Dusty Gems

It’s Open Mic Night at Balcony Radio! On EP 19 of Dusty Gems — our testament to the best under the radar singer/songwriters — we pull up a stool at the small venue downtown and snap our fingers at some of the best music you’ve never heard. The crowds are small, but the songs are big. Dig?

PLAYLIST:
GETAWAY: UNCLE WALT’S BAND (ANTHOLOGY)
YOU AND I TOGETHER: KATE WOLF (LIVE IN MENDOCINO)
SO DAMN HAPPY: LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III (SO DAMN HAPPY(LIVE))
I WANT TO SEE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS TONIGHT: RICHARD THOMPSON (SMALL TOWN ROMANCE)
BLACKWATERSIDE: BERT JANSCH (LIVE AT THE 12 BAR)
DOLPHINS: TIM BUCKLEY (LIVE AT THE FOLKLORE CENTER – MARCH 16, 1967)
THE LAMB RAN AWAY WITH THE CROWN: JUDEE SILL (SONGS OF RAPTURE AND REDEMPTION-RARITIES & LIVE)
TRUE LOVE WILL FIND YOU IN THE END: DANIEL JOHNSTON (LIVE @ ALBERTSTUDIOS)
EGYPTIAN REGGAE: JONATHAN RICHMAN & THE MODERN LOVERS (LIVE)
SEPTEMBER GIRLS: ALEX CHILTON (LIVE IN LONDON)
I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN: GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR (LIVE AT ROCKPALAST 1978)
PARALLELOFRAMS: LINDA PERHACS (JAM IN THE VAN-LIVE SESSIONS, SONOMA VALLEY)
CYNICAL GIRL: MARSHALL CRENSHAW (MY TRUCK IS MY HOME)
SWEEPING THROUGH THE CITY: LEON RUSSELL (LEON LIVE)
I SOMETHING YOU: ROBYN HITCHCOCK (STOREFRONT HITCHCOCK: MUSIC FROM THE JONATHAN DEMME FILM)
SCHOOL IS OUT: RY COODER (SHOW TIME)
TRAVELIN’ LIGHT: ROBERT EARL KEEN (LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TX)
IT MUST BE LOVE: RICKIE LEE JONES (NAKED SONGS LIVE AND ACOUSTIC)
ROMEO’S TUNE (STEVE FORBERT (SCHOOL GIRL)
THERE IS A MOUNTAIN: DONOVAN (IN CONCERT AT THE ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER NOV. 17, 1967)
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER: RICHIE HAVENS (LIVE AT THE CELLAR DOOR AND AT THE SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM)

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Pull up a stool at the coffeehouse, it’s songwriter’s open mic night at Balcony Radio. This time out on Episode 18 of Dusty Gems — our tribute to singers that fell between the cracks of fame — we’re showcasing a few of our favorite non-stars. Check out some songs that were hits in a different, probably better dimension.

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PLAYLIST:
EMMITT RHODES:
WITH MY FACE ON THE FLOOR (THE EMMITT RHODES RECORDINGS 1969-1973)
SOMEBODY MADE FOR ME (THE EMMITT RHODES RECORDINGS 1969-1973)
LULLABYE (THE EMMITT RHODES RECORDINGS 1969-1973)
PROMISES I’VE MADE (THE EMMITT RHODES RECORDINGS 1969-1973)
JUDEE SILL:
THE KISS (HEART FOOD)
JESUS WAS A CROSS MAKER (JUDEE SILL)
LOPIN’ ALONG THE COSMOS (JUDEE SILL)
THE LAMB RAN AWAY WITH THE CROWN (JUDEE SILL)
KATE BOLLINGER:
UNTITLED (I DON’T WANNA LOSE)
A COUPLE THINGS (A WORD BECOMES A SOUND)
I DON’T WANNA LOSE (I DON’T WANNA LOSEA0
CANDY (I DON’T WANNA LOSE)
JONATHAN RICHMAN:
TRUE LOVE IS NOT NICE (I’M SO CONFUSED)
VELVET UNDERGROUND (I, JONATHAN)
THE GIRL STANDS UP TO ME NOW (HAVING A PARTY WITH JONATHAN RICHMAN)
I LOVE HOT NIGHTS (W/THE MODERN LOVERS) (MODERN LOVERS 88)
ALEX CHILTON:
EVERYDAY WE GROW CLOSER (FREE AGAIN: THE “1970” SESSION)
CAN’T SEEM TO MAKE YOU MINE (STUFF)
NO MORE THE MOON SHINES ON LORENA (LIKE FLIES ON SHERBERT)
LIKE FLIES ON SHERBERT (LIKE FLIES ON SHERBERT)
JONATHAN RICHAMN: I WAN DANCING IN THE LESBIAN BAR (I, JONATHAN)

Save that term paper about Zora Neale Hurston and strap on your Docs, it’s time for Balcony Radio to load up the Volvo and take us to just past the Lilith Fair to the other stage. In episode 17 of Dusty Gems, our tribute to forgotten singer-songwriters of yesteryear, we go one step beyond the Lilith Fair and rock asses very hard as we stick it to the man with the best lady-centric tunes of the 90s. Cut your bangs and turn it up.

