Category: The Latest

John Lennon – “The Final Interview”

This 90 minute radio special centers on John Lennon’s last radio interview, along with Yoko, recorded at the Dakota in New York City, only hours before Lennon’s death on December 8, 1980. The special is mixed with music from the Lennon’s solo work, the Double Fantasy album, as well as songs from The Beatles.

The original team that conducted the interview (Dave Sholin, Laurie Kaye, Ron Hummel and Bert Keane) came together to re-create this historic radio special. Along with highlights from the interview, they relay their own unique memories of that day, including events leading to the interview, meeting Lennon and Yoko Ono, and a curb-side encounter with Mark David Chapman, the deranged killer who gunned down Lennon that night.

11982646-man-called-bruce-at-sequatchie-festival-10612Not that long ago, listening to the radio was part of daily life for most Americans. Since the 1920s, when the first commercial broadcasts in the United States began, radio has been a part of our culture, despite the invention and proliferation of the television and other more “advanced” entertainment devices.

If you were born before 8-track and cassette tapes (remember those?), CDs, MP3s or hip hop, and you remember listening to your favorite FM (or AM) station, then you know what I’m talking about.

And, if you’re like me and you’re tired of listening to corporate-owned, Top 40 radio stations, or if you’re sick of paying a monthly fee for a digital radio subscription to Sirius, then you should take a listen to http://RadioFreePhoenix.com where they feature Rock, Folk, Blues, Psychedelic, New Wave, Americana, Progressive and other musical styles from the 60’s, all the way up to today’s music. The dedicated staff headed by Phoenix, AZ radio veteran Andy Olson, brings back the heart, soul and passion of the great underground rock stations of the past.

You see, kids… back in the old days, we didn’t have iTunes, iPods or subscription radio. If we wanted to expand our musical horizons, we turned on our radios. I don’t mean a digital device that only carries a signal if you pay $21.00 per month. I’m talking about the thing that might disappear from the dashboards of new cars any day now, if we don’t start paying attention to it. And, by the way, broadcast radio (via internet or airwaves) is still FREE! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, sending out good vibes and great music at no cost to the listener!

According to RadioFreePhoenix.com’s website, “…millions of people have turned off their radios over the years because they couldn’t find anything worth listening to. The baby boomer generation of the 60’s and 70’s had the hope that anything is possible, and enjoyed this kind of musical freedom, not knowing that its time was limited and that radio stations all over the country would one day play a homogenized blend of music (no matter what the format) that disregarded the regional diversity that it was originally created in.”

As part of its desire to continue to support musical freedom, RadioFreePhoenix.com is sponsoring the Going West Tour featuring award-winning songwriter, A Man Called Bruce (http://facebook.com/AManCalledBruce) based in southeast Tennessee.

It turns out that RFP’s founder, Andy Olson has known A Man Called Bruce for many years. In fact, it was Olson who came up with the unusual moniker for the then young songwriter nearly 35 years ago, during his first solo recordings in Olson’s basement recording studio.

Now, after going their separate ways for several decades, the songwriter and the radio entrepreneur have rekindled their friendship.

The station’s sponsorship of the cross-country tour is an effort to bring attention to the finely crafted original roots, rock, country and blues songs written and performed by A Man Called Bruce, and the 8 year old web-based radio station, whose playlist includes artists such as Pandemonium, The Magnetic Fields, Neil Young, Tedeschi Trucks Band, King Straggler, Robin Trower, Molly Hatchet, Joey Ramone, Chris Stamey, Ken Sharp, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Miniature Tigers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ultravox, Moles, Lauren Christy, Fleetwood Mac, Phil Collins, Santana, Cranberries, Johnny Cash, and of course, A Man Called Bruce.

The Going West Tour begins in Nashville, TN at Ri’chard’s Cafe on November 30th, and ends December 29th at Flipnotic’s in Austin, TX. Included are stops at Java Cabana Coffeehouse in Memphis, Sauced on Paseo in Oklahoma City, Corrales Bistro Brewery near Albuquerque, Create Cafe in Tucson, The Sail Inn and Yucca Tap Room (both in Tempe, AZ), and Fiddler’s Dream Coffeehouse in Phoenix. A venue for the show in El Paso, TX has yet to be confirmed.

For music, videos and more visit AManCalledBruce.com or check out his Facebook page.

Listen to RadioFreePhoenix.com online 24/7.

