Random Soundchecks: Recent Episodes

Mark Balletto

Mark Balletto and My Record Player present Rock and Roll Love Letters in a time of plague and worry.

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Screaming Trees, "Singles", and RIP Mark Lanegan.

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10,000 Maniacs, roses, and is there still time?

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The Flaming Lips, everyone, and some day.

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Raydio, Ray Parker Jr., and Wikipedia.

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Keith Whitley, Paul Overstreet, and Don Schlitz.

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Edwin Starr, Norman Whitfield, and Barrett Strong.

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Go West, young white man's blues, and pretending.

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The Who, Pete Townshend, and Hiwatt amps.

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Neil Sedaka, Phil Cody, and flooding in the winter.

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Backstreet Boys, Max Martin, and you love it fess up.

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A-ha, A-F#, and I'll be coming.

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Carly Simon, Marvin Hamlisch, and Carole Bayer Sager.

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"Weird Al" Yankovic, some big game, and you suck.

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Céline Dion, DallasK, and I ain't gonna save you.

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Boy Meets Girl, Shannon Rubicam, and George Merrill.

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Madonna, Patrick Leonard, and "At Close Range".

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Captain & Tennille, Toni Tennille, and Daryl Dragon.

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Olivia Newton-John, John Farrar, and Tom Snow.

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Debbie Gibson, teen spirit, and dream come true.

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Beatles, downstrokes, and diamonds.

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Gregory Abbott, quiet storms, and Eeny-meeny-miny-mo.

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Dolly Parton, B. J. Thomas, and here I go a-modulatin'.

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Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, and Ray Price.

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Queen, Freddie Mercury, and Brian May.

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Burt Bachrach, Hal David, and Jackie DeShannon.

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Otis Redding, Steve Cropper, and your turn.

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Charismatic preachers, television screamers, and you.

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B.J. Thomas, Larry Butler, and Chips Moman.

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The Walker Brothers, Bob Crewe, and Bob Gaudio.

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Leonard Cohen, music, and horror.

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Johnny Rivers, Lou Adler, and together we can make it.

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Buffy Sainte-Marie, Glen Campbell, and here we go again.

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Charlie Rich, George Costanza, and keep lookin'.

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Sammy Davis Jr., Leslie Bricusse, and Anthony Newley.

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Meat Loaf, don't let yer, and RIP Michael Lee Aday.

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Iron Maiden, Steve Harris, and god bless those dudes 😈🤘🎸

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Stealers Wheel, Gerry Rafferty, and Joe Egan.

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Michael Jackson, Siedah Garrett, and make that change ✊

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Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, and can't do it alone ✊

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Bob Dylan, Richard Manuel, and Rest in Power MLK ✊

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Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, hands, and voices.

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Cutting Crew, Nick Van Eede, and reach the limits.

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Danny Wilde, Phil Solem, and one very loud guitar.

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Eddie Money, it's a hunger, and RIP Ronnie Spector.

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Paul Young, Daryl Hall, and on and on and on.

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Jude Cole, fellow Illinoisian, and some back announcing.

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Stiv Bators, "Disconnected", and flashing on the screen.

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The Lords of the New Church, filled prisons, and wake up from your sleep.

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The Killers, keepin' secrets, and ain't supposed to happen.

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Bob Dylan, hammers a-bleedin’, and RIP Sidney Poitier.

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Little Steven, seditious insurrection, and never forget.

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A short instrumental written almost 20 years ago. 🎸

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John Cougar Mellencamp, dumb lyrics, and I wanna teach you guitar! 🎸🤘

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Carpenters, Joe Raposo, and keep it simple.

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Ruston Kelly, never heard of him, cool song.

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John Ono Lennon, Alan White, and shine on you crazy diamonds.

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Randy Newman, wishing you a safe & healthy NYE, and $old $oled $ouled Americans.

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Here's a Sad Bastard song written almost 20 years ago put down for posterity while sitting on my posterior.

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Blue Öyster Cult, Larry Gottlieb, and Justin Scanlon.

