VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for the Week of 4/15/13

Monday, April 15th:

5:59am: The Lounge Lizards:  "Bob the Bob", from the album "Voice of Chunk."
6:20am: The Wood Brothers:  "Fixing a Hole", Live at the Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI., 8/6/06.
6:49am: Frank Vignola:  "Dust in the Wind", from the album "Melody Magic."
6:58am: Bryan Ferry Orchestra:  "Don't Stop the Dance", from the album "The Jazz Age."
7:20am: Billy Martin's Wicked Knee:  "Muffaletta", from the album "Heels Over Head."
7:58am: Alex Machacek:  "Yoga For Cats, Part II", from the album "Improvision."
8:20am: Soulive:  "Taxman", from the album "Rubber Soulive."
8:39am: Courtney Pine:  "Wrapped Around Your Finger", from the album "A Reggae Tribute to The Police."
8:50am: Floratone:  "Do You Have It?", from the album "Floratone II."
8:59am: The Apples:  "Kings", from the album of the same name. 

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for the Week of 4/8/13

Monday, April 8th:
5:59am:  The Reveille:  "Tall Cedars", from the album "Instrumental Songs for Study and Reflection."
6:20am:  Soren Bodker Madsen:  "Local Hero", from the album "Acoustic Guitar."
6:49am:  Beastie Boys:  "Ricky's Theme", from the album "The In Sound From Way Out."
6:58am:  Jazz Mandolin Project:  "Oh Yeah", from the album "Jungle Tango."
7:20am:  DJ Logic:  "Michelle", from the album "The Anomaly."
7:58am:  Penguin Cafe Orchestra:  "Scherzo and Trio", from the album "Union Cafe."
8:20am:  Leo Kottke:  "Living in the Country", from the album "My Feet Are Smiling."
8:39am:  Keller Williams:  "Fire on the Mountain", Live from Mishawaka Amphitheater, Bellvue, CO., 7/13/12
8:59am:  Vijay Iyer:  "Human Nature", from the album "Solo."

Tuesday, April 9th:
5:59am:  The Oscar Moore Quartet :  "Samson and Delilah Theme", from the album "The Oscar Moore Quartet with Carl Perkins."
6:20am:  Shawn Lee and the Ping Pong Orchestra:  "Song for David", from the album "Voices and Choices."
6:49am:  Jazz Mandolin Project:  "Ol' 55", from the album "Deep Forbidden Lake."
6:58am:  Cameron Mizell:  "Spinning Wheel", from the album "Life Is Loud."
7:20am:  Tim Ries:  "Ruby Tuesday", from the album "The Rolling Stones Project."
7:58am   John Scofield:  "Behind Closed Doors", from the album "This Meets That."
8:20am:  The Meters:  "Here Comes the Meter Man", from the album of the same name.
8:39am:  Grateful Dead: "Birdsong", Live from Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, CA., 6/30/73
8:50am:  Stanton Moore:  "Maple Plank", from the album "Stanton Moore III."
8:59am:  South Austin Jug Band:  "Little Wing", from the album "South Austin Jug Band."

Wednesday, April 10th: 
5:59am:  Ryan Miller:  "Hairy Arms", from the soundtrack to the film "Safety Not Guaranteed."
6:20am:  Beastie Boys:  "Transitions", from the album "The In Sound From Way Out."
6:49am:  Addison Groove Project:  "Beantown", Live from the Funk Box, Baltimore, MD., 11/16/03.
6:58am:  Jazz Mandolin Project:  "Hallelujah", from the album "Deep Forbidden Lake."
7:20am:  JJ Grey and Mofro:  "Blackwater", from the album of the same name.
7:58am:  Chris Joss: "You've Been Spiked", from the album of the same name.
8:20am:  Maceo Parker:  "Inner City Blues", from the album "Funkoverload."
8:39am:  Frank Vignola:  "Eye of the Tiger", from the album "Melody Magic."
8:50am:  Grateful Dead:  "Althea", Live from Penn. State University, 5/7/80.
8:59am:  Django Reinhardt:  "Tiger Rag", from the album "Django and Friends."

