And The Moon Be Still As Bright Part I (The Martian Chronicles Part II) (#16)

Back in June I got back to my pulpy, radio roots with a foray into a genuine classic, The Martian Chronicles.  What can I say?  Those Bradbury tales seem every more relevant and timely, all these years later.  I had made a promise to myself that I would continue to pursue this story as often as possible.  And, then, of course, so much other stuff demanded that it get attention, too.

So, it took a while, but here we are.  Another installment, with a story and music that should keep you entertained for another hour.  In addition to samples from the show we aired last time (from 18 August 1950), we are also including bits from a show from later that same year, 29 September 1950, which included the voices of Alexander Scourby, Dan Ocko and Joseph Julian, and a script adapted from Bradbury’s story, again by Ernest Kinoy.  This story particular story was given only a few moments from the show in August, but the September show presented And The Moon Be Still As Bright in a full 30 minute story.  So this will continue into another future episode, coming soon.    

This episode reminds me of one I did in 2012, just after the Curiosity Rover landed on Mars, and I probably cribbed some of the songs from that show, too.  Still, I think the mix is pretty excellent for this week, and I’m quite fond of the show as a whole.

I should mention that the recording that is the basis for the narrative is very poor indeed.  I tried to find a better version, but this seems to be as good as this one got.  The same script was re-done a few times on other shows, but if I get into the habit of comparing versions of the same script, I could drive myself inside.  I have done my best to EQ the sound here, and make it a little more understandable.  But it is a bit of a challenge, for sure.  Radio back then wasn’t always very great, and this is probably representative of what it might have sounded like to listen live back then.

This should be the end of the vacation episodes.  Stay tuned next week, where we will have two live bands from Eugene, taking over our program.

Enjoy!

Spinitron Playlist.

And The Moon Be Still As Bright Part I

(The Martian Chronicles Part II)

Part One: The Floating Red Disc Of Mars

01.) Austin FM Theme * Paco Jones * Austin FM Theme * Self-Released (2016)
02.) The Martian Chronicles [Excerpt] * Dimension X * 18 August 1950 * NBC Broadcast (1950)
03.) And The Moon Be Still As Bright [Excerpt] * Dimension X * 29 September 1950 NBC Broadcast
04.) Welcome To Tomorrow (No Vox) * Attilio ‘Art’ Mineo * Man In Space With Sounds (1962)
05.) Blues For Planet Mars * Last Of The Juanitas * “The Jay” b/w “Blues For Planet Mars” 45 * Wäntage USA (2000)
06.) Lost In The Stars * Evolutionary Jass Band * What’s Lost * Mississippi Records (2007)
07.) Unfinished [Excerpt I] * CAN * Landed * Mute Records (1975)

Part Two: The Edge Of A Vast City

05.) Lost In The City * Eleventh Dream Day * Zeroes And Ones * Thrill Jockey (2006)
06.) Big City After Dark * Link Wray & His Wray-Men * Rumble!: The Best Of Link Wray & His Wray-Men * Rhino Records (1993)
07.) Drab City * The Features * Once Upon A Time Vol. #8: U.K. November ‘77 * Self-Released (2010)
08.) San Antonio Desert * The Memphis Goons * While Elvis Slept EP * Shangri-La Records (1971)
09.) Red Planet * The Com-Sat Angels * Red Planet * Junta Records (1979)

Part Three: We’ve Got To Celebrate

10.) Your Party Will Be A Success * Coachwhips * Peanut Butter and Jelly Live At The Ginger Ming Lounge * Narnack Records (2005)
11.) Maybe Partying Will Help * Minutmen * Double Nickels On The Dime * SST Records (1984)
12.) I Talk To The Wind * King Crimson * In The Court Of The Crimson King * Atlantic Records (1969)
13.) Unfinished [Excerpt II] * CAN * Landed * Mute Records (1975)
14.) Take Me To The Other Side * Spaceman 3 * Translucent Flashbacks * Fire Records (1995)