Johnson's Improbable History of Pop

KPBX 91.1, Saturday, 9pm-10pm

John Johnson conducts a tour of the
obscure world of early rock and pop music.

Program Listings:

November 22, 2008
GULF COAST BLUES, vintage tunes from humidified Houston featuring Big Walter Price, Juke Boy Bonner, and Lightnin' Hopkins.

November 29, 2008
HIGH DESERT HOWL, arid bluesy sounds to evoke frigid nights under the stars includig Peter Ivers, Captain Beefheart, and the Wailing Wall.

December 6, 2008
SONGS THAT CROSSED OVER, compare and contrast versions of "Fan It", "Milk Cow Blues", "Bloodshot Eyes", and other colorful pre-rock ditties by various blues and country artists.

December 13, 2008
NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES, guest Babbo brings us an eclectic selection of rarities plus an update on Neil's current tour.

December 20, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS, a yuletide mix including the Ramones, Hank Snow, Swamp Dogg, and Canned Heat with the Chipmunks.

December 27, 2008
IN THE SPIRIT, cross section of spiritually themed early 70's rock including Kristyl, Brimstone, Fraction, and Wilson-McKinley.

About John:

Thanks to John Johnson, the 95 percent
of records that never got commercial
airtime have a home. The Saturday night show Johnson’s Improbable History of Pop features those artists who fell through the commercial cracks.

When the program began in February of 1995, Johnson said, “My mission is to provide that exposure, and give recognition to the fact that talent and hit records don’t have a lot to do with each other.” That still holds true today and way over 500 episodes later (that milestone was reached in July 2005).

A few years ago, Johnson began some retrospectives on ‘80s bands. "I always seem to run a decade and a half late, and am now getting a grasp of what some of the Reagan-era music
was all about (benefit of hindsight and all).”

JIHOP was originally meant to be a blues or soul program, but
he then started talking about songs and artists without much exposure. He tries to include all the different musical styles that come together in pop music, such as rock, soul, rockabilly, country, jazz, folk, and international rock.

“The most gratifying part has been the interaction with listeners, guests, and musicians,” Johnson says. “Without meaning to brag, there have been cases where my programs have resulted — at least indirectly — in reissues or first issues on compact disc for the artist. I’ve also had performers and bands in the studio. That helps prove, once again, that while recorded sound is great, ‘live music is best’ for its sheer energy and immediacy.”

Johnson works at Triumph Composite Systems, and spends free time with movies and movie history, golf, and jogging. “Thanks to everyone through the years who have contributed their time, talent, and thoughts to the show. As the saying goes, it’s an evolving organism, but I don’t know the species yet.”