Shortcuts

Series produced by Peter Bochan

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Mixing music, dialogue from soundtracks, press conferences, sound effects and other sources, Shortcuts has presented a wide variety of themes over the past forty years, including programs on growing up, growing old, going crazy, being afraid, alone, in love; shows on music, space, race and politics from Watergate to Obama Care, plus retrospectives featuring the major events of each passing year. Recorded and mixed digitally, shortcuts features no narration, it's message evolves from the careful juxtaposition of the various elements.

Daily News: "a stunning stereo mix of music, news, movie dialogue, commercials and other sound sources...shortcuts is a theme-oriented program with no narration, a splice-of-life montage.... After the Three Mile Island catastrophe, Bochan produced "A Shortcut to Harrisburg" in which a Nuclear Regulatory Commission official repeatedly assured the public that "everything was under control" while Elvis Costello sang "Accidents Will happen" in the background."


"The yearly Shortcuts series has become a genuine pubradio tradition-- something we radio folk look forward to, secure in knowledge our listeners are gonna love it. It's a musical voxpop & sound-bite tour of the past year, and a tour de force of sonic-editing sweat, song, speech, and segue. 2007's Shortcuts got it all: global warmth, Imus' hot seat, The Sopranos swan song, steroids in baseball, and Bhutto's assassination. Instant nostalgia, history and overview. Weeks after we broadcast the 2006 Shortcuts we were still getting gushing listener calls" "What was that great hour you played with news-clips and pop-culture and music and all kinda mixed together and..." etc., etc. Shortcuts is an annual audio extravaganza and audience pleaser.

(Producer) Barrett Golding , KGLT
Bozeman, MT
January 4, 2008 Hide full description

Daily News: "a stunning stereo mix of music, news, movie dialogue, commercials and other sound sources...shortcuts is a theme-oriented program with no narration, a splice-of-life montage.... After the Three Mile Island catastrophe, Bochan produced "A Shortcut to Harrisburg" in which a Nuclear Regulatory Commission official repeatedly assured the public that "everything was under control" while Elvis Costello sang "Accidents Will happen" in the background." "The yearly Shortcuts series has become a genuine pubradio tradition-- something we radio folk look forward to, secure in knowledge our listeners are gonna love it. It's a musical voxpop & sound-bite tour of the past year, and a tour de force of sonic-editing sweat, song, speech, and segue. 2007's Shortcuts got it all: global... Show full description


64 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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The tributes continue on this third hour of Shortcuts, celebrating more of the lives lost to 2016, including Princess Leia, George Michael and others

Bought by KVMR


  • Added: Dec 28, 2016
  • Length: 59:07
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Scotty Moore with Elivis
This special mix features another gathering of the many artists, actors, musicians, comedians and celebrities who left us in 2016--from Muhammad Al...

Bought by KVMR


  • Added: Dec 23, 2016
  • Length: 58:57
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Muhammad Ali
An immersive retrospective of one of the most turbulent years in history, with political upheavals, worldwide economic meltdowns, racist confrontat...

Bought by KVSC, KSRQ, KUNM, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., KZYX and more


  • Added: Dec 20, 2016
  • Length: 59:14
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Young Hillary
"Presidential Shortcuts 2016" takes a historical look at elections from Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama while comparing Donald Trump and Hillary Cl...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass.


  • Added: Oct 28, 2016
  • Length: 59:26
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Moment of Zen 2015
A unique retrospective of the past year, including audio of the major events of 2015--the cultural highs and lows, mixed with music of the year and...

Bought by KZMU Moab Community Radio, KMSU, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., Talking Information Center, North Country Public Radio and more


  • Added: Dec 22, 2015
  • Length: 59:39
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Shortcut to Love (1973 Cover), Credit: Peter Bochan
A Valentine's Day Mix of romance and love songs featuring classic clips from the vaults of Hollywood, Broadway, Tin Pan Alley and All Mixed Up with...

Bought by KALH and KHEN-LP


  • Added: Jan 22, 2015
  • Length: 58:31
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Voices of 2014
A retrospective of 2014, mixing the sounds and emotions of an incredibly explosive and confrontational year into a hour long montage. A historical...

Bought by KTSW 89.9, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, KHEN-LP, KZYX and more


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 57:52
  • Purchases: 9
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Join Gloria Steinem, Jane Wyatt, Snow White, Lucille Ball, Rex Harrison, Diana Ross & the Supremes,George Burns & Gracie Allen, James Brown and a c...

  • Added: Mar 04, 2014
  • Length: 58:12
Caption: Nelson Mandela
A journey through the past twelve months, this retrospective gathers the major and minor events, the sounds, voices, music, memories, and emotional...

Bought by PRX Remix, KISU, KUNC & The Colorado Sound, North Country Public Radio, KREV-LP and more


  • Added: Dec 26, 2013
  • Length: 59:03
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Love Field 11/22/1963
The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, took place on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas. We mixed...

Bought by WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, Radio New Zealand, and WXDU


  • Added: Nov 14, 2013
  • Length: 28:52
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Better Living Through Chemistry
Barack Obama draws a red line in regards to Syria & chemical weapons and this program reflects the tension during the past few weeks mixed with pre...

  • Added: Sep 11, 2013
  • Length: 59:31
Caption: Russell Means
Additional tribute mix of more incredible people who left us in 2012--legacies that will continue to inspire...part two of A Shortcut through 2012

  • Added: Dec 30, 2012
  • Length: 29:26
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A retrospective of 2012, mixing the sounds and emotions of an incredibly dark and stormy year into a hour long montage.

Bought by KCLU, KVMR, KZMU Moab Community Radio, North Country Public Radio, KSFR and more


  • Added: Dec 22, 2012
  • Length: 59:14
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Ernest Borgnine as "Marty"
A classic year-end show that highlights the celebration of the holiday rather than the passing of any specific year. It's all about the going out, ...

  • Added: Dec 06, 2012
  • Length: 28:41
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Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Bill Clinton, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, Karl Rove, Brian Williams, Richard Nixon's Head and others wrap the 2012 Electi...

  • Added: Nov 09, 2012
  • Length: 59:44
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A nostalgic trip back to your home town with memories of Main Street, Mom & Pop, the Savings & Loan, the Village Green and that house you grew up ...

Bought by KZMU Moab Community Radio


  • Added: Nov 20, 2012
  • Length: 28:43
  • Purchases: 1
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This special program was produced during Hurricane Sandy's collision with the east coast, in my studio on the upper west side which luckily had po...

  • Added: Nov 02, 2012
  • Length: 59:47
Caption: George McGovern
Mitt Romney and Barack Obama completely mixed up in a special "Election Shortcut". The first Shortcut was broadcast in November of 1972 in reaction...

Bought by KBRP Community Radio


  • Added: Oct 24, 2012
  • Length: 59:56
  • Purchases: 1
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a rough mix of a rough year--a moody retrospective "All Mixed Up"

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Jan 02, 2012
  • Length: 59:12
  • Purchases: 1
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A unique audio retrospective...A Shortcut Back through the 20th Century is an impressionistic glance back at the last one hundred years, featuring ...

  • Added: Jan 01, 2011
  • Length: 59:36