Thursday, April 11th:
5:59am:  David Murray:  "Estimated Prophet", from the album "Dark Star."
6:20am:  Richard "Groove" Holmes:  "Hallelujah, I Love Her So", from the album "The Best of the Pacific Jazz Years."
6:49am:  Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers:  "Stander on the Mountain", from the live album "Dagle's Choice, Vol. 1."
6:58am:  Keller Williams:  "Eyes of the World", Live from Mishawaka Amphitheater, Bellvue, CO., 7/13/12.
7:20am:  Old and In the Way:  "Old and In the Way Breakdown", from the album "Breakdown."
7:58am:  Charlie Hunter:  "Island in the Sun", from the album "Earth Tones."
8:20am:  Joshua Redman:  "Another Blues", from the album "Compass."
8:39am:  Benoit Charest:  "Filature", from the soundtrack to the film "The Triplets of Belleville."
8:50am:  Phish:  "You Enjoy Myself", from the album "Junta."
8:59am:  Stephane Wrembel:  "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams", from the album "Gypsy Rumble."

Friday, April 12th:
5:59am:  The Budos Band:  "Ghost Walk", from the album "The Budos Band."
6:20am:  Stevie Ray Vaughan:  "Riviera Paradise", from the album "In Step."
6:49am:  The Big Wu:  "Cold Rain and Snow", Live from the Radisson Hotel Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN., 12/31/04.
6:58am:  Addison Groove Project:  "Use Me", Live from the Funk Box, Baltimore, MD., 11/16/03.
7:20am:  Brian Eno:  "Another Green World", from the album of the same name.
7:58am:  Doug Perkins:  "Hang Glide", from the album "Music For Flat-Top Guitar."
8:20am:  Eric McFadden:  "Jockey Full of Bourbon", from the album "Pull A Rabbit Out of His Hat Tribute, Vol. 2."
8:39am:  DJ Logic:  "JJ Bailey", from the album "Presents Project Logic."
8:50am:  Grateful Dead:  "Mission in the Rain", Live from Boston Music Hall, 6/12/76
8:59am:  The Who:  "Sparks", from the album "Tommy."

Featured artists this week were Burlington-born Jazz Mandolin Project and the Beastie Boys (RIP Adam Yauch).

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for the Week of 4/1/13

Monday, April 1st:  
(Suggested April Fool's Day prank: Celebrate Poisson de Avril as the French do--and apparently have since the 16th Century--by surreptitiously sticking a picture of a fish on someone's back.)

5:59am:  Bill Frisell: "Egg Radio", from the album "Gone, Just Like a Train."
6:20am:  Kermit Ruffins: "If I Only Had A Brain", from the album "Happy Talk."
6:49am:  Chick Corea and Hiromi:  "Fool On the Hill", from the album "Duet: Chick & Hiromi."
6:58am:  Slightly Stoopid:  "Tom and Jerry", from the album "Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid."
7:20am:  Phish: "Magilla", from the album "A Picture of Nectar."
7:58am:  Christian McBride: "Walking on the Moon", from the album "Sci Fi."
8:20am:  Steely Dan: "Bodhisattva", from the album "Countdown to Ecstacy."
8:39am:  Self: "What a Fool Believes", from the album "Gizmodgery." (* Performed entirely on Fisher Price children's toy instruments!)
8:50am:  Soulive:  "I Want You", from the album "Rubber Soulive."
8:59am:  Matt Wilson:  "Bridge Over Troubled Water", from the album "An Attitude for Gratitude."

