101 Series

Pick out your best skinny tie and Aquanet that hair up high, it’s time to cruise into ’82. Join your she-boppers at Balcony Radio at the roller rink while we spin the best music of 1982. Put your Atari joystick down and crank it up for Lesson 158 of the 101 Series. This time out, we spin the best rock, country, r&b and new wave produced during the year. We’ll be listening in chronolgical order so mark it off your calendar with a magenta marker and step into the Time Zone!

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PLAYLIST:
SENSES WORKING OVERTIME: XTC (ENGLISH SETTLEMENT)
MOUNTAIN MUSIC: ALABAMA (MOUNTAIN MUSIC)
IN THE NAME OF LOVE: THOMPSON TWINS (PLATINUM & GOLD COLLECTION)
CHANT NO. 1(I DON’T NEED THIS PRESSURE ON): SPANDAU BALLET (DIAMOND)
HEAT OF THE MOMENT: ASIA (ASIA)
DO RIGHT WOMAN, SO RIGHT MAN: WILLIE NELSON (ALWAYS ON MY MIND)
ONLY THE LONLEY: THE MOTELS (80S ALTERNATIVE)
HURTS SO GOOD: JOHN MELLENCAMP (AMERICAN FOOL)
I RAN (SO FAR AWAY): A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS (A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS)
I MELT WITH YOU: MODERN ENGLISH (AFTER THE SHOW)
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF: DURAN DURAN (RIO)
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO: THE CLASH (COMBAT ROCK)
MORE THAN THIS: ROXY MUSIC (AVALON)
FOOL HEARTED MEMORY: GEORGE STRAIT (STRAIT FROM THE HEART)
STRAY CAT STRUT: THE STRAY CATS (BUILT FOR SPEED)
COME ON EILEEN: DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS (TOO RYE AY)
VACATION: THE GO-GOS (VACATION)
SHOCK THE MONKEY: PETER GABRIEL (SECURITY)
LITTLE RED CORVETTE: PRINCE (1999)
I’LL TUMBLE 4 YA: CULTURE CLUB (KISSING TO BE CLEVER)
BILLIE JEAN: MICHAEL JACKSON (THRILLER)

Let’s take it back an even 50 years when the only way to escape a little thing called Watergate was Top 40 radio. Pull up some space on the shag carpeting next to your buddies at Balcony Radio for Lesson 157 of the 101 Series. This time out, we’re scanning the dial for the best music of the year 1972. You won’t need a pardon to enjoy this one.

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PLAYLIST:
MOTHER AND CHILD REUNION: PAUL SIMON (PAUL SIMON)
ROCK STEADY: ARETHA FRANKLIN (YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK)
EVERYTHING I OWN: BREAD (BABY IM-A WANT YOU)
I SAW THE LIGHT: TODD RUNDGREN (SOMETHING/ANYTHING)
MELISSA: ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (EAT A PEACH)
YOU DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM: JIM CROCE (YOU DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM)
LET’S STAY TOGETHER: AL GREEN (LET’S STAY TOGETHER)
RIP THIS JOINT: ROLLING STONES (EXILE ON MAIN STREET)
ROCKET MAN (I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE A LONG,LONG TIME): ELTON JOHN (HONKEY CHATEAU)
TAKE IT EASY: THE EAGLES (THE EAGLES)
SUFFRAGETTE CITY: DAVID BOWIE (THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST & THE SPIDERS FROM MARS)
SCHOOL’S OUT: ALICE COOPER (SCHOOL’S OUT)
THE HARDER THEY COME: JIMMY CLIFF (THE HARDER THEY COME OST)
YOU WEAR IT WELL: ROD STEWART (NEVER A DULL MOMENT)
SUPERFLY: CURTIS MAYFIELD (SUPERFLY OST)
BEN: MICHAEL JACKSON (SINGLE)
IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME BY KNOW: HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES FEAT. TEDD PENDERGAST)
ALL THE YOUNG DUDES: MOTT THE HOOPLE (ALL THE YOUNG DUDES)
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: JOHN DENVER (ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH)
JESUS WAS A CAPRICORN (OWED TO JOHN PRINE): KRIS KRISTOFFERSON (JESUS WAS A CAPRICORN)
TROUBLE MAN: MARVIN GAYE (TROUBLE MAN OST)
ACROSS 110TH STREET: BOBBY WOMACK (THE BEST OF BOBBY WOMACK – THE SOUL YEARS)
I BELIEVE (WHEN I FALL IN LOVE IT WILL BE FOREVER): STEVIE WONDER (TALKING BOOK)

Gas up the Camaro because your friends at Balcony Radio are ready to take you on a musical journey back to ’75. Join us for Lesson 156 of the 101 Series as we look at the best rock, pop, soul, and funk released in 1975. Dig out the bell bottoms and pick that hair up high, it’s time for real music.

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PLAYLIST:
JIVE TALKIN’: THE BEEGEES (MAIN COURSE)
SISTER GOLDEN HAIR: AMERICA (HEARTS)
BALLROOM BLITZ: THE SWEET (DESOLATION BOULEVARD)
BLACK WATER: THE DOOBIE BROS. (WHAT WERE ONCE VICES ARE NOW HABITS)
WHY CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS: WAR (WHY CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS?)
SOS: ABBA (ABBA GOLD)
YOU’RE NO GOOD: LINDA RONSTADT (HEART LIKE WHEEL)
(HEY WON’T YOU PLAY) ANOTHER SOMEBODY DONE SOMEBODY WRONG SONG: BJ THOMAS (REUNION)
50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER: PAUL SIMON (STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS)
AT SEVENTEEN: JANIS IAN: BETWEEN THE LINES
BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS: FREDDY FENDER (BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS)
FIRE: OHIO PLAYERS (FIRE)
SQUEEZE BOX: THE WHO (THE WHO BY NUMBERS)
RHINESTONE COWBOY: GLEN CAMPBELL (RHINESTONE COWBOY)
FAME: DAVID BOWIE (YOUNG AMERICANS)
TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (BORN TO RUN)
HOUSES OF THE HOLY: LED ZEPPELIN (PHYSICAL GRAFFITI)
STAND BY YOUR MAN: TAMMY WYNETTE (TEARS OF FIRE)
SWEET THING: RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN (RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN)
T.N.T.: AC/DC (HIGH VOLTAGE)
GIVE UP THE FUNK (TEAR THE ROOF OFF THE SUCKER): PALIAMENT (MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION)

From 1967-1972, the music bidnezz realized something: kids like music and they don’t care about art. Thus, was born the genre that launched a thousand lunch boxes: Bubblegum Music. In Lesson 155 of the 101 Series, your friends at Balcony Radio stick a big ol’ wad of sugary tunes in our mouths and spin the best AM pop music from that weird time between hippies and Watergate. Cut the crusts off your pb&j and don’t spill the grape juice while playing this one too loud.

PLAYLIST:
1,2,3 RED LIGHT: 1910 FRUITGUM COMPANY
BICYCLES, ROLLER SKATES AND YOU: THE ARCHIES
LOVE YOU: THE FREE DESIGN
CHEWY CHEWY: OHIO EXPRESS
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING: THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY
INDIAN LAKE: THE COWSILLS
SWEET PEA: TOMMY ROE
IT’S A SUNSHINE DAY: THE BRADY BUNCH
DON’T GO AWAY – GO-GO GIRL: THE BANANA SPLITS
TRACY: THE CUFF LINKS
LOVE GROWS (WHERE MY ROSEMARY GOES): EDISON LIGHTHOUSE
I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW: TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
ONE BAD APPLE: THE OSMONDS
THE LOVE YOU SAVE: THE JACKSON FIVE
CRY LIKE A BABY: THE BOX TOPS
KNOCK THREE TIMES: TONY ORLANDO & DAWN
HITCHIN’ A RIDE: VANITY FARE
HERE COMES THE RAINY DAY FEELING AGAIN: THE FORTUNES
APPLES, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE: JAY & THE TECHNIQUES
FINDERS KEEPERS: SALT WATER TAFFY
RAINBOW TREE: THE LEMON PIPERS
CHIRPY CHIRPY CHEAP CHEAP: MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER: JAY & THE AMERICANS
LET’S LIVE FOR TODAY: THE GRASS ROOTS
BROTHER LOVE’S TRAVELING SALVATION SHOW: NEIL DIAMOND