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Alan Parsons Project, turning tables, and I don't need to see any more.

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Alan Parsons Project and RIP Sirius 🌈💖 Black

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Iron Maiden and a friendly message for you fuckwits.

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Band Aid, Bob Geldolf, and Midge Ure.

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Burl Ives, Johnny Marks, and Sam the Snowman.

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Janis Orenstein, Johnny Marks, and Rankin/Bass.

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Greg Lake, Peter Sinfield, and let your road be clear.

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Gramma, Grampa, and drunken rants.

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Andy Williams, Edward Pola, George Wyle, and everyone telling you "Be of good cheer".

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Los Lobos, "Llegó Navidad", and "Grassroots".

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Traveling Wilburys, uptight, and cleaning it up myself.

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Chris Isaak, Silvertone, and 🤘 James Calvin Wilsey.

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Ginny Reilly, Smokey Robinson, and Al Cleveland.

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John Sebastian, Mr. Kotter, and back here where we need ya.

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The Cure, Robert Smith, and disintegration.

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Fleetwood Mac, Bob Welch, and all of the things.

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Ultravox, friendship, and slow replies.

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Michael Nesmith, The First National Band, and Monkees.

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Patty Griffin, a kiss upon her face, and RIP Mary Lober.

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Genesis, days, and nights.

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The Trash Can Sinatras, out loud, and here comes our hero.

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The Replacements, Paul Westerberg, and my stupid hat and gloves.

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Badfinger, Pete Ham, and Leon Russell.

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Wings, Paul McCartney, and childhood 45s.

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David Gates, Dean Parks, and Mike Botts.

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Matt Monro, John Barry, and Don Black.

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Crystal Gayle, Richard Leigh, and Allen Reynolds.

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Jessi Colter, transference, and sunlight.

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Barry Manilow, Randy Edelman, and Clive Davis.

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Chicago, Peter Cetera, and James William Guercio.

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The Association, Don Addrisi, and Dick Addrisi.

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Ultravox, Conny Plank, and this means everything to me.

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Joe Dolce, Uncle Ed, and Burr Valley.

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Natalie Merchant, Thanksgiving, and thank you.

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Kenny Rogers, Steve Gibb, and I was wrong.

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David Soul, Tony Macaulay, and we can still come through.

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Demi Lovato, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and Robert Lopez.

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Neko Case, The Sadies, and alone thank god.

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Santana, Ian Thomas, and remember.

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Wilson Phillips, pain, and break free.

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Kansas, today, and tomorrow.

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Ian Gomm, drifting, and wondering.

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Wilco, Jay Bennett, and boosters.

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Eagles, Randy Meisner, and dreamers.

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Marshall Crenshaw, loud music, and time.

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John Lennon, warnings, and ruin.

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Santana, luck, and even the losers.

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Bruce Springsteen, war, and veterans.

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Supertramp, kittehs, and support a good cause.

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Pink Floyd, lunatics, and I'll see you.

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Pink Floyd, lunatics, and I'll see you.

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Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson, and who knows?

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Rockwell, Michael Jackson, and paranoia.

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Gary Numan, locks, and safety.

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Gary Numan, locks, and safety.

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Beatles, basics, and a Picardy third.

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Juice Newton, Chip Taylor, and binders.

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Bonnie Tyler, it ain't right, and it ain't wise.

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Dusty Springfield, a ghost, and a-haunting.

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Carly Simon, Mick Jagger, and don't you?

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Stevie Nicks, Sandy Stewart, and it will be done to us.

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Lone Justice, Maria McKee, and you need me.

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Spirit of the West, Elbo Room, and I know I know I am.

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Boston, Brad Delp, and mental illness.

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Ozzy Osbourne, good intentions, and am i ever.

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Jellyfish, Sunday blahs, and Monday dreads.

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Belinda Carlisle, Andy Taylor, and somewhere between the two.

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Jason and The Scorchers, Warner E. Hodges, and every empire.

