Explore every episode of the podcast Snap, Crackle, POP! with Alec Cumming
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Labor (Day) of Love | 07 Sep 2026 | 01:58:49 | |
On September 3rd 2018, I had a 3-hour 4-7 afternoon on-air shift at WPKN. It was Labor Day, and before the show I put out a "hive mind" request on Facebook for recommenmdations on songs that would be, well, good to play on Labor Day, about Labor, as this holiday is particularly distant from its reason for being - it's almost completely only thought of the "summer is over, back to school/work" holiday. I got over 400 replies! When I got to the (old) WPKN Studios at the University of Bridgeport, the AC was not working, and boy did I complain. 🙄 I edited out of most of the whiny complaining part for today's show. Now it's September 7, 2026 (zoom!) and it's once again a Labor Day and a Monday, the day on which I now have a weekly two-hour "drive time" 7-9am morning show. I decided to resuscitate, as it were, the 2018 show and songs, with a tiny bit of updated VO and "rewind" sound effects. So I did, and here's what today's show sounded like, with a little "thank you" coda at the end. Minimum Wage – They Might Be Giants
Get a Job – The Silhouettes Working in The Coal Mine – Lee Dorsey Big Boss Man – Jimmy Reed Chain Gang – Sam Cooke Back On the Chain Gang – The Pretenders
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton Car Wash – Rose Royce A Day in the Life of a Working Man – David Ruffin I've Been Working – Van Morison Bus Rider – Guess Who Working Too Hard – The Beat
Millworker – Bette Midler Allentown – Billy Joel 5 O’Clock World – The Vogues Matthew & Son – Cat Stevens I Just Got My Pay – The Beach Boys Government Center – Jonathan Richman & The Rubinoos
Manic Monday (extended version) – The Bangles Don't Worry About the Government (live) – Talking Heads The Good Thing – Talking Heads Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now – The Smiths There Is Power in a Union – Billy Bragg Take Stuff from Work – King Missile (feat. John S. Hall)
Workingman's Blues #2 – Bob Dylan VDT – Tom Juravich Sick Day – Fountains of Wayne It’s Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 world) – The Ramones
Career Opportunities – The Clash Clampdown – The Clash Shipbuilding – Robert Wyatt Unemployment – JJ Cale Welcome to the Working Week – Elvis Costello Thank you for all the song recommendations via Facebook! Mark Sagarin, Bill Holdship, Patrick Trettenero, Daniel Martin Baker, Marice Elizabeth, Larry Stockel, Jimmy Howland, Daniel Martin Baker, John S. Hall, Jeff Samet, David Belgrave, Jhh Lowengard, Darren DeVivo, Bruce Bernstein, Howard Wuelfing and Norm Wallerstein (RIP) (Artwork pictured: "Workers on the Cathedral of Learning" by Harry W. Scheuch, born Elizabeth, NJ 1906, died Pittsburgh, PA 1978.) | |||
| Here Come The Coveralls! (and other accidental hipsters) | 17 Aug 2026 | 01:54:40 | |
This show features: Lost Boys – Phoebe Bridgers
Waiting for Day – Micky Dolenz Birth of an Accidental Hipster – The Monkees The Door into Summer (live) – The Monkees
Come to Me – Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill Oh Dorian – Ben Kweller (feat. MJ Lenderman) Break the Jaw – Madison Cunningham Revel In the Knowledge – Julia Cumming
Good Times // End Times – Goose Stone Over Water – Death Cab for Cutie Stray Cats in Spain – Jeff Tweedy
Scour Your Heart – Stephanie Seymour Bianca Sativa – The Gershwin Brothers
Sea Of Heartbreak – Johnny Cash feat. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers I Don't Like Hockey No More – The Zambonis I Never Lived – Joybuzzer
Hockey Monkey – The Zambonis feat. James Kochalka Superstar How Do You Spell Channukkahh? – The LeeVees Buckaroo – The Buckaroos | |||
| Just Another Magic Monday | 10 Aug 2026 | 01:48:20 | |
One of my "new music" shows, which I should probably do more of. Or else I should keep a higher percentage of new-ish material placed alongside the various pop music rabbit holes the show oft burrows itself down into. Anyway, I like this one. "The "Hammond Song" cover is a good 'un, but you knew I'd say that, right? But it really really IS. You Retreat in Time and Space [Time edit] – Boards of Canada Immortal Hands – Stereolab
The Vision & The Call – Laurelynn Dossett featuring Charly Lowry The Hallelujah Trail – Charley Crockett Casablanca – Susannah Hoffs
Lilac Wine – Arooj Aftab & Beck The Book of Love – Olivia Rodrigo Sunday Morning – Beth Gibbons
Hammond Song – Wolf Alice (feat. Julia Cumming & Bria Saldana) White Horses – Wolf Alice moody – Royel Otis
In Spirit – WHY? I Only Ever Wanted to See You Fail – The Reds, Pinks and Purples Long After Midnight – Flock of Dimes
Long Way to Fall – Bedouine Oh My Love – John Lennon Yours Forever – Bishop Briggs (feat. Matt Maeson) Unfinished Sympathy (live) – Hooverphonic
Doomscrollin’ – The Gershwin Brothers What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life? – Kandace Springs This Is Your Night – The Flat Five Chelsea Morning – Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 Light Flight – Pentangle
Summertime, Summertime – Foggy Otis Aquarius (partial) – Boards of Canada | |||
| It's a very ELECTROFUNK morning with KID GINSENG | 27 Jul 2026 | 01:54:25 | |
I've gotten to know the mysterious, enigmatic, and rather brilliant deejay Kid Ginseng - a producer and turntablist with deep roots in early classic hip-hop and underground dance music - a little bit over the last few years, and I love talking with him about how he puts together his minimalist (or are they maximalist?), classic electrofunk jams. The Kid is living and creating in the present yet is deeply knowledgable about the jam-masters who've come before him. (He's also a really sweet guy.) So a few weeks ago - at the Coveralls gig at Walrus Alley in Westport, to be exact - I asked him if he would join me on my Monday morning Snap Crackle POP! show someday. And on this sunny summer Bridgeport morning he did! And he even debuted his newest mixtape, which incorporates some really deep-stark-funky jams and beats, both new and vintage, alongside his own innovative tracks from the last few years. We agreed to swoop in and out of the mix like we were at a party, which was really really fun and enlightening for me. So here it is, with a particularly boogie-down episode of Snap, Crackle, BOUNCE! (I mean POP!) Big Fun – Inner City
Cavern – Liquid Liquid U.F.O. – ESG
Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life – Indeep Let the Music Play – Shannon The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel – Grandmaster Flash
Kraftjerkz Freakout Mix # 3 – featuring: * Don’t Stop (intro) – Kid Ginseng * Looking for the Perfect Beat (instrumental) – Afrika Bambaataa * Love Can’t Wait – Tony “Dr. Edit” Garcia feat. Lil Suzy * I Need a Freak – Sexual Harassment * Night Drive Break * Rock the Planet – The Megatrons * Fix It in the Mix (instrumental) – Pretty Tony * My Tascam – Kid Ginseng * I Go Off – Kid Ginseng * Eye Spy – Unsighted * It’s Nokoman – DJ Technician * East 7 Miles – CEM3340 * Crackworld – DJ Di’jital * Armada (DJ Maaco Remix) – DJ Di’jital * 808 Kits – DJ Di’jital
Computer Love – Kraftwerk | |||
| Woooo! A salute to Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon and to the post-Elvis-Army/pre-Beatles era | 21 Jul 2026 | 01:53:16 | |
I hope it doesn't seem odd to have a "Wooo!" in this podcast's headline, in terms of the fact that our honoree - early '60s rocker Freddy Cannon - passed away this previous weekend. He was a "Wooo!" kind of guy, and his music was unquestionably joyous rock 'n' roll. (Subtlety was not his forte.) So a lot of today's music was joyous (almost all of it, anyway) as Dawn Eden Goldstein and I took a musical journey through the years 1959 through 1963/4, what one might call the post-Elvis-getting-into-the-army and pre-Beatles pop music era. Did Elvis die when he went into the service? Did Rock 'n' Roll? Maybe Don McLean would differ, but Dawn, Freddy and I say "nay". And then: "Wooo!" Action (theme song for ABC-TV's “Where The Action Is”) – Freddy Cannon
