John Richards

Good morning, happy (hot) Friday, and welcome to The Morning Show with John Richards! Thanks for being here! --- "Earthquake, tsunami, there's still no place I'd rather be!" ("Ferry crash, I-5 fire, there's still no place....") Watch a KEXP live version of "I Love Seattle" in Tacocat's 2018 performance at The Little London Plane during Upstream Music Fest: youtu.be

"… That's great, it starts with an earthquake" Here are the lyrics: genius.com -- This was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan, especially the way Dylan sang "Subterranean Homesick Blues." Michael Stipe had once imitated Dylan in a low-budget film called Just Like a Movie, which was a play on the Dylan song "Just Like A Woman."

Long live everything in Washington State Including everybody May they live to a million years May they reproduce until there’s no room to go anywhere Clustered under the Space Needle Like walking eggs with arms and legs... Wow! This Robyn Hitchcock ditty was the first song we played when we moved into our new home: www.thestranger.com

Donald Earl Watts is a much-loved former Sonics basketball player. Slick Watts was the first player to lead the league in assists and steals in the same season. Did you hear your neighborhood named in this song? Do you know all the Sonics players named here? Maybe you should watch the video to be sure.: www.youtube.com -- Want to see a live version on KEXP?: www.youtube.com

John Lydon had this to say about the song when asked in an interview with The Stranger in 2015: “We had a week off in the tour for some reason, due to gig rearrangements and/or whatever, and I flew back to LA, but the band hung out in Seattle and they started jamming about and rehearsing and started putting together a really catchy tune. So I flew up, and the words just flowed out instantly. It’s a great song. The subject is about rioting, really, and when you see them World Trade Organization riots, it’s kind of appropriate. It’s an homage to Seattle, a town that’s never done us any harm. A town we feel quite warm about… great atmosphere, the gigs are always amazing. It feels like home to me.” -- See if you can identify any Seattle images in the official video: www.youtube.com (Didn't think so.)

Posse up! You don't want to miss the time when Anthony “Sir Mix-A-Lot” Ray performed this song with, yes, The Seattle Symphony: www.youtube.com.

Now, here's a Seattle renaissance artist. Seattle native Rudy Willingham is a DJ and producer who's also made a splash in the global arts community as a designer, copywriter, street artist, photographer, and product designer who's collaborated with the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders, and some of the world's biggest brands. --- You can have this wonderful call-and-response song for your very own self, since it was a KEXP Song of the Day: kexp.org

"If this is life, it ain't so bad..." KEXP premiered the video for this wonderful song by Ethan Marunas (Baby Dayliner): www.kexp.org -- Matt Berninger of The National notes the positivity Ethan Marunas emanates. "What I like most about Baby Dayliner’s writing is that there's rarely any meanness in his songs; no forced posturing or aggressiveness; and they are loaded with empathy. He sings about flawed and vain characters but with genuine understanding and kindness. The music is catchy, smart, and weird — something beautiful and odd, that only he does. Baby Dayliner is something uncommon in pop music. He’s unique."

The Specials are actually covering a 1967 song by Prince Buster, which was released by Prince Buster and the All Stars. The Specials' version was produced by Elvis Costello. -- The Specials formed in 1977 in Coventry, England, combining a danceable ska beast with punk energy, underpinned with social and political issues. Watch them play live in 1979: youtu.be

"Too Darn Hot" is a song written by Cole Porter for his musical Kiss Me, Kate (1948). -- Excessive Heat Warning issued July 29 at 6:57AM PDT until July 31 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS: www.localconditions.com

The music video was the first the band made with Tim Pope, who became their director of choice. The band felt that Pope presented the whimsical side of the band, which helped dispel the notion that they were humorless brooding goths. The "Let's Go To Bed" video finds Robert Smith and keyboard player Lol Tolhurst larking about in a series of strange rooms shot at distorted angles from behind a scrim. At one point, Tolhurst is dancing naked behind a screen.: www.dailymotion.com

Don't get confused....it's not Monday. --- New Order came up with the rhythm when they were experimenting with a new Oberheim DMX drum machine they had purchased. In an interview, Peter Hook explained: "Bernard [Sumner] and Stephen [Morris] were the instigators. It was their enthusiasm for new technology. The drum pattern was ripped off from a Donna Summer B-side. We'd finished the drum pattern and we were really happy, then Steve accidentally kicked out the drum machine lead so we had to start from scratch and it was never as good. The technology was forever breaking down and the studio was really archaic. Kraftwerk booked it after us because they wanted to emulate 'Blue Monday.' They gave up after four or five days. It was a collection of soundbites - it sort of grew and grew. When we got to the end I went in and jammed the bass; I stole a riff from Ennio Morricone. Bernard went in and jammed the vocals. They're not about Ian Curtis; we wanted it to be vague. I was reading about Fats Domino. He had a song called Blue Monday and it was a Monday and we were all miserable so I thought, 'Oh that's quite apt.'" -- Read and listen to Kevin Cole's reflection on "Blue Monday" -- celebrating 1983:kexp.org

Here are 10 reasons why "Bizarre Love Triangle" is "one of the greatest songs of all time": www.billboard.com

If INXS "Devil Inside" fits in to the mood, let's exorcise these demons. ---Nick -- For the "Kick" album, Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss did all of the songwriting. Farriss, who played keyboards, guitar and other instruments in the group, got "Devil Inside" started with a sinister guitar riff he came up with in 1985 when he was cooped up in the Kenilworth Hotel in London. Hutchence added the lyrics to complete the song. -- "I was on a God and the Devil phase there," INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence said of the lyric. "I suppose it's to do with the chaos of everything, you know? And we can put it into religious terms, I suppose. The Devil is chaotic. So that every time you think something's right, he comes in and changes everything."

Written by David Byrne and drummer Chris Frantz 'Burning Down the House'. Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth went to see Parliament in 1979. Frantz said, "Before Parliament came on that night, the audience chanted things like, “Goddamn, get off your ass and jam” and “Burn down the house! Burn down the house!” That last one stuck with me." Read about the origins of this classic song: on.wsj.com -- The music video was directed by David Byrne and was the first Talking Heads video to show the full band - their famous "Once In A Lifetime" video is just Byrne. The house seen in the video was located in Union, New Jersey, but it was shot at a New York City club called The World.: www.youtube.com

Good morning! It’s my little brother Arlo’s birthday today and his wife told me yesterday he loves the Purple Rain album and I thought to myself what a great way to celebrate a birthday on a Friday in the summer. Thank you John & KEXP. Happy birthday Arlo!! Your brother, Dan -- Oh, my! Watch Mr. Prince performing "Take Me With U" live in 1985: www.youtube.com

It's about damn time! Lizzo will be back in Seattle, playing Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday, November 9th, 2022. -- Yesterday, Slate Magazine wrote about how this song became #1, showing " how the star creates coalitions of young and old fans to patiently work her songs up the charts.": slate.com

Serial killer, anyone? See Mr. Jake Gyllenhaal in the video for "Time to Dance": www.youtube.com -- For something a mite tamer, watch French band The Shoes perform "Time to Dance" live: www.youtube.com

Someone wrote, "I know that in a decade this song will remind me of my friends in a very melancholic and happy way." -- The song was originally released back in 2012 on "S**t We Recorded in Our Bedroom." It was re-recorded and remastered for FIDLAR’s second album, "Too." -- We loved it when Fidlar played live in our studio back in 2015: www.youtube.com

Good morning! It's been a bit since I wrote in, but since you gave me a day off I thought I would at least say thank you Happy Birthday to Owen and Ken!! For them can we please play 'Stay Positive' by the Hold Steady? These days the kids are too skinny and going to shows on their own. Long live KEXP! ---Jason -- An unsolicited testimonial----this is a fine running song! "It's one thing to start it with a positive jam, and another thing to see it on through." -- Frontman Craig Finn said of the album that he was "influenced a lot about getting old. There's less party talk. I don't think anything is a radical departure, but there are things that I wanted to talk about. I was influenced a lot [by] getting old, and attempting to age gracefully. The idea is to not wake up washed up. You want to keep progressing, intellectually."

Ahhh....the Friday song! -- Join KEXP Saturday, July 30th through Friday, August 5th for Radio Week in celebration of KEXP's 50th year! All week long, we'll be focusing on what makes KEXP special - live human DJs, the artists who make the music we love, and you, our community! Every single show during Radio Week will be celebrating in their own way with special features and guests - including a special lineup of Live on KEXP performances from Built to Spill, Prometheus Brown, Wolf Parade, Ben Gibbard, and more. And we'd love to celebrate you! If you have a favorite memory or a birthday wish for KEXP please email it to stories@kexp.org.

Did you know that Luscious Jackson's Kate Schellenbach was a founding member of the Beastie Boys?: www.beastiemania.com

"Maybe get a kitten..."This ode to the cat Kirby is actually about Aesop’s battle with clinical depression. -- The “Kirby” video finds Aesop replaced with a puppet avatar, in order to match his kitten’s cuteness. Don't miss it: www.facebook.com

"Fresh off the Spaceship" is a great podcast from KEXP telling the story of the Black Constellation, an artist collective with Seattle roots and cosmic reach. The Constellation is a creative convening of such innovative and varied musical acts as Shabazz Palaces (helmed by Ishmael Butler of Grammy-award winning trio Digable Planets), Stas THEE Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction), Erik Blood, OCnotes, Porter Ray, JusMoni, and Nicholas Galanin.: www.kexp.org -- Digable Planets performed "Pacifics" live at Kex Hostel in Reykjavik during Iceland Airwaves 2016: youtu.be

