John Richards

Good morning, happy Friday, and welcome to The Morning Show with the fabulous Morgan, the inimitable John Richards, and the wonderful Owen! It's the last day of the Spring Drive (plus, it's International Woman's Day). It's your opportunity to donate: www.kexp.org -- "Superstition" is number 26 on John's special countdown. -- That's the Hohner Clavinet that is playing the riff at the core of this song. A Clavinet looks like an electric keyboard, but it is an electro-mechanical string instrument originally developed for the performance of classical harpsichord and clavichord music. : www.clavinet.com

This is number 25 in our countdown! -- The band was in an altered state throughout recording the "Low-Life" album, relying on a cadre of engineers to piece together the tracks in a meticulous manner. Bernard Sumner says that the drug influence on their playing is quite evident on this track. He told Q magazine: "Listen to 'Love Vigilantes.' Listen to that chordal guitar solo. Listen to how fast it is. Impossible to recreate under normal circumstances."

Number 24! -- According to Chuck D, the song was inspired by the Isley Brothers' song of the same name that was released as a single in 1975. The message behind both songs is similar and the Isleys even went as far as to call racial oppression "bulls***," a bold move at the time that didn't stop the song from hitting No. 1 on the R&B singles chart. But Public Enemy's refresh dealt with abuse of authority on a whole new level of directness.

Number 23... -- Producer Scott Litt recalled: "I kinda stole the hand claps and finger snaps from 'Under Pressure.' And Michael (Stipe) pulled a kind of John Lennon move, like how Lennon would ask for his vocal to sound like he was on the moon? Michael said he wanted to sound completely detached, like in another place. So we rigged up a Sony Walkman that would record directly to tape. So you get that weird compressed sound, and Michael actually recorded it in a garage at Prince's Paisley Park Studio in Minneapolis, which was where we mixed 'Out of Time'." "Sometimes when a musician says to you they want something to sound like it's from another place, sometimes the best thing to do is record it in another place."

This is number 22 on the countdown of John's favorite songs. (Who would have guessed that the list included Pixies?) -- KEXP is on in my home pretty much whenever I’m home. I love the positivity of the DJ’s, hearing music I know and love, plus being introduced to new music! Please keep up the amazing work and bringing joy to my life. --Hans -- Show your big, big love for KEXP by donating now: www.kexp.org

Track number 21 on John's countdown.. -- Bowie's label, RCA Records, released a promotional single in 1980 titled "The Continuing Story of Major Tom." On it, "Space Oddity" was mixed smoothly into "Ashes to Ashes," creating a nine-minute epic. The end of the first song meshed uncannily with the start of the second: The lonely beeping at the conclusion of "Space Oddity" bled into the high-pitched, pizzicato-like melody at the beginning of "Ashes to Ashes." It was as if that had been Bowie's intention all along. Read a fascinating NPR feature on how "Ashes to Ashes" marked the end of stage one of Bowie's career: www.npr.org

"I love this song so much." --John It's number 20 on the countdown of John's favorites. -- A critic wrote that it is " six minutes of utter bliss..." He says, "The synth wash that Gillian Gilbert plays is so lovely and evocative, That synth wash is followed by Bernard Sumner playing a short solo on the melodica, a hand-held keyboard that you blow into, and an instrument I still primarily associate with reggae records. The thin, lonely sound of the melodica made a nice contrast with the majestic synths and full-on drum machine beat, not to mention Sumner’s downbeat lyrics.": medialoper.com

"Enjoy the Silence" is #19 on our countdown. -- Hi John and Morgan, thank you so much for all you and the entire team at KEXP do for our community! My family and I have been long-time listeners and amplifiers and we are so grateful that KEXP exists in our lives and in the lives of so many people around the world. Thanks so much! Love you all! --Robert in Eastlake -- Enjoy the official video for this favorite of John's: www.youtube.com

Ahh....the Friday song. It's number 18 on our countdown. -- Zoe (9 years old) in Bothell:: "It really makes me happy every morning to listen to your different genres of music on my way to school. Thank you for making me and my family so happy listening to your radio station." -- So many families wait with bated breath for this song to be played on Fridays. If you and your children are among them, please donate now: www.kexp.org

Number 17 of John's favorite songs of all time... --- That's Paul "Wix" Wickens on the accordion. He is a multi-instrumentalist who is best known for being a part of Paul McCartney’s touring band since 1989.

