Thursday, February 23, 2012

Exquisite Corpse - Tony Schwartz edition!

Photo by Ken Heyman

The last hour and a half of this show explores the many recordings of pioneering New York City tape hobbyist and media guru Tony Schwartz. I recently came across a profile of his work in a 1955 issue of Magnetic Film and Tape Recording magazine, and what started as a "huh" in my notes turned into a request for every Folkways LP at the library and a fascination with the world of sound he explored.

Schwartz passed on about 4 years ago after a long and fascinating career as a folklorist, advertiser,  consultant to the Democratic Party (he was responsible for the infamous "Daisy" ad), and media theorist in a McLuhanite mold. I'm hoping to spend part of the summer in DC looking at (and listening to) his extensive collection newly acquired by the Library of Congress, but for now, I have several LPs of recordings that Schwartz made in the streets of his midtown New York neighborhood, including the first known (I think) recordings of Moondog.

Tune in to the last hour and a half of the show to hear Tony Schwartz's thoughts on recording, worldwide tape exchanges, children, pets, language, and for the sound of Jimmy Giuffre playing the clarinet along with dripping water and footsteps. Links to mp3s at the bottom of the post.

5:24 PM Tony Schwartz Street Musicians - lone saxophone player, glass bowl player, NYPL teenagers, "The Carnegie Hall Fiddler," and the Blind Reverend Gary Davis Music in the Streets
5:18 PM Tony Schwartz with Jimmy Giuffre Music in Marble Halls You're Stepping On My Shadow: "Sound Stories" of NYC
5:13 PM Tony Schwartz Music in Speech - b) An Elderly Woman New York 19
5:06 PM Tony Schwartz Death of a Turtle Tony Schwartz Records the Sounds of Children
4:57 PM Tony Schwartz You're Stepping On My Shadow You're Stepping On My Shadow: "Sound Stories" of NYC
4:55 PM Tony Schwartz Children New York 19
4:50 PM Tony Schwartz History of a Voice You're Stepping On My Shadow: "Sound Stories" of NYC
4:37 PM Tony Schwartz Bands 1-2 (on reasons for migration, juke box translation, travel, rejection, and housing discrimination) Nueva York: A Tape Documentary of Puerto Rican New Yorkers
4:20 PM Tony Schwartz Bands 1-5 (South Dakota Farmer, Comment and Song From Pittsburgh PA, Comment from South Africa and song from African city nightspot, and another, and a housewife in Ireland) Exchange: Friendship Around the World Thru Tape Exchange
4:14 PM Tony Schwartz County Auctioneers Millions of Musicians
4:09 PM Tony Schwartz Selling - Theater Barker, 52nd Street doorman, Salesmen: Theater Program, Newspapers, Flowers, Auction, Insurance, Glasscutter, Pen New York 19
4:05 PM Tony Schwartz Rhythm of Words Millions of Musicians
4:05 PM Tony Schwartz Why Collect Recordings New York 19
3:55 PM Shirley Ann Lee I Shall Not Be Moved Local Customs: Downriver Revival
3:49 PM Anton (son of Tony) Schwartz Sticktuitive When Music Calls
3:40 PM Don Cherry and the Jazz Composer's Orchestra Trans-Love Airways Relativity Suite
3:38 PM Rip Rig & Panic Shadows Only There Because of the Sun God
3:32 PM V/A Spring Training/From Fear of Kathy Acker/The Announcer/Slow Curve Innings and Quarters
3:21 PM Bobby Hutcherson Jasper Spiral
3:17 PM Orhan Gencebay Hayat Kavgasi Istanbul 70: Psych, Disco, Folk Classics
3:11 PM Lata Mangeshkar Ae Phansa Bobby (OST by Laxmikant Pyarelal)
3:10 PM Mdou Moctar Tahoultine Music From Saharan Cellphones


Hour One
Hour Two
Hour Three

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