Don't Ever Charge – The Crickets Claudette (demo) – Roy Orbison Sweet Suzie – Johnny Burnette
Crying In the Rain – Carole King From Me to You – Del Shannon Tallahassee Lassie – Flamin' Groovies
Soldier of Love – Arthur Alexander Rock and Roll Will Never Die – Wild Hares Time’s Passing By – Lia Pamina & Dario Persi
Dumb Head – Ginny Arnell He’s a Rebel – The Crystals Half Heaven Half Heartache – Gene Pitney
Killer Joe – The Rocky Fellers Hippie Hippy Shake – Chan Romero
Tallahassee Lassie – Freddie Cannon Transistor Sister – Freddie Cannon Way Down Yonder in New Orleans – Freddy Cannon
Bony Moronie – Larry Williams Palisades Park – Freddy Cannon
Stuck On You – Elvis Presley Fortune Teller – Benny Spellman You're No Good – Dee Dee Warwick The Last One to Be Loved – Lou Johnson
This Empty Place – The Searchers Have I the Right – The Honeycombs Okefenokee – Freddy Cannon | |||
| Some Stones, Some This, Some That, Some Girls | 13 Jul 2026 | 01:54:40 | |
Long live The Rolling Stones! And Aggie Miller and Nick Kivlen and everybody, for that matter. Never Wanna Lose You – The Rolling Stones
Covered In You – The Rolling Stones Dandelion – The Rolling Stones Baby You're a Rich Man – The Beatles Emotional Rescue – The Rolling Stones
Monday the 13th – The Afterschools Blast – Hovvdy Lovesick – Wishy
If You Change – Widowspeak Lost Boys – Phoebe Bridgers Sadie – Aggie Miller
the feeling – Steve Lacy Good Times / End Times – Goose Addicted to the Sunset – Nick Kivlen
Stone Over Water – Death Cab for Cutie Me and Magdalena (Version 2) – The Monkees Terri – Micky Dolenz
Doomscrollin' – The Gershwin Brothers Dead End Street – The Kinks Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes – Beck | |||
| I Think It DID Rain Today, actually | 06 Jul 2026 | 01:54:44 | |
It was supposed to rain more than it actually did this Monday morning. But I stuck with the playlist, reality be damned. Summer Rain – Johnny Rivers
Here's That Rainy Day (Koop Remix) – Astrud Gilberto Raindrops – Dee Clark Summer Rain – Leon Bridges (feat. Jazmine Sullivan)
Why Does It Always Rain on Me? – Travis Rainy Days and Mondays – The Carpenters Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again – The Fortunes Crying Inside – Nick Lowe & Los Straightjackets
Ram On – Paul & Linda McCartney Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey – Paul & Linda McCartney Season Cycle – XTC
I Can't Stand the Rain – Ann Peebles I Think It's Gonna Rain Today – Dusty Springfield It's Raining Today – Scott Walker
Carolina Rain – Rhiannon Giddens Rainy Day – Shuggie Otis I Wish It Would Rain – Temptations
Rain on the Roof – The Lovin' Spoonful Rain Hat Day – Luper Dupree It's Raining Again – Supertramp Crying In the Rain – Carole King
Laughter In the Rain – Neil Sedaka Raining In My Heart – Graham Nash The End of Comedy – Drugdealer (feat. Weyes Blood)
That Summer Feeling – Jonathan Richman | |||
| Too Much Monkey Business? (Never!) | 29 Jun 2026 | 01:54:44 | |
Shiny Happy People – Mickey Dolenz
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| Why 1979 was the best year for music, featuring Edgar Wright and Julia Cumming | 22 Jun 2026 | 01:56:10 | |
OK, this Snap Crackle POP! is a DOOZY. For this show, my live in-studio guests (for the first 1 hour and 15 minutes of the 2-hour show, at least) are singer/songwriter/bassist Julia Cumming from Sunflower Bean whose 2026 debut solo album Julia is blowing people away, and legendary film director Edgar Wright who, believe it or not, I do not talk about movies with here at all. Why? Because we are all there to talk about our shared thesis - that 1979 is the best year for music EVER - and we are letting out GEEK. FLAGS. FLY. This is a must listen, people. Up The Junction – Squeeze Lucky Number – Lene Lovich Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick – Ian Dury & The Blockheads One Step Beyond – Madness Ring My Bell – Anita Ward Regiment – David Byrne & Brian Eno Beat the Clock – Sparks Is She Really Going Out With Him? – Joe Jackson Making Plans for Nigel – XTC Pop Muzik – M
Street Life – Randy Crawford & The Crusaders
52 Girls - The B-52s
Good Times – Chic (w/ brief excerpt of “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang) Swan Lake (Death Disco)/Radio 4 – P.I.L. (partial)
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| Breaking Up (and Fundraising) is Hard To Do | 15 Jun 2026 | 01:54:41 | |
Sigh. This was supposed to be a "Catch a Wave" week fundraiser for WPKN, with the great Dawn Eden Goldstein joining me for the first half and the legendary Rob Silber joining me for the second half. Dawn came up with the idea of playing break-up songs as a theme within the "we need money" theme. Well, I mean, it was a fundraiser, but we didn't get a single donation during my shift, though. It would do me (and our brilliant radio station!) a tremendous amount of good if you donated to WPKN here in honor of Snap Crackle POP... so: Please? --------------------------------------------- You're Gonna Miss Me – The 13th Floor Elevators
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| Happy (belated) 70th Birthday, Richard Butler! | 08 Jun 2026 | 01:52:39 | |
Song for Hal – U2
A ? of When – Panda Bear & Sonic Boom Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y. D.O.O.) – The Archies Lost & Alone – Aaron Lee Tasjan
Blowin' Up – Kiwi Jr. All This Disaster – Sarah McLachlan If You Change – Widowspeak
Pretty In Pink – Psychedelic Furs Radio Free Europe (Jackknife Lee 2025 mix) – R.E.M. Wu-Tang – They Might Be Giants Eat at Home – Paul & Linda McCartney
Momma Gets By – Paul McCartney It's Over Now – The Beach Boys What Is Left to Say – Thundercat (feat. The Lemon Twigs) 2 or 3 – The Lemon Twigs
Forgotten (Alternate Version) – Neil Diamond Michigan – Margret Glaspy
Rainbows – Allison Russell Real Deal – Endearments Pink Lemon – Elder Island
Aht Uh Mi Hed – Shuggie Otis Strawberry Letter 23 – Shuggie Otis | |||
| A belated Memorial day radio show, and a tribute to Cynthia Louise Harden (1957-2026) | 01 Jun 2026 | 01:44:58 | |
This show was kind of a "memorial 2-fer". First, it was a belated tribute to Memorial Day; Dawn Eden Goldstein and I were going to co-host the Snap Crackle POP! WPKN show on the Memorial Day morning of 5/25/26, but due to a family issue we had to re-run the 1/27/26 Beatles REVOLVER special. Secondly, this show served as a memorial of sorts to the memory of Cynthia Louise Harden, who passed on 5/26/26 - and yes, that was the family issue. Cynthia was the mother of my amazing daughter Julia Cumming, my partner and co-leader of the '90s pop-rock-rap duo Bite the Wax Godhead, and... my ex-wife. I am still extremely sad and in shock, even as I write this. I'm not sure I did her memory justice (much less to the brave and women who lost their lives to war) but here it is anyway. I meant well. =========================================== The Way We Were / Try to Remember – Gladys Knight
Reflections of My Life – The Marmalade Do You Remember Walter? – The Kinks Remember – John Lennon
Here Today – Paul McCartney As You Lie There – Paul McCartney
Soho Square – Kirsty MacColl Never to Be Forgotten – The Bobby Fuller Four I’ve Got a Broken Heart – The Lemon Twigs Till We Meet Again – The Cheepskates
Galveston – Glen Campbell Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and the First Edition Powderfinger (acoustic) – Neil Young
I Can’t Write Left-Handed (live) – Bill Withers The Green Fields of France – Dropkick Murphys Between the Wars – Billy Bragg
Old World – The Modern Lovers Rivers of Babylon – The Melodians Keep On Movin' – Soul II Soul The Captain of Her Heart – Double
Starlight – Nick Kivlen Only Love Can Break Your Heart – Neil Young | |||
| SEDAKA IS BACK! (again!) | 11 May 2026 | 01:55:00 | |
