“Number one with a Bullet”, Freakwater

This way: Number one with a Bullet

Freakwater is an American alternative country band from Louisville, Kentucky, and Chicago. Freakwater is known for the lead vocals of Janet Bean and Catherine Irwin, who mix harmony and melody in idiosyncratic dissonant country-folk that is reminiscent of the Carter Family. n 1989, Janet Beveridge Bean (of rock band Eleventh Dream Day) and Catherine Irwin founded the band, and they have been supported by several musicians since then, including members of Califone (2005 Thinking of You tour). Bassist David Wayne Gay, formerly of Stump The Host, is another long-time member of the band. They released their records on Chicago's Thrill Jockey label. From 2006 to 2013, Bean and Irwin worked on other projects.  

[Spotify] Number one with a Bullet

“We're Going to Live for a Very Long Time”, Heaven 17

This way: We're Going to Live for a Very Long Time

Heaven 17 are an English new wave and synth-pop band that formed in Sheffield in 1980. The band were a trio for most of their career, composed of Martyn Ware (keyboards), Ian Craig Marsh (keyboards) (both previously of the Human League) and Glenn Gregory (vocals). Although most of the band's music was recorded in the 1980s, they have occasionally reformed to record and perform, playing their first ever live concerts in 1997. Taking their new name from a fictional pop band mentioned in Anthony Burgess's dystopian novel, A Clockwork Orange (where The Heaven Seventeen are at number 4 in the charts with "Inside"), they became Heaven 17 and formed the production company British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.). This song from their debut LP from 1981.

[Spotify] We're Going to Live for a Very Long Time

“Thrash”, Cowboys International®

This way: Thrash

Cowboys International - Thrash (1979)
Cowboys International® were a new wave and synthpop band formed by vocalist and songwriter Ken Lockie that put out one album in 1979, the influential The Original Sin, and a handful of 45s before dissolving in 1980. In the late 1970s, Ken Lockie and Keith Levene were in a band called The Quick Spurts. Changing their name to Cowboys International, the members were Lockie on lead vocals, Rick Jacks on guitar, Jimmy Hughes (formerly of The Banned) on bass, Evan Charles on piano, and ex-Clash Terry Chimes on drums. This line-up, with a little help of Levene (who was in Public Image Ltd) recorded and released The Original Sin album in 1979.

[Spotify] Thrash

“24-Hour Store”, The Handsome Family

This way: 24-Hour Store

The Handsome Family is an alternative country and Americana duo consisting of husband and wife Brett and Rennie Sparks formed in Chicago, Illinois, and currently based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are perhaps best known for their song "Far from Any Road" from the album Singing Bones, which was used as the main title theme for the first season of HBO's 2014 crime drama True Detective. The Handsome Family's style is a blend of traditional country, bluegrass, and murder ballads. Early recordings have rock elements, but these were less evident from 1996's Milk and Scissors onwards.

[Spotify] 24-Hour Store

“Slash Dot Dash”, Fatboy Slim

This way: Slash Dot Dash

Norman Cook known by his stage name Fatboy Slim, is an English DJ, musician, and record producer who helped to popularize the big beat genre in the 1990s. In the 1980s, Cook was the bassist for the Hull-based indie rock band the Housemartins, who achieved a UK number-one single with their a cappella cover of "Caravan of Love". After the Housemartins split, Norman Cook formed the electronic band Beats International in Brighton. In 1996, Cook adopted the name Fatboy Slim and released Better Living Through Chemistry to critical acclaim. "Slash Dot Dash" is a song by English big beat musician Fatboy Slim, released as a single from his album Palookaville. Cook himself plays bass guitar on the track. It also appeared on Fatboy Slim's greatest hits album The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder. The best-known version of the song samples "Ricky V. Valentine" by Ghetto Classics. The original version of the track, contained on an advance US copy of the album, uses a different vocal sample which was possibly changed due to sample clearance issues.

[Spotify] Slash Dot Dash

“Randy Scouse Git”, The Monkees

This way: Randy Scouse Git

“Randy Scouse Git” is a song written by Micky Dolenz in 1967 and recorded by The Monkees. It was the first song written by Dolenz to be commercially released, and became a #2 hit in the UK where it was retitled “ Alternate Title” after the record company (RCA) complained that the original title was actually somewhat “Taboo to the British audience”. Dolenz took the song’s title from a phrase he had heard spoken on an episode of the British television series Till Death Us Do Part. Directly translated to, according to Dolenz, "horny, Liverpudlian jerk". According to Dolenz, the song was written about a party that The Beatles threw for the Monkees at the Speakeasy nightclub in London. There are references in the song to the Beatles ("the four kings of EMI") and to other party attendees such as Cass Elliot of The Mamas & the Papas ("the girl in yellow dress") and Dolenz's future wife, Top of the Pops "disc girl" Samantha Juste. It doesn't get much better than this for disposable pop.

