One great song, every weekday, with a sentence or two about why it matters.https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/en-ushttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-16-urge-overkill-the-break/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-16-urge-overkill-the-break/Urge Overkill's *Saturation* is my usual go-to when I want the best of 90s alternative rock at loud volume. Nevertheless, their next record *Exit the Dragon* is also awesome. "The Break" was one of the singles of off that album and it is definitely 90s ear candy from this criminaThu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-15-napalm-death-tiny-desk/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-15-napalm-death-tiny-desk/Imagine my surprise today when I saw in my feed that Napalm Death appeared in the latest episode of NPR's *Tiny Desk Concert*. Way cool! They perform quite a few songs from the classic record *Scum* along with a smattering of newer material ("Throes of Joy in the Jaws of DefeatisWed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-14-tv-on-the-radio-staring-at-the-sun/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-14-tv-on-the-radio-staring-at-the-sun/Hard to believe its been over two decades since TV on the Radio dropped "Staring at the Sun". This music video is the *Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes* version but it was first released a year earlier than that on the *Young Liars* EP in a slightly different form. It still sTue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-13-rolling-stones-you-know-im-no-good/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-13-rolling-stones-you-know-im-no-good/The Rolling Stones just put out a new record called *Foreign Tongues*. It is actually pretty good! I wouldn't say it is up there with classics like *Sticky Fingers* or *Exile on Main Street* but it is still worth hearing. Especially this incredible cover of Amy Winehouse's "You KMon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-10-power-tools-wadamlaw-island/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-10-power-tools-wadamlaw-island/Power Tools was a very short lived power trio consisting of Bill Frisell (guitar), Melvin Gibbs (bass) and Ronald Shannon Jackson (drums). They only put out one album: the incredible *Strange Meeting* in 1987. "Wadamlaw Island" is one of the many highlights on that record and thiFri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-09-the-darkness-i-hate-myself/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-09-the-darkness-i-hate-myself/The Darkness has (not so quietly) been releasing awesome glam rock for nearly a quarter century now. Its hard to believe that after releasing *Permission to Land* that they wouldn't just flame out in a blaze of party rock glory. Somehow, they survive. Their last record (*Dreams oThu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-08-ll-cool-j-going-back-to-cali/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-08-ll-cool-j-going-back-to-cali/There's a lot to love about LL Cool J's classic video for "Going Back To Cali": The Rick Rubin and Martha Quinn cameos. The black and white film noir style. The way LL looks like the most awesome person on the planet in virtually every scene. It helps that the song itself rules. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-07-steve-winwood-cant-find-my-way-home/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-07-steve-winwood-cant-find-my-way-home/I frequently go back to this incredible performance by Steve Winwood of "Can't Find My Way Home" he recorded about 15 years ago. Performed solo in front of his fireplace it is perhaps the definitive version of his tune that was originally recorded by Blind Faith.Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-06-rfsq-live-in-japan/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-06-rfsq-live-in-japan/The Robert Fripp String Quintet was a short lived group (existing from 1992-1993) that comprised of Fripp, stick player Trey Gunn and the California Guitar Trio. They put out one excellent album, *The Bridge Between* in 1992 but this live footage originally released on VHS calledMon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-03-ray-charles-america-the-beautiful/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-03-ray-charles-america-the-beautiful/In my humble opinion, "America the Beautiful" should be the United States National Anthem. It is a far superior song than "The Star Spangled Banner". Ray Charles recorded the definitive version of it in 1972 on the album *A Message from the People*. That is perhaps the most patriFri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-02-slo-burn-july/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-02-slo-burn-july/After Kyuss broke up singer John Garcia formed the short-lived band Slo-Burn. They basically only existed from 1996-1997 and put out one amazing EP *Amusing The Amazing*. They took the stoner rock template of Kyuss and made it even heavier: more rock and less prog. This killer liThu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-01-david-lee-roth-goin-crazy/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-07-01-david-lee-roth-goin-crazy/The heat index in Baltimore is supposed to reach 110 degrees by the weekend. David Lee Roth said it best: "Goin' crazy...from the heat"! This video from his solo heyday is completely bonkers! It also showcases his incredible band during this era: Steve Vai on guitar, Billy SheehaWed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-30-soundgarden-4th-of-july/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-30-soundgarden-4th-of-july/Soundgarden also put out a great song called 4th of July. A total sludge-grunge classic! This version from 2012 shows that Chris Cornell and the rest of the band never really lost their fastball.Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-29-blue-meanies-4th-of-july/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-29-blue-meanies-4th-of-july/In 1997 the Blue Meanies released *Full Throttle* which contains the best song ever written about Independence Day in the United States. This live version from their tour of Japan that year is perhaps the definitive version.Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-26-faith-no-more-caffeine/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-26-faith-no-more-caffeine/Faith No More recently announced that they are going on a reunion tour in 2027. This is, of course, exciting news. However, I don't believe they will reach the heights they did back in 1992. That was the year they released *Angel Dust* and appeared on the *Hangin' with MTV* show.Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-25-qotsa-kexp/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-25-qotsa-kexp/Earlier today independent radio station KEXP just dropped an incredible live video of Queens of the Stone Age playing in their studio. The band is augmented by a string section and a horn section and overall it sounds amazing! The four song set is all deep cuts too (including a TThu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-24-pm-gong-downwind/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-24-pm-gong-downwind/Pierre Moerlen's version of the band Gong was less hippy space rock and more adventurous jazz fusion with heavy doses of percussion. Classic albums like *Gazeuse!