Shimmering Orbs!

Transmission 8013

 

Seeing spots by the lunar light, we take the inspiration of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with Frank Sinatra and let it shine all over The Apples in Stereo, White Noise, Brian Hyland, Tortoise, Porcupine Tree, Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band, Harry Nilsson, Procol Harum, Cardiacs, Dorothy Love Coates, Dott and the Legendary Pink Dots!

 

T8013 is a 70.8mb 160k mp3 1:01:53 in length made loud to be played louder!

 

"the music started and I was the perplexed one"

 

RFW

Rock On!

 

Transmission 7913

 

As the opening week celebration of our 8th year closes, the special musical magic of RFW helps to create this spontaneously connected collection starring Pixies, David Bowie, Cactus, Johnny Dowd, ZZ Top, Betty Davis, Bruce Springsteen, Matt Nathanson, Warren Zevon, Buddy Miles and The Allman Brothers Band!

T7913 is a 97mb 160k mp3 1:24:49 in length made loud to be played louder!

"I came to finish paying my bill"

RFW

 

 

*Radio Free Boston - The Rise and Fall of WBCN is the new book about the late-great legendary station in Boston where I got my professional start. It was written by Carter Alan - author, musicologist, personality-plus, one of my oldest radio brothers and a friend for over 35 years (ask him how we first met!).. Carter is currently the MD and mid-day host at WZLX in Boston. Find out more here and buy a copy today to help build a wing to his cottage. He even mentioned me!

 

 

** Maxanne Satori was the afternoon host on WBCN during my impressionable teen years. I became her in-studio intern on the 50th floor of the Prudential Building in 1975 and she,  by doing what she did so well, convinced me that I was going to make radio my career. I cannot begin to tell you how many bands she turned me (and all of New England) on to - I had a mad crush on her as did most musicians and listeners that were lucky enough to know or listen to her. 38 years later - she is still my rock 'n' roll queen. I love you, Max!

 

 

Maxanne at the WBCN air studio on Stuart Street, 1971. (c) 1971, 2009 William J. Spurlin.

Thanks Bill.

 

 

 *** Charles Laquidara was a pioneer WBCN personality. I grew up listening to him as the morning host of The Big Mattress and eventually became his radio-brother, friend and regular replacement-host when he took one of his astounding number of days off. Someone had to do the "Dirty Work". He (and Duane Ingalls Glasscock) helped make Boston the #1 radio city in America - until I left to work at the legendary KOME in San Jose/San Francisco. But that's another story for a different day! Chuck, you made a huge difference in many lives - especially mine!

  

Ask Again Later!

 

Transmission 7813

 

The start of the 8th year of RFW's rise to world domination focuses on octumania from The Byrds, The Gods, Glassjaw, The Beatles, Paul McCartney, The Andrew Sisters, Neu!, David Bowie, Soft Machine, Gus Jenkins, Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters, O.V. Wright, 4Hero, Grimes and Mew! Good? It is decidedly so!

 

T7813 is a 74.4mb 160k mp3 1:05:05 in length made loud to be played louder!

 

"rain gray town, known for its sound, in places, small faces unbound"

RFW

Left - Right - Forward - But Never Backward!

 

 

RFW SPEAKS!

 

 

"I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees"

 

On this day, which kicks off the 8th year of Radio Free Wohlman, I find myself at a crossroad no less dramatic than the fabled junction depicted by Robert Johnson, so many years ago.

 

Rather than having decisive choices to make, life has presented to me a series of events where the path to travel is more pre-ordained.

 

After 24 years of being with the woman I loved, and the subsequent emotionally draining divorce, warmth has found a way back into my heart.

 

After 30 years, a move from the West Coast of America back home to the Boston area has turned out to be therapeutic and rewarding.

 

After 39 years, I have revisited the people and experience of working at the fabled radio station where I started my professional career and I've also agreed to join a new impressive radio family. 

 

After 57 years, I have rejected a learned lifestyle of cynicism and mistrust and have adopted a firm life code of gentleness, kindness and humility.

 

Good people you trust are capable of doing bad things.

 

Strangers are often willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.

 

Politicians and self-appointed advisors will never cease stooping to amazing lows of self-grandiosity.

 

Friends and family will astound you with supporting acts of selflessness.

Agents of ill-will posing as friends and family can and will take you where you should not go.