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Hello out there you cats and kittens, it’s time to do a little musical mining with your partners at BalconyRadio.com. This week, we get out the pick and shovel and dig deep into crates for some of the best obscure singer-songwriter tunes for this week’s episode of Dusty Gems. This show is dedicated to finding the best music you’ve never heard and we’ve located two dozen 24 carats obscurities for you to oooh and aahh over.

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Well, its that time again . . . we’re thumbing our ears down some of the more unknown highways and biways of music. Join us for episode 14 of Dusty Gems, our tribute to music makers who weren’t exactly world shakers. We’re spinning two dozen of the best songs you’ve never heard of by people.
 

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This is Dusty Gems episode 2. The second in our series of shows dedicated to lesser-known singer-songwriters. Take notes (and show your work!) Admit it, you’ve never heard of most of these people. But there are some you have heard of. Buy some of their music and impress your friends.

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PLAYLIST:
JONATHAN EDWARDS: DUSTY MORNING (SELF)
JUDEE SILL: CRAYON ANGELS (SELF)
CHRIS BELL: I AM THE COSMOS (SAME)
LEO KOTTKE: CRIPPLE CREEK (BEST OF..)
RON SEXSMITH: STRAWBERRY BLONDE (OTHER SONGS)
GRAHAM PARKER: NOT IF IT PLEASES ME (HOWLING WIND)
IMAAD WASIF: TOMORROW IS OURS (SELF)
TERRY REID: FAITH TO ARISE (SEED OF MEMORY)
VASHTI BUNYAN: I DON’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (SOME THINGS JUST STICK IN YOUR MIND)
ROBERT EARL KEEN: FEELING GOOD AGAIN (BEST OF..)
AL STEWART: SAND IN YOUR SHOES (YEAR OF THE CAT)
ALEX CHILTON: EVERYDAY AS WE GROW CLOSER (KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY)
LEON RUSSELL: CRYSTAL CLOSET QUEEM (LEON RUSSELL & THE SHELTER PEOPLE)
GORDON LIGHTFOOT: THE HOUSE YOU LIVE IN (SUMMERTIME DREAM)
PETER CASE: OLD BLUE CARE (SELF)
KATE & ANNE MCGARRIGLE: KISS & SAY GOODBYE (SELF)
MARSHAL CRENSHAW: CYNICAL GIRL (THIS IS EASY)
GENE CLARK: I FOUND YOU (ECHOES)
JOHN PRINE: MAUREEN, MAUREEN (AIMLESS LOVE)
DAVID SYLVIAN: MARIA (SECRETS OF THE BEEHIVE)
RICKIE LEE JONES: SKELETONS (PIRATES)
EMITT RHODES: WITH MY FACE ON THE FLOOR (RECORDINGS)
PHIL OCHS: A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS (PLEASURES OF THE HARBOR)
MASON JENNINGS: SOUTHERN CROSS (BIRDS FLYING BACKWARDS)
JIM CARROLL BAND: I WANT THJE ANGEL (CATHOLIC BOY)
TIM BUCKLEY: SO LONELY (BLUE AFTERNOON)
LORI CARSON: SNOW COME DOWN (EVERYTHING I TOUCH RUNS WILD)
KATE WOLF: EARLY MORNING MELODY (SAFE AT ANCHOR)
JANIS IAN: WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER (BETWEEN THE LINES)
HARRY NILSSON: I WILL TAKE YOU THERE (SKIDOO)
RICHARD THOMPSON: FOR THE SAKE OF MARY (MIRROR BLUE)
KAREN DALTON: KATIE CRUEL (IN MY OWN TIME)
NICK LOWE: MARY PROVOST (JESUS OF COOL)

The first in our series of shows dedicated to lesser-known singer-songwriters. In this epsiode we play Emmitt Rhodes, Kate Wolf, Judee Sill, Phil Ochs and other people you’ve never heard of.
Like it? Buy it. Now.

PLAYLIST
Donovan: Hi, It’s Been A Long Time
Gordon Lightfoot: The House You Live In
Chris Bell: You And Your Sister
Phil Ochs: William Butler Yeats Visits Lincoln Park & Escapes Unscathed
John Martyn: Back Down The River
Mason Jennings: Darkness Between Fireflies
Robyn Hitchcock: Elizabeth Jade
Vashti Bunyan: Love Song
Jonathan Edwards: Everybody Knows Her
David Syvian: The Devil’s Own
Karen Dalton: Skillet Good and Greasy
Kelly Willis: Not Forgotten You
Time Buckley: Sing A Song For You
Janis Ian: Light A Light
Rickie Lee Jones: After Hours (12 Bars Past Midnight)
Dave Edmonds: What Looks Best On You
Gene Clark: True One
Judee Sill: Lopin’ Around The Cosmos
Emitt Rhodes: Better Side Of Life
Richard Thompson: Put Your Trust In Me
Kate Wolf: Early Morning Melody
Jim Carroll Band: Three Sisters
Cass McCombs: My Master
Leon Russell: A Song For You
Harry Nilsson: Caroline
Kate & Anne McGarrigle: Blues In D
Terry Reid: Things To Try
Robert Earl Keen: Gringo Honeymoon

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