Category Archives: My Radio Playlists

How to encapsulate all that was Tina Turner? Her death last week at 83 left us with a wealth of music over a number of decades, rising in the abusive collaboration that was the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, becoming a clarion for Phil Spector and after conquering R&B and blues, conquering rock with a […]

Began with the work of Gordon Lightfoot, the ace Canadian singer-songwriter who died a week ago at 84. We first hear his songs as interpreted by no less than Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and the Dandy Warhols. Then a handful of his own recordings, both hits and more obscure. And a tribute to […]

Started with a tribute to the singer and activist Harry Belafonte, who died last week at 96. Then it was all about the first of the merry month of May, and then, songs of maybe / maybe not.  A packed day of birthdays included those of Judy Collins (turning 84), Rita Coolidge (77), Ray Parker […]

Culled from the long roster of new vinyl released on Saturday’s Record Store Day to sample more than a dozen offerings to start the show, from Tom Tom Club to Warren Zevon.  Paid homage to Donn Adams, trombonist, Whole Wheat Horns leader and Terry’s big brother in NRBQ. Also saluted the long life of April […]

Started with some Ahmad Jamal, who died Sunday at 92 before some songs about Tax Day, Patriots Day and Emancipation Day Played about half of the tunes recently chosen for the Library of Congress National Recording Registry from W.C. Handy to The Police (with one stand-in). It was the anniversary of the deaths of Eddie […]

Fresh as a pack of leftover peeps, we’ve got some Easter-themed songs of Jesus, resurrection and rolling away the stone on today’s Capital Radio, on the day of the White House Egg Roll. It included selections from XTC, Jefferson Airplane, Hank Williams, the Velvet Underground and two each from Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan.  Bookended […]

One one of the most technically fraught Capital Radio broadcasts yet was caused by a weak WiFi signal at my end, allowing the station’s auto-stream to intermittently and annoyingly interrupt. Luckily, the recorded archive program survives intact and without interruption here. Started with brief appreciations of the recently deceased: Ryuichi Sakamoto, who died last week […]

A prerecorded Capital Radio celebrates today’s first day of spring with music from 17 artists, from Ella Fitzgerald to Fontaines D.C. There was some newish music from Belle & Sebastian, Iggy Pop and Beck. Noted the birthdays of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, born this day in 1915; Lee “Scratch” Perry (1936) and Jerry Reed (1937). And […]

A prerecorded Capital Radio starts with songs about Daylight Saving Time, and daylight and time and moving ahead (even if only for an hour) — with selections from the Kinks, the Byrds, Daft Punk, Dooley Wilson and Drive By-Truckers, among others.  Then a brief salute to Neil Sedaka on his 84th birthday — and an […]

Jazz giant Wayne Shorter, who died last week at 89, was celebrated in songs from Miles Davis, Weather Report and some of the pop songs to which his sweet sax contributed, from The Rolling Stones to Norah Jones. He also had a long musical connection to Joni Mitchell, who happened to be honored here last […]