As published in PRLog

 

We would like to welcome David Hughes to the RFP Airstaff. David lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and came down to the Radio Free Phoenix Studios in July 2011 (along with his wife, Jackie), to do the Radio Freedom Show. David will be taking over the 6-10a Saturday shift starting this weekend on RFP. Please welcome David to Radio Free Phoenix!

Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself
(Break It Yourself is American singer-songwriter Andrew Bird’s sixth solo studio album)
Eyeoneye
Lazy Projector

Asia – XXX
Asia back again with a new CD. (pronounced Triple X). This is also the original linup of the band with Geoff Downes – keyboards, Steve Howe – electric, acoustic and steel guitars, Carl Palmer – drums and percussion and John Wetton – vocals and bass guitar)
Bury Me In Willow
Faithful
Reno (Silver And Gold)

Beach Boys – That’s Why God Made The Radio
(This is the first new Beach Boys album with Brian Wilson since Beach Boys Love You in 1976)
That’s Why God Made The Radio (this song has been in the mix for the last month)

Shelter
Spring Vacation
Strange World

Ben Kweller – Go Fly A Kite
(Texas singer-songwriter who had Nils Lofgrin as a next door neighbor growing up. This is his 8th CD)
Full Circle
I Miss You
Jealous Girl
Meant To Me
You Can Count On Me

Counting Crows – Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation)

(Entire CD of covers from the Counting Crows. This is only their 6th CD)
Coming Around (Travis cover)
Hospital
Meet On The Ledge (Fairport Convention cover)
Ooh La La (Faces cover)
Return Of The Grievous Angel (Graham Parsons cover)
Start Again ?(Teenage Fan Club cover)
The Ballad Of El Goodo (Big Star cover)

Dry The River – Shallow Bed
(Dry the River is a new English folk rock band formed in East London, 2009. This is their first CD)
Animal Skins
History Book
New Ceremony
Shaker Hymns
Shield Your Eyes
Weights & Measures.

Jack White – Blunderbuss
(The guy from the White Stripes and The Raconteurs. This is his first solo disc)
Hypocritical Kiss
Missing Pieces

Joe Walsh – Analog Man

(Joe is back in fine form with his first new album since the 1992 CD, “Songs for a Dying Planet” and is produced by Jeff Lynde)
Hi-Roller Baby
Analog Man
Lucky That Way
One Day at a Time (songs deals with his struggles with alcoholism)
Spanish Dancer
Wrecking Ball

Kaiser Chiefs – Start The Revolution Without Me
(UK band from Leeds, this is their 5th CD)
Can’t Mind My Own Business
If You Will Have Me
Kinda Girl You Are
Problem Solved
When All Is Quiet

M. Ward – A Wasteland Companion
(8th solo CD from Matthew Stephen Ward, known by his stage name M. Ward, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In addition to his solo work he is known as a member of She & Him and Monsters of Folk)
Me And My Shadow
Primitive Girl
Sweetheart

Neil Young & Crazy Horse –  Americana
(Americana is the thirty-fourth studio album from Neil Young. This is Neil Young’s retake on classic American folk songs. He said, “Every one of these songs [on Americana] has verses that have been ignored. And those are the key verses, those are the things that make these songs live. They’re a little heavy for kindergarteners to be singing. The originals are much darker, there’s more protest in them.)”
Oh Susannah
Gallows Pole
High Flyin’ Bird

Rush – Clockwork Angels
(This is the19th full-length studio album by Rush)
Halo Effect
The Wreckers
The Garden
Wish Them Well

Smashing Pumpkins – Oceania
(This is their 9th CD and is basically Billy Corgan and a rotating cast of band members)
My Love Is Winter
Oceania
Pale Horse
Pinwheels
The Celestials

The Flower Kings – Banks of Eden
(The Flower Kings are a Swedish progressive rock group. Formed in August 1994 by veteran guitarist Roine Stolt. This is their 11th CD)
For The Love Of Gold
For Those About To Drown
LoLines
Numbers
Pandemonium

The Magnetic Fields – Love At The Bottom Of The Sea
(The Magnetic Fields (named after the André Breton novel Les Champs Magnétiques) is an American indie pop group founded and led by Stephin Merritt. This is their 11th CD)
Andrew In Drag
I’d Go Anywhere With Hugh
Infatuation (With Your Gyration)

Radio Free Phoenix is virtually the only radio station that has ever played Elton Duck. We have had a copy of this stellar unreleased album since we went on the air in 2004 and now for the first time from the original master tapes,  The Elton Duck Album is available to you!

