Chairman Ralph's Ministry Of Truth

Spoken Word Tracks

****UPDATED: 12/26/14: This is pretty self-explanatory, but for those who haven't dropped into the neighborhood before, here's your instructions:

All tracks are grouped by the artist's name, program or venue, instead of strict chronological order. At any rate, listen, enjoy and take what you want for download.

As always, thanks for your patronage..stay cool.*****

Title
"A PATH TO POLITICAL SUSTAINABILITY: RECLAIMING THE COMMON GOOD"	"A PATH TO POLITICAL SUSTAINABILITY: RECLAIMING THE COMMON GOOD" Short 'n' sweet -- delivered live, via Zoom, to our congregation at Berrien Unitarian Universalist Church (St. Joseph, MI), 4/03/22, as part of Sunday's intergenerational service ("Working Toward A Sustainable Future"). In this case, the mission -- which I did accept -- called for giving a short speech on some aspect of sustainability. I chose politics, simply because -- as our democracy grows ever more dysfunctional, and ever more broken -- it's worth reminding the doubting Thomases among us what we could have, even now, if we actually spoke up, and reached for it. Hence, my Brit-centric history lesson, of Sir Anthony Meyer's long shot bid in 1989 to challenge Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's leadership, and the lessons it holds for us today. Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: A TRIBUTE: "THE JAM: THIS IS THE MODERN WORLD REVISITED"	CHAIRMAN RALPH: A TRIBUTE: "THE JAM: THIS IS THE MODERN WORLD REVISITED" You read it in DESPERATE TIMES #1 -- now hear the aural movie! An excerpted version of this tribute to The Jam's oft-maligned, unfairly-dismissed second album, THIS IS THE MODERN WORLD. I explore why it matters, and why you should listen, and include a personal tribute to the man who introduced me to that album, and its creators, The Jam -- my late friend, Tony Salazar, on which this particular excerpt focuses. Chairman Ralph: Narration, guitar, drums, and effects Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: "BLACKOUT FOR JANIE JONES"/"I WAS A TEENAGE SUBVERSIVE" (LIVE @ THE BOX FACTORY FOR THE ARTS, ST. JOSEPH, MI, 4/23/19)	CHAIRMAN RALPH: "BLACKOUT FOR JANIE JONES"/"I WAS A TEENAGE SUBVERSIVE" (LIVE @ THE BOX FACTORY FOR THE ARTS, ST. JOSEPH, MI, 4/23/19) My tribute to the so-called "vice madam" celebrated on the first Clash album, plus my take on current events...what we call a "political monster movie" of sorts, hence, the title ("I Was A Teenage Subversive"). Recorded live to DVR by me, at the Box Factory For The Arts, 6/24/19, St. Joseph, MI. Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: "CLASH CITY BUSKERS" (SPEECH+SONG, LIVE @ BUUF, 6/10/18)	CHAIRMAN RALPH: "CLASH CITY BUSKERS" (SPEECH+SONG, LIVE @ BUUF, 6/10/18) Chairman Ralph: guitar+vocals. Recorded live to DVR, by yours truly, at Berrien Unitarian Universalist Church (St. Joseph, MI), 6/10/18. My tribute to the improbable Clash busking tour of northern England and Scotland (May 3-17, 1985) -- so there's a talk that precedes the song. If you want to go straight to the song, fast forward to 7:04. No hard feelings there...it's all a part of what we like to call life's rich pageant. :-) Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: "DAVE DAVIES VS. MICK AVORY (RD I)"+2 MORE (WRITE NITE, SOUTH BEND, IN, 3/21/19)	CHAIRMAN RALPH: "DAVE DAVIES VS. MICK AVORY (RD I)"+2 MORE (WRITE NITE, SOUTH BEND, IN, 3/21/19) Tracklisting: "Dave Davies Vs. Mick Avory, Round One (Cardiff '65)"/"Boiler Room"/"A Revolution Of The Mind" Mind you, they're all announced. But you get the picture. :-) Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: "HAPPINESS IS...A PACKET OF THREE" (LIVE @ BUUF, ST. JOSEPH, MI, 3/04/18)	CHAIRMAN RALPH: "HAPPINESS IS...A PACKET OF THREE" (LIVE @ BUUF, ST. JOSEPH, MI, 3/04/18) Just as the title says: recalling the late Steve Marriott's post-success life, and why the man still matters. Recorded live (3/04/18) at the Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, St. Joseph, MI. Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: "HIT 'EM AGAIN, RON" (LIVE @ THE BOX FACTORY, 6/24/19)	CHAIRMAN RALPH: "HIT 'EM AGAIN, RON" (LIVE @ THE BOX FACTORY, 6/24/19) My tribute to the late Stooges guitarist, Ron Asheton, recorded live by me at the Box Factory For The Arts' Spoken Word Open Mike Night (6/24/19). A work in progress, sure to be refined, but we're off to a good start, I think. Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: "I'M NOT A SISSY ANYMORE+I WANT THE ANSWERS"/"FILM EXTRA'S EXTRA"/"BACK IN THE DAY" (SJ LIBRARY, 4/21/18)	CHAIRMAN RALPH: "I'M NOT A SISSY ANYMORE+I WANT THE ANSWERS"/"FILM EXTRA'S EXTRA"/"BACK IN THE DAY" (SJ LIBRARY, 4/21/18) Recorded live to DVR by me at the St. Joseph Library, in celebration of National Poetry Month (4/21/18). First two tracks are actually lyrics from the Fleshtones, read as a medley -- don't ask me why, but somehow, it fits. Then we have one from John Cooper Clarke (Film Extra's Extra) and by me (Back In The Day), to round out this segment. Apologies for the bit of mike noise at the end...sometimes you can edit those things deftly, sometimes you can't. :-) Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH/LISA D. QUINLAN: "IDEAS OF SUCCESS"/"GOOFING OFF" (LIVE @ BUUF, (3/24/19)	CHAIRMAN RALPH/LISA D. QUINLAN: "IDEAS OF SUCCESS"/"GOOFING OFF" (LIVE @ BUUF, (3/24/19) Lisa D. Quinlan presents her essay on "The Importance Of Goofing Off" at last week's service -- which was dedicated to this theme -- at Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (St.Joseph, MI), with yours truly kicking it off, by performing her poem, "Ideas Of Success." As always, recorded live to DVR by me. Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: "THE SECRET LIFE OF HEMLIGA BOSSE" (GRAND RAPIDS 'ZINE FEST, 7/25/15	CHAIRMAN RALPH: "THE SECRET LIFE OF HEMLIGA BOSSE" (GRAND RAPIDS 'ZINE FEST, 7/25/15 This is a reading from the first issue of my 'zine, "Desperate Times," as premiered at Grand Rapids 'Zine Fest. Apologies in advance for the noise -- there were quite a lot of people in that room, which was also big, and echoed a fair bit -- but you shouldn't have any problem hearing what I'm reading, I think! Description	Download
LISA D. QUINLAN: "GOTH"/"FUTURE CAT LADIES OF THE WORLD" (LIVE @ THE BOX FACTORY, 4/23/19)	LISA D. QUINLAN: "GOTH"/"FUTURE CAT LADIES OF THE WORLD" (LIVE @ THE BOX FACTORY, 4/23/19) Two old favorites, back to back: performed by yours truly, Chairman Ralph, written by Lisa D. Quinlan, recorded live to DVR by me at The Box Factory For The Arts, St. Joseph, MI (4/23/19). Description	Download
LISA D. QUINLAN: "IN BETWEEN TIME & NOW #1+2"/"CROWDED" (LIVE AT THE BOX FACTORY, 6/24/19)	LISA D. QUINLAN: "IN BETWEEN TIME & NOW #1+2"/"CROWDED" (LIVE AT THE BOX FACTORY, 6/24/19) Performed by yours truly, Chairman Ralph, written by Lisa D. Quinlan, recorded live to DVR by me at The Box Factory For The Arts, St. Joseph, MI (6/24/19). Description	Download
PETE HAYNES: "JIMMY'S BAR" (EXCERPT FROM "GOD'S LONELY MEN")	PETE HAYNES: "JIMMY'S BAR" (EXCERPT FROM "GOD'S LONELY MEN") In 2012, I asked Pete if he might be willing to try reading an excerpt from GOD'S LONELY MEN, which takes us through his life and times with the Lurkers...often nicknamed "The Hammersmith Ramones"...but there was a lot more to the story than met the eye, as you'll hear in this nugget about the perils of cross-cultural exchange in New York (circa 1979). Enjoy! Description	Download

UPDATE (7/23/12): This page will be dedicated to spoken word tracks -- many of them hailing from the Chairman, with other contributions from various other artists, as events merit.