D.C. favorite son Duke Ellington was born here 125 years ago today, so we began Capital Radio with a handful of his selections, largely from 90 years ago — about the time another birthday honoree was born, Willie Nelson, who is not only alive and well at 91, but touring this summer (with Bob Dylan opening).
Other birthdays? Bluesman Otis Rush, sister songstress April Stevens, Motown’s short-lived Tammi Terrell, harmonicat Toots Thielemans, Soft Machine bassist Hugh Hopper, and Coasters lead singer Earl Gardner.
We remembered Mike Pinder, last surviving member of the original Moody Blues, who introduced Mellotron to rock and died last week at 82, and relived a terrific tribute concert at the Kennedy Center here this weekend saluting Leonard Cohen.
Played some new stuff from Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Keith Richards, Black Keys, Alejandro Escovedo and Waxahatchee. Closed with Miles Davis from “Kind of Blue.”
Here’s the setlist:
Capital Radio. April 29, 2024. 1 -4:35 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
“Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
“Rockin’ in Rhythm,” Duke Ellington
“Diga Diga Doo,” The Mills Brothers with Duke Ellington
“The Mooche,” Duke Ellington
“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” Duke Ellington
“Take the ‘A’ Train,” Duke Ellington
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” Willie Nelson
“Stardust,” Willie Nelson
“Nite Life,” Willie Nelson
“Across the Borderline,” Willie Nelson
“”American Tune,” Willie Nelson
“Homework,” Otis Rush
“Tore Up,” Otis Rush
“You Reap What You Sow,” Otis Rush
“Wanting You,” April Stevens
“All Strung Out,” Nino Tempo & April Stevens
“Whispering,” Nino Tempo & April Stevens
“My Heart,” Tammi Terrell
“Come On and See Me,” Tammi Terrell
“You’re All I Need to Get By,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
“Ain’t Nothing like the Real Thing,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
“Fundamental Frequency,” Toots Thielemans
“Midnight Cowboy,” John Barry
“Thank You Pierrot Lunaire / Have You Ever Bean Green? / Pataphysical Introduction Pt 2,” Soft Machine
“Yakety Yak,” The Coasters
“Down in Mexico,” The Coasters
“Charlie Brown,” The Coasters
“Three Cool Cats,” The Coasters
“Poison Ivy,” The Coasters
“Walkin’ in My Place (Road of Tears) [Mansion on the Hill] [live]” Neil Young / Crazy Horse
“I’m Waiting for the Man,” Keith Richards
“You’ll Pay,” Black Keys. “Ohio Players” album
“Bury Me,” Alejandro Escovedo
“Right Back to It,” Waxahatchee with MJ Lenderman
“Avalanche,” Immanuel Wilkins
“Suzanne,” Gregory Porter
“Bird on the Wire,” Bill Frisell
“Coming Back to You,” Trisha Yearwood
“Dance Me to the End of Love [live],” Leonard Cohen
“Hallelujah,” Jeff Buckley
“Democracy,” Leonard Cohen
“I Don’t Mind,” The Moody Blues
“Dawn is a Feeling,” The Moody Blues
“The Night: Nights in White Satin,” the Moody Blues
“So What,” Miles Davis
Capital Radio returns live May 6 at 1 p.m. EDT on www.cygnusradio.com. Also available on the free cygnusradio.com app, available at iTunes or GooglePlay.
