Playlist for 9/23/09: Down By The River Where The Dead Men Go

This here very cool photo spread inspired me to start with a film noir/crime- themed set. I just might one day soon revisit this idea for perhaps the first hour of my show. New music this week from Paul Westerberg and Lou Barlow, an all-female 7-inch Six-Pack, two Sweet covers and a ton of tunes from vinyl.

I can't stop listening to one of WFMU's new web streams, Ichiban Rock & Soul, which is described thusly: "the best in obscure 50's and 60's Rock 'n' Soul as selected by Debbie D., Dave the Spazz, Rex and Mr. Finewine." It's a mix of individual songs and excerpts from archived shows of the aforementioned DJ's. The names of the songs appear at the top of iTunes to aid in any music hunting. A blog with assorted pics and videos that fit with the music is here.

Download or stream Zero Hour right here.

Cold Dark Night - Charlie Feathers – Uh Huh Honey (Norton)
Murderess in a Purple Dress – The Scientists – Absolute (Sub Pop)
Vengeance is Mine - Johnny Dowd - Temporary Shelter (Koch)
Touch of Evil - Tom Russell – Borderland (HighTone)

Sunday Blues - Marshall Crenshaw – Jaggedland (429)
The Right - Lou Barlow – Goodnight Unknown (Merge)
He's Frank - The Sneetches - "Please Don't Break My Heart” 12-inch (Alias)

Dangerous Boys - Paul Westerberg - PW & The Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys (Dry Wood)
Watch it Burn – Hadacol – All in Your Head (Slewfoot)
Forever Came Today - Eric Ambel – Roscoe’s Gang (Enigma)
Found Missin’ –The Olympic Ass Kickin’ Team (Doublenaught)

Me Va Muy Mal - Davila 666 - Pingorocha Y La Diva Rockera (Doublenaught)
I Wanna Be Loved - Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers – L.A.M.F. (Jungle)
Going Back to Miami - The Stepbrothers – Baby It’s Over (Licorice Tree)

7” Six-Pack
Ain’t Got No Sense – Top Ten (Classic Bar Music)
All Talk No Action – Scott Morgan & Miss Georgia Peach (Ramo)
Wig-Wam Bam – The Donnas (Gearhead)
Broke My Heart – The Eyeliners (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Crawdaddy – The Hectics (Scooch Pooch)
Trudy – Swirlies (Simple Machines)

Broadway – Hank Ballard and the Midnighters – Jook Block Busters, Vol. 1 (Valmor)
Watts – Brother Woodman and the Chanters – Blowin’ Through Yokohama (Atomic Passion)
You’re Killin’ Me – The Treniers – You’re Killin’ Me (Dr. Horse)
Teenage Beat – Little Walter – Boss Blues Harmonica (Chess)
Bing Bong (There’s a Party Goin’ On) – The A-Bones – Not Now! (Norton)
Bloody Mary – Barrence Whitfield & The Savages - Dig Yourself (Rounder)

Bikeage – The Descendents – Milo Goes to College (New Alliance)
Stuck in a Pagoda (With Tricia Toyota) – The Dickies – We Aren’t the World (ROIR)
Pull My Train – The Unknowns – S/T (Invasion)
Cheated and Lied – The Vipers – Outta the Nest (PVC)
Set Me Free – Fastbacks – …And His Orchestra (PopLlama Products)
She’s A Real Scream - Ben Vaughn Combo – Beautiful Thing (Restless)
Big House With a Yard Ben Vaughn Combo – Beautiful Thing (Restless)
The Thing That Only Eats Hippies – The Dead Milkmen – Eat Your Paisley (Fever/Restless)

Trouble – The Spider Bags – Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueler World (Birdman)
Meanest Jukebox in Town – Johnny Paycheck – Jukebox Charlie (Little Darlin’)
I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight – Shot Jackson – Unforgettable Country Instrumentals (Starday)
Blue Endless Highway – Tom O’Neal – Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves and Other Truck Driver Favorites (Starday)
Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves – Bobby Sykes – Diesel Smoke Dangerous Curves and Other Truck Driver Favorites (Starday)

Guess I’m Falling in Love – Moe Tucker and Jad Fair - MoeJadKateBarry EP (50 Skidillion Watts)
Howard Johnson’s Got His Ho-Jo Working – NRBQ – Scraps (Sundazed)
Poor Jenny – The Everly Brothers – All They Had to Do Was Dream (Rhino)
Mayonnaise – Bobby Lee Trammel – The Big Itch, Vol. 8 (Mr. Manicotti)
Home By Eleven – Steve Alaimo and the Red Coats – Rampage: 17 Full-Throttled Rockers! (Atomic Passion)
Rocket in My Pocket – Jimmy Grubbs – Kicksville, Vol. 1 (Norton)
Rockin’ Star – Arlie Neaville - Kicksville, Vol. 1 (Norton)

