January 26, 2010 · 1 Comment

It’s my sweetheart’s birthday. So I’ve made this short mix of chopped & screwed love songs. I know, how can you improve upon these songs by slowing the tempo down to between 60 – 70 quarter-note beats per minute and applying techniques such as skipping beats, record scratching, stop-time, and affecting portions of the music to make a “chopped-up” version of the original? (definition via wikipedia).
Well, at the right place and time, it strikes me as real nice. Especially in the late night hours. So, this one’s for you baby.
Track listing:
Between The Sheets- Isley Brothers (DJ Screw)

Love And Happiness- Al Green (DJ Rico Sparks)

All I Need- Method Man (DJ Screw)

Have You Seen Her- The Chi-lites (OG Ron C)

Purple Rain- Prince (OG Ron C)

Get Screwed
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Al Green. Chi-Lites, chopped & screwed, DJ Rico Sparks, DJ Screw, Isley Brothers, OG Ron C, Prince

I love the song “Rock In The Sea” by Shocking Blue, which incorporates some of the lyrics and spirit of the old mountain tune “I Wish I was A Rock In The Sea,” first recorded by the folklorist Bascom Lamar Lunsford.
Rock In The Sea- Shocking Blue
As a fruit tree salesman, Lunsford travelled extensively through North Carolina and traded traditional tunes with his customers and acquaintances.

I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground- Bascom Lamar Lunsford
Jackson C. Frank borrowed from the song as well, incorporating later verses of the song into his song “Kimbie,” from his eponymous 1965 album.

Kimbie- Jackson C. Frank
A few years ago, Marianne Faithfull sang Kimbie for her Easy Come Easy Go album.

Kimbie- Marianne Faithfull

Greil Marcus wrote of the song in his book Lipstick Traces:

Yeah, what he said. That’s basically why I like this song and those it inspired.
Also, moles are practically blind, survive on earthworms and mice, and are non-existent in Ireland.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Greil Marcus, Jackson C. Frank, Marianne Faithfull, Shocking Blue

Dear Readers,
I’d like to introduce you to another side of the Gentlebear, the one who has created comic zines over the past ten years, and now has a collection of my best work, Bethea’s Illustrated, published by my dear friend Gerard Smith of the band TV On The Radio. Truly a renaissance man, Gerard has now delved into the world of book publishing, and over the past year has grumpily admonished me to “finish the damn book.” Well, now it’s done, and up for sale at betheasillustrated.com. This is a limited run of 300. People laugh and cry out loud when they read it, I kid you not. Please check it out.
Best,
E.A. Bethea
“The Gentlebear”
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Bethea's Illustrated, comics, Gerard Smith, Sad Kimono Books
December 25, 2009 · 1 Comment

Here is my 2009 Christmas mix, which is so similar to my 2008 Christmas mix that I decided not to post it until now. It is 30 minutes longer than last year’s version, so it can’t be all that similar. Here she is:
The Now Sound of Christmas- Gentlebear Christmas 2009
Featuring:
The Free Design
Tomita
Linus & Charlie Brown
Marvin Gaye
Johnny Cash
Jimmy Smith
Electric Jungle
The Ronettes
Buck Owens
Mike Nicolai
The Deck Five
The Pogues
Augie Rios
The Beach Boys
Merle Haggard
Brian Wilson
Harlem Children’s Choir
Ike & Tina Turner
Jimmy Stewart
The Ventures
Vince Guaraldi
Barbie
Run-DMC
Electric Jungle
New Kids On The Block
The Superimposers
The Louvin Bros.
Stevie Wonder
The Waitresses
The Aggrovators
The Whole Motown Gang
The Black On White Affair
Mary Margaret O’Hara
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Christmas