October 2023

Playlist: 10-29-2023

Here’s the playlist for 10-29-2023, in which I paid tribute to Matthew Perry, erroneously stated who requested a song, and only played one side of Song Hits of 1931:

Hour 1

  1. The Rembrandts, “I’ll Be There for You” [L.P. (1995)]
  2. Veruca Salt, “Seether” [American Thighs (1994)]
  3. The Kinks, “Low Budget” [Low Budget (1979)]
  4. Sly and the Family Stone, “Thank You (Falentinme Be Mice Elf Again)” [The Best of Sly & the Family Stone (1970/1992)]
  5. Lunchmoney Lewis, “Bills” [Bills EP (2015)]
  6. Jerry of the Circus, “The Prowler Is Aga” [OTR (1937)]
  7. Five Minute Mysteries, “Signal Block” [OTR (1947)]
  8. The Moody Blues, “Something You Got” [The Magnificient Moodies (1966)]
  9. Slade, “Cum on Feel the Noize” [Sladest (1973)]
  10. U.K. Subs, “My Generation” [Subversions II (2019)]

Hour 2

  1. Dolph Chaney, “This Halloween” [Stir the Cauldron: The Big Stir Records Halloween Collection (2023)]
  2. Louis Armstrong, “Skeleton in the Closet” [Blues, Blues, Hoodoo Halloween: Scary Jazz and Blues 1925 to 1961 (1936/2014)]
  3. Warren Zevon, “Werewolves of London” [Excitable Boy (1978)]

New Music Express

  1. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, “Theia” [The Silver Cord (2023)]
  2. The Kills, “New York” [God Games (2023)]
  3. Superchunk, “Learned to Surf” [Misfits & Mistakes: Singles, B-Sides & Strays 2007-2023 (2023)]
  4. Superchunk, “February Punk” [Misfits & Mistakes: Singles, B-Sides & Strays 2007-2023 (2023)]
  5. Blues Traveler, “I Can’t Stand the Rain” [Traveler’s Soul (2023)]
  6. The Lunar Laugh, “Fake It Till We Make It” [Fake It Till We Make It (2023)]

Tribute to Dwight Twilley (part two)

  1. Dwight Twilley, “Darlin'” [Twilley (1979)]
  2. Dwight Twilley, “Runaway” [Twilley (1979)]

Hour 3: Dwight Twilley, continued

  1. Dwight Twilley, “Somebody to Love” [Blueprint (1980)]
  2. Dwight Twilley, “Livin’ in the City” [Blueprint (1980)]
  3. Dwight Twilley, “I Found the Magic” [Scuba Divers (1982)]
  4. Dwight Twilley, “I Think It’s That Girl [Scuba Divers (1982)]
  5. Dwight Twilley, “Girls” [Jungle (1984)]
  6. Dwight Twilley, “Sexual” [Wild Dogs (1986)]
  7. Dwight Twilley, “Shooting Stars” [Wild Dogs (1986)]

Vinyl segment: Song Hits of 1931

  1. Ray Benson And His Orchestra, “By The River Sainte Marie – Out Of Nowhere – River, Stay ‘Way From My Door” [Song Hits of 1931 (1947)]
  2. Ray Benson And His Orchestra, “The Peanut Vendor – Mama Inez – When Yuba Plays The Rhumba On The Tuba” [Song Hits of 1931 (1947)]
  3. Ray Benson And His Orchestra, “Dancing In The Dark – Good Night Sweetheart – All Of Me” [Song Hits of 1931 (1947)]
  4. Ray Benson And His Orchestra, “Where The Blue Of The Night Meets The Gold Of The Day – Cuban Love Song – Someday I’ll Find You” [Song Hits of 1931 (1947)]
  5. Blue Oyster Cult, “Don’t Fear the Reaper” [Agents of Fortune (1976)]