Mr. Soul – Patty Hurst Shifter – Fugitive Glue (Pants on Fire)
Black & Gold – Gutterball – Weasel (Brake Out)
If I Can’t Hold You in My Arms – The Golden Boys – Whiskey Flower (Hook or Crook)
Hello Trouble – Two Dollar Pistols – Step Right Up! (Yep Roc)

Playlist for 9/16/09: The Electric Fetus Ate My Wallet and All I Got Was This Crummy Playlist

Feeling Minnesota after our trip to the Twin Cities - and still high on Surly (or so my bumbling and occasional brain deadness would indicate) - so I began this week’s show with a set of old and new bands from in and around those fine burgs. New music from Gordon Gano & the Ryans, Greg Cartwright live in Riverwest and a double shot of Harlow Wilcox & the Oakies. Can you smell the fun?

Stream or download the show right here.

If Only You Were Lonely - Replacements - Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash (reissue) (Twin/Tone/Rykodisc/Rhino)
Backstreet Girl - Golden Smog – On Golden Smog (Rykodisc)
You're Not Her - Loose Rails - Red Turns Green (Crackpot)
Shirley McClaine - The 757's - Freeway Surrender (Electone)
Airport Bar - Chooglin' - Sweet Time (Big Legal Mess)
Nashville - Gospel Gossip - Dreamland (Guilt Ridden Pop)

Always Wrong - Jail - There's No Sky (Oh My, May) (Self-released)
Two Runaways - Reckless Hearts - Get Up & Run (Off the Hip)
Under the Sun- Gordon Gano & the Ryans - Under the Sun (Yep Roc)

Signal in the Sky - Apples in Stereo - #1 Hits Explosion (Yep Roc)
La La La - Cavedogs - Joyrides for Shut-ins (Engima)
If You Knew Susie - Chopper - Slogans & Jingles (Big Deal)
If You Knew Sushi - Waxing Poetics - Hermitage (Emergo)
Tape Op Blues - Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey - hERE aND nOW (Bar None) (disc shut off )

That's How I Got to Memphis - Joe Pernice - It Feels So Good When I Stop (Ashmont)
DUI or die - Those Darlins - S/T (Oh Wow Dang)
Groovy Grubworm - Harlow Wilcox & the Oakies - Plantation Gold: the Mad Genius of Shelby S. Singleton Jr. and Plantation/SSS Records 1967-1976 (Omni)

7" Six-Pack
Moose Trot – Harlow Wilcox & the Oakies (Plantation)
Let’s Talk About Them – Bobby Russell (Elf)
Movin’ Round – Vern Stovall (Longhorn)
It’s All Between the Lines – Webb Pierce (King)
Airline Girl – Jack Reno (Target)
I’ve Got Someone New – Ginny Wright (Fabor)

As the Stars Fade Away - Rainy Day Saints - Reflected (Get Hip)
On the Town – Madness – The Liberty of Norton Folgate (Yep Roc)
Five Minutes to Midnight - Star Anna - Crooked Path (Malamute)
Progress of Love - Joe Henry – Blood From the Stars (Anti)

Long Tall Shorty - Jim Carroll - Back to the Streets: Celebrating The Music Of Don Covay (Shanachie)
Differing Touch - Marah - Put Your Tounge to the Rail: The Philly Comp for Catholic Children (Songs of the Jim Caroll Band) (Genus)
It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Chris Bailey - Everyday is a Holiday (Emergo)
Country Honey - Buick MacKane - Resurrection of the Warlock: A Tribute to Marc Bolan & T-Rex (Old School)
Which Witch is Witch - Hypnolovewheel - We're All Normal and We Want Our Freedom: a Tribute to Arthur Lee and Love (Alias)
Baby, It's You - Michael Shelly - What The World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform The Songs Of Burt Bacharach (Big Deal)
Words of Love - Shoes - Everyday is a Holiday (Emergo)

Casi Las 3 - Davila 666 - Pingorocha Y La Diva Rockera (Douchemaster)
Love Won’t Leave You a Song - Reigning Sound - Love & Curses (In the Red)
Crook for Your Look - Jack O & The Tennessee Tearjerkers - The Disco Outlaw (Goner)
Hang Them All - Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall (Matador)
Live the Life - Greg Cartwright - Live at Circle A - (Dusty Medical)

Silver Rocket - Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation (Blast First/Enigma)
Death Valley ‘69 – Sonic Youth w/ Lydia Lunch - Bad Moon Rising (Homestead)
Cotton Crown - Sonic Youth – Sister (SST)
Poison Arrow - Sonic Youth - The Eternal (Matador)

