Hey, y’all! Hope you’re doing your best. It’s been a hectic week for sure, but wouldn’t ya know it, it’s Tuesday yet again! Time for yet another walk-through of the history behind the subjects of tonight’s episodes of Talkie Time and The Jazz Program on datafruits.fm!
Talkie Time : Boston Blackie - Evelyn Jones Murder / Hypnotic Murder
(This program schedule was originally aired March 19, 2024.)
The 1941 movie, "Meet Boston Blackie", is also very much worth a watch, with Chester Morris in the role he would later reprise on the airwaves.
Boston Blackie is one of the few true anti-heroes in old time radio. “An enemy to those who make him an enemy, and friend to those who have no friend” as the show calls him, Blackie spends his time on the air cracking safes, solving crimes (usually ones he ends up being the fall guy for due to his big dopey bleedin’ heart) and punching bad…er, badder guys than him in the jaw.
…sigh look man, i have a type, alright
Created by author Jude Boyle, Blackie was played by Chester Morris for the first few episodes of its runtime and Richard Kollmar in the proverbial back-fourty of the program’s lifespan. We’ll be hearing Kollmar in the role of old-time-radio’s answer to The Gentleman Jim Stacey for both episodes this evening.
First up, it’s “Evelyn Jones Murder”, originally aired on August 13, 1945, in which Blackie bungles a blackmail case only to have the resulting dead body – and the rest of the crime scene, to boot – pull their own disappearing act.
Next up, it’s “Hypnotic Murder”, originally aired on August 6, 1949, in which Inspector Farraday has Blackie framed for a crime he didn’t commit (again) because Blackie made the mistake of trying to help an old friend (again) and now his fingerprints are all over a murder weapon (you’d think he’d be wise to this after the first couple times c’mon man).
Don’t find your ass framed for murder, kids; tune in tonight. Now – for legal reasons, of course – I’m not saying I’d frame you for murder if you didn’t show up. I’m just telling you that some people who aren’t me, might consider it. No pressure.
The Jazz Program : Bobbi Humphrey - Satin Doll (1974) / Blacks And Blues (1973) / Fancy Dancer (1975)
(This program schedule was originally aired March 19, 2024.)
If you've listened to this show, you know I hold quite a few flautists in high regard. As far as I'm concerned, Bobbi is damn close to the top of the tier list.
There were many fantastic women in the jazz scene in the ’70s, but only one has the unique distinction of being the first instrumentalist ever signed to Blue Note. That honor belongs to one Bobby Humphrey, one of the greatest to ever breathe life into the silver stick.
Born in Marlin, raised in Dallas, and signed to the Note only weeks after first setting foot in the Big Apple, Humphrey’s flautist chops are only truly rivaled by the mark she made on jazz at the time and continues to make on DJs and sample-flippers today.
We’ve got three fantastic albums from The First Lady Of Flute for you this evening. First up is 1974’s “Satin Doll”, easily one of my favorites from her oeuvre.
Next up, we’ve got 1973’s “Blacks And Blues”, her first release with Blue Note. If I can point to one record in these three that justifies my claim about her effect on sample-flippers, it’s this one–connoiseurs of sound who have used this record in their own work include Quebec group La Constellation, MF DOOM’s original group KMD, and New York’s own Eric B. And Rakim.
And finally, we’ve got 1975’s “Fancy Dancer”, her fifth release on Blue Note and one that very much showcases exactly how versatile she could be. All three of these records are worth a listen, and I hope you can join us tonight as we give these a look.
Still on re-runs this week; I was not joking about things being hectic around these parts. At least they’re damn good reruns if I do say so myself. Hopefully, we’ll be back to our regular programming next week!
If you’re reading this the day of, and you can make it in tonight, come hang out in the chat with us on Datafruits! We’ve got a good crowd of folks in the chat every week, and whether you have a suggestion for a future show or just want to hang out and chat with fellow jazz enjoyers, you’re welcome here with us.
You’re all amazing and don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not. Stay safe out there, and I’ll see you back again next week. Same time, same station.
Footnotes…