Listen to Spenny all week long for a chance to win tickets to see BOB DYLAN! You gotta tune in to learn how to win!
Monday, 4-6-26
We celebrated the 52nd anniversary of the first California Jam, also known as “Cal Jam.” At the time it sold more tickets than any other festival in history. Around 300,000 people paid to be on the infield of Ontario Motor Speedway just outside LA. It held performances from bands like Emerson Lake & Palmer, Deep Purple, The Eagles, Black Sabbath, Earth Wind & Fire, and many more. ABC actually sponsored the show, and clips were presented as part of its In Concert series months later. LA’s biggest rock station, KLOS, also broadcasted the show. The radio segment’s glossy presentation and smooth run of the festival recordings was considered the precursor for more “corporate” rock fests like those being held today. Think ACL Fest, Coachella, Bonnaroo – all of these were influenced by the success of Cal Jam. We played songs from Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Rare Earth, all of whom performed in the concert.
Tuesday, 4-7-26
Today was the theme of sevens…Bands and their seventh albums for April 7. We featured “Can I Play With Madness“ from Iron Maiden’s Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, AC/DC’s “Shoot to Thrill” from Back in Black, and Bob Dylan’s seventh album, Blonde on Blonde. “Rainy Day Women #12 &35” was the song of choice. This particular album was Dylan’s first with The Band as his backing band. Fun fact: Dylan played his first gig with The Band here in good ol’ Austin, Texas. Read about it here: https://michaelcorcoran.substack.com/p/dylan-and-the-band-the-first-waltz
Wednesday, 4-8-26
In 1994, Kurt Cobain was found dead in his greenhouse in Seattle. An electrician discovered him surrounded by heroin, valium, and a shotgun. Cobain left a suicide note behind that explained he no longer felt any joy in writing or playing music. We, of course, played some Nirvana deep cuts and a classic popular jam.
Thursday, 4-9-26
In 1983 David Bowie’s titular track from his album Let’s Dance went to #1 in the UK and USA simultaneously for the first time, ushering in new fans for his ’80s sound that were unfamiliar with his work in the ’70s. This gave us a perfect opportunity to play some Bowie.
Friday, 4-10-26
In 1970, Paul McCartney made a press release saying that The Beatles were breaking up, and he wouldn’t write or work with them again. This got under John Lennon’s skin, who had already decided to leave the band but kept it quiet for George and Ringo’s sake. Lennon was so annoyed that he told a reporter McCartney didn’t quit, he was sacked. Paul was also announced as musical guest on the SNL season finale on May 16 ahead of his upcoming album release on May 29. That album is called The Boys of Dungeon Lane, and though we didn’t play anything from it we did make the opportunity to play some solo McCartney, as well as some music from his time with Wings.