XL-3 – The Phantoms – Diggin’ Out (Mr. Manicotti)
Viva Viva Rock and Roll – The Church Keys - I Still Hate CD's: Norton Records 45 RPM Singles Collection (Norton)
Fraternity, USA – The Lady Bugs - Destroy That Boy! More Girls with Guitars (Ace)
Outcast - The Downbeat 5 – Smoke & Mirrors (Steel Cage)
Can’t Get Off That Train – The Mezcal Brothers – Go Go Rhythm (Spinout)
Come on Up - Condo Fucks – Fuckbook (Matador)

Playlist for 9/9/09: Shut Your Mouth

It was all instrumental for the first hour this week. Why? Why the hell not? New music this week from Yo La Tengo, the Box Elders and the other new release (in addition to In the Music) from the Trashcan Sinatras. I also did a set in tribute to my North Carolina friend Rick Cornell, the host of the twangin’ and soulful Dirty Laundry who is no longer a DJ at Duke University’s WXDU after 12 years due to a scheduling conflict. His show was previously called Border Radio/Soul City, N.C. and he did a power pop show under the moniker Starry Eyes. Rick’s playlists and suggestions have always provided me with tons of great music to check out and his show will no doubt be missed by many. Here’s hoping he gets back on the air soon.

Download or stream the show right here.

Taking of Pelham 123 - David Shire - The Score (Mojo insert)
The Sound of Soul - Harvey Scales & the Seven Sounds - Love-Itis (Soul-Tay-Shus)
Shake Your Po Po - Earl Carter & The Fantastic 6 – Ol’ Virginia Soul, Vol. 2 (Arcania)
Raisin' Hell - Wild Jimmy Spruill - Scratch 'N Twist: Rare and Unreissued New York Rhythm and Blues 1956-1962 (Night Train)
Untitled Instrumental - Bo Diddley – The Chess Box (Chess/MCA)

Buck Hill - The Replacements - Hootenanny (Twin/Tone)
Bud Nanney Theme - Bottle Rockets – S/T (East Side Digital)
Poppycock - The Derailers – Soldiers of Love (Palo Duro)
Driving to Mexico - Dave Alvin and Steve Berlin - Border Radio OST (Enigma)
Mi Vida Loco (Border Radio Theme) - Dave Alvin - Border Radio OST (Enigma)
Hell of a Woman - Impala - Play R&B Favorites (Estrus)

Cozy Corner – Impala - Play R&B Favorites (Estrus)
Don't Call Me Flyface - The Reekers – Strummin’ Mental Part Three (Link Wraycords)
Ski Storm Pt. 1 - The Snowmen - Shiverin' and Shakin': Hop Rockers & Sleazy Instros (RPM)
Dead by Sundown - Huevos Rancheros - Muerte Del Tore (Mint)
Rumble 69 - Link Wray – Some Kinda Nut - Missing Links, Vol. 3 (Norton)

Cockroach Run - Lafayette "The Thing" Thomas – Stompin’ 2 (Stompin)
Prancing - Billy Peak - Stompin’ 24 (Stompin)
Space Guitar - Johnny "Guitar" Watson – The Very Best of Johnny "Guitar" Watson (Rhino)
Cigarillo - Jack Oblivian - Saturday Night, Part 2 (Big Legal Mess)
Theme for a DJ - Jerry Byrd – mp3

7-inch Six Pack
When I Was Younger - The Shivvers (Fliptop)
I Can't Stop Smiling - Velocity Girl (Sub Pop)
Flank - Red Red Meat (Sub Pop)
Vocal Shrapnel - Archers of Loaf (Alias)
Stranger Than Fiction - Bad Religion (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Werewolf - Wanda Chrome & the Leather Pharaohs (Splunge)

Nothing to Hide - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs (Matador)
Are You Really on Drugs - The Clean - Mister Pop (Merge)
Oceans in the Way - Dinosaur Jr.- Farm (Jagjaguwar)
Obscurity Knocks - Trashcan Sinatras - Live Series (Bobame)
Forever Young – Madness - The Liberty of Norton Folgate (Yep Roc)

Border Radio - The Blasters – Live Going Home (Shout Factory)
Dirty Laundry - Curtis Mayfield – Dirty Laundry: The Soul of Black Country (Trikont)
Soul City – Fleshtones – Hitsburg Revisted (Telstar)
Starry Eyes – The Records - D.I.Y.: Starry Eyes - UK Pop, Vol. 2 (Rhino)

Ronald Dean - Box Elders – Alice and Friends (Goner)
Doreen - Muck & the Mires – Hypnotic (Dirty Water)
Shallow Grave – The A-Bones – Not Now! (Norton)
Your Mexican Restaurant - Young Fresh Fellows - I Think This Is (Yep Roc)
So Awesome - The Shazam - Meteor (New Boss Sounds)

