Cherry blossoms in D.C. are in peak bloom, I’m told. So the bulk of the show had to do with the ushering in of spring (and three songs about cherry blossoms). Among those singing the praises of spring were Billie Holiday and Bill Callahan; Donovan and The Rapture.
Birthdays began with bungling Sonny Boy Williamson, who was born on this date, and that of the imposter Sonny Boy Williamson II, who was not. But Eric Clapton was also turning 81; Norah Jones, 47. Were we the only show to note the birthdays of both Frankie Laine and M.C. Hammer? Probably.
To tell you the truth, the whole thing was pre-recorded. So I won’t be able to post the archived audio for about a week (check back!). Meantime, here’s the setlist:
Capital Radio March 30. 2026. 1 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
- “Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
- “Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring – Part 2: Scacrificlal Dance,” Columbia Symphony Orchestra
- “Spring is Here,” Bill Evans
- “Spring is Here,” Ella Fitzgerald
- “Spring Fever,” Elvis Presley and Shelley Fabares
- “Spring Fever,” The Paley Brothers
- “The Lullaby of Spring,” Donovan
- “The Coming of Spring,” The Rapture
- “Spring Rain,” The Go-Betweens
- “Seeds of Spring,” Jimmie Spheeris
- “Manon of the Spring,” Mystic Braves
- “Spring Song,” Ottile Patterson
- “Spring (At Last),” Paul Weller
- “They Say It’s Spring,” Blossom Dearie
- “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most,” Rickie Lee Jones
- “Spring,” Saint Etienne
- “Spring,” The Innocence Mission
- “Spring,” Bill Callahan
PART II
- “The Only Joy in Town,” Joni Mitchell
- “Spring,” Andrea Perry
- “Some Other Spring,” Billie Holiday
- “Chapel of Love,” The Dixie Cups
- “Spring Waterfall,” Foday Musa Suso, Philip Glass, Asher Delerme & Leo Heiblum
- “Love Goes Home to Paris in the Spring,” The Magnetic Fields
- “Oh Such a Spring,” Fontines D.C.
- “Legal Man,” Belle and Sebastian
- “Spring This Year,” Chamaeleon Churcn
- “When It’s Springtime in Alaska (It’s Forty Below),” Johnny Horton
- “Springtime in New York,” Jonathan Richman
- “Cherry Blossom Girl,” Air
- “Cherry Blossom,” Lana Del Rey
- “Cherry Blossom,” Kacey Musgraves
- “Don’t Start Me Talkin,’” Sonny Boy Williamson II
PART III
- “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl,” Sonny Boy Williamson
- ”Pontiac Blues,” Sonny Boy Williamson II
- “Stop Breaking Down,” Robert Johnson
- “Don’t Make My Baby Blue,” Frankie Laine
- “All Your Love,” John Mayall & the Blues Breakers featuring Eric Clapton
- “Crossroads,” Cream
- “Can’t Find My Way Home,” Blind Faith
- “Bell Bottom Blues,” Derek & The Dominos
- “Let It Rain,” Eric Clapton
- “She’s 22,” Norah Jones
- “Come Away with Me,” Norah Jones
- “American Anthem,” Norah Jones
- “Long Time Gone,” Bille Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones
- “Creepin’ In,” Norah Jones and Dolly Parton
- “You and Me,” The Moody Blues
- “U Can’t Touch This,” M.C. Hammer
Capital Radio returns April 6 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.