There were atrocious sound problems with this show, and much of it had to be completely reconstructed from the library. The only unaffected parts were the mic sets, and I found those especially obnoxious after the fact (they haven't aged well either). Apologies to any Kevin Ayers fans for marring a tribute to the man with my amateurism. One note: the Broadcast track was meant to evoke "Rheinhardt & Geraldine." Maybe I should have actually played that at some point.

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For some reason I was unhappy with this program and never assembled it into a podcast. Probably because it's a disorganized, unplanned mess. Enjoy!

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Or as we old birds call it: eBay Eve! paDOW! (I'm pretty sure I'm stealing that joke from someone, possibly even a music writer I've met. Lars? Christopher R.W.?)

Grouse is low on planning time these days, so we get to hear that tried and true lazy DJ mainstay: the Let's Listen to Records I Just Bought But Haven't Listened To! show.

It's a talky show: if you love the sound of Grouse's voice as much as he seems to himself, you're in for a treat! What is going on with all these shifting voice-POVs? I'm confused!

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Also, how about that beautiful Cal Tjader photo above? More from that stunning LIFE Magazine spread are available here.

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Rakete bee bee, grouseketeers. Sorry it's taken me a week to post this. Show is also 30 minutes shorter than usual because of punctuality issues. Probably for the best. Mostly jazz, international sounds, and a little bit of easy listening. Enjoy yourself, if you survive the first ten minutes. Rakete bee zee.

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Snow was in the forecast when I did this show more than two weeks ago, but it never came. We've seen 70 degree days since then, but as if in direct challenge of the will of the God of Punxatawney, it's 20 degrees out and snowing now as I type this post. Enjoy some snow tunes, then warm up with some 2013 soca hits!

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The Lady Katie joins the Mighty Grouse for an hour on the annual Radio CPR New Year's Eve Marathon. I think we showed up a little early for the party.

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All day I had the words "this world over" floating in my head, and only after doing this show did I remember that's a song title on my least favorite XTC record.* So it was left out of this impromptu apocalyptical set.

A few months ago while reading about Kaoru Abe, I learned about his exploitative biopic. At the time, I joked that I should try to get the movie and play it on the air. And then I found the movie, and the Grouse stands by his word. It's a "Sid & Nancy for the free jazz set." The Lady Katie, listening from Shaw, asked if the movie was just sex and crying; and indeed it is. But also a few dust-ups, an amputated toe (for love's sake), and some blistering improv. As far as I can tell, the real Keiji Haino and Fushitsusha play themselves, on and off stage. My knowledge of the Japanese free jazz scene is extremely limited; with the exception of the lead actor, they all looked like real players giving semi-real performances.

The entire movie audio was broadcast on 97.5 FM on 12.20.12. The entire audio is again presented here... because, what the hell. The full video is out there if you're really interested. Good luck finding subtitles! While on the air, I did my best to live tweet some visuals, and I've collected them at the bottom of this post.

While typing these notes, I learned that the director of "Endless Waltz," Koji Wakamatsu, died in October. Let's just pretend, ex post facto, that this whole thing was a belated tribute to a director I'd never heard of. For podcasting purposes, I cannot link to anything above my audio link below. But click on his name in the playlist for the New York Times obituary. Rest in peace, Koji.

The original plan for today was 1:44 to "Endless Waltz," 4 minutes to a late tribute to Ravi Shankar (the appropriate "I Am Missing You"), and 4 minutes for Bird's rendition of White Christmas. I hadn't planned to give in to the zeitgeist and do an end of the world set. But then the Lady Katie requested the Ted Leo track that we open with. I also showed up early for the first time in a great while, so bonus world-ending radio for all!

*It would have made a good segue piece in this set too; from XTC to Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her (the band, named after the XTC song on "The Big Express"), to Kaoru Abe.

