Played

Velvet Underground- Who Loves the Sun?
I didn't know it at the time, but when I was drinking, I was little more than a shambling zombie, an undead creature fettered by chains of my own devising. I've been walking among the living- in broad daylight- for twenty months and I haven't turned to ashes yet, so I guess the answer to this song's question would be : "Me. I do."

Savoy Brown- It'll Make You Happy
Kim Simmonds was correct. It will.

Can-Spoon
I could do an entire program on Can and not get bored. Hmm...this song reminds me of something...

Spoon- Everything Hits at Once
Oh, yeah! That's it...I promised to play some Spoon. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. For E.

Ray Manzarek- Wake Up Screaming
From Ray's 1974 solo LP, the former Doors keyboardist busts out with a very young Patti Smith reading Jim Morrison's poetry during the break and a guitar solo by Joe Walsh- an awesome rock moment. The photo on the back cover is worthy of it's own post. Stayed tuned for an update on this.
Well, whatta ya know? My Soul Kitchenmate the Gear Slut has done a killer post on this very photo. Imagine that.

X- The Unheard Music
I owe Ray Manzarek a huge favor for helping discover and later producing X, one of my favorite short-lived bands of all time ( X after Billy Zoom quit doesn't count). Ray plays organ on this track. It's as if you can hear the torch passing- or was that a spleef?

Patti Smith- Free Money
Hey, this here's the same Patti Smith who read Jim Morrison's poem a couple of songs ago. She has songs of her own, you know. Of course you did. Horses changed everything, dude.

Jethro Tull- Hunting Girl
Ian Anderson is one of rock's great storytellers and the band is tighter than Ann Coulter's shoulder muscles. A lot of kids wound up cribbing from Martin Barre riffs, but there's some sounds that can't be copied and Barre has one. I sure wish I'd been at this concert.

Captain Beefheart- This is the Day
The Captain was asked by Mercury Records: " Why don't you make something that we can sell?" He produced a a couple albums that he allegedly hated- which is funny, because the Captain's "fuck my label" albums are better rock n' roll than most band's 'real' records. This song'll break yer heart. The records didn't sell very well. Captain eventually wound up on some label called Virgin that no one had ever heard of. Then he quit music altogether so he could pursue his passion for crappy painting. Our loss.

Big Brother and the Holding Company- Heartache People
Big Brother soldiered on after Janis Joplin died and this album is surprisingly good.
That drunken 4:15 am phone call of distress? It's in this song.

Soft Boys- The Asking Tree
If you have to ask you won't understand so there's no point in sitting around waiting for answers. Nothing to be done.

The Wipers- So Young
For years my friends used to tell me that listening to the Wipers was probably not good for my somewhat erratic and depressive mental health. Today I can listen to Greg Sage's pain and not be consumed by it. He's one of those rare guitarists that has both a sound and style that are uniquely his- probably because he builds his own gear.
I love him for that alone. Like a hero, you know?
He looked at me funnily when I told him that in person, but he signed my copy of "Youth of America" anyway. This song is from 'Over the Edge', which hadn't come out yet, or I woulda got it signed too.

Talking Heads- Mind
Fear of Music was my first Talking Heads LP. I bought it because it had Brian Eno's name on it. I had never heard anything like it before and I was smitten at first listen. I liked the Heads so much, I spent my dope money on their albums when I was a kid.

The Clash - I'm Not Down
I hate it when people tell me I'm depressed and I'm not. I may be sad that Joe Strummer is dead, but I still jump up and down when I hear The Clash.

The Pretty Things- Grass
Oh, this sounds so good. Analog, sweet analog and that languid, loving beat would make Nick Mason pink with envy. This album, Parachute, was Rolling Stone's Album of the Year in 1970- back when it meant something.

King Crimson- Ladies of the Road
Naughty , nasty and very well-arranged. It's so steamy even Robert Fripp sounds passionate.

The Kinks- Yes Sir, No Sir
Is your child considering enlisting in the military? They should listen to this Ray Davies masterpiece first- from: Arthur ( Decline and Fall of the British Empire). I enjoy pointing out the perils of colonialism and wars of occupation almost as much as Davies does, but he's a lot better at it.

Atomic Rooster- A Little Bit of Inner Air
It's about getting high and the drums are processed with a flanger. Heavy.

Loreena McKennitt- Hearts in Space
I'd follow this voice anywhere. There's something in her music that touches me, makes me feel like I belong where I am.

Steve Hillage - Hurdy Gurdy Man
I am a Gong freak and have been a Hillage fan for just as long. Todd Rundgren produced this LP and it does sound good- for a production masterpiece, listen To Todd's work on XTC's Skylarking. That's one of the best-sounding albums I have ever heard.


Cat Stevens- Bitter Blue
Fuck, I don't care if he went wacko or went sane or whatever- I just like this old song. Brings back some memories, ya know?

Bob Marley- Johnny Was
Why? Shot down in the street and died. All because of the system.

Alan Parsons Project- Cask of Amontillado
I am named after Edgar Allan Poe , who, like myself, spent considerable time drunk in the gutters of both Baltimore and Richmond. Poe and I share roughly similar luck with women, although he's dead and I'm not, so who knows?
Anyway, I'm proud to have that extra 'L' in my name and I'm glad Alan (sic) Parsons did a whole LP based on Poe's works. Great album cover if you can find the original.

Supertramp- Even in the Quietest Moments
Dude called and requested Queen. I didn't have any Queen with me , but Supertramp are kinda gay, so that's what I went with. My fave part is the cricket solo.

Frank Black- I Burn Today
I love this guy. I've seen him live several times and he delivers- bigtime. Great songwriter, clever, clever.

Warren Zevon- Disorder in the House
One of the greats. Why are so many of my heroes dead?

Bob Dylan & Band - This Wheel's on Fire
The Basement Tapes. Ahhhh, that was cool.