HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 137-42 - EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN 'A' SIDE, PART 42

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The year 1968 was not Motown’s strongest year, as can be determined by today’s show. That’s not to say that the music is bad (it isn’t), but only that the label was struggling in the wake of losing key personnel (Holland-Dozier-Holland, mostly) and the changing times that rendered singles to be less ‘cool’ than they were just a year ago. Eventually the label would work all of this out and return to the level of renown to which they had grown accustomed. Meanwhile, this show captures the label as it tries to rediscover its footing. Here’s a list of songs from today’s program;

1)    Special Occasion – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

2)    A Little Bit for Sandy – Paul Peterson

3)    I Wish It Would Rain – Gladys Knight & the Pips

4)    For the Love of Ivy – Billy Eckstine

5)    Can I Get a Witness – Barbara Randolph

6)    Chained – Marvin Gaye

7)    Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream – The Ones

8)    Step by Step (Hand in Hand) – The Monitors

9)    Alfie – Eivets Rednow

10) Destination: Anywhere – The Marvelettes

11)  Think (About the Good Things) – The Detroit Wheels

12)  His Eye Is on the Sparrow – Marvin Gaye

13)  Just a Closer Walk with Thee – Gladys Knight & the Pips

GREAT ALBUM TRACKS FROM THE LATE '80s - Pt. 1

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Last week, we ripped the ’80 s apart by concentrating out program on a few of the worst singles from that era (and a few good ones, too, to be honest…). It was a convenient (and fun) perspective, but it didn’t paint a true picture of the era, because albums from the late ‘80s were fairly awesome. Here is  just a small taste of album tracks from that era – more will follow!

Today’s tracks include;

1)    Cactus – The Pixies

2)    (Nothing But) Flowers – The Talking Heads

3)    This Note’s for You – Neil Young

4)    Lock, Stock & Teardrops – k.d. lang

5)    Similar Features – Melissa Etheridge

6)    Rank Strangers to Me – Bob Dylan

7)    Eye of Fatima (Pt. 1) – Camper Van Beethoven

8)    I’ll Tell Me Ma – Van Morrison

9)    Roll With It – Steve Winwood

Live in the Studio with Caroline Doctorow

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One of our favorite things about hosting a live radio program is the ability to share good music with listeners. It’s even better when the music we share is performed live in the studio, and even better than that when the musicians are incredibly talented. I feel extremely privileged to have shared an hour talking with and listening to Caroline Doctorow, who performed a few songs from her latest CD release, entitled Another Country – The Songs of Mimi and Richard Farina, while sharing thoughts and stories. Joined by Andrew Carillo and Mick Hargreaves, the live performances really shine.

It was an intimate and fun hour that ended too soon, and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did.

Songs include;

1)    Another Country

2)    Bold Marauder (live in studio)

3)    Birmingham Sunday

4)    Reno Nevada (live in studio)

5)    Will if You Want Me To

6)    Reflections in a Crystal Wind (live in studio)

7)    Raven Girl

THE BEST AND (ESPECIALLY) THE WORST OF THE LATE '80S

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Sometimes, it’s FUN to play bad music. It’s been over a year since we’ve taken a look at the late ‘80s (It probably took us that long to recover), so we are overdue. Perusing my list of hit songs from that era, though, it’s the bad stuff that stands out. We start our show with a few great hits, then move on to the bad ones. The question is, which is the worst? Listen and decide for yourself. Sings include;

1)    Wishing Well – Terence Trent D’Arby

2)    What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

And, now the BAD hits….

3)    Naughty Girls Need Love Too – Samantha Fox

4)    Always on My Mind – The Pet Shop Boys

5)     Yo, the Twist – The Fat Boys w/ Chubby Checker

6)    I Don’t Want to Be a Hero – Johnny Hates Jazz

7)    Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley – Wil to Power

8)    Girl, YouKnow It’s True – Mili Vanilli

And then back for one more great hit

9) Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 137-41 - EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN 'A' SIDE, PART 41

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 The late ’60 were a trying time for the Motor City, and its namesake record label seemed ill equipped to deal with the upheavals that surrounded it. At a time when social unrest was the norm, the label seemed to operate in a vacuum., even as key personnel vanished from their roster. This show captures the fractious nature of these times.

Songs include;

1)    Yester-Love – Smokey  Robinson & the Miracles

2)    It Should Have Been Me – Gladys Knight & the Pips

3)    What the World Needs Now Is Love – Diana Ross & the Supremes

4)    Some Things You Never Get Used To – Diana Ross & the Supremes

5)    Don’t Let Him Take Your Love From Me – Jimmy Ruffin

6)    You Met Your Match – Stevie Wonder

7)    I Am Your Man – Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers

8)    Yesterday’s Dreams – The Four Tops

9)    You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

10)  I Care About Detroit – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

11)  Please Return Your Love to Me – The Temptations

12)  Hip City (part 2) – Jr. Walker & the All Stars

13)  I Can’t Dance to That Music You’re Playin’ – Martha Reeves & the Vandellas

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 137-40 - EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN 'A' SIDE, PART 40

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Our 40^th program dedicated to playing every single Motown 45 RPM ‘A’ side finds us in the Spring of 1968, an era when the label struggled to maintain its relevance in the face of serious social change, after losing key personnel. This combination of events means that the music is a bit more ‘hit and miss’ than usual, as indicatd by the following playlist;

1)    Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day – Stevie Wonder

2)    I Am the Man for You Baby – Edwin Star

3)    Where Would I Be Without You – Barbara McNair

4)    Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

5)    Bring Back the Love – The Monitors

6)    I Promise to Wait My Love – Martha & the Vandellas

7)    Gota See Jane – R.Dean Taylor

8)    If I Were a Carpenter – The Four Tops

9)    I Could Never Love Another (after Loving You) –The Temptations

10) Linda Sue Dixon – The Detroit Wheels

11) Here I Am Baby – The Marvelettes

12)  Here Comes the Judge – Shorty Long

13)  Ain’t That Lovin’ You – The Volumes

The Day After ‘The Day the Music Died’

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On February 3, 1959, the music did not quite die. It certainly suffered, and the aftershock was enough to leave many music fans feeling confused about the future, but as today’s show proves, the music most certainly did not die. There were simply too many artists still recording who were capable of carrying the torch, and today’s show focuses on what hit the charts in the wake of “The Day the Music Died.”

            Songs include;

1)    It’s Just a Matter of Time – Brook Benton

2)    Since I Don’t Have You – The Skyliners

3)    It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Buddy Holly

4)    Pretty Girls Everywhere – Eugene Church

5)    Sea Cruise – Frankie Ford

6)    Tall Paul – Annette (as a ‘Bad Hit’)

7)    Stagger Lee – Lloyd Price

8)    Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey – Little Richard

9) That’s All Right – Elvis Presley

10)  I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone – Elvis Presley

11)  Mystery Train – Elvis Presley

12)  My Baby Left Me – Elvis Presley

13) The All American Boy - Bill Parsons (aka Bobby Bare)