Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 55)

Safety glasses required in this area.

Intro
Biology / Joe Jackson
Gravity's Gone / Drive-By Truckers
Chemistry / Semisonic
Love Is Like Oxygen / Sweet
She's Electric / Oasis
X-Ray Man / Liz Phair
Phenomena / Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Astral Plane / The Modern Lovers
Darkmatter / Andrew Bird
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) / Marvin Gaye
Biological Speculation / Funkadelic
She Blinded Me With Science / Thomas Dolby

This Friday's Mix: Science!

Oh my god.



911: This is 911; what is your emergency?

CALLER: Oh... oh my god. My junk. My junk. It's gone. One minute, I was reading a flyer. Next thing I knew, I woke up in this hotel bathtub packed with ice. A note said, "Your junk has been removed. Call 911." So I did.

911: I'm sorry, you want Junk Removal 911. I'll transfer you.

CALLER: Hurry! Please. I feel... dizzy.

Today's "Classic" Five O'Clock Rock: (Episode 28)

I guess it was snowing pretty hard on 12.01.2006, too.

Intro
The Blizzard / Charley Pride
Snowflake / Jim Reeves
Snowflake / Girls Are Short
The Blizzard of '96 / The Walkmen
Snowflakes / Carmen Rizzo
Snowflakes / Just Jack
Blizzard of '77 / Nada Surf
Whiteout / Boss Hog
Blizzard of '78 / Ida
Snowflakes / Pizzicato Five
Snowflakes / Grant Lee Phillips
Snowflakes / Doug Hoekstra
Blizzard / Ellis Paul
The Blizzard / Cowboy Nation
Snow Days / Trip Shakespeare
Snow Blizzard

This Friday's Mix: No Two Alike

Rock Always Says It Better

Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose—a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.
   -- Mary "Wollstonecraft" Shelley, Frankenstein

Buh-nuh nuh nuh nuh-nuh NUH, buh-nuh nuh nuh-nuh (boodle leedle eedle eedle). Buh-nuh nuh nuh nuh-nuh NUH, buh-nuh nuh nuh-nuh (wwrrrrreeeeeeoowwwww).
   -- Edgar "Whiteasgetout" Winter, "Frankenstein"

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 54)

‘Tis you, ‘tis you must go and I must dig. Dig?

Intro
Flute Loop / The Beastie Boys
Thank You (Falletin Me Be Mice Elf Again) / Joe Thomas
Burning Spear / S.O.U.L.
The Bottle / Gil Scott-Heron
Smiling Faces Sometimes / Bobbi Humphrey
Nubian Lady / Yusef Lateef
Cry Me A River / Sam Cooke
Go To Hell / Nina Simone
You Are The Woman / Firefall
The India Song / Big Star
Spill The Wine / Eric Burdon & War
Watermelon Man / Herbie Hancock
Never Can Say Goodbye / Isaac Hayes
Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Rai / Bing Crosby

This Friday's Mix: The Pipes Are Calling

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 53)

You can rock all of the people some of the time. You can rock some of the people all of the time. But you can't rock all of the people until a certain time.

Intro
Cross-Eyed Mary / Jethro Tull
Christine Sixteen / Kiss
Weird Beard / Fu Manchu
Bullet and A Target / Citizen Cope
Pretty Penny / Stone Temple Pilots
Big Log / Viktor Krauss
Railway Shoes / Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians
Honest I Do / Jimmy Reed
Sad Head Blues / Mr. Sad Head
Kentucky Woman / Neil Diamond
Living In A House Divided / Cher
Start A War / The National
Eye On Springfield Theme / Alf Clausen
Abe Lincoln Versus Madison Avenue / Bob Newhart

This Friday's Mix: Abraham Linkage

Hanging In and Jiving

Supplementing this post, thanks to Linda:

While we lost the singer of the "Maude" theme song some time ago, WNYC's "Soundcheck" recently reassured us that the theme's writer is still kicking. To my mind, the man did more for Lady Godiva than chocolate.

Speaking of She Who Shall Not Be Tranquilizin', check out The Beachwood Reporter's celebration of 35 years of "Maude."

By the way, the 35th anniversary gift is jade, and "jade" can also be defined as "a bad-tempered or disreputable woman."

[PINKY TO CHIN, COYLY] Oh, did I just blow your mind?

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 51)

Fat Tuesdays, seen and unseen.

Intro
Charlemagne / John Cale
That Will Be Good Enough For Me / Rance Allen Group
Dixie Toot / Rod Stewart
Carnival Game / Cheap Trick
Across The Border / Electric Light Orchestra
Shake Your Rump / The Beastie Boys
Let The Rhythm Run / Salt-N-Pepa
Carnival Time / Al Johnson
Handa Wanda / Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolia Mardi Gras Indian Band
Mardi Gras In New Orleans / Professor Longhair
Mardi Gras Day / Dr. John

This Friday's Mix: Mardi Gras

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 50)

THE Five O'Clock Rock?

Intro
Alex Chilton / The Replacements
Eddie Vedder / Local H
Tom Sawyer / Rush
Pablo Picasso / The Modern Lovers
Jesus Christ / Big Star
Johnny Appleseed / Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
Sir Duke / Stevie Wonder
Bo Diddley / The Meters
Shadrach / The Beastie Boys
Dennehy / Serengeti
Bruce Lee / Underworld
James Brown / Big Audio Dynamite
Johnny Mathis' Feet / American Music Club
Ingrid Bergman / Billy Bragg & Wilco
Hong Kong Phooey / Sublime

This Friday's Mix: Name Checking

...But I Heard the Hook Was on His Foot

One more strike against everything I learned on the playground.

I always thought that Van Halen was famous for requiring their backstage bowls of M&Ms be filled only with green ones, due to their purported aphrodisiac qualities. 

Turns out, idiot, the backstage rider wasn't "all green ones," but rather "no brown ones." And the reason, at least according to Diamond Dave, was a totally practical one having nothing to do with making Teacher hot(ter).

