John Richards

Bartees Strange on his musical upbringing: "My parents are pretty Christian, so I didn't get access to secular music until I had friends with cars. My dad loved collecting music; he's not a musician, but he's got tape machines and all types of cool things to play music back. He would show me funk and Parliament and Bootsy and Rick James, so that was like my secular musical reference. I remember seeing TV on the Radio play on Letterman and At the Drive In, and that s*** shook my world. Around the same time, I was starting to get into punk bands because I had some friends with cars. And at church, a bunch of people that really liked Norma Jean. I was like, "Whoa, this is crazy." Being a person that just wanted to fit in, I was like, "Well, I'm going to figure out why people like this, and I'm going to like it." Like, "I'm going to find my way into this."'" Read more: n.pr

The album, 1999, released on this day in 1982.

"Faith Healer" is the first single from Julien's newest album to be released February 26th. Sorry, the yellow and black splatter vinyl is sold out. From Julien's website: "Little Oblivions is the third studio album by Julien Baker. Recorded in Memphis, TN, the record weaves together unflinching autobiography with assimilated experience and hard-won observations from the past few years, taking Baker’s capacity for storytelling to new heights. It also marks a sonic shift, with the songwriter's intimate piano and guitar arrangements newly enriched by bass, drums, keyboards, banjo, and mandolin with nearly all of the instruments performed by Baker.

Describing “Thousand Oaks,” Ounsworth says, “In 2018, there was a shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA which killed 13 people. This song has to do with the impotence of the American government in the face of such tragedies.” You can preorder the new album on "coke bottle clear" vinyl: bit.ly

Sharon Van Etten's new single, ‘Let Go’, was originally recorded for the Arthur Jones documentary Feels Good Man. Feels Good Man focuses on Matt Furie, the creator of the Pepe The Frog meme, which has since been used a symbol among alt-right groups. The documentary first premiered at Sundance earlier this year. “After watching the documentary, I just followed the feeling of coming to terms with something and tried to evoke peace through my melody and words,” Sharon said in a statement. bit.ly

HÆLOS says 'I'm There' “documents a moment when we might perhaps miss a friend’s call for help, if we aren’t present enough. It’s an affectionate story caught in the humdrum of the new world order.”

Quivers reimagined R.E.M.'s Out of Time album for Turntable Kitchen: www.turntablekitchen.com

Thanks for you and your "not alone" show. As a combat veteran I have had and continue to have a struggle with adjusting to working in the manufacturing (welding) sector of the civilian world. I'm always happy to be alive and want nothing more to be part of a team, but on a daily basis am treated like I'm not worth the ground I fought for and left alone. Your show makes me not feel so alone. Thank you. Seasons by Chris Cornell would be cool. - Severn from Vancouver, Wa.

Today is Sharon in CT birthday (47, woo-hoo). Is there any way you can send out a song to her, something sweet? She is one of my closest friends and I don’t know what I would do without her support. I am going through some personal struggles and she keeps reminding me that I am not alone and there are people like her who need me in their life. We first met long ago (I was 15 and she was 13) and even though our lives have taken many twists and turns, we are still connected and helping each other deal with spouses and family and work and life in this crazy covid world. One of our unofficial songs is Perfect Day by Lou Reed, so that would be a good one, but then again, you can pick anything you want. We both love music, all the classics bands of the late 80s & early 90s: New Order, Bob Mould, The Cure, Pixies. It’s all good. I trust your judgement in finding something great. We both love your show and your blend of new music and the “oldies” as my kids say. Thanks so much for everything you do. You are helping so many people navigate the world. -Rich in CT -------------------------------------- Happy birthday from all of us Sharon!

Good morning beloved KEXP! Guess what? Today is my birthday and I would love it if you played something by Bowie. I appreciate all of you and I don't know who will read this but you are simply fantabulous!💖 -Hilary in Tacoma ------------------------------------------- Thanks Hilary! Hope your birthday is fantabulous as well!

John and crew, I'm out volunteering and canvassing in Erie Pennsylvania with a Seattleite. Between Seattle and Brooklyn we are gonna turn PA blue. I'd love to hear some new order while compiling today's canvassing materials!! -Josh *usually in NYC ------------------------- In 1993 New Order filmed a live performance of 'Regret' in Venice Beach, California as part of an episode of Baywatch, featuring David Hasselhoff and various background actors and bikini-clad actresses dancing and playing on the beach. Yep, peak 90's. ---------------------------

Peter Hook on how this collaboration even happened: "I worked with Damon [Albarn] and funnily enough, we were drinking pals when he was going through his fight with Oasis. And over the years, I’ve worked with him on his Africa Express. I’ve also worked with him a few times for different things, I’ve always appeared whenever he’s called to work on any kind of collaboration. So I’ve always been there and I’ve always been asked, which has been a great compliment. I’ve not heard from him for a long time. I’m a fan of the Gorillaz through a magazine called Deadline, where Jamie Hewlett used to do all the drawings for Tank Girl. So we’ve been cruising along together. He got in touch with me to say that he’d like to do something with him. I was absolutely terrified, actually. I’m not very good on occasions like that. But it was wonderful to work with him again. He’s a fan of bass playing, and I’m not the greatest person at recognizing people like that or appreciating it. And we literally got the track on. We did it in about an hour and a half. And then as I was doing one more lead, they kicked me out. Just at the right moment. And when I heard the song, the finished article, everybody phoned me up and said, 'Bloody hell, that’s what New Order should sound like.'" bit.ly

You know it’s going to be a great day when you fire up the soundsystem and Losing my Edge is just starting. I’m gonna teach the (bleep) out of some art today! Thanks John and Imaginary Owen (and the rest of the morning team) Chris Art Teacher -- Good morning John and crew! Today is my birthday, and since 45 is officially old, and I am definitely losing it, would you play Losing My Edge by LCDS? Thanks! -Andrea from College Station, TX -------------------------------------- Happy birthday Andrea!

