Welcome to Radio Faux Show numbers two, three, and four.
First things first – click a link to start listening and then come back to read about this week’s songs.
Faux Show # 2 Spotify Amazon Music
Faux Show # 3 Spotify Amazon Music
Faux Show # 4 Spotify Amazon Music
Migrating all of the old Faux Shows over to this site turned out to be more than I have time to do. So instead of creating a separate show for each week, I’m going to create combo-shows and add to them as time permits. These will be minimal Faux Show posts that cover the themes without much discussion of the rest of the music and mini-themes.
Looking back at the early shows, the concept of the show was certainly evolving, and it wasn’t until about ten or fifteen shows in before they started to really take shape. The most noticeable difference is the lack of attention paid to the themes and the dependence on more well-known music. Faux Show # 3 is especially lacking in theme-related material and I may go back and redo that theme at some point. If you are just now discovering the Faux Show, I hope you enjoy these older shows but be sure to check out the newer shows as well.
Radio Faux Show # 2 (March 14, 2021)
Theme: Les Is More
This week’s theme is artists named Les, Lester, and Lesley.
Theme Selections
Les Brown & His Band of Renown “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”: Les Brown was a band leader from the ’30s to the 21st century.
Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio “Almost Like Being in Love”: Lester Young was an early tenor sax innovator. This song is from his wonderful 1954 album with Oscar Peterson.
Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy “Blueberry Hill”: Lester Bowie was an experimental jazz trumpeter known for his unique sound. He began as a co-founder of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, but went on to record dozens of albums with other musicians, including his incredible series of records with his Brass Fantasy ensemble. This song is from their 1986 album Avant Pop.
Primus “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver”: Les Claypool is the bassist and vocalist for alternative funk group Primus. This song is from their 1991 classic Sailing The Seas Of Cheese.
Les Baxter “Quiet Village”: This is the song that started the Exotica music movement of the ’50s and ’60s.
Les Paul “Tiger Rag”: Les Paul invented the electric guitar and other recording techniques such as overdubs and multi-tracking.
Lester Flatt “My Cabin in Caroline”: Lester Flatt was a bluegrass pioneer who is most famous for his work with Earl Scruggs.
Lesley Gore “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows”: Lesley Gore was a popular ’60s artist with hits including “It’s My Party,” “Judy’s Turn to Cry,” “You Don’t Own Me,” and this one.
Les McCann “Shorty Rides Again”: Les McCann is a jazz pianist and vocalist. This song is from his 1971 album Second Movement, an influential album from the soul jazz movement.
Happy Birthday Les Brown and Les Baxter (March 14)
Les Brown was a bandleader for over sixty years. His band, The Band of Renown, were the backing group for Doris Day’s breakthrough hit “Sentimental Journey,” the first of ten #1 hits for Brown and his band. The band performed the music for The Doris Day Show, The Steve Allen Show, and The Dean Martin Show. Most importantly, they were Bob Hope’s band for almost fifty years, performing 18 USO tours and appearing on all of the Bob Hope Christmas Specials. Before the Super Bowl become a juggernaut of television ratings, these Christmas Specials were the most-watched shows in television history.
Les Baxter was the original exotica artist. He started the movement in 1952 with his album Ritual of the Savage. The movement was named after Martin Denny’s 1957 album Exotica, which included his cover of Baxter’s “Quiet Village.” Baxter’s version of exotica music featured orchestral arrangements combined with tribal rhythms, exotic instruments, and animal sounds. Denny revised the formula by replacing the orchestra with vibraphone. The exotica movement of the ’50s was influential on surf music of the ’60s and is often ignored in discussions of the early influences on rock and roll.
