Instrumental Invasion, 8/25/21 August 26, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Blu-ray, Comedy, Film, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, TV, Weather.add a comment
The August 25 Instrumental Invasion on WCWP was again recorded two segments per day, from July 15 to 17.
The playlist was created and annotated on the 15th and, again, the script was drafted as I recorded.
A few segments ran long, which required me to cut out information, such as what I hoped to share about The Goonies, which I watched on Blu-ray back in February.
The rest of the segments were barely short, requiring minimal padding.
I continued my tradition of playing songs that were excerpted for local forecasts/Local on the 8s on The Weather Channel. That included “Mirage” by The Rippingtons, “One Thousand & One Nights” by Shahin & Sepehr, “Go Wes Young Man” by Chris Camozzi, and “Happy Feet” by Steve Oliver. I first heard “The Way to You” by Nelson Rangell on CD 101.9. The point where I ended my talk-up is where the radio edit began.
Click here to download the aircheck MP3 or listen below:
For the second week in a row, the left channel audio was barely audible. That means this aircheck is once again mono from the right channel.
Instrumental Invasion, 8/4/21 August 5, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, TV, Weather.add a comment
The August 4 Instrumental Invasion on WCWP was recorded on June 24 and 25. Like last week, I did four segments one day and two the next day. Pickups were recorded on the June 26 and 27.
Continuing my streak of completing all preliminary work in one day, the playlist was created and annotated, and the script was drafted, on June 23.
A few segments ran long, which meant cutting down on my wordy talk breaks.
I was inspired to lead the show with “Devlin'” by David Grisman after seeing this video for the TWC Classics tribute site:
Click here to download the aircheck MP3 or listen below:
Instrumental Invasion, 4/14/21 April 15, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, Travel, TV, Video, Video Games, Weather.add a comment
The April 14, 2021, Instrumental Invasion on WCWP was painstakingly recorded over four days. The first hour was recorded in the early morning and mid-afternoon of March 9. The second hour took three days with the first segment recorded on March 10 on my laptop through an Apogee MiC 96k, and the last two segments back at home on the 11th and 12th. Pickups were required for a talk break in the third segment of hour 1 and one talk break in each segment of hour 2.
The playlist was created and annotated on March 7, and the script was drafted on the 8th. For the second week in a row, I made a timing error. Worse yet, two timing errors. In the last segment of hour 1, I put in a 4:32 song rather than 5:32. The replacement song faded out incredibly early, which still left me with too much time in the talk break that followed. I had to vamp. I made the opposite mistake in hour 2, inserting a 4:55 song in the second segment when I needed 3:55. The irony is the first segment was mainly comprised of songs that I had to cut from the last two shows, one due to timing and the other because of a wordy talk break. (9:35 AM UPDATE: I forgot to account for the replacement, which was from 2011. That meant listeners heard me refer in the vamp to a 2010 song that they wouldn’t hear until a week later.)
The inclusion of “Outside Solaris” by Clifford Marshall Van Buren is another of my loving tributes to the heyday of local forecast music on The Weather Channel. You can find an example of its usage on Matt Marron’s TWC Classics tribute site. I don’t always do this, but I prefaced the description of Solaris with “according to Wikipedia” to acknowledge my lack of knowledge. You learn something new every day.
The “fun fact” preface to the Dan Ingram tidbit was an homage to a catchphrase on the Technology Connections YouTube channel.
Picking up on what I said coming out of “Whispered Confessions” by Lisa Hilton, here is a side-by-side comparison of the song’s melody and what’s played between levels in the NES port of Pac-Man:
That remains a pleasant coincidence seven years after hearing the song for the first time at Carnegie Hall.
Click here to download the aircheck MP3 or listen below:
Instrumental Invasion, 3/24/21 March 25, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Animation, Audio, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, Technology, TV, Weather.add a comment
The March 24, 2021, Instrumental Invasion on WCWP was yet another show recorded over three days. The first hour was taken care of on February 18 (while snow and sleet pelted my window), the first segment of hour 2 was recorded on the 19th (after an hour of fixing my computer’s audio), and the last two segments were recorded on the 20th.
The playlist was created and annotated on February 15 and the scripted was drafted on the 16th.
Next week’s show will mark one year since Instrumental Invasion went weekly. The first show was limited to music from the 1970s, so I’ll be paying homage in a similar vein: music from 1995 and earlier. Ahead of that, I opted this week for music between 1996 and 2021.
