The book I read: Busy Doing Nothing with Charlie

Listener comments!

Charlie! I wish you the best in your Librarial Pursuits! I guess I'll have to hit the Archives or - God Forbid - play my own records.

11:08am Charlie:

I'm sure you have very good records, Henry! Catch you on the flipside:)

11:16am People Like Us:

come back soon Charlie - even better, do what I do! Do a season on and a season off!

11:25am Charlie:

Hi Vicki! I will see if I have enough seasonings. I might do a fill-in now and then:)

11:46am Michael:

I believe I've gotten my last reminder in Outlook to put on Charlie's show. Last one for a while hopefully.

11:48am Katya:

Cheers to your new chapter, Charlie, and every success! So cool that you are following your dad's path to brilliance!

12:42pm Rebecca Lewis:

Hurry back, Charlie!

12:57pm Charlie:

Hi Michael, Katya, Rebecca! Thanks for your thoughts. See y'all later today.

3:52pm annie:

hey charlie, going out for a drive with a friend.. ..i'll try to be back by the end of the show...

3:54pm Charlie:

ok, annie -- or catch the archive!

3:55pm βrian:

A bibliophilia theme today?

3:56pm gary mitchell:

in a moment ... the final chapter

3:57pm Doug Schulkind:

Miss you already, Cholly.

3:57pm Charlie:

Hiya ßrian! -- kinda...
Hey there, Gary!

3:58pm Charlie:

Hey Doug! Don't miss me yet:)

3:58pm geezerette:

ha! Jimmy Durant song title.

3:58pm Charlie:

hey there, geezerette!

3:59pm geezerette:

Charlee,DON'T GO! ok, got that outta my system.

3:59pm geezerette:

👻

4:00pm doctorjazz:

Look at all these posts!
Best of Luck, Charlie!

4:00pm Jeff Golick:

If I had to choose between books and music, I'd choose Charlie.

4:02pm βrian:

"Wheremin?"

4:02pm Charlie:

ßrian -- *there*a-min

4:03pm Charlie:

hiya, doctorjazz and Jeff G!

4:03pm Parq:

2.bp.blogspot.com...

4:03pm JtotheK:

hi charlie - all the best in your pursuits! hi everyone.

4:04pm Webhamster Henry:

All Harry set going on here? Don't forget Harry Reser!

4:04pm geezerette:

Everyone should play more Partch.

4:04pm βrian:

"Who's your metadata?" *smack*

4:05pm Charlie:

Oh, I meant to do an all-Henry set;)

4:05pm Charlie:

Parq -- yuk yuk!

4:05pm Charlie:

hey, JtotheK:)

4:06pm geezerette:

I like to think Harry & Virgil knew each other.

4:06pm βrian:

I'm feeling a bit harried, frankly.

4:06pm Webhamster Henry:

Virgil was his nephew.

4:06pm Pelson:

arsbiskits

4:07pm Webhamster Henry:

Imagining a VIP-drawn corporeal orchestra would be nice!

4:08pm Charlie:

Hello, P()elson:)

4:08pm geezerette:

Webhamster, honest!?

4:08pm Parq:

Mrs. Parq and I are binge-watching the original Hawaii 5-0 series. There was a bad guy in season three named Harry Partch. I'd like to think it wasn't a coincidence.

4:08pm northguineahills:

Nice Partch!

4:09pm βrian:

How is Jack Lord's hair?

4:10pm Sarah N:

Harry Revel Harry Partch Harry Krishna Ram Ram

4:11pm geezerette:

If that's true it makes me so happy!

4:12pm Uncle Michael:

I'm going to miss you, Charlie.

4:12pm βrian:

Too busy doing nothing to loiter.

4:13pm geezerette:

You know Zappa dug him. And Firesign Theater guys.

4:13pm Parq:

βrian, we're only up to the season shot ca. 1969, so it's still, well, Jack Lord's hair.

👻

4:13pm doctorjazz:

This is a riot! I can see why Zappa would go for this.

