I don't like people to get the idea that I have to do this for a living

[sovay]

Tom Lehrer had entered my household's dialect before I was born. That's not my department. I am never forget the day. Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air. Only be sure always to call it please research. More, more, I'm still not satisfied. Lucky Pierre! Who's next? Songs not on rotation in my parents' record collection could be encountered lyrically and traumatically in Too Many Songs by Tom Lehrer with Not Enough Drawings by Ronald Searle (1981). One could in fact call him one of my idols since childbirth. With just a handful of music, he touched the hearts of millions, and in the spirit of his own liner notes, I hope he died mad about it.

Comments

[sovay]

Not Tom Lehrer! The last I heard about him was a few years ago, when he put his works in the public domain.

I knew he was alive as of his last birthday, but it turns out quite unfairly that all sorts of things can happen between birthdays. I was glad to read of this interaction.

The world needs more Tom Lehrers, but as is the way of these things, we only ever get one.

He had effect enough for more.

[greenwoodside]

When I saw the story was on Tumblr, my gut reaction was distrust. But I looked further, and while it's possible it's still a PR trick (though I hope it isn't, because some things should be true), they're actually selling wax cylinders with the music on!

[sovay]

But I looked further, and while it's possible it's still a PR trick (though I hope it isn't, because some things should be true), they're actually selling wax cylinders with the music on!

Yes! I actually checked before sharing in case it was a Tumblr Jenny Haniver. (I shared the Tumblr link because I liked the notes.) It seemed a weird PR length to go to for a wax cylinder!

[greenwoodside]

It's a lovely story and now I want a wax cylinder that plays The Elements.

That may mean saving up for a phonograph!

But wax cylinders are worth it. Still remember my delight at finding a YouTube digitisation of Sir Arthur Sullivan speaking in 1888.

[sovay]

But wax cylinders are worth it. Still remember my delight at finding a YouTube digitisation of Sir Arthur Sullivan speaking in 1888.

I think you should save up for a phonograph. You just don't get that depth of time in any other medium yet.

[moon_custafer]

Green Day rereleased some stuff last year in “alternative formats” that include wax cylinder: https://www.analogplanet.com/content/green-day-drops-15-alternative-format-options-dookie-demastered-including-wax-cylinder-x-ray