Hell's Kitchen Radio #518: 13th Annual Annual: 1991

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When I was considering what year I was going to play for you for my 13th annual Annual Annual, I was a bit stumped. Every year has something amazing to offer. Where do I go? Back to the 50s? I haven't done that decade yet. Something in the past decade? Too soon? I turned 21 in 1991 (you do the math). Sounded perfect to me.

I was living in my first apartment, in Redwood City, CA. I was on the air at KFJC, hosting a morning show. There was no such genre known as Alternative at that time, until Smells Like Teen Spirit hit the airwaves. Thanks Nirvana. Ah, the memories. 

And college radio was popping back in 1991. Hip Hop, metal, indie-rock, industrial, shoegaze. There was so much to play back then. So many bands went on to influence the generation that followed. I'm not one to live in the past, but a show like this one allows me to shine a light on a year that really set a standard for what would follow.

Sadly, this was, in my opinion, the last year that non-commercial and college radio would be on the forefront when it came to breaking new artists. The consolidation of radio, Napster, and then streaming took that power out the hands of programmers, those who live and breathe music, and placed it into the hands of the corporatocracy. I was interning at KRQR back then in San Fransisco. I recall the music director blindly putting the playlist together for the DJs, without a thought of what songs worked well together. She was pulling from national lists of songs in the AOR top 20. Now MDs just allow Spotify to dictate the playlists. It's insulting. I'll remind you all that I do not have a Spotify account.

That's why you tuned in tonight, and that's why I have this show to share with you, that will take you back to a time when the artists and the DJs teamed together to bring your something special on the regular. 

If you're interested in the previous 11 editions of my Annual Annual, take a look below.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

2011 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1971
2012 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1972
2013 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1973
2014 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1974
2015 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1975
2016 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 2006
2017 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1992
2018 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1983
2019 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1969
2020 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1980
2021 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1978
2022 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1968

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

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Hog Leg: Melvins
Ring Ring Ring: De La Soul
Buck Whylin': Terminator X

By The Time I Get To Arizona: Public Enemy
Ace in the Hole: 3rd Bass

Scenario: A Tribe Called Quest

Housework: Fishbone

This Year in History Part One

Squeeze Me Macaroni: Mr. Bungle

Tommy the Cat: Primus
Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile

Tunic (For Karen): Sonic Youth

This Year in History Part Two
Drain You (BBC Sessions): Nirvana
Emma: Urge Overkill

Little Fluffy Clouds: The Orb
Doctor Jeep: Sisters of Mercy
Rave Down: Swervedriver

The Power of Pussy (BBC Sessions): Bongwater

The Hurdy Gurdy Man: Butthole Surfers

The Wagon: Dinosaur Jr.

It's Shoved: Melvins

Hell's Kitchen Radio #511: No Shame In My Game

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My high school years (84-88) were mostly spent in San Mateo, California; about 15 miles south of San Francisco. It was a really great place to grow up in the 80s. I was the kind of kid who enjoyed making my way across the high school campus at lunch, talking to many different kids of groups. In the immortal words of Edie McClurg, I was pretty close to "the sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads". I was also one to bring many of these groups together, especially at weekend parties.

I used to hang out with the Odeski brothers: Scott, Howie and Nicki. These three were close in age and loved one another as much as they could hate on one another. I think Scott and Howie had a fight with baseball bats at one time? Their mother owned a lot of property in Foster City (right next to San Mateo), and local officials wanted her to sell much of that property to the city, which she regularly declined, so local law enforcement would harass her sons, often arresting on trumped up charges and then not following through, just to intimidate the family. They were used to it. Foster City cops were notorious in their intimidation tactics towards teens as it was. I learned to hate cops then and there. 

They had a big home, and turned their 2-car garage into Nicki's bedroom. And what a room! They put in the work to make it the real deal, along with video games, foosball table, pool table, television, bar, neon signs, and a sweet stereo. 

This is where I got my earliest education on Rap and Hip Hop. To be honest, we all called it Rap. I'm not sure when Hip Hop entered the vernacular, but it wasn't around us in the 80s.

