John Cale, Spy Songs & RIP Wayne Shorter
For more than 60 years, John Cale has continued to make exciting, challenging and culturally relevant music, including his most recent release, Mercy. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with the Velvet Underground legend about his new music, collaborations and legacy. Plus, the hosts share some of their favorite spy songs and bid farewell to jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter.
John Cale
John Cale is a founder of The Velvet Underground along with Lou Reed. An acclaimed producer and solo artist, Cale recently released Mercy, his seventeenth solo album. Hosts John DeRogatis and Greg Kot welcome Cale for another interview on Sound Opinions.
Spy Songs
In honor of John Cale's short-lived “Spy Records” label- and inspired by the spy balloons of recent weeks, Jim and Greg share their favorite songs about spies and espionage. Selections range from reggae to power pop.
Jim:
- Johnny Rivers, "Secret Agent Man"
- The Fugs, "CIA Man"
- Rockwell, "Somebody’s Watching Me"
- Lori & The Chameleons, "The Lonely Spy"
- The dB’s, "A Spy In the House of Love"
Greg:
- Tony Allen, "Secret Agent"
- Gene Vincent, "Private Detective (feat. The Shouts)"
- The Untouchables, "I Spy (For the F.B.I.)"
- Desmond Dekker & the Aces, "007 (Shanty Town)"
- Big Boys, "Detectives"
Obituary: Wayne Shorter
Jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter recently died and Greg offers a tribute with an archival assist from Don Was.
Featured Songs:
- John Cale, "STORY OF BLOOD feat. Weyes Blood," Mercy, Double Six, 2023
- The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Capitol, 1967
- John Cale, "EVERLASTING DAYS feat. Animal Collective," Mercy, Double Six, 2023
- John Cale, "MARILYN MONROE'S LEGS (beauty elsewhere) feat. Actress," Mercy, Double Six, 2023
- John Cale, "TIME STANDS STILL feat. Sylvan Esso," Mercy, Double Six, 2023
- John Cale, "NIGHT CRAWLING," Mercy, Double Six, 2023
- John Cale, "MOONSTRUCK (Nico's Song)," Mercy, Double Six, 2023
- The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Femme Fatale," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground and Nico, "I'm Waiting for the Man," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- John Cale, "Dying On the Vine (Fragments)," Artificial Intelligence, PVC, 1985
- John Cale, "MERCY," Mercy, Double Six, 2023
- Johnny Rivers, "Secret Agent Man," ...And I Know You Wanna Dance, Imperial, 1966
- Tony Allen, "Secret Agent," Secret Agent, World Circuit, 2009
- The Fugs, "CIA Man," Virgin Fugs, ESP-Disk, 1967
- Gene Vincent, "Private Detective (feat. The Shouts)," Private Detective (feat. The Shouts) (Single), Columbia, 1964
- Rockwell, "Somebody's Watching Me," Somebody's Watching Me, Motown, 1984
- The Untouchables, "I Spy (For the F.B.I.)," Wild Child, MCA, 1985
- Lori & The Chameleons, "The Lonely Spy," To the Shores of Lake Placid, Zoo, 1982
- Desmond Dekker & the Aces, "007 (Shanty Town)," Action!, Lagoon, 1968
- The dB's, "A Spy In the House of Love," Like This, Bearsville, 1984
- Big Boys, "Detectives," The Skinny Elvis, Touch and Go, 1993
- Steely Dan & Tom Scott, "Aja," Aja, ABC, 1977
- Wayne Shorter, "Speak No Evil," Speak No Evil, Blue Note, 1966
- Poster Children, "She Walks," Flower Plower, Limited Potential, 1989
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