There were three animated series references in the show:
- Talking up “Funkology by Matt Marshak: “And pay attention; there’ll be a test at the end,” one of Garfield’s title sequence tags on Garfield and Friends
- Back-selling “She’s Got the Way-O” by Steve Oliver: “Did you (I) say 3-D?” was a fourth wall-breaking question in a movie at the start of “Timmy’s 2-D House of Horror,” an episode of The Fairly OddParents
- A second Garfield and Friends reference came while talking up “Mystic Vibration” by Ragan Whiteside: in “Mind Over Matter,” a crooked fortune teller begins his act by “sending out for brain waves” and “psychic vibrations”
Click here to download the aircheck MP3 or listen below:
Instrumental Invasion, 3/10/21 March 11, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Animation, Audio, Comedy, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, Travel, TV, Video, Weather.add a comment
The March 10, 2021, Instrumental Invasion on WCWP was recorded over three days: one on February 3, three on the 4th, and two on the 5th, which is when I added the first segment pickup “ready, and appear!” Like last week, the first segment of hour 2 was remixed on the 16th after Patrick Bradley e-mailed his liner.
It was my mother Lisa’s 65th birthday, but I superstitiously didn’t acknowledge that. To celebrate, she, my father Bill, sister Lauren, and I went out to dinner at Vittorio’s in Amityville. It was my first time at a restaurant since Mom’s 64th birthday. (The next day, the country began to shut down.) I was only required to wear my mask when not seated at the table, so I adapted quickly.
The playlist for this show was created and annotated on February 1 as a snowstorm raged outside. I added annotations for “Snapshot” by Richard Elliot on the 2nd after my copy of Authentic Life arrived in the mail. The script was drafted on the 3rd.
I was inspired to play “Nautilus” by Bob James after watching this video the night before creating the playlist:
I had wanted to play a John Philip Sousa march for a while, and chose this show to incorporate my appreciation for his marches and for Monty Python by playing “The Liberty Bell,” which was the theme to Monty Python’s Flying Circus. In the talk-up, referencing the show’s intro, I quoted John Cleese‘s BBC continuity announcer character and imitated Michael Palin‘s “It’s” Man.
I paid homage to another favorite series of mine, Rocky & Bullwinkle, while talking up “Why Not” by Fowler and Branca. One episode of the Banana Formula story arc found Boris and Natasha stealing the tape recorder they used to capture Bullwinkle hiccuping said formula back from Fearless Leader after he was knocked out by a spring in the machine:
NATASHA: Now what, Boris?
BORIS: What else? We run like rabbits.
NATASHA: Good idea!
BORIS: On second thought, we take secret formula (on the recorder) with us.
NATASHA: You mean steal it?
BORIS: Why not?
(pause)
NATASHA: Funny, I can’t think of a reason.
The aforementioned snowstorm inspired me to play Nelson Rangell‘s cover of “Sweetest Somebody I Know” by Stevie Wonder. One of the first times I listened to it was on the back end of a 2015 winter storm, also in early February. That storm began as snow, changed to sleet and freezing rain, then changed to rain, after which I shoveled, and changed back to snow, which led to more shoveling because it was accumulating.
I said “album” a lot!, but I don’t care.
Click here to download the aircheck MP3 or listen below:
February 18-19 winter storm February 21, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, Photography, Weather.add a comment
After an unexpected quick inch of snow last Wednesday night into Thursday, we lucked out with the next few storms. They were either next to nothing or mild and rainy. Plenty of melting occurred with the mild rain this Monday night into Tuesday.
Our good fortune ended Thursday with a two-day winter storm, but snow accumulation was minimal: four inches on Thursday and two on Friday, along with a coating of sleet.
Here’s a photographic timeline, starting at 7:50 AM Thursday:
10:27 AM:
12:47 PM:
2:16 PM:
4:21 PM:
5:30 PM, after my dad Bill used the snow blower:
6:17 PM:
There was no new accumulation when I woke up Friday morning. I took the first photo of the day at 8:02 AM:
About ten minutes later, sleet was falling:
10:20 AM, after shoveling:
12:41 PM, with new snow accumulation:
2:41 PM, after additional shoveling:
5:10 PM:
One more shot of snow came through as it got colder, seen at 7:44 PM:
I took the last photo at 8:58 PM:
I didn’t bother shoveling the next morning. I just let the sun do its thing.