Radio Free Phoenix presents the Elton Duck Listening Party (to benefit the Condello Scholarship Fund) at Stinkweeds Records in Phoenix on July 13th!

Here is the history on the band:

In the late 70’s, long time Phoenix rock legend, Mike Condello played lead guitar for a new-wave L.A. pop band called ELTON DUCK. They recorded a dozen tracks for Arista Records, but the record has remained unreleased until now. Mike passed away in 1995, but with the release of the Elton Duck CD, his musical legacy is being fulfilled thanks to a recent agreement reached with Sony Music.

While supplies last, anyone who donates a minimum of $20 to The Mike Condello Music Scholarship Fund will receive a copy of this limited edition CD as a thank you gift. This fund benefits college-bound students from Mike’s alma mater, North High School in Phoenix.

Elton Duck’s Mike McFadden and Andy Robinson, will be on hand to sign CD’s at the ELTON DUCK listening party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 13 at Stinkweeds Record Exchange on Camelback and Central in Phoenix. Radio Free Phoenix will be there for the offical release of the long awaited Elton Duck album along with Andy Olson & Liz Boyle! Please join use for this unique event!

The Holy Grail of Underground Radio Comedy Programs Now Available from RFP

THE LOVE WORKSHOP BOX SET

A 6 CD collection of Love Workshop Shows
Restored and Remastered!

Now you can buy and listen to one of the most outrageous comedy radio shows that ever graced the Phoenix airwaves. The Love Workshop aired on the underground KDKB throughout most of 1976, and has been lost to time until now. Painstaking researched  and reassembled by Andy Olson, this show featured the talents of Todd Carroll and Wonderful Russ (Shaw) and a cast of whoever they could grab at the moment!

loveworkshopboxset
35 complete shows (over 8 hours!) – this is the most infamous program to air on Phoenix radio–featuring Wonderful Russell Shaw & Todd Carroll. This show ran throughout most of 1976 but was canceled on October 31st, 1976 as part of a mass firing of over 30 employees of the underground KDKB including program director Bill Compton. Enjoy the shows—and remember the days of free form rock and  stations where anything could happen–and did!

On Sale Now —Order yours today!

That’s Us!
The Love Workshop
Box Set

$50.00 + $4.50 P & H

It was on this day, January 18th, 2010, that Deep Oldies went on the air on the net! The original airstaff consisted of Angela Allen, Charmi O’Conner & the legendary, Charlie Ram. An offspring of RadioFreePhoenix.com, Deep Oldies is much like RFP in that it plays songs that have been lost to the airwaves. Concentrating on 50’s, 60’s & early 70’s, Deep Oldies spends this day in tribute to 1 full year on the air! Check out Deep Oldies at deepoldies.com

This Saturday, January 15th at 5pm and Sunday, January 16th at 3pm (AZ time) we will air a 90 minute 40th anniversary tribute to KWFM, Tucson’s Free Form Progressive Rock station. This is produced by original KWFM, DJ, Margie Wyre. The station also featured several DJ’s (including Nina Joy & Steve Zind ) that went on to work for the underground KDKB (1st free form FM station in Phoenix). KWFM went off the air in 1983. For more information on this legendary station go to:
http://las-solanas.com/kwfm/home.php

Join Andy Olson for a Music & Interview special with Kristen Commodore. She is an up and coming singer-songwriter from Boston, now based in Los Angeles and we are currently playing her new song, Bruised on Radio Free Phoenix. She will be in the studio performing live also. Join us for this great artist!


Update on Kristen: Sad news to report, this beautiful soul passed away on September 19, 2023 After a 13 week private battle with cancer. Several years ago she married Marvin Speller and went by Kristen Perry Speller. She did leave her mark on the world with the music she made and shared. Kristen was 49 years old. We will miss her.

Kristen Commodore – Bruised

This Christmas Eve on Radio Free Phoenix,  join us for the 22st Anniversary edition of “A Rock ‘N’ Roll Christmas”. From 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve through Christmas day at 10:00 p.m. (MST). We will be playing an incredible deep and outrageous mix of Rock N Roll Christmas Tunes. Hosted by Andy Olson, this is the only show in the country that gathers together such a smorgasbord of absolutely cool Christmas Rock & Roll — Featuring top flight Christmas Rock mixed with a generous helping of parody & novelty holiday tunes along with great background information on the artists and songs. Since 1988 this show has been gracing the Phoenix Airwaves, first on KSLX, then KDKB, KZON and then back to KSLX and then on Radio Free Phoenix!