John Richards

"A fan who worked in a record shop in Birmingham sent me a tape with a note saying it would be perfect for the Orb. On one side, Pat Metheny was playing Steve Reich’s 'Electric Counterpoint'. On the other was an interview with Rickie Lee Jones. Someone asked her: “So what were the skies like when you were young?” and she launched into a trippy monologue about stars and clouds. I sampled it and put it over a basic pulse. That was the start of Little Fluffy Clouds." bit.ly

The "Tom's Diner" of the song is Tom's Restaurant in New York City, a mid-20th-century diner on the northeast corner of Broadway and West 112th Street. Vega was reputedly a frequent patron during the early 1980s when she was a student at nearby Barnard College. The diner later became famous as the location used for the exterior scenes of Monk's Café in Seinfeld.

Saint Etienne is an English band, this track is a Neil Young cover written after his break-up with Joni Mitchell.

This track samples "How Soon Is Now?" by the Smiths. The band consisted of identical twin sisters who left their jobs as psychiatric nurses to join the band

Using two Fender Twin amps, each pointing to different settings, Johnny Marr added the distinctive guitar riff, taking many, many takes to complete the part as the shuddering effect would frequently go out of sync. Marr added a distinctive slide guitar part, which he said “gave it real tension”, plus a piece of harmonic playing that was inspired by the hip hop tune "You Gotta Believe" by Lovebug Starksi, released the year before (1983). -- Learn how this song was made: www.radiox.co.uk

In 1988, this track was used in "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" and in the Miami Vice episode "Borrasca." O'Connor explained in an interview that this track is "simply about shagging"

“My Mother the War” was 10,000 Maniacs' first single released in 1984.

The Churchhill Garden (featuring Krissy from Whimsical) is a shoegaze/dreampop band from Switzerland inspired by the Cocteau Twins, The Cure, and Joy Division. Attached is their bandcamp: thechurchhillgarden.bandcamp.com

This track features Irish band Hothouse Flowers on background vocals. The Indigo Girls are coming to Woodland Park Zoo/ZooTunes Thursday, June 29.

Performing Cave Creek Ramble in Trout Lake WA on July 15. This is their first single from upcoming album "Valley of Hearts Delight"

Cory Hanson recently released an album titled Western Cum. Attached is his bandcamp: coryhanson.bandcamp.com

Yeah Yeah Yeahs have a new “lush” version of their single ‘Spitting Off the Edge of the World’. The original version of the track, which features fellow indie rocker Perfume Genius, was released as the first single from the band’s 2022 album Cool It Down. “There haven’t been many duets in the history of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, maybe we were waiting for a unicorn like Mike to come around,” they wrote in a statement. “Having a chance to try a different rendition of Spitting Off the Edge of the World with Mike was always on the wishlist. Our producer wanted to bring the track into Lee Hazlewood territory as far as lush arrangements were concerned, there is some influence but in the end it’s very much a stand alone sum of its parts, the gem of another collab between Dave Sitek, @perfumegenius , and YYYs. Enjoy!” - bit.ly www.yeahyeahyeahs.com

"Be Opened By The Wonderful" is a 20 track album of some of James' most loved and rare tracks, re-imagined with a 22 piece orchestra and 8 piece choir. -- "'Sit Down,' perhaps the song most associated with the band (in this country anyway) is another that is given a whole new feel. Stripped back and then given a deep richness with layer upon layer of strings, the song has stronger feeling of emotion and feels less like a 90’s James anthem and more like a song about connection and reassurance that you are never alone." : louderthanwar.com

This track is a stream of consciousness that provides imagery of travel and coming home. The singer describes it as a love song to "smoking, drinking, and a woman" Attached is their bandcamp: elbow.bandcamp.com

This track is the biggest-selling jazz song of all time and 1996 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. The album's odd time signatures was inspired by a 1958 Eurasia trip

This track samples "Take Five" by The Dave Brubeck Quartet ft. Paul Desmond.

"Kicked It in the Sun" comes from the Boise band's third full-length release. Built to Spill will play ZooTunes in Seattle with Japanese Breakfast on August 20th! www.zoo.org

Hi John, I know and love Ken, I worked with him and was inspired by him for years at that ski factory on Vashon island. He is an amazing, intelligent, and beautiful human and really is an amazing tele skier, I once watched ski a half pipe on tele skis. I have requested this obscure song a lot over the years, but today is the day it should be played. Could you please play Lift by Brad to honor Ken?

In an interview with Songfacts.com, frontman Chris Robinson explained this track as a song about freedom. "We were into the whole idea that the 'war on drugs' was just silly - it was this asinine concept to me and millions of other people. So that song to me is about freedom, plain and simple, just put in a Rock & Roll framework."

Matt Johnson of The The wrote this song following the death of his brother. In his depression, he found that writing this song was therapeutic for him.

Lead singer Mike Scott composed about 20 different verse lyrics before choosing the best five for the final product. The Waterboys came to KEXP and played an inspiring set in 2013 which can be found here: bit.ly

Watch Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds doing this one live at Brixton Academy in London in 2004 here: www.youtube.com www.nickcave.com

"Every record that leaves profound traces behind is a positive experience, even if it gives you a deep feeling of despair. At least you feel something again, you’re not blunted, no matter how paradoxical that may sound.” -- Robert Smith

Final track of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Lyrics were inspired by contemporary newspaper articles and McCartney's memories of his younger years

Music by the American jazz pianist noted for his innovative compositions and arrangements and for composing music for animated television adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip.

I am here with my sweet, sweet husband in the hospital where we’ve been for over two weeks now. Two months ago today we were in Marrakech having the trip of a lifetime with our daughter Louise. It is hard to imagine how quickly our lives have changed. Music remains a constant throughout our lives and will remain a big part of our family’s memories of our dear Ken. I’ve known my husband since we were eighteen. I still have the cassette tape I recorded of his first radio show at KAGU Gonzaga radio station, and the first song he ever dedicated to me was Stray Cats “Fishnet Stockings”. I’d love to hear it... I could think of so so many songs that will always remind me of Ken. Thanks to KEXP for playing such a huge part in our lives. All the love, all the power, Lisa

A request for Ken... Talking Heads - this must be the place. Peace & Love to Ken and his Family -John

“I should call more often, but they know I never will. Please tell my brothers I love them still.” Tweedy created the perfect folk song on this tender but maudlin ode to family, off Golden Smog’s best album, Weird Tales. The lyrics are among his most specific (he mentions his father’s connection to the railroad), and yet they’re arguably his most universal as well. A few sparse details, of “nieces and nephews and their swimming pools,” are enough to connect us to the bigger picture. americansongwriter.com

The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered is a 2004 Gammon Records two-disc set. Despite what the title and cover art may suggest, Johnston lived to see the album's release; he passed away fifteen years later in 2019.

In this track, Prine details his plans for the afterlife and all the things he is looking forward to enjoying that he has had to give up due to his neck cancer treatments.

And will you please say hello To the folks that I know Tell 'em that I won't be long And they'll be happy to know That as you saw me go I was singing this song