November 04, 2007
 Editor:
Dave Uphoff
Normally, I try to write on current events or items of local interest. However, I am tired of writing about the mess in Springfield and the worse governor in Illinois history. However, there is one item that everyone has an interest in and that is music. I have a new ipod and spent the past month putting on some of the many songs I have accumulated. This exercise reminded me of some of my favorite tunes that I haven't listened to in years.I have a rather unusual taste in music in that I like both country and western and jazz or swing music. Unfortunately, the best music performed in these categories was recorded many years ago. I haven't bought any new songs in years. Along with our dress and manners, music is another cultural item that has declined in quality over the years. Except for radio station WGLT, 89.1, on the FM dial in Normal, we would be living in a vast wasteland of mediocre radio deprived of listening to good music. I had the bright idea that I would post some of my favorite recordings on this website to illustrate what I thought was music at its best in each category of music. Something like an online radio. However, after some research I found that it is financially impossible to place your favorite records on the internet because of the legal ramifications. If I wanted to put some songs on this website I would have to pay 3 different recording institutions up to $500 apiece each year based on an estimated number of projected listeners. In addition, I would have to make sure that I didn't include more than 3 songs from any album and no more than 3 recordings from any artist can be played in a 2 hour time span. So as you can see, unless you are really serious, you can forget about starting up an internet radio. However, in my research I did run across recordings that were uploaded to YouTube by various submitters. I don't know how they were legally uploaded to YouTube but it is not illegal for me or anyone else to listen or view the recordings submitted to YouTube. So I decided to provide some links to YouTube so you can see what I consider the best music in its class.
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Most music experts consider the Count Basie band from the late 1930's to be probably the greatest swing band ever. The band had the greatest array of black musicians ever assembled and probably the greatest blues singer of all time in Jimmy Rushing the original Mister Five by Five who was known for his wide girth. I saw the Basie band at the Monterrey Jazz Festival in 1978 and was blown away by the power and musical ability of the band. It is unfortunate that the legacy of the great black musicians of the past has been replaced by the rappers of today. To give you an example of the band and its singer Jimmy Rushing, click on the following YouTube link. It is a corny video but it illustrates the power and swinging ability of the Basie band. Bluegrass is considered to be the most original art form in country music and has retained its originality. Here again, the best bluegrass music was recorded years ago, most notably by Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys. I found a video of one of Bill's best songs, "Uncle Pen", played at the Grand Ole Opry in 1956 at this link. Finally, I am including a link to YouTube of some of Eddy Arnold's songs from the 1940's. Eddy's best recordings were made between 1945 and 1955 when he was accompanied by a great country band with the distinctive steel guitar song of Little Roy Wiggins. Unfortunately, Eddy abandoned the country band and started singing ballads accompanied by violins instead of guitars in order to increase his appeal to a broader audience. In other words, go for the money. Here is the link to 3 songs recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1945. So there you have it. My take on what is good music and your getting to know YouTube better. Isn't that better than writing about Governor Rod whatshisname?
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