This is a repackaging of two live Snap Crackle POPs from March 2nd and 3rd of this year. The lovely and brilliant Eden Dawn Goldstein joins me for the first half. [All songs performed by Neil Sedaka unless otherwise noted.] That's When the Music Takes Me Stupid Cupid – Connie Francis Workin’ on a Groovy Thing (Is This the Way To) Amarillo – Tony Christie I'm a Song, Sing Me
Superbird – Neil Sedaka Solitaire – Neil Sedaka It Hurts to Be in Love – Gene Pitney Donna – 10cc
Love Will Keep Us Together – The Captain & Tenille Puppet Man – The 5th Dimension
The Hungry Years Beginning to Breathe Again | |||
| WAAAAAH! it's the TWEEEEEEE! episode! | 04 May 2026 | 01:53:47 | |
My guest co-host Dawn Eden Goldstein proposed we do a show based on early '90s UK "twee" music, with an emphasis on the 1991 "The Waaaah! CD", and I quickly agreed... Because Dawn always brings the obscure yet utterly fantastic pop songs to the world of Snap Crackle POP! So get into your pajamas and bring out your kittens and let's (politely) TWEE out! Who Loves the Sun – The Velvet Underground
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| The Emotional Labor of Doing It All Again | 27 Apr 2026 | 02:16:57 | |
Julia Cumming finally released her long-awaited solo album last Friday, April 24th 2026, and I played a couple of songs from it, as well as other songs that were a part of the inspiration for it, plus other good songs. Save It for Later – Eddie Vedder Best Friend – The English Beat
All This Disaster – Sarah McLachlan One Stop – Aldous Harding The Sofa – Wolf Alice
No More Tearstained Makeup – Martha & the Vandellas All I Do Is Think About You – Tammi Terrel You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) – Dionne Warwick I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself – Dusty Springfield
Here You Come Again – Dolly Parton Free Man in Paris – Joni Mitchell Kites Are Fun – The Free Design Do It All Again – Julia Cumming Days We Left Behind – Paul McCartmey
Baby Don't Go – Ringo Starr Wantcha Baby – Cryptic Soup Idiots Delighted – Damfino Let Her Dance – The Bobby Fuller Four
Searching For Heaven – Swamp Dogg
(Snap Crackle EXTRA!) I'd Like To Talk to You – Mark Eric How She Boogalooed It – The Beach Boys Teenage News – Syl Sylvain Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.–D.O.O.) – The Archies I Don't Like Hockey No More – The Zamboni After the Fox – The Hollies feat. Peter Sellers | |||
| The show in which Dawn Eden Goldstein and I talk about and listen to the legendary UK songwriter John Carter | 20 Apr 2026 | 02:00:00 | |
Dawn Eden Goldstein is a badass. There, I've said it. Both a deeply respected Catholic theologian and pop music historian! I really like when she comes on my morning Snap Crackle POP! shows and I hope we do it again and again. She suggested a tribute/exploration of sorts into the career of British songwriter John Carter, and I was game, and this is what it sounded like. Chelsea Morning – Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
I Wish You Hadn't – Benjamin Morren She Is Today – Bergen White
Sweet And Tender Romance – The McKinleys Lonely Room – The Ivy League I Can't Explain – The Who Tossing and Turning – The Ivy League
Can't You Hear My Heartbeat – Herman's Hermits My World Fell Down – Sagittarius Beyond the Railroad – The Pen Friend Club Annie Almond – The Junipers
Let's Go To San Francisco – The Flower Pot Men Jangleheart – Novelty Island This Whole World – The Beach Boys
Beach Baby – The First Class Winchester Cathedral – The New Vaudeville Band Westchester Hadassah – Allan Sherman Paper Trail – Caper Clowns
In The Beginning – The Autumn Defense Little Bird – Famous Groupies Sadie – Aggie Miller | |||
| God, PLEASE, Let Us Go On this Way... | 13 Apr 2026 | 01:54:43 | |
Yes, that's me and Al Jardine. (And he's a pleasure to talk to.) I talk about meeting him on this radio show, and hearing him and Darian Sahanaja and his brillint Pet Sounds band perform ALL of the tracks from THE BEACH BOYS LOVE YOU live, the night before, which also just happened to be the 49th Anniversary of the album's release (!). Thank you, Al, thank you Darian, and thank you Brian - I am thrilled, honored, and deeply moved. I love this music SO much. Let Us Go on This Way – The Beach Boys
Solar System –– The Beach Boys I Wanna Pick You Up – The Beach Boys
2 or 3 – The Lemon Twigs Baby, Let's Stick Together – The Paley Brothers Come On Let's Go – The Ramones & The Paley Brothers Black and White – The dBs
Red Lights – The Marbles We Deliver – The Miamis See No Evil – Television The Book I Read (CBS/Columbia demo) – Talking Heads
Lotus Bridge – The Monochrome Set Why Don't You – Squeeze
The Crystal Ship – Robyn Hitchcock Venus in the Zinnia – Aldous Harding (w/ H. Hawkline) One Thing at a Time – Courtney Barnett
Idiots Delighted – Damfino American Obituary – U2 City of Heroes – Billy Bragg
Rust & Wire – Anjimile In The Middle of It – Hiss Golden Messenger
The Logical Song – The Philistines Jr. Diggin’ In the Coal – Leah Blevivs Hanging Out to Dry – Florence Road Come To God – Indigo de Souza
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| I Know a Place (an Astor Place) Where We Can Go | 06 Apr 2026 | 01:41:46 | |
On yesterday's Snap, Crackle POP! I was delighted to have legendary raconteur and man about town Edward Rogers as a guest as we talked about his splendid new(-ish) album ASTOR PLACE. We talked about the fine art of songwriting, Birmingham homecomings, Sidewalk (sigh) and the Losers Lounge and the never-ending comings and goings of the East Village and htray rock 'n' roll and... well, it was a really fun and informative chat. And Edward's beautiful, deeply felt and finely wrought music really hits home. Cheers to Ed and Melani Rogers for making this happen and for being patient with me! I Know a Place – Petula Clark My Baby Loves Lovin' – White Plains Romeo – Edward Rogers The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead – Edward Rogers, Loser’s Lounge What You Do to Me – Teenage Fanclub Oh My Love – John Lennon | |||
| Bachelor Pad Chess Music | 30 Mar 2026 | 01:52:06 | |
Breathe (4square mix) – Telepopmuzik
Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes – Thievery Corporation In the Waiting Line – Zero 7, Sophie Barker Kiss From a Rose – Seal
Billions – Caroline Polacheck The Captain of Her Heart – Double
Come to God – Indigo De Souza Real Thing – Drugdealer, Weyes Blood Please Let Me Remember This – Julia Cumming (It Takes All Kinds) To Make a New World – Gail Ann Dorsey
Lebanese Blonde – Thievery Corporation Here's That Rainy Day (Koop Remix) – Astrud Gilberto Waltz for Koop – Koop Where Do I Begin (Away Team remix) – Shirley Bassey
The Sofa – Wolf Alice Rust & Wire – Anjimile
Days We Left Behind – Paul McCartney Jenny Wren – Paul McCartney February Sky – Ringo Starr
Doomscrollin' – The Gershwin Brothers Tears In My Martini – Edward Rogers Yours (If You Want Me) – The Bug Club Forgotten Dreams – Leroy Anderson | |||
| Drivin' on 9: Women's History Month Part 2 | 24 Mar 2026 | 01:53:28 | |
The second of two day's worth of Snap Crackle POP! shows with female performers, songwriters, musicians, etc. in honor of Women's History Month. Pictured: the mighty BREEDERS. Drivin' on 9 – The Breeders
I Am Woman – Helen Reddy I'm a Woman – Peggy Lee Lola – The Raincoats
Spellbound – Siouxie and the Banshees Don't Go Away – Tallulah Gosh Never Say Never – Romeo Void Thinking About Sex Again – The Waitresses
O Superman – Laurie Anderson Hounds of Love – Kate Bush
There's a Part I Can't Back – Sunflower Bean Small Town Girl – Tracey Thorn Night Terrors – Diet Cig Jersey – Barrie
Cloud 9 – Beach Bunny Twilight Café – Susan Fassbender & Kay Russell Go Away – Strawberry Switchblade
Black Boys on Mopeds – Sinéad O'Connor How Much Did You Get For Your Soul? – Lucinda Williams There She Goes Again – King Princess
Broken English – Marianne Faithful
