DIG THIS WITH BILL MESNIK AND RICH BUCKLAND- THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS

Rich Buckland and Bill Mesnik
  • 4.8 (18)
  • Music
  • Updated Biweekly

My Fellow Americans, Life is actually just a microscopic, deluded moment in time, so let's cut to the freakin' chase. One look at our impending election debacle can solidify my case. It has been my contention since birth, that the answer to every difficulty we encounter on this sacred yet demented Stone, can be revealed with ultimate clarity through the ultra neurotic engagements of Music, Art, Literature, Film, Poetry and a good Pastrami sandwich. Why would any sane human spend so must time on a film set (Do you know how long you gotta wait until your 8 second deliverance of an edited beyond repair line gets a chance to become a professional embarrassment etched in time forever? ) or expend so much energy in a recording studio, piecing together another ode to a man or woman who could not care less how much love existed within your digestive tract? It's all about hymns and prayers and a quest for mercy and forgiveness and silence and faith. We were blessed with Charles Bukowski,  Gene Chandler, Lenny Bruce, Mitch Ryder and a legion of creative explorers whose influences provided the air we breathe.  So Let's Dance! This site shall explore the reaper, find a way to disarm the stench of injustice, discover some true loves and talk it all over before it's all over. So what's the worst that our desires could produce? Failure? So sue me. I'm going to require your assistance in making as much trouble for the grown-ups as possible. Let the record show that my childish heart yearns to disrupt the madness. Join me Ladies and Germs! With Gratitude For Gena Rowlands, Nancy Sinatra, Jerry Quarry, Leo Gorcey, Arthur Alexander and Joey Heatherton, Your Splendid Bohemian, Rich Buckland.

  1. THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT IN REMEMBRANCE OF DAVE MASON (5/10/1946 - 4/19/2026): A SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET REWIND with THE "MIGHTY MEZ" - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #44: WHO KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING by Traffic (United Artists, 1968)

    2d ago

    THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT IN REMEMBRANCE OF DAVE MASON (5/10/1946 - 4/19/2026): A SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET REWIND with THE "MIGHTY MEZ" - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #44: WHO KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING by Traffic (United Artists, 1968)

    WHO KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING by Traffic (United Artists, 1968) The original line up of Traffic had it all: mysticism, funk, folk, world music, and a healthy dose of irony. For an acid head like me they were the perfect accompaniment for a trip through shifting patterns of synchronicity. Of course, Traffic was helmed by the one and only Steve Winwood, who as a teenager impressed the world, shouting the blues on “I’m a Man,” and “Keep on Running” with the Spencer Davis Group, and was now considered a full-blown genius. But they also needed Dave Mason for ballast, because after he left the rising balloon, Winwood navigated the group into extended jazz noodle-ville - (but, that’s another story!)  Who knows what tomorrow may bring from the group’s eponymous second album is a deceptively simple groove and mantra that resonates across genres, time-zones, and philosophies, releasing a blast of joy-filled dopamine to one’s synaptic receptors, even as one contemplates the evanescence of life. And, that swinging organ counterpoint is smoking!  As I felt the waves of dislocation beginning to distort my perceptions, Winwood encouraged me to “step outside” of my mind, and “float across the ceiling…” I trusted him, and so I did just that. And, it was good.

    6 min
  2. "PUT ON A STACK OF 45's" Rewind! MOBY GRAPE- "8:05" - THE DENIAL OF A GRAND DESTINY - Dig This With The Splendid Bohemians - Featuring Rich Buckland and Bill Mesnik -The Boys Devote Each Episode To A Famed 45 RPM And Shine A Light Upon It's Import

    May 23

    "PUT ON A STACK OF 45's" Rewind! MOBY GRAPE- "8:05" - THE DENIAL OF A GRAND DESTINY - Dig This With The Splendid Bohemians - Featuring Rich Buckland and Bill Mesnik -The Boys Devote Each Episode To A Famed 45 RPM And Shine A Light Upon It's Import

    MOBY GRAPE JUST CAN'T CATCH A BREAK https://www.npr.org/transcripts/17498799

    22 min
  3. IN HONOR OF THE LOVING MEMORY OF CLARENCE CARTER- FROM THE SPLENDID BOHEMIAN ARCHIVES- A "DIG THIS" CLASSIC EPISODE CELEBRATING THE SOUTHERN SOUL GENIUS OF CLARENCE CARTER, DON COVAY, AND ARTHUR ALEXANDER.