October 29, 2023 by Playlists 0

Dwight Twilley: 1951-2023

Dwight Twilley

Although you probably know this by now, Dwight Twilley has passed. The power pop artist, best known for his Top 20 hit singles “I’m on Fire” and “Girls”, had a massive stroke while driving and crashed his car into a tree on Saturday, October 14, 2023. He died four days later in the hospital.
Twilley is known for his collaboration with the late Phil Seymour, with whom he formed the Dwight Twilley Band. The two met in 1967 in a theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was playing a double feature with The Beatles’ A Hard Days Night as one of the movies. They continued their partnership over the next several years under the band name Oister.
In the 1970s, Twilley and Seymour went to Memphis, where they stumbled into Sun Studio, where they met, according to Twilley, “some guy named Phillips.” Eventually, they went to Los Angeles to find a label, and signed with Tulsa-based Shelter Records. They made several recordings at The Church Studio, an episcopal church converted into a music studio, including “I’m on Fire”.
That song became their debut single and received little promotion, largely because the band was in England recording its first album. Nevertheless, the single peaked at #16 on the Billboard charts in 1975. Unfortunately, by the time their new album was ready to be released, the distribution deal that Shelter had with MCA Records had collapsed, and it would not be released until Shelter switched to ABC Records for distribution. When the resulting album was finally released (“Sincerely”, released in 1976), it was a relative commercial failure, peaking at #138.
The second Dwight Twilley Band album, “Twilley Don’t Mind”, was also a commercial disappointment, peaking at #70 on the Billboard album charts. Disappointed at the band’s failure, especially compared to labelmates Tom Petty, Phil Seymour left the band and launched a solo career, where he enjoyed some success before his death in 1993.
By now, Shelter had switched distribution deals again; this time, they partnered with Arista Records. Twilley continued as a solo act, keeping Bill Pitcock IV on lead guitar and Susan Cowsill on harmony vocals. He released Twilley in 1979, which was not very commercially successful (U.S. #113). Twilley recorded another album, Blueprint, which was unreleased.
Twilley signed with EMI America for his next album, Scuba Divers (1982) (US. #109). His next album, Jungle (1984), produced a second national hit single, “Girls”, featuring a counterpoint vocal by Tom Petty. Twilley left EMI America for Private I Records, a label started by radio promoter Joe Isgro. When Isgro was implicated in a payola scandal, Private I Records collapsed, and the album, called Wild Dogs, was released by Epic’s CBS Associated label, where it sank quickly. Thus, Twilley had dissipated the momentum from his hit single and, as the 1980s drew to a close, found himself without a record label.
The 1990s found Twilley unable to secure a record deal (even though he had recorded an album), although The Great Lost Twilley Album, a compilation of previously unreleased material recorded between 1974 and 1980, was released in 1993. The second wave of power pop began to take off in the mid-1990s, and by then EMI issued a 21-song Twilley compilation called XXI in 1996, followed by reissues of the two Dwight Twilley Band studio albums in 1997. The rise of the Internet meant that a major label deal was less of a priority, and thus Twilley released another rarities collection, Between the Cracks, Vol. 1, on Not Lame Records. He released his first new album in 13 years, Tulsa, in 1999.
In 2001, he was able to release The Luck, which was recorded in the 1990s, on Big Oak Records. He signed with Digital Musicworks International, and released an EP (Have a Twilley Christmas) and two albums (47 Moons and Live: All Access).
In November 2014, Twilley released his album Always through Big Oak Records. It was the last album released before Twilley’s death.

October 23, 2023 by News 0

Playlist: 10-22-2023

Here’s the playlist for 10-22-2023, a show in which I paid tribute to the late Dwight Twilley, amongst other things:

Hour 1

  1. Alex Chilton, “Rock Hard” [Like Flies on Sherbert (1979)]
  2. Slade, “Love Is Like a Rock” [You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)]
  3. Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers, “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” [Bongos Over Balham (1974)]
  4. Tyla Gang, “Hurricane” [Yachtless (1977)]
  5. Jerry of the Circus, “Camera Plan” [OTR (1937)]
  6. Five Minute Mysteries, “Blind Confession” [OTR (1947)]
  7. Mountain, “Mississippi Queen” [Climbing (1970)]
  8. Pearl Jam, “Even Flow” [Ten (1991)]
  9. Ted Cassidy, “The Lurch” [Ghouls With Attitude – Disk 2 (1965/2004)]
  10. The Troggs, “Good Vibrations” [Penny Farthing (1975)]

