We began a prerecorded June 29 show with remembrances of South African artist Abdullah Ibrahim, who died June 15 at 91; Dee Palmer of Jethro Tull who died June 13 at 88; Walter Parazaider of Chicago who died June 17 at 81 (focusing on solos in “Colour My World” and “Just You and Me,” and reggae artist Stranger Cole, who died June 11 at 82.
After all that it was all about the special dread of America 250, a holiday milestone that promised to be stolen by a maniacal president. So in addition to the usual Independence Day anthems, there was a healthy dose of revolution from Dr. John, Nina Simone, The Pretenders and the Beatles, among others. And a few stabs at the National Anthem.
There was time for a few birthdays to close: Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice was turning 78; Bonzo Dog Band’s Roger Ruskin Spear was turning 82 and there were a couple from Little Eva, born that day in 1943.
Here’s the archived show; the setlist follows:
Capital Radio June 29, 2026 1 – 4:20 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
- “Washington D.C.,” The Magnetic Fields
- “Mannenberg Revisited,” Abdullah Ibrahim
- “Move On Alone,” Jethro Tull
- “Reasons for Waiting,” Jethro Tull
- “Free Country,” Chicago
- “Just You N Me [portion],” Chicago
- “Colour My World [portion],” Chicago
- “Bangarang,” Stranger Cole & Lester Stirling
- “Almost Independence Day,” Van Morrison
- “Independence Day,” Elliott Smith
- “Fourth of July,” Galaxie 500
- “Fourth of July,” Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men
- “Tears of Rage [Take 3],” Bob Dylan & The Band
PART II
- “This is My Country,” Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions
- “This Land Is Your Land,” Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
- “I Am a Patriot,” Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul
- “Bored in the USA,” Father John Misty
- “I’m So Bored with the USA,” The Clash
- “Children of the Revolution,” T. Rex
- “Revolution,” Dr. John
- “Revolution,” Mother Earth
- “Revolution [live],” Nina Simone
- “Revolution,” The Pretenders
- “Revolution,” The Beatles
- “The Revolution Starts Now,” Steve Earle
- “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution,” Tracy Chapman
- “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” Gil Scott-Heron
- “Revolution Blues,” Neil Young
- “Revolution Rock,” The Clash
PART III
- “American Tune,” Allen Toussaint
- “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country,” Randy Newman
- “Empire,” David Byrne
- “Rewriting the National Anthem,” Albert Brooks
- “The National Anthem,” Radiohead
- “National Anthem,” Lana Del Rey
- “Hush,” Deep Purple
- “Cheer Down,” George Harrison
- “She Said Yeah,” Paul McCartney
- “Shirt,” Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
- “Trouser Press,” Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
- “Prologue,” Neil Innes
- “Music from Rawlinson’s End,” Neil Innes
- “The Locomotion,” Little Eva
- “Turkey Trot,” Little Eva
Capital Radio returns July 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. Cartoon by Barry Blitt for The New Yorker.