Kenny Gamble, half of Philly International’s famed writing and production team Gamble & Huff turned 82 today, so there was an array of some of their greatest tunes.
It was also the 71st birthday of Joe Jackson, and we blew out candles for Eric Carmen, producer Shel Talmy, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Gerald Casale of Devo and bassist Jah Wobble, among others.
We closed by imagining which tunes DJ Kool Herc likely spun 52 years ago today at the rec room Back to School Jam that gave birth to hip-hop.
Here’s the setlist:
Capital Radio Aug. 11, 2025. 1 – 4:21 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
“Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
“Friday [live],” Joe Jackson
“Is She Really Going Out With Him? [live],” Joe Jackson
“I’m the Man [live],” Joe Jackson
“What a Racket!” Joe Jackson
“Glad All Over,” Dave Clark Five
“Bits and Pieces,” Dave Clark
“Catch Us If You Can.” Dave Clark Five
“I Wanna Be With You,” Raspberries
“Go All the Way,” Raspberries
“Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” Raspberries
“Cath…,” Death Cab for Cutie
“I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” Death Cab for Cutie
“Summer Skin,” Death Cab for Cutie
“Carolina,” Benjamin Gibbard
“You Really Got Me,” The Kinks
“She’s Got Everything,” The Kinks
“Dead End Street,” The Kinks
“I Can’t Explain,” The Who
“A Legal Matter,” The Who
“Making Time,” Creation
“You’ve got a Habit of Leaving [alternate version],” Davy Jones
“Surrender,” Perpetual Langley
“If Paradise is) Half as Nice,” Amen Corner
“Friday on My Mind,” The Easybeats
“We’ll Sing in the Sunshine,” The Lancastrians
“”Light Flight,” Pentangle
“A Summer Song,” Chad & Jeremy
“Expressway to Your Heart,” Soul Survivors
“Cowboys to Girls,” The Intruders
“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,” Dee Dee Warwick
“Me and Mrs. Jones,” Billy Paul
“Back Stabbers,” The O’Jays
“Love Train,” The O’Jays
“When Will I See You Again,” The Three Degrees
“If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
“I Love Music,” The O’Jays
“5 Minutes,” Bonzo Goes to Washington
“Death Disco,” Public Image Ltd.
“The Men in My Little Girl’s Life,” Mike Douglas
“Girl U Want,” Devo
“Whip It,” Devo
“Apache,” Michael Viner’s Incredible Bongo Band
“Give It Up or Turnit a Loose,” James Brown
“It’s Just Begun,” The Jimmy Castor Bunch
“Scorpio,” Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band
“Melting Pot,” Booker T & the M.G.’s
Capital Radio returns Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. EDT on www.cygnusradio.com. The show can also be heard via the cygnusradio.com app, available free at iTunes or GooglePlay. Older shows are available at Substack.com/@rogercatlin.