Hour 2

  1. The Five Blobs, “The Blob” [Elvira Presents: Haunted Hits (1958/1988)]
  2. The Armoires, “Paris 1919 (You’re a Ghost)” [Stir the Cauldron: The Big Sir Records Halloween Collection (2023)]
  3. The 5 Jones Boys, “Mr. Ghost Goes to Town” [Blues, Blues, Hoodoo Halloween: Scary Blues & Jazz 1925 to 1961 (1937/2014)]

New Music Express

  1. The Rolling Stones, “Mess It Up” [Hackney Diamonds (2023)]
  2. The Rolling Stones, “Live by the Sword” [Hackney Diamonds (2023)]
  3. Blink-182, “One More Time” [One More Time (2023)]
  4. Duff McKagan, “Longfeather” [Lighthouse (2023)]
  5. Blues Traveler, “Waterfalls” [Traveler’s Soul (2023)]

Tribute to Dwight Twilley (part one)

  1. Dwight Twilley Band, “I’m On Fire (original mix)” [The Great Lost Twilley Album (1975/1993)]
  2. Dwight Twilley Band, “You Were So Warm” [Sincerely (1976)]

Hour 2

  1. Dwight Twilley Band, “Shakin’ in the Brown Grass” [The Great Lost Twilley Album (1993)]
  2. Dwight Twilley Band, “Shark (in the Dark)” [The Great Lost Twilley Album (1976/1993)]
  3. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “American Girl” [Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)]
  4. Dwight Twilley, “Shark” [Blueprint (1980)]
  5. Dwight Twilley Band, “Twilley Don’t Mind” [Twilley Don’t Mind (1977)]
  6. Dwight Twilley Band, “Looking for the Magic” [Twilley Don’t Mind (1977)]
  7. Dwight Twilley Band, “Trying to Find the Magic” [Twilley Don’t Mind (1977)]
  8. Dwight Twilley Band, “Could Be Love” [Sincerely (1976)]

Vinyl segment: Song Hits of 1925 [Decca Records 5169]

  1. Basil Fomeen and His Orchestra, “Dinah; Don’t Bring Lulu; If I Had A Girl Like You” [Song Hits of 1925 (1950)”
  2. Basil Fomeen and His Orchestra, “Brown Eyes, Why Are You Blue?; Drifting And Dreaming; Only A Rose” [Song Hits of 1925 (1950)]
  3. Basil Fomeen and His Orchestra, “Collegiate; Save Your Sorrow; Alabamy Bound” [Song Hits of 1925 (1950)]
  4. Basil Fomeen and His Orchestra, “Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue; Moonlight And Roses; I’m Sitting On Top Of The World” [Song Hits of 1925 (1950)]
  5. Basil Fomeen and His Orchestra, “Remember; Always” [Song Hits of 1925 (1950)]
  6. Basil Fomeen and His Orchestra, “Who?; Just A Cottage Small; Here In My Arms” [Song Hits of 1925 (1950)]
  7. Basil Fomeen and His Orchestra, “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby; Yearning” [Song Hits of 1925 (1950)]
  8. Basil Fomeen and His ORchestra, “The Vagabond King Waltz; Neapolitan Nights; Down By The Winegar Woiks” [Song Hits of 1925 (1950)]

October 22, 2023 by Playlists 0

Playlist: 10-15-2023

Here’s the playlist for 10-15-2023, a show in which I encountered technical difficulties:

Hour 1

  1. The Thorns, “I Can’t Remember” [The Thorns (2003)]
  2. Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane, “Rough Mix” [Rough Mix (1977)]
  3. Byzantium, “You Made Me Stand Up Straighter” [Miles Out to Sea: The Roots of British Power Pop 1969-1975 (1972/2022)]
  4. Savoy Brown, “Money Can’t Save Your Soul” [Looking In (1970)]
  5. Jerry of the Circus, “Night Check” [OTR (1937)]
  6. Five Minute Mysteries, “Home Stretch Homicide” [OTR (1947)]
  7. David Bowie, “See Emily Play” [Pinups (1973)]
  8. Wings, “Junior’s Farm” [Wings Greatest (1974)]
  9. Moby Grape, “Hey Grandma” [Moby Grape (1967)]

Hour 2

  1. Weird Al Yankovic, “Happy Birthday (Placebo E.P. Version)” [Permanent Record: Al in the Box (1981/1999)]
  2. TAS 1000, “Birthday” [A Message for Marta (2001)]

