February 16, 2024

Platinum anniversary

Believe it or not, this week marks the 20th anniversary of the first episode of Global A Go-Go.  This radio show started on February 23, 2004 on WRIR's webstream, almost a year before we began broadcasting on 97.3 FM, and it's the longest running program on our station.
 
I wish I had a recording of that first show, but I first started archiving Global A Go-Go about six months later: radio4all.net/series/Global%20A%20Go-Go?page=30
 
I do have a copy of the first tracklist, though.  We couldn't add our playlists on the WRIR website yet, so the DJs were instructed to post them on LiveJournal (remember them, the Russian-owned competitor to Facebook?).  Somehow my account is still up there: global-a-go-go.livejournal.com/?skip=35
 
To mark the anniversary, I've gone back to that tracklist and selected a few songs to play once again.  Fortunately they're still good!  Of course, I have some new stuff for you as well (Franck Biyong from Cameroon, Chile's Newen Afrobeat and Russian folk-rockers Otava Yo), plus a listener request for Hugh Masekela.

And I'm giving away a pair of tickets to see a band that I played quite a bit back in 2004: the great Celtic punk band Flogging Molly, who will be at the National on Wednesday February 21.  So tune in, enjoy the reminiscences, and win tickets!

 
Oh, and I thought you might enjoy seeing what WRIR's logo looked like in 2004 when we were getting the radio station off the ground:



Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year
 
Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001
 
Kekele | RD Congo | Kaka Ngai | Rumba Congo | Stern's Africa | 2001
L'Orchestre Spear | Tanzania | Mpenzi Niliyemtegemba | Afrika Muye Muye! Tanzanian Rumba & Muziki Wa Dansi 1968-1970 | Recordiana | 2023-1969
Dechaud Et L'African Jazz | RD Congo | African Jazz Mokili Mobimba | African Jazz Mokili Mobimba - Single | Surboum | 1961
 
Orchestra Baobab | Sénégal-Guiné-Bissau-Mali-Togo | Jiin Ma Jiin Ma | Specialist In All Styles | World Circuit | 2002
Dieuf-Dieul De Thiès | Sénégal | Aling Na Djimbé (Live) | Dieuf-Dieul De Thiès | Buda Musique | 2024
 
Hugh Masekela | South Africa-Ghana | Stimela (Coal Train) | I Am Not Afraid | Blue Thumb | 1974
Franck Biyong | Cameroon-Nigeria | Oladipo (feat Chief Udoh Essiet & Tony Allen) | Oladipo - Single | Afrolectric Music | 2024
Newen Afrobeat | Chile-Brazil | Es La Vida (feat Chico César) | Es La Vida - Single | Lichens Family | 2024
 
June Tabor | England UK | Hughie Graeme | An Echo Of Hooves | Topic | 2003
Bert Jansch | England UK | Angie | Bert Jansch | Transatlantic | 1965
Chumbawamba | England UK | Jacob's Ladder (Not In My Name) | Readymades And Then Some | Koch | 2003
Lambchop | USA | The Butcher Boy | Nixon | Merge | 2000
Otava Yo | Russia | Good Evening | Loud And Clear | ARC | 2024
 
Flogging Molly | USA-Ireland | Tomorrow Comes A Day Too Soon | Within A Mile Of Home | SideOneDummy | 2004
The Waterboys | United Kingdom-Ireland | And A Bang On The Ear | Fisherman's Blues | Chrysalis | 1988
The Pogues | England UK | Do You Believe In Magic? | Just Look Them Straight In The Eye And Say … Pogue Mahone | Rhino | 2008-1985
 
Quantic & Alice Russell With The Combo Barbaro | England UK-Colombia | Travelling Song | Look Around The Corner | Tru Thoughts | 2012
Rene Lopez | USA | Honey Got Some Love | E.L.S. | Nat Geo Music | 2011
Boogaloo Assassins | USA | No No No (radio edit) | Old Love Dies Hard | Sicario | 2014
Joe Bataan | USA | Chevere Que Chevere | Call My Name | Vampisoul | 2005

3 comments:

Andy Denton said...

Congrats on the anniversary! Your show always brightens my Sunday when I remember to tune in (now in Arkansas) and that opening Joe Strummer song pumps me up. Also reminds me of that HBO surfing show that used it for their opening.

Bill Lupoletti said...

Thank you, Andy!

Andy Denton said...

Wrong song, but you know what I mean. 😆