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Slap and Tickle
Slap and Tickle Tracklist: Dire Straits: “Once Upon a Time in the West” U2 & Bruce Springsteen: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” Blues Project: “I Can’t Keep from Crying Sometimes” Bob Dylan: “Duncan and Brady” Squeeze: “Slap and Tickle (Live)” John Sebastian: “Red Eye Express” Harry Nilsson: “Turn on Your Radio” Rufus Wainwright: “April Fools” Loggins and Messina: “Nobody but You” Jethro Tull: “My Sunday Feeling” Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble: “Love Struck Baby” Ten Years After: “Me and My Baby” Buckingham/Nicks: “Races Are Run” Chicago: “Mississippi Delta City Blues” Black Crowes: “By Your Side” Joe Walsh: “Funk #49 (from Late Show with David Letterman)” The Everly Brothers: “The Price of Love” Nick Lowe: “All Men Are Liars” Steve Winwood: “Can’t Find My Way Home” Please Leave a Comment! Dire Straits: “Once Upon a Time in the West” Play this track I’ve always had a soft spot for Dire Straits’ somewhat unheralded second album, 1979’s Communiqué. This tune kicks off the album and defines its vibe. —Rock Stamberg This tune is filled with Dire Straits DNA. Mark Knopfler told me that, more than anything else, he is trying to create a mood with his songs. The song itself is unhurried and the languid Stratocaster guitar lines flow with the ease of gravity. Nothing is forced or pushed. This song screams because it whispers. -John Stix U2 & Bruce Springsteen: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” Play this track This could have been just a great picture. And while it is, the music is equally as great. Love the dynamics of the opening verse and the punch they land as the band comes in for the second verse. Springsteen knows the song and commits to it. He plays their song with his voice. Two of the greats showing you how good it can be together. NHT material indeed. -JS Blues Project: “I Can’t Keep from Crying Sometimes” Play this track The first album I wore out on my Garrard turntable was Blues Project Projections. It was rock, it was blues, it was the sound of 1966 FM radio. Al Kooper was my hero, and I followed the Blues Project around. If they were playing The Westchester County Center or the Palisades Amusement Park in Fort Lee, NJ, I was there. This is the opening track. I played it in my jam bands, sans Kooper’s Quarter Tone electronic keyboard (he called the Kooperphone). These are my roots in rock music. -JS Bob Dylan: “Duncan and Brady” Play this track Isn’t this a great Dylan track? This previously unreleased and jaunty rocker was recorded for a never completed record The Bard was recording with David Bromberg and his big band back in 1982. I wonder if there are any other long-lost recordings from those aborted sessions. Hmm … -RS Dylan rocks out with another great story song. I didn’t know this one and suspect you don’t either. But we both love it yes? -JS Squeeze: “Slap and Tickle (Live)” Play this track One of my favorite vocal sounds, the distinction of these two voices in harmony or unison sucks me in every time. Melody forever and lyrics that rival Rundgren over smart guitar parts that always invite, and surprise makes Squeeze among my all-time favorite pop bands. And this song is one reason why. -JS John Sebastian: “Red Eye Express” Play this track This is the opening track from his 1970 debut solo album (John B Sebastian), which by the way is as good as anything we love by the Lovin’ Spoonful. Even if you’ve never heard it, you think you already know it. And you do! -JS Harry Nilsson: “Turn on Your Radio” Play this track This track is yet another example of Harry Nilsson’s outstretched musicality in fine form. He made it all sound so easy. -RS When Rock played this for me the first time, I heard the opening guitar riff and said yes – this goes in. The rest of the song was just confirmation that he had picked a winner. -JS Rufus Wainwright: “April Fools” Play this track Rufus Wainwright caught my ear the first time I heard him in 1998. This was the song. He has developed into a master of far-flung musical genres in the years since, veering from pop and rock to classical to folk to opera to his penchant for covering Judy Garland albums in their entirety on stage. His first few records each remain stunning, however. -RS Another Rock pick. Rufus Wainwright has a unique voice, great vocal phrasing, and casts a melody with hooks big enough to catch a whale. As Nick Lowe might say this is pure pop for now people. -JS Loggins and Messina: “Nobody but You” Play this