18 Oct
27: World Cafe radio show debuts
It was years in the making and grew out of an idea by visionary WXPN general Manager Mark Fuerst to create a national show that would reflect the musical tastes of WXPN and draw in a new audience for public radio. The World Cafe debuted in October 1991 with longtime Philadelphia radio star David Dye hosting. His first in-studio guest was Bruce Cockburn. The early shows were hosted live with a taped interview/performance segment. The Cafe is now heard in more than 165 markets nationwide and David Dye has written a new book, The Best of the World Cafe, that includes transcripts of some milestone interviews over the span of the program so far.
OK, in the spirit of supporting XPN (or self-promoting), I can understand why this is in there, but please!!! Give me a break. This is one of the biggest moments of all time? Bigger than Joshua Tree? Bigger than Springsteen performing? Bigger than Wall of sound? Why don’t you fundraise right now, too?
(Sorry for the sarcasm, but I don’t like self-promotion, even if ‘voted on by the listeners’). And regarding World Cafe–is there ever a “mediocre” artist or “bad song”–Dave Dye does sort of kiss up to all of his artists all the time.
October 18th, 2007 at 10:47 amMy most memorable World Cafe moment? I was sitting in my car waiting to pick up my middle daughter when I heard Dar Williams ‘When I was a Boy’. Goose bumps raised on my arms and I started crying. Hormones? I think not. It was a powerful moment. At the time my youngest daughter was 5 and the song depicted her to a T. She was my boy. Unfortunately, Emily died last year in a motorcycle accident due to a drunk driver. We played ‘When I was a Boy’ at her funeral. Needless to say, David Dye and Dar Williams will live in my heart forever.
October 18th, 2007 at 10:48 amNicely said, Alan! Totally agree - this didnt need to be part of the list and CERTAINLY not #27!!!!!!!!
Very tacky, XPN.
October 18th, 2007 at 10:58 amNot to the full extent, but I do agree with you on the absurdity of the placement of this on the list. It’s quite obvious that this list has a total Philly flavor (Bruce Springsteen performs as an unknown? Come on, everybody was an unknown at some point, why does it matter that it’s him? If this was San Fran, it’s probably be the Grateful dead).
But, with that said, don’t you love the fact that there’s a message board for immediate debate?
October 18th, 2007 at 11:09 am“wow, Thurston, that was a really mediocre song, what would you like to do next?’ Yeah that’s gonna work. People, we all, especially me, know that this is absurd. But they let the staff vote… Incidentally the only person that calls me “Dave”, besides my late father for some reason, is Dan Reed … I keep trying to tell him to stop.
October 18th, 2007 at 11:15 amSorry David (I assume it’s you, Mr. Dye==does that work?)–I didn’t mean to offend you by calling you Dave. I actually usually enjoy the show, but it’s just the constant praise which rubs me the wrong way. It bothers me for a few reasons:.
1. I don’t think it’s intellectually honest to call every artist “one of the best new artists, or most interesting” or whatever.
2. I don’t think it’s possible to keep having ‘bests’.
As a host, I know you have quite a challenge–you won’t get people in if you don’t make them feel welcome and praise them, but as a listener, it grates a bit. BTW, I have the same complaint about Terry Gross from Fresh Air when I feel she panders too much.
Now, I do think World Cafe is a significant music thing–given that it’s on all these stations and it’s great hearing acoustic different versions of songs, both familiar and not. Just not a top 100 in history–top 100 in XPN history, yes, but not overall music.
So, you see, now I”m groveling a bit!
October 18th, 2007 at 11:35 amAlan I’m not pissed. I agree with most of what you say. I actually try to temper the language, but generally don’t have people on that I don’t like. But thanks for the feedback.. And speaking of my father.. HE really was Mr Dye
October 18th, 2007 at 11:48 amAs far as this moment’s place on this list, I feel the need to point something out: Our listeners voted on the top 100 (out of 166 potential “top 100″ moments). Everything you’re hearing/reading now (from moments 100 to moment 1) received its placement in the list because of the votes they received, not because of what we believed the order should be.
October 18th, 2007 at 1:08 pmYou Go David Dye! Rock on with your bad self! XPN is one of the best radio stations I have ever come in contact with. My whole life changed when i started listening. So, if the listeners voted the World Cafe to be memorable, i say more power to them! I hope you give to XPN, Alan. God knows I do. Keep up the AWESOME work!
October 25th, 2007 at 12:17 pm