That Record Got Me High Podcast

Bandleader, composer and music historian Skip Heller (Voodoo 5, Los duenos del Klezmer, the Hollywood Film Noirchestra), brings us the OG 1977 roots reggae album 'Heart Of The Congos' by The Congos. Produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry at his Black Ark studio in Kingston, Jamaica (initially as a very limited release said to consist of only several hundred copies), it is now regarded as one of Perry's masterpiece productions of the Black Ark era.

Songs discussed in this episode: Fisherman Dub - The Congos; Coffee In The Morning (Kisses In The Night) - Skip Heller's Voodoo 5; Moon Over Marin (Dead Kennedys cover) - Voodoo 5 (featuring Jello Biafra); Dead Puppies Aren't Much Fun - Bill Frenzer; Exodus - Bob Marley & The Wailers; Monkey Man - The Specials; Party Time - The Heptones; Return Of Django - The Upsetters; Dirty Blvd. - Lou Reed; Fisherman, Congoman - The Congos; The Wind - Nolan Strong & Diablos; Animal Day - Wall Of Voodoo; Africa Talks To You (The Asphalt Jungle) - Sly & The Family Stone; Open Up The Gate - The Congos; Heartbreak Hotel (Live on Stage Show, 1956), Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley ; Cocktails For Two - Spike Jones & His City Slickers; Earthbeat - The Slits; Children Crying, La La Bam-Bam - The Congos; Keep A Knockin' - Little Richard; Keep A Knockin' (But You Can't Come In) - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five; Can't Come In, Sodom and Gomorrow, The Wrong Thing, The Ark Of The Covenant, Solid Foundation - The Congos; Fit and Working Again - The Fall; Telstar - The Tornados; Highway 99 - Skip Heller's Voodoo 5

For this special Patron-curated episode, we tasked our Patrons with sending in their favorite song that asks a question. As always, they answered the call...

Songs discussed in this episode: Why - Bronski Beat; Why - Annie Lennox; Why Why Why Why Why - SAULT; Why - Yoko Ono; Have You Seen Her - The Chi-Lites; Why Can't I Touch It? - Buzzcocks; Why, Oh Why - Pete Seeger; Unsatisfied - The Replacements; Question - Old 97's; Can I Have A Smoke, Dude? - Mary's Danish; Ska du hänga med? Nä!! - Bob Hund; Would? - Alice In Chains; Don't Look Now (It Ain't You or Me) - Minutemen; Don't Look Now (It Ain't You or Me) - Creedence Clearwater Revival; Questions? - Dramarama; What Have I Said Now? - The Wedding Present; Why Tell The Truth (When It's Easier To Lie) - Brakes; Who Makes The Nazis - The Fall; What Gives? - Radio Birdman; Who Reaps the Profit? Who Pays the Price? - Leon Rosselson; Who Needs The Peace Corps? - Frank Zappa; Why Do You Cut Off Your Sleeves? - Sebadoh; Are You Gonna Be My Girl? - Jet; War - Edwin Starr; Whatchugonnado? - Bob Vylan; Who Are You Trying To Fool? - Little Ann; Johnny, Are You Queer? - Josie Cotton; Where Were You When I Needed You? - The Grass Roots; Easy On Your Own? - Alvvays; Caught You In The Act - Mel & Tim; (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding? - Brinsley Schwarz; (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding? - Elvis Costello & The Attractions (Live At Pinkpop, 1979)

On September 20, 1973, singer/songwriter Jim Croce, his musical partner Maury Muehleisen and four others were killed in a plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana after finishing a concert at Northwestern State University's Prather Coliseum. His music career cut tragically short, Croce nevertheless produced an amazing catalogue of songs that stand the test of time. This week's guests, Luke Bob Robinson and Jasper Smith of renowned a cappella group Straight No Chaser, brings us Croce's second posthumous release following his 1973 death - the greatest hits collection Photographs & Memories.

