Sound Beat
History
About
Sound Beat is a daily, 90 second show highlighting the holdings of the Belfer Audio Archive. The Belfer is part of the Syracuse University Library, and with over half a million recordings, is one of the largest sound archives in the United States. Each SB episode focuses on one particular recording from the Archive, and provides a back story detailing its place in recording history.
Episodes
- STAR WARS Week: Lord Vader
This Sound Beat episode discusses the character of Darth Vader from Star Wars, noting his imposing presence and famous lines. It also touches on the debut of his theme music in "The Empire Strikes Back" and James Earl Jones's voice acting…
- STAR WARS Week: Old Ben
This Sound Beat episode covers the Star Wars story of Princess Leia sending a message via R2-D2, leading Obi Wan Kenobi to Tatooine. There, he meets C-3PO and eventually encounters Old Ben.
- STAR WARS Week: Rescue
This episode revisits the 1977 LP 'The Story of Star Wars,' detailing Luke Skywalker's journey after meeting Han Solo and Chewbacca. It covers their travel to Alderaan, its destruction, and their subsequent encounter with Darth Vader.
- The Force
The Sound Beat episode explores the concept of the Force in Star Wars, noting its parallels with cultural ideas such as chi, mana, and prana. The episode is based on a 1977 LP titled "The Story of Star Wars."
- The Story of STAR WARS
Sound Beat discusses the 1977 Star Wars LP, narrated by Roscoe Lee Browne, which included dialogue and sound effects from the movie. This record achieved significant commercial success.
- Let Me Call You Sweetheart
This Sound Beat episode focuses on the 1934 recording of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" by Bing Crosby. It details the song's origins in 1910, written by Leo Freidman and Beth Slater Whinston, and mentions its popularity through earlier reco…
- Casey Jones
The episode covers the story of Casey Jones, an engineer who died in a train collision in 1900. Despite being behind schedule, he managed to slow his train significantly, preventing more casualties.
- Tell Tchaikowsky to Move!
The Sound Beat episode "Tell Tchaikowsky to Move!" explores Chuck Berry's 1956 song, noting its origins as a response to his sister and its place in music history. The song references artists like Louis Jordan, Carl Perkins, and Bo Diddley.
- There be Sirens!
The episode discusses the historical depiction of Sirens as winged maidens in Greek mythology and their transformation into mermaids in European languages. It also touches upon Starbucks' logo origin, which is based on the Melusina figure.
- Groovin’ High
The episode "Groovin' High" on Sound Beat discusses Harry Anslinger, Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and his focus on jazz musicians and marijuana in the 1940s. It highlights the connection between jazz culture, drug refer…
- The Black Maria
The episode discusses the Kinetoscope, invented by William Kennedy Dickson under Thomas Edison. It details the construction and features of Edison's Black Maria studio, built in 1893 to address lighting issues for early films, and mentions…
- Atomic Cocktail
The Atomic Cocktail originated in Las Vegas in 1951, inspired by the government's announcement of new bombing test sites in Nevada. Bars and hotels created the drink as a way to relieve tension. The episode provides a recipe for the cockta…
- Sousa’s “El Capitan”
The episode discusses Sousa’s “El Capitan” operetta, detailing its 1896 debut and a specific recording by the London Concert Orchestra on a rare Lambert Celluloid Cylinder, highlighting the technology of early 20th-century cylinder manufac…
- Happy Days Are Here Again
The 1929 song "Happy Days Are Here Again," written by Jack Yellen and Milton Ager, became Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 campaign song and an unofficial anthem for the Democratic Party. The song was featured in the 1930 film Chasing Rainbows an…
- If I Had A Hammer
This episode explores the history of "If I Had A Hammer," written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes in 1949. It discusses the song's success with The Weavers and its influence on Peter, Paul and Mary's early career.
- Rainy Night in G
Hazel Scott, a piano prodigy since age 3, trained at Juilliard and gained fame by improvising classical music with jazz and blues influences, a style she called "swinging the classics." She notably filled in for Billie Holiday at Café Soci…
- Jitterbug!
The Sound Beat episode discusses the deleted Jitterbug scene from a movie, which was originally intended to engage younger audiences during a national jitterbug craze. Despite being cut from the film due to time, the scene is noted for its…
- Allegheny Moon
The Sound Beat episode "Allegheny Moon" discusses the musical group The Lennon Sisters, known for their performances and their reaction to Saturday Night Live skits referencing them.
- Since I Met You Baby
The episode details Ivory Joe’s 1956 R&B hit "Since I Met You Baby," which also charted on the pop list. It covers his subsequent country music career, including an album and Grand Ole Opry performances, and mentions the song’s co-writer E…
- Dancing in the Dark
Artie Shaw's 'Dancing in the Dark' from 1941 is featured. The episode discusses Shaw's career, including his signings of Buddy Rich and Billie Holiday, his tour with a Black singer, and his personal life, marked by multiple marriages and h…
- Mean Ol’ Twister
The United States experiences about 1,000 twisters annually, primarily in Tornado Alley, a region defined by the meeting of contrasting air masses. The 1925 Tri-State Tornado, which lasted 3.5 hours and killed 700 people, is discussed as a…
- Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off
This Sound Beat episode focuses on the song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," detailing its origins in the differing pronunciations of Ira and Lenore Gershwin, its popularization by The Ink Spots, and its rendition by artists such as Billi…
- Since Henry Ford Apologized to Me
The Sound Beat episode "Since Henry Ford Apologized to Me" examines the song of the same name, which responds to anti-semitic articles published in Henry Ford's newspaper, "The Dearborn Independent." It notes the song's mention of Hitler a…
- Dark Was the Night…
Blind Willie Johnson's 1927 song "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" was selected for the Voyager Golden Record in 1977 to convey timeless human suffering, specifically the fear of homelessness. The record, compiled by Carl Sagan's t…
- Laguardia’s Lament
This Sound Beat episode from 1946, titled "The Airplane," features the song "The Airplane" and recounts the story behind the development of Laguardia Airport, initiated by Mayor Fiorello Laguardia's demand for a New York City airport.
