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, bravura, catchiness, curiosity, dancability, deft dynamics, economy, glee, grace, hubris, forward momentum, minimalism/maximalism, passion, wit, wisdom and maybe more than a little nostalgia and melancholy.

  1. Magic In The Air: The Big, Orchestral Pop Sound of Black America (part 1?)

    3D AGO

    Magic In The Air: The Big, Orchestral Pop Sound of Black America (part 1?)

    As part WPKN's Black History Month celebration, I focus here on the type of music Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell made - something I'm here calling "Black Orchestral Pop", and what some others would call "Champagne Soul" (although that can be a problematic phrase to the creators themselves). Ironically, this music is such a focus of love and a huge topic for me... it was ridiculous that I dedicated a 2-hour show to it - I only played one Thom Bell song, right at the end. I HAVE TO DO ANOTHER ONE.  There Goes My Baby – The DriftersSmoke Gets In Your Eyes – The PlattersI Only Have Eyes For You – The FlamingosDon't Make Me Over – Dionne WarwickMake It Easy On Yourself – Jerry Butler Baby I'm Yours – Barbara LewisAny Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird) – Chuck JacksonI Hear a Symphony – The SupremesReach Out (I'll Be There) –The Four TopsMy Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) – David RuffinGive Me Just a Little More Time – Chairmen of the BoardStay with Me – Lorraine Ellison The Last One to Be Loved – Lou JohnsonGoin' Out of My Head – Little Anthony & the ImperialsAin't Nothing Like the Real Thing – Marvin Gaye & Tammi TerrellSomeday We'll Be Together – Diana Ross & the Supremes California Soul – The 5th DimensionWhere Is the Love – Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (Groovefunkel Extended Remix)A Song for You – Donny HathawayI'm Going Down – Rose Royce Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) – The TemptationsKeep On Truckin' (part 1) – Eddie Kendricks Rainy Night In Georgia – Brook BentonDidn't I Blow Your Mind This Time – The Delfonics

    1h 51m
  2. There Go the Hotsteppers: a Sly & Robbie Tribute

    FEB 3

    There Go the Hotsteppers: a Sly & Robbie Tribute

    Today’s Snap Crackle POP! was a tribute to the epic production team of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare. Sly passed away on January 26th 2026 at the age of 73. ==============================   Double Barrel – Dave & Ansell Collins Right Time – The Mighty DiamondsTwo Sevens Clash – CultureGet Up Stand Up – Peter Tosh   Sponji Reggae – Black UhuruGreetings – Half PintDon't Stop the Music – Bits & Pieces   Pull Up to the Bumper – Grace JonesPadlock (Larry Levan Mix) – Gwen Guthrie   Jokerman – Bob DylanSo Good, So Right – Joe CockerGirls Watching – Ian Dury   Breakdown – Grace JonesJust Another Night – Mick Jagger Murder She Wrote – Chaka Demus & PliersHere Comes the Hotstepper – Ini Kamoze

    1h 55m
  3. The winter of '26: The Battle for Minneapolis

    FEB 2

    The winter of '26: The Battle for Minneapolis

    In tribute to, and in acknowledgement of, the Battle of '26 in wintry Minneapolis. Enclosed photo is by Philip Cheung for The New Yorker. ==================================== Why Can't We Live Together – Timmy Thomas Streets of Minneapolis – Bruce Springsteen How Much Did You Get for Your Soul? – Lucinda WilliamsKnow Your Rights – The ClashCity of Heroes – Billy BraggJoin Ice – Jesse Welles It Isn't Nice – Malvina ReynoldsWhat It Means – Drive-By TruckersBradley Manning – Cass McCombs Come Out You Cowrads ICE – Carsie BlantonI Hate the Capitalist System – Barbara DaneMan In Black – Johnny CashWe Shall Not Be Moved – Mavis StaplesBlack Boys on Mopeds – Sinead O'Conner Minnesota Nazis – NOFXWho'll Stand With Us? – Dropkick Murphys (It Takes All Kinds To) Make a World – Gail Ann DorseyEverybody Hurts – Al GreenPower to the People – John LennonBring Down the Government – Lindisfarne Rockin' In The Free World – Neil YoungNew World Coming – Mama Cass

    1h 54m
  4. "Ayy! What does a record do? It REVOLVES. Great!"

    JAN 27

    "Ayy! What does a record do? It REVOLVES. Great!"