    May 16

    IN HONOR OF THE LOVING MEMORY OF CLARENCE CARTER- FROM THE SPLENDID BOHEMIAN ARCHIVES- A "DIG THIS" CLASSIC EPISODE CELEBRATING THE SOUTHERN SOUL GENIUS OF CLARENCE CARTER, DON COVAY, AND ARTHUR ALEXANDER.

    "CLARENCE CARTER SLIPS AWAY ON THE MYSTERY TRAIN" When we speak of the deep soul drenched days when certain performers inhabited a heart full of soul so captivating and special that they were ordained as high priests of mournful and lustful magic, we will always recall Soul legend Clarence Carter. Clarence boarded The Mystery Train today, May 14, following struggles with prostate cancer and a battle with pneumonia and sepsis. He was 90. This  blind Southern star from Alabama scored two Top 10 hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s with “Slip Away” and “Patches,”  After having hits on the R&B charts (including 1965’s “Step By Step” and 1967’s “Tell Daddy”), Carter landed on the pop charts – as well as, concurrently, the R&B lists – with 1968’s “Slip Away,” a song that highlighted Carter’s powerful and emotional baritone voice with a lyric in which the singer implores his married lover for a secret rendezvous  Two years later Carter released his biggest pop hit, the Grammy-winning (for Best R&B song) “Patches,” which rose to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Mr. Carter also recorded a number of raunchy novelty songs eschewed by mainstream radio but finding success in later years: The 1968 “Back Door Santa” was sampled by Run-D.M.C. for the 1987 single “Christmas in Hollis,” and the even more explicit “Strokin'” from 1986 was featured on the soundtrack for Eddie Murphy’s 1996 remake of The Nutty Professor as well as in William Friedkin’s 2011 film Killer Joe. Sleep Well Clarence.  The first of the six covers that appear on Please Please Me is a mid-tempo ballad called “Anna (Go to Him),” which was written and first recorded by Arthur Alexander. Chances are that most people who hear the version sung by John Lennon have no idea who Arthur Alexander is—but the Beatles certainly knew, and so did the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan: Alexander is reportedly the only songwriter whose tunes have appeared on studio albums by those three hallowed acts. Elvis Presley recorded one of his songs as well—albeit one that Alexander co-wrote—and so did Otis Redding and Tina Turner and Jerry Lee Lewis and Percy Sledge. Don Covay  recorded for several labels, including Blaze, Sue, Big Top, Fire, Arnold, Fleetwood, Columbia, Epic and Scepter, releasing 'Popeye Waddle' b/w 'One Little Boy Had Money' in 1962 for Cameo Parkway, which became a hit.Don was, by now, recording solo material, and material under the name of Don Covay and the Goodtimers.He penned the U.S. number 1 single 'Pony Time' for Chubby Checker, wrote a hit song called 'I'm Hanging Up My Heart for You', for the Soul singer Solomon Burke, and wrote for Gladys Knight & The Pips, penning 'Letter Full of Tears', which made the top 20.Don formed partnerships with several associates including Horace Ott and Ronnie Miller.In 1964, when he signed to the Rosemart label.His debut single there with the Goodtimers, 'Mercy Mercy' featured Jimi Hendrix on guitar.The following year, Jimi Hendrix played again on the follow up single 'Take This Hurt Off Me' b/w 'Please Don't Let Me Know'. Clarence Carter didn’t have it easy while growing up in Alabama; and being Black and blind was an extra burden, but he has overcome many other obstacles in so many ways. “I feel incredibly good about what I’ve been able to accomplish, but it was not easy. Our world presents challenges and barriers to success for people with disabilities, but I always wanted more in life and believe that the ADA helped me get to where I am today.” I would like to say that Carter now has three “B’s” behind his name, Black, Blind and Blessed. Carter is known for serious Blues music, which includes a string of R&B hits. The songs “Back Door Santa,” “Slip Away,” “Patches,” “Too Weak to Fight” and the dance hall hit “Strokin” are part of his Blues legacy.

