RA/OR 324 - RED HEADED STRANGER

In 1975 Willie Nelson made a truly inspired record, a stark collection of sparsely recorded songs that told a dark story. 

RA/OR 323 - EMITT RHODES 1950-2020

Emitt Rhodes, a brilliant artist with seemingly unlimited potential, was chewed up and spit out by the record industry. He died last weekend, but not before he was able to make a comeback in 2016 with his first album in more than 40 years. This episode is a tribute to Emitt, with help from Dean Falcone and A.D. Adams.

RA/OR 322 - GET TERRITORIAL

Gotta find a way. A better way. A better way.

RA/OR 321 - WORST OF AC/DC (THE BON SCOTT YEARS)

He's got big balls and she's got big balls but we've got the biggest balls of them all as BJ and Brian Sword discuss the worst AC/DC songs from the Bon Scott years.

RA/OR 320 - AOR????????????????? AOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never enough AOR!

HUNTER - RAIN
JIM JIDHED - DANGEROUS
BIG TROUBLE - DANGEROUS
JIMMY MARTIN - DON'T LOOK BACK
HARLOT - KECIA
CROSSWIND BAND - WHY DON'T YOU THINK ABOUT ME
TAXXI - HEAVEN AND THE HEARTACHES
BOYSTOWN - I NEED SHELTER
JIM CAPALDI - TAKE ME HOME
TONE NORUM - STRANDED
PERFECT CRIME - ONE OF THESE DAYS
PROPHECY - PARADISE FIRE
BIG BIG SUN - GAME GOES ON
HEARTLAND - REAL WORLD
PM - PIECE OF PARADISE
WORD OF HONOUR - POWER FOR LOVE
LAUREN SMOKEN - LICENSE TO LOVE
AIRKRAFT - SOMEDAY YOU'LL COME RUNNING
DAVID HALLYDAY - CAN'T DENY
WORLD ON EDGE - WORDS TOUCH THE SOUND

RA/OR 319 - A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

A band named after a cat writes a song inspired by a television commercial and it becomes one of the most ubiquitous and iconic singles of all time, including over 1000 recorded cover versions, and BJ plays his ten favorites:


JOHNNY RIVERS
SHORTY LONG
ALTON ELLIS
R.B. GREAVES
THE DELLS
JERRY WILLIAMS
SYLVESTER
BOOKER T. JONES
GLENN HUGHES
SCHENKER PATTISON SUMMIT

RA/OR 318 - CCR & FOGERTY (with Lee McCormack)

BJ is joined once again by Lee McCormack from the Tramps Like Us podcast for a discussion about the history of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty and then each counts down his top ten favorite Creedence/Fogerty songs.

Order Lee's single "Train to Heartbreak" HERE

RA/OR 317 - GOLDEN RASPEIGHTIES

The Golden Raspberry Awards (also known as the Razzies) is a parody award show honoring the "worst of cinematic under-achievements." On this episode BJ plays the winners for Worst Original Song for each year of the eighties, and also one of the four runners up for each year.

VILLAGE PEOPLE - CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC
ARMANDO COMPEAN - THE MAN WITH BOGART'S FACE
BRENDA LEE - ONLY WHEN I LAUGH
DAVID FRISHBERG - BABY TALK
MICHAEL FRANKS - COMIN' HOME TO YOU (IS LIKE COMIN' HOME TO MILK AND COOKIES)
KRISTY McNICHOL - PUMPIN' AND BLOWIN'
GUIDO AND MAURIZIO DE ANGELIS - YOR'S WORLD
OREN WATERS - THE WAY YOU DO IT
CHILLY D - SMOOTH TALKER
SYLVESTER STALLONE - DRINKINSTEIN
DWIGHT DAVID - THE LAST DRAGON
FRANK STALLONE - PEACE IN OUR TIME
GEORGE HARRISON - SHANGHAI SURPRISE
PRINCE - LOVE OR MONEY
JIMMY SCARLETT & THE DIMENSIONS - YOU CAN BE A GARBAGE PAIL KID
GEORGE MICHAEL - I WANT YOUR SEX
VIGIL - THERAPIST
JACK FRESH - FULL FORCE
RAMONES - PET SEMATARY
BRUCE DICKINSON - BRING YOUR DAUGHTER...TO THE SLAUGHTER

RA/OR 316 - ACTORS SING

Songs sung by actors.