It doesn’t appear any measurable snow is coming anytime soon. If that changes, I’ll post about it.
February 7 snowstorm February 8, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Football, Media, News, Personal, Photography, Sports, TV, Weather.add a comment
Hours before Super Bowl LV, a fast-moving snowstorm gave us 5 inches of wet snow.
The forecast called for snow to start before dawn, but it hadn’t started when I first looked out the window at 7:07 AM:
By the time I returned to my room at 10:13 after running on the treadmill, snow had begun:
12:02 PM:
The heaviest snow was in progress at 1:18:
2:49:
4:07:
My dad Bill took these backyard photos from the back door at 4:54 while the snow was winding down:
And this one on the front porch a few minutes later:
I took these:
By 5:07, snow blowing had commenced:
Along the way, the clouds broke:
Then, the two of us shoveled. I was finished by 5:40 and took these photos:
Meanwhile, Dad walked through the backyard for this batch of photos:
Dinner and Super Bowl LV awaited. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs by the score of 31-9. (Links: NFL, ESPN, Tampa Bay Times)
I took one more photo outside my bedroom window at 10:38, as CBS‘s post-game show was wrapping up:
The next round of snow is a quick inch or two on Tuesday, followed by a storm that could last as long as last week’s, albeit with less accumulation. We’ll see.
January 31-February 2 snowstorm February 3, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Comedy, Film, News, Personal, Photography, Radio, Weather.add a comment
I said in the last winter storm post that “there will be storms this winter.” It took until the last hours of January for the next storm to come, lasting nearly two days and dropping 17 inches of snow.
The first snowflakes fell at around 8PM on Sunday, January 31. I took this photo at 8:05 before going to bed:
After a broken eight hours of sleep, I was up for the day, taking this photo at 6:28 AM on Monday, February 1:
8:25 AM:
Following my morning workout, and a botched attempt at treadmill running, I returned to my room, taking these photos at 9:13:
Snowflakes were thicker at 9:53:
In the next few hours, I began watching The Goonies on Blu-ray, along with special features, and worked on the March 10 Instrumental Invasion playlist. I took a break at 12:43 PM for the next photographic update:
Any photo of the backyard was risky, as the wind gusted out of the northeast (it was a nor’easter, after all):
The snow seemed to be tapering off by 1:53, so I attempted to shovel part of the driveway after taking another batch of photos:
Before photo:
I measured 15 inches of snow on the lawn with a wooden 18-inch ruler.
After photos, 58 minutes later (2:54 PM):
For the second storm in a row, I initially felt I had wasted my time shoveling. Snow re-intensified as I shoveled and it re-accumulated. My goal was to shovel a path from my dad Bill’s car on the side of the driveway to the front door. But when he came home around 4:00, he had to park in the road. The snow I had left for the snow blower to get was too high. I wasn’t sure if he’d use the blower right away, but work began at 4:25:
At one point, Dad let me try out the snow blower. I asked my mom Lisa to capture the moment:
Working around the visible license plate, here is my edit of Mom’s video:
Having gotten the hang of it, I let Dad finish up:
It took 30 minutes to clear all that snow. Now, Dad was able to move his car into the driveway:
I took photos these at 5:13, after ten minutes of touch-up shoveling:
Unfortunately, the snow was still not over. Another two inches would fall by the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 2. I took this last photo of the 1st at 6:46, shortly before an early bedtime:
I got a broken 8 1/2 hours of sleep this time and woke up at 4:59 AM. Two minutes later…:
After watching more of The Goonies, I decided it was time for one last touch-up at 6AM. I used a 12-inch ruler to measure the additional snowfall in the driveway: 2 inches, making for 17 in all. It must have taken half an hour to shovel the driveway and then another half-hour to shovel the sidewalk up to the property line.
Starting at 7:04, I captured the after photos:
Unfortunately, a plow came through within the hour, which undid my edge work.
I took indoor photos at 7:10:
My Tuesday proceeded from there. Wet snow showers came in the afternoon, but didn’t accumulate. I did a little more shoveling around 4:00, taking this indoor photo at 4:37:
Snow showers persisted after sunset when temperatures were back below freezing. That meant the snow stuck to the ground, as seen at 7:18:
I initially tried to shovel the new accumulation on the morning of Wednesday, February 3, but it was merely a coating, so I left it.
Tuesday was also Groundhog Day, and if you’re wondering, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. That means six more weeks of winter and more storms to photograph. The next one is expected on Super Bowl Sunday. Until then.
