Hell's Kitchen Radio #571: Que Sera SerHell

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Walking into the studio tonight I was met with at least three blocks of protesters, out in the street making their voices heard in opposition of ICE policies happening right now across the state and across the nation. As of this writing 47 is actively having National Guard and Marines(!!!!) in the streets of Los Angeles putting down peaceful demonstrations, and calling the protestors insurrectionists,  justifying his use of the posse comitatus act, which forbids the president of using active duty military in the streets of our nation.

There goes our democracy.

But you knew that already. 

The hardest part is separating the "truth" from the propaganda. I have a degree in media literacy, and I can tell you this shit is really exhausting to digest. This is one of the main reasons I quit social media. I dropped Facebook in 2020, and Instagram on Inauguration Day 2025. I just can't.

Even listening to NPR (leans left) or reading the NY Times (leans left and omits far too much) is getting unbearable. I often have to read the Guardian UK and al Jazeera to get a better idea of what is happening in our own country.

That being said, I have a platform all my own with Radio Valencia.

We have told our staff that we aren't going to censor their voices, but Radio Valencia doesn't take any political stance as a radio station. Therefore, our hosts need to state their opinions are their own, and not the stance of the station. 

Yadda, yadda, yadda.

I'm hosting former San Francisco Board of Supervisors member John Avalos on my show Monday, June 23rd to talk about the current state of affairs. John always brings good conversation. Tune in.

For tonights show I was training a new RV staffer: Max! Great guy. He's going to be hosting a Black Metal show on Mondays 4-6pm soon. I got him playing some music he brought along (marked below "- Max") and talking with me about music and his own radio history. 

I also went record shopping last week (of course I did), so there's that to look forward to. New music from Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Zig Zags, Chime Oblivion (John Dwyer of OCS side project), Teri Gender Bender (of Le Butcherettes) and too much more jazz, punk, blues, and a tribute to Sly Stone who passed at age 82 Monday morning.

Enjoy and know your rights.

jh

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

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Hate the Police: The Dicks
Goat Cheese: Mudhoney

Fucksake: Frankie and the Witch Fingers
There is the Bomb: Don Cherry

Kiss Her Or Be Her: Chime Oblivion
Fallout: Moon Duo
Beer Drinkin' Woman: Memphis Slim
Hey Hey My My (Into the Black): Neil Young and DEVO

21:32: Cluster
Outsider: Teri Gender Bender
Liquified Organs: Rawhead - Max
Cinnamon Girl (Extended Depression Mix): Type O Negative - Max
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis - Max
In Torment in Hell: Deiside - Max

Crying for Death: Morbid Saint - Max
Laid to Rest: Rotting - Max

At War With Hell: Zig Zags
Killer: Alice Cooper

Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey: Sly and the Family Stone
Runnin' Away: Sly and the Family Stone

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Self Again): Sly and the Family Stone
Que Sera Sera: Sly and the Family Stone

Hell's Kitchen Radio #554: Talking Trash with the IRD

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First show of the year, and right off the bat I have an exciting interview for you. Prog-space-b-movie-kinda-jazzy-mostly-funky trio Illogistical Resource Dept came into the studio to share their newly released third record: Cacoethes (go ahead, I dare you to pronounce it correctly the first time).

What a delight to have Dan (bass/vocals.effects), Noa (drums) and Mike (guitar) in to talk up such a wonderful collection of new music. What they do is truly magical and I can imagine the challenges of creating this music in a live setting. They talk about this and more coming up.

There are two links above, split into hour one and hour two.

Having fun with the IRD coming up right here.