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Robert Palmer, Eddie Martinez, and Andy Taylor.

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Toto, Steve Lukather, and damn he can sing too.

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Michael McDonald, Steve Lukather, and brown-eyed yacht rock soul.

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Robbie Dupree, Michael McDonald, and Gerry Todd.

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Robbie Fulks, couples, and trouble.

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Trampled by Turtles, serenaded by birds, and winter's coming.

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Planet P Project, Tony Carey, and must be some other way.

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Queen, Brian May, and don't you hear my call.

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Florence and the Machine, lungs, and you better run.

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Bruce Cockburn, IMF, and keep 'em on the hook.

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Eric Lowen, Dan Navarro, and Pat Benatar.

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Joe Cocker, Jennifer Warnes, and who knows.

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John Lennon, walls, and bridges.

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Bob Dylan, The Band, Ry Cooder, and may you have a strong foundation.

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Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, and I'm right behind you.

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Van Halen, Eddie, and joyful smiles.

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The Byrds, Bob Dylan, and certainty.

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Tom Petty, The Heartbreakers, and the heartbreaker.

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Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, and Dave Stewart.

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Bruce Springsteen, doubts, and mercy.

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The Jam, Paul Weller, and a kick in the balls.

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Zior, I can change, and you're so strange.

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Poco, Rusty Young, and it happens all the time.

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Earl Klugh, Orleans, and kick your feet up.

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Autograph, rich, and famous.

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Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, and this.

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Warrant, brahs, and dirty old men.

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Green Day, Summer's end, and American idiots.

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The Who, deaf, and dumb.

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Beatles, hiders, and shaders.

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Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie, and I'll be around.

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The Waterboys, Mike Scott, and dream harder.

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Des'ree, listen, and challenge.

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Bruce Springsteen, Saturday nights, and dances.

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Mary Gauthier, leaving, and coming home.

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Billy Idol, broken bones, and twisted frames.

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Lou Reed, harpoons, and Johnny Cougar.

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Toots Hibbert, karma, and justice.

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Randy VanWarmer, Tony Wilson, and Del Newman.

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Queen, Karen O, and Willie Nelson.

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Band of Horses, spectres, and living alone.

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Waysted, Fin, and Pete stripey-trousers Way.

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Woody Guthrie, ropes, and laws.

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Johnny Cash, Jack Clement, and Sam Phillips.

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David Mead, alone, and pining.

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Bruce Springsteen, labor, and love.

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Peter Bjorn and John, you, and me.

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Brooks, Dunn, and Mary.

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Tom Petty, Darcy Wilkin, and by and by.

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First Aid Kit, not asking for a storm, and sing with me.

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Sting, promises, and days still left.

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Bruce Springsteen, waning summer, and counting.

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Hank Williams, warnings, and questions.

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Neil Young, Ida, and prayers for Louisiana.

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George Strait, music, and what I was born to do.

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Jason Isbell, The 400 Unit, and fantasies.

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The Fireman, Paul McCartney, and Youth.

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Rolling Stones, friends, and Goodnight, Charlie.

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The Everly Brothers, Carole King, and Howard Greenfield.

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Squeeze, Chris Difford, and Glenn Tilbrook.

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Timbuk 3, Barbara K. MacDonald, and Pat MacDonald.

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AC/DC, Bon, and Malcolm.

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Cat Stevens, Yusef Lateef, and Otis.

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Counting Crows, August, and everything after.

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Black Sabbath, people running, and beware.

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Rita Coolidge, John Barry, and Tim Rice.

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The Firm, Paul Rodgers, and Jimmy Page.

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Bad Company, Paul Rodgers, and overdue.

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Nanci Griffith, friends, and waves.

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Roger Daltrey, David Courtney, and Leo Sayer.

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Sidewinders, greedy willful ignorance, and selfish fucking stupidity. #ScienceIsReal

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Thomas Dolby, storm signals, and weatherdog Otis.

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Peter Gabriel, climate change, and drink up.

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Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, and Dave Alvin.

