Don't think I've written about this yet. Way back in the mid-1980's, when I was assigned as a base newspaper reporter at Francis E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming, I got my only in-depth look behind the scenes at how a radio station works. Though it wasn't quite the romantic, idealized, high-tech vision I'd always had, it was still pretty cool.
This peek behind the veil was possible thanks to Keith Gardner, an Air Force broadcaster and moonlighting DJ who must have heard me vent about boring radio and wonder aloud if I'd chosen the wrong career path. Though Keith had the ego and self-centeredness to think his nighttime DJ job was pretty cool, he was also down-to-earth enough about it to see it as something of a joke.
At the time Keith and I worked in the FEW Public Affairs Office, he was also nighttime DJ at a local FM station -- not the leading album-oriented-rock station in town, but maybe the number two or three station down on the list. It was surprising enough to have more than one album-rock station in a town of 50,000 people where you'd think the only two types of music on the radio were Country and Western.
After hearing me rant and express my preference for "Strange Music," Keith invited me out to the station one night after work to watch him at his "other job" for a couple of hours. I thought the experience would be pretty cool. Keith urged me to not get my hopes up too high -- that to him it was really no big deal.
The station was located on Cheyenne's west side, set back off of one of Cheyenne's main drags, back in a field full of tall weeds. It was nearly dark when I pulled up to the place at the end of a long dirt-and-gravel driveway. I wasn't absolutely sure I had the right place, even with the tall transmitter tower directly out back. I was expecting something ... a little more impressive.
The building itself looked like three or four small tool sheds sort of smacked together. In no way was it marked as a radio station -- there were no glowing neon call-letters posted out front or anything like that. There were garbage cans around the only door and lots of trash seemingly everywhere. There was only one other car in the dirt "parking lot."
I slowly made my way inside, through a long poorly-lit hallway littered with shipping boxes, promotional albums and other music-industry paraphernalia I could barely see in the dark. I seem to remember lots of empty pizza boxes and other evidence of food being consumed sometime in the previous 20 years.
I turned around a corner to the right and faintly heard distant trebly sounds that could almost have been music. I called out Keith's name, and eventually his head popped out a door into the hall. "Hey," he said, "I'm down here."
The tiny booth he was in could have been a chicken coop. It was absolutely NOT plush. He had a desktop made out of unfinished plywood, with a couple turntables on it that I never saw him use. There were a couple of (eight-track???) players he popped "cartridges" into that had both the music he played and the commercials he had to run. He had a pair of headphones and a mike, and that was all the equipment. There wasn't even an engineer. I got the impression the place practically ran itself.
At the center of Keith's "desktop" was a diagram that was of central importance to his job. It showed how much music he was allowed to play each hour -- in 15-minute blocks -- and showed the places where he had to plug-in commercials. The stack of "carts" on his left were the commercials. The stack on his right were the songs he was "allowed" to play. As he went along, Keith logged on a notepad each song he played and each commercial he ran, and at what times.
After he explained the set-up, I was a bit disappointed. There wasn't much freedom here. It all seemed pretty regimented. Didn't Keith ever make his own musical choices?
"Sometimes," he said. "There's the music library down the hall that we can pull some tracks from."
Naturally, I had to see this music library. What I found was a room no bigger than most bathrooms, with a ton of vinyl albums filed on shelves from floor to ceiling. There were lots more albums piled and scattered on the floor, and down the hallway.... I was surprised there weren't more. It was a pretty small room.
Keith agreed there wasn't much room for free-form experimenting on the job, that it was basically the same 100 classic-rock songs over and over. But he said there were other bonuses about the job -- it was easy, not demanding, he could order a pizza and eat it at his leisure ... and he even had fans. A couple of them even called up while I was there, and gabbed with Keith in his on-air persona as "Steve Cheyenne" -- such an obvious fake-name that we both busted up laughing. Strangely, Keith didn't actually SAY much on the air.
There were some high points -- Keith played Blue Oyster Cult's "Astronomy" for me (off of IMAGINOS), the best thing I'd heard by BOC in years (didn't know then it was a remake of one of their old songs) ... and after awhile I liked the quiet, distant, separated-from-everything atmosphere that surrounded the place. Maybe during the day it was different, but at night it was quiet, no one else came in, no one bothered Keith while he was working.
After a couple of hours I got tired, thanked Keith for the tour, and went home. It had actually been pretty cool to be there, even if it hadn't been exactly what I'd expected. It also reinforced my theory that sometimes it doesn't take that many people to make what appears from the outside to be a big production -- like most of the newspapers I've worked for.
So now, whenever I hear radio, the first thing I think of is that tiny tool-shed/chicken-coop set-up on Cheyenne's western outskirts in the middle of a wheat field, blasting classic rock out into the Wyoming night, where maybe a dozen people were listening....
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Friday, January 6, 2017
Monday, February 10, 2014
#736: Beatles 50/50
So how 'bout those four moptops from Liverpool? You think they'll ever catch on?
Last night while I was working, I was twiddling the radio dial back and forth and happened to stumble over a (I assume) syndicated special marking the Beatles' 50th anniversary of conquering America. The special was called "The Beatles: 50 for 50," and longtime Seattle rock station KJR was running it. I'm sure it must have appeared in your area, too, or will. Hope some of you out there caught it.
The countdown claimed to be playing the 50 "most important" Beatles songs ever, and Good Luck with that. The countdown wasn't based on sales, just on "significance," whatever that means in this context.
Whoever put the list together wasn't the most knowledgeable Beatles fan, since their pick for Most Important Beatles Song Ever was "Yesterday." Ha. Yeah, there's more versions of "Yesterday" out there by more artists than any other song ever, but Most Important Beatles Song? Nah.
My pick, "A Day in the Life," came in fourth. And "In My Life" was right up there in the Top 5 too, kind of a surprise.
But I don't think the placings mean all that much. What got me was the number of songs included on the list that you don't hear much on the radio -- and the number of mistakes the compilers made.
I was delighted to hear some of the Fabs' more off-the-wall stuff -- hearing "Rain" was what made me stop twiddling knobs and listen in 'til I could figure out what was going on. They also played "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "She Said She Said," and I thought maybe whoever put together this list might have had half a brain.
But then they ID'd "Please Please Me" as the Fabs' "debut single" -- before playing "Love Me Do" only a few minutes later....
They also claimed John "wrote the four Beatles' autobiographies" in "Come Together." First time I've ever heard that theory, and I listened closely to see if the lyrics actually support that idea. Clearly one of the verse-portraits there is John ... but it doesn't seem like there's quite enough detail there to solidly ID the others -- unless it's details you and I wouldn't know. I always thought John was just talking about himself, anyway. But whatever.
They played a few old favorites I hadn't heard in awhile -- "Helter Skelter;" "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End;" "I Am the Walrus," which is still just as much fun to sing along with as it ever was. And couldn't David Bowie do a great version of "Walrus"?
I was also impressed with how the songs gain in emotional power and impact when you string a bunch of them together in this kind of format. Even stuff I don't normally like that much -- "Let it Be," "The Long and Winding Road," "Strawberry Fields Forever" -- stuff that wore out for me a long time ago, still sounded better in a countdown format. Even tired old "Hey Jude" sounded pretty good. Even "The Ballad of John and Yoko." Still can't take "Get Back," though.
Was happy to hear the simple, joyful "Eight Days a Week" -- and "Ticket to Ride," "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "A Hard Day's Night," "Back in the USSR," "Help!," all the ravers. "Eleanor Rigby" sounded great, too. I think "Yellow Submarine"'s pretty worn-out except for the silliness at the end. But oh man, "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" -- what a production!
But why didn't "Paperback Writer" place higher? Where's "Got to Get You into My Life"? "Everybody's Trying to be My Baby"? "There's a Place"? "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"? "I Saw Her Standing There"? "I'm Down" -- one of the best B-sides ever....
We all could go on for YEARS about what their best songs were. But how 'bout their WORST? Was it "Revolution 9"? Or "Mr. Moonlight"? "Wild Honey Pie"? Your pick?
Of course these are all Timeless Memories. Of course they Changed Our Lives. Goes without saying. This just in.
Great nostalgia, anyway....
Last night while I was working, I was twiddling the radio dial back and forth and happened to stumble over a (I assume) syndicated special marking the Beatles' 50th anniversary of conquering America. The special was called "The Beatles: 50 for 50," and longtime Seattle rock station KJR was running it. I'm sure it must have appeared in your area, too, or will. Hope some of you out there caught it.
The countdown claimed to be playing the 50 "most important" Beatles songs ever, and Good Luck with that. The countdown wasn't based on sales, just on "significance," whatever that means in this context.
Whoever put the list together wasn't the most knowledgeable Beatles fan, since their pick for Most Important Beatles Song Ever was "Yesterday." Ha. Yeah, there's more versions of "Yesterday" out there by more artists than any other song ever, but Most Important Beatles Song? Nah.
My pick, "A Day in the Life," came in fourth. And "In My Life" was right up there in the Top 5 too, kind of a surprise.
But I don't think the placings mean all that much. What got me was the number of songs included on the list that you don't hear much on the radio -- and the number of mistakes the compilers made.
I was delighted to hear some of the Fabs' more off-the-wall stuff -- hearing "Rain" was what made me stop twiddling knobs and listen in 'til I could figure out what was going on. They also played "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "She Said She Said," and I thought maybe whoever put together this list might have had half a brain.
But then they ID'd "Please Please Me" as the Fabs' "debut single" -- before playing "Love Me Do" only a few minutes later....
They also claimed John "wrote the four Beatles' autobiographies" in "Come Together." First time I've ever heard that theory, and I listened closely to see if the lyrics actually support that idea. Clearly one of the verse-portraits there is John ... but it doesn't seem like there's quite enough detail there to solidly ID the others -- unless it's details you and I wouldn't know. I always thought John was just talking about himself, anyway. But whatever.
They played a few old favorites I hadn't heard in awhile -- "Helter Skelter;" "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End;" "I Am the Walrus," which is still just as much fun to sing along with as it ever was. And couldn't David Bowie do a great version of "Walrus"?
I was also impressed with how the songs gain in emotional power and impact when you string a bunch of them together in this kind of format. Even stuff I don't normally like that much -- "Let it Be," "The Long and Winding Road," "Strawberry Fields Forever" -- stuff that wore out for me a long time ago, still sounded better in a countdown format. Even tired old "Hey Jude" sounded pretty good. Even "The Ballad of John and Yoko." Still can't take "Get Back," though.
Was happy to hear the simple, joyful "Eight Days a Week" -- and "Ticket to Ride," "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "A Hard Day's Night," "Back in the USSR," "Help!," all the ravers. "Eleanor Rigby" sounded great, too. I think "Yellow Submarine"'s pretty worn-out except for the silliness at the end. But oh man, "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" -- what a production!
But why didn't "Paperback Writer" place higher? Where's "Got to Get You into My Life"? "Everybody's Trying to be My Baby"? "There's a Place"? "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"? "I Saw Her Standing There"? "I'm Down" -- one of the best B-sides ever....
We all could go on for YEARS about what their best songs were. But how 'bout their WORST? Was it "Revolution 9"? Or "Mr. Moonlight"? "Wild Honey Pie"? Your pick?
Of course these are all Timeless Memories. Of course they Changed Our Lives. Goes without saying. This just in.
Great nostalgia, anyway....
Monday, July 29, 2013
#702: All over the place
Hey, Mick Farren died. He was 69. Don't know a whole lot about him, except that with Lemmy he co-wrote the excellent dark rocker "Lost Johnny" on Hawkwind's above-average HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL album (1974). Farren was also a prominent member of the late-'60s British underground, & was quoted extensively in Johnathan Green's oral history about that scene & period, DAYS IN THE LIFE, which I read a few years back.
Farren was reportedly quite a character -- a music journalist & member of late-'60s punk-revolutionary band The Deviants. He occasionally released solo albums that had cool titles like VAMPIRES STOLE MY LUNCH MONEY. He also wrote a string of science-fiction novels, starting with the rock-flavored THE TEXTS OF FESTIVAL, which has been sitting on my shelf waiting to be read for years.
Apparently Farren died after collapsing on-stage while performing with his band The Deviants. That seems an appropriate way to go out....
Hope you've been catching rock critics Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot's SOUND OPINIONS, which airs here every Sunday night at 10 on the University of Washington's KUOW-FM. Last night's show was a "Buried Treasures" special, in which the guys pointed out some current albums worthy of more attention.
Normally this would be an immediate tune-out for me, but in my current state of Musical Boredom, I held on. They played a few things that weren't bad. Two songs in particular impressed me:
* "Counting," by a Chicago rapper performing under the name Autre Ne Veut, from his album ANXIETY. Maybe this is rap, but it sounded more like futuristic soul to me, with lots of whirring machine-like sounds & keyboard washes. & the lyrics were pretty desperate. Murmured, not rapped. Pretty haunting.
* "Irene" by Trixie Whitley from her album FOURTH CORNER. This also sounds like soul/R&B, with very strong vocals.
Some of the other stuff Jim & Greg played was above-average though not stunning -- still better than tuning-out. But I might have to check out the two artists above. Plus I really should look into Savages' SILENCE YOURSELF....
Next week, Jim & Greg are supposed to play The Greatest Rock Instrumentals Of All Time. Should be a great one....
The latest playlist, pretty much the same old stuff:
Three Dog Night -- Let Me Serenade You, My Impersonal Life.
Badfinger -- No Matter What, Day After Day, Baby Blue, The Name of the Game, Rock of All Ages.
Doobie Brothers -- Neal's Fandango.
The Church -- Reptile, Under the Milky Way, Metropolis.
Modern English -- I Melt With You.
Fleetwood Mac -- Oh Well, Why?
Van Morrison -- Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile), Domino, Wild Night, Cleaning Windows.
The Move -- Message from the Country, Do Ya?, Tonite.
Like the orchestrations & Pete Ham's apparently unpracticed vocal on Badfinger's "Name of the Game." & "Rock of All Ages" is a lot of fun.
The Church's "Metropolis" has some nice guitar work. Wish I could get into the rest of their best-of. & I'm still looking for a gorgeous guitar-drenched instrumental by them that I heard once on the radio around 1988 & have never heard since. Anybody got any ideas...?
Am more than halfway through Hunter S. Thompson's huge collection of early letters, THE PROUD HIGHWAY. For the past couple dozen pages he's been recounting his hilarious & painful adventures as a free-lance journalist in South America in the early 1960's. Some of his descriptions are laugh-out-loud funny. And an occasional line will stop my reading with a shock. The most surprising one-liner so far has been: "These guns will be the end of me." And that's exactly how it turned out. RIP....
Translating old posts into "Real English" continues here at the Back-Up Plan. So far, I've made it as far back as early May's post "The biggest missile base in the world." This rewrite work will be continuing....
On the way here are Kevin Ayers' BEST OF, Jim DeRogatis's KILL YR IDOLS, rock critic Robert Palmer's BLUES AND CHAOS, & two reminiscences by British SF writer Brian W. Aldiss: BURY MY HEART AT W.H. SMITH'S and THE BRIGHTFOUNT DIARIES. Reviews of all these are likely in the future....
Any musical suggestions? Please submit them below. If you know of any artists who mix British folk with loud guitars & keyboards & nice vocal harmonies (and aren't TOO expensive), they'd probably be right up my street....
Farren was reportedly quite a character -- a music journalist & member of late-'60s punk-revolutionary band The Deviants. He occasionally released solo albums that had cool titles like VAMPIRES STOLE MY LUNCH MONEY. He also wrote a string of science-fiction novels, starting with the rock-flavored THE TEXTS OF FESTIVAL, which has been sitting on my shelf waiting to be read for years.
Apparently Farren died after collapsing on-stage while performing with his band The Deviants. That seems an appropriate way to go out....
Hope you've been catching rock critics Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot's SOUND OPINIONS, which airs here every Sunday night at 10 on the University of Washington's KUOW-FM. Last night's show was a "Buried Treasures" special, in which the guys pointed out some current albums worthy of more attention.
Normally this would be an immediate tune-out for me, but in my current state of Musical Boredom, I held on. They played a few things that weren't bad. Two songs in particular impressed me:
* "Counting," by a Chicago rapper performing under the name Autre Ne Veut, from his album ANXIETY. Maybe this is rap, but it sounded more like futuristic soul to me, with lots of whirring machine-like sounds & keyboard washes. & the lyrics were pretty desperate. Murmured, not rapped. Pretty haunting.
* "Irene" by Trixie Whitley from her album FOURTH CORNER. This also sounds like soul/R&B, with very strong vocals.
Some of the other stuff Jim & Greg played was above-average though not stunning -- still better than tuning-out. But I might have to check out the two artists above. Plus I really should look into Savages' SILENCE YOURSELF....
Next week, Jim & Greg are supposed to play The Greatest Rock Instrumentals Of All Time. Should be a great one....
The latest playlist, pretty much the same old stuff:
Three Dog Night -- Let Me Serenade You, My Impersonal Life.
Badfinger -- No Matter What, Day After Day, Baby Blue, The Name of the Game, Rock of All Ages.
Doobie Brothers -- Neal's Fandango.
The Church -- Reptile, Under the Milky Way, Metropolis.
Modern English -- I Melt With You.
Fleetwood Mac -- Oh Well, Why?
Van Morrison -- Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile), Domino, Wild Night, Cleaning Windows.
The Move -- Message from the Country, Do Ya?, Tonite.
Like the orchestrations & Pete Ham's apparently unpracticed vocal on Badfinger's "Name of the Game." & "Rock of All Ages" is a lot of fun.
The Church's "Metropolis" has some nice guitar work. Wish I could get into the rest of their best-of. & I'm still looking for a gorgeous guitar-drenched instrumental by them that I heard once on the radio around 1988 & have never heard since. Anybody got any ideas...?
Am more than halfway through Hunter S. Thompson's huge collection of early letters, THE PROUD HIGHWAY. For the past couple dozen pages he's been recounting his hilarious & painful adventures as a free-lance journalist in South America in the early 1960's. Some of his descriptions are laugh-out-loud funny. And an occasional line will stop my reading with a shock. The most surprising one-liner so far has been: "These guns will be the end of me." And that's exactly how it turned out. RIP....
Translating old posts into "Real English" continues here at the Back-Up Plan. So far, I've made it as far back as early May's post "The biggest missile base in the world." This rewrite work will be continuing....
On the way here are Kevin Ayers' BEST OF, Jim DeRogatis's KILL YR IDOLS, rock critic Robert Palmer's BLUES AND CHAOS, & two reminiscences by British SF writer Brian W. Aldiss: BURY MY HEART AT W.H. SMITH'S and THE BRIGHTFOUNT DIARIES. Reviews of all these are likely in the future....
Any musical suggestions? Please submit them below. If you know of any artists who mix British folk with loud guitars & keyboards & nice vocal harmonies (and aren't TOO expensive), they'd probably be right up my street....
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
#697: Take 2.1
OK, since yesterday's suggested radio format went so well (more than 30 views overnight, which is almost a new record for me), how about this one?:
TOP OF THE HOUR.
3 minutes of National & Local News. Then:
Deep Purple -- Hush.
Beatles -- I'm Down.
COMMERCIAL.
Steve Earle -- Copperhead Road.
Charlie Pride -- Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone?
COMMERCIAL.
Afro-Man -- Because I Got High.
Eminem -- Ass Like That.
COMMERCIAL.
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles -- You've Really Got a Hold on Me.
Aretha Franklin and George Michael -- I Knew You Were Waiting for Me.
BOTTOM OF THE HOUR.
2 minutes of National and Local News. Then:
ELP -- Fanfare for the Common Man (long version).
COMMERCIAL.
Bob Dylan -- One of Us Must Know.
Fanny -- Charity Ball.
COMMERCIAL.
Dave Brubeck -- Take Five.
Aaron Copland/Eduardo Mata/Dallas Symphony Orchestra -- Hoedown.
Uriah Heep -- Easy Livin'.
TOP OF THE HOUR.
Into 3 minutes of National and Local News....
(This updated version breaks up the commercials & music a little more -- which maybe most people wouldn't like; they'd prefer the four-track blocks of music in the previous format. But this is probably closer to Real Life radio....)
