Thursday, June 10, 2010

THE BUCK CALHOUN SHOW/ KHSU, 90.5/ BW SUBBAGE/ WED., 9 JUNE 10


UK singer/songwriter Rachel Unthank and her sister Becky, the main force of Rachel Unthank and The Winterset (now simply known as The Unthanks) deliver a cool version of The Beatles' "Sexy Sadie." Sexy sadies, indeed.
BOY WONDER SUBBAGE/ 10:00 PM-MIDNIGHT

Bang, Bang (I Shot My Baby Down)/ NANCY SINATRA (’66, ’95 collection, How Does That Grab You)

I Move Around/ THE PURRS (’10, Tearing Down Paisley Garden EP)*

Chinatown/ LUNA (’95, Penthouse)

The Right/ LOU BARLOW (’09, Goodnight Unknown)

Penelope Tree/ FELT (’83)

Get Back/ WOODS (’10, At Echo Lake)*

Father to a Sister to a Thought/ PAVEMENT (’95, Wowee Zowee)

I Can Be a Frog/ FLAMING LIPS (’09, Embyonic)*

Adventure Tour/ RUBY SUNS (’08, Sea Lion)


Lion in a Coma/ ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (’09, Merriweather Post Pavilion)

Golden Age/ TV ON THE RADIO (’08, Dear Science)

Drunk Girls/ LCD SOUNDSYSTEM (’10, This is Happening)*

Boys Keep Swinging/ DAVID BOWIE (’79, Lodger)

The Rest is Noise/ FIELD MUSIC ('10, Field Music (Measure)

Merely a Man/ XTC ('89, Oranges & Lemons)


Fanfare/ ERIC MATTHEWS (’95, It’s Heavy in Here)

Little Rage/ THE MICE (’87, Scooter)

New Slang/ THE SHINS (’01, Oh, Inverted World)

Ballad of Big Nothing/ ELLIOT SMITH (’97, Either/Or)


You Can Take Your Time/ NINA NASTASIA (’10, Outlaster)*

R.I.P. Burn Face/ COCOROSIE (’10, Grey Oceans)*

Sexy Sadie/ RACHEL UNTHANK AND THE WINTERSET (’08, Mojo Magazine: The White Album Recovered)

Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk/ THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS (’10, Together)*

Christine/ SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES (’80, Kaleidoscope)

Bigmouth Strikes Again/ THE SMITHS (’86, The Queen is Dead)

Drive On Driver/ MAGNETIC FIELDS (’08, Distortion)

Love Burns/ BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB (’01, self titled)

Far Gone and Out/ JESUS & THE MARY CHAIN (’92, Honey’s Dead)


Kidnapped By Neptune/ SCOUT NIBLETT (’05, Kidnapped By Neptune)

*new or recent release



Sunday, June 6, 2010

B.W.'s PLAYLIST/ KHSU, 90.5/ SAT., 5 JUNE 2010


NY-based singer/songwriter Nina Nastasia has finally released her first full-length record in three years, Outlaster (on FatCat Records). Brim full of dark tales, orchestral texture (thanks to arranger/bassist Paul Bryan), excellent instrumentation (especially from drummer/percussionist extraordinaire Jay Bellerose), Nastasia's new effort is a brooding gem.
BOY WONDER'S HOT CIRCLES/ 9:00-11:00 PM

Sixteen Tons/ TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD (’55)

I’m Shakin’/ LITTLE WILLIE JOHN (’60)

So Glad (C. Burnett)/ THE BLASTERS (’80, American Music)

I Asked For Water/ HOWLIN’ WOLF (’56)

Bangkok/ ALEX CHILTON (’75, Bach’s Bottom)

Preachin’ the Blues/ GUN CLUB (’81, Fire of Love)

Red Eye #2/ THE PLUGZ (’81, Better Luck)

I Can’t Stand It Anymore/ THE VELVET UNDERGROUND (’69, The Velvet Underground)

Garbage Man/ THE CRAMPS (’80, The Songs the Lord Taught Us)

Everybody’s Movin’/ GLEN GLENN (’58)


Howlin’ For You/ THE BLACK KEYS (’10, 12” single, b/w "Tighten Up")*

Road Runner/ BO DIDDLEY (’59)

Everyday Things (live at The Whiskey-A-Go-Go, LA, '81)/ THE PLIMSOULS ('10, Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal)*