track I had this idea for a theme where we play the opening tracks from a given band’s debut album. These were the first tracks on debut albums that listeners would hear. They had to have have something special about them. Loggins and Messina had a great duet vocal sound and a rock band with horns and a spitting Fender Telecaster. They rocked, they rolled and ushered in one of the finest musical collaborations of the 1970s. -JS Jethro Tull: “My Sunday Feeling” Play this track Jethro Tull started as a blues band, and this is their blues. It’s a shuffle that swings (at times). Mick Abrahams, he of the British Blues guitar lineage, would leave after this album and start Blodwyn Pig. With this opening track, Ian Anderson added flute to the rock lexicon of sounds. This holds up very well. -JS Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble: “Love Struck Baby” Play this track This rockin’ shuffle ushered in the era of the most celebrated modern bluesman of the 1980s. Not as aggressive as the album’s major keeper, “Pride and Joy,” but SRV does a good job of channeling Chuck Berry in this LP’s short and sweet opener. -JS Ten Years After: “Me and My Baby” Play this track Thanks to my buddy Pat Sbarra for turning me onto this, what would become my favorite Ten Years After track. Too many swinging shuffles? I think not. Tasty keys, with Chick Churchill dueling with himself on acoustic piano and a classic Alvin Lee guitar solo, no vibrato, no string bends, just stuttering melodies that skip over the propulsive rhythm section. Sweet. -JS Buckingham/Nicks: “Races Are Run” Play this track From Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks’ debut album from 1973, this was among the tunes Fleetwood Mac drummer heard that prompted him to seek out the duo. What a great song, what a fantastic performance. -RS This (whole) recording was quite an audition and foreshadowing to the max. -JS Chicago: “Mississippi Delta City Blues” Play this track Chicago’s original guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, Terry Kath, was a monster talent. This almost out of control rave up features all his strengths in one place. This is a kick-ass rave up of the first degree. -RS Surprised? I was. Who knew Chicago the horn band was also a great funk band. We knew they could rock, play outside, and play pop, but funk. Now we know. -JS Black Crowes: “By Your Side” Play this track This is the title track to Black Crowes’ unfairly unsung 1999 album, which is a hotbed of songs that show off the band’s influences in short order. Every track is a winner. -RS I keep thinking it’s The Stones or The Faces but it’s the Black Crowes wearing their influences on their sleeves. Who cares when the song is this good? Rock on. -JS Joe Walsh: “Funk #49 (from Late Show with David Letterman)” Play this track This is a James Gang classic that has been played to death. Not quite. There is extra life in this version. Maybe it’s the horns, or the percussion or the acoustic piano. There’s an ease in execution I haven’t heard in other versions that puts this one in my “use this” folder. -JS What a surprise this take on the Joe Walsh barn burner turned out to be. Too good to be a toss-off, even if it was just a TV timewaster for the audience during and after a commercial break. Doesn’t matter – John Stix heard it and now you do, too. -RS The Everly Brothers: “The Price of Love” Play this track The first song the brothers performed live together after a decade-long estrangement; this hearty rocker showed they still had it. As if there had ever been any doubt about that. -RS They have a unique vocal blend that tells you immediately who’s singing. It’s the head-bobbing rhythm and chicken pickin’ guitar that brings it home for me. -JS Nick Lowe: “All Men Are Liars” Play this track Ah, Nick Lowe. The man never disappoints. Is this peppy (and pop-y) musing on the male species’ proclivity for fibbing tells it like it is. “And that’s the truth.” -RS Just like Squeeze, I love almost everything Nick Lowe does. Melody, hooks, and clever lyrics nail me every time. I offer this song to make my point. Are we in agreement? Yes. -JS Steve Winwood: “Can’t Find My Way Home” Play this track You know the saying “Nobody doesn’t like Sarah Lee” The same holds true for Steve Winwood. This is my favorite version of one of his favorite songs. Here is the classic with just a warm acoustic guitar and a voice deeply invested in the song. Dig the crackles coming from the fireplace. NHT indeed. -JS Whether performed by Blind Faith, latter-era Traffic, or Steve Winwood solo, this monumentally timeless track always delivers, which is a testament to its grandeur and thus its longevity. More proof a good song is always a good song, Winwood’s cozy take here – recorded with his fireplace’s crackles intact – defines timelessness. Great. -RS