[Spotify] Randy Scouse Git

“I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground”, Bascom Lamar Lunsford

This way: I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground

Bascom Lamar Lunsford (March 21, 1882 – September 4, 1973) was a lawyer, folklorist, and performer of traditional (folk and country) music from western North Carolina. He was often known by the nickname "Minstrel of the Appalachians." Bascom Lamar Lunsford was born at Mars Hill, Madison County, North Carolina in 1882, into the world of traditional Appalachian folk music. At an early age, his father, a teacher, gave him a fiddle, and his mother sang religious songs and traditional ballads. Lunsford also learned banjo and began to perform at weddings and square dances. After qualifying as a teacher at Rutherford College, Lunsford taught at schools in Madison County. In 1913, Lunsford qualified in law at Trinity College, later to become Duke University. He began to travel and collect material at the start of the 20th century, often meeting singers on isolated farms.

[Spotify] I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground

[Spotify playlist] The full Spotify playlist

“I Won’t Be Found”, The Tallest Man on Earth

This way: I Won’t Be Found

Kristian Matsson is a singer-songwriter from Dalarna, Sweden, who performs under the stage name of The Tallest Man on Earth. Matsson grew up in Leksand, and began his solo career in 2006, having previously been the lead singer of the indie band Montezumas. Since 2006, Matsson has released five full-length albums and two EPs. He records and produces these in his home, and usually records his voice and guitar together on one track. He is known for his charismatic stage presence.

[Spotify] I Won’t Be Found

“Little Man With A Gun In His Hand”, Minutemen

This way: Little Man With A Gun In His Hand

Minutemen were an American punk rock band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist/vocalist D. Boon, bassist/vocalist Mike Watt, and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon’s tragic death in an automobile accident in 1985; after Boon’s death, the band broke up. They were noted in the California punk community for a philosophy of jamming econo—a sense of thriftiness reflected in their touring and presentation—while their eclectic and experimental attitude was instrumental in pioneering alternative rock.The EP was recorded rather cheaply even by Minutemen standards; the cost was $50. Most of the songs were cut live to two-track tape at Total Access Studio in Redondo Beach, CA, rather than utilize multi-track recording tape, with longtime SST Records staff producer Spot behind the mixing board. Spot had suggested the live-to-two-track approach after Minutemen queried about the possibility of recording a new EP on four-channel multi-track tape, rather than the 16-track recordings the band had done in the past. This meant that most of the songs on Buzz or Howl... were recorded without any overdubs. I can’t say enough good things about this band. I think they are one of the greatest bands of all time. I saw them live many times and they were always stellar. From 1983 . . .

[Spotify] Little Man With A Gun In His Hand

“Damaged Goods”, Gang of Four

This way: Damaged Goods

“Damaged Goods” is the debut single by Gang of Four. It was released on 13 October 1978 through independent record label Fast Product. Produced by Fast Product owner Bob Last under the alias Fast Product, the single received critical acclaim, prompting the band to sign to EMI Records. The title track and “Love Like Anthrax” were re-recorded for Gang of Four’s debut album Entertainment! in 1979 and the whole EP was included in the Fast Product compilation Mutant Pop in 1980. 

[Spotify] Damaged Goods

“Hate my Way”, Throwing Muses

This way: Hate My Way

Throwing Muses is an alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects. The group was originally fronted by two lead singers, Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly (stepsisters), who both wrote the group's songs. Throwing Muses are known for performing music with shifting tempos, creative chord progressions, unorthodox song structures, and surreal lyrics. The group was set apart from other contemporary acts by Hersh’s stark, candid writing style; Donelly’s pop stylings and vocal harmonies; and David Narcizo’s unusual drumming techniques eschewing use of cymbals. Here is a great one from 1986.

[Spotify] Hate My Way

“Read it in Books”, Echo and the Bunnymen

This way: Read it in Books

Echo & the Bunnymen are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas joined as the band’s drummer. Their 1980 debut album, Crocodiles, went into the top 20 of the UK Albums Chart. After releasing their second album, Heaven Up Here, in 1981, the band's cult status was followed by mainstream success in 1983. One of my all time favorite bands. This is the single version which is different than the version on their first LP. The Teardrop Explodes also released a version of this as it was written when Julian Cope and Ian were in the same band.

[Spotify] Read it in Books

“Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”, Melanie

This way: Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)

“Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”, Melanie. This was the second single from Melanie 1970 album Candles in the Rain. The song proved to be her breakthrough hit in the United States. Released in March 1970, the recording was a spirited collaboration between the folk singer and songwriter Melanie and the Californian gospel act the Edwin Hawkins Singers, who had reached the national Top Ten the previous year with “Oh Happy Day”. Melanie wrote the song after performing at Woodstock in August 1969; the song’s lyrics describe what she felt as she looked out at the sea of people attending the music event. “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” is also associated with certain events occurring during the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, held in 1969. One of my first musical loves. I own an impressive amount of her records, and really, they never disappoint.  


[Spotify] Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)

“Black Boys on Mopeds”, Sinéad O'Connor

This way: Black Boys on Mopeds

“Black Boys on Mopeds”, Sinéad O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra. As Sinéad O'Connor, she achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a new arrangement of Prince's song "Nothing Compares 2 U".

This is from her second LP of 1990, The album “I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got”. 


[Spotify] Black Boys on Mopeds

“Boycott”, Shellac

This way: Boycott

“Boycott”, Shellac. Shellac is an American band from Chicago, Illinois, composed of Steve Albini (guitar and vocals), Bob Weston (bass guitar and vocals) and Todd Trainer (drums and vocals) and formed in 1992. They describe themselves as a minimalist rock trio. Steve Albini is a world class producer and engineer. He has a great recording studio and has been in several bands starting with Big Black. Their music is often abrasive, but they have a dynamic sound as shown here. This song is from “Excellent Italian Greyhound” is Shellac's fourth album, released on June 5, 2007. 

[Spotify] Boycott

“It’s Like That ”, Run DMC

This way: It’s Like That

“It’s Like That ”, Run DMC, 1983. Run-DMC was an American hip hop group from Hollis, Queens, New York, founded in 1981 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. Run-DMC is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture and one of the most famous hip hop acts of the 1980s. Along with LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy, the group pioneered new school hip hop music. Run-DMC was the first group in the genre to have an album certified gold (Run–D.M.C., 1984) and to be nominated for a Grammy Award.  

[Spotify] It’s Like That

“Helen Fordsdale”, Mars

This way: Helen Fordsdale

“Helen Fordsdale”, Mars, 1978. Mars was a New York City rock band formed in 1975 when China Burg and artist Nancy Arlen brought Mark Cunningham and vocalist Sumner Crane together to talk about music. They were joined briefly by guitarist Rudolph Grey. The band played one live gig under the name China before changing it to Mars. They played a mixture of angular compositions and freeform noise music jams, featuring surrealist lyrics and non-standard drumming. All the members were said to be completely untrained in music before forming the band. “You don’t have to go too far before you’re stuck inside a jar with no clothes”, the internet tells me these are the words to the first line. And of course it makes perfect sense. They put out several singles and EPs but the Album they recorded in the 70s never came out until much later. They are on the highly influential No New York album along with the Contortions, DNA and Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. This song has always haunted me.  


[Spotify] Helen Fordsdale (live version)

“Moody”, ESG

This way: Moody

“Moody”, ESG, 1981. ESG, (Emerald Sapphire & Gold) is an American band formed in the South Bronx in 1978. Coming out of the land of Hip Hop and Rap this all female unit created a very unique sound. Trouser Press called it "one of the most dynamic bands that New York could offer at the top of the '80s. ESG has been influential across a wide range of musical genres, including hip hop, post-punk, disco, and dance-punk. 

[Spotify] Moody

“Uncontrollable Urge”, Devo

This way: Uncontrollable Urge

Devo is an American rock band from Akron, Ohio formed in 1973. Their classic lineup consisted of two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs (Mark and Bob) and the Casales (Gerald and Bob), along with Alan Myers. This band helped pioneer the use of multimedia in live shows often creating films for songs long before the MTV video revolution. This band achieved the highest possible mark for rock and roll. 