Track List
| Track | Artist | Song Title |
| 1 | Les Brown and His Band of Renown | I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles |
| 2 | Wynonie Harris | All She Wants to Do is Rock |
| 3 | Ella Mae Morse | The House of Blue Lights |
| 4 | Louis Jordan | Five Guys Named Moe |
| 5 | Bruce Springsteen | Janey Needs a Shooter |
| 6 | Bruce Springsteen | Santa Ana |
| 7 | War | Cisco Kid |
| 8 | Sly and the Family Stone | Luv ‘n’ Haight |
| 9 | Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings | Money |
| 10 | Funkadelic | Funky Dollar Bill |
| 11 | Lester Young with Oscar Peterson Trio | Almost Like Being in Love |
| 12 | Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy | Blueberry Hill |
| 13 | Foo Fighters | Love Dies Young |
| 14 | Big Country | In a Big Country |
| 15 | Primus | Jerry Was a Race Car Driver |
| 16 | Cake | The Distance |
| 17 | Les Baxter | Quiet Village |
| 18 | Edith Piaf | La Vie en Rose |
| 19 | Bebel Gilberto | So Nice (Summer Samba) |
| 20 | Lido Pimienta | Eso Que Tu Haces |
| 21 | Joan Armatrading | Drop the Pilot |
| 22 | Joan Armatrading | Love and Affection |
| 23 | Les Paul and Mary Ford | Tiger Rag |
| 24 | Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and the Foggy Mountain Boys | My Cabin in Caroline |
| 25 | The Toy Dolls | Dig That Groove Baby |
| 26 | The Damned | Neat, Neat, Neat |
| 27 | Wire | Ex Lion Tamer |
| 28 | Lesley Gore | Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows |
| 29 | Throbbing Gristle | 20 Jazz Funk Greats |
| 30 | Les McCann | Shorty Rides Again |
| 31 | Jacob Collier | The Sun is In Your Eyes |
| 32 | Elton John | Your Song |
| 33 | Stevie Wonder | I Believe (When I Fall in Love) |
Radio Faux Show # 3 (March 21, 2021)
Theme: All Gates Open
This week’s theme is artists who influenced the music of the German band Can. It is based on material in the book All Gates Open by journalist Rob Young and Can co-founder Irmin Schmidt. Rob Young wrote a fantastic article about Can in the early 2000’s for music magazine Mojo, and his research led him to realize that there was enough material to write an entire book. He did so, and the resulting All Gates Open is a great read that provides just about all you need to know about the band.
Theme Selections
- Henri Pousseur “Trois visages de Liege/Voix de la Ville”
- LaSalle Quartet “Ligeti: String Quartet No. 2”
- Kolner Rundfunk Synphonie Orchester “Berio: Coro for Voices and Instruments 22”
- Siegfried Palm and Aloys Kontarsky “Webern Cello Sonata (1914)”
The co-founding members of Can, especially Holger Czukay, were educated in the experimental and electronic music of the mid-20th century. The work of composers such as Stockhausen, Cage, Reich, Pousseur, Ligeti, Berio, Webern, and others greatly influenced the work of Can.