See how easy this is? Any trained chimpanzee could do it. & there's room for hits from all eras, album tracks, weird stuff, rock, heavy-rock, singer-songwriters, jazz, country, classical, comedy, blues (an area I'm pretty weak on) -- basically anything. It's not hard. It doesn't have to be so far out that listeners get scared away.
So why can't anybody do it?
No reason this format couldn't have "theme" hours -- the "on the road" hour (Born to Run/Running On Empty/Highway Star/On the Road Again, etc), or the "rain" hour (Who Will Stop the Rain?/Have You Ever Seen the Rain?/In the Rain/Rain, etc.) -- though those might get cliched pretty fast. & I'm sure it's been done on FM before. The key would be to have a little IMAGINATION about it -- something that seems in short supply at Radio these days....
Keep those kind donations coming, folks, & we'll make it happen. We want the airwaves!
I've reluctantly decided to delay my big cash-mongering trip to my "local" Half-Price Books store, since today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far, here. Don't want my big box full of vinyl to melt on the way there. But I'll keep you posted....
I really love Locus. Really. Even though lately it's become more&more like a list of "Which famous writers have died recently?" But I sure wish it was a lot more like Bookslut....
Still working my way through Hunter S. Thompson's huge selection of early letters, THE PROUD HIGHWAY. It's laugh-out-loud funny in lots of places, and amazingly shows off a lot more personality (and desperation) than his later letters collection FEAR AND LOATHING IN AMERICA (which is reviewed below under the title "Scrambling for $$$"). More on this eventually....
COMING SOON: It's Money That Matters....
TOP OF THE HOUR.
3 minutes of National & Local News. Then:
Deep Purple -- Hush.
Beatles -- I'm Down.
COMMERCIAL.
Steve Earle -- Copperhead Road.
Charlie Pride -- Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone?
COMMERCIAL.
Afro-Man -- Because I Got High.
Eminem -- Ass Like That.
COMMERCIAL.
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles -- You've Really Got a Hold on Me.
Aretha Franklin and George Michael -- I Knew You Were Waiting for Me.
BOTTOM OF THE HOUR.
2 minutes of National and Local News. Then:
ELP -- Fanfare for the Common Man (long version).
COMMERCIAL.
Bob Dylan -- One of Us Must Know.
Fanny -- Charity Ball.
COMMERCIAL.
Dave Brubeck -- Take Five.
Aaron Copland/Eduardo Mata/Dallas Symphony Orchestra -- Hoedown.
Uriah Heep -- Easy Livin'.
TOP OF THE HOUR.
Into 3 minutes of National and Local News....
(This updated version breaks up the commercials & music a little more -- which maybe most people wouldn't like; they'd prefer the four-track blocks of music in the previous format. But this is probably closer to Real Life radio....)
See how easy this is? Any trained chimpanzee could do it. & there's room for hits from all eras, album tracks, weird stuff, rock, heavy-rock, singer-songwriters, jazz, country, classical, comedy, blues (an area I'm pretty weak on) -- basically anything. It's not hard. It doesn't have to be so far out that listeners get scared away.
So why can't anybody do it?
No reason this format couldn't have "theme" hours -- the "on the road" hour (Born to Run/Running On Empty/Highway Star/On the Road Again, etc), or the "rain" hour (Who Will Stop the Rain?/Have You Ever Seen the Rain?/In the Rain/Rain, etc.) -- though those might get cliched pretty fast. & I'm sure it's been done on FM before. The key would be to have a little IMAGINATION about it -- something that seems in short supply at Radio these days....
Keep those kind donations coming, folks, & we'll make it happen. We want the airwaves!
I've reluctantly decided to delay my big cash-mongering trip to my "local" Half-Price Books store, since today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far, here. Don't want my big box full of vinyl to melt on the way there. But I'll keep you posted....
I really love Locus. Really. Even though lately it's become more&more like a list of "Which famous writers have died recently?" But I sure wish it was a lot more like Bookslut....
Still working my way through Hunter S. Thompson's huge selection of early letters, THE PROUD HIGHWAY. It's laugh-out-loud funny in lots of places, and amazingly shows off a lot more personality (and desperation) than his later letters collection FEAR AND LOATHING IN AMERICA (which is reviewed below under the title "Scrambling for $$$"). More on this eventually....
COMING SOON: It's Money That Matters....
Monday, July 15, 2013
#696: Crossection
A suggested experimental radio format:
TOP OF THE HOUR.
Coming out of 3 minutes of National & Local News:
Easybeats -- "Friday on My Mind."
Cheap Trick -- "Surrender."
Eagles -- "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks."
Beyonce -- "Irreplaceable."
COMMERCIALS.
Marvin Gaye -- "Inner City Blues."
Spinners -- "I'm Coming Home."
Stylistics -- "You Are Everything."
Beatles -- "There's a Place."
BOTTOM OF THE HOUR. 2 minutes of National & Local News.
Then:
REO -- "Don't Let Him Go."
Five Man Electrical Band -- "Absolutely Right."
Johnny Cash -- "Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog."
Buck Owens -- "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail."
COMMERCIALS.
Fleetwood Mac -- "Hypnotized."
John Coltrane -- "Giant Steps."
Miles Davis -- "It Never Entered My Mind."
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass -- "A Beautiful Friend."
TOP OF THE HOUR, into 3 minutes of National & Local News....
This is just for starters. All the songs could be exchanged for others of a similar genre. SURPRISE should be the format's motto. That and WHAT'S NEXT? Or even WHO'S NEXT?!
Possible changes/additions:
* Replace Beyonce with any GOOD Urban/R&B/Rap/Hip-Hop song from the past decade (your choice). (Outkast's "Hey Ya" for example....)
* Replace Marvin Gaye with any good Motown hit or album track from the '60s/'70s.
* Replace "There's a Place" with any good Beatles B-side or album track.
* Replace Fleetwood Mac with any other good underplayed Mac song.
* Toss in a '70s singer-songwriter to replace The Spinners or The Stylistics -- Joni Mitchell's "Coyote" or "Raised on Robbery," Carole King's "Been to Canaan," Jackson Browne's "The Fuse," Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic," Cat Stevens's "Bitterblue," Jim Croce's "Lover's Cross," Steely Dan's "Gaucho," etc.
* Toss in BOC's "Morning Final"/"E.T.I."/"Astronomy" (IMAGINOS version) to replace REO or The Eagles -- or some other good heavy-rock song: Deep Purple's "Hush"/"Kentucky Woman"/"Highway Star," Motorhead's "Killed by Death," AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," Hawkwind's "You'd Better Believe It," Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away"/"The Rover"/"Immigrant Song," Spooky Tooth's "Feelin' Bad," etc.
* Replace the Country stuff with any other good seldom-heard-on-pop-radio Country song since the '60s ("Six Days on the Road," "The Girl on the Billboard," "Passionate Kisses," "Melancholy Child," "Whenever You Walk in the Room," etc).
* Replace Herb Alpert with Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" or any other GOOD MOR hit from the '60s -- Glen Campbell's "It's Only Make Believe," Petula Clark's "I Know a Place," Fifth Dimension's "Carpet Man," etc. ...or even a REAL Oldie like Louis Jordan's "Barnyard Boogie."
* Toss in other jazz numbers -- Thelonious Monk's "Underground," Miles Davis's "In a Silent Way," Keith Jarrett's "Country," etc.
* Toss in a recognized Classical piece now & then -- Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" or the "Simple Gifts" coda to "Appalachian Spring," etc.
* Toss in a Prog Rock Oldie -- Yes's "The South Side of the Sky," ELP's "Karn Evil 9/First Impression (Part 1)," Genesis's "Inside and Out," King Crimson's "Frame By Frame," etc.
* Keep the Local News in there so folks know if there's an ugly wreck on the freeway or some other emergency.
If I can come up with this format -- which SHOULD work and could potentially please a wide variety of listeners -- in less than 10 minutes, why can't Radio grow some balls and do it?
And if somebody wants to donate lots of cash, I'll make it happen. We'll probably have to BUY a radio station first.... Please make your kind and generous donations below....
Suggestions and complaints are welcome, too....
DO YOU THINK THIS COULD WORK?
TOP OF THE HOUR.
Coming out of 3 minutes of National & Local News:
Easybeats -- "Friday on My Mind."
Cheap Trick -- "Surrender."
Eagles -- "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks."
Beyonce -- "Irreplaceable."
COMMERCIALS.
Marvin Gaye -- "Inner City Blues."
Spinners -- "I'm Coming Home."
Stylistics -- "You Are Everything."
Beatles -- "There's a Place."
BOTTOM OF THE HOUR. 2 minutes of National & Local News.
Then:
REO -- "Don't Let Him Go."
Five Man Electrical Band -- "Absolutely Right."
Johnny Cash -- "Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog."
Buck Owens -- "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail."
COMMERCIALS.
Fleetwood Mac -- "Hypnotized."
John Coltrane -- "Giant Steps."
Miles Davis -- "It Never Entered My Mind."
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass -- "A Beautiful Friend."
TOP OF THE HOUR, into 3 minutes of National & Local News....
This is just for starters. All the songs could be exchanged for others of a similar genre. SURPRISE should be the format's motto. That and WHAT'S NEXT? Or even WHO'S NEXT?!
Possible changes/additions:
* Replace Beyonce with any GOOD Urban/R&B/Rap/Hip-Hop song from the past decade (your choice). (Outkast's "Hey Ya" for example....)
* Replace Marvin Gaye with any good Motown hit or album track from the '60s/'70s.
* Replace "There's a Place" with any good Beatles B-side or album track.
* Replace Fleetwood Mac with any other good underplayed Mac song.
* Toss in a '70s singer-songwriter to replace The Spinners or The Stylistics -- Joni Mitchell's "Coyote" or "Raised on Robbery," Carole King's "Been to Canaan," Jackson Browne's "The Fuse," Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic," Cat Stevens's "Bitterblue," Jim Croce's "Lover's Cross," Steely Dan's "Gaucho," etc.
* Toss in BOC's "Morning Final"/"E.T.I."/"Astronomy" (IMAGINOS version) to replace REO or The Eagles -- or some other good heavy-rock song: Deep Purple's "Hush"/"Kentucky Woman"/"Highway Star," Motorhead's "Killed by Death," AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," Hawkwind's "You'd Better Believe It," Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away"/"The Rover"/"Immigrant Song," Spooky Tooth's "Feelin' Bad," etc.
* Replace the Country stuff with any other good seldom-heard-on-pop-radio Country song since the '60s ("Six Days on the Road," "The Girl on the Billboard," "Passionate Kisses," "Melancholy Child," "Whenever You Walk in the Room," etc).
* Replace Herb Alpert with Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" or any other GOOD MOR hit from the '60s -- Glen Campbell's "It's Only Make Believe," Petula Clark's "I Know a Place," Fifth Dimension's "Carpet Man," etc. ...or even a REAL Oldie like Louis Jordan's "Barnyard Boogie."
* Toss in other jazz numbers -- Thelonious Monk's "Underground," Miles Davis's "In a Silent Way," Keith Jarrett's "Country," etc.
* Toss in a recognized Classical piece now & then -- Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" or the "Simple Gifts" coda to "Appalachian Spring," etc.
* Toss in a Prog Rock Oldie -- Yes's "The South Side of the Sky," ELP's "Karn Evil 9/First Impression (Part 1)," Genesis's "Inside and Out," King Crimson's "Frame By Frame," etc.
* Keep the Local News in there so folks know if there's an ugly wreck on the freeway or some other emergency.
If I can come up with this format -- which SHOULD work and could potentially please a wide variety of listeners -- in less than 10 minutes, why can't Radio grow some balls and do it?
And if somebody wants to donate lots of cash, I'll make it happen. We'll probably have to BUY a radio station first.... Please make your kind and generous donations below....
Suggestions and complaints are welcome, too....
DO YOU THINK THIS COULD WORK?
Monday, April 1, 2013
#648: Leftoverture
...No, this is not a review of the classic 1976 album by Kansas -- if you need me 2 urge you 2 check out that album at this late date, you really R in trouble. (But you really SHOULD check-out that album's songs "Miracles Out of Nowhere" & "Questions of My Childhood" & "Cheyenne Anthem" & "What's on My Mind" & "The Wall"....)
No, what this is instead is a collection of stuff I've been piling up 4 the last few weeks -- material that wasn't quite enuf 4 a post of its own. Here 'tis....
Hope you've been catching rock critics Jim deRogatis & Greg Kott's weekly music show SOUND OPINIONS on an open-minded radio station near you. (Here they're on the University of Washington's KUOW-FM, Sunday nites at 10 pm.) In recent weeks they've had a long interview with producer Tony Visconti -- who talked about how fast folks like David Bowie & Marc Bolan (of T. Rex) liked 2 work in the studio, & about spending 10 MONTHS in the studio with the Moody Blues recording THE OTHER SIDE OF LIFE. They even talked a bit about Gentle Giant, who Visconti produced sevral early albums 4. Visconti also talked about his book: BOWIE, BOLAN AND THE BROOKLYN BOY, which sounds like a hoot -- anybody out there got a copy? I can't afford Amazon's prices -- I promise 2 review it here, drop me your address below....
Last nite, March 31, 2 celebrate the start of baseball season, Jim & Greg talked about artists who achieved "grand slams" -- 4 great studio albums in a row. You can imagine summa the names that were mentioned -- Led Zep, etc., & there were lotsa critic's babies: XTC, Husker Du, Blur, etc. -- but I was suprised at summa the names that WEREN'T mentioned. I was working, so I didn't hear EVERYTHING, but... They SAID they weren't gonna include Bob Dylan, the Stones, Roxy Music. But how bout the Beatles? (REVOLVER/SGT. PEPPER/WHITE ALBUM/ABBEY ROAD)? How bout Pink Floyd (DARK SIDE/WISH YOU WERE HERE/ANIMALS/THE WALL)? Or The Who (SELL OUT/TOMMY/WHO'S NEXT/QUADROPHENIA)? How bout Fleetwood Mac (FLEETWOOD MAC/RUMOURS/TUSK/MIRAGE)?
...& then they quoted rock critic Lester Bangs on how "all music today goes back to the Velvet Underground," & listed their 4 great albums. Well, maybe. Xcept 4 "All Tomorrow's Parties," I've never been much of a Velvets fan -- but Jim & Greg said especially the Velvets' 2nd album, WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT, thrilled them & terrified them when they were young, & they submit that's what great rock&roll SHOULD do.
Well, still a pretty great radio show. Lotsa critics' babies, but. I've learned a few things. & they're a great argument-starter. Check 'em out, if you haven't already, if they're on-air where you're at....
Was listening 2 Blondie's charming remake of Randy and the Rainbows' early-'60s hit "Denise" (Blondie's version is on their GREATEST HITS), when I started wondering when was the last time I heard the original played on the radio. 4 me, it was near Salt Lake City, Utah, early in 1998, driving thru a snowstorm.
& then I started thinking about how Oldies Radio has failed us all if great stuff like this is forgotten in favor of the same old publically-acceptable 200 Oldies hits that everybody plays over & over.
When's the last time you heard Timmy Thomas's "Why Can't We Live Together" on radio? Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar"? Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "House at Pooh Corner"? Fanny's "Charity Ball" or "Butter Boy"? Or 100 others I could probly rattle off if I took a few minutes 2 think about it?
Can somebody with some MEMORY & IMAGINATION take over a radio station somewhere? I'd tune in... daily.
"THE BUG 3" -- Bagged a few more items during a trip thru a Bremerton 2nd-hand store over the weekend:
Mott the Hoople -- MOTT.
Mary-Chapin Carpenter -- COME ON COME ON.
Peter Gabriel -- 3.
Dusty Springfield -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME.
Nino Tempo and April Stevens -- DEEP PURPLE.
Patrick Moraz -- I.
Three Dog Night -- HARMONY.
Trisha Yearwood -- SONGBOOK best-of.
Liz Phair -- EXILE IN GUYVILLE.
Carly Simon -- BEST OF.
...The Mott 2 replace a CD copy I foolishly traded-off 5 years ago. Gotta hear "All the Way from Memphis" & "Honaloochie Boogie" & "Violence" again ... The Mary-Chapin Carpenter is an olde favorite from the '90s, worth it all 4 "Passionate Kisses" & "The Hard Way" & the title song & a coupla others ... The Gabriel mainly 4 the heartbreaking "Family Snapshot" -- I'm sure I won't play it much, but it'll B good 2 have it around ... Dusty 4 the gorgeous melodramatic title song ... Nino & April 4 the foghorn-impression title song of course -- but mainly 4 the amazing B-side "I've Been Carrying a Torch for You So Long That I've Burned a Great Big Hole in My Heart" (I'm NOT making this up!), which is somewhere between a yodel & a field holler, something that coulda come from another planet ... The Moraz cos I loved his work with the Moodies & have always thot he was screwed out of a lotta credit 4 that band's comeback in the '80s ... The Dog 2 replace a copy I've foolishly traded off 2wice now ... The Yearwood 4 the country hits I can't stop singing along with ("She's in Love With the Boy," "Thinking About You," "X's and O's," "Wrong Side of Memphis") -- if "Woman Walk the Line" were on it, it'd B perfect ... Liz Phair cos she got rave reviews & all I've ever heard by her were a coupla middling hits a few years back, including the wonderful "Extraordinary" ... The Carly Simon mighta been a mistake. I've already got "Anticipation" on an old promo 45. Maybe 4 "Attitude Dancing"? Or so I could hear "Legend in Your Own Time"? I wonder what I put back by mistake...?
...I can also report that this apparently nameless 2nd-hand store in Bremerton's Perry Avenue Mall has a HUGE selection of reasonably-priced vinyl. I PUT BACK albums by Al Stewart, Incredible String Band, Rick Wakeman, It's a Beautiful Day, Fleetwood Mac, Rascals, etc.
Oh, they also have a Vee-Jay copy of INTRODUCING THE BEATLES, in a locked glass display case -- only $500?! Maybe if it were in the original shrink-wrap & had never been opened.... Damn, I coulda grabbed a copy 4 $2 back in 1976....
NEway, worth a visit if you're in the area....
No, what this is instead is a collection of stuff I've been piling up 4 the last few weeks -- material that wasn't quite enuf 4 a post of its own. Here 'tis....
Hope you've been catching rock critics Jim deRogatis & Greg Kott's weekly music show SOUND OPINIONS on an open-minded radio station near you. (Here they're on the University of Washington's KUOW-FM, Sunday nites at 10 pm.) In recent weeks they've had a long interview with producer Tony Visconti -- who talked about how fast folks like David Bowie & Marc Bolan (of T. Rex) liked 2 work in the studio, & about spending 10 MONTHS in the studio with the Moody Blues recording THE OTHER SIDE OF LIFE. They even talked a bit about Gentle Giant, who Visconti produced sevral early albums 4. Visconti also talked about his book: BOWIE, BOLAN AND THE BROOKLYN BOY, which sounds like a hoot -- anybody out there got a copy? I can't afford Amazon's prices -- I promise 2 review it here, drop me your address below....
Last nite, March 31, 2 celebrate the start of baseball season, Jim & Greg talked about artists who achieved "grand slams" -- 4 great studio albums in a row. You can imagine summa the names that were mentioned -- Led Zep, etc., & there were lotsa critic's babies: XTC, Husker Du, Blur, etc. -- but I was suprised at summa the names that WEREN'T mentioned. I was working, so I didn't hear EVERYTHING, but... They SAID they weren't gonna include Bob Dylan, the Stones, Roxy Music. But how bout the Beatles? (REVOLVER/SGT. PEPPER/WHITE ALBUM/ABBEY ROAD)? How bout Pink Floyd (DARK SIDE/WISH YOU WERE HERE/ANIMALS/THE WALL)? Or The Who (SELL OUT/TOMMY/WHO'S NEXT/QUADROPHENIA)? How bout Fleetwood Mac (FLEETWOOD MAC/RUMOURS/TUSK/MIRAGE)?
...& then they quoted rock critic Lester Bangs on how "all music today goes back to the Velvet Underground," & listed their 4 great albums. Well, maybe. Xcept 4 "All Tomorrow's Parties," I've never been much of a Velvets fan -- but Jim & Greg said especially the Velvets' 2nd album, WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT, thrilled them & terrified them when they were young, & they submit that's what great rock&roll SHOULD do.
