2012 is turning out to be an annus horribilis for WHRW. We lost “Polka Papa” Dan Jan Walikis last month, Now I’ve just gotten word that Binghamton’s most knowledgeable reggae DJ has also gone to be with Elvis.

Ras Charles never lived like a member of the music industry despite having known personally literally dozens of reggae musicians, producers, promoters and record label owners. And if my memory serves me correctly, Charles produced and promoted some shows of his own. He had a walk-in closet which was full of tapes of live shows, many sent in by the artists themselves.

I’ve visited his humble apartment on Binghamton’s west side many times over the last decade. Its walls were papered with posters and photographs of everything from music festivals to old- and new-school reggae personalities, some of whom were photographed with Charles standing right next to them.

Ras Charles’ passing is not just a personal loss to the WHRW family, it’s a loss to an international audience who’d come to know him for his weekly mix of old and new artists’ studio and live performances.

Goodbye, Charles. I’ll miss you.

By now I hope you’ve discovered my podcast page dedicated exclusively to my exclusive interviews with, let’s see, Henry Rollins, Pegi Young (Neil Young’s wife of over 30 years and one heck of a musician), Robbie Krieger from the Doors, three-time Woodstock emcee, Wavy Gravy (“The first one made me famous, the second and third got me paid!”), and a host of others!

If you’ve yet to hear my interviews with the extremely cool, just click this link

(Working on getting this stuff up on Itunes. Stay tuned! Tip of the Bartlehat to Dik “Great White Whale” Fuller for facilitating these interviews and the others which are to come!)

Today I start off with the obscure but highly-danceable Fats Comet rendition of the old standard, Stormy Weather. I continue in the electro-funk vein (tossing in a Clarence Carter christmas tune in for good measure) with Doug Wimbish (part of the Sugar Hill and On-U Sound crews), remixes of old Motown and Rare Earth tunes, and go the mash-up route with Ill Chemist’s most excellent reinterpretation of the Beatles’ oeuvre. Lastly I offer up a Pulp-Fictional Neil Diamond tune, a Lee Hazlewood tune as reimagined by Einsturzende Neubauten, and some very early Elvis Costello before interviewing big-band pop chanteuse Deana Martin, yes the daughter of the late, great Dean Martin. Like her father, she’s got pipes and talent. The two tracks I’ve featured here from her latest album “White Christmas” will certainly bear that out! I conclude with a selection from the 78 RPM pile, a promotional record from 1950 meant to help sell a newly-invented household appliance called TV.

Fats Comet – Stormy Weather – (12-inch)(On-U)
Lenny White – Dark – Hipbop 'n’ Funk (Silva Screen)
Various – Swami Safari – Bombay The Hard Way (Motel)
Doug Wimbish – Gangster – Trippy Notes For Bass (On-U)
Rare Earth – I Just Want To Celebrate – Motown Remixed (Motown)

Clarence Carter – Back Door Santa – Soul Christmas (Atlantic)
Chas Wright & The Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band – Express Yourself (Mocean Worker Remix) – What Is Hip? (WB)
April Stevens – Do It Again (Wagon Christ/Luke Vibert Remix) – Electro Lounge (Capitol)
Peter Sellers – A Hard Days Night – Peter Sellers (EMI)
The Beatles/Ill Chemist – Feel Alright (mashup, from MP3)

Urge Overkill – Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon – Stull EP (T&G)
Einsturzencde Neubauten – Sand – Halber Mensch (Thirsty Ear)
Elvis Costello – Imagination Is a Powerful Deceiver – My Aim Is True (reissue) (Ryko)

Interview with Deana Martin

Deana Martin from her new album, White Christmas (Big Fish):

White Christmas (w/Andy Williams)
Winter Wonderland

Alex Chilton – Volare – High Priest (Big Time)
Hot Butter – Skokian – Incredibly Strange Music Vol II – (Asphodel)
Ken Nordine – Maroon – Colors (Philips)

I Want a Television Xmas (RCA promo 78 RPM disc, 1950)

Playlist available at bartlemania.com. Podcast now available!

See also: http://bartlespeaks.com for the interview.