Spitball Army

Card is titled: “Hotel Burchfield – Tuscaloosa, Alabama.”

Printed on the back of the postcard:

HOTEL BURCHFIELD
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Completely Air Cooled – European Plan
Coffee Shop – Sprinkler System

Publishing information: Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art-Colortone” Post Card

Today’s playlist is all about the year 1972.  Yep, all the tracks here were recorded back almost 40 years ago (I turned 12 that year…man, where does the time go?).  And they didn’t call them the “Mellow ’70s” for nothin’: it was a great era for singer-songwriters, and that shows distinctly in this collection of 23 songs.  Some other representative genres of music from that year get good play on this list, as well: Philly Soul, folk-rock, countrypolitan, something called “soft rock” (cough cough).  But, for all its dated musical labels, it was a great year for music, whether you collected 12″ vinyl albums or carried a transistor radio around in your pocket or weren’t yet a gleam in your old man’s eye.  Enjoy!

Approximate playing time: 78 minutes.

1. Big Star  “My Life Is Right”
2. James Taylor  “Nobody But You”
3. David Ackles  “Love’s Enough”
4. David Crosby & Graham Nash  “Page 43”
5. Bill Withers  “Kissin’ My Love”
6. The Chi-Lites  “Oh Girl”
7. Little Richard  “Nuki Suki”
8. Steely Dan  “Kings”
9. Chicago  “A Hit by Varése”
10. Ruby & The Party Gang  “Hey Ruby, Shut Your Mouth”
11. Carly Simon  “The Carter Family”
12. Bobby Womack  “You’re Messing Up a Good Thing”
13. The 5th Dimension  “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All”
14. The Main Ingredient  “Everybody Plays the Fool”
15. Loggins & Messina  “Whiskey”
16. America  “To Each His Own”
17. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes  “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”
18. Harry Nilsson  “Remember (Christmas)”
19. Cat Stevens  “18th Avenue”
20. Peter Yarrow  “Take Off Your Mask”
21. Linda Ronstadt  “Can It Be True”
22. Charlie Rich  “You Never Really Wanted Me”
23. Paul Simon  “Peace Like a River”

[audio:Fred_FM_playlist_032810.mp3]
Fred FM playlist (28 March 2010)

Thanks for listening!  Until next time…

[Written to Alice in Frankfort, Indiana. Address crossed out in Frankfort, and the following forwarding address written with fountain pen: c/o Helen M., Encino, Calif. Return addressed: Richard, Plt. 622, R.D.M.C.B., San Diego 41, Calif. Originally postmarked in San Diego, Calif., on 8 July 1944 at 7:30 PM. Secondarily postmarked in Frankfort, Ind., on 12 July 1944 at 11 AM.]

July 8, 1944

Hi Sweetheart,

     I’m back again for a few minute.  We got off a little early this afternoon and I’ve done about half the work I have to do.  Just thought I would rest a little and write before I started the second half.

     We started firing our rifle yesterday.  That’s really fun as far as I’m concerned.  I get rather mad at myself at times because I know I can do better than I do, but I guess you can’t be perfect all the time.  We have a pot of about $6.50 that will go to the one who shoots the highest score Thursday.  I’m trying for that as you might have guessed.  I don’t think I’m get it though.  I don’t want to brag, but I don’t think there will be over 2 that will beat me.  That is unless I’m not feeling good that day.

     Just 3 more weeks and I’ll be out of here.  How does that sound?  Pretty good to me.

     I’ve got to go now Sweetheart.

     Goodnight Sweetheart.
          I love you with all my heart.
               x x
                    Pleasant Dreams
                         ‘Nite
                              x x

 

     I love you.

–  Vernon, Florida  (1981)
Errol Morris’ portrait of the small Florida panhandle town of Vernon. In Vernon, not much happens, and the small group of Vernon interviewees tell all about it. There is not much youth in Vernon: I spotted a few children in a church scene, but the folks that Morris talks to are overwhelmingly elderly. Favorite moments: the wiggler farmer, the couple with a jar containing expanding sand, and the trio of men discussing the suicide of a man who was missing a shoe.

“Why he’d want to take his shoe off to pull the trigger, I don’t know…”

–  The September Issue  (2009)
See Anna Wintour ride in a cab. See Anna carry around a Starbucks cup. See Anna fold her arms and keep them there for long periods of time. See Anna say “No,” and often. Watch Anna air-kiss several Europeans. Watch Anna pretend she is Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada.

The September Issue vs. The Devil Wears Prada:

I’d sold her dozens of classical CDs, so she invited me. But the duo of scratchy gamba and wheezy pump organ set my teeth on edge.

The duo of scratchy gamba and wheezy pump organ droned on, proving the rumor to indeed be true: they really could not read music.

The duo of scratchy gamba and wheezy pump organ was listened to from his bedroom by our benefactor, keeping time on a respirator.

[Written to Alice in Frankfort, Indiana. Address crossed out in Frankfort, and the following forwarding address written in pencil: c/o Helen M., Encino, Calif. Return addressed: Richard, Plt. 622, R.D.M.C.B., San Diego 41, Calif. Originally postmarked in San Diego, Calif., on 7 July 1944 at 12:30 PM. Secondarily postmarked in Frankfort, Ind., on 11 July 1944 at 5:30 PM.]

July 6, 1944

Hi Sweetheart,

     What have you got to say for yourself today? About all I’ve got to say is I love you.

     Tomorrow we start firing our rifle, the M-1. Up till now, we have just had schooling on how to shoot. Tomorrow we see if we learned anything. We will fire Fri., Sat., Mon., Tues., and Wed. Then Thursday we fire for record. (One week from today – 7/13/44).

     You didn’t say anything about coming out in your last two letters. Are you still coming? Let me know more about what coming off. I’m rather curious – you know that.

     Charlie Barnett and his orchestra [see music clip below] were here the other night. They entertained us for about an hour. There was no troupe with him, just his orchestra. It wasn’t too bad, nothing special. We also had a show last night. It was put on by the San Diego U.S.O. It was all local tallent and did it STINK. We had to go to both those shows and those are the only ones I been to since I’ve been here. I haven’t gone just because I wanted to.

     Tell H. hello for me the next time you write him. I can’t seem to find time to write to him myself.

     I can’t think of much more to write, I just don’t have time to think. Keep your fingers crossed for me next Thursday.

     Good night Sweetheart
          I love you with all my heart
               x x
                    Pleasant Dreams
                         ‘Nite
                              x x

 

     I love you.

[audio:Charlie_Barnet___Cherokee.mp3]
“Cherokee” (1939), by Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra

In a watermill hut by a stream,
There’s an elder of local esteem.
He has outlived his wife
And the tales from his life
Are more vivid than even a Dream.

Video clip from Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams:

Postcard is untitled on the front.  Postmark on the back of the card looks to be from 1954, marked in Acapulco.

The following information is stamped on the back of the card:

El Campeon Clavadista
en La Quebrada, Acapulco
(Champion High Jumper
at the Quebrada, Acapulco)

Printed, also, on the back of the card:

Mexichrome (Colores Naturales Francia).  Editorial de Arte S.A. Apartado 2071 – Mexico D.F. (Exclusive and artistic Mex greeting cards) – Created by E. Fischgrund – Phot. Barona –

Postcard is addressed to Mr. James Parker, c/o Mimi Parker, General Delivery, Fairhope, Alabama, U.S. of A.

Text of message:

Dear Jimmy,

Here is a picture of a man diving from a great height in Acapulco Mexico where we are visiting.

Yours,
Uncle Fred