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That's the BAKERSFIELDSOUNDoff challenge this afternoon. Let's see if you can meet it and rise to the occasion.
In the game of blog n roll, I usually provide the music and the introduction, and you tell the rest of the story in the comments section. This time, to make a...
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Today on BAKERSFIELD SOUNDoff, I'm featuring two blog 'n' roll questions. The first is a trivia question. Who wrote the song, The Streets of Bakersfield?
The second springs from the truism that Bakersfield once spawned a steady stream of country stars, Merle Haggard...
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Find out more here:
http://www.bakersfield.com/...
See you there!
Picture the Sound
words and music by Dr BLT copyright 2008
picture the sound
the Bakersfield Sound
the sound...
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Homer "Streets of Bakersfield" Joy, paid for the coffee and the over-priced pastries. Then he and Rockwell of Trout's autographed the cup and gave me one of the best interviews that has ever been delivered to me.
It's all part of the From Buck Owens Boulevard to...
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I'll be performing songs from my forthcoming audio/spoken word CD, From Buck Owens Boulevard to Merle Haggard Drive and experimenting with style combinations as I try to construct a freeway to the New Bako Sound by juxtaposing old and new styles.
The show will begin around 8:15 am....
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You might say I'm driving down the right lane, facing traffic with this song, an answer to Merle Haggard's song about Hillary? What side of the street are you on when it comes to Merle's political views----the side he introduced when he wrote, recorded and released The...
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While somebody who apparently runs the joint over there was trying to get my first Zingo single on the jukebox at Zingo's lounge on Buck Owens Boulevard, I came up with this brand new Zingo single.
I'll debut it today on the patio at Zingo's Cafe when the clock strikes 12 noon. ...
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I wrote this song on Merle Haggard Drive at our Sunday on Merle Haggard Drive gig yesterday morning. My sax player was right next to me. I'll debut "I'll Meet you on Merle Haggard Drive," right on Merle Haggard Drive this morning (or it's attached here if you...
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Welcome to BAKERSFIELD SOUND off, my new blog rockin' round table series. Here's today's topic:
What do you feel it would take for a local kid to become Bakersfield's Next Buck? By now, most of you know how to play blog n roll, but it you don't, it's quite simple....
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Good morning Bakersfield's Next Buck Contestants!
If you'd like to get a head start on the rest of the contestants, learn the song and meet in front of Starbucks on Merle Haggard Drive this morning at about 8:30 am.
If you are Bakersfield's Next Buck then you probably don't need me to send the...
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I'd like to invite you to another outdoor performance, the second in a new series called Mornings on Merle Haggard Drive.
I'll be performing Merle Haggard Drive, The Day Merle Haggard Stole My Pen, From Buck Owens Boulevard to Merle Haggard Drive and also a few Merle songs. The...
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Are you Bakersfield's next Buck? If you think you could be the next Buck Owens, send me an mp3 of one of your performances at:
drblt@drblt.net
or post an mp3 or youtube link right here in the comments section and tell us all why you should be Bakersfield's Next Buck in the comments...
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Welcome to BAKERSFIELD SOUND Off. Here's what you'll be BAKERSFIELD SOUNDing off about today:
Do you think a Bakersfield Sound revival is possible? Do you think we're at the cusp of such a revival? Do you think Bakersfield could be put back on the map as the epicenter of...
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Sing Me Back Home is my very favorite Merle Haggard song, mostly because of the childhood memory of hearing it for the first time on my dad's magavox stereo system. I'm going to perform it for you, along with The Day Merle Haggard Stole My Pen, Merle Haggard Drive and a few other other...
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Good morning. I'm Dr BLT, and I'm here to introduce the freshly paved Merle Haggard Drive, featuring Mystery Merley Girly. I'm also here to categorically deny all rumors associated with the song, including the rumor that when you play the song backwards, it says, "I'm the new...
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It seemed like the perfect metaphor to depict my life. I was clearly under the weather, but couldn't miss this for the world. I was attending the official street naming party for Merle Haggard and the ceremony was wrapping up. I had my open pen in hand and my Merle...