* and *Downwind* are always in heavy rotation at WPPP. To further confuse things, after Pierre Moerlen passed away in Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-23-phil-collins-inside-out/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-23-phil-collins-inside-out/The band Phil Collins assembled for his *Seriously, Live!* World Tour in 1990 is unbelievable. I love this version of "Inside Out" because it showcases everything that was on-point for this group: Chester Thompson laying down the fat groove, Phil singing his butt off, Daryl StuerTue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-22-ministry-breathe/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-22-ministry-breathe/Ministry was at their peak when they performed in Merrillville, Indiana in February 1990. Luckily it was recorded and released as the incredible concert video *In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up*. The show was also later released on vinyl / cd in full as *Live Necronomicon* Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-19-star-people-in-time/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-19-star-people-in-time/Back in the early 2000s, I saw Ozric Tentacles a couple times. Both times this bonkers group called Star People opened. They played a wild mix of progressive rock and rat pack inspired vocals. They claimed to be from outer space and maybe they were because aside from this video tFri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-18-jon-spencer-orange-slice-blues/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-18-jon-spencer-orange-slice-blues/Jon Spencer has a newish band (teaming up with Kendall Wind and Macky Bowman of The Bobby Lees) and a brand new record: *Songs of Personal Loss and Protest*. This is cause for much celebration, especially since this song rocks like classic Blues Explosion.Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-17-fatboy-slim-weapon-of-choice/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-17-fatboy-slim-weapon-of-choice/I was talking with a friend last night about how early 2000s big beat music is kind of forgotten nowadays. Let's bring it back with Fatboy Slim's incredible video for "Weapon of Choice". Spike Jonze directed this cinematic gem featuring Christopher Walken dancing around an empty Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-16-bottle-rockets-radar-gun/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-16-bottle-rockets-radar-gun/The Bottle Rockets were an amazing alternative country band that never really broke through to the mainstream, which is a shame. In a perfect world this crazed performance on *Conan* in 1995, soon after the release of *The Brooklyn Side* (perhaps their magnum opus), should have bTue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-15-joel-ross-hostile/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-15-joel-ross-hostile/Chicago-based vibraphonist Joel Ross recently released a new record called *Gospel Music* that is fast becoming one of my favorite jazz records of the year. Here he is with his incredible band playing one of the many highlights on that album: "Hostile".Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-12-boz-skaggs-gimmie-the-goods/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-12-boz-skaggs-gimmie-the-goods/Saxophonist David Sanborn used to have a show on NBC called *Sunday Night Music*. This footage of Boz Skaggs' killer band (Marcus Miller, bass, Philippe Saisse, keys, Omar Harkim, drums, Hiram Bullock, guitar plus Sandborn and Lou Marini in the horn section among others) on that Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-09-frank-zappa-st-etienne/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-09-frank-zappa-st-etienne/Bonkers live footage of Frank Zappa playing the guitar solo from "Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch" in 1982 in St. Etienne, France. This footage was first released on the long out-of-print *Video From Hell* and was also included on the second side of the album *JazTue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-08-silverada-road-crew/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-08-silverada-road-crew/The video says "Mike and the Moonpies" but they have renamed themselves to Silverada. This video depicts their "Road Crew" they set up their equipment while playing the song. Hilarious and awesome.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-05-billy-joel-the-longest-time/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-05-billy-joel-the-longest-time/Astounding live footage of Billy Joel and his band (including drummer Liberty DeVitto "playing" a book!) singing "The Longest Time" in a locker room at the now demolished Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. They don't sing like this anymore!Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-04-hatfield-and-the-north-rainbow-theater/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-04-hatfield-and-the-north-rainbow-theater/Here is some incredible footage of Canterbury Prog legends Hatfield and the North fresh after *The Rotters Club* came out. Ten minutes featuring "Fitter Stoke Has a Bath" and an achingly beautiful rendition of "Didn't Matter Anyway".Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-03-beastie-boys-sabotage-letterman/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-03-beastie-boys-sabotage-letterman/When *Ill Communication* first came out, I loved the previous album *Check Your Head* so much I refused the new record because I thought it could only be a let down. Then I saw this "Sabotage" performance on Late Show with David Letterman and rushed to the record store the next dWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-02-elvis-costello-chelsea/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-02-elvis-costello-chelsea/The early Elvis Costello records are certified front-to-back bangers. I adore this video because of the high energy and vintage instruments and fashion.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-01-george-duke-uncle-remus/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-06-01-george-duke-uncle-remus/George Duke co-wrote this song with Frank Zappa that first appeared on *Apostrophe(')*. Enjoy this incredible live version with George Duke's live band. DOWN IN THE DEW!Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-05-31-prisoner-la-femme/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-05-31-prisoner-la-femme/I heard this song on Sirius / XM's *Underground Garage* this weekend and was floored! Wild garage rock with a trombone that's heavily inspired by 70's soundtracks as much as third-wave ska.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-05-30-beck-guess-im-doing-fine/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-05-30-beck-guess-im-doing-fine/I absolutely love the video for this melancholy song by Beck. After puttering around a park looking solemn he turns his mood around by playing soccer with others that see him sulking.Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-05-29-radiohead-subterranian-homesick-alien/https://philsdailyneedledrop.plencnerlabs.com/song/2026-05-29-radiohead-subterranian-homesick-alien/Really cool fan-made video for my favorite song on *OK Computer*. "They'd think that I'd finally lost it completely" indeed.Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT