Nordine, Ken “How Are Things In Your Town? [Blue Thumb] {33 RPM}

Ken Nordine is world renowned for his sensational spoken words delivered through powerful baritone diction. He’s the most instantly recognizable voice personality in both broadcast radio & commercial television history and his articulate vernacular & dramatic vocalizations earned him the apt title of ‘King of the Voice-overs.’ Following his popular on-air career in Chicago, during the early 50′s, Nordine would later progress into supplemental studio recordings as an influential artist featuring his unusual stories, beat poetry, and spoken word efforts over smooth free jazz sounds and occasionally bizarre soundscapes & sound effects. The 1972 release ‘How Are Things In Your Town?’ (deriving its title from Nordine’s spooky tale about a tall stranger in ‘Flibberty Jib?) is a rather nice collection of Nordine’s early seminal works. Although not cohesive in its presentation it is a solid representation of Nordine’s creative range. His speech method encompasses you completely demanding strict attention to his timeless social commentary and even the more strange scenarios and nonsensical utterances. Nordine is very effective at invoking descriptive imagery that chaperons you through numerous portraits of unstable men and journeys through their nerve wracked minds on ‘Looks Like Rain,? obsessions with clocks & time in ‘What Time Is It?,? the ‘Original Sin’ of vermin killing and rat poison disposal, and how ‘You’re Getting Better? by just avoiding conformity. This is excellent material and essential listening for everyone!