Holidays

The end of the year can mean many things: increased traffic, broken dreams, out-of-balance accounting ledgers, going to the gym to make up for the last 51 weeks of NOT going to the gym, and the endless and growing parade of Christmas-themed programming and music. These things go on for weeks!! This year your hosts keep it to a minimum and just sit down and play tunes and talk about what a great year we’ve had. It’s our 2nd Annual Christmas Spectacular and your hosts enjoy the holiday spirit. Let’s close the book on this year. Next year is another story.

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PLAYLIST:
ROBERT EARL KEEN: MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FAMILY
EMMYLOU HARRIS: CHRISTMAS IS COMING
THE DRIFTERS: I REMEMBER CHRISTMAS
BRENDA LEE: I’M GONNA LASSO SANTA CLAUS
JAMES BROWB: SOULFUL CHRISTMAS
THE RAMONES: MERRY CHRISTMAS (I ODN’T WANT TO FIGHT)
ROTARY CONNECTION: CHRISTMAS LOVE
THE WAITRESSES: CHRISTMAS WRAPPING
JACKSON 5: UPON THE HOUSETOP
ALTON ELLIS: MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS
SLADE: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!
RUN DMC: CHRISTMAS IS
THE MOONGLOWS: HEY SANTA CLAUS
BOB SEGER: SOCK IT TO ME, SANTA
STEVIE WONDER: WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME
OTIS REDDING: WHITE CHTISTMAS
THE SHELLS: (IT’S A) HAPPY HOLIDAY
BOB DYLAN: IT MUST BE SANTA
CURTIS BLOW: CHRISTMAS RAPPING
LOU RAWLS: CHRISTMAS WILL REALLY BE CHRISTMAS
BUCK OWENS: BLUE CHRISTMAS TREE
JACK SCOTT: JINGLE BELL SLIDE
THE SONICS: DON’T BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS
ARETHA FRANKLIN: WINTER WONDERLAND
BING CROSBY/DAVID BOWIE: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
GREG LAKE: I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS

Well, good friends and neighbors, it’s that time of year for jacking up your electric bill with massive lighting, sorting out old gift cards for possible re-re-re-use for new gifts, and then flocking a big tree with snow the texture of mucous. Yes, it’s the 45th Annual (actually, it’s the first annual, but who’s counting?) BalconyRadio Christmas Spectacular. Holiday time has got you by the Xmas balls! We’ve got a sleigh-load of great tunes to help you soundtrack the madness. Songs you won’t hear on repeat at the market or the mall. Watch out where the reindeer fly. They just ate Santa’s cookies!

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PLAYLIST:
ROBERT EARL KEEN: MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIOM THE FAMILY (BEST OF..)
ALTON ELLIS: MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS (TROJAN CHRISTMAS BOX)
THE SUPREMES: MY FAVORITE THINGS (A MOTOWN CHRISTMAS)
EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER: I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS (COME AND SEE THE SHOW)
STAPLE SINGERS: WHO TOOK THE MERRY OUT OF CHRISTMAS? (CHRISTMAS IN SOULVILLE)
TWISTIN’ KINGS: XMAS TWIST (ULTIMATE MOTOWN CHRISTMAS COLLECTION)
FREE DESIGN: CLOSE YOUR MOUTH (IT’S CHRISTMAS) (BADD SANTA)
KURTIS BLOW: CHRISTMAS RAPPIN’ (BEST OF..)
THE RAMONES: MERRY CHRISTMAS (I DON’T WANNA FIGHT) (BRAIN DRAIN)
STEVIE WONDER: SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS (A MOTOWN CHRISTMAS)
BOB DYLAN: IT MUST BE SANTA (CHISTMAS IN THE HEART)
DAR WILLIAMS: CHRISTIANS & PAGANS (THE WOMEN OF KERRVILLE)
SMOKEY ROBINSON: NOEL (ULTIMATE MOTOWN CHRISTMAS COLLECTION)
CARLA THOMAS: ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU (SOUL CHRISTMAS)
DAN HICKS & HIS HOT LICKS: RUN RUN RUDOLPH (CRAZY FOR CHRISTMAS)
THE VANDALS: OI TO THE WORLD (SINGLE)
RUN DMC: CHRISTMAS IS (A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS)
LENA HORNE: JINGLE ALL THE WAY (ULTRA LOUNGE)
MARVIN GAYE: PURPLE SNOWFLAKES (MOTOWN CHRISTMAS)
EMMYLOU HARRIS: CHRISTMAS TIME’S A COMIN’ (LIGHT OF THE STABLE)
THE MAYTALS: HAPPY CHRISTMAS (TROJAN CHRISTMAS BOX)
THE WAITRESSES: CHRISTMAS WRAPPING (CHRISTMAS WRAPPING)
ELVIS PRESLEY: BLUE CHRISTMAS (ELVIS’ CHRISTMAS ALBUM)
THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN: SNOOPY’S CHISTMAS (SNOOPY’S CHRISTMAS)
SNAP-HER: I HATE CHRISTMAS (IT SMELLS, IT BURNS, IT SINGS)
JIMI HENDRIX: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/AULD LANG SYNE (MERRY CHRISTMAS)

Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a passing to appreciate a body work. Join Balcony Radio this week in remembering legendary indie Record Engineer/Producer Steve Albini. Steve was the ultimate 9-5 punch the clock two takes is enough let’s go get a burger music guy and we are here to appreciate that. A lot of your favorites of the 90s and 2000s made the trek out to the midwest to work with Steve. Listen to the show and get why.

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PLAYLIST:
RON: SLINT (TWEEZ)
TATTY SEASIDE TOWN: THE MEMBRANES (KISS ASS, GODHEAD!)
WHERE IS MY MIND: THE PIXIES (SURFER ROSA)
HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN: THE BREEDERS (POD)
CHROME (SINGLE VERSION): THE JESUS LIZARD (HEAD)
THE KIDS ARE INSANE: URGE OVERKILL (THE SUPERSONIC STORYBOOK)
MAN-SIZE: PJ HARVEY (RID OF ME)
**STEVE ALBINI ON NIRVANA**
HEART-SHAPED BOX: NIRVANA (IN UTERO)
NEW PARTNER: PALACE MUSIC (VIVA LAST BLUES)
EVERY KIND OF MUSIC BU COUNTRY: ROBBIE FULKS (COUNTRY LOVE SONGS)
SWALLOWED: BUSH (RAZORBLAD SUITCASE)
SHIMMER LIKE A GIRL: VERUCA SALT (BLOW IT OUT YOUR A$$)
NEVER MER A MAN I DIDN’T LIKE: SILKWORM (DEVELOPER)
CALVIN: THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION (ACME)
EVERYONE IS MY FRIEND: OWLS (OWLS)
MALA VIDA: GOGOL BORDELLO (EAST INFECTION)
THE DARK DON’T HIDE IT: MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO. (WHAT COMES AFTER THE BLUES)
**STEVE ALBINE-IS ROCK DEAD?**
WELCOME TO THE WORLD: CHEAP TRICK (ROCKFORD)
MY IDEA OF FUN: THE STOOGES (THE WEIRDNESS)
MADE TO MEASURE: UMPHREY’S MCGEE (MANTIS)
STAY USELESS: CLOUD NOTHINGS (ATTACK ON MEMORY)
ORANGE COLOR QUEEN: TY SEGALL (TY SEGALL)
TAKE SHAPE(FEAT. BILLY CORGAN): CODE ORANGE (THE ABOVE)

Musically, the year 2023 was . . . 365 days long. Wow. The past year sucked. No getting around that. But still, yer boys at Balcony Radio managed to dig out a couple dozen gems from the past 12 months. Do enjoy it.

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Gather ’round all you musical goons, it’s time for our annual Halloween show! This year, your best fiends at Balcony Radio spin a couple dozen of the spooooookiest tuuuuuuunes we could dig out of the graveyard. Vampires, ghosts, goblins, goo goo mucks — all the musical creeps are accounted for. Dead or alive.

