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April 19, 2006
Sounds Worth Saving: Part I
The first entries in my list of recordings I would save for posterity:
25. Thomas Edison, Mary Had a LIttle Lamb, 1927. True, he made the first actual recording of the human voice in 1877, and that one's lost forever. But in 1927, he re-recorded it for posterity... and while a track of the greatest inventor who ever lived reciting a nursery rhyme may not be particularly compelling, it's worthy of inclusion because a) we wouldn't be here doing this list without this recording; and b) it's a recording of Thomas freaking Edison, man. So the recording that started it all gets included as the 25th and final entry on my list. Listen to it here.
24. "Purple Rain," Prince, 1984 Okay, true... growing up in Minnesota unfairly biases me in favor of this album, because between 1982 and 1986, it was state law that every radio station in the state, regardless of format, had to play at least two Prince songs every hour as a way to boost the local economy and music scene. (Not really, but it might as well have been. Besides, I think it would have been quite funny to hear a religious station playing "Darling Nikki" right next to "Nearer My God To Thee.") So my perspective on how monumental an album this was is admittedly skewed.
But I'll still stack this CD up to "Thriller" every time. Most of the King of Popping Little Boys' stuff sounds dated and cheesy now ("PYT?" "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'?"), while I'd argue that every track on Purple Rain still sounds pretty good. And for about two years there, Prince owned the whole world. This album influenced pop music not just during the time in which it was hot and new, but for years afterward. From a pop culture standpoint, It was as influential and emblematic as "Thriller," and it stands up better. Plus, Prince only engages in freaky weird sex with adults; no little boys were harmed during the making of his life. So MJ's out, and Prince is in.
23. Howard Cosell, "DOWN GOES FRAZIER!" 1973 The reaction of an announcer can go a long, long way toward making a moment indeliable and historic. (Can you imagine if Al Michaels had ended the 1980 Olympic hockey game with a simple, monotoned "And the United States wins the game, 4-3?") And Howard Cosell's surprised, excited, top of his voice reaction to George Foreman knocking out Joe Frazier in their 1973 title bout is one of those moments. It's Cosell's signature call, even more than anything he said on Monday Night Football. It's perhaps the one boxing call that even people who hate boxing know. It's been parodied and lifted for three decades since Cosell delivered it. And it's one of sports' all time best known calls. So onto the list it goes; you can listen to it here.
22. The Hindenburg crash, 1937. The first live news coverage of a disaster as it happened. Reporter Herbert Morrison's complete loss of professional dispassion and becoming so emotionally wrapped up in his story that he breaks into tears and can't continue reporting. His overwrought, melodramatic delivery. And of course, the classic line "Oh, the humanity, and all the passengers!!" There's certainly historic value in this recording, and I'd argue that for all the times that someone has reacted to a story with a sarastic "Oh the humanity!" (like someone hearing about an ugly co-worker getting laid, for example), it's also got pop culture import as well. Here's Morrison's full report; the first part of the recording is just his calm description of a blimp landing -- which was a big deal in 1937... and then about a third of the way into the file, the Hindenburg bursts into flames, and Morrison cries his way into history.
21. Eisenhower's Farewell Address ("The Military-Industrial Complex" speech), 1961 If you're a consporacy theorist, this is the first example of an American president trying to warn the people that they were no longer in charge. If you're a realist, this was an American president imparting some final words of wisdom to his people, and explaining that time and circumstances had led to the development of a new dynamic in American society, one in which defense and armament had become the primary industry of our country.
Having been in both the military and now the industrial half of the complex, I'm not sure I buy all the conspiracy talk. (Hell, I guess I'm supposed to be part of the conspiracy now, huh?) Then again, when you see garbage like the current regime has pulled in enriching Dick Cheney and Halliburton, it's impossible to wholly discount, isn't it?
The excerpt that the lunatic fringes of the left always pull from this speech is this one: "Now this conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government... In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes."
That excerpt is certainly, when taken out of context, foreboding. But when you look at the context of Eisenhower's speech -- which was all about the need for balance, and the imperative of not getting so caught up in the Cold War that we as a people ignored the other elements of American economy and society -- it's less so. When the speech is looked at in whole, it's a brilliant plea for moderation and clear thinking (as opposed to hysteria and demagoguery). Eisenhower also talked about the promises, challenges and potential threats of technology and technological progress as well... and warns about the danger of a culture in which scientists compete not for a new and better idea, but for a government contract and the money and power that come with it. Somehow, the academics and fringers who always cite the miliatry-industrial complex conspiracy part manage to skip over the warning about a conspiracy of the academic elite.
Read or listen to the whole speech here. It's my personal belief that the entirety of the speech, with its pleas for balance, its warnings against excess, and its reminders about what values really ought to be reflected in American conduct and society, is Eisenhower's finest moment. And his words -- all of them, in the full context -- especially bear remembering today.
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Comments
Ok I haven't even read the whole thing but I can't stop laughing at "The King of Popping Little Boys' Stuff".
Posted by: Jill at April 19, 2006 02:12 PM
And on a more serious note, I think your discussion of Eisenhower's speech is-- aw, hell. You're (and sorry this time I don't mean it in the good way) The Man. Of course you're convincing. You slippery corporate types are all alike! And ex-military--sheesh!
(Kidding. I am so kidding right now.)
Posted by: Jill at April 19, 2006 02:18 PM
Jill - the funny/ironic part of it is, I'm a total lefty who still has a streak of self-loathing for becoming part of the machine instead of fighting it. And yet here I am taking the holy grail of "fight the system" speeches, and saying it didn't really mean what everyone thinks it did.
Sigh. Geez, you're right. I really have become the Man in the Grey Flannel Suit.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at April 19, 2006 02:58 PM
You forgot Blue.
Posted by: Jill at April 19, 2006 11:21 PM
I think I resemble your characterization of those who quote that as "the lunatic fringe of the left." (Were you reading my blog?) ;)
Posted by: Linkmeister at April 21, 2006 10:00 PM