4:14pm Webhamster Henry:

This Wikipedia reference has him as a cousin... which might be true. I don't remember if VIP's father Paul was Harrys father (also Virgil)'s brother.

4:15pm Webhamster Henry:

(books.google.com...)

4:16pm Webhamster Henry:

There's a lot of Partch Material at corporeal meadows. www.corporealmeadows.com

4:18pm Tony Coulter:

Sadly, I'm ensnared in work right now, so I'll have to listen to this later -- but I just wanted to say,You'll be missed, Charlie!!

4:19pm frenchee:

NO MESSAGES...TOO MANY MESSAGES. love ya, Charlie! PLAY IT LOUD

4:19pm northguineahills:

Super happy thanks, Webhamster Henry. I was first exposed to Harry Partch due to that one MTV clip, right when I was discovering music. It took me nearly two years just to find a Harry Partch record after that.

4:19pm βrian:

@Tony: Tell them you're "busy."

4:20pm geezerette:

Webhamster,thanks for links,fabulous!

4:21pm Michael:

Made it.

4:21pm Doug Schulkind:

Busy Doing Nothing = To sing hunting body

4:22pm βrian:

Charlie will soon be off to the archive.

4:22pm Webhamster Henry:

No Problem, just another day for the American Festival of Microtonal Music (I'm an indigent board member, performer, and former Webhamster for them).

4:23pm gary mitchell:

I don't recall many other WFMU DJ's doing final shows.

👻

4:24pm doctorjazz:

Sassy, Newark's best!

4:25pm geezerette:

hahaha!!

👻

4:25pm doctorjazz:

I'm gonna miss this show...

4:26pm Parq:

Smiling like anything at this set.

4:26pm Charlie:

Hi, Tony! and thanks.

4:26pm Charlie:

frencheeeeeee!!!!!!!

4:26pm Parq:

www.google.com...

4:27pm βrian:

Will this be binding?

4:27pm geezerette:

Charlie, knew you'd play this.

4:27pm Charlie:

Hey there, northguineahills and Michael:)

4:27pm Parq:

Sorry, use this one.
popgoesthelibrarian.files.wordpress.com...

4:28pm Webhamster Henry:

MAC did a good final show: wfmu.org...

4:28pm geezerette:

clean old man.

4:29pm Charlie:

A very clean old man.

4:29pm Michael:

First time listening to a live BEN on the train!

4:30pm Jeff Golick:

He *is* very clean.

4:30pm Michael:

BDN

4:31pm geezerette:

heh heh,Wilfred Bramble.

4:31pm Dean:

The classic article on the topic: Dee Garrison, The Tender Technicians: The Feminization of Public Librarianship, 1876-1905, Journal of Social History
Vol. 6, No. 2 (Winter, 1972-1973), pp. 131-159.

4:31pm Parq:

Millionaire Irish peer. Filthy rich, of course.

4:36pm KevinfromBayRidge:

That's better!

4:37pm frenchee:

Sing it, Connie and Jelly!

4:38pm Charlie:

Looking forward to that one, Dean.
Hi Kevin!

4:39pm Sarah N:

Dancing in my seat to this one. Boing boing!

4:40pm KevinfromBayRidge:

After 20+ years, it's gonna be to tough. Thanks you for so many great shows.

4:44pm Listening Out There:

Charles Lewis MLS

4:46pm KevinfromBayRidge:

Don't know you if remember, but circa "97, you had a question about a tape you had picked up on Canal St. I quickly called my Sister-in Law, who identified the track as Teresa Tseng. Glad I could give back a little.

4:47pm βrian:

Charlie, have you considered which direction you'll go? Public, academic, etc.

4:47pm David D:

Checking in as well, Charlie, to thank you and wish you all the best in your next endeavors! Hope to hear you back here again soon...

4:47pm Doug Schulkind:

Charlie's playing rhap music again.

4:48pm Michael:

in a few years we may get an episode of Charlie Lewis, Library Cop

4:49pm Brian C.:

Glad to catch this show today, Charlie. Thank you!

