Song Sets

If I were a DJ at a rock ‘n’ roll radio station, I’d create song sets based on themes and play a few a day.

That is, if the radio station actually let DJs play what they wanted. The classic rock station in my area plays the same songs over and over. Lately they’ve been playing so many ballads and mellow tunes, the station sounds like an easy listening station.

I wish the station would add a show of new music by classic artists. They’re still alive and producing some great stuff, but you’ll never hear it in this market. Tom Petty’s most recent albums (The Last DJ, Highway Companion). Eric Clapton (Road to Escondido – with JJ Cale). Warren Zevon (The Wind). Bob Dylan (Modern Times). Bruce Springsteen (Magic), Graham Parker (Don’t Tell Columbus), Paul McCartney (maybe a bit mellow or more pop sounding but an important figure in rock history; all of these, completely ignored. What a waste of opportunity to spread new music.)

There are a lot of songs about the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle and the record industry:

“The Last DJ” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (the whole album, but especially the title track, and “Money Becomes King”, and “Joe”.) Tom Petty was going to name him album Hard Promises, pictured here, $8.98, the price of the album in protest to the rising album prices in 1981. If only they were that cheap now. Record stores are a dying breed too. No more flipping though albums. CDs just don’t have the same feel, and there isn’t much room for cover art.)

“Into the Great Wide Open” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (also a great video featuring Johnny Depp)

“It’s a long way to the top (if you want to rock and roll)” – AC/DC

“Rock n roll ain’t noise pollution” – AC/DC

“So you want to be a rock and roll star” – The Byrds (also a great live recording performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on his “Pack up the Plantation” album, 1990.)

“Shooting star” – Bad Company

“Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry

“Rock and Roll Fantasy” – Bad Company

“Working for MCA” – Lynrd Skynrd

“We’re an American Band” – Grand Funk Railroad

Other songs are about being in the road and touring:

“Stay” – Jackson Browne

“Turn the page” – Bob Segar and the Silver bullet band

“Wheel in the Sky” – Journey (and “Faithfully” even though I’m tired of that song because it gets played so much and it’s so mournful; the songs asks for sympathy, but I don’t feel like feeling sorry for a rock band that was making tons of cash and living the rock n roll lifestyle.)

More about the industry:

“Have a cigar” – Pink Floyd (I’ll list them even though the local radio station plays them so much I’m sick of them. “Money” is an obvious example.)

“Barracuda” – Heart

“Rock and Roll Band” – Boston

Songs with a driving theme:

“Radar Love” – Golden Earring

“I can’t drive 55″ – Van Halen (with Sammy Hagar, an obvious choice)

Songs titles that name a character but not by name but by role:

The Pretender – Jackson Browne

The Stranger – Billy Joel