Hello and welcome to the pseudo-holiday, but hell it’s a day off for everyone, called President’s Day! Join your fellow Americans at BalconyRadio.com for a show about the person steering the freedom ship: el presidente. In honor of the holiday, tune in to a classic Balcony Radio episode we call “Songs About the President.” We pay tribute to Resident #1 and a few of the people who’ve tried to kill him….skip the primaries, drop out of the electoral college, light up a sparkler and enjoy the show.
101 Series
101 Series Lesson 52: Church Rock
The one thing we at the Balcony truly consider blasphemous is when you consider gospel and rock two different things. You ever seen a big choir put on a show? They’ll kick your ass more than an Arcade Fire concert, that’s for damn (darn, sorry) sure . . . In Lesson 52 of the 101 Series we take our secular-living-long-hair-having-dope-smoking-devil-horn-throwing-up asses to church for some religious music. Join us for two hours of proof that rock stars have soul. Now throw some bills in the collection, not coins . . . you don’t want to wake up the Lord too early on a Sunday morning. Say Hallelujah!
PLAYLIST:
TESTIFY: PARLIAMENT (UP FOR THE DOWNSTROKE)
WORKIN’ ON A BUILDING: JOHN FOGERTY (BLUE RIDGE RANGERS)
I CLOSE MY EYES TO THINK OF GOD: COMET GAIN (REALISTES)
HOLD ON TO GOD: DWIGHT YOKUM (BUENA NOCHES FROM A LONLEY ROOM)
THE CROSS: PRINCE (SIGN O’ THE TIMES)
JESUS CHRIST WAS AN ONLY CHILD: SUN KIL MOON (TINY CITIES)
I BELIEVE IN THE MAN IN THE SKY: ELVIS PRESLEY (ULTIMATE GOSPEL)
WHEN GOD COMES AND GATHERS HIS JEWELS: HANK WILLIAMS (COMPLETE HW)
LET IT BE: IKE & TINA TURNER (WORKIN’ TOGETHER)
GOD IS MY FRIEND: MARVIN GAYE (I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE)
GOD BLESS US ALL: NRBQ (GOD BLESS US ALL)
HAVE A TALK WITH GOD: STEVIE WONDER (SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE)
FIRST, YOU’VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE GOD: THE BURNADETTES (MOTOWN 1963)
MEET ME IN CHURCH: SOLOMON BURKE (I WISH I KNEW)
PRAYER IN OPEN D: EMMYLOU HARRIS (SONGBIRD)
JESUS CHRIST: BIG STAR (THIRD/SISTER LOVERS)
JESUS: CAT STEVENS (BUDDAH & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY)
WE’VE BEEN TOLD: ERIC CLAPTON (THERE’S ONE IN EVERY CROWD)
HE TURNED WATER INTO WINE: JOHNNY CASH (GOSPEL SONGS)
JESUS: VELVET UNDERGROUND (VELVET UNDERGROUND)
I KNOW I GOT RELIGION: STAPLE SINGERS (SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT)
TRAVELIN’ ON FOR JESUS: KATE & ANNE MCGARRIGLE (KATE & ANNE MCGARRIGLE)
JESUS GAVE ME WATER: SAM COOKE (THE TWO SIDES OF SAM COOKE)
YOU’RE GONNA NEED PURE RELIGION: LUCINDA WILLIAMS (RAMBLIN’)
CHRIST FOR PRESIDENT: BILLY BRAGG & WILCO (MERMAID AVENUE)
IF THERE’S A GOD IN HEAVEN: ELTON JOHN (BLUE MOVES)
SHINE A LIGHT: ROLLING STONES (EXILE ON MAIN STREET)
101 Series Lesson 47: Toots and The Maytals
Every once in a while we at the Balcony get in a boat with no sail and drift off toward Trenchtown, somewhere near Kingston (we’ll find it). On this trip to the islands we meet a group of friends called Toots and The Maytals. Jamaica doesn’t have garage bands, but they got tin roof bands . . . in Lesson 47 of the 101 Series we pull up a spliff and vibe out to the best band the islands ever produced.
101 Series Lesson 50: Surf’s Up!
Hello, students. Time to gas up the Woody, break out the Sex Wax and pack up the cooler with beverages. The weather is getting warmer and the waves are getting higher so it’s time for some sun and sand in your sandwiches. Lesson 50 of the 101 Series says it’s “Surf’s Up!” – we get out of the classroom and on the road to beaches around the world – or maybe right down the 101 Freeway – and listen to lots of twangy guitar. Get your sunscreen and zinc oxide and hop in the back. Time to use some vacation time!
101 Series Lesson 20 – Crosby. Stills & Nash (and Young!)
In honor of the recent passing of BalconyRadio hero David Crosby, we’d like to break into the archives for a show in his memory. Way back when on Lesson 20 of the infinite 101 Series, we covered the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash (and sometimes) Young. We can’t think of a better way to honor the Croz than checking out some of the best harmonizing that ever echoed out of Laurel Canyon.
PLAYLIST:
CSNY: 7 BRIDGES ROAD (DEJA VU)
CSNY: HARVEST (LIVE)
CSN: YOU DON’T HAVE TO CRY (CROSBY, STILLS & NASH)
CSN: MERRAKESH EXPRESS (DEMOS)
CSBY: EVERYBODY I LOVE YOU (DEJA VU)
CNY: HEART OF GOLD (LIVE)
CSNY: DEA OF MADNESS (ARCHIVES)
DAVID CROSBY: WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES (IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME)
CS: LONG TIME GONE (DEMOS)
STEPHEN STILLS: CHANGE PARTNERS (JUST ROLL TAPE)
CSNY: TELL ME WHY (LIVE)
GRAHAM NASH: BE YOURSELF (DEMO)
STEPHEN STILLS: FISHES & SCORPIONS (STEPHEN STILLS 2)
YS: LONG MAY YOU RUN (LONG MAY YOU RUN)
GRAHAM NASH: SLEEP SONG (DEMOS)
CSNY: HELPLESS HOPING (LIVE)
CNY: WOODEN SHIPS (LIVE)
YS: OCEAN GIRL (LONG MAY YOU RUN)
CSNY: COWGIRL IN THE SAND (FOUR WAY STREET)
CSN: SEE THE CHANGES (CROSBY STILLS & NASH)
CNY: ALMOST CUT MY HAIR (LIVE)
YS: FOUNTAINBLEAU (LONG MAY YOU RUN)
STEPHEN STILLS: SONG OF LOVE (MANASSAS)
GRAHAM NASH: CHICAGO (DEMOS)
YN: WAR SONG (ARCHIVES)
DAVID CROSBY: MUSIC IS LOVE (DEMOS)
CSNY: TEACH YOUR CHILDREN (LIVE)
101 Series Lesson 48: The Doors
Hello, we love you, listen to our show. We’re still on hiatus, but the music never stops. Break on through to the past with a classic Balcony Radio broadcast. This week, we open up the best of The Doors. We’ve got the best live, in studio, and postmortem recordings of L.A.’s house band. Grab a jug of wine and a fist full of peyote, you need to catch up.
