Wednesday's Radio Show: The Name Game

Here's the playlist from Wednesday's radio show. As always, the underlined or highlighted represents songs that can be played.

Alex Chilton Replacements (1987)
Brian Wilson Barenaked Ladies (1992)
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone Sleater-Kinney (1996)
Velvet Underground Jonathan Richman (1992)
I Saw Nick Drake Robyn Hitchcock (1999)
Axl Rose SR-71 (2004)
Buddy Holly Weezer (1994)
Don Henley Must Die Mojo Nixon (1990)
Bessie Smith Bob Dylan & The Band (1975)
Frank Sinatra Cake (1996)
Sir Duke Stevie Wonder (1976)
The Late Great Johnny Ace Paul Simon (1983)
Elvis Presley Blues Gillian Welch (2001)
Jackie Wilson Said Van Morrison (1972)
Levi Stubbs' Tears Billy Bragg (1986)
Aretha, Sing One For Me Cat Power (2008)

Almost made it: "Gene & Eddie," Stray Cats; "Bob Dylan" Nine Days; "Richard Manuel is Dead" Counting Crows; "Hank Williams," Ry Cooder; "Blind Willie McTell," Bob Dylan; "Antonio Carlos Jobim," Heatmiser; "When Smokey Sings," ABC; "Pure Smokey," George Harrison.

No way: "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin" Scritti Politti

Just like last week's show, this idea has been brewing in my head for a while: Musicians singing about other musicians. Not just any musician, but specific ones. And (well, for the most part) great ones. The requirement: The song had to specifically mention that musician's name and hopefully not be just a tossaway line.

Also, just like last week, the best part of compiling this show was finding songs to fill in the gaps. It was always nice to have an excuse to play songs by unique talents such as Jonathan Richman, Robyn Hitchcock and Mojo Nixon.

Here are the notes:

• As much as I like the BNL's original version of the song, I wanted to play Brian Wilson singing "Brian Wilson" on this show. Talk about a perfect Being John Malkovich moment. Alas, I couldn't track down a copy of his Live at the Roxy Theatre (2001) album, which features Brian and his backing band doing an a capella version of he song


• Word is that Mojo Nixon has new lyrics for his viciously funny diatribe against the former Eagle, who "sings just like a wounded beagle." That's because in the middle of a performance in Austin, Texas, in 1992, Mr. Henley jumped on stage and provided Mojo with backing vocals. Said Nixon afterwards: "He has balls the size of church bells." Word on the net is that Phil Collins or Rick Astley became Nixon's target of ire in live concerts (or maybe both, I don't know)
  


• Still brewing in my mind is a similar show with songs about actors and actresses. Such as: "Michael Caine" by Madness, "Grace Kelly" by Mika and "Steve McQueen" by Sheryl Crow. You guys will be the first to know whether I'm happy with what I ultimately collect.