88.1 KDHX Saint Louis

Way back in 1979, if you read about it in a magazine, you could clip a portion of the inner sleeve of Squeezing Out Sparks and mail it to his new record company to get this great horn-driven single bitching about his old record company. For free!

Occasionally, you find rock matches that are incomparable - Iggy Pop and David Bowie were one magnificent collaboration.

You can imagine Lemmy had this in mind for when he was still in Hawkwind - it's loads of fun.

The great Sun Ra has been gone for a long time - I am happy that his acolytes, led by 96-year-old Marshall Allen, have come up with something for me to play his music regularly in 2021.

This St. Louis band has outdone itself with these two fine vocalists sitting in with them. Classic soul in 2021.

I never actually listened to her first album before - surprised to find her doing a solid blues cut like this one all those years ago.

King had lots of magic moments back in the early 60s.

Pops Staples figured out how to make his gospel group work with a folk music audience right before deciding to switch over to soul music!

That basso profundo voice don't lie, either.

You could probably exclusively listen to live Jorma Kaukonen material and not catch up on all of it for months and months.

Her mother had a pop hit in 1992 - she isn't likely to do that, but makes really good records herself.

Short stories set to music - that's the way Squeeze rolled.

McCartney figured out for the third time in his career last year that he can make perfectly excellent music all by himself.

This isn't a bad plan for trying to figure out your life.

Why isn't Charlie Rich universally acknowledged as one of the greatest singers ever?

The man's legacy was boundless - so many cool records I keep discovering.

Recorded back when Cash was just trying to be a regular ol' country singer, not yet an American Legend!

This is some deep blues impulse in a country song.

I do love zydeco. Give me some more accordion and a rubboard, and I'm thrilled.

Decades before Sufjan Stevens, Don & Phil sang about our neighboring state.

This box set keeps on giving me wonderful discoveries.

There is something lovely about these attempts after the hits dried up to search for a new sound (which did lead to one more hit the next year).

The best ABBA pastiche since "Oliver's Army" - and it's probably my favorite song this year so far.

Ron and Russell Mael never let me down.

Sometimes I hear just one song from a Petty album I'd liked but not loved, and I realize that loving can come with closer listening to each individual cut.

Petty's long time musical partner, guitarist Mike Campbell, is keeping the flame going with this new band.

I was so disappointed in that damn TV commercial, but that disappointment is rooted in the fact that he's made records like this one, which isn't about some mythical middle. It's about dreaming for the best!

Sister harmony trios are my bread and butter - and this is probably the best song on this record.

This record came out right after I turned in my Top 10 Albums list last year - I love the heck out of it, and would probably revise that list now. I just wish I could play all the songs on the radio, but she uses some words the FCC doesn't like. Not on this cut, though.

You want a simple rock band in 2021 that knows how to make irresistible songs? This is a prime recommendation.

The Rock n' Roll Trio records are among the greatest treasures of the 50s. If you don't know them, run out and snatch them up - you will scream for joy!

These guys could rock!

This St. Louis band has yet another totally terrific record.

On their Facebook page, it says they ask the question "What if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat?" I've never wondered that, but if this is the answer, it ain't half bad.

One of the best garage punk bands of the 00s.

You don't hear Sumlin playing acoustic guitar very often. Sweet!

One of the finest guitar pickers of the acoustic blues world.

Very nice duet album from Kottke with this dude from Phish.

The great pianist passed away last week. The children's songs are spectacular miniatures.

Corea plays piano on this album by the bass player Friesen featuring Joe Henderson on sax, Paul Motian on drums, and Airto on percussion.

They can't take Peggy Lee away from this show, either!

She's huge in England, but I've only just recently discovered this enticing pop vocalist.

A typically enjoyable record from this talented singer/songwriter.

It's often forgotten that the Four Seasons vied with the Beatles for most hits in 1964, and thus it's weird that the Tremeloes are the only British Invasion band I can think of who so perfectly aped the Four Seasons sound.

Kate Stables was singing with the National for a while before she went back to her own project when their tour was canceled last year by the pandemic.

Another excellent Americana singer/songwriter - they are hard to keep straight, but enjoyable indeed when you hear them.