Category Archives: My Radio Playlists

The Chinese Lunar New Year brings us the Year of the Rabbit, so there are songs from Bright Eyes, The Cramps, Elton John and T. Rex about our long-eared friends. But back to the studio after two weeks away means catching up on the recent deaths of David Crosby and Jeff Beck — who are […]

It was Charlie Parker’s “Now is the Time” that helped inspire a key line in Martin Luther King’s 1963 speech at the March on Washington. So The Bird begins the 2023 MLK Day edition of Capital Radio that includes songs of hope and striving from Bobby Womack, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Patty Griffin, […]

Did we lose more artists in 2022 than in a normal year? It certainly seemed so, especially after playing selections from 45 who died last year. We led with some giants: Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn and Ronnie Spector. There were also those who died so late in the year, some may have yet heard […]

Started with some Monday morning post-Yule analysis, but the day after Christmas is also known as both Boxing Day and St. Stephen’s Day. Each odd designation was saluted in song (and the ever-prolific Elvis Costello had a tune for each).  Mostly, though this weekend’s impending New Year’s Eve brought nearly three dozen songs about the […]

Started with a six song salute to Hanukkah before the annual Christmas onslaught — more than 50 songs about the holiday, or in the case of a couple of tunes, about a more generic holiday. The Linda Lindas had the newest song; Bessie Smith the oldest. In between were some rockers from The Fleshtones, Beach […]

Began with echoes of the 50th anniversary of Big Star’s “#1 Record,” that was the occasion of a star-studded tour that just played town.  Continued with some George Jones and Tammy Wynette, together and apart, to coincide with the current Showtime series about their up and down relationship. While actors Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain […]

Started with a bunch of songs from Christine McVie, who died last week at 79 — from her work in Fleetwood Mac, solo, under her name Christine Perfect and singing behind Bob Welch and Dennis Wilson. Then it was an array of songs about December that weren’t necessarily about the holidays (which are harder to […]

We recall the music of Irene Cara, Louise Tobin and Wilko Johnson after reports of their deaths last week.  But we also celebrate the birthdays of Bruce Channel (82), Berry Gordy Jr. (93) and especially Randy Newman (79), from whom we hear a handful of his recordings as well as a generous selection of his […]

After a birthday salute to Bjork (57!), Capital Radio had a quick overview of some of the sounds of New Orleans from a trip taken there last week from which I returned just hours before. Mostly, the show was about the impending Thanksgiving holiday, with a heap of gratitude before the specifics of the menu, […]

Began with some tracks from a double bill that’s touring the East Coast, Alvvays and Slow Pulp. Continued with a remembrance of those who’ve died recently — Tropicalia queen Gal Costa, Keith Levene of the Clash and Public Image Ltd., and another for Mimi Parker of Low.  Then it was time to get on board […]