    I've been doing two "drivetime" 7 - 9 am airshifts lately on WPKN 89.5 FM Bridgeport lately  - my regular Monday morning one and, for a bit, the Tuesday morning slot too, covering for a world-wandering Steve Di Costanzo. I like doing these shows live, as I can announce times and give weather reports and even traffic news if I can find and organize it (which I'm not too good at yet). But I live in Mystic CT these days, and because of the massive Sunday snowstorm, I was asked to pre-record my Monday and Tuesday shows, and... While I like how the pre-recorded shows come out, I spend too much time on them, trying to make them "perfect", and prepping Monday's "blizzard" show was exhausting. So when I finished that one, I decided I would do a replay of a REVOLVER thing I did at the time the massive (and expensive) REVOLVER box set came out, in fall 2022, using - as its base - a syndicated radio special created by NYC FM radio hero Dan Neer. What you hear here is a greatly expanded 80-minute-ish version of that special, featuring many of the re-mixes and outtakes from the original 1966 sessions, plus interviews with the Beatles themselves and both George and Giles Martin (many from a cool crowdsourced internet-only audio series called "The Beatles Anthology Revisited") plus additional commentary from... Beatle nerd me. The remaining half-an-hour of the show is a melange of interesting basic tracks, overdubs and pieces from 1969's ABBEY ROAD sessions, plus a John Lennon run-through of "Julia" from 1968's WHITE ALBUM sessions, all intersperesed with soundbites and noises from John, Paul, George and producer George Martin. Not everyone will agree, but for me and (I know) for some of you - this stuff is endlessly fascinating. I listened to the whole shebang this morning on an Amazon Dot and I was shocked - not only at how good the remixes sounded through that little speaker, coming from its tiny compressed WPKN signal - but how much astonishing energy, creativity and brilliance is captured in all those tracks. In 1966, they were more united and ambitious than ever, and they were untouchable. (Oh - we started off with the new remix of "Free As a Bird", which I think is just fine.) =================== Free As a Bird (2025 mix)   Paperback Writer (excerpts from takes 1 & 2 + 2022 mix)Taxman (2022 mix)Eleanor Rigby (strings session + partial 2022 mix)I’m Only Sleeping (Take 2 + Mono mix RM1)Love You To (Take 7)Here, There and Everywhere (Take 6)She Said She Said (Mono mix) Rain (2022 mix)  Good Day Sunshine (2022 mix) And Your Bird Can Sing (Second version/Take 5 + 2022 mix)For No One (Take 10 + 2022 mix)Doctor Robert (Take 7)I Want To Tell You (Take 4 + partial 2022 mix)Got To Get You Into My Life (second version + partial 2022 mix)Tomorrow Never Knows (2022 mix)   The Ballad of John & Yoko (John speech + basic track) Julia (Paul speech + John rehearsal performances) Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard/Her Majesty (medley in progress) Come Together (George Martin speech + Take 5)  You Never Give Me Your Money (basic track) Something (George speech + Take 39 – strings only instrumental) Ain’t She Sweet (7/24/69 impromptu version)

    1h 55m
  5. It's COLD, people (and it's pre-recorded)

    JAN 26

    It's COLD, people (and it's pre-recorded)

    This Morning’s Backstory: though I always want to do these “Snap Crackle POP!” drivetime programs live, so I can give out weather and traffic (lol) reports, I had to pre-record this one because of the blizzard-y weather, considering that I was snowed as of Sunday evening, the night before the show, way out here in Mystic.    Why my time announcements may be off here and there: uhhh... it's too esoteric to explain. Plus this is the podcast version, anyways. That said, I do TRY. Take it all with a grain of salt. And then throw that salt on the ground, will ya? Today’s theme: it’s friggin' COLD. 🥶 Today's picture: my car in the driveway this morning. ========================== Cold, Cold, Cold – Little Feat Cold As Ice – Foreigner    Blizzard of '77 – Nada Surf Cold Hands, Warm Heart – Brendan Benson Snowglobe – Sugar Fight   Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Coldest Winter Ever – Lewis Black She’s So Cold – The Rolling Stones Ice Cold Daydream – Shuggie Otis    Slip Slidin’ Away – Paul Simon The Blizzard – Camera Obscura Cold Cold Heart – Norah Jones Out In the Cold Again – Sam Cooke Snow – Claudine Longet    Snowfall – Eisley Looks Like a Cold, Cold Winter – Ingrid Michaelson Song for a Winter’s Night – Gordon Lightfoot Hazy Shade of Winter – Simon & Garfunkel   The Fox in The Snow – Belle & Sebastian  Cold Light of Day – Lewsberg   Howlin’ Wind – Graham Parker & The Rumour Ice Cold Ice – Hüsker Dü When It Touches You, A Snowflake Dies – Norma Tanega Soon It Will Be Cold Enough – Emancipator  It’s a Cold Night for Alligators – Roky Erikson The Blizzard – Jim Reeves  Amid the Falling Snow – Enya The Frozen Man – James Taylor    Walking On Thin Ice – Yoko Ono Sometimes in Winter – Blood, Sweat & Tears  Comin’ In From the Cold – Bob Marley & The Wailers

    1h 55m
  6. Life In a Blender - twee? Discuss.

