First show in two weeks dominated of course by the death of Prince. But there were other deaths noted: that of Lonnie Mack and Billy Paul, who died last week as well. And there were a few birthdays today, of Washington’s own Duke Ellington, as well as Tammi Terrell and Willie Nelson.
The panorama of Prince was marred by technical challenges — none of the 1984 birthday concert I had on my laptop (or his latest albums) could be played; there was no second CD player, causing an odd pause between some songs, and the needle on one turntable skipped too merrily. Still, I think there was only one dud from the dozens of Prince song we played (if you must know, it was “Planet Earth”).
Here’s what I played on the radio tonight:
Friday Night Rock, 4-29-2016, 9:30 p.m.- 1 a.m., Radio CPR, 101.7 FM Washington D.C.
- “Take the A Train,” Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
- “Cotton Tail,” Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
- The Mooch,” Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
- “East St. Louis Toodle Oo,” Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
- “If I Could Build My World Around You,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “Your Precious Love,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “If This World Were Mine, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “Keep on Loving Me Honey,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “You’re All I Need to Get By,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- “Nite Life,” Willie Nelson
- “Everybody’s Talkin,’” Willie Nelson
- “Pancho and Lefty,” Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
- “Memphis,” Lonnie Mack
- “Wham!,” Lonnie Mack
- “Me and Mrs. Jones,” Billy Paul
- “When Doves Cry,” Patti Smith
- “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Sinead O’Connor
- “When You Were Mine,” Cyndi Lauper
- ‘Raspberry Beret,” Hindu Love Gods
- “Kiss,” Tom Jones
- “I Feel for You,” Chaka Khan
- “Sign O the Times,” Chaka Khan
- “The Voice,” Mavis Staples
- “Pop Life,” Prince
- “Uptown,” Prince
- “Let’s Go Crazy,” Prince
- “1999 [the new master],” Prince
- “Controversy,” Prince
- “Dirty Mind,” Prince
- “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” Prince
- “Delirious,” Prince
- “U Got the Look,” Prince
- “Cream,” Prince
- “Get Off,” Prince
- “I Wish You Heaven,” Prince
- “Hot Thing” (extended mix), Prince
- “Bat Dance,” Prince
- Thieves in the Temple,” Prince
- “Diamonds and Pearls,” Prince
- “Musicology,” Prince
- “Cinnamon Girl,” Prince
- “Planet Earth,” Prince
- “Guitar,” Prince
- “Lion of Judah,” Prince
- “Gotta Stop (Messin’ About),” Prince
- “Partyup,” Prince
- “Erotic City,” Prince
- “Irresistible Bitch,” Prince
- “She’s Always in My Hair,” Prince
- “How Come You Can’t Call Me Anymore?” Prince
- “Smells Like Booty,” Freelance Hellraiser
Friday Night Rock returns May 6 on Radio CPR, 101.7 FM, Washington, D.C. or streaming online at tinyurl.com/radiocpr