Nicki was always playing Rap. He did a lot of record shopping and had the latest 12". LL Cool J, Eric B and Rakim, Ice T, NWA, Public Enemy, Kool Moe Dee, Salt and Peppa, BDM, Biz Markie, Schoolly D, Slick Rick, Too Short, Too Live Crew, and so much more.

I was a DJ at the very popular local ice rink, Ice Capades Chalet, at Fashion Island Mall, nearby. I bought records every week for that job, so I was also buying 45s and 12"s of these artists and so many more. I was also very much into punk, metal, psych and the Grateful Dead, so it's safe to say my early music education was expanding by leaps and bounds with Rap being added in.

I was also working for Good Vibrations Mobile DJs, spinning at weddings (oh so many weddings), school dances, birthday parties, and more. I was allowed to bring the DJ console to my high school every so often to spin at lunch in the quad. That was so much fun. I recall one instance when I placed "Walk This Way" by Run DMC on the turntable and let it roll. It was a huge hit at that time, and I really enjoyed it. Half way through the tune I slowly dragged the needle across the record (SACRILEGIOUS!!!!!) and then started up the Aerosmith version. I did for affect, obviously. I think I even made some comment on the mic like "this isn't how it's supposed to go...riiiiiiiiiipppppp. Here ya go!" So lame, but I was 16, so what do you want?

My years at KFJC (88-97) just added to my growing appreciation of Rap and Hip Hop. And what an excellent era it was for that genre. 

So on Monday night I wanted to pay tribute to this long-lasting and ever-evolving genre. I am truly happy it wasn't the fad that so many said it would be. This show isn't any kind of retrospective; it's just me playing some of my favorites in two hours. I kept the mic breaks to a minimum so the music would tell the tale. And yes, most of what I played was released between 87-95. That's my favorite era! 

That's not to say there isn't a lot happening now that I don't love. I'm a big MF Doom fan, as well as Kendrick Lamar, and many more. I still shy away from pop of any genre, so the pop Hip Hop doesn't do anything for me. 

I may bring Little Lauson Hell on again soon for her to play her favorite Hip Hop of this past decade. She has a lot on her playlist that I need to dive deep into. 

Enjoy and please share this gem.

Happy 50th Hip Hop! Let's hear it for many more awesome decades to come!

jh

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

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Laugh, Love, Fuck: The Coup
JBs Comin' Through: Jungle Brothers
The Cactus: 3rd Bass

Car Thief: Beastie Boys
Potholes In My Lawn: De La Soul
Resurrection: Common
Am I Black Enough For Ya: Schoolly D

Ten Crack Commandments: Notorious BIG
Protect Your Neck: Wu Tang Clan
Don't Believe The Hype: Public Enemy

Buck Whylin': Terminator X
One Time For The Rebel: Son of Bazerk
Back in the Old Days of Hip Hop: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Earth People: Dr. Octagon
Run This Town: Jay-Z (featuring Rihanna)
Come On Down: Big Daddy Kane
Soul Brother #1: Pete Rock and CL Smooth
I'm On The Mic: KRS-One

Rapp Snitch Knishes: MF Doom
Search 4 The Lyte: MC Lyte
Samba Soul: N.A.S.A. (featuring DJ Qbert, Q-Tip and Del the Funkee Homosapien)

Steady Mobbin': Ice Cube
No Shame in My Game: Gang Starr
Sucker MCs: Run DMC

Brother Rap: James Brown

Hell's Kitchen Radio #261: Give The DJ Some

Stream FUNK/METAL/AMBIENT/DRONE, HERE!
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Today is a day of celebration! May 3rd is the birthday of the Godfather of Soul, the HARDEST working man in show business (when he was still alive), Mr. Please Please Please, Mr. I Feel Good, Mr. Sex Machine: JAMES BROWN!