A Tribute to Brian Wilson
A Tribute to Brian Wilson (1942-2025) Tracklist: Brian Wilson: “Meant For You” Brian Wilson: “God Only Knows” The Beach Boys: “Radio Jingle” The Beach Boys: “Early Live Medley” The Beach Boys: “Little Honda (Single Mix)” The Beach Boys: “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” Brian Wilson: “Child Is The Father Of The Man” Brian Wilson: “Surf’s Up” The Beach Boys: “’Til I Die (Long Version With Alternate lyrics)” Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks: “Rhapsody In Blue (Outtake)” The Beach Boys: “When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (remastered)” The Beach Boys: “Mama Says” The Beach Boys: “California Girls (Session)” The Beach Boys: “California Girls” The Beach Boys: “Break Away” The Beach Boys: “Darlin’” The Beach Boys: “Our Team” Brian Wilson: “Please Let Me Wonder” The Beach Boys: “It’s OK” Brian Wilson: “Your Imagination” The Beach Boys: “Sail On, Sailor” The Beach Boys: “Aren’t You Glad” The Beach Boys: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Acapella)” Beach Boys: “Beach Boys’ Medley (Single Verson)” Brian Wilson: “Love & Mercy (Live)” Please Leave a Comment! Brian Wilson: “Meant For You” Play this track Brian Wilson: “God Only Knows” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Radio Jingle” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Early Live Medley” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Little Honda (Single Mix)” Play this track The Beach Boys: “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” Play this track Brian Wilson: “Child Is The Father Of The Man” Play this track Brian Wilson: “Surf’s Up” Play this track The Beach Boys: “’Til I Die (Long Version With Alternate lyrics” Play this track The Beach Boys and Van Dyke Parks: “Rhapsody In Blue (Outtake)” Play this track The Beach Boys: “When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (remastered)” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Mama Says” Play this track The Beach Boys: “California Girls (Session)” Play this track The Beach Boys: “California Girls” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Break Away” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Darlin’” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Our Team” Play this track Brian Wilson: “Please Let Me Wonder” Play this track The Beach Boys: “It’s OK” Play this track Brian Wilson: “Your Imagination” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Sail On, Sailor” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Aren’t You Glad” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Acapella)” Play this track The Beach Boys: “Beach Boys’ Medley (Single Verson)” Play this track Brian Wilson: “Love & Mercy (Live)” Play this track
How Much Fun
How Much Fun Tracklist: Wings: “Got to Get You into My Life” Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen: “Too Much Fun” 10cc: “Good Morning Judge” Trey Anastasio (Big Band): “Mozambique” The Beatles: “I Saw Her Standing There (Take 6)” Joe Jackson: “Poor Thing” Lake Street Dive: “Godawful Things” Chicago: “Make Me Smile (bass, drums, vocals, guitar solo)” Harry Nilsson: “Daybreak” Van Morrison: “Jackie Wilson Said (live)” Bonnie Raitt: “You’ve Been in Love Too Long” Jerry Lee Lewis: “It’ll Be Me” Steely Dan: “Do It Again (live with Michael McDonald)” R.E.M.: “Stand” NRBQ: “RC Cola & A Moon Pie” Robert Palmer: “How Much Fun” Paul Carrack and Carlene Carter: “Oh How Happy You Have Made Me” Pete Townshend: “The Sea Refuses No River (live” Pete Townshend: “It’s a Boy” Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders: “Positively 4th Street” Please Leave a Comment! Wings: “Got to Get You into My Life” Play this track This track is a good representation of Wings’ final, short-lived lineup performing live at The Concert for the People of Kampuchea benefit in 1979. This was right at the end of their only tour, so they were hot. As evidenced in this exciting version of Paul McCartney’s Beatles classic. -Rock Stamberg One of my favorites from the Fab Four and this is “THE” live version. The band nails all the elements that make this a great song and then the vibe is just supercharged. You’ll find this in my folder of “Best Performances.” -John Stix Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen: “Too Much Fun” Play this track This puppy is up-tempo and swinging right out of the box. Love that classic walking bass blues progression. The horns blare, the piano rocks the pedal steel sounds drunk. The lyric defines the whole song and Jerry Lee Lewis would be proud. -JS 10cc: “Good Morning Judge” Play this track I love 10cc, especially late-era 10cc when they were down to a duo. Anyway, great song, excellent playing by Eric Stewart (guitar) and bassist Graham Gouldman. -RS 10cc are among the most creative bands in rock music. It’s comprised of top-notch musicians who aim to surprise with their sophisticated songwriting and sense of humor. This is a band that is much more than its hits. -JS Trey Anastasio (Big Band): “Mozambique” Play this track A joyful noise indeed. Uplifting, and engaging at the same time. It’s the recipe for any successful uptempo instrumental (think Jessica by the ABB) and can be heard on this horn heavy rhythm centric tune. It’s party time! -JS Trey Anastasio’s big band is indeed a big band and this track, which he’s also performed with his main band, Phish, is an ever-evolving piece of music. This version really grabbed John … and *I’m* the Phish head around these parts. Go figure. -RS The Beatles: “I Saw Her Standing There (Take 6)” Play this track You hear this and realize just how good a band they were. I Love the mistakes and the talking that follows. -JS The Beatles in their natural habitat working on what became a great recording. Let’s drop in on them, whaddaya say? -RS Joe Jackson: “Poor Thing” Play this track Great unknown track by a super talent. -RS Joe Jackson is a serious melodicist who has something to say. And that’s what makes great music. Say it in a song that draws us in. And everyone loves a waltz. -JS Lake Street Dive: “Godawful Things” Play this track A distorted guitar with a cello. Can you think of a better way to start a pop song? LSD is one of the premier rock and pop bands in the country. They feature melodic hooks, smart lyrics, surprising arrangements, acoustic bass, and off the charts vocals. It’s all here for you to enjoy. -JS Chicago: “Make Me Smile (bass, drums, vocals, guitar solo)” Play this track This stripped mix of a major Chicago hit is illuminating in all the right ways. The rhythm section shines, the vocal rocks and the guitar rips. Terry Kath’s shredding guitar solo features Coltrane-like sheets of sound licks in a Billboard Top 10 record described as “soft rock.” So yes, this does shed a new light on an old classic. Very NHT wouldn’t you say? -JS Harry Nilsson: “Daybreak” Play this track From the little-known film, Son of Dracula, this was Harry Nilsson’s last hit. But boy, what a song. Catchy. -RS This song reminds me of the “Put the lime in the coconut” vibe. -JS Van Morrison: “Jackie Wilson Said (live)” Play this track One of my fav’s from VM. This time it’s a swinging big band version that I found in my “Redo” folder of bands that rearrange their classics. -JS Young(er) Van kickin’ up some dust. It helps that this song is one of his great ones. -RS Bonnie Raitt: “You’ve Been in Love Too Long” Play this track This is the opening track from Bonnie’s Takin’ My Time LP. There’s a heavy Little Feat sound overall and John Hall’s (Orleans) guitar solo is oh so tasty. The track is one of my favorite bump-in-the-night grooves, with all the puzzle pieces distinct unto themselves and perfectly in place. A great lesson in blues funk delivered with classic Bonnie Raitt swagger. -JS Jerry Lee Lewis: “It’ll Be Me” Play this track “It’ll be me, and I’ll be looking for you.” How great is that lyric? Timeless. -RS I love me that train is a comin’ rhythm. This is just killer rock ‘n roll. -JS Steely Dan: “Do It Again (live with Michael McDonald)” Play this track In 1974, Steely Dan hit the road for the last time in their early years. During that tour there was discussion and a vote to have of Michael McDonald take over as the lead vocalist. Much to his chagrin, and probably against his own vote, Donald won. We can only wonder what it would have been like if the vote had gone the other way. In 2008, McDonald guested with the band for a while and gave us a glimpse of what it wouldn’t have sounded like it the vote had turned out differently. Also dig the guitar solo by Jon Herrington and the drum solo by Keith Carlock. -JS I love it when John finds this stuff. Funky. -RS R.E.M.: “Stand” Play this track What a fantastically catchy song R.E.M. gifted us with. -RS A straightforward pop rock song from R.E.M. Who’d have thunk it? -JS