Episode 24: The Love Song Show

     So, if you heard it live, you already know the tale of this morning’s show. If you didn’t, here’s what you need to know: this was my celebration of the first anniversary of ECI, and for it I decided to do a love song-focused show. One listener called wondering whether he was listening to the right show, given how, at least for him, what I was playing departed so much from what he expected/normally hears. (In actuality, 8 February is the date, but, since I will not be on air then, I opted for an early rather than late celebration.
     I am certain that some of you might quibble with my choices of tunes for this morning, and for the record, I might quibble, too. But I chose the selections that ensured a good flow for the whole two hours—and in the process I eliminated another three hours’ worth of equally worthy material. Maybe I’ll get to the others down the line. Maybe not. Putting this show together was more taxing than the process for any previous one, and I won’t repeat the experiment any time soon.
     Anyway, if you know the songs, you can follow the show’s arc: from desire to fulfillment, questioning, dissolution, hurt, anger, defiance and, oddly, reconciliation. Whether that’s how things work for you, I don’t know. Whether it makes for good radio, I don’t know. You will have to let me know.
     Thanks again to the folks who called and made requests and actually let me know they were listening. I really appreciate it. We’ll do it again in two weeks’s time....

• 12:00–1:00 a.m.:
• Roxy Music, “To Turn You On,” Avalon, Virgin
• The Cardigans, “Happy Meal,” Life, Minty Fresh
• The Spinners, “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” The Spinners, Atlantic
• The Platters, “Twilight Time,” The Platters—Golden Hits, Mercury
• Ron Sexsmith, “Right About Now,” Whereabouts, Interscope
• Dusty Springfield, “So Much Love,” Dusty in Memphis, Atlantic
• Stevie Wonder, “Happier than the Morning Sun,” Music of My Mind, Motown
• Marvin Gaye, “You Sure Love to Ball,” Let’s Get It On, Motown
• XTC, “Big Day,” Skylarking, Geffen
• Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, “Four Flights Up,” Rattlesnakes, Capitol
• The Gun Club, “She’s like Heroin to Me,” Fire of Love, Slash
• Prefab Sprout, “When Love Breaks Down,” Two Wheels Good, Epic
• Joe Jackson, “Breaking Us in Two,” Night and Day, A&M
• Joy Division, “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” Substance, Factory/Qwest
• Patsy Cline, “Leavin’ on Your Mind,” 12 Greatest Hits, MCA

• 1:00–2:00 a.m.:
• Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach, “I Still Have That Other Girl,” Painted from Memory, Mercury
• Willie Nelson, “My Own Peculiar Way,” Teatro, Warner Brothers
• Prince, “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?,” “1999” (Single), Warner Brothers
• Beth Orton, “I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine,” Trailer Park, Dedicated
• Shelby Lynne, “Thought It Would Be Easier,” I Am Shelby Lynne, Island
• Meshell Ndegéocello, “Fool of Me,” Bitter, Maverick
• Bauhaus, “Crowds,” “Telegram Sam” (Single), 4AD
• Scheer, “Wish You Were Dead,” Infliction, 4AD
• Damien Rice, “The Blower’s Daughter,” O, Vector
• Nikka Costa, “So Have I for You,” Everybody Got Their Something, Cheeba Sound
• Van Hunt, “Down Here in Hell (With You),” Van Hunt, Capitol
• Lori Carson, “16 Days,” Stars, Restless