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  • The Ledge #550: 1978

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been hinting that I’ll be starting 2023 with a big announcement. Well, tonight’s the night!In my eyes, “Teenage Kicks” is a perfect pop song; the greatest punk-inspired single of all time. Two minutes and 27 seconds of rock and roll at its finest. The sentiments are the same youthful expressions of the original rock and roll explosion of the 1950s. Instead of Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis boogie woogie piano, it’s buzzsaw guitars that accompany Undertones vocalist Fergal Sharkey’s desire for that “girl in the neighborhood” that he wishes “was mine she looks so good”. It’s the musical template later utilized by Husker Du, Pixies, Green Day, and hundreds of other pop-punkers for decades to come (for better or worse).Since I love the song so much, I have found myself collecting all kinds of versions over the years. In fact, a little glance at my master iTunes library a few months ago showed that I owned over 30 covers of this tune. Just two weeks ago, I discovered that a Minneapolis band I loved in the 90s had released a remake as a now rare b-side (more on that next week). With that in mind, I decided that The Ledge broadcasts of 2023 are going to include a sub-theme called “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks”. Every show this year is going to kick off with a version of this wonderful tune, and I want to include my musical friends in this adventure. I’m sending out a plea to labels and bands to submit new versions that I will definitely fast track onto the playlist. Don’t worry about the musical style. Want to record a solo acoustic version? I’ll take it. Want to somehow transform it into a screeching death metal rattle? Go for it! Add some loops. I’ll even accept autotune!Tonight’s first episode of 2023 is going to begin at the source. The Undertones’ original classic kickstarts two hours of legendary tunes from one of my favorite years of rock and roll – 1978. It was the year I discovered Elvis Costello, Wreckless Eric, Boomtown Rats, Devo and so much more! The “normals” may have been somehow grooving to Kansas and Head East but I was jumping around in my bedroom to The Clash and The Jam!

    To submit a version of “Teenage Kicks”, please email it to paulisded@gmail.com

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #535: God Save The Queen

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    Once I heard the news of Queen Elizabeth’s death on Thursday morning, I knew I had to dump my planned broadcast for this week. Surely I could put together a show that both celebrates and criticizes not only the monarchy but the entire country.

    For me, the quintessential British rock band is The Kinks. There may be better bands from that country (name them!) but nobody captures that country like the writings of Ray Davies. Same with The Jam and The Clash a decade later, or Billy Bragg, The Smiths, Robyn Hitchcock, and mny others a decade after that. Pairing a few highlights of those artists with some samplings of the great British punk movement of the late 70s, and you have two hours of fantastic British tributes…even if a couple of the artists are actually American. 

    I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes on The Ledge! Let them know who is giving them promotion! 

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #508: 1977

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    “No Elvis, Beatles, or Rolling Stones!”

    Sure, it was a pose. The Clash may have sung those lyrics, but they were actually true students in the history of rock and roll. But the British punk scene of 1977 was certainly a time when the walls were pushed over and new blood took over the music scene. Maybe the lyrics should have been “No Floyd, Yes, or ELP!”

    So tonight’s celebration includes a ton of artists that proved themselves to be legendary, along with many other bands that had long careers. And there’s also quite a few acts that crashed and burned, leaving behind a fabulous two or three minute piece of dynamite!

    I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes on The Ledge! Let them know who is giving them promotion!

    For setlists and more info, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #417: Live Albums, Vol. 1

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    A few days ago I started a thread on my Facebook page asking for favorite live albums. The response I received was amazing, as close to 150 people responded with a wide range of suggestions.

    Obviously the question was raised in order to put together a Ledge episode, and the response was so overwhelming that tonight’s show is the first of two dedicated to the topic. This week’s broadcast consists of the choices I would have picked anyway but I still give credit to those who are so likeminded. It’s a collection of legendary classic recordings (Jerry Lee Lewis, Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, etc.), recordings that were initially bootlegged before getting an official release (Iggy & The Stooges, Elvis Costello, The Beatles, The Replacements), and quite a few others that have had a place in my collection for decades.

    Part two, which will be broadcast in two weeks, will focus more on material that others have picked. Some of them are records I’ve forgotten about, others come from my youth, but quite a few are releases you probably would never expect to hear on The Ledge.

    And, of course, I have to thank everybody for their picks. It’s been a fun two hours! After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #410: UK Punk 1980

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    After quite a few shows devoted to 1979 in the last 12 months, it’s predictable that this new year will see a similar move with music from 1980. Tonight’s is the first of such a show and it’s devoted to the UK punk scene. It’s in many respects a strange year for punk. A large percentage of the original UK punk acts had broken up, and few new bands were replacing them in the charts. The music had gone back underground, which led to a new, louder sound that’s represented by a few of the tracks on this show.

    But there were still a few of the old faves hanging around, although their sound was clearly moving beyond what initially made them famous. Three of those acts (The Undertones, The Jam, The Clash) are represented by an in-depth look at their 1980 album releases. The Clash in particular completely threw away the rulebook with their landmark album, Sandinista, which not only included the usual bangers but also had high doses of funk, dub, and other R&B.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • Live Ledge #401: UK Punk Oct – Dec 1979 Plus More

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    Through the course 2019 there has been a series of shows devoted to looking back at the great music released 40 years ago. Tonight’s latest in that series documents the punk singles and albums released in the UK from October to December of that year. These tracks include veteran acts such as The Stranglers, The Damned, and others, along with early releases by The Vapors, Joy Division, Killing Joke and others.

    But the centerpiece of this anniversary special celebrates one of the greatest albums of all time. December 14, 1979 saw the release of The Clash’s third album, London Calling. There’s no denying it’s greatness from beginning to end. In fact, it’s my second favorite record of all time!

    Besides these fabulous UK tunes, the last half hour of the show jumps over the border to some 1979 highlights from Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and France. Ok, maybe one of these selections isn’t technically from 1979 but I’ll take any opportunity to play “Teenage Kicks”.

    Tonight may end our look at the 1979 UK punk scene, but it’s not the end of our series of shows devoted to that great year. Next week’s show will feature tunes from all over North America. However, since I have already done a Midwest 1979 show you can expect the vast majority of tracks to come from both of the coasts. Should be a lot of fun!

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • Live Ledge #214: 1980

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    Live Ledge goes back to 1980 for two hours of punk, post-punk, and every other form of alt-rock from that year!

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • Live Ledge #213: Number Ten

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    Continuing the series of shows devoted to track numbers, tonight’s show is nothing but the tenth tune off favorite old and new releases.

     

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