DJ Tom LG Presents: Lost In a Fog

This is the last Lost in Fog episode I will record in 2011.

I recorded this just a few days before Christmas in our cabin in the Redwoods. This is a typical collection of sounds that I think express the range and variety of the sound I have created for these kinds of music. The result is an hour long music experience which takes us through the underworld of 1950s-60s exotic instrumentals, surf, rhythm & blues and assorted vocal oddities from original press 45s and LPs. In the same universe as the Red Radio series.

I love Lost in Fog and it has been a pleasure to share this music with the far reaches of the world. Here's to the new year coming up, best of luck to everyone. Thanks for listening. -DJ Tom LG

(photo by rosey lakos 2011 www.roseylakos.com)

Summer doesn't hit Santa Cruz until late August. Mostly we suffer through icky gray days and dark fog belts that creep in at 5pm and lift around 12pm the next day. I am not usually very excited to create a new mix under such conditions. Yesterday I awoke to the sun streaming through the cabin skylights illuminating the redwood to create a red-orange hue. This was a good sign that a new mix was secretly in the works.

The result is this 60 minute and 20 second excursion into the dark and lovely world of original 1950s-60s surf, instrumentals, rockabilly, vocal oddities, rhythm & blues and other assorted mystical sounds straight from the original vinyl 45 & LPs.

Here's some Tom LG trivia: In 18 years I have never once planned a set or played the same set twice. When I'm preparing for a gig I keep in mind that if I'm spinning vintage music, I play about 25 songs in an hour. This helps me gauge how many 45s I'll need to fill a three or four hour live set. Using this simple method I know that in a three hour set I will play approximately 75 records.

That means I make at least 75 decisions in that time. That is only if I make the correct choice every song, which I do not. I change the mood a lot and many times I will change a record at the very last second. This works to my advantage and gives me much more control over what I'm playing. Hence the title "Twelve Every Half hour." If only every person who approaches me at a gig with a dumb question knew this.. Thanks for listening! -TLG

A fine Summer afternoon in the Santa Cruz Mountains resulted in this lovely collection of early to mid-1960s girl-groups and swanky female vocalists. It must be made clear that this cool, luscious and oh so sweet mix was requested by my wife who also happens to listen to my podcast as part of her daily routine. In fact she knows these better than I do since the only times I ever hear them is when she's working on her photography projects. She asks regularly when the next soul episode is coming out so hopefully this will buy me some time to gather the next stack of records. This mix will be of interest to the folks who have enjoyed my previous "Beehive 'Tween Times" episodes.

I recorded in one take and used 99% original 45s and 1% original LPs. Please enjoy the music and thanks for listening.

For those of us who are familiar with the now infamous DJ Tom LG "Night Walk" CD from the Red Radio series this new podcast episode is going to sound strangely familiar. For those of you who have never heard a copy of that obscure out-of-print mix, drop everything and seek out a copy or just give this a listen. Here I have created a monster mix of crazy, kooky, bizarro vocal and instrumental obscurities from the late 1950s to the mid-60s.

The three dollar tip was dropped onto the platter of one of my 1200s a few weeks ago by a listener at the venue that I spin at on Friday nights. I don't use a tip jar so it's always nice to receive a quick thanks from a passing patron who has enjoyed their evening because of the atmosphere that I created. To me that tip was worth more than the money I got paid top play the entire set.

*All the records I used were from original press 45s.

Earth Day 2011. For the last two years every recording I have done has been in the cabin. My turntables are set up in front of the window which looks over a deep canyon filled as far as the eye can see with giant redwoods. This view has been the inspiration for countless hours of record listening. It is my portal into the unknown universe of sound where I can explore and experience music with nature.

In the spirit of all the Earth has provided me I have created this hour mix of ambient and other assorted chilled out sides and tempos. Every record I used was from original vinyl from 1974-2010. This is the kind of music that I was spinning when I first started in 1993 and remains my favorite music exploration device. When I start doing chill rooms again, this is what you can expect to hear.

