26/03/2023
History and Music go together
Pedro Baez
As a young DJ in the 70’s, I always wanted to know when a record came out, so that I could mention it. I didn’t want to just say the title. I wanted to know the year. After a while, I heard about Joel Whitburn’s “Record Research.” That was considered the DJ’s bible. The cost of buying it was out of my reach. To compensate, I listened to shows like the “Time Capsule Show” on WFUV, and collectors I knew like Robert Ostrowski (Bobby-O), Ray Levy, Louie Silvani, to name a few, and from artists that I would meet backstage at shows that I attended.
I figured that my knowledge of music would be confined to what I had picked up here and there. Then one day, Bill Gardner on his Rhapsody In Black radio show mentioned a book written by Stephen C. Propes titled “Those Old School Records.”
In this compilation, Propes adds conversations with artists, musicians, record folk, and arrangers. The stories in this book are priceless. You read about the recording sessions and everything else you wanted to know about the music business and weren’t afraid to ask. I’m not surprised by Stephen’s work on this project. It was put together after years of painstaking work and I give that work an A++. If you’ve evet wanted to know what went into making one of your favorite songs, this is the book to buy. I don’t often call out authors, but this is one of those times.
Thank you, Stephen, you did good.
“Those Old School Records”-Stephen C. Propes
Genius Book Publishing $18.50
Pedro Baez is the Executive Producer of “The Earl Ofari Hutchinson Show” (Saturdays, 9:00 AM PT) on KPFK 90.7 FM. Los Angeles, as well as news reporter for the Rebel Alliance News KPFK. He also does podcasts on buzzsprout.com.
