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.
101 Series
101 Series Lesson 151 – American History 101
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.
PLAYLIST:
HOLIDAY IN CAMBODIA: DEAD KENNEDYS (GIVE ME CONVENIENCE OR GIVE ME DEATH)
RADIO BIKINI: THE VACCINES (ENGLISH GRAFFITI)
THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS: JOHNNY HORTON (GREATEST HITS)
OHIO: CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (SO FAR)
P.T. 109 : JIMMY DEAN (THE BEST OF..)
WHITEY ON THE MOON: GIL SCOTT-HERON (SMALL TALK AT 125TH AND LENOX)
THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED: PAPER LACE (BILLY DON’T BE A HERO)
BOSTON TEA PART: SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND (SHOUT: ESSENTIAL ALEX HARVEY)
INDIAN RESERVATION: PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS (INDIAN RESEVATION)
TRAIL OF TEARS: JOHN DENVER (DREAMLAND EXPRESS)
LINDY COMES TO TOWN: AL STEWART (BETWEEN THE WARS)
WHAT’D I MISS: DAVEED DIGGS ET.AL.: (HAMILTON SOUNDTRACK)
BONZO GOES TO BITBURG: RAMONES (ANIMAL BOY)
AMELIA EARHART’S LAST FLIGHT: RONNIE LANE (ANYMORE FOR ANYMORE)
LOUISIANA 1927: RANDY NEWMAN (SONGBOOK, VOL. 1)
JAMES K. POLK: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS (FACTORY SHOWROOM)
APRIL 28, 1992: SUBLIME (SUBLIME)
POCAHONTAS: NEIL YOUNG (HITCHHIKER)
D.B. COOPER (LIVE): TODD SNIDER (NEAR TRUTHS AND HOTEL ROOMS)
BALLAD OF THE ALAMO: MARTY ROBBINS (MORE GREATEST HITS)
THE BRITISH ARE COMING: WEEZER: EVERYTHING WILL NE ALRIGHT IN THE END)
JOHN BROWN’S BODY: PETE SEEGER (AMERICAN FAVORITE BALLADS. VOLS. 1-5)
101 Series Lesson 150 – Crime Wave: Songs About Crime
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.
101 Series Lesson 149 – Music Lab: Songs About School
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)
101 Series Lesson 148 – The Year 1991
Time to get in the ol’ way back machine with your pals at Balcony Radio. This time out, we set our sights on 1991 . . .the year of Nirvana, Using Your Illusion, and heading out in the great wide open. Join us for Lesson 148 of the 101 Series, as we sample tunes turning 30(!) this year. Thirty! Man . . .
101 Series Lesson 147 – John Prine
Hey there, buddy . . . why don’t you join your pals here at BalconyRadio as we pay respects to one of the greatest songwriters America has ever produced: Mr. John Prine. In Lesson 147 of the 101 Series, we take a stroll through the man’s impressive discography and find out that he never put out a bad record. That’s hard to do. Roll one up, have some peaches, try to find Jesus and get ready for some of the best music you’ll hear all week long.
101 Series Lesson 145 – Van Halen/Hagar
Help us as we join together both the Roth and Hagar eras to praise him: EVH. Many people have picked up the guitar, but few pushed at its boundaries like one Mr. Edward Van Halen. It’s Lesson 145 of the 101 Series, and this time out we’re playing the tastiest licks tapped out over multiple generations of rock kick-assery. From the humble streets of Pasadena, to arenas everywhere, spark one up for Eddie. Turn this up to 11, let the neighbors know about it.
101 Series Lesson 145 – Woodstock 1994
It’s been 26 years since Woodstock ’94 and the mud has finally been completely washed off . . . time to celebrate a time when people could stand near each other. Jump the chain link with us for Lesson 145 (though your hosts misspeak and name it Lesson 144) of the 101 Series, covering one of the better sequels (don’t bother with part three) in music history. Join Balcony Radio and 1/2 million of your closest friends in the mud to hear two dozen of the best tracks over one long weekend upstate. Leave your car on the turnpike, it’ll still be there Monday.
101 Series Lesson 144 – The Music from Laurel Canyon
Certain places where time, energy and good drugs meet are magical. One of those spots was a certain zip code in the hills above Hollywood from 1965-1975. In Lesson ??? of the infinite 101 Series, we take a geography lesson with the best music of Laurel Canyon. Harmonize with the wind and the trees and the bees landing on the flowers. (And don’t pay attention to the scruffy hippies coming up the driveway . . .)
101 Series Lesson 143 – Psychedelic Country
Howdy, partner, it’s time to travel the dustiest, longest trail of all: the one connecting the chakras to the universe. Infinity is a bull you can’t ride for 8 seconds, friends. Collect your stardust filled bones and pull up to the campfire for a new episode of Blue Highway, venturing further through that great weird American music. This week, we put on the denim and frills and thumb a ride to the corner of country and psychedelia, blasting off with the cosmic cowboys of the late 60s and early 70s. Hold on to your hat, we’re not stopping for it on the way to Venus.