Enjoy and please go buy their music!!!

jh

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

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Suspect Device: Stiff Little Fingers
Bring The Head of Jerry Garcia: Iron Prostate
Do Your Thing: Kashmir Stage Band
99 Year Blues: Hot Tuna

Interview with Illogistical Resource Department

Shrewd Awakening: IRD

Interview with Illogistical Resource Department

The Gears of Issus: IRD
The Future of Mankind: IRD

Interview with IRD

Togremelas: IRD
Hellbender's Return: IRD

Interview with IRD

Run Around: Moon Duo
Night of the Vampire: Ty Segall

Shopping: Pink Section
Cent Piasses: Population II
Don't You Make Me High: Merline Johnson
Ouroboros: GOAT

On Green Dolphin Street: Miles Davis
Mack the Knife: Ella Fitzgerald
Dead Babies: Alice Cooper

First Week/Last Week...Carefree (Acoustic Version): Talking Heads

Hell's Kitchen Radio #543: See All The Colors

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This is one of those times when I really count my blessings. Everyone has their struggles, so don't let me start getting into my own. Does any of it really matter? No. None of it matters. Holding a grudge does nothing but take the time away from having a really good time. And isn't that what we want: to have a really good time?

Why suffer? What does it bring? What have we gained by our own suffering? Experience? Isn't there any other way to grow? I've learned more lessons than blah, blah, blah. Is this what life is all about: learning lessons so as not to repeat the same mistakes over and over again? What if I learned a lesson, put in my best effort, asked all the right questions, opened myself up to scrutiny and vulnerability, articulated my boundaries, and still tripped?!

What then?

Throw it all away? Remain alone for the sake of caring for my heart? Risk appearing aloof or uncaring just so I don't have to clean up a mess that I worked diligently to avoid happen in the first place? We're not a solitary species? But what's so bad about being alone? I have my music to keep my warm. Even the kids grow up to live their own lives.

Enjoy the moment. That's all we have. Meditate on that. You can do your best to make up for the past. Take accountability even when it feels impossible. Make amends. Speak your truth with the most compassionate head and heart. Be the best listener. Ask the deeper questions. Be vulnerable and available for the criticisms that will come your way (and they will come!).

Prepare for the future, knowing as hard as you do, life has a way of throwing a lot of curveballs at you. Be calm through the storm. Flow like water. Respond, don't react. Breathe. Always breathe. And know that everyone else is going through the shit too.

All we have in now. It's only now. It's always now. Bring your best now. Now. And do not beat yourself up if the best you have now is not the same as what others are bringing. Never compare yourself to others, ever. You'll lose that battle. So don't do it. Rise above that. You're not rising above others, you're rising above the idea that others are above you. No one is above anyone else. We're all treading water in our own way. Our job is to do it as calmly as possible. Don't fight the waves. Don't fight the tide.

Flow like water.

Forgive.

Love.

Be. Here. Now.

And listen to good music. 

There's some pretty good music here. New The Jesus Lizard, Ty Segall, Dale Crover, WAND, and a bunch of other stuff I think you're going to love. I love it, anyway.

And if you want to support what we're doing, please consider donating. This is labor of love, and we all pay monthly dues to keep the lights on and the turntables spinning. We need help maintaining the equipment we have, and regularly replacing worn out parts. We also have a deep desire to update our website. If you know anyone that can donate items for a raffle please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Kasalefkut-Hulu: Mulatu Astatke
Sevda Olmasaydi: Altin Gün

Theme de Yoyo: Art Ensemble of Chicago
Down Home Girl: The Coasters

Help Save The Youth of America: Billy Bragg
Youth of America: Melvins
Bang Bang: Nancy Sinatra
The Tide is High: The Paragons

High Time: WAND
Enemy Destruct: Thee Oh Sees

Teenie Weenie Boppie: Free Kitten
Purple: Ken Nordine
Golden Gate Park: The Catheads
2 Drunk 2 Fuck: Avenue D
Fuck the Police (edit): NWA
Rudy, a Message to You: Dandy Livingstone

Lord Godiva: The Jesus Lizard
Blood Like Cream: Red Fang

I Waited Forever: Dale Crover (ft. Ty Segall)
Killer: Alice Cooper
Gathering of the Ancient Tribes: GOAT

The Dance/Walk Home Pt.2/First Touch: Ty Segall
Rise: PIL

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-8PM Pacific - James Gang (1970) & Alice Cooper (1980)

 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

http://radiovalencia.fm

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Midwest rock is where it was at back in the 70s. Seriously, if you wanted to Rock, then it was all about Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the such. I really think there wouldn't have been any arena rock if it weren't from the many bands that hailed from those states. What would have been the point? 

