Random Vinyl 11/16-11/20

Posted at 11:45 AM on November 20, 2009 by Jill Riley (0 Comments)
Filed under: Random Vinyl

Monday: The Suburbs, "The Suburbs" (1986)
The Suburbs were true to their name, they were actually from the Twin Cities suburbs. Their self titled album was produced by Bobby Z, drummer for Prince and the Revolution and they were even on a major label by this time. This album should've launched their career right? Wrong. Frustration with not breaking out nationally led to the breakup of The Suburbs a year after this record was released. We played "Every Night's A Friday Night."

Tuesday: Stryper, "To Hell With The Devil" (1986)
Christian metal? Yes, that's a genre. Yes, we played Stryper on Random Vinyl. We delighted the audience with the power ballad "Honestly." By accident, no seriously, we meant to play the rocker "Free." Maybe next time.

Wednesday: Smith, "A Group Called Smith" (1969)
Smith covered a number of songs, they even had a hit song with their take on "Baby It's You," sung by their front woman Gayle McCormick. When they covered a song they put their own bluesy, rock sound on them. We played Smith covering the Stones' tune, "Let's Spend the Night Together."

Thursday: Sly and the Family Stone, "Stand!" (1969)
"Stand!" was the breakout album for Sly and the Family Stone. "Sing a Simple Song" was the b-side to "Everyday People." Even though it was a b-side and album track, it's been covered and sampled numerous times over the years.

Friday: Bob Dylan, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" (1963)
This album contains just two covers. One of them is, "Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance," originally by Henry Thomas in 1927. Bob totally "Dylanized" the song by rewriting the majority of it. He also sped up the tempo and added harmonica parts.

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Friday Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles!

Posted at 7:37 AM on November 20, 2009 by Steve Seel (36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

Time again for our periodic Friday feature, Viernes No Ingles - when we take your requests for songs sung in any language but English. It's just that simple. Jot 'em down below, or here.

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Today In Music History: He Wrote The Religious Song That Wasn't

Posted at 6:05 AM on November 20, 2009 by Steve Seel (0 Comments)
Filed under: Music History

Birthdays:

Singer/guitarist Joe Walsh is 62.
Rapper Mike D of the Beastie Boys is 44.
Bassist Jared Followill of Kings of Leon is 23.

Today in:

1970 - Kinks singer Ray Davies re-recorded one word for the single "Apeman." The song contained the word "foggin'," which sounded too much like an expletive.
1973 - Who drummer Keith Moon collapsed twice during a concert in San Francisco, apparently because of jet lag. Guitarist Pete Townshend asked for a volunteer from the audience to finish the set -- and got one.
1990 - The two performers known as Milli Vanilli held a press conference to discuss the lip-synching scandal that cost them their Grammy. Rob Pilatus (pih-LAY'-tuhs) told kids to get a good lawyer if they want to get into show business.
1994 - Musician David Crosby got a liver transplant.

Today's highlight:

Singer Norman Greenbaum is 67 today; his big hit, released in 1969 was "Spirit In The Sky." He was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner on TV singing a gospel song. Greenbaum later said, "I thought, 'Yeah, I could do that,' knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15 minutes." "Spirit in the Sky" contains lyrics about the afterlife, making several references to Jesus. However, Greenbaum, who is Jewish, stated that he had no particular religious intentions with the song.

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The Chart Show Top 20 11-19-09

Posted at 7:30 PM on November 19, 2009 by Mark Wheat (0 Comments)
Filed under: The Chart Show

For the 5th week in a row our #1 blew everyone else away! 

Perhaps giving tickets away for their sold out show helped them this week? 

Congrats to the brand new #2 who played in town this week supporting Brendon Benson and reports suggested a storming show.

The Chart Show will be on Wednesday at 8pm next week because of Thanksgiving and you'll get a chance to win tickets to see The Swell Season Dec 5th at The State Theater.

 

TW	LW	Wks	11/19/2009	The Current Chart Show
			Artist	Song
1	1	6	Edward Sharpe...	Home
2	X	1	Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons	Born Again
3	2	4	Vampire Weekend	Horchata
4	8	6	Mason Jennings	The Field
5	3	8	Weezer	I Want You To
6	5	4	Tegan & Sara	Hell
7	4	5	The XX	Crystalised
8	6	7	Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson	Relator
9	11	2	Mason Jennings	Ain't No Friend Of Mine
10	r	3	Brandi Carlile	Dreams
11	19	2	Florence and the Machine	Drumming Song
12	10	9	The Big Pink	Dominos
13	16	9	Wilco	You and I
14	X	1	Pearl Jam	Just Breathe
15	14	8	Radiohead	These Are My Twisted Words
16	r	7	Grizzly Bear	While You Wait For The Others
17	12	8	The Rural Alberta Advantage	Don't Haunt This Place
18	X	1	The Rural Alberta Advantage	Drain The Blood
19	7	9	The Avett Brothers	I and Love and You
20	X	1	Har Mar Superstar	Tall Boy

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Thursday Coffee Break: Second At The Mic

Posted at 7:56 AM on November 19, 2009 by Steve Seel (37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, here's an idea: songs sung by the person who served as the secondary lead singer in the band. Some props to the backup guy or gal who took the mic every now and then and fully held his or her own with the regular frontperson. Offer up your suggestions below, or here.

