We're wrapping up Black History Month with a Fan Favorites video that includes reactions to six excellent songs. As I say in the video, I am thankful for all of your participation and enthusiasm for this topic this month. We had many wonderful suggestions, some of which we included on the YouTube channel.
In this video,...
2023-02-28 22:57:49 +0000 UTC
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Hi y'all...
It's time to prepare for the next Extended Play Lounge Episode. And, I think it's time to return to King Crimson.
I've now listened to three KC albums: In the Court of the Crimson King, Red, and Discipline. (All have EPL episodes.)
I've selected five potential KC albums to choose from. Pick...
2023-02-25 17:16:08 +0000 UTC
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In this special 'Doug's Choice' episode of The Extended Play Lounge, I'm turning to one of the first records Megan and I purchased after receiving our new turntable. It's a double live album featuring Marvin Gaye and the entire What's Going On album.
This rare 1972 performance at the Kennedy Center was the only ti...
2023-02-20 03:49:04 +0000 UTC
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In this latest episode of Behind the Score, I'm consulting a lead sheet for the classic blues/rock tune Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs.
In addition to a lovely story about the song's recording from Steve Cropper, I'm also including Have You Ever Loved a Woman from Eric Clapton, featuring solos by Dave Sancio...
2023-02-14 16:11:42 +0000 UTC
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I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard from Haken today. It's fun to be able to speak with a musician while knowing more than a few songs of their catalog!
I'll be making this interview public on Tuesday. PLEASE don't share this link with anyone. I'm happy to make it available to Helvering's A...
2023-02-09 20:06:41 +0000 UTC
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I had an expectation that this episode would be blocked on YouTube, but I just couldn't pass up Jimi Hendrix as a part of our Black History Month celebration. So, here's my reaction to Voodoo Child (Slight Return).
(Note that I heard the longer jam Voodoo Chile within the Fan Favorites Episode 3 video.)
2023-02-09 15:30:01 +0000 UTC
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This month, we're celebrating Black History month. We first solicited suggestions from a variety of genres over on the discord server. The 21 options that are included here are the most up-voted suggestions that we received.
Please vote for up to 6 that you think should be included in our video.
(...
2023-02-06 21:25:09 +0000 UTC
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Hi, friends. I've updated the Master List...here's the link!
2023-02-02 20:29:33 +0000 UTC
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I'm pleased to present a reaction to all four sides of the original studio recording of Bitches Brew from Miles Davis. This album challenged my ear and musical aptitude in ways that I haven't been challenged before. It was almost entirely a first-time listen, and I'm amazed by the sounds included on this album.
I hope y...
2023-02-02 16:11:31 +0000 UTC
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If you've ever been fascinated by the look of a music score, this episode is for you! In this episode, I'm discussing my own work, Mandatus. And, one of the major topics is augenmusik (music for the eyes...or, graphic notation). I'm pleased to take you through this little work for oboe, mezzo-soprano, and piano. It's one of m...
2023-01-31 02:11:58 +0000 UTC
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It's time for a poll for our next Extended Play Lounge Episode. After starting the year with a poll of newer albums...then a very competitive poll of 70's prog albums, we're turning our attention this time to Jazz Fusion albums. Pick your preferred favorite among these five contenders!
I don't know any of the content on...
2023-01-28 17:35:19 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends! We're going to be going live with our February Fan Favorites voting and submissions on the Discord later today. Please take a look at this short video to get the scoop.
We're celebrating Black History month all month on YT and via the Fan Favorites, and we're asking for your help in terms of recommendatio...
2023-01-25 17:42:16 +0000 UTC
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I'm pleased to release the first Fan Favorites video of 2023. We're going back to the Master List in this episode for deserving songs that haven't made it to the channel yet. It made for quite the eclectic carpool of musicians and songs. I enjoyed everything...and many of these songs were first time listens!
Renaissance...
2023-01-25 02:29:31 +0000 UTC
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Hey Y'all!
I'm so glad you've arrived here as part of Helvering's Army here on Patreon. In this welcome video, I take you through a tour of all our offerings here, including both on Patreon and on Discord.
Please let me know if you have any questions about our work and offerings here. We're glad you're here!
2023-01-19 20:36:22 +0000 UTC
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After a hard-fought win in the latest poll, I am pleased to present my reaction to Minstrel in the Gallery by Jethro Tull. I was quite taken with this album. On the surface, it's a lovely collection of songs and sounds. But, underneath the surface, we see a songwriter who is really questioning his past and his future amid the...
