Mine the Past: Two Wild and Crazy Archives

date: 5/13/01

Sometimes, fate just puts things into your hands. A week after discovering Citizen Kafka's true identity and his founding of the "Secret Museum of the Air," I get an e-mail from him, giving me the URL for the Museum's website. The Secret Museum of the Air is a radio show consisting entirely of sides from old 78s.The website, which archives dozens of recent shows for you to listen to, also includes other oddities - it's like a carnival sideshow of music history. In fact, I hope to do a feature on these folks sometime soon. Don't miss it.

Secret Museum of the Air

courtesy Michael Ochs Archive

Then, a couple of weeks after playing the Phil Ochs Tribute concert in New Haven on the 25th anniversary of his death, I get a note from Michael Ochs letting me know about his Photo Archive, where we can find lots of pics of Phil.Turns out the Michael Ochs Archives has millions of old photos - mostly of musicians - and many of them are in galleries on the website. The site search engine makes browsing a true joy - like going through the stacks of a used bookstore. Unfortunately, there are no enlargements of these thumbnails online (you have to buy the prints) and most of the artists in the archive do not (yet) have photos posted. Still, there are hundreds of artists with pics - and many classic visual icons. It's worth a visit.

Michael Ochs Archives

Both of these online archives are good for hours of stupefying surfing. One click forward and ten clicks back....

As always, E-mail me - let me know what you think.

Hugh Blumenfeld, Editor
hugh@balladtree.com