KBEM (Minneapolis, MN)
- Sermonette-Dakota Dave Hull (Fine ambling-down-the-lane fingerpicking guitar, in keeping with the general consistency of Hull's latest release, "Heavenly Hope.")
- Number Four-Dexter Gordon (Gordon's straight ahead tenor sax and a strong rhythm section keep the tune perking.)
- Franz Schubert: Standchen (Serenade) (Luiza Borac, piano) (Resonant and moving; Borac plays it with force and delicacy, as needed. For a more tender reading, listen to Dora Deliyska's interpretation.)
- Times We Share-Headhunters (This tight, catchy '60s power pop tune combines some of the best elements of early Beatles and Zombies tunes.)
- I Got You (Leslie Carter's Soul Desire Instrumental Mix)-Leslie Carter (Eight-and-a-half minutes of uptempo jazz/house that would fit in well on a smooth jazz station at night, next to the right Soulive track.)
- Sing A Simple Song-Sly & The Family Stone (One of the funkier call-and-response tunes of its time, or really any time.)
- She Cries Your Name-Beth Orton (Some of Orton's best vocals, set to a cool acoustic, sometimes Celtic backdrop.)
- Emotion-Samantha Sang (Sang was the right lead vocalist to pull off the wistfulness the lyrics required. Considering this was a hit in 1978, The Bee Gees were the right backing vocalists.)
- What A Fool Believes-The Doobie Brothers (It's unusual for me to hear two such big hits on WXPN, which is known for the depth of its singer-songwriter programming. Today is "Throwback Thursday," though, and I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that this is, essentially, a flawless tune. It's lyrically strong and forwards its narrative effectively. It builds to its chorus perfectly with a great sing-along hook. I'm not sure anyone other than Michael McDonald could have socked the lead vocals home so effectively. In short, it's well-written, well-sung, and well-produced. That's a hat trick not just any pop tune pulls off.)