Well, still a pretty great radio show. Lotsa critics' babies, but. I've learned a few things. & they're a great argument-starter. Check 'em out, if you haven't already, if they're on-air where you're at....
Was listening 2 Blondie's charming remake of Randy and the Rainbows' early-'60s hit "Denise" (Blondie's version is on their GREATEST HITS), when I started wondering when was the last time I heard the original played on the radio. 4 me, it was near Salt Lake City, Utah, early in 1998, driving thru a snowstorm.
& then I started thinking about how Oldies Radio has failed us all if great stuff like this is forgotten in favor of the same old publically-acceptable 200 Oldies hits that everybody plays over & over.
When's the last time you heard Timmy Thomas's "Why Can't We Live Together" on radio? Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar"? Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "House at Pooh Corner"? Fanny's "Charity Ball" or "Butter Boy"? Or 100 others I could probly rattle off if I took a few minutes 2 think about it?
Can somebody with some MEMORY & IMAGINATION take over a radio station somewhere? I'd tune in... daily.
"THE BUG 3" -- Bagged a few more items during a trip thru a Bremerton 2nd-hand store over the weekend:
Mott the Hoople -- MOTT.
Mary-Chapin Carpenter -- COME ON COME ON.
Peter Gabriel -- 3.
Dusty Springfield -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME.
Nino Tempo and April Stevens -- DEEP PURPLE.
Patrick Moraz -- I.
Three Dog Night -- HARMONY.
Trisha Yearwood -- SONGBOOK best-of.
Liz Phair -- EXILE IN GUYVILLE.
Carly Simon -- BEST OF.
...The Mott 2 replace a CD copy I foolishly traded-off 5 years ago. Gotta hear "All the Way from Memphis" & "Honaloochie Boogie" & "Violence" again ... The Mary-Chapin Carpenter is an olde favorite from the '90s, worth it all 4 "Passionate Kisses" & "The Hard Way" & the title song & a coupla others ... The Gabriel mainly 4 the heartbreaking "Family Snapshot" -- I'm sure I won't play it much, but it'll B good 2 have it around ... Dusty 4 the gorgeous melodramatic title song ... Nino & April 4 the foghorn-impression title song of course -- but mainly 4 the amazing B-side "I've Been Carrying a Torch for You So Long That I've Burned a Great Big Hole in My Heart" (I'm NOT making this up!), which is somewhere between a yodel & a field holler, something that coulda come from another planet ... The Moraz cos I loved his work with the Moodies & have always thot he was screwed out of a lotta credit 4 that band's comeback in the '80s ... The Dog 2 replace a copy I've foolishly traded off 2wice now ... The Yearwood 4 the country hits I can't stop singing along with ("She's in Love With the Boy," "Thinking About You," "X's and O's," "Wrong Side of Memphis") -- if "Woman Walk the Line" were on it, it'd B perfect ... Liz Phair cos she got rave reviews & all I've ever heard by her were a coupla middling hits a few years back, including the wonderful "Extraordinary" ... The Carly Simon mighta been a mistake. I've already got "Anticipation" on an old promo 45. Maybe 4 "Attitude Dancing"? Or so I could hear "Legend in Your Own Time"? I wonder what I put back by mistake...?
...I can also report that this apparently nameless 2nd-hand store in Bremerton's Perry Avenue Mall has a HUGE selection of reasonably-priced vinyl. I PUT BACK albums by Al Stewart, Incredible String Band, Rick Wakeman, It's a Beautiful Day, Fleetwood Mac, Rascals, etc.
Oh, they also have a Vee-Jay copy of INTRODUCING THE BEATLES, in a locked glass display case -- only $500?! Maybe if it were in the original shrink-wrap & had never been opened.... Damn, I coulda grabbed a copy 4 $2 back in 1976....
NEway, worth a visit if you're in the area....
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
#644: Future Playlist 6
A few more musical suggestions 4 U 2 Xplore. More coming soon....
Gryphon -- Lament, Spring Song, The Ploughboy's Dream, Ethelion, Opening Move, Second Spasm, Wallbanger, (Ein Klein) Heldenleben, Fall of the Leaf, Major Disaster.
Amazing Blondel -- Fantasia Lindum: Swifts Swains and Leafy Lanes, Lincolnshire Lullabye, Celestial Light; Landscape, Seascape.
Simon and Garfunkel -- For Emily Whenever I May Find Her, The Only Living Boy in New York, Keep the Customers Satisfied.
Paul Simon -- American Tune.
Badfinger -- Rock of All Ages, In the Meantime/Some Other Time, Meanwhile Back at the Ranch/Should I Smoke?, The Name of the Game.
Cat Stevens -- Tuesday's Dead, Changes IV, The Wind.
Carolyne Mas -- Stillsane, Sadie Says.
Spirit -- 1984, Aren't You Glad?, Nothing to Hide, Nature's Way, Animal Zoo, Mr. Skin, Life Has Just Begun, Morning Will Come, Soldier, My Friend.
Cream -- Badge, Deserted Cities of the Heart, Those Were the Days.
Cheap Trick -- Surrender, Stop This Game, World's Greatest Lover.
Joe Walsh -- Rivers (of the Hidden Funk), Meadows.
Joan Armatrading -- Persona Grata, Temptation, Talking to the Wall, I Love it When You Call Me Names, Drop the Pilot, When I Get it Right, Me Myself I, All the Way from America, I Need You.
Tracey Chapman -- Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution.
Katrina and the Waves -- Game of Love, Que Ti Quiero, Red Wine and Whisky.
Nicolette Larson -- Radioland.
Weird Al Yankovic -- Nature Trail to Hell, One More Minute, Polkas on 45.
Pentangle -- Light Flight, Sweet Child.
England Dan and John Ford Coley -- Holocaust.
Velvet Underground -- All Tomorrow's Parties.
Cowboy Junkies -- Sweet Jane.
Janis Ian -- When the Party's Over, From Me to You, In the Winter, Watercolors, Love is Blind.
Bare Naked Ladies -- What a Good Boy (live), Alcohol, Light Up My Room, In the Car, It's All Been Done, Who Needs Sleep?, Some Fantastic, Never is Enough, Get in Line, Brian Wilson (live), Lovers in a Dangerous Time, It's Only Me, If I Had $1,000,000.
Bruce Cockburn -- Incandescent Blue, Badlands Flashback, After the Rain, Silver Wheels.
Gryphon -- Lament, Spring Song, The Ploughboy's Dream, Ethelion, Opening Move, Second Spasm, Wallbanger, (Ein Klein) Heldenleben, Fall of the Leaf, Major Disaster.
Amazing Blondel -- Fantasia Lindum: Swifts Swains and Leafy Lanes, Lincolnshire Lullabye, Celestial Light; Landscape, Seascape.
Simon and Garfunkel -- For Emily Whenever I May Find Her, The Only Living Boy in New York, Keep the Customers Satisfied.
Paul Simon -- American Tune.
Badfinger -- Rock of All Ages, In the Meantime/Some Other Time, Meanwhile Back at the Ranch/Should I Smoke?, The Name of the Game.
Cat Stevens -- Tuesday's Dead, Changes IV, The Wind.
Carolyne Mas -- Stillsane, Sadie Says.
Spirit -- 1984, Aren't You Glad?, Nothing to Hide, Nature's Way, Animal Zoo, Mr. Skin, Life Has Just Begun, Morning Will Come, Soldier, My Friend.
Cream -- Badge, Deserted Cities of the Heart, Those Were the Days.
Cheap Trick -- Surrender, Stop This Game, World's Greatest Lover.
Joe Walsh -- Rivers (of the Hidden Funk), Meadows.
Joan Armatrading -- Persona Grata, Temptation, Talking to the Wall, I Love it When You Call Me Names, Drop the Pilot, When I Get it Right, Me Myself I, All the Way from America, I Need You.
Tracey Chapman -- Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution.
Katrina and the Waves -- Game of Love, Que Ti Quiero, Red Wine and Whisky.
Nicolette Larson -- Radioland.
Weird Al Yankovic -- Nature Trail to Hell, One More Minute, Polkas on 45.
Pentangle -- Light Flight, Sweet Child.
England Dan and John Ford Coley -- Holocaust.
Velvet Underground -- All Tomorrow's Parties.
Cowboy Junkies -- Sweet Jane.
Janis Ian -- When the Party's Over, From Me to You, In the Winter, Watercolors, Love is Blind.
Bare Naked Ladies -- What a Good Boy (live), Alcohol, Light Up My Room, In the Car, It's All Been Done, Who Needs Sleep?, Some Fantastic, Never is Enough, Get in Line, Brian Wilson (live), Lovers in a Dangerous Time, It's Only Me, If I Had $1,000,000.
Bruce Cockburn -- Incandescent Blue, Badlands Flashback, After the Rain, Silver Wheels.
Monday, March 11, 2013
#640: Quitting Radio 2
It's sick, but sometimes my stash of 3-dozen CD's isn't ENUF motivation 2 get me thru a bad workday.
I'm slowly adding more motivational music, on my tight budget. & I've tried test-driving previously-unheard stuff at work, which often doesn't work 2 well 4 me, or 4 the public. Ghod knows what kind of damage I mighta caused 2 people's psyches when I tried out Cromagnon's CAVE ROCK at work a few months back....
But no matter what it is that's playing, even if it doesn't Xactly keep me moving, I know it makes me happier than hearing local radio spin something lame & WAY-played-out like the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight" 4 the 9-millionth time.
How did things get like this? & why do people settle 4 it? Maybe they don't -- & that's why portable music devices (iPods, Walkmans, Discmans, etc.) have been so popular since the early '80s.... Way better 2 program your own music, rather than letting commercial radio make completely predictable choices 4 you....
Anyway, 2 go along with my mostly-continuing radio boycott, here's what I've bn playing lately at work, in the car on the way 2 work, & elsewhere....
Florence + the Machine -- Shake it Out.
Stevie Wonder -- I Was Made to Love Her, Signed Sealed Delivered, Superstition, Higher Ground, You Haven't Done Nothin', I Wish, Sir Duke, That Girl.
Chicago -- Old Days.
Camel -- Never Let Go, Rhayader, Rhayader Goes to Town, Unevensong, Breathless, Echoes, Sasquatch, Mother Road.
Love -- Alone Again Or, A House is Not a Motel, The Daily Planet, Old Man, The Red Telephone, Maybe the People Should be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale.
Turtles -- Sound Asleep.
Beatles -- Ticket to Ride, Eight Days a Week, Paperback Writer, Help!
Kansas -- Miracles out of Nowhere, Questions of My Childhood.
Rush -- Time Stand Still, Force Ten, Marathon, Mission.
Fleetwood Mac -- Oh Well, Green Manalishi, Why?
...Stevie Wonder went over pretty well at work. I hadn't heard "Higher Ground" & "You Haven't Done Nothin'" in YEARS, & they both still sound great. "I Wish" is practically a themesong 4 a nostalgia nut like me -- which makes it a good companion-piece 2 Chicago's "Old Days." "That Girl" unfortunately sounds better coming unXpectedly out of the car radio....
Should note that Love's FOREVER CHANGES features some really Xcellent, powerful acoustic-guitar strumming & slashing along with occasional electric-gtr freakouts 2 accompany the superb songs....
Checked-out a couple local 2nd-hand stores last week, grabbing cheap old albums by the Turtles, 2 by the Rascals, Youngbloods, Paul Simon & Gordon Lightfoot. Haven't actually LISTENED 2 any of these yet. (Crap, I still have stuff I grabbed last JULY that I haven't played yet....)
Left Bhind a few things that might B worth some $$$ -- King Crimson's DISCIPLINE (couldn't justify spending $8 4 an album cover since I already have it on a home-burned CD), + the Four Seasons' STORY 2-record best-of (on Private Stock, out-of-print since about 1978), Bobby Goldsboro's 20TH ANNIVERSARY 2-record best-of, & Rod Stewart's 2-record Mercury BEST OF.
I already have enuf Rod the Mod 2 keep me happy -- & tho I briefly thot about grabbing the 4 Seasons & Bobby Goldsboro cos they might B worth some $$$, then I started thinking about HOW 2 sell them & 2 who, how quickly I could turn the $$$ around, & decided it wasn't worth it -- these days I can only justify buying stuff I might actually LISTEN 2.... (But if you're intrested in these, check out the Port Orchard, Wash., St. Vincent DePaul's Thrift Store -- they're CHEAP....)
...About the only thing I can find worth hearing on local radio these days is rock critics Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kott's weekly SOUND OPINIONS program, carried here on the University of Washington's KUOW FM. In recent weeks they've had interviews & live performances with/by Aimee Mann, Lucinda Williams & others, reviews & samples of good-sounding new stuff (Richard Thompson's ELECTRIC, Rye's WOMAN), & overviews of shoegaze, '80s psychedelia, etc. Some critics' babies, 2 B sure, but not enuf reviews or Desert Island-worthy picks....
Oh, & Seattle's news station KOMO aired a pretty good 5-minute interview with Paul Revere of the Raiders. Did you know the Rolling Stones OPENED a show for the Raiders once...?
More soon!
I'm slowly adding more motivational music, on my tight budget. & I've tried test-driving previously-unheard stuff at work, which often doesn't work 2 well 4 me, or 4 the public. Ghod knows what kind of damage I mighta caused 2 people's psyches when I tried out Cromagnon's CAVE ROCK at work a few months back....
But no matter what it is that's playing, even if it doesn't Xactly keep me moving, I know it makes me happier than hearing local radio spin something lame & WAY-played-out like the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight" 4 the 9-millionth time.
How did things get like this? & why do people settle 4 it? Maybe they don't -- & that's why portable music devices (iPods, Walkmans, Discmans, etc.) have been so popular since the early '80s.... Way better 2 program your own music, rather than letting commercial radio make completely predictable choices 4 you....
Anyway, 2 go along with my mostly-continuing radio boycott, here's what I've bn playing lately at work, in the car on the way 2 work, & elsewhere....
Florence + the Machine -- Shake it Out.
Stevie Wonder -- I Was Made to Love Her, Signed Sealed Delivered, Superstition, Higher Ground, You Haven't Done Nothin', I Wish, Sir Duke, That Girl.
Chicago -- Old Days.
Camel -- Never Let Go, Rhayader, Rhayader Goes to Town, Unevensong, Breathless, Echoes, Sasquatch, Mother Road.
Love -- Alone Again Or, A House is Not a Motel, The Daily Planet, Old Man, The Red Telephone, Maybe the People Should be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale.
Turtles -- Sound Asleep.
Beatles -- Ticket to Ride, Eight Days a Week, Paperback Writer, Help!
Kansas -- Miracles out of Nowhere, Questions of My Childhood.
Rush -- Time Stand Still, Force Ten, Marathon, Mission.
Fleetwood Mac -- Oh Well, Green Manalishi, Why?
...Stevie Wonder went over pretty well at work. I hadn't heard "Higher Ground" & "You Haven't Done Nothin'" in YEARS, & they both still sound great. "I Wish" is practically a themesong 4 a nostalgia nut like me -- which makes it a good companion-piece 2 Chicago's "Old Days." "That Girl" unfortunately sounds better coming unXpectedly out of the car radio....
Should note that Love's FOREVER CHANGES features some really Xcellent, powerful acoustic-guitar strumming & slashing along with occasional electric-gtr freakouts 2 accompany the superb songs....
Checked-out a couple local 2nd-hand stores last week, grabbing cheap old albums by the Turtles, 2 by the Rascals, Youngbloods, Paul Simon & Gordon Lightfoot. Haven't actually LISTENED 2 any of these yet. (Crap, I still have stuff I grabbed last JULY that I haven't played yet....)
Left Bhind a few things that might B worth some $$$ -- King Crimson's DISCIPLINE (couldn't justify spending $8 4 an album cover since I already have it on a home-burned CD), + the Four Seasons' STORY 2-record best-of (on Private Stock, out-of-print since about 1978), Bobby Goldsboro's 20TH ANNIVERSARY 2-record best-of, & Rod Stewart's 2-record Mercury BEST OF.
I already have enuf Rod the Mod 2 keep me happy -- & tho I briefly thot about grabbing the 4 Seasons & Bobby Goldsboro cos they might B worth some $$$, then I started thinking about HOW 2 sell them & 2 who, how quickly I could turn the $$$ around, & decided it wasn't worth it -- these days I can only justify buying stuff I might actually LISTEN 2.... (But if you're intrested in these, check out the Port Orchard, Wash., St. Vincent DePaul's Thrift Store -- they're CHEAP....)
...About the only thing I can find worth hearing on local radio these days is rock critics Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kott's weekly SOUND OPINIONS program, carried here on the University of Washington's KUOW FM. In recent weeks they've had interviews & live performances with/by Aimee Mann, Lucinda Williams & others, reviews & samples of good-sounding new stuff (Richard Thompson's ELECTRIC, Rye's WOMAN), & overviews of shoegaze, '80s psychedelia, etc. Some critics' babies, 2 B sure, but not enuf reviews or Desert Island-worthy picks....
Oh, & Seattle's news station KOMO aired a pretty good 5-minute interview with Paul Revere of the Raiders. Did you know the Rolling Stones OPENED a show for the Raiders once...?
More soon!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
#639: Giving Up on Radio
Of course I've been giving up on radio for YEARS, but this time it's Serious.
After going thru a brief nothing-but-radio phase (because I was bored with my music from home) & a nothing-but-news-&-talk-radio phase, I'm convinced there's nothing in the Seattle area worth tuning-into anymore. Can't remember the last time I was surprised by any music, the news stations just repeat themselves, & the late-nite talk-radio programs ... well, don't get me started. Some people will believe ANYTHING. The BS factor is pretty high.
The weird thing is, the Seattle stations sometimes run commercials about how 2 million people in the greater Seattle area listen 2 at least 2 hours of radio per day -- usually when they're stuck in traffic, I'll bet. With that kind of audience, you'd think there'd B something 4 every1. But there isn't. More & more it seems radio programming is all about AVOIDING surprises, about making sure everything is comfortable & familiar 2 the listener.
When's the last time you heard something surprising on your local radio station? When's the last time they kicked-off the weekend with something fairly high-energy -- say Cheap Trick's "Surrender" or the Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind" or the Bobby Fuller Four's "I Fought the Law," or even Bob Seger's "Hollywood Nights"?
The 1 moderately adventurous Oldies station we had here has gone WAY more mainstream & safe since more people discovered they're around. Now they play the same old worn-out list of 200 publicly-acceptable oldies. It's been a long time since they've played anything as off-the-wall as Small Faces' "Lazy Sunday," or even Jefferson Starship's "Play on Love." Or even Perry Como....
Not everybody likes surprises -- some people might actually B jolted enuf 2 mess-up the traffic flow, or even change 2 another station. & we can't have that.
(My girlfriend assures me Country stations R the same way -- most of them play the current country hits 2 death, & maybe an occasional oldie from as far as 10 years back. But if you want 2 hear any classic country, the formats R so fragmented that you havta find a Classic Country station. Sounds just like the rock&roll situation, don't it?)
So, almost every day when I go 2 work I carry a big bag of about 3-dozen motivational CD's, everything from the Beatles & Fleetwood Mac & the Bangles & the Go-Go's 2 Camel & Caravan. & even tho I'm fairly bored with almost all of them, I know I can come up with a better, more motivational playlist than any of my local music stations.
& I'm sure millions of other folks around the country do something similar -- with CD's or iPods or whatever. No wonder radio's dying -- fewer listeners, smaller pool of $$$ 2 support the format, downward spiral, everything gets tight & conservative, etc....
(To be continued....)
After going thru a brief nothing-but-radio phase (because I was bored with my music from home) & a nothing-but-news-&-talk-radio phase, I'm convinced there's nothing in the Seattle area worth tuning-into anymore. Can't remember the last time I was surprised by any music, the news stations just repeat themselves, & the late-nite talk-radio programs ... well, don't get me started. Some people will believe ANYTHING. The BS factor is pretty high.
