With Rob Elba. Great albums, great guests, questionable commentary.
This week's returning guest, Chicago native and Patron Mick Hans, brings us Britain's The Only Ones and their 1979 US release 'Special View'. While you might not be familiar with the band, you almost certainly have heard their iconic - often-covered - song 'Another Girl, Another Planet', which AllMusic has described as "Arguably, the greatest rock single ever recorded".
Songs discussed in this episode: Another Girl, Another Planet - The Replacements/The Mighty Lemon Drops/The Greg Kihn Band/Blink-182; Another Girl, Another Planet - Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain; I Wanna Go With Dignity - Peter Perrett; Bright Lights - England's Glory; Sparkle - The Fabulous Ratbites From Hell; Better By You, Better Than Me - Spooky Tooth; Another Girl, Another Planet, Lovers Of Today, Peter And the Pets - The Only Ones; Waves Of Fear - Lou Reed; Maid In Heaven - Be Bop Deluxe; Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty; The Beast - The Only Ones; You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory - Johnny Thunders; City Of Fun, The Whole Of The Law, Out There In The Night - The Only Ones; Cool For Cats - Squeeze; Someone Who Cares, You've Got To Pay, Flaming Torch - The Only Ones; Torn Curtain - Television; Curtains For You, From Here To Eternity, The Beast (Live in Chicago 1979) - The Only Ones
Our guest this week, Chicago singer-songwriter/guitarist Nikki O'Neill, moved around a lot as a child. A LOT. But no matter what life threw at her, Al Green's 1972 landmark soul/R&B release 'Let's Stay Together' always felt like home. "Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad - let's stay together..."
Songs discussed in this episode: Let's Stay Together - Roberta Flack; Newcomer Blues, Drive, Square One - Nikki O'Neill; Take Me To The River, Let's Stay Together - Al Green; Let's Stay Together - Tina Turner; La-La For You, So You're Leaving, What Is This Feeling - Al Green; I Wish The Sun Could Shine On Me - Nikki O'Neill; Give Me That Old Time Religion - Famous Ward Singers; Old Time Lovin' - Al Green; I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) - Eddie Floyd; I've Never Found A Girl - Al Green; How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - Bee Gees; How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Judy, Ain't No Fun To Me - Al Green; Live Like You've Just Begun - Nikki O'Neill
You might recognize actress Megan Mullally from her Emmy Award-winning stint on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, or her many other comedic roles. What you MIGHT not know is that she's also an accomplished singer, releasing three albums with her band Supreme Music Program. This week's guest, Patron, visual artist and self-described potential drag disciple Motelle Codeen brings us Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program's wonderfully eclectic 2007 release: 'Free Again!'
"Honey, tact is for people who aren’t witty enough to be sarcastic." - Karen Walker
Songs discussed in this episode: Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Megan Mullally; Will & Grace Theme - Jonathan Wolff; Ruby's Arms - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program; Please, Mr Jailer - Nancy and Beth; Pa Pa Power - Dead Man's Bones; You Took Advantage of Me - Megan Mullally; Up A Lazy River - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program; Up A Lazy River - Leon Redbone; Down By The Water - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program; Down By The Water - PJ Harvey; St James Infirmary - Louis Armstrong; St James Infirmary Blues - Cab Calloway; St James Infirmary, I Cannot Justify - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program; I Cannot Justify - Adrienne Young; Two Sisters - Tom Waits; Wind and Rain, Shakedown On 9th St. - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program; Talk To Me - Frogpond, Talk To Me - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program; Awaiting You - Adam Guettel, Billy Porter; Awaiting You, For The Good Times, You Took Advantage Of Me - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program; You Took Advantage Of Me - Elaine Stritch; Ave Maria - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program
Legendary musician and multi-disciplinary artist Kim Gordon released a banger of a solo album in 2024, the blistering, sonically vicious 'The Collective'. This week we're joined by guests Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten) and Danielle de Picciotto (Crime & the City Solution, Love Parade) - who together comprise the genre-defying, trailblazing duo hackedepicciotto - to unpack this mind-bender of a record.
