Saturday, January 31, 2009

Michael Shelley on WFMU

It's been a lazy Harlem morning so far today, and I've really been enjoying listening to Michael Shelley's show on WFMU-FM out of the Hudson Valley.

He has been playing a great mix of upbeat music -- from a soulful Odetta track ("Mama Told Me Not To Come") to the gospel classic "Jesus Hits Like The Atomic Bomb" to Lalo Schifrin's "Samba De Uno Nota So" -- and he throws in an announcement after almost every song, frequently punctuated with cool little pre-recorded stabs (e.g. "Number one hit!!!") He is putting a lot of energy into the show, and his sense of joy in the music travels right across the airwaves.

Some other great songs that he has featured: Bill Wimberly's "Springfield Guitar Social," featuring imitation guitar of a bunch of country guitar legends; Albert Lee's R&Bish version of "Mama Tried"; and the Everly Brothers' "I've Been Wrong Before."

Looking back at last week's playlist, one can find a mix of Faron Young, The Monkees, The Muffs, Roy Orbison and Jonathan Richman. Free form radio lives!

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