The weird thing is, the Seattle stations sometimes run commercials about how 2 million people in the greater Seattle area listen 2 at least 2 hours of radio per day -- usually when they're stuck in traffic, I'll bet. With that kind of audience, you'd think there'd B something 4 every1. But there isn't. More & more it seems radio programming is all about AVOIDING surprises, about making sure everything is comfortable & familiar 2 the listener.
When's the last time you heard something surprising on your local radio station? When's the last time they kicked-off the weekend with something fairly high-energy -- say Cheap Trick's "Surrender" or the Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind" or the Bobby Fuller Four's "I Fought the Law," or even Bob Seger's "Hollywood Nights"?
The 1 moderately adventurous Oldies station we had here has gone WAY more mainstream & safe since more people discovered they're around. Now they play the same old worn-out list of 200 publicly-acceptable oldies. It's been a long time since they've played anything as off-the-wall as Small Faces' "Lazy Sunday," or even Jefferson Starship's "Play on Love." Or even Perry Como....
Not everybody likes surprises -- some people might actually B jolted enuf 2 mess-up the traffic flow, or even change 2 another station. & we can't have that.
(My girlfriend assures me Country stations R the same way -- most of them play the current country hits 2 death, & maybe an occasional oldie from as far as 10 years back. But if you want 2 hear any classic country, the formats R so fragmented that you havta find a Classic Country station. Sounds just like the rock&roll situation, don't it?)
So, almost every day when I go 2 work I carry a big bag of about 3-dozen motivational CD's, everything from the Beatles & Fleetwood Mac & the Bangles & the Go-Go's 2 Camel & Caravan. & even tho I'm fairly bored with almost all of them, I know I can come up with a better, more motivational playlist than any of my local music stations.
& I'm sure millions of other folks around the country do something similar -- with CD's or iPods or whatever. No wonder radio's dying -- fewer listeners, smaller pool of $$$ 2 support the format, downward spiral, everything gets tight & conservative, etc....
(To be continued....)
Friday, February 8, 2013
#631: Future Playlist 5
Here's another suggested-back-up playlist 4 radio, most of them folkies 4 some odd reason....
Joni Mitchell -- Raised on Robbery, Coyote.
Dan Fogelberg -- As the Raven Flies, Someone's Been Telling You Stories, There's a Place in the World for a Gambler, Tell Me to My Face, Phoenix, Along the Road, Wishing on the Moon, Heart Hotels, Nexus, The Innocent Age, The Reach, In the Passage, Stolen Moments, The Lion's Share, Times Like These.
Arlo Guthrie -- Presidential Rag, Coming into Los Angeles, Motorcycle (Significance of the Pickle) Song, The Story of Reuben Clamzo and His Strange Daughter in the Key of E, Alice's Restaurant Massacree.
Neil Young -- The Loner, Cortez the Killer (live), Cinnamon Girl (live).
Rare Bird -- Birdman, Epic Forest.
Ringo Starr -- Early 1970.
Happy the Man -- Wind-Up Doll Day Wind, Service With a Smile, Open Book, Morning Sun, Ibby it Is, Steaming Pipes, On Time as a Helix of Precious Laughs.
Peter, Paul and Mary -- Day is Done, Man Come into Egypt, A'Soulin', Settle Down, This Land is Your Land, The Wonderful Toy.
Fairport Convention -- Tale in Hard Time, Come All Ye, I'll Keep it with Mine, Million Dollar Bash, Meet on the Ledge, Chelsea Morning, Mr. Lacey, Stranger to Himself.
Sandy Denny -- Listen Listen, The Simple Joys of Brotherhood.
Donovan -- Season of the Witch, Life Goes On.
Nick Drake -- Hazey Jane II, At the Chime of a City Clock, One of These Things First, Hazey Jane I, Northern Sky, Fly, Sunday, Pink Moon, Things Behind the Sun, From the Morning, Cello Song.
Bob Dylan -- One of Us Must Know, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, Tangled Up in Blue.
Steeleye Span -- Allison Gross, All Around My Hat, One Misty Moisty Morning, Fighting for Strangers.
Group 87 -- One Night Away from Day, Future of the City, Magnificent Clockworks, The Bedouin, While the City Sleeps, Moving Sidewalks.
Supertramp -- School, Dreamer, If Everyone was Listening, Crime of the Century, Babajii, From Now On, Fool's Overture, Gone Hollywood, Just Another Nervous Wreck, Child of Vision.
Rickie Lee Jones -- On Sunday Afternoons in 1963, We Belong Together, Living it Up.
Norah Jones -- Shoot the Moon, The Long Day is Over.
Left Banke -- She May Call You Up Tonight, Desiree, I've Got Something on My Mind.
U.K. -- In the Dead of Night suite, Time to Kill, Mental Medication, Nevermore, Nothing to Lose, Rendezvous 6:02.
.38 Special -- Chain Lightning.
Procol Harum -- Shine on Brightly, Wreck of the Hesperus, A Salty Dog, Homburg, In Held T'was in I (live), In the Autumn of My Madness/Look to Your Soul/Grand Finale (live).
Jim Croce -- It Doesn't Have to be That Way, Lover's Cross.
Sky -- Where Opposites Meet, Vivaldi, Scipio, Toccata, Fifo, Adagio, Scherzo, Watching the Aeroplanes, Connecting Rooms, Meheeco.
More coming whenever I think of more....
Joni Mitchell -- Raised on Robbery, Coyote.
Dan Fogelberg -- As the Raven Flies, Someone's Been Telling You Stories, There's a Place in the World for a Gambler, Tell Me to My Face, Phoenix, Along the Road, Wishing on the Moon, Heart Hotels, Nexus, The Innocent Age, The Reach, In the Passage, Stolen Moments, The Lion's Share, Times Like These.
Arlo Guthrie -- Presidential Rag, Coming into Los Angeles, Motorcycle (Significance of the Pickle) Song, The Story of Reuben Clamzo and His Strange Daughter in the Key of E, Alice's Restaurant Massacree.
Neil Young -- The Loner, Cortez the Killer (live), Cinnamon Girl (live).
Rare Bird -- Birdman, Epic Forest.
Ringo Starr -- Early 1970.
Happy the Man -- Wind-Up Doll Day Wind, Service With a Smile, Open Book, Morning Sun, Ibby it Is, Steaming Pipes, On Time as a Helix of Precious Laughs.
Peter, Paul and Mary -- Day is Done, Man Come into Egypt, A'Soulin', Settle Down, This Land is Your Land, The Wonderful Toy.
Fairport Convention -- Tale in Hard Time, Come All Ye, I'll Keep it with Mine, Million Dollar Bash, Meet on the Ledge, Chelsea Morning, Mr. Lacey, Stranger to Himself.
Sandy Denny -- Listen Listen, The Simple Joys of Brotherhood.
Donovan -- Season of the Witch, Life Goes On.
Nick Drake -- Hazey Jane II, At the Chime of a City Clock, One of These Things First, Hazey Jane I, Northern Sky, Fly, Sunday, Pink Moon, Things Behind the Sun, From the Morning, Cello Song.
Bob Dylan -- One of Us Must Know, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, Tangled Up in Blue.
Steeleye Span -- Allison Gross, All Around My Hat, One Misty Moisty Morning, Fighting for Strangers.
Group 87 -- One Night Away from Day, Future of the City, Magnificent Clockworks, The Bedouin, While the City Sleeps, Moving Sidewalks.
Supertramp -- School, Dreamer, If Everyone was Listening, Crime of the Century, Babajii, From Now On, Fool's Overture, Gone Hollywood, Just Another Nervous Wreck, Child of Vision.
Rickie Lee Jones -- On Sunday Afternoons in 1963, We Belong Together, Living it Up.
Norah Jones -- Shoot the Moon, The Long Day is Over.
Left Banke -- She May Call You Up Tonight, Desiree, I've Got Something on My Mind.
U.K. -- In the Dead of Night suite, Time to Kill, Mental Medication, Nevermore, Nothing to Lose, Rendezvous 6:02.
.38 Special -- Chain Lightning.
Procol Harum -- Shine on Brightly, Wreck of the Hesperus, A Salty Dog, Homburg, In Held T'was in I (live), In the Autumn of My Madness/Look to Your Soul/Grand Finale (live).
Jim Croce -- It Doesn't Have to be That Way, Lover's Cross.
Sky -- Where Opposites Meet, Vivaldi, Scipio, Toccata, Fifo, Adagio, Scherzo, Watching the Aeroplanes, Connecting Rooms, Meheeco.
More coming whenever I think of more....
Sunday, February 3, 2013
#630: Future Playlist 4
Here's some more good non-hit stuff you really should check-out B4 Corporate Radio homogenizes your brain 2 the point where you can't grasp this stuff anymore....
...& BTW, I'm updating those previous "Future Playlists" as I think of more stuff I forgot about B4. Hey, it's A Work In Progress....
In MY Universe, this is the kinda stuff that'd get played on the radio Every Day.... Something for everyone....
Police -- On Any Other Day, Does Everyone Stare?, Can't Stand Losing You, Omegaman, Secret Journey, Darkness.
My Chemical Romance -- Teenagers (scare the living shit out of me).
Heart -- Soul of the Sea, Mistral Wind, Rockin' Heaven Down, Sweet Darlin' (live), Love Alive.
Tom Petty -- Even the Losers.
Boston -- Hitch a Ride, It's Easy, Used to Bad News, My Destination, Hollyann.
Byrds -- John Riley, Chestnut Mare, Wasn't Born to Follow, Ballad of Easy Rider, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better.
Bruce -- Rosalita.
Lynyrd Skynyrd -- Tuesday's Gone.
Outlaws -- I Can't Stop Loving You, Devil's Road.
Poco -- Here We Go Again, A Good Feeling to Know, And Settlin' Down, Crazy Eyes, Get in the Wind, Believe Me.
Steve Winwood -- Still in the Game, Spanish Dancer, Night Train, Dust.
Allman Brothers -- Jessica.
Barclay James Harvest -- Hymn, Spirit on the Water, Poor Man's Moody Blues, Play to the World, The Song They Love to Sing, Ring of Changes.
Gentle Giant -- Funny Ways (live), Raconteur Troubadour, Pentegruel's Nativity, The Advent of Panurge, Peel the Paint, Think of Me With Kindness, The Power and the Glory, Proclamation, Cogs in Cogs, His Last Voyage, Time to Kill, Talybont, Free Hand.
Jimi Hendrix -- The Wind Cries Mary.
Joan Jett -- Nag, Be Straight, Victim of Circumstance, Everyone Knows.
Deep Purple -- Kentucky Woman, Highway Star.
Lighthouse -- Hey Pretty Lady.
Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Wrote a Song for Everyone, Long as I Can See the Light.
Aerosmith -- Seasons of Wither.
Eric Clapton -- Let it Rain, Let it Grow, Bell Bottom Blues, Another Ticket.
CSNY -- Carry On, Deja Vu, Wooden Ships.
Jefferson Airplane -- Good Shepherd, Mexico, Volunteers, We Can Be Together, Crown of Creation.
Jefferson Starship -- All Nite Long, Lightning Rose, Things to Come, Awakening, Just the Same, Fading Lady Light, Freedom at Point Zero, Save Your Love.
Styx -- Suite Madame Blue.
Golden Earring -- Save Your Skin, Need Her.
Elton John -- Teacher I Need You, Elderberry Wine, Have Mercy on the Criminal, Ego, Step into Christmas, Tiny Dancer, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Gray Seal, All the Girls Love Alice, Ballad of Danny Bailey, Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock and Roll), Harmony, Roy Rogers, Social Disease, Grimsby, Sick City, (Gotta Get a) Meal Ticket.
John Cougar Mellencamp -- I Need a Lover.
Jethro Tull -- Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day, The Third Hoorah, Baker Street Muse, One White Duck/Nothing at All, The Mouse Police Never Sleeps, Dun Ringill, Dark Ages, Songs from the Wood, The Whistler, Ring Out Solstice Bells, Fire at Midnight, Back to the Family, Life's a Long Song, One Brown Mouse, A Passion Play (edit #8), Thick as a Brick (edit #1).
Rolling Stones -- Street Fighting Man, Worried About You.
Monkees -- Sweet Young Thing, Papa Gene's Blues, Gonna Buy Me a Dog, Take a Giant Step, Your Auntie Grizelda, The Door into Summer, Love is Only Sleeping, Sunny Girlfriend, No Time, Shades of Gray, Daily Nightly, What Am I Doin' Hangin' Round?, Porpoise Song, As We Go Along, Randy Scouse Git (Alternate Title), Listen to the Band, Tapioca Tundra, I'll Be Back Up on My Feet.
Buffalo Springfield -- Mr. Soul, Bluebird, Rock and Roll Woman, On the Way Home, Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing, Broken Arrow, Go and Say Goodbye.
Foreigner -- Do What You Like, Rev on the Red Line, Blinded by Science.
AC/DC -- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
Be-Bop Deluxe -- Sleep That Burns, Crying to the Sky, Maid in Heaven.
Porcupine Tree -- The Sound of Muzak.
Mike McGear -- Leave It.
Kracker -- Because of You (The Sun Don't Set).
America -- Sandman, Don't Cross the River, Only in Your Heart.
Osmonds -- Think, Catch Me Baby, Most of All, Motown Special.
INXS -- Don't Change, This Time, Mystify, Bitter Tears, The Gift.
Blue Oyster Cult -- ETI, Revenge of Vera Gemini, Morning Final, Debbie Denise, Astronomy (IMAGINOS version), I Love the Night.
Bachman Turner Overdrive -- Blue Collar, Tramp.
Enya -- Storms in Africa.
ELO -- The Way Life's Meant to Be, Summer and Lightning, It's Over, Across the Border, Yours Truly 2095, 10538 Overture (live).
Pat Metheny -- San Lorenzo, New Chatauqua, The Search, Ozark, As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls, Praise, The First Circle.
Lyle Mays -- Ascent.
Aaron Copland -- El Salon Mexico, Hoedown, Buckaroo Holiday, Corral Nocturne, Saturday Night Waltz, Simple Gifts.
Tarney Spencer Band -- No Time to Lose, Live Again, Won'tcha Tell Me, Run for Your Life.
Lindisfarne -- Lady Eleanor, Road to Kingdom Come, Clear White Light, Turn a Deaf Ear, Winter's Song.
Tears for Fears -- The Working Hour, Broken, Mother's Talk.
Bowie -- Suffragette City, TVC15, DJ.
Mott the Hoople -- All the Way from Memphis, Honaloochie Boogie, Violence.
Spooky Tooth -- Feelin' Bad.
Stevie Nicks -- Think About It, Outside the Rain.
Lindsey Buckingham -- Holiday Road.
Buckingham/Nicks -- Without a Leg to Stand On, Crying in the Night, Crystal, Long Distance Winner.
Andy Pratt -- Pistol Packin' Melody.
U2 -- I Will Follow, Twilight, Into the Heart, Out of Control, The Electric Co., Gloria.
Rod Stewart -- Handbags and Gladrags.
The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver -- Arms of Mary, You've Got Me Anyway.
Al Stewart -- Lord Grenville, Flying Sorcery, Broadway Hotel, One Stage Before, Almost Lucy, Valentina Way, Rocks in the Ocean, Running Man, Carol, Apple Cider Reconstitution, The Dark and Rolling Sea, Modern Times, Roads to Moscow, Terminal Eyes, Nostradamus, The World Comes to Riyadh (live), Mondo Sinistro, Red Toupee.
Cyndi Lauper -- When You Were Mine, Money Changes Everything.
Spider -- Shady Lady, Crossfire, Everything is Alright.
...More soon!
...& BTW, I'm updating those previous "Future Playlists" as I think of more stuff I forgot about B4. Hey, it's A Work In Progress....
In MY Universe, this is the kinda stuff that'd get played on the radio Every Day.... Something for everyone....
Police -- On Any Other Day, Does Everyone Stare?, Can't Stand Losing You, Omegaman, Secret Journey, Darkness.
My Chemical Romance -- Teenagers (scare the living shit out of me).
Heart -- Soul of the Sea, Mistral Wind, Rockin' Heaven Down, Sweet Darlin' (live), Love Alive.
Tom Petty -- Even the Losers.
Boston -- Hitch a Ride, It's Easy, Used to Bad News, My Destination, Hollyann.
Byrds -- John Riley, Chestnut Mare, Wasn't Born to Follow, Ballad of Easy Rider, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better.
Bruce -- Rosalita.
Lynyrd Skynyrd -- Tuesday's Gone.
Outlaws -- I Can't Stop Loving You, Devil's Road.
Poco -- Here We Go Again, A Good Feeling to Know, And Settlin' Down, Crazy Eyes, Get in the Wind, Believe Me.
Steve Winwood -- Still in the Game, Spanish Dancer, Night Train, Dust.
Allman Brothers -- Jessica.
Barclay James Harvest -- Hymn, Spirit on the Water, Poor Man's Moody Blues, Play to the World, The Song They Love to Sing, Ring of Changes.
Gentle Giant -- Funny Ways (live), Raconteur Troubadour, Pentegruel's Nativity, The Advent of Panurge, Peel the Paint, Think of Me With Kindness, The Power and the Glory, Proclamation, Cogs in Cogs, His Last Voyage, Time to Kill, Talybont, Free Hand.
Jimi Hendrix -- The Wind Cries Mary.
Joan Jett -- Nag, Be Straight, Victim of Circumstance, Everyone Knows.
Deep Purple -- Kentucky Woman, Highway Star.
Lighthouse -- Hey Pretty Lady.
Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Wrote a Song for Everyone, Long as I Can See the Light.
Aerosmith -- Seasons of Wither.
Eric Clapton -- Let it Rain, Let it Grow, Bell Bottom Blues, Another Ticket.
CSNY -- Carry On, Deja Vu, Wooden Ships.
Jefferson Airplane -- Good Shepherd, Mexico, Volunteers, We Can Be Together, Crown of Creation.
Jefferson Starship -- All Nite Long, Lightning Rose, Things to Come, Awakening, Just the Same, Fading Lady Light, Freedom at Point Zero, Save Your Love.
Styx -- Suite Madame Blue.
Golden Earring -- Save Your Skin, Need Her.
Elton John -- Teacher I Need You, Elderberry Wine, Have Mercy on the Criminal, Ego, Step into Christmas, Tiny Dancer, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Gray Seal, All the Girls Love Alice, Ballad of Danny Bailey, Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock and Roll), Harmony, Roy Rogers, Social Disease, Grimsby, Sick City, (Gotta Get a) Meal Ticket.
John Cougar Mellencamp -- I Need a Lover.
Jethro Tull -- Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day, The Third Hoorah, Baker Street Muse, One White Duck/Nothing at All, The Mouse Police Never Sleeps, Dun Ringill, Dark Ages, Songs from the Wood, The Whistler, Ring Out Solstice Bells, Fire at Midnight, Back to the Family, Life's a Long Song, One Brown Mouse, A Passion Play (edit #8), Thick as a Brick (edit #1).
Rolling Stones -- Street Fighting Man, Worried About You.
Monkees -- Sweet Young Thing, Papa Gene's Blues, Gonna Buy Me a Dog, Take a Giant Step, Your Auntie Grizelda, The Door into Summer, Love is Only Sleeping, Sunny Girlfriend, No Time, Shades of Gray, Daily Nightly, What Am I Doin' Hangin' Round?, Porpoise Song, As We Go Along, Randy Scouse Git (Alternate Title), Listen to the Band, Tapioca Tundra, I'll Be Back Up on My Feet.
Buffalo Springfield -- Mr. Soul, Bluebird, Rock and Roll Woman, On the Way Home, Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing, Broken Arrow, Go and Say Goodbye.
Foreigner -- Do What You Like, Rev on the Red Line, Blinded by Science.
AC/DC -- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
Be-Bop Deluxe -- Sleep That Burns, Crying to the Sky, Maid in Heaven.
Porcupine Tree -- The Sound of Muzak.
Mike McGear -- Leave It.
Kracker -- Because of You (The Sun Don't Set).
America -- Sandman, Don't Cross the River, Only in Your Heart.
Osmonds -- Think, Catch Me Baby, Most of All, Motown Special.
INXS -- Don't Change, This Time, Mystify, Bitter Tears, The Gift.