NRBQ: “RC Cola & A Moon Pie” Play this track God knows I love me some NRBQ. This is an NRBQ classic from way back. They still perform it regularly to this day. Essential listening. -RS The style at the heart of the New Rhythm and Blues Quartet. A 1950’s rocker reborn. -JS Robert Palmer: “How Much Fun” Play this track How much soul, how much funk? Lots and lots. A beauty. -RS This sounds like the son of Allen Toussaint had a party with Little Feat on the streets of London. How much fun? Lots! -JS Paul Carrack and Carlene Carter: “Oh How Happy You Have Made Me” Play this track A joyous cover (of a joyous song) of the 1966 top 12 hit by Shades of Blue. I can hear the smiles more in this cover, so I always go for this version. -JS Pete Townshend: “The Sea Refuses No River (live” Play this track For me, this is *the* version of a song I’ve always loved. Intense and striking. -RS This is one of Townshend’s finest and under acknowledged songs. Great lyric, raging vocals and one of PT’s best melodies. I’d love to hear Roger sing this one. As is, this goes into the “Best Performances” folder. -JS Pete Townshend: “It’s a Boy” Play this track A Townshend demo from Tommy. -JS Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders: “Positively 4th Street” Play this track This version of the Bob Dylan classic just may be definitive. It’s lopes along in a casually rockin’ way that belies the lyrics’ dark theme. Beautiful. -RS This rolls like a lazy river. The vocal, bitter in lyric, is relaxed in delivery. Jerry’s solo sounds like an exhale as does David Grisman’s on mandolin. This cover is worth the time it takes to unfold. -JS
They’re Red Hot
They’re Red Hot Tracklist: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band featuring Sam Moore: “Hold On, I’m Coming > Soul Man” Billy Preston: “Nothing from Nothing” Doors: “The Crystal Ship (Isolated Vocal)” Sparks: “Nothing Is as Good as They Say It Is” Van Morrison: “Coney Island” Van Morrison: “I’m Tired Joey Boy” Paul McCartney: “Calico Skies (Remastered 2020)” Three Fates Project: “The Endless Enigma Suite, Pt. 2” Faces: “Stay With Me” Leon Russell: “Roll Away the Stone” Todd Rundgren: “A Dream Goes on Forever” Ryan Adam’s: “New York, New York” Eric Clapton: “They’re Red Hot” Warren Zevon: “Werewolves of London” Three Dog Night: “Shambala (Single Version)” Simon & Garfunkel: “Mrs. Robinson (Demo)” Ennio Morricone: “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” Ray Charles: “The ABC Song (edit)” Grateful Dead: “Loose Lucy” Keith Richard’s: “How I Wish” Ben Kweller: “Walk on Me” Elton John: “Take Me to The Pilot (Live)” Please Leave a Comment! Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band featuring Sam Moore: “Hold On, I’m Coming > Soul Man” Play this track One of a few spectacular performances at the 25th Anniversary concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The band is on point and on fire. Bruce is successfully paying homage and letting it rip at the same time. Bravo! -John Stix Pretty rockin’, I’d say. A good version of “Soul Man” is always welcome. -Rock Stamberg Billy Preston: “Nothing from Nothing” Play this track Billy Preston during his mega-hit days in the early-to-mid ‘70s. Still sounds great, too. -RS Gospel rock at its best. Jerry Lee Lewis would be proud. This is a killer track. -JS Doors: “The Crystal Ship (Isolated Vocal)” Play this track All the mystery and danger are right here in the vocal. -JS Sparks: “Nothing Is as Good as They Say It Is” Play this track Trust me, this song *is* as good as I say it is. It’s good too. -RS Up there with the best of a Zappa-like narrative for a song. The baby is born and almost immediately wants to return to the womb. It’s known that laughter is the best medicine. So, listen to the lyric and enjoy your medicine. -JS Van Morrison: “Coney Island” Play this track Van Morrison: “I’m Tired Joey Boy” Play this track These two songs are inexorably tied together. Found on Van Morrison’s sublime Avalon Sunset album from 1989, these tracks define what’s beautiful about beautiful music. A+ stuff. -RS Van the poet at his most commanding. It’s also the first appearance of the word “famished” on NHT. -JS Paul McCartney: “Calico Skies (Remastered 2020)” Play this track Melancholia made majestic. As good as any Beatles track. -RS I didn’t follow the individual Beatles after the breakup. So, I didn’t know this song, nor its reason for being. A love song for the ages. I do hope you have someone to share this with. -JS Three Fates Project: “The Endless Enigma Suite, Pt. 2” Play this track