Can you even imagine the dreams of every young headbanger growing up in the basements of the Midwest back then, seeing themselves on the big stage, rockin' out to all the denim-clad teens, throwing the devil horns into the air?

And all that Aquanet! 

I've got a couple bands that are going to make you flash that Zippo lighter by the end of the show. 

First up is an extremely rare James Gang show. Not many of these Joe Walsh-era James Gang shows exist, and those that do are mostly audience recordings. This one from the Fillmore West in San Francisco, November 21, 1970 is a carefully remastered audience recording that really impresses me. I've had the previous version of this show for many years and already loved it. When the remaster came out I could hardly believe this wasn't a soundboard. There's a lot I could say about this band and this show, but I really think the performance speaks for itself.

What's crazy about this show is the lineup. James Gang was in support of Love with Arthur Lee. But the opening band was a very young Black Sabbath on their first tour of the United States! WOW!

Lineage: unknown stereo reel-to-reel recorder -> master stereo reel -> 1st generation stereo TDK-SA C90 cassette, Dolby B on

Your headliner tonight is the one and only birthday boy himself, Alice Cooper from El Paso, Texas, June 4, 1980. What an amazing band, and more importantly, too underrated. I never really understood why? Was is the makeup? I can't imagine. Was it the horror-theme of much of the lyrics? Maybe. Were they being overshadowed by others like Kiss, Ted Nugent, and ZZ Top? That's what I'm thinking. Frank Zappa knew what was up, signing them to his label. Smart guy, that Zappa fella. Whatever happened to him? This show is taken from a "Supergroups in Concert" broadcast, October 25, 1980...right before Halloween. I cut out the DJ banter and interviews, and leave you with just the music. You're welcome.  

Vicent Furnier (aka: Alice Cooper) was born in Detroit, Michigan but moved to Phoenix, Arizona as a young teen. I like to think the Midwest Rock sound is in his DNA. Cooper turned 74 on February 4th.

Lineage: Vinyl>VPI HW 16.5 Record Vacuum>VPI MK III/Audioquest PT-6 Arm/AT OC-9 Cartridge>Sony CDRW 33 Pro Cd Recorder>CDRW>WAV>CD WAV>Flac 

Support these bands. Buy their officially released music and merch, and never ever sell live bootlegs. These are for trade only. 

Stick around Monday's 8-10PM Pacific for my weekly music mix, Hell's Kitchen Radio. Lots of new music to share with you every week.

Enjoy and pay it forward.

jh

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Hell's Kitchen Radio #415: Good For What Ails Ya

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A two hour radio show is like foreplay without the deep thrusting you're all hungry for. That being said, I'm going to give it to you in a variety of ways throughout this show, even if we don't have all the time in the world to enjoy one another's company. It'll just have to do. 

Is it hot in here, or is it just this laptop sitting on my legs for too many months?

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Pirate Radio: Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper

Freddie's Dead: Fishbone

Gutter Cat vs. The Jets: Alice Cooper

Come On Over (Turn Me On): Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Not A Crime: Gogol Bordello

She Cried: Jay and the Americans

I'm A Liar: The Gorillas

Cry Baby Cry (Acoustic Demo): The Beatles

Crystal Frontier: Calexico

They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore: Kinky Friedman

Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile

She Loves Me: Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret

Señor: Willie Nelson and Calexico

Orange Was The Color of Her Dress, Then Blue: Charles Mingus (April 10, 1964, Amsterdam, DK)

Deep Fried Frenz: MF Doom

Señorita: Ovarian Trolley

Bang Bang: Kelly Willis

Masikulu: Konono No1

The Leibniz Language: Le Butcherettes

Rumble: Link Wray

Voice of Chunk: The Lounge Lizards

Filipino Box-Spring Hog: Tom Waits

Hell's Kitchen Radio #315: Barbie Stole My Donut

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What was your favorite childhood toy? I used to love my Space 1999 spaceship. Loved it! I loved it more than the Star Wars toys I accumulated, probably because I really didn't care so much for the Star Wars franchise. I know, I know, shoot him now! I was more of a Trekkie. Did anyone own a Barbie? Did you own more than one? Did you own a Ken? Did you make them swap clothing? Did you have them make out? Did you take them apart and turn them into grotesqueries? My guest Monday night is all about turning Barbie and her friends into works of contemporary art.

