LIC Radio

Star of the Show: Jeff Beck (Photo by Neil Zlozower, 1976) An embarrassment of riches. Some weeks I struggle to put together enough music, but this week, frankly, I had too much to sift through. (I think that next week will pose a similar problem.) I gave an obligatory nod to Mick Ralphs, who passed away the day before, but as I was never that big into Bad Company (I prefer the members’ previous bands), I have only a casual familiarity with his work. As far as guitar heroes are concerned, Jeff Beck, who would have turned 81 today, stole the spotlight. Some great classics in here as well as a few cuts out of far left field.   Click here to check it out: LIC Radio 6/24/2025     The Ramsey Lewis Trio "The 'In' Crowd" (Billy Page) From  The In Crowd   (Argo, 1965) Recorded live at the Bohemian Caverns, Washington, DC, May 1965 Originally recorded by Dobie Gray on Dobie Gray Sings for “In” Crowders That Go “Go-Go”   (Charger, 1964)     Mott the H...

  Brian Wilson 1942-2025 When Sly Stone passed away before last week’s show, I wasn’t really prepared. I mean, I was somewhat prepared for the eventuality of it. I knew he wasn’t well. Also, I had just watched Questlove’s excellent documentary, which a gorgeous encapsulation of the man and his work, and I got a feeling from it that was almost valedictory. The timing, however, was such that I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare a proper tribute, showcasing his genius while eschewing the most popular recordings. (Maybe I need to self-reflect and figure out why I have this hipster-ish need for all things obscure.) Brian Wilson, of course, passed on the day after last week’s show. I had a good amount of time to ruminate on the songs that grabbed me and meant the most to me. I eschewed outtakes and live cuts because I didn’t think that they illustrated what made Brian Wilson such an important figure in music and in my life. However, I still stuck with deeper cuts, which maybe I didn’t ...

Sly Stone  1943-2025 (Photo by Amalie R. Rothschild)  Wow. Sly Stone. That was a big one. Not completely surprising, sadly, but still a profound loss. I wish I had more time to pull together some nice rare cuts in celebration, but that Fillmore East version of “Dance to the Music was a burner. Aside from that, it was a shorter show than usual, but I would argue not a wasted moment. What else? Well, after 232 shows, I finally played a Billy Joel song. Funniest moment: Stiv Bators: “Teddy Kennedy is sleeping with Jodie Foster.”   Click here to check it out: LIC Radio 6/10/2025     Peter Gabriel “Soft Dog” (Peter Gabriel) Single B-side (Charisma/Geffen, 1982)     Sly & The Family Stone “Dance to the Music” “Sylvester Stewart” Fillmore East, New York, NY, 10/5/68 (Early Show) From Dance to the Music   (Epic, 1968)     Alex Call “Just Another Saturday Night” (Alex Call) From Alex Call   (Arista, 1983)   Backing Vocals: Bill Gibs...

Picked up some records last week. I hit one of my usual haunts in Greenpoint, Academy Records, and yesterday I went to The Thing (if you know, you know) on Manhattan Ave and checked out the crates out front. Between that, Curtis Mayfield’s birthday, and some drunken free-association, the show kind of made itself. Enjoy.   Check it out at: LIC Radio 6/3/2025     Mahavishnu Orchestra "Meeting of the Spirits" (John McLaughlin) From Inner Mounting Flame   (Columbia, 1971)     Minnie Ripperton “Reasons” (Minnie Riperton, Richard Rudolph) From Perfect Angel    (Epic,1974)     Randy Newman Randy Newman is America's greatest songwriter. Fight me. "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear" (Randy Newman) From Sail Away   (Reprise, 1972)     Randy Newman "Mama Told Me Not to Come" (Randy Newman) From 12 Songs   (Reprise, 1970)     Eric Burdon & The Animals "Mama Told Me Not to Come" (Randy Newman) From Eric Is Her...