I Will Dare/ THE REPLACEMENTS (’84, Let It Be)

Ask Me No Questions/ JOHNNY THUNDERS (’78, So Alone)

Venus of Avenue D/ MINK DeVILLE (’77, Cabretta)

Suffering Jukebox/ THE SILVER JEWS (’08, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea)

Lemon World/ THE NATIONAL (’10, High Violet)*


Goodbye Sweet Dreams/ ROKY ERICKSON w/ OKKERVIL RIVER (’10, True Love Cast Out All Evil)*

I Don’t Care If There’s Cursing/ PHOSPHORESCENT (’10, Here’s To Taking It Easy)*

I Wish It Was Saturday Night/ DAVE ALVIN (’87, Every Night Around This Time)

History Lesson - Part II/ MINUTEMEN (’84, Double Nickels on The Dime)

Inside Story/ DON McGLASHIN (’10, Stroke: Songs For Chris Knox)

Talk About the Passion/ REM (’83, Murmur)

You’re a Holy Man/ NINA NASTASIA (’10, Outlaster)*

Trap Doors/ BROKEN BELLS (’10, self titled)*

Aspirations/ THE BICYCLE THIEF (’99, You Come and Go Like a Pop Song)


I Am a Scientist/ GUIDED BY VOICES (’94, Bee Thousand)

Dirty Water/ THE STANDELLS (’66)

20th Century Man/ T. REX (’73, Tanx)

The First Part/ SUPERCHUNK (’94, Foolish)

The English Civil War/ THE CLASH (’78, Give ‘Em Enough Rope)


When You Wish Upon a Star/ CLIFF EDWARDS ('41)


*new or recent release


Sunday, May 30, 2010

B.W.'s PLAYLIST/ KHSU, 90.5/ SAT., 29 MAY 2010


This 1980's LA-based power pop/rock n' roll quartet was, in some respects, an unusual outfit. Led by ex-Nerves Peter Case (white guy, singer/songwriter), The Plimsouls (Brit term for "sneakers") consisted of two Southern Californian Chicanos, guitarist Eddie Munoz and drummer Lou Ramirez, and a Samoan-American bassist Dave Pahoa. Aside the ethnic distinctions, The Plimsouls rocked, often exposing its young audience (with me as one of them) to a number of cool '60's covers, such as Thee Midnighters' "Jump Jive & Harmonize" and The Kinks' "Come On Now." A Halloween 1981 concert recording made at LA's Whiskey-A-Go-Go, which was just released, captures The Plimsouls at a high point, with the band seriously ripping it up (especially Munoz on blistering lead guitar). Any 'Souls fan, either past or present, should grab this great record, Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal, excellently mastered (and previously unreleased, including members of The Fleshtones as special guests).
BOY WONDER'S HOT CIRCLES/ 9:00-11:00 PM

Do You Duty / BETTYE LAVETTE (’70, Do Your Duty)

If You Don’t Think/ ANNA KING (’64, Back to Soul)

Willy Nilly/ RUFUS THOMAS (’65)

I’m Trying to Break Your Heart/ JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND (’10, 7" single)

Keep on Runnin’/ SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (’64)

Sorry/ THE EASYBEATS (’66)

Jump Jive and Harmonize/ THEE MIDNIGHTERS (’67)

Jump Jive & Harmonize/ THE PLIMSOULS (’10, Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal)*

Come On Now/ THE PLIMSOULS (’10, Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal)*

Join My Gang/ THE LONG RYDERS (’83, 10-5-60)

Canteloupe Girlfriend/ THREE O’CLOCK (’83, Sixteen Tamborines)


Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes/ EDISON LIGHTHOUSE (’70)

Go All the Way/ THE RASPBERRIES (’72)

Cherry Bomb/ THE RUNAWAYS (’77, self titled)

Fox on the Run/ SWEET (’73, Desolation Boulevard)

Pleasure Seeker/ THE BOTSWANAS (’01, Fade and Your Gone)

Dancing the Night Away/ THE MOTORS (’77, Motors 1)

Stop Foolin’/ DRESSY BESSY (’05, Electrified)

Why I Don’t Like August 93/ THE CONSTANTINES ('05, Believer Magazine Music comp.)