Perhaps it's time to revisit my phobia of eating KFC at the drive-in.

Nope. Still too scary. (SHUDDER) KFC.

Today's blow to childhood conventional wisdom delivered by allmusic.com.

The 7 Habits and/or Toiletries* of Highly Effective People



* As evidenced by the briefcase left on our garbage cans.

7. Being Proactive
6. Old Spice Red Zone Body Wash
5. Dollar-store Febreze knock-off
4. Putting First Things First
3. Literature of Bill W. & Top rolling papers (tie)
1. Begin with the End in Mind...But if You're Caught Mid-Alley-Defecation, Forget the Briefcase and Run

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 49)

Oooh, you dirty year.

Intro
Rats In The Cellar / Aerosmith
Ratcity In Blue / Good Rats
Lay It Down / Ratt
Like A Goddam Rat / Early Man
Reveal the Rats / Fatal Flying Guillotines
Rat Patrol / Naked Raygun
Rats / Pearl Jam
I Came As A Rat / Modest Mouse
I Think I Smell A Rat / The White Stripes
Bold Rat / The Coctails
I Smell A Rat / Clarence Carter
Rats In My Kitchen / Sleepy John Estes
Rat In My Kitchen / UB40
Rat Race / Bob Marley
Year Of The Rat / Badly Drawn Boy

This Friday's Mix: Year of the Rat

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 48)

A little something for your yearhole.

Intro
Heretics / Andrew Bird
Here Comes the Rain / The Ladybug Transistor
Mistaken For Strangers / The National
Mutiny, I Promise You / The New Pornographers
A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene / Okkervil River
Up On Crutches / The Sea And Cake
Party / El Perro Del Mar
How Dark Is Your Dark Side / His Name Is Alive
Lord, Let Us Shine / The Pink Mountaintops
Eyes On The Prize / Mavis Staples
How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? / Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Deep In The Sand / The Budos Band
Way Back When / Buck 65
Oh Katrina / Anders Osborne
Shake It Off / Wilco

This Friday's Mix: Ear in Review
(Yes, some are older than 2007. Never was accused of being overly up-to-the-minute.)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 47)

It was a day and/or night like no other. One I will remember 'til the day and/or night I die.

Intro
The Day I Tried to Live / Soundgarden
Today / Smashing Pumpkins
The Day that Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee / The Hollies
The Night Chicago Died / Paper Lace
Turn-Down Day / The Cyrkle
Tuesday, Oct. 24th / Clem Snide
A Big Day In The North / Black Grape
Papa Was a Rolling Stone / The Pioneers
The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia / Vicki Lawrence
December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) / Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons
Saturday In the Park / Chicago
Such A Night / Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / Joan Baez
The Day They Sold Beer In Church / Norman Greenbaum
Nobody Told Me / John Lennon
Eve Of Destruction / Barry McGuire

This Friday's Mix: Days of Infamy

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 46)

Okay, this takes some background.

Way back, there was this scene that my friend Kit and I always talked about putting into a screenplay. It was basically a real conversation of ours. The scene would have gone something like this:

INT. CAR
J is driving. KIT is shotgun. On the radio, Sam Cooke's "What a Wonderful World" is in its final chorus.
KIT: What a perfect song. Just perfect. Sam Cooke, right?
J: Yep.
KIT: Man, whatever happened to him?
J: He was shot outside a motel office, wearing nothing but a trenchcoat.
KIT: JESUS. Really?
J: Mmm-hmm.
On the radio, Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" begins to play.
KIT: Nothing bad happened to Marvin Gaye, did it?
J: Shot.
KIT: Damn.
J: By his own father.
KIT: Fuck!
KIT reaches over and turns the radio dial.
KIT: Them?
J: Singer, car crash.
KIT changes the dial again.
J: Car.
Again.
J: Car.
Again.
J: Plane.
Again.
J: Drowned.
Again.
J: Can't remember. Something with vomit.
Again.
J: Drowned in vomit.
KIT turns off the radio.
KIT: Okay. The one song that will cheer me up, no matter what's wrong. (INHALES) Please, please tell me that, somewhere, the theme-from-"Maude" guy is a fat happy grandpa.
J: Fell out a window.
There is silence.
KIT: (POINTS) That bar up there.
J: Sounds good.
EXT. CAR
The car exits the freeway.
KIT: But then we're sleeping it off in the car.

Sorry. It's just been that sort of week. Not to mention how I felt myself age by writing that I have used a car radio with dials.

Intro
Big Houses / House Of Freaks
I'm Free Now / Morphine
#1 Hit Song / Minutemen
Ticket Tulane / Silkworm
Trouble / Little Feat
Ballad Of Big Nothing / Elliott Smith
Things Behind The Sun / Nick Drake
New Year's Prayer / Jeff Buckley
You And Your Sister / Chris Bell
That's Where It's At / Sam Cooke
When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You / Marvin Gaye
You've Got A Friend / Donny Hathaway
I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song / Jim Croce
Let's Get Lost / Chet Baker
Loving You / Minnie Riperton
Don't Cry / J Dilla

This Friday's Mix: Whatever Happened To?

Do This, Don't Do That/Can't Yuu Read the Sign?



This picture, it's hilareus.

Word of the Week

Se•cret Han•ta

(n.) The process of swapping viruses at holiday gatherings, usually done anonymously.

I think Cousin Earl must have had me for Secret Hanta. I remember seeing him sneeze into the cider.

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 45)

All the better to rock you.

