Thursday highlights:
KDRU (Springfield, MO)
- Dust Bunny-Crumb (Haunting uptempo indie rock vocals and instrumentation from 2023. The echo on the vocals contributes to the tune's spooky effect.)
KMUC (Columbia, MO)
- Felix Mendelssohn: Song Without Words, No. 29, "Venetian Gondola Song" (Javier Perianes, piano) (A particularly lyrical reading of a sorrowful melody.)
KQAL (Winona, MN)
- Breakout-Swing Out Sister (The band's big American hit, and rightfully so; vocally and instrumentally, its bounce and confident outlook are just as captivating as they were years ago. Other recommended gems: "Butterfly," "Forever Blue," "Let The Stars Shine," and the Cal Tjader instrumental remix of "Now You're Not Here.")
WDIF (Marion, OH)
- You're Not Free-Frazey Ford (The organ and brass backing give additional heft to these bluesy vocals about not being able to stay employed.)
WRCT (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Summer Beauty 1990-Flipper's Guitar (Fun, carefree vocals and Brazilian-style instrumental backing from this Tokyo-based group.)
WUCF (Orlando, FL)
- Whispering-Doug MacDonald (MacDonald steers this engaging, uptempo instrumental on guitar. I listened to Paul Whiteman's earlier, statelier version of this, and it made me appreciate MacDonald's modern, Brazilian-style take on the tune all the more.)
WXMR (Marengo, IL)
- Heartbreaker-Dionne Warwick (This still holds up as one of Warwick's most compelling '80s hits. I still look forward to the chorus whenever I hear it. Now, if only radio stations would play her infectious "Take The Short Way Home...")
