Paul Mickelson

Artist: Paul Mickelson

LP: Paul Mickelson Plays For Youth

Song: "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" 
[ listen ]

Organ virtuoso Paul Mickelson played with evangelist Billy Graham in the years 1950 to 1957, beginning when he was just 22 years old. You can read more about Mr. Mickelson at the online tribute to his life and music here. There's no denying Paul Mickelson's got talent, but I find there's something belittling in the way he plays for youth on this particular LP, released on the Word label in 1961. Paul's rendition of "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," in particular, seems to minimize the very audience he hopes to reach.

[ Paul Mickelson: December 30, 1927 — October 21, 2001 ]

Witch Queen

Artist: Witch Queen

LP: Witch Queen

Song: "Witch Queen"

[ listen ]

I've been neglecting the blog lately since I've been so busy getting ready for my upcoming trip to the South. One of the things I've been doing in preparation (besides watching season 3 of "American Horror Story") is listening to (and dancing to) "Witch Queen" by Witch Queen, from their "Witch Queen" LP. I'm hoping I'll have a chance to perform it if there's a karaoke lounge at the Voodoo Museum in New Orleans. Also, I'll be passing through the little Northern Alabama town of Muscle Shoals, so I rented the recent documentary about all the wonderful music that's been recorded at the studios there over the years by people like Wilson Pickett, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, Etta James and more! I highly recommend it. Coincidentally, as I was getting ready to post "Witch Queen" today, I noticed that the album was partly recorded in Muscle Shoals! Several of the Muscle Shoals studio musicians are credited on the back of the LP. (I guess it's not actually much of a coincidence since, according to the movie, around 85% of all records released in the entire world between 1968 and 1980 were recorded there). Still, it was cool to see the names of some of the guys featured in the documentary right here on the back of this record. You can read more about Muscle Shoals here, more about "Muscle Shoals" here, and go here to visit the website of the Voodoo Museum.

Featured on "Witch Queen" and in "Muscle Shoals"—the movie:

David Hood, bass (far left) 
Jimmy Johnson, guitar (far right) 
Roger Hawkins, drums (green shirt)

Nancy Walker

Artist: Nancy Walker

LP: I Hate Men

Song: "You Irritate Me So"

[ listen ]

Born in Philadelphia in 1922, Nancy Walker was raised in high vaudevillian style by her father, showman Dewey Barto of the comedic dance act Barto & Mann. Nancy made her Broadway debut in "Best Foot Forward" in 1941, and stayed with the show when it became a movie starring Lucille Ball two years later. This provided Walker with her first film role, after which she went on to a five-decade-long career as singer, actress, entertainer, and comedian in stage, television, and film. Most people probably remember Nancy from TV shows like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Rhoda," but those were too sophisticated for me and I wasn't allowed to watch them. I grew up knowing Nancy as the lady with the really strong and absorbent paper towels--"the quicker picker-uppers." Some may also remember Nancy Walker as the director of the spectacular cinematic disco fiasco CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC, though I bet she would probably prefer that you didn't. This man-hating-themed LP was released in 1959, and its cover is reportedly considered to be one of the worst ever made, which of course automatically makes it one of the best. You can read all about Nancy Walker's life and career and see what other movies and shows she appeared in (like this one!) by visiting Wikipedia here.

[ Nancy Walker: May 10, 1922 — March 25, 1992 ]