    49 min
  4. THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS, LIVE FROM THE STARLIGHT LOUNGE IN THE HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENT AN 84TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO BOB DYLAN: SOME OF HIS ALL-TIME BEST COVERS. ENJOY!!

    May 10

    THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS, LIVE FROM THE STARLIGHT LOUNGE IN THE HOTEL BOHEMIA PRESENT AN 84TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO BOB DYLAN: SOME OF HIS ALL-TIME BEST COVERS. ENJOY!!

    How do you come up with a list of best covers of our greatest living songwriter? Splendid Bohemian, and Bob Dylan Maven Rich Buckland states his case as his partner, Bill Mesnik endeavors to keep up. BOB DYLAN COVERS It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue : 13th Floor ElevatorsBaby, I’d Do it All Over You: Dave Van RonkFoot of Pride : Lou ReedTomorrow is a Long Time: Elvis PresleyBaby, You’ve been on my Mind: DionSooner or Later : Emma SwiftWho killed Davy Moore? : Gary ShearsonChanging of the Guards: Gaslight AnthemDesolation Row: My Chemical RomanceRestless Farewell: Joan BaezI’ll Keep it with Mine: NicoBlowing in the Wind: Sam CookeI’m Not There: Sonic YouthOne More Cup of Coffee: White StripesPlease Crawl Out Your Window: Wilko Johnson with Roger DaltreyPositively 4th Street: Johnny Rivers

    1h 13m
  5. THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT A "DIG THIS" REWIND FROM 10 YEARS AGO: LEGACIES IN DANGER! THE BOYS REASSESS THE CAREERS OF TOM JONES AND CHARLES AZNAVOUR AND DEBATE THE IDEA OF ROMANTICISM IN THE AGE OF "ME TOO."

    Apr 17

    THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT A "DIG THIS" REWIND FROM 10 YEARS AGO: LEGACIES IN DANGER! THE BOYS REASSESS THE CAREERS OF TOM JONES AND CHARLES AZNAVOUR AND DEBATE THE IDEA OF ROMANTICISM IN THE AGE OF "ME TOO."

    Romanticism or misogyny? During the tectonic time of “Me Too” The Splendid Bohemians tackled the subjects of two artists inextricably linked to their romantic images: Sir Tom Jones and Charles Aznavour - both hugely popular and successful in their own times, but, like many with complicated artistic careers, coming under reexamination. Spurred by a demand made to my wife to “shut off that stuff”  by two disgruntled women while she was enjoying a Tom Jones CD, Bill and Rich set out to dissect the difference between romance and chauvinism when considering these cherished icons during this retributive age of Epstein, Trump, Cosby, Weinstein, et al.  Seems like a good time to replay this nugget from 2016. The list of predators is long and keeps growing, as evidenced by the recent resignation of democratic Gubernatorial hopeful, Eric Swallwell. So, we batted around the evergreen question of “can you hate the artist, but still love the art?” We ended up with no answers, just more questions.

    59 min
  6. THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT "COVER ART: THE SPLENDOR OF THE COVER SONG," EP. # 4. TODAY'S HONOREE: THE SINGULARLY AMERICAN VOICE OF PAUL SIMON.

    Apr 14

    THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT "COVER ART: THE SPLENDOR OF THE COVER SONG," EP. # 4. TODAY'S HONOREE: THE SINGULARLY AMERICAN VOICE OF PAUL SIMON.