Wednesday, April 3rd:
 5:59am:  Michael Hedges:  "If I Needed Someone", from the album "Pure Michael Hedges."
6:20am:  Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, and Max Roach: "REM Blues", from the album "Money Jungle."
6:49am:  Grateful Dead: "They Love Each Other", Live from Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ, 6/19/76.
6:58am:  Mike Gordon:  "Major Minor", from the album "Inside In."
7:20am:  Aaron Parks:  "Riddle Me This", from the album "Invisible Cinema."
7:58am:  James Newton Howard:  "The Ghost", from the soundtrack to the film "Duplicity."
8:20am:  Big Sam's Funky Nation:  "Take 5", from the album "King of the Party."
8:39am:  Bad Plus: "Tom Sawyer", from the album "Prog."
8:50am:  The Backyard Heavies:  "Soul Junction", from the album "Expo 83."
8:59am:  CMH Various Artists:  "Touch of Grey", from the album "Swingin' with the Grateful Dead."

Thursday, April 4th:
5:59am:  Lemongrass: "Elle Et Moi", from the album"Beach Affairs."
6:20am:  John Fahey:  "Sunflower River Blues", from the album "John Fahey, Peter Lang, Leo Kottke."
6:49am:  Jazz Mandolin Project:  "Goin' to California", Live from Bonaroo Music Festival, 6/12/04.
6:58am:  Marcus Roberts and Bela Fleck:  "One Blue Truth", from the album "Across the Imaginary Divide."
7:20am:  Medeski, Martin and Wood:  "Floodwaters", from the album "20."
7:58am:  Beastie Boys:  "Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament", from the album "Hot Sauce Committee Part 2."
8:20am  Wicked Knee:  "I'm Blue", from the album "Wicked Knee."
8:39am:  Isaac Hayes:  "Pursuit of the Pimpmobile", from the album "Truck Turner."
8:50am:  Gua Gua:  "Calm Storm", from the album "Pan Frito."
8:59am:  Dr. Lonnie Smith:  "Sexx Laws", from the album "Boogaloo to Beck."

Friday, April 5th:
5:59am:  Ahmad Jamal: "Blue Moon", from the album of the same name.
6:20am:  Kermit Driscoll:  "Boomstatz", from the album "Reveille."
6:49am:  Grateful Dead: "Eyes of the World", Live from the Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ, 6/18/76.
6:58am:  Charlie Hunter and Bobby Previte:  "All Hell Broke Loose", from the album "Come In Red Dog, This Is Tango Leader."
7:58am:  Stephane Wrembel:  "La Foule", from the album "Introducing Stephane Wrembel."
8:20am:  North Mississippi All Stars:  "I'd Love to be a Hippie", Live from Tipitina's, New Orelans, LA., 2/13/09.
8:39am:  Benevento & Russo Duo:  "Bronko's Blues", from the album "Best Reason To Buy the Sun."
8:50am:  March Fourth Marching Band:  "Fat Alberta", Live from Pool Deck Jam Cruise 11, 1/10/13
8:59am:  Pat Metheny:  "As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls", from the album of the same name.

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for 3/27/13

5:59am  Paul Simon: "Amulet", from the album "So Beautiful or So What."

6:20am  Bryan Ferry Orchestra: "Don't Stop the Dance", from the album "The Jazz Age."

6:49am:  Scott Witte:  "Bounce", from the album "Sound Shadows."

6:58am:  Grateful Dead:  "Smokestack Lightning", Live from Boston Music Hall, 12/2/71.

7:20am:  Stephane Wrembel: "Swing de Bellevue", from the album "Gypsy Rumble."

7:58am:  Jerry Douglas:  "American Tune", from the album "Traveler."

8:20am   Keller Williams:  "Blatant Ripoff", from the album "Breathe."

8:39am:  James Brown:  "Blind Man Can See It", from the soundtrack to the film "Black Caesar."

8:50am:  Louis Armstrong:  "Wild Man Blues", from the album "Greatest Hits."

8:59am:  Brian Bromberg:  "Love Shack", from the album "It Is What It Is."

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for 3/26/13

5:59am  Will Patton Ensemble:  "6th Street Runaround", from the album of the same name.

6:20am:  Frank Zappa:  "Sleep Dirt", from the album of the same name.

6:49am:  String Cheese Incident:  "Little Hands", from the album "A String Cheese Incident."

6:58am:  Soulive: "Taxman", from the album "Rubber Soulive."

