John Richards

Good morning, happy Friday, and welcome to The Morning Show with John Richards! We're so glad you're here! -- "The La's is the only studio album by English rock band the La's, released in October 1990 by Go! Discs. -- The La's performed this one live from Venice Beach, California in 1991: www.youtube.com

Don't you love this song, released in October, 1993? -- This is the title song from Manchester-band James's fifth studio album, released in 1993. Originally viewed by the band as a throwaway song and a possible B-side, Brian Eno soon convinced them of the potential of this track. Whilst only reaching a disappointing 22 in the UK charts, it made serious inroads for the band in the US where it lead to performances on prime-time TV shows such as Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno.

Ducks Ltd. will be at Neumos on Sunday, February 12th, 2023. -- This is their cover, in collaboration with Jane Inc., of The Cure's 1985 "In Between Days.": ourculturemag.com --

The shrill voice in the background of this song is Morrissey's tuned to a higher pitch. This caused a great deal of hilarity at the time of recording. "He could hear himself sounding like one of The Chipmunks or Pinky and Perky and he was rolling on the floor laughing," bassist, Andy Rourke recalled. "Maybe in the end they just took a sample of him singing 'Bigmouth…' normally and tuned it up because he was laughing so much he couldn't pull it together." The sleeve notes credit the backing vocals to "Ann Coates," which is a pun on Ancoats, a district in Manchester, England.

Suede (and the Manic Street Preachers) will be at The Neptune Theatre on Saturday, November 5th. -- "Autofiction" is their ninth studio album. "'Autofiction'’ is our punk record, and we’re f*cking proud of it," said band's frontman Brett Anderson. bit.ly

It's rather unusual for John to play Pixies, isn't it.....? -- "Come On Pilgrim" was the eight-song debut min-album released by Pixies in 1987. Someone wrote, ". One could argue that with this 1987 release, the Pixies predicted the alternative rock boom of the ‘90s approximately three years before it happened. "

"He's got the oil on his chain for a ride in the rain, no baloney Ride around on my bicycle like a pony...": genius.com -- Pixies performed "Tony's Theme" live in Utrecht in 1990: www.youtube.com

Pixes drummer David Lovering describes this as a very "un-Pixies-like" song, calling it "gentle and dreamy." He said: "It's an easy song to play, but it's very effective in the way it grabs people. It's got a very odd, arresting spirit. There's nothing else that sounds quite like it." -- Watch a live version from Belgium in 1989: www.youtube.com --

This song was a a tribute to jazz cool cat Mose Allison. Here's his 2016 NY Times obituary: www.nytimes.com

See the official music video for "Alec Eiffel": www.facebook.com -- A reference to Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who designed... the Eiffel Tower! Trompe le Monde is the fourth studio album by Pixies, released in 1991.

The Mighty Lemon Drops' 1986 debut album, "Happy Head," was coupled with their follow-up EP from the following year, "Out of Hand." -- Did you know that The Mighty Lemon Drops were originally called the Sherbet Monsters?

Good morning John! I normally email in from NYC, but today I’m writing to you from my first visit to Seattle! It’s an understatement to say it’s been a lifelong dream to listen to KEXP on the ACTUAL radio, IN Seattle, and I’m going to be heading to the station soon, no less, to finally visit KEXP. I’ll be the one with bangs waving to the DJ booth! In honor of this inaugural visit, can you play Paint the Silence by South if you get the chance? Thanks for everything always, Nora --- South formed in the late 1990s, consisting of lead singer Joel Cadbury and his two bandmates Brett Shaw, and Jamie McDonald.: nbhap.com

This song, written by Dave Faulkner, was not about a spurned lover, but about former bandmate Rod Radalj, who was dismissive of the Gurus when he left the band. web.archive.org

Get ready! New Zealand quartet The Beths will be at Neumos on Friday, February 17, 2023. -- Their third album, "Expert in a Dying Field," has just been released to very positive reviews.: pitchfork.com -- Watch the official music video for "silence Is Golden": www.youtube.com

Elastica’s first single, “Stutter” was originally released in 1993 by UK independent label Deceptive Records. In the punk-influenced song, lead singer and songwriter Justine Frischmann confronts a lover about his erectile dysfunction. While the identity of the flaccid gentleman is unknown, Frischmann was famously involved in a bit of a love triangle with the frontmen of Britpop bands Suede (Brett Anderson) and Blur (Damon Albarn).

"This is a song about a jerk. I hexed him, now he's losing his hair." That's how Hole frontwoman Courtney Love introduced "Violet" when Hole played it on Later... with Jools Holland in 1995. This is a pretty clear indication that the song is about Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, whom Love dated in 1991 before taking up with Kurt Cobain. Corgan had a rich head of hair when he and Love were together, but was losing it in 1995 and shaved it all off by the end of the year.

Karen O wrote the song with her Yeah Yeah Yeahs bandmates, drummer Brian Chase and multi-instrumentalist Nick Zinner. Bob Gaudio and Peggy Farina also receive credits because it is driven by a vigorous piano loop inspired by their Four Seasons song "Beggin'." Moreover, the lyric, "Lay your red hand on me, baby," nods to the "put your lovin' hand out, baby" opening line that Frankie Valli sings on "Beggin'."

Good morning John! Happy Friday! Life has been incredibly busy for us over the past few months with lots of work and travel taking us away from each other for days on end. It's taken a toll on our kids and we're wondering if you can play LCD Soundsystem and send it out to Oona and Oscar this morning from Mom and Dad. Cheers, Mat & Erin -- The band has created this single for Noah Baumbach's upcoming Netflix adaptation of Don DeLillo’s White Noise. "Like LCD hits of yore, 'new body rhumba' is a geometric, cowbell-friendly dance-punk track that looks warily at modern society," and serves as the backdrop for a massive dance number during the film’s closing credits. bit.ly

This West Midlands band took its name from the British radio comedy The Goon Show. You may know them because of the song "Gray Cell Green" from this debut album, "God Fodder": www.allmusic.com -- Read a retrospective on the much loved "God Fodder": www.offyourradar.com

Joy Division released the 7" single "Transmission" on Factory. on this date in 1979. It was re-released as a 12" single with a different sleeve in December 1980. -- Bassist Peter Hook said that this song was a milestone in the band's career. “The first time I noticed anything different was when we’d written a song that weekend. And we had a gig on the Thursday, so we thought we’d play that song at the gig, “We played the new song, which was Transmission - and everyone in the whole place stopped literally what they were doing to listen and to turn round and watch us. It was an absolutely bizarre moment. It really made the hair on your arms stand up and shivers down your spine.”

Ahhh.....the Friday song. "Live at KEXP, Vol. 10" is out now. Find out how to purchase it, both digitally or on vinyl, here: www.kexp.org

Not the morning show opening set I was expecting, but possibly the perfect set I needed. Feeling anxious / overwhelmed / optimistic all at the same time; mostly wishing peace and love to my son in LA whose 24th birthday is today and who will be leaving rehab in a little over a month. Life can be rich and hard at the same time. Can we have Lizzo’s GOOD AS HELL? --Mark -- "The empowerment of women is at the heart of this particular anthem..." - www.npr.org

When "Disco" debuted on top of the UK albums chart, Australian musician Kylie became the first female artist to score a #1 UK album in five consecutive decades: the '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s and '20s. -- Kylie said, "This song is about all of our eternal quest for love and the searching and knowing that there's something or someone out there that you can relate to and makes you a better person." -- See the interstellar backdrop for Kylie on a horse statue in the video for "Say Something": www.youtube.com

Someone wrote, "The mystery of this song is that it names one of the most gut wrenching experiences of the human experience, not being wanted by the person you desire..but simultaneously somehow letting you know it's all going to be OK, just keep dancing and it will be ok...": www.youtube.com

Massage will be at Barboza(with Quivers) tonight, Friday, October 7th, 2022. -- You can order "Still Life" from this L.A. band right here: massagetheband.bandcamp.com

I was at the Yard Act show at the Croc last night, so great. They gave a shout out to the station and John too. Would love to hear something from them if you can fit it in. Thanks! Mark in Bellevue -- In "Fixer Upper, we follow Graeme's adventures in home renovations. He’s “not a bad man at heart, he just sincerely believes he’s from a country and generation that achieved the apex of everything so therefore can’t ever be wrong about anything.” vocalist James Smith explains. -- Watch the band perform "Fixer Upper" live in York last year: www.youtube.com

John - Woke up late - will you play Florence+Machine. She was stunning in purple and and it was an amazing performance last night , flawless and fun!!! 5 to 70 yr olds. Tacy -- See a live performance of this powerful song in the KEXP studio in 2010: www.youtube.com -- Florence Welch says, "...it is sort of joyful in a way because its all about giving yourself up and letting it go and you start off being a sort of timid rabbit heart and you have to become courageous and become a lion heart."

To keep my day only dancing and not working. Can you play George Michael's Freedom? thanks -Meg == In a recently released clip, the late George Michael talks about the making of the video for this song. "The almost two-minute-long clip features the making of "Freedom! ’90" video and how Micheal revolutionized the concept for music video making, just by adding five supermodels to his video. As Sir Elton John sums up, “It changed the whole face of how videos were done. The video said everything. It was genius, and it was a revolutionary thing.”: collider.com

"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

Go, Mariners! -- "Earthquake, tsunami, there's still no place I'd rather be!" -- 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

Speaking of the West Coast... -- 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." Take a drunken tour of West Coast clubs when you watch the official video for this song: www.youtube.com -- We loved it when Fidlar played live in our studio back in 2015: www.youtube.com

Hey John, The Friday Show is, once again, the best 3hr of radio anywhere! Love the Seattle set. Can I assume that PiL's Seattle is coming up?? Please please please! Thank you! -matt from Brooklyn --- Great minds, Matt! --- "Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises...." Here are the lyrics: songmeanings.com

"World Destruction" is a 1984 musical composition by Time Zone, a band consisting of early rap star Afrika Bambaataa, ex-Sex Pistol/Public Image Ltd. leader John Lydon, and producer/bassist Bill Laswell. (The single also includes renowned musicians Bernie Worrell, Nicky Skopelitis & Aiyb Dieng, all of whom would later play on PiL's "Album." Laswell also played bass and produced that album.): music.fandom.com

Explaining this song in 1992, lead singer Michael Stipe said: "The words come from everywhere. I'm extremely aware of everything around me, whether I am in a sleeping state, awake, dream-state or just in day to day life. There's a part in 'It's The End Of The World As We Know It' that came from a dream where I was at Lester Bangs' birthday party and I was the only person there whose initials weren't L.B. So there was Lenny Bruce, Leonid Brezhnev, Leonard Bernstein... So that ended up in the song along with a lot of stuff I'd seen when I was flipping TV channels. It's a collection of streams of consciousness." -- Want to see the video?: www.youtube.com

U2 played this when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Bono introduced the song by saying it was, "A little pop diddy - a conversation between Jesus and Judas." Here's that performance: www.youtube.com -- U2 also released this on the Until The End Of The World soundtrack in 1991. Bono and film director Wim Wenders collaborated together on the soundtrack. They asked contemporary artists to imagine what they would sound like in 2001, the time that the film is set.

Hey John - I'm skipping out on work early and checking out Nation of Language today at Austin City Limit. Heard these guys on KEXP last year and been itching to see them since! Possible to play 'From the Hill'? Have a great weekend!--Brent from Austin -- Just-released "From The Hill" is the trio’s first new music since 2021’s "A Way Forward." The track will appear on a new 7″ single set to come out on December 9 alongside vinyl exclusive B-side ‘Ground Control’.

Electronic was a collaboration of several different talents who came together through inadvertent circumstances. Bernard Sumner, the front man for New Order, was planning to do a solo project. Instead, he teamed up with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who had also been planning a solo career after the breakup of his acclaimed band. They were joined by Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tennant for some of their early songs, including this one. The group performed off and on for about a decade, but was never the sole focus of anyone in the band. This song was their biggest hit, and the only one to make a major impact in the United States. The lyrics were written mostly by Marr to ridicule the image of his former band mate Morrissey, with whom Marr had a bitter falling out.

Pet Shop Boys and New Order will be at Climate Pledge Arena next Friday, October 14th, 2022. -- Singer Neil Tennant has said that he wrote the lyrics for "It's a Sin." purging his emotions in a moment of frustration and anger, but it wasn't something serious: "People took it really seriously; the song was written in about 15 minutes, and was intended as a camp joke and it wasn’t something I consciously took very seriously."

Speaking of New Order... Songwriter Bernard Sumner said in an interview in 1999: (“True Faith”) is about drug dependency. I don’t touch smack but when I wrote that song I tried to imagine what it’s like to be a smackhead and nothing else matters to you except that day’s hit.

Andy Bell was one of the first openly gay pop stars and he would sometimes introduce this song on stage by saying: "When I was a little girl, I asked my mummy, 'Can I be gay when I grow up?' She replied, 'Yes, if you show a little respect." This song is known for the very high note Andy Bell hits toward the end, which gives you an idea of why Vince Clarke chose him from a long queue of applicants after he placed an ad in Melody Maker looking for a vocalist. bit.ly -- Here's an older Andy Bell in a wonderful live performance of "A Little Respect": www.youtube.com

Speaking of former Depeche Mode keyboardist Vince Clarke... Yazoo, who were known in America as Yaz, lasted just two albums, with Clarke and vocalist Alison Moyet each contributing songs, but writing separately. (Clarke wrote this song.) -- The music video for the song features Moyet and Clarke in a sort of haunted mansion with Clarke cast in the role of Victor Frankenstein. Watch the video here: www.youtube.com

"Enola Gay" is an anti-war song by the British synth-pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and the only single from the band's 1980 album "Organisation." The track addresses the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the aircraft Enola Gay on 6 August 1945, toward the conclusion of World War II. Read how Andy McCluskey created this memorable song: bit.ly

Eurythmics were using unusual electronic instruments at this time, including a Yamaha Omnichord that plays throughout this song. Dave Stewart got one in Japan. He describes it as a cross between a toy and an instrument - it's what he used to create the childlike textures in the soundscape. For the steady beat he used a more traditional instrument: a Roland SH-01 synthesizer. -- f you're looking for evidence of Annie Lennox as a world-class vocalist, listen to the way she sings the word "obsession" in this song. Dave Stewart said, "When Annie lays down a vocal it's a special moment because something happens between her mouth and the microphone, a lot like when the camera falls in love with an actress. The microphone likes her, and with the right one and a good balance in her headphones she can play with her sound and be herself one minute and within a second flip into a character and out again, even if it's just for one word like 'obsession.' This vocal, like many other songs we recorded, was only one take and was, as always, remarkable."

Thompson Twins were a 7-piece band for their first major-label album, Set (released in the US as In the Name of Love), which was issued in 1982. They pared down to a trio for their next album, with percussionist Joe Leeway as the third member along with Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie. When Leeway left in 1986, the group continued as a duo, releasing three more albums, the last of which, Queer, was issued in 1991.