Track List
| Track | Artist | Song |
| 1 | Lyn Collins | Think (About It) |
| 2 | Ann Peebles | Somebody’s On Your Case |
| 3 | Betty Davis | They Say I’m Different |
| 4 | Son House | Death Letter Blues |
| 5 | Henri Pousseur | Trois visages de Liege/Voix de la Ville |
| 6 | Supertramp | The Logical Song |
| 7 | Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band | The Intro and the Outro |
| 8 | They Might Be Giants | The Mesopotamians |
| 9 | Weird Al Yankovic | Foil |
| 10 | LaSalle Quartet | Ligeti: String Quartet No. 2 |
| 11 | Toto | Rosanna |
| 12 | Toto | Hash Pipe |
| 13 | Patti Smith Group | Because the Night |
| 14 | Love and Rockets | Ball of Confusion |
| 15 | Sly and the Family Stone | Everyday People |
| 16 | Run DMC | Son of Byford |
| 17 | The Fall | Terry Waite Sez |
| 18 | Stiff Little Fingers | Here We Are Nowhere |
| 19 | Kolner Rundfunk Synphonie Orchester | Berio: Coro for Voices and Instruments 22 |
| 20 | Elvis Presley | All Shook Up |
| 21 | Stray Cats | Rock This Town |
| 22 | Stray Cats | Something’s Wrong With My Radio |
| 23 | Emma Dilemma | We Should Give a Shit |
| 24 | Nik Kershaw | Wouldn’t It Be Good |
| 25 | Cluster | Caramel |
| 26 | Lambchop | Steve McQueen |
| 27 | John Legend | Conversations in the Dark |
| 28 | Solomon Burke | Cry to Me |
| 29 | Jackie Wilson | Since You Showed Me How to Be Happy |
| 30 | Sam Cooke | Bring It On Home to Me |
| 31 | KC and the Sunshine Band | Keep It Comin’ Love |
| 32 | Siegfried Palm and Aloys Kontarsky | Webern Cello Sonata (1914) |
| 33 | The Bats | Foothills |
| 34 | The Bats | Block of Wood |
| 35 | AJR | Way Less Sad |
| 36 | Fun. | Some Nights |
| 37 | Eddie Money | I Think I’m In Love |
| 38 | Beck | Sexx Laws |
Radio Faux Show # 4 (March 28, 2021)
Theme: Fleetwood Mac
This week’s theme features music by Fleetwood Mac and several of the members of the band throughout the years. Fleetwood Mac started as part of the British blues scene but evolved over their first decade into one of the most successful pop acts of the ’70s. The only constant through the years has been the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass. In addition to their multi-platinum classic album Rumours and many Top 40 hits, their members have also produced solo hits and albums.
Theme Selections
Fleetwood Mac “Oh Well, Pt. 1” and “Don’t Stop”
Lindsey Buckingham “Holiday Road”
Christine McVie “Got a Hold on Me”
Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”
Bob Welch “Sentimental Lady”
Track List
| Track | Artist | Song Title |
| 1 | Newcleus | Jam On It |
| 2 | Salt n Pepa | Shoop |
| 3 | Erik B and Rakim | Don’t Sweat the Technique |
| 4 | Fleetwood Mac | Oh Well (Pt. 1) |
| 5 | Elvis Costello | I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea |
| 6 | Elvis Costello | I Hope You’re Happy Now |
| 7 | Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra feat. Billie Holiday | Trav’lin Light |
| 8 | Christine McVie | Got a Hold on Me |
| 9 | Corey Hart | Never Surrender |
| 10 | Billy Ocean | Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car |
| 11 | Phil Collins | Sussudio |
| 12 | Earth, Wind, and Fire | Serpentine Fire |
| 13 | Commodores | Machine Gun |
| 14 | Situation | Beyond Compare (Laroye and Espeut Vocal Mix) |
| 15 | AbiYah Yisrael | Protect Me (King David’s Chant) |
| 16 | Gregory Isaacs | Love is Overdue |
| 17 | Ali Farka Toure | Hawa Dolo |
| 18 | 22-Pistepirkko | I’m Right |
| 19 | Jethro Tull | Locomotive Breath |
| 20 | Jethro Tull | Living in the Past |
| 21 | Bob Welch | Sentimental Lady |
| 22 | John Hurlbut and Jorma Kaukonen | People Get Ready |
| 23 | John Craigie | Don’t Ask |
| 24 | Jim Gaffigan | Fast Food |
| 25 | Gustafer Yellowgold | Pancake Smackdown |
| 26 | Secret Agent 23 Skidoo | I Gotta Be Me |
| 27 | Justin Roberts | Meltdown |
| 28 | Lindsey Buckingham | Holiday Road |
| 29 | Doris Day | Que Sera Sera |
| 30 | Roberta Flack | The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face |
| 31 | Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) | Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around |
| 32 | Fleetwood Mac | Don’t Stop |
The Radio Faux Show 