Overall, this was one of the most accessible multi-genre shifts I ever did for KCOU. In part, this was because I played nine requests from listeners. I'm also guessing that I must have been in a more mainstream mood on this day 26 years ago. Here was my playlist:
1. Stone Cold-Rainbow
(This album rock track that still gets radio airplay every now and then got things off to a dark start. The song's haunting keyboard and guitar intro sets the scene effectively; sometimes, a dream is utter nonsense. Other times, however, it tells you what you're really thinking and foreshadows an inevitable parting.)
2. City Screaming-Concrete Blonde
3. D.C.-Died Pretty
4. The Game-Lemon Grass
(What do you do when you're faced with a no-win situation? This tune poses that dilemma convincingly, through angst-driven vocals and a forceful guitar part. "The Game," backed with "Cathy's Song," was, in my opinion, one of the strongest indie rock 45s I ever played.)
5. With Every Step You Take-Crickle
6. Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)-The Reivers
(This cover of the Looking Glass oldie has a cartoonish feel that the original version doesn't. It's a testament to the original's staying power that oldies stations still play it so many decades later.)
7. When The Circus Comes To Town-Cliff Eberhardt
(Even without having heard this song for many years, I still recall the conviction of its recurring guitar lick.)
8. Bright Side Of The Road-Van Morrison
(One of Morrison's more optimistic melodies; lyrically, it's an appealing way of asking someone special to share life's burdens with you.)
9. Southern Rain-Cowboy Junkies (*)
(It was a pleasure to play this for a listener. Margo Timmins has an appealingly soft, thoughtful voice that serves her narratives well. Instrumentally, this tune has an appealing bite to it, as well. I also strongly recommend the group's excellent cover of Townes Van Zandt's "To Live Is To Fly." I wish KCOU had had more female-fronted bands and singer-songwriters in its library.)
10. Dare-The Wedding Present (*)
11. No Resistin' A Christian-Brian Ritchie (*)
(At one time, this tune poking gentle fun at overzealous proselytizers was one of the most-played tunes on KCOU.)
12. Under Easy-The Posies
(My favorite early tune by one of the best power pop bands. I appreciated co-lead singer Jon Auer thanking me after KCOU's Big Star reunion concert in '93 for liking it.)
13. Our Lips Are Sealed-The Go-Gos (*)
(As you'll see, some of the listeners' requests and my own picks were in the "Retro 88" show mode. Although "Head Over Heels" and "Turn To You" are the band's catchiest tracks, in my opinion, I was willing to play this whenever a listener requested it.)
14. Come On, Eileen-Dexy's Midnight Runners
(Got to have the full version with the violin prelude for the tune to feel complete...)
15. In The Move-Factor One
16. Quick As Rainbows-Kitchens Of Distinction (*)
17. Nullify-Clockhammer
18. World Without End-Eye & I
19. White Horse-Laid Back
(This tune's robotic, deadly serious nature still amuses me...)
20. Let's Go Crazy-Prince (*)
(...and may have triggered a retro '80s vibe in at least one listener.)
21. Blaze Of Glory-The Alarm (*)
22. Stand And Deliver-Adam And The Ants (*)
23. (I'll Love You) Till The End Of The World-Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds (*)
24. The Midnight Special-Buckwheat Zydeco
(This Creedence Clearwater Revival tune lends itself easily to a zydeco rendition.)
25. Down On The Corner-Creedence Clearwater Revival
26. Tomorrow's Tears-The Cranes
(The downcast piano underscoring, especially in the first 37 seconds, strikes me as the tune's most gripping element.)
27. I Just Want To Celebrate-Rare Earth
28. Feelin' Alright-Joe Cocker
(One of the best songs Cocker ever recorded; an infectious mix of piano and raw, honest vocals.)
29. Hittin' The Bottle Stomp-Mississippi Jook Band
(Admittedly, we didn't play a lot of guitar-driven instrumentals from 1936 on KCOU, but this progressive-for-its-time melody somehow fit into the mix for me.)
30. C-Jam Blues-Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
31. Night Train-Kenny Blake
(If you're going to play a smooth jazz cover of a traditional jazz classic on the saxophone, this is the way to do it.)
32. Teacher-Jethro Tull
(For the hidden wanderer/adventurer in some of us...)
33. Wild Thing-The Troggs
(I actually played this of my own free will, without a listener requesting it? That surprises me, as I've thought this was one of the more tedious, overplayed tunes of its kind.)
34. Trail Of Love-The Snapdragons
35. Comic Book Hero-Kissus Interruptus
36. Believe Me-Atomic Shelter
37. Movin' To The Country-The Bags
38. So Desperately-Henry Lee Summer
39. Lone Star-Stuart Hamm
(I decided to wrap things up with a driving guitar instrumental. I imagine that most listeners who like Eric Johnson's electric guitar numbers will like this, as well.)
(*) indicates a listener's request.
