We began by remembering Melanie, the Woodstock era chanteuse, but through some different choices — her first single (billed as Mommy), her cover a Rolling Stones tune, and a cover of her own best-known song by Mott the Hoople. Also recognized Toni Stern, lyricist for three of Carole King’s better known songs.
Then it was birthdays, for Tommy Ramone (born this day in 1949), bluesman Eddie Taylor (1923), Amii Stewart, turning 68 and Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera, 60.
But a bulk of the show went to salute the great bassist James Jamerson, born this day in 1936 and powering so many of Motown’s hits in the 60s. But he also backed artists including John Lee Hooker, Jackie Wilson, The Reflections and the Sylvers.
Played some Juliana Hatfield and Chuck Prophet after seeing their shows recently and looked ahead to Groundhog Day and the Day the Music Died. Closed with Michael Jackson’s not-quite-ready charity anthem.
Here’s a link to the whole show; the setlist follows:
Capital Radio, 1- 29-24 1 – 4:23 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
- “Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
- “Sad Song,” Mommy
- “Ruby Tuesday,” Melanie
- “Lay Down,” Mott the Hoople
- “It’s Too Late,” Carole King
- “Where You Lead,” Carole King
- “Sweet Seasons,” Carole King
- “I Wanna Be Sedated,” Ramones
- “Blitzkrieg Bop,” Ramones
- “I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You,” Ramones
- “I Remember You,” Ramones
- “Bad Boy,” Eddie Taylor
- “Knock on Wood,” Amii Stewart
- “Oblivious,” Aztec Camera
- “Somewhere in My Heart,” Aztec Camera
- “Good Morning Britain,” Aztec Camera with Mick Jones
- “Forty Days of Rain,” Roddy Frame
- “What’s Goin’ On [Rhythm ’n’ Strings mix],” Marvin Gaye
- “My Girl,” The Temptations
- “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” Earl Van Dyke & the Funk Brothers
- “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” Jackie Wilson
- “I Was Made to Love Her,” Stevie Wonder
- “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” Four Tops
- “Darling Dear,” The Jackson 5
- “Shotgun,” Junior Walker & the All-Stars
- “Going to a Go-Go,” The Miracles
- “You Can’t Hurry Love,” The Supremes
- “Boom Boom” John Lee Hooker
- “(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet,” The Reflections
- “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Gladys Knight & the Pips
- “I Want You Back,” The Jackson 5
- “I Can’t Get Next to You,” The Temptations
- “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” The Funk Brothers
- “Dancing in the Street,” Martha and the Vandellas
- “It’s a Shame,” The Spinners
- “Boogie Fever,” The Sylvers
- “Sweet is the Night,” Juliana Hatfield
- “Everything’s for Sale,” Juliana Hatfield
- “Everybody Loves Me But You,” Juliana Hatfield
- “Dancin’ ‘Round and ‘Round,” Juliana Hatfield
- “Willie Mays is Up at Bat,” Chuck Prophet
- “He Came from So Far Away (Red Man Speaks),” Chuck Prophet
- “Marathon,” Chuck Prophet
- “I Am a Groundhog (And It’s My Day!),” The Happiest Guys in the World
- “Groundhog,” Simon & Garfunkel
- “Rave On,” Buddy Holly & The Crickets
- “Not Fade Away,” Buddy Holly & The Crickets
- “Well…All Right,” Buddy Holly & The Crickets
- “It’s So Easy,” Buddy Holly & The Crickets
- “Tell Me How,” Buddy Holly & The Crickets
- “La Bamba,” Ritchie Valens
- “Come On, Let’s Go,” Ritchie Valens
- “White Lightning,” Big Bopper
- “It’s the Truth Ruth,” Big Bopper
- “Chantilly Lace,” Big Bopper
- “We Are the World [Demo],” Michael Jackson
Capital Radio returns Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. ET on www.cygnusradio.com, where this and past shows are archived. Also available on the free cygnusradio.com app, available at iTunes or GooglePlay.