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Today In Music History: The Original Blue Suede Shoes

Posted at 6:07 AM on November 19, 2009 by Steve Seel (0 Comments)
Filed under: Music History

Birthdays:

Drummer Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses, The Cult and Velvet Revolver is 49.

Today in:

1964 - The Beefeaters changed their name to The Byrds.
1968 - Diana Ross interrupted a set by The Supremes at the Royal Command Variety Performance in London to make a plea for racial harmony. The audience applauded for two minutes.
1990 - Pop duo Milli Vanilli were stripped of their Grammy because other singers had lent their voices to the "Girl You Know It's True" album.
2002 - Michael Jackson dangled his baby son over a fourth-floor balcony at a hotel in Berlin for fans waiting outside.

History highlight:

Today in 1955, Carl Perkins recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" at Sun Studios in Memphis. The rock 'n' roll classic became a US No.2 & UK No.10 hit for Perkins in 1956, and has been covered by many acts including Elvis Presley and John Lennon. A lot of people associate the tune with Elvis in fact, but we played the original this morning.

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Theft of the Dial : FELT (with audio)

Posted at 9:05 PM on November 18, 2009 by Mark Wheat (0 Comments)
Filed under: Theft of the Dial

Enjoy the banter between Slug, Murs and Aesop Rock as they celebrate the release of their new cd "A Tribute to Rosie Perez" and argue over their respective picks.
Predict who selected which of these tracks, who really likes Insane Clown Posse!?!?

1. Felt - Protagonists
2. Roma Di Luna - Plenty
3. Kings of Leon - Revelry
4. The Mountain Goats - Palmcorder Yajna
5. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
6. Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
7. Attracted To Gods - Dirt Road
8. Felt - Ghost Dance Deluxe

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Fresh Eye on the Radio

Posted at 7:42 PM on November 18, 2009 by Bob Collins (0 Comments)

Update: A small number of apparently wayward souls, have asked if this daily feature could be a podcast. We have not yet marshaled the considerable leverage of News Cut to do this correctly, but thanks to Jon Gordon of Future Tense, I've at least figured out how to get it to you in podcast form. Go here.

Today, the U.S. attorney general tried to explain to worried U.S. senators why he will try the mastermind of 9/11 in a civil court. Coincidentally, the Eden Prairie News on the same day was carrying details of new security arrangements around Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. Barely-hanging-on businesses will now be encased in barbed wire and chain-links, even though no general aviation airplane has ever been used in a terrorist attack on the United States.

A Ryder Truck has been used for terrorism, but you don't need to pass through security to rent one today.



A lot of the damage to our psyche in the wake of 9/11, we've done to ourselves. That's the topic of today's Fresh Eye on the Radio conversation with Mary Lucia and Bob Collins on The Current.

By the way, I do realize these things are running way too long. We'll get them shortened up starting tomorrow and get back to the music.

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Teenage Kicks ... High on XTC

Posted at 3:04 PM on November 18, 2009 by Jacquie Fuller (1 Comments)
Filed under: Teenage Kicks

In 1986, I was a surly, Siouxsie-Sioux-haired teenager, fresh out of a six-month stint in a half-way house. I was misunderstood, man! But then I heard a song on the radio (I was lucky to have a station back then that played this stuff) and it spoke to my tortured soul. (It also seriously freaked my mom out, which earned it vital bonus points.)

I still think "Dear God" is a great song. But as I came to know XTC better, I came to appreciate the parts of them that appealed to my sunnier side (yes, I had one.) XTC is a pop band, and I am a shameless and unabashed lover of pop. This band gave us sweet, jangly gems like "Generals and Majors," "Senses Working Overtime," "Making Plans for Nigel," and "Earn Enough for Us."

This is the point where I'd go into a little history of the band, but why not let them tell you? With puppets.

Tune in to Teenage Kicks, this Saturday from 8-10am, for more of our featured artist--XTC--plus other vintage goodies from OMD, Wire, The Jam, Iggy Pop, and more. And while you're here--why not share your thoughts about XTC (ahem ... Seel?)

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Wednesday Coffee Break: To Friend or Un-Friend?

Posted at 8:59 AM on November 18, 2009 by Steve Seel (33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

Perhaps you've heard about new the "word of the year" - the Oxford American Dictionary chooses a new word each year as a summation of the year's zeitgeist. This year, it's one you may have used yourself - or at least hear others use: "unfriend." If you're on Facebook, that's a concept you've likely been exposed to (and hopefully, not been the victim of yourself).

So in honor of the word of the year, we gotta do breakup songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.

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