First Musical Recording, June 29, 1888

On this day, June 29, 1888, the earliest known musical recording is made. The piece, Georg Friedrich Handel's Handel's Israel In Egypt, is recorded on a paraffin cylinder.

Israel in Egypt, assigned the catalog number HWV 54, is an oratorio, a form in which Handel excelled. Like his more famous Messiah, Israel in Egypt is composed using biblical passages, mainly from Exodus and the Psalms.

Unlike the Messiah, however, it didn't enjoy much of a reception when it premiered in 1739. As a result, Handel shortened the work and inserted a few Italian arias to lighten the mood a bit.

Nevertheless, it was selected by Col. George Gourand, Thomas Edison's foreign sales agent, for the first musical recording. Gourand made his recording in London's Crystal Palace, using Edison's yellow paraffin cylinder -- candle wax, essentially.

Click Hear: Handel's Israel In Egypt.

Make It Louder,

Migwell

(Source: Stanford University, National Park Service)

HMK Mystery Stream Episode 24: Farm Fresh

Howdy, we got a traktor full of some super fresh audio for you. And nope, it ain't country stuff neither. And as he opening track says - Get Happy Baby! Click Hear: iF: Farm Fresh.

Make It Louder,

Migwell

©Stay Tuned Y'all!

HMK Mystery Stream Episode 23: The Vintage Indie Pop Incident

Well, not much of a mystery with a name like: HMK Mystery Stream Episode 23: The Vintage Indie Pop Incident, huh?

I guess the real mystery is... which indie songs and what the hell does vintage mean in this context?

There's one way to find out: CLICK HEAR!

Just in time for the weekend...

©Stay Tuned Y'all!

Migwell

A Message for Mark Cuban

A message for Mark Cuban from a 69 year old Super Spurs Fan: Hey Cuban!.

I grabbed this piece of audio off of the TV from yesterday's KSAT coverage of the Spurs celebration.

I'm not sure which makes me laugh harder - the way she calls out and refers to him a just Cuban or maybe it's the Wicked Witch of the West cackle at the end - either way, it's wicked funny!

Peace,

Migwell

The Bird Is The Word!

Teach Your Bird To Talk!

Caw Caw!

Migwell

Songs That Did Not Destroy Me: Part One

Well, here's the finished podcast and cover for this weeks Official HMK Mystery Stream: Episode 022: Songs That Did Not Destroy Me..

They say that music has an influence on the human psyche and I think we can all testify to that.

I've been rediscovering my vinyl collection focusing primarily on the top 100 songs of my official high school soundtrack.

What makes it interesting, to me anyway, is how just the simple beginning of a song can stir so many vivid emotions and feelings within me. Take for instance Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy' (which peaked on the singles chart at #4 in both the US and the UK in 1971).

It opens with this dreamy and awesome summertime sounding guitar courtesy of Mr. George Harrison, who also wrote and produced the song with a little help from his friend Ringo.

That opening guitar sound immediately transports me to every jukebox at every pool at every KOA camp during the summer of 1971. The crazy thing is that it happens every single time! And not only that, it's to the point where I'm actually able to use it at my will as a tool to alter my mood when ever I need to escape for exactly 3:00 minutes where it's summer, somewhere in California, I'm 10 years old again hanging out at the pool and wondering whether I should get Milk Duds and a Coke with my 35 cents or pocket the dime and just get the soda...

"What seems clear is that the ability to experience and react to music is deeply embedded in the biology of the nervous system. While music tends to be processed mostly in the right hemisphere of the brain, no single set of cells is devoted to the task. Different networks of neurons are activated, depending on whether a person is listening to music or playing an instrument, and whether or not the music involves lyrics.

Specific brain disorders can affect the perception of music in very specific ways. Experiments done on epileptics decades ago showed that stimulating certain areas of the temporal lobe on both sides of the brain awakened "musical memories"--vivid re-creations of melodies that the patients had heard years earlier. Lesions in the temporal lobe can result in so-called musicogenic epilepsy, an extremely rare form of the disorder in which seizures are triggered by the sound of music. Autism offers an even greater puzzle. People with this condition are mentally deficient, yet most are proficient musicians; some are "musical savants" possessed of extraordinary talent."

Read the rest: Over Here!

Anyway, here's a bunch of songs that never fail to transport me to someplace, somewhere back in time...

HMK Mystery Stream: Episode 022: Songs That Did Not Destroy Me..

©Stay Tuned Y'all!

Migwell

This is the original intro to Episode 022 that will now be used for an upcoming episode called The Devil Made Me Do It:

The rock band Judas Priest was blamed for the suicide of two males, 18 and 20 years of age. The court found that while the music did have a “toxic influence” or a negative effect on adolescents, it could not solely be blamed for the actions of the youths (Litman & Farberow, 1994).

Produced in conjunction with iF: Irregular Frequency, Totally Bitchin' Recording and ©SharkThang. A Podcast of sorts

HMK Mystery Stream Week 021: IF: Weirdo Wiggle

Psssst. Wanna try a fun little experiment?

It's Easy.

Stream or download this week's HMK Mystery Stream Week 021: IF: Weirdo Wiggle, and see how long it takes for anyone else within ear-shot to either A: look at you like you're completely insane or B: Scream in agony (and truly mean it) C: Throw something at you, or D: Say something funny that you can post in the comment section below!

And keep in mind: this experiment will only work if you keep it playing until someone (including yourself!) reacts, responds or does something humorous we can document, got it?

Ok - let the adventure begin!

Click Hear!

Stay Tuned Y'all!©

Migwell

Summer 2007 Special Double Issue!

Howdy and Welcome to (almost) Summer 2007! Week 20 of the official HMK Mystery Stream.

For this weeks episode I've put together an exclusive mix of some of my favorite audio gems that are perfect to enjoy while chillin' by the pool, driving to the beach or simply to make your work day go by a little faster.

Well, what are you waiting for? Click Hear: Special Double Issue Part One. And, just in time for the weekend: Special Double Issue Part Two.

Stay Tuned Y'all!

Make it louder!

Migwell

HMK Mystery Stream Week 20: IF: TAKEATRIP

Ok, for those keeping score, you'll notice that this is actually week 19 of the HMK Mystery Stream and I'm posting #020. Not to worry, next week, which will be week 20, I'll post HMK Mystery Stream Week 019. Ok? Bueno.

Now, grab yourself a glass of your favorite because: It's Time To Take A Trip!

Make It Louder!

Have a great weekend!

migwell

The Interview

Have you ever had 2 people you've known for years that finally meet with totally disastrous results? That's pretty much the way I felt when I first heard this 2002 Fresh Air episode where Terry Gross tries to interview Gene Simmons.

Poor Terry, she handles herself well and Gene, for some reason, is a total tool till the bitter end.

Wicked funny and quite genius.

Migwell

HMK Mystery Stream Week 18: MAPP

If you graduated from high school in 1980 and liked your music loud, you'll probably dig this weeks podcast.

And if you're a Madison High School graduate, Class of 1980 or 81 from San Antonio and you remember who Joe Anthony and Lou Roney are (perhaps you were even a regular MAPP attendee!) you'll really dig this first installment of the: Class of 80 MAPP Special.

It's a nice little audio flashback from the good old days when concert tickets were printed with thermography, frisbees and contact highs were staples at the Municipal Auditorium and our amazing Spurs were considered as just another rinky-dink ABA team playing at the Convention Center. Gerrrrrrrrvin!

Go Spurs!

Make It Louder!

Shaka!

Migwell

IF: HMK9 Mystery Stream Week 17

This weeks HMK9 Mystery Stream Week is officially approved by both Ringo & Dazy.

It's actually pretty dog-gone good - hope you enjoy!

HMK9 Mystery Stream Week 17

Make It Louder,

Migwell