Blue Oyster Cult -- ETI, Revenge of Vera Gemini, Morning Final, Debbie Denise, Astronomy (IMAGINOS version), I Love the Night.
Bachman Turner Overdrive -- Blue Collar, Tramp.
Enya -- Storms in Africa.
ELO -- The Way Life's Meant to Be, Summer and Lightning, It's Over, Across the Border, Yours Truly 2095, 10538 Overture (live).
Pat Metheny -- San Lorenzo, New Chatauqua, The Search, Ozark, As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls, Praise, The First Circle.
Lyle Mays -- Ascent.
Aaron Copland -- El Salon Mexico, Hoedown, Buckaroo Holiday, Corral Nocturne, Saturday Night Waltz, Simple Gifts.
Tarney Spencer Band -- No Time to Lose, Live Again, Won'tcha Tell Me, Run for Your Life.
Lindisfarne -- Lady Eleanor, Road to Kingdom Come, Clear White Light, Turn a Deaf Ear, Winter's Song.
Tears for Fears -- The Working Hour, Broken, Mother's Talk.
Bowie -- Suffragette City, TVC15, DJ.
Mott the Hoople -- All the Way from Memphis, Honaloochie Boogie, Violence.
Spooky Tooth -- Feelin' Bad.
Stevie Nicks -- Think About It, Outside the Rain.
Lindsey Buckingham -- Holiday Road.
Buckingham/Nicks -- Without a Leg to Stand On, Crying in the Night, Crystal, Long Distance Winner.
Andy Pratt -- Pistol Packin' Melody.
U2 -- I Will Follow, Twilight, Into the Heart, Out of Control, The Electric Co., Gloria.
Rod Stewart -- Handbags and Gladrags.
The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver -- Arms of Mary, You've Got Me Anyway.
Al Stewart -- Lord Grenville, Flying Sorcery, Broadway Hotel, One Stage Before, Almost Lucy, Valentina Way, Rocks in the Ocean, Running Man, Carol, Apple Cider Reconstitution, The Dark and Rolling Sea, Modern Times, Roads to Moscow, Terminal Eyes, Nostradamus, The World Comes to Riyadh (live), Mondo Sinistro, Red Toupee.
Cyndi Lauper -- When You Were Mine, Money Changes Everything.
Spider -- Shady Lady, Crossfire, Everything is Alright.
...More soon!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
#629: Future Playlist 3
...& the non-hits just keep on coming. Try some of these out B4 they get inflicted on you....
Beach Boys -- Let Him Run Wild, Please Let Me Wonder, There's No Other (Like My Baby), God Only Knows, Here Today, Kiss Me Baby, Gettin' Hungry, Vegetables, I'd Love Just Once to See You, Cabinessence, Slip on Through, This Whole World, Add Some Music to Your Day, It's About Time, Long Promised Road, Feel Flows, 'Til I Die, Surf's Up, Marcella, Good Time, Johnny Carson, Lady Lynda.
Chicago -- In Terms of Two, Critic's Choice.
Gordon Lightfoot -- Seven Islands Suite, High and Dry, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Summer Side of Life, Beautiful, Ten Degrees and Getting Colder, Circle of Steel.
Neil Diamond -- Love to Love, The Boat That I Row, I am the Lion, Crunchy Granola Suite, Done Too Soon.
Carly Simon -- We're So Close.
Three Dog Night -- My Impersonal Life, Heavy Church.
Ramones -- I Wanna Be Sedated, Blitzkrieg Bop, I Just Wanna Have Something to Do.
Billy Joel -- Travelin' Prayer, The Stranger, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, All for Leyna.
Queen -- Rock It (Prime Jive), Need Your Loving Tonight, Save Me, Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to....), '39, The Prophet's Song, The Show Must Go On.
Elvis Costello -- What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding?
Linda Ronstadt -- Party Girl, Someone to Lay Down Beside Me.
Dave Edmunds -- Girls Talk, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Information.
Jeff Lynne -- Lift Me Up, Every Little Thing.
The Move -- Do Ya?, Message from the Country, Tonight.
John Miles -- Highfly.
Alan Parsons Project -- Some Other Time, The Gold Bug, You Don't Believe, I'd Rather be a Man, The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether.
Icehouse -- Great Southern Land.
Split Enz -- History Never Repeats, Hard Act to Follow, Iris, Clumsy, Six Months in a Leaky Boat, Poor Boy.
Squeeze -- Pulling Mussels from the Shell, In Quintessence, Another Nail in My Heart, Hourglass.
Pat Benatar -- Wuthering Heights, Precious Time, Hard to Believe.
Kate Bush -- The Man with the Child in His Eyes, Saxophone Song, Kite, Strange Phenomena, Wow, Babooshka, Delius (Song of Summer), December Will be Magic Again, Empty Bullring, Cloudbusting, This Woman's Work.
Wigwam -- Bless Your Lucky Stars.
Nektar -- Do You Believe in Magic?, King of Twilight, It's All Over, Astral Man, Fidgety Queen.
Mary-Chapin Carpenter -- Passionate Kisses, The Hard Way, Middle Ground, You Win Again, The Long Way Home, Downtown Train.
Pam Tillis -- Melancholy Child, Whenever You Walk in the Room, I Was Blown Away, Homeward Looking Angel.
Wynonna Judd -- Tell Me Why.
Holly and the Italians -- I Wanna Go Home, Youth Coup, Miles Away.
Blondie -- Angels on the Balcony, Victor, 11:59, Will Anything Happen?, Sunday Girl, Just Go Away, Union City Blue.
Pretenders -- Kid, Stop Your Sobbing, Lovers of Today, Mystery Achievement, Up the Neck, Tattooed Love Boys, Space Invaders, Birds of Paradise, I Go to Sleep, Message of Love, Talk of the Town, Pack it Up, 2000 Miles, Time the Avenger.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer -- Karn Evil 9 - 1st Impression (Part 1), Fanfare for the Common Man.
Keith Emerson -- Piano Concerto #1 - 3rd Movement.
Miles Davis -- In a Silent Way.
John Coltrane -- Giant Steps.
Thelonious Monk -- Thelonious.
Dixie Dregs -- Hereafter, Night Meets Light.
Gong -- Wingful of Eyes, Master Builder, A Sprinkling of Clouds.
Gryphon -- Lament, Spring Song, Major Disaster, The Ploughboy's Dream, Ethelion, Wallbanger, (Ein Klein) Heldenleben.
Providence -- Fantasy Fugue, If We Were Wise, Neptune's Door.
Carole King -- Snow Queen.
Boz Scaggs -- Dinah Flo, You've Got Some Imagination.
Van Morrison -- Into the Mystic, Caravan, Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile).
Brewer and Shipley -- Witchi-Tai-To.
Hollies -- Magic Woman Touch, Sandy (4th of July Asbury Park), Won't We Feel Good?, Look Through Any Window, Slow Down.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Stranded, Heart on the Street, Don't Kill it Carol, Belle of the Earth, Hollywood Town, Living Without You.
Renaissance -- Rajah Khan, At the Harbour, Ocean Gypsy (live), Can You Understand? (live), Running Hard (live), Mother Russia (live), Ashes are Burning (live, 1st 3 minutes), Northern Lights, The Vultures Fly High.
Illusion -- Everywhere You Go, Candles are Burning, Face of Yesterday, Roads to Freedom, Madonna Blue.
Stevie Wonder -- A Seed's a Star/Tree Medley.
Tubes -- Prime Time, I Want it All Now, Love's a Mystery (I Don't Understand), What Do You Want from Life?, White Punks on Dope.
Charlie Dore -- Don't Say No, Wise to the Lines, Like They Do it in America.
Todd Rundgren -- Couldn't I Just Tell You?, Song of the Viking, Saving Grace, Dust in the Wind, Intro, Real Man, Just One Victory, Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song, An Elpee's Worth of Tunes.
Utopia -- The Very Last Time, You Make Me Crazy.
Kansas -- Journey from Mariabronn, Song for America, Miracles out of Nowhere, Questions of My Childhood, Cheyenne Anthem, The Wall, Reason to Be, Back Door.
Coheed and Cambria -- The Road and the Damned, Feathers.
Rush -- The Camera Eye, Red Barchetta, Distant Early Warning, Manhattan Project, Marathon, Time Stand Still, Force Ten, Mystic Rhythms (live), Show Don't Tell, Fly by Night, Closer to the Heart, Freewill.
Pink Floyd -- Flaming, Astronome Domine (live), Jugband Blues, In the Flesh?, The Trial, High Hopes.
...More coming soon, including maybe some real no-hit wonders. + commentary on all this....
Beach Boys -- Let Him Run Wild, Please Let Me Wonder, There's No Other (Like My Baby), God Only Knows, Here Today, Kiss Me Baby, Gettin' Hungry, Vegetables, I'd Love Just Once to See You, Cabinessence, Slip on Through, This Whole World, Add Some Music to Your Day, It's About Time, Long Promised Road, Feel Flows, 'Til I Die, Surf's Up, Marcella, Good Time, Johnny Carson, Lady Lynda.
Chicago -- In Terms of Two, Critic's Choice.
Gordon Lightfoot -- Seven Islands Suite, High and Dry, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Summer Side of Life, Beautiful, Ten Degrees and Getting Colder, Circle of Steel.
Neil Diamond -- Love to Love, The Boat That I Row, I am the Lion, Crunchy Granola Suite, Done Too Soon.
Carly Simon -- We're So Close.
Three Dog Night -- My Impersonal Life, Heavy Church.
Ramones -- I Wanna Be Sedated, Blitzkrieg Bop, I Just Wanna Have Something to Do.
Billy Joel -- Travelin' Prayer, The Stranger, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, All for Leyna.
Queen -- Rock It (Prime Jive), Need Your Loving Tonight, Save Me, Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to....), '39, The Prophet's Song, The Show Must Go On.
Elvis Costello -- What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding?
Linda Ronstadt -- Party Girl, Someone to Lay Down Beside Me.
Dave Edmunds -- Girls Talk, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Information.
Jeff Lynne -- Lift Me Up, Every Little Thing.
The Move -- Do Ya?, Message from the Country, Tonight.
John Miles -- Highfly.
Alan Parsons Project -- Some Other Time, The Gold Bug, You Don't Believe, I'd Rather be a Man, The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether.
Icehouse -- Great Southern Land.
Split Enz -- History Never Repeats, Hard Act to Follow, Iris, Clumsy, Six Months in a Leaky Boat, Poor Boy.
Squeeze -- Pulling Mussels from the Shell, In Quintessence, Another Nail in My Heart, Hourglass.
Pat Benatar -- Wuthering Heights, Precious Time, Hard to Believe.
Kate Bush -- The Man with the Child in His Eyes, Saxophone Song, Kite, Strange Phenomena, Wow, Babooshka, Delius (Song of Summer), December Will be Magic Again, Empty Bullring, Cloudbusting, This Woman's Work.
Wigwam -- Bless Your Lucky Stars.
Nektar -- Do You Believe in Magic?, King of Twilight, It's All Over, Astral Man, Fidgety Queen.
Mary-Chapin Carpenter -- Passionate Kisses, The Hard Way, Middle Ground, You Win Again, The Long Way Home, Downtown Train.
Pam Tillis -- Melancholy Child, Whenever You Walk in the Room, I Was Blown Away, Homeward Looking Angel.
Wynonna Judd -- Tell Me Why.
Holly and the Italians -- I Wanna Go Home, Youth Coup, Miles Away.
Blondie -- Angels on the Balcony, Victor, 11:59, Will Anything Happen?, Sunday Girl, Just Go Away, Union City Blue.
Pretenders -- Kid, Stop Your Sobbing, Lovers of Today, Mystery Achievement, Up the Neck, Tattooed Love Boys, Space Invaders, Birds of Paradise, I Go to Sleep, Message of Love, Talk of the Town, Pack it Up, 2000 Miles, Time the Avenger.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer -- Karn Evil 9 - 1st Impression (Part 1), Fanfare for the Common Man.
Keith Emerson -- Piano Concerto #1 - 3rd Movement.
Miles Davis -- In a Silent Way.
John Coltrane -- Giant Steps.
Thelonious Monk -- Thelonious.
Dixie Dregs -- Hereafter, Night Meets Light.
Gong -- Wingful of Eyes, Master Builder, A Sprinkling of Clouds.
Gryphon -- Lament, Spring Song, Major Disaster, The Ploughboy's Dream, Ethelion, Wallbanger, (Ein Klein) Heldenleben.
Providence -- Fantasy Fugue, If We Were Wise, Neptune's Door.
Carole King -- Snow Queen.
Boz Scaggs -- Dinah Flo, You've Got Some Imagination.
Van Morrison -- Into the Mystic, Caravan, Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile).
Brewer and Shipley -- Witchi-Tai-To.
Hollies -- Magic Woman Touch, Sandy (4th of July Asbury Park), Won't We Feel Good?, Look Through Any Window, Slow Down.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Stranded, Heart on the Street, Don't Kill it Carol, Belle of the Earth, Hollywood Town, Living Without You.
Renaissance -- Rajah Khan, At the Harbour, Ocean Gypsy (live), Can You Understand? (live), Running Hard (live), Mother Russia (live), Ashes are Burning (live, 1st 3 minutes), Northern Lights, The Vultures Fly High.
Illusion -- Everywhere You Go, Candles are Burning, Face of Yesterday, Roads to Freedom, Madonna Blue.
Stevie Wonder -- A Seed's a Star/Tree Medley.
Tubes -- Prime Time, I Want it All Now, Love's a Mystery (I Don't Understand), What Do You Want from Life?, White Punks on Dope.
Charlie Dore -- Don't Say No, Wise to the Lines, Like They Do it in America.
Todd Rundgren -- Couldn't I Just Tell You?, Song of the Viking, Saving Grace, Dust in the Wind, Intro, Real Man, Just One Victory, Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song, An Elpee's Worth of Tunes.
Utopia -- The Very Last Time, You Make Me Crazy.
Kansas -- Journey from Mariabronn, Song for America, Miracles out of Nowhere, Questions of My Childhood, Cheyenne Anthem, The Wall, Reason to Be, Back Door.
Coheed and Cambria -- The Road and the Damned, Feathers.
Rush -- The Camera Eye, Red Barchetta, Distant Early Warning, Manhattan Project, Marathon, Time Stand Still, Force Ten, Mystic Rhythms (live), Show Don't Tell, Fly by Night, Closer to the Heart, Freewill.
Pink Floyd -- Flaming, Astronome Domine (live), Jugband Blues, In the Flesh?, The Trial, High Hopes.
...More coming soon, including maybe some real no-hit wonders. + commentary on all this....
Monday, January 28, 2013
#628: Future Playlist 2
We have been advised by our Official Legal Advisers that releasing Your Future Playlist thru clever asides, hints & hidden subtexts is not gonna cut any ice with music fans.
So. A partial playlist appears below, featuring a few of R favorite artists & summa their songs you can Xpect 2 hear blaring from local rock&roll stations in the not-2-distant future. This is just the beginning, but it should give you something to chew on 4 awhile.
If you've been reading here 4 very long, you'll probly find few suprises below. But if you're a more "mainstream" radio listener, this list might mess you up a bit.
Get used 2 it. It's For Your Own Good. Really.
More soon.
Beatles -- I'm Down, Hey Bulldog, Things We Said Today, Everybody's Trying to be My Baby, There's a Place, You Never Give Me Your Money, Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, Old Brown Shoe, The Night Before, I Need You, Oh! Darling, Dear Prudence, I Will, In My Life, Thank You Girl, I Don't Want to Spoil the Party, Tomorrow Never Knows, Tell Me Why, Any Time at All, And Your Bird Can Sing, It's Only Love, For No One, I'll be Back, No Reply, I'm a Loser, Birthday, Across the Universe.
Moody Blues -- Peak Hour, Evening: Time to Get Away, Twilight Time, Simple Game, The Actor, Voices in the Sky, Lovely to See You, Never Comes the Day, Gypsy, Eyes of a Child Part 2, Don't You Feel Small?, It's Up to You, Our Guessing Game, One More Time to Live, You Can Never Go Home, You and Me, Land of Make-Believe, For My Lady, Meanwhile, In My World, Veteran Cosmic Rocker, Blue World, Sorry.
Yes -- The South Side of the Sky, Wondrous Stories, Every Little Thing, No Opportunity Necessary No Experience Needed, Looking Around, Sweet Dreams, America, Survival, Time and a Word, Close to the Edge (live), And You and I (live), Siberian Khatru (live), Starship Trooper (live), Yours is no Disgrace (live), Perpetual Change (live), Changes.
Fleetwood Mac -- Oh Well, The Green Manalishi, Dissatisfied, Hypnotized, Why?, Silver Springs, I Know I'm Not Wrong, Brown Eyes, Never Make Me Cry, Sisters of the Moon, Monday Morning (live), Fireflies (live), One More Night (live), I'm So Afraid (live), The Farmer's Daughter (live), World Turning, Wish You Were Here, Eyes of the World, Straight Back, Isn't it Midnight?, Tango in the Night, Big Love (live), Go Insane (live), Murrow Turning Over in His Grave.
Genesis -- Vancouver, Madman Moon, Ripples, Entangled, Robbery Assault and Battery, Dance on a Volcano, Squonk, Afterglow, Your Own Special Way, Supper's Ready (live), The Carpet Crawlers (live), Firth of Fifth (live), The Musical Box (closing section) (live), Down and Out, Deep in the Motherlode, Undertow, Snowbound, Burning Rope, The Lady Lies, Inside and Out, You Might Recall, Keep it Dark, Like it or Not.
Peter Gabriel -- Family Snapshot.
Phil Collins -- Droned/Hand in Hand.
King Crimson -- Epitaph, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Larks Tongues in Aspic Parts 1 & 2 (live), Doctor Diamond (live), Easy Money, The Talking Drum, The Great Deceiver, The Night Watch, Fracture, Red, Starless, Frame by Frame, Sleepless.
Paul McCartney & Wings -- Magneto and Titanium Man, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, Love in Song.
Ronettes -- I Wonder, The Best Part of Breaking Up.
Hawkwind -- You'd Better Believe It, Lost Johnny, Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke), Sonic Attack, Urban Guerrilla.
Roxy Music -- The Thrill of it All, Oh Yeah (On the Radio), Over You, Same Old Scene, Dance Away.
Clannad -- Second Nature, The Wild Cry, Blackstairs, Indoor, Journey's End, In Fortune's Hand.
REO Speedwagon -- Blazing Your Own Trail Again.
Journey -- Daydream, People and Places, Something to Hide, Feeling That Way/Anytime, Patiently, Lights.
Caravan -- For Richard (live), The World is Yours, Aristocracy, Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss, Surprise Surprise, The Dog The Dog He's at it Again, Be All Right, Place of My Own, Virgin on the Ridiculous, Can You Hear Me?, All the Way (With John Wayne's Single-Handed Liberation of Paris), Nine Feet Underground, Disassociation, Songs and Signs, And I Wish I was Stoned.
Camel -- Never Let Go, Rhayader/Rhayader Goes to Town, Flight of the Snow Goose, Spirit of the Water, Unevensong, First Light, Rain Dances, Breathless, Echoes, Down on the Farm, Summer Lightning, City Life, Captured, Sasquatch, Manic, Wait, Eye of the Storm, Who We Are.
Led Zeppelin -- The Rover, Carouselambra, Hot Dog, Fool in the Rain, When the Levee Breaks.
Bob Seger -- Feel Like a Number, Khatmandu, Roll Me Away.
Jackson Browne -- The Fuse, Hold On Hold Out, Disco Apocalypse, The Pretender.
Grateful Dead -- Uncle John's Band, Passenger.
Eagles -- James Dean, Outlaw Man, Seven Bridges Road, The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks.
Doobie Brothers -- Nobody, Neal's Fandango.
Cars -- Dangerous Type, Stranger Eyes, Bye Bye Love, All Mixed Up.
Kenny Loggins -- Conviction of the Heart.
Turtles -- Grim Reaper of Love, We'll Meet Again, Lady-O, Sound Asleep.
Sex Pistols -- God Save the Queen.
