Only in college CXVII

An early '90s specialty show on KCOU that I had difficulty describing was "Gardening At Night."  A key element of it, however, involved crafting sound collages consisting of live or recorded spoken words paired with musical backdrops.

One night, Robi, the DJ hosting the show, and I started talking, and he recorded part of our conversation.  Later in the show, he asked me, "(Does this) sound familiar?"

It did sound familiar, as he had put a portion of our chat on a tape loop and was playing it on the air backwards over music.

Where else can you do that on the radio?

Community Radio St. Louis highlights V

Thursday night/Friday morning standouts:

Heaven's Library 

• Brighten Your Night With My Day-James Taylor (It's interesting to hear early, i.e. 1967, James Taylor.  As my brother noted, the instrumentation differs from that of a typical Taylor tune.  I think it would work as a commercial jingle.)
• Gentle Wave-Hiromasa Suzuki (This throbbing, jazzy, spacey instrumental combines John Klemmer's and Chick Corea & Return To Forever's styles.) 
• Dream-Ryuichi Sakamoto (This short, celestial-sounding instrumental could segue with "Gentle Wave.")

Next Exit

• Going Places-Lewsberg (An immediately catchy guitar/bass/drums rhythm with a nice contrast between the two lead singers.)

Sweet Inspiration

• None Of Us Are Free-Solomon Burke (Alas, these lyrics are "quite fitting for the times," as DJ Spencer said.)
• Song Of Love-Stephen Stills (This 1972 track about standing on the side of what's humane and just is also sadly appropriate for our current climate.  Playing Midnight Oil's "Sometimes" after it was a lyrically compatible choice, although "My Country" would work equally well.)
• Fool No. 1-The Mavericks (Lead singer Raul Malo really sells this tune that sounds like a late '50s doo-wop ballad.  I think it could have worked as underscoring for a "How I Met Your Mother" episode.)
• Paintbrush-All The Days (Endearingly, sensitively written and sung.)

Community Radio St. Louis highlights IV

Six of the more appealing tunes played this morning:

The Mix-Up 

• Who Will Comfort Me?-Melody Gardot (Rhythmically, this reminds me of Peggy Lee's "Fever.")
• Hippy Skippy Moon Strut-The Mighty Show Stoppers (A catchy, rhythmic, organ-propelled instrumental that could segue with "101" by The Smuggler Brothers.)

Memphis To Manchester

• You're No Good-Betty Everett (The majority of listeners are probably most familiar with Linda Ronstadt's excellent version, but Everett's 1963 vocals and the appropriately melancholy piano backing deserve their due.)
• Two Of Us-Aimee Mann & Michael Penn (Fine vocal harmonies on this cover of a Beatles tune from two artists who deserve more commercial success.  Credit to DJ John for following this up with Mann's "That's Just What You Are," which should have been a hit.)

Pop! The Beat Bubble Burst 

• I'm So Happy Now-The Rascals (These simple lyrics say all they need to say.)
• Stay Fabulous-Marshall Crenshaw (Now, this is a music bed.  If I played guitar for a living, I'd use this instrumental as my sound check.  Its midtempo rhythmic self-assurance made it one of my most played songs in iTunes for years.)

FM dial scan highlights CCXCVII

Five tunes that caught my ear today:

WSIE 88.7 FM 

• Prototype-Robert Glasper featuring Norah Jones (This track has an appealing throwback Quiet Storm vibe in its vocals and instrumentation.)
• Wish You Were Near-Acoustic Alchemy (Since I first heard this on former smooth jazz station WSSM, I've always thought it could segue with "Shuckatoom," the "American Top 40" closing theme from the late '70s and early '80s.  It might be the group's catchiest rhythm, as it shows how a brass arrangement coalesces successfully with the acoustic guitar.)

KCLC 89.1 FM 

• Rock The Casbah-The Clash (One of the most memorable earworms from the early '80s.  The union between the piano and vocals in the chorus makes the tune, in my opinion.) 

KWUR 90.3 FM 

• Popsicle-Juliana Hatfield (This was just released in December, but if I hadn't known that, I would've thought this was one of Hatfield's early '90s efforts.  Her youthful voice and crunchy guitar playing are largely the same today.)

WARH 106.5 FM

• Burnin' For You-Blue Oyster Cult (One of the best album rock tracks for days when your mood is dark.) 

Community Radio St. Louis highlights III

I'm continuing to enjoy KDHX's online successor station, Community Radio St. Louis.  Here are two more impressive songs from yesterday that deserve acclaim:

Backroads 

• I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight-Dori Freeman (I've always found this Richard & Linda Thompson song interesting; on the surface, it sounds like a resolution to set aside one's woes for a while and just enjoy life. Listen more closely, however, and you'll hear that the lyrics are meant to be ironic.  Freeman captures the song's spirit commendably while adding just enough of a twang in the vocals to make it her own.)
• Pot On The Stove-Erin Corday (I've thought about this tune often since yesterday, thanks to its fun, calypso-style rhythm.  Vocally and instrumentally, this is a clever way to mimic food cooking on a stove.)