7:20am:  Bill Frisell: "Keep on the Sunnyside", from the album "Beautiful Dreamers."

7:58am:  Fleetwood Mac: "Albatross", from the album of the same name.

8:20am:  Jazz Is Dead: "Let It Grow", from the album "Laughing Water."

8:39am:  Quincy Jones: "Sanford and Son" Theme, from the album "The Best of Quincy Jones."

8:50am:  Michael Brooks: "Carthage Grain Sale", from the soundtrack to the film "Into the Wild."

8:59am:  All India Radio:  "Lo Fi Groovy", from the album "Permanent Evolutions." 

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for 3/25/13

5:59am:  Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia: "Georgia on my Mind", from the album "Keepers."

6:20am:  Dr. Rubberfunk:  "Sunset Breakup", from the EP "Sunset Breakup."

6:49am:  Bill Frisell:  "Good Dog, Happy Man", from the album of the same name.*

6:58am:  Brad Mehldau:  "Got Me Wrong", from the album "Where Do You Start."

7:20am  Yellow Dubmarine:  "Sun King", from the album "Abbey Dub."

7:59am:  Maxim Solniker:  "Yiddish Waltz", from the album "Enjoy Klezmer."

8:20am:  New York Ska Jazz Ensemble:  "Lullaby of Skaland", from the album "Minor Moods."

8:39am:  Steely Dan:  "Your Gold Teeth II", from the album "Katy Lied."

8:50am:  Stevie Ray Vaughan:  "Riviera Paradise", from the album "In Step."

8:59am:  David Holmes:  "Fender Rhodes", from the Soundtrack to the film "Ocean's 13."

*In loving memory of Gordie, a Good Dog indeed.

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for 3/22/13

5:59am:  Bill Frisell, Dave Holland and Elvin Jones: "Smilin' Jones", from the album "Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones."

6:20am:  James Newton Howard: "Duplicita a due", from the soundtrack to the film "Duplicity."

6:49am:  Arlen Roth: "Layla", from the album "Drive It Home."

6:58am:  Stephane Wrembel with David Grisman and Brandi Shearer on vocals: "Bellevue Rendezvous", from the album "Gypsy Rumble."

7:20am:  Galactic: "Everybody Wants Some, Part 1", from the album "Coolin' Off."

7:59am   Jefferson Airplane:  "Embryonic Journey", from the album "Surrealistic Pillow."

8:20am:  DJ Madlib:  "Mystic Bounce", from the album "Shades of Blue."

8:39am:  Grateful Dead: "The Women Are Smarter", Live from the Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah, 8/12/81

8:50am  Shawn Lee Ping Pong Orchestra:  "A Gentle Dissolve", from the album "ESL Remixed."

8:59am  The Soul Rebels: "Rock With You", from the album (EP) "Nothing But Love."

Gripe of the day: Those smarty-pants at Harvard and upstart California Bears have already destroyed my NCAA bracket.

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for 3/21/13

5:59am  Richard Thompson: "Glencoe", from the Soundtrack to the film "Grizzly Man."

6:20am  Beastie Boys: "Groove Holmes", from the album "Check Your Head."

6:49am  Marco Benevento: "Atari", from the album "Invisible Baby."

6:58am  Grateful Dead: "China Cat Sunflower>MLB Jam", Live from Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY 3/16/73

7:20am  The Meters: "Here Comes the Meter Man", from the album "The Meters."

7:59am  John Scofield:  "I'll Fly Away", from the album "Piety Street."

8:20am:  Skeewiff: "Cheeky Chicken", from the album "It's All Gone."

8:39am  Donald Fagen: "New Frontier", from the album "The Nightfly."

8:50am  Doug Perkins:  "Garlic Patch Rag", from the album "Music for Flat-Top Guitar."

8:59am  Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate: "Ruby", from the album "Ali and Toumani."

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for 3/20/13

5:59am  Branford Marsalis: "Aunt Hagar's Blues", from the album "Metamorphesen."

