Out My Window

FW-ASCH-7RR-0850

CDR copy FW-ASCH-7RR-0850 is entitled, "Out My Window;" recorded and narrated by Tony Schwartz, it presents the sounds to be heard outside the front and back windows of Tony's reconverted brownstone house in the middle of Manhattan, on a typical day. His front window faces a residential street while the the back window faces a courtyard, schoolyard and church. An incredible variety of sounds is to be heard, including children, cats, dogs, fog whistle, street repair, construction, a woman hanging out clothes, jets overhead, an air-raid siren (which apparently inspired local dogs to bark and howl), garbage trucks, etc. Among the more interesting sounds were street vendors, a pitchman selling knife sharpeners, kids beating out rhythms on car fenders and mailboxes, a Spanish gospel song, a parade with marching band, a local politician explaining why he should be elected and a street musician playing jazz on a saxophone. Tony Schwartz recorded 11 albums for Folkways, none labelled "Out My Window." However, about half the albums contain sounds along the lines of what is on this tape. Conceivably, some of the sounds from this tape were used on the recordings, although I couldn't readily confirm that. Perhaps this tape was submitted to Folkways as a prototype for an additional album which wasn't produced.