Category Archives: Art

Joe Strummer: influenced by world travel–and shortwave radio

SWLing Post reader, Chris, writes:

“After reading your piece on Peter Gabriel it reminded me of Joe Strummer and the Clash and the Mescaleros… The album and song London Calling was written from a huge influence from the BBC World Service…. Need I say more about the song?

Shortly before his death in 2002, Joe recorded an album called at Global A Go-Go along with a song of that title track. The first line in the song is “World Service Bulletin” and references many cities around the world wanting great rock and roll music…

I know there are also interviews with him stating that growing up his father was a diplomat and he lived in various countries. He would tune in to the BBC World Service to get rock music from home!

The Clash ended up taking on a worldly sound in their later recordings. During Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, it was all world music!

The latter is still one of my top three albums of all times!

Shortwave radio is the reason why I love world music.”

Same here, Chris–shortwave radio is directly responsible for my interest in any and all forms of music. Growing up, the variety I could hear on shortwave was beyond anything I could hear locally. I think many SWLs share this global connection.

Strummer via the World Service

After receiving Chris’ message, I did a little more research because I vaguely recalled a program on the BBC World Service that was hosted by Joe Strummer, though I never had the opportunity to hear it live.

Fortunately, I uncovered the original Joe Strummer’s London Calling via PRX. SCORE!

I’ve embedded the first episode below: an introduction to the series where you’ll hear a little about Joe in the first half hour and in the second half, the first episode of the original Joe Strummer’s London Calling.

This is an amazing collection–actually, that’s an understatement. I’m already on the third episode and will probably listen to the whole series by the end of the week (if not end of day).

Click here for the full list of shows via PRX.

This has all prompted me to order Rock Art & The X-Ray Style by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros. Thanks, Chris: amazing stuff…

Peter Gabriel: inspired by shortwave radio

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Peter Gabriel Photo by By Skoll World Forum (Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship Ceremony) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Peter Gabriel Photo by By Skoll World Forum (Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship Ceremony) via Wikimedia Commons

SWLing Post reader, Chris, writes:

Your recent post about John Lennon triggered my memory about an interview I heard years ago with Peter Gabriel. He too had a fascination with Shortwave Radio listening and it inspired some of his music.

Chris then shared a link to the following promotional video for the Real World 25 music collection with Peter Gabriel’s introduction:

“I was listening to shortwave radio in a village about seven miles away from here. As night came, you’d suddenly pick up all sorts of radio stations that you couldn’t in daylight. So that was quite mysterious to me and beguiling…and I would explore all sorts of strange sounds, noises and music.”

Real World Records is Peter Gabriel’s label–and Real World 25, a three-disc collection, is the story of their first 25 Years. I listened to samples of songs and purchased my own copy. At $17 US, it was a no-brainer; I love world music (as well as Peter Gabriel’s music) and appreciate anything that Gabriel would consider for his label. (Note: the CD set is actually less expensive than the MP3 album at time of posting.)

Chris also noted this quote from Peter Gabriel, which describes his “obsession” with shortwave radio and its influence on his hit song, “Here Comes The Flood.” Via the website Planet Jeffro:

“When I wrote this song [Here Comes The Flood] I had an obsession with short-wave radio and I was always amazed at the way in which the radio signals would become stronger as daylight faded. I felt as if psychic energy levels would also increase in the night. I had had an apocalyptic dream in which the psychic barriers which normally prevent us from seeing into each others’ thoughts had been completely eroded producing a mental flood. Those that had been used to having their innermost thoughts exposed would handle this torrent and those inclined to concealment would drown in it. (‘Peter Gabriel’ by Armando Gallo, Omnibus Press, 1986.)”

Fascinating! I particularly like this live version of “Here Comes The Flood:”

Chris, I owe you a debt of gratitude: while I’ve been a fan of Peter Gabriel for well over two decades, I never knew about his connection with shortwave radio. Time to revisit some of his tunes with that in mind…

How shortwaves keep you young…

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Remember our recent posts about Dave Richard’s homebrew regenerative receiver?

If so, you can imagine the laugh I had yesterday when I viewed this latest creation by the infamous Jeff Murray (K1NSS):

“Short Wave & Prosper”–? I have to agree! And I’m completely in tune with Jeff’s sense of humor. If you are, too, be sure to bookmark Dashtoons for more radio fun and whimsy. (Better yet, get Jeff to design your own QSL card!)

As for Dave, follow his blog for the latest on his many homebrew activities (that continue even when his pets are interfering).

Major thanks to Dave for the brilliant write-up about Ears to Our World’s HumanaLight kit. [Want one? Get yours now at Universal Radio, and support ETOW’s mission.]

Shortwave Shindig QSL

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Happiness is receiving your Shortwave Shindig QSL card which sports the superb Shindig logo by Jeff (K1NSS).

Did you miss the Shindig broadcast? Click here to listen to off-air recordings.

Also, click here to check out all of David Goren’s work at Shortwaveology.net.

I hope the Shindig will do another live broadcast in 2015. Stay tuned!

Radio: “a rare dimension to our human experience”

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Regarding Garth Mullins’ radio documentary, SWLing Post reader, David Korchin, comments:

“I got my start in a small FM station in Saskatoon—CFMC, doing overnights, then drive, then mornings.

Kind of a loose format, and with such a small staff that we were all doing each others’ jobs. When the news guy went on vacation, I got to rip-and-read.

Later I moved to another market, with a bigger transmitter and more audience, a tighter format and rules about what you could say and play—but the lone magic of talking into the mic and being in the ears of a complete stranger never left.

It’s why I’m a Ham, I suppose. It’s already depressing that the biggies like Netherlands and Canada and others have tuned out. I hate to ponder the End of Radio—it’s like losing an untouchable, rare dimension to our human experience.”

David Korchin (K2WNW) is also a talented photographer; check out his website–One Camera One Lens–and especially his photography project, The Hamateur. Amazing images…

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts, David!

One more week to get your Shindig T-shirt at a discount

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Remember our announcement about the Shortwave Shindig T-shirt?

David Goren has extended his 10% discount to SWLing Post readers for one more week!

Simply enter the promotional coupon code “swling” at checkout. Total cost will then be $18 shipped!

Click here to order your shirt today!

Radio Andorra Postage Stamp

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Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Marty, who writes from Madrid:

“Just wanted to let you know about an interesting postage stamp that was issued this month in the Principality of Andorra. Actually, the Spanish Post Office “Correos” issues the stamps for Andorra, and this one in particular observes the 30th anniversary of the cease in transmissions of Radio Andorra! Interesting stuff. Most other countries, the US Postal Service included, use to issue stamps in celebration of the anniversaries of the ongoing broadcasts of their international stations. I think this is the first time I have seen one that marks the closure. Here is the stamp 92 cents of a euro, mainly for international destinations. It was taken from a photograph by Gerard Massot.”

Click here to see this stamp on the Spanish Post Office (Correos) web site.