4:50pm ndbob:

Heya Charlie and everyone!

4:51pm Doug Schulkind:

OK, this is making me cry.

4:52pm Charlie:

Thanks for that, Kevin:)
Hiya, ndBob! and Brian C:)

4:54pm Parq:

Doug, I know what you mean.

4:54pm geezerette:

Cheers,Charlie! Now you'll be appreciated by a whole new world of like minded people.

4:54pm βrian:

Charlie, can you believe you're *keeping* me at work?

4:55pm Charlie:

ßrian -- lol. also -- I like public libraries, but not sure if that's the direction I'll focus on...

4:57pm Dean:

I've worked in public, special (large law firm), and academic. All three are grand. Public was especially wonderful. Lotsa war stories.

4:58pm David D:

I should also add that this is a show I've often listened and lurked to in the past - you will be missed!

4:59pm βrian:

Yeah, public seemed too daunting to me — unless maybe I got an MSW first.

5:00pm gary mitchell:

killer version

5:04pm Charlie:

Gary -- yes! and, in the middle section, she references Carole King's orig idea for the song -- "my secret place"

5:04pm βrian:

WFMU is a bit like a large, multifaceted library. A space for research, reflection, and refraction. A bit more noisy, though.

5:04pm Parq:

Never heard this Little Eva version.

5:06pm rf:

thanks

5:07pm βrian:

But wait, it just occurs to me we don't need libraries anymore, because, well internet, right?

5:08pm Charlie:

haha, thanks, ßrian...
Hi rf!

5:09pm Dean:

Don't need radio stations, either. Or cars. (Can't we all just work from home?) Or doctors. But breweries we still need.

5:10pm David D:

When we starting 3-D printing our beer, we know we're in trouble.

5:10pm geezerette:

Dean, beer will not be strong enough.

5:11pm People Like Us:

yayyy Charlie (just got home and listening)

5:12pm βrian:

Archival work can be interesting, too. That can go either way, as far as the level of contact with the public.

5:13pm Charlie:

Hi Vicki:)
ßrian -- archiving can be interesting, but I think I like working with the public.

5:14pm People Like Us:

fill in for me! Oh hang on, I don't have a show right now

5:15pm βrian:

@Charlie: Yep. So that would be a front-of-the house job.

5:16pm βrian:

(Now I'm curious to hear Dean's war stories.)

5:17pm Michael:

If I don't make it back here before the end of the show, all the best and great success to you in your next adventure. You know how much your show meant to all of us! And please let us know when you'll be popping back on the stream.

5:18pm northguineahills:

20/20 is a very underrated album....

5:18pm Listening Out There:

Ooh. I used to have the 20/20 LP. Guess it's Smiley Smile leftovers, a good part of it...

5:19pm northguineahills:

Vicki, Charlie can fill-in for your fill-ins. MOAR meta-fill-ins!

5:19pm geezerette:

"Going down that road like Charlie Chaplin". Michael Hurley,great image.

5:19pm Gaylord Fields:

Charlie, once you immerse yourself into your studies, perhaps you can answer a question that's been perplexing me for ages: Is the word pronounced "lie-berry" or "lie-brerry"? I've heard both, but my personal opinion and all the research I've done lead me to conclude it's "lie-berry."

5:22pm βrian:

Kind of like "Beeyatch Boys."

5:22pm Dean:

Doesn't take much to coax me. I'll relate one of the more pleasant ones. I was staffing the reference desk. (I enjoy working with [most of] the public, too.) A woman approached the desk. Rather than ask a question, she said one word, "Breasts." She relaxed her demeanor and explained that she'd done that to overcome anxiety about her inquiry. She then followed up with a perfectly reasonable question about incidence of breast cancer.

5:22pm Pendantinelson:

Neither. It's li-bra-ry.

5:23pm Dewey Dessimol:

I'm really going miss you, Charley.

5:23pm Gaylord Fields:

@βrian: You may be on to something there, especially after reading Brian's and Mike's books.