Songs discussed in this episode: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Frank Sinatra; Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, The 12 Days Of Christmas (1998), No Diggity - Straight No Chaser; Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Dolly Parton; Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce; Queen Of The Hop - Bobby Darin; Bring Back That Leroy Brown - Queen; Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels), Photographs and Memories, Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy) - Jim Croce; Johnny Be Goode - Chuck Berry; Michelle - The Beatles; Time In A Bottle - Jim Croce; That's Me In The Bar - A.J. Croce; New York's Not My Home, Workin' At The Car Wash Blues - Jim Croce; Love American Style theme - Ron Hicklin Singers; I Got A Name - Jim Croce; Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver; I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song, You Don't Mess Around With Jim, Lover's Cross - Jim Croce; Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkle; One Less Set Of Footsteps - Jim Croce; Act Naturally - The Beatles; These Dreams, Roller Derby Queen - Jim Croce; Creep (Live) - Straight No Chaser

This week, we're honored to have Parliament-Funkadelic guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Michael "Kidd Funkadelic" Hampton joining us to discuss Herbie Hancock and his groundbreaking song 'Chameleon' off of the 1973 album Head Hunters. Let's get FUNKY!

Songs discussed in this episode: Underwater Rimes - Digital Underground; Words Of Wisdom - 2Pac; The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary - Frank Zappa; Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man (Dub Mix) - Public Enemy; Cellphone's Dead - Beck; Me vs Me - Biz Markie; (Not Just) Knee Deep - Funkadelic; King Kong Theme, Savanna - Michael Hampton; Good To Your Earhole - Funkadelic; Super Bad - James Brown; Chameleon - Herbie Hancock; Savage Beat, Leaving The Island - Michael Hampton; Chameleon - Herbie Hancock; 101 Eastbound - Fourplay; Chameleon - Herbie Hancock; Dance The Night - Dua Lipa; Fight Or Flight - Michael Hampton

For this special BONUS episode, we took a break from records to discuss a MOVIE with returning guest Les Norris - because why not?? It's 'That Movie Got Me High' featuring the 1982 classic: Fast Times At Ridgemont High!

"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine."

- Jeff Spicoli

The first album by an American band to be released on British independent label 4AD, Throwing Muses' stunningly beautiful 1986 debut got this week's guest Ronnie Barnett (The Muffs) supremely and hopelessly high! Truth be told, the record's combination of gorgeous complexity, serene tension and emotional power STILL sounds fresh 40 years on.

Songs discussed in this episode: Wave Of Mutilation (Pixies cover) - Throwing Muses; Kids In America - The Muffs; Finished - Throwing Muses; Agony (Live at Fort Apache, 1995) - The Muffs; Call Me - Throwing Muses; Feed The Tree - Belly; Green, Hate My Way - Throwing Muses; Johnny Hit and Run Paulene - X; Vicky's Box, Rabbits Dying - Throwing Muses; Watchin' You - KISS; America (She Can't Say No), Fear, Fear (The Doghouse Cassette Demo), Stand Up - Throwing Muses; When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky - Bob Dylan; White Lies - Jason & The Scorchers; Soul Soldier, Delicate Cutters - Throwing Muses; New Love (Live at Fort Apache, 1995) - The Muffs

This week's returning guest, Canadian documentary filmmaker Alan Zweig, brings a record many before him have mentioned but never pulled the trigger to tackle. Released in February 1977 to lukewarm commercial reception, Television's stunning debut 'Marquee Moon' is considered by many to be one of the greatest rock guitar albums of all time. Let's DO this!

Songs discussed in this episode: Marquee Moon (Television cover) - Kronos Quartet; Halloween - The Dream Syndicate; That's All I Know (Right Now) - The Neon Boys; Prove It (Eno Demos), Venus De Milo (Eno Demos) - Television; In The Flesh - Blondie; Blitzkrieg Bop - Ramones; Betrayal Takes Two - Richard Hell; See No Evil - Television; Divine Intervention - Matthew Sweet; Venus - Television; Venus (Television cover) - Jeff & Spencer Tweedy; I Know What Boys Like - The Waitresses; Friction - Television; Screamin' Fist - Viletones; Marquee Moon - Television; Kassie Jones - Furry Lewis; Errors Of My Way - Wishbone Ash; Elevation - Television; Town Without Pity - Gene Pitney; Blank Generation - Richard Hell; Misty Eyes - Richard Lloyd; Guiding Light - Television; American Music - Violent Femmes; Pale Blue Eyes - Velvet Underground; Days, Prove It, Torn Curtain - Television; Souvenir From A Dream - Tom Verlaine; Marquee Moon (Television cover feat. Richard Lloyd) - Ellen Sundberg

This week's returning guest, Woody Compton, brings us Social Distortion and their 2026 release 'Born To Kill'. Their first studio album in fifteen years, it's both a return to form and statement of purpose - and Woody makes the case that leader Mike Ness STILL has some fire in his belly and the songwriting chops to back it up.