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| Jubilation: Women's History Month Part 1 | 23 Mar 2026 | 01:54:44 | |
The first of two day's worth of Snap Crackle POP! shows with female performers, songwriters, musicians, etc. in honor of Women's History Month. Pictured: a jubilant Norma Tanega. Jubilation – Norma Tanega
Don't Make Me Over – Dionne Warwick Fujiyama Mama – Wanda Jackson Turn My Motor On – Kirsty MacColl
Picture This –Blondie New Toy – Lene Lovich Money – The Flying Lizards Typical Girls – The Slits Son of a Gun – The Vaselines
I'll Be Your Mirror – The Velvet Underground & Nico Hidden From History – Bright Girls Come Again – Au Pairs Just Once in My Life (demo) – Carole King
That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be – Carly Simon At Seventeen – Janis Ian Kid – The Pretenders
It's a Fine Day – Jane
The Book of Love – Olivia Rodrigo Nothing I Could Hide – Arlo Parks Across The Sea – Salem 66 Hammond Song – The Roches My Life – Julia Cumming
Drivin’ On 9 – The Breeders (partial) | |||
| Everyone knows it's WINDY | 17 Mar 2026 | 01:50:51 | |
Wind – Circus Maximus Windy – The Association The Wind Cries Mary – Jimi Hendrix Part of the Wind – Tim Hardin Wind Chimes – The Beach Boys
Catch the Wind – Donovan I Talk to the Wind– Giles, Diles & Fripp Four Strong Winds – Ian & Sylvia
All I Did Was Dream – beebadoobee Passion Plug – Bella Litsa Rust & Wire – Anjimile Ghosted – Laura Nyro
Doomscrollin' – The Gershwin Brothers I Don't Like Hockey No More – The Zambonis Best Tears I've Ever Cried – Lane Steinberg Steer The Wheel – Bubble
Wu–Tang – They Might be Giants Piccadilly – Squeeze Can't Wait – Piper
Teenage Kicks – The Undertones Rat Trap – The Boomtown Rats I Will Follow – U2 Soon – My Bloody Valentine
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| Why Does It Always Rain on... who, exactly? | 16 Mar 2026 | 01:54:40 | |
Raindrops – Dee Clark Rhythm of the Rain – The Cascades
Rainy Days and Monday – The Carpenters Why Does It Always Rain on Me? – Travis I Wish It Would Rain – The Temptations Cloudbusting (Be Kind version) – The Staves
Fool In the Rain – Led Zeppelin I Played the Fool – Michael Stipe In The Middle of It – Hiss Golden Messenger Put the Message in the Box – Mary Chapin Carpenter & The Mountain Goats Is It Like Today? – World Party
Why Don't You? – Squeeze Elderberry Wine – Wednesday Steel Reserve – Cass McCombs & Chris Cohen Site Unseen – Courtney Barnett & Waxahatchee
My Life – Julia Cumming I Was Wrong – Danny Ayala I Can't Get Over Losing You – Lemon Twigs Tell Me Why – The Beatles Look Through Any Window – The Hollies Headline Hustler – 10cc The Holdup – David Bromberg
Edge of the Ocean – Ivy Waltz for Koop – Koop Gymnopedie No. 1 – Erik Satie (I can't seem to find the name of the actual pianist, sorry)
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| Higher Ground: The Songs & Roots of Stevie Wonder (the noon-to-3pm shift) | 13 Mar 2026 | 02:54:58 | |
I usually don't save the fundraising shows I've done - there's an awful lot of begging for money - but I really enjoyed doing this show with I Messiah, the mysterious and stately reggae DJ at WPKN (for over 30 years!) All songs are performed by Stevie Wonder unless otherwise noted. ============== Isn't She Lovely
Master Blaster (Jammin') Tell Me Something Good – Rufus Boogie On Reggae Woman Higher Ground Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away
It's A Shame – The Spinners I Was Made to Love Her Fingertips Pts. 1 & 2 - Live Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
Too High You Haven't Done Nothin' Send One Your Love Hey Love I Don't Know Why I Love You
I Love Every Little Thing About You – Syreeta I Wish My Cherie Amour The Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
Village Ghetto Land Living for the City Golden Lady
You Are the Sunshine of My Life Uptight (Everything’s Alright) High Heel Sneakers (live in Paris, 1965) Do I Do | |||
| Good Morning, you Psychos! | 10 Mar 2026 | 01:53:59 | |
A show wondering if there'll come a day when we won't need love, then offering some unsolicited advice at the end. Good Morning – Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Conner Good Morning, How Are You, Shut Up – Ivor Cutler Trio
Psycho Killer (September 1975 demo) – Talking Heads The Book I Read (CBS/Columbia 1976 demo) – Talking Heads I'm Not in Love (1976 demo) – Talking Heads
Hanging on the Telephone – The Nerves Forgive and Forget – The Marbles My Three Sons (Revolve Around the Earth) – The Individuals
Is It Better – Sharp Pins She Calls Me Love – Banda AL9 I've Got a Broken Heart – The Lemon Twigs You Bring the Summer – The Monkees Me & Magdalena – The Monkees
The Old Law – Father John Misty Real Deal – Endearments Steel Reserve – Cass McCombs & Chris Cohen
To Love Somebody – Al Green Kentucky Too Long – Charley Crockett Diggin' In the Coal – Leah Blevins It's Been Too Long – Ringo Starr
Here You Come Again – Dolly Parton I Can't Stay Mad at You – Skeeter Davis The Dean and I – 10cc That's When the Music Takes Me – Neil Sedaka
Unsolicited Advice – Charles Spearin | |||
| Whoopee! We're all Gonna Die | 09 Mar 2026 | 01:53:49 | |
I hope the "title" of this episode isn't too on the nose. But that line has been stuck in my head since he passed this weekend. The Masked Marauder – Country Joe & the Fish I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag (1965 version) – Country Joe & the Fish Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine – Country Joe & the Fish Silver and Gold – Country Joe & the Fish
Hesitation Blues – Hot Tuna
Tamalpais High (At About 3) – David Crosby Have You Seen the Stars Tonite – Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship Strawberry Letter 23 – Shuggie Otis After the Gold Rush – k.d. lang Only Love Can Break Your Heart – Neil Young
Junk – Paul McCartney Wu-Tang – They Might Be Giants Eyeball – They Might Be Giants Goodbye Mr. Blue – Father John Misty Shooting Star – Sunflower Bean
The Monsters of Pig Alley – Morrissey Fresh Air for My Mama – 10cc Solitude Is Exhausting – Paulzon Fire Senses Working Overtime – XTC
I Wanna Go with Dignity – Peter Perrett 2468 – Horsegirl | |||
| More Neil Sedaka? YOU GOT IT! | 03 Mar 2026 | 01:54:55 | |
Watch this space: my goal is to combine this Tuesday March 3rd 2026 Snap Crackle POP! 7-9 am episode (which is 95% dedicated to Neil music) with the previous Monday March 2nd Snap Crackle POP! 7-9 am episode (which is 100% dedicated to Neil music and is co-hosted by the great Dawn Eden Goldstein), and neaten it all up somehow, so you can get all yer NEIL SEDACKY [tm Carole King] in one place. Stay tun-ed. (And if anyone wonders how my daughter's fabulous new single made the set list, I would argue she's following a Brill Building-path and has major-league songwriting chops - like, yes, Neil - and that her track can stand with the others on this show. Seriously.) Working On a Groovy Thing– The 5th Dimension
Let the Good Times In – The Love Generation Let the Good Times In – The Partridge Family Rainy Jane – Davy Jones Sugar (demo) – Neil Sedaka We Had a Good Thing Goin' – The Cyrkle
(Is This The Way To) Amarillo – Tony Christie I'm a Song, Sing Me – Neil Sedaka
Superbird – Neil Sedaka Solitaire – Neil Sedaka It Hurts to Be in Love – Gene Pitney Donna – 10cc
Love Will Keep us Together – The Captain & Tenille Puppet Man – The 5th Dimension
Don't Let It Mess Your Mind The Hungry Years – Neil Sedaka
The Immigrant – Neil Sedaka Just Once In My Life (demo) – Carole King Ocean In His Eyes – Glen Cambell My Life – Julia Cumming Everything Put Together Falls Apart – Paul Simon
Beginning to Breathe Again – Neil Sedaka | |||
| Neil Sedaka, RIP! (Part 1?) | 02 Mar 2026 | 01:55:59 | |
I am probably going to re-upload this show shortly, vut for the time being here's this morning's Snap Crackle POP! tribute to Neil Sedaka, with my amazing co-host Dawn Eden Goldstein! [All songs are performed by Neil Sedaka unless otherwise noted.]