Julie Anderson has curated "Altered Barbie" since 2003, hosting many multi-media artists who use Barbie as their muse, their canvas, their medium. We take the first hour and talk to her and singer Ethel Merman (who is performing at the opening reception this Saturday night) about the history of the event, the history of Barbie, legal issues and great art experiences.

I'm planning on attending the opening reception this Saturday night and I strongly urge you to come down and have a great night. It's absolutely worth every second, and you can walk out with some great art!

The gallery is located at Back to the Picture, 934 Valencia Street in San Francisco
Gallery hours: Monday - Saturday 10AM-6PM, Sunday 12PM-5PM

The remainder of the night focuses on recent live acquisitions that I'm excited to share with you.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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In The Flesh: Pink Floyd
This Year's Kisses: Billie Holiday + Lester Young
Buckets of Rain: Bob Dylan

Stormy Monday: Allman Brothers
I Don't Want to Talk About It: Delaney, Bonnie and Friends

Interview with Julie Anderson and Ethel Merman of Altered Barbie

Barbie Girl: Aqua
Million Dollar Babies/I Love the Dead/Million Dollar Babies: Alice Cooper (June 4, 1980 El Paso)

Stinkfoot: Frank Zappa and the Mother's of Invention (November 9, 1974 Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA)
Into the Groovy: Sonic Youth

You Know You Know: Mahavishnu Orchestra (April 21, 1972 Music Hall, Cleveland, OH)

Lusitanos: Weather Report (May 4, 1975 Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA)
Dancing in the Streets: Grateful Dead (January 3, 1970 Fillmore East, NYC)

This here is the very first Barbie commercial from 1959. It's also the very first mass marketed toy to kids. Check it out, and thanks to Ethel Merman for sharing this with us on the show.

Hell's Kitchen Radio #293: Something Borrowed, Something Blue

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Rain makes me nostalgic. It reminds me of when I was younger and was first hearing tunes that I really connected with. I remember walking around San Mateo, south of San Francisco, as a teenager with my headphones on listening to Led Zeppelin and hungry for more. I remember hearing bands like Judas Priest and wanting to eat up everything Metal. I think about my growing love of the Grateful Dead, starting around 1983 when I was 13.

Tonight's show is all about discovery. It's the feeling you get when you hear something you've never heard before, but it gets all up in ya, and you have to have more. We're lucky to live in a world where media is at our fingertips, but that still doesn't change the sensation one gets when they hear something new and they just have to have more of it.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Into the Void: Black Sabbath
Sacrifice: Glitter Wizard

Gyre: Meatbodies
Second Coming/Ballad of Dwight Fry: Alice Cooper

Paper: Ty Segall
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Willie Nelson
Polly (Demo): Kurt Cobain
Night Goat: Melvins

Greedy Man: James Brown
Oh My People: Last Poets

Love Buzz: Nirvana (1991-11-25 - Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL)
Rockin' In The Free World: Neil Young (04-07-1990 Indiana Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN)

Little Girl Blue: Nina Simone (12-1977 Theater Royal Drury Lane, London, England)
Hitler/All Hail The American Night/The Holy Shah: Jim Morrison (March 1969 Los Angeles, CA)
54-46 Was Her Number: Toots and the Maytals (1976 The Longbrach Saloon, Berkeley, CA)

Walk Away: James Gang (02-26-2001, Allen Theater, Cleveland, OH)
The Green Manalishi: Judas Priest (11-04-1979 The Palladium, NYC, NY)

Parchment Farm: Blue Cheer
Pepsi Jingle: T-Rex
Rock And Roll Queen: Mott the Hoople

The Falcon Has Landed: Fu Manchu

Hell's Kitchen Radio #243: 1975! ANNUAL ANNUAL

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1975! What a year! What do you recall? I was five years old, and living in Toledo, Ohio. My aunt, who worked at Peaches Records bought me the first five KISS LPs, so naturally, KISS was my first favorite band. That's all I really remember about that year.