Tennessee Fire - The Silos – Cuba (Record Collect)
Lookin for a Thrill - John Paul Keith & The 145’s – Spills & Thrills (Big Legal Mess)
Right on Time - Marshall Crenshaw – Jaggedland (429)
Love's Lost on You - The Grip Weeds – Infinite Soul: The Best of the Grip Weeds (Wicked Cool)

Stay Awake - Mono Men - Stop Draggin’ Me Down (Estrus)
Wreck My Flow - The Dirtbombs - We Have You Surrounded (In the Red)
Wake Up To Rock 'n' Roll - Roky Erickson & The Aliens – Don’t Knock the Rok (Norton)
Hoodlum - Ronnie Dawson – Just Rockin’ and Rollin’ (Upstart)
Shake Walkin- - Mickey Baker – In the ‘50s: Hit, Git and Split (Rev-Ola)
Night Train - Travis Wammack – That Scratchy Guitar From Memphis (Bear Family)

Swingin’ Party: Q&A with the Baseball Project

photo by Vivian Johnson

2008 was a mean year for several music magazines that had at one time or another been kind enough to publish my articles and reviews. No Depression, Country Standard Time, Harp and Pop Culture Press all bid adieu to the paper versions of their publications. No Depression and Country Standard Time live on through the interwebs and Harp has been reborn anew in print as Blurt. Pop Culture Press, meanwhile, I suppose you would say is on indefinite hiatus and could come back as a blog, according to editor Luke Torn.

I completed two articles and a dozen or so reviews for the fall/winter issue of PCP that never was. With the Baseball Project-Minus 5-Steve Wynn tour currently on the road, I figured it would be my last chance to post the Q&A I did with Wynn and Scott McCaughey last summer. The interview doesn’t appear to be ridiculously outdated, and Wynn and McCaughey are indeed blessed with timeless wits, so hopefully you’ll find something to enjoy. Here’s a recent review of their appearance in San Francisco from Magnet.

By Andy Turner
If there were an award for Damn Fun Album of the Year, you can bet the Baseball Project’s Vol. 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails would win it. Featuring the indie supergroup of Steve Wynn, Scott McCaughey, Linda Pitmon and Peter Buck, it’s no lollygagger when it comes to the rock either.

Formed by admitted baseball geeks Wynn and McCaughey, the Baseball Project playfully but passionately plunder the game’s history from the familiar (Jackie Robinson Mark McGwire and Willie Mays) to the less celebrated (the nearly perfect Harvey Haddix and Big Ed Delahanty and his “boozy-bloat tongue”). Along the way, they spin tales of rowdy romps with Jack McDowell, pay tribute to Curt Flood and deliver a wonderfully profane and catchy ode to Ted Williams – all the while providing Cy Young and MVP levels of hooks, playing and energy.

Skippers Wynn and McCaughey talked to PCP recently about laying down a good bunt, the importance of hitting the cutoff and keys to highly effective dugout tirades – or something.

Can you tell me how this went from an idea to reality and how the band members came together?

Steve Wynn: I'd had the idea to do a record about baseball for years and kept talking about it but never going too far beyond that. Linda kept saying, “You have to do this record or at least stop talking about it or else someone will do it before you do.” Well, it turns out that all the while Scott had a similar idea. Our concept and ensuing procrastination met head-on during a fun, drunken party for REM's induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York City last year. We had already met and hung out before but I don't think we each knew that the other was such a big baseball fan. The concept, the partnership and even the execution was born that evening. And we even remembered it the next day.

What were the songwriting and recording processes like? Did you all gel pretty quickly (the album sure sounds like you did)? You also all did a great job balancing the tone of the album between reverential, humorous, insightful, wistful, etc. Is that something you talked about and really strived for or did it happen pretty naturally?

SW: Once you have such a defined concept and such an endless wealth of stories and players and history, the songs almost write themselves. And the stories that we wanted to tell made it easy to set the mood for the song. Ted Williams was a cocky, swaggering guy? Let's give him a faux-Gary Glitter glam tune! Curt Flood's contribution to the game and American history was unrecognized and he was buried without any fanfare from major league ballplayers? He gets a haunting, cautionary tale. See what I mean? Scott and I are already writing volumes 7 and 8.

As far as the baseball stories/legends, were most of the details already in your heads? Did you have to consult books or other sources a lot during the course of writing and recording? Was it hard sometimes to keep your “baseball geek meter” in check with the songs?

SW: Oh, man. The Baseball Geek Meter could have easily been pinned into the red for the entire record. But we tried to concentrate on the things about each player or each story that was more universal. You don't have to care about Sandy Koufax (imagine that!) to wonder what it feels like to walk away from the thing you love when you are still at your peak. I did re-watch the Ken Burns series to get into the mood to write a lot of the songs. That's a great history of baseball. And there was a lot of Wikipedia checking to find out all of the pitchers who threw perfect games for “Harvey Haddix.”