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Perhaps I've fallen victim to the very "cyanide of cynicism" I so fervently preach about as society's nemesis.
In any case, I suppose my new song, If at first you don't succeed (Cry, Cry Again), pretty much gives away my opinion. Now I want to know yours. You know...
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This is one of the most poignant live duets I've ever come across. It is included in the rare footage of Johnny Cash's TV shows that I picked up at Starbucks the other day. As we pay tribute to the legend that was, and will always be Ken Nelson, let's consider the debt our very own...
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Today, we celebrate the legacy of Ken Nelson 1911-2008, the quintessential producer who was behind some of the greatest hits of the Bakersfield Sound era, who died Sunday, at age 96.
Let's begin with this Buck Owens television performance of Act Naturally. This episode is the first...
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Dr BLT CDiary
Old hymns get me in touch with what's real in the realm of music. Old hymns and old Sunday School songs are treasures that can become new songs for a new generation if introduced in a style that will make them new again.
As I was sifting through prospective songs for my...
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For the few of you that are actually following my musical journey, and want to see me succeed at this craft of songwriting, here's a bit of news for you:
On this Christmas Eve, as candidates take a break from seeking out key endorsements to spend time with the family, it appears that this song...
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That's not us in the photo. Periodically, during this CDiary series, I will feature photos of genre's that will have their influence on the music that is being produced.
It's after midnight, and I'm still running on the energy that was produced by what is now last night's recording...
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It's been kind of a whirlwind romance with brand new, original Christmas songs. This year, I woke up with a new one bouncing around in my head almost every morning. The end result was my most successful CD release parties to date, the first, on December 1st at Russo's Books, and the...
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kelly724 is the official winner of the most recent Dr BLTrivia contest. kelly724 won the competition by being the first person at Bakersfield.com to correctly answer the following Dr BLTrivia question:
Dr BLTrivia Question: The Dr BLTune, Only Heaven When Hurt Used to Be, from...
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I'm in the process of preparing the song list for my forthcoming Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down show for November 11. After picking my favorite among Johnny Cash's favorite Christmas songs, selecting a few of my faves from Johnny Cash's mother's hymn book, adding a few of my favorite standard...
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For those who just can't get enough of me, Dr. BLT (all two or three of you), I would like to direct you to this month's edition of Phantom Tollbooth, an e-zine that examines music and entertainment from a Christian persective.
This month, you'll find my regular features:
1. Ask...
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Blog in Black by the Fan in Black
This is one of my all-time favorite Johnny Cash songs, and the spirit of the song is aptly captured right here, in the course of his live performance at San Quentin. BTW, Bakersfield's own Merle Haggard did some time at SQ. I did most of my time...
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Meet me every Sunday morning on the patio of Rubios on Rosedale Highway just east of Calloway for a performance of my best Dr BLTunes at 8 am. For the next couple of months, I'll be playing Johnny Cash songs, "altar'd" hymns, as well as songs from my forthcoming Christmas CD,...
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It's November 5 and it's nearly 7 am. I'm hanging out at my own personal home studio, and I've just mixed down a brand new original Dr BLTune for my new Christmas CD, tentatively entitled Straw Straight from the Stable. The new song, a rock number, is entitled Christmas Couldn't Come...
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Dwight Sings Buck vs. Confessions of a Buckaholic:
A comparative CD review by Dr BLT
A Sneak Preview of forthcoming Phantom Tollbooth review:
http://www.tollbooth.org
Dwight Yoakham’s Dwight Sings Buck may be more aptly titled, Dwight Channels Buck, not only because of the...
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Well, the Christmas season is rapidly approaching, at leat in the minds of singer/songwriters planning for Christmas album releases. This Christmas, I'm planning on releasing a brand new album of mostly original Christmas material.
When I have time, on my way to my day job, I stop...
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Is victory in Iraq within reach? In accordance with quintessential psychological theorist and philosopher Carl Jung's notion of the anima and animus, I believe, that, both collectively, and individually---whether male or female---we all possess some sort of archetypal force that would like...
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This song came to me as I reflected on how much time Americans (myself included) spend on work as opposed to play or R&R. Americans are driven by pay, and many are prepared to work hard in order to get it. Some apply at least some of their hard-earned pay towards some...
