Roger Catlin | TV Eye

Playlist 4-4-08

The 40th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Boston concert soon after by James Brown -- explored in a VH1 documentary Saturday -- inspired the start of the show. Had some new Van Morrison and R.E.M. to play alongside a few of their older cuts. Sampled a bit of the soundtrack to Martin Scorsese's new Rolling Stones concert movie opening today, "Shine a Light."

Played a little Ray Davies and the Kinks, by them and others. Closed with some new Breeders and Moby.

Here's what I played on the radio this morning:

Playlist 3-28-08

New stuff from Gnarls Barkley, The B-52's and The Ranconteurs brings some older cuts from each of them as well. It's cool that the Raconteurs are also playing a tune from one of the great unerrated rockers of the 70s, Terry Reid, so a played a classic of his as well.

New disc of 1987 recordings from Sonic Youth gets a couple of samples, especially as it brings up the Jesus & Mary Chain Question, especially in light of the the new revival by others (and themselves).

Started with a couple of approaches to Joni, including one by Joni herself, and ended with some Joe Strummer, whose bio film "The Future is Unwritten" I finally saw last weekend.

Here's what I played on the radio this morning:

Playlist 3-14-08

A new collection from The Apples in Stereo prompts a veritable bushel basket full of tunes.

A couple of topical soul songs start things out, there's a spot of Madonna, some Sia leading to Kinks and rock from The Kills, Fleshtones and DC5.

Closed out with the Pogues in advance of St. Patrick's Day.

Here's what I played on the radio today:

Playlist 3-7-2008

Another new live release from Brad Mehldau (and another interesting rock cover), a nod to the end of "The Wire," a generous sampling of the new Ray Davies and a bit of old Kinks. A salute to a couple of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Leonard Cohen and the Dave Clark 5, led to salute to DC5 singer Mike Smith, who died last week. Also saluted: Buddy Miles, who also recently died (represented in a couple of Hendrix cuts) and Beatles engineer Norman "Hurricane" Smith.

After that there was only time for a couple things by Stephen Malkmus, Rivers Cuomo and the Ravonettes.

Here's what I played on the radio this morning:

Playlist 2-29-08

Bruce still ringing in my ears from his show the night before, there was admittedly a lot of Springsteen – all of which had been played in Hartford. Another guy from New Jersey began the show.

Also, new stuff from Dead Meadow, Stephen Malkmus, Flshtones, Whigs and Chesterfield Kings. It all ended too early.

Here's what I played on the radio this Leap Day morning:

Playlist 2-22-08

It may have been shortest set of music on "Friday Morning Rock" ever, because of the business of the annual station marathon (you can still pledge!) and going only to 10:30 a.m. in a new configuration.

Still, new singles from two old bands from Athens, Ga.: The B-52s and R.E.M., new stuff from Chesterfield Kings and Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks.

And remixes of an M.I.A. single sure fit in with the marathon theme: "All I wanna do is ... take your money."

Here's what I played on the radio this morning:

Playlist 2-8-08

Started with a lot of Afropop and some long ago variations of it, in order to surround some new songs from Vampire Weekend. New stuff from American Music Club and The Ravonettes leading to more in the same vein (of the latter, the Magnetic Fields' "Distortion" filling in nicely).

Ended by marking the passing of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who died this week at age 91. He was the guru who lured the Beatles to India in 1968, inspiring them spiritually and musically. The block of music I played was essentially written while they were all out in India. Most of the songs were played in demo version at George Harrison's Esher estate in May 1968. One directly addressed disillusion with the yogi: Lennon's "Sexy Sadie," originally titled "Maharishi."

Here's what I played on the radio this morning:

Playlist 2-1-08

Shelby Lynne's new album, inspired by Dusty Springfield, inspires our own hour of such sweet R&B, featuring a couple tracks also from Cat Power's latest, as well as a good helping of Dusty herself.

A new one from Bob Mould kicks off a rock set with The Whigs, The Fleshtones and a few from MGMT.

Then it's time to mark the 49th anniversary of the Winter Dance Party with a long set of Buddy Holly, who happens to be No. 1 on the charts again, thanks to his inclusion on the "Juno" soundtrack.

Here's what I played on the radio this morning:

Playlist 1-25-08

New stuff from Cat Power and the Magnetic Fields calls for more stuff from Sia and PJ Harvey on one hand and the Jesus & Mary Chain on the other.

Something new from the Fleshtones, and maybe too much from the soundtrack to "Walk Hard: The Dewy Cox Story." Also, some of the non-Kimya Dawson tracks from "Juno." And dance rock from Hot Chip and live Daft Punk.

Here's what I played on the radio this morning:

Playlist 1-18-08

Started way back with Fats Waller, continued to another variation of "The Wire" theme, this time from The Blind Boys of Alabama, revived the Moldy Peaches, as "Juno" did and played some Band of Horses and Rogue Wave.

Paul Simon and Elvis Costello popped up amod Underworld, Cassius, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And ended with a lot of Gorillaz.

Here's what I played on the radio this morning.