Tuning into 1950's music show "It's A Gas" on Melbourne community radio station on PBS 106.7 on Tuesday 5 June was the best two hours I spent all week. This show encapsulates everything that is great about community radio: passionate presenters, genre-specific music and a well-researched and informative interview with the incredible Wanda Jackson.
A lot of presenters on community radio have specific handles for their shows, think James "Houndog" Young, Fee B Squared or Leaping Larry L. "It's A Gas" is usually presented by the patriotically named Jamie "Dingo" Suppa but for the past two weeks Mike "Hepcat" Heylbut has parked his rockabilly butt in the hotseat for a celebration of the women of rockabilly. The music is rocking and nothing you will usually hear on commercial radio but the highlight is the informed interview with former girlfriend of Elvis Presley and self-confessed Rockabilly Grandma, Wanda Jackson.
Hepcat is clearly a fan and in an enthusiastically gentle way manages to coax Jackson to talk about her incredible experiences in the world of Rockabilly music. Wanda Jackson toured with a young Elvis Presley and had a brief and innocent romance with him that included Elvis giving Jackson his ring, which she still has today. Jackson also recounts the challenges she faced touring with a black pianist, Big Al, in bars that still practiced segregation. Jackson stood by Big Al, it was all or nothing with her and the band. She also talks about brushes with alcohol, finding Jesus and of course her music.
The music featured on "It's A Gas" is all 1950's good times. If you're a music fan of any genre you'll appreciate the old time rock and roll fun packaged up for your listening pleasure. Fortunately PBS has radio on demand which means you can stream shows that have already been broadcast. So if you're reading this and want to hear the show or the interview all you have to do is tap over to the PBS website and you can listen to it too. Luddites might find it confusing so I have put clear instructions at the bottom of this post.
Sample the rockabilly grandma herself. Here's Wanda Jackson with
"A Whole Lot of Shaking Going On"
A lot of presenters on community radio have specific handles for their shows, think James "Houndog" Young, Fee B Squared or Leaping Larry L. "It's A Gas" is usually presented by the patriotically named Jamie "Dingo" Suppa but for the past two weeks Mike "Hepcat" Heylbut has parked his rockabilly butt in the hotseat for a celebration of the women of rockabilly. The music is rocking and nothing you will usually hear on commercial radio but the highlight is the informed interview with former girlfriend of Elvis Presley and self-confessed Rockabilly Grandma, Wanda Jackson.
Hepcat is clearly a fan and in an enthusiastically gentle way manages to coax Jackson to talk about her incredible experiences in the world of Rockabilly music. Wanda Jackson toured with a young Elvis Presley and had a brief and innocent romance with him that included Elvis giving Jackson his ring, which she still has today. Jackson also recounts the challenges she faced touring with a black pianist, Big Al, in bars that still practiced segregation. Jackson stood by Big Al, it was all or nothing with her and the band. She also talks about brushes with alcohol, finding Jesus and of course her music.
The music featured on "It's A Gas" is all 1950's good times. If you're a music fan of any genre you'll appreciate the old time rock and roll fun packaged up for your listening pleasure. Fortunately PBS has radio on demand which means you can stream shows that have already been broadcast. So if you're reading this and want to hear the show or the interview all you have to do is tap over to the PBS website and you can listen to it too. Luddites might find it confusing so I have put clear instructions at the bottom of this post.
Sample the rockabilly grandma herself. Here's Wanda Jackson with
"A Whole Lot of Shaking Going On"
1. For radio on demand go to the PBS website.
2. You will need to login and set up an account, your email address in your login in the future.
3. On the right hand menu you will see an icon for "ON AIR NOW" - click there.
4. This will open the streaming window.
5. At the top of the streaming window there will be two options "Live" or "Radio on Demand".
6. If you do nothing you hear the current broadcast after a few moments.
7. To listen to archived shows select the "Radio on Demand" option.
8. Select the show from the dropdown menu, eg "It's a Gas".
9. From the drop down menu below select the date and time you want, eg "5 June 1500". (Shows are usually broken into hour long segments.)
10. A red line of text under "Results" will appear - click on this to listen.
11. Sit back and enjoy.
1 comment:
I read your instructions and then went and listened to the interview. It was unreal, I love Wanda Jackson, thks for the tip.
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