Dizzy Heights #96: The Final

Features Hatchie, Elogy, The Lightning Seeds, Paul Oakenfold, and many, many more.

Hello. And, in all likelihood, goodbye.

This was not an easy decision to make. I was so close to doing my 100th Dizzy Heights show. That was the goal all along. I wasn’t sure what I’d do after I got to 100, but I really wanted to get to 100. However, between the timing of Mixcloud’s push to move everyone to the Pro tier, combined with what is shaping up to be a very busy 2023, it didn’t make sense to sign up for Mixcloud Pro if I’m going to disappear for months on end. And that will definitely happen next year.

Likewise, it killed me to take 90-95% of my shows down in order to make room for a handful of new shows. So, for the moment anyway, I’m walking away.

To everyone who listened these past six years, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have greatly appreciated the support, suggestions, and inspiration.

Well, I guess that’s it. Bye.

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Dizzy Heights #95: 100% Acrylic

Features Sam Phillips, The Coral, Redd Kross, Elliott Smith, Ween, and more

I forgot to tell you the name of the band after my first talkie bit. It’s Slade.

I also forgot to tell you the name of a song in the first set. It’s called “Original Song.”

I am a consummate professional.

I also didn’t realize it when I was recording it, but this is likely my last show of the year. I started putting together a track list for a potential ‘Home’ show, and decided to scrap the idea. We’re on the road in two weeks, and no one listens to Mixcloud in December. I’ll see you in January.

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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Dizzy Heights #94: ‘House’ Music

Features The Heavy, Dead or Alive, Teddybears, Prince, Calvin Harris, and more

Yep, I refer to a movie as a song, but did I re-record the bit once I realized the mistake?

Reader, I did not.

This is the first in a two-part series of songs about living quarters. The ‘Home’ show comes in about a month, and that wraps it up. Can’t imagine I’d get very far on songs about apartments and condos.

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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Dizzy Heights #93: The Second Acrostic Show

This is probably going to be the new normal, flipping between themed shows and acrostic shows. Not only are these shows easier to make, they enable me to play songs I love that don’t fit a theme. Indeed, there’s a certain red-haired New Pornographer here who wrote a song that I can’t believe I’m playing for the first time in Show #93.

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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Dizzy Heights #92: Fire

I will be the first to admit that this is not the most original idea, but it’s filled with possibilities…for me to play the Boomtown Rats for the twelfth time. Not a typo.

On the other hand, six artists are making their debut in show #92, and even I’m like, I still have bands I haven’t played yet? Yes. Yes, I do.

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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Dizzy Heights #91: The Acrostic Show

Features The New Pornographers, Owsley, Veruca Salt, Elastica, and more.

This was so fun, and so much easier of a process, that I will probably do this many, many more times in the future. Fair warning.

Truth be told, I hadn’t even heard the word ‘acrostic’ before Popdose’s original game maker Scraps did an episode of Name That Tune using an acrostic to spell out a hint to the final track. So not only am I stealing one of his ideas, I’m stealing one of my own ideas, because I used this exact acrostic for Cover Me. Look at the artists above and see you spot a pattern.

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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Dizzy Heights #90: ____ Me

Features a-ha, Go West, The B-52’s, The Smiths, and more.

Recycling another Name That Tune idea for a show (and I’m doing it again for the next one). It’s been, what, 14 years? That feels like fair game to revisit.

Hold Me. Thrill Me. Save Me. Those are the names of songs that, um, didn’t make the cut, but you get the idea. I didn’t realize it when I began work on this, but in the end, this became a tribute show to my lovely wife. The first two blocks have her fingerprints all over them

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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Dizzy Heights #89: The Eyes Have It

Features The Nazz, The Tubes, Shakin’ Stevens, Gorillaz, Devo, and others

I’m so sorry! I went away again. Spring soccer season is all-consuming, and to think, my daughter just moved up to a travel league. Cool!

If I’m being honest, the other reason for the delay is that I didn’t have any ideas that got me really excited. I’d like to get to 100 shows before I reuse any themes, so I need 11 more clever thoughts. That may not seem like that many, but to me, right now, it seems impossible.

And just like that, I got an idea. It’s stolen from a former DJ colleague of mine, but still, it’s an idea. So, yay?

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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Dizzy Heights #88: Money

Featuring Johnny Marr, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, The Wonder Stuff, The Flying Lizards, and more.

“The answer to 90% of all questions is money.” – My friend Karen

The inevitable spinoff from DH #87 (The Finest Work Songs). I’m a bit surprised I haven’t done this one already. I mean, who doesn’t sing about money? (Answer: no one.)

But here we are. I even do a little beat mixing towards the end, which is a pretty big hint to those who know me well.

Coming up: I’m calling an audible. After suggesting a theme to my social media friends, I decided to try something else. I had lots of ideas for the other things, but not a whole lot of passion about it. So it can wait. This newer idea interests me more. I’m a cat. Please show me the shiny thing again.

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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Dizzy Heights #87: The Finest ‘Work’ Songs

But not that one.

Ed Goodman certainly gave me this idea (all of the good ones are his), and I finally acted on it. The subject opened so many doors that it will have its own spinoff show in two weeks!

Five debuts this week, including a brand-new band that I hadn’t even heard of, but thankfully a high school classmate had, and they might become one of my favorite new bands. Think Franz Ferdinand, but Irish.

Thank you, as always, for listening.

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