson. The soundtrack is by Fred Katz and is jsut as amazing as the film itself! It was released on Rhino records in 1984 but alas, is currently out-of-print. Here is that soundtrack! Oh, by the way, don't feed the plants!

Little Shop Soundtrack