New Music Express

  1. The Who, “Pure and Easy (Lifehouse Chronicles/Home Studio Mix)” [Who’s Next: Life House (Super Deluxe) (2023)]
  2. Kurt Baker, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Club” [Rock ‘n’ Roll Club (2023)]
  3. Metric, “Just the Once” [Formentera II (2023)]
  4. Land of Talk, “Your Beautiful Self” [Performances (2023)]
  5. Munya, “Sweety” [Jardin (2023)]
  6. The Half-Cubes, “Love’s Melody” [Love’s Melody (2023)]

Featured artist: The Jayhawks

  1. The Jayhawks, “Let the Last Night Be the Longest” [The Jayhawks (1986)]
  2. The Jayhawks, “Cherry Pie” [The Jayhawks (1986)]
  3. The Jayhawks, “Two Angels” [Blue Earth (1989)]

Hour 3: The Jayhawks, continued

  1. The Jayhawks, “Five Cups of Coffee” [Blue Earth (1989)]
  2. The Jayhawks, “Waiting for the Sun” [Hollywood Town Hall (1992)]
  3. The Jayhawks, “Blue” [Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995)]
  4. The Jayhawks, “Bad Time” [Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995)]
  5. The Jayhawks, “It’s Up to You” [Sound of Lies (1997)]

Vinyl Segment: Beethoven Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93

  1. Bruno Walter, Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York, “Band No. 1: First Movement: Allegro Vivace E Con Brio” [Beethoven Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 (1949)]
  2. Bruno Walter, Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York, “Band No. 2: Second Movement: Allegretto Scherzando” [Beethoven Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 (1949)]
  3. Bruno Walter, Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York, “Band No. 1: Third Movement: Tempo Di Menuetto” [Beethoven Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 (1949)]
  4. Bruno Walter, Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York, “Band No. 2: Fourth Movement: Allegro Vivace” [Beethoven Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 (1949)]

October 15, 2023 by Playlists 0

Playlist: 10-8-2023

Here’s the playlist for 10-8-2023, a show in which I presided over some technical difficulties:

Hour 1

  1. Zombies, “She’s Not There” [Begin Here (1965)]
  2. Ian Dury, “Wake Up and Make Love with Me” [New Boots and Panties (1977)
  3. The Tubes, “Talk to Ya Later” [The Completion Backward Principle (1981)]
  4. Nirvana, “Spank Thru” [Sub Pop 200 (1988)]
  5. Jerry of the Circus, “Helping Clara” [OTR (1937)]
  6. Five Minute Mysteries, “Case of Oversight” [OTR (1947)]
  7. Duran Duran, “Thank You” [Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin]
  8. April Wine, “You Could Have Been a Lady” [45 RPM single (1972)]

Hour 2

  1. The Shaggs, “It’s Halloween” [Philosophy of the World (1969)]
  2. Jumpin’ Gene Simmons, “Haunted House” [Elvira Presents: Haunted Hits (1964/1988)]
  3. John Zacherly, “Dinner with Drac (Part 1)” [Monster Mash/Scary Tales (1958/2010)]
  4. The Jack Rubues, “Poltergeist” [Poltergeist single (2023)]

New Music Express

  1. Sufjan Stevens, “Will Anybody Ever Love Me” [Javelin (2023)]
  2. Darius Rucker, “Beers and Sunshine” [Carolyn’s Boys (2023)]
  3. Joe Bonamassa, “Twenty-Four Hour Blues” [Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 (2023)]
  4. Wilco, “Evicted” [Cousin (2023)]
  5. Brian Setzer, “Girl on the Billboard” [The Devil Always Collects (2023)]
  6. Dolph Chaney, “Cool in the Sunshine” [Mug (2023)]

Featured artist: Peter Holsapple

  1. Continental Driters, “That Much a Fool” [Better Day (2001)]
  2. Continental Drifers, “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” [Listen, Listen (2001)]