That's When the Music Takes Me
One Way Ticket (To the Blues) Personality – Lloyd Price Kissin' My Life Away (excerpt) – The Hondells Beautiful You Laughter In the Rain Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Slow Version)
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| TOO. MUCH. SNOW. | 24 Feb 2026 | 01:55:02 | |
Snowhaustion? These g-ddamn blizzards keep happening on Sunday nights, which means these days that the Monday- and Tuesday- wee hours commute to WPKN's Fairfield Avenue studios in downtown Bridgeport becomes impossible, so I have to pre-record these shows, which often improves the quality of the show (yay!) but it takes me too much damn time to prepare (boo!_ because I fuss over them too much. (Did I write about this about yesterday's show? I'm losing it, people. A mind is a terrible thing.) This was actually a re-jiggered - and, franky, improved - January 26th show. I think it came out well. My apologies to Steve Di Costanzo for my forgetting to mention that I was filling in for his RADIO BASE CAMP SHOW, as I will continue to do until April. Enjoy your world travels, Steve, but get back here safely and soonly! Cold, Cold, Cold – Little Feat Blizzard of '77 – Nada Surf Cold Hands, Warm Heart – Brendan Benson Snowglobe – Sugar Fight
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Coldest Winter EVER! – Lewis Black She’s So Cold – The Rolling Stones Ice Cold Daydream – Shuggie Otis
Slip Slidin’ Away – Paul Simon The Blizzard – Camera Obscura Cold, Cold Heart – Norah Jones (Hank Williams cover) Out In the Cold Again – Sam Cooke Snow – Claudine Longet (Randy Newman cover)
Snowfall – Eisley Looks Like a Cold, Cold Winter – Ingrid Michaelson Song for a Winter’s Night – Gordon Lightfoot Hazy Shade of Winter – Simon & Garfunkel Avenue – Saint Etienne
The Fox in The Snow – Belle & Sebastian Cold Light of Day – Lewisburg
Howlin’ Wind – Graham Parker & The Rumour (R.I.P. & thank you Andrew Bodnar) Ice Cold Ice – Hüsker Dü When It Touches You, A Snowflake Dies – Norma Tanega Soon It Will Be Cold Enough – Emancipator It’s a Cold Night for Alligators – Roky Erickson The Blizzard – Jim Reeves Amid the Falling Snow – Enya The Frozen Man – James Taylor
Walking On Thin Ice – Yoko Ono Sometimes in Winter – Blood, Sweat & Tears (Hey, you guys know that you can friend me on Facebook so you can get the latest info on upcoming SCP broadcasts, right??) | |||
| Calvin, O Calvin... | 23 Feb 2026 | 01:54:54 | |
Today was the crazy-ass "Calvin" blizzard day - still happening as I post this - so for this morning it was time for another last-minute Sunday pre-recorded Snap Crackle POP! show for a Monday morning. And yeah, yada yada I like to do these shows live, weather traffic yada yada, and pre-recording is such a pain because I fuss over the shows too much (tho grateful to have an opportunity to delete all my ummms and ahhhs and delete my word-retrieval shenanigans). But this show gets to the point, PLUS I get to play my daughter Julia's first-ever solo single. I'm enjoying the re-listen, especially after last week's live fiascoes. Valhalla, I am coming! ================= Cold Rain and Snow (live at the Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY 2/21/1971) – Grateful Dead
Angel In the Snow – Elliot Smith Valley Winter Song – Fountains of Cold As Ice – Foreigner Hazy Shade of Winter – The Bangles Wu Tang – They Might Be Giants Goodbye Girl – The Shins Junior’s Farm (live BBC 2) – Squeeze Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five – Paul McCartney and Wings
The Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin Snow Blind – Black Sabbath Heavy Snow – Lightnin’ Hopkins Cold, Cold Heart – Hank Williams Hold Steady – Queen Esther Headless Heroes – Eugene McDaniels My Life – Julia Cumming
Anyone Who Ever Had a Heart (live) – Wynonna So Far Away – Carole King That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be – Carly Simon
American Obituary – U2 How Much Did You Get for Your Soul? – Lucinda Williams A Plea – Flea The Windows of the World – Dionne Warwick Winter (Giles Martin 2020 mix) – The Rolling Stones Frozen Pines – Lord Huron White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes Freeing Wheels – Souled American | |||
| It's a Mardi Gras WPKN Fun(d)raiser! | 13 Feb 2026 | 02:41:58 | |
Laissez les bons temps rouler! Yes, this is a fundraiser for our dear radio station, but the music is SO GOOD and I had SO MUCH FUN. Christine Ohlman (The Beehive Queen!) and Amy Wachtel (The Night Nurse!) and I had never hung out - heck, I hadn't even met Christine, a legendary and soulful vocalist/performer who fronts NBC's Saturday Night Live, whom I was hoping I could someday meet, until 10 minutes to air. (I was 50 minutes late!!! So sorry ladies.) It was such a pleasure doing this show, and - you know - I really do miss New Orleans. I gotta get back there, tout de suite!!! Barefootin' – Robert Parker Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) – The Specials 504 – Soul Rebels Brass Band
Meet De Boys On The Battlefront - The Wild Tchoupitoulas Ja Funmi – King Sunny Ade 79rs Bout to Blow – 79rs Gang
Holy Cow – Lee Dorsey Let the Four Winds Blow – Toots & The Maytals Hey Pocky Way – The Neville Brothers
She Put the Hurt on Me – Prince La La Who Shot the Lala – Oliver Morgan They All Ask'd for You – The Meters Party Time – Lee “Scratch” Perry
Tell It Like It Is – Aaron Neville You Talk Too Much – Joe Jones
Here Comes the Hotstepper – Ini Kamoze Time Is On My Side – Irma Thomas House Of The Rising Sun – Gregory Isaacs
Tell The Truth (Uptown Remix) – Jon Batiste feat. Big Chief Romeo Lady Marmalade – LaBelle Trick Bag – Earl King I'm Gone – Jon Cleary
One Scotch – Admiral Bailey & Chaka Demus Sophisticated Cissy – The Meters Ooh Poo Pah Do – Jessie Hill My People – Cha Wa
Right Place Wrong Time – Dr. John Life (Is What You Make of It) – Frighty
Ride Your Pony – Lee Dorsey Say Hey [I Love You] – Michael Franti & Spearhead Feat. Cherine Anderson Bony Moronie – Larry Williams Walking To New Orleans – Fats Domino
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans? - Louis Armstrong | |||
| Magic In The Air: The Big, Orchestral Pop Sound of Black America (part 1?) | 09 Feb 2026 | 01:50:49 | |
As part WPKN's Black History Month celebration, I focus here on the type of music Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell made - something I'm here calling "Black Orchestral Pop", and what some others would call "Champagne Soul" (although that can be a problematic phrase to the creators themselves). Ironically, this music is such a focus of love and a huge topic for me... it was ridiculous that I dedicated a 2-hour show to it - I only played one Thom Bell song, right at the end. I HAVE TO DO ANOTHER ONE. There Goes My Baby – The Drifters Baby I'm Yours – Barbara Lewis
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) – The Temptations Rainy Night In Georgia – Brook Benton | |||
| There Go the Hotsteppers: a Sly & Robbie Tribute | 03 Feb 2026 | 01:54:41 | |
Today’s Snap Crackle POP! was a tribute to the epic production team of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare. Sly passed away on January 26th 2026 at the age of 73. ==============================
Double Barrel – Dave & Ansell Collins Right Time – The Mighty Diamonds
Sponji Reggae – Black Uhuru
Pull Up to the Bumper – Grace Jones
Jokerman – Bob Dylan
Breakdown – Grace Jones | |||
| The winter of '26: The Battle for Minneapolis | 02 Feb 2026 | 01:54:28 | |
