President’s Day brought eleven songs about the high office (and one that didn’t play) to today’s Capital radio, starting with a “Looney Tunes” ditty. I’m just catching up with the death of Mojo Nixon Feb. 7 at 66 — the last surviving member of The Spinners died that day too, at 85. Both Nixon and Dex Romweber of Flat Duo Jets, who died Friday at 57, represented a freewheeling wildman spirit of pure rock ’n’ roll that continues to be celebrated through their music. Here’s a link to a remembrance I wrote about Mojo.
But there were a lot of birthdays to note, particularly of Smokey Robinson, who is turning 82, as well as Bobby Rogers, his fellow member of The Miracles who had been born the same day. Dave Wakeling of the English Beat and General Public turns 68, as does Peter Holsapple of The dB’s and the Continental Drifters. Lou Christie hits 81 and Beth Ditto of the Gossip is 43, with a new album coming out. And who could forget Austrian favorite son Falco, born this day in 1957?
It made for a lot of good music. Here’s a link to the whole show; the setlist follows:
Capital Radio February, 19, 2024, 1 – 4:35 p.m., www.cygnusradio.com
- “Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
- “President’s Day,” Lola, featuring Kristen Wiig
- “White House Blues,” Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers
- “Jesus Christ for President,” Wilco
- “When I’m President,” Ian Hunter
- “Happy Birthday, Mr. President [live],” Marilyn Monroe
- “The President [live],” Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians
- “Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man),” Randy Newman
- “Mr. President,” The Heptones & Jay Lion
- “Funky President (People It’s Bad),” James Brown
- “Paint the White House Black,” George Clinton
- “Put a Sex Mo-Sheen in the White House,” Mojo Nixon
- “Death Row Blues,” Mojo Nixon
- “Don Henley Must Die,” Mojo Nixon
- “Debbie Gibson is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child [live],” The Pleasure Barons
- “Destroy All Lawyers,” Mojo Nixon
- “Tulane,” Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper
- “Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Lame,” Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors
- “Elvis is Everywhere [live],” The Pleasure Barons
- “If I Can Dream,” Mojo Nixon
- “You Really Got a Hold on Me,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- “Going to a Go-Go,” The Miracles
- “I Second That Emotion,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- “The Tracks of My Tears,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- “Ooh Baby Baby,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- “More Love,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- “Cruisin,’“ Smokey Robinson
- “Tears of a Clown,” English Beat
- “Mirror in the Bathroom,” English Beat
- “I Confess,” English Beat
- “Tenderness,” General Public
- “Lightnin’ Strikes,” Lou Christie
- “Rhapsody in the Rain,” Lou Christie
- “Two Faces Have I,” Lou Christie
- “Lonely Is (As Lonely Does),” The dB’s
- “Amplifier,” The dB’s
- “Love is for Lovers,” The dB’s
- “Soul Deep,” Continental Drifters
- “Der Kommisar,” Falco
- “Real Power,” Gossip
- “Flat Duo Jets Anthem,” Flat Duo Jets
- “The Dainty Song,” Flat Duo Jets
- “You Belong to Me,” Flat Duo Jets
- “Frog Went a Courtin,’” Flat Duo Jets
- “Lucky Eye,” Flat Duo Jets
- “Lonely Guy,” Flat Duo Jets
- “Ghetto Child,” The Spinners
- “I’ll Be Around,” The Spinners
- “It’s a Shame,” The Spinners
- “Games People Play,” The Spinners
Capital Radio returns live Feb. 26 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.