Strange Love and Second Chances

Posted at 1:00 AM on February 14, 2009 by Dale Connelly (7 Comments)

Saturday night on Minnesota Public Radio News, Radio Heartland will present a selection of strange love songs - a modest collection I complied with singer-songwriter Ann Reed, who is a fan of the strangest, most oblique love songs ever written. It's simple to go directly to "I Love You Baby" as your core message in a song, but the challenge is always about getting there in a new and interesting way. We'll share some examples.

In the second hour, "Lost Jim" Ohlschmidt visits with a look at the fortunate circumstances that led to Mississippi John Hurt's late blossoming career. Hurt made some recordings in Memphis on February 14th, 1928. He wasn't supposed to be there. The session was arranged for someone else as a contest prize, but the whimsical gesture of adding John Hurt to the recording paid amazing dividends 35 years later.

Radio Heartland is on Minnesota Public Radio News stations tonight from 9 to 11pm.

---

Comments (7)

I'm looking forward to hearing the program! Btw, please change the message that plays when a person first logs on; Radio Heartland is no longer "brand new"! In fact, you might consider it useful to change that message monthly or so. Otherwise, the repetitiveness is annoying; and why not use that more or less free marketing opportunity to the utmost? Thanks for all you do!

Posted by Kathy | February 14, 2009 9:07 AM

---

I see on the MPR web site the Love Notes feature on the home page has the following description: "In celebration of Valentine's Day, the hosts from Minnesota Public Radio's three services — News, Classical and The Current — have selected their favorite love songs." Are MPR's promotions people aware of the existence of Radio Heartland? Is there some vice president we can complain to about this glaring omission, or have they all been downsized?

I, for one, am curious. What would Dale's choice have been? Mike's? Would Jasper have made a contribution if asked nicely?

Inquiring minds....

Posted by Linda in St. Paul (West Side) | February 14, 2009 6:47 PM

---

Hello and Happy Valentine's Day!
Mississippi John Hurt! I can't wait to hear the details!

Posted by michelle in winona | February 14, 2009 8:34 PM

---

Hi Dale, Gary and I enjoyed a late Valentine's Day dinner at home and had the good fortune to listen to our show as our dinner music. We enjoyed it very much, especially the song Annie by The Autobody Experience! Thanks so much to you and Anne! Now we're listening to the second hour with Mississippi John Hurt. Wonderful!

Posted by Lisa | February 14, 2009 10:21 PM

---

Some artist needs to use the title of this blog entry as a album title!

Posted by Wendy V | February 16, 2009 8:47 AM

---

Help! I'm rather new to moving around the MPR websites...is it possible to listen to the Saturday night Radio Heartland show in some archived programs? We were at the Neal and Leandra concert on the 14th and would love to hear the broadcast now. Thanks! Carolyn

Posted by Carolyn Hess | February 16, 2009 9:15 AM

---

Carolyn,

It should be posted on this page sometime today. Or will the posting be delayed a day because of the holiday? Anyway, it will eventually show up on the Radio Heartland show page. You can get to that from the drop-down show listing box at the top right of this page and of most MPR pages.

Posted by Kris in Minneapolis | February 16, 2009 11:49 AM

---