In tribute to, and in acknowledgement of, the Battle of '26 in wintry Minneapolis. Enclosed photo is by Philip Cheung for The New Yorker. ==================================== Why Can't We Live Together – Timmy Thomas Streets of Minneapolis – Bruce Springsteen How Much Did You Get for Your Soul? – Lucinda Williams
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| "Ayy! What does a record do? It REVOLVES. Great!" | 27 Jan 2026 | 01:54:53 | |
I've been doing two "drivetime" 7 - 9 am airshifts lately on WPKN 89.5 FM Bridgeport lately - my regular Monday morning one and, for a bit, the Tuesday morning slot too, covering for a world-wandering Steve Di Costanzo. I like doing these shows live, as I can announce times and give weather reports and even traffic news if I can find and organize it (which I'm not too good at yet). But I live in Mystic CT these days, and because of the massive Sunday snowstorm, I was asked to pre-record my Monday and Tuesday shows, and... While I like how the pre-recorded shows come out, I spend too much time on them, trying to make them "perfect", and prepping Monday's "blizzard" show was exhausting. So when I finished that one, I decided I would do a replay of a REVOLVER thing I did at the time the massive (and expensive) REVOLVER box set came out, in fall 2022, using - as its base - a syndicated radio special created by NYC FM radio hero Dan Neer. What you hear here is a greatly expanded 80-minute-ish version of that special, featuring many of the re-mixes and outtakes from the original 1966 sessions, plus interviews with the Beatles themselves and both George and Giles Martin (many from a cool crowdsourced internet-only audio series called "The Beatles Anthology Revisited") plus additional commentary from... Beatle nerd me. The remaining half-an-hour of the show is a melange of interesting basic tracks, overdubs and pieces from 1969's ABBEY ROAD sessions, plus a John Lennon run-through of "Julia" from 1968's WHITE ALBUM sessions, all intersperesed with soundbites and noises from John, Paul, George and producer George Martin. Not everyone will agree, but for me and (I know) for some of you - this stuff is endlessly fascinating. I listened to the whole shebang this morning on an Amazon Dot and I was shocked - not only at how good the remixes sounded through that little speaker, coming from its tiny compressed WPKN signal - but how much astonishing energy, creativity and brilliance is captured in all those tracks. In 1966, they were more united and ambitious than ever, and they were untouchable. (Oh - we started off with the new remix of "Free As a Bird", which I think is just fine.)
Free As a Bird (2025 mix)
Paperback Writer (excerpts from takes 1 & 2 + 2022 mix) Rain (2022 mix) Good Day Sunshine (2022 mix)
The Ballad of John & Yoko (John speech + basic track) Julia (Paul speech + John rehearsal performances) Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard/Her Majesty (medley in progress) Come Together (George Martin speech + Take 5) You Never Give Me Your Money (basic track) Something (George speech + Take 39 – strings only instrumental) Ain’t She Sweet (7/24/69 impromptu version) | |||
| It's COLD, people (and it's pre-recorded) | 26 Jan 2026 | 01:54:59 | |
This Morning’s Backstory: though I always want to do these “Snap Crackle POP!” drivetime programs live, so I can give out weather and traffic (lol) reports, I had to pre-record this one because of the blizzard-y weather, considering that I was snowed as of Sunday evening, the night before the show, way out here in Mystic.
Why my time announcements may be off here and there: uhhh... it's too esoteric to explain. Plus this is the podcast version, anyways. That said, I do TRY. Take it all with a grain of salt. And then throw that salt on the ground, will ya? Today’s theme: it’s friggin' COLD. 🥶 Today's picture: my car in the driveway this morning.
Cold, Cold, Cold – Little Feat Cold As Ice – Foreigner
Blizzard of '77 – Nada Surf Cold Hands, Warm Heart – Brendan Benson Snowglobe – Sugar Fight
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Coldest Winter Ever – Lewis Black She’s So Cold – The Rolling Stones Ice Cold Daydream – Shuggie Otis
Slip Slidin’ Away – Paul Simon The Blizzard – Camera Obscura Cold Cold Heart – Norah Jones Out In the Cold Again – Sam Cooke Snow – Claudine Longet
Snowfall – Eisley Looks Like a Cold, Cold Winter – Ingrid Michaelson Song for a Winter’s Night – Gordon Lightfoot Hazy Shade of Winter – Simon & Garfunkel
The Fox in The Snow – Belle & Sebastian Cold Light of Day – Lewsberg
Howlin’ Wind – Graham Parker & The Rumour Ice Cold Ice – Hüsker Dü When It Touches You, A Snowflake Dies – Norma Tanega Soon It Will Be Cold Enough – Emancipator It’s a Cold Night for Alligators – Roky Erikson The Blizzard – Jim Reeves Amid the Falling Snow – Enya The Frozen Man – James Taylor
Walking On Thin Ice – Yoko Ono Sometimes in Winter – Blood, Sweat & Tears Comin’ In From the Cold – Bob Marley & The Wailers
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| Life In a Blender - twee? Discuss. | 20 Jan 2026 | 01:54:32 | |
I talked a lot about and played some Life In a Blender, a fantasticly creative band from NYC who are coming up to Milford this Friday, January 23rd, 2026. And I also played some music that I'd consider twee, although I don't think that's a bad word. (Google's "AI Overview" is telling me "'Twee' describes something overly cute, sweet, quaint, or sentimental, often in an affected or delicate way, originating from a baby's pronunciation of 'sweet,' and also refers to a subgenre of innocent, simple indie pop music and an aesthetic featuring childlike whimsy, though it can sometimes be used as a mild insult" (cf. SNL's "Bein' Quirky With Zooey Deschanel"). I actually do not consider LIAB "twee". Well, possibly, at moments, but not really. Anyway, this show was a melange of intelligent pop music I like, and I hope you like it too. ===================
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| Martin Luther King Jr. Day: let's celebrate it while we still can | 19 Jan 2026 | 01:54:37 | |
In a recent interview with the New York Times, President Donald J. Trump said he felt the Civil Rights Movement and its reforms were harmful to white people, who “were very badly treated.” Also, the administration made sure that Martin Luther King Jr. Day - still a national holiday (for now) - would not be a day where people could visit America's national parks for free. Trump did, however, make his own birthday as a day for National Parks free admissions. For Christ's sake. I usually steer away from political commentary on the Snap Crackle POP! show, but I wanted to do my part (as infintesimly small as it may be) to celebrate this important American holiday. I am hearing there are more-than-usual MLK Jr. day celebtations happening today, which I'm grateful for. I remember his assasination day and I was so confused by it - why? Just... why? And why are some sh*tty. powerful, hate-filled people trying to erase this day in 2026? Happy Birthday, Martin. And thank you for your brilliance and bravery. Our lonely nation (still) turns its eyes to you. ==================== Happy Birthday – Stevie Wonder Like a Ship (Without a Sail) – Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir
Memory Be a Blade – waterbaby I'm Going Down – Rose Royce
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| I Only Ever Wanted to See You Enjoying the Radio Show | 13 Jan 2026 | 01:54:42 | |