This forest can be very dark and crisp on a cloudy day. It has many faces and many moods and sometimes in it's silence it seems to seduce me to the turntables as if it were asking me to play something. I grew up in these mountains, they have provided me with an entire childhood of memories and experiences and in many ways I know this forest like I know my mother and father. The photograph is taken from the canyon side leading down from the cabin. The cabin is at the middle right of the image obscured from the trees. I am standing in the spot that I look at from the window. Thanks for listening!

PHOTOGRPAHS by rosey lakos www.roseylakos.com

There are times when I sit in front of the record shelves starring into the neat rows waiting for something to come to me. When I decide to record a new episode and have no idea what to play it can take up most of an afternoon. Yesterday was no exception. I sat for what seemed like an eternity just looking until I finally picked up a random record and set it on the platter. This activity went on for quite a while, record after record. Each time I thought I found a sound worthy of recording I changed directions. Yesterday in the Santa Cruz Mountains it was cold and gray, the forest sat so quietly and still that I became lulled into a groggy euphoric state of mind. Eventually one record caught my attention and a sound slowly began to emerge, and it was too late for a nap..

The result of my determination to create a new episode is this fine collection of classic jazz, big band and ballads from the 1920s-40s. As expected, the atmosphere slowly changes from dark and sad, to light and lovely. I imagined a series of those kooky 1930s cartoons running through the fantastic dreams of a very sleepy DJ. Its a story of the macabre and the sweet, the pages like chapters in his mind's eye. As I recorded I starred out into the gray forest and chose records according to what I saw out there. I recorded for one hour (plus some change) in one take with no problems. The records I used are reissue LPs from (1950s-80s) of original recordings from the 1920s-40s. When it was all said and done I sat down on the couch, hit play on the laptop and fell fast asleep, the dream as it turned out was no dream at all... and what a nap it was. Thanks for listening!

I can smell the paper white Narcissus blooms from the turntables. The door of the cabin is wide open as is the window to the left. From this window in front of me all I can see is redwood trees and a dirt road winding down the mountain. The Acacia trees are in the distance I can only barely taste the scent but I know they are in full brilliance. It is January in the Santa Cruz Mountains and not even the coyotes know what to think.. it feels like a fine day to post my first mix of 2011.

As it turns out this one is like the brother of a previous mix called "Day Fades, Night Turns Away" only in a different context because some of the band choices are coincidental. My emotional state when I was recording this was completely unrelated to Day Fades. After what seemed like forever picking out music for this I finally came up with this lovely atmosphere of post-punk, shoegaze and indie-electronic themes. Like a lot of the moods I navigate with records this mix balances between serious and dark, beautiful and emotional.

Thanks for listening, Tom LG

Night of the Tea Cup is an obscure reference to a memory of a long gone restaurant in Santa Cruz. When I was a teenager my friends and I used to run around at night and throw pennies down at cars from the top of the parking garage in town. The historic St. George Hotel could clearly be seen from the open top garage. Just across the street below the hotel suspended in time and flickering colored neon was the Tea Cup sign. On this particular winter night the town was curiously still..

The St. George was shadowed between the city alleys, quiet and unaware. A single open window was illuminated by the moon colored light of a black & white film. The sounds of muffled dialog wafted through the open window like smoke. The distant words passed through the streets and eventually made their way across to the parking garage. The buzz of the Tea Cup's neon sign snapped on and off again. I closed my eyes and for a moment my being became suspended in that memory, then I heard the music..

This experience shaped my fantasies about old music and old times. This episode is a reference to that night 24 years ago.. It is a thoughtful piece of time that sets the tone for a dreamy state of mind, at once sexy and sad. There are elements of 1950s-60s exotica, Far-East, tribal kitsch, soundtracks, classical, instrumental, Latin, jazz and mystical vocal oddities that I'm not sure fit into any recognizable category. Each tune takes its time wandering it's recorded space and as you absorb the atmosphere you just may see the Tea Cup in the distance.

The records I used in this episode are from original press 45s & LPs from the mid-50s to the mid-60s. This is also my last podcast episode of 2010, thanks everybody for listening.

photo by rosey lakos (www.roseylakos.com)

I need to start off by stating that this is one of my favorite episodes to date. This is a trail of thoughtful sonic mystery that is laden with deep emotional experiences... an expression of the state of mind I often find myself in lately.

