It was a confluence of cultures at tonight’s shorter than usual radio show. The death of Nelson Mandela Thursday at 95 meant a set of music of activist music against apartheid, largely from the 80s, followed by songs marking the end of Hannukah.
That led to a touch of Christmas tunes (the avalanche is coming) and some delving into old folk and blues before an end with Jason Isbell and Arcade Fire.
And then there was a new show starting shortly after 11. I was supposed to be training its hosts but the laptop toting women knew more about how things worked than I did. They were a little surprised I was still using CDs. I didn’t even tell them about the vinyl.
Here’s what I played on the radio tonight:
Friday Rock 12-6-2013, 9-11 p.m., Radio CPR 97.5 FM , Washington, D.C.
- “Free Nelson Mandela,” The Specials
- “Africa,” Peter Tosh
- “Pretoria,” Little Steven
- “War,” Bob Marley & the Wailers
- “Africa Unite,” Bob Marley & the Wailers
- “African People,” Beres Hammond with Pam Hall
- “Johannesberg,” Gil-Scott Heron
- “Let Me See Your I.D.,” Artists United Against Apartheid
- “Sun City,” Artists United Against Apartheid
- “Ride,” Public Image, Ltd.
- “Feast of Lights,” They Might Be Giants
- “Latke Clan,” The Leevees
- “How Do You Spell Channukkahh?” The Leevees
- “Goyim Friends,” The Leevees
- “Hannukah Rocks,” Gelfite Joe & the Fish
- “Hannukah Homeboy,” Doe Mo She
- “Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages),” Sufjan Stevens
- “Even the Earth Will Perish and the Universe Give Way,” Sufjan Stevens
- “Barcarola (You Must Be a Christmas Tree),” Sufjan Stevens
- “Christmas Can’t Be Far Away,” Nick Lowe
- “I Hate December,” Ivy
- “Talking Christmas Goodwill Blues,” John Wesley Harding
- “Down the Highway,” Bob Dylan
- “This Evening Too Soon,” Bob Dylan
- “Bandit Cole Younger,” Edward L. Crain
- “Frankie,” Mississippi John Hurt
- “Every Time I Get to Drinkin,'” Sunnyland Slim
- “Spike Driver Blues,” Dave Van Ronk
- “Cover Me Up,” Jason Isbell
- “It’s Never Over (Hey Orpheus),” Arcade Fire
Listen to Friday Night Rock every other week on Radio CPR 97.5 FM in Washington, D.C.