For my last “Theme Party” show, my theme was “Sequels.” (I finally started putting my setlists in the RSS feed for my podcast.) Most of the songs were sequels, but I included some borderline material, including songs that could’ve been more accurately called “answer songs” or just “based on another source.” (I probably won’t do an answer song show, as WFMU has already put together a spazzy collection of them.) One of these borderline songs I played was “Beechwood 4-5789” by the Marvelettes, to which “634-5789 (Soulsville U.S.A.)” is related.
When I spent a semester at the Biosphere 2 Center in 2000, I bought a Marvelettes greatest hits CD at a store in Tucson. It was one of those “I just wanted to buy something” moments, as I only knew “Please, Mr. Postman” and wasn’t particularly eyeing anything on the CD. I was also just stocking up on material to play on WBAR once I returned to New York.
And I didn’t really listen to the CD until I returned to New York. During that summer, I had a lunchtime show on WBAR, and I got a surprise request. (Surprise, because I figured no one was listening to me.) I was playing a Shirelles song, so someone called in and asked me if I had any Marvelettes. At first she asked for “The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game,” which wasn’t on the CD, but then she asked for “Beechwood 4-5789,” which I played obligingly.
It wasn’t an instantaneous thing, but soon after I got really attached to the song. Aside from being a really catchy tune, there’s something about the simplicity and sense of beginning in the song that I really like. No rushing off to get married or jump in the sack just yet. No claiming love at first sight — just a phone number exchange after figuring out you like each other and want to see each other again. It’s beautiful.
Of course, if you want some lovin’, you can call 634-5789.
6 July 2008 – 9:00 PM
Posted in Music | Tags: Beechwood 4-5789, Marvelettes, My Favorite Songs of All Time, podcast, radio, theme party, WBAR, WHFR | No Comments »
Check out my latest “Theme Party” show on WHFR, “Songs About Katies.” While putting together the show, I came across the gem of a song, “K-K-K-Katy” written by Geoffrey O’Hara.
Songs About Katies (1 June 2008)
- “K-K-K-Katy” - Rob Carriker
- “Never Wanted Nothing More” - Kenny Chesney
- “Navajo Rug” - Jerry Jeff Walker
- “Katie” - Deana Carter
- “Katie’s Been Gone” - The Band
- “Sitting Still” - R.E.M.
- “Monster Ballads” - Josh Ritter
- “Katie Dear” - Louvin Brothers
- “Dear Katie” - James Blunt
- “Katie” - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- “Maybe Katie” - Barenaked Ladies
- “Katy Too” - Johnny Cash
- “Katie Wants a Fast One” - Steve Wariner & Garth Brooks
- “Here to Forget” - Phil Vassar
- “Katie” - Marvin Hamlisch
- “She’s in Love With the Boy” - Trisha Yearwood
- “Katie Bar the Door” - Sierra Highway
- “K-K-K-Katy” - Helen Breen & Earl Wentz
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31 May 2008 – 9:00 PM
Posted in Music | Tags: K-K-K-Katy, podcast, radio, theme party, WHFR | No Comments »
For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing a show called “Theme Party” on WHFR - Washington Heights Free Radio where I play songs around a single theme each week. The idea stemmed from not really having an idea of what to do a show about, but needing a general guideline to give myself. So, for the first week, I played “Songs About Dying in Motor Vehicles” and just last week, I did a “Songs That Ask Questions” show.
I create the show rather crudely (for my audio/visual production background) with what equipment I have at my disposal, but I think I’m getting better at it after each week. As with the show I used to have in college, putting together these shows is just an excuse to rediscover the music in my collection, pick up some new tunes, and have fun. It airs live on WHFR on Sundays at 2 P.M. PST, but I’ve also set up a podcast for my recordings. The shows are all exactly one hour, except for the first show that came up a little short.
Here are the playlists for shows I’ve done so far:
Songs About Dying in Motor Vehicles (4 May 2008)
- “Stan” - Eminem
- “Three Wooden Crosses” - Randy Travis
- “Last Kiss” - Pearl Jam
- “Teen Angel” - Mark Dinning
- “Truckstop Girl” - Kelly Willis
- “Car” - Catherine Wheel
- “There is a Light That Never Goes Out (Live)- Morrissey
- “Big Empty” - Stone Temple Pilots
- “Wreck on the Highway” - Louvin Brothers
- “Leader of the Pack” - Shangri-Las
- “Only the Song Survives” - John Hiatt
Mother’s Day Show (11 May 2008)
- “Van Lear Rose” - Loretta Lynn
- “Hey Mama” - Kanye West
- “Ms. Jackson” - Outkast
- “Mama Didn’t Lie” - Jan Bradley
- “Shop Around” - Miracles
- “Days Like This” - Van Morrison
- “Mama Said” - Shirelles
- “Mother” - Danzig
- “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” - Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
- “Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean)” - Ruth Brown
- “I’m Livin’ in Shame” - Diana Ross & The Supremes
- “Mama Tried” - Merle Haggard
- “Good Intentions” - Randy Travis
- “Jesus on the Radio (Daddy on the Phone)” - Tom T. Hall
- “To Daddy” - Dolly Parton
- “Mama You Sweet” - Lucinda Williams
- “Honour Your Mother and Father” - Checkered Cabs
- “What a Friend We Have in Mother” - Louvin Brothers
Songs By On Stage Drunks (18 May 2008)
- “Knoxville Girl” - Louvin Brothers
- “Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)” - Doors
- “Cabaret” - Liza Minnelli
- “Rehab” - Amy Winehouse
- “It’s a Shame About Ray” - Lemonheads
- “Sunday Morning Coming Down” - Johnny Cash
- “Put Your Cat Clothes On” - Carl Perkins
- “Honky Tonkin’” - Hank Williams
- “If I Needed You” - Townes Van Zandt
- “Choices” - George Jones
- “Paradise City” - Guns N’ Roses
- “Hot For Teacher” - Van Halen
- “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” - Rolling Stones
Songs That Ask Questions (25 May 2008)
- “Who Needs Pictures” - Brad Paisley
- “Am I the Man” - Jackie Wilson
- “How’s the World Treating You” - James Taylor & Alison Krauss
- “Must You Throw Dirt In My Face” - Louvin Brothers
- “What Does a Lifeguard Do in the Fall???” - June August
- “Ain’t It Amazing, Gracie” - Buck Owens
- “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” - Shirelles
- “Aren’t I True” - Kelly Willis
- “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” - Dolly Parton
- “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- “Is She Weird” - Pixies
- “Where Are You Going” - Dave Matthews Band
- “Which Will” - Lucinda Williams
- “Why Me” - Josh Caterer
- “Could You Be Loved” - Bob Marley & The Wailers
- “Were You There?” - Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers
- “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” - Beach Boys
- “Can the Circle Be Unbroken” - Carter Family
26 May 2008 – 11:00 PM
Posted in Music | Tags: podcast, radio, theme party, WBAR, WHFR | No Comments »
