Rough Sundays

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXXVIII

From the base of Table Mountain here in Cape Town, it's another episode exclusively dedicated to South African jazz + swing—namely from the townships and most pre-1960. From "marabi" to penny-whistling, Skylarks & Kings, it's 26 wonderful minutes of Rough Sundays—South Africa! 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXXVII

Was there ever a more controversial album than "Graceland"? From assassination attempts to UN boycotts, cultural appropriation to apartheid, plagiarism to grenades being thrown into studios, it's hard to make the case for any other being surrounded by so much drama. In our third and final look at the stories and South African musicians behind the album in question, we hear from Ladysmith Black Mambazo's disappointment, Good Rockin' Dopsie's pretty good case for stealing and why Los Lobos (still) hate Paul Simon... plus much more. Coffee + "play" + enjoy. 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXVI: Graceland, Part Two

Assassination plots and grenades thrown at the person in question might sound like something out of a movie, but this - along with a whoooooooole lot more controversy - actually happened to Paul Simon after he released Graceland. In Part Two of a three-part series, we dive into not only the South African musicians who made this into one of the Top 100 Albums of All Time, but the true story about the uproar, outrage and hit put out on Simon. Coffee + sit back + hit play… you know the drill. It’s Rough Sundays - live from Durban, SA!

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXV: Graceland, Part One

It's Oprah's favorite album of all time. It might be your favorite album of all time. It's definitely host Aric S. Queen's favorite album of all time. And in 1986, it gave the sounds of South Africa a worldwide stage — and one that launched bands like Ladysmith Black Mambazo into the well-deserved spotlight. But it also would become one of the most controversial albums of all time, too; the backlash including UN sanctions, hits put out on Paul Simon and even three grenades tossed into his storage unit. So, since we're down in South Africa, we're going to not only lay out exactly what happened — the recording, the subsequent turmoil and the apology-ish tour — but more importantly, we're going to get to know the artists behind each individual track. So make a cup of coffee, sit way back and let's start the first of three episodes dedicated to a little album called "Graceland". 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXXIV

While the past six days have been chaotic, violent and - at times - terrifying, yesterday saw thousands of residents of all shape, color and culture cleaning up what was burnt, looted and/or destroyed. And with that, a celebration of the country of South Africa — famously infamous if all you unfairly base your version on is what happened 30 years ago. But it's a handful of tracks, a few stories and even our favorite guide Lerato taking us to another spot in Soweto where an upbeat-yet-secretly-about-apartheid song was penned. Plus much more. Make coffee. Hit play. Sit back. And enjoy yet another episode from the magic of South Africa. 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXXIII

Our second show from Joburg, South Africa and a star-studded one. No really. Famed travel writer Farirai Sanyika joins us to teach the proper way to pronounce those "Zulu clicks", tour guide Lerato takes us to the bottom of a mine where one of the world's most famous songs was composed (and later stolen), not to mention the Mahotella Queens, Elite Swingsters, Dolly Rathebe and a penny-whistle'r who would have been world famous if not for Bob Dylan... plus a whole lot more. So pour a big cup of coffee. Sit way back. And welcome to South Africa. 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXXII

Our first show from Africa — South Africa, to be exact — and what an incredible place to be. So incredible, that we've made THE FIRST SHOW FROM AFRICA YOU GUYS an entirely South African one. From the voices you know via Paul Simon to two songs dedicated to the neighborhood not far from me here in Johannesburg, to the bad girl of Afropop, some Pata Pata and even a track by Mama Africa herself. And while this show* was formed on moving slowly, this week it might make you do the exact opposite. Pour coffee. Hit play. And welcome to South Africa! 

*Recorded in Africa, btw. 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXXI

The final show from Istanbul before a BIG NEW ADVENTURE and it's the Roughest Rough Sundays in a long while — much in part to a going-away party that ended in a near-scuffle with the police. Recorded in bed, we've got the Godfather of Rap and a story that can't be told, 22+1 skiddos, the Queen of Gospel, songs about wine and we dive back into the book Midnight at the Pera Palace for one final track from a 1930s Istanbul... plus a lot more that I've probably forgotten about. Oh yeah, a nice song heard here on the ferry from Asia to Europe and some sounds from the fish market. 

Rough Sundays Vol. XXI - final show from Istanbul. Make coffee. Press play. Be happy-ish. And subscribe in Spotify. 

 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXX

If it's music that'll make you pop out of bed, you've come to the wrong show. But if it's an easy, lazy Sunday morning mood you're after CONGRATULATIONS - you chose wisely. From the women who invented rock n' roll to one of the world's most-talented choirs, to France's most controversial export and ugly kids, plus how Easy-E got away with stealing one of soul's most catchy hooks. And we end it all with the sounds from a mystic Islamic sect here in Istanbul. Make coffee. Hit play. Move slowly. 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XXIX

A moody, overcast and grey morning here in Istanbul sets the scene for a fantastic show — despite the hungover host's attempts. From Zamrock to Dinah Washington, a passage from a book that leads to the first recorded Turkish Tango, plus blind boys, some old school Jimmy Hughes and a conversation with my barber that leads to the most sampled track in musical history. It's Rough Sundays, okay great!