Labor Day means songs of work — getting a job, finding a job, losing a job, and gathering a union, from artists ranging from the Miracles, to Talking Heads, to Pete Seeger and Billy Bragg.
But another harbinger for summer’s end — the county fair — is celebrated from artists including Bruce Springsteen, Phil Alvin and the Byrds. Natalie Merchant, Joni Mitchell, Tim Buckley and the Band all sing of carnivals as well. And Sandy Denny, Tom Waits and Elvis Presley feel sadness at their (and summer’s) farewell.
Birthdays celebrated ranged from Jimmy Clanton, turning 86 today, to Rosalind Ashford of the Vandellas, turning 81, but also jazz great Horace Silver (born this day in 1928), Hugo Montenegro (1925), Sam Gooden of the Impressions (1934), Bobby Purify (1939) and especially Billy Preston (1946).
Made a mistake thinking it was Joe Simon’s birthday today — it’s actually the 7th. But we played some of his tunes anyway.
Closed with the biggest hit from rapper Fatman Scoop, who died on stage in Connecticut Friday at only 53.
Here’s the setlist:
Capital Radio Sept. 2, 2024. 1 – 4:30 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
“Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
“Song for My Father,” Horace Silver
“Theme from ‘Cleopatra Jones,’ “ Joe Simon
“The Chokin’ Kind,” Joe Simon
“Drowning in a Sea of Love,” Joe Simon
“Just a Dream,” Jimmy Clanton
“Venus in Blue Jeans,” Jimmy Clanton
“Go Jimmy Go,” Jimmy Clanton
“Gypsy Woman,” The Impressions
“It’s All Right,” The Impressions
“Let Love Come Between Us,” James & Bobby Purify
“I’m Your Puppet,” James & Bobby Purify
“Shake a Tail Feather,” James & Bobby Purify
“Come and Get These Memories,” Martha & the Vandellas
“Dancing in the Street,” Martha & the Vandellas
“Good Vibrations,” Hugo Montenegro
“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Hugo Montenegro
“That’s Life [live],” Billy Preston & The Rolling Stones
“That’s the Way God Planned It [live],” Billy Preston
“Outta Space [live],” Billy Preston & The Rolling Stones
“Space Race,” Billy Preston
“Nothing from Nothing,” Billy Preston
“Will It Go Round in Circles,” Billy Preston
“Get Back,” The Beatles with Billy Preston
“Get a Job [live],” The Special Beat
“Get a Job,” The Silhouettes
“Got a Job,” The Miracles
“Found a Job [live],” Talking Heads
“Day Job,” Gin Blossoms
“Total Job [Photek remix],” The Faint
“Maggie’s Farm,” Bob Dylan
“Lost My Job,” Alex Chilton
“Take This Job and Shove It,” Johnny Paycheck
“Eight Hour Day,” Pete Seeger
“Hayseed Like Me,” Pete Seeger
“Cotton Mill Colic,” Pete Seeger
“If It Wasn’t for the Union,” Matt McGinn
“The Red Flag,” Billy Bragg
“The Union Forever,” The White Stripes
“County Fair,” Bruce Springsteen
“County Fair,” Phil Alvin featuring The Blasters
“County Fair,” The Beach Boys
“Fairground,” Graham Parker
“Renaissance Fair,” The Byrds
“Fair,” Remy Zero
“Life is a Carnival,” The Band
“Carnival Song,” Tim Buckley
“Carnival in Kenora [live],” Joni Mitchell
“Carnival,” Natalie Merchant
“Carnival,” Sandy Denny
“The Last Rose of Summer,” Tom Waits
“Carnival,” Tom Waits
“The Fair is Moving On,” Elvis Presley
“The Last Carnival,” Bruce Springsteen
“Be Faithful,” Fatman Scoop
Capital Radio returns Sept. 9 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.
