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 #388: This Is Not A Test

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If you're like me, you get bored really easily. Surprisingly I'm not that bored these days. Granted, it's like Groundhogs Day over here, and my hygiene is questionable, but I have plenty of things to take up my time. After all, I have a toddler running around the house. And there a lot of music to enjoy. I know the first place I want to head to when all of this is past us is to any one of the many local record stores in my hood. Please please please reopen. I have been doing my part from home however. I have bought some records, digitally, and even a few LPs I hope are delivered before this pandemic passes. The record business is essential, isn't it?

So, we're moving into month two of this thing. How have you evolved as a being during this time? Respond in the comments with your most creative creation. I'm reading more for pleasure, playing my guitar, and using leftover food in ways I never though could be done. Food is art. Who knew?

As for this show you are about to listen to (and thanks in advance for doing so), it's still about diving deeper into my digital library. It seems that I have an awful lot of music on these hard drives. And you're better for it.

The only downside to hosting a radio show from my bedroom is the energy is not nearly the same as when I'm rockin' out from behind the studio console. I'm more quiet because I have a toddler being put to bed in the next room. He really needs to learn to just deal with the volume, right? Thanks.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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God's Away On Business: Tom Waits
Wafer O' Darkness: Three Day Stubble
Buck Wylin': Terminator X

Little Red Hen Blues: Taj Mahal
Life's A Gas: T. Rex
Mark of Vaccination: Slim Cessna's Auto Club
This Land Is Your Land: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Mexican Radio: Wall of Voodoo
Turiya And Ramakrishna: Alice Coltrane
God's Been Drinking: Bernadette Seacrest and Her Yes Men

I'm A Greedy Man: James Brown
Do I Look Like A Slut: Avenue D
Anarchy In The Ukk: Boredoms

Kill the President: Coffin Break
Right On For The Darkness: Curtis Mayfield
Texas To Ohio: Damien Jurado
Ghost Town: First Aid Kit

Working Class Hero: John Lennon
Touch My Evil: Lydia Lunch
Diversion: Ty Segall
Deceptacon: Le Tigre

There's A Riot Going On: Monophonics
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #312: The Oddball Mashup

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Tonight I'm training a new Radio Valencia DJ: Andre Champaign. Andre took over the first 30 minutes of my show, and it was a dub-lovers delight! Two sweet sets that'll get your toes a-tappin'. and your body swaying.

Andre also inspired my sets. Since my recent move I've been finding items in my library I had forgotten all about. I was told in my radio youth to never draw attention to a mistake; the listeners won't notice anyway. I took that to heart, but added never draw attention to a mistake UNLESS you can make it an artform! You can hear what I mean in my final mic break of the evening. HA!

I was hoping to do a 7" special soon called "The Return of the Magnificent 7", but in my recent move I lost a box of items, including ALL of my 7"s. I cannot begin to tell you how sore I am about this loss. I also lost a few DVDs and important books. Ugh. I hate the idea of having to rebuild my collection. But that's how it goes. As bad as I fee about this, I cannot define my identity by what I own. In the end, I still love music; it's my drug of choice. You can count on me to continue to curate two hours of aural bliss every Monday night.

I do still have a John Zorn special that I'm planning for this Fall. I'm still not certain how many hours and how many parts it will be. There is so much good music to choose from this grand composer/musician. So we have that to look forward to, which is good.

Check out the playlist below and click the stream or download link above to listen.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Andre Champaign Set:

Airbag: Easy Star All Stars
Safe from Harm: doublestandart
Speak to Me/Breathe: Easy Star All Stars
A Little Dub From My Friends: Easy Star All Stars

Night Nurse: Cottonbelly
Teardrop: Massive Attack
Diffraction: Com Truise

John Hell Set:

Double Six: Lee "Scratch" Perry
George Bush Don't Like Black People: Legendary KO
Do I Look Like A Slut: Avenue D

Turku: Erkin Koray
Ocean Breathes Salty: Sun Kil Moon

You Can't Catch Me: Chuck Berry
Dirt: The Stooges
Buck Whylin': Terminator X

A Better Tomorrow: Dan the Automator and Kool Keith
Hallogallo: Neu!

Killer Sounds From Outer Space: Turn Me On Dead Man
Half Way To A Threeway: Jim O'Rourke
The Passenger: Wall of Voodoo

Que Sera Sera: Doris Day

If you haven't seen Kanye West's justified diatribe about the treatment of Blacks in New Orleans following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, see the video below. I play the Legendary KO song around 40 minutes into my show that was inspired by Kanye's words. Just look at the face of Mike Meyers. HA!