As the war in Iraq "winds down" (as if the 50,000 troops left there are in no danger) my thoughts shift continualy to Sgt. Damon Fawcett of A Co. 3rd Plt. 1st Recon Battalion USMC. Damon took his own life a few years ago after returning from 30 consecutive days of combat in the initial invasion in 2003.

Though I have struggled with coming to terms with his death I do have some sense of peace about it. The things he left me with, the ideas and the a deeper knowledge of the war from an insider's perspective has left me torn between understanding and utter anger. If there is one thing that Damon taught me before he died it was that there is no complete or definitive answer to what the war actually means. This episode is dedicated to him, an homage to the conflicts within his spirit. We lost more than a life, we lost a story and I know how many other's have experienced the same. In the military post-combat suicides are not considered casualties of war... I will never understand why.

The music on this episode illustrates a paradox of emotions through contemporary new wave, post-punk and ambient records from 2005-09. The songs themselves have no connection to war and for me this is fitting. The rest you'll just have to listen to...

Here's a fine example of the sound of the Monday night Sides Speakeasy weekly event I host at the 515 Kitchen & Cocktails in Santa Cruz. This mix happens to be on the darker side of traditional jazz and blues from the 1920s-40s. I used to know a soul and hip-hop DJ who used to tell me that this kind of music was simply black people playing white music to please the white crowds. Even with his extensive knowledge of music history it always amazed me how ignorant he was to the real roots of jazz and soul. The idea that "jazz" was created by blacks and influenced white music was not an idea he could grasp. As a result he never got into roots jazz because in his mind it was not a valid form of black music I suppose.

So this one is dedicated to all the soul, jazz and hip-hop lovers out there who think they can identify the black music from the white and who think traditional jazz was some kind of a conspiracy by whites to invalidate the black creation of jazz.

Thye general mood here is dark and sad with very short moments of thoughtful possibilities. Crusty old jazz and blues instrumentals, far East desert serenades, tribal swing, viper vocals and strange musical oddities make this a swell listening experience.

This mix was recorded in one take on a sunny summer afternoon here deep in the Redwood forest. I used reissue LPs from the 1950s-80s domestics and imports.

Here is my first podcast of 2010. This is the current atmosphere that I have been working with at the Red where I play every Friday night in Santa Cruz. This is a mix of kitschy ethnic-exotica, surf and bizarro space-age instrumentals with a healthy dose of wild tribal rhythms and monster drums which ebb and flow between spooky and lovely. This is a different type of exotica where Martin Denny, Korla Pandit, Yma Sumac and Esquivel are too clean and goofy to make a home. This is music with plenty of dirt under the nails. All of the records are from original press 45s & LPs from the 1950s-60s.

Its 9:46pm in St. George. We've been on the road for 10 hours. In the distance, a desert moon lights the road to the Sands, we consider the vacancy but choose the canyon for home tonight.

photo by rosey lakos PHOTOGRAPHY

Here's a fine collection of western swing, hillbilly bop and sad honky-tonk ballads from the late 40's- early 60's. Here both sexes get a chance to speak their minds and express their sorrows and woes either solo or in duets, sometimes sad but often times very funny.

Most of the 45s I used here were from a radio station so they are all original DJ promos. Interestingly the majority of them are common labels which just goes to support my theory that it doesn't have to be an obscure label to be an amazing find. This was recorded in one take and I cleaned up a couple of pops here and there other than that this was a breeze to record compared to my last episode as well as being a great way to spend an afternoon in the redwoods.

In the Santa Cruz mountains Fall has arrived... the orange sun filters through the skylight of the cabin, my wife is away driving horses through the Eastern Sierras to Bishop and the music echoes to her...

Due to an incredibly overwhelming response I have at last created a 4th volume of synth-pop and electro oddities and classics from 1981-89. In volume 4 I have added a couple of pop hits which on any run of the mill 80s compilation might seem obvious but their part in history holds fast.

This mix was three days in the works. It went through a few track list evolutions and I simply wasn't pleased with the result. So I recorded and deleted, recorded and deleted, moves tunes around and finally this evening I was satisfied.