Were any of you baseball standouts growing up or really into playing? What positions did you play? Who are your favorite teams – current or all-time? Who are your favorite current players?

Scott McCaughey: I played Little League in Callfornia, from age 9-12, and, not being a "stand-out" (though I made the All-Star team twice as a catcher at the lower levels), pretty much ended my baseball career before high school. I did play in organized keg leagues in my 20s and 30s, where I was actually a pretty decent fielder, hitter, and drinker. I was also really good at ripping up my knees and elbows – lots of blood the way I played the game!

I follow the A's, Giants, and Mariners pretty heavily. Grew up first as a Giants fan, fill in love with the Swingin' A's when they moved to Oakland , and then gradually fell for the M's during my 25-year stay in Seattle . Willie Mays is probably my all-time favorite player. Of the current crop, I am often in awe of Ichiro and Albert Pujols because of the sheer consistency they've shown so far in their careers. I like the way Aaron Rowand plays the game – really gritty! And this year I'm really excited about Tim Lincecum, the great young Giants hurler.

SW: Different story for me. I never played Little League but I did play a lot of “Over-The-Line” and “500” with my buddies. I was actually a sportswriter for most of my teenage years, dreaming of writing for Sports Illustrated and getting sidetracked in 1977 by punk rock and new wave.

I’m a geographically uprooted turncoat like Scott. Grew up a Dodgers fan in LA and then became a Yankees fan when I moved to New York in 1994. I would say that I'm primarily a Yankees fan now but I sure would love to see Joe Torre beat his old team in the World Series. I dig Torre. I think he is my role model when I'm producing records.

Have you gotten any response from any players or baseball-related folk about the album? Think anyone will want to use your songs for their intro music? A crowd singing along to “Ted Fucking Williams" would be beautiful, don't you think?

SM: Still waiting to hear what Jack McDowell thinks of “The Yankee Flipper”! Hope he likes it! Yeah, I think Young At Heart should do “Ted Fucking Williams” with the Boston Pops.

Do you ever get disgusted with professional baseball when hearing about steroids, exorbitant salaries, etc.? What makes you remain a fan?

SM: Yes, maybe more bored than disgusted. The amazing thing is that the game itself is still so beautiful. While it's changed a lot, there remains some kind of amazing purity in the way it unfolds each time two teams take the field, thousands of times a year.

Any oddball or unheralded players or managers just waiting to be immortalized in song?

SW: There are so many. I've already got some songs about Tim “Rock” Raines and Dizzy Dean for Volume 2. And even though Warren Zevon and Barbara Manning have already done them justice, I think that Bill Lee and Dock Ellis need more songs written about them. Really, there is no end to the inspiring stories, the songwriting fodder in the history of baseball. It's one of the reason that I love the game. More than any other team sport it is a game led by individuals and characters.

Will there be a Vol. 2 and if so, do you see other musicians joining the Baseball Project? Will you tour to support the album at all?

SM: I think Volume 2 will happen. It will hopefully feature Loretta Lynn on the hill, Miles Davis in the dugout, and the Replacements around the horn. Anything can happen!

SW: Maybe we can do a duet of “The Wabash Cannonball” with Dizzy Dean a la Natalie and Nat "King" Cole.

Any general comments you want to add?

SW: Fire Bud Selig! Now!

Playlist for 9/2/09: Back to School (Rodney Dangerfield Sadly Not Included)

School is back in session for many (including teacher me), so I went with the obvious. New music this week from the Rainy Day Saints, Apples in Stereo and the Clean. Next week I think I’ll begin with an hour of all instrumental music – or not. Favorite WMSE library finds were The Turbines’ Last Dance Before the Highway (the nutty “Wah-Hey”) and the excellently rocking “Royal” 7-inch from the Mercy Rule.

Stream or download the show right here.

Going Back to School - the Fleshtones - Take a Good Look (Yep Roc)
Little School Girl - Wild Jimmy Spruill (with Jim and Bob Harrison) - Scratch 'N Twist: Rare and Unreissued New York Rhythm and Blues 1956-1962 (Night Train)
College Man - Billy Lee Riley & the Little Green Men - Red Hot Riley (Sun/Charly)
College Girls - Terry Anderson & the Olympic Ass Kickin' Team -When the OAKTEAM Comes to Town (Doublenaught)
Still in School - NRBQ - Peek-a-Boo: The Best of NRBQ 1969-1989 (Rhino)

If I Can't Come Back - Reigning Sound - Love & Curses (In the Red)
Baby What's Wrong - The Chatham Singers - Juju Claudius (Damaged Goods)
This Isn't Real - Rainy Day Saints - Reflected (Get Hip)
*Shadow Play - Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (Factory)
Rev - Elusive Parallelograms - And Everything Changes (Self-released)

