How I Choke When I Smell Smoke + Smoky Subways of Boston: VERY RARE 45 RPM Vinyl

Description: EXTREMELY RARE!"How I Choke When I Smell Smoke" (Side A) "The Smoky Subways of Boston" (Side B)(note the use of the smoke grey font)by Stephen Sedberry (singer and songwriter)1977Produced ByGASP - Group Against Smoking Pollution(formerly MASH, Massachusetts Action on Smoking and Health) David Gordon Wilson (11 February 1928 – 2 May 2019) (see his wikipedia entry) was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, the author of the highly popular and influential "Bicycling Science" book, an advocate and developer of recumbent bicycles, a leading developer of high efficiency turbines (for energy production), and all around interesting fellow. DGW was also an anti-smoking activist who was an early participant in the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH; see wikipedia) organization which was founded by an MIT alum, John Banzhaf. Wilson founded the Massachusetts chapter of ASH, known as MASH. For legal reasons, MASH had to be renamed as MASS GASP: Massachusetts Group Against Smoking Pollution. It took many, many years, but the educational activities and political advocacy of ASH, GASP, and many other groups around the US eventually led to smoking bans throughout the entire US. That's why we can breathe more easily today. Sometime around 1975-1976, DGW was traveling to and from Europe on flights that guaranteed seats for non-smokers. There are NO smoke-free seats in a sealed tube with recirculating smoke filled air! DGW sued the airline. In anticipation of losing the case, the airline agreed to an out of court settlement. With the money from that settlement, DGW had MASS GASP hire a folk singer - folk song writer to write and record some songs to raise awareness of the organization, non-smokers' rights, and smoking and health issues. For an autobiographical account, see: The Men's Kick Line, DGW, 2014, (in particular, Chapter 13). It is available as a free download but eBay does not allow links. If you can't find the book via an on-line search, "contact seller" and request the link via eBay messaging. Only a small number of these 7" 45 RPM records were produced and distributed. HERE IS ONE OF THEM! This 45 RPM 7" vinyl record was pressed and distributed in 1977. It was only played a few times and is in excellent to like new condition. I will provide a CD with a digitized (mp3) copy with the vinyl original. The labels are in excellent condition. It is in the original plain white paper record sleeve. The sleeve has slight yellowing (see photo) but it is not dried out or brittle. It is VG+ to excellent. Both songs are a single voice with solo acoustic folk guitar accompaniment. The A Side is "How I Choke When I Smell Smoke" which has a catchy, upbeat melody. How I choke when I smell smoke,It makes me cough and sneeze.But the smoker laughs, as I pass,So I fall down on my knees, begging.Cigarettes kill and they always will, Not only you and me.When a smoker dies, it's suicide,But it's murder when it happens to me!Chorus: ... Etc. The B Side is a more controversial and more somber ballad, "The Smoky Subways of Boston." Smoking was already banned on the Boston MBTA subways and buses but enforcement was lax, to say the least. At the time (1970s), one would realize that this song was sort of a parody of what angry non-smokers might want to do but would never actually do. Nevertheless, it is my understanding that the songwriter does not want this song to be played publicly or risk that it be misinterpreted. J. J. Jones came from a nice home.He was handsome and well educated.... Chorus ...While some riders choked on second hand smoke,And spoke not a word to stop it.J. J. took note and followed the smoke ...... Chorus ...He had taken all he could take.Breathed all the smoke he could breeeeeathe,So he took off ridin' the subways of Bostonnnn ...... The copyright owner does not want these songs posted on the internet (e.g., youtube) or played publicly. You can only play these songs for your personal, private use and that of your private guests ... kind of like a good old 1970s living room or dorm room setting or Club Passim (see the wikipedia entry). Regardless of the setting, you should be able to enjoy these songs today, smoke free, just as they were enjoyed almost 50 years ago. UPDATE: I have attached an audio sample as a video I made with a hand-held cell phone while playing the audio in the background. It's a bit choppy and has extra background noise and my assistant sniffling. The original digitized audio (using a direct analog to digital converter) is much better. Domestic US Shipping will be by USPS Media Mail. Priority shipping is available upon request at higher cost. International shipping is available via eBay Global Shipping Program at additional cost.

Price: 500 USD

Location: Waltham, Massachusetts

End Time: 2025-01-02T07:19:35.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD