Threads and Tangents Music Hour

Threads and Tangents 1/17/23 - Session musicians from Muscle Shoals

This week's musical thread is session musicians and I’ll focus on music recorded at the Muscle Shoals studios. The Northwest corner of Alabama is an unlikely musical hotspot, a cluster of towns – Florence, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals – where anonymous musicians backed up major artists.  Most of the biggest recordings from this area came from two studios: the FAME Studios and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.
We'll hear songs from: Arthur Alexander, Black Keys, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Cliff, Drive-by Truckers, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Rolling Stones, Leon Russell, Percy Sledge, Staple Singers, and The SteelDrivers.

Threads and Tangents 1/10/23 - Musicians that died in 2022

This week's musical thread is musicians that died in 2022.  As I looked back on the year, and all the obituaries, I found so many musicians that had passed away that the best I can do in this hour is hit on some favorite musicians and bands. We’re lucky to have their songs and our memories associated with them. . We'll hear songs from: Ronnie Hawkins, Rosa Lee Hawkins (Dixie Cups), Syl Johnson, Sam Lay AND Jim Schwall (Siegel-Schwall Band), Keith Levene (PiL), Loretta Lynn, Ian McDonald (King Crimson), Christine McVie (Chicken Shack), Mimi Parker (Low), Jim Post, Pharoah Sanders, Herschel Sizemore, and Nik Turner (Hawkwind).  

Threads and Tangents 1/3/23 - School Days

This week's musical thread is School Days. Now that the holidays are over and everybody is back to school, it seems like a fine time to play some songs about being in school. We'll hear songs from: Dave Edmunds, Indigo Girls, Jethro Tull, The Kinks, MC5, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Mission of Burma, Mothers of Invention, Phish, Ramones, Jeannie C. Riley, Rockpile, Otis Rush, Pete Seeger, and Supertramp.

Threads and Tangents 12/27/22 - it’s SUNNY out there

This week's musical thread is it's "sunny" out there. We’ve made it past the winter solstice, and in celebration of our days getting longer, and us seeing at least a little more of the sun, I’ll be playing songs about the sun.  We'll hear songs from: Allman Brothers Band, Beatles, Dead South, Doors, Foo Fighters, John Fahey, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Bobby Hebb, Kinks, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, Bob Marley, Siegel-Schwall Band, and Bill Withers. 

Threads and Tangents 12/20/22 - Hanukah

This week's musical thread was especially fun to put together.  It's about the Festival of Lights, so I'll be playing Chanukah songs. Now, I know what your thinking, Hanukah songs suck. Yeah, that used to be true, but in the past 20+ years lots of musicians have recorded Hannukah music worth listening to (so that means no Adam Sandler, or Gefilte Joe & the Fish, on this show).We'll hear songs from: Dan Bern, Emma’s Revolution, Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, Adam Green, Woody Guthrie, The Holophonics, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, The Klezmatics, The LeeVees, Tom Lehrer, Panorama Jazz Band, Sufjan Stevens, They Might Be Giants, Loudon Wainwright III, Watkins Family Hour, Ted Wulfers, Yo La Tengo, and the Masada String Trio. 

Threads and Tangents 12/13/22 - Winter

This week's musical thread is Winter. I’ve spent most of my life in places where there’s a winter season, and I like it fine. There’s something about how invigorating the cold air can be, the beauty of the snow-capped peaks, and how quiet and peaceful it is when the snow’s falling. There are challenges though. Like trying to get up or down the streets in South Hill after last December’s snowstorm. Do they ever plow in this town?
We'll hear songs from: 10,000 Maniacs, Avett Brothers, Leonard Cohen, Dismemberment Plan, Fleet Foxes, Billie Holiday, Joni Mitchell, Ry Cooder, Bill Morrissey, Claudia Schmidt, Simon & Garfunkel, Tom Waits, and Sonny Boy Williamson II & Memphis Slim.

Threads and Tangents 12/6/22 - Richard Thompson, covered

This week's musical thread is Richard Thompson, covered.  We’ll hear songs written by Richard Thompson, just mostly done by other musicians.  Thompson’s songwriting is brilliant and his songs are covered by musicians who recognize his genius, even if he’s escaped mainstream popularity.
We'll hear songs from: Marshall Crenshaw, Dinosaur Jr., Kathy Kallick Band, Allison Krauss, Mary Lou Lord, Los Lobos, Mile Twelve, Del McCoury Band, Buddy & Julie Miller, Bob Mould, R.E.M., Richard Thompson, and Tortoise & Bonnie “Prince” Billy.

Threads and Tangents 11/29/22 - The 27 Club

This week's episode features music from the 27 Club - musicians that died when they were 27 years old.We'll hear songs from: D. Boon (Minutemen), Cecilia, Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Arlester Christian (Dyke and the Blazers), Jimi Hendrix, Nat Jaffe, Robert Johnson, Brian Jones (Rolling Stones), Janis Joplin, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (Grateful Dead), Jim Morrison (The Doors), Kristen Pfaff (Hole), Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson (Canned Heat), and Amy Winehouse.

Threads and Tangents 11/22/22 - The World Cup

In celebration of the World Cup which started over the weekend, this week's musical thread is Football … or Soccer. You’ll hear it both ways tonight.
We'll hear songs from: The 5,6,7,8’s, Billy Bragg, Chumbawamba, The Cockney Rejects, The Fans, Bob Marley, Youssou N'Dour and Axelle Red, New Order, Pink Floyd, The Pogues, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, and The White Stripes.   

Threads and Tangents 11/15/22 - Days of the Week

This week's musical thread is the Days of the Week.  I can’t remember when this Thread popped into my head. Probably when I was listening to one of the songs that we’ll hear tonight. In tonight’s playlist, I’m going to go through the days of the week pretty much in order.
We'll hear songs from: Dr John, Dave Edmunds, Mississippi John Hurt, Etta James, George Jones, Charles Mingus, Morphine, The Persuasions, The Pogues, John Prine, Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground, Tom Waits, and Wilco.