John Richards

Good morning, happy Friday, and welcome to The Morning Show with John Richards! --- "After 'A Day in the Life,' it soon became acceptable for rock musicians to strain at their songs with the same compulsion that Giacometti brought to a portrait. The Who was writing rock operas; Jimi Hendrix labored over Electric Ladyland. But the Beatles’ song didn’t just offer the permission to be a perfectionist. “A Day in the Life” created the understanding that musicians could be as ambitious about the content of rock songs as other artists were in mediums like literature and painting." In 2017, fifty years after its release, The Atlantic looked back at "A Day in the Life": bit.ly

"We all have fears; 'Disintegration' was Robert Smith’s way of letting go of his apprehensive doubts. There’s a beauty in the smiles that Smith shares in 'Plainsong.' What at first sounds like chorus of funeral now sound like nervous wedding bells, heartbeats overwhelming those moments of life that define us.": dontforgetthesongs365.wordpress.com

Here's an NPR feature on this beautiful piece of music: www.npr.org

Richard M. Hall (Moby) originally released this song on the 1995 album, "Everything Is Wrong." It was famously used by filmmaker Michael Mann in his crime drama "Heat." It played over the climax of the film, as Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino have their final confrontation.

Speaking of movie and television themes....‘Outro’ was released in 2011 as the final track on M83’s sixth studio album, "Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming." Huffington Post offered a partial list of shows that used "Outro": www.huffpost.com

John, You've had some great ones, but this is one of the best first sets ever. Moving, enlivening, freeing, sky's the limit. Just letting you know. Thank you. - Library Joe -- "Sæglópur" is Icelandic for "lost at sea" or "lost seafarer." Parts of the song are in Icelandic, although a lengthy portion is in Hopelandic, a "language" of nonsense words selected by the band that sound similar to Icelandic. -- The video for "Sæglópur" has an undetermined ending: www.youtube.com

Watch frontman Siddhartha Khosla and his mates come "out of the box" and perform in the video for "Friday": www.youtube.com

This was the fourth album by British electronic musician James Chapman (Maps). Mat Smith, writing for the site Clash Music about this album: "Listening to ‘Colours. Reflect. Time. Loss.’, you find yourself thinking about things you’ve either cherished or buried under the layers of passing time, even though a song isn’t remotely connected to those recollections." Read his interview with Chapman here: www.clashmusic.com

In theme with explosions in the sky, maybe you should play some explosions in the sky haha. --Joey -- Please play Explosions in the Sky (anything) In NM we see that s**t all the time. Nice one! --Eric in Santa Fe -- Watch this Austin band play "Your Hand in Mine" live in Sidney in 2013: www.youtube.com

This amazing album turns 30 tomorrow.: bit.ly -- Slint's "Good Morning, Captain" is a song with "a dark history": www.treblezine.com

Japandroids are a Vancouver, BC duo who met while attending the University of Victoria in the early aughts. 'Celebration Rock' is their sophomore album, released in 2012. --- This reviewer writes, "Celebration Rock is one of the most apt titles ever for an album. The record is 8 tracks of joy, energy, and nostalgia — it’s a remembrance and celebration of youth well spent and misspent.": bit.ly

This is an environmental song written by guitarist Kim Thayil (music) and lead singer Chris Cornell (lyric). It's about the abuse of mother nature (blanketing the ocean with oil, the clear cutting of old growth forests). Then the lyrics go on to say, "Put your hands away, your gonna kill your mother," meaning the Earth. --- www.youtube.com

Read about possibly the saddest video ever made: bit.ly --- Now, watch the video: www.youtube.com

This song was originally featured in the 1996 film "Jerry Macguire." Three years later, it was again used in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 drama film "Magnolia" in which it was sung by the main cast, including Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, John C.Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jason Robards, in what would be his final film role.

