I enjoyed Dylan’s “Around The World” shows (both parts) as much as, or more than, any previous Theme Time shows. Why? Is it the fact that he’s just getting better and better at doing these shows, and sounds like he’s having so much fun? Is it the fact that I heard some personal favorite artists of mine that took me a little by surprise, like the Pogues and Blossom Dearie? Who cares why? These shows are a pure gift, for now and for posterity. Playlists and selected quotes below.

Playlist for Part One:

Blossom Dearie — Rhode Island Is Famous For You
The Coasters — Down In Mexico
( Bob reads an email from “Bill Brady” of Bismarck, North Dakota, who asks about the origins of Tex-Mex music. Bob obliges him, reflecting on the influence of polka in particular. )
Freddy Fender — Acapulco Rock
Warren Zevon — Werewolves Of London
( Bob naturally gives us some good information on werewolves, and then a few words on Shane McGowan and the Pogues. )
The Pogues — Dark Streets Of London
Edith Piaf — Sous Le Ciel De Paris
( Actor Luke Wilson talks about traveling and foreign currency. )
( Bob tells us that the Four Lads were at one point background singers for Johnny Ray. )
The Four Lads — Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Shoba — A Sambe Siye E Goli (Let’s Go To Johannesburg)
( Bob talks about the unsuccessful history of the “planned language,” Esperanto. )
Joe Ely — She Never Spoke Spanish To Me
Elis Regina with Toots Thielemans — Aquarela Do Brasil
( Bob talks about Elis Regina’s life and “sad ending,” found dead in 1982 at age 36, “another victim of alcohol and cocaine. The Little Pepper was gone forever.” )
The Byrds — The Canadian Rockies
( Bob explains the origins of the word “posh” - port out, starboard home, “the shady side of the ship.” )
Hal Swain & His Band — Hunting Tigers In India
( Bob takes a phone call from Natalie in Holland, asking for a song about Japan. )
Buck Owens — Made In Japan ( “The last man to hit the top ten with a crewcut.” )
( “In the sixties, ‘Made in Japan’ meant shoddy goods to a lot of people. There was even a rumor that there was a Japanese city named ‘Usa,’ so they could stamp ‘Made in USA’ on products and you wouldn’t know they were made in Japan. Well, the Japanese sure turned things around, and nowadays they lead the world in many manufactured goods, especially technology …” )
Sonny Rollins — How Are Things In Glocca Morra? (clip)
( Bob talks about famous fictitious places. )
From the Marx Brothers’ “Duck Soup,” we hear a clip of Hail Hail Freedonia
The Beatles — Back In The U.S.S.R.
( “What the heck was I thinking? One hour to go all around the world?” )

Playlist for Part Two:

Little Willie John — All Around The World
(Clip of Sid Nathan holding forth in his inimitable way about traveling etc. )
( Bob talks about the super-continent, Pangea. )
The Sir Douglas Quintet — Nuevo Laredo
Gerry and the Pacemakers — Ferry Cross The Mersey
( Bob talks about music and Liverpool, and Bob Willard, the highly influential DJ at the Cavern Club. )
Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie — Night In Tunisia (clip, while Bob talks about both artists)
Celia Cruz — Africa
The Ink Spots — When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano
( “Everybody wanted to sing like Bill Kenny [of the Ink Spots]. You can hear him in Clyde McPhatter, Jackie Wilson, Elvis Presley, and a host of others who don’t even know they’re trying to sing like Bill Kenny. They’re trying to sing like Clyde McPhatter, Jackie Wilson, Elvis Presley, etc, etc, and so it goes, down the lines of history.” )
Chris Powell & the Blue Flames — I Come From Jamaica ( Bob points out the trumpet solo by none other than Clifford Brown )
Lloyd Clark — Japanese Girl
( Bob talks about “one of the most famous of Japanese girls,” Yoko Ono. He goes into a lot of the things she did before she got together with John Lennon. )
Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers — Going To Germany
( “There are over one billion, one hundred and twenty-nine people in India — most of them supplying technical help for people calling from here. But here on Theme Time Radio Hour, we don’t outsource any of our calls. We answer them all ourselves.” Bob takes an email from “Morgan Murphy of Battlecreek, Michigan,” asking Bob to play more records from the Sun label. )
Warren Smith — Ubangi Stomp
Hank Thompson — Rockin’ In The Congo
( “The Congo, in west central Africa, is bordered by the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, [?], Angola, the Atlantic ocean, and Memphis, Tennessee.” )
( Bob talks about Scotland, and reads part of Afton Water by Robert Burns. )
Maxine Sullivan — Loch Lomond
The Clancy Brothers — The Irish Rover ( “I heard it live!” )
( Bob says a bit about Ireland, including that “One of my favorite directors, John Ford, was born in County Galway, with the very Irish name of Sean O’Feeney.” )
Ricky Nelson — Travelin’ Man
Josh White — I Don’t Intend To Die In Egypt Land
( “That was Josh White. He doesn’t want to die in Egypt land. Talkin’ about the Tree of Life. Me personally: I don’t want to die anywhere.” )
( We hear Tom Waits talking on tape, about Cleopatra and her, ah, interesting lineage and personal marrying practices. )
( “Italy is shaped like a boot, and one guy I get a boot out of is Dean Martin. He was the smoothest singer of the fifties and sixties. Elvis Presley wanted to be him, as did Frank Sinatra, for two very different reasons. Here’s Dino. And I call him Dino.” )
Dean Martin — Arrivederci Roma
( Bob reads an email from “Butch,” asking for travel tips. Bob consults the U.S. Department of State, and says a lot, including, “I cannot stress this enough: Read the consulate information sheets! You have to know the law of the places you’re going to. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you. When you’re in a foreign country, you’re subject to their laws. Make two copies of all your identification — you’re bound to lose one. Leave another copy with friends at home. Mail yourself another copy. You might think that this is overkill, but you won’t feel that way when you’re cooling your heels in a Lisbon prison. Leave a copy of your itinerary with friends and family, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency. I shouldn’t even have to tell you this one, but don’t leave your luggage unattended! It’s amazing how many people still do this. I’ve gotten so many pieces of great luggage this way. To avoid being a victim of crime, pretend you’re not from the United States, and don’t wear flashy clothing and expensive jewelry, unless you want to impress girls. And if you get into trouble, contact the nearest United States embassy. Stay safe, and get back in one piece. I look forward to receiving a copy of your itinerary.” )
Wreckless Eric — Whole Wide World

Next week’s theme: LOCK AND KEY

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