Music News
One of the biggest and most shocking news stories this week was the death of Michael Jackson. The pop legend died at the age of 50 in Los Angeles. There was no indication that he was ill. In fact, Greg spoke to the Jackson camp only a few days ago about the singer's big comeback tour. But, nothing about Jackson's life or music was expected. His 1982 album Thriller is the biggest selling of all time. But, for Jim and Greg it's Off the Wall that was really a masterpiece melding of soul, disco and pop. It's hard to talk about Jackson without mentioning his personal scandals. He was acquitted of molestation charges in 2005, but his legacy will forever be linked to those accusations. And unfortunately, as Jim and Greg explain, some may remember the eccentricities more than the music.
Anthony Bourdain
Many people know Anthony Bourdain from his many books, his TV show "No Reservations," and his successful restaurant Les Halles. But, you may not know that he's a die-hard rock and roll fan. In 2007 Bourdain chronicled his punk past in the Spin essay "Eat to the Beat," and when he was in town on a book tour, Jim and Greg invited him into the studio to talk turkey (and rock).
Anthony, or Tony as he likes to be called, explained to Jim and Greg that there are a lot of connections between members of the food world and the music world, the first of which is simply the hours. Both subcultures are nocturnal pleasure-seekers who often frequent the same greasy spoons and the same dive bars. But on a more cerebral level, music geeks and foodies are both obsessed, both opinionated, and both hate Billy Joel. Tony explains that when he's serving up grub to guests he prefers the tunes of Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, and even Connie Francis.
During this episode we also hear from other music-loving chefs from around the country including:
- Wesley Genovart of Degustation in New York
- Doug Sohn of Hot Doug’s in Chicago
- Brenda Langton of Spoon River and Café Brenda in Minneapolis
- Craig Serbousek of Crow and Bette in Seattle
- Graham Elliot Bowles of Avenues in Chicago
Favorite Culinary-Inspired Songs
To cap off this show, Jim and Greg run through their favorite culinary-inspired songs. All of them are either about food, inspired by food, or simply name foods, and all of them certainly rock.
Jim
- Neil Young, "Cinnamon Girl"
- Captain Beefheart, "Ice Cream and Crow"
- Bow Wow Wow, "I Want Candy (Kevin Shields Remix)"
Greg
- Tony Joe White, "Polk Salad Annie"
- Prince, "Starfish and Coffee"
- Van Morrison, "Tupelo Honey"
Featured Songs
- The Jackson 5, "I Want You Back," Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, Motown, 1969
- Michael Jackson, "With A Child's Heart," Music & Me, Motown, 1973
- Michael Jackson, "Rock With You," Off the Wall, Epic, 1979
- Funkadelic, "Fish, Chips & Sweat," Music for Your Mother, Westbound, 1993
- The Beatles, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Capitol, 1967
- Richard Hell and the Voidoids, "Walking on the Water," Blank Generation, Sire, 1977
- Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, "Chinese Rocks," LAMF Revisited, Reciever, 1994
- Curtis Mayfield, "Superfly," Superfly, Rhino, 1972
- The Ramones, "Beat on the Brat," The Ramones, Sire, 1978
- Roy Budd, "Main Theme (Carter Takes a Train)," Get Carter, Cinephile, 1971
- Serge Gainsbourg, "Bonnie and Clyde," Bonnie and Clyde, Fontana, 1968
- Brian Eno, "2/1," Ambient 1: Music for Airports, Editions EG, 1979
- George Winston, "Cloudburst," Plains, Windham Hill, 1999
- Edith Piaf, "Padam...Padam," At the Paris Olympia, Columbia, 1982
- Dead Boys, "I Need Lunch," Young, Loud & Snotty, Sire, 1977
- Billy Joel, "The Entertainer," Streetlife Serenade, Columbia, 1974
- The Stooges, "Down on the Street," Funhouse, Elektra, 1970
- Roy Budd, "Plaything," Get Carter, Cinephile, 1971
- Devo, "Slap Your Mammy," Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo, Warner Bros., 1994
- MRK1, "Sensei Skank," Copywright Laws, Planet Mu, 2007
- múm, "Guilty Rocks," Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy, Hostess, 2007
- The Good, the Bad & the Queen, "Northern Whale," The Good, the Bad & the Queen, Parlophone, 2007
- Tony Joe White, "Polk Salad Annie" Black and White, Monument, 1969
- Neil Young, "Cinnamon Girl," Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Reprise, 1969
- Prince, "Starfish and Coffee," Sign 'O' The Times, Paisley Park, 1987
- Blondie, "Eat to the Beat," Eat to the Beat, Chrysalis, 1979
- The Boys, "Food Glorious Food," Oliver! Original Broadway Cast, RCA Victor, 1962
- Captain Beefheart, "Ice Cream For Crow" Ice Cream For Crow, Virgin, 1982
- Van Morrison, "Tupelo Honey," Tupelo Honey, Warner Bros., 1971
- Bow Wow Wow, "I Want Candy (Kevin Shields Remix)," Marie Antoinette Soundtrack, Verve, 2006
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