Songs discussed in this episode: Evermore, Awake, Lovestuff - hackedepicciotto (Live in Napoli); Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T. - Einstürzende Neubauten; Murdered Out - Kim Gordon; Sucker - Charli XCX; HUMBLE - Kendrick Lamar; Can You Feel It - Mr Fingers; Baby I Can Drive My Car - Gudrun Gut; Dream Baby Dream - Suicide; BYE BYE - Kim Gordon, Miuzi Weighs A Ton - Public Enemy; The Candy House, I Don't Miss My Mind - Kim Gordon; Frenz - The Fall; I'm A Man - Kim Gordon; Spiritual Healing - Dälek; Trophies - Kim Gordon; Evermore - hackedpicciotto; It's Dark Inside, Psychedelic Orgasm, Treehouse, Shelf Warmer, The Believers, Dream Dollar, Bangin' On The Freeway - Kim Gordon; Grace (Live In Napoli) - hackedepicciotto
What more can be said about returning guest Steve Michener (Big Dipper, Volcano Suns) that hasn't been said already during his SEVEN previous appearances?!? Perhaps not much, but Steve is ALWAYS a great guest, and he returns with a gem of a record that many may not have heard of before - the delightful one-and-done release by British singer/songwriter multi-instrumentalist Henry Badowski, 1981's 'Life Is A Grand'
Songs discussed in this episode: All Going Out Together - Big Dipper; Life Is A Grand - Henry Badowski; I Dream Of Jeannie - Hypnolovewheel; My Face, Baby, Sign Here With Me - Henry Badowski; Right To Work - Chelsea; Antipope - King; Kids In America - Kim Wilde; My Face, Henry's In Love - Henry Badowski; That Summer Feeling - Jonathan Richman; Swimming With The Fish In The Sea, The Inside Out - Henry Badowski; The New World - Robert Fripp; Lester Leaps In - The Monochrome Set; Life Is A Grand - Henry Badowski; Don't Bring Harry - The Stranglers; Silver Trees, This Was Meant To Be - Henry Badowski; Common People - Pulp; Anywhere Else - Henry Badowski; Baby, Sign Here With Me - King; Edward The Bear - The Damned; Baby, Sign Here With Me - Henry Badowski; Shot By Both Sides - Magazine; Dead Finks Don't Talk - Brian Eno; Rampant - Henry Badowski; Love Is The Drug -Roxy Music; Making Love With My Wife - Henry Badowski; She's Fetching - Big Dipper; My Baby Don't Care - King
Is 'Spirit Of Eden', the fourth studio album by British band Talk Talk, a deceptively understated masterpiece or an indulgent musical experiment gone awry? Rob and this week's returning guest Tom Lawery fall decidedly in the former camp. Released in 1988, the record is now often cited as the precursor to later so-called 'post-rock' albums by bands like Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Low and latter-period Radiohead. A year in its creation, painstakingly assembled from improvised performances that draw on elements of jazz, ambient, classical music, blues and dub, it's an album that ultimately rewards the deep-listen it requires.
Songs discussed in this episode: The Rainbow, Talk Talk, April 5th, Life's What You Make It - Talk Talk; It's My Life (Talk Talk cover) - No Doubt; East Hastings - Godspeed You! Black Emperor; No Face, No Name, No Number - Traffic; The BEATen Generation - The The; The Rainbow - Talk Talk; Teen Age Riot - Sonic Youth; Eden - Talk Talk; Heroin - The Velvet Underground; Desire, Inheritance - Talk Talk; I'm Flying - The Shits; Do Anything You Wanna Do - Eddie and the Hot Rods; I Believe In You, Wealth - Talk Talk; The Watershed - Mark Hollis; I Believe In You (Talk Talk cover) - S. Carey
Before discovering punk rock and forming New Jersey hardcore band Detention with his brothers Daniel and Paul, bassist Kevin Shields was a rock and roll kid. He bought the Johnny Winter And 'Live' album because he thought the cover looked cool, and no matter where his musical path took him this blistering live set recorded live at The Fillmore East in 1970 remained near-and-dear to his heart. Rock. And. Roll.
Songs discussed in this episode: It's My Own Fault - Johnny Winter And (Live at the Fillmore East, NYC 1970); El Salvador, Dead Rock 'N Rollers - Detention; Out of Vogue - The Middle Class; Anxiety Attack - Detention; Wait For The Blackout - The Damned (Live from 'A Night Of A Thousand Vampires'); It's My Own Fault - Johnny Winter And (Live at the Fillmore East, NYC 1970); Since I've Been Lovin' You - Led Zeppelin; Tobacco Road - Edgar Winter; Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer; Hang On Sloopy - The McCoys; I'm Your Captain - Grand Funk Railroad; Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - Johnny Winter And (Live at the Fillmore East, NYC 1970); Statesboro Blues - The Allman Brothers (Live at Fillmore East, 1971); It's My Own Fault, Jumpin' Jack Flash - Johnny Winter And (Live at the Fillmore East, NYC 1970); Chaos - Bigger Thomas; Rock and Roll Medley - Johnny Winter And (Live at the Fillmore East, NYC 1970); Highway 61 Revisited - Johnny Winter (Live in California, 1975); Mean Town Blues - Johnny Winter And (Live at the Fillmore East, NYC 1970); Glory - Television; Johnny B. Goode - Johnny Winter And (Live at the Fillmore East, NYC 1970); Beach - Detention
*Check out Left For Dead Records' reissue of Detention's classic 1983 single 'Dead Rock 'n Rollers' plus 8 more songs at: https://www.leftfordeadrecords.com/
Recorded and mixed over six days, Philadelphia band Webb Chapel's latest release - 'World Cup' - represents the band’s transition from primary songwriter Zack Claxton's solo project to a more collaborative effort. The resulting amalgamation of thrilling sonic deconstructionism and top-notch indie songwriting caught the ear of this week's guest, singer/guitarist Maura Pond of the band Luna Honey. Turn it up!
Songs discussed in this episode: Harbor - Luna Honey & Norman Westberg; Kerosene, Lead, Bound - Luna Honey; Springtime - Webb Chapel; Overture - The Who; Shipping Containers Anonymous, Blowing Trees With My Dad, Pretty, Amelia, D.U.S.T., Brown Eyes, Black Car - Webb Chapel; Don't Go Away - Oasis; Alone At The Fair, Red Roses - Webb Chapel; Wined and Dined - Syd Barrett; Five - Webb Chapel; Brand New Love - Sentridoh; Velvet Morning - Webb Chapel; Lemons - Luna Honey
For this special Patron-curated episode, we asked our Patrons to send in their favorite song about religion and/or God. We got an eclectic batch of submissions, running the gamut from the holy to the heretical. Joyful noise indeed!
Songs discussed in this episode: Old Time Religion - Pete Seeger; Take Care Of All Of My Children - Tom Waits; Jewish - Spirit; Run On For A Long Time - Blind Boys of Alabama; Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum; Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst - Kendrick Lamar; Dear God - XTC; There Is No God - Mrs Magician; Drinking With Jesus - Red Elvises; Being Boiled - The Human League; Amen - Otis Redding; Amen - Spacemen 3; Burn In Hell - John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat; Harvest Festival - XTC; Come By Here - Alex Chilton; The Obeah Man - Exuma; I Walk On Gilded Splinters - Dr John; Godsong - The Residents; Four Winds - Bright Eyes; You Spoke To Me - Smoking Popes; Into the Mystic - Van Morrison; Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet - Gavin Bryars & Tom Waits; God! Show Me Magic - Super Furry Animals; How a Resurrection Really Feels - The Hold Steady; God - Daniel Johnston; Anti-Pope - The Damned; Jesus Was A Social Drinker - Chuck Prophet; The Holy War - Thin Lizzy; A Christmas Song - Rash Of Stabbings
This week we're joined by Richmond, VA Circuit Court Judge Richard Campbell. No, we're not in trouble - Richard, who wrote the book "Gettin' Kinda Itchie: The Groups That Made the Mamas & the Papas", is here to talk The Mamas & the Papas and their often overlooked S/T second album 'The Mamas and The Papas' Court is in session!
Songs discussed in this episode: I Saw Her Again Last Night (The Mamas and The Papas cover) - Trombones Unlimited; California Dreamin', No Salt On Her Tail - The Mamas & The Papas; Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan; Here In My Arms, Trip, Stumble and Fall, Dancing Bear, Words Of Love, My Heart Stood Still, Dancing In The Street, I Saw Her Again, Strange Young Girls, I Can't Wait - The Mamas & The Papas; 500 Miles - The Journeymen; Even If I Could - The Mamas & The Papas; No More Running Around - The Lamp Of Childhood; That Kind Of Girl, Once Was A Time I Thought - The Mamas & The Papas; Make Your Own Kind Of Music - Cass Elliot; Tempo no Tempo - Os Mutantes
As can often happen to records made by virtual unknowns that end up selling over 30 million copies worldwide, Alanis Morissette's uncensored diary of an album 'Jagged Little Pill' is perceived by many with a degree of snark and cynicism. Our guest this week, singer/songwriter Lori Garrote, is not one of these people. Raw, unvarnished and intensely personal, JLP became much more than just another record for her and millions of other women. You oughta know...
Songs discussed in this episode: You Oughta Know (Alanis Morissette cover) - Vitamin String Quartet; Stand Alone - Lori Garrote; Too Hot - Alanis Morissette; Seether - Veruca Salt; All I Really Want, You Oughta Know, Perfect - Alanis Morissette; Bad Reputation - Joan Jett; Hand In My Pocket, Right Through You, Forgiven, You Learn, Head Over Feet, Mary Jane, Ironic, Not The Doctor, Wake Up, Your House (a cappella) - Alanis Morissette; Undertow - Lori Garrote