Being older, and a scholar of music and culture, I can tell you that 1975 was a real crossover year. The 60s were definitely over by this time. Music was moving a bit more into the "Yacht Rock" era, and Disco was starting to emerge as well. Funk was at its creative peak. Punk wouldn't really break onto the scene for another year, and metal was also still in its infancy. It was a weird year.

Some of my favorite records were released this year: Physical Graffiti, Nighthawks at the Diner, and Blood on the Tracks, just to name a few.

Along with Eric McFadden and Delphine de St Paer, we delve into the many faces of 1975 last Monday night. We just barely scratch the surface in two hours time. Take a look at the playlist below, and click on the links above to stream or download this show.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Tonight's the Night: Neil Young
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain: Willie Nelson
Rhinestone Cowboy: Glen Campbell

The Black Widow: Alice Cooper
Hunters and Collectors: Can
Dolemite: Ben Taylor
Fight the Power: The Isley Brothers
Fire: Ohio Players

Ten Years Gone: Led Zeppelin
Across The Universe: David Bowie
Motorhead: Hawkwind
Dammit Janet: Rocky Horror Picture Show
Dunkirk: Camel

Chocolate City: Parliament
Muffin Man: Frank Zappa
Shelter From The Storm: Bob Dylan
Eggs and Sausage: Tom Waits

Deuce: Kiss
The Jungle Line: Joni Mitchell
Death on Two Legs: Queen
King Soloman's Marbles: Grateful Dead

Rose in the Heather/Beggar's Day: Nazareth

Hell's Kitchen Radio #240: A Rainy Night At Radio Valencia

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It's Sunday night, and I realized that I have yet to post my blog from last Monday. What the hell was I thinking?!?!? It's been one busy week, I can assure you. But that is no excuse for not getting the people what they want. And you want quality radio podcasts, don't you? Don't lie to me. I know how much you enjoy my well-considered playlists. I know you wait with baited breath for my mic breaks, where I'll wax poetic about the San Francisco of yore. Or perhaps, I'll bitch and complain about the cost of rents? Last Monday I think I went on a bender about a former student of mine (I'm a local SF public school teacher, but you knew that, because you tune in regularly and listen to me talk about my kids), and how falsely (?) blamed him for stealing my door stop, which just so happened to be a plastic baby's arm.

Now you too can stream or download this show and relive that fabulous story, and many more. This show also featured a tribute to the great jazz engineer, Rudy Van Gelder, on his 91st birthday. I played a few rain songs in celebration of the fact that it rained in SF for the first time in about 6 months, and I played a few songs to get you ready for our crappy election, where our lame "I'm never going to run for mayor" Mayor won a second term. Douchebag.

There's a very slowed down Alvin and the Chipmunks song, some classic rock you may or may not have ever heard before, new music from noteworthy local bands, and more.

Check out the playlist below.

This Monday night I'm excited to have local rockers Happy Fangs in the studio, where I won't ask them one damn question about themselves, their new record, or their tour. No I won't. Nope. Instead, they're guest DJing, which means I get to kick back and let them make the playlist.

Tune in every Monday night from 8-10PM for the finest in the fine sounds going down in the downtown, with me, John Hell. You can also subscribe to my iTunes podcast link and get the show downloaded to your iTunes every week. You can find the link above. Thanks to the over 300 of you who subscribe already!

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Billie's Bounce: Charlie Parker
Status Quo: Cliff Jordan and John Gilmore

Ease Back: Grant Green
Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammad

Rain: Bernadette Seacrest and her Yes Men
See The Sky About To Rain: Neil Young
Make it Rain: Tom Waits

Rainy Night in SOHO: The Pogues
I'll Be Your Lover Too: Van Morrison
Every Mother's Son: Traffic
What Do You Want From Life: The Tubes

Southern Politician: Willie DeVille
Elected: Alice Cooper
Call Me (slowed down): Alvin and the Chipmunks

Paranoid: Golden Void
Headbanger: King Tuff
We Are What You Are: White Hills
Careful With That Axe, Eugene: Pink Floyd

European Son: Thee Oh Sees

Cold, Rain and Snow: The Grateful Dead

A Season in Hell #157: Time For The Radio Generation

Happy New Year! Back on the air after 3 weeks off.