ALYSSA MILANO - STRAIGHT TO THE TOP
ALYSSA MILANO - I HAD A DREAM
SCOTT BAIO - FINGERPRINTS
JAMI GERTZ - TEARS IN THE NIGHT
REBECCA DEMORNAY - OH JIMMY
EDDIE MURPHY - C-O-N CONFUSED
TOM HANKS AND DAN AYKROYD - CITY OF CRIME
JOE PESCI - WISE GUY
LENNY & THE SQUIGTONES - NIGHT AFTER NIGHT
RUSS LE ROQ - NEVER LET YOU SLIDE
ANDREW DICE CLAY - I AIN'T GOT YOU
JERRY LEWIS - I'M SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
GARY OLDMAN - MY WAY
P.J. SOLES - ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL
WYLDE RATTZ - T.V. EYE
BRIE LARSON - DONE WITH YOU
PETE YORN & SCARLETT JOHANSSON - TOMORROW
JUSTINE BATEMAN - TALK TO ME
JOHN TRAVOLTA - RAZZAMATAZZ
DAVID NAUGHTON - MAKIN' IT
STEVEN SEAGAL - DON'T YOU CRY
DENNIS QUAID - CLOSER TO YOU
CLINT EASTWOOD - I'LL LOVE YOU MORE
BURT REYNOLDS - THERE'S A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN GOD AND MAN
PHOEBE CATES AND BILL WRAY - JUST ONE TOUCH
ANNIE MCENROE - DREAM OPERATOR
SUSAN SARANDON - TOUCH-A TOUCH-A TOUCH ME
RICK MORANIS - SUDDENLY SEYMOUR
GENE WILDER - CRAZY
RODNEY DANGERFIELD - FUNICULI, FUNICULA
ROBIN WILLIAMS - BLOW ME DOWN
MICHAEL J. FOX - YOU GOT NO PLACE TO GO
TOM CRUISE - POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME

RA/OR 315 - GUITARISTS (with Ryan McKay)

For this episode BJ is joined by Ryan McKay, guitar player for Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses and Kings of Dust, for a discussion about the history of the electric guitar and different styles and techniques.

RA/OR 314 - DRUMMERS (with Lee McCormack)

Frequent guest and good friend Lee McCormack presents a partial overview of rock drumming: who influenced who and how were these drummers different stylistically.

RA/OR 313 - TONIGHT/TONITE

25 songs called "Tonight" or "Tonite."

THE RASPBERRIES - TONIGHT
RUSS BALLARD - TONIGHT
BILL WRAY - TONIGHT
THE ELEKTRICS - TONIGHT
SNAIL - TONIGHT
THE MOVE - TONIGHT
CHILLIWACK - TONIGHT
APRIL WINE - TONITE
EAST COAST - TONIGHT
STRAIGHT EIGHT - TONITE
TRANSFORMER - TONIGHT
DERRINGER - TONIGHT
KEVIN LEE AND HEARTBEAT - TONIGHT
THE BOOMTOWN RATS - TONIGHT
NICK LOWE - TONIGHT
TOAD - TONIGHT
MC5 - TONIGHT
BRYAN ADAMS - TONIGHT
TOURIS - TONIGHT
SHY - TONIGHT
ROUGH HOUSE - TONITE
AIRKRAFT - TONIGHT
DEF LEPPARD - TONIGHT (ACOUSTIC)
OZZY OSBOURNE - TONIGHT
DAVID BOWIE/TINA TURNER - TONIGHT (LIVE)

RA/OR 312 - SYNTHPOP

BJ recently went down a synthpop rabbit hole. Check out what he found.

YAZOO - NOBODY'S DIARY
VISAGE - THE DAMNED DON'T CRY
FANTASIA - PICTURES IN MY MIND
T42 - DAY FOR YOU
FATAL CHARM - SOUND OF THE WAVES
THE TWINS - MODERN LIFESTYLE
TREES - SHOCK OF THE NEW
CLOUD NINE - FRACTIONS OF A SECOND
TIMOTHY LONDON - HOLD ME DOWN
ALMOST ALONE - BLUE CITY
DECODE - PLANET OF YOUTH
COUNTERFEIT - THE GOOD SAMARITAN
ALL FALL DOWN - ARECIBO
CAR CRASH SET - FALL FROM GRACE
SENSIBLE SHOES - NO RAIN
ONE TO ONE - BLACK ON WHITE
STORY STRUCTURE - I TOLD YOU
SEONA DANCING - MORE TO LOSE
INFORMATION SOCIETY - THINK

RA/OR 311 - BEST OF LIMP BIZKIT

BJ and Brian Sword do it all for the nookie. They take that cookie and they stick it up their YEAH stick it up their YEAH stick it up their YEAH stick it up their--

RA/OR 310 - VINYL COUNTDOWN XIV

BJ rescues two dozen more lost songs from his record collection.