Songs discussed in this episode: Ball and Chain (Honky Tonk version) - Mike Ness; Prison Bound, Ball and Chain - Social Distortion; Ballad Of A Lonely Man - Mike Ness; Machine Gun Blues, Born To Kill - Social Distortion; Search & Destroy - Iggy & The Stooges; No Way Out - Social Distortion; Goin' Out - U.S. Bombs; Ooh La La - The Faces; The Way Things Were - Social Distortion; Will The Wolf Survive - Los Lobos; Tonight, Partners In Crime, Crazy Dreamer, Wicked Game, Walk Away (Don't Look Back) - Social Distortion; Kids Of The Black Hole - Adolescents; Never Goin' Back Again, Don't Keep Me Hanging On, Over You, Death Or Glory (Clash cover) - Social Distortion

This week's guest, record/hot sauce purveyor Kevin Chanel (Grooves Inspiralled Vinyl, El Enojado Hot Sauce), brings us singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter, video artist, writer and experimental musician Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe) and his 1981 solo release 'Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam'. Originally recorded in 1979 as an intended follow up album to his 'Bill Nelson's Red Noise' project, EMI declined to release the recordings and the material remained unreleased until Bill licensed the original stereo mixes of the album to Mercury Records, who issued the album in the Spring of 1981. Already far ahead of the 80s New Wave curve, it's a futuristic, forward-looking art-pop gem of a record!

Songs discussed in this episode: Do You Dream In Colour - Bill Nelson & The Gentlemen Rocketeers (Live at Metropolis Studios, London); Steamboat Stomp - Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers; Hey Hey - Big Bill Broonzy; Near East - Bill Nelson; Don't Touch Me (I'm Electric) - Bill Nelson's Red Noise; Ships In The Night - Be Bop Deluxe; Stay Young - Bill Nelson's Red Noise; Acceleration, Banal - Bill Nelson; Candy-O - The Cars; Maid In Heaven - Be Bop Deluxe; Living In My Limousine, Vertical Games - Bill Nelson; Underpass - John Foxx; Disposable, False Alarms - Bill Nelson; Charade - Skids; Decline And Fall, Life Runs Out Like Sand, A Kind Of Loving, Do You Dream In Colour - Bill Nelson; Do You Dream In Colour - Cate Le Bon ft. Parquet Courts (Live); U.H.F. - Bill Nelson; Elephant Talk - King Crimson; Youth Of Nation On Fire, Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam, Instantly Yours - Bill Nelson; Death Riff U.S.A. - Ghetto Scheist; Lonesome Cowboy Bill (Velvet Underground cover) - Bill Nelson & the Roy Rodgers Rocketeers

This week, returning guests Alexander Hacke and Danielle de Picciotto (hackedepicciotto) join us to discuss musician David Eugene Edwards' (16 Horsepower) offshoot project Wovenhand, and the stunning 2022 release 'Silver Sash'

Songs discussed in this episode: Ain't No Sunshine - Wovenhand; Einig, Lichtung - hackedepicciotto; Domina - Crime & the City Solution; Long Horn - Wovenhand; Black Soul Choir, Low Estate - 16 Horsepower; Tempel Timber - Wovenhand; Destroy The Nations - Nihilist Spasm Band; Acacia, Duat Hawk - Wovenhand; All In The Palm - David Eugene Edwards & Alexander Hacke; Dead Dead Beat, Omaha, Sicagnu, The Lash - Wovenhand; Tanz Debil - Einstürzende Neubauten; 8 of 9, Silver Sash - Wovenhand; Zeitenwende - hackedepicciotto