The passing Friday of Mary Weiss, the lead singer and last surviving voice from the Shangri-Las, brought a wealth of the tough, influential group’s music to Capital Radio today, with ten of their songs; a solo sample and covers from Blondie and the New York Dolls.
Then the snow in Washington, an increasingly rare winter sight, brought a blanketing of appropriate tunes.
Some long ago birthdays were marked — of writers John Donne (born this day in 1572), Lord Byron (1788) and Sir Walter Raleigh (1552), but also Malcolm McLaren (1946) and director Jim Jarmusch, represented by music he used in movies from “Down By Law” and “Mystery Train” to “Broken Flowers” and “Night on Earth.”
But by far the most time was spent celebrating the glorious work of Sam Cooke during his brief life, with 15 tracks.
Closed by noting the release, 60 years ago Saturday, of “Meet the Beatles!” as well as the final songs recorded by Buddy Holly, purportedly on this day in 1959.
Here’s a link to the whole show; the setlist follows.
Capital Radio, 1-22-24, 1 – 4:30 p.m., www.cygnusradio.com
- “Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
- “Leader of the Pack,” The Shangri-Las
- “Remember (Walking in the Sand),” The Shangri-Las
- “Give Him a Great Big Kiss,” The Shangri-Las
- “Out in the Streets,” The Shangri-Las
- “I Can Never Go Home Anymore,” The Shangri-Las
- “Heaven Only Knows,” Mary Weiss with The Reigning Sound
- “Past, Present and Future,” The Shangri-Las
- “He Cried,” The Shangri-Las
- “Sophisticated Boom Boom,” The Shangri-Las
- “It’s Easier to Cry,” The Shangri-Las
- “Footsteps on the Roof,” The Shangri-Las
- “Out in the Streets,” Blondie
- “Great Big Kiss,” New York Dolls
- “Have You Seen It In the Snow?” The Magnetic Fields
- “Like a Snowman,” Tracey Thorn
- “Snow,” Claudine Longet
- “Angel in the Snow,” Elliott Smith
- “Swingsets and Snow,” Ian Edgely
- “Fox in the Snow,” Belle & Sebastian
- “While I Shovel the Snow,” The Walkmen
- “Snow,” Urge Overkill
- “Snow Deer,” Woody Guthrie
- “Snowflake in a Hot World,” Mercury Rev
- “Snowball in Hell,” They Might Be Giants
- “Fallen Snow,” First Aid Kit
- “First Snow in Kokomo,” Aretha Franklin
- “Rave On, John Donne,” Van Morrison
- “Lord Byron’s Luggage,” Warren Zevon
- “I’m So Tired [demo],” The Beatles
- “Go No More a Rovin,” Leonard Cohen
- “Mystery Train,” Junior Parker
- “Mystery Train,” Elvis Presley
- “I Put a Spell on You,” Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
- “Good Old World,” Tom Waits
- “There is An End,” The Greenhornes with Holly Golightly
- “Yegelle Tezeta,” Mulatu Asatke
- “Crying,” Roy Orbison
- “Sally, Go ‘Round the Roses,” The Jaynetts
- “Double Dutch,” Malcolm McLaren
- “About Her,” Malcolm McLaren
- “Jesus Be a Fence Around Me,” The Soul Stirrers
- “Touch the Hem of His Garment,” The Soul Stirrers
- “You Send Me,” Sam Cooke
- “Wonderful World,” Sam Cooke
- “Chain Gang,” Sam Cooke
- “Cupid,” Sam Cooke
- “Twistin’ the Night Away,” Sam Cooke
- “Having a Party,” Sam Cooke
- “Nothing Can Change This Love,” Sam Cooke
- “Win Your Love for Me,” Sam Cooke
- “Sad Mood,” Sam Cooke
- “Ain’t That Good News,” Sam Cooke
- “Meet Me at Mary’s Place,” Sam Cooke
- “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day,” Sam Cooke
- “That’s Heaven to Me,” Sam Cooke
- “It Won’t Be Long,” The Beatles
- “Don’t Bother Me,” The Beatles
- “Little Child,” The Beatles
- “Hold Me Tight,” The Beatles
- “Not a Second Time,” The Beatles
- “Dearest,” Buddy Holly
- “Love is Strange,” Buddy Holly
Capital Radio returns Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. ET on www.cygnusradio.com, where this and past shows are archived. Also available on the free cygnusradio.com app, available at iTunes or GooglePlay.