I had the ELP album Trilogy, I just didn’t listen to it much. This orchestral version, I could barely hear KE anywhere, has all the drama, flourish and fanfare that made up the best of ELP. I am drawn the chorus melody and am stopped in my tracks every time it comes around. -JS Faces: “Stay with Me” Play this track Now *this* is great rock ‘n roll. Listen to how guitarist Ronnie Wood was already ready for The Rolling Stones three years prior to joining ‘em. -RS The kind of raucous rock that rolls (because of that piano) that we heard in Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and become the backbone sound of Delaney and Bonnie, Derek and the Dominoes, and now The Tedeschi Trucks Band. It could be argued that The Faces achieved this sound more successfully than the Stones. -JS Leon Russell: “Roll Away the Stone” Play this track The opening part has hints of the Stones “Stupid Girl.” And there is a 50 second piano intro before the song comes in. That acoustic piano drives the song throughout, with a Blues-Rock/Gospel stew that both simmers and rocks. Need we any more proof that Leon Russell was a first-rate songwriter? -JS Todd Rundgren: “A Dream Goes on Forever” Play this track Armed with just his always insightful lyrics, an acoustic piano, and a Rock of Gibraltar melody, I am enthralled. What about you? -JS Ryan Adam’s: “New York, New York” Play this track This song just makes me feel good. I love the acoustic guitar/Hammond organ bed married to vocal harmonies delivering nothing but melodic hooks. Then there is almost chaotic sax part that resolves in the end. -JS Eric Clapton: “They’re Red Hot” Play this track Clapton sans guitar swinging with a smile. I looked up the Robert Johnson recording, and his version was just as up and happy. I didn’t know that. -JS Warren Zevon: “Werewolves of London” Play this track Did you know this reached #21 in The Billboard Hot 100? That makes Warren Zevon a one-hit wonder. Guitarist Waddy Wachtel came up with the famous “aaaoooo” howl based on the song title. Did you notice the piano riff that beds this song just goes around and around without changing? -JS Three Dog Night: “Shambala (Single Version)” Play this track Three Dog Night made some good records in the early ‘70s and this is a good example of their song-based, harmony driven style. -RS I never heard this song before Rock suggested it. But it feels good and the vocals, including another wolf howl, are a ray of sunshine. -JS Simon & Garfunkel: “Mrs. Robinson (Demo)” Play this track Here it is before it was. -JS Ennio Morricone: “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” Play this track Everything you ever wanted in a song; flutes, trumpet, whistling, vocal grunts, tremolo guitar, tubular bells, a choir, military drums, scream singing and voices pretending to be a wah-wah effect. And it was a hit too! -JS Ray Charles: “The ABC Song (edit)” Play this track Some guys can sing anything. -JS Grateful Dead: “Loose Lucy” Play this track Taken from 1974’s Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel album – a personal favorite of mine – this track is sure evidence that the Dead were always a song-based band. Even when they were delving into their explorations onstage, each song always had a definite and crisp ending. This studio track is one of their best. -RS Keith Richard’s: “How I Wish” Play this track Another favorite of mine, this catchy rocker shows Keith Richard’s composing a song the way he and Mick Jagger used to do. No riff-based tune here. From Keith’s excellent debut solo album, Talk is Cheap, released in 1988. -RS Ben Kweller: “Walk on Me” Play this track I love Ben Kweller. What a songwriter. This rollicking track is from his Sha-Sha album from 2002. -RS Elton John: “Take Me to The Pilot (Live)” Play this track This acoustic piano trio and song, absolutely live, just rocks! -JS Early live Elton rocked. His original live trio was comprised of drummer Nigel Olsson and the late bassist Dee Murray, both of whom were also fantastic singers. Olsson remained in Elton’s live band right up until the end. -RS
Christmas 2024
