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Exploring Highs and Lows of Early Pink Floyd and Wilco’s Finest Hour

Tuesday, December 9: Released in 1969 Ummagumma is one of Pink Floyd’s most remarkable albums. One half of the album was recorded live in concert and features staples of the group’s live show from that time, the other half is marked by unusual compositions intended to give each member of the band a voice in the songwriting process. Fans and critics continue to argue about the artistic merits of the studio pieces, though the live recordings are fine examples of a band that had earned a reputation for stellar live shows. We’ll hear from both the live and studio elements of Ummagumma on this episode of Strange Currency as well as selections from Floyd guitarist David Gilmour’s sophomore solo release, About Face. Released in 1984 About Face marks an uncertain time in Pink Floyd’s future. Gilmour surrounded himself with many of his favorite musicians, including Steve Winwood, Deep Purple’s Jon Lord and Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro. He also brought in Pete Townshend of The Who to write lyrics to two of the album’s best songs, “Love on the Air” and “All Lovers Are Deranged.”

Wednesday, December 10: Released in 2002 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is Wilco’s fourth album and arguably the band’s greatest release to date. The record had a difficult birth as the band struggled with its record company over the direction of the album. When the record was finally released nearly a year after its completion it was hailed as the band’s masterwork. The album features Wilco staples such as “Jesus, Etc.,” “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart,” “Ashes of American Flags” and “Heavy Metal Drummer.” We’ll hear selections from it on this episode of the show as well as from A Saucerful of Secrets, the second full-length album by Pink Floyd and the first to feature guitarist David Gilmour.

Thursday, December 11: Low-Life is the 1985 album from New Order and is considered one of the band’s finest release. The record is notable for its inclusion of the song “Love Vigilantes” and a more pronounced use of synthesizers than on earlier New Order albums. Listen for selections from that recording as well as music from So Happy It’s Sad the 2014 release from Atlanta, Georgia’s Spirits and The Melchizedek Children.

Friday, December 12: A Ghost Is Born is the fifth album from Wilco. Released in 2004 the record features founding member Jeff Tweedy playing more lead guitar than any other album from the band. The record is notable for songs such as “Handshake Drugs,” “Company In My Back” and “Spiders (Kidsmoke),” all of which highlighted the band’s eclectic influences ranging from straightforward pop to the experimental edges of bands such as Can. We’ll hear selections from that album as well as from Eat A Peach the classic 1972 album by The Allman Brothers Band.

Saturday, December 13: Inspired by the music and art scenes in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s, Gramercy Arms has recently released its second album, The Seasons of Love. We'll hear selections from that recording on this episode of Strange Currency as well as from Our Love, the latest release by Caribou.

Monday, December 15: Released in 1977 Animals is the tenth studio album from Pink Floyd and the recording which saw the band take a more direct lyrical approach toward political and social discord in Great Britain at that time. We’ll hear from that recording as well as selections from Wilco’s 2002 release Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

Jedd Beaudoin is host/producer of the nationally syndicated program Strange Currency. He has also served as an arts reporter, a producer of A Musical Life and a founding member of the KMUW Movie Club. As a music journalist, his work has appeared in Pop Matters, Vox, No Depression and Keyboard Magazine.