My Radio DJ Premier

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  • 02-07-2006, 07:02 AM
    BarryL
    My Radio DJ Premier
    I received an interesting gift for Christmas from my sister-in-law: to be a guest DJ on Toronto's CKLN 88.1 radio station. I was able to program 80 minutes of music of my choice on Jeff Wiseman's Twilight Spirits from 7:00 to 8:30 Sunday morning.

    Given that most people who enjoy progressive rock think that bands stopped making this kind of music in the mid 1970s, I decided I would base my show on new progressive rock bands that I though would connect with that sort of person.

    So my challenge was more about the bands I would want people to know of than about what I thought were the best prog songs. Two other constraints: because this is Canada, I had to have some Canadian content; and because most of the great prog songs since about 1995 are at least ten, many being fifteen to twenty minutes in length. Long songs limits the number of bands I could introduce to people.

    I was able to talk about the bands and the progressive rock revival between sets.

    Here's the playlist I finally went with:

    Set 1
    Klaatu - We're Off You Know (Orchestral Mix) [The band recorded the whole Hope album with an 83 piece orchestra, and then scrapped most of it after the Beatles rumours made their first album a bit hit. It was released for the first time as it was originally conceived in 2005 on their compilation album Sun Set.]

    True Myth - Reach For The Heavens. [Great piano driven prog rock and the first digitally recorded album in Canada, the second in the world.]

    The Factory - Spirit of Christmas [A guitar-driven psychedelic proggy album by a Toronto-based band that came out in 1974.]

    Don Bell - Child of Infinity [Don is a good personal friend of mine, and I wrote the lyrics to all of the versus. It's not prog, but I had the chance to get this played on the radio.]

    Set 2
    Spock's Beard - The Light (The Light)
    The Flower Kings - There Is More To This World (Retropolis)

    Set 3
    Frogg Cafe - Creatures (Creatures)
    RPWL - The Way It Is/Perpetual Response (Stock)
    Porcupine Tree - Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It is Recycles (Lightbulb Sun)

    Set 4
    Proto-Kaw - Quantum Leapfrog (Before Became After)

    I've been invited back, so I'll get the chance to play more prog rock for my family, because I'm sure there aren't too many people listening to college radio at 7:00 a..m. on Sunday mornings.

    Maybe next time I'll have to include some Red Star and perhaps something from The Van Allen Belt, and ask the musical questions: Is there anybody out there?
  • 02-07-2006, 07:07 AM
    Dave_G
    Hey thats very cool, Barry.

    Have fun, I would love to do something like that.

    Maybe you can push to be on at prime time.

    Also you need to play RUSH and SAGA, of course.

    Dave
  • 02-07-2006, 08:03 AM
    BarryL
    Of Course
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Dave_G
    Hey thats very cool, Barry.

    Have fun, I would love to do something like that.

    Maybe you can push to be on at prime time.

    Also you need to play RUSH and SAGA, of course.

    Dave

    Yep, need to get in some good Canadian content, and they stand out.

    I think the secret to doing this well is to find music that is both good and that there is an interesting story to telll either about the music or the band. I don't really know how the station works, so I'm very grateful too Jeff for having me back with such enthusiasm. It's fun to do, and If I only do it occasionally, I don't have the obligation of doing it week after week.

    Also, if Jeff is happy to continue to have me as a guest, I can do a segment of new music that has come out since the last time I was on. For example, for next time there will be new Proto-Kaw, new The Tangent, and perhaps new Flower Kings.
  • 02-07-2006, 08:30 AM
    richmon
    a few more Canuk proggers I'd throw in the hat
    Echolyn
    Miriodor
    Spaced Out
    Danial Gauthier
    Nathan Mahl

    Canada has contributed alot to the prog revival of the last decade eh?
  • 02-07-2006, 08:43 AM
    Troy
    Canadian art-rock and, what, no Rheostatics? You'd love some stuff off the "Whale Music" album, Barry.

    I also agree that Echolyn was conspiuously absent from the list.

    The Red Star and Van Allen Belt . . . NOT conspicuoulsly absent.

    Rush is too obvious if the idea was to hit people with unfamiliar music.

    I'm green with envy. The guest DJ gig is something I've always wanted to do. My set would be very different, but there would undoubtedly be some artist overlap.
  • 02-07-2006, 09:00 AM
    3-LockBox
    I'm jealous as H#LL
    Good for our side! I didn't know Echolyn was a Canadian band.

    Of course, you'll have to make comps of yours shows.
  • 02-07-2006, 09:05 AM
    Troy
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by 3-LockBox
    Good for our side! I didn't know Echolyn was a Canadian band.

    Of course, you'll have to make comps of yours shows.

    I don't think they are either, but as a modern prog band that deserves to be heard . . . it deserved to be heard.
  • 02-07-2006, 09:21 AM
    richmon
    correct-a-mundo
    Looking deeper, seems Echolyn is a USA band, although I saw a reference to them as Canadian, for example
    http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200548.html#echolyn
    But many more say USA than Canada, so that must be right -- 'never mind'.
  • 02-07-2006, 09:50 AM
    Davey
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by BarryL
    I've been invited back, so I'll get the chance to play more prog rock for my family, because I'm sure there aren't too many people listening to college radio at 7:00 a..m. on Sunday mornings.

    Ditto, that is pretty cool Barry. So what's your on air radio nom de plume? There's a couple people around here who DJ'd in college, Jar among them.
  • 02-07-2006, 10:07 AM
    Dusty Chalk
    Just echoing others' sentiments: very cool, Barry. I'm green with envy.

    NP: Clor -- new wave 80's revival meets prog -- kinda bizarre
  • 02-07-2006, 10:36 AM
    3-LockBox
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by richmon
    Looking deeper, seems Echolyn is a USA band, although I saw a reference to them as Canadian, for example
    http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200548.html#echolyn
    But many more say USA than Canada, so that must be right -- 'never mind'.


    Thanks for the great link! I always like finding new review sites that lists bands that, #1:I've heard of or own, and #2:have band names I can actually pernounce.
  • 02-07-2006, 10:36 AM
    Dave_G
    Here's Troys setlist:
    Zappa
    Stan Ridgway
    Kenealy
    Zappa
    Genesis
    Zappa
    XTC
    Zappa


    LOL!


    Dave
  • 02-07-2006, 11:30 AM
    Troy
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Dave_G
    Zappa
    Stan Ridgway
    Kenealy
    Zappa
    Genesis
    Zappa
    XTC
    Zappa


    LOL!


    Dave

    I'd probably play more Zappa.
  • 02-07-2006, 11:48 AM
    ForeverAutumn
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Troy
    Canadian art-rock and, what, no Rheostatics? You'd love some stuff off the "Whale Music" album, Barry.

    Now why didn't I think of that? Rheostatics would definately be a great addition (and fulfill the Canadian Content quota) for the next time. Good call Troy.

    Having been one of, at least, four people listening to this show, Barry did a great job! And was actually interesting to listen to for a change. :p


    P.S. Barry, I can provide you with Whale Music and a couple other great Rheostatics albums.
  • 02-07-2006, 12:05 PM
    Dave_G
    My setlist:

    Flower Kings
    IQ
    Marillion
    Flower Kings
    IQ
    Marillion
    Flower Kings
    IQ
    Marillion


    Dave
  • 02-07-2006, 12:19 PM
    Audio Girl
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Davey
    Ditto, that is pretty cool Barry. So what's your on air radio nom de plume? There's a couple people around here who DJ'd in college, Jar among them.


    Believe it or not, I did too...1976-1977. North Texas State University (NTSU), now known as The University of North Texas (UNT). It was pretty cool...at that time, the station could be picked up for about 45 miles outside of Denton, so all my homies in Carrollton would tune in and call the station for requests. Great memories and lots of fun...
  • 02-07-2006, 01:03 PM
    Troy
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Dave_G
    My setlist:

    Flower Kings
    IQ
    Marillion
    Flower Kings
    IQ
    Marillion
    Flower Kings
    IQ
    Marillion


    Dave

    Not enough Donny and Marie.
  • 02-07-2006, 01:31 PM
    Davey
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Audio Girl
    Believe it or not, I did too...1976-1977. North Texas State University (NTSU), now known as The University of North Texas (UNT). It was pretty cool...at that time, the station could be picked up for about 45 miles outside of Denton, so all my homies in Carrollton would tune in and call the station for requests. Great memories and lots of fun...

    Hmmm, betcha spun some of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. What else? Maybe Hotel California? Saturday Night Fever? Hehehe, did Mellencamp have anything new then? How freaky did you get back then? 1977 was a great music year for me, one of my favorites. Lots of discoveries and albums I'm still very fond of. Almost as wide open as the late 60s, in retrospect, with Costello and Marley and Eno and Mink DeVille and the Heads and Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd and Cheap Trick and Bowie and on and on and ...
  • 02-07-2006, 04:49 PM
    BradH
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Audio Girl
    Believe it or not, I did too...1976-1977. North Texas State University (NTSU), now known as The University of North Texas (UNT). It was pretty cool...at that time, the station could be picked up for about 45 miles outside of Denton, so all my homies in Carrollton would tune in and call the station for requests. Great memories and lots of fun...

    That's cool. At what point did KNTU go to the all jazz format?
  • 02-08-2006, 07:27 AM
    BarryL
    I was thinking of...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Davey
    Ditto, that is pretty cool Barry. So what's your on air radio nom de plume? There's a couple people around here who DJ'd in college, Jar among them.


    The Meercat. Don't ask me why, but that's the name I use with my kids on the Game Cube game Animal Crossing. You nutcase.

    Of course, The B Man is what my goofy sister calls me. As for what I call her, I call her a cab, of course.

    Cool radio nom de plume recommendations are welcome. I can't even pronounce my own last name.
  • 02-08-2006, 07:28 AM
    BarryL
    Rheostatic me
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn
    Rheostatics would definately be a great addition (and fulfill the Canadian Content quota) for the next time. Good call Troy.

    Barry did a great job! And was actually interesting to listen to for a change. :p

    For the good of our country and our nation, I will accept your offer of providing me with Rheostatic tunage.

    I also didn't know Echolyn was Canadian. I'll have to check on what the Canadian content rules are. James LaBrie is also Canadian, but that doesn't make Dream Theater CanCon.

    The pressure, the pressure!
  • 02-08-2006, 07:35 AM
    BarryL
    Thanks...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Dave_G
    Zappa
    Stan Ridgway
    Kenealy
    Zappa
    Genesis
    Zappa
    XTC
    Zappa


    LOL!


    Dave

    That's going to be my playlist next time, but no XTC or Ridgeway. I need space of Red Star and TVAB (...big...wooden...mallet...).
  • 02-08-2006, 07:36 AM
    BarryL
    Nobody calls...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Audio Girl
    Believe it or not, I did too...1976-1977. North Texas State University (NTSU), now known as The University of North Texas (UNT). It was pretty cool...at that time, the station could be picked up for about 45 miles outside of Denton, so all my homies in Carrollton would tune in and call the station for requests. Great memories and lots of fun...

    ..except my mom.

    Perhaps they need to move to text messaging. Who uses the phone anymore. It's too personal. Someone might actually answer!
  • 02-08-2006, 10:50 AM
    ForeverAutumn
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by BarryL
    Of course, The B Man is what my goofy sister calls me.

    Only to your face. I call you lots of other things too.

    Nice use of reply posts to make this thread seem really long and important. It increases your post count too.

    :D
  • 02-08-2006, 12:01 PM
    BarryL
    Post count is what I'm after
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn
    Only to your face. I call you lots of other things too.

    Nice use of reply posts to make this thread seem really long and important. It increases your post count too.

    :D


    I haven't posted in ages, and with just a few words in each response, I can get it up and feel really manly as well without resorting to those blue jelly beans.
  • 02-08-2006, 03:04 PM
    3-LockBox
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by BarryL
    I haven't posted in ages, and with just a few words in each response, I can get it up and feel really manly as well without resorting to those blue jelly beans.

    Do those blue jelly beans work?
  • 02-09-2006, 08:48 AM
    BarryL
    Apparently not...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by 3-LockBox
    Do those blue jelly beans work?


    Look at my post count, it's only 25 more than yours.
  • 02-11-2006, 11:57 PM
    Audio Girl
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by BradH
    That's cool. At what point did KNTU go to the all jazz format?


    It really was a lot of fun. The all-jazz format began in 1981...I graduated 4 years prior to its introduction.
  • 02-12-2006, 12:17 AM
    Audio Girl
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Davey
    Hmmm, betcha spun some of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. What else? Maybe Hotel California? Saturday Night Fever? Hehehe, did Mellencamp have anything new then? How freaky did you get back then? 1977 was a great music year for me, one of my favorites. Lots of discoveries and albums I'm still very fond of. Almost as wide open as the late 60s, in retrospect, with Costello and Marley and Eno and Mink DeVille and the Heads and Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd and Cheap Trick and Bowie and on and on and ...


    1976/77 were great years for music. That made for a fun time spinning those black discs over the radio...Plus the 1969 - 1975 time period wasn't bad for music either so we played quite a bit from those years.

    Believe it or not, Rumours, Hotel California, and SNF were never spun by me. Our listening audience would have tuned their radios from KNTU to the "ZOO" (KZEW) if I had. So, here are just a few of the groups that I remember playing (and usually played the LP cuts that were not being played on other radio stations):

    Boz Scaggs (local Dallasite) -- Heavy rotation: "Slow Dancer" & "Silk Degrees"
    Steve Miller
    Thin Lizzy
    Bob Dylan
    Joni Mitchell
    Elvis Costello
    Jackson Browne
    Little Feat
    Ry Cooder
    Nils Lofgren
    Joan Armatrading
    Emmylou Harris
    Foghat
    Clapton
    Todd Rundgren
    Nazz
    Graham Parker
    Talking Heads
    Bob Marley
    Marvin Gaye
    Doors
    Queen
    Van Morrison -- Astral Weeks!
    Jimi Hendrix
    Paul McCartney & Wings -- songs like "Beware My Love" NOT "Silly Love Songs"
    Heart
    Neil Young
    Janis Joplin
    Blue Oyster Cult
    ACDC
    Rolling Stones
    Beatles
    George Harrison
    John Lennon
    The Troggs
    Steely Dan
    Stevie Wonder
    Lou Reed
    Nazareth
    JJ Cale
    David Bowie
    Pink Floyd
    Bill Withers
    The Zombies
    George Benson
    And, of course, The One O'Clock Lab Band, from NTSU!

    A wonderful walk down memory lane...
    Ag
  • 02-12-2006, 12:57 PM
    Davey
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Audio Girl
    A wonderful walk down memory lane...
    Ag

    Wow, that's a heckuva nice playlist Mary! A lot of my favorites.
  • 02-12-2006, 05:58 PM
    BradH
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Audio Girl
    Our listening audience would have tuned their radios from KNTU to the "ZOO" (KZEW) if I had.

    I was thinking of the ZOO the other day. I was listening to a bootleg of Procol Harum in 1975 at some studio hear in Dallas broadcast live over KZEW. Q102 rarely did stuff like that - too corporate, too Van Halen. Although Redbeard did killer interviews, I have to admit. (Got a bunch of those on disc, too.)

    The college station in Norman, OK went all jazz in 1982 about the same time as KNTU. They got swallowed by the jazz/NPR format and it killed all that new wave & ska they were playing all day.