In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul - The Clean – Mister Pop (Merge)
In the Music - Trashcan Sinatras – In the Music (Lo-Five)
Later On That Night - The Bats - The Guilty Office (Hidden Agenda/Parasol)
Swimming Against the Tide of Reason – Wreckless Eric - The 2009 Believer Music Issue (Magazine insert)

Taste of Honey - The Exotics - Go Go Guitars (Tiki-Tone)
Minority Report – Los Straitjackets – The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets (Yep Roc)
It's Karate Time - Travis Wammack - That Scratchy Guitar From Memphis (Bear Family)

7-Inch Six Pack
How Does it Feel to Feel - Chopper (Susstones)
Wine, Wine, Wine - Jack O'Fire (Undone)
Indianapolis - Brian Henneman (Rockville)
Royal - Mercy Rule (Faye)
Tall Buildings - Jack Drag (Hep-Cat)
Dumb - The Abraham Lincolns (Making of Americans)

Gun - Uncle Tupelo - Still Feel Gone (Rockville)
Drink Myself to Sleep - Gladys - A Small Season (Coolidge)
Most Every Night - The Starkweathers - 5-Song EP (Faye)
Stayed & Gone - New Town Drunks - The Ballad of Stayed & Gone (Hmm)
Song for Tift Merritt to Sing - Schnitzel - Southbound Freight
Stray Paper - Tift Merritt - Buckingham Solo (Fantasy)

Let it Slide - Mudhoney – Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (Sub Pop)
Interstellar Overdrive - Teenage Fanclub - The King (Creation)
She's Out There - The Fall-Outs - Here I Come and Other Hits (Estrus)
Loose Nut - Black Flag - Loose Nut (SST)
Mudhoney - Teenage Fanclub - The King (Creation)

Ruby - Apples in Stereo - #1 Hits Explosion (Yep Roc)
La Di Da - The Gladhands - La Di Da (Big Deal)
Comedienne - Tripwires - Makes You Look Around (Paisley Pop)
My Danger - Shake Appeal - You're Too Rich (Go-Kart)
Corporation Radar Girl - Blank Stares - All Grown Up (Full-Tilt)

Wah-Hey - The Turbines - Last Dance Before Highway (Big Deal)
Shot Down - the Sonics – Full Force! (Etiquette)
Thunderbird - Nightcaps - Texas Music, Vol. 3: Garage Bands and Psychedelia (Rhino)
Here Comes the Fool – Donoman & The Lakettes – All Tore Up: Unrequited Love, Tormented Romance, Tragedy and Tearjerkers…. 1955-1968 (Bluesbeat)
Homeboy - Mr. Wiggles – Talking Trash: Greasy Rhythm & Blues With Attitude ’54-‘63 (Greasy)

Hello I'm Johnny Credit – Johnny Credit – Plantation Gold: the Mad Genius of Shelby S. Singleton Jr. and Plantation/SSS Records 1967-1976 (Omni)
Piledriver - Dennis The Fox – Yee-Haw! The Other Side of Country (Normal)
Honk Kong Hillbilly (aka Nashville West) – Clarence White - Country & West Coast: The Birth Of Country Rock (Big Beat)

Green Eyes - Husker Du – Flip Your Wig (SST)
Favorite Thing – Replacements – Let it Be (Twin/Tone)
Another Girl, Another Planet – The Only Ones – DIY: Teenage Kicks, U.K. Pop I (1976-79) (Rhino)
Not the Only Girl in Town - Cool Jerks – Cleaned A Lot of Plates in Memphis (Sympathy for the Record Industry)

*by request

Playlist for 8/26/09: Norton Records, The World's Greatest Sinners

New York City’s legendary Norton Records got the I Love My Label treatment this month. For the first time, I dedicated a whole show to one label, and with a catalog like this (look for the link at the top), Norton truly deserves much more than that. I did sets dedicated to the new I Still Hate CD’s Vol. 2 digital-only comp, the 5-LP Benny Joy retrospective, the A-Bones, who have their first new album out in over a decade, and the one-and-only Hasil Adkins, who I appropriately began and ended the show with.
Regrets? I didn’t play nearly enough Link Wray, Andre Williams was recognized only through a Church Keys sample, and I left out T. Valentine, the Flamin’ Groovies and Doug Sahm. There will be a next time. Perhaps when Norton turns 25 in 2011.
For a great interview with Norton co-founder Billy Miller, look here. Miriam Linna, the other half of the Norton dynasty, Miller’s wife and A-Bones drummer, has an excellent blog, Kicksville 66, detailing her wild and wacky experiences after landing in New York City from Ohio in the mid-1970s. Norton also has its own blog and has begun a podcast. Need more Norton? The Hound has great and nutty unreleased Hasil Adkins recordings, here’s the latest news about Norton releases, here’s another interview with Billy Miller from 1996 (I think) that’s interesting despite being apostrophe-free, and check out an interview with the Haze from 1995. Finally, big thanks to Miriam for the extras she put in my recent order after I told her about the show.