Hola John! Happy Friday! This PJ show @ The Gorge was the Most Intense HEAT I've ever experienced! Not to mention intensity of emotions of Music and Friends from all over the world and the splendor of Mama Nature! Thank you for this... and thank You for YOU! What you dig deep to give of yourself.... Does matter! Lisa in Victoria, BC == I hope that it's good karma that you're playing all of this Seattle-themed music this morning as my wife and two daughters (11 and 8) prep for a two week Boston to the West Coast vacation that starts in Seattle tomorrow. Can you play that awesome live version of Daughter/It's OK from the Gorge by Pearl Jam (or really any PJ song of your choice, if that's too long). Would be great to hear while I am packing with my youngest daughter, Lyla. Thanks to you and everyone at KEXP for keeping me grounded in this crazy world over the last two + years. Cheers! Jason -- Don't you love this song? Here's video of that live performance at The Gorge in 2006: www.youtube.com

ODESZA are playing in Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena three nights, beginning tonight, Friday-Sunday, July 29th - 31st. -- Ólafur Arnalds is a BAFTA-winning & GRAMMY-nominated Icelandic composer and producer, known for pushing the boundaries of music with his unique blend of organic and electronic soundscapes.: www.spitfireaudio.com -- Watch the stunning animated video for "Light of Day": www.youtube.com

This was the first time hearing 'I Don't Want To Live Here' now that I finally DO live here. I remember hearing it back in 2012-2013 on your show and the lyrics resonated with me. But now I actually DO live here (PACNW) and this song brought me to happy tears this morning. Sometimes when others can't be happy for you, we must remember to be happy for ourselves. Thank you, Shane, from Pennsylvania....now living in Oregon. ========= Loving being out this morning in the cool. What about lonely forest “I don’t want to live there” Happy birthday Ken and Owen. You all rock. --Fitz -- "Give to me miles of tall evergreens And the smell of the ocean And cool mountain breeze Won't you please?" See The Lonely Forest's tribute to their home of Anacortes (and the whole Pacific NW) in this live performance of "I Don't Want to Live There" at KEXP's Bumbershoot Music Lounge in 2014: www.youtube.com

Given this song title, was Neko Case prescient?: www.seattletimes.com --- This is Neko Case's duet with the late and lamented Mark Lanegan. Here's an obituary for Mark Lanegan: www.rollingstone.com -- Watch Neko Case perform "Curse of the I-5 Corridor LIVE on KEXP - www.youtube.com

Is there an echo in here? -- For this 1977 song, "I Feel Love" co-producer and co-writer Giorgio Moroder employed electronic tools in a very forward-looking, all-encompassing way. "I did it by only using synthesizers, because I thought it was the instrument that would be used in the future — be the instrument of the future," Moroder said a 2015 interview. "We used it, and only it, to create all the sounds. I wanted to try to imitate what people would do in 20 or 30 years. I used all digital sounds for the song, all of them coming from the computer. Everything except the voice was created by the Moog.": ultimateclassicrock.com

Hi John! It's my birthday today! I'm driving to Spokane. I'm running in the last person standing event tomorrow. It's going to be a scorcher. Can you please play Runnin with the Devil? --Dimitri from Vashon (Here's a link to the "Last Person Standing" event: ultrasignup.com) -- See the band playing live in the official music video for this song: www.youtube.com

This slowed down, more sultry version of the Pixies classic is prominently featured in the 1990 cult classic film Pump Up the Volume, starring Christian Slater : youtu.be

Nineteeneighties is a cover album by American singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips.: www.popmatters.com

Watch a live version from Belgium in 1989: www.youtube.com --

Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash (vocals, guitar and saxophone), David J (bass guitar and vocals) and Kevin Haskins (drums and synthesizers) after that group split in 1983. -- This 1989 self-titled album was their fourth release.

This song from The Jesus and Mary Chain's 1989 "Automatic" album is one of the few that featured vocals from William Reid, rather than his brother Jim.: www.youtube.com

Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform at T-Mobile Park (Venue capacity 47, 963) next Wednesday, August 3rd. -- This is their cover of Stevie Wonder's 1973 masterpiece. Stevie Wonder played all the instruments on the song. Here's the original: www.youtube.com

Speaking of burning.... there are lots of flames in the video for this one: www.youtube.com -- You can purchase the "Burning Inside" T-shirt at the Ministry store: store.ministryband.com

"The Cure and Robert Smith at their peak captured immense, intense anguish better than anybody, and 'Pictures Of You' is the ultimate manifestation of that ability.": americansongwriter.com -- The Cure performed this gorgeous song in the Sydney Opera House in 2019: www.youtube.com