I've been reading "From the Velvets to the Voidoids", and it's got me all in a tither about music from the East Coast and Midwest, circa 1969-1979. I've always enjoyed this era, but haven't known too much about the inner workings and incestuousness of it until now. WOW! Get this book. Starts with the VU, heads over to Detroit to cover the MC5 and the Stooges, before heading down to Cleveland, and back to NYC. So much to enjoy. And with that, it got me wanting to share the music of this time and place with you.

I've also got a few SF garage rockers for good measure. There was a recent story in the SF Weekly (a rag I used to hardly touch, but since the way the Guardian has gone down hill since their sale, AND because my dear friend Sherilyn Connelly writes for them, I give them a chance to win me over. Covering Radio Valencia in a recent issue helped) about the garage rock scene in SF (or what's left of it since Ty Segall left for LA, and Thee Oh Sees are on hiatus). Anyway, the article reminded me of a few other fine bands still rockin' it out in SF, including CCR Headcleaner, who I play tonight.

This show rocks, and I think you'll agree.

I was thinking about the "Velvets" book I'm reading and it reminded me of a few other books that you should have in your library, if you enjoy rock-journalist biographies by era. I recommend that you check out the following:
"Our Band Could Be Your Life", by Michael Azerrad
"England's Dreaming", by Jon Savage
"Please Kill Me", by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain

These are all excellent and essential reads, and you'll run out to grab all the music that you read about and (re)listen to it all with fresh ears.

Make your ears happy and stream this here.
Download this piece of Americana here.
Take all of my shows with you by going here, or just scroll down.

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
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Enjoy.

jh


It's Hard To Be Humble: Mac Davis
Is It My Body: Alice Cooper
Five Years: David Bowie

Satellite Of Love: Lou Reed
Land: Patti Smith

Rocket Reducer #62: MC5
TV Eye: The Stooges
Jet Boy: New York Dolls

Marie Marie: The Blasters
Electricity: Captain Beefheart
I'm Gonna Dig Up Howlin' Wolf: Mojo Nixon
It Ain't Going to Save Me: Jay Reatard

High School: Ty Segall and Mikal Cronin
Fixx the Fan: CCR Headcleaner
Maze Fancier: Thee Oh Sees
Jugband Blues: Pink Floyd

Crystal Liaison: The Fugs
California Sun: The Dictators
Hong Kong Garden: Siouxsie and The Banshees
Talk to Me: Pere Ubu
Religion: PIL

Dozen Girls: The Damned
Touch My Evil: Lydia Lunch
Hang onto your Ego: The Beach Boys

Heartbreaker: Motorhead

A Season in Hell #111: 1972, It Was A Very Good Year

It's all about 1972.

A year ago I did a 1971 show that kicked serious ass. Funny enough I forgot all about it until about a week ago, when I asked myself when that show was. Sure enough it was a year ago this week!

Similar to that show, this one is chock full of rock, progressive, pop, folk, funk and soul. Genres were so distinctive back then. You could hear the influences, but they didn't cross over, like many do today.

By 1972, it's obvious the 60's have been left far behind. Gone are the songs about rainbows and unicorns (except for that song about unicorns and rainbows, by YES). In are the songs about drivin' through the night in your Chevy, your baby by your side, as you're on the hunt for the Devil and the Pusherman.

Almost every track played in the show tonight was off vinyl records. Yes, records. Try not to think about the truly staggering amount of oil that it takes to make a record.

I was also happy to have a visit from KFJC DJ, Dominic Trix. He's a legend, having hosted some seriously fabulous shows at Wave of the West for over twenty years. He knows his music. You can hear us banter about in hour two.

You know you want to download this classic showcase.
Or perhaps it would be more efficient to stream this particular gem.
I know, I know, you want to hear all of my previous show. Who can blame you? Go here, or scroll down.

