Record bin roulette: from the crypt with wit

We've had our ear turned lately by Record Bin Roulette, (KPLU Thurs., 5:35a, 7:35a & 4:45p; Fridays at 7:30p; Saturdays at 1p).

Launched in February, it’s a sparkling, weekly 7 minutes of radio written, produced, and voiced by none other than  KPLU’s All Blues host John Kessler, and John Maynard, long-time Seattle morning guy-cum-KPLU real estate commentator.

Audacious audio-hoarders, the two have been popping into garage sales and flea markets their entire adult lives (if “adult” is the word) to collect off-beat sounds, rare grooves, hilarious flip-sides, one-hit wonders, memory-jolting commercials and forgotten jingles from radio, teevee, and movies. (Photo: Maynard & Kessler)

It’s tight, toe-tapping, trivially informative, and above all, funny. It can be nostalgic if you’re that way, but you don’t have to be from the Pepsi Generation to dig RBR.

They grab a handful of discarded vinyl from their dusty boxes, pick a theme, then build a crisp feetch around it with wit, and tasty sounds.

A few of these: Jail Songs, Dog Songs, Foreign languages (read about the Lesbian, suicidal Singing Nun here) Insultingly Insensitive Songs, Girls With Guns, Halloween, Drugs, Family Acts, Woodstock Declined lists the artists who declined invites to the fabled festival. Don't miss Hot Hits From the Bible or Pre-Pubescent Blockbusters. Local foodies were excited when Homicide, Suicide, and Cannibalism prompted an uptick in local interest for anthropophagy.

If you don’t catch the hugely addicting show on KPLU, they're all podcast here. If you don’t know or forgot bios of Kessler & Maynard are here.

As Seattle AM radio has degenerated, we’ve rediscovered KPLU, the jazzy public radio station from Pacific Lutheran University, in Parkland. The music has made us a better person; the news is arguably the best in the region, and, of course, there’s Record Bin Roulette!

Comments

[Rich]

sounds like fun. I'll give it a worl

[Rita]

This show is amazing. Thanks, Michael, I wondered where John Maynard went.

[discount roach coach]

Roaches need luggage too! We've got it all- handbags, valises for beetles, arachnids and little brown jobs.