The COVID Collection - Part 3 of 8

Cats is the third episode in the 8 part series called COVID Kids and Companions where we celebrate a few of the positive things that came out of COVID as we serve up a virtual cornucopia of creature companions.  

Transcript

SPEAKER_09 0:06

You're listening to a special series on Acoustic Avenue. This is Ted Crouch, and I'll be your host for the next hour on today's program that has been co-produced with Joe Little in Calgary, Alberta. On Acoustic Avenue, we recognize with respect and gratitude that in the shoeswork, the land on which we live, work, and play our music is the unceded traditional territory of the Sequatic people. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy. We continue today with the third episode in our series of eight shows, COVID Head and Companions, with a focus on a few of the positives that came out of the COVID pandemic. Those being newborns and the record number of adoptions and humane societies all over North America. On today's show, we feature the other predominant animal that resides in our human domiciles, the cat. A cat is a different kind of cat, and that's a fact. As we mentioned in the last episode of the series, dogs were given to us by God to be a reflection of his limitless love, and have been with us since we were hunter-gatherers. Cats thought it more prudent to wait until we became a little more civilized before joining the family unit. From the moment of their birth, cats know that they are free and independent spirits, an independence that will go on to define them throughout their entire lives. Cats were given to us to dispel the dogma that all things were created to serve man. Whereas dogs are all about love and devotion. Cats are all about being cruel and mysterious. That mystery is amplified by a set of seemingly supernatural abilities that they have been gifted with. To see in the dark, to move silently, to be aware of things we can't see, to always land on their feet, having nine lives. And the best gift of all, the purr. Now we're not saying the cats don't show love and affection, they do. That's where the purr comes into play. Sigmund Freud once said, time spent with a cat is never wasted. Maybe that's because he knew that the best antidepressant in the world has four paws and a purr. On today's show, we're featuring songs about cats. All kinds of cats. Because as any cat's companion will attest to, no two cats are the same. Today's show is the first of two episodes on cats that we will play over the next month. This is a collection of songs all about cats and our relationship with them. In this set, you will hear Jellical Songs for Jellico Cats with the cast from the 2019 musical fantasy film Cats. It was based on the 1981 stage musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Weber, which in turn was based on the poetry collection of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, written in 1939 by T.S. Elliot. We end the first set with the original 1962 version and recording of Alley Cat by Danish composer Pierre Bent Fabricius. And we start today's show where the cats started at birth. Here is Matt Monroe with the title track of the movie of the same name, Born Free.

SPEAKER_14 4:32

As free as the wind blows, as free as the grass grows, born free to follow your heart. Live free and beauty surrounds you. The world still astounds you.

SPEAKER_07 7:02

Can you look at King when you sit on his throne?

SPEAKER_04 7:08

Can you say on your body? Are you crafting when you're walking alone?

SPEAKER_07 7:20

When you fall on your head, do you land on your feet?

SPEAKER_17 7:26

Are you tense when you sense there's a storm in the air?

SPEAKER_07 7:31

Can you find your way blind when you're lost in the street? Do you know how to go to the heavy side layer? Because Jericho scan and jellicles do. Angelicals do angelicals can.

SPEAKER_08 7:59

Were you a tincant friend? I ride as assistant. Have you been in the lumber of heaven or hell? Are you mean like a mate? Are you mean like a beat? Are you going to be a tea? When you're selling a rat. Were you there when the fire rolls?

SPEAKER_06 8:16

If you were to are jacked up, Jericho, Jericho Cat, Jericho, so the Jemical Cat. Jericho, Jericho Cat, Jeremy Caticle Cat.

SPEAKER_09 14:19

The second set continues with four more selections from the musical collection. From the album, The Return of the Pink Panther. The song was originally written and recorded by Solomon Linda under the title for the South African Gallow Record Company in 1939. It is a German musical project founded by singer, songwriter, and record producer Martin Strathausen in 2003. And we start this set with a very cool song from his album Tonight, Josephine. Here is a cool cat in town.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

In 1920, Prohibition arrived, and a country just recovering from the war jitters fell into a new delirium. College students, yes, even high school kids and flappers joined the mad party, and the jazz age was born.

SPEAKER_05 15:45

Suddenly, whiskey cat.