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For a brief period of time, a moment after the advent of Post-Punk and before the avalanche popularity of R.E.M., there was a microscopic sub-genre from the West and Southwest that came to be dubbed The Paisley Underground. For Lesson 154 of the 101 Series we dip our 10 gallons hats in tie-dye and experiment with the sounds of mushrooms growing in the cowpies for a brief journey in music history that hardly anyone remembers. The selection is sparce but you get the point. Even cowboys get hallucinations.

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PLAYLIST:
WHEN YOU SMILE: DREAM SYNDICATE (THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES)
I LOOK AROUND: THE RAIN PARADE (EMERGENCY THIRD RAIL POWER TRIP)
WITH A CANTALOUPE GIRLFRIEND: THE THREE O’OCLOCK (BAROQUE HOEDOWN)
COOL MILLION: GREEN ON RED (THIS TIME AROUND)
(SWEET) MENTAL REVENGE: THE LONG RYDERS (NATIVE SONS-EXPANDED EDITION)
LITANY(LIFE GOES ON): GUADALCANAL DIARY (2X4)
HAZY SHADE OF WINTER: THE BANGLES (GREATEST HITS)
CAST IRON SOUL: DANNY & DUSTY (CAST IRON SOUL)
PASS IT ON: LONE JUSTICE (LONE JUSTICE)
BACKSEAT NOTHING: THE DEL FUEGOS (BEST OF THE SLASH YEARS)
GET BLITZED EAT PIE: CLAY ALLISON (GET BLITZED EAT PIE EP)
A DRUNKER VERSION OF YOU: THE LEAVING TRAINS (FAVOURITE MOOD SWINGS 1986-1995)
DOWN IN THE DESERT: THIN WHITE ROPE (EXPLORING AXIS)
BAD YEAR AT UCLA: GAME THEORY (BLAZE OF GLORY)
25 PILLS: 28TH DAY (THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS)
HAND OF FATE: TRUE WEST (HAND OF FATE)
BARBARELLA: THE BONGOS (NUMBERS WITH WINGS)
A SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE: THE DB’S (LOST TREASURES OF THE 80S)
BUZZ: PYLON (CHOMP)
OOH OOH LA LA LA: THE RAINCOATS (MOVING)
METAL BABY: TEENAGE FANCLUB (BANDWAGONESQUE)

Before Apple Music, before YouTube, before Napster, before MTV, before things were in color there was only one place to get your music fix. And it was brought to you by the squarest man in the Western Hemisphere. In Lesson 153 of the 101 Series, Balcony Radio heads to Broadway as we focus on some of the best musical performances on The Ed Sullivan Show. From 1948 – 1971, everyone who was everyone appeared on the program from black and white to day-glo. The applause sign is on and we’ve just heard a word from our sponsors . . . time for some music.

I SAW HER STANDING THERE: THE BEATLES
DAYDREAM: THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL
OH, BOY: BUDDY HOLLY & THE CRICKETS
PROUD MARY: IKE & TINA TURNER
UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK: THE BAND
HOUND DOG: ELVIS PRESLEY
MACK THE KNIFE: BOBBY DARIN
LOVE ME OR LOVE ME: NINA SIMONE
12:30: THE MOMMAS & PAPAS
LONELY TEARDDROPS: JACKIE WILSON
JUST MY IMAGINATION: THE TEMPTATIONS
ONLY YOU: THE PLATTERS
IT’S NOT UNUSUAL: TOM JONES
IT DON’T MEAN A THING: ELLA FITZGERALD & DUKE ELLINGTON
I WANT YOU BACK: JACKSON 5
YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE: THE SUPREMES
THE LAST TIME: THE ROLLING STONES
I GET AROUND: BEACH BOYS
RAISE YOUR HAND: JANIS JOPLIN
I’M CRYING: THE ANIMALS
I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN: LOUIS PRIMA & KEELY SMITH
BLACK DENIM TROUSERS & MOTORCYCLE BOOTS: EDITH PIAF
PEOPLE ARE STRANGE: THE DOORS
SHE EVEN WOKE ME UP TO SAY GOODBYE: JERRY LEE LEWIS
PERSONALITY: LLOYD PRICE
FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE: STEVIE WONDER

