You Know Who… Goes to Bat

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Jorge Luis Borges, 1951
Photo by Grete Stern

Oh man, today was fun. Today Brett and I discussed the genre of sunshine pop, esoteric percussion, and songs about 60s and 70s television. In the process, I believe that we put the lie to the notion that Batman is connected with excess of sodium. Listen to the show and you’ll know what I mean.
 
On a less goofy note, we opened the show with a haunting instrumental composed by the ever-inventive John Zorn, inspired by the work of the great Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, born on this day in 1999.  
 
Click here to check it out:
LIC Radio 8/24/2026
 
 
John Zorn
“The Forking Path”
(John Zorn)
From A Garden of Forking Paths  (Tzadik, 2022)
 
Guitars: Bill Frisell, Gyan Riley, Julian Lage
 
The stores of Jorge Luis Borges (August 24th, 1899 – June 14th, 1986) explored concepts of dreams, labyrinths, chance, and construction of mythology. His story “The Garden of Forking Paths” explores the metaphysical through the lens of a spy story. It explores the concept of multiple universes and is considered to have prefigures the hyper-text novel.
 
This story and others can be found in this volume, never published, translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni, long considered Borges’ finest interpreter.
 
https://archive.org/details/TheGardenOfBranchingPaths
 
 
The Lemon Pipers
“My Green Tambourine”
(Paul Leka, Shelley Pinz)
From Green Tambourine  (Buddah, 1968)
 
 
The Association
“Goodbye Columbus”
(Jim Yester)
From Goodbye Columbus (The Album)  (Warner Bros., 1969)
 
 
Ween
“Push th' Little Daisies”
(Aaron Freeman, Mickey Melchiondo)
From Pure Guava  (Elektra, 1992)
 
 
Stephen Malkmus
“The Hook”
(Stephen Malkmus)
From Stephen Malkmus  (Matador, 2001)
 
 
Jan and Dean
“Robin the Boy Wonder”
(Don Altfeld, Jan Berry, Jill Gibson)
From Jan and Dean Meet Batman  (Liberty 1966)
 
 
The Jam
“In the City”
(Paul Weller)
From In the City  (Polydor, 1977)
 
 
The Jam
“Batman Theme”
(Neal Hefti)
From In the City  (Polydor, 1977)
 
 
The Who
“Batman”
(Neal Hefti)
From Ready Steady Who  (Reaction, 1966)
 
 
Neil Hefti and His Orchestra
“Batman Theme”
(Neil Hefti)
From Batman Theme and 11 Other Bat Songs  (RCA Victor, 1966)
 
 
Harry Nilsson
“Kojak Columbo”
(Harry Nilsson)
From Duit on Mon Dei  (RCA Victor, 1975)
 
 
The Beach Boys
“Johnny Carson”
(Brain Wilson)
From The Beach Boys Love You  (Brother/Reprise, 1977)
 
 
Randy Newman with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
“The Story of a Rock and Roll Band”
(Randy Newman)
de Doelen, Rotterdam, NL, 8/24/79
Studio version released on Born Again  (Warner Bros./Reprise, 1979)
 
 
Talking Heads
"Memories Can’t Wait”
(David Byrne, Jerry Harrison)
Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA, 8/24/79
Studio version released on Fear of Music  (Sire, 1979)
 
 
Dave Brock of Hawkwind
Photo by David Corio


Hawkwind
“Needle Gun”
(Dave Brock)
Reading Festival, Reading, UK, 8/24/86
Studio version released on The Chronicle of the Black Sword  (Flicknife Records/Griffin Music, 1985)
 
 
Whitesnake
“Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City”
(Michael "Harvey" Price, Dan Walsh)
Reading Festival, Reading, UK, 8/24/80
Studio version released on Snakebite  (EMI/United Artists, 1978)
Originally recorded by Bobby Bland; released on Dreamer  (Dunhill/ABC, 1974)
 
 
The Black Crowes
“Twice as Hard”
(Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson)
Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ, 8/24/90
Studio version released on Shake Your Money Maker  (Def American, 1990)
 
 
Smashing Pumpkins
“Cherub Rock”
(Billy Corgan)
Melody Club, Stockholm, SE, 8/24/93
Studio version released on Siamese Dream  (Virgin, 1993)
 
Patti Labelle with The Who
Photo by Ebet Roberts

 
Steve Winwood with The Who
“Eyesight to the Blind”
(Sonny Boy Williamson [II])
Universal Ampitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, 8/24/89
Studio version released on Tommy  (Track/Decca, 1969)
Originally recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson [II]; released as single A-side (Trumpet, 1951)
 
 
Patti Labelle with The Who
“The Acid Queen”
(Pete Townshend)
Universal Ampitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, 8/24/89
Studio version released on Tommy  (Track/Decca, 1969)
 
 
Steve Howe (Yes)
“Clap” / “Classical Gas”
(Steve Howe)/(Mason Williams)
The Yale Bowl, New Haven CT, 7/24/71
Original version of “Clap” released on  The Yes Album  (Atlantic, 1971)
“Classical Gas” originally recorded by Mason Williams; released on The Mason Williams Phonograph Record  (Warner Bros., 1968)

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