- Hooray For Captain Spaulding!
The podcast episode discusses the 1950 NBC premiere of Groucho Marx's show "You Bet Your Life." It covers the show's radio history, its theme song "Hooray For Captain Spaulding," and notable guests like William Peter Blatty and Phyllis Dil…
- The 1000 Islands Song
This Sound Beat episode features "The 1000 Islands Song," a 1947 Columbia 78 recorded by Arthur Godfrey. The song relates to the 1000 Islands archipelago, which has about 1800 islands meeting specific criteria, including one gifted to Godf…
- After Gettysburg
This episode features a 1902 Edison Military Band recording discussing the Battle of Gettysburg and the significant 1913 reunion, which brought together over 53,000 Civil War veterans.
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
This episode covers Emmylou Harris's 1979 album "Blue Kentucky Girl," featuring the track "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" with backup vocals by Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. The album won a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance…
- The Okeh Laughing Record
The Okeh Laughing Record, an anonymous 1923 German recording, became a Billboard chart success, reaching number eight. Its widespread appeal transcended language barriers, as laughter is universally understood.
- Snickelfritz!
Freddie Fisher and the Shnicklefritz Band, known for incorporating comedy into their music, recorded the song "Old Hank" in 1939 for Decca. The term "Snicklefritz" refers to a mischievous child and was a fitting name for Fisher's irreveren…
- Elder Charlie Beck
Elder Charlie Beck, a pastor from Buffalo, NY, recorded around 60 songs in the 1930s, viewing it as part of his ministry. His music, featuring warnings against societal ills, is noted for its energetic style that some argue foreshadowed ro…
- You Can’t Go Back to Constantinople
This episode delves into the humorous story behind the 1930 renaming of Constantinople to Istanbul, as told in the song "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by Jimmy Kennedy and Nat Simon. It discusses the song’s recording by The Four Lads and…
- How Tom Whitewashed the Fence
This Sound Beat episode features William Sterling Battis performing an excerpt from the second chapter of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer, showcasing Tom's cunning character. The recording was made between 1916 and 1917.
- Spellbound
The episode discusses Miklos Rosza's decision to use the theremin in the score for Alfred Hitchcock's film Spellbound, highlighting the role of thereminist Samuel Hoffmann. Hoffmann, previously a podiatrist, became the go-to theremin playe…
- Band of Gideon
The episode discusses the Jubilee Singers' role in popularizing arranged spirituals. It presents contrasting viewpoints from Zora Neale Hurston, who criticized these arrangements, and John Lovell Jr., who defended them as vital for the gen…
- If I Only Had a Heart
This Sound Beat episode discusses L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It touches on his imaginative childhood, his diagnosis of a weak heart, and his prolific writing career, which included 14 Oz books and other childr…
- A Paris!
This Sound Beat episode features Yves Montand
- Low Bridge!
The episode
- The Last Flight of the Lady Be Good
The WWII B-24 bomber Lady Be Good disappeared in a sandstorm in 1943 and was missing for 15 years. Found over 400 miles inland in 1958, the remains of 8 of the 9 crew members were recovered, some discovered far from the crash site.
- The Contralto and the Physicist
This episode features Marian Anderson’s 1943 recording of “Heav’n, Heav’n” and discusses her 1937 encounter with Albert Einstein at Princeton University, leading to a lifelong friendship.
- Moon Glow
The episode explains that the moon's brightness as seen from Earth varies with its orbital position and how it reflects sunlight. It also touches on the jazz standard "Moon Glow," mentioning several artists who recorded it, starting with J…
- The Jade Rabbit
This episode discusses the folklore surrounding the moon's appearance, particularly the "Jade Rabbit" image. It touches on ancient Chinese legends of Chang-O and her rabbit companion, and how this imagery relates to the Apollo 11 mission a…
- Splashdown!
The Apollo 11 crew splashed down in the North Pacific Ocean and were placed in a Mobile Quarantine Facility for three weeks as a precaution against space contaminants. During quarantine, they filled out customs forms for lunar samples and…
- Down the Field!
Mike Tirico, a decorated sportscaster, details the remarkable athletic career of Jim Brown, a legendary figure in Syracuse University history. Brown excelled not only in football but also in track, basketball, and lacrosse, leaving an inde…
- Arthur Murray…Taught Me Dancing…
The episode discusses Arthur Murray, a dance instructor and entrepreneur who established a nationwide chain of studios and pioneered mail-order dance lessons. His business strategies were influenced by William Jennings Bryan and involved m…
- Cold, Cold Heart
This is an episode of the podcast Sound Beat, titled "Cold, Cold Heart."
- Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown
This episode of Sound Beat is titled "Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown".
- Everything Melba
This episode features Dame Nellie Melba’s 1926 farewell speech and discusses the culinary creations named after her by chef Auguste Escoffier, including Peach Melba.
- Honey in the Rock
The Sound Beat episode "Honey in the Rock" features the Carter Family's 1949 Coral Record rendition. A.P. Carter adapted the 1895 song by Frederick A. Graves, shifting the focus from "blood and sins" to "honey and salvation" to suit the Ca…