Snap, Crackle, POP! with Alec Cumming

Alec Cumming, WPKN
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A show dedicated to unapologetically intelligent & melodic pop music that oft includes adventure, ambition, angst, bass shenanigans, bravura, catchiness, cynicism, curiosity, dancability, deft dynamics, economy, forward momentum, glee, grace, hubris, irreverance, irony, love, maximalism, melancholy, minimalism, modesty, naïveté, overreaching, passion, prettiness, proselytizing, protest, questioning, repetition, ribaldry, sarcasm, sexiness, sincerity, specificity, swoon-worthiness, temerity, understanding, vagueness, wisdom, wit and maybe more than a little nostalgia.

  1. SEDAKA IS BACK! (again!)

    May 11

    SEDAKA IS BACK! (again!)

    This is a repackaging of two live Snap Crackle POPs from March 2nd and 3rd of this year. The lovely and brilliant Eden Dawn Goldstein joins me for the first half. [All songs performed by Neil Sedaka unless otherwise noted.] That's When the Music Takes Me Stupid Cupid – Connie Francis The DiaryI Go Ape  One Way Ticket (To the Blues)Oh! CarolOh! Neil – Carole King  Calendar GirlBreaking Up Is Hard to DoI Can't Stay Mad at You – Skeeter Davis Magic Colors – Lesley Gore When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door) – The Monkees Workin’ on a Groovy ThingBeautiful You Laughter In the RainBad Blood Anywhere You're Gonna Be (Leba's Song) (Is This the Way To) Amarillo – Tony Christie I'm a Song, Sing Me   Superbird – Neil Sedaka  Solitaire – Neil Sedaka It Hurts to Be in Love – Gene Pitney  Donna – 10cc   Love Will Keep Us Together – The Captain & Tenille Puppet Man – The 5th Dimension     The Hungry Years  Beginning to Breathe Again

    1h 55m
  2. WAAAAAH! it's the TWEEEEEEE! episode!

    May 4

    WAAAAAH! it's the TWEEEEEEE! episode!

    My guest co-host Dawn Eden Goldstein proposed we do a show based on early '90s UK "twee" music, with an emphasis on the 1991 "The Waaaah! CD", and I quickly agreed... Because Dawn always brings the obscure yet utterly fantastic pop songs to the world of Snap Crackle POP! So get into your pajamas and bring out your kittens and let's (politely) TWEE out!  Who Loves the Sun – The Velvet UndergroundWalking My Cat Named Dog – Norma TanegaI'd Like to Walk Around in Your Mind - Vashti Bunyan Fill Your Heart – David BowieThink Of Rain – Margo GuryanDream Lover – The Paris Sisters Going Downtown – PianosaurusI Don’t Want to Back – Riff DoctorsFlowers Through the Air – Tiny Lights The Sunday Way of Life – Smalltown ParadeSeptember's Not So Far Away – The Field MiceAshlands Road – Strawberry StorySunny Tuesday Afternoon – The Dufflecoats James – Fat TulipsPerfect Day – Ric MenckAir – The OwlsSeems So – The Apples in Stereo Voice In My Head – The SneetchesI'll Be Gone – Papas FritasDisconnect the Dots – Of Montreal Stop Buying Things – Swan DiveWalk The Way You Talk – Dionne Warwick

    1h 54m
  3. The Emotional Labor of Doing It All Again

    Apr 27

    The Emotional Labor of Doing It All Again

    Julia Cumming finally released her long-awaited solo album last Friday, April 24th 2026, and I played a couple of songs from it, as well as other songs that were a part of the inspiration for it, plus other good songs.   Save It for Later – Eddie Vedder Best Friend – The English Beat   All This Disaster – Sarah McLachlan One Stop – Aldous Harding The Sofa – Wolf Alice   No More Tearstained Makeup – Martha & the Vandellas All I Do Is Think About You – Tammi Terrel You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) – Dionne Warwick  I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself – Dusty Springfield    Here You Come Again – Dolly Parton  Free Man in Paris – Joni Mitchell  Kites Are Fun – The Free Design Do It All Again – Julia Cumming Days We Left Behind – Paul McCartmey    Baby Don't Go – Ringo Starr Wantcha Baby – Cryptic Soup Idiots Delighted – Damfino  Let Her Dance – The Bobby Fuller Four    Searching For Heaven –  Swamp Dogg  Man Of His Word –  Kashus Culpepper Emotional Labor –  Julia Cumming Amoureuse –  Véronique Sanson Abducted By Love –  The Tall Pines Freeing Wheels – Souled American   (Snap Crackle EXTRA!)  I'd Like To Talk to You – Mark Eric How She Boogalooed It – The Beach Boys Teenage News – Syl Sylvain Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.–D.O.O.) – The Archies I Don't Like Hockey No More – The Zamboni After the Fox – The Hollies feat. Peter Sellers