The Jam -- That's Entertainment, Funeral Pyre, Thick as Thieves, Little Boy Soldiers, Private Hell, Strange Town, Wasteland.
Pete Townshend -- Slit Skirts, Uniforms, North Country Girl, A Little is Enough, Jools and Jim, Gonna Get Ya, Now and Then, Misunderstood, My Baby Gives it Away, Zelda, Give Blood.
The Who -- Daily Records, Another Tricky Day, Slip Kid, Blue Red and Gray, The Relay, Bell Boy, Love Reign O'er Me, Melancholia, I'm the Face, Armenia City in the Sky, My Wife, Baba O'Riley, Music Must Change, The Song is Over, Bargain, Little Billy.
Go-Go's -- Can't Stop the World, Capture the Light, I'm With You, Forget That Day, I'm the Only One.
Bangles -- Hero Takes a Fall, Dover Beach, Restless, Going Down to Liverpool, Silent Treatment, Let it Go, September Gurls, Angels Don't Fall in Love, Be With You, Everything I Wanted, Following.
Steely Dan -- Gaucho, Third World Man, Don't Take Me Alive, Dirty Work, Berrytown, Pretzel Logic, My Old School, Bodhisattva, Any Major Dude Will Tell You.
To Be Continued....
So. A partial playlist appears below, featuring a few of R favorite artists & summa their songs you can Xpect 2 hear blaring from local rock&roll stations in the not-2-distant future. This is just the beginning, but it should give you something to chew on 4 awhile.
If you've been reading here 4 very long, you'll probly find few suprises below. But if you're a more "mainstream" radio listener, this list might mess you up a bit.
Get used 2 it. It's For Your Own Good. Really.
More soon.
Beatles -- I'm Down, Hey Bulldog, Things We Said Today, Everybody's Trying to be My Baby, There's a Place, You Never Give Me Your Money, Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, Old Brown Shoe, The Night Before, I Need You, Oh! Darling, Dear Prudence, I Will, In My Life, Thank You Girl, I Don't Want to Spoil the Party, Tomorrow Never Knows, Tell Me Why, Any Time at All, And Your Bird Can Sing, It's Only Love, For No One, I'll be Back, No Reply, I'm a Loser, Birthday, Across the Universe.
Moody Blues -- Peak Hour, Evening: Time to Get Away, Twilight Time, Simple Game, The Actor, Voices in the Sky, Lovely to See You, Never Comes the Day, Gypsy, Eyes of a Child Part 2, Don't You Feel Small?, It's Up to You, Our Guessing Game, One More Time to Live, You Can Never Go Home, You and Me, Land of Make-Believe, For My Lady, Meanwhile, In My World, Veteran Cosmic Rocker, Blue World, Sorry.
Yes -- The South Side of the Sky, Wondrous Stories, Every Little Thing, No Opportunity Necessary No Experience Needed, Looking Around, Sweet Dreams, America, Survival, Time and a Word, Close to the Edge (live), And You and I (live), Siberian Khatru (live), Starship Trooper (live), Yours is no Disgrace (live), Perpetual Change (live), Changes.
Fleetwood Mac -- Oh Well, The Green Manalishi, Dissatisfied, Hypnotized, Why?, Silver Springs, I Know I'm Not Wrong, Brown Eyes, Never Make Me Cry, Sisters of the Moon, Monday Morning (live), Fireflies (live), One More Night (live), I'm So Afraid (live), The Farmer's Daughter (live), World Turning, Wish You Were Here, Eyes of the World, Straight Back, Isn't it Midnight?, Tango in the Night, Big Love (live), Go Insane (live), Murrow Turning Over in His Grave.
Genesis -- Vancouver, Madman Moon, Ripples, Entangled, Robbery Assault and Battery, Dance on a Volcano, Squonk, Afterglow, Your Own Special Way, Supper's Ready (live), The Carpet Crawlers (live), Firth of Fifth (live), The Musical Box (closing section) (live), Down and Out, Deep in the Motherlode, Undertow, Snowbound, Burning Rope, The Lady Lies, Inside and Out, You Might Recall, Keep it Dark, Like it or Not.
Peter Gabriel -- Family Snapshot.
Phil Collins -- Droned/Hand in Hand.
King Crimson -- Epitaph, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Larks Tongues in Aspic Parts 1 & 2 (live), Doctor Diamond (live), Easy Money, The Talking Drum, The Great Deceiver, The Night Watch, Fracture, Red, Starless, Frame by Frame, Sleepless.
Paul McCartney & Wings -- Magneto and Titanium Man, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, Love in Song.
Ronettes -- I Wonder, The Best Part of Breaking Up.
Hawkwind -- You'd Better Believe It, Lost Johnny, Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke), Sonic Attack, Urban Guerrilla.
Roxy Music -- The Thrill of it All, Oh Yeah (On the Radio), Over You, Same Old Scene, Dance Away.
Clannad -- Second Nature, The Wild Cry, Blackstairs, Indoor, Journey's End, In Fortune's Hand.
REO Speedwagon -- Blazing Your Own Trail Again.
Journey -- Daydream, People and Places, Something to Hide, Feeling That Way/Anytime, Patiently, Lights.
Caravan -- For Richard (live), The World is Yours, Aristocracy, Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss, Surprise Surprise, The Dog The Dog He's at it Again, Be All Right, Place of My Own, Virgin on the Ridiculous, Can You Hear Me?, All the Way (With John Wayne's Single-Handed Liberation of Paris), Nine Feet Underground, Disassociation, Songs and Signs, And I Wish I was Stoned.
Camel -- Never Let Go, Rhayader/Rhayader Goes to Town, Flight of the Snow Goose, Spirit of the Water, Unevensong, First Light, Rain Dances, Breathless, Echoes, Down on the Farm, Summer Lightning, City Life, Captured, Sasquatch, Manic, Wait, Eye of the Storm, Who We Are.
Led Zeppelin -- The Rover, Carouselambra, Hot Dog, Fool in the Rain, When the Levee Breaks.
Bob Seger -- Feel Like a Number, Khatmandu, Roll Me Away.
Jackson Browne -- The Fuse, Hold On Hold Out, Disco Apocalypse, The Pretender.
Grateful Dead -- Uncle John's Band, Passenger.
Eagles -- James Dean, Outlaw Man, Seven Bridges Road, The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks.
Doobie Brothers -- Nobody, Neal's Fandango.
Cars -- Dangerous Type, Stranger Eyes, Bye Bye Love, All Mixed Up.
Kenny Loggins -- Conviction of the Heart.
Turtles -- Grim Reaper of Love, We'll Meet Again, Lady-O, Sound Asleep.
Sex Pistols -- God Save the Queen.
The Jam -- That's Entertainment, Funeral Pyre, Thick as Thieves, Little Boy Soldiers, Private Hell, Strange Town, Wasteland.
Pete Townshend -- Slit Skirts, Uniforms, North Country Girl, A Little is Enough, Jools and Jim, Gonna Get Ya, Now and Then, Misunderstood, My Baby Gives it Away, Zelda, Give Blood.
The Who -- Daily Records, Another Tricky Day, Slip Kid, Blue Red and Gray, The Relay, Bell Boy, Love Reign O'er Me, Melancholia, I'm the Face, Armenia City in the Sky, My Wife, Baba O'Riley, Music Must Change, The Song is Over, Bargain, Little Billy.
Go-Go's -- Can't Stop the World, Capture the Light, I'm With You, Forget That Day, I'm the Only One.
Bangles -- Hero Takes a Fall, Dover Beach, Restless, Going Down to Liverpool, Silent Treatment, Let it Go, September Gurls, Angels Don't Fall in Love, Be With You, Everything I Wanted, Following.
Steely Dan -- Gaucho, Third World Man, Don't Take Me Alive, Dirty Work, Berrytown, Pretzel Logic, My Old School, Bodhisattva, Any Major Dude Will Tell You.
To Be Continued....
Sunday, January 27, 2013
#627: Your Future Playlist
OK, probably I've been listening 2 too much late-nite Talk Radio with their massive behind-the-scenes conspiracy theories ... but I thot it's probly time to come clean with you about my own big project....
We here at TAD's Back-Up Plan have been working steadily, quietly, clandestinely, behind the scenes ... to take over the nation's broadcasting airwaves.
At least the rock&roll stations.
This has been in the works for quite some time & involves intricacies which I simply cannot divulge on a public website such as this one. But rest assured that our nationwide takeover is at hand. & it's coming soon.
At 1st we here at TAD's had planned -- once we took over -- to open up the playlists of rock&roll stations nationwide & let real, live, honest2Ghod DJ's -- real people sorta like you & me -- pick what kind of music they wanted 2 play over the air, have some fun with it, put some LIFE back into broadcasting, get us away from that all-commanding Bottom Line. & we thot with such power in their hands, maybe we'd hear some good new tunes, 2.
But we have been dismayed to discover that 4 some folks, that's simply TOO MUCH FREEDOM, it's TOO SCARY. People get edgy when there's no safety net, nothing familiar 2 grab hold of.
Which reminds us here at TAD's that music can also be used as a sort of mind control -- a way to soothe you & keep you distracted from what's really going on.
So, we've had a bit of a re-think about our World Domination plans. & we didn't want 2 do it, but we've been forced 2 come up with a new playlist 4 the new millennium.
This new playlist will be coming SOON.
It will include no "hits." Or at least not what we once thot of as hits.
But what does that word mean anymore, anyway? We've already journeyed deep into a scary new age in which nobody knows what the #1 song in the country is anymore -- depends on what list you look at, doesn't it? & nobody cares anyway. Not at all like when I was a kid & EVERYBODY KNEW what the #1 song was -- everyone KNEW what was Hot & what was Not.
...So. This new playlist will be revealed in upcoming posts. It will be revealed indirectly, of course -- in codes, in subtext, in afterthoughts -- as befits a massive behind-the-scenes conspiracy.
But rest assured that this new playlist will include lots of GOOD MUSIC, by artists you know well -- it'll just be stuff you've hardly ever heard on radio before.... At least, not in the last 35 years. There are sure to be some surprises. You'll want to hold on tight on the curves.
Again, we would've preferred a doors-wide-open policy -- & that's what we still hope to transition into, once everybody's aboard. But we guarantee that the music you'll soon be hearing on your "favorite"(?) local radio station (is there still such a thing?) will be FAR better than the soul-shriveling Same Old Stuff the Cumulus- and Clear Channel-owned stations of these grim & ugly modern times prefer to play these days.
The new list -- & the radio takeover -- is Coming SOON. Watch for the signs. Stay awake for the hints. Look closely for the double-meanings.
We suggest that you get acquainted with these new tunes pretty damn quick. Because you're going to be hearing a lot of them....
We here at TAD's Back-Up Plan have been working steadily, quietly, clandestinely, behind the scenes ... to take over the nation's broadcasting airwaves.
At least the rock&roll stations.
This has been in the works for quite some time & involves intricacies which I simply cannot divulge on a public website such as this one. But rest assured that our nationwide takeover is at hand. & it's coming soon.
At 1st we here at TAD's had planned -- once we took over -- to open up the playlists of rock&roll stations nationwide & let real, live, honest2Ghod DJ's -- real people sorta like you & me -- pick what kind of music they wanted 2 play over the air, have some fun with it, put some LIFE back into broadcasting, get us away from that all-commanding Bottom Line. & we thot with such power in their hands, maybe we'd hear some good new tunes, 2.
But we have been dismayed to discover that 4 some folks, that's simply TOO MUCH FREEDOM, it's TOO SCARY. People get edgy when there's no safety net, nothing familiar 2 grab hold of.
Which reminds us here at TAD's that music can also be used as a sort of mind control -- a way to soothe you & keep you distracted from what's really going on.
So, we've had a bit of a re-think about our World Domination plans. & we didn't want 2 do it, but we've been forced 2 come up with a new playlist 4 the new millennium.
This new playlist will be coming SOON.
It will include no "hits." Or at least not what we once thot of as hits.
But what does that word mean anymore, anyway? We've already journeyed deep into a scary new age in which nobody knows what the #1 song in the country is anymore -- depends on what list you look at, doesn't it? & nobody cares anyway. Not at all like when I was a kid & EVERYBODY KNEW what the #1 song was -- everyone KNEW what was Hot & what was Not.
...So. This new playlist will be revealed in upcoming posts. It will be revealed indirectly, of course -- in codes, in subtext, in afterthoughts -- as befits a massive behind-the-scenes conspiracy.
But rest assured that this new playlist will include lots of GOOD MUSIC, by artists you know well -- it'll just be stuff you've hardly ever heard on radio before.... At least, not in the last 35 years. There are sure to be some surprises. You'll want to hold on tight on the curves.
Again, we would've preferred a doors-wide-open policy -- & that's what we still hope to transition into, once everybody's aboard. But we guarantee that the music you'll soon be hearing on your "favorite"(?) local radio station (is there still such a thing?) will be FAR better than the soul-shriveling Same Old Stuff the Cumulus- and Clear Channel-owned stations of these grim & ugly modern times prefer to play these days.
The new list -- & the radio takeover -- is Coming SOON. Watch for the signs. Stay awake for the hints. Look closely for the double-meanings.
We suggest that you get acquainted with these new tunes pretty damn quick. Because you're going to be hearing a lot of them....
Monday, January 14, 2013
#624: Cheers for Seattle-area radio(?!)
As much as I've bitched about Seattle-area radio, in the interest of Fairness I must note that this past Friday nite they outdid themselves, actually seemed 2 recognize 4 1nce WHAT NIGHT IT WAS, & played a pretty good lineup of mostly-upbeat music. For which I'd give them a B+ rating.
Oh, not 1 single radio station made this breakthru. No, that would B revolutionary. It took halfadozen diffrent stations teaming up over a 4-hour period 2 create a decent Fri nite soundtrack. From roughly 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm, I hardly hadta dip in2 my stash of CD's more than 1nce or 2wice -- there was more than enuf decent music on the radio 2 keep me motivated & moving at work.
This is possibly a 1st. It must've worked 4 other people, 2.
This doesn't mean there wasn't still a lotta crap getting played -- there were still more than enuf "Hotel California"'s & "Heartache Tonight"'s & "Philadelphia Freedom"'s & "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart"'s & other Bad Overplayed Stuff 2 avoid. & there were no shocking MAJOR suprises. There was actually rather a lot of overplayed stuff -- but it all sounded real good.
Overall, not a bad nite's work, Seattle radio. Take a bow.
Here's summa what they played:
Def Leppard -- Animal, Foolin', Photograph.
Eagles -- Seven Bridges Road, Peaceful Easy Feeling.
Fleetwood Mac -- Gypsy, Go Your Own Way.
Bob Seger -- Hollywood Nights.
Stones -- You Can't Always Get What You Want, Paint it Black, Sympathy for the Devil.
Chicago -- Beginnings.
Cars -- Bye Bye Love, Drive, Dangerous Type, Just What I Needed.
Vanessa Williams -- Save the Best for Last.
Earth, Wind and Fire -- After the Love is Gone.
Howard Jones -- No One is to Blame.
Eric and the Dominoes -- Layla.
Adele -- Rumour Has It.
Beatles -- Back in the USSR.
Zep -- Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven (of course), In the Evening.
Madonna -- Open Your Heart.
Who -- Behind Blue Eyes.
Kinks -- Lola.
Doors -- Light My Fire, Touch Me.
.38 Special -- Hold On Loosely.
Don Henley -- Boys of Summer.
Steve Miller -- The Joker.
Cyndi Lauper -- Time After Time.
Temptations -- Ain't Too Proud to Beg.
Bonnie Raitt -- I Can't Make You Love Me.
Des'ree -- You Gotta Be.
Beau Brummels -- Laugh Laugh.
Queen -- Fat Bottomed Girls, Somebody to Love.
Lisa Loeb -- Stay (I Missed You).
Boston -- Rock and Roll Band, Let Me Take You Home Tonight, Peace of Mind.
Pink -- Who Knew?
Jethro Tull -- Living in the Past.
Belinda Carlisle -- Mad About You.
Stevie Wonder -- I Wish.
Bruce -- Born to Run.
Supertramp -- Dreamer.
Doobies -- China Grove, Jesus is Just Alright.
Bowie -- Changes.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Blinded by the Light.
Blondie -- Heart of Glass.
Avril Lavigne -- Complicated.
Anna Nalick -- Breathe.
...Of course on Sat & Sun nites the local stations reverted 2 normal form & mostly played LOTS of crap. So much so that I hadta fall back on The News & TALK RADIO 2 keep functioning thru work. Thanx a lot 4 getting my hopes up....
Later in the evenings lately I've taken 2 listening 2 nationwide syndicated talk radio -- shows like COAST TO COAST AM and OVERNIGHT AMERICA. I'm still trying 2 decide how much of this stuff is BS or comedy or paranoia, & how much is sincere warnings 2 the nation -- since mosta the topics eventually seem 2 break down 2 Government Conspiracies or Alien Abductions or UFO Sightings or Secret Behind-The-Scenes Stuff.
I AM impressed that the people who appear on these shows or call in R ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED about what they've learned or seen or Xperienced. It's hard 2 argue with that. But I'm still trying 2 make up my mind about how Real some of it is.
When I was listening on Sat nite, a customer walked in & asked what I was listening 2, & I gave him the short Xplanation & my current view of it.
"Oh, are they talkin' about stuff like the Illuminati?" he asked. "Yeah, I've read up on that stuff. There's definitely some weird shit goin' on. But I'm thinkin' maybe there's some stuff I don't NEED to know. Like, maybe I'm too busy tryin' to get through today to worry about what's comin' tomorrow...."
Oh, not 1 single radio station made this breakthru. No, that would B revolutionary. It took halfadozen diffrent stations teaming up over a 4-hour period 2 create a decent Fri nite soundtrack. From roughly 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm, I hardly hadta dip in2 my stash of CD's more than 1nce or 2wice -- there was more than enuf decent music on the radio 2 keep me motivated & moving at work.
This is possibly a 1st. It must've worked 4 other people, 2.
This doesn't mean there wasn't still a lotta crap getting played -- there were still more than enuf "Hotel California"'s & "Heartache Tonight"'s & "Philadelphia Freedom"'s & "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart"'s & other Bad Overplayed Stuff 2 avoid. & there were no shocking MAJOR suprises. There was actually rather a lot of overplayed stuff -- but it all sounded real good.
Overall, not a bad nite's work, Seattle radio. Take a bow.
Here's summa what they played:
Def Leppard -- Animal, Foolin', Photograph.
Eagles -- Seven Bridges Road, Peaceful Easy Feeling.
Fleetwood Mac -- Gypsy, Go Your Own Way.
Bob Seger -- Hollywood Nights.
Stones -- You Can't Always Get What You Want, Paint it Black, Sympathy for the Devil.
Chicago -- Beginnings.
Cars -- Bye Bye Love, Drive, Dangerous Type, Just What I Needed.
Vanessa Williams -- Save the Best for Last.
Earth, Wind and Fire -- After the Love is Gone.
Howard Jones -- No One is to Blame.
Eric and the Dominoes -- Layla.
Adele -- Rumour Has It.
Beatles -- Back in the USSR.
Zep -- Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven (of course), In the Evening.
Madonna -- Open Your Heart.
Who -- Behind Blue Eyes.
Kinks -- Lola.
Doors -- Light My Fire, Touch Me.
.38 Special -- Hold On Loosely.
Don Henley -- Boys of Summer.
Steve Miller -- The Joker.
Cyndi Lauper -- Time After Time.
Temptations -- Ain't Too Proud to Beg.
Bonnie Raitt -- I Can't Make You Love Me.
Des'ree -- You Gotta Be.
Beau Brummels -- Laugh Laugh.
Queen -- Fat Bottomed Girls, Somebody to Love.
Lisa Loeb -- Stay (I Missed You).
Boston -- Rock and Roll Band, Let Me Take You Home Tonight, Peace of Mind.
Pink -- Who Knew?
Jethro Tull -- Living in the Past.
Belinda Carlisle -- Mad About You.
Stevie Wonder -- I Wish.
Bruce -- Born to Run.
Supertramp -- Dreamer.
Doobies -- China Grove, Jesus is Just Alright.
Bowie -- Changes.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Blinded by the Light.