Download or stream it right here.

I Love My Label special - Norton Records, New York, NY

The Hunch - Hasil Adkins - Out to Hunch
The Rock-Around - Esquerita - Vintage Voola
Born Bad - Jack Starr - Born Petrified
Drag Strip - The Fender Benders - Some Kinda Nut
Go Go Ferrari - Untamed Youth - Untamed Melodies
Wild Guitar Trailer - Arch Hall Jr. & The Archers - Wild Guitar

I Still Hate CD's: Norton Records 45 RPM Singles Collection, Vol. 2
Go Go Go - Del Tinos
Let's Dance - The Excels
Trick Bag - The Artesians
Study Hall - C.J. & The Casuals
Railroad Jag - The Jaguars

Vendetta - Link Wray - Hillbilly Wolf - Missing Links, Vol. 1
Ale Up - Church Keys - Work With It!
Feelin' Fine - The Alarm Clocks - The Time Has Come
Come on Up - The Jinx - Fort Worth Teen Scene, Vol. 1
Shortnin' Bread - The Ready Men - Get Ready

Gino is a Coward - Gino Washington - Out of This World
You Shouldn't Oughta Done it - Night Owls - The Rock-A-Round
Black Bottom Blues - King Coleman - It's Dance Time
Fishin' Pole - The Mighty Hannibal - Hannibalism
.
7" Six-Pack
Congratulations I'm Sorry - King Khan
Voodoo Woman – Gene Maltais with the Flat Duo Jets
Witch – Stud Cole
A Certain Guy – Mary Weiss
Button Nose – Benny Joy
Rockin' Satellite – The A-Bones

A-Bones
She Sure Could Hypnotize – Not Now
Little Egypt – I Was a Teenage Zombie OST
World's Greatest Sinner – Daddy Wants a Cold Beer
Time Machine – The Life of Riley
Darlene – Free Beer for Life
Cat Nip – Not Now

Benny Joy
Wild Wild Lover - Crash The Party (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 1)
Rebel Rock - Wild Wild Lover (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 4)
Night Owl - Rollin' To The Jukebox Rock (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 2)
Don’t Boo Hoo Mary Lou - I'm Gonna Move (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 3)
Love Zone – Love Zone (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 5)

Wild Weekend - Jon & The Nightriders - Stampede!
Wild Little Willie - The Hesitations - Go! Go! Go! To Surfing School
Eaffin & Surfin' - Ron Haydock - 99 Chicks
Tight-Spot - Paul & The Four-Most - Wolf Call! Tall Cool Ones From the Vaults of Golden Crest
Peppermint Twist - King Uszniewicz & The Uszniewicztones - Twistin' and Bowlin'
Firewater - Premieres - Mad Mike Monsters, Vol. 3

Backseat Boogie - The Dictators – Everyday is Saturday
All Kindsa Girls – The Real Kids – S/T
You Get What You Deserve (live) – Big Star – Nobody Can Dance
Going to a Town - Flat Duo Jets - Introducing the Flat Duo Jets
Nobody Knows (But I Do) – Mary Weiss – Dangerous Game
Cockroach - Charlie Feathers – Wild Side of Life: Rare and Unissued Recordings, Vol. 1

Front Porch Entertainers – The Hentchmen – Three Times Infinity
Why Not Knock Yourself Off? - Figures of Light - Smash Hits!
Step it Up and Go - Rudy Ray Moore – Hully Gully Fever
Hot Lips and Swivel Hips - Gene Rambo & The Flames – Kicksville, Vol. 4

Hasil Adkins
Let’s Do Like We Done – Look at that Caveman Go!!
The Slop – Peanut Butter Rock and Roll
Chicken Flop – The Wild Man
She Said – Out to Hunch
A Fool in this Game – Moon Over Madison
Gonna Have Me a Yard Sale – Acky Breaky Ha Ha Ha

Playlist for 8/19/09: Dead, not gone

I paid tribute to Jim Dickinson, the legendary Memphis musician and producer who passed away at 67 on Aug. 15, in the last hour of my show this week. One hour wasn’t nearly enough time to recognize a man who participated in an amazing amount of great music over the last five decades. I pledge allegiance to indie labels on Zero Hour or else I would have certainly included the Replacements, Rolling Stones and others. For well-done written remembrances of the man, look no further than Chuck Prophet, Eric Ambel, the Hound and Boogie Woogie Flu. James Luther Dickinson's "Production Manifesto" also is essential reading.

