Off the Beaten Path is a collection of miscellaneous Websites often related to radio or broadcasting, but not always. Just some of the interesting stuff you sometimes find on the Web. If you run across something interesting, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Playlist for Newborns
Thanks to the good people at National Public Radio for this link of a collection of songs to get your newborn off to a good musical start. You won’t find “Stairway to Heaven” (they’ll hear that one enough in their lifetime!), but some great songs for very young ears.
The Lights Are on, but No One Is Home …
This link is to an interesting, sad, but often true observation to the state of radio today. Many of us who started radio prior to the 1990s remember a station full of people with wacky jocks running around and music blaring in the bathroom (so you knew “how long you had” … thank goodness for the above mentioned “Stairway,” “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” “American Pie” and other “useful” songs!). Today’s radio station is much different. Computer automation systems negate the need to know “how long you have” because the music hums away with our without the jock.
The Nashville Record Factory
It’s nice to see some things old becoming new again. Vinyl went the way of the dinosaur … or nearly. Some people swear by the natural sound of analog … and the resurgence of discs brings 1962 back to life with vinyl still being produced and the desire to own it growing. Here’s a wonderful look at a factory still in the disc business (and not “compact” disc).
Das Ist Cool!
Germans have been known for being creative with technology. We all know about the jet engine, but what about THIS 1950s record player? Nope! Not a Close ’n Play, wire recorder or something like that. This is a tape recorder … but not using magnetic tape. Really! Check out The Tefifon of Germany from the 1950s.
And Finally …
Misery loves company … or so we hear. Anyone who has ever been on the air is lying if they say they never made mistakes on-the-air. My very first time opening the mic and giving a legal ID (on WJER Dover-New Philadelphia, Ohio) includes botching the entire ID up (I know, HOW hard should it have been?). After screwing it all up, then opening the live sporting event, I failed to turn off my mic, then let out an “Ohhhhh, sh*t!” (True story!) The background noise of the football game was full volume with two announcers in the background laughing at what they just heard me say. Well, at least people couldn’t see me. TV reporters aren’t quite so lucky. Here’s a look at some good bloopers from our brothers and sisters in TV.
If you stumble across a good or unusual web site that might be of interest, please don’t hesitate to send me the link and any info you might have about it. My email address is [email protected].
