Hell's Kitchen Radio #439: Looks Like I'm Fixin' To DJ Rag

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It's Memorial Day, so I'm going to honor the troops (of whom I have many as friends and former students) by sticking it to the man! I'm a strong believer in a strong defense. But I am not much for spreading Democracy around the world. I think we ought to practice what we preach, and allow nations to self-actualize as much as possible. We butt our heads (and arms) into other nation's biz a wee bit much over the years. And too many of our men and women in uniform have paid the ultimate price. I have no problem flipping the bird to the politicians who put our sons and daughters into harms way for the prize of land, labor, markets and other resources. I have yet to hear of one war we have been involved in that, at the heart of it, was about caring for human suffering. If we can't reap some reward, we aren't going in. Remember Rwanda? 

I believe to the depth of my being, if our nation cared so much about our vets, they wouldn't make up 50% of the nation's homeless population. Let's put as much effort as we do preparing them for battle, into preparing them for coming home. 

So here ya go. Two hours of stickin' it to the man.

Enjoy and thank a veteran today. 

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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The show starts with the final minute from my Live Bootleg Bonanza, 6-8PM. You can check that show out here. It's Stevie Wonder (1974) & The Ramones (1977).

The Ballad of the Green Berets: Sgt. Barry Sidler
Rich Man's War: Steve Earle
Butcher's Tale: The Zombies

1916: Motorhead
Lay Your Weapons Down: Rich Kids on LSD
War Pigs (Live 1970 Montreux): Black Sabbath

Masters of War: Bob Dylan
Wooden Ships: Jefferson Airplane
An Open Letter To My Teenage Son: Victor Lundberg
The Unknown Soldiers: The Doors

I Can't Write Left-Handed Anymore: Bill Withers
War/No More Trouble: Bob Marley and the Wailers
X-Men Doctrine And Declaration/General P. Counterintelligence: General Patton vs The X-Ecutioners
Holiday in Cambodia: Dead Kennedys

Run to the Hills: Iron Maiden
The Fiddle and the Drum: Joni Mitchell
Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore: John Prine

Machine Gun (live 12-31-1969): Jimi Hendrix (Band of Gypsies)
The "Fish" Cheer/I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag: Country Joe and the Fish

Universal Soldier: Donovan
Some Mother's Son: The Kinks
I Don't Want To Be A Soldier, Mama: John Lennon
Fortunate Son: Creedence Clearwater Revival

(What's So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding: Elvis Costello

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-10PM Pacific - Stevie Wonder (1974) & The Ramones (1977)

 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

http://radiovalencia.fm

You can download this show right here!!!

And a good Memorial Day to you all. In celebration of all who gave all, let's play two great American acts that we all can agree are worth fighting for. First up, Stevie Wonder in all his glory, live at the Rainbow Theater, January 31, 1974. This is one his all time best shows, and from the Innervisions tour, possibly my favorite album of his. This soundboard recording is taken from the liberated "Funkified Rainbow" bootleg, and really should have been considered for official release.

The second show tonight features an all-American band of rockers who really just don't wanna do much of anything at all. I'm talking about The Ramones!!! This Utica, New York show from November 14, 1977 shows them still in the early days of the balls-to-the-wall punk glory. I've taken this from the "Transmission Impossible" radio broadcast bootleg set. If this was vinyl I would have worn it out ages ago. 

Let's get all-American as we celebrate the women and men in red, white and blue, who gave there all so we can rock and roll. 

Stick around 8-10PM Pacific for my weekly music mix, Hell's Kitchen Radio.

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM Pacific
Radio Valencia in SF

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Hell's Kitchen Radio #438: Happy 80th Birthday, Bob Dylan (Part 2: Studio and Covers)

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I was about 12 or 13, laying in my bed on a weekend morning, listening to my clock radio, set to KFOG 104.5FM, when it was worth listening to. This song came on that hypnotized me; it's the only way to describe it, really. I was paralyzed. I could not move, and my ears did not want that song to release me from its spell. When the song ended, I knew I had stumbled across some kind of magic. I had to know what that was? Who that was? And what else awaited me? 

The song, "Stuck Inside of Mobile (with the Memphis Blues Again) took me on a journey that keeps showing itself in greater and more dynamic ways over 35 years later. Bob Dylan showed me that there is more to music than what shows up on the music directors list of approved songs. It's possible this was the song that propelled me deeper into my love of the art of radio?

