Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The UnCola Playlist 11-24-09

Belouis Some-Let It Be With You
Moonshoes-Monkey
Gino Vannelli-The River Must Flow
Simply Red-A New Flame
Prefab Sprout-Carnival 2000
Captain Sensible-Wot
Geyster-A Different Space (The Fonz Jacket Remix)
N.E.R.D.-Jump
Blood Sweat & Tears-Life
Flash & the Pan-Hey St. Peter
Sneaker-Loose In The World
Ace-Time Ain’t Long
Hayzee Fantazee-Shiny Shiny
Deee-Lite-Who Was That?
Joe Jackson-Invisible Man
Mildred-Color Me
Frank Weber-The Old Man
Tom Jans-Cool
Larry Lee-Number One Girl
Difford & Tilbrook-Picking Up The Pieces
Colourfield-Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby
Phoenix-Run Run Run
Jonatha Brooke-Nothing Sacred
Ned Doheny-On The Swingshift
Curiosity Killed The Cat-Shallow Memory
Haircut 100-Favorite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl)
Rupert Holmes-Let’s Get Crazy Tonight
Geoffrey Williams-It’s Not A Love Thing


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The UnCola Playlist 11-17-09

Blur-London Loves
Stephen Tin Tin Duffy-Icing On The Cake
Jon Astley-Jane's Getting Serious
Chris Difford-Come On Down
Fanny-All Mine
Fishbone-When Problems Arise
Tower of Power-Drop It In The Slot
Tony!Toni!Tone!-Tell Me Mama
The Pursuit Of Happiness-Cigarette Dangles
Posies-Solar Sister
Average White Band-Love Gives, Love Takes Away
Crackin'-Too Young
John Farrar-Tell Someone Who Cares
Q-Feel-Dancing In Heaven (Orbital BeBop)
Gary Russell-Farrah Fawcett I Love You
The Fortunes-Storm In A Teacup
Nick Lowe-So It Goes
They Might Be Giants-Don't Let Start
Third Matinee-Holiday For Sweet Louise
Jellyfish-Now She Knows She's Wrong
Brand New Heavies-I Don't Know Why
David Austin-Turn To Gold
Graham Gouldman-Go For It
Howard Jones-Look Mama
Edgar Winter's White Trash-Dying To Live
Yipes-Darlin'
Iron Butterfly-Shady Lady
Todd Rundgren-Song Of The Viking
Squeeze-Another Nail For My Heart
Wondermints-Ride
The Pasadenas-Tribute (Right On)


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The UnCola Playlist 11-10-09

B52s-Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland
Talk Talk-Life’s What You Make It
The Producers-What He’s Got
Steve Kipner-Beginning
China Crisis-The Highest High
Tahiti 80-Unpredictable
Bugatti & Musker-Mystery Girl
Adrian Gurvitz-Love Space
Basil Alexander-Enka Lake
Owsley-Uncle John’s Farm
Aztec Camera-Deep & Wide & Tall
Freddie Stubbs-Bridgeburger Theme
George Michael-Shoot The Dog
Jamiroquai-Runaway
Boz Scaggs-Hollywood
Seals & Crofts-Stars
Eric Matthews-Fanfare
Madness-Dust Devil
The Jam-That’s Entertainment
Norwegian Fords-Not Even Onions Make Her Cry
Nilsson-You’re Breaking My Heart
Roachford-Family Man
David Pack-My Baby
Dennis Wilson-Pacific Ocean Blues
The Rentals-Friends Of P
Chris Rosser-Brilliant In The Dark
Curiosity Killed The Cat-Misfit
Prince-The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
Neneh Cherry-Money Love
Robert Palmer-You Are In My System


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

WLIR - The best radio station ever!

If you lived in New York, esp on Long Island in the 80s, and had the ability to turn your radio dial to 92.7 FM, then you were privileged to hear the best radio station in the world ever! There was no station like it before and there will be no station like it ever. It was college free-form radio at its best before anyone even knew what that was.

It started out in the early 70's as a mellow classical & jazz station in a Garden City basement. By the mid to late 70's it was a very progressive rock station where you could hear Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Hall & Oates and the Clash back to back. They played deep album cuts as well as new music from emerging punk & new wave bands, stuff no one else would touch.

In 1980, they started the Screamer of the Week, wherein listeners would vote on the best new song of the week. Imagine that, a radio station where listeners would have a say in what gets played. The first one, on September 4, 1980 was Rock Hard by Suzi Quatro. A list of all screamers (and shreeks) can be found here: http://www.wlir.fm/screamers.htm.

In August of 1982, the peak years began with a tweak of the format. Now they would only play "New Music First" as their slogan was "Dare To Be Different". And they were and it was awesome. It was the only place you could hear the Cure, Depeche Mode, Elvis Costello, the Smiths, U2 and Squeeze. They broke almost every big band of the 80s: Duran Duran, Culture Club, Eurythmics, Thompson Twins, Beastie Boys, INXS, B-52s. Think of any new wave band or song and odds are it was played first on WLIR. And they were always digging for new stuff, for the next great song, for the next great band.

In December of 1987, WLIR lost their license and went off the air. The came back about 6 weeks later as WDRE. They had a similar format, but it just wasn't the same.

This station was my biggest musical influence growing up, not just because of all the great music they played, but in how they taught me to listen to music and how they treated their listeners as the most important part of their station's success and gave them a voice on the airwaves.

Check out www.wlir.fm for more history, pictures, soundchecks and great info.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The UnCola Playlist 11-3-09

Geyster-Come My Direction
Level 42-Turn It On
Go West-Eye To Eye
Hall & Oates-Beanie G and The Rose Tattoo
Todd Rundgren-Time Heals
Cotton Mather-My Before and After
Tears For Fears-Closest Thing To Heaven
Squeeze-Who Are You?
Sneaker-Jaymes (live)
Linda Ronstadt-Easy For You To Say
Joan Osborne-Right Hand Man
Liz Phair-Stratford-On-Guy
Joe Jackson-Right & Wrong
Heaven 17-This Is Mine
Chase-Open Up Wide
Wings Of Fire Orchestra-Change, Become
10cc-Dreadlock Holiday
Dean Friedman-Rocking Chair
Randy Newman-I Love L.A.
The Quick-Bed Of Nails
Wax UK-Bridge To Your Heart
Atlanta Rhythm Section-Dog Days
Gerry Rafferty-Island
Cliff Richard-Take Another Look
Jim Messina-Money Alone
Guess Who-Glamour Boy
Crowded House-Weather With You
Toy Matinee-Turn It On Salvador
Freeez-Southern Freeez