    Paul Simon set the standard for a New American Songbook. Reviewing these selections one is struck by the elegance of his melodies - on a par with that other Paul from Liverpool, but with a lyrical sophistication to rival America’s Nobel Laureate poet, Bob Dylan. “America”, as performed here by David Bowie, presents a barren landscape, - mirroring the mundane with the spiritual - to rival the literary prowess of a Hemingway; and the classically inspired “American Tune,” as interpreted by the wizard of New Orleans, Allen Toussaint, quietly goes to the heart of our nation’s ambivalence. I can’t contain my tears whenever I hear it.  Simon and Garfunkel were known as a unified entity. It took awhile for Paul to extricate himself from his childhood performing partner, Artie. Garfunkel, with his singular, choir-boy voice, needed Simon to provide the words for his divine instrument.  But Simon didn’t need Garfunkel, and if Artie’s acting ambitions hadn’t interfered with Paul’s musical ones, Simon might never have had the confidence to go it alone. Lucky for us it turned out the way it did. Because, since going solo, Simon has amassed a body of work that defines America’s last half century.  Ray Charles: Still Crazy After All These YearsDavid Bowie: AmericaJustin Townes Earle: GracelandThem: Richard CoryWailin’ Jennys: Loves me Like a RockEverything but the Girl: The Only Living Boy in New YorkAnnie Lennox: Something So RightThe Blue Airplanes: The Boy in the BubbleBlossom Dearie: 59th St. Bridge Song Allen Toussaint: American Tune

    45 min

  7. Mar 27

    THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS RETURN FOR “YAMMER-FEST- PART TWO" - LIVE FROM THE HOTEL BOHEMIA- RICH BUCKLAND & BILL MESNIK WELCOME NEW ARRIVALS AT THE HOTEL BOHEMIA: COUNTRY JOE MCDONALD, AUGIE MEYERS, AND JOHN HAMMOND, JR. - TALK, TALK BABY!

    The “talk talk” continues wherein Rich and Bill “rage against the dying of the light,” to honor our past and opine on the socio-political conditions of the present.

    1h 5m

  8. Mar 21

    THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENT: "YAMMER-FEST- PART ONE - LIVE FROM THE HOTEL BOHEMIA" -LIVING LEGEND RICH BUCKLAND HOLDS COURT ON SID CAESAR, SOUPY SALES, DON RICKLES, RODNEY DANGERFIELD, BEING AT WOODSTOCK, AND THE CARE AND FEEDING OF CATS- TALK, TALK

    It was a great reunion at the Hotel Bohemia. Bill and Rich got so engrossed in a variety of topics that we left the recorder running - and, as a result we'll be offering these conversational riches in two parts: Part one balances the outrages of today against the comic geniuses of yesteryear, along with ruminations about pet relationships, being at Woodstock, and the formative influences of our lives. Part two will focus on recent additions to the population of the Hotel, namely Country Joe McDonald and John Hammond, Jr.

    1 hr
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About

My Fellow Americans, Life is actually just a microscopic, deluded moment in time, so let's cut to the freakin' chase. One look at our impending election debacle can solidify my case. It has been my contention since birth, that the answer to every difficulty we encounter on this sacred yet demented Stone, can be revealed with ultimate clarity through the ultra neurotic engagements of Music, Art, Literature, Film, Poetry and a good Pastrami sandwich. Why would any sane human spend so must time on a film set (Do you know how long you gotta wait until your 8 second deliverance of an edited beyond repair line gets a chance to become a professional embarrassment etched in time forever? ) or expend so much energy in a recording studio, piecing together another ode to a man or woman who could not care less how much love existed within your digestive tract? It's all about hymns and prayers and a quest for mercy and forgiveness and silence and faith. We were blessed with Charles Bukowski,  Gene Chandler, Lenny Bruce, Mitch Ryder and a legion of creative explorers whose influences provided the air we breathe.  So Let's Dance! This site shall explore the reaper, find a way to disarm the stench of injustice, discover some true loves and talk it all over before it's all over. So what's the worst that our desires could produce? Failure? So sue me. I'm going to require your assistance in making as much trouble for the grown-ups as possible. Let the record show that my childish heart yearns to disrupt the madness. Join me Ladies and Germs! With Gratitude For Gena Rowlands, Nancy Sinatra, Jerry Quarry, Leo Gorcey, Arthur Alexander and Joey Heatherton, Your Splendid Bohemian, Rich Buckland.

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