I think I had my dad take me to Rasputin Records in Pleasant Hill so I could buy whatever record that song is on. I couldn't locate Blond on Blond that day, but I did come home with the next best thing, Highway 61 Revisited. I swear I wore that copy out in a matter of months. I felt that I had discovered this deep secret: brilliant music can be longer than 2:50 long. 

Mind. Blown.

Along my musical journey, discovering the joy of so many great artists across numerous genres, I have

always gravitated back to Dylan. How many people have said this? How many essays have been written about the man and his lyrics, not to mention the myth of BOB DYLAN? I like not being able to separate fact from fiction when it comes to his persona. I don't care to know the "real" Bob Dylan, when the shaman is much more interesting. And isn't that really what he's going for anyway?

Now, if I could just travel back to that innocent 12 year old version of me laying in bed being woken by the brilliance of Dylan, just for one moment. 

I've been asked countless time what my favorite Dylan album is, and I have to go with "Blood on the Tracks". It's a summation of everything that came before, in terms of his prose. And it's filled with emotion regarding the end of his marriage. You can feel his heart in every beat. All of his albums come close, but this one really does it for me.

What's your favorite Dylan album? Leave a comment, and please share this with all of your Dylan-loving friends. 

I merely scratched the surface with this show. 

If you missed my 6-8PM live bootleg show, you can catch it by going here. I played the 90 minute "Judas" show from May 17, 1966, followed up with a few tracks from the 1975/1976 Rolling Thunder tour, and a track from the 1986 Dylan/Petty tour. 

So much Bob Dylan for your earholes!!!

If you're looking for some reading material that'll fill up an afternoon, Rolling Stone has opened up their archives of many (all?) their Bob Dylan reviews and interviews.

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM Pacific
Radio Valencia in SF

http://radiovalencia.fm
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See That My Grave is Kept Clean
Girl From North Country
Boots of Spanish Leather
Spanish Harlem Incident

It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding
Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence (Killing Me Alive)

Meet Me In The Morning (New York Sessions)
Stuck Inside of Mobile (with the Memphis Blues Again)
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine

Million Dollar Bash
Romance in Durango
It Ain't Me, Babe, with George Harrison

Covers Set:

I Shall Be Released: The Band
Just Like A Woman: Nina Simone

Political World: Bob Dylan
I'm Not There: Sonic Youth
I Wanna Be Your Lover: Yo La Tengo

Goin' To Acapulco: Jim James and Calexico
Señor: Willie Nelson and Calexico

Tombstone Blues: Richie Havens
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue: Grateful Dead (10-10-1982)

Here's some brilliant footage from the Rolling Thunder tour from May 23, 1976, Fort Collins, Colorado.

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-10PM Pacific - Celebrating Bob Dylan's 80th Trip Around The Sun

 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

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Monday, starting at 6pm Pacific, I'm celebrating the legend, Bob Dylan, in honor of his 80th birthday. Dylan is a puzzle. Who is this guy? Some say he's a con, others say he's a thief, and still others called him a Judas. I think he's amazing! And so do millions more. He changed the direction of popular music multiple times during his illustrious career, so while he's still alive and kicking, let's celebrate the joker, the prankster, the troubadour by playing a couple hot shows from different moments of his career.

Then from 8-10PM Pacific I'll be playing select studio cuts and rarities from across his career, as well as a bunch of favorite covers.

The show I chose is a true classic. It's the "Judas" concert from May 17, 1966 in Manchester, UK. Dylan opened with an acoustic set, and then was joined by The Hawks (later to be known as The Band) for a second electric set. This upset many in the audience, who felt Dylan was turning his back on his folk roots. The recording is incredible and considered by Dylan fans to be much better than the official release from CBS, which was compressed and lost the warmth and depth of the performance.

You can find Part 2: The studio set and covers right here.

Below is the setlist for the live May 17, 1966 show I played in Part 1.

Tracks: 

Set one - Solo Acoustic:

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (soundcheck)

She Belongs To Me

Fourth Time Around

Visions Of Johanna

It's All Over Now Baby Blue

Desolation Row

Just Like A Woman

Mr. Tambourine Man

Set Two - Electric with The Hawks:

Tell Me Momma

I Don't Believe You

Baby Let Me Follow You Down

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues

Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

One Too Many Mornings

Ballad Of A Thin Man

Like A Rolling Stone

20th San Francisco Documentary Festival Discount Code!!! ***UPDATE***

Radio Valencia is a proud sponsor of the 20th San Francisco Documentary Festival

   

I love this festival. And you can even tune in from home!