    JAN 20

    Life In a Blender - twee? Discuss.

    I talked a lot about and played some Life In a Blender, a fantasticly creative band from NYC who are coming up to Milford this Friday, January 23rd, 2026. And I also played some music that I'd consider twee, although I don't think that's a bad word. (Google's "AI Overview" is telling me "'Twee' describes something overly cute, sweet, quaint, or sentimental, often in an affected or delicate way, originating from a baby's pronunciation of 'sweet,' and also refers to a subgenre of innocent, simple indie pop music and an aesthetic featuring childlike whimsy, though it can sometimes be used as a mild insult" (cf. SNL's "Bein' Quirky With Zooey Deschanel"). I actually do not consider LIAB "twee". Well, possibly, at moments, but not really. Anyway, this show was a melange of intelligent pop music I like, and I hope you like it too.  ===================Something's Gonna Happen – Ronnie SpectorSave It For Later – The English BeatTo Love Somebody – Al GreenHow Much I Really Love You – June & The Exit WoundsThe Old Law – Father John Misty Baby Please Come Home – BubbleOh Gilbert (I Need Help) – The JunipersSnowglobe – Sugar FightVacancy for a Bluebird – Life In a Blender Mobile Wash Unit – Life In a BlenderThe Church of Laundry – Kelley RyanI Want You to Give Me Enough Time – Sunflower Bean Fountains of Bellagio – Life In a BlenderZoo – Altimeter Magic Touch – Courtney Marie AdamsHere I Am – Dionne WarwickKaze Wo Atsumete – Happy End Multiply – Dora JarMy Bar – British Birds Karate Dentist – Ward WhiteUntil You Come Back to Me – Stevie WonderSend It To Zoom! - the cast of ZoomMemo To My Son – Randy Newman

    1h 55m
  7. Martin Luther King Jr. Day: let's celebrate it while we still can

    JAN 19

    Martin Luther King Jr. Day: let's celebrate it while we still can

    In a recent interview with the New York Times, President Donald J. Trump said he felt the Civil Rights Movement and its reforms were harmful to white people, who “were very badly treated.” Also, the administration made sure that Martin Luther King Jr. Day - still a national holiday (for now) - would not be a day where people could visit America's national parks for free. Trump did, however, make his own birthday as a day for National Parks free admissions. For Christ's sake.  I usually steer away from political commentary on the Snap Crackle POP! show, but I wanted to do my part (as infintesimly small as it may be) to celebrate this important American holiday. I am hearing there are more-than-usual MLK Jr. day celebtations happening today, which I'm grateful for. I remember his assasination day and I was so confused by it - why? Just... why? And why are some sh*tty. powerful, hate-filled people trying to erase this day in 2026?  Happy Birthday, Martin. And thank you for your brilliance and bravery. Our lonely nation (still) turns its eyes to you. ==================== Happy Birthday – Stevie WonderHarvest For the World – The Isley Brothers Like a Ship (Without a Sail) – Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ ChoirMany Rivers to Cross – Jimmy CliffThe Harder They Come – Jimmy CliffA Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke This Land Is Your Land – Sharon Jones & The Dap–kingsThis World (Is Going Up in Flames) – Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street BandTell Me Mr. President – Eugene McDaniels Impeach The President – The Honey DrippersMorning Matters – Yazmin LaceyWarning Sign – Hannah Jagadu Memory Be a Blade – waterbabyHold Steady – Queen Esther I'm Going Down – Rose RoyceMississippi Goddam – Nina SimoneThe Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott–Heron Inner City Blues – Marvin GayeScripto Labor Strike speech (Atlanta GA, 1964) – Martin Luther King Jr.Give the People What They Want – PJ Morton, YolaWe Shall Overcome speech (Southern Methodist University, on March 17, 1966) – Martin Luther King Jr.We Shall Overcome – Mahalia Jackson

    1h 55m

  8. JAN 13

    I Only Ever Wanted to See You Enjoying the Radio Show

    The title of this podcast is influenced by a Reds, Pinks and Purples song lyric. Lotsa good new/new-ish music here, much in the tradition of the show I'm filling in for - Steve Di Costanzo's RADIO BASE CAMP. Hard Livