Voodoo Chile

 

A Rare Conversation with Betty Davis

“She doesn’t really do interviews, but I’ll add you to the list.”

That was where my initial request fell for an interview with the reclusive mistress of funk and former ex-wife of Miles Davis. The Seattle based indie label Light In The Attic, had just released Is It Love or Desire, Betty Davis’ fourth album, recorded in 1976 but never released, until now. I knew it was a long shot, but, dear reader, it’s always worth a try.

Besides that, the album was an interesting enough subject itself. Recorded in 1976 and shelved by Island records, the LP was that of legend: never bootlegged, never circulated. The master tapes sat somewhere amidst the dust, perhaps forsaken, perhaps forgotten, except to the intransigent crate diggers and diehard funkateers who searched for them in vain.

Then, almost miraculously and without warning, it arrived. As if from some sort of archeological excavation, the album was found, perfectly preserved after over thirty-three years. And there she was, the knock-out, drop dead-sexy rock ‘n’ soul revolutionary, who’s name was immortalized in not one but two Miles Davis titles (…)

Read on:  The Beautiful Dichotomy of Betty Davis | J. Hayes | No Depression

 

Betty Davis

 

via Miles Davis Online

Gettin Kicked Off, Havin Fun by Betty Davis
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The Lone Ranger by Betty Davis
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Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey

 

JFJO

Fresh Air: Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash mural in downtown Austin on Rio Grande just below 6th Street. (Photo: Tim Patterson)

Fantastic Fresh Air from WHYY:   Johnny Cash:  A Ghost Rider, Still Stirring Souls

This week, a new Johnny Cash album — American Recordings VI: Ain’t No Grave — was released to coincide with what would have been the music icon’s 78th birthday. Today, we take a look back at the Man in Black, who spoke with Terry Gross in 1997. (…)

Read on and listen to the story | via NPR [26 min 50 sec]

Hello World: A Life in Ham Radio

See the full gallery on Posterous

Hello World: A Life in Ham Radio

by Paul Sahre

Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press

This book, co-authored with Danny Gregory, was initiated by a flea market find. Danny bought an album full of QSL cards (postcards that ham radio operators exchange after they make contact on the air for the first time). The collection belonged to a man name Jerry Powell (W2OJW), who communicated with people all over the world for seventy-five years from his basement in Hackensack, New Jersey. The book documents Powell’s hobby through the cards. Through this information we learned about the people and places he communicated with.

Paul Sahre:  Selected Work

Old QSL Cards

Origins of Hamspeak, CQ

Hat tip:  Harim Kim