Well, I arrived for this week’s show, determined that September would not slip away quietly. So, I had the disco lights on in the studio here and I was ready to have a good time with plenty of funky dance steps. They were all there . . . somewhere . . . perhaps not in the right order . . . but then ‘unpredictable’ is just what you expect, when you go Through To Midnight. So, after kicking off the show with Syl Johnson, there was a timely reminder that this week back in 1976, Stevie Wonder released his double album ‘Songs in the Key of Life’. So, surprise, surprise, we celebrated with a choice from it.
This week’s Under The Covers feature was inspired by noticing that Sting is celebrating his birthday this week. So, it was an easy choice to look for a trio of tracks with covers of his songs, starting with one you’ll know well by Aswad. Then, there was ‘Englishman in New York, like you’ve never heard it before for sure . . . by The Mother Ukers and if you thought that was a bit weird and whacky, then you were advised to brace yourself for a rockabilly version of ‘Every Breath You Take’ . . . courtesy of The DiMaggio Brothers.
Get Up & Dance
Mystery Lady – Syl Johnson
Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
Paris Delane – People Having A Good Time
Get Up & Dance – West Street Mob
If You Want Me To Stay – The Baker Brothers (w Hamish Stuart)
Under The Covers
Roxanne – Aswad
Englishman in New York – Mother Ukers
Every Breath You Take – DiMaggio Brothers
When I See Ya
Let’s Make A Date – The Pat Smillie Band
Deep In The Heart Of Texas – Geraint Watkins & The Dominators
When I See Ya – TT Grace
Music Man – Johnny & The Mongrels
Heartaches Was All You Got – Sven Zetterberg, Knock Out Greg & Blue Weather
Girls & Guitars
Memphis – Cassie Taylor
You Really Got Me
Just The One (I’ve Been Looking For) – Johnny Taylor
Let The Sunshine In – G.E. Smith & LeRoy Bell
Too Much Too Late – Full Flava (ft Dee Johnson)
You Really Got Me – Sly & The Family Stone
On The Giglist
Young Blood – Ricky Lee Jones
Worth It
Worth It – Patricia Vonne
Love Train – Bunny Sigler
Daydreaming – Diane Birch
Telephone Line – Asian
Let Go – Dobie Gray
Mellow Mood
Fall Back In Love With You – Lonnie Mack
Hot Burrito No. 1 – Raul Malo
Summertime In New Orleans – Anders Osborne
Nights In White Satin – Larkin Poe Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins
Our Girls & Guitars feature may have been a bit overdue, but it wasn’t forgotten. The spotlight was aimed at American singer-songwriter and guitarist, Cassie Taylor, who hails from Colorado and started her career some 20 years ago, touring with her father’s band . . . bluesman, Otis Taylor. So, for a taste of her own work, I pulled out her 2012 album ‘Blue’, which is where I found my choice . . . . Cassie Taylor with ‘Memphis’. Meanwhile, this week’s On The Giglist feature brought a memory of a gig last year just down the road from here. It was a visit by Ricky Lee Jones and that memory was suddenly brought back to me but stumbling upon a track during my rummaging in the music library . . . this was Ricky with ‘Young Blood’.
There were some most worthy contenders for our Mellow Mood this week with Anders Osborn with a song capturing that unique spirit of New Orleans. There was another new release, this time from the usually gritty girl duo Larkin Poe with an old favourite you’ll know by The Moody Blues . . . and if there was someone special nearby, it came with an invitation for a little smooch. Then, it was all over . . . just time to collect up the music, tidy up the studio and head on out into the night. But, not before thanking you for your good company and hoping that we’ll meet again, same time, same place next week to go Through To Midnight. Until then, remember . . . keep safe . . . keep well . . . and have fun!
Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 30 September 2020
Broadcast by Miskin radio on 2 October 2020