5:24pm Gaylord Fields:

@Pendantinelson: Who told you that? Was it your temporary secretary?

5:24pm ndbob:

Any song that makes you think of rats is worth hearing

5:26pm Gaylord Fields:

Charlie, Goffin & King didn't really write simple pop songs, did they?

5:27pm Parq:

Dean, oh, that's a great story!

5:28pm northguineahills:

Stepping out, if miss the end, thanks, and hope to hear you soon!

5:28pm Parq:

The romance of a city rooftop has held me in its grip ever since I was 19.

5:30pm Charlie:

Gaylord -- you funny guy !
and you're right, not simple songs:)
way behind on reading comments here aaugh!

5:30pm Doug Schulkind:

@Parq
I have been working on a coffee table book of photographs for decades called Fire Escapes and Water Towers. In my mind.

5:31pm KevinfromBayRidge:

I'm glad that you'll probably be on the "front end", Charlie.. You've certainly proven your "meet & deal" skills dealing with the likes of us here!

5:31pm βrian:

Those are two bold assertions, Doug.

5:32pm 67tele:

I've enjoyed your shows so much. Best to you Charlie

5:32pm Charlie:

Hi Uncle Michael!

5:32pm People Like Us:

when I get a show you can fill in for me, yes

5:32pm Dominick:

Sophie!

5:33pm geezerette:

Red Hot Mama!

5:33pm People Like Us:

this is a great show

5:33pm KevinfromBayRidge:

Last Of...

5:33pm Uncle Michael:

Hi Cholley!

5:34pm ndbob:

Charlie - I hope you have time to go back on the air in the future - As I've mentioned, your show was the first I ever heard online - in 1998 - with thanks to Gary L for introducing me to you and WFMU

5:35pm βrian:

Once upon a time there used to be school libraries, too.

5:36pm βrian:

Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca

5:38pm People Like Us:

you're playing the only sad song I ever did, ha ha ha

5:38pm geezerette:

Oh,I'm gonna blubber.
Your show has been hilarious and smart and beautiful.
The books need you Charlie. Go save them!

5:39pm Charlie:

haha, it's not really sad:) How can it be sad with that image of you-know-who singing?

5:39pm Charlie:

and hello 67tele and Dominick!

5:39pm People Like Us:

the words though, the words!

5:39pm People Like Us:

ok. emotional

5:39pm geezerette:

haha!

5:40pm People Like Us:

ok, it's happy now

5:40pm annie:

i'm back...guess 'll have to dip into the archive.

5:41pm Dominick:

Hello and goodbye!
and thanks for all the fish

5:41pm judy from croton:

Just got the interweb thing going.

Charlie, a twinkling star in everyone's big sky, making each of us feel like he's shining just for us. Sorry, just for me.

5:41pm Doug Schulkind:

People Like Us / A Fistful of Knuckles: freemusicarchive.org...

5:42pm Charlie:

doug -- thanks for the link -- you beat me to it!

5:43pm Doug Schulkind:

I'll always have your back, my radio brother.

5:43pm Uncle Michael:

I used to love the June Tabor Dancers.

5:44pm People Like Us:

can I have Charlie's mind?

5:44pm People Like Us:

actually can I have Charlie's mp3s?

5:45pm Listening Out There:

[Vicki - Shhh. Charlie *is* an MP3...]

5:46pm People Like Us:

in 20 minutes Charlie will be an mp3

5:48pm People Like Us:

ah ha! Spock

5:49pm Parq:

@ UM, 5:43 -- yeah, and that great cartoon show, The Martin Simpsons.

5:51pm Charlie:

I'm done with this mind
you can have it, I don't mind

5:52pm People Like Us:

I'm done with mine too, never quite got along with it

5:52pm Listening Out There:

Host: True. You won't be using it in grad school...

5:52pm geezerette:

Bye Charlie! Thanks for all the fun. :D

👻

5:53pm doctorjazz:

Sniffle...

5:53pm Charlie:

hi LOT and LOL

5:53pm Charlie:

yes, PLU, there are too many people in mine...

