Chronologically Yours

[billroper]

Just before Julie was born, I went diving through the files in the filing cabinet looking for back issues of Kantele as I tried to answer a question on filk history. I didn't find the zines, but I did find something that I had been looking to find for a very long time:

The chronological list of every filksong that I wrote from 1978 to 1986.

Accordingly, I've now updated the list on the website. There are still songs between 1987 and 2002 that are a bit hard to place, but most of the songs are now in the right place.

If only I knew what some of them were. There's a couple of these that I've completely misplaced.

Comments

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Most of the entries that aren't hyperlinks on that list are at least somewhat familiar. If you mention specific ones, I can let you know what I know about them; some of them I might even be able to find transcribed lyrics. I still have a lot of cassettes recorded at midwest filks back then, but I haven't tried to play any of them in over 20 years, and I don't know if they are still playable at all, or if they've disintegrated into goo or been eaten by mice or something. I listened to the tapes I recorded at my first few conventions a whole lot, since back then I had little else to listen to, so everything on them including out-takes and between-song conversation is probably still accessible in my brain sludge.

[billroper]

The three that I'm fairly sure that I don't have copies of in any form are "Hacker Symbols" (written with Clif, so he may have a copy), "The Stranger", and "Follow That Road". I vaguely recall the chorus on the last of the three and that I eventually became fairly firmly convinced that the song sucked. :)

The other two, I find that I'm unable to place, although it's fairly obvious what the first one was, given that it has to be to the tune of "Herbs and Simples".

If you've got these, you're doing far better than I am...

The other songs on the list, I'm fairly sure that I have copies of.

Thanks!

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

I know I did tape "Follow That Road" the one time I heard it. I transcribed it but there were some words I couldn't make out. I remember asking you at a later con if you'd do it again, and you said no; it was clear that you weren't happy with the song. Whether I can find that partial transcription at this point I have no idea. I will try to remember to poke around in the mess.

I have a vague memory of hearing Juanita singing "Hacker Symbols". (Yes, it is a parody of "Herbs and Simples".) I think it probably was on some con tape. But I don't remember any words and I never transcribed it.

"The Stranger" is just about the only title that doesn't ring any bells at all.

[hms42]

I can check my databases tonight to see if any of these are know to be on a tape. As for converting the old tapes to computer, I can provide basic info on how to do it, if needed.

Harold S.

[billroper]

I think "Hacker Symbols" is on one of the Marcon tapes -- "Marcon Grows Up", if I recall correctly.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Seems likely, since that is the Marcon tape that I have.

And now (memory spurred by the mention) I've got Maraschiello's "Happy Birthday Marcon" song from said tape trying to play in my head. Of course I only remember a few bits, not the whole thing. "Once again at Marcon there's that goddamn scwewy wabbit, / Unimaginative habit, but let's not go slitting hares."