 KPLU’s “All Blues” host John Kessler and long-time radio personality John Maynard have joined forces to create a funny and entertaining new feature called “Record Bin Roulette” that scribbles way off the page.
Maynard and Kessler stop at every yard sale and venture to flea markets to find outrageous moments to play for you. The result is a seven-minute musical excavation of forgotten and obscure sounds, showcasing peculiar moments from records, television, and movies.
“Record Bin Roulette” airs Thursdays at 5:35a, 7:35a & 4:45p, Fridays at 7:30p and Saturdays at 1:00p.
The debut show on “Hollywood Cowboys” includes the singing voices of actor Lee Marvin, and Bonanza stars Lorne Greene and Dan Blocker.
 Full Press Release
KPLU DEBUTS “RECORD BIN ROULETTE”
The new feature excavates the forgotten and the obscure sounds from yesterday’s vinyl Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m. Radio producer and KPLU All Blues host John Kessler, and long-time Seattle morning radio personality and KPLU real estate commentator John Maynard were talking shop over a beer one evening. Across the street from the pub was a house with a garage sale sign in the yard. Sitting at the bar looking through the window, they made a bet that somewhere in that house there’d be a box of old records, and in that box of records would be something really good. Whoever found the juiciest record would buy the next round.
Even though it was getting dark they walked across the street and a lady in a housecoat came to the door. “Yeah, I’ve got some records in the basement that I’ve had forever… if you want ‘em, you can have ‘em.”
From that box, Maynard pulled out an early 50’s relic, “Say Hey, Willie Mays.” The fine print on the label said, “produced by Quincy Jones.” Maynard and Kessler exclaimed, “Quincy Jones? You gotta be kidding!” Kessler pulled out a 45 of “Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots” by – get this – Edith Piaf, whose life story had just won an Academy Award. It was then that Maynard and Kessler said to each other, “You know there’s got to be a ton of music that hasn’t been heard in decades, but has relevance to today!” Then, “We could make a show out of this! Every song seems to have a story outside of the grooves. We can tell that story!”
The deeper they dug, the more they discovered – finding surprising connections, themes and revelations. The result is Record Bin Roulette, a new seven-minute audio showcase of peculiar moments from records, television, and movies. The feature debuts February 6 at 7:30 p.m. and will air on subsequent Fridays (with a rebroadcast on Saturdays at 1 p.m.). The debut show includes the singing voices of actor Lee Marvin, and Bonanza stars Lorne Greene, and Dan Blocker.
While doing an episode about comics-turned singers Maynard and Kessler learned that Allan Sherman’s legendary 1963 song, “Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh!” never made it to number one on the charts because of a 12 year-old kid who, incidentally, recently performed at President Obama’s inauguration. Who was it? Stevie Wonder occupied the top spot in 1963 with “Fingertips, Part 2.”
Record Bin Roulette also folds in glamorous old radio commercials (“Pall Mall – outstanding, and they are mild!”). Peppered with vintage movie and TV clips, each show has a particular theme (“Singing Cowboys,” “Murder, Suicide and Cannibalism,” “Instructional Records”).
Maynard and Kessler strongly affirm, “With Record Bin Roulette, listeners will be entertained, educated and astonished, all in seven hell-rocket minutes.”
For host bios, go here.
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