Neil Sedaka – Wheeling, West Virginia (1969)
Cardiacs – Busty Beez (2025) I will champion Cardiacs until the day they take my show away. This is their new album, LSD.
Wikipedia: LSD is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Cardiacs, released on 19 September 2025. Recording began in 2007 following lineup changes, with the “Ditzy Scene” EP released by Org Records to tease the album. It was originally planned to be released in October 2008, with planned singles in August and November, an autumn tour, a radio session with Marc Riley and a reissue of the concert film All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1992).
Production was indefinitely postponed after frontman Tim Smith had a cardiac arrest and stroke on 25 June 2008, resulting in his dystonia, leaving him unable to play or provide vocals. Over the next 12 years, the lyrics and compositions for each of the songs on the album were established by Tim’s family and friends communicating with him via the position of his eyes and his left hand, using an alphabet board, with Tim’s brother Jim Smith completing the album in his stead. Fundraiser gigs, namely charity concerts entitled “The Alphabet Business Convention”, were arranged and tribute albums were recorded to aid Smith in rehabilitation, and to help him to complete work on the album and other musical projects. He died on 21 July 2020 of what was deemed to be another heart attack.
Between 2021 and 2024, Jim resumed recording for the album with a large cast of family and friends based on all of the guidance Tim had created. The album features numerous choral vocals from contributors such as Mike Vennart, Rose-Ellen Kemp and Kavus Torabi to give the effect of Tim’s voice and vocal style.
It is an amazing album, full of violence, dissonance, heart, and ultimately, the resolution of the life of an angel who walked the earth for a brief time. You and I are lucky to live in such a time.
Cardiacs – Men In Bed (2025)
Cardiacs – Pet Fezant (2025)
Chubby Checker – Run to Me (1982) A selection of tracks from his pointless 1982 album, The Change Has Come. Better than Chequered (1971) but only barely less embarrassing. Like Randy California and Frank Marino before him, among countless others, Chequered is another career-killing, strange artifact that tries to make you believe that Chubby Checker and Jimi Hendrix were best friends.
Chubby Checker – Running (1982)
Chubby Checker – T’82 (1982) Stands for “The Twist 1982”. Like other artists of that era, it was time to make a new version of his debut that nobody asked for.
Dion & the Belmonts – I Wonder Why (1973) From the album 1973: Reunion (live, with Dion DiMucci), which seemed to be a very big deal judging by the very real crowd reaction.
Dion & the Belmonts – Ruby Baby (1973)
Dion & the Belmonts – Runaround Sue (1973) (the NINE-minute version!)
It was on June 2nd, 1972, that Dion & The Belmonts reunited at New York City’s Madison Square Garden at an oldies show sponsored by local radio station WCBS-FM. Despite Dion DiMucci and the group briefly reuniting in 1967 for an ill-fated studio album, called Together Again [which I’ve featured on my show], the Garden show was Dion’s first gig with the group in 12 years. Dion played acoustic guitar throughout the night, and the group was backed by Billy Vera & The Beaters, who went on to score a 1986 #1 with “At This Moment.” A live album of the event was released the following year.
Donny Hathaway – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (Live) (1972)
Donny Hathaway – I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know (1973)
Helen Schneider – Let It Be Now (1978) Helen Schneider was on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1978 and sang this very moving song, much to Johnny’s approval. She also covered the Rose Tattoo song, “Rock and Roll Outlaw”, retitled “Rock and Roll Gypsy”.
James Darren – Wheeling, West Virginia (1970)
Neil Sedaka – Star-Crossed Lovers (1969)
Ricardo Montalban with the Randy Newman Orchestra – La Campanilla (1967)
Scott Walker – Prologue/Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James (1970)
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – Get Down France (1983)
The Beatles – Baby, You’re A Rich Man (Takes 11 And 12) (1967)
The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Third Version – Take 27) (1968)
The Beatles – You Never Give Me Your Money (Take 36) (1969)
Girls from Petticoat Junction – Wheeling, West Virginia (1969)
Bob Crewe Generation – Menage-A-Trois (1969)
Gábor Szabó – Walking On Nails (1967) A desert island album, Jazz/Raga.
Peggy Lee – Is That All There Is (1969)
Tommy Cutrer – The School Bus (1972) An anti-busing tale from the same label that brought you “Harper Valley P.T.A.”
Will Furman – My Babies Daddy (1969) From the album Will Furman Sings His Bum Bum Off. Look up the cover on Discogs.