    2h 17m
  4. The show in which Dawn Eden Goldstein and I talk about and listen to the legendary UK songwriter John Carter

    Apr 20

    The show in which Dawn Eden Goldstein and I talk about and listen to the legendary UK songwriter John Carter

    Dawn Eden Goldstein is a badass. There, I've said it. Both a deeply respected Catholic theologian and pop music historian! I really like when she comes on my morning Snap Crackle POP! shows and I hope we do it again and again. She suggested a tribute/exploration of sorts into the career of British songwriter John Carter, and I was game, and this is what it sounded like.  Chelsea Morning – Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66   I Wish You Hadn't – Benjamin Morren She Is Today – Bergen White   Sweet And Tender Romance – The McKinleys  Lonely Room – The Ivy League  I Can't Explain – The Who  Tossing and Turning – The Ivy League    Can't You Hear My Heartbeat – Herman's Hermits My World Fell Down – Sagittarius Beyond the Railroad – The Pen Friend Club  Annie Almond – The Junipers   Let's Go To San Francisco – The Flower Pot Men Jangleheart – Novelty Island  This Whole World – The Beach Boys   Beach Baby – The First Class  Winchester Cathedral – The New Vaudeville Band Westchester Hadassah –  Allan Sherman Paper Trail – Caper Clowns    In The Beginning – The Autumn Defense  Little Bird – Famous Groupies Sadie – Aggie Miller

    2 hr
  5. God, PLEASE, Let Us Go On this Way...

    Apr 13

    God, PLEASE, Let Us Go On this Way...

    Yes, that's me and Al Jardine. (And he's a pleasure to talk to.) I talk about meeting him on this radio show, and hearing him and Darian Sahanaja and his brillint Pet Sounds band perform ALL of the tracks from THE BEACH BOYS LOVE YOU live, the night before, which also just happened to be the 49th Anniversary of the album's release (!). Thank you, Al, thank you Darian, and thank you Brian - I am thrilled, honored, and deeply moved. I love this music SO much.  Let Us Go on This Way – The Beach Boys   Solar System –– The Beach Boys I Wanna Pick You Up – The Beach BoysBe Like Him – Darian Sahanaja, Probyn Gregory & The Lemon Twigs (Ronnie D'Addario cover)   2 or 3 – The Lemon Twigs  Baby, Let's Stick Together – The Paley Brothers Come On Let's Go – The Ramones & The Paley Brothers  Black and White – The dBs   Red Lights – The Marbles  We Deliver – The Miamis See No Evil – Television  The Book I Read (CBS/Columbia demo) – Talking Heads    Lotus Bridge – The Monochrome Set Why Don't You – Squeeze    The Crystal Ship – Robyn Hitchcock Venus in the Zinnia – Aldous Harding (w/ H. Hawkline) One Thing at a Time – Courtney Barnett    Idiots Delighted – Damfino American Obituary – U2 City of Heroes – Billy Bragg   Rust & Wire – Anjimile  In The Middle of It – Hiss Golden Messenger   The Logical Song – The Philistines Jr. Diggin’ In the Coal – Leah Blevivs  Hanging Out to Dry – Florence Road Come To God – Indigo de Souza