6:20am  Ledward Ka'apana: "Opihi Moe Moe", from the album "Waltz of the Wind."

6:49am:  Aaron Parks: "Roadside Distraction", from the album "Invisible Cinema."

6:58am:  Club Des Belugas:  "Kissez in Gallop", from the album "Cocktail Grooves, Vol. 1"

7:20am   Shawn Lee and Clutchy Hopkins:  "Ancient Chinese Secret", from the album "Fascinating Fingers."

7:58am:  Allman Brothers:  "Little Martha", from the album "Eat A Peach."

8:20am   Al Cohn:  "Suddenly It's Spring", from the album "Broadway."

8:39am:  Tom Waits: "You Can Never Hold Back Spring", from the album "Orphans."

8:50am  Matthew Garrison:  "I Told Ya So", from the album "Shape Shifter."

8:59am:  David Holmes: "Snake Eyes", from the soundtrack to the film "Ocean's 13."


Happy Vernal Equinox everyone! Celebrate by building a snowman.

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for 3/19/13

5:59am: Oscar Peterson: "Winter Wonderland", from the album "An Oscar Peterson Christmas."

6:20am  Big Sam's Funky Nation: "The Way It Is", from the album "Peace, Love and understanding."

6:49am  Chris Joss: "Little Nature", from the album "Sticks."

6:58am: Grateful Dead: "Weather Report Suite Prelude", Live from Springfield Civic Center, MA., 3/28/73

7:20am  Charles Mingus: "Summertime", from the album "Summertime"

7:58am  Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia: "She's Got Charisma", from the album "Keepers".

8:20am Billy Martin's Wicked Knee: "Muffaletta", from the album "Heels Over Head."

8:39am  David Holmes: "Lifting the Building", from the "Ocean's 12" Soundtrack.

8:50am:  The Funkateers: "Funkafied", from the album "Inner City Sounds"

8:59am   Wes Montgomery: "Tequila", from the album "Tequila."

Notes: Apologies for the all-too-obvious theme of some weather-related tunes, but I couldn't resist with Spring so tantalizing close and up to 18 inches of snow on the way in some parts.

VPR Morning Edition Music Beds for 3/18/13

5:59am  Stanley Clarke: "Walkin' the Dog", from the album "Friends."

6:20am  DJ Vadim, featuring Jill Green on vocals: "Sufferin' Blues", from the album "Sound Catcher."

6:49am  Medeski, Martin & Wood: "Acht O'clock Rock", from the album "Red Hot and Indigo."

6:58am  Alex Wurman: "Too Much Money", from the soundtrack to the film "Criminal."

7:20am  Charlie Hunter: "One Foundation", from the album "Nature Sounds."

7:58am  Stephane Wrembel: "Swing de Bellevue", from the album "Gypsy Rumble."

8:20am  Jimi Hendrix: "Villanova Junction Blues", from the album "People, Hell and Angels."

8:39am  Steve Blanco Trio: "Black Dog", from the album "Piano Warrior."

8:50am   Jupiter Coyote: "Fade", from the album "The Hilary Step."

8:59am   Sim Redmond Band: "Good Thoughts", from the album "The Sim Redmond Band."


Tip of the day: If you want to win your NCAA basketball tournament office pool, simply ask me about the picks I made, and then fill out your bracket with the exact opposite picks.

Mitch Wertlieb's Valentine Mix Tape

VPR Morning Edition Host Mitch Wertlieb played his favorite love songs this morning for VPR's Membership Drive.
Thanks everyone for sending the love!