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Heading to the @radiocpr underground bunker now. Here's a little preview of tonight's show. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

I believe we're starting in the future, and this is Kaoru and Izumi's daughter. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Izumi is having sex in the bunkbed below her. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

But not with Kaoru, who is apparently watching. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Early in the relationship, these two have a lot of sex. And a lot of naked post-coital hangouts. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Kaoru invades shower time. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Missed this one a bit earlier... Kaoru playing under the bridge. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Dramatic close-up. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

I think that was a comparison to Jimi Hendrix & Janis Joplin? #endlesswaltz

This band is playing a set... then Kaoru just walks in from the back of the room. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

And jumps on stage, but they seem to be getting along. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

The other sax player does have this look of "wtf man, this is my set!" #endlesswaltz

Dude, Kaoru, she's drunk off her ass. Drunk sex is not consensual sex! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Oh look they're moving in together. That was fast. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Is this look meant to evoke...a drummer I'd have to guess. But he looks like one of my Vietnamese uncles. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

This handsome devil is not your typical alto player. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Hippies. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

What's with the satchel/school boy look? Going for the AC/DC of free jazz or something? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Kaoru gave this book to some guy trying to sound erudite for a lady after his set. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Hi guy. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Wait, who is this guy and why is he beaten on the floor of their hallway? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

He's got a story to tell Izumi and the other hippie chick. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

They have a fight, Kaoru runs out to pour his pain into his sax. Eyes rolling back: foreshadowing? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Oh shit! pre-seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

And post-seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Recovering with some Van Gogh. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Another fight, but now Kaoru's made it up to playing on top of the bridge. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Oh, there was some mutual hair-pulling in that last fight. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Izumi can't stand him practicing in the apt, so she fights back with pop radio, causing another seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

While Izumi's out, Kaoru reads her writing, and she is none too pleased. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

And the row that erupts is loud enough to have the neighbors call the cops on them. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Better times, though they both seem high. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

OH GOD. I THINK SHE JUST CUT OFF HER TOE TO PROVE SHE LOVES HIM. #endlesswaltz

Face of toe cutting. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

I won't show you the gory fake cut off toe, but here is the aftermath. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Trail of blood. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

passing out from blood loss (Kaoru knocked a bunch of TP down from a cabinet and is trying to clean up) #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Showing the toe to his friends. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Good for you Izumi, kick him out using the same knife you used to cut off your own toe for him. #endlesswaltz

I like Kaoru's new musical partner, who's equally abrasive, just a capella. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Oh and it looks like he's in some sort of metal-noise band. Pretty edgy for the mid-70s, huh? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

aww look at the fat baby. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

for some reason kaoru switches to harmonica for the kid. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

shacking up with another lady, is horrible to her too. twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Now it seems that paranoia is plaguing poor Kaoru. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Time for a nice family stroll on the beach. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Did he bring her some sort of dead bird as a peace offering? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

basically twice the man that kaoru is, because he can play a bigger sax AND a clarinet at the same time. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

how can kaoru and everyone else resist dancing to this amazing beat? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

He literally cannot follow them. Bows and walks off without playing. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

uh oh, it's the pills mixed with booze part of the movie. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

which inspires a mean harmonica solo! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

I thought this was gonna be the big one. Also thought he swallowed his harmonica at first. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Shaky feet. Maybe he's just cold and you should cover them up, Izumi. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Oh wait, that was the big one. And now a reprise of the movie's opening cheesy harmonica rendition of Amazing Grace. #endlesswaltz

His funeral has an unholy sounding duet on St. James between a harmonica and a sax. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

I like free jazz, but I feel bad for the people who have to attend this funeral. #endlesswaltz

Oh, that opening scene... Kaoru wasn't watching her have sex. Imaginary Dead Kaoru was watching in Izumi's mind. #endlesswaltz

Fat baby is all grown up, and she's all Izumi's got left. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Don't do it Izumi, you've got a daughter to raise! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…

Also, who hangs themselves by leaning into a noose? Unless, say a prison door knob is involved #endlesswaltz #dangelobarksdaleneverforget

I feel like we haven't done a show this... stable?... in more than 6 months. Planning is caring, for my own sanity and for the ears of the discerning radio listener. The seed of this show was leftovers from the previous week (the dreaded 5th to 1st Thursday no-gap!). But toss in the unfortunate death of Dave Brubeck and some choice new material, and we get a program far superior--far more structurally sound--than the previous week. And then for the next show, December 20, we're returning to anti-radio!

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Radio CPR is broadcasting beyond its own backyard for the first time in the life of Experiencing a Significant Gravitas Shortfall, and the Grouse, as you might expect, crumbles under the pressure. Late start because of a DJ training session before the show.

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