Tune into Hell's Kitchen Radio, with John Hell, every Monday night 8-10PM (Pacific), on Radio Valencia (https://radiovalencia.fm) in San Francisco. You can find my playlists and links to the podcasts right here.
Stream this unique art piece, HERE! Download this piece de resistance, HERE! Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down Subscribe to my show, via
Another night in bliss. Really, this radio thing might just go somewhere (says my 21 year old self). I had my chance to play shitty commercial shlock a long time ago. I worked at KRQR and then at KLLC-Alice FM. Worst. Jobs. EVER! "Here's what you're going to play, and here's what you're going to say. Don't deviate, if you know what's good for you". Oh joy.
Why have I continued to be involved in non-commercial, online, and pirate radio since 1988? I think it's plain to see, or hear, as it may be. Just take a look at the playlist below, and listen to any of my mic breaks. I could never do this on a commercial station. I would have been fired after my first show. And why? I'm not offending many people. I'm not swearing. I'm not any more insulting than your typical morning jock. I'm not anything like them. I host thoughtful interviews with local talent, and I play quality music from many genres. I just don't get it.
Tonight I was feeling a little blue, so we've got that in the mix, along with some country, psych, and a very tasty live Grateful Dead track from 1974. Unlike your local commercial station, there's a little something for everyone. Take a taste, and get satisfied.
Mob Rules: Black Sabbath
Pray Til You Sweat: The Flesh Eaters
The Vienna Waltz: Rube Waddell
Nobody Loves Me: Hank Snow
Red Dirt Child: Emmylou Harris
Black Eye: Uncle Tupelo
Women's Prison: Loretta Lynn
Drunken Hearted Boy: Allman Brothers Band
I Get A Kick Out Of You: Tony Bennett
I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts of Town: Jimmy Smith
I Ain't Got You: Jimmy Reed
Dimples: John Lee Hooker
Flight: Wooden Shjips
Take Me Back to the Void: Wand
Interstellar Overdrive: Pink Floyd
Eyes Of The World: Grateful Dead (09-11-74 Alexander Palace, London, England)
Lilac Wine: Jeff Buckley (live)
Check out all of my shows by going here, or just scroll down.
It's all about 7 inches tonight. 45s people! Traditionally the 45 RPM single was the hallmark of the bands current release. It was the song they wanted to feature. Unless of course you were The Beatles, whose American label: Capitol Records, would take the 14 song LP they released in Europe, take two songs off and release those as singles on their own. Record labels suck!
Over time, bands who only had a few songs to share would press them on 45. There were even ads in the back of magazines in the 1960s and 1970s that would turn you into a recording star. All you had to do was send a cassette of your song to them and they would press it on 45! There are some real winners there. And when I say "winners" I'm sure you realize how subjective that term is.
In my own youth, we had dozens of 45s in the homestead. I relate this story during the second hour of the broadcast. It was New Years 1974 I believe, and my father was late coming home from work. We were living in Toledo, Ohio, my birthplace, and my father owned a small jewelry store, Phillips Jewelers, that also sold trinkets along with fine jewelery. As he was locking up to come home and take my very patient mother out for a New Years celebration, he stopped into the store next to his own, to wish a Happy New Year to the owner of the shop that sold billiard tables, and jukeboxes.
The story goes, the owner asked my dad to come in and have a drink to celebrate the new year. My father obliged. Many drinks, and a few hours later, may father realizes that he's very late, and needs to get home. He also realizes that he better not go home empty handed.
Meanwhile my mother is dressed and ready to go out to celebrate. I'm about 4 years old at the time. My sisters are 10 and 11 years old. I'm certain we had a babysitter there too. My father is late. Very late. Mother is not pleased.
Here comes dad.
Mom opens the door. There stands my father, looking much the worse for wear. He beacons "I bought a BIG record player", and proceeds to fall flat on his face.
My father told his friend to throw a bunch of 45s into a jukebox and follow him home. It was mostly the hits of the day: R&B, Soul, Rock, and many, many Dr. Demento-type favorites, some of which I played on the show tonight.