Blondie -- Heart of Glass.
Avril Lavigne -- Complicated.
Anna Nalick -- Breathe.
...Of course on Sat & Sun nites the local stations reverted 2 normal form & mostly played LOTS of crap. So much so that I hadta fall back on The News & TALK RADIO 2 keep functioning thru work. Thanx a lot 4 getting my hopes up....
Later in the evenings lately I've taken 2 listening 2 nationwide syndicated talk radio -- shows like COAST TO COAST AM and OVERNIGHT AMERICA. I'm still trying 2 decide how much of this stuff is BS or comedy or paranoia, & how much is sincere warnings 2 the nation -- since mosta the topics eventually seem 2 break down 2 Government Conspiracies or Alien Abductions or UFO Sightings or Secret Behind-The-Scenes Stuff.
I AM impressed that the people who appear on these shows or call in R ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED about what they've learned or seen or Xperienced. It's hard 2 argue with that. But I'm still trying 2 make up my mind about how Real some of it is.
When I was listening on Sat nite, a customer walked in & asked what I was listening 2, & I gave him the short Xplanation & my current view of it.
"Oh, are they talkin' about stuff like the Illuminati?" he asked. "Yeah, I've read up on that stuff. There's definitely some weird shit goin' on. But I'm thinkin' maybe there's some stuff I don't NEED to know. Like, maybe I'm too busy tryin' to get through today to worry about what's comin' tomorrow...."
Monday, November 5, 2012
#602: On becoming a news junkie
Before I became a reporter, I pretty-much hated the news. Never read it, watched it or listened to it. Had no real use for "current events." Closest I got to reading a newspaper was skimming thru some long non-fiction piece in ROLLING STONE.
But somewhere along the way I got hooked on the work of journalists like Hunter S. Thompson, John McPhee, Tim Cahill. & when I got to Journalism School, I hoped that -- if I had 1/2 the writing talent I THOT I had -- maybe I could figure-out some lighter, more personal, funnier approach to writing 4 newspapers.
"Personality features" were always my favorite assignments at J-school. Something where you could loosen the rules a little bit, let some of your subject's personality in -- have some FUN with the writing. Wasn't until YEARS later that I realized you could do the same thing with sportswriting -- practically ALL the time....
On my good days, when I could write some real-life comedy (33 Thanksgiving turkeys delivered to a local resident due to a computer glitch -- she donated them to the Senior Center; old couple gives up growing a lawn & replaces it with multi-colored carpets -- causing car wrecks in front of their house), I thot I DID contribute something new & unique 2 the newspapers I worked 4. It was a joy 2 share a laugh with readers on the front page. & every fun story was like a gift from God -- most of them practically wrote themselves. They were almost effortless.
I couldn't see why EVERY reporter didn't do them.
They were also a great break from the usual grind of car wrecks, murders, trials, council meetings, DWI arrests, drug busts & political stupidity that is the avg reporter's daily diet. Journalism is a great career 4 a young person with lotsa energy & no social life. If you're a little older, with a Significant Other & a family, the job will eat you up. Because it never stops.
I don't look at newspapers much anymore, because most of them just make me want to know MORE. Or I wonder why the reporter doesn't journey much past the just-the-facts approach. Why so few reporters seem 2 do the daily job with much STYLE. They may be accurate, but they aren't that much fun 2 read.
I DO read local newspaper COLUMNISTS. The FUNNY 1's. & I wish there were MORE....
I have a little more fun with TV news, tho it can B frustrating 2. I gave up on most TV political coverage months ago -- the way the national media were more intrested in Herman Cain's Women Problems or Rick Perry's Senior Moments than they were in Xplaining Romney's plan to save the country. Besides, I'm pretty-much sick of the prez election & grateful that by this time Tues nite our long national nightmare will be over. Or perhaps it will be just beginning....
In addition 2 being great waking-up TV, I'd agree that nothing unites us like the national news-media in times of crisis -- Hurricane Sandy (Proof that there's No God: The Atlantic City Boardwalk is destroyed, but Snooki's house is OK), Katrina, 9/11, the Challenger explosion, etc. I just wish they worked up 2 their potential more often.
On the night before Election Day, you may know where Obama & Romney stand on some of the issues, but do you know what their plans 4 the future are? Do they have any clear, substantial, detailed plans for saving this country?
I don't think turning the clock back 2 1980 is a vision 4 the future. But clearly there R millions of people who wouldn't mind going back there. Or who didn't learn anything the 1st time around.
My news addiction has even gotten in the way at work. I haven't been playing much music lately. (Still recovering from the batch of strange CDs Crabby sent me awhile back -- Cromagnon's CAVE ROCK may have scarred me 4 life....) I'll get back 2 it, of course -- but mainly over the past week or so I've been listening 2 Seattle's news-radio station, KOMO. Tho they have a definite format they repeat each hour, the great thing about the news is that it CHANGES -- unlike the playlists at all the local rock stations.
Have listened 2 a little music that's grabbed me, tho -- Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring," Beatles' "A Day in the Life," Who's "Love, Reign O'er Me," Led Zep's "When the Levee Breaks," Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" & "I Want You," Cat Power's "He War" & "Speak for Me," part of a track off the new Neil Young album, "Walk Like a Giant" (which sounds a little like the return of "Like a Hurricane") -- & some great trax by classic late-'60s psychedelic band Love: "Alone Again Or," "Maybe the People Should Be the Times," "You Set the Scene," "Your Mind and We Belong Together."
These last replayed while reading Andrew Hultkrans's book-length look at Love's 1967 cult-classic album FOREVER CHANGES -- not sure I buy all Hultkrans' claims 4 what influenced Love-leader Arthur Lee 2 write the songs 4 FOREVER CHANGES, but the album turned out a mostly-gorgeous period piece anyway, a great forgotten companion 2 SGT. PEPPER and PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN (and DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED). Should have a review of the book posted soon....
But somewhere along the way I got hooked on the work of journalists like Hunter S. Thompson, John McPhee, Tim Cahill. & when I got to Journalism School, I hoped that -- if I had 1/2 the writing talent I THOT I had -- maybe I could figure-out some lighter, more personal, funnier approach to writing 4 newspapers.
"Personality features" were always my favorite assignments at J-school. Something where you could loosen the rules a little bit, let some of your subject's personality in -- have some FUN with the writing. Wasn't until YEARS later that I realized you could do the same thing with sportswriting -- practically ALL the time....
On my good days, when I could write some real-life comedy (33 Thanksgiving turkeys delivered to a local resident due to a computer glitch -- she donated them to the Senior Center; old couple gives up growing a lawn & replaces it with multi-colored carpets -- causing car wrecks in front of their house), I thot I DID contribute something new & unique 2 the newspapers I worked 4. It was a joy 2 share a laugh with readers on the front page. & every fun story was like a gift from God -- most of them practically wrote themselves. They were almost effortless.
I couldn't see why EVERY reporter didn't do them.
They were also a great break from the usual grind of car wrecks, murders, trials, council meetings, DWI arrests, drug busts & political stupidity that is the avg reporter's daily diet. Journalism is a great career 4 a young person with lotsa energy & no social life. If you're a little older, with a Significant Other & a family, the job will eat you up. Because it never stops.
I don't look at newspapers much anymore, because most of them just make me want to know MORE. Or I wonder why the reporter doesn't journey much past the just-the-facts approach. Why so few reporters seem 2 do the daily job with much STYLE. They may be accurate, but they aren't that much fun 2 read.
I DO read local newspaper COLUMNISTS. The FUNNY 1's. & I wish there were MORE....
I have a little more fun with TV news, tho it can B frustrating 2. I gave up on most TV political coverage months ago -- the way the national media were more intrested in Herman Cain's Women Problems or Rick Perry's Senior Moments than they were in Xplaining Romney's plan to save the country. Besides, I'm pretty-much sick of the prez election & grateful that by this time Tues nite our long national nightmare will be over. Or perhaps it will be just beginning....
In addition 2 being great waking-up TV, I'd agree that nothing unites us like the national news-media in times of crisis -- Hurricane Sandy (Proof that there's No God: The Atlantic City Boardwalk is destroyed, but Snooki's house is OK), Katrina, 9/11, the Challenger explosion, etc. I just wish they worked up 2 their potential more often.
On the night before Election Day, you may know where Obama & Romney stand on some of the issues, but do you know what their plans 4 the future are? Do they have any clear, substantial, detailed plans for saving this country?
I don't think turning the clock back 2 1980 is a vision 4 the future. But clearly there R millions of people who wouldn't mind going back there. Or who didn't learn anything the 1st time around.
My news addiction has even gotten in the way at work. I haven't been playing much music lately. (Still recovering from the batch of strange CDs Crabby sent me awhile back -- Cromagnon's CAVE ROCK may have scarred me 4 life....) I'll get back 2 it, of course -- but mainly over the past week or so I've been listening 2 Seattle's news-radio station, KOMO. Tho they have a definite format they repeat each hour, the great thing about the news is that it CHANGES -- unlike the playlists at all the local rock stations.
Have listened 2 a little music that's grabbed me, tho -- Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring," Beatles' "A Day in the Life," Who's "Love, Reign O'er Me," Led Zep's "When the Levee Breaks," Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" & "I Want You," Cat Power's "He War" & "Speak for Me," part of a track off the new Neil Young album, "Walk Like a Giant" (which sounds a little like the return of "Like a Hurricane") -- & some great trax by classic late-'60s psychedelic band Love: "Alone Again Or," "Maybe the People Should Be the Times," "You Set the Scene," "Your Mind and We Belong Together."
These last replayed while reading Andrew Hultkrans's book-length look at Love's 1967 cult-classic album FOREVER CHANGES -- not sure I buy all Hultkrans' claims 4 what influenced Love-leader Arthur Lee 2 write the songs 4 FOREVER CHANGES, but the album turned out a mostly-gorgeous period piece anyway, a great forgotten companion 2 SGT. PEPPER and PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN (and DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED). Should have a review of the book posted soon....
Monday, October 8, 2012
#595: Lowest Common Denominator
OK, so I sat down earlier this aft 2 write this long, ranting post about the suckiness of Seattle-area radio, a post that named names & blamed blames, a post that marveled about how -- with 2 million people living in the Greater Puget Sound metropolitan area -- we can't seemta get enuf decent radio 2 keep every kinda listener happy. Or even me.
So I bashed this up, added some completely unscientific song-counting data compiled over this past weekend when I was stuck at work with nothing BUT the radio 4 a music source ... read thru it, proofread it, it was even ALMOST in English, quite an accomplishment 4 me, sent it off, & ...
The Internet ATE it. 2 Fucking Hours of work. GONE! I couldn't recover it. Obviously a conspiracy by our local Clear Channel- and Cumulus-owned radio stations 2 keep you from reading The Truth.
I haven't lost a whole post in 3-1/2 years, so I was kinda bummed.
(OK, here's the short version: "Classic Rock" KZOK's playlist hasn't changed since 1982. KJR plays the same oldies every nite, practically at the same time -- a friend of mine sez autistic people LOVE KJR because it's so predictable. KISW is great if you can take the Scorpions & Krokus 24/7. KMTT "The Mountain" usedta have the widest variety of music locally, now they just sound like a 2nd-rate KZOK. & it's been a LONG time since Q104.5 played any oldies as unexpected as Small Faces' "Lazy Sunday.")
Looking at my local radio stations as an Xample, is it NE wonder no1 listens 2 radio anymore? Is it any wonder so many people download music off the Internet? Why bother wasting yer time with some1 else's wretched musical taste -- or their opinion of what's "popular" -- when you can assemble yer own dream playlist 4 yer iPod?
It wasn't all garbage that I heard over the radio this past weekend, there were occasional suprises, but most of it was The Same Old Stuff, formats that haven't changed since 1979, playlists that haven't had much "new" stuff added 2 them since about 1982.
When we COULD have anything. There is so much more out there....
In my dreams, a good radio station would B 1 with a playlist open enuf 4 everything from old Buck Owens & Johnny Cash hits from the '60s 2 Coldplay or Coheed and Cambria -- from '50s rock&roll classics 2 Green Day's "Holiday" -- from Eminem's comedy stuff 2 gushy love ballads like Vanessa Williams' "Save the Best for Last."
From Motown hits 2 classic Atlantic Records R&B 2 singer-songwriters 2 synthesizer noise, from Broadway showtunes like CAMELOT's hilarious "Fie On Goodness" 2 Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" -- or even ELP's! From the Beatles' "There's a Place" 2 the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen." AC/DC & Motorhead 2 Nick Drake & Pat Metheny. Rare Earth to Miles Davis, Grand Funk to John Coltrane -- no limits, no formats, as long as it's GOOD.
Back in the '60s, they used to call this "pop." It was broadcasting, instead of narrowcasting. Everything got in.
Such an open format, which could potentially attract a wide audience, couldn't fail 2 B successful. And I'll bet listeners would B a lot happier than they R right now. They might even be suprised, delighted.
Everybody seems 2 agree that radio sucks.
So ... why not?
So I bashed this up, added some completely unscientific song-counting data compiled over this past weekend when I was stuck at work with nothing BUT the radio 4 a music source ... read thru it, proofread it, it was even ALMOST in English, quite an accomplishment 4 me, sent it off, & ...
The Internet ATE it. 2 Fucking Hours of work. GONE! I couldn't recover it. Obviously a conspiracy by our local Clear Channel- and Cumulus-owned radio stations 2 keep you from reading The Truth.
I haven't lost a whole post in 3-1/2 years, so I was kinda bummed.
(OK, here's the short version: "Classic Rock" KZOK's playlist hasn't changed since 1982. KJR plays the same oldies every nite, practically at the same time -- a friend of mine sez autistic people LOVE KJR because it's so predictable. KISW is great if you can take the Scorpions & Krokus 24/7. KMTT "The Mountain" usedta have the widest variety of music locally, now they just sound like a 2nd-rate KZOK. & it's been a LONG time since Q104.5 played any oldies as unexpected as Small Faces' "Lazy Sunday.")
Looking at my local radio stations as an Xample, is it NE wonder no1 listens 2 radio anymore? Is it any wonder so many people download music off the Internet? Why bother wasting yer time with some1 else's wretched musical taste -- or their opinion of what's "popular" -- when you can assemble yer own dream playlist 4 yer iPod?
It wasn't all garbage that I heard over the radio this past weekend, there were occasional suprises, but most of it was The Same Old Stuff, formats that haven't changed since 1979, playlists that haven't had much "new" stuff added 2 them since about 1982.
When we COULD have anything. There is so much more out there....
In my dreams, a good radio station would B 1 with a playlist open enuf 4 everything from old Buck Owens & Johnny Cash hits from the '60s 2 Coldplay or Coheed and Cambria -- from '50s rock&roll classics 2 Green Day's "Holiday" -- from Eminem's comedy stuff 2 gushy love ballads like Vanessa Williams' "Save the Best for Last."
From Motown hits 2 classic Atlantic Records R&B 2 singer-songwriters 2 synthesizer noise, from Broadway showtunes like CAMELOT's hilarious "Fie On Goodness" 2 Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" -- or even ELP's! From the Beatles' "There's a Place" 2 the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen." AC/DC & Motorhead 2 Nick Drake & Pat Metheny. Rare Earth to Miles Davis, Grand Funk to John Coltrane -- no limits, no formats, as long as it's GOOD.
Back in the '60s, they used to call this "pop." It was broadcasting, instead of narrowcasting. Everything got in.
Such an open format, which could potentially attract a wide audience, couldn't fail 2 B successful. And I'll bet listeners would B a lot happier than they R right now. They might even be suprised, delighted.
Everybody seems 2 agree that radio sucks.
So ... why not?
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
#562: The CD Era dawns -- uneventfully
Started playing CDs at work seriously on Sun nite after finally discovering on Sat that the store's CD player actually WORKS -- & sounds BETTER than the shagged-out old cassette player, which had started eating tapes.
Sat nite's CD playlist looked like this:
Police -- It's Alright for You, Does Everyone Stare?, On Any Other Day.
Bangles -- Most of GREATEST HITS: Hero Takes a Fall, Going Down to Liverpool, Manic Monday, If She Knew What She Wants, Walk Like an Egyptian, Walking Down Your Street, Following, Hazy Shade of Winter, Be With You, I'll Set You Free, Everything I Wanted.
Most of MOTOWN CLASSIC GOLD:
Barrett Strong -- Money.
Martha and the Vandellas -- Dancing in the Street.
Junior Walker and the All-Stars -- Shotgun.
Supremes -- Stop in the Name of Love, Up the Ladder to the Roof.
Jimmy Ruffin -- What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.
Four Tops -- Reach Out I'll Be There.
Gladys Knight and the Pips -- I Heard it Through the Grapevine.
Marvin Gaye -- I Heard it Through the Grapevine, What's Going On.
David Ruffin -- My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me).
Temptations -- I Can't Get Next to You, Ball of Confusion, Papa Was a Rolling Stone.
Jackson 5 -- I Want You Back.
Stevie Wonder -- Fingertips Part 2, Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours.
Spinners -- It's a Shame.
Edwin Starr -- War.
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles -- Tears of a Clown.
Undisputed Truth -- Smiling Faces Sometimes.
Raspberries -- I Wanna Be With You, Tonight, I'm a Rocker, Ecstasy, Cruisin' Music, Starting Over, Overnight Sensation.
Hawkwind -- Urban Guerrilla, Sonic Attack, Psychedelic Warlords (all played repeatedly).
Keane -- Somewhere Only We Know, This is the Last Time, Bend and Break, Your Eyes Open.
Tho I played the Hawkwind trax repeatedly & the MOTOWN GOLD CD is almost as great (& as complete) as THE MOTOWN STORY (see below), the only stuff that REALLY grabbed me all nite was Keane. Every time I play that HOPES AND FEARS CD (1nce every year or 2) I'm reminded how great those 4 songs were. Whatever happened 2 those guys, anyway...?
Also got some apparent local-radio Bad News on Sun nite: KMTT FM "The Mountain" has apparently stopped running the Xcellent syndicated garage-rock/Oldies program "Little Steven's Underground Garage" every Sun nite from 10 pm 2 midnight -- at least they didn't run it this past Sun nite & didn't Xplain why. I tried 2 call them, but the toll-free number 2 their Seattle studio was busy. Maybe other fans of the show were complaining -- I hope so.
Does this mean no more loud, obnoxious, radio-underplayed music on Sun nites? That means I'll have 2 supply MY OWN....
Have started Max Barry's novel JENNIFER GOVERNMENT, about a weird future in which EVERYONE works 4 some corporation -- it's outrageous & funny. Have also just gotten in2 Gerri Hirshey's NOWHERE TO RUN, an acclaimed history of Soul/R&B. Likely I'll have reviews of both in the not-2-distant future....
More soon....
Sat nite's CD playlist looked like this:
Police -- It's Alright for You, Does Everyone Stare?, On Any Other Day.
Bangles -- Most of GREATEST HITS: Hero Takes a Fall, Going Down to Liverpool, Manic Monday, If She Knew What She Wants, Walk Like an Egyptian, Walking Down Your Street, Following, Hazy Shade of Winter, Be With You, I'll Set You Free, Everything I Wanted.
Most of MOTOWN CLASSIC GOLD:
Barrett Strong -- Money.
Martha and the Vandellas -- Dancing in the Street.
Junior Walker and the All-Stars -- Shotgun.
Supremes -- Stop in the Name of Love, Up the Ladder to the Roof.
Jimmy Ruffin -- What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.
Four Tops -- Reach Out I'll Be There.
Gladys Knight and the Pips -- I Heard it Through the Grapevine.
Marvin Gaye -- I Heard it Through the Grapevine, What's Going On.
David Ruffin -- My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me).
Temptations -- I Can't Get Next to You, Ball of Confusion, Papa Was a Rolling Stone.
Jackson 5 -- I Want You Back.
Stevie Wonder -- Fingertips Part 2, Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours.
Spinners -- It's a Shame.
Edwin Starr -- War.
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles -- Tears of a Clown.
Undisputed Truth -- Smiling Faces Sometimes.
Raspberries -- I Wanna Be With You, Tonight, I'm a Rocker, Ecstasy, Cruisin' Music, Starting Over, Overnight Sensation.
