Looking back at the variety of music I played on the air 23 years ago this morning made me smile. Here's the playlist:
1. Walkabout-The Sugarcubes
(Bjork and her band recorded this late in the band's career. Vocally and instrumentally, the energy level is infectious.)
2. Come Inside-The Black Watch
(The fiddling drew me in, as I recall.)
3. Donatello-Jawbreaker
4. Sunnyslope-Fish Karma
5. Little Maggie-Bob Dylan
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6. Me And Rock & Roll Are Here To Stay-David Ruffin
7. Some Kind Of Wonderful-Soul Brothers Six
(The hook can't help but stay with you.)
8. Zanse't Nou Yo-Boukman Eksperyans
9. A Shot In The Dark-The Skatalites
(If the title isn't familiar, you've still probably heard this tune, at least as background music. It's one of the most accessible, recognizable ska melodies.)
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10. Last Up First To Go-Thousand Yard Stare
11. State Of Mind-Ten City
(One of the Ten City's most memorable grooves, along with "Whatever Makes You Happy.")
12. If I Can't Have You-Yvonne Elliman
(Elliman's smash hit still holds up. Also recommended: her cover of "Hello Stranger.")
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13. I'm Gonna Make You Mine-Michael Schenker Group
14. Undercover Of The Night-The Rolling Stones (*)
15. Maria's Wedding-Black 47
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16. You Make The Whole World Cry-Tanita Tikaram
17. Waiting Game-Swing Out Sister
(If you like the group's hit, "Breakout," you'll probably enjoy "Waiting Game"'s similar feel.)
18. Shake Down The Stars-Sarah Vaughan
19. Chelsea Bridge-Nancie Banks Orchestra
(An elegant, beguiling instrumental...)
20. Never Let Me Go-Katie Webster
(...that segues well with this classy vocal number.)
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21. Fire-Jimi Hendrix Experience
(Still one of rock's most immediate, pay-attention-to-this guitar intros.)
22. Tumbleswan-Jacob's Mouse
23. Satisfied-Junk Monkeys
24. Parasite-Throw
25. Neptune-Grasshopper
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26. In A Lemon Twist-Radioblue
27. Save It For Later-The English Beat
(The band's best sing-along melody, in my opinion.)
28. ...And I'm Thinking-The Sneetches
(I remember that the KCOU staffer who reviewed this 45 wrote that this power pop band "can do no wrong." Her assessment is correct. This band has written so many radio-friendly tunes that, unfortunately, receive little or no airplay.)
29. Blindside-27th City
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30. Temptation-Heaven 17
31. Everlasting-Soup Dragons
32. Bob Says No-Popdefect
33. Stuck On AM-Rex Daisy
(This wistful tale of someone who "fell too fast and too far" still holds up. Proof that the world is smaller than we think sometimes: At my most recent high school reunion, I talked with a friend about the enjoyable times we'd had on-air at college radio stations in different states. To my surprise, he brought up this song out of the blue. As good as the song is, the song and the band aren't household names. In fact, we were probably the only two people at the reunion who knew this song. Of all the obscure indie tunes he could have mentioned...)
34. I Don't Mind-Kicking Giant
35. Downtown Train-Everything But The Girl
(I've praised this version previously, but it's worth recommending again. The acoustic, poignant arrangement makes the lyrics all the more effective.)
36. You Don't Have To Move That Mountain-Trisha Yearwood
(There's a reliable base of quality you can expect in Yearwood's music. Nickel Creek's version is also worth hearing.)
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37. I Can't Hold Back-Pure Prairie League
(I'm still puzzled that this was never a hit.)
38. Mr. Wendal-Arrested Development
(Looking back, I'm surprised to see that I segued Pure Prairie League with Arrested Development. That said, this tune's message is well worth remembering in any era.)
39. Two Scoops Of Raisins-Common Sense
40. Juicy Fruit-Mtume
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41. Time Won't Let Me-The Outsiders
(I don't hear this on oldies stations as much as I used to, but it still deserves airplay. The melody has held up well over the decades.)
42. Cold Feet-Albert King
43. T-Bone Shuffle-Buddy Guy & Junior Wells
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(*) indicates a listener's request.
--- indicates a station break between songs.