[Spotify] Uncontrollable Urge

“Cold Blooded Old Times”, Smog

This way: Cold Blooded Old Times

“Cold Blooded Old Times”, Smog 1999. Smog is the work of Bill Callahan, an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who now releases music under his own name. Callahan began working in the lo-fi genre of underground rock, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders. His early work is very experimental. Later he began releasing albums with the label Drag City, to which he remains signed today.

[Spotify] Cold Blooded Old Times

“I Misunderstood”, Richard Thompson

This way: I Misunderstood (live in the studio)

“I Misunderstood”, Richard Thompson, 1991. Richard Thompson is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
He made his début as a recording artist as a member of Fairport Convention in September 1967. He continues to write and record new material regularly and frequently performs live at venues throughout the world. During the 70’s he put out several fantastic records with his wife Linda Thompson. Beginning in the early 80's he worked mostly as a solo artist. Here is a great one from the LP “Rumor and Sigh”.


[Spotify] I Misunderstood

“The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll”, Phranc

  This way: The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll

Phranc is an American singer-songwriter from California whose career has spanned several decades. She started out in the early punk scene of Los Angeles playing in Nervous Gender, which formed in 1978. In 1980 she left Nervous Gender to join the punk band Catholic Discipline, in which Craig Lee (Bags) and Claude Bessy, journalist for Slash punk fanzine, were the lead singers. She was also in Castration Squad, a feminist, all-girl punk band supergroup. In 1985 she released the LP “Folksinger”. She styled herself the “All-American Jewish Lesbian Folksinger”. Although this song here is a cover of a Bob Dylan Song she is a great songwriter. And her matter of fact lyrics are often hilarious (I Don't like Female Mudwrestling). Her songs can be found here on her bandcamp page below. Spotify—in your dreams.

[bandcamp] The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll

“Human Fly”, The Cramps

  This way: Human Fly

“Human Fly”, The Cramps, 1977. The Cramps are one of those bands that are really in their own category. Their music is not of the now, it is of the then, but also somehow very contemporary. They were not prolific, but each album is practically a masterpiece. This is from there first release and encapsulates all elements of the Cramps universe. It’s funny, raunchy, stripped down and it also scraps the paint right off the walls.

[Spotify] Human Fly

“Scream”, Stef Chura

This way: Scream

Here is a new one from Stef Chura, an American indie rock musician from Detroit, Michigan. This song is from her second album, “Midnight” which was just released this week. She combines a knockout punk of garage sounds and great songwriting. 

[Spotify] Scream

“And Through the Wire”, Peter Gabriel

This way: And Through the Wire

“And Through the Wire” is from Peter Gabriel the third eponymous solo album by English rock musician Peter Gabriel, released in May 1980 by Charisma Records. The album has been acclaimed as Gabriel's artistic breakthrough as a solo artist and for establishing him as one of rock's most ambitious and innovative musicians. Gabriel also explored more overtly political material with two of his most famous singles, the anti-war song "Games Without Frontiers"  and the anti-apartheid protest song "Biko".  Fun fact, Paul Weller of The Jam plays guitar on this song.

This album is often referred to as Melt owing to its cover photograph by Hipgnosis.

[Spotify] And Through the Wire

“Let X=X”, Laurie Anderson

This way: Let X=X

“Let X=X”, Laurie Anderson, 1982. Laurie Anderson is an American avant-garde artist, composer, musician and film director whose work spans performance art, pop music, and multimedia projects. Initially trained in violin and sculpting, Anderson pursued a variety of performance art projects in New York during the 1970s, focusing particularly on language, technology, and visual imagery. She became more widely known outside the art world when her single “O Superman” reached number two on the UK singles chart in 1981. Laurie Anderson is a fantastic artist who makes music often as an offshoot of her performance work. Here is a great one that could stun an ox. 

[Spotify] Let X=X

“Contort Yourself”, Contortions

This way: Contort Yourself

James Chance and the Contortions (initially known simply as Contortions, a spin-off group is called James White and the Blacks) is a musical group led by saxophonist and vocalist James Chance, formed in 1977. They were a central act of New York City’s downtown no wave music scene in the late 1970s, and were featured on the influential compilation No New York (1978) produced by Eno. James Chance’s saxophone playing is such a unique addition to the music of the day. 

