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Johnson's Improbable History of Pop
Saturdays 7:00-8:00 p.m. on SPR News
Hosted by John Johnson

John Johnson conducts a tour of the obscure world of early rock and pop music. The 95% of records that never got commercial airtime have a home, Johnson’s Improbable History of Pop features those artists who fell through the commercial cracks.

  • Grateful Dead Vaults, part 4
    Former late night Spokane Grateful Dead radio host Mark Falcon is our guest on this archive presentation first aired in 1997. We'll hear an eclectic collection of Dead tunes taped during their summer shows through the decades.
  • Early Spokane Rockers
    Daryl Bredesen and Dick Baker from the Blue Jeans, plus Clark Frandsen of the Four Playboys were our studio guests in this 1995 show. Their two bands were well known throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho from late 1950's well into the 1960's.
  • Spokane Country Rock, part 1
    Charlie Ryan, Bobby Wayne, and Neil Livingston were guests for this 1995 show. They shared their early recordings and memories of the local Spokane music scene of the 1950's. All three men also discuss their brushes with national fame during the period.
  • Northern Soul Is Still Faithful
    Selection of vintage American soul as collected on U.K. Northern Soul compilations. Some surprising sources were able to get with the magic beat that filled the dance floors.
  • Blues Classics
    Survey of influential blues reissue label run by Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwicz. They forged ahead in an era when major labels refused to release the treasure chest of roots music sealed away in their archives.
  • Northwest Country Girls
    A selection of female country performers from throughout the Northwest circa 1952-2000. Bonnie Guitar, Loretta Lynn, Barbara DeAnne, and Neko Case are among the featured artists.
  • Rolling Stones
    The Rolling Stones Take the Fifth
    A selection of lesser known deep album tracks, b-sides, and bonus tracks from their first dozen years in the studio (1963-1975).
  • Barbara DeAnne
    A tribute to Spokane country singer/songwriter with her husband Ray Wilkes and daughter Melanie Brennan. We'll hear highlights from Barbara's trio of locally released 1970's indie singles plus demos from her archives.
  • Another Side of Greg Beumer
    Spokane singer/songwriter recorded live in SPR studio with selection of his original, spiritually based songs. Just Greg, his vintage acoustic guitar, harmonica, and voice.
  • Hunger (with Mike Parkison)
    Spokane's Mike Parkison shares sounds and inside stories of his late 1960's band Hunger, who recorded one album in Los Angeles after moving from their Portland, Oregon hometown. This encore presentation was first aired in 2000.