Intro
What Would Wolves Do? / Les Savy Fav
The Wolf Put His Mouth On Me / His Name Is Alive
The Grandmother Wolf / Pretty Girls Make Graves
Teenage Werewolf / The Barbarellas
Hungry Like the Wolf / Duran Duran
Wild Flower / The Cult
Run With The Wolf / Rainbow
Werewolves of London / Magnolia Electric Co
Little Red Riding Hood / Sea Monster
Clap for the Wolfman / The Guess Who
Hillbilly Wolf / Link Wray
The Howling Wolf / Lightnin' Hopkins
Let The Wolves Howl At The Moon / Super Furry Animals
Full Moon / The Kinks
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Part 2) / Jimmy Smith
Prenez garde au grand méchant loup / Django Reinhardt

This Friday's Mix: What Big Teeth

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 16)

This is something of a repeat, but it's new to the podcast. So don't drive yourself crazy asking which came first.

Intro
Chicken Payback / A Band Of Bees
Mansize Rooster / Supergrass
Chicken Little Was Right / The Turtles
Chicken Pox / Booker T. & The M.G.'s
Memphis Women and Chicken / Dan Penn
Chicken Shack / Charlie Musselwhite
Chicken Shake / Stereo MC's
Chicken / Devendra Banhart
Chicken Grease / D'Angelo
Do the Funky Chicken / Rufus Thomas
How Funky Is Your Chicken / Jackson 5
Sweet Rhode Island Red / Ike & Tina Turner
Egg Man / The Beastie Boys
A Chicken with Its Head Cut Off / The Magnetic Fields
Want Me Cock / Owen & Leon Silveras
Chicken Talk / Yma Sumac

This Friday's Mix: Chicken!

When Character Limits Go Really, Really Wrong

Today's Five O'Clock Rock (Episode 44)

What do toddlers and job seekers have in common?

Intro
(I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea / Elvis Costello
I Don't Want to Lose You / The Smithereens
I Don't Wanna Face It / John Lennon
I Don't Know What I Want / The Raspberries
I Don't Ever Want to Come Down / The 13th Floor Elevators
Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely / Hüsker Dü
I Don't Want To Lose You Yet / Eddie Spaghetti
I Don't Want To Get Over You / Mary Lou Lord
I Don't Want to Know / Nils Lofgren
I Don't Want Love / Dan Hicks And The Hot Licks
(I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes / The Band
I Don't Want to Know / Fleetwood Mac
I Don't Want To Spoil The Party / The Blazers
I Don't Want to Kill Anymore / Chan Poling
I Don't Want You On My Mind / Bill Withers
I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire / Ink Spots

This Friday's Mix: No, Thanks!

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Making like a tree and getting out of here.

Intro
Modeling Sucks / Handsome Boy Modeling School
I'm Settin Away / Fu Manchu
Gonna Leave You / Queens Of The Stone Age
Color Me Gone / Girl Trouble
Goodbye To You / Scandal
Auf Wiedersehen / Cheap Trick
Goodbye Again / The Iguanas
Call It a Day / The Raconteurs
Never Can Say Goodbye / Isaac Hayes
…And I'm Out / Galactic w/ Mr. Lif
Moving / Supergrass
Gone For Good / The Shins
I'm Bound to Pack it Up / The White Stripes
Kyle Quit The Band / Tenacious D
Over The Hills And Far Away / Led Zeppelin
Drift Away / Dobie Gray

This Friday's Mix: Bye Now

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

The definitive infinitive.

Intro
Cruel To Be Kind / Spacehog
Made To Be Broken / Soul Asylum
Right To Be Wrong / Delbert McClinton
Got To Be Someone / The Waco Brothers
Ways To Be Wicked / Lone Justice
Nothing To Be Done / The Pastels
Never To Be Repeated / The Long Blondes
Fun To Be Happy / Love Tractor
Got To Be Free / The Rulers
Soon To Be Large / Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf
Free To Be Freaks / The Freak Accident
Born To Be Hit / The New Duncan Imperials
Born To Be Bad / Carl Mann
Happy To Be Here / Todd Snider
Hard To Be You / The 88
Touched To Be Sure / Robert Pollard

This Friday's Mix: That Is the Question

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Okay, so, I got an iPhone. I began the day of the price cuts swearing I'd never do it, but after five minutes of trying one out, I had to do it. It's the mapping. Maps and directions on demand are crucial for someone with a notoriously bad sense of direction like mine. I get lost constantly, but I can totally grasp where I should be if I can just see it. Now I'm totally set.

Unless I lose the iPhone.

Intro
I Got Kinda Lost / Chris Bell
Lost In the Supermarket / The Clash
Finding My Way / Rush
Can't Find My Way Home / Styx
There's No Way Out Of Here / David Gilmour
Is This Where? / Mission of Burma
Lost Highway / Hank Williams
Turn Around / Carl Perkins
Side O' The Road / Creedence Clearwater Revival
Too Late to Turn Back Now / Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
Will it Go 'Round In Circles / Billy Preston
A Place Nobody Can Find / Sam & Dave
There's A Break In The Road / Betty Harris
Love Map / Lyndon
Farther On Down The Road (You Will Accompany Me) / Taj Mahal
Where Could I Go But To The Lord / Jesse Fuller

This Friday's Mix: A Bit Lost

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Seventeen years ago tomorrow, I was at Stevie Ray Vaughan's second-to-last show.

The van ride up to Alpine Valley was cramped. We sat way back on the lawn, relying on the video monitor to see anything at all. Wedged between Robert Cray, Jeff Healey and Eric Clapton, the Stevie Ray set wasn't nearly long enough. The drive back that same night was a long one. I think I wound up sleeping away most of Stevie Ray's last day on earth, just to recover from the trip.

But I would pay twenty times what I paid for that show to see it again. At these rates, you understand, all I ask for is a slightly more comfortable ride. Seventeen extra years aren't kind to the knees or ass.

Intro
Scuttle Buttin' / Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Couldn't Stand The Weather / SRV & DT
Change It / SRV & DT
Mary Had a Little Lamb / SRV & DT
These Blues Is Killing Me / A.C. Reed
Soulful Dress / Marcia Ball
Cold Shot / SRV & DT
Look At Little Sister / SRV & DT
Double Whammy / Lonnie Mack
C.O.D. / Angela Strehli & Stevie Ray Vaughn
Long Way From Home / The Vaughan Brothers
Pipeline / Stevie Ray Vaughan and Dick Dale
God Knows / Bob Dylan
Life By The Drop / Stevie Ray Vaughan
Lenny / SRV & DT
Life Without You / SRV & DT

This Friday's Mix: Couldn't Stand the Weather

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Because what's driving in the summertime without hot vinyl?

Intro
Summer's Cauldron / XTC
Grass / XTC
Every Kinda People / Robert Palmer
Harlem / Bill Withers
Take Me Girl (I'm Ready) / Jr. Walker and the Allstars
Hot Fun in the Summertime / Sly and the Family Stone
Please Don't Make Me Cry / UB40
Summer of Our Love / Bar-Kays
Summertime / Big Brother & the Holding Company
Thank You / Led Zeppelin
Deep Blue Sea / John Mayall
Under the Boardwalk / Sam & Dave
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White / Roy Clark
The Look of Love / Julius Wechter and the Baja Marimba Band
Tomorrow / Joe Walsh
Be Here Now / George Harrison

This Friday's Mix: Summerly Too

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Can’t think of joke no brain work mmmm summer.

Intro
Ponta De Lança Africano (Umbabaraúma) / Jorge Ben
Spark Plug / Stereolab
Chinese Checkers / Booker T. & The MG's
Un Homme Et Une Femme / Francis Lai
Scenic World / Beirut
Too Strong / The Sea And Cake
La Iguana / Los Lobos
Canterurias / Cecilia Barraza
Midnight at the Oasis / Maria Muldaur
Day Dreamin' / Aretha Franklin
Castles Made Of Sand / Jimi Hendrix Experience
At The River / Groove Armada
Simple X / Andrew Bird
Southern Nights / Allen Toussaint
Ené alantchi alnorem (I Can't Live Without You) / Mulatu Astatke
If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven / Leon Redbone

This Friday's Mix: Summerly

Worst-written Headline of the Day

"Bjorn Borg bitten during dogfight, withdraws from exhibition"

Disappointingly, one reads on to find out that the Wimbledon champ was (a) not in a dogfight, and therefore (b) was not taking part in a dogfighting exhibition.

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

What’s that rumbling? It’s like there’s-— AAAAH!

Intro
The Bug / Dire Straits
The Full Bug / Van Halen
Badass Bug / The Cramps
Cicada Rock / Southern Culture on the Skids
Earwigs In My Brain / The Meteors
Love Bug / Marcy Playground
Spider's Web / Mission of Burma
Centipede / Veruca Salt
Two Bugs And A Roach / Earl Hooker
Ole! Tarantula / Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3
Bug Scuffle / Swift Jewel Cowboys
Spider in the Snow / The Dismemberment Plan
The Moth / Aimee Mann
Insect Eyes / Devendra Banhart
Wedding Of The Bugs / Robbie Fulks
Ugh! It's a Bug! / Jim Post

This Friday's Mix: Bugs

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Remember to always Bee Kind.

1. Intro
2. Quest for Fire / Iron Maiden
3. Lost In America / Alice Cooper
4. Six Pack / Black Flag
5. Colors / Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes
6. Strange Brew / Cream
7. Fame / David Bowie
8. Breathless / Robin Trower
9. Tightrope / Stevie Ray Vaughan
10. Running On Empty / Jackson Browne
11. Firestarter / .38 Special
12. Back to School / Ace Frehley
13. No Way Out / Electric Light Orchestra
14. Blue Thunder / Galaxie 500
15. Funny Farm / King Kong
16. All Of Me / King Pleasure
17. All the Right Moves / David Hasselhoff

This Friday's Mix: Yellowed VHS Cases

Today's Five O'Clock Rock*

Okay. So the Pistons beat the Bulls. But does Detroit have great music like--? Oh.

1. Intro
2. Down On The Street / The Stooges
3. High School / MC5
4. Meet the Creeper / Destroy All Monsters
5. Mesmerizer / The Come Ons
6. Hey Sailor / Detroit Cobras
7. C'mon C'mon / The Von Bondies
8. Eat This City / Thunderbirds Are Now!
9. Dance Commander / Electric Six
10. Dangerous / Sonic's Rendezvous Band
11. Livin' for the City / The Dirtbombs
12. Ten O'Clock / ? & The Mysterians
13. Mama Don't Allow No Parkin' / Brownsville Station
14. Hey Baby / Ted Nugent
15. Aimless Lady / Grand Funk Railroad
16. I'm Bound to Pack it Up / The White Stripes
17. Life In the D / Brendan Benson

This Friday's Mix: D-fense!
* Yes, it's late. Yes, it's partly repurposed from the pre-podcast era. Thanks for asking!

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

This one goes out to friends here from Amsterdam last week, and those who couldn't make the trip. Keep your fiets dry and your biertjes cold.

Intro
Lower the Boom / Ugly Duckling
Boom! Shake the Room / DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Boom Music / Quasimoto
Boom Bip / Zion I & Goapele
54321...Boom / Public Enemy
Boom Shak A-tack / Born Jamericans
Boom Boom Carnival / Aswad
Heart Go Boom / Apollo Four Forty
Bang-A-Lang-A-Boom-Er-Rang-Man / Jona Lewie
Boom Boom / John Lee Hooker
Boom Boom, Out Go the Lights / The Levon Helm Band
Get Out Of Here With Your Boom-Boom / Bobby Rush
Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) / The Staple Singers
Boom-A-Rang / The Dynamic Soul Machine
Sophisticated Boom Boom / The Shangri-Las
Tchin Boom Da Ra / Frank Yankovic and His Yanks

This Friday's Mix: Baby Made a Boom

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

If you’d been wondering where the rock has been lately, the answer is three letters long.