There Is an End/ HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE GREENHORNES (’05, Broken Flowers st)

The Race Is On/ YO LA TENGO (’06, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass)

Starry Eyes/ THE RECORDS (’79)

Date W/ Ikea/ PAVEMENT (’97, Brighten the Corners)

Venus Is Her Name/ FREEDY JOHNSTON (’10, Rain on the City) [Bar/None]

Please Be Nice to Her/ AMY RIGBY & WRECKLESS ERIC (’08, Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby) [Stiff]


Stranger in the House/ RACHEL SWEET (’78, Fool Around)

Radio Sweetheart/ ELVIS COSTELLO (’77, My Aim Is True)

The Singer/ NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (’86, Kicking Against the Pricks)

Moves Away/ NINA NASTASIA (’10, Outlaster)*

My Friend/ BILL CALLAHAN (’09, Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle)

Bloodbuzz Ohio/ THE NATIONAL (’10, High Violet)*

Pablo Picasso/ THE MODERN LOVERS (’76, self titled)


Friction/ TELEVISION (’77, Marquee Moon)


*new or recent release


Monday, May 24, 2010

B.W.'s PLAYLIST/ KHSU, 90.5/ SAT., 22 MAY 2010


There's not a whole lot of information available of Memphis soul singer Prince Conley. However, in 1961, The Prince cut this gem, "I'm Going Home," released by Satellite Records (pre-Stax) , featuring a young Steve Cropper on guitar. This seems to one of the sole documents of Conley's great voice. Check it out in the (first) box set, The Complete Stax/Volt Singles: 1959-1968.
BOY WONDER'S HOT CIRCLES/ 9:00-11:00 PM

In Orbit/ JOY LOVEJOY (’66, ’05 collection, Mojo Chess Soul Sisters)

I Can’t Rest/ FONTELLA BASS (’66, ’92 collection, Rescued)

Turn Back the Hands of Time/ TYRONE DAVIS (’70, Turn Back the Hands of Time)

Gimme Shelter/ MERRY CLAYTON (’70, Gimme Shelter)

Time Has Come/ MOUNTAIN MOCHA KILIMANJARO (’10, self titled)*

I’m Going Home/ PRINCE CONLEY (’61, ’91 collection, Complete Stax/Volt Singles, 1959-68)

I Love You Still/ ZILLA MAYES (’68, ’06 collection, Confessing: Deep Soul From New Orleans)

Dragging the Line/ TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS (’71)

Fields of Clover/ THE BOX TOPS (’68)


Forget It/ HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS (’10, Medicine County)*

Be-Bop-A-Lula/ GENE VINCENT (’56)

The Poor Side of Town/ JOHNNY RIVERS (’67)

Inner City Blues/ RODRIGUEZ (’70, Cold Fact)

Houses (Elyse Weinberg)/ VETIVER (’08, Thing of the Past)

The Mermaid Parade/ PHOSPHORESCENT (’10, Here’s To Taking It Easy)*

One Hundred Years From Now (rehearsal take #2)/ THE BYRDS (feat. Gram Parsons, lead vocals) (’68, ’97 reissue, Sweetheart of the Rodeo)

Before I Wake/ JOHN DOE & THE SADIES (w/ MARGARET GOODE) (’09, Country Club)


Life’s Little Ups and Downs/ CHARLIE RICH (’69)

Islands/ CAT POWER (’06, The Greatest)

Messiah Ward/ NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (’04, Abattoir Blues)

Wave/ CALEXICO (’04, Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo)

The Wind/ PJ HARVEY (’98, Is This Desire?)

Run in the Dust/ JOHNNY MARR/ 7 WORLDS COLLIDE (’09, The Sun Came Out)

Don’t You Want It/ GOLDEN MEAN (’05, Black Operation)

Mambo Sun/ T. REX (’73, Electric Warrior)


Find the Torch, Burn the Plans/ PAUL WELLER (’10, Wake Up Nation)*

Sooner/ MY BLOODY VALENTINE (’91, Loveless)

Your Hands (Together)/ THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS (’10, Together)*

Club Mekon/ THE MEKONS (’89, The Mekons Rock n’ Roll)


Rosewood, Wax, Voltz + Glitter/ RED RED MEAT (’95, Bunny Gets Paid)

*new or recent release



Sunday, May 16, 2010

B.W.'s PLAYLIST/ KHSU, 90.5/ SAT., 15 MAY 2010


This high-fueled funk/soul instrumental outfit, Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro, have definitely cut their teeth from James Brown's JB's and The Meters, as well as taking a page out of the Daptone Records gang (thanks to the Brooklyn label, along with Truth & Soul, for re-starting the retro-soul movement!). The Saitama, Japan band's US self titled debut is now available on Jazzman Records, even though it was originally recorded back in 2006. However, this group is not mere restoration artists - they sincerely groove hard, and they have a true feel for the music. MMK will be soon releasing their sophomore release, Uhuru Peak - though likely in Japan only. MMK proves that you don't have to be from Brooklyn to find the funk. Kanpai!
BOY WONDER'S HOT CIRCLES/ 9:00-11:00 PM

Don't Lie to Me/ "MISSISSIPPI" CHARLES BEVEL ('73, Meet Charles Bevel)

What a Good Man He Is/ TAMMI TERRELL (’68)

Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart/ THE SUPREMES (’66)

Baby I Love You/ ERMA FRANKLIN (’68, Super Soul Sister)

Real Nitty Gritty/ SHIRLEY ELLIS (’63)

Better Things/ SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS (’10, I Learned the Hard Way)*

You Can’t Buy My Love/ BARBARA LYNN (’65)

Let Me Come Within/ RENALDO DOMINO (’70, ’07 collection, Eccentric Soul: Twinight’s Lunar Rotation)


Yellow Soul Force (Parts II & III)/ MOUNTAIN MOCHA KILIMANJARO (’10, self titled)*

Return to Gijon/ THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS (’06, 102%)

Willie Chase/ J.J. JOHNSON (’73, Willie Dynamite st)

Mama Feelgood/ LYNN COLLINS (’73)

Tainted Love/ GLORIA JONES (’64)

Soul Butter/ JOHNNY BARFIELD & THE MEN FROM S.O.U.L. (’67)

Bar-B-Q/ WENDY RENE (’64)

Ye-Ye/ EIKO SHURI (’67, ’09, Nippon Girls)

I’m Am Trying to Break Your Heart/ JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND (’10, 7” single)*


I Want Candy/ THE STRANGELOVES (’65)

I Need You/ THE KINKS (’65)

Twilley Don’t Mind/ DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND (’77, Twilley Don’t Mind)

Monday/ WILCO (’96, Being There)

Too Bad/ THE FACES (’71, A Nod is as Good as a Wink…To a Blind Horse)

Cool Water/ THE REPLACEMENTS [w/ CHRIS MARS, lead vox] (originally ’87, 7” single, b/w “Can’t Hardly Wait,” ’08 reissue, Pleased to Meet Me)

I Don’t Care If There’s Cursing/ PHOSPHORESCENT (’10, Here’s To Taking It Easy)*

Burning House of Love (live)/ X (’95, Unclogged)

When He Come/ HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS (’10, Medicine County)*


It’s Not Enough/ THE WACO BROTHERS (’00, Electric Waco Chair)

Earthquake Heart/ THE DIRTBOMBS (’03, Dangerous Magical Noise)

Communication Breakdown/ LED ZEPPELIN (’69, self titled)

Kicking Television/ WILCO (’05, Kicking Television: Live in Chicago)

Definitely Clean/ THE DREAM SYNDICATE (’82, The Days of Wine and Roses)

White Light/White Heat/ THE VELVET UNDERGROUND (’68, White Light/White Heat)

Public Image/ PUBLIC IMAGE (’78, self titled)


Iron Man/ SORENG SANTI (mid ‘70’s, Thailand)

*new or recent release



Monday, May 10, 2010

PAGAN DANCE MUSIC/ KHSU, 90.5/ SAT., 9 MAY 10/


Two members of the Columbian band Bomba Estereo chill out in a field of golden weeds while on a U.S. tour late last year. Check out Bomba Estereo's blend of electronica, cumbia and MIA-like rap. Time to start compiling the summer soundtrack? Start with Bomba Estereo's Blow Up.