Now, here are five more standout songs I heard this morning:

Hip City  

• Loving You Is On My Mind-The Meters (You can pick any song by The Meters, and you'll hear the same great consistency in the rhythm section.  I can imagine this tune being cross-faded smoothly with Steely Dan's "Rikki Don't Lose That Number.")
• Bird Of Beauty-Stevie Wonder (This is one of Wonder's more overlooked tunes, but it's a pleasant invitation to take a break from the everyday realities of life.  The descending pattern in the backing vocals punctuates Wonder's lead vocals effectively.)
• Look Around The Corner-Quantic & Alice Russell with The Combo Barbaro (This is a nice, unusual blend of Brazilian, Classical, jazz, and R&B styles.  A cool descending bass line underscores the vocals.)
• Melting Pot-Orgone (For some tunes, a rhythm section is all you need.  That's the case with this excellent cover of a 1971 Booker T. & The MGs instrumental.  This well-sustained eight-minute groove approximates how The Allman Brothers Band might have sounded as a jazz or R&B band.)

Boogie On Down 

• Rockhouse (Parts 1 & 2)-Ray Charles (I'd segue this hip-in-any-era piano rhythm with Stanley Turrentine's "Walkin'.")

Community Radio St. Louis highlights II

Monday morning highlights:

Fresh Start 

• Do You Think We'll Last Forever?-Caroline Rose (I noticed a Prince vibe immediately in the rhythm and vocals.)
• Radio Protector-65daysofstatic (The placid piano intro eventually morphs into a dramatic piano-and-drums instrumental.)
• Cars In Space-Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (This rhythmically propulsive power pop track from 2020 sounds like it's from the '80s.)

Backroads 

• Hard Times Come Again No More-Mike Dowling (This pleasant guitar instrumental sounds at various times as if it's about to detour into "Auld Lang Syne." "Backroads" was one of my favorite shows on KDHX, so I'm jazzed about its return to CRSTL.  It continued the spirit of its predecessor singer-songwriter show, "Blue Highways," and this track was a fine way to kick things off.)
• Feeling Good-Nina Simone (DJ Stacy chose this appropriate set of lyrics to acknowledge the joy of launching CRSTL...)
• Listen To The Radio-Nanci Griffith (...as well as these appropriate lyrics.)
• How'd You Know?-Hudson & Franke (Lyrically and vocally, this reminds me of Carrie Newcomer's music, which is always a plus.)

Community Radio St. Louis highlights

One year after live broadcasts ended on KDHX 88.1 FM, a new incarnation of the station is now broadcasting online at crstl.fm.  CRSTL caught me off guard this morning by going live before its advertised starting time of 12 p.m.  Nevertheless, it's great to have a new station that essentially is KDHX.  Most of the programs and DJs on CRSTL originated on KDHX, so it's a pleasure to hear them again on their new home.  Here are some of the first day highlights:

Songwriters Showcase 

• All The Way Around-Kris Delmhorst (This was the first song I heard this morning on a sans DJ edition of "Songwriters Showcase."  Despite its melancholy bent, these are hopeful lyrics about finding your way back to someone.)
• Shotgun Down The Avalanche (Acoustic Edition)-Shawn Colvin (From the first time I heard "Shotgun Down The Avalanche," I was impressed by Colvin's committed vocals.and lyrical metaphor for a rickety relationship that sounds as though it should end.  This acoustic version retains the spirit of the original version.  I also recommend her acoustic and original versions of "Diamond In The Rough.")
• Peace March-Bruce Cockburn (I remember first hearing this appealingly upbeat guitar instrumental on KDHX's "Backroads" in 2006.  I'm glad it made the transition to CRSTL 20 years later.)

The Snappy Lunch  

• Time To Get Into The Change-Jeremy Garrett (Impressive bluegrass pickin' and fiddlin', and a lyrically appropriate way of officially kicking off the new station.  Kudos to hosts Walter and Willa Volz for choosing many similarly appropriate tracks that capture the KDHX to CRSTL transition metaphorically.)
• California Traveler-California (Fast fiddling requiring considerable dexterity.)
• Phoenix Arise-Becky Buller (As I said about Jeremy Garrett's "Time To Get Into The Change...") 

No Time To Tarry Here 

• Blarney's Ghost Medley: Rights Of Man/Old French/Battle Of Aughrim-Hank & Shaidri Alrich (At first, I thought I was going to hear "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella" in a minor key.  The transition from somber to spirited to somber is an interesting one.  This Celtic medley has a nice blend of violin and guitar.)
• Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor (Live)-Mississippi John Hurt (An appealing guitar hook underscores lyrics about feeling weary and needing a good night's rest.  I'd be curious to hear Taj Mahal cover this.)