I'm trying to remember why I subbed the last two hours of this Wednesday afternoon shift. Most likely, the DJ who was on from 1-2 p.m. had to study for a test or do something vaguely undefined. KCOU was my home away from the dorm, so I probably happened to be there at 2 p.m., ready to pick out music, as usual. Looking back, there was an obvious tug-of-war going on between what some of the listeners wanted to hear and what I wanted to play. Here's the playlist I put together:
1. I Got A Line On You-Spirit
(Classic rock stations don't play this as often as they used to, but a hook that grabs you this immediately is a safe way to start an air shift.)
2. So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star-The Byrds
(See my comments on Spirit's "I Got A Line On You.")
3. Man In the Box-Alice In Chains (*)
4. Magician-Lou Reed
5. Jerry Was A Race Car Driver-Primus (*)
(Just try getting the bass or guitar line out of your mind. Can't do it, can you? Maybe if you resort to hypnosis...)
6. Rat Sandwich-Beyond Zebra
7. Yield Not To Temptation-Col. Bruce Hampton & His Aquarium Rescue Unit
8. Dance The Devil Away-Outback
(An appealing combination of conventional and not so conventional instruments coalesces in this expansive instrumental. The first time I heard this, I thought, "Where are these nomadic players going with this? Wherever it is, I trust their judgment, so I'm here for the duration of seven minutes and change.")
9. California Uber Alles-The Dead Kennedys (*)
(I didn't mark the set breaks on this playlist, but I assume I did some back announcing or played a breaker just before this. It's unlikely I would have segued "Dance The Devil Away" with a tune that's this overly caffeinated. It's also unlikely that I would have played it if a listener hadn't requested it.)
10. House Of Pain-The Ancients
11. Under Easy-The Posies
(This was one of my go-to power pop songs. Jangling guitars and a sing-along chorus usually go over well with me, as they do here.)
12. Shiver-Love Nest
(For a time, this was another go-to track for me, especially for its "Shiver, shiver, shiver" chorus.)
13. T.V. Scream-Dreamhouse
14. High On Emotion-Chris DeBurgh
(I've never cared for DeBurgh's hit, "The Lady In Red." To me, it's too plodding and calculated. "High On Emotion," however, should have been a hit; DeBurgh sings it with utter conviction, and I still want to hear it decades later.)
15. Where Will You Wait For Me?-The Bishops
16. Entertain Me-Psychedelic Furs
17. God Is A Real Estate Developer-Michelle Shocked
18. Space Age Love Song-A Flock Of Seagulls (*)
(The keyboards and guitar could not be locked more into early 1983 here; that's a compliment, as they're key to the song's continued appeal. This should have been the band's biggest hit.)
19. Inside Job-Little Village
20. If I Lose-Ditch Witch (*)
21. We Can Work It Out-Coffin Break
(Let's just say I prefer Paul McCartney's more hopeful approach to the lyrics.)
22. Homeward Bound-The Coolies
(Let's just say I prefer Paul Simon's gentler, more introspective approach to his appreciation of home.)
23. Suspended Animation-Benediction
24. Random Bullets-Bone
25. Journey To The Center Of The Mind-The Amboy Dukes
(One of the best propulsive rock intros ever, lodged firmly in 1968 in the best possible way.)
26. Bend Me, Shape Me-The American Breed
27. (Today Is) Blackie's Birthday-Urge Overkill (*)
28. I Saw The Light-Todd Rundgren
(*) indicates a listener's request.