All of the tunes came straight from original 45s, 12"s & LPs from 1981-89. Once again I am amazed at how well some of these tracks stand up today. The history of electronic music is rich but partly forgotten so here's another hour or so of my teenage musical soundtrack. This one is dedicated to my pal Eric who inspired volume 4...

This is a final installment of the series. A darker version of the others this mix is more of an evolution of the music I was listening to in the 80's. This was around the time when I had really discovered industrial, which to me was an evolution of the synth-pop stuff I was into. The mood on this mix never really takes us to the serious hardcore industrial music of the era but a middle ground where the evolution of techno was about to begin.

I can't comment enough on the obvious influence that this music had on contemporary electronic music. All of the elements that I love in the kind of techno that I play are represented here and in many cases almost a decade before it was created. For me all this was a natural progression into industrial and then into techno and all it's relatives.

All the records came from original LPs & 12"s from the 80's.

Another detour through under and above ground synth-pop dance tracks from 1981-90. Similar to the last mix there's some classics as well as some obscure stuff which I recorded from original 45s, LPs & 12"s. It never ceases to amaze me how ahead of time the music is and how influential it has been on contemporary electronic music. I think there will be a part 3 in the works sometime soon... 

There is a difference between the "Don Johnson's white sport coat 80's" and the "Waver 80's". Here I present a deeper and darker version of the 80's underground, synth-pop, b-sides and popular one or two hit wonders on original 45s & LPs.

This is the music that defined my life from 11 to 19 years old, that's 1981-89 if you're wondering. It's interesting to note that this music was the segue way into my interest in industrial and techno in the early 90's which evolved into the foundation on which my DJ career was built and nurtured.

If you know me from the electronic world then this music is why I don't really play funky house... I was raised on Kraftwerk, Tomita and Jean-Michel Jarre from age 6 thanks to my dad. Any way enjoy this totally unique mix of 80's jams!!

Dust. Desolate backwoods and endless hollers... this mix of Appalachian and mountain stringband music from the 1960's to the present will one moment have you gasping for air in a dirty mineshaft and the next waltzing with the loveliest of ladies beneath a star black sky. I've got the usual sad ballads and a few real barn burners here too so be advised.

The picture begins, a life has been lost, there is more to come but not before there's something beautiful to behold... I'm going home with my wife to the mountains where we're from and I'm never leaving again...

The records I used came from various LPs and 45s from the 60's-00's.

Summertime waits in the distance, the East bay is breezy and sunny, whether you live in the drab gray of the city or the flat space of the island today, at this moment it's all good. There's nothing that can soothe a tired mind like this collection of sweet soul ballads from 1959-70*. Each mood is felt from the honey-sweetest love song to the sad and broken-hearted weepers. I'm ready to be out into the wind again...

All the records came from original 45s plus two original LPs. *(After a snafu during the initial recording of this compilation I decided to re-record the entire project, this is the result).

Ambient was the very first kind of music that I was into when I first began to spin records in 1993. I have a very unique relationship to ambient and downtempo music because it's where I can experiment with the most success. This is the type of electronic music that I most identify with.

I've created a very dark tribal, organic mood laced together with suspended moments in time and angry, powerful drums as large and loud as burning factories in the night. These sounds suggests landscapes of imagery through serious emotional states. This is thoughtful music and therefore it reflects my mood during the recording of the set. All the tracks are from domestic and import 12" vinyl.

Itchin' For Some Switchin' is a reference to the subtle hints vinyl DJ folks receive when it's time to mix some records. In the tradition of this wonderful and glorious sensation I have created this monster 50's & 60's rhythm & blues compilation for your enjoyment.

No mood is left unnoticed here and the focus is on hard driving rhythms powerful enough to lift you off of the surface of the planet straight into the outer limits of the universe. This may as well be considered a fine choice for the long drive home or the daunting task of cleaning the house as some of my listeners do. I start you off with a friendly hammer in the face and wind-down the story with a lovely sadder than sad ballad.

All the tunes came from original press 45s from the 1950's & 60's and one original LP.

I took a left turn at the last Instrumental episode and headed straight for Vocal Harmony Ave on this creation. Here we have a delicious recipe of doo-wop, rocknroll and a few strange and lovely ballads for flavor. This one has a bit of a Lynchian "golly-gee" mood at times which balances between the goofy and serious. Think David Lynch having a burger at the drive-in picture show...

