Udio is a great songwriting partner

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
I’m impressed by how Udio helped me create “8-Second Secrets.”

I recently dug into Udio, an AI songwriting assistant garnering attention in the music tech community.

Udio is part of a new wave of tools designed to provide music and lyrics based on simple input. It’s praised for its ability to quickly generate music that captures the essence of a user’s initial ideas.

While Udio can craft lyrics and melodies, inputting my lyrics provides better results. This connection to the song’s emotional core and Udio’s strong music composition capabilities enhance my creative process.

Recently, I applied this approach to a new country track, “8-Second Secrets.” The results were astonishingly quick; within minutes, Udio provided a promising musical sketch based on my lyrics.

The result, while still in its nascent stages, is impressive. It’s rough around the edges, but the speed and ease with which Udio turned my written words into a palpable musical piece were nothing short of astonishing.

For musicians, whether seasoned or novice, integrating AI tools like Udio can ignite a spark of creativity and open up a world of possibilities. It’s about finding the perfect harmony between human creativity and technological assistance, and for me, Udio strikes that balance beautifully.

Finding Barry De Vorzon’s ‘Dillinger’ score on YouTube

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Composer Barry De Vorzon infuses “Red River Valley” with an epic, emotional sweep.

Uncovering hidden gems is a thrill that never fades. So, imagine my delight when, during a YouTube rabbit hole expedition, I stumbled upon several music tracks from John Milius’ 1973 film “Dillinger.”

This discovery is a treasure trove not only for its rarity but also for its connection to Barry De Vorzon. His score in this underappreciated movie is a textbook example of musical understanding.

De Vorzon masterfully combines classic tunes with new expository material in “Dillinger,” encapsulating the Gangster Era of the 1930s and blending it seamlessly with Milius’ gritty, unapologetically romantic vision of the outlaw’s life. De Vorzon’s score is an important narrative force, helping Milius capture the tumultuous spirit of the 1930s and the raw, chaotic energy of John Dillinger’s criminal escapades.

The tracks available on YouTube mix adrenaline-pumping compositions with melancholic melodies. Among these, the renditions of “Red River Valley” stand out. This classic tune becomes an emotional anchor in the film, evoking lost innocence, the fading American dream, and the outlaw’s inevitable decline into despair, defeat, and death.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Listen to De Vorzon’s score.

Read my comments about “Red River Valley.”

Get the “Dillinger” original soundtrack album on eBay.

New easy word search books launch on Amazon

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Colorful covers if L.T. Hanlon's word search books.

I’m thrilled to announce my latest creation: word search puzzle books, now available on Amazon.

Designed with beginners in mind, these puzzles offer a gentle introduction to the world of word searches. Each has no more than six words, ensuring a delightful yet manageable challenge. And to keep things straightforward, none of the words are spelled backward.

Dive into a captivating exploration of mythology, where ancient gods and legendary creatures await your discovery. Traverse the meandering paths of the world’s most famous rivers. Start an urban adventure through bustling cities in the U.S. and Canada. This collection tests your observational skills with a journey through fascinating themes and locales.

Word search puzzles, known for their simplicity and appeal, have a rich history. They date back to the late 1960s when Norman E. Gibat published the first word search in the Selenby Digest in Norman, Oklahoma. Quickly becoming a local sensation, they spread to classrooms and beyond, capturing the interest of puzzle enthusiasts worldwide. Their straightforward goal — to find words hidden in a grid of letters — makes them accessible to solvers of all ages and skill levels.

I aimed to blend simplicity with the excitement of exploration and discovery. Whether you’re a seasoned puzzle solver or a beginner eager to embark on your first word search adventure, these books promise hours of entertainment.

Mythology Large Print Word Search

US-Canada Cities Large Print Word Search

World Rivers Large Print Word Search

Shadow Play: The art of appeasing gods during eclipses

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Whimsical cartoon illustration shows ancient people staging an eclipse ceremony.

When an eclipse darkened the sky in the good old days, people didn’t just whip out their ISO-certified glasses and smartphones for a quick pic. No, sir! They got busy appeasing the celestial beings, convinced that the sun being gobbled up was a cosmic tantrum needing serious placation.

Imagine this: one minute, you’re farming, and the next, you’re knee-deep in a ceremonial shindig because the sun played hide-and-seek with the moon. The ancient playbook dictated that the only way to get the sun back was by throwing a heavenly party, complete with all the trimmings — songs, dances, feasts, and, oh yes, the occasional sacrifice.

The musical score of the day wasn’t your typical top 40 hits but an ensemble of drums, flutes, and chants, creating a soundtrack that aimed to soothe the celestial beasts. Communities came together, not in backyard barbecues, but in grand celebrations, decked in their finest, hoping to impress the sun and moon out of their celestial tête-à-tête.

And let’s not forget the pièce de la résistance: the sacrifices. Plants, animals, and — brace yourself — even humans were offered to the sun with a hopeful “please come back” note. These were not mere acts of desperation but deeply symbolic gestures rooted in the belief that the most valuable offerings would win the gods’ favor and restore cosmic order.

So, please spare a thought for our ancestors the next time you catch an eclipse. They had to work much harder than us to ensure the cosmic lights came back on, navigating the delicate art of divine diplomacy with only sheer faith and a penchant for grand celestial appeasement.

Sky-high serenade: Tuning into Corbin’s WCTT-AM

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Google Street View photo shows a radio tower rising into the sky from a country scene in Kentucky.
WCTT-AM transmits from this site in Whitley County, Kentucky. (Photo © Google)

Picking up WCTT-AM from my high-rise home felt like a serendipitous dance with radio waves, a connection across almost 400 miles that brought me right into the heart of Corbin, Kentucky.

At night, with only 830 Watts powering its signal, the station on 680 kHz beams out tunes that transport listeners back to the days of Dean Martin, Louis Armstrong, and other such ilk. The wonder of receiving this signal, especially from within the confines of a Faraday cage on the 54th floor, added a touch of magic to the experience.

Logo for WCTT-AM, a radio station in Corbin, Kentucky.

WCTT, known affectionately as “Great 68,” is more than just a radio station; it’s a piece of living history, broadcasting since 1947. Now under the ownership of the Eubanks family, who run Encore Communications Inc., these folks’ dedication has kept the station alive and kicking, offering a slice of Americana to anyone lucky enough to tune in.

Corbin, the small town from where WCTT-AM broadcasts, is nestled in the heart of southeastern Kentucky, with a history that speaks to the complex tapestry of American life. Known for its scenic beauty and historical depth, Corbin is a place where the past is always present, echoing through the streets and the airwaves alike. It’s also where Colonel Sanders‘ dreams took wing.

So, as I sit back and let the oldies play, I’m not just listening to music; I’m connecting with a part of America’s heartland, a storied station, and a town steeped in history, all through the faint crackle of radio magic.

Receiver: CCRadio 2E using internal 8-inch AM ferrite antenna.

Maps show the distance from Chicago to Corbin, Kentucky, as well as WCTT-AM's nighttime coverage.
Maps: Distance Calculator and Radio-Locator.com.

My killer plants are giving me flowers

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Photograph shows Venus flytraps and a Cape sundew with flowers. Both are carnivorous plants.
My Venus flytraps and Cape sundew are in full bloom. Their flowers perch atop high stalks to prevent pollinators from becoming a meal.

Not to be outdone by Venus flytraps, my Cape sundew also decided to get showy. Unlike the VFTs, which are native to Carolina wetlands and go dormant over winter, my sundew hails from South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and grows year-round. Although these plants occasionally catch insects, I supplement their diet with freeze-dried bloodworms.