The title of this podcast is influenced by a Reds, Pinks and Purples song lyric. Lotsa good new/new-ish music here, much in the tradition of the show I'm filling in for - Steve Di Costanzo's RADIO BASE CAMP. Hard Livin' – Railroad Earth Save Your Soul – Kathleen Edwards Pick Up That Knife – Wednesday Frontrunner – Horsegirl Gimme Time – Hannah Jagadu
All We Ever Do Is Talk– Del Water Gap Oh Dorian – Ben Kweller (feat. MJ Lenderman) Dancing in the Club – This Is Lorelei (MJ Lenderman Version)
Summer Seizures – The Cribs Brassneck – The Wedding Present Therapy II – Viagra Boys
Heroes – David Bowie Warning Sign – Talking Heads Miss Modular – Stereolab Wreck – Neko Case
I Only Ever Wanted to See You Fail – The Reds, Pinks and Purples Cruise Ship Designer – Dry Cleaning So Long – Fischer–Z
Popsicle – Juliana Hatfield Forgotten Dreams – Leroy Anderson | |||
| Fare Thee Well, Bob... | 12 Jan 2026 | 01:54:48 | |
On this morning's show, I did a tribute of sorts to the great Bob Weir, who passed away over the weekend. A great big thanks to Lane Steinberg for writing insightfully about what Bob could really make happen on guitar. But before that we started off with some sexy mornin' Dusty. Just a Little Lovin' – Dusty Springfield Some of Your Lovin' – Dusty Springfield
Pussywillow, Cattails – Gordon Lightfoot Little Bird – The Beach Boys Glad and Sorry – The faces My Friend the Sun – Family
How To Live – Del Water Gap Lose – Hannah Jadagu Small Town Joan of Arc – Del Water Gap Never Ending Game (Panda Bear Remix) – Angel Du$t
Holo Boy – This is Lorelei Popafangout – Sharp Pins Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand – The Who
Truckin' – Grateful Dead Playing in the Band (Live at Manhattan Center NYC 4/6/71) – Grateful Dead Jack Straw (Live in Paris 1972) – Grateful Dead Cassidy (Live at Radio City Music Hall, 1980) – Grateful Dead
Don't Let It Bring You Down – Neil Young Here She Comes Now – The Velvet Underground Sally, Go 'Round the Roses – The Jaynetts Damn – Del Water Gap Sugar Magnolia (demo) – Grateful Dead | |||
| Coke? Suede? Waterbeds? Yes please, Sopwith Camel! | 06 Jan 2026 | 01:54:47 | |
In which I finally give up and acceptance the consensus worship of my friends re: Sharp Pins. Life Is – Jessica Pratt Mock The Hours – David Nance Say It On – J Mascis Coke, Suede and Waterbeds – Sopwith Camel Not Enough – Benny Sings
Cruise Ship Designer – Dry Cleaning Wreck – Neko Case Edge of the Ocean – Ivy Keep On Movin' – Soul II Soul
Hold Steady – Queen Esther Vague Utopia – Tia Gostelow I Knew Love – Sunflower Bean Under the Milky Way – The Church
Astor Place – Edward Rogers Dominoes – Mary Timony Traffic and Weather – Fountains of Wayne
Popsicle – Juliana Hatfield Is It Better – Sharp Pins Queens of Globes and Mirrors – Sharp Pins Queens of Cans and Jars – Guided By Voices But You Just Woke Me Up – This Is Lorelei
Elderberry Wine – Wednesday Baby, Now That I've Found You – Alison Krauss | |||
| Deep Dish '70s | 05 Jan 2026 | 01:54:29 | |
For the first show of a precarious new year, I chose to focus on a theme of reletively obscure 1970's "deep cuts", apropos of... nothing. Some great songs, though. The first song isn't all that obscure, but the movie it served as the theme song for is deeply quaint; it's about a late '70s commercial rock radio station being forced (gasp) into using a format and playing from a songs list , and the outrage that then ensues - how dare they take away the deejay's rights to play whatever the hell they want? Like I said, quaint... in terms of commercial radio, of course... but not so much for our beloved WPKN. FM – Steely Dan
O Lucky Man! – Alan Price Friends – Elton John
Real Thing – Drugdealer (feat. Weyes Blood) Keep It Warm – Flo & Eddie
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| New Year... Happy? | 30 Dec 2025 | 01:55:00 | |
This was a fill-in episode for Steve Di Costanzo's classin WPKN morning show, RADIO BASE CAMP. I should be doing a lot of these Tuesday shows as well as the Monday shows, and that's good because I can get better at this. Because it's the Eve of New Year's Eve, I went with that as the theme; hour 1 is more of a downer than hour 2. Millennium – Robbie Williams
Auld Lang Syne – Guy Lombardo Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think) – Guy Lombardo In These Shoes? – Kirsty MacColl Happy New Year Next Year – Violent Femmes
Getting Ugly Out There – Wille Nile A Town Called Malice – The Jam New Year – SVT Together We'll Ring In the New Year – Motion City Soundtrack
The New Year (demo) – Death Cab For Cutie My New Year's Resolutions – Mae West Resolution Blues – Dinah Washington Brand New Year – Eric Carmen
Better Things – The Kinks Life Gets Better – Graham Parker Shooting Star – Sunflower Bean Happy New Year – Camera Obscura Walk Out to Winter – Aztec Camera
Romeo – Edward Rogers This Will Be My Year – Semisonic A Little Bit of Light Banter – Sparks Glad Tidings – Van Morrison Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder This Will Be Our Year – The Zombies
Auld Lang Syne – The Beach Boys Wake The World – The Beach Boys | |||
| CBGBs + CTBG's salute, plus: that weird time period between Christmas and New Years | 29 Dec 2025 | 01:55:00 | |
There's been a lot of CBGBs in the air lately at WPKN, courtesy of programmers Dave Schneider (The Zambonis), Chris Frantz (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club) - yes, THE Chris Frantz -and Rob Tannenbaum, a great music journalist who produced a must-have (IMHO) new box set for Cherry Red Records named "CBGB: A New York City Soundtrack 1975-1986". Inspired by the annual CTBGs show at the Fairfield Theater Company, I programmed a mainly-early CBGBs music set. This music is so important to me - and to many many other musicians and fans, whether they realize it or not. Punk Rock, "New Wave" and Alternative Rock STARTS HERE. In The Congo – The Bongos My Three Sons (Revolve Around the Earth) – The Individuals Teenage News – Sylvain Sylvain Red Lights – The Marbles Pretty Dress – Cryptic Soup Days – Television Green For Go – Polyrock December 26th – Alicia Witt (feat. John Paul White) | |||
| Snap, Crackle, POP on Ice! (A Christmas Special) | 22 Dec 2025 | 01:54:44 | |
It's a Christmas week episode - what a concept! I owe my friend Al Quagliari a huge thank for providing me with lots of wondrous and oft silly Christmas and New Year's songs and soundbites, and for turning me on to Bob Rivers, the Weird Al of Christmas music. It may have been a bit self-indulgent to play my own Christmas song at the end, but I'm working on a larger Bite the Wax Godhead project at the moment, so I'm hoping to give my and Cynthia's old band just a bit of additional visibilty in the next few months before we return to obscurity. And the song isn't half-bad. This was a fun show to prepare and pull off. Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding O Little Town of Bethlehem – Bob Rivers Bounce of the Sugar Plum Fairy – John Kirby and His Orchestra
Joy To the World – The Butties I Don't Intend to Spend Christmas Without You – Margo Guryan Tchotchkes– Tchotchke & The Lemon Twigs Decorations – Bob Rivers (Yes It's) Christmas – War
Christmas In Suburbia – The Cleaners from Venus Bellringers Are Hungover – Lorraine Bowen The Christmas Song – Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva Old Toy Trains – Roger Miller Christmas At the Airport – Nick Lowe
How Do You Spell Channukkahh? – The Leevees I Saw Hanukkah Harry Beat Up Santa Claus – Hal Singer
