Marijuana has a long history in the U.S., dating back to hemp farmer George Washington; growth of the plant in the 20th century for rope (and passed among jazz musicians for smoking). it found its moment in the 1960s, hidden in lyrics at first, or banned if they became to explicit, before it just became part of the culture, a hazy part.
The pot byword 4:20 may have begun as an agreed time for indulgance in just one high school before becoming a more widely known code such and finally a celebration for this date. Therefore we had a couple of hours of pot songs from Bob Dylan and Donovan to Rick James and Amy Winehouse, while including such leading advocates as Snoop Dogg, Bob Marley and Willie Nelson.
Birthdays were noted for Lionel Hampton, Luther Vandross, Tito Puente, among others. And we noted the recent passings of Nashville songwriter Don Schlitz and Patrick Campbell-Lyons of the original band called Nirvana.
Here’s the archived show in three parts; the setlist follows.
Capital Radio April 20, 2026. 1 – 4:20 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
- “Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
- “Flying Home,” Benny Goodman featuring Lionel Hampton
- “Oye Como Va,” Tito Puente
- “Contort Yourself,” James White and the Blacks
- “Poetry in Motion,” Johnny Tillotson
- “Knocks Me Off My Feet,” Luther Vandross
- “Since I Lost My Baby,” Luther Vandross
- “Fascination,” David Bowie
- “The Gambler,” Johnny Cash
- “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” Mary Chapin Carpenter
- “The Touchables (All of US),” Nirvana (UK)
- “Reefer Man,” Don Redman
- “I Get High,” Tamdyn Almer
- “Along Comes Mary,” The Association
- “Little Green Bag,” George Baker Selection
- “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (Take 1),” Bob Dylan
PART II
- “Itchykoo Park,” The Small Faces
- “Mary Jane,” Rick James
- “Legalize It,” Peter Tosh
- “Pass the Dutchie,” Musical Youth
- “Don’t Bogart Me,” The Fraternity of Man
- “Been Smoking Too Long,” Nick Drake
- “Illegal Smile,” Todd Snider
- “Midnight Rider,” The Allman Brothers
- “Fresh Air,” Quicksilver Messenger Service
- “Easy Skanking,’ Bob Marley & the Wailers
- “Sunny Goodge Street,” Donovan
- “Willin,’ [live]” The Byrds
- “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” Tom Petty
- “Wildwood Weed,” Jim Stafford
- “Panama Red,” New Riders of the Purple Sage
- “Mexico,” Jefferson Airplane
- “Light Up or Leave Me Alone,” Traffic
- “Truckin,’ “ Grateful Dead
PART III
- “One Toke Over the Line,” Brewer & Shipley
- “Who Needs the Peace Corps?” The Mothers of Invention
- “Pusherman,” Curtis Mayfield
- “Gin & Juice,” Snoop Dogg
- “Pass It To Jah,” Dee Dee Ramone
- “Roll Another Number (For the Road),” Neil Young
- “One Draw,” Rita Marley
- “Addicted,” Amy Winehouse
- “On to Something Good,” Sweet Pea Atkinson and Sir Henry Bowens
- ”Roll Me Up,” Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson & Jamey Johnson
- “Seeds and Stems (Again),” Commander Cody
Capital Radio returns April 27 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.