I'd say this one is best enjoyed during spring evenings. All the records came from original 45s (plus one original LP) from the 1950's-60's!

This one's a monster of instrumental madness! Here's some of the crustiest instrumental rocknroll, surf and strip-club oddities from the 1950's & 60's that I have! (plus a few classics)

This is the sound that I'm ape about these days. There's so much primitive percussion, dirty guitars and wailin' horns on this mix that I half expect to get hit in the face by a silk stocking!

All the tunes came right off original 45s. I did do some editing to clean up some of the surface noise. Enjoy!!

Here we have a cool mix of kitschy-oddities, innovators and a few classics from the 1950's and 60's. There is a wide variety of music ranging from teen rocknroll, doo-wop, instrumentals and even a couple big band style rockers. It starts off innocent enough but quickly descends into a darker place just before you get bounced right back into the strange. All the music came from original 45s & a few original LPs.

This one was inspired by Lux Interior's (Cramps) the Purple KNIF Show record which really got me into a lot of the strange music that I'm now into. Lux Interior died recently and I was very saddened by our loss. I did get to meet he and Ivy once at the record store I worked at and they both signed a sealed copy of Bad Music For Bad People LP I had stashed in my hold box, it was an honor and means more today than ever.

Spring is here I have a breeze and a window and my turntables...

I was feelin' the sides from the early 60's soul mix last week so I decided to continue with the theme. It pretty much picks up where the last one left off. It's a fine recipe of early to mid-60's rhythm & blues, girl groups and Northern soul kind of stuff. Pureed into a smooth blend of sad ballads, mid-tempo strolls, sometimes overlooked classics as well as some rarities.

All the tunes have been recorded using original 45s. This mix was recorded in one take.

note: My wife liked listening to it at the photo lab at school so this one's dedicated to rosey and the photo lab folks at CCA, I hope this helps you make nice photos.

Here's a killer compilation of early 60's rhythm & blues filled to the gills with girl groups, sad ballads and dance floor shakers, some rare and a couple of classics.

This takes me back to my mod days in the 80's, dressed in our finest three-button suits and parkas. We would ride from Santa Cruz to shows and DJ dances in San Jose, San Francisco and Berkeley, I remember a lot of vodka and cigarettes... I don't remember how we got home sometimes.

Anyway as is my usual recipe the moods are up and down on this mix. There's a number of tunes that sort of defy genre which is something that I really look for in a record. It was a nice way to spend a rainy day at home...

All of the tunes were recorded from original 45s. This mix was recorded in one take.

Here is a collection of Appalachian and old-time stringband music from the 1920's-60's.

There is something for everybody here unless of course you happen to be an old-time snob. I have created an experience of many moods and many feelings. There are some really dark tunes lightly dusted with a number of very sweet ballads. All the records I used are from original LPs & 45s from the 1950's & 60's.

The cabin seems far away. Maybe it's just over the next ridge... I can smell the fire and the dry pages of the bookshelf... there's a mother rocking her baby beneath the morning sun, I don't want to wake.

This is the twin relation of an earlier compilation called "Orange Leaves At The Casa Bonita" a carousel of smoking Cuban, French, American and South American mambos, hot-jazz and Latin vocal oddities dripping with percussive rhythms from the 1930's to the 1950's. Most of the tunes are from original 45s, LPs except a few reissue LPs from the 60's and 70's.

The night begins, the mambo shakes the floor and a pair of star-crossed lovers kiss beneath the confetti on a haystack... a revenant moment of dreaming beneath a paper moon and flashbulb stars...

This is a compilation I made for a road trip to the Sierra Mountains. My wife and I like to explore and search for old ghost towns and mines in the Western states. I made this mix specifically to listen to while on the dirt road to Masonic and the Chemung Mine outside of Bridgeport.

It's a collection of various types of country music from the 1950's and 60's. All the records I used are original 45s. There's plenty of sad steel guitars, chunky shuffle beats, cryin' fiddles and who's keepin' that dog?... You're gonna need a hat and a beer for this one...