I even have a 10% off discount code I want to share with you for all fest passes and streaming movies:

RadioValenciaRocks!

All festival films play here on demand between June 3-20.

Select titles are also presented live at the Roxie Theater

 June 3-17.

Here's some important information about screenings at the Roxie Theater in SF.

100% of the proceeds go to the Roxie Theater.

And here's the streaming schedule!

Hell's Kitchen Radio #437: I'm Your DJ

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There are times that I really want to send a sternly written letter to some commercial radio station, reminding them of the disservice they are doing to their listeners. It's almost as if they are some junkie pushing tainted drugs. The user doesn't even know there are quality drugs down to the left end of town (or in most cases left end of the dial). In this case on the left end of the internet. 

But why write a letter when I can just share this show, right? Should I send this show off to the program directors of the top commercial stations so they can see how much better they can be (that sounds pretty egotistical, and I didn't even need to reread it), or shall I just go to where their listeners hang out and offer them a better bang for the buck. 

Allow me to bang you. Bang you all.

It was tax day on Monday, so there are a few tunes that fit some kind of money theme, but other than that, I'm all over the place in a good way. I even improvise a bit more than usual and through in the 23 minute epic, "Echoes", by Pink Floyd. It's the greatest version you have ever heard. Tune in to find out why. I'm also falling in love with Mike Krol. This guy...sheesh!

I've been pulling out a number of anniversary box sets lately. CSN&Y, Ray Charles, The Who. I have new Ty Segall later in the show that will kick your ass. And that's what you want in a radio station, shows that will kick your ass in ways you didn't know you needed. 

Radio Valencia is here to kick your ass in all the best ways.

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Taxman: The Beatles
Snow Day: Mike Krol
Kill The Poor: Dead Kennedys
Life Is Cheap: Flipper

Free Money: Patti Smith
Mason's Children: Henry Kaiser
Millionaires Blues: Hip Lankchan

Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out: Derek and the Dominos
Greenbacks: Ray Charles
Hours of Wealth: Opeth
Echoes: Pink Floyd

I'm Your Man: Mark Growden
Untitled: Mike Krol
I Wish I Was In New Orleans: Tom Waits
Tattoo Zero: Tomahawk

Sleeper: Ty Segall and the Freedom Band
If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up: Betty Davis

Almost Cut My Hair [demo]: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Never Learn To Love: Psychic Ills

Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand [Take 1 and Take 9]: The Who

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-8PM Pacific - Neil Young November 6, 1976

 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

http://radiovalencia.fm

Grab this show right here.

Do I play you something from deep within my vault, or throw you something that is fresh off the presses? How about both?!?!?

If you're a fan of Neil Young, then you really do need to spend some time over at his Archive. It's more incredible than any fanboy or fangirl can imagine. He's starting to release more and more right now, since he has all of this extra time on his hands. Really, Neil has been busy.

This is the freshest release from his live archive: November 6, 1976 from Balch Fieldhouse, University of Colorado. The first half is Neil acoustic and solo. The second half is with his great backup band, Crazy Horse. This soundboard recording will seriously knock you for a loop. 

This show runs one hour 36 minutes, which gives me a little bit of time to throw something else in for the balance of the show. You'll just have to tune in to find out what that is.

Stick around 8-10pm Pacific, Monday night for my weekly music mix Hell's Kitchen Radio. I always have something new to share.

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Hell's Kitchen Radio #436: Lucky To Be Here

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Some nights I like to play music for you like we're hanging out on the floor in front of my dad's Hi-Fi, and I'm really excited to pull this record out, hopefully to blow your mind. I hope there are moments during this show that blow your mind. I hope that you take a moment to search out these bands, and support them by purchasing their music. 

I am damn lucky to be able to do this every week. 

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Bang The Drum All Day: Todd Rundgren
Hecho en Mexico: Money Chicha

Cease to Exist: Psychic Ills
Ridge Rider: Judee Sill
Tougher: Dale Crover

SHHH!: Tomahawk
Greener Pools: Witch Egg
Stack O'Lee: Mississippi John Hurt
Corner Seat: Virvon Varvon
1000 Years: Coachwhips

Keith Moon: Mike Krol
Tattoo (early version with commercial): The Who
Make It Better: A/LPACA

Long Shadow: Joe Strummer
Long Black Veil: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

A Love Supreme: A Love Supreme Electric (Vinny Golia- John Hanrahan- Henry Kaiser- Wayne Peet- Mike Watt)
I'm Going To Take Over: The Ethiopians

Amazing Grace: Aretha Franklin
Mother: John Lennon

Sprites: Bent Arcana
Spoonful: The Super Super Blues Band
Your Spaceman: Helios Creed

Earthen Gate: FUZZ
Good Night, Sleep Tight: Lawrence Welk Singers

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-8PM Pacific - Thin Lizzy May 14, 1976 & Cheap Trick April 27, 1998

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

http://radiovalencia.fm

Grab this show right here!

The first show tonight is from those boys from Dublin, Thin Lizzy. I was wondering for the longest time where their name came from, and I think it's based on the nickname for the Model-T, "Tin Lizzy". I could be wrong, but I'm too busy to look this up. Anyone? Anyone? Though Thin Lizzy still tours (pre-COVID), they just were never the same without frontman, bassist, vocalist, Phil Lynott. That's of course my opinion, the only one that counts...here. HA! Soundboard from this band are really hard to come by. I realized that I owned three copies of this great Detroit show from 1976. It's just so damn good. So that's the show I'm sharing tonight. Thin Lizzy live in Detroit, May 14, 1976.

Sometimes I just need some good ol' rock and roll. You know what I mean? Tonight let's rock out to two of the best 70s-era rock bands, hands down. Tonight's headliners, Chicago's Cheap Trick! "Can you honestly tell me you forgot? Forgot the magnetism of Robin Zander, or the charisma of Rick Nielsen?" Who can tell me where I stole that line from? Cheap Trick is ageless and just never slows down. I chose this stellar soundboard/FM master from The Roxy in Hollywood, April 27, 1998. I tell you, this band always fires on all cylinders. Pull out your air guitar, let your hair down, and give it up for this quartet of rockin' balladeers.

Stick around 8-10PM Pacific, Monday for my weekly music mix, Hell's Kitchen Radio. No special tonight, but I do have a lot of new music to share. 

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Hell's Kitchen Radio #435: Get On The Good Foot - James Brown Birthday Special

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Download part two: the studio Funk HERE!

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It's James Brown's birthday. Whatever you're doing isn't better than what I'm playing for the next four hours. Get on the good foot, I'm starting out with two hours of live JB throughout the years, then two hours of studio selections from across his illustrious career, focusing on my favorite era 1968 - 1975.

I was lucky to have seen the Hardest Working Man in Show Business perform live three times, and each was better than the previous. I was also honored to have interviewed him in 1992 (or was it 1993?) soon after he got out of prison, during my Friday 10am-2pm jazz, soul, funk show on KFJC, Temple of the Bird. He graciously offered my 15 minutes to talk about his music and not to bring up prison, women, or drugs. Thanks James.

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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The opening two hours, which you can find here, feature two shows from two of his hot 70s-era bands. 

July 1971 - Apollo Theater, New York City, New York

December 18, 1977 Stars at The Hotel Bradford, Boston MA

The second half of my show is all about the hot studio sessions that had us up and sweating on the good foot. See the set list below and get up on the get down.

James Brown: Nancy Dupree
Lickin' Stick, Lickin' Stick: James Brown
Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud): James Brown
Message From James Brown
Super Bad: James Brown

Doin' It To Death: Fred Wesley and the JBs
Let's Go Get Stoned: James Brown
Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year: James Brown
America Is My Home, Pt. 1: James Brown

Let A Man Come In And Do The Popcorn: James Brown
Down And Out In New York City: James Brown
Brother Rap: James Brown
Please Please Please 1974: James Brown

More Mess On My Thing: The JBs
Funky Music Is My Style: The JBs
Shake It Baby: Maceo and the Kings Men
Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved: James Brown

I Know You Got Soul: Bobby Byrd
If You Don't Give Me What I Want: Vicki Anderson
What So Never The Dance: Bootsy Collins

Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing: James Brown
My Thang: James Brown

Get On The Good Foot: James Brown