Due to popular demand, we welcome back to Al compas del mundo the inestimably great acts of Johnny Guitar and The Son of P.M. [ Shown here. ] Johnny says “surfs up” so off we go to fabled Phuket island, Thailand, where we’ll have fun, fun, fun now that daddy took the garuda away. Illogical silliness gets us nowhere, but that’s the sort of energy that went into compiling this playlist. Admittedly, Southeast Asian music is maybe the least known genre for this ethnomusicologist, but I feel I’ve done the show proud with a heady mix of ‘60s rock and traditional folk music. With a lucky stab I’ve come across the Haba Haba Group, classics like Asben & Melati, and Sinn, reputed to be Cambodia’s greatest pop singer (of a bygone era). If this all sounds a bit dated, it’s because it is. I have come to prefer music of the 50s through the 70s to most any sound of today. Western music had its sway as novelty (hip! modern! with it!) introduced to the Southeast Asian musical aesthetic back in the ...

As we strap into the Wayback machine we’re hoping to discover a brave new future in a worker’s paradise (or at least a summer vacation in the Catskills) driven by our fervent calls for regime change and, perhaps, armed revolution. Those were the days, circa 1965-75, when throughout Latin America,  leftists caught a glimmer of hope that life could factually improve for the most downtrodden amongst them. These songs were born of that movement toward justice, equality and a pollo in every pot. A rediscovery and rebirth of traditional folk music was part of the inspiration as well     . . .  [continues below] Al compás del mundo - The Latin American “New Song” movement, 1960s and 1970s First broadcast 4-18-24 01 Soledad Bravo - Punto y raya (Venezuela) 02 Isabel y Ángel Parra - Este presente festín se lo regalo a cualquiera (Chile) 03 Haciendo Punto en Otro Son - La vida campesina (Puerto Rico) 04 Amparo Ochoa - Por medio de la lectura (México) 05 Atahualpa Yupanqui - In...

This will be the second time around on Al compas del mundo featuring the music of Sudan and Ethiopia. Apart from the totally mesmerizing and distinct sounds from these East African neighbors, there are two major underlying motives for my appreciation. When we lived in Cairo for a year back in 1982-83, one of our August vacation options was Sudan and its capital of Khartoum. Similar desertic topography to Egypt and a summer time average temperature of 105-115 degrees steered us toward the alternative: Turkey – green, Mediterranean, and politically stable (mostly). Still, I (almost) left my heart in Sudan. The music did all it could to win me over.  Purchasing cassettes of Sudanese music in the streets of Cairo, I was exposed to the mellifluous strains of Sudanese orchestras, soloists, and singers. There’s no other music on the planet quite like it. Cuts 2, 7 and 9 may be exceptions only in that they are straight out of the country and unlike the urban sounds I’m particularly enthral...

Hmmm…what to say that hasn’t been said already about the music in today’s playlist? After all, you’ve heard them all before back in January and February of 2022 when they were first played. That is, if you were paying attention back in those days. Days of pandemic fears and stay-indoor avid radio listening. Glad to have been of service, presenting major attention-grabbers the likes of Cachaito Lopez (Cuban beatnik music – so cool), Sidney Bechet’s licorice stick, Les McCann and Eddie Harris putting everybody in their place, Hayadeh and her spooky Iranian organ, the Velvet Underground searing our brain-pans, shakin’ with the Guess Who (who knew they were Canadian besides their mothers?), losing control over that good thang with the Troggs, and pleading the fifth with The Animals. Seems to me a proper summation of musical choices made long ago, seemingly with little or no logic other than taste leading me on. -J.H. Runlist for “greatest hits” of Pandemic programs 10-14 First broadcast 4-...