I still think the one time I filled in as the host of "Country Brunch" went smoothly. I had never chosen two hours of country music for airplay before, but by including country-tinged rock as well as bona fide country artists in the mix, I came up with a strong playlist. Here's what I played between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on this day 24 years ago:
1. Family Dinner-The Starkweathers
(I opened the show with a tribute to a strong Columbia, Missouri band, The Starkweathers. Their country-tinged rock impressed me on records and in concert during KCOU's 1992 Springfest. I wish my favorite tune of theirs, "Took Me By Surprise," hadn't been missing from the studio that day, as I wanted to play it.)
2. Learnin' The Hard Way-The Starkweathers
3. You Cruel Thing-The Starkweathers
4. Forever Young-The Starkweathers
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5. I Can't Hold Back-Pure Prairie League
(I'm surprised that this Vince Gill-penned track wasn't a hit for the band, as there should have been an audience for its radio-friendly chorus in 1979.)
6. I'll Always Remember That Song-Charlie Daniels Band
7. Last Lonely Eagle-New Riders Of The Purple Sage
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8. Orange Blossom Special-Johnny Cash (*)
(Now, this is how you mimic a train on the harmonica credibly. In any genre, you can't go wrong with the classics. I was glad a listener requested this...)
9. Wheels-Flying Burrito Brothers (*)
(...and this, as well.)
10. Wayfaring Stranger-Emmylou Harris
(Harris sings this cover of a 19th century melody convincingly, with just the right amount of vibrato in the vocals.)
11. The Wrong Side Of Memphis-Trisha Yearwood
12. Bye Bye Blackbird-Rickie Lee Jones
(Not just any tune can feel equally at home in a country and jazz format.)
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13. Church-Lyle Lovett
(One of Lovett's strongest tracks, in my opinion; if you want the priest to speed up the service so you can go home and eat, this is a respectful way to convey that. The chorus, "To the Lord, let the praises be. It's time for dinner; now, let's go eat," doesn't leave my mind easily whenever I hear it.)
14. Muddy Rio Grande-Killbilly
15. Rainbow Bridge-New Grass Revival
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16. Under The Falling Sky-Bonnie Raitt
(Cool, uptempo grit in Raitt's vocals; Raitt brings Jackson Browne's lyrics to life appealingly in this vocally and instrumentally energetic 1972 track.)
17. Three Days-K.D. Lang And The Reclines
(My recommended segue: The Beach Boys tune, "Heroes And Villains," as Geraint Watkins covers it.)
18. Sweet Becky Walker-Larry Gatlin
19. From A Jack To A King-Ned Miller
20. Whiskey River-Willie Nelson
21. Tonight The Bartender Is On The Wrong Side Of The Bar-Asleep At The Wheel
(Admittedly, now and then, I would choose a song for airplay based on the band's reputation and the song's unusual title.)
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22. Cold, Cold Heart-Hank Williams
(Norah Jones would later record an excellent cover of this.)
23. Georgia In A Jug-Johnny Paycheck
24. Dance With The Tiger-Rosanne Cash
(The mood and tempo of "Dance..." would segue well with Cash's "Blue Moon With Heartache." I was listening to "Blue Moon..." earlier today and was struck by the tune's arrangement, which brought to mind Linda Ronstadt and Stephen Bishop.)
25. If You're Not Gone Too Long-Loretta Lynn
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26. Jesus Christ S.R.O. (Standing Room Only)-Tom Paxton
(An interesting way to acknowledge the popularity of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Godspell.")
27. The World Doesn't Turn For Me-Normaltown Flyers
28. Don't Be Afraid-Kelly Willis
29. Drive-In Movies And Dashboard Lights-Nanci Griffith
(Not exactly comforting lyrics, but Griffith sings honest, heartfelt narratives with compelling consistency from album to album. One of the most endearing live albums anyone ever recommended to me was Griffith's "One Fair Summer Evening.")
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30. Sweep Around Your Own Back Door-Roy Acuff
31. Gotta Travel On-Billy Grammer
32. Barnyard Dance-The Delaware Water Gap
33. Sing A Little Song Of Heartache-Rose Maddox
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34. Good Time To Say Goodbye-Juice Newton & Silver Spur
(A good sample of Newton's pipes from 1976, before her string of top 40 hits.)
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(*) indicates a listener's request.
--- indicates a station break between songs.
