John Richards

Seattle-based folk-pop supergroup Ladies is a collab between Miranda Zickler (Kuinka), Erin Austin (OK Sweetheart), and Lydia Ramsey; they were featured on Lawn in the Morning last Friday, December 11! www.listentoladies.com

Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman -- "Dabu" -- started Choir! Choir! Choir! as a drop-in singing event in February 2011. The group performed this amazing live version of David Bowie's "Heroes" was recorded live at the Public Theater in NYC. You can see it on YouTube: youtu.be

John and Julia in NJ wrote: 'I wasn't ready to start balling today, but I saw that today is the anniversary of Sandy Hook. Please send Heroes out to all the parents who lost so much that day' Christiane Vera Felscherinow was a German teenager in West Berlin during the 1970s -- her harrowing account of teenage heroin use in the city was turned into the autobiographical book Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (Zoo Station: The Story of Christiane F) This version of "Heroes" was featured on the soundtrack album for a film adaptation of the book

Director Jonathan Demme captured the Hollywood dates at the Pantages Theater from this album's tour in the film "Stop Making Sense" -- hailed by critics such as Leonard Maltin as "one of the greatest rock movies ever made"

London's Nilüfer Yanya released the new EP "Feeling Lucky?" on December 11 2020. The single "Crash" from this LP was the Cheryl Waters KEXP Song of the Day on November 17 2020: kexp.org Nilüfer Yanya performed live in the KEXP Studio on September 26 2019, hosted by DJ Abbie: youtu.be

Did you know that 20-year-old Nigerian-French sensation Arlo Parks was our guest DJ on 'Midnight in a Perfect World last month'? Check out her selections: www.kexp.org

Good morning to Josh in Mount Vernon WA, to Lou, and to Timm! Baker reveals of this song, "Put most simply, I think that 'Faith Healer' is a song about vices, both the obvious and the more insidious ways that they show up in the human experience. I started writing this song two years ago and it began as a very literal examination of addiction. For awhile, I only had the first verse, which is just a really candid confrontation of the cognitive dissonance a person who struggles with substance abuse can feel — the overwhelming evidence that this substance is harming you, and the counterintuitive but very real craving for the relief it provides." -- bit.ly You can also support her work here: bit.ly

The 2012 EP "State Hospital" featured songs developed during some small-scale, secret shows, including this track. Speaking of the songs' inspirations, Scott Hutchison told the The Herald of Scotland: "We played Aberdeen the other week, and I was talking about a new song I'd written and said I've been feeling more miserable of late, and I got this huge cheer from the crowd" -- tinyurl.com

Phoebe Bridgers is covering Merle Haggard's 1973 song here. All proceeds from the sale of this song go to Los Angeles' Downtown Women's Center: www.instagram.com --- Phoebe Bridgers said of this song: "It’s my favorite Merle Haggard Christmas song, for sure.... He’s been to prison, and Johnny Cash played when he was in prison and he saw that show and started making music when he got out. So pretty much all his songs are about struggling with—and I’ve been thinking a lot about, obviously, as we all have—prison reform. So he was on my mind."

Joe writes: I love song so much hadn't heard it in a long time. I remember explaining what it was about to my 5yo many many years ago while we were driving and then she was quiet a while and I looked back and saw she was crying. Very emotion packed set this morning! -- Indie artist Perry Wright adopted the stage name "The Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers" in 2003 -- he originally intended to to use the name, plucked from "The Big Lebowski", in a concept album based on the character of that name. This version of the band's single was featured in a 2005 edition of ESOPUS magazine. www.esopus.org

Consequence of Sound's Matthew Taub wrote a retrospective of this album for the magazine's special @ the band's 30th anniversary. Check out "Making The Case for Pearl Jam's 'Backspacer': tinyurl.com

The Waterboys' Mike Scott was inspired by traditional Irish music, country, and gospel after a move to Dublin, and recorded this album with guest musicians that had toured with the group as part of their subsequent "Raggle Taggle Band" lineup -- read more from Gerry Galipault's article: tinyurl.com

Martin C Strong writes that Waterboys' member Karl Wallinger stood up the solo project World Party after leaving the group in 1986. The project's focus on environmental cleanup led to this track being included in Greenpeace's benefit album, "Rainbow Warriors" -- tinyurl.com

Stephen writes: 'John - It’s great hearing The Waterboys again. Can you spin “Pain” by The War On Drugs? It has a similar vibe.' "LIVE DRUGS" replicates a 70-minute set with this 10-song collection of live songs. “As a bandleader, I always want to know where a song can go,”​ Adam Granduciel said in a statement. “​It feels like it’s kind of a reset, to be able to put something out that’s a really good interpretation of the way we interpret our music live. Even though this recording is from a year of tours, this is really how these six guys evolved as a band from 2014 to 2019.​” Read the full article about the release and watch the video for "Pain" here: tinyurl.com

This one goes out to Angie -- "On the sixth death in my circle. This time my partner. Please play her favorite Maggie May" We're so sorry for your loss, Angie -- You Are Not Alone This song was inspired by a tryst Rod Stewart had with a woman at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival when the artist was 16

This is a 3-track standalone digital release, presenting two brand-new songs from Valerie June, "Stay" and "You And I" along with the instrumental interlude, "Stay Meditation." valeriejune.bandcamp.com --- Check out Valerie June performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded June 2, 2017. bit.ly

NME magazine rated this album -- winner of multiple Brit Awards -- 128th out of the 500 Greatest Albums of all time back in 2013 Tune in to KEXP on Friday, December 18th as KEXP counts down the Top 90.3 Albums of 2020, as voted on by our listeners! And check out our DJs' lists -- www.kexp.org

In an interview w/ Rolling Stone's Chris Mundy, spoke of his wide-ranging influences, and his fascination with poetry -- '“It’s a very dubious thing, hearing that a rock songwriter writes poetry,” says Janovitz, who studied with James Tate, last year’s Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. “I read a lot of poetry as well. We all do. But what I write for songs is much different than personal poetry. When people hear rock and poetry, they start thinking Jim Morrison. Oh, one of our greatest American poets, Jim Morrison. Yeah.”' -- tinyurl.com

By request! Emily writes: "Can you please play Pela’s The Song Writes Itself? I’m feeling the days just go by and the time slipping past, one day into the next with nothing to really break the monotony. I’m a trainer who’s out of work and I’m homeschooling my son in rural Vermont, where the weather has been particularly bleak and gray lately. It’s all starting to wear on me and my seven-year-old, but we’ll just keep on keepin’ on because that’s all we can do. We look forward to your show every day—it’s a real bright spot in our lives." Brooklyn band Pela have played with bands ranging from Feist and The National to Sonic Youth, The Flaming Lips, and Sleater-Kinney. In 2008, this album was voted #112 in the KEXP countdown of the Top 903 Albums of All Time -- and it's #210 on our Most Played Albums of All Time

"Good morning John. Over the weekend got to exploring Joe Jackson. Had no idea how many great songs he had. Wondered if you'd play I'm the Man if it fits in the show at some point. Thanks so much!! Ron in NC. 🙏🏼" Joe Jackson appears on the cover to this 1979 album dressed as a "spiv", slang for a petty criminal dealing in black market goods.

Kevin Rhomberg, better known by his stage name Knox Fortune, is an American singer and record producer from Chicago, Illinois, known for providing a guest vocal on Chance the Rapper's Coloring Book track "All Night" -- read more about Knox Fortune in Zach Frydenlund's piece for Complex: tinyurl.com www.knoxfortune.com

From Adam Ant's first solo album, after the disbandment of Adam and the Ants. Adam Ant performed this album live on tour in the UK in late 2019; a 2020 US tour was planned, and then postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's been tentatively rescheduled for April 2021.

The original instrumental track for this song was created for The Stranger's SPLIFF film festival trailer. Seattle's Erik Blood has produced local artists such as Tacocat, Shabazz Palaces, and THEESatisfaction; on this track, he pairs up with LA-based singer/songwriter Gary V erikblood.bandcamp.com

By request from Pippin in Kalamazoo, MI! "Can you play 'Love is the Drug' by Roxy Music, since Pfizer in Kalamazoo shipped out the first vaccines yesterday? Thanks!" The cover for this Roxy Music album features Bryan Ferry's then-girlfriend, the model Jerry Hall, crawling on rocks on the Welsh coast

Talking Heads' seventh album features recordings from David Byrne's 1986 comedy film of the same name -- Byrne had creative control of the film due to the success of "Stop Making Sense", and the movie is now a cult classic.