Hawkwind -- Urban Guerrilla, Sonic Attack, Psychedelic Warlords (all played repeatedly).
Keane -- Somewhere Only We Know, This is the Last Time, Bend and Break, Your Eyes Open.
Tho I played the Hawkwind trax repeatedly & the MOTOWN GOLD CD is almost as great (& as complete) as THE MOTOWN STORY (see below), the only stuff that REALLY grabbed me all nite was Keane. Every time I play that HOPES AND FEARS CD (1nce every year or 2) I'm reminded how great those 4 songs were. Whatever happened 2 those guys, anyway...?
Also got some apparent local-radio Bad News on Sun nite: KMTT FM "The Mountain" has apparently stopped running the Xcellent syndicated garage-rock/Oldies program "Little Steven's Underground Garage" every Sun nite from 10 pm 2 midnight -- at least they didn't run it this past Sun nite & didn't Xplain why. I tried 2 call them, but the toll-free number 2 their Seattle studio was busy. Maybe other fans of the show were complaining -- I hope so.
Does this mean no more loud, obnoxious, radio-underplayed music on Sun nites? That means I'll have 2 supply MY OWN....
Have started Max Barry's novel JENNIFER GOVERNMENT, about a weird future in which EVERYONE works 4 some corporation -- it's outrageous & funny. Have also just gotten in2 Gerri Hirshey's NOWHERE TO RUN, an acclaimed history of Soul/R&B. Likely I'll have reviews of both in the not-2-distant future....
More soon....
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
#510: And the hits just keep on comin'....
Just got thru a coupla brutal, long weeks at work. I worked both holidays. Christmas Eve wasn't bad, but Christmas Nite was unbelievably busy -- after about 6 pm we were the only store open in the neighborhood. The folks just kept on comin' in....
The radio was useless all thru it. The local radio folks didn't seemta realize it was a holiday, or even a weekend. Not enuf upbeat energy-filled stuff 2 keep me bouncing around & keep my mood up. So....
Realizing that local radio would likely remain useless, & knowing I'd probly need the NRG & support, I packed-up a bag of CDs & 20-year-old homemade cassettes 2 use as appropriate motivational music 4 New Year's Eve & New Year's Nite.
Neither nites were as busy as Xmas nite, but the music kept me moving, happy & bouncing around. & the tapes worked so well I never even GOT 2 the CDs.
I also had my own agenda of sneaking in subversive shoulda-been-hits rather than the Same Old Shit the radio always plays. This wasn't a total success -- tho I'm sure folks noticed that I stayed happy & NRgetic thru both nites & didn't collapse until after work Sun nite. But only a few folks noticed what was playing -- or at least noticed that it generally wasn't the Same Old Shit. (OK, SOME of it WAS the Same Old Shit, but a lot of it was Great Stuff radio oughta B playing.)
NEway, my mission was accomplished, I sneaked thru some Great Stuff people didn't realize was Bing secretly inflicted on them, & I may start doing this every nite I work. Hey, ya gotta change the world in the only ways you know how, right?
More about all this below. 1st, the playlist:
Clash: Train in Vain (Stand by Me).
Easybeats: Friday on My Mind.
Bobby Fuller Four: I Fought the Law.
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Who'll Stop the Rain?
Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice.
Raiders: Hungry, Him or Me -- What's it Gonna Be?
Badfinger: No Matter What, Baby Blue, Day After Day.
Cheap Trick: Surrender.
Ronettes: Be My Baby, Baby I Love You.
Bob Seger: Rock and Roll Never Forgets.
Five Man Electrical Band: Absolutely Right.
Spencer Davis Group: Gimme Some Lovin'.
Four Tops: It's the Same Old Song.
Martha and the Vandellas: Dancing in the Street.
Cyndi Lauper: Money Changes Everything.
Buffalo Springfield: Bluebird, Mr. Soul.
Jefferson Airplane: Somebody to Love.
Rod Stewart: Maggie May.
Three Dog Night: Celebrate.
Chicago: Feelin' Stronger Every Day.
Blue Ridge Rangers (John Fogerty): Hearts of Stone.
Freddy Cannon: Palisades Park.
Mary-Chapin Carpenter: Passionate Kisses.
Tricia Yearwood: Wrong Side of Memphis.
B.J. Thomas: Rock and Roll Lullabye.
Richie Valens: La Bamba.
Buddy Holly: Peggy Sue.
Poco: A Good Feelin' to Know, Here We Go Again.
Queen: Need Your Loving Tonight.
Billy Joel: Traveling Prayer, All for Leyna.
Supertramp: From Now On.
Steve Winwood: Valerie.
John Lennon: Stand by Me.
Neil Diamond: Do It, Crunchy Granola Suite, Holly Holy, Soolaimon.
Elton John: Teacher I Need You.
David Bowie: Suffragette City.
Bangles: Everything I Wanted, Let it Go, September Gurls, Hero Takes a Fall, All About You, Dover Beach.
Traffic: Glad.
Mark Knopfler: Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero).
Jane Wiedlin: Rush Hour.
Fleetwood Mac: Everywhere.
Dream Academy: Life in a Northern Town.
Pentangle: Light Flight.
'Til Tuesday: Maybe Monday.
Heart: Alone, Never.
Tracey Chapman: Talking 'Bout a Revolution.
Byrds: I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better.
Camel: Sasquatch, Manic.
Tears for Fears: Broken, Head Over Heels.
Joni Mitchell: Coyote.
Icicle Works: Birds Fly (A Whisper to a Scream).
Cream: Badge.
Van Morrison: Wild Night, Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile), Caravan, Into the Mystic.
Paul McCartney: No More Lonely Nights.
Youngbloods: Get Together.
Pat Benatar: We Belong.
A Flock of Seagulls: I Ran, Space Age Love Song, Wishing.
Prince: 1999.
Everly Brothers: Walk Right Back.
Joe Cocker: Feelin' Alright.
Grand Funk Railroad: Rock and Roll Soul.
Supremes: Up the Ladder to the Roof.
Elton John: Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!).
Ian Thomas: Painted Ladies.
Bullet: White Lies Blue Eyes.
Brewer and Shipley: One Toke Over the Line.
Christie: Yellow River.
Jeff Lynne: Every Little Thing, Lift Me Up.
Paul Simon: You Can Call Me Al.
Bruce Springsteen: Rosalita.
Rush: Show Don't Tell, Time Stand Still, Distant Early Warning.
John Cougar Mellencamp: Authority Song.
Pat Metheny: Praise.
Gordon Lightfoot: High and Dry.
INXS: New Sensation.
Bob Dylan: One of Us Must Know.
Jefferson Starship: Find Your Way Back.
Steve Tibbetts: Ur.
Glass Moon: Solsbury Hill.
Roxy Music: The Thrill of it All.
REO Speedwagon: Roll With the Changes, Blazing Your Own Trail Again.
Journey: Feeling That Way, Anytime.
ELO: Twilight, The Way Life's Meant to Be.
Kate Bush: This Woman's Work.
...So, as you can see, only mildly subversive stuff ... until I started sneaking Roxy & Kate Bush in there.
& while I KNOW people noticed that I was pretty happy & NRgetic, only a couple folks asked about the music that was keeping me that way. 1 guy guessed right on B.J. Thomas after I gave him a coupla hints, but he didn't know the song. Another guy knew he was hearing Rush but couldn't place "Time Stand Still" -- it was "too new" for him. I know the feeling....
I had more stuff planned 2 play, & still do -- I had halfadozen more tapes in my bag. But after 2 nites of almost-non-stop bouncing around 2 the music & actually doing SOME work ... I got a helluva headache & had 2 dope-up & shut the music off until the headache went away....
COMING UP NEXT: "CAVING IN" -- listening to current (very) popular sounds, old sounds, & some just plain weird sounds....
The radio was useless all thru it. The local radio folks didn't seemta realize it was a holiday, or even a weekend. Not enuf upbeat energy-filled stuff 2 keep me bouncing around & keep my mood up. So....
Realizing that local radio would likely remain useless, & knowing I'd probly need the NRG & support, I packed-up a bag of CDs & 20-year-old homemade cassettes 2 use as appropriate motivational music 4 New Year's Eve & New Year's Nite.
Neither nites were as busy as Xmas nite, but the music kept me moving, happy & bouncing around. & the tapes worked so well I never even GOT 2 the CDs.
I also had my own agenda of sneaking in subversive shoulda-been-hits rather than the Same Old Shit the radio always plays. This wasn't a total success -- tho I'm sure folks noticed that I stayed happy & NRgetic thru both nites & didn't collapse until after work Sun nite. But only a few folks noticed what was playing -- or at least noticed that it generally wasn't the Same Old Shit. (OK, SOME of it WAS the Same Old Shit, but a lot of it was Great Stuff radio oughta B playing.)
NEway, my mission was accomplished, I sneaked thru some Great Stuff people didn't realize was Bing secretly inflicted on them, & I may start doing this every nite I work. Hey, ya gotta change the world in the only ways you know how, right?
More about all this below. 1st, the playlist:
Clash: Train in Vain (Stand by Me).
Easybeats: Friday on My Mind.
Bobby Fuller Four: I Fought the Law.
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Who'll Stop the Rain?
Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice.
Raiders: Hungry, Him or Me -- What's it Gonna Be?
Badfinger: No Matter What, Baby Blue, Day After Day.
Cheap Trick: Surrender.
Ronettes: Be My Baby, Baby I Love You.
Bob Seger: Rock and Roll Never Forgets.
Five Man Electrical Band: Absolutely Right.
Spencer Davis Group: Gimme Some Lovin'.
Four Tops: It's the Same Old Song.
Martha and the Vandellas: Dancing in the Street.
Cyndi Lauper: Money Changes Everything.
Buffalo Springfield: Bluebird, Mr. Soul.
Jefferson Airplane: Somebody to Love.
Rod Stewart: Maggie May.
Three Dog Night: Celebrate.
Chicago: Feelin' Stronger Every Day.
Blue Ridge Rangers (John Fogerty): Hearts of Stone.
Freddy Cannon: Palisades Park.
Mary-Chapin Carpenter: Passionate Kisses.
Tricia Yearwood: Wrong Side of Memphis.
B.J. Thomas: Rock and Roll Lullabye.
Richie Valens: La Bamba.
Buddy Holly: Peggy Sue.
Poco: A Good Feelin' to Know, Here We Go Again.
Queen: Need Your Loving Tonight.
Billy Joel: Traveling Prayer, All for Leyna.
Supertramp: From Now On.
Steve Winwood: Valerie.
John Lennon: Stand by Me.
Neil Diamond: Do It, Crunchy Granola Suite, Holly Holy, Soolaimon.
Elton John: Teacher I Need You.
David Bowie: Suffragette City.
Bangles: Everything I Wanted, Let it Go, September Gurls, Hero Takes a Fall, All About You, Dover Beach.
Traffic: Glad.
Mark Knopfler: Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero).
Jane Wiedlin: Rush Hour.
Fleetwood Mac: Everywhere.
Dream Academy: Life in a Northern Town.
Pentangle: Light Flight.
'Til Tuesday: Maybe Monday.
Heart: Alone, Never.
Tracey Chapman: Talking 'Bout a Revolution.
Byrds: I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better.
Camel: Sasquatch, Manic.
Tears for Fears: Broken, Head Over Heels.
Joni Mitchell: Coyote.
Icicle Works: Birds Fly (A Whisper to a Scream).
Cream: Badge.
Van Morrison: Wild Night, Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile), Caravan, Into the Mystic.
Paul McCartney: No More Lonely Nights.
Youngbloods: Get Together.
Pat Benatar: We Belong.
A Flock of Seagulls: I Ran, Space Age Love Song, Wishing.
Prince: 1999.
Everly Brothers: Walk Right Back.
Joe Cocker: Feelin' Alright.
Grand Funk Railroad: Rock and Roll Soul.
Supremes: Up the Ladder to the Roof.
Elton John: Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!).
Ian Thomas: Painted Ladies.
Bullet: White Lies Blue Eyes.
Brewer and Shipley: One Toke Over the Line.
Christie: Yellow River.
Jeff Lynne: Every Little Thing, Lift Me Up.
Paul Simon: You Can Call Me Al.
Bruce Springsteen: Rosalita.
Rush: Show Don't Tell, Time Stand Still, Distant Early Warning.
John Cougar Mellencamp: Authority Song.
Pat Metheny: Praise.
Gordon Lightfoot: High and Dry.
INXS: New Sensation.
Bob Dylan: One of Us Must Know.
Jefferson Starship: Find Your Way Back.
Steve Tibbetts: Ur.
Glass Moon: Solsbury Hill.
Roxy Music: The Thrill of it All.
REO Speedwagon: Roll With the Changes, Blazing Your Own Trail Again.
Journey: Feeling That Way, Anytime.
ELO: Twilight, The Way Life's Meant to Be.
Kate Bush: This Woman's Work.
...So, as you can see, only mildly subversive stuff ... until I started sneaking Roxy & Kate Bush in there.
& while I KNOW people noticed that I was pretty happy & NRgetic, only a couple folks asked about the music that was keeping me that way. 1 guy guessed right on B.J. Thomas after I gave him a coupla hints, but he didn't know the song. Another guy knew he was hearing Rush but couldn't place "Time Stand Still" -- it was "too new" for him. I know the feeling....
I had more stuff planned 2 play, & still do -- I had halfadozen more tapes in my bag. But after 2 nites of almost-non-stop bouncing around 2 the music & actually doing SOME work ... I got a helluva headache & had 2 dope-up & shut the music off until the headache went away....
COMING UP NEXT: "CAVING IN" -- listening to current (very) popular sounds, old sounds, & some just plain weird sounds....
Monday, December 12, 2011
"December Will be Magic Again"
We here at the Back-Up Plan R THRILLED that R local radio stations Bgan seriously playing Christmas rock&roll favorites this past week. The best of these songs R marvelous oldies & it does yer soul good 2 hear them at least 1nce a year. They really light us up.
Don't know if we've got the Christmas Spirit yet -- it's bn a long time since we felt "Christmasy," possibly as long ago as 1971, but still. If we've gotta choose Btween "Hotel California" & Xmas oldies, we'll take the Christmas songs every time.
Local radio started Thurs nite with Elton John's whirlwind "Step Into Christmas," 1 of his greatest hits -- love the bells & chimes & synths & the cool acoustic guitar. & the whole thing's a great production.
Then we heard John Lennon's classic "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," 1 of the 1st 45-rpm singles TAD ever bought, on green-Apple vinyl, way back in 1971. John was a sentimental guy, tho he denied it, & "War is Over" still sounds great. & how bout that huge Phil Spector production?
We were shocked on Fri nite 2 hear Peter, Paul and Mary's 1962 "A'Soulin," a magical Christmas classic from their album MOVING -- the same album that had "Puff the Magic Dragon." "A'Soulin" is pretty dark & mysterious 4 an Xmas song, but it's also hypnotic & a lotta fun. & the vocals R -- do we have 2 say this? -- just freakin great.
We've even heard Andy Williams' "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," 1 of the best things HE ever did. His voice is so rich, from that '50s "crooner" background he came from -- & the song conjures up images of happy shoppers & good-natured holiday bustle ... so you KNOW it's a fantasy. But it's a good 1....
Also heard the Carpenters' heartwarming "Merry Christmas, Darling," a real classic from 1971. Their Xmas album, A CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT, has a lotta great stuff on it, if you can get past the fact that it's THE CARPENTERS. Best of all is "It's Christmas Time," which starts as a wonderful intimate Karen Carpenter-with-piano miniature & then turns in2 a huge production with chorus & orchestra. It's really moving. 1 of their best ever.
Our local classic rock station also played Cheech and Chong's hilarious "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" -- not a song, but freakin great anyway. Tell your kids Mom & Dad (or Grandma & Grandpa) useta talk like this sorta....
& on Sun nite, 1 station unXpectedly bashed out Darlene Love & Phil Spector's glorious "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." You've heard it even if you don't think you have -- it played under the opening credits of the movie GREMLINS some 30 years ago. It's from Spector's acclaimed CHRISTMAS ALBUM that we here have never heard. But if that's a sample....
Haven't yet heard Kate Bush's gorgeous "December Will be Magic Again," & don't really Xpect 2, but it would do the American public a lotta good 2 hear it. Also haven't heard the Royal Guardsmen's "Snoopy's Christmas," a terrific 1967 masterpiece that -- in its 6-minute long version -- was to us the 1st real "rock opera."
When TAD was a kid, his favorite Christmas carol was "Carol of the Bells," possibly Bcos when those choral vocals start building up it sounds like some kinda wild windstorm comin on. But he's heard so many versions of it since then that it's kinda lost its attractiveness.
These days he leans more toward the almost supernaturally beautiful "O Holy Night" -- when it's done right it puts a lump in his throat & a tear in his eye every time.
Hope yer local music-providers R playing something good 4 the holidays.
NEbody out there heard Barbra Streisand's hilarious version of "Jingle Bells"?
...& we personally don't care if we ever hear "Jingle Bell Rock" or "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" EVER again....
Don't know if we've got the Christmas Spirit yet -- it's bn a long time since we felt "Christmasy," possibly as long ago as 1971, but still. If we've gotta choose Btween "Hotel California" & Xmas oldies, we'll take the Christmas songs every time.
Local radio started Thurs nite with Elton John's whirlwind "Step Into Christmas," 1 of his greatest hits -- love the bells & chimes & synths & the cool acoustic guitar. & the whole thing's a great production.
Then we heard John Lennon's classic "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," 1 of the 1st 45-rpm singles TAD ever bought, on green-Apple vinyl, way back in 1971. John was a sentimental guy, tho he denied it, & "War is Over" still sounds great. & how bout that huge Phil Spector production?
We were shocked on Fri nite 2 hear Peter, Paul and Mary's 1962 "A'Soulin," a magical Christmas classic from their album MOVING -- the same album that had "Puff the Magic Dragon." "A'Soulin" is pretty dark & mysterious 4 an Xmas song, but it's also hypnotic & a lotta fun. & the vocals R -- do we have 2 say this? -- just freakin great.
We've even heard Andy Williams' "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," 1 of the best things HE ever did. His voice is so rich, from that '50s "crooner" background he came from -- & the song conjures up images of happy shoppers & good-natured holiday bustle ... so you KNOW it's a fantasy. But it's a good 1....
Also heard the Carpenters' heartwarming "Merry Christmas, Darling," a real classic from 1971. Their Xmas album, A CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT, has a lotta great stuff on it, if you can get past the fact that it's THE CARPENTERS. Best of all is "It's Christmas Time," which starts as a wonderful intimate Karen Carpenter-with-piano miniature & then turns in2 a huge production with chorus & orchestra. It's really moving. 1 of their best ever.
Our local classic rock station also played Cheech and Chong's hilarious "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" -- not a song, but freakin great anyway. Tell your kids Mom & Dad (or Grandma & Grandpa) useta talk like this sorta....
& on Sun nite, 1 station unXpectedly bashed out Darlene Love & Phil Spector's glorious "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." You've heard it even if you don't think you have -- it played under the opening credits of the movie GREMLINS some 30 years ago. It's from Spector's acclaimed CHRISTMAS ALBUM that we here have never heard. But if that's a sample....
Haven't yet heard Kate Bush's gorgeous "December Will be Magic Again," & don't really Xpect 2, but it would do the American public a lotta good 2 hear it. Also haven't heard the Royal Guardsmen's "Snoopy's Christmas," a terrific 1967 masterpiece that -- in its 6-minute long version -- was to us the 1st real "rock opera."
When TAD was a kid, his favorite Christmas carol was "Carol of the Bells," possibly Bcos when those choral vocals start building up it sounds like some kinda wild windstorm comin on. But he's heard so many versions of it since then that it's kinda lost its attractiveness.
These days he leans more toward the almost supernaturally beautiful "O Holy Night" -- when it's done right it puts a lump in his throat & a tear in his eye every time.
Hope yer local music-providers R playing something good 4 the holidays.
NEbody out there heard Barbra Streisand's hilarious version of "Jingle Bells"?
...& we personally don't care if we ever hear "Jingle Bell Rock" or "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" EVER again....
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