Fall 2011 CD #35 -- You Shoulda Been There Liner Notes
Welcome back Music Lovers! You are just in time for WWOZ’s latest and greatest CD, You Shoulda Been There. This 35th edition of our own ultra-collectible disc series for Fall 2011 includes once in a lifetime recordings made possible by our dedicated staff, hundreds of volunteers, and, of course, our marvelous members.
Can you believe that we are celebrating 31 years since that historic day in December of 1980 when the 90.7 FM became home to WWOZ. The call letters chosen to reference the Wonderful Wizard of OZ and specifically the line, “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” The focus of the station was to be the music and the local culture. Today, just like then, WWOZ focuses on presenting and preserving the cultural treasure that is New Orleans and Louisiana music.
How many Shoulda Been There moments were you fortunate enough to have experienced on the 90.7 airwaves over the years? How many incredible Jazz Fest performances have you been able to experience on a day you could not make it out to the Fair Grounds; maybe it was another day when the irrepressible and always spontaneous Dr. John was in the studio? And how many times could you just not tear yourself away from the radio when the inimitable Snooks Eaglin closed out the Fund Drive on Billy Delle’s Wednesday night show?
Track listing
James Andrews and the Crescent
City All-Stars - “Keep That Music Playin”
Dr. Michael White - “Perdido Street Blues”
Victor Atkins - “Blue Monk”
Aaron Neville - “Fever”
Ruthie Foster - “Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In The Air)”
Mem Shannon and the Membership -
“Who Are They”
John Boutte -
“At The Foot of Canal Street”
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe -
“Once You’re There”
Jeff Coffin & Mutet - “First Comes Last”
George Porter Jr. -
“Check Out Your Mind”
Just on my humble program alone, were you there for in-studio guests like Keely Smith and Sam Butera; how about the world premiere of Bonerama’s first disc released after Katrina? Were you listening the day we jammed all 14 members of Johnny Angel’s Swingin’ Demons into the very intimate studio in Armstrong Park for a live performance? You Should Been There!
You can be there today and everyday while WWOZ provides the soundtrack to your life. Having this CD shows that you already are aware of the many benefits of membership. Do you know about the WWOZ Social Aid & Pleasure Club, where you can join our most generous members? Even your business can be involved as a part of our local, national and global community.
There have been thousands of once in a lifetime musical moments that have occurred since that special day in 1980. Every year WWOZ captures more and more special and spontaneous musical events, instant occurrences of New Orleans cultural history that will never happen again. But thanks to you and your continuing support we are there, capturing everlasting memories for you and all of our listeners.
Thanks, everybody, for continuing to support WWOZ FM, a 2011 JazzWeek Radio Station of the Year. This is our Louisiana Music and Heritage Station, where you never will miss another You Shoulda Been There moment.
Now, Go Out and Hear Some Live Local Music!
Bill deTurk September, 2011