SPEAKER_16 16:05

It's late at night while the dogs are sleeping. She's leaving the cave and the wheels are turning. She steps in the club and the walls are burning. There's a cook at town, never settles down. She loves chasing the dogs around. There's a new kid around, and she knows she is bound to be the leader of the whole rack back. And she won't wait for the return of the bag. There's a cook cat in town, never going down. One day she's keeping head for the crime. A cook cat is down. When the cat's away, the mice are playing. They're messing around till they all start swaying. Down in the club where the giant's jumpin'. The birds and the bees and the hip chicks are swinging. There's a cool cat in town, never settles down. She loves chasing the dogs around. There's a new kid around. And she knows she is bound to be the leader of the whole rack back. And she won't wait for the return of the bag. There's a cool cat in town, never going down. One day she's keeping head for the crime. Don't wait for a new dumber round. Who don't like some cat in town? A cook kid around. But yeah, for the divet in the hands of the year, we've got to get a lot of people.

SPEAKER_11 22:42

Now old Mr. Johnson had troubles of his own. He had a yellow cat who wouldn't leave his home. He tried and he tried to give the cat away. He gave it to a man going far, far away. But the cat came back. The very next day, the cat came back. They thought he was the gunner, but the cat came back. He just couldn't stay away. Give me a meow. Now the man around the corner swore he'd kill the cat on sight. So he loaded up his shotgun with nails and dynamite. He waited and he waited for the cat to come around. 97 pieces of the man is all that they fought. But you know, the cat came back. The very next day, the cat came back. They thought he was a goner, but the cat came back. He just couldn't stay away. Gimme a meow, go. So he gave it to a man going up in a balloon. He told him for to take it to the man in the moon. The balloon came down about 90 miles away. Where the man is now, well, I dare not say. But you know, the cat came back. The very next day, the cat came back. They thought he was the gunner, but the cat came back. He just couldn't stay away. Give me a meow, go. So he gave it to a man going way out west. He told him for to take it to the one he loved the best. First the train hit the track, then it jumped a rail. Not a soul was left behind to tell the gruesome tale. But you know what? The cat came back. The very next day, the cat came back. They thought he was the gunner, but the cat came back. He just couldn't stay away. Give me a meow, go. Now the cat was the possessor of a family of his own. With seven little kittens till there came a cyclone. It tore the houses all apart and tossed the cat around. The air was filled with kittens, but not one was ever home. But the cat came back. The very next day, the cat came back. They thought he was a goner, but the cat came back. He just couldn't stay away. Give me a meow go. Sing it all again. Now the cat came back. The very next day, the cat came back. They thought he was a goner, but the cat came back. He just couldn't stay away. Give me a meow go. Louder meow. Meow. Louder. Meow. A little quieter.

unknown 25:51

Meow.

SPEAKER_11 25:52

Quier meow.

unknown 25:54

Meow. Quieter meow. Meow.

SPEAKER_11 25:58

Quieter.

unknown 26:00

Meow. As quiet as you can.

SPEAKER_06 26:03

We the moon Ohin Moa.

SPEAKER_10 26:19

Oh we mowed. Oh, we know what we know. Oh we know what we know. Oh we mowed. Oh we mowed. Oh, we mowed, oh we mow it, oh we no way, oh we mowed, oh we mow.

SPEAKER_06 26:34

In the jungle, the mighty jungle.

SPEAKER_09 28:47

COVID Companions. And this is that end with Queen and Cool Cat. Written by Freddie Mercury and John Deakin from the album of the Hot Straight. Here are the stray cats, the cure, and the Queen.

SPEAKER_13 30:45

I drop right by with my tail in the air. Oh, the over the juice for me from the dinner from the garbage cow.

SPEAKER_06 31:52

And I got rid of the book.

SPEAKER_13 32:52

I wish I could be as everyone. Cat class and I got cat style.

SPEAKER_06 33:43

The way we walk, the way we talk, the way we stop, the way we kiss. We slip through the streets while everyone's getting bigger and sticker and wide and bright. We bite and spec and scream all night. Let's go throw all the songs we know. You and me are the ends and no one. I'll show you in spring. All you know that I do anything for you. Have each other's teeth, huh? Just have each other with the fire and sleep for a while. It's a stink, you and me. All the years I know I'm home. I'll show you in spring. You're a steep water, wanna play, wanna play pretty thing for you, up each other. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:10

Make it out like a belly.

SPEAKER_06 37:18

Tapping on the toe with a new hat. Driving along with the sinking, feeling the kid in my heart. Feelin' the kid of my head. Who you're alright? Can I just be the light?

SPEAKER_03 37:54

Messin' with the beat of my messin' with the beat of my heart You used to be a mean kid. Making such a deal of life.

SPEAKER_06 38:27

But did it happen?

