A trip to India inspired a long set about the time when George Harrison, through Ravi Shankar, introduced the instruments of Indian classical music to Western rock and pop. Suddenly it was as important to have an electric sitar in a recording studio as it is to have AutoTune today.
Began with a salute to David “Fathead” Newman, born this day in 1933. There were also birthdays to mark for Michelle Shocked, turning 63 today, George Thorogood, turning 75, Manfred Mann lead singer Paul Jones, 83, yacht rocker Rupert Holmes, 78 and Joanie Sommers who is 84 today.
But the biggest birthday set was reserved for Nicky Hopkins, “The Session Man” of that recent documentary, and born this day in 1944, simply because he played piano on so many great records.
Here’s a link to the whole show; the setlist follows:
Capital Radio February 24, 2025. 1-3:35 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
- “Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
- “Hard Times,” David “Fathead” Newman
- “Why Don’t You Eat Where You Slept Last Night,” Zuzu Bollin
- “Willow Weep for Me,” David “Fathead” Newman
- “Ramblin,’” Aretha Franklin
- “Anchorage,” Michelle Shocked
- “Quality of Mercy,” Michelle Shocked
- “Shaking Hands (Soldier’s Joy),” Michelle Shocked
- “Don’t Pity Me,” Joanie Sommers
- “Johnny Get Angry,” Joanie Sommers
- “Ride on Josephine,” George Thorogood & The Destroyers
- “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” Manfred Mann
- “I Don’t Want to Hold Your Hand,” Rupert Holmes
- “Ca Plane Pour Moi,” Plastic Bertrand
- “Mister Pleasant,” Nicky Hopkins & His Whistling Piano
- “Monkey Man,” The Rolling Stones
- “Edward’s Thrump Up,” Jamming With Edward
- “Time Waits for No One,” The Rolling Stones
- “Death of a Clown,” Dave Davies
- “Days,” The Kinks
- “Shady Grove,” Quicksilver Messenger Service
- “Edward, the Mad Shirt Grinder,” Quicksilver Messenger Service
- “Volunteers,” Jefferson Airplane
- “Revolution,” The Beatles
- “Jealous Guy,” John Lennon
- “Within You Without You,” The Beatles
- “Love to You,” The Beatles
- “See My Friends,” The Kinks
- “Heart Full of Soul,” The Yardbirds
- “Paint it Black,” The Rolling Stones
- “Daydream Believer,” Lord Sitar
- “Tomorrow Never Knows,” The Beatles
- “Norwegian Wood,” The Beatles
- “Cry Like a Baby,” The Box Tops
- “Black Cat,” Magic Carpet
- “Green Tambourine,” Lemon Pipers
- “San Francisco (Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair),” Scott McKenzie
- “White Summer,” The Yardbirds
- “Sunshine Superman,” Donovan
- “Hooked on a Feeling,” B.J. Thomas
- “Come and Get Your Love,” Redbone
- “Monterey,” Eric Burton & the Animals
- “Paper Sun,” Traffic
- “Eight Miles High,” The Byrds
- “Buffalo Stomp (Raga),” Buffalo Springfield
- “Dark Star,” Grateful Dead
- “Walking on Nails,” Gabor Szabo
- “Brimful of Asha,” Cornershop
- “Mandala,” Thievery Corporation
Capital Radio returns March 10 at 1 p.m. ET on www.cygnusradio.com, where this and other recent shows are posted. The show can also be heard via the cygnusradio.com app, available free at iTunes or GooglePlay. Older shows are available at Substack.com/@rogercatlin.