Rough Sundays

ROUNGH SUNDAYS—VOL LXXXIV

What was supposed to be—supposed being to key word here—the world's first ever Sunday Morning Wake-Me-Up Podcast recorded from Everest Base Camp ended up just being from Kathmandu and host Aric S. Queen just talking about it WE'RE SORRY but to make up for it, it's a return to the original format of old timey gospel, jazz from The Queen, some Cannonball(s), acapella from a Xhosa group from South Africa and much, much more. So sit back, pour something strong (no judgement), and let us handle the next 37 minutes. It's Rough Sundays! No, seriously!  

ROUGH SUNDAYS — VOL. LXXXIII:THE TULSA SOUND

Tulsa Time. Keys To Tulsa. Chandler moves to Tulsa. Our little city has occasionally popped up in pop culture, but few are aware that town has its own subgenre of music . In this week’s Rough Sundays, we deep dive into the casserole that makes up this movement—from Dust Bowl beginnings to dreamy doowop, over to Southern Swing and finally to what it sounds like today. So sit back and spend 32 Midwestern minutes with us as we learn all* about that Tulsa Sound.

 

*Hardly.

ROUGH SUNDAYS VOL. LXXXII — OKLAHOMA

In the 17 years this show has been around, we’ve never done a Sunday morning wake-me-up from the state of Oklahoma. What gives, right? This week, we remedy that with an extra long show, featuring music exclusively from the 46th state, featuring songs about murders, songs done by junkies, songs done by folks who narrowly missed out on dying with Buddy Holly, plus a few more upbeat tales. From rockabilly to old country, Nancy Sinatra’s guardian angel and we even dip our toe into the Tulsa Sound. So put on a strong black cup of coffee, fry you some sausage gravy, sit on the front porch while the storms roll in and let us handle the next 45 minutes or so. 

ROUGH SUNDAYS — VOL LXXXI (CHRISTMAS ’23)

From right up against Route 66 and in the midst of much mirth, it's our 81st episode and our yearly Christmas Extravaganza! Reaching back way, way into the good old stuff—even turn of the century tracks—all holiday-themed and mostly-Motown... with a handful of New Orleans magic as well. Plus stories. Plus more music. An hour-and-40-minutes of it, to be exact. So you focus on your cup of something cheerful, and leave the rest to us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

ROUGH SUNDAYS VOL LXXVIV – THE JAPANESE CHAPTERS

Has there ever been a more researched, prepped, planned and causing-excitement show? Probably. But never on this podcast. For the final (for now) Japanese Chapter—recorded in a tiny ryokan atop audible tatami mats—we dive into city pop, brother's folk, futuristic funk, female hip-hop, island breeze and new wave, all suitable for waking you up on this Sunday Morning. Hit play! Be glad you did!

ROUGH SUNDAYS —VOL LXXVIII (The Japanese Chapters)

From the base of Mt. Fuji and from inside one of those space capsule hotels, it's five tracks from a hip, rocking, steamy, racy, swingin' 1950-70s Japan, featuring a seedy actress, anime theme song producer, Tokyo's Serge Gainsbourg and the always dreamy Tome Kitagawa (photo). Plus a bit more, but coming in under 30 minutes! How's that for a polite, efficient, innovative and fascinating show/country? Hit play!

ROUGH SUNDAYS VOL. LXXVII— THE JAPANESE CHAPTERS

From a gorgeous Osaka and an even-more-gorgeous no-longer-freezing-in-a-tent, it's your absolutely favorite Sunday Morning show. This week, we dive deep, deep into old vinyl—journeying everywhere from a boogie-woogie 1940s Tokyo, to protests tracks of the 70s, funky stuff from Jiro Inagaki, and much much more. So sit right there, sip that coffee, and let's travel to some dreamy old magic from a yesterday Japan... courtesy of Rough Sundays! 

ROUGH SUNDAYS — VOL. LXXVI (The Japanese Chapters)

A traveling show this week—one from the park, the ferry, the tent and the hotel—but it doesn't stop us from digging up some of the goodness from a 1960s-80s Japan. Funk + soul kicks it off, some near-electro, then to country + folk, then summer + blue and finally with some sexy + robot. Is that too many "+" for you? Then may we suggest a smooth jazz show. This is Rough Sundays, live from Northern Japan! 

ROUGH SUNDAYS VOL. LXXV— (The Japanese Chapters)

The colors might be starting to change here in Hokkaido, but the purpose of the show isn't—to wake you up nicely on your Sunday Morning, courtesy of music from wherever we are. And what a where we be! The magic, mysterious and mayhem-ic Japan. With tracks this week ranging from the 1960s-80s, featuring funk, soul, jazz, "city pop" and what one artist referred to as, simply, experimentalism.

So sit back and let us—and more importantly, the good stuff coming from this archipelago—handle your next half an hour.

Rough Sundays, the Japanese Chapters. Yes, really!

ROUGH SUNDAYS — VOL LXXIV (The Japanese Chapters)

From a farm outside of Hokkaido, it's the first of what we hope are many shows from Japan. We kick it off with some Tokyo soul from the early 70s, then move from pop-princess turned disco queen, to sultry swing, funk from the early 80s and a whole lot more. 

Rough Sundays, totally from Japan, you guys! Hit play.