SPEAKER_03 38:30

No, I didn't fight. Slow down. Slow down. You better slow down. Slow down. Get inside the moon.

SPEAKER_06 39:16

Just cruising. Driving along like the snake. Feeling the beat of my heart. Feeling the beat of my heart.

SPEAKER_03 39:34

Feeling the beat of my heart. Feeling the beat of my heart.

SPEAKER_06 39:47

Feeling the beat of my heart.

SPEAKER_09 40:13

That was the straight catch and queen. Well, this brings us to the final set for today's program. Thank you to the songwriters. And I hope you enjoyed the lovely ultimate joy. Thank you to Joe Little for producing this series. Andrew Boy. Everybody wants to be a cat. Here are the end repointing. The cast from the cat.

SPEAKER_12 42:27

I bought things over. I'd have to find out of nowhere. I'm known with no sound. I'm known for my grace and my curiosity. No doubt about it. C A D that cat. I love to read and I like how places. I know how to locate the unknown spaces. A sudden loud noise will cause me to scram. I don't enjoy surprises. That's the way I am. I'm a cat. C A T that's cat. C A T that's cat. Yeah, C A T spells cat. Cat. Dear kitty kitty, I can hear you say. My educated guesses you want me to play. Maybe I'll come, but probably not. I'm not really buying whatever you got, cause I'm a cat. And though two cats are exactly the same. We each have a style and a secret name. We drift like a tree, then off like a shot. We choose to knock things over just to shake things up like a cat. C A T, that's a cat. Yeah, C A T that's a cat. That's a cat. I sleep in the sun. I bat things around. I pounce out of nowhere. I'm known with no sound. I'm known for my grace and my curiosity. No doubt.

SPEAKER_17 45:40

He's called the hidden call. For he's not master criminal who can't defy the law. He's the purple mint of Scotland Yard. The flying squads disappear. When they reach the scene of crime, the cavities are not there. Macavity, Macavity. There's no one like Macavity. He's broken every human law. He breaks the law of gravity. His powers of levitation would make a fake stare. Macavities are out there. Macavities, a ginger cat is very tall and fair. You would know him if you saw him. For his eyes are sunk in. His brow is deeply lined with thought. His head is highly domed. His coat is dusty from the left. His whiskers are uncombed. He sways his head from side to side with movements like a snake over and whatever. You think he's half asleep? He's always Why do I? Macavity, Macavity, there's no one Macavity. For he's a fiend in feel like a monster of depravity. You may meet him in a by street. You may see him in a square. But what the crime's discovered then. Macaviti's not there. He's outwardly respectable. I know the cards. And his footprints are not found in any files of scarf. And when the light is looted, and the jewel case is rifled. Oh, and the milk is missing. Oh another pig's been stifled! Oh, the greenhouse glass is broken. And the trellis pasture bear. Whatever time the deed took place, the cavity wasn't there. Then they saved all the cats whose wicked deeds are widely known. I might mention Mungo Jerry, Rumble Teaser, Griddlebone, and nothing more than agents. For the cat who all the time just controls the operations.

SPEAKER_06 49:20

The Napoleon of Crimea.

SPEAKER_02 50:10

When the crime's discovered then.

SPEAKER_17 50:13

Macaviti's not fair.

SPEAKER_15 50:19

Everybody wants to be a cat. Because a cat's the only cat who knows where is that. Tell me everybody's picking up on that feline beat. Cause everything else is obsolete. A square with a home makes you wish you weren't born every time he plays. But with a square in the act, you can set music back to the caveman days. Oh, I heard some corny birds you try to sing. But still, a cat's the only cat who knows how to swing. Wants to dig along and eagle stuff like that. When everybody wants to be a cat. The square with a home makes you wish she went bone every time you play. But with a square in the eye, you can set music back to the cave mandates. Everybody wants to be a cat. Because a cat's the only cat who knows where it's at. You always have a welcome lad. Cause everybody did a swinging cat.

SPEAKER_04 52:50

Play on, don't spare the tone, don't blow a little soul into the church.

SPEAKER_15 53:03

Let's take it up another key. March a late and wait for me. I'll take a few words and praise. The other cats will all commence. Congregating on the fence beneath the alley's only line.

SPEAKER_09 53:30

Every noticed, that was Darcy and Sandra Poynton, the musical cast of Cats and Sam Robinson. Thank you for listening to Acoustic Avenue. This is Ted Crow, signing off, and on behalf of Joe Little, from our hearts to yours, stay safe. And love the ones you're with.