Wilco released their eleventh studio album last year. Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy calls "really big, big folk songs." Tweedy told NPR the album overall is defiantly joyful in the face of global political and cultural upheaval. "The record is, in a weird way, an ode," he says in a statement announcing the album. "And one thing that is worth feeling, that is worth fighting for, is your freedom to still have joy even though things are going to s***." n.pr

Cover of a song off of Samia's 2020 album 'The Baby.' Samia Finnerty -- the daughter of actors Kathy Najimy and Dan Finnerty -- was featured in a review of her first full-length by Pitchfork's Ashley Bardhan: tinyurl.com This compilation of covers from 'The Baby' is set to release on January 15th here: samia.lnk.to

Another Irish rock band for this morning's set -- and another with performances impacted by COVID-19; in this case, a 30th anniversary show set for Dublin on June 20 2020 was replaced by an Instagram Live set. Their US tour has been tentatively rescheduled for 2021

Nothing like driving with chills and tears in your eyes. Thank you for pulling out Shine, such a beautiful and moving song! I forgot about it. His voice soothed me in all the right places today. I took the day off as a mental health day for self care. My 9 yo is at a remote learning location 4/days a week, while I work from home. Time to MYSELF. Ahhhh.... As a single parent doing this all 24/7, I forget what a toll it can take. I power through for him. Your shows and this station have been a great reminder that I am not alone. Thank you! Rebecca -- Known best for the 1999 hit song "Babylon, this one from the English singer/songwriter is the opening track from his debut LP, 'A Century Ends,' released in 1993.

"Good morning John, Thanks for waking me up all these years. Sitting holding my newborn son Aiden. I follow you also in the social media along with your partner and life on mars. Appreciate your honesty about your struggles. Just showing up not being alone. Your attitude and honesty has helped me and also helped me support my partner. Music heals, we are not alone and just showing up! I'm also from Spokane and went to Ferris. Appreciate it all your stories from the Kan and growing up. Please play for Aiden Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett “Over Everything,” Peace, love and heres to a better year in 2021! -- Eric"

This live album was originally slated to be released as one half of the double live album "Verse Chorus Verse", scheduled for 1994. Gillian Gaar wrote in her history of Nirvana that after Kurt Cobain's death, the widespread bootlegging of the MTV set led to that set being released. Unlike many MTV Unplugged sets, the band played mainly lesser-known songs and covers.

By request! "London Calling released on this date, 12/14/79.... math says 41 yrs old. Any track would do, drop the needle wherever you please -- on staycation, with coffee in hand -Bob" Unlike most Clash songs, which were written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, "The Guns Of Brixton" was written by bass player Paul Simonon, who decided to get in on the songwriting himself. It became one of the band's best-known songs and a staple of their live set. Simonon takes lead vocal duties on the song, which is about gangsters in his hometown of Brixton in South London.

This iconic jazz album was released on this date in 1959. The track was composed by saxophonist Paul Desmond, and features an unorthodox 5/4 time signature -- the album and single were both the first in jazz to sell over a million copies, with experimental time signatures across the entire album. The album was hugely influential in the 1960s -- including being called out by Donald Fagen in his track "New Frontier" from his sixties-focused concept album "The Nightfly"

Last night, KEXP featured The Avalanches as the guest DJs for "Midnight In A Perfect World"! Check out the archive: www.kexp.org This album features collaborations with many artists: Sananda Maitreya, Vashti Bunyan, Blood Orange, Rivers Cuomo, Pink Siifu, Denzel Curry, Tricky, Sampa the Great, Leon Bridges, Johnny Marr, MGMT, Clypso, Neneh Cherry, Jamie xx, Kelly Moran, Cornelius, Karen O, Kurt Vile, Mick Jones, Cola Boyy, Perry Farrell, and Orono.

From Portland's Brandon Summers, one half of the duo The Helio Sequence theheliosequence.bandcamp.com

This beautiful tune/album was released on the Autumnal Equinox this year. Check out Live Video from Fleet Foxes' 2017 KEXP In-Studio: bit.ly.