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There aren't many brights sides to growing old. But for those of us just barely old enough to remember 45 rpm records, being able to hold on to memories of B-side songs represents one of the bright sides of growing old.
One of my favorite B-side 45s was the B-side of Andy Kim's...
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Welcome to my new BLOGame show, I Wanna Be a Rock Star.
Where's the drummer? As you can see in the photo, and as you can hear in the song: Something's missing. Someone's missing, and that someone is you!
Today, Kern County drummers will be invited to download this Dr...
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It was written in about 20 minutes. It started with a birthday song for Buck, entitled Don't Forget Buck's Birthday. Then it evolved into a song you can sing along with all year long.
The recording process was quite simple. I sat down at my home studio overlooking The...
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Claiming, even to come close, to the legendary Johnny Cash, is clearly blaspheme. It's like not being John Lennon and claiming you've become more popular than Jesus Christ. No, I'll never be Johnny Cash, because I'm...well... me, but it sure was fun smuggling in a guitar and playing...
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I'll never put a mortal above the king of kings. John Lennon gave the appearance of putting himself above the King of Kings and paid for it, dearly. But notwithstanding the King of Kings, there is, was and will always be, only one king---The King of Rock n Roll---Elvis Presley. ...
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Have you ever tried to deceive yourself into thinking something was true when you knew it was not? Have you ever tried to comfort yourself with words that, while true, may have been totally inadequate in addressing what you were feeling at the moment? Have you ever turned your back on...
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I wasn't satisfied with the birthday song I had previously written for Buck, so this morning I wrote him a brand new one. And after his birthday, I'll introduce an alternative version called Don't Forget Buck Owens that you can sing all year round.
In the meantime, here are the...
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I've always been a loser at using a tuner. So when I became frustrated with this 99 cent Conservarte guitar pitch pipe of mine, I used it as an harmonica. I'll let you be the judge as to whether its a winner or a loser when it comes to musical accompaniment.
I'm doing fine...
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Do you ever have a day when that which you'd most love to perfect seems to be so far from perfection that you feel like an utter failure? If so, follow my example, embrace your imperfections, and share them with the rest of us, so we too, can embrace them. And, if this song sucks, so...
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As we approach Buck's birthday, the interest in this CD has been building. People want to know if its a CD of Buck covers. No. Not that there's anything wrong with Buck covers, but it seems to me that few people, if any, can do Buck songs as good as Buck himself.
As...
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At the age of 13, I had my head in the clouds (it still is). I would listen to my favorite songs on AM radio, and create my own little rock n roll heaven in my head. All I needed was a theme song for my own personal paradise. Enter the Righteous Brothers and their big hit of the...
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The long weekend is coming up, and rumor has it I'll be performing at the site of my MTV music video cameo (shown above). That's your cue for those few die-hard fans willing to travel for several hours to find me. Performances are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday morning from 9-11...
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If you can, then you are a genius's genius. This, my friends is local blues artist, Jerry Rothberg, whose band just got back from playing at BB King's Blues Club in Universal City. He found an outlet right in Starbucks and slid the chord under the door so he could add some killer lead...
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Due to popular demand, I'll be held over until at least Sunday at the present location. This is a mystery tour, but hints like this are provided. You'll know where I'm at if you scroll back to my first tour announcement and listen to the song, Stuck at Starbucks. The show today...
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This is your personal invitation to my free gig this morning, May 19, 2007. Here's your clue for the day on where to find me: I'll be west of K-Mart and East of Jewetta. I'll be somewhere between a place to eat unauthentic Mexican food and a place that serves latte and no beer. ...
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I'm not talking about Desperate Housewives. I'm talking about satisfied, content women who stayed home to take care of the children, clean the house, wash the dishes, do the laundry. Is a housewife now a second class citizen? Were they ever satisfied? Were they ever...
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It's hard to believe it's been a year since we lost our beloved Buck. A jukebox could never take his place, but Bucks songs and our memories of Buck are all we have left, so before the day I intend to find a place where I can drop a few quarters in a jukebox and listen to the music of Buck...
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