Instrumental Invasion, 1/20/21 January 21, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Animation, Audio, Comedy, Film, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, Weather.add a comment
The January 20, 2021, Instrumental Invasion on WCWP was recorded one hour per day on December 19 and 20, 2020, with a pickup line recorded on the 21st.
The playlist was created on December 18 with annotations that day and the next day. The script was drafted immediately after that, followed by work on the blog recap of the winter storm that occurred on the 16th and 17th.
The 1984 and earlier segment returned to lead off the show.
I had to pad the last segments of each hour with extra liners because my talk breaks ran short.
I had fun with the “Oi Gata” etymology and British exclamation when back-selling Joe McBride‘s song.
Back on December 3, Audrey Varnas, WCWP’s FM music director, informed me of a music submission by the U.S. Air Force Band Airmen of Note. She asked if I wanted their 2020 Jazz Heritage Series album shipped to me, and I accepted. After listening, I told her the Airmen of Note are great, as they sound like all the other big bands I’ve heard. “Up and Running” won’t be the last you hear of them on Instrumental Invasion. Last Monday, I was informed that Audrey tested positive for COVID-19. Thankfully, her symptoms were mild, and she was resting and recovering at home. Thanks again for the recommendation, Audrey. I hope you’re feeling better.
As noted while back-selling Lee Ritenour‘s cover “Red Baron” by Vince Guaraldi, I spent six days watching various Peanuts specials – and The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show – on Blu-ray and DVD. I’ve been watching more specials since Sunday and should finish by Saturday. The inclusion of “Red Baron” allowed me to correct an error I made talking up the David Benoit version on June 3. I said it was “about a certain World War I Flying Ace” when it was really about that ace’s nemesis.
I also made reference to Galaxy Quest while talking up “Never Giving Up” by the David Wells and Chris Geith Project. I watched the film back in August, and it features the catchphrase, “never give up, never surrender!”
Click here to download the aircheck MP3 or listen below:
December 16-17 winter storm December 19, 2020
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, Photography, Radio, Technology, Weather.add a comment
It had been nearly three years since I last encountered a major winter storm in the winter, and less than that since a major storm that hit in early spring. I didn’t have to shovel snow in the winters of 2018-19 or 2019-20, and the snow blower that my dad Bill bought after the January 2018 blizzard remained in the garage. As winter 2020-21 approached, that blower would finally be put to use. While checking the weather on my Weather Underground app on December 12, I saw that up to a foot of snow was forecast for the 16th. Forecasts are variable, especially days in advance, but I prepared myself for shoveling and blowing.
We ended up with a mix of snow, sleet, and wet snow between mid-afternoon Wednesday (the 16th) through early afternoon Thursday (the 17th), leaving about six inches of accumulation.
Here is a photographic timeline starting at 3:41 Wednesday:
5:05 PM:
7:36 PM:
I tried to go to sleep around 8:00, sleeping intermittently overnight.
I was up at 2:20 AM Thursday, shortly after checking the aircheck of the 9PM Instrumental Invasion, relieved that the end wasn’t cut off in automation. Here was the view from my window at that time:
After another 2 1/2 hours of sleep, I was up at 5:40 AM to take this shot:
7:55 AM:
I kept the window closed for backyard shots starting here:
9:35 AM:
The sun peaked out at 9:54:
11:08 AM, before shoveling and snow blowing:
The view from the kitchen window:
Front door:
While I shoveled, Dad ran the snow blower:
He asked if I wanted to try, but I declined.
Unfortunately, snow continued to fall as I shoveled and Dad used the snow blower. After a shower, I noticed the skies had cleared, so I attempted to shovel again after the next few photos at 12:16 PM:
The window is open again:
The snow was too dense for me to shovel entirely, so I gave up after about 20 minutes. I felt defeated, and said as much on Facebook, but was reassured by my friends and Dad. These photos were taken at 12:44 PM:
I took what I thought would be the last photo at 1:03 after Dad left for his office (he cleared off his car before he left):
When I noticed melting at 2:45, I decided to take more photos:
This is as far as I could shovel:
I took still another photo at 4:48 PM after Dad came home and my mom Lisa cleared off her car:
I’m hoping that the next winter storms are all snow and easier to shovel. I have no doubt in mind that there will be storms this winter, and my dad and I will be ready for them.
MikeChimeri.com 