 
All My Lovin' and All You Need Is Love -- The Beatles
Gee Baby Aint I Good To You -- Billie Holiday
Love Will Keep Us Together -- Captain and Tenille
My Funny Valentine -- Elvis Costello
I Want You Back -- The Jackson 5
Shower the People and Love Has Brought Me Around -- James Taylor
That's What Love Will Make You Do -- Jerry Garcia
Knock Me A Kiss -- Louis Jordan
That's Amore -- Dean Martin
Let's Get It On -- Marvin Gaye
Delirious Love -- Neil Diamond
Whole Lotta Love -- Led Zeppelin
They Love Each Other -- Grateful Dead

Mitch And Jane In "Call Me Maybe"

File this under "Things You Thought You'd Never See A Public Radio Host Do." But hey, a bet is a bet! Mitch Wertlieb and Jane Lindholm make good on their promise to make a Call Me Maybe video if we met this morning's $25,000 challenge. Who says public radio people don't have rhythm? Enjoy!

Red Sox Horror Show

Starter Josh Beckett, right, gives up the baseball to manager Bobby Valentine, left, in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday in Detroit. Beckett was relieved after giving up back-to-back home runs. (AP/Duane Burleson)

VPR’s Morning Edition host Mitch Wertlieb is known for his early morning rants — err sports reports. Here’s his Monday morning take on the sluggish start for the 2012 Red Sox:

There was a time in my life when I kind of appreciated horror movies. I didn’t necessarily enjoy being jolted with spasms of fright by the scary films of my youth — “Halloween,” “Nightmare on Elm Street,” the “Friday the 13th” franchise — but there was a certain sensation one got of — accomplishment, I guess — for getting through those films and their worst moments that made it somewhat worthwhile.

But this much I know about those kinds of movies: the sequels had no redeeming value whatsoever. They were still occasionally scary, but they were decidedly dumber, less and less artful in presentation, and ultimately, just getting through them felt less like an accomplishment and more like a serious waste of time.

Point being that the Boston Red Sox 2012 season — merely a week old but with memories still fresh from last summer’s historic collapse – is already taking on the feel of one of the throwaway Halloween sequels — let’s say Halloween 4: the “Return of Michael Myers.”

Here are the gory details in quick summation for those lucky enough to have missed the Red Sox third straight loss to the Tigers yesterday: Starter Clay Buchholz was terrible — gave up seven runs. The Sox were down early 4-0, fought back to go up 10-7 into the bottom of the ninth, but then de facto closer Alfredo Aceves —who’s upset he wasn’t named a starter, and maybe he has a point because he certainly was no closer – gave up a three-run homer to Miguel Cabrera to tie the game at 10. But then in the 11th inning the Red Sox got two more runs to go up 12-10. Happy ending, right? Wrong — because in the bottom of the 11th Mark Melancon gave up a game-winning walk off three-run homer to Alex Avila and the Sox lost, 13-12.

You can listen to Mitch's report here.

DJ Mitch Lays Down The Funk, Yo

As most Morning Edition listeners know, host Mitch Wertlieb can sometimes get a little, well...excited during membership drives. He's the kind of guy whose enthusiasm for public radio and the importance of listener support is so intense that he just can't keep it in.

Which is how he sometimes gets himself in (metaphorical) trouble.

Two mornings in a row, he's brought out his now-famous impression of Grandma Wertlieb, reciting what his grandmother would say if Mitch didn't support his public radio station.

There was also the great Pushups for Pledges incident of 2011. And the now-infamous shower scene from last October. And the beard-shaving fiasco of 2009.

So no one was really surprised when Mitch promised that if we met our morning pledge goal, he'd recite a little rap sent to us by VPR members Diane and William Ferriter of Thetford.

Unfortunately we came up a mere 7 pledges short - but despite, in Mitch's words, his "profound lack of beat rhythm, cadence, and timing," we convinced him to record it anyway. Enjoy!

If you haven't had the chance, we hope you'll make a contribution today online, or by calling 1-800-639-6391. We promise to not let Mitch rap anymore but we can't vouch for what he'll think of next.

Listen to Mitch Wertlieb rap here.

Do You Listen To VPR In The Shower?

Sing along to the Morning Edition theme music? Do a victory dance when the Eye on the Sky forecast is for sunshine? It's okay - so do we. Then we wondered what would happen if VPR literally was with you in the morning - check out this video below!



