On this day, January 22, in 1953
Songs by Tom Lehrer was recorded in a single one-hour session on January 22, 1953, at the TransRadio studio in Boston for the total studio cost of $15. The first pressing was an issue of 400 copies, produced at Lehrer’s own expense in the 10″ LP record format. Records were sold for $3.50, and later $3.95. Later releases were issued in 10″ and 12″ LP format.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were at 312 parts per million.
As of 2026 they are 428ppm at and rising rapidly. Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.
Btw, the point(s) of this project is …. the how, the who the hell am I and the what do I currently believe?
The context was Lehrer had gone to Harvard aged 15, and amused his peers with song parodies (some “not safe for work”).
Why care?
Lehrer can be – if you let him – a key figure for understanding how the world works.
(How) does it connect to climate change?
Well, this album not so much, but on the 1965 “That Was The Week That Was” there is “Pollution.”
What happened next
Lehrer released more albums, toured a bit. Refused interviews about what he’d done. Only died in 2025.
How does it help us understand the world?
I should write “10 ways Tom Lehrer helped me see the world arights…” I really should.
How does it help us act in the world?
If you don’t know what’s going on, how you gonna intervene usefully?
The source that it comes from, if necessary,
Xxx
The other things that you could read about this or watch
All of Lehrer, obvs.
What do you think?
If you have opinions or info about this, or other things that happened on this day that are worth knowing, let me know!
Also on this day
Working Class History – January 22
Etc