Session notes from the booth.

Why Don't You Write Me by The Jacks lands here because I Wanted To Be Wrong by R.E.M. and Drive by Blind Melon provide a smooth emotional arc and keep the station's mood consistent.. The doo-wop edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. I Wanted To Be Wrong can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On The Birth Of Doo Wop 1948-1955 (1994), Why Don't You Write Me shows The Jacks working in a 1990s pocket with doo-wop in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the doo-wop texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for I Wanted To Be Wrong to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

I Wanted To Be Wrong answers Why Don't You Write Me by The Jacks with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Drive can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Around The Sun (2004), I Wanted To Be Wrong shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a candlelit drift, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Why Don't You Write Me without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Drive to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Drive answers I Wanted To Be Wrong by R.E.M. with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The alternative rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Blind Melon (1992), Drive shows Blind Melon working in a 1990s pocket with alternative rock in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the alternative rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers I Wanted To Be Wrong without borrowing the same emotional weight.

High Hopes by Pink Floyd lands here because Keeps the emotional pressure steady after New York, New York by Ryan Adams and changes the palette without cutting the thread. R.E.M. is one of Ian's steadier shelf presences.. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. The Worst Joke Ever can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On The Division Bell (Hi-Res 24/96 Version) (2014), High Hopes shows Pink Floyd working in a 2010s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a bright electric charge, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for The Worst Joke Ever to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

The Worst Joke Ever answers High Hopes by Pink Floyd with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Englishman In New York can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Around The Sun (2004), The Worst Joke Ever shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers High Hopes without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Englishman In New York to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Englishman In New York answers The Worst Joke Ever by R.E.M. with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On ...Nothing Like The Sun (1987), Englishman In New York shows Sting working in a 1980s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a candlelit drift, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers The Worst Joke Ever without borrowing the same emotional weight.

Final Straw by R.E.M. lands here because I've Got To Use My Imagination by Gladys Knight And The Pips keeps the emotional pressure steady after Bad Time by Grand Funk and keeps rock in the grain. Rock is a real lane in this library, which helps the choice feel rooted instead of random.. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. A Clean Break (Live) can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Around The Sun (2004), Final Straw shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for A Clean Break (Live) to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

A Clean Break (Live) answers Final Straw by R.E.M. with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The alternative / rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Behind The Sun can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Live: 77 (Live) (2019), A Clean Break (Live) shows Talking Heads working in a 2010s pocket with alternative / rock in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the alternative / rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Final Straw without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Behind The Sun to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Behind The Sun answers A Clean Break (Live) by Talking Heads with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On What Hits!? (1992), Behind The Sun shows Red Hot Chili Peppers working in a 1990s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a bright electric charge, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers A Clean Break (Live) without borrowing the same emotional weight.

Walkin' by Miles Davis lands here because Cheap Thrills by Sia and Final Straw by R.E.M. provide a sharp two-step that extends the feeling of David Bowie's I’d Rather Be High without sounding automatic.. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Cheap Thrills can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On At Plugged Nickel, Chicago (CD1) (1965), Walkin' shows Miles Davis working in a 1960s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the jazz texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Cheap Thrills to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Cheap Thrills answers Walkin' by Miles Davis with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Final Straw can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On This Is Acting (2016), Cheap Thrills shows Sia working in a 2010s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Walkin' without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Final Straw to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Final Straw answers Cheap Thrills by Sia with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Around The Sun (2004), Final Straw shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Cheap Thrills without borrowing the same emotional weight.

I'll Take The Rain by R.E.M. lands here because Keeps the emotional pressure steady after Finale by Daft Punk and turns the color from 10s into 2020s.. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Bastards Of Light can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Reveal (2001), I'll Take The Rain shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Bastards Of Light to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Bastards Of Light answers I'll Take The Rain by R.E.M. with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The alternative-rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. I'm Beginning To See The Light can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Unlimited Love (2022), Bastards Of Light shows Red Hot Chili Peppers working in a 2020s pocket with alternative-rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the alternative-rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers I'll Take The Rain without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for I'm Beginning To See The Light to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

I'm Beginning To See The Light answers Bastards Of Light by Red Hot Chili Peppers with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Sinatra And Swingin' Brass (2014), I'm Beginning To See The Light shows Frank Sinatra working in a 2010s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the jazz texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Bastards Of Light without borrowing the same emotional weight.