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From the swampy mucks of Northern California’s East Bay is a little band everyone in the world likes: Creedence Clearwater Revival. In Lesson 152 of the 101 Series, we run through the jungle with 2 dozen of the best tracks that ever graced radio airwaves. Button up your flannel and lace up your work boots, sweet hitch-hiker, time for some real American music.

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Ten score and some ago a little experiment called America was begun. We at Balcony Radio are doing our patriotic duty to celebrate the good and (mostly) bad of that long history. Here in Lesson 151 of the 101 Series, we spin songs all about the whos, whats, wheres, and whys of American history. This show will be your Civics final this semester. Take notes accordingly, you might actually learn something.

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Sirens are blaring and you need a soundtrack for stepping on the gas . . . why not Balcony Radio? In Lesson 150 of the 101 Series we do 99 to life with the best songs we could find about crime. We’ve got misdemeanors, felonies, sins, thievery, and dick moves covered. The rap sheet makes for a pretty good playlist.

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ANNNNND! we’re back!!! Hello students of music. Summer break is over and class is (virtually) in session. What better way to get back to the music than a show to get your school spirit going? We can’t think of one. Straighten out your pencils and your books, your classmates at Balcony Radio have Lesson 149 of the 101 Series on your schedule. For first period, we’re playing all the best songs about school we could find. Get ready for AP Music. Don’t be tardy.

SCHOOL DAYS: CHUCK BERRY (GREATEST HITS)
(REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THE) OLD SCHOOLYARD: CAT STEVENS (VERY BEST OF)
EDUCATION: FREDDY GIBBS & MADLIB (FEAT. YASIIN & BLACK THOUGHT) (BANDANA)
SCHOOL SPIRIT: KANYE WEST (THE COLLEGE DROPOUT)
SCHOOL DAYS: THE KINKS (SCHOOLBOYS IN DISGRACE)
HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL: JERRY LEE LEWIS (LIVE AT THE STAR CLUB, HAMBURG)
SCHOOL DAYS: THE RUNAWAYS (WAITIN’ FOR THE NIGHT)
MY OLD SCHOOL: STEELY DAN (COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY)
WHAR DID YOU LEARN IN SCHOOL TODAY?: PETE SEEGER (A LINK IN THE CHAIN)
TEACHER: JETHRO TULL (THE ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION)
PRINCIPLE’S OFFICE: YOUNG MC (STONE COLD RHYMIN’)
WE’RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS: THE WHITE STRIPES (WHITE BLOOD CELLS)
F*CK SCHOOL: THE REPLACEMENTS (STINK)
EVERYONE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH IS DEAD: MR. BUNGLE (DISCO VOLANTE)
HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTS: DAVE EDMONDS (PORKY’S REVENGE: ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK)
PLAY IT COOL, STAY IN SCHOOL: BRENDA HOLLOWAY (COMPLETE MOTOWN SINGLES, VOL. 6 1966)
DON’T BE A DROUPOUT: JAMES BROWN (JAMES BROWN SINGS RAW)
SCHOOL IS OUT: GARY U.S. BONDS (THE BEST OF)
GRADUATION DAY: THE BEACH BOYS (BEACH BOYS CONCERT – LIVE)
STILL IN SCHOOL: NRBQ (ALL HOPPED UP)
WE’LL ALL REMEMBER GRADUATION: STARK WHITEMAN (NEW ORLEANS SENIOR PROM)

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