Number 16... --- You are not alone. Wear the T-Shirt that shares that message. Donations of $15 a month or $180 receive the shirt and keychain, plus the fabulous KEXP DJ Booth shirt: www.kexp.org

"Someone Great," played often on The Morning Show, is number 15 on the countdown. -- It may be "the best song about loss ever written." "In 'Someone Great,' [James] Murphy takes you on a journey through the entire grieving process, starting at the very beginning — the moment you get that phone call.": medium.com

Number 14... --- "Welcome to your life There's no turning back..." -- This was the first US #1 hit for Tears for Fears. The band had trouble getting into the original incarnation of the song, which featured the lyric "everybody wants to go to war." When it was changed to the title phrase, everything clicked. "Once we got those lyrics, it was a joyful song," Roland Orzabal explained. -

"She's a Rainbow" is number 13 on the countdown of John's favorite songs. -- "Nicky Hopkins’ piano work on 'She’s a Rainbow”' was majestic, as he single-handedly created the colors to which the lyrics refer. Add in the stop-and-start sequences of the song, which drummer Charlie Watts handled expertly, and the quirky touches like Brian Jones’ harmonium work, the interrupting cello, and the childlike backing vocals, and you’re left with one of the most whimsical Stones songs in the band’s esteemed catalog.: americansongwriter.com

Number 12.....a great love song from a great album... -- Here's a fine demo of this song: www.youtube.com --

"Karma Police" is number 11 on John's countdown. -- Guitarist Ed O'Brien said in an interview: "When someone in the band behaved like an a--hole, one of the others always said: 'The Karma Police is gonna get you.' I suppose it's all rubbish that your destiny depends on your deeds in a previous life, but you have to trust on something." Thom Yorke: "Karma is important. The idea that something like karma exists makes me happy. It makes me smile."

NUMBER 10!!! --- It was great when Bob Mould performed songs from his Sugar days, including the classic "Hoover Dam," in KEXP's Bumbershoot Music Lounge back in 2013: www.youtube.com -- Perhaps you've been enthralled by a live performance on KEXP. Support the station where The Music Matters:www.kexp.org

This is Number 9 in our countdown of John's favorite songs. -- Brian Eno produced this song and wrote the chorus, which he also sang on. David Byrne wrote the verses.

John selected this as Number 8 on his list of favorites. -- I increased my amplifier amount earlier this week (Up Mine!) but I had to increase again. I really want US to reach OUR goal. This is an US situation. This is my community that means so much to me. KEXP gives me so much on a daily basis. The amount I'm able to give back is in no way comparable. Thank you for all you do! We're gonna reach our goal! I just know it! --Melissa

"Plainsong" is number 7 on our countdown. -- "From a musical perspective, the song is extremely simple in its structure, and I think that is what allows it to be so powerful and accessible. The key is C major, the simplest and probably most optimistic-sounding key there is" Here's an analysis of this gorgeous song: neverletmedown.wordpress.com

Number 6... --- The song title is a univerbation of hoppa í polla (the -a in hoppa is not pronounced), which is Icelandic for "hopping into puddles", and the lyrics are mainly in Icelandic, with some nonsensical phrases, a "language" the band calls Vonlenska ("Hopelandic"). Here's the official video: www.youtube.com -- Liz: One time donation for the energy and excitement in the morning! And, of course, everything else. I'm not alone, you're not alone, we're not alone.

Number 5....NOT! Wow! Didn't see this coming? You've been Rickrolled! -- "omg that Rickroll with Morgan cackling in the background is truly among the greatest moments of radio in ALL TIME" .--Rothko

Number 5, for real... --- "We can be heroes...just for one day..." Use the time you have today to nurture and support what you love. Donate to KEXP today: www.kexp.org

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" is number 4 on the countdown of John's favorite songs... --- NME named the song the greatest single of all time in 2002. Watch a video discussion of a "song that changed music": www.youtube.com

Number 3... --- "It's a very comforting song," Chris Frantz said. "I think people listen to it and it kind of warms their hearts because it's a song with a happy and secure message. I love that song myself. It's really sweet - quite an accomplishment for a band such as ours."

"This Is the Sea" is Number 2.... -- See The Waterboys performing this great song in Dublin last July: www.youtube.com -- Stephanie in Shoreline: Music, community, kindness, understanding: I hear and experience these every weekday morning on KEXP! Thank you. It’s about time I support this!!

this is my favorite song. thank you everyone you are not alone john

"Cat Power just unveiled a 2024 Bob Dylan Tribute Tour. Having just released her new live album, Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert, she’s taking it to the stage. It’s a lengthy tour that’s taking her across cities in North America, UK, and Europe." She'll be playing Seattle's Moore Theatre this Wednesday, March 13th! More info here: tinyurl.com