"THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS" w/ Josh Kantor
Summary
Host Chris talks with Josh Cantor, the Red Sox organist, about his musical career and collaborations with artists like Mavis Staples. They then analyze Stevie Wonder’s 1979 film *Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants*, discussing its bizarre pseudoscience, innovative digital production, and unique place in music history.
Topics discussed
Erg: A Music War tour dates and special guests
Introduction of guest Josh Redd, Fenway Park organist
Josh's musical background and playing with Mavis Staples
Inspiration from Nancy Faust and learning the organ
The organ setup at Fenway and handling song requests
Weird song requests and stories from the booth
Stevie Wonder's scoring process for The Secret Life of Plants
Synthesizer innovations and the album's unique sound
The album's controversial packaging and commercial failure
The film's weird scientific segments and tonal shifts
The surprise inclusion of The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun
Josh's teenage multi-track cover of Come Back as a Flower
Retrospective view on the album's artistic merit
The cancelled tour and final thoughts on the film
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