Sled Zeppelin – Bob Rivers Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town – John Davidson What Christmas Means to Me – Stevie Wonder
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Carol of the Bells – Robert Glasper & Cynthia Erivo Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal Version – studio chatter + Takes 6 & 7) – Vince Guaraldi & St. Paul's Episcopal Church Youth Choir Santa Don't Go – Farrah You Trashed My Christmas – The Primitives Xmasploitation (Santa's Badass Revenge) – monochronic
All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) – Nat King Cole (MJ Cole Remix) Father Christmas – The Kinks Silver and Gold – Rosine (featuring Nancy Howell and Mark Lerner)
(I'll Be Glad When) Christmastime is Done – Bite the Wax Godhead | |||
| Add Some Music To Your Day! | 15 Dec 2025 | 01:54:42 | |
In which we hear from The Elbow Patches (aka John Dunbar), Downtown Mystic, Guerilla Toss, Drugdealer (fronted by Weyes Blood!),The Belair Lip Bombs, a ridiculously hot early take of Vince Guaraldi's "Skating" from 1965, and many more fine performers and combos. Add Some Music To Your Day – The Beach Boys Eyes of the World (Shorefire Remix) – Downtown Mystic You Can't Kid Yourself Anymore – The Elbow Patches Play On – The Lemon Twigs Let's Pretend – The Raspberries Cuddly Toy – The Monkees Red Flag to Angry Bull – Guerilla Toss Heartthrob – Indigo De Souza Chocolates – The Aluminum Group Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy vs James Bond – Pizzicato 5 Real Thing – Drugdealer, Weyes Blood Love Me or Let Me Be Lonely – The Friends of Distinction Say My Name – The Belair Lip Bombs Try To Make It – Sloan Teenage FBI – Guided By Voices Quite the Opposite – Dominic Fike Tomorrow Tomorrow – Brad Mehldau & Daniel Rossen classic love – Luke Roberts & Kurt Vile Grocery Store – Kate Micucci The Crumble Song (brown sugar remix) – Lorraine Bowen Baby Doll – Juniper Annie Almond – The Junipers Looking For Santa – The Hungry Dutchmen Southhold Santa – The Hunkerdowns Skating (#7, Take 2/September 22, 1965) – Vince Guaraldi Trio | |||
| Can't Wait Too Long For The Jokerman | 08 Dec 2025 | 01:54:44 | |
My apologies for struggling to try to do the "morning drive traffic". I shouldn't even bother until I get a solid way of doing it that doesn't mess up the flow of the show. Then again, here I am complaining again about how I do the show, and everybody's telling me NOT to do that. I'm trying. I'M TRYING!! Anyways, I hope you find the Black Lodge Singers' rendition of "Mighty Mouse" as silly and life-affirming as I do. I was also happy to hear that Zoos of Berlin track, which I discovered somehow when I started at the station in 2016. I know nothing about them, but "Electrical Way" is slammin'. And Finn Wolfhard - who knew? Immortal Hands – Stereolab TPA – Bad Bad Hats Apples (Radio effect intro) – Pugwash Jokerman (live on David Letterman 3/22/84) – Bob Dylan & The Plugz Can't Wait Too Long – The Beach Boys Have You Seen Her Face – The Byrds Sunday Love – Bruce Springsteen Harvest – Rufus Wainwright (feat. Andrew Bird & Chris Thile) | |||
| Bloom Baby Bloom, Baby! | 01 Dec 2025 | 01:54:47 | |
Heavy Music – Bob Seger & The Last Heard No Bills in Heaven – Sunflower Bean
Straight Line Was a Lie – The Beths Bloom Baby Bloom – Wolf Alice Here We Go Crazy – Bob Mould Always Reaching – The Mommyheads
Jaded – The Mommyheads Unsatisfied – The Replacements 2468 – Horsegirl Where Evil Grows – The Poppy Family Little Green Bag – The George Baker Selection
Let's Pretend – The Lemon Twigs Friday (I'm Gonna Love You) – The Lemon Twigs I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight – Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart The Door into Summer – The Monkees
Be Like Him – Darian Sahanaja & Probyn Gregory Witchi Tai To – Harpers Bizarre Prelude/To Claudia on Thursday – The Millennium Looking for the Magic – The Dwight Twilley Band
Glad – Saint Etienne Can I Talk My Sh*t – Vagabon Northern Star – Aggie Miller Believe – Kashus Culpepper T-Shirt – David Byrne
Transportation (1990 version) – Bite the Wax Godhead Getting Away with It – Electronic | |||
| Well Hello, Monday Morning Commuters! | 24 Nov 2025 | 01:54:58 | |
Radio history in the making! (LOL) Starting with this show, I am now the regular Monday "morning drive" 7-9 am deejay at WPKN. I've long wanted to be a cheerful get-your-morning-started announcer, and watch out for what you wish for... but I love it anyways. I finally get my shot, right here, right then. Apologies in advance for all the apologies. And Rest In Peace, Jimmy Cliff. And thank you. I Wanna Be With You – Vicki and Debbie Peterson
Just Like a Flower – Winter Little Bird – Famous Groupies
The Fool on the Hill (Take 5 – Instrumental) – The Beatles Tell Me Why (Takes 12 And 13) – The Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Third Version/Take 27) – The Beatles
Let's Pretend – The Lemon Twigs Cruisin' Music – Ronnie D’Addario Not Today – The Lemon Twigs (Ronnie D’Addario cover) This Whole World – The Beach Boys
I Like Girls (Bearsville Version) – Sparks Dick Around – Sparks
Deuce – Kiss Black Diamond – The Replacements I Will Dare – The Replacements
Many Rivers to Cross – Jimmy Cliff Wonderful World, Beautiful People – Jimmy Cliff Hard Road to Travel – Jimmy Cliff Rivers of Babylon – The Melodians Reconsider Me – Warren Zevon
Crying Inside – Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets Tomorrow Tomorrow – Brad Mehldau (feat. Daniel Rossen & Chris Thile) God Knows – Tunde Adebimpe Ankles – Lucy Dacus | |||
| Radio Free Bridgeport | 16 Sep 2025 | 01:56:00 | |
This was the last of my series of late-summer 2025 fill-ins for Steve DiCostanzo's Radio Base Camp shows; he would shortly return the favor in November 2025 by filling in for several of the new 7-9 AM morning shows that I was assigned to that I couldn't pull off quite yet because my right foot was healing from (successful) surgery. Thanks, Steve! As a shortwave radio fan and historian, I was absolutely horrified by the current administration's takedown of our hisroric and essential international broadcasting stations, including the Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe. So I was glad to see that mu eternal heroes R.E.M. OK'd the use of their debut song to the world, 1981's "Radio Free Europe", in a new EP that included an excellent new remix of the mysterious, propulsive and soaring original track - the Hibtone one, which came out before the first EP, which I also played. Profits from their new "Radio Free Europe" EP are going towards keeping the actual Radio Free Europe broadcast operations alive, although (as I write this) they are still barely managing to survive. Radio Free Europe (Jacknife Lee Remix) – R.E.M. Radio Free Europe (Original Hibtone 45) – R.E.M. Lament – Blake Babies So Long – Fischer-Z This Time – INXS
Block of Wood – The Bats Pink Frost – The Chills Map Ref 41 Degrees N 93 Degrees – Wire First Day – Far Caspian Metal – The Beths
You Didn't See – Andy Shauf F.O.O.F. – Frankie Cosmos Save Your Soul – Kathleen Edwards
Cryin' Inside – Nick Lowe American Squirm – Nick Lowe Everyday I Write the Book – Elvis Costello & The Attractions Mayor of Simpleton – XTC
Here, There and Everywhere (Take 6) – The Beatles Stray Cats in Spain – Jeff Tweedy As We Go Along – The Monkees
Glad – Saint Etienne Can I Talk My Sh*t? – Vagabon Shooting Star – Sunflower Bean Tomorrow Tomorrow – Brad Mehldau feat. Daniel Rossen Porcupine – Sparks
The Summer's Over (solo acoustic) – Alec Cumming | |||