    1h 55m
  6. I Know a Place (an Astor Place) Where We Can Go

    Apr 6

    I Know a Place (an Astor Place) Where We Can Go

    On yesterday's Snap, Crackle POP! I was delighted to have legendary raconteur and man about town Edward Rogers as a guest as we talked about his splendid new(-ish) album ASTOR PLACE. We talked about the fine art of songwriting, Birmingham homecomings, Sidewalk (sigh) and the Losers Lounge and the never-ending comings and goings of the East Village and htray rock 'n' roll and... well, it was a really fun and informative chat. And Edward's beautiful, deeply felt and finely wrought music really hits home. Cheers to Ed and Melani Rogers for making this happen and for being patient with me!  I Know a Place – Petula ClarkMove In a Little Closer – Harmony Grass (for Joseph)Build Me Up Buttercup – The FoundationsNext Plane to London – The Rose GardenLondon Life – Anita Harris My Baby Loves Lovin' – White PlainsYou've Got Your Troubles – The FortunesMy Baby Loves Lovin' - White PlainsLong Cool Woman in a Black Dress – The Hollies  Romeo – Edward RogersOld Town – Phil Lynott Tears In My Martini – Edward RogersStreet Life – Roxy Music The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead – Edward Rogers, Loser’s Lounge Caroline Goodbye – Colin Blunstone15 Eldon Road – Edward Rogers All the Way from Memphis – Mott the Hoople What You Do to Me – Teenage Fanclub I've Got a Broken Heart – The Lemon Twigs No Milk Today – Herman’s HermitsHeadline Hustler – 10cc The Monsters of Pig Alley – Morrissey Long Way to Fall – Bedouine Oh My Love – John LennonOh Yoko! – John Lennon

    1h 42m
  7. Bachelor Pad Chess Music

    Mar 30

    Bachelor Pad Chess Music

    Breathe (4square mix) – Telepopmuzik   Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes – Thievery Corporation In the Waiting Line – Zero 7, Sophie Barker  Kiss From a Rose – Seal    Billions – Caroline Polacheck The Captain of Her Heart – Double    Come to God – Indigo De Souza  Real Thing – Drugdealer, Weyes Blood Please Let Me Remember This – Julia Cumming (It Takes All Kinds) To Make a New World – Gail Ann Dorsey    Lebanese Blonde – Thievery Corporation Here's That Rainy Day (Koop Remix) – Astrud Gilberto Waltz for Koop – Koop Where Do I Begin (Away Team remix) – Shirley Bassey   The Sofa – Wolf Alice Rust & Wire – Anjimile    Days We Left Behind – Paul McCartney Jenny Wren – Paul McCartney February Sky – Ringo Starr   Doomscrollin' – The Gershwin Brothers Tears In My Martini – Edward Rogers Yours (If You Want Me) – The Bug Club Forgotten Dreams – Leroy Anderson

    1h 52m
  8. Drivin' on 9: Women's History Month Part 2

    Mar 24

    Drivin' on 9: Women's History Month Part 2

    The second of two day's worth of Snap Crackle POP! shows with female performers, songwriters, musicians, etc. in honor of Women's History Month. Pictured: the mighty BREEDERS.  Drivin' on 9 – The Breeders   I Am Woman – Helen Reddy  I'm a Woman – Peggy Lee Lola – The Raincoats   Spellbound – Siouxie and the Banshees  Don't Go Away – Tallulah Gosh  Never Say Never – Romeo Void  Thinking About Sex Again – The Waitresses   O Superman – Laurie Anderson  Hounds of Love – Kate Bush    There's a Part I Can't Back – Sunflower Bean Small Town Girl – Tracey Thorn Night Terrors – Diet Cig  Jersey – Barrie    Cloud 9 – Beach Bunny  Twilight Café – Susan Fassbender & Kay Russell Go Away – Strawberry Switchblade   Black Boys on Mopeds – Sinéad O'Connor How Much Did You Get For Your Soul? – Lucinda Williams  There She Goes Again – King Princess   Broken English – Marianne Faithful

    1h 53m
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About

A show dedicated to unapologetically intelligent & melodic pop music that oft includes adventure, ambition, angst, bass shenanigans, bravura, catchiness, cynicism, curiosity, dancability, deft dynamics, economy, forward momentum, glee, grace, hubris, irreverance, irony, love, maximalism, melancholy, minimalism, modesty, naïveté, overreaching, passion, prettiness, proselytizing, protest, questioning, repetition, ribaldry, sarcasm, sexiness, sincerity, specificity, swoon-worthiness, temerity, understanding, vagueness, wisdom, wit and maybe more than a little nostalgia.

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