PLAYLIST:
MONSTER MASH: BOBBY ‘BORIS’ PICKETT (THE ORIGINAL)
VAMPIRE SKA: HORNY TOAD (THIRTEEN)
THERE AIN’T NO GRAVE GONNA HOLD MY BODY DOWN: G.M. FARLEY (50 COUNTRY HYMNS)
DEVIL’S GOTTA DANCE: BRYAN PAYL BELL (BRYAN PAUL BELL)
HEY! (I’M DEAD): JANK SINATRA (RUMBLEJUNK & TALKYPOP)
HELL OR HIGH WATER: ADDIE HAMILTON (HELL OR HIGH WATER)
DEAD OR ALIVE: OING BOINGO (GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL)
I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF: THE CRAMPS (SONGS THE LORD TAUGHT US)
HALLOWEEN: SOUIXSIE & THE BANSHEES (JUJU)
MY GIRLFRIEND IS A WITCH: OCTOBER COUNTRY (OCTOBER COUNTRY)
THE GOO GOO MUCK: RONNIE COOK & THE GAYLADS (FRANKENSTEIN’S HOUSE PARTY)
SHE’S FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE MONSTERMAN: SCREAMING LORD SUTCH & THE SAVAGES (TIL THE FOLLOWING NIGHT)
THE WITCH: THE SONICS (INTRODUCING THE SONICS)
UNDERTAKER: SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS (ZOMBIFIED)
DEAD: THE POETS (THE FLASH RECORDS STORY)
IGOR’S PARTY: TONY & THE MONSTROSITIES (IGOR’S PARTY)
SHE PUT A HEX ON YOU: THEM (TIME OUT! TIME IN FOR THEM)
RIBOFALVIN-FLAVORED, NON-CARBONATED. POLYUNSATURATED BLOOD: DON HINSON & THE RIGORMORTICIANS (MONSTER DANCE PARTY)
HAUNTED HOUSE: SAM THE SHAM & THE PHAROES (WOLLY BULLY)
THE MONSTER HOP: BURT CONVY (MONSTER BOP)
HEARSE WITH A CURSE: MT. GASSER & THE WEIRDOS (RODS & RATFINKS)
HE’S A VAMPIRE: ARCHIE KING (MONSTER PARTY: HALLOWEEN ROCK N ROLL OLDIES)
BO MEETS THE MONSTER: BO DIDDLY (I’MTHE MAN: THE CHESS MASTERS 1965-1968)
HALLOWEEN (SHE’S SO MEAN): ROB ZOMBIE (HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY)
I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE: ROKY ERIKSON (THE EVIL ONE)
ROCKIN’ IN THE GRAVEYARD: JACKIE MORNINGSTAR (MONSTER BOP)

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Another year is down and what do we have to show for it? Just some good ass music. (Yes, it was out there in 2022.) Join your pals at Balcony Radio as we galavant though the tunes of 2022. It might not have been the best year in music, but we still manage dig out a couple dozen songs that would be the highlight of any year.

PLAYLIST:
WILD CHILD: THE BLACK KEYS (DROPOUT BOOGIE)
CONSTANT REPEAT: CHARLI XCX (CRASH)
LESS THAN ZERO: THE WEEKEND (DAWN FM)
WET DREAM: WET LEG (WET DREAM)
BELINDA SAYS: ALVVAYS (BLUE REX)
ABOUT DAMN TIME: LIZZO (ABOUT DAWN TIME)
ANTI-HERO: TAYLOR SWIFT (MIDNIGHTS)
BAD HABIT: STEVE LACY (BAD HABIT)
SHOTGUN: SOCCER MOMMY (SHOTGUN)
N95: KENDRICK LAMARR (MR. MORALE AND THE BIG STEPPERS)
PROBLEM WITH IT: PLAINS (I WALKED WITH YOU AWAYS)
THERE’D BETTER BE A MIRRORBALL: ARCTIC MONKEYS (THERE’S BETTER BE A MIRRORBALL)
BIG HEART SICK MIND: THE WHITMORE SISTERS (GHOST STORIES)
EDGE OF THE EDGE: PANDA BEAR & SONIC BOOM (EDGE OF THE EDGE)
SIDELINES: PHOEBE BRIDGERS (SIDELINES)
ANYTHING: SHARON VAN ETTEN (WE’VE BEEN GOING ABOUT THIS ALL WRONG)
SOMETHING IN THE ORANGE: ZACH BRYAN (SOMETHING IN THE ORANGE)
CIRCLES AROUND THIS TOWN: MAREN MORRIS (CIRCLES AROUND THIS TOWN)
BIG TIME: ANGEL OLSEN (BIG TIME)
FEVER: ALDOUS HARDING (WARM CHRIS)
CERTAINTY: BIG THIEF (DRAGON NEW WARM MOUNTAIN I BELIEVE IN YOU)
AMERICAN TEENAGER: ETHEL CAIN (RANCHER’S DAUGHTER)
THAT’S WHERE I AM: MAGGIE ROGERS (SURRENDER)

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Gather ’round, everyone, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Finally. Join the egg noggers at Balcony Radio for our 81st Annual Christmas Music Extravaganza. Let us stuff your ear stocking with a couple dozen of the best Christmas songs to bring all that holiday and good cheer. No humbugs allowed!

PLAYLIST:
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FAMILY: ROBERT EARL KEENE
CHRISTMAS WRAPPING: THE WAITRESSES
ZAT YOU, SANTA CLAUS: LOUIS ARMSTRONG
SANTA CLAUS GOT STUCK IN MY CHIMNEY: ELLA FITZGERALD
MAYBE THIS CHISTMAS: RON SEXSMITH
JESUS CHIRST: BIG STAR
MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING: THE CARPENTERS
MAY EVERYDAY BE CHRISTMAS: IRMA THOMAS
SPACE CHRISTMAS: SHONEN KNIFE
MISTRESS FOR CHRISTMAS: AC/DC
FATHER CHRISTMAS: THE KINKS
I’LL BE STONED FOR CHRISTMAS: DENT MAY
SANTA, TEACH ME TO DANCE: THE DARNELS
WHAT WILL SANTA CLAUS SAY?: LOUIS PRIMA
CHRISTMAS DAY: SQUEEZE
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU: VINCE VAUGHN & THE VALIANTS
JUST ANOTHER CHRISTMAS SONG: SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS
PAPA NOEL: BRENDA LEE
SANTA CLAUS: THE SONICS
THAT WAS THE WORST CHRISTMAS EVER: SUFJAN STEVENS
MERRY CHRISTMAS LOOPY LU: THE KAISERS
CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME) DARLENE LOVE
MY DEAR AQUAINTANCE (A HAPPY NEW YEAR): REGINA SPEKTOR

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Gather ’round all ye ghoulies, it’s time for one of the best annual traditions: the Balcony Radio Halloween Spooooooky Song Extravaganza! This time out, we crank out a playlist of songs that will rattle your chains and zap your neck bolts. Keep all the candy for yourself, it’s time to boooooogie.

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PLAYLIST:
MONSTER MASH: BOBBY “BORIS” PICKETT & THE CRYPT-KICKERS (SINGLE)
TERROR!: THE RAKES (CAPTURE/RELEASE)
SPOOKS: LOUIS ARMSTRONG (SATCHMO IN STYLE)
THE WITCH: THE SONICS (INTRODUCING THE SONICS)
THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LEATHER LAGOON: THE CRAMPS (STAY SICK!)
THE MONSTER HOP: BERT CONVEY (MONSTER BOP)
HE’S A VAMPIRE: ARCHIE KING (MONSTER PARTY: HALLOWEEN ROCK ‘N’ ROLL OLDIES VOL. 1)
RIBOFLAVIN-FLAVORED, NON-CARBONATED, POLYUNSTATURATED BLOOD: DON HINSON & THE RIGORMORTICIANS (MONSTER DANCE PARTY)
HORROR MOVIES: DICKIE GOODMAN (THE MONSTER ALBUM – DICKIE GOODMAN’S HALLOWEEN)
AT THE HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN: BIG BEE KORNEGAY (HORROR HOP)
IGOR’S PARTY: TONY & THE MONSTROSITIES (IGOR’S PARTY)
HAUNTED HOUSE: GENE SIMMONS (JUMPIN’ GENE SIMMONS)
HALLOWEEN: THE MISFITS (BOX SET)
HEADLESS HORSEMAN: KAY STARR (THE BEST)
I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE: ROKY ERICKSON (THE EVIL ONE)
YOU’RE DEAD: NORMA TANEGA (WALKIN’ MY CAT NAMED DOG)
IT’S HALLOWEEN: THE SHAGGS (PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD)
HALLOWEEN: SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES (JUJU)
THE HALLOWEEN DANCE: THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT (HALLOWEEN HOOTENANY)
KEEPIN’ HALLOWEEN ALIVE: ALICE COOPER (SINGLE)
PEOPLE ARE STRANGE: THE DEAD SOUTH

The staff at Balcony Radio are some brave souls . . . they dug through the detritus of the last 12 months of recorded music to find some actual good tunes. Putting together the Best of 2021 is a tough job — but, dammit, someone had to do it. So, let’s say hello to 2022 by hitting play and checking out a couple dozen socially-distant gems released during the 365 day drag called 2021.

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Gather ’round, it’s time to join your friends out on the Balcony for our 113th HOLIDAY MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA!!! Come sit with us at the weird table and check out a couple dozen of the best holiday songs we could dig up amongst all this coal. It’s been a tough year, so let your buddies stuff your stockings with all the music you never knew you always needed. Music: the best gift ever. (The one thing you can’t return!) Goodbye and good riddance, 2021.

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