Here are the tunes I chose to play on the air 25 years ago today:
1. Television, The Drug Of The Nation-Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
(One of the better rap tunes of its era...It's amusing now to recall a pre-Internet time when watching too much TV was about the strongest musical caution against wasting time and filling one's mind with junk.)
2. Theme From "Get Smart"
(A natural segue?)
3. Any Way The Wind Blows-The U.M.C.s
(Another good example of early '90s rap; the tune samples Syl Johnson's good 1972 track of the same name. Johnson's original is worth seeking out, as its arrangement brings Al Green's music to mind.)
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4. Atomic Garden-Bad Religion
(This was usually about as hard as any hard rock on my air shifts got.)
5. Happy-The Lightning Seeds
(To my ears, this is one of the most tuneful melodies on the playlist. In a sense, it's subdued power pop. Also recommended: "The Life Of Riley" and "Sense.")
6. Chicago Song-David Sanborn
(Strong saxophone talk show bumper music.)
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7. This Is Different-Mecca Normal
8. Many Miles-Sun-60
9. Woyaho-Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
(Brickell's vocals are partially atonal here, but that's not a criticism. The chorus cements itself easily in the mind.)
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10. Return To The Eve-Celtic Frost
11. Just Like Heaven-Dinosaur Jr.
12. Suspended Animation-Benediction
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13. Nettle Bed-Soft Machine
(I've always thought this instrumental would have been a good theme for a '70s TV newscast.)
14. The Look Of Love-ABC
(Catchy, driving, melodramatic '80s pop.)
15. The Night Away-7 Seconds (*)
16. Think It Over-Flat Duo Jets
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17. I Am The Cosmos-Chris Bell
(A memorable confidence-boosting pep talk of a chorus from Big Star's Bell. Jon Auer of The Posies sang it especially well in Big Star's later incarnations.)
18. Answering Machine-The Replacements (*)
19. Compared To What-Col. Bruce Hampton & His Aquarium Rescue Unit
20. Motherless Children-Eric Clapton
(One of Clapton's best screaming guitar parts, used as the theme for HBO's "Not Necessarily The News.")
21. Blues For Stevie-Albert Collins
(Some fine guitar wailing here, as well...Whenever I wanted to segue any song with a blues instrumental, Collins was one of the safest bets.)
22. She's Coming Back Some Cold Rainy Day-Georgia Cotton Pickers
23. No Secret-Liquid Jesus
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24. Dreamin'-Lou Reed
25. Crackerbox Palace-George Harrison
26. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)-Mojo Nixon & The Second Edition
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27. Pain & Pleasure-The Snapdragons
28. Wonderful Again-Hypnolovewheel
(Ear-catching, guitar-heavy accessibility makes this tune an easy segue with any number of power pop charmers.)
29. Chain Train-The Last Drive
30. Don't Talk To Strangers-Rick Springfield (*)
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31. Don't Bang The Drum-The Waterboys
32. Beethoven's Fifth-Louis Clark & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
(One of the most famous first movements in Classical music, mixed with a dance beat.)
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33. Fabulous-Happyhead
34. Mersey Paradise-Stone Roses
35. 101 (Sonic Shuffle)-Finitribe
36. Magnetic-Earth, Wind & Fire
(Earth, Wind & Fire tried a more mechanized, overtly '80s sound here. I remember hearing this often on WZEN when it was a hit.)
37. What You Said-Holy Rollers
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(*) indicates a listener's request.
--- indicates a station break between songs.
