These were four of the most satisfying hours I ever programmed outside of a specialty show for KCOU. I knew I'd be graduating from college in a week and a half and wouldn't have many more opportunities to be on the air there. I rose to the occasion by programming a diverse array of artists I thought the listeners and I wanted to hear. Here was the playlist from this day 27 years ago:
1. Since The Other Day-Gregory Isaacs
(This is still one of my favorite reggae songs; despite losing someone close to him, the protagonist is clearly sad but falls short of being overwrought.)
2. One Eye Open-Nicky Skopelitis
3. Variations On Love Theme-Ravi Shankar
(Admittedly, my previous air shifts had been unintentionally light on sitar music.)
4. 40-Ton Parachute-Davey Graham
(One of my favorite fingerstyle guitar melodies; if this doesn't make you want to skip down the lane or grab a guitar and play along, I don't know what would.)
5. They Don't Call Them Chihuahuas Anymore-Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet
(A guitar instrumental suitable for underscoring a stakeout or chase scene.)
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6. Water In A Cup-Miranda Warning
7. I Play The Drums-The Del-Lords
(Yes, reaching for the drums instead of a gun is advisable. Neo-rockabilly meets neo-punk?)
8. I Choose To Sing The Blues-Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
9. Doodlin'-Ray Charles
(An excellent piano-anchored cover of the Horace Silver tune.)
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10. Close Your Eyes-Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey
11. If I Had A Hammer-American Music Club
(Disclaimer: This is a not a cover of the famous folk song.)
12. He's Dead-The Nightblooms
(Despite its title, this is a quiet acoustic number, with soft, sensitive vocals from Esther Sprikkelman.)
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13. One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer-Alexis Korner & Snape
(Not my cup of tea, but a lot of listeners know this song in this or one of its many incarnations.)
14. It Doesn't Matter-Blue Meanies
15. Learnin' The Hard Way-The Starkweathers
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16. Tonite-The Go-Gos
17. Take Another Picture-Quarterflash
18. Blank-Monsterland
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19. Love Letter Boxes-The Posies
20. Up All Night-The Records
(An obvious pick for an overnight radio shift, but that doesn't mean I was wrong to play it.)
21. Driving Aloud (Radio Storm)-Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
(This tune's strong, definitive ending...)
22. The Mayor Of Simpleton-XTC
(...teed up one of my favorite songs of all time. This is one of XTC's strongest tracks, with powerful, confident vocals and
percussion that makes you want to drum along on the dashboard.
Lyrically, the tune reminds me of Sam Cooke's "(What A) Wonderful
World." In each song, the protagonist claims not to know much; it's
obvious, however, that both protagonists are smarter than they claim to
be. As much as I love music, I'm parsimonious about giving songs A grades. "The Mayor Of Simpleton," in my view, deserves an A.)
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23. Let The Music Play-Pet Shop Boys with Carroll Thompson
(A cover of the commanding, getting-who-you-seek tune; the original version by Shannon used to be played frequently on KMJM.)
24. Waltzing Back-The Cranberries (*)
(Thank you, listener who requested this...)
25. Alison-Elvis Costello & The Attractions (*)
(...and other listener who requested this. The haunting final note of "Waltzing Back" dovetails perfectly with Costello's "Alison.")
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26. There's No Business Like Show Business-"Annie Get Your Gun" cast
(I discovered this soundtrack by accident in KCOU's library and was surprised to see we had it. I still wonder if the DJ/listener at the station who would have appreciated it most heard me play it that morning. Even if she didn't, she probably played it on-air herself. While it was playing, it occurred to me...)
27. Arise And Shine-Vanessa Rubin
(...that if I was going to play a tune with such an "on with the show" outlook, I needed to follow it with something upbeat and regal. Hence, Rubin's decree to get up...)
28. & 29. Carpe Diem-Maurice Jarre mixed with J.R.R. Tolkien reading from The Adventures Of Tom Bombadil
(At the time, I remember listening to Tolkien in cue off the air and thinking, "How would this sound with subtle musical underscoring?" I took a chance on-air by blending these two somewhat disparate tracks together, and it worked pretty well.)
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30. Heavy Metal Tears-The Pursuit Of Happiness
(At the time, I thought this was one of the most immediately accessible sing-along melodies at KCOU. Listening to it now, its tuneful power pop sheen still appeals to me.)
31. You Know Nothing-Swans
32. River Of Love-Vigilantes Of Love
(The conviction of the guitar and vocals are evenly matched. Also recommended:"You Know That (Is Nothing New)" and "Stand Beside Me.")
33. Pleasin' Each Other-Bonnie Raitt
(After reading a book that reviewed each of Raitt's albums favorably, I was slightly amused that the author seemed to think every album of hers was one of her all-time best. In retrospect, he wasn't wrong. Raitt's vocals have been remarkably consistent throughout her entire career.)
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34. Blood On The Dagger-Chris Thomas
35. Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed-Joshua White
36. I Hear You Knockin'-Swinging Steaks
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37. Love Is All Gone-Dog Society
(This song about growing older and more cynical still makes me smile. "I just wanted to grow up and be something," indeed. I wonder if anyone has ever played this at a class reunion.)
38. Window Pane-The Real People
(When I was in the mood for a power pop segue, The Real People's "Window Pane" and "The Truth" were two safe choices.)
39. Missed-PJ Harvey
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40. Sweet Home Chicago-Robert Johnson (*)
(Kudos to the listener who had the good taste to request this blues standard in the middle of the night...)
41. Rosetta-Kermit Ruffins
(A joyous steeplechase of a melody, with heartfelt vocals, trumpet, and rhythm section. If you prefer jazz with a conspicuous New Orleans feel, this is for you.)
42. What It Is-The Impressions
43. The Gun And The Bible-Negativland
44. Dusted-Belly
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45. (Living A) Daydream-Madder Rose
(When I think of 1993's indie music scene, these guitar and vocal stylings come to mind, by default. This track's energy segues well into...)
46. Run Run Run-Three Colours
(...this track.)
47. Some Fun-Raindogs
48. One Tongue-Hothouse Flowers
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49. Cubano Chant-Billy Taylor
(A great, forceful piano rendering of a Ray Bryant tune.)
50. WindWalker-Tim Crawford & Paul Stavenjord
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51. I Knew That-The Devlins
52. One Bad Habit-Dillon Fence
53. Imagination-HanSoul
54. 7/14-The Fluid
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55. Girl In A Jigsaw Puzzle-Katydids
56. Downtown Train-Everything But The Girl
(As "How I Met Your Mother" showed, this is perfect underscoring for meeting the person you'll marry.)
57. Angels Of Stone-John & Mary
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58. It's A Sunshine Day-The Brady Bunch
(Yes, I take myself seriously--but not all the time. Why not wrap up four hours of music on a positive note?)
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(*) indicates a listener's request.
--- indicates a station break between songs.
