Community Radio St. Louis highlights III

I'm continuing to enjoy KDHX's online successor station, Community Radio St. Louis.  Here are two more impressive songs from yesterday that deserve acclaim:

Backroads 

• I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight-Dori Freeman (I've always found this Richard & Linda Thompson song interesting; on the surface, it sounds like a resolution to set aside one's woes for a while and just enjoy life. Listen more closely, however, and you'll hear that the lyrics are meant to be ironic.  Freeman captures the song's spirit commendably while adding just enough of a twang in the vocals to make it her own.)
• Pot On The Stove-Erin Corday (I've thought about this tune often since yesterday, thanks to its fun, calypso-style rhythm.  Vocally and instrumentally, this is a clever way to mimic food cooking on a stove.)

Now, here are five more standout songs I heard this morning:

Hip City  

• Loving You Is On My Mind-The Meters (You can pick any song by The Meters, and you'll hear the same great consistency in the rhythm section.  I can imagine this tune being cross-faded smoothly with Steely Dan's "Rikki Don't Lose That Number.")
• Bird Of Beauty-Stevie Wonder (This is one of Wonder's more overlooked tunes, but it's a pleasant invitation to take a break from the everyday realities of life.  The descending pattern in the backing vocals punctuates Wonder's lead vocals effectively.)
• Look Around The Corner-Quantic & Alice Russell with The Combo Barbaro (This is a nice, unusual blend of Brazilian, Classical, jazz, and R&B styles.  A cool descending bass line underscores the vocals.)
• Melting Pot-Orgone (For some tunes, a rhythm section is all you need.  That's the case with this excellent cover of a 1971 Booker T. & The MGs instrumental.  This well-sustained eight-minute groove approximates how The Allman Brothers Band might have sounded as a jazz or R&B band.)

Boogie On Down 

• Rockhouse (Parts 1 & 2)-Ray Charles (I'd segue this hip-in-any-era piano rhythm with Stanley Turrentine's "Walkin'.")

Community Radio St. Louis highlights II

Monday morning highlights:

Fresh Start 

• Do You Think We'll Last Forever?-Caroline Rose (I noticed a Prince vibe immediately in the rhythm and vocals.)
• Radio Protector-65daysofstatic (The placid piano intro eventually morphs into a dramatic piano-and-drums instrumental.)
• Cars In Space-Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (This rhythmically propulsive power pop track from 2020 sounds like it's from the '80s.)

Backroads 

• Hard Times Come Again No More-Mike Dowling (This pleasant guitar instrumental sounds at various times as if it's about to detour into "Auld Lang Syne." "Backroads" was one of my favorite shows on KDHX, so I'm jazzed about its return to CRSTL.  It continued the spirit of its predecessor singer-songwriter show, "Blue Highways," and this track was a fine way to kick things off.)
• Feeling Good-Nina Simone (DJ Stacy chose this appropriate set of lyrics to acknowledge the joy of launching CRSTL...)
• Listen To The Radio-Nanci Griffith (...as well as these appropriate lyrics.)
• How'd You Know?-Hudson & Franke (Lyrically and vocally, this reminds me of Carrie Newcomer's music, which is always a plus.)

Community Radio St. Louis highlights

One year after live broadcasts ended on KDHX 88.1 FM, a new incarnation of the station is now broadcasting online at crstl.fm.  CRSTL caught me off guard this morning by going live before its advertised starting time of 12 p.m.  Nevertheless, it's great to have a new station that essentially is KDHX.  Most of the programs and DJs on CRSTL originated on KDHX, so it's a pleasure to hear them again on their new home.  Here are some of the first day highlights:

Songwriters Showcase 

• All The Way Around-Kris Delmhorst (This was the first song I heard this morning on a sans DJ edition of "Songwriters Showcase."  Despite its melancholy bent, these are hopeful lyrics about finding your way back to someone.)
• Shotgun Down The Avalanche (Acoustic Edition)-Shawn Colvin (From the first time I heard "Shotgun Down The Avalanche," I was impressed by Colvin's committed vocals.and lyrical metaphor for a rickety relationship that sounds as though it should end.  This acoustic version retains the spirit of the original version.  I also recommend her acoustic and original versions of "Diamond In The Rough.")
• Peace March-Bruce Cockburn (I remember first hearing this appealingly upbeat guitar instrumental on KDHX's "Backroads" in 2006.  I'm glad it made the transition to CRSTL 20 years later.)

The Snappy Lunch  

• Time To Get Into The Change-Jeremy Garrett (Impressive bluegrass pickin' and fiddlin', and a lyrically appropriate way of officially kicking off the new station.  Kudos to hosts Walter and Willa Volz for choosing many similarly appropriate tracks that capture the KDHX to CRSTL transition metaphorically.)
• California Traveler-California (Fast fiddling requiring considerable dexterity.)
• Phoenix Arise-Becky Buller (As I said about Jimmy Garrett's "Time To Get Into The Change...") 

No Time To Tarry Here 

• Blarney's Ghost Medley: Rights Of Man/Old French/Battle Of Aughrim-Hank & Shaidri Alrich (At first, I thought I was going to hear "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella" in a minor key.  The transition from somber to spirited to somber is an interesting one.  This Celtic medley has a nice blend of violin and guitar.)
• Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor (Live)-Mississippi John Hurt (An appealing guitar hook underscores lyrics about feeling weary and needing a good night's rest.  I'd be curious to hear Taj Mahal cover this.)