DOUCETTE - RITA
PETER EMMETT - THERE GOES MY HEART
JOHN HUNTER - CRIMES OF PASSION
CHAS SANDFORD - LIMELIGHT
FACE DANCER - TIME BOMB
BOOM CRASH OPERA - GREAT WALL
ROARING BOYS - HOUSE OF STONE
TOBY REDD - NEVER MAKE HER CRY
THE THIEVES - ALL THE LINES ARE DOWN
THE TRUTH - WINTERLAND
RAIN PARADE - DON'T FEEL BAD
WILD SWANS - ARCHANGEL
THE ULTRAVIOLET - ALL BY MYSELF
THE WAY MOVES - SONS OF THE HIGHWAY
ROADMASTER - STAY WITH ME THROUGH THE NIGHT
ROBERT ELLIS ORRALL - TELL ME IF IT HURTS
HARDCHOIR - COMIN' CLOSER
MARC TANNER BAND - AND YOU DO
RAIL - YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE
MAMA'S BOYS - RUN
LE MANS - DON'T WANNA WORK
THE BABYSITTERS - CAN YOU HEAR IT
JUNKYARD - SHOT IN THE DARK
STEVE JONES - WILD WHEELS

RA/OR 309 - POWER POP X

Two dozen more power pop nuggets.

THE JETZ - DO YOU THINK THAT'S FUNNY
THE FAVOURITES - FAVOURITE SHOES
THE NEWS - THE LAST TIME
PUSHUPS - PLAY ON
REGAL ZONE - FACTORY GIRL
THE A'S - THE GIRL I LOVE
THE KEEPERS - BEFORE LOVE GOES
FINGERS - DON'T CALL ME
BOBALOUIS - NOT A SECOND CHANCE
THE MODULATORS - SHE'S SO CYNICAL
CATCH 22 - SCOTTY AND D
SHELLY STEVENS - SECRET LOVE
BOULEVARD - COMING ON STRONG
THE CLONETONES - NO REGRETS
RICHARD & THE TAXMEN - HONEY PLEASE DON'T GO
THE WINDOWS - MY DEAR
THE PROBERS - I SAW YOU LOOKING
AMBULANCE - IT'S ALL UP TO YOU
THE SMART REMARKS - MARY'S GOT HER EYE ON ME
THE NIGHT BRIGADE - GOTTA PLACE IN MY HEART
THE BUTCH MCCARTHY BAND - SPECIAL TO YOU
THE TOASTERS - STUCK ON YOU
GOOD QUESTION - CATCHER IN THE RAIN
THE GUMBY'S - MYSTERY GIRL (THE)

RA/OR 308 - FAKEWOOD MAC

Over the course of just one year, 1974, British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac would go from a career low point, the bottom of the barrel, to suddenly, by years end, transformed, reinvented, and ready to become one of the most successful, top selling acts of all time.

Sources:
https://pleasekillme.com/fakewood-mac/
https://iloveclassicrock.com/the-story-of-1974s-fake-fleetwood-mac/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fleetwood-mac-flak-manager-takes-name-not-members-on-tour-233735/

RA/OR 307 - GOLDEN EARRING

Golden Earring is the world's longest surviving rock band, having formed a year before The Rolling Stones, and the current line-up of Barry Hay, George Kooymans, Rinus Gerritsen and Cesar Zuiderwijk has been intact since 1970. That's the same line-up for 50 years.

RA/OR 306 - REBELS RULE: JUNK SHOP GLAM 45's

BJ plays a selection of junk shop glam singles, both sides.

IRON VIRGIN - REBELS RULE b/w AIN'T NO CLOWN
APRIL - ROLLIN' IT OVER b/w COME ON DOWN
STING - BLAZING INFERNO b/w THUNDERKID
PAUL CASS - MINI MARIANNE b/w RIVERBOAT ROCK
SLOWBONE - OH MAN b/w GET WHAT YOU'RE GIVEN
BUBBLES - THIS IS WHERE THE HURDIE GURDIE HEEBIE JEEBIE GREENIE MEENIE MAN CAME IN b/w ZAP 'N' CAT
FRENZY - THINGS YOU DO b/w POSER
RITZ - JENNY GENTLE b/w WHY LOVE
BOOBY TRAP - KELLY, GRACE & SALLY b/w THE HOOKER
JOHNNY DU CANN - WHERE'S THE SHOW b/w HANG AROUND
BARRY ROLFE - DON'T LOOK THE BUSINESS b/w MOLLY MOLLY
MICK FLINN BAND - DOIN' IT RIGHT b/w DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO
TREVOR WHITE - CRAZY KIDS b/w MOVIN' IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

And then at the end of the episode you will find the third installment of Dad Rock wherein BJ forces his daughter to listen to a Rolling Stones album with too much slide guitar.