Good morning. I'm feeling really old and worn out this morning. Talking Heads "Once In A Lifetime" would really fit today. Stay safe! -Russ

Hi John and Team, I celebrated 11 years of sobriety yesterday and wanted to let you know that music and KEXP was an important factor, especially that first year. I realized that music was the outlet that I needed. I would go on long walks and listen to the Mind that Matters podcasts compiled by you, Cheryl, and Kevin. Could you play anything by Sia or Florence and the Machine (ideally from their "old" albums? I listened to both ad nauseum back in 2010. Thanks for everything you all do to bring music to us. It is much appreciated. Christie --------------------- Congratulations Christie! And thank you.

Good Morning John! If you have time, could you play Hazy Shade of Winter? I'm really feeling the vibe of the winter weather this week. Cheers, Gretchen --------------------- The duo recorded "A Hazy Shade of Winter" during the sessions for Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966), but the song was not included on an album until 1968's Bookends.

Janelle Monáe Talks Writing Stacey Abrams Doc Theme: ‘What Is a Revolution Without a Song?’: “I have to be the energy for other voices who are putting themselves on the front line,” singer says of “Turntables” from All In, a documentary on activist and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate. Read the Rolling Stone interview here: bit.ly

Speaking about her debut LP, Parks said: “My album is a series of vignettes and intimate portraits surrounding my adolescence and the people that shaped it. It is rooted in storytelling and nostalgia – I want it to feel both universal and hyper specific.” Collapsed in Sunbeams is out on January 29th. www.arloparksofficial.com

Amy Winehouse released her second and final studio album Back to Black on this day in 2006.

Stevie Wonder said 'Can't Put It In the Hands of Fate' is a response to “systemic racism … every young person is saying this stuff here is unacceptable. We can’t be a united people of the world and have this craziness ... Change is right now – we can’t put it in the hands of fate.”

"Move on Up" was a tribute of sorts to Mayfield's Chicago neighbors, The Staple Singers. "Curtis lived around the corner from us," Mavis Staples told Mojo magazine. "He was like my baby brother. He'd drop by and we'd eat together and he'd talk politics with Pops. One day he came to Pops and said 'I want to write songs like The Staple Singers do, and Pops said 'Curtis man, you're a writer, a poet! Write some of those songs!' The first one Curtis wrote was 'Move On Up' and he came round and played it to us and Pops said, 'That's my boy!'"

“I had started to write again in December with a few songs underway, but in March the world as we knew it came to a halt. Though I tried to continue writing it didn’t feel right,” MorMor (Seth Nyquist) explains. “I was told I was being hard on myself, but I have always used music as a way of making sense of things.” “Suddenly there were just too many things to make sense of: a global pandemic, the sudden lockdown, shortly followed by the protests. Voices were raised around the world because people have had enough. Mourning has become so painful that people are demanding changes. I felt I had to reflect that. Tears have fallen and we can no longer pretend that we’re not all in this together.” bit.ly

Watch TV on the Radio, Trent Reznor and Peter Murphy play this one live: youtu.be

Exclusively for KEXP, IDLES have just recorded this live session for KEXP at Abbey Road. Including 'Mr. Motivator'! Enjoy it here: bit.ly In a press release, IDLES frontman Joe Talbot says, "We want to start this journey with a means to not only encapsulate the album’s sentiment, but to encourage our audience to dance like no one is watching and plough through these dark times with a two tonne machete of a song and the most beautiful community of scumbags ever assembled. Let’s go. All is love.”

Hi from Brooklyn! John, thanks for providing the soundtrack to all of my recent mornings — even if they're Tuesday mornings. Can you please play Tuesday Morning by the Pogues? I first heard it on KEXP a few weeks back and I haven't been able to get enough of it since. Thanks for always reminding us we're not alone. -Amy in Brooklyn

The Ocean Blue appeared on one of the first episodes of Club MTV, with Downtown Julie Brown.

On June 6, 2008, "Bright as Yellow" was played as the official NASA wake-up call for the crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-124 on flight day 7.

Thank you for playing This is the Sea. I needed to feel the feelings of this whole year today. We have a 4 month old and 2 other kids besides on a little farm in Bow-Edison. It's been feeling especially isolating and lonely out here going into fall. I'm waiting for that pandemic second wind today. Maybe LCD's All of my Friends could stir it. I miss my friends. So much. I love you. You are not alone. -Molly! And my kids are Huck, maple and baby Nell! -- John - I lost my mom many years ago on a Tuesday morning, and many other heartbreaks similar since. This Pogues track [Tuesday Morning] has always held a spot in my personal playlist heart. Thanks for rocking it this morning and everyday. Could you play " this is the sea" by the waterboys? - Matt an amplifier in Los Angeles ---------------------------- Matt, you are not alone.

This was first released by Gram Parsons' Flying Burrito Brothers in 1970. The Stones' version was written in 1969, but had to wait for Sticky Fingers in 1971.

“We can get back to our dream of America, where the ‘enemy’ is an individual burden, inside each of us, aching for a truce,” Cash says in an essay accompanying “Crawl Into the Promised Land.” “We’re exhausted. We’re disoriented. But I know we have the strength and will to deliver ourselves.”