Don't you need a good laugh right about now?

[taurusmoon]

A few weeks ago I was driving around running scores of errands when (wouldn't you know it?) a fabulous show was on the radio. It was a compendium of comedy pieces, mostly musical, designed to raise the spirits of a rather bummed out listening audience.

Hosted by radio legend Pete Fornatale, this was one of the best collections of wit and cleverness I had ever heard broadcast together.

Unfortunately, I spent more time out of the car than in it and I missed much of the show. Those parts that I heard had me in stitches. I have spent countless hours since then trying to locate some of these recordings online. It would have helped a bunch if I knew some of the titles and/or artists.

I was thrilled to find the playlist on the station's website (wfuv.org ). I was even more thrilled to learn this week that the station just started offering some of their excellent programs archived online, on demand.

YES! The show, aired on December 1st is in the archive. I have been enjoying it all morning. Right now I'm listening to Modern Man's, Jews Don't Camp. Priceless.

If you'll be spending time stuck at home this holiday season -- cooking, cleaning, decorating, wrapping gifts or whatnot -- do yourself a favor and give a listen to this special broadcast of Pete Fornatale's Mixed Bag . It'll make the time pass so much faster.

Laughter is truly a gift. Enjoy it for the holidays.

Sara

[Joubert[$]]

That is one eclectic mix.

Anyone who plays 10th Avenue Freezeout live, Dick van Dyke and Tom Waits in the same show has my respect. He's a little syrupy on some of the '70s pop, but with the killer demo listening to that stuff, I can't blame him.

Great find, Sara!

[kurt_messick]

My oh my! What a remarkable find! I love this stuff!

[quasar]

What an interesting mix. And the comedy mix from 12/1 is wonderful! I think I'll have to slide in one of my Dr. Demento CDs now...

Janice

[taurusmoon]

Fornatale is absolutely brilliant at preparing his Mixed Bags. You can pretty much pick any of his shows out of the archive and not be disappointed.



Sara

[sylvanb]

Ooohhh, nostalgia attack....any of you New Englanders remember WCRB Saturday Night with Richard L. Kaye? DH has a cupboard full of cassette tapes waiting to be edited down to a few hours of gems....

[theeye]

Thanks, Sara. I'm listening to this right now -- great fun.

I'm a big Christine Lavin fan. Bitchin' Babes, too.

[frazzledspice]

Pete Fornatele. What a blast from the past.

He was my sister's high school teacher at Maria Regina in the 1970's. He and his sidekick, Dennis Ellsis, had taken refuge teaching at the Catholic High School to dodge the draft.

They really wanted to be DJ's. They both started out weekends on FM radio. Ellsis made it big first (my sister and cousin both said Pete Fornatele was way nicer.)

At the time a singer named "Oliver" was singing "Good Morning Starshine" from "Hair."

He had initially been in a duo with someone named Jim ? (the name escapes me now.) His partner was more talented than he was. Ellsis forgot Oliver's partner when Oliver became a big name. Pete Fornatele never did.

I haven't heard Pete Fornatele in years, and I'm getting ready to go play at Midnight Mass in 1/2 an hour, but I will check this station out soon.

Nice to see that a good guy is a survivor (even if he was a draft dodger....most people were back then, including Past Presidents.)

[ms_n]

This is really very nice. Thank-you.