Sound Threads

Discuss Music: The "salad" days of record labels were during the 20 th century. Once music could be recorded and sold, labels became increasingly popular. Play a Song: My song today is titled  The Trade. It's a song I wrote about a man who wishes to sell his soul to the devil to play guitar. In order to capture the feel of the swampy, dank surroundings of the Mississippi River delta, I used a 12-s...

Discuss Music: During the New year, I'll move away from the history of music, acoustic country and bluegrass. And to start off today, I will talk about the history of Record Labels, specifically how it all began. When was the very first recording of music? Who did it? How were the signals captured? Play a Song: My song today is titled  Solitary Star . It's a loose autobiography of sorts. Tell a St...

Happy and safe New Year!! Hoping 2026 is a great year for you and yours. And hope you join me for Sound Threads as we begin the New Year next week. Discuss Music: Another instrument that gained traction after the Bristol Sessions was the acoustic guitar. And today, I'll look at three builders that have stood the test of time, and become iconic for acoustic flattops and other models. Play a Song: M...

Merry Christmas!! Have a safe, blessed, and wonderful day tomorrow. Discuss Music: Last week, I looked at a boom in the banjo. But to really bring it into the public's consciousness, a player of exceptional talent was required. Enter Earl Scruggs and Gibson Mastertone banjos. Play a Song: My instrumental seasonal song today is one of the most beautiful hymns ever-the  Ave Maria. Tell a Story: Fred...

Discuss Music: If the Bristol Sessions which I looked at last week were at the roots of certain musical genres, did they also have an impact on musical instruments? Today, I'll look at that.  Play a Song: My song today is Angels We Have Heard on High, a song that is very, very old. Tell a Story: After performing live, Freddie Spaghetti thinks his next step should be to do a video. Check me out onl...

Discuss Music: A landmark event in the world of bluegrass, folk, and acoustic country music occurred July 25 th to August 5 th , 1927. I will talk about that, and how it changed the landscape of these forms of music. Play a Song: And my song of the day is an instrumental, the classic Jingle Bells . Tell a Story: In the Musical Life of Freddie Spaghetti, Freddie plays his very first live gig. Will...

Discuss Music: One of the great "later" advances in music I believe was Beethoven's 9 th Symphony. It was first heard way back a century ago in 1824, and is easy to think of as being ancient history. However within the context of music's overall historical timeline, it's much nearer to the modern day, than the early music I discussed last week. Play a Song: My song this morning is about nostalgia....

Discuss Music: Last week looked at the very beginnings of music. And today, I take the history from that time, look at various eras and bring it right up to today. Play a Song: My song this week is titled  Another Wine . I wrote it about a lady who is a career climber but during her rise to the top, she leaves friends behind. Tell a Story: And in the Musical Life of Freddie Spaghetti, Freddie has...

Discuss Music: One of the most fascinating things about music for me are it's history and "roots". Today, I'll look at the very first piece of music we know of that was played-Hurrian Hymn number 6. From there, I'll look further ahead in time at the first music with lyrics. Play a Song: My own song today is titled a  Wind is Comin' . I wrote it a while back, and this is a re-recording of the origi...

Discuss Music: Today, I'll take a look at some of my favorite artists within the world of bluegrass and acoustic country music. I don't have unit sales for these artists as I did last few weeks. The reason is that those all-time unit sales were in all music,  so big picture. Today, I'll be looking at a niche genre within that larger context, and talk about some of my personal favorites. Play a Son...

Discuss Music: One of my all-time favorite bands was the Eagles. And as they released hit after hit, I had no idea about all the friction going on inside that band. Play a Song: My song today is titled  Sam Buck. It's a fictional song about a gambler who gets himself in too deep with the wrong crowd. Tell a Story: And in the Musical Life of Freddie Spaghetti, Freddie dives into the idea of writing...

Discuss Music: Number two on the all-time unit sales list is country legend Garth Brooks. I will take an in-depth look at his music, songwriting and other factors that makes him so successful. Play a Song: The song for today is  Seabird. It's a song I wrote while sitting on the beach near San Diego. One gull that day was strutting around like he owned the place, and the other birds simply ignored...

Discuss Music: Over their careers the Beatles have sold 183-million-unit sales. They have been by far the top selling artists in the USA. I'll cover their music, and why I believe they stood out. Play a Song: Today's song is the title album of my album  Good Day Risin' . It's a song that celebrates the start of a brand-new day. Tell a Story: In the Musical Life of Freddie Spaghetti, we take a look...

Discuss Music: Last week I took an arial view of the top all-time artists. Today, I'll go in-depth on one of the top three, Elvis Presley. Play a Song: The song today is one I hope will bring a chuckle. Its titled  I don't Brake for Squirrels , and its about those small creatures that can become a hazard to anyone driving a car. Tell a Story: And today in the Freddie Spaghetti segment, he needs so...

Discuss Music: Who are the top-selling artists in the USA, all time? If you guessed the Beatles, you are correct. The have sold 183 million units. Garth Brooks has sold 157 million, and Elvis 139 million. Those are the top three all-time sellers, and today I'll take a quick look at others in the top dozen. Play a Song: The song I have selected for today is  The Matter of a Heart. It's a song I wro...

Discuss Music: One of the most fascinating things about music, is how the human mind processes a song. To have wide appeal, a song needs to connect with both sides of the brain-left and right hemispheres. Play a Song: Our song this morning is titled  Just the Raven's Know.   It's a song I wrote based on a true story of an unsolved murder of teen Kerry Ann Brown way back in 1986. Tell a Story: And...

Discuss Music: When you add all the elements of a song together, that make a great one, and how does that actually work with the listener? My belief is that a song you enjoy is a bit like a friend. And a song you really, really like is a bit like a best friend. But in order to accomplish this, a song needs to be "hooky". Not so easy to do! Play a Song: Our song of the day is a classic  Who Will Si...

Discuss Music: In this show I look at various musical forms including twelve bar blues AABA, verse-chorus, and others.  Play a Song: I will play   Solitary Star, a  song I wrote some time ago. It's about having a mirror image of your own life every night right up there in the heavens. Tell a Story: In today's episode of the Musical Life of Freddie Spaghetti, Freddie rushes to a local music store b...

Discuss Music: One of the most interesting elements about music for me, is where a song arrives from. Is there some magic formula? Of course, the answer is no, otherwise everyone would be using that formula. So how does a song become born? Today, I'll look at how one iconic song was created. Play a Song: With football season upon us, my song today is the Lineman's Song.   The song is about an offe...

Discuss Music: Welcome to our Labor Day edition of  Sound Threads.  Some musicians are able to make their songs and playing stand out. Is there a secret to getting good "tone" out of an instrument? Play a Song: Also today, I'll play the song  You Were Home to Me.  I wrote it about my late mother when she passed, but it's also meant to be a tribute to all the great Mom's out there. They can be the...

Discuss Music: This morning I'll look at some reasons I enjoyed Freddie Mercury's music so much. For me, he ranks way high on the songwriting and performance scale. Play a Song: My song for today is called  Second Time . It's a song I wrote about making up after a lover's spat. The protagonist in the song is one happy guy. Tell a Story: And when I check in on our story, Freddie (not the same one!)...

Discuss Music: Some of the great musicians are able to lend little "touches" that help make a song stand out. I'll talk about that this morning. Play a Song: My song today is called " I Was There" . Of the songs I have written, this one is one is a favorite, due to the subject matter. It's written about the great accomplishments of mankind. Tell a Story: And today in the Musical World of Freddie S...

Discuss Music: This morning I'll look at the great songwriter, Dolly Parton. Her prolific and chart-topping hits would make her one of our great all-time songwriters. Play a Song: I'll play my song Make it Monday. I wrote Make it Monday to provide a counter viewpoint of the first day of the work week, and its lead in serves as Sound Threads entry theme song. Tell a Story:  Today, we look at Freddi...

Discuss Music: This morning I'll discuss the songwriting of Brian Wilson Beach Boys, and in particular his song  God Only Knows. Later on in the show, Play a Song: I'll play my song  Scattered. Its a humorous look at becoming discombobulated when you are under stress. Tell a Story: In our music story, we meet Mr. Fred Barton Junior. Check me out online at: Ryantunes             http://www.ryantune...

Discuss Music: In today's discussion I look at types of songwriters, and some examples of the greats who were able to master the two sides of the songwriting coin. Play a Song: Today's song is titled  The Trade -its about a man looking to sell his soul in order to play guitar. Tell a Story: And today, we are introducing our story. It is a fictional account of a musician who rises from obscurity an...