Crazy Horses: The Osmonds
Snowblind: Black Sabbath

Gutter Cats Vs. The Jets: Alice Cooper
When My Baby's Beside Me: Big Star
Devil Eyes: Tim Buckley
Things Behind the Sun: Nick Drake

And You And I: Yes
Sweet Jane: Mott the Hoople
Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast: Wayne Newton
Can You Dance to It?: Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys

Pusherman: Curtis Mayfield
Get on the Good Foot: James Brown

Green Bubble Raincoated Man: Amon Duu II
Call Any Vegetable: Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention
My Ding-A-Ling: Chuck Berry

Dominic Trix Visits

Get My Rocks Off: Dr. Hook
C'mon Everybody: Humble Pie
Chevrolet: ZZ Top
Let It Rock: Bob Segar

Am I Losing You: The Partridge Family

A Season in Hell #96: I'll Skin You Alive

I AM NOT A LIAR! That being said, this is one fine show. When is the last time you listened to radio as a piece of art? Really, when? Radio is supposed to be a place where the DJ takes his or her VAST knowledge of musical history, and weaves it together to tell a story in a 2-4 hour period. At Radio Valencia we do it in two hour bites.

You're lucky, we don't rehash the same old crap that the commercial stations love to force down your throat. Nope, not here. At Radio Valencia we carefully craft shows that are thick and robust in flavor. Our shows you can take with you, and visit when nights are lonely.

Come on, take John Hell to bed. You know you want to.

If you would care to listen to my deep, velvety voice in bed, click here.
If you wish to stream me into your subconscious, click here.
If you strongly desire to inhale each and every show I've done for the past two years, click here.

Enjoy.

Do It: Rollins Band
Buffalo Skinners: Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston
Jubilee Train/Do Re Mi/Promised Land: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men

Pretty Boy Floyd: The Byrds
Song For Woody: Bob Dylan

Song of the Prisoner: Hank Snow
Liar: Steve Martin
Dear Believer: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Soul Of Fire: Witch
Go To Hell: Alice Cooper

Kneel and Pray: Deep Purple (08-24-69 Amsterdam, Holland)
A Quick One While He's Away: The Who (09-29-69, Amsterdam, Holland)

Tekufah: Electric Masada (09-26-03, Tonic, NYC)

Aiethiopia: Sun Ra

My Generation: Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen (11-26-76, The Bottom Line NYC)
What a Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

A Season in Hell #63: Radio Valencia: 1971, It Was A Very Good Year

I've always held a special place in my heart for 1971. I wasn't born in that year. I was born in 1970, but the music from '71 was simply amazing in so many ways. It was that year that we begin to see the emergence of many genres: R&B, Soul, Blues, and Jazz had already been around for a while, but now more genres of Rock n' Roll begin to emerge. This is not your father's Rock n' Roll. Funk, psychedelic, progressive, and ambient genres begin to really showcase themselves at this time. And of course, some truly classic albums (remember albums?) that the classic rock radio stations play too much of, were released that year. 

Tonight on A Season in Hell, with John Hell, I play some of my favorite tunes from that great year. Tune in and enjoy. Heck, you can even download the archived show as well, and enjoy it in 2071. 

Stream it here.

It's Hard to be Humble: Mac Davis
Muswell Hillbilly: The Kinks

I'm 18: Alice Cooper
Dr. Boogie: Flaming Groovies
Magic Fingers: Frank Zappa
Kandy Korn: Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band

Country Road: Grand Funk Railroad
Sister Ann: MC5
Yours is no Disgrace: Yes

Grandma's Hands: Bill Withers
Man In Black: Johnny Cash
Nevada Fighter: Michael Nesmith & The First National Band

Tamalpais High: David Crosby
I Don't Want To Be A Soldier: John Lennon
Masters Of The Universe: Hawkwind
Seven Stones: Genesis
The Supermen: David Bowie

Done Somebody Wrong: Allman Brothers Band
Hard to Handle: Grateful Dead (08-06-71)

Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved: James Brown