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The CHIRP Blog
Rubbed in Dirt, Dipped in Sugar writesHow Records Are Made
Before we start, I must admit that capturing live sound into the grooves of a durable plastic disc that can withstand thousands of playbacks is still a mind-blowing concept to me.
Over the years, I’ve participated in virtually every aspect of this process, from recording live sessions, to running a record label, organizing and archiving masters, and of course collecting records, yet the details of this process still amaze me.
This short article is meant to shed some light on the mechanics of this transformative process and help illuminate the way that songs find a new home in the bumps and folds of melted and pressed shards of vinyl shrapnel.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Lionel Hampton Edition
Today, let’s pay tribute to a legend who got his start right here in Chicago. Lionel Hampton was born in Louisville 104 years ago, but moved to Chicago as a youngster, where he quickly picked up the xylophone and drums, and started playing in the Chicago Defender Newsboys’ band in his teens. As a young adult, he played vibes with Louis Armstrong in California, and a career was born. Hampton then worked with swing great Benny Goodman before forming his own orchestra, and working with many of the other great players of his time. His music sometimes crossed into R & B. Although his popularity on the charts waned after the ’50s, he kept playing until 1991, for a six decade plus career of excellence. Let’s celebrate Hamp’s birthday by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle, and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
Shawn Campbell writesCHIRP Celebrates Record Store Day
So…today is Record Store Day, and there are so many things going on at stores in and around the city! How to keep them all straight?
CHIRP Radio has done the legwork so you don’t have to. Here are all the latest details on special events going on at local record stores. We’re not going to tell you who has which RSD releases — you’ll have to check with the stores for that — but we will try to tell you what special events each store has planned.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Al Green Edition
Very few sounds in pop music are as insinuating as the classic sides Al Green recorded for Hi Records back in the early ’70s. Interestingly enough, Green initially tried to follow the soul shouter path of singers like Otis Redding. Thankfully, producer Willie Mitchell instructed Green to dial things down, and with those classic rhythms, Green embarked on making some of the sexiest and most romantic music ever made. From there, Green turned to God, and produced some fine Christian music (like 1978’s The Belle Album), but never lost his soul prowess, as more recent comeback records have shown. Let’s pay tribute to the Reverend Green by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesThis Week with CHIRP Radio (Week of Apr. 9)
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Monday, April 9
It’s time for CHIRP Night at the Whistler, with Color Card and Deadbeat! A percentage of the night’s bar sales benefits CHIRP Radio, CHIRP DJs spin between bands, and raffle tickets will be sold throughout the night — win awesome prizes for cheap!The Whistler / 2421 N. Milwaukee / 9:30pm / 21+ / No Cover
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Thursday, April 12
CHIRP Radio welcomes Screaming Females, Mayor Daley and Deth Warrant to Subterranean!Subterranean / 2011 W. North Ave. / 9:00pm / 17+
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Friday, April 13
CHIRP Radio welcomes Fang Island to Beat Kitchen!Beat Kitchen / 2100 W. Belmont / 9:30pm / 17+
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Friday, April 13
CHIRP Radio welcomes Disappears, Lotus Plaza, Implodes and DJ Heterodyne to Lincoln Hall!Lincoln Hall / 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. / 10:00pm / 18+
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Saturday, April 14 – Sunday April 15
It’s the 10th Anniversary of CHIRP Record Fair and Other Delights! Vinyl, live shows from awesome bands, food and beer will be in abundance! E-mail “recordfair@chirpradio.org” to donate your used vinyl records or register as a vendor.Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union / 1340 W. Washington Blvd. / 10:00am – 5:00pm
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Last week on chicagoindieradio.org:
Ed is a Person of Interest
Happy Birthday, Merle Haggard!
Chicago Theatre Off Book, featuring interviews with Mary Ann Thebus (starring in “After the Evolution”) and Brandon Bruce of Looking Glass Theatre