2023-01-18 16:33:51 +0000 UTC
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For our next Extended Play Lounge, I'm returning to our Master List and selecting some progressive rock albums from the 1970s that have high numbers of recommendations.
For ELP: I only know Take a Pebble and Lucky Man
For GG: I've only heard The Advent of Panurge & Knots
For Jethro Tull: I don't know any...
2023-01-12 19:29:24 +0000 UTC
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First up for our Behind the Score series in 2023 is The House, The Street, The Room from Gentle Giant. This song is from their second album, Acquiring the Taste.
I found this song to be closer to a composition I might see performed on a concert stage by a modern ensemble than one I might see performed at a rock sh...
2023-01-11 01:17:53 +0000 UTC
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The Master List has recently been updated. Here's the link!
This list is mainly fed by our Recommendations Portal on the Discord server. We encourage our patrons to make a recommendation or two a month...and I typically go through our recommendations monthly to update the list.
2023-01-07 19:23:41 +0000 UTC
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I'm starting out our 2023 Fan Favorites series by turning to our Master List for songs that have been waiting patiently for me to listen to them. I've assembled 18 songs from a wide variety of bands, styles, and eras.
Vote for your 5 most-preferred choices!
I'll include the top vote-getters ...
2023-01-07 18:54:48 +0000 UTC
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For our first Extended Play Lounge of 2023, we're listening to Affinity, the fourth album from Haken. This is the third time Haken has been in the lounge, and I've become quite a fan. Although this album isn't a concept album, the themes are consistent and coherent. And, after listening to this album, I have a new favorite Ha...
2023-01-06 00:44:29 +0000 UTC
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We're happy to report a new weekly episode series for 2023. On Thursdays each week, we'll release a 'Throwback Thursday' episode to YouTube. These will all be pre-recorded reactions from our 2022 Patreon videos. So, for tomorrow, we're starting with the #1 vote-getter in the first Fan Favorites, The Cinema Show by Genesis fro...
2023-01-04 22:37:58 +0000 UTC
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We're now looking ahead to the first Extended Play Lounge Episode of 2023. And, for this time around, I'm asking for your help to choose among these 5 albums that I have recently received and am eager to hear.
All of these recordings are relatively new...the oldest being BBT's offering from 2009.
So, vote fo...
2022-12-29 20:12:05 +0000 UTC
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Here's the Highlight Reel for 2022! Enjoy!
2022-12-29 18:38:49 +0000 UTC
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Hello all,
I'm offering this short statement of support following events that happened on the Discord server last night.
I'm sad to say that there was an individual spewing hateful and pointed rhetoric toward others. I'm personally sorry for this happening, and I'm voicing my continued commitment to civility...
2022-12-24 18:22:22 +0000 UTC
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In this final Extended Play Lounge episode of 2022, I am pleased to listen to Olias of Sunhillow by Jon Anderson for the first time.
I do have a book of sheet music to this album, and I'll be looking through it with curiosity now that I've heard the music. But, I'm glad that I decided not to use the score while listenin...
2022-12-23 04:06:00 +0000 UTC
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Yesterday, on our discord server, I presented about an hour of some of my favorite choral music selections and performances for the Christmas season. I was asked to make the recording available, and I'm happy to do so here.
2022-12-20 03:27:08 +0000 UTC
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This was a fun all-tier hangout at the end of the year. We had a lively discussion and listened to music by Eric Gillette, Al Di Meola, Steve Hackett, and D'Virgilio, Morse, & Jennings.
For those that aren't in the Council of Dougs tier, we gather like this via zoom twice monthly. I hope you'll consider moving...
2022-12-20 01:01:36 +0000 UTC
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After the realization in the last Fan Favorites video that David Bowie's Life on Mars? has a fascinating back story and history with My Way by Frank Sinatra, I just HAD to take some time to look further into this connection.
So, this Behind the Score includes both songs, as we compare their similarities and contra...
2022-12-13 23:34:38 +0000 UTC
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Hey y'all! It's been a wonderful year, and I'm so thankful for all of you for your support and participation as members of Helvering's Army.
As is now tradition, our last Council of Dougs Hangout of the year is open to all Patrons. Twice a month, our top tier patrons gather with me via zoom for a 2-hour hangout to...
2022-12-12 21:43:27 +0000 UTC
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Episode 497 was blocked on YouTube, so I've made it available here. I hope to have it unblocked soon! In the meantime, enjoy some classic AC/DC!
2022-12-12 20:25:28 +0000 UTC
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