This morning we're giving away 20 Sangean waterproof radios so you can listen in the shower and never miss a minute of VPR or VPR Classical - all you have to do is make a pledge to be entered to win. Thanks!

Book Suggestions From This Morning's Membership Drive

I was up early this morning with Mitch Wertlieb, Jonathan Butler, and Peter Biello asking our loyal listeners to support VPR with a financial contribution. To sweeten the deal, we were giving away a $1,000 gift certificate to Northshire Bookstore at 9 a.m.

It didn't take long for us to begin making recommendations for books the lucky winner could buy when he or she won the drawing - and congratulations to Margaret A. Johnson of Hanover, NH, who is the winner!

If you didn't win, no worries - there are more drawings ahead this week. Below is a list of the books we recommended this morning. Enjoy!

Busy Monsters, William Giraldi
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach
River Town, Peter Hessler
The Book Thief, Marcus Zusak
Splendid Table How to Eat Weekends, Lynne Rosetto Kasper
Freedom, Jonathan Franzen
Born to Run, Christopher McDougall

Book It: Time for the Vermont Edition Summer Reading Show

I am the luckiest substitute host ever! Seems every time Jane Lindholm goes on vacation, I get to fill in for one of the Vermont Edition reading shows, and I admit to having a special fondness for them because, well, I love to read...and to hear what others are reading so I can get a lead on that next great book!

This Friday we're celebrating the summer reading season with a terrific panel of guests including Linda Ramsdell, owner of The Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, and Bennington College Librarian Oceana Wilson, who won the 2009 national "I Love My Librarian" award, sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the New York Times.

And of course we'd love to hear your suggestions. Whether it's novels, non-fiction, memoir, poetry, science, even the back of a cereal box you found especially compelling, add your favorites here. I've already listed my recommendations, so hop to it...summer may have only just started, but it's short!

We'll also take your phone calls during the program this Friday at noon. You can catch a rebroadcast that evening at 7.

So forget all that nonsense you hear about "no one reads" anymore...prove that books are alive and well and being devoured by readers like you, by contributing to the annual Summer Reading Show on VPR!

Love That Dirty Water....

VPR is 3-0! We had a blast last Saturday as Mitch Wertlieb, Ric Cengeri, and I traveled to Boston for VPR's 3rd trip to Fenway park with a great group of VPR listeners. We took a tour of the storied ballpark, feasted on hot dogs, and watched the Sox take on the Detroit Tigers.

I'm usually a very optimistic Sox fan (unlike Mitch - see his recap of last year's game here), but when we were down 4-0 early in the game and kept leaving men on base, I got a little discouraged. Oddly enough, Mitch was the one who kept saying "Be patient, they can do it."

They managed to come back to make it 4-2 by the bottom of the 9th inning. Tigers pitcher Phil Coke loaded the bases by intentionally walking Kevin Youkilis with one out, bringing David "Big Papi" Ortiz to the plate. Papi hit a double that looked (and sounded) something like this (the hit is around 2:15):



Since everyone was jumping up and down and I'm not all that tall, I didn't even realize they'd won it until I heard the unmistakable opening riff of "Dirty Water" - "buhmp buhmp buhmp, buhmp bah-dump." It was the first walk-off win I've ever seen at Fenway! My favorite part by far was watching Mitch jump up and down screaming and clapping, as if he were 10 years old all over again.

What a day! Great company, great weather, and topped off by a great come-from-behind walk off win. It doesn't get much better than that! VPR is now 3-0 with our trips to Fenway. Hmm...maybe they should have VPR listeners at every game! Check out our photos from the day below.

And The Winner Is....

This spring, New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss designed a series of cartoons about Morning Edition on VPR. We held a contest for a signed print by Harry Bliss on our Morning Edition page. We just wanted to say a big congratulations to Jim Bunch of Bristol, who won the print. He says,

"My wife and I are big fans of both VPR's morning programming (although there isn't a time of day when I won't turn on VPR) and Harry Bliss."

Check out all of our Morning Edition is Bliss cartoons here, and thanks for making Morning Edition a part of your day!