Abstract Fidelity masthead

ABSTRACT FIDELITY

THE SOUND YOU HEAR IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME. . .
ZenithPointStudio PopWorks 1

Digital computers just do not know the joy of an inbetween state. Spinning the dial of my 1980’s analog Sherwood receiver exposed a soft chaos of static soon replaced by the strong signal of a Los Angeles/San Diego FM station. One fateful night, I spent 12 minutes going back and forth on the FM dial while recording the result to tape. The experience was as galvanizing as Jimi Hendrix’s “same old explosion, goin’ through my mind” (Burning of the Midnight Lamp). I finally lost my nerve to continue, but the recording was a time capsule of American Culture. Of course, this artifact is lost – would you expect less. But it was so cool.

Add to that, as a recording musician, Guitar Center, a Southern California music icon, has been a dream factory, where a credit card will get the next great version of a favorite musical toy. They also used to make the greatest radio commercials. Intense, end of the world. A driving music bed and a big voice narration. You had to buy, on sale for only 3 days. 50% off. And then next week there would be a new radio ad.

I loved the commercials so much that I began to record hours of FM radio to catch them. From that beginning, dubbing songs, snippets of dialogue and other commercials into a collage became a pastime. I played them while driving the highways.

PopWorks 1a
PopWorks 1a

I ended up with 330+ cassettes. At 102 minutes per cassette (Maxell made a cassette with 50+ minutes per side), that’s over 550 hours.  Click on the button to download PopWorks 1a (51m). The link will be active for the forseeable future.

POPWORKS 1a (mp3) (70MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)

The collage has one rule: Do not expect the sound you are hearing will continue – the collage reserves the right to change at any instant. Definitely abstract fidelity. Here is PopWorks 1b

PopWorks 1b
PopWorks 1b

I never tried to make a second attempt with the Sherwood. I had no faith that I could catch that spirit again. And while the PopWorks series is edited, it was done in linear time. New elements were added to a “work tape” which, when filled, became the next collage tape.

                          POPWORKS 1b (mp3) (71 MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)

PopWorks & Commercialization 2

INCLUDES

GOING DOWN • EVERYONE WANTS SOME • HOT ROD LINCOLN • SEXY PRINCE • BYE BYE LOVE •  

HUNGRY • RELAX • SOME LIKE IT HOT • ROCKO’S HERE • 3 MINUTE ROCK N/ ROLL TRIVIA • 

POPWORKS 2a (mp3) (48MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
INCLUDES

PRETTY WOMEN • HEY JOE • DON’T WORRY BABY • MR UMPIRE • GIRL U WANT • SATISFACTION

27 BURGERS • MOBILE • HEAT IS ON • JUNGLE BOOGIE • SPIKE JONES • EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY

POPWORKS 2b (mp3) (60MB) (48m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS

PopWorks & Commercialization 3

INCLUDES

WEIRD AL • THE COOL & THE CRAZY • BLACK LASSIE • CONCERT DRUGS • DIRE STRAITS • DR. SCIENCE

MARSHALL CRENSHAW • AIMEE MANN • LAURIE ANDERSON

POPWORKS 3a (mp3) (60MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
INCLUDES

THE COOL & THE CRAZY • THE BIG BUST OUT • ROCK-A-BILLY • EDDIE’S SEXATERIA • UZI DEMO

MONTY PYTHON • WOMEN WITH MEAT ON THEIR BONES • ELECTRIC FLAG

POPWORKS 3b (mp3) (60MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS

PopWorks & Commercialization 4

INCLUDES

RING OF FIRE • COOL & CRAZY • BOBCAT • PANTS PUPPET • QUEEN B BAR-B-QUE

IRWINDALE RACEWAY • DRAG CITY • CAR SELECTION • DICK DALE

POPWORKS 4a (mp3) (60MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
INCLUDES

PORRIDGE LAWN • THE COOL & THE CRAZY • KNAC BUMPER STICKERS • DAN HICKS

SOMETHING’S IN THE BAG • DR. SCIENCE • RAMBO’S BIG BLOODBATH

POPWORKS 4b (mp3) (60MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS

PopWorks & Commercialization 5

INCLUDES

KING SIZE TAYLOR • PSYCHO 5 DOG FOOD • DIRTY RUTHIE • HAIRCUT 500

RANCHO LOBOTOMY ESTATES • DR. SCIENCE • HIGHWAY 8 • BLONDIE

POPWORKS 5a (mp3) (60MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
INCLUDES

SATISFACTION (STEREO) • FUZZBOX • FENDER UNBENDER • E.J. SONNY BARCKO

GENESIS • MAD SCIENTIST • ROBERT GORDON • BIG GREEN BUS

POPWORKS 5b (mp3) (60MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS

PopWorks & Commercialization 6

INCLUDES

PLO AIRLINES • TOWN STRANGER • BIG MONEY • SOFT SHOULDER NATIONAL PARK

OPEN PIT THERAPY • FOOD AND SEX • POPEYE’S THEME • TEX RITTER

POPWORKS 6a (mp3) (60MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
INCLUDES

DR. SCIENCE • IAN SHOALES • BOMB THE RUSSIANS • DEVO

OPEN PIT THERAPY • FOOD AND SEX • POPEYE’S THEME • TEX RITTER

POPWORKS 6b (mp3) (60MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS

PopWorks & Commercialization 7

INCLUDES

THE SPORTS PAGE • KING SIZE TAYLOR • BISCUIT BLUES • GIRLS ARE MORE FUN

I LIKE BOYS • BIG TIME OPERATOR • BIG PAN • MEN AT WORK

POPWORKS 7a (mp3) (58MB) (50m) (160 kbps) (1985)
INCLUDES

JACKIE PRESSUH ENTERPRISES • WEIRD AL • YACHISOBA STRIP MINER • ROCK-A-HULA

SCOTTISH RAWHIDE • IGGY POP • HAWAII STEVE • IAN SHOALES

POPWORKS 7b (mp3) (58MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS

PopWorks & Commercialization 8

INCLUDES

MOTHER RUSSIA • COOL & THE CRAZY • LUNCH W/ THE COMMUNISTS • OCEANMOUNTAINS

THE SPOKESMEN • APACHE • ART OF NOISE • GROOVY FREEWAY

POPWORKS 8a (mp3) (58MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
INCLUDES

HOLLYWOOD BUS TOURS • DAVE EDMUNDS • DR. BULLDOG FREUD • SEND YOU BACK TO GEORGIA

I SPY FOR THE FBI • THE VAPORS • FOLLOW ME DOWN • DICK DALE

POPWORKS 8b (mp3) (58MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS

PopWorks & Commercialization 9

INCLUDES

EDDIE’S KEY CLUB • COOL & THE CRAZY ARCHIVES • KORGI POODELL • 19 ENGINES

BIG PAN FAMILY RESTUARANTS • VIC TRIP’S PHONY LAUGH • RUBY GALATIC GUMSHOE

POPWORKS 9a (mp3) (58MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS
INCLUDES

GUY’S CORNER • CLAUDINE LONGET • HOUND DOG TAYLOR • RUN RUN RUDOLPH

KING SIZE TAYLOR • T-REX VS. MARK LINDSEY • FETAL JACKSON • HOW DO YOU SPELL GADDAFI

POPWORKS 9b (mp3) (58MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS

PopWorks & Commercialization 10

INCLUDES

EXTREME UNCTION • HUMOR POTENTIAL • RIDICULOUS MAN • DON STERLING MANAGEMENT

TODD RUNDGREN • MARCOS MART • BOWLING USA •

POPWORKS 10a (mp3) (58MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS
INCLUDES

POLICE ACADEMY 3 • VAN HALEN • BEAT FARMERS • IAN SHOALES

PETER FRAMPTOM • DR. SCIENCE • ROBERT PALMER • DOM DIMMIT REAL ESTATE

POPWORKS 10b (mp3) (58MB) (51m) (160 kbps) (1985)
REMEMBER: definitely ABSTRACT FIDELITY
LINK IS GOOD FOR AT LEAST TIL THE END OF DAYS