Whatever happened to that jukebox? It lived in four of our homes, between New Years 74/75 and 1979. It even lived in my bedroom in Greensboro, North Carolina for a year, because that's the only place it would fit. It scared the hell out of me at night; it looked to me like a robot. It was huge.
But I played that thing all of the time. Every record on the machine became my friend. I understood growing up what it meant to be a "hit". Perhaps that's why I've stayed so far away from commercial radio. I think it made me allergic to hit singles! Wow, that's a serious revelation I've just had.
So tonight it's all about the "hits"! How many of these do you recall? There are some real doozies on this playlist. Listen to the podcast. I tell some fun stories, including the one you just read about. Thanks dad, for going out for that drink...or three. I'm sure it really pissed my mother off, but unbeknownst to you, that night had a profound effect upon my life.
Enjoy.
jh
A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Earache My Eye: Alice Bowie
Mary Mary: Run DMC
Unknown Museum Stomp: Phantom Surfers
I've Been Everywhere: Hank Snow
Why Can't We Live Together: Timmy Thomas
Along Came Jones: The Coasters
People Get Ready: The Chambers Brothers
Can I Get A Witness: Rod Stewart
Ruby Tuesday: The Rolling Stones
I Need You: The Kinks
The Kids Are Alright: The Who
Immigrant Song: Led Zeppelin
Peter Gunn Theme: Art of Noise
Going Back to Cali: LL Cool J
Rise Above: Black Flag
Kick Out The Jams: MC5
You Got It: Mudhoney
Gary Gilmore's Eyes: The Adverts
Major Tom (German): Peter Schilling
Fantastic Voyage: David Bowie
Me and My Arrow: Harry Nilsson
Glad All Over: The Dave Clark Five
Interplanet Janet: Man or Astroman?
Please, Please, Please: James Brown
Rubber Biscuit: Chips
My Ding-a-Ling: Chuck Berry
Shaving Cream: Benny Bill
Fish Heads: Barnes and Barnes
The Curly Shuffle: Jump 'N The Saddle
Lumberjack Song: Monty Python
Smoke Two Joints: The Toyes
17 Days: Prince
Down On The Corner: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Just take a look at this playlist! I'm all over the place tonight. There are so many tracks you have seriously been searching for, on here. I love it when I pull out five or six genres for my show. Tonight is just such a show.
Just getting you ready for the 15,000 calories your about to consume this week. Do me a favor and go for a walk BEFORE you eat. Studies show that your body will consume it better, and not weigh you down if you do this.
Also, please celebrate Buy Nothing Day, on Friday, November 23rd. It's worth it. You don't need to give your hard earned money to all those corporations, who hate you anyway.
You really do need to listen to this show.
Stream it here.
Download it here.
To listen to all of my shows you can click here, or just scroll down.
Enjoy.
Do It: Rollins Band
I've Been Working: Van Morrison
Friction: Television
Satisfaction: Cat Power
Ever Fall in Love: The Buzzcocks
Fiesta The Pogues
Whole Stole the Keishka?: Polkacide
Birdsthroat: Rin Tin Tiger
The Partisan: Leonard Cohen
Bird on a Wire: Joe Cocker
Concert Outlook
Come on Over (turn me on): Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Work It: Missy Elliott
Fuck the Pain Away: Peaches
Deception Pass: Mudhoney
School: Nirvana
Frisco Line: Rube Waddell
Do I Look Like a Slut: Avenue D
Cocaine Blues: Johnny Cash
El Paso: Marty Robbins
When the Levee Breaks: Memphis Minnie
The Runt: Hank Snow
Sweet Child o'Mine/All Out of Love: Guns and Roses/Air Supply
Am I Black Enough For Ya?: Schooly D
My Favorite Things: Negativland
Slow and Low: Run DMC
Don't Come Home A'Drinking: Loretta Lynn
What a Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
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