Merry Christmas! Tracklist: Chuck Leavell: “Hey Santa” Ryan Culwell: “It’s Christmastime, I Know (Ho Ho Ho)” Ben Kweller: “Try to Love (Joy to the World)” The Beach Boys: “Christmas Time Is Here Again” Graham Gouldman: “A Christmas Affair (feat. Beth Nielsen Chapman)” Lindsey Buckingham: “Holiday Road” Chris Squire’s Swiss Choir: “Run with the Fox” Al Jardine: “Big Sur Christmas” Andy Partridge: “Cool Yule” Cheap Trick: “Please Come Home for Christmas” Keith Richards: “Run Rudolph Run” The Rolling Stones: “Winter” Emmylou Harris: “Light of the Stable” Wings: “Wonderful Christmastime (Live)” Yoko Ono & The Flaming Lips: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” Robin Gibb: “Noel” Rufus Wainwright: “Christmas Is for Kids” The Beatles: “1967 Christmas Record” Eagles: “Funky New Year (Live)” The Beach Boys: “Auld Lang Syne” Fleet Foxes: “White Winter Hymnal” Mariah Carey/Queen: “Don’t Stop Christmas Now (Mashup)” Liz Phair: “Winter Wonderland” Vince Guaraldi Trio featuring Josh Turner on Guitar: “Charlie Brown Christmas Medley” Please Leave a Comment! Chuck Leavell: “Hey Santa” Play this track Chuck Leavell’s Christmas album, What’s in That Bag? is loaded with more funky good cheer. —Rock Stamberg Ryan Culwell: “It’s Christmastime, I Know (Ho Ho Ho)” Play this track I heard it, I liked it, and here it is. —RS Ben Kweller: “Try to Love (Joy to the World)” Play this track A cool song that incorporates a well-known holiday standard. —RS The Beach Boys: “Christmas Time Is Here Again” Play this track The backing track is actually the Beach Boys playing Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue,” albeit with their own Christmas lyrics. Listen, you’ll hear it. -RS Graham Gouldman: “A Christmas Affair (feat. Beth Nielsen Chapman)” Play this track 10cc’s Graham Goldman wrote this Christmas song and put it in the middle of his latest decidedly non-Christmas album, I Have Notes. —RS Lindsey Buckingham: “Holiday Road” Play this track An obvious choice, I know. But it’s a great song! —RS Chris Squire’s Swiss Choir: “Run with the Fox” Play this track The late, great Yes bassist added a choir to his 1981 Christmas single, beautifully enhancing the track. Voila! —RS Al Jardine: “Big Sur Christmas” Play this track A long lost online-only original Christmas song by The Beach Boys’ ageless Alan Jardine. —RS Andy Partridge: “Cool Yule” Play this track The XTC mastermind’s original Christmas song that was first performed by … wait for it … The Monkees. —RS Cheap Trick: “Please Come Home for Christmas” Play this track Cheap Trick’s hard rocking’ take on the venerable holiday blues classic. —RS Keith Richards: “Run Rudolph Run” Play this track Released as a single in 1978, this is also Keith Richards’ first solo record. —RS The Rolling Stones: “Winter” Play this track Though it’s not a holiday song, per se, it is a great seasonal track, nonetheless. —RS Emmylou Harris: “Light of the Stable” Play this track This has always been a favorite of mine. How come I didn’t use it in prior Christmas episode? —RS Wings: “Wonderful Christmastime (Live)” Play this track A live recording of the then new song performed at one of Wings’ final concerts in 1979. Better than the original? You decide. —RS Yoko Ono & The Flaming Lips: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” Play this track A very original take on John & Yoko’s holiday classic. And yes, that wonderful chorus is sung beautifully by Ms. Ono. Underrated. Listen! —RS Robin Gibb: “Noel” Play this track The late Bee Gees brother recorded a fantastic Christmas album shortly before his death. This is a good representation of what it’s all about. —RS Rufus Wainwright: “Christmas Is for Kids” Play this track A nice original song from the amazing Rufus Wainwright. —RS The Beatles: “1967 Christmas Record” Play this track Every year I add one of The Beatles’ Fan Club’s holiday offerings in chronological order. We’re up to 1967 now. Only two more Beatles Christmas records left to add to a NHT Christmas podcast. Then what’ll I do? —RS Eagles: “Funky New Year (Live)” Play this track A rare live version. —RS The Beach Boys: “Auld Lang Syne” Play this track How else to include a New Year’s song -RS Fleet Foxes: “White Winter Hymnal” Play this track It’s all about the sound of their voices. A winter choirs. It’s not from the Brian Wilson school, but it is in the classroom next door. —John Stix Mariah Carey/Queen: “Don’t Stop Christmas Now (Mashup)” Play this track When a mashup works, it just sounds like another song. This is just another Xmas song. —JS Liz Phair: “Winter Wonderland” Play this track The melody is sung straight. It’s the arrangement and instrumentation that makes it fresh. And in this case, that’s “organic and wooden.” —JS Vince Guaraldi Trio featuring Josh Turner on Guitar: “Charlie Brown Christmas Medley” Play this track Everyone’s favorite Xmas melodies presented in a jazz chord melody style, no improv, just great compositions. —JS
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