Rodgers and Hammerstein's stirring "Oklahoma!," the title song of their 1943 musical set in that state, gets a punk-rock interpretation on one of the more unusual concept CDs: "Coolidge 50: Bands From Each State Performing Their State Song."
"Oklahoma!," which was adopted as the state song by the Sooner State, is interpreted by P.D.B., which Coolidge Records producer Jack Ball described as "a punk rock garage band" based in Edmond, OK. The version reportedly is produced with the usual punk deliberate lack of finesse, but is not irreverent, at least to the state.
Oklahoma is the only state with a showtune as its state song.
New York's "New York, Our Empire State" is rendered on the CD by Long Distance Runner; the possibilities of "Michigan, My Michigan" are explored by the evocatively-named Dead Clown Pile.
-- By Robert Viagas