[Spotify] Contort Yourself

“Public Image”, Public Image Ltd (PiL)

This way: Public image

Public Image Ltd (abbreviated as PiL) are an English punk band formed by singer John Lydon, guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker. The group's personnel has changed frequently over the years; Lydon has been the sole constant member. Following his departure from the Sex Pistols in January 1978, Lydon sought a more experimental "anti-rock" project and formed PiL. That year PiL released their debut First Issue (1978), creating an abrasive, bass-heavy sound that drew on dub, noise, progressive rock and disco. PIL's second album Metal Box (1979) pushed their sound further into the avant-garde, and is often regarded as one of the most important albums of the era.

[Spotify] Public Image

“Chicken Twist”, Hasil Adkins

This way: Chicken Walk

Hasil Adkins (April 29, 1937 – April 26, 2005) was an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His genres include rock and roll, country, blues and more commonly rockabilly, and because of his unusual playing and singing style, he is often cited as an example of outsider music. He generally performed as a one-man band, playing guitar and drums at the same time.

Adkins was born during the Depression and grew up in poverty. His spirited, unusual lifestyle is reflected in his music. His songs, which he began recording and distributing locally in the mid-1950s, explored an affinity for chicken, sexual intercourse, and decapitation, and were obscure outside of West Virginia until the 1980s. The newfound popularity secured him a cult following, spawned the Norton Records label, and helped usher in the genre known as psychobilly.

[Spotify] Chicken Walk

“The Man who Shot Brendan deVallance”, Get Smart!

This way: The Man Who Shot Brendan deVallance

“The Man who Shot Brendan deVallance”, Get Smart!, 1986. This is taken from the movie slash song “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, one of my all time favorite movies, a John Ford Western. In my other life as a performance artist back in the day I asked my friends in the great Chicago band Get Smart! to record this for me for use in a show. They knocked it out of the park in my humble opinion.

[Spotify]  In your dreams

“Going Underground”, The Jam

The Jam

This way: Going Underground

Here is a great single from released in March of 1980 by one of my all time favorite bands. It went straight in at #1 in the UK Singles Chart. This great English 3 piece came on full storm along with the punk movement of the late 70’s, although stylistically they veered heavily to the Mod movement of the 60’s. They wrote a boatload of great songs and here is one that never made it on an album.  

[Spotify] Going Underground

“I Think of Demons”, Roky Erickson

This way: I Think of Demons

Roky Erickson (July 15, 1947 – May 31, 2019) was an American singer-songwriter, harmonica player, and guitarist from Texas. He was a founding member of The 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre. Erickson co-founded the 13th Floor Elevators in late 1965. In 1968, while performing at HemisFair, Erickson began speaking gibberish. He was soon diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and sent to a Houston psychiatric hospital, where he involuntarily received electroconvulsive therapy. In 1969, Erickson was arrested for possession of a single marijuana joint in Austin. Facing a potential ten-year incarceration, Erickson pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to avoid prison, ultimately remaining in custody until 1972. This song is from his band Roky Erickson and the Aliens in 1979. Despite all his legal and mental health issues he lead a prolific career. Sadly he died a few days ago, but I love his unique perspective and phenomenal creative output.

[Spotify] I Think of Demons

Spotify playlist

I realize that not everyone is on Spotify, but if you are I am including these songs on a playlist for your listening pleasure:

Spotify playlist sotd . . .

“Silver”, Waxahatchee

This way: Silver

Waxahatchee is a great current band formed in 2010 by Katie Crutchfield. Crutchfield, as Waxahatchee, has released 4 albums to date out under this name, here is a great one from 2017s “Silver”. . . She also has a twin sister Allison who is a musician. They worked together in in the band P.S. Eliot previously to Waxahatchee.

[Spotify] Silver

“Cosmic Dancer”, T. Rex

T. Rex

This way: Cosmic Dancer

T. Rex is one of the all time great bands. This song is from their epic Electric Warrior LP of 1971. Electric Warrior is the sixth studio album by English rock act T. Rex. The album marked a turning point in the band’s sound, dispensing with the folk-oriented music of the group's previous albums and pioneering a flamboyant, pop-friendly take on electric rock and roll known as glam rock. T. Rex formed in 1967 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. They released four psychedelic folk albums under this name Tyrannosaurus Rex. In 1969, Bolan began to shift from the band's early acoustic sound to an electric one. The following year, he shortened their name to T. Rex. The 1970 release of the single “Ride a White Swan” marked the culmination of this development, and the group soon became a commercial success as part of the emerging glam rock scene. And you had me at backwards guitar solo.

[Spotify] Cosmic Dancer