 

And most appropriate for this day, music continues to reveal itself to me as the true international language.

 

You and the over 245,000 other listeners in 193 countries, that have become part of my every-day RFW life, have proven to me that my vision of sharing with the world, my gift and the talents of the wonderful musicians, whom are my heroes, is working.

 

Rather than "sinkin' down", I believe I'll rise up to make the next year the best I have ever lived, through sheer effort and faith in myself, God and humanity.

The key is me - and you - us.

 

Thanks for your ears and let the celebration begin!

RFW

 

* Special love goes out to my boys - Curtis & Derek, my friends - especially my best friends - Vincent & Monique, my family and in particular my sister - Louella (who introduced me to rock and roll at a tender age) and YOU (you know who you are). I truly could not have made it to this place and space in time without you all.



...on this New Morning - with you!

 

Transmission 7713

 

Sunday morning substance stimulation inspires selections from The Beatles, XTC, Todd Rundgren and Nine Inch Nails. The Nice usher in a personal glimpse at the art of Bob Dylan. A natural seasonal change involves Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson and The Band with Ronnie "The Hawk" Hawkins, while Joe Walsh & Robert Randolph end things in barnstorming and saving style! Have an awesome Autumn!

 

T7713 is a 76.2mb 160k mp3 1:06:32 in length made loud to be played louder!

 

"she promised she'd be right there with me, When I Paint My Masterpiece"

 

RFW

 

* The wonderful homage' to Van Gough pictured is one of the many paintings by Bob Dylan that can be seen in "The Drawn Blank Series" hardcover originally released on March 31, 2008. Hunt for it at your local funky downtown book store.

 

Before Fall Falls!

Transmission 7613

 

Summer = The Beach Boys. The end of Summer = celebrating with an ending set crammed with Beach Boys rarities! The craziness begins with Prince, Queen and Roger Taylor and the sea-foam flavored center includes The Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithful, Aretha Franklin, Glen Campbell, Harry Nilsson and Micky Dolenz. See you next June!

 

 

T7613 is a 75.6mb 160k mp3 1:06:05 in length made loud to be played loud!

 

"everything will work out alright"

 

RFW

 



Here is a cool version of The Beach Boys' "Wild Honey" featuring John Cowsill on drums and vocals! Recorded on August,17 2013 in Cohasset, MA.  

 

Glen Campbell, my sister Louella and hundreds of thousands of people are afflicted with Alzheimer's. Learn more about this terrible disease here and if you get the chance, help someone suffering from Alzheimer's by showing them patience and love.

 

Nanu Nanu!

 

Transmission 7513

 

A close encounter of the RFW kind is accompanied by the alien sounds of Leonard Nimoy, Tubeway Army, Eat Static, MGMT, Japan, Wax Taylor, Bush, Radiohead, Don Byron, Brian Eno and the words of Rick Holland, Ian Hunter and Cubby & The Blizzards.

 

T7513 is a mb 160k mp3 1:04:02 in length made loud to be played louder

 

"I'm praying to the aliens"

 

RFW

 

*The featured RFW ET's pictured include Ray Walston as Uncle Martin, the hatching star of the 1979 original Alien film directed by Ridley Scott and the alcoholic Roger of American Dad fame voiced by Seth McFarland!

 



It's Not A Matter Of Weight!

Transmission 7413

 

Bend your knees and use your legs with Paul Revere & The Raiders, Left Lane Cruiser, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Black Keys, Neil Young, Menomena, The Soul Searchers, The Staple Singers, Burning Spear, Bee Gees, Sammy Hagar, Wilco, Todd Rundgren, Cornelius and Eddie Hazel! 

 

T7413 is 79.6mb 160k mp3 1:09:34 in length made loud to be play louder!

 

"she's so"

 

RFW



 



It Comes In Many Colors!

 

Transmission 7313

 

Here It Is - more far-out musical ramblings from the madman here at RFW! Strap this on and start to groove with The Future Sound Of London, Pink Floyd, Pond, Procol Harum, Tedeski Trucks Band, The Allman Brothers Band, The Mighty Hannibal, Heaven 17, Mother's Finest, Neil Merryweather's Space Rangers, Ohio Express, Georgio Moroder without and with Paul Engeman and Daft Punk!

 

T7313 is a 83.8mb 160k mp3 1:13:16 in length made loud to be played louder!

 

"I knew that could be a sound of the future"

 

RFW