Another compilation in a series of dark and spooky viper jazz, swing, Latin and delicious vocal treats from the 1920's to the early 1950's. There are a number of interesting rhythms and sad haunted recordings filled with tribal percussion and beautiful dreams.

The records I used came from a variety of formats, original 45s, LPs and imported reissues from the 60's, 70's & 80's. A couple of the Latin tunes came from my grandfather's collection. He was born in Antofagasta, Chile. When he passed away I was given his record collection which included an amazing stack of Chilean 78s and LPs of vintage South American artists. One of these records I recently discovered has not been played for at least 50 years as it was stuffed into the wrong sleeve.

Autumn has arrived, the leaves are orange and I miss my mountain home though the Casa Bonita has been good to us...

I made this one an hour ago. Here we begin and end with a dream. This compilation of 1920's-1930's old-time, Cajun, blues and western swing is a very dark detour down an unknown highway. The story is told through some of the spookiest and strangest sides that own. I'm not sure if any of these old tunes have anything friendly say as most of them are nothing more than the messengers of death and hard times. Of course it's only a dream as you'll find out...

photo by rosey LAKOS PHOTOGRAPHY

This project is another excursion into the universe of modern Americana. This is a deeper ride through the darker side of the sad slow ballad. This is the mix you want to be listening to as you're driving through the back country of Utah on some dusty double-track road. It is all at once beautiful and sad.

I recorded this near the one year anniversary of my friend Damon's suicide. Damon was a Recon marine in Iraq in March '03, he saw much more than anybody should have to see. The music and the mood reflect my emotional state. This one is for Damon, may you always rest in peace.

Fresh off the decks. I made this earlier today. This is a mix of various styles progressive-tribal-techno, that's what I call it any way. I lost track of genre wars many years ago. These days I use all kinds of genre terms to give a general idea of what kind of music I'm describing.

It's about 55 minutes long and sits comfortably at about 135-ish BPM. As usual there's lots of drums and a few vocals, tribal chants and otherwise dark with an occasional sunny spot.

As I described in my previous electronic mix (live @ flow) this constitutes the epitome of my style and sound for progressive-tribal music.

This is one of my more unique mixes. I've never created a weave of music like this before. The idea behind the theme is that there was no specific genre but rather an intricate and seamless myriad of sound and styles. Here I take your from ambient and downtempo to post-punk, Manchester, a Kansas tune and other beautiful and strange moments in time. I really feel this one is a totally enjoyable listening experience dense with deeper emotions.

This was a spur of the moment idea that ended up taking most of the day just to go through records. This is an unusual hip-hop excursion and has a story to it. It was the day before the election and I was feeling much angst and worry so I decided to make a mix that expressed my emotional state. The result is this mix which tends to be on the moodier side. Not all at once aggressive but a bit angsty. It also has its moments of beauty as well. All together the diverse tracks find some harmony and blow your speakers at the same time.

I recorded it in my living room on a very depressing, wet and rainy Monday afternoon using Audacity in one take.

This compilation is a retrospective of soul ballads from 1959-70. It was recorded in the summer of 2008 in one take but I did have to do some editing to clean up the surface noise as these selections are all from original 45s. My inspiration for this mix was the front porch that I don't have or in other words this is music that I would love to listen to while sitting on my front porch sipping a cold beer and sitting with my face in the sun.

This is a compilation of obscure jazz and swing from the 1920's to the 1940's. A sultry, sexy excursion into the realm of music dreams. These most beautiful and spooky tunes were recorded in one take using Audacity. I recorded this mix using original 45s and reissue LPs from the 70's & 80's.

It was a hot Fall afternoon and the light from the October sun upon the stucco walls outside my apartment were the inspiration for this unique compilation.

This is a 35-minute in-person progressive-tribal mix recorded in Santa Cruz for Raindance Production's weekly event 'Flow'. It's from my secret library archive. It was recorded in July '02 at the 418 Project and is as far as I know one of three live mixes floating around that I did not record myself.

If you are curious as to what epitomizes my sound and mood for this style of electronica, this is it. Anybody who knows me in this DJ universe will not be surprised by the content of this music.

There are many, many drums... and more after that...