RA/OR 305 - JUNK SHOP GLAM

For your listening pleasure: 30 junk shop glam obscurities.

CHUNKY - ALBATROSS
FUMBLE - WHAT A FEELING
BROTHER SUSAN - RIDE RIDE RIDE
BROTHERLY LOVE - PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1
WHISTLE - THE PARTY MUST BE OVER
GANG - MAMA TOLD ME, PAPA TOLD ME
STREAKERS - TURN ME DOWN
BLOOD CHAINS - SUZIE
GIGGLES - MARIA (THE ENCHILADAS SONG)
ROOBARB - ROOBARB'S A STAR
BUZZ - MOTORWAY MADNESS
DOWNHILL RACERS - LOVIN' POTS
GO GO THUNDER - THE RACE
ZIPS - YOU'RE SO GOOD TO ME
YELLOW CAT - SISSY
SHAMBLES - HELLO BABY
WALKERS - FIRE
TEARS - DUKE ON FRIDAY
BITCH - GOOD TIME COMING
STEFAN AND THE WILD BOYS - WILD BOYS
CHANGE - LAZY LONDON LADY
STEPHEN - RIGHT ON RUNNING MAN
CRACKERS - JUDY, JUDY, JUDY
HAMLETT - VAMPIRE MAN
THE SENSATION - BLACK EYED WOMAN
NOW - I WANNA BE FREE
MUSTARD - I SAW I HEARD
PETER BLAKE - CLEVER DICK
KIPPER - KIPPER
MABEL - HEY I LOVE YOU

RA/OR 304 - AFTER ZEPPELIN

For your listening enjoyment BJ has curated a 20 song playlist from the solo projects of the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, with some trivia in between.

ROBERT PLANT - 29 PALMS
JOHN PAUL JONES - SILVER TRAIN
JIMMY PAGE - WHO'S TO BLAME
DIAMANDA GALAS WITH JOHN PAUL JONES - DARK END OF THE STREET
ROBERT PLANT - WHY
THE FIRM - TEAR DOWN THE WALLS
XYZ - CAN YOU SEE
ROBERT PLANT - OTHER ARMS
JOHN PAUL JONES - BAD CHILD
THE HONEYDRIPPERS - YOUNG BOY BLUES
ROBERT PLANT - DANCE ON MY OWN
COVERDALE/PAGE - ABSOLUTION BLUES
JIMMY PAGE - THE ONLY ONE
ROBERT PLANT - BIG LOVE
JIMMY PAGE - CITY SIRENS
JOHN PAUL JONES - WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE
JIMMY PAGE & ROBERT PLANT - UPON A GOLDEN HORSE
DIAMANDA GALAS WITH JOHN PAUL JONES - BABY'S INSANE
JOHN PAUL JONES - ICE FISHING AT NIGHT
ROBERT PLANT - THE ONLY SOUND THAT MATTERS

RA/OR 303 - STONE TEMPLE WEILAND (with Cobras & Fire)

BJ is joined by Bakko and Loose Cannon from Cobras & Fire for a discussion about Stone Temple Pilots and the evolution of Scott Weiland from a grunge mimic to a glam junkie, then each contributes five song choices to the ultimate Weiland playlist.

RA/OR 302 - SOUNDTRACKS 3D

In a world where soundtracks didn’t suck, great songs were hidden on those soundtracks.

Create your own 3D glasses to wear while listening.

BROCK/DAVIS - HARD WAY
JUST ONE OF THE GUYS
MONEY TALKS - IN A TRANCE 
THE KARATE KID III
KIRSTY MACCOLL - YOU JUST HAVEN'T EARNED IT YET BABY
SHE'S HAVING A BABY
ROGER DALTREY - QUICKSILVER LIGHTNING
QUICKSILVER
OINGO BOINGO - WINNING SIDE
SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL
CHRIS THOMPSON - NEVER TURN AWAY
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
BILLY BRANIGAN - HOLD ON
JUMPIN' JACK FLASH
ROOM WITH A VIEW - CAN'T RUN AWAY
CRYSTAL HEART
DON FELDER - WILD LIFE
THE SLUGGER'S WIFE
BELOUIS SOME - ROUND, ROUND
PRETTY IN PINK
EVE - THE WALLS CAME DOWN
ARMED AND DANGEROUS
HONEYMOON SUITE - THOSE WERE THE DAYS
THE WRAITH
FIONA - HAIR OF THE DOG (THAT BIT YOU)
HEARTS OF FIRE
STUBBLEFIELD AND HALL - BEST OF THE BEST
BEST OF THE BEST
ATTIC BLACK - RATS CHASE CATS
MARKED FOR DEATH
MECO - WEREWOLF (LOOSE IN LONDON)
AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON
PIRATES FEATURING MIKE BRADY - VICTORY
THE PIRATE MOVIE
BRIAN ENO - YOU DON'T MISS YOUR WATER
MARRIED TO THE MOB
THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - WHO DO YOU LOVE
EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY
PHILLIP BAILEY AND LITTLE RICHARD - TWINS
TWINS