5:54pm Parq:

Oh, this Modrnaires is just adorable.

5:55pm People Like Us:

so Prince Philip is standing down today...

5:55pm Sarah N:

We're toasting you Charlie, with rhubarb and apple pie and a nice cup of tea. xxx

5:56pm βrian:

How does that work? Why isn't it "sitting down?"

5:56pm ndbob:

excellent show Charlie1

5:56pm People Like Us:

ooooooh I want this song!!!!! (er, please)

5:56pm Dean:

Is he still in a can?

5:56pm Parq:

PLU, I can't figure that out -- standing down from what? Is he divorcing the queen or something?

5:56pm People Like Us:

I think it's "shutting up", Brian :)

5:56pm Webhamster Henry:

The Modernaires sing the People like Us theme song (well, People like You And Me)
www.youtube.com...

5:56pm Charlie:

just name it, Vicki -- more fodder for you!

5:57pm KevinfromBayRidge:

Great Finale Chas!

5:57pm Webhamster Henry:

I like big mouth 60's pop!

5:57pm Doug Schulkind:

Charlie was the first person I asked to join me on Give the Drummer Radio. Honestly, I can't imagine the stream without him. My desire with this little radio experiment has been to surround myself with people for whom radio is a verb. DJs who have as identifiable a personal sound as any great musician. Whether you've heard ten minutes of any Busy Doing Nothing show, or you've been glued to your speakers every Thursday afternoon for years, you know the sound that is unique to Charlie and his handcrafted radio magnificence.

Thank you for everything forever, Charlie.

5:57pm Gaylord Fields:

I bid a fond farewell (for now?) to a freeform radio maestro! See you in the stacks, Charlie.

5:57pm βrian:

I've been summoned to eat oysters, so I guess this works out in the end.

5:57pm Michael:

Excellent show Charlie - thanks. See ya next, er...um.

5:58pm People Like Us:

aren't goodbyes fantastic!
see, if you do every other season you get to say hello and goodbye over and over

5:58pm Charlie:

THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE FOR SO LONG:)
YOU'RE A GREAT CROWD!
I LOVE YOU ALL:)

5:58pm Dominick:

Ciao!

5:58pm Parq:

I honestly think I may shed a tear, Charlie. Your shows have been just the greatest for as long as I can remember. See you on FB sometime.

5:58pm People Like Us:

Actually Charlie, you ARE FREEform. So, bearing that in mind, you had better return because we need People Like YOU.

5:58pm Cheyenne:

Happy book-learnin' Charlie!!!

5:59pm Webhamster Henry:

Well, if you're ever in the Hudson Valley checking out the libraries, drop me a line!

5:59pm Michael:

Later pal. Don't be a stranger!

👻

5:59pm doctorjazz:

Thanks, for the memories...(or, from Dean's story, for the mammaries..
Best of luck!

5:59pm frenchee:

Charlie, I've given it a second thought: DON'T GO!!!

NAH, see you around, thanks for every little thing.

6:00pm annie:

yule be bach!

6:00pm Doug Schulkind:

Charlie, I need a fill in on August 11.

6:00pm northguineahills:

buena suerte, Charlie!

6:00pm Andy the painter:

best to you charlie. good luck with your new endeavors. we will miss you. yer the best.
merv griffin would endorse you.

6:00pm Uncle Michael:

Good luck in school, Charlie.

6:00pm People Like Us:

so do I, Charlie.

6:01pm βrian:

Don't sniff the foxed vellum.

6:01pm Sarah N:

Come visit us Charlie. We have lye-berries here too! Enjoy. Goodbile and Thanqueue x

6:03pm Charlie:

Thanks for all the comments and invites:) Looking forward to catching up, here, and maybe in person! Abraços:)

9:36am Brian in UK:

Charlie, never had a chance to listen live. Brave move but you are the man for the job. Remember the longest journey starts by booking the taxi. Good luck, my friend.

4:12pm Ben J:

Listening to Charlie's voice and selections has long been a highlight of my week. May this only be "the end... for now."