BOY WONDER SUBBAGE/ 10:35 PM-MIDNIGHT

Sleepwalking Through the Mekong/ DENGE FEVER (’05, Escape From Dragon House) [USA/Cambodia]

Els Nens Sense Memoria/ ALMASALA (’06, Eloh) [Spain]

Bob/ OTTO (’99, Samba Pra Burro) [Brazil]

Tew Ante Sew/ GIGI (Ejigayehu Shibabaw) (’01, Gigi) [Ethiopia]


Aynali Koruk/ FERYAL ONEY (’06, Bulutlar Gecer) [Turkey]

Do-Li-Do/ ENSEMBLE PIN (’08 comp., Believer Music Issue) [Bulgaria]

Cala Cala/ DJ DOLORES (’08, 1 Real) [Brazil]

La Boquilla/ BOMBA ESTEREO (’09, Blow Up) [Columbia]

Coulibaly/ AMADOU & MARIAM (’04, Dimanche a Bamako) [Mali]

Imazeghen N Adagh/ TINARIWEN (’09, Imidiwan: Companions) [Mali]

Ngamen/ JUSTIN ADAMS & JELDEH CAMARA (’07, Soul Science) [UK/ Ghana]

Vanereva Nepasipo/ OLIVER MTUKUDZI (’03, Tsivo) [Zimbabwe]

Inel Inel De Aur/ SHNATEL VS. RONA HARTNER & DJ CLICK (’05, The Edge of Heaven) [Germany/ Romania/ France]


Bossa Cubanan/ LOS ZAFIROS (’99, Bossa Cubana) [Cuba]

Sorte/ CESARIA EVORA (’99, Café Atlantico) [Cape Verde]

A Minha Menina/ OS MUTANTES (’68, ’99 collection, Everything is Possible) [Brazil]

Serbian Cocek/ A HAWK AND A HACKSAW (’07, A Hawk and a Hacksaw and The Hun Hangar Ensemble) [USA/ Hungary/ UK]




Sunday, May 9, 2010

B.W.'s PLAYLIST/ KHSU, 90.5/ SAT., 8 MAY 2010


Songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, like other great songwriting teams of the 1960's (such as Barry/Greenwich, Hayes/Porter and Leiber/Stoller, to name a few), created an amazing string of hits, most notably for Dionne Warwick. What do you get when you fall in love? Pneumonia, apparently.
BOY WONDER'S HOT CIRCLES/ 9:00-11:00 PM

Don’t Make Me Over/ DIONNE WARWICK (’62)

The Look of Love (single version)/ ISAAC HAYES (’70, To Be Continued)+

Do You Know the Way to San Jose/ FREEDY JOHNSTON (’08, My Favorite Waste of Time)+

Always Something There to Remind Me/ JIM O’ROURKE (w/ THURSTON MOORE) (’10, All Kinds of People)*+

(They Long to Be) Close to You/ THE CRANBERRIES (’94, If I Were a Carpenter)+

I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself/ ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS (’78, Live Stiffs)+

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head/ SHONEN KNIFE (‘98, What the World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform The Songs Of Burt Bacharach)+

Ruler of My Heart/ SCOUT NIBLETT (’05, Comes With a Smile comp., Vol. 14)

+songs by Burt Bacharach & Hal David


Money/ SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS (’10, I Learned It the Hard Way)*

I’m Just Trying to Break Your Heart/ JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND (’10, single)

Night Time/ THE STRANGELOVES (’65)

Ride Your Pony/ LEE DORSEY (’66, Ride Your Pony)

Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’/ CRAZY ELEPHANT (’69)

Psychotic Reaction/ THE COUNT FIVE (’66)

Friendly Ghost/ HARLEM (’10, Hippies)*

I Get So Excited/ GENTLEMAN JESSE (’08, self titled)

I Want You Around (single version)/ (’78, Road to Ruin)


Satellite/ THE REPLACEMENTS (’89, ’97 collection, All For Nothing, Nothing For All)

Crash Years/ THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS (’10, Together)*

So You Know Now/ AMY RIGBY (’05, Little Fugitive)

Days/ THE KINKS (’68, The Kinks Are the Village Preservation Society)

Hopscotch/ COCOROSIE (’10, Grey Oceans)*

Home/ ALEXI MURDOCH (’06, Time Without Consequence)

The Sixties/ T-BONE BURNETT (’83, Proof Through the Night)

Anyone’s Ghost/ THE NATIONAL (’10, High Violet)*


Ted Williams/ THE BASEBALL PROJECT (’08, Vol. 1 Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails)

Anarchy in the UK/ THE SEX PISTOLS (’77, Never Mind the Bullocks)

You Got Me Hummin’/ THE REIGNING SOUND (’04, Too Much Guitar)


Sugar Kane/ SONIC YOUTH (’92, Dirty)

*new or recent release