RA/OR 301 - EIGHTIES MONSTERS (AND SUPER CREEPS)

BJ and Jon Lamoreaux get to the church on time to finish off Jon's holy trinity with a discussion of David Bowie's eighties output and then each counts down his top ten favorite Bowie songs from that decade.

RA/OR 300 - AOR???????????????? AOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's celebrate 300 episodes with some more great AOR.

TORINO - SEVEN MOUNTAINS
GUARDIAN ANGELS - ONE BY ONE
GRAFFITI - STAY
CHERI - QUEEN OF HEART
CRYSTAL - PIECE OF MY HEART
NYTRIX - BREAKIN' MY HEART
LISA PRICE - NO ONE'S BUSINESS
METROPOLIS - WHATEVER IT IS
BIG TALK - ROSIE
LIMIT - LIFEFORCE
SASSY JONES - LONELY NIGHTS
AUTODRIVE - IF THERE WAS A WAY
BOBBY FRISS - EYES
GMT - ANGEL
ENVY - WAIT ON YOU
SHARX - ONLY LOVE (CAN SAVE US NOW)
LOUIS MICHAEL - LIVING FOR THE MUSIC
HOWARD GRIPP & STINGER - ON THE RUN
1st AVENUE - CALL ME
PATTY SMYTH - TOUGH LOVE
DON BARNES - EVERYTIME WE SAY GOODBYE

RA/OR 299 - SONG-POEMS (with Bob Purse)

Song-poems were records created when random citizens wrote "poems" (lyrics) and sent them, along with a check, to various companies which employed musicians who would set those words to music, record the song and press it to vinyl. It was basically a scam and many of the records ended up in thrift shops and record stores where they at some point were discovered by collectors of the odd and obscure. On this episode one of those collectors, Bob Purse, shares with us some of his favorite songs discovered from more than two decades of seeking these things out. You can find more songs and info on Bob's blog pages:

https://bobpurse.blogspot.com/

https://inches-per-second.blogspot.com/

You can also check out the Song-Poem database Bob references here:

http://songpoemmusic.com/

Little Donnie Lane - Go Away (1959)
Norman Burns - Stay Where You Are (1967)
Roger Smith - She's Different (1962)
Joel Pitt - Dollars For Satan (1964)
Jim Hall and the Radio Pals - Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Potassium (1962)
Milford Perkins (Rodd Keith) - Love is Like a Diamond (1966)
Johnny Williams - Somebody Fiddle I'm Burning! (1958)
Norris the Troubadour/Seaboard Coastliners - Tom Dooley Last Will and Testament (1970)
Halmark Productions - My Hamburger Baby (1975)
Ray Phillips - I'd Be a Fool to Keep Loving You (1960)
Cara Stewart/Lee Hudson's Orchestra - I Spent My Last Three Dollars For An Irish Sweepstake Ticket (1962)
Jeff Reynolds - In God We Trust (1962)
Teri Summers - Nativity (1969)
Rod Rogers - Dreams of Love (1970)
Wally Burke - I'm a Ginseng Digger (1964)
Noval Productions - Rock, Rocking All the Time (1963)
W.L.Horning - Rockin' and Rollin' (1970)
Harold Duncan - Be American (1970)
Norris the Troubador/Collegians - Mary Ann McCarthy (1955)
Betty Jayne - What's She Got (That I Ain't Got?) (1962)
Cara Stewart and Jeff Lawrence with Lee Hudson's Orchestra - Doc Nut (1964)
Rod Rogers and the Swinging Strings - The Watusi Whing Ding Girl (1966)
The Real Pros - I'm Having My First Heartbreak (1972)
Rod Rogers and the Swinging Strings - The Beatle Boys (1965)
Norm Burns with Lew Tobin's Orchestra - Darling Don't Put Your Hand On Me (1964)
Bob Purse - Things I Need To Know
Bob Purse - Mary Ann McCarthy (live)