I Got a Line on You by Spirit lands here because Mean Mr. Mustard by The Beatles followed by I'll Take The Rain by R.E.M. keeps the emotional pressure steady after Wasted Time by Eagles and changes the sentence enough to keep the hour feeling authored.. The rock / psychedelic rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Mean Mr. Mustard can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On The Psychedelic Years 1966-1969 (1990), I Got a Line on You shows Spirit working in a 1990s pocket with rock / psychedelic rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock / psychedelic rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Mean Mr. Mustard to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Mean Mr. Mustard answers I Got a Line on You by Spirit with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. I'll Take The Rain can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Abbey Road (1969), Mean Mr. Mustard shows The Beatles working in a 1960s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers I Got a Line on You without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for I'll Take The Rain to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

I'll Take The Rain answers Mean Mr. Mustard by The Beatles with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Reveal (2001), I'll Take The Rain shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Mean Mr. Mustard without borrowing the same emotional weight.

A Thousand Days Before (Live From The Artists Den) by Soundgarden lands here because Draggin' The Line by Tommy James keeps the emotional pressure steady after Show And Tell by Al Wilson and keeps rock in the grain.. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Draggin' The Line can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On King Animal (2012), A Thousand Days Before (Live From The Artists Den) shows Soundgarden working in a 2010s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a candlelit drift, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Draggin' The Line to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Draggin' The Line answers A Thousand Days Before (Live From The Artists Den) by Soundgarden with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Around The Sun can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Sounds Of The Seventies - 1971: Take Two (1990), Draggin' The Line shows Tommy James working in a 1990s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers A Thousand Days Before (Live From The Artists Den) without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Around The Sun to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Around The Sun answers Draggin' The Line by Tommy James with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Around The Sun (2004), Around The Sun shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Draggin' The Line without borrowing the same emotional weight.

Black Rain by Soundgarden lands here because These Days by R.E.M. and Why Would You Wanna Live by Wilco provide a fresh turn while maintaining the emotional arc of the set.. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. These Days can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Telephantasm (2010), Black Rain shows Soundgarden working in a 2010s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for These Days to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

These Days answers Black Rain by Soundgarden with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Yellow Submarine can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Live At The Olympia (2009), These Days shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Black Rain without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Yellow Submarine to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Yellow Submarine answers These Days by R.E.M. with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Revolver (1966), Yellow Submarine shows The Beatles working in a 1960s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers These Days without borrowing the same emotional weight.

White Blur 2 by Aphex Twin lands here because Keeps the emotional pressure steady after Tadd's Delight (From The Album 'Round About Midnight) by Miles Davis and turns the color from 2020s into 1990s.. The electronic, ambient, experimental edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Dear Old Stockholm (From The Album 'Round About Midnight) can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Disc 2 - Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994), White Blur 2 shows Aphex Twin working in a 1990s pocket with electronic, ambient, experimental in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the electronic, ambient, experimental texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Dear Old Stockholm (From The Album 'Round About Midnight) to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Dear Old Stockholm (From The Album 'Round About Midnight) answers White Blur 2 by Aphex Twin with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Star Me Kitten can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On INTEGRAL MILES DAVIS 1951-1956 (2024), Dear Old Stockholm (From The Album 'Round About Midnight) shows Miles Davis working in a 2020s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a candlelit drift, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the jazz texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers White Blur 2 without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Star Me Kitten to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Star Me Kitten answers Dear Old Stockholm (From The Album 'Round About Midnight) by Miles Davis with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Automatic For The People (1992), Star Me Kitten shows R.E.M. working in a 1990s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Dear Old Stockholm (From The Album 'Round About Midnight) without borrowing the same emotional weight.

The Dream by Miles Davis lands here because it keeps the soulful / low-lit drift pull alive without sanding off the grain that makes this hour interesting. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Orange Crush can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On 1986-1991: The Warner Years (CD2) (2011), The Dream shows Miles Davis working in a 2010s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the jazz texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Orange Crush to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Orange Crush answers The Dream by Miles Davis with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Green (2013), Orange Crush shows R.E.M. working in a 2010s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers The Dream without borrowing the same emotional weight.

Orange Crush by R.E.M. lands here because Orange Crush by R.E.M. states the thesis, and Slide by Slave answers it with a fresh turn.. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Slide can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Green (2013), Orange Crush shows R.E.M. working in a 2010s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Slide to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Slide answers Orange Crush by R.E.M. with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The soul, funk, r&b edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Slave (1977), Slide shows Slave working in a 1970s pocket with soul, funk, r&b in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the soul, funk, r&b texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Orange Crush without borrowing the same emotional weight.