Hour 2: Peter Holsapple, continued

  1. Continental Drifers, “I’m a Dreamer” [Listen, Listen (2001)]
  2. Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey, “My Friend the Sun” [Here and Now (2009)]
  3. Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey, “Long Time Coming” [Here and Now (2009)]
  4. The dBs, “The Wonder of Love” [Falling Off the Sky (2012)]
  5. Peter Holsapple, “Game Day” [Game Day (2018)]
  6. Peter Holsapple, “Continental Drifters” [Game Day (2018)]
  7. Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey, “Molly Says” [Our Back Pages (2021)

Vinyl Segment: Critic’s Choice

  1. Kristin Thorborg, “Wolf: Kennst du das land” [Critic’s Choice Saturday Review Edition (195?)]
  2. Richard Crooks, “Wagner: In fernem land” [Critic’s Choice Saturday Review Edition (195?)]
  3. Leonard Warren, “Verdi: E sogno” [Critic’s Choice Saturday Review Edition (195?)]
  4. Maria Ivogun, “Richard Strauss: Sa was es mit Pagliazzo” [Critic’s Choice Saturday Review Edition (195?)]

October 8, 2023 by Playlists 0

Playlist: 10-1-2023

Here’s the playlist for 10-1-2023, a show in which I lifted the embargo on Halloween material, got increasingly distracted, and played one side of Critic’s Choice for the vinyl segment:

Hour 1

  1. The Black Crowes, “Hard to Handle” [Shake Your Money Maker (1990)]
  2. The Baseball Project, “Past Time” [Volume 1: Frozen Ropes And Dying Quails (2008)]
  3. Human Sexual Response, “Cool Jerk” [Fig. 15 (1980)]
  4. Savoy Brown, “You Need Love” [Getting to the Point (1968)]
  5. Jerry of the Circus, “Uncle Dan Is Cleared” [OTR (1937)]
  6. Five Minute Mysteries, “The Book Case” [OTR (1947)]
  7. Brownsville Station, “Air Special (1980)]
  8. Meco, “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (single mix)” [Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk” (1977)]
  9. John Cougar Mellencamp, “Jack and Diane” [American Fool (1982)]

Hour 2

  1. The Muffs, “I Need You” [The Muffs (1993)]
  2. Bobby Boris Picket and the Cryptkicker Five, “Monster Mash” [Elvira Presents: Haunted Hits (1962/1988)]
  3. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “I Put a Spell on You” [Chornicle: The 20 Greatest Hits (1968/1976)]

New Music Express

  1. Wilco, “Infinite Surprise” [Cousin (2023)]
  2. Blonde Redhead, “Snowman” [Sit Down for Dinner (2023)]
  3. Animal Collective, “Soul Capturer” [Isn’t It Now? (2023)]
  4. Lindsay Lou, “I Can Help” [Queen of Time (2023)]

Featured artist: Peter Holsapple (part two)

  1. Continental Drifters, “Way of the World” [Vermilion (1998)]
  2. Continental Drifters, “Heart Home” [Vermilion (1998)]

Hour 3

  1. School of Fish, “3 Strange Days” [School of Fish (1991)]
  2. Throwing Muses, “None Too Soon” [The Real Ramona (1991)]
  3. Continental Drifters, “Live on Love” [Better Day (2001)]
  4. Continental Drifters, “Too Little, Too Late” [Better Day (2001)]
  5. Camper Van Beethoven, “Pictures of Matchstick Men” [Key Lime Pie (1991)]
  6. The Romantics, “Tell It to Carrie” [The Romantics (1979)]
  7. Status Quo, “Down The Dustpipe (single)” [Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon (1970)]
  8. John Fogerty, “Rockin’ All Over the World” [John Fogerty (1975)]

Vinyl segment: Critic’s Choice

  1. Tito Schipa, “Le Violette” [Critic’s Choice Special Saturday Review Edition (?)]
  2. Lawrence Tibbett, “Where’er You Walk” [Critic’s Choice Special Saturday Review Edition (?)]
  3. Dorothy Maynor, “Oh, Sleep! Why Dost Thou Leave Me” [Critic’s Choice Special Saturday Review Edition (?)]
  4. Elisabeth Schumann, “Venite, Inginocchiatevi” [Critic’s Choice Special Saturday Review Edition (?)]
  5. Sigrid Onegin, “Chopin:Impromptu in A-Flat” Critic’s Choice Special Saturday Review Edition (?)]

October 1, 2023 by Playlists 0