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The Proclaimers, 500 songs and episodes of MBTV in 500 consecutive days, and now what?

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Dio, Vivian Campbell, and \nn/.

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Fine Young Cannibals, pop perfection, and indeed she does.

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White Lion, Vito Bratta, and Bhaird Metal.

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REO Speedwagon, droppin' g's, and keep it stoked.

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Bill Withers, partly cloudy, and I know.

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Katrina and the Waves, Kimberley Rew, and a guest cicada.

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Journey, Deltapalooza, and Gregg Rolie rocks.

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Pete Townshend, I'm telling ya, and give love.

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Bruce Springsteen, sitting around, and this gun's for hire.

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ZZ Top, shades, and RIP Dusty Hill.

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A Flock of Seagulls, A Troupe of Ballettos, and I'm just a dancer.

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New Order, bad day, and piss off.

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Stone Roses, amazing record, and don't we all.

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Genesis, so sad, and I know.

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The B-52's, clubs, and deadbeats.

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Steely Dan, Busta Out, and oh it's coming.

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Bruce Springsteen, A+ band, and no The Replacements don't suck.

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Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde, and demand the impossible.

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Gil Scott-Heron, NASA, and worthless billionaires.

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Willie Nelson, family, and touring.

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My Record Player, my song, and my friends.

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Bay City Rollers, Phil Coulter, and Bill Martin.

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KISS, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Bob Ezrin.

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Lionel Richie, Brenda Harvey Richie, and I don't mind.

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Danny Wilde, Nick Trevisick, and woah oh oh yeah.

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Gary Wright, trains, and drivers.

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Blue Mountain, take a ride, and remembering Lane Campbell.

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Leo Sayer, Albert Hammond, and Carole Bayer Sager.

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John Parr, hearts moaning, and Elmo ain't no saint.

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David Gray, tracers, and a perfect summer's night.

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Big Country, dreams, and stay alive.

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Hugh Masekela, Philemon Hou, and The Ventures.

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Neil Young, Nicolette Larson, and yup.

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The Beat Farmers, Country Dick Montana, and Neighbor Mike Gehant.

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Dave Alvin, X, and fireworks.

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The Youngbloods, love, and fear.

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Robbie Fulks, skies, and wings.

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Dick Prall, 45s, and headphones.

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Bonnie Raitt, Stephanie Chapman, Liz Rose, and Maia Sharp.

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John Fogerty, The Fairfield Four, ageism, and heat.

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Chuck Prophet, Stephanie Finch, Mission Express, and lifers.

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Eddie Rabbitt, high, and dry.

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B. J. Thomas, storms, and floods.

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Bob Schneider, petals, and formulas.

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Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, and rain.

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Frankie Miller, Ray Charles, and production.

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Joe Cocker, Pete Dello, and brand new looks.

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Joe Cocker, me, and you.

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Concrete Blonde, Johnette Napolitano, and James Mankey.

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Mavis Staples, Rick Holmstrom, and Juneteenth.

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Sparks, Jane Wiedlin, and recognition.

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Tom Kimmel, bums, and hookers.

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Bruce Springsteen, boys, and breezes.

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Kevin Salem, gold, and grooves.

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Graham Parker, dreamers, and livers.

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Michael Kroll, folk, and folks.

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Sand Rubies, Sidewinders, and lawsuits.

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Danny Wilde, mirrors, and time.

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Bryan Adams, Keith Scott, and reviews.

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Tom Cochrane, Red Rider, and life is more than a highway.

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Blue Rodeo, Kim Deschamps, and Bob Egan.

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Ralston Bowles, threads, and bonds.

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Dwight Twilley, hooks vs. lyrics, and don't hold your breath.

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Nora O'Connor, Casey McDonough, and minor thirds.

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Jimmy Davis, Junction, and .. Jack Holder.

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John Kilzer, John Hampton, and Jack Holder.

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Pat McLaughlin, contortions, and groove.

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Jimmy LaFave, covers, and originals.