Julien Baker joined frontman Scott Hutchison for vocals on this song, and after his death in May 2018 she stated: "Been trying to find the right words but there are none; Frightened Rabbit’s music had a huge impact on my life, and what interaction we had was always marked by such kindness. My heart is broken for this loss and for those who loved and were close to Scott." - bit.ly

For Ezra. -- Wayne Coyne said in 2013 that he considers this song to be his proudest moment. He explained: "A part of you makes it and you don't really think that much of it. Then someone comes up and says, 'we used that song at my mother's funeral'. You can say it's just a dumb song, or you can say, 'I understand.'" --- Here are the lyrics: www.songfacts.com

"You can see the sun lighting up the moon...You can feel the stars shining down upon your back...You don't get that in Egypt...And you don’t get that at the pyramids...": genius.com --- A fan cobbled together a number of clips to accompany this song and to show that "space is brilliant": www.youtube.com

Hi John. Listening to these last few songs and your show throughout the week, I can't help but think of my friend Nancy who died by suicide almost 20 years ago. She was a bright light who had a long battle with depression. Every time I hear "Into the Mystic," which they played at her memorial, I think of her. Sometimes there are tears and sometimes there are smiles, but always there's her and the love I feel for her and that I felt from her. Thank you for the regular reminder that I'm not alone. And you, John, are not alone. 💕 Kristin --- According to Van Morrison, he couldn't decide whether the first line should be "We were born before the wind" or "We were borne before the wind."

R.I.P., beloved artist Shawn Smith.: www.kexp.org -- Watch his live performance of "The Day Brings": www.youtube.com

Hum got our attention in 1995 when they reminded us of "missing the train to Mars." They released music until 1998 and then disappeared for 22 years (!). Last year, they returned with a new album, "Inlet.": bit.ly

There is an old interview where Billy Corgan is asked about the title "Rhinoceros." His response was the following: “Say you write a song about a chandelier, and the chandelier gives off light. And the light is the color red and red reminds you of the color you're not supposed to wear around a bull. So you name the song 'Cow'." -- The music video for "Rhinoceros," which features the band "looking bored,"" was one of the Pumpkins' earliest and was directed by Angela Conway.: www.youtube.com

After a split with Peter Murphy, the remaining members of Bauhaus formed Love and Rockets. Read how these "three goths broke America": bit.ly

In the lyrics, Björk describes living at the top of a mountain and going to a cliff at sunrise. She throws objects off while pondering her own suicide. The ritual allows her to exorcise darker thoughts and return to her partner. Björk stated that "I feel that words can have a mysticism or a hidden meaning. On 'Hyperballad,' the idea that I'm throwing car parts from a cliff is about getting out my frustrations."

Michael Stipe is proud that R.E.M. created a song that actually saved lives. He said: "It saved a few. People have told me. And I love hearing that. That's for me, that's my Oscar, that's my gold on a shelf right there... that something we did impacted someone's life in such a profound way. That's a beautiful thing." --- You are not alone. Help is available. The number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 800-273-8255.

The Out of Time album is a way to get both Quivers and REM in one delicious package. Me In Honey on that album is something special and puts a spring in your step for a Friday! Shayne in Calgary, Alberta, Canada John was the host when Quivers performed live in the KEXP studio two years ago: www.youtube.com

"John Bonham’s marathon solo 'Moby Dick' was one of the high spots of every Led Zeppelin show in the 1970s and inspired countless aspiring drummers." Read more about it and watch some of those classic drum solos: www.loudersound.com

This is Helmet's second studio album and major label debut, and was released in June, 1992 through Interscope Records. ---- "Unsung" quickly became the band's signature song and the video was a MTV favorite during late 1992.: www.youtube.com

Speaking of drumming....Watch Phil Collins' live performance of this song: www.air.tv

That's Mr. Dave Grohl drumming here.: www.youtube.com

This song was written completely by James Hetfield. It's the only Metallica song credited solely to Hetfield and was written during his time in the band Leather Charm.

Frank Zappa gave “Supernaut,” the ur-metal monster that ends the first side of Black Sabbath Vol. 4, the number one spot in his list of “faves, raves, and composers in their graves.": bit.ly

Of course, Meg White is drumming here. Want to know more about Jack and Meg's history?: ncpodcasts.com

Seattle Sounders FC today unveiled its new secondary kit for the 2021-2022 Major League Soccer seasons, a vibrant and original design paying homage to legendary musical artist and Seattle native Jimi Hendrix. Officially dubbed The Jimi Hendrix Kit, the dynamic purple, orange and yellow uniform was inspired by Hendrix’s love of color and psychedelic patterns.: bit.ly

"Who Are You" is the title track on The Who's 1978 album, "Who Are You," the last album released by the group before drummer Keith Moon's death in September 1978. -- Listen to Keith Moon's genius on 5 isolated drum tracks: faroutmagazine.co.uk