And to celebrate what would have been his 83rd birthday, I'm doing the only thing that I can: play one full hour of JB and JB related tunes. Specifically I'm playing some tracks you don't hear much on the radio, as well as a "Funky Drummer" set, as that tune is the most sampled tune in the history of music. I personally believe that drummer Clyde Stubblefield deserves a royalty each time his sick rhythm is copped.

To continue the party join me on KFJC Tuesday night, 6-10, where I host the prime time slot of the annual "Doin' It To Death" 28 hour James Brown birthday party!

In the second hour of tonight's show I feature two of my favorite bands, both of which are coming to town this week: Boris (playing New Parish in Oakland on Thursday, May 5th) and Melvins, featuring Steve McDonald of Redd Kross/OFF on bass (playing Slims on Thursday, May 5th, and Friday, May 6th along with Melt Banana and Napalm Death). You get 30 minutes of Melvins, followed by 30 minutes of Boris.

I'm going to both, but am having a hard time understanding why Boris would opt to play on the same night as the Melvins (Thursday), when they owe their existence (actually just their name) to them? It feels sacrilegious.

This is quite possibly the strangest themed show I have ever done. Maybe not.

Did you miss my Prince tribute show from last week? What a time that was. You can catch it by clicking here.

Remember to tune into KFJC all day May 3rd for the James Brown birthday extravaganza "Doin' It To Death". I'm hosting the prime time slot tonight, 6-10 (PDST). Spread the word.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Anti-Drug P.S.A.: James Brown
Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing: James Brown

I Feel Good (1975): James Brown
The Boss: James Brown
Caledonia: James Brown

There Was A Time (1970): James Brown
Funky Drummer (Bonus Beat Reprise): James Brown

***Funky Drummer Set***
Rebel Without a Pause: Public Enemy
Magic Number: De La Soul

I Am Stretched On Your Grave: Sinead O'Conner
Fuck the Police: NWA

The Talking Horse: Melvins
Hag Me: Melvins

Return of Spiders: Melvins (Alice Cooper cover)
Boris: Melvins
Billy Fish: Melvins

Blackout: Boris
Statement: Boris

Feedbacker 1: Boris
Tokyo Wonder Land: Boris

Tu La La: Boris

Check out one of the finest live performances from James Brown and the JB's from 1971.

A Season in Hell #162: Shareef Ali Says Hi

It's always so much fun hosting local talent. And when the local talent is one who keeps improving on his craft, then it's even more fun to have them back again and again. Tonight Shareef Ali
is back in the Season in Hell studio to share music from his upcoming release "A Place to Remember the Dead". Check it out.

To download this and say you heard it when...go here.
To stream this talent straight into your earhole, go here.
To listen to all of my previous wonders, go here, or just scroll down.

Enjoy.

jh

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Ghetto Thang: De La Soul
Funky Kingston: Toots & the Maytals

Maxwells Silver Hammer By John: The Beatles
Sophisticated Cissy: The Meters

Interview with Shareef Ali

Reno: Shareef Ali
I Want to Kiss Death: Shareef Ali

Interview with Shareef Ali

Tuscon: Shareef Ali
The Tenderness in Me: Shareef Ali

Interview with Shareef Ali

Museum of Heart: Dave Alvin And The Guilty Men, Downtown Brew, San Luis Obispo, CA 10-03-07
Crawling King Snake/Baby Please Don't Go: Eric Burdon and the Animals 13-11-21
Parkstad Limburg Theater Heerlen, The Netherlands

The Desperate Kingdom of Love: Giant Sand
Got A Good Mind to Give Up Living: Fleetwood Mac Fillmore West 69-01-17

Needle and the Damage Done: Neil Young Farm Aid 8 1995-10-01 Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY
Only Son of a Ladies Man: Father John Misty 01-09-13 Headliners Music Hall, Louisville, KY
The Race is On: George Jones Gillies-Pasadena, TX 1979
Run, Rabbit Run, Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, SF, CA 10-05-2012

Walking Lightly: Junip Live In Session On MBE KCRW FM 2013-05-30
Stagger Lee: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 04-09-13 Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, SF, CA

Forty Thousand Headmen: Traffic 11-18-70, Fillmore East - New York City