The impending St. Patrick’s Day — and the first sampling from a Shane MacGowan tribute album due this fall — meant the work of MacGowan’s bands The Pogues (and later The Popes) dominated the Irish music for the occasion, though there were also songs from Fontaines D.C., the Undertones and something new from U2.
March 16 was the birthday of jazz pianist Tommy Flanigan, troubadour Jerry Jeff Walker, New York folkie Fred Neil. Elliot Murphy was turning 77; Nancy Wilson of Heart, 72; songwriter Patty Griffin 62; and John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats 57. And we heard five enduring boogie woogie songs written by Don Raye, born on this day in 1909.
Fifty years ago “The Runaways’ debut was released, as was Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You.” And 100 years ago, Jerry Lewis was born. So we heard from him too.
Here’s the archived show (in three parts). The setlist follows.
Capital Radio. March 16, 2026. 1 – 4:25 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
- “Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
- “Giant Steps,” John Coltrane Quartet
- “St. Thomas,” Sonny Rollins
- “Down the Road a Piece,” Will Bradley Trio
- “The House of Blue Lights,” Chuck Miller
- “The Ballad of Thunder Road,” Robert Mitchum
- “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” Bette Midler
- “I’ll Remember April,” Bobby Darin
- “Down the Road Apiece,” Chuck Berry
- “Gettin’ By,” Jerry Jeff Walker
- “Hard Travelin,’” Ramblin’ Jack Elliott with Jerry Jeff Walker
- “He Was a Friend of Mine,” Ramblin’ Jack Elliott with Jerry Jeff Walker
- “Mr. Bojangles,” Jerry Jeff Walker
- “Dolphins,” Fred Neil
- “Dadi-Da,” Fred Neil
- “Everbody’s Talkin,’ “ Fred Neil
PART II
- “Don’t Believe the Hype,” Public Enemy
- “Stolen Car,” Patty Griffin
- “These Dreams,” Heart
- “Little White Lies,” Betty Johnson
- “Diamonds by the Yard,” Elliott Murphy
- “Orange Ball of Love,” The Mountain Goats
- “Love Love Love,” The Mountain Goats
- “Cherry Bomb,” The Runaways
- “I Want You,” Marvin Gaye
- “That Certain Party,” Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis
- “The Luck of the Irish,” John Lennon
PART III
- “Tura Lura Lural (That’s an Irish Lullaby) [live],” The Band with Van Morrison
- “Irish Heartbeat,” Van Morrison
- “Give Ireland Back to the Irish,” Wings
- “It’s St. Patrick’s Day,” NRBQ
- “Irish Girl,” Dirty Knobs
- “Just Because I’m Irish,” Jonathan Richman
- “A Rainy Night in Soho,” Bruce Springsteen
- “Boys from The County Hell,” The Pogues
- “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” The Pogues
- “Dirty Old Town,” The Pogues
- “A Pair of Brown Eyes,” The Pogues
- “Victoria,” Shane MacGowan & The Popes
- “The Song with No Name,” Shane MacGowan & The Popes
- “Back in County Hell,” Shane MacGowan & The Popes
- “Dublin City Sky,” Fontaines D.C.
- “It’s Going to Happen,” The Undertones
- “We Got the Power,” Dropkick Murphys
- “American Obituary,” U2
Capital Radio returns March 23 at 1 p.m. EDT until after 4 on www.cygnusradio.com. The show can also be heard via the cygnusradio.com app, available free at iTunes or GooglePlay. Recent shows are available on demand at cygnusradio.com. Older shows are posted at Substack.com/@rogercatlin.