Very recently here at the Pacifica Radio Archives, we happened across an amazing re-discovery — a truly special program that was previously unknown to any catalog, database, or staffer.

The story goes like this….longtime KPKF programmer, Henry Slucki of Access Unlimited, the Los Angeles radio series concerning the disabled community, came to visit the Archives and brought with him a vinyl record. (Remember vinyl?!) This album he presented is entitled The Lively Air, with highlights from three Pacifica stations, from some point back in community radio history — in fact, the precise year of the recording is unknown, and we were unable to find any corresponding master recordings in our archives of the various sound elements that appear on the album, even though they are all clearly Pacifica fodder. We do, however, suspect the recordings are from about 1962-1966, and we know the album was created as a premium gift for the Pacifica fund drives happening in the mid- to late Sixties… but it’s the content that really got us excited.

What you are about to hear has not been broadcast or heard in any form for at least 40 years. Get ready for an amazing sampling of Genuine Pacifica Sound, so rare, so special, that’s its only known copy is a brittle vinyl disc now housed deep within the safety of our refrigerated vault. You’ll be the first in an entire generation to hear this unique historic audio of Carl Sandburg, The Reverend Abernathy, Herschel Bernardi, Bruno Walter, Buddy Collette, Celeste Holm, Peter Ustinov and Hermoine Gingold, among others. It really is SO exquisitely rare…

By the way, the liner notes for this album are a work of art by themselves, so be sure to check them out!! We’ve been sure to include them on the Information Page for this episode.

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Click here to purchase a copy of this program or learn more about and purchase copies of the historic archival recordings used within this episode. To purchase a CD copy of this program by phone, please call Pacifica Radio Archives at 800.735.0230 x 262.

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