To begin the show, I looked back at my recent trip to House on the Rock in Spring Green. New music this week from Joe Henry, the Shazam and Joe Pernice. Next week, my three-hour, I Love My Label tribute to the mighty Norton Records. Three hours into the wild and way out world of Norton Records featuring Hasil Adkins, Link Wray, the Real Kids, the A-Bones, the Flat Duo Jets, the Mighty Hannibal, Roky Erickson, Benny Joy and more! Hunch included.

Archives are here.

Why Don't You Play the Organ, Man – Memphis Black - The In-Kraut: Hip Shaking Grooves Made in Germany, 1966-1974 (Marina)
Drowning In the Sea Of Love – Joe Simon – Soul Patrol, Vol. 4 (Ripete)
Devil Doll – Roy Orbison – The Sun Records Collection (Sun)
Down By the Old Mill Stream – The Frantics Four – Sin Alley, Part 1 CD (Crypt)
Infinity – The Gamma Rays - The Ultimate '60s Surf Classics (Goldenlane)
Circus Freak – Flop - Flop and the Fall of the Mopsqueezer! (Frontier)

Jupiter Bulldog – The A-Bones – Not Now! (Norton)
Pipeline – Johnny Thunders – Born too Loose (Jungle)
Milkshake Baby – Jack Oblivian – Saturday Night, Part 2 (Big Legal Mess)

Guitar Boogie – Les Paul – Hot Guitars: American Guitar Tracks from the 1920s-1950s (Viper)
Smoke on, Jerry - The Minus 5 - Killingsworth (Yep Roc)
Tell Me When It’s Over – Joe Pernice – It Feels So Good When I Stop (Ashmont)
Golden Sombrero – The Baseball Project – Volume One: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails bonus track (Yep Roc)

Go Blue Angels Go - The Young Fresh Fellows - I Think This Is (Yep Roc)
Don’t Look Down – The Shazam – Meteor (New Boss Sounds)
We are London - Madness – The Liberty of Norton Folgate (Yep Roc)
Whenever You’re Ready - Dinosaur Jr. – Farm (bonus disc) (JagJaguwar)

7” Six-Pack
Crossed Wires - Superchunk (Merge)
Wedding Boots - Finger (Third Sister)
Obliteration – Charlie & the Moonhearts (Tic Tac Totally)
Applications - Crappy Dracula (Self-released)
Brand New Chevy – The Muffs – Estrus Gearbox (Estrus)
Beat Beat Beat – Sugar Stems (Bachelor)

Devil With the Blue Dress - Bill Kirchen – Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods (Proper)
Half a Boy and Half a Man - Nick Lowe - Quiet Please ... The New Best of Nick Lowe (Yep Roc)
Regional Hits – The Figgs – Follow Jean Through The Sea (Gern Blandsten)
Hold Back the Night - Graham Parker w/the Figgs - 103 Degrees in June - Live In Chicago (Bloodshot)
She’s Got Everything - Terry Adams - Holy Tweet (Clang)

The Man That I Keep Hid – Joe Henry – Blood From the Stars (Anti)
Murdering Oscar - Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs) (Ruth St.)
Dress Blues – The Drive-By Truckers – Live in Milwaukee mp3 (Ac
Every Night About This Time – Dave Alvin – The Best of the HighTone Years (HighTone)

Jim Dickinson tribute
Cadillac Man – The Jesters - The Sun Records Collection (Sun)
Shake 'Em on Down - Jim Dickinson & the Catmandu Quartet (mp3)
Money Talks – Mudboy & the Neutrons – It Came From Memphis (Upstart)
Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well – James Luther Dickinson – Dinosaurs Run in Circles (Memphis International)

It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo – Harmonica Frank Floyd - The Missing Link (Memphis International)
Baron of Love, Part II – Ross Johnson with Alex Chilton – Make it Stop: The Most of Ross Johnson (Goner)
If You Want Me You Can Find Me – Lawson & 4 More – Thank You Friends: The Ardent Story (Big Beat)
Zombie for Love – Green on Red – Here Come the Snakes (Restless)
Station Blues - North Mississippi All-Stars - Shake Hands With Shorty (Tone-Cool)

Lumberlung – Slobberbone – Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today (New West)
Jesus Christ – Big Star – Third/Sister Loves (Rykodisc)
Redneck, Blue Collar - James Luther Dickinson - Jungle Jim and the Voodoo Tiger (Memphis International)
Out Of Blue – James Luther Dickinson - Jungle Jim and the Voodoo Tiger (Memphis International)
I'll Remember You - Jim Dickinson & Duff Durrough - Just One More: A Musical Tribute to Larry Brown (Bloodshot)