1. Intro
2. Call It What You Want / Tesla
3. Takin' Care Of Business / Winnebago Deal
4. Takin' Care Of Business / Charlie Musselwhite
5. Jesus Just Left Chicago / ZZ Top
6. Take Care of Business / Nina Simone
7. T.C.B. / Diana Ross, The Supremes & The Temptations
8. Back in My Arms / Robert Palmer
9. Work To Do / The Isley Brothers
10. Funky Nassau, Pt. 1 / The Beginning Of The End
11. T.C.B. or T.Y.A. / Bobby Patterson
12. Slippery When Wet / The Commodores
13. I'm Livin' Right / Fats Domino
14. I Can Take Care Of Business / Syl Johnson
15. Dr. Feelgood / Aretha Franklin
16. Step Right Up / Tom Waits
17. The Mighty Stephen Hawking / M.C. Hawking

This Friday's Mix: TCB

Today's Five O'Clock Rock Why, yes, my refrigerator IS running. Why do you ask?

1. Intro
2. Chain of Fools / Paul Revere & The Raiders
3. You're Fooling You / The Dramatics
4. A Fool in Love / The Levon Helm Band
5. Ship of Fools / World Party & Anthony Thistlethwaite
6. Like A Fool / Superchunk
7. When I Was A Fool / Concrete Blonde
8. King of Fools / Social Distortion
9. Fool Too Long / Rockpile
10. Fools Gold / Rachel Sweet
11. Genitalia Of A Fool / Glenn Tilbrook
12. Everybody Plays the Fool / The Main Ingredient
13. Only A Fool Would Say That / Ivy
14. Sentimental Fool / Lloyd Cole
15. Who Will the Next Fool Be / Charlie Rich
16. A Fool For You / Ray Charles
17. Fool's Paradise / Sam Cooke

This Friday's Mix: Fool Frontal

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

It's everything they say. It also has its good points.

1. Intro
2. Come To California / Matthew Sweet
3. I'm from L.A. / Go Betty Go
4. Walking in L.A. / Missing Persons
5. Macarthur Park / The Negro Problem
6. L.A. / Elliott Smith
7. Hollywood / World Party
8. California Love / 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman
9. I Left My Wallet in El Segundo / A Tribe Called Quest
10. Mr. Davies / Tahiti 80
11. Do Re Mi / Woody Guthrie
12. How Much Is It Worth To Live In L.A. / Waylon Jennings
13. Sin City / Flying Burrito Brothers
14. California / Jay Farrar
15. Blue Jay Way / The Beatles
16. Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd. / Ryan Adams
17. Midnight at Pink's / Hal Blaine

This Friday's Mix: Going Back to Cali

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

It may backfire, but will nevertheless aspire.

1. Intro
2. Ire / The Strawberry Smell
3. Sultans Of Swing / Dire Straits
4. The Daze / Backyard Tire Fire
5. Serpentine Fire / Earth, Wind & Fire
6. Desire / En Vogue
7. Vampire / Black Uhuru
8. Yellow Sapphire / Smoke & Mirrors
9. The Queen of Ur and the King of Um / Wire
10. Play With Fire / The Rolling Stones
11. Spitfire / The Spinanes
12. Hotwire / The Flesh Eaters
13. Misfire / Neko Case & Her Boyfriends
14. Backfire / Aimee Mann
15. Haywire / The Jayhawks
16. Concrete and Barbed Wire / Lucinda Williams
17. Goodnight Irene / Bryan Ferry

This Friday's Mix: Ire Land

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

The *ide* have it.

1. Intro
2. When My Baby's Beside Me / Big Star
3. Free Ride / The Edgar Winter Group
4. Step Aside / Sleater-Kinney
5. I Am Decided / The Amps
6. A Good Idea / Sugar
7. Gravity Rides Everything / Modest Mouse
8. Mega Bottle Ride / Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
9. Lakeside Park / Rush
10. Midnight Rider / Gregg Allman
11. (Wish I Could) Hideaway / Creedence Clearwater Revival
12. Daisy Rides Again / Sugarman Three
13. Hide Nor Hair / Ray Charles
14. The Tide Is High / The Paragons
15. Provider / N*E*R*D
16. Upside Down / The Daktaris
17. Razorblade Alcohol Slide / DJ QBert

This Friday's Mix: The Ides of March

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

More CDs from the depths of the trunk. Fewer apologies.

Except maybe for "Jump Around."

1. Intro
2. Tristessa / Smashing Pumpkins
3. Take Me Away / Ween
4. Ski Bunny / Boss Hog
5. Route / Son Volt
6. Interstate Love Song / Stone Temple Pilots
7. Buena / Morphine
8. What's Good / Lou Reed
9. Bottle Of Smoke / The Pogues
10. Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See / Busta Rhymes
11. Staying Alive / Wyclef Jean
12. Supernatural Thing (Part 1) / Ben E. King
13. Kung Fu / Curtis Mayfield
14. That's O.K. / Little Charlie & The Nightcats
15. One Mint Julep / Charlie Musselwhite
16. Why Do I Lie? / Luscious Jackson
17. Jump Around / House Of Pain

This Friday's Mix: Trunk Show

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

If we're going to keep hanging out, there's something I need to tell you. I have a bit of a CD past.

A couple of weeks into ripping my CD collection, I have come up with a core sample from the very bottom of the trunk. They’re among the first I ever owned, in what could be called The BMG Years. The scuffed jewel cases are only vaguely transparent. Broken hinges outnumber the intact. Grease-pencil initials let you know just who’d come looking for this particular copy of “Cosmic Thing.”

Over the years, if I had to double-row CD cases on a bookshelf, these would go on the deep side. Yet I’ve never gotten rid of them. And when I began to spot-check them, I was not only still able to sing along, it was hard avoiding it.

Simultaneously embarrassing and reassuring, they still pull at me. Either they weren’t that bad to begin with or, at a minimum, they have held their dubious ground.

So here you go: me and what moved me, somewhere between 1989 and 1991, give or take. This indecent tracksposure is taken to its natural end: no song list. You'll have to invest the time for the right to mock. But you might not need it. Much.

Allergy warning: may contain Spin Doctors.

This Friday's Mix: My Secret Shame

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

"Please" is only the magic word if you already have what you want.

1. Intro
2. Gimme My Mule / The Commodores
3. Gimme Some (Good Soul Music) / The Dramatics
4. Give Me Some Skin / James Brown
5. Gimme What You Got / Keb' Mo'
6. Give Me the Night / Randy Crawford
7. Gimme Shelter / Merry Clayton
8. Give It to Me Baby / Rick James
9. Gimme One of Those / The Brand New Heavies
10. Gimme One More Chance / Cracker
11. Gimme Danger / The Stooges
12. Gimme Gimme / Mumps
13. Give It to Me Two Times / Anders Osborne
14. Give Me an Inch / Robert Palmer
15. Give Me a Kiss / Van Morrison
16. Give Me Strength / Eric Clapton
17. Give Me Another Chance / Big Star

This Friday's Mix: Gimme

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Oh, man. They all look so cool, jumping off that bridge...

Intro
Working for the Weekend / Loverboy
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 / Bob Dylan
Hungry Heart / Bruce Springsteen
Heartache Tonight / Eagles
I've Got A Feeling / The Beatles
Everybody Loves Me / The 88
Everybody Wants You / Billy Squier
Everybody Wants Some / Van Halen
Truth Hits Everybody / The Police
Everybody Knows / Leonard Cohen
Everyone's Gone to the Movies / Steely Dan
Everybody Wants To Rule The World / Tears For Fears
Everybody's My Friend / Kansas
Everybody Needs Love / Robyn Hitchcock
Everybody's Talking / Bobby Bare
Everybody to the Limit / Strong Bad

This Friday's Mix: Everybody Everybody

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

This will only hurt for 57 minutes.

Intro
Somebody Get Me a Doctor / Van Halen
Calling Dr. Love / Kiss
Gimme Stitches / Foo Fighters
Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine / The White Stripes
National Health / The Kinks
Hospital Bed / Ben Kweller
Doctor, Doctor / The Who
Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out / The Replacements
Sick and Tired / Alex Chilton
Doctor Boogie / The Flamin' Groovies
Night Nurse / Gregory Isaacs
Anna Stesia / Prince
Emergency / Kool & The Gang
Mr. Ambulance Driver / The Flaming Lips
Call The Doctor / Spacemen 3
Dear Doctor / The Rolling Stones

This Friday's Mix: Doctor Doctor

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

I'm not just being contrary. Well, maybe a little. Mostly, I just couldn't wait until Mardi Gras.

Intro
Cabbage Alley / The Meters
Hot Tamale Baby / Buckwheat Zydeco
Mess Around / Professor Longhair
Check Your Bucket / Eddie Bo
Here Come the Girls / Ernie K-Doe
She's Taking My Part / Irma Thomas
I've Been So Lonely / Cookie & The Cupcakes
Walking To New Orleans / Fats Domino
Going Back To New Orleans / Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers
Louisiana / Percy Mayfield
Basin Street Blues / Henry Butler
My Darlin' New Orleans / Lil’ Queenie & The Percolators
Ignant Stick / Mem Shannon
Something's Wrong With This Picture / Galactic
Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further / Lee Dorsey
On Your Way Down / Allen Toussaint

This Friday's iMix: All Saints Day

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Pulling out all the stops to pull out all the stops.

Intro
Chest Fever / The Band
Hold Your Head Up / Argent
Magic Carpet Ride / Steppenwolf
Outa-Space / Billy Preston
Sabrosa / The Beastie Boys
Spanish Moon / Little Feat
The Only One I Know / The Charlatans UK
Clubland / Elvis Costello & The Attractions
No Atmosphere / A Band Of Bees
Chips Ahoy! / The Hold Steady
Hope You're Feeling Better / Santana
Time Is Tight / Booker T. & The MG's
I Me Mine / The Beatles
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood / Joe Cocker
Don't Give Up on Me / Solomon Burke
Frank's Wild Years / Tom Waits

This Friday's Mix: Second Favorite Organ

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

My New Year's resolution really ought to be about cutting back on last year's playlists.

Here's -- ahem -- another new-to-podcast mix, as a sign of solidarity with Rollie Fingers...

Intro
Look at This Face (Oh My God They're Gorgeous) / Handsome Boy Modeling School
Roller Derby Queen / Jim Croce
Disco Lady / Johnnie Taylor
Disco Boy / Frank Zappa
Stuck on You / Lionel Richie
Reconsider Me / Narvel Felts
Up From The Skies / Jimi Hendrix Experience
I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) / Hall & Oates
Just One More Day / Otis Redding
Stay Clean / Motorhead
Cowboy Movie / David Crosby
Sold American / Kinky Friedman
Te Na Na (Mama's Got a Baby Named) / Leon Redbone
Atlantic City (My Old Friend) / Robert Goulet
Jeopardy! / Various Artists
Lydia The Tattooed Lady / Groucho Marx

This Friday's Mix: Mustache Day

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Time got away again. However, enjoy another “classic” Five O’Clock Rock for the first time.

As you think over resolutions for what you should do, consider what it is that you really want to do.

Intro
I Wanna Rock / Twisted Sister
I Wanna Be Sedated / The Ramones
I Wanna Know About You / The International Noise Conspiracy
I Wanna Be / Fu Manchu
I Wanna Be Your Dog / Stereophonics
I Wanna Make It Wit Chu / Desert Sessions
I Wanna Make It Alright / Paul Weller
I Wanna Be Your Pants / Huffamoose
I Wanna Be Your Lover / Prince
I Wanna Dance With You / Nathaniel Mayer
I Wanna Be Like You / Pizzicato Five
I Wanna Get High / Cypress Hill
I Wanna Be Committed / Sweet
I Wanna Drive You Home / ZZ Top
I Wanna Live / Nashville West
I Wanna Roo You / Goldie Hawn

This Friday's Mix: Merely Wanna

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Too busy this week. Instead, enjoy this appropriate “classic” Five O’Clock Rock.

Intro
"Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night," The Hold Steady
"Sleepwalk Capsules," At the Drive-In
"Sleepy Vampire," Supersuckers
"Fear of Sleep," the Strokes
"You Can't Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)," the Go-Go's
"Sleepless," Rick Derringer
"Sleepless Night," the Kinks
"I Don't Sleep, I Dream", R.E.M.
"I Can't Go to Sleep," Wu-Tang Clan
"Tired Out," Buck 65
"Sleepwalkin'," Tom Verlaine
"Sleepless," Soul Coughing
"I'm So Tired," the Beatles
"Tired Eyes," Neil Young
"Sleepy California," Her Space Holiday
"Enter Sandman," Pat Boone

This Friday's Mix: OMG IM SFT

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Bringing the A game.

Int-A-Ro
Ting-A-Ling / Shabba Ranks
Rock-A-Bye / Black Buddafly
Freak-A-Zoid / Midnight Star
Freak-A-Ristic / Atlantic Starr
Peek-A-Boo / Gwen Guthrie
Christmas-A-Come / Eek-A-Mouse
Spank-A-Lee / Herbie Hancock
Chick-A-Boom / Joe Bataan
Jock-A-Mo / Sugar Boy Crawford
Shing-A-Ling / Arthur Conley
Am-A-Do / Bob Marley
Look-A-Here / The Ramsey Lewis Trio
Rhythm-A-Ning / Thelonious Monk
Peek-A-Boo / Siouxsie and The Banshees
Vis-à-vis / Étienne Daho
Sound-A-Sleep / Blondie

This Friday's iMix: Time-A-Rock

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Steer into the skid.

1. Intro
2. The Blizzard / Charley Pride
3. Snowflake / Jim Reeves
4. Snowflake / Girls Are Short
5. The Blizzard of '96 / The Walkmen
6. Snowflakes / Carmen Rizzo
7. Snowflakes / Just Jack
8. Blizzard of '77 / Nada Surf
9. Whiteout / Boss Hog
10. Blizzard of '78 / Ida
11. Snowflakes / Pizzicato Five
12. Snowflakes / Grant Lee Phillips
13. Snowflakes / Doug Hoekstra
14. Blizzard / Ellis Paul
15. The Blizzard / Cowboy Nation
16. Snow Days / Trip Shakespeare
17. Snow Blizzard

This Friday's Mix: No Two Alike

It's That Jazz Singer. Or Is It Saddam Hussein's Son?

Anita O'Day, jazz singer and perennial 37-Down answer, dies.

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Have a nice tryptophan.

1. Intro
2. Fly By Night / Rush
3. Airport Motels / Crystal Skulls
4. The Airport Song / The Byrds
5. Last Train / Allen Toussaint
6. Airport Feelings / Kinky
7. Slow Bus A-Movin' / Fishbone
8. Waitin' for the Bus / ZZ Top
9. Everybody Loves A Train / Los Lobos
10. Railroad Days / Poco
11. Big Bird / Eddie Floyd
12. Rude Boy Train / Desmond Dekker
13. Train In Vain (Stand By Me) / The Clash
14. Waitress in the Sky / The Replacements
15. Magic Bus / The Who
16. The Travel Jam / Brand Nubian
17. Downbound Train / Chuck Berry

This Friday's Mix: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Now that the pressure's off, House Republicans can really let their freak flags fly.

1. Intro / Five O'Clock Rock
2. Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) / The Hombres
3. East Bound and Down / Jerry Reed
4. After Midnight / Maggie Bell
5. Brick House / The Commodores
6. Doowutchyalike / Digital Underground
7. Let It All Hang Out / A.D.O.R.
8. Let It All Hang Out / Richard "Dimples" Fields
9. Let It All Hang Out / Timmy Norman and The O'Jahs
10. Man-Size / PJ Harvey
11. Rock And Roll (Part 1) / Gary Glitter
12. Beating Around the Bush / AC/DC
13. Sweet F.A. / Sweet
14. Fat Bottomed Girls / Queen
15. Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) / Dexy's Midnight Runners
16. Children of the Revolution / Arto Lindsay & Marc Ribot
17. Let It All Hang Out / David Lee Roth

This Friday's Mix: Let It All Hang Out

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

It took this long to actually include Whitesnake? What was I thinking...?

1. Intro
2. Tequila Sundae / Urge Overkill
3. Combination / Aerosmith
4. Black Betty / Ram Jam
5. Calm Like A Bomb / Rage Against The Machine
6. Hey / Fu Manchu
7. Tomorrow And A Loaded Gun / Throttlerod
8. Death Is The Answer / Early Man
9. Still Of The Night / Whitesnake
10. Cities On Flame With Rock and Roll / Blue Oyster Cult
11. Sour Flower / Elliott Randall
12. Are You Ready / Thin Lizzy
13. That's a Drag / Spencer Dickinson & Jon Spencer
14. Fancy / Yeah Yeah Yeahs
15. Subcutaneous Phat / Desert Sessions
# 16. The Platform on the Ocean / Arthur Russell
17. Massive Cure / Smoosh

This Friday's Mix: A Bit Fuzzy

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

I sure don't feel a "little bit wiser."

1. Intro
2. Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) / Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
3. When I Write The Book / Rockpile
4. Walk Like a Man / Grand Funk Railroad
5. Man in the Wilderness / Styx
6. Bang / Blur
7. This Year / The Mountain Goats
8. I Wish / Stevie Wonder
9. (You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back / Peter Tosh
10. Dirty Life & Times / Warren Zevon
11. Rock N' Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life) / Mac Davis
12. Once Upon A Time / Smashing Pumpkins
13. My Life Is Right /Big Star
14. Life's A Gas / T.Rex
15. Cynical Days / XTC
16. My Life / David Banner feat. Sky & Carl Thomas
17. It Was a Very Good Year / William Shatner

This Friday's Mix: Another Year

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

I think I pulled something.

1. Intro
2. The Race Is On Again / Yo La Tengo
3. Keep On Running / UK Subs
4. The Sweat Descends / Les Savy Fav
5. Marathon Not a Sprint / Camera Obscura
6. The Loneliness Of A Middle Distance Runner / Belle and Sebastian
7. Slow And Steady Wins The Race / Pedro The Lion
8. The Race / Archer Prewitt
9. Running With Your Eyes Closed / Mojave 3
10. Run and Run / The Psychedelic Furs
11. Run for Me / Richard Hawley
12. Even Marathon Runners Need to Nap / Troubled Hubble
13. You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son / Wolf Parade
14. We've Got to Keep Running / Chin Up Chin Up
15. I Ran / A Flock Of Seagulls
16. The Finish Line / Snow Patrol
17. First To Finish, Last To Start / Ted Leo + Pharmacists

This Friday's Mix: Too Skinny for Football

Today's Journalistic Exercise

Question:
Find the factual error in this title: "Apple's iPod turns five."

Answer:
Since when has an iPod ever seen its fifth birthday?

I had one that hit a ripe old eighteen months, and I couldn't delete Willard Scott's voicemails fast enough.

Today's FOCR: "Die Young," Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell

Customer for Life... Statistically Speaking

That guy changed the HELL out of my oil.

Today's FOCR: "Feelin' Satisfied," Boston, Don't Look Back

T PITIES; “TA,” JEWELS

Mr. T is giving up his gold, out of respect for Katrina’s victims.

“As a spiritual man, I felt it would be a sin against my God for me to wear all that gold again...”



[...]

The former star of “The A-Team” said he’s about more than his rough-and-tough image.

“Yes, I am qualified to beat people up. But I am pretty intelligent,” he said. “That’s what throws people off. If you’ve been through something, that gives you an authority that you can speak on certain things. That’s why people relate to me. I pull no punches.”

Due to the aforementioned qualifications, mind you.

Me, I’m still on my learner’s permit.

Today's FOCR: "Fat Gold Chain," Schoolly D, Best of Schoolly D

[Non-iTunes]

Friday’s Five O'Clock Rock (a bit late)

Begetter late than never.

“Cat's in the Cradle,” Ugly Kid Joe
”Surrender,” Cheap Trick
(#) “Dancin' Papa,” The Kleptones
“Papa Was Too,” Joe Tex
“Someday Never Comes,” Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More,” Steely Dan
“Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 1,” Pink Floyd
“Mama and Papa,” Supergrass
“Dear Father,” Yes
“Kooks,” David Bowie
“Memo to My Son,” Randy Newman
(#) “Daughter, You're Still Your Daddy's Child,” Carla Thomas
(#) “Your Daddy Loves You,” Gil Scott-Heron
“Papa Was a Rodeo,” The Magnetic Fields
“Father and Son,” Johnny Cash & Fiona Apple
“Cheerios on the Floor,” Black Eyed Snakes

This Friday's iMix: The Old Block
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

Wouldn’t it just go great right now?

“Hello, I Love You,” The Doors
“Wednesday,” Drive-By Truckers
“Valentine,” The Replacements
“Go With the Flow,” Queens Of The Stone Age
“Rock 'n' Roll,” The Sounds
“Can I Get Down 1x,” Coolio
“Popsicle,” Talking Heads
“The You I Created,” Of Montreal
“Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues),” Three Dog Night
“Build a Levee,” Natalie Merchant
“Like Suicide,” Soundgarden
“From the Heart Down,” The Pretenders
“Theme to Pinata,” Bright Eyes
(#) “Something Sweet,” Run On
“Come Over Here,” Sarah Bettens
“Sock It to Me, Baby!” Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

This Friday's iMix: Something Sweet
(#) = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

Today's Five O'Clock Rock

From the land of Lakes ‘n Lakes.

”Kids Don't Follow,” The Replacements
# “Chemistry Set,” The Suburbs
“Ship Of Fools,” Soul Asylum
“Toolmaster Of Brainerd,” Trip Shakespeare
# “Love Is All Around,” Husker Du
“Empire Builder,” Mason Jennings
# “Ballad of the Opening Band,” Slim Dunlap
“All The Rock Star Jobs Are Taken,” Dylan Hicks
“I Remember Romance,” The Flamin' Oh's
“Red Dye No. 40,” Honeydogs
# “Cowbell,” Tapes 'n Tapes
“The Land of Clear Blue Radio,” The Soviettes
# “Pink Turns To Blue,” The Blue Up?
“Funkytown,” Lipps, Inc.
“Cry 4 Help,” Har Mar Superstar
“Hot Thing,” Prince
“Something For Nothing,” Heiruspecs
“Safety In Speed (Heavy Metal),’ P.O.S. (feat. Craig Finn)
“Always Coming Back Home To You,” Atmosphere
# “Minnesota,” Northern Light

This Friday's iMix: Duck Duck Grey Duck
(# = Even too rocked out for iTunes)

That's My Boycott

Unfortunately, it is impossible for me to skip work today. So I can't participate in today's Day Without Immigrants. However, I can do the next best thing and initiate the Day Without Foreign Words.

For one day, this Day Without Foreign Words, I shall struggle to write and talk using only bland American English words. By doing so, I will highlight how people from other countries have enriched America and its language throughout our history.

I urge you to join me in this effort. Today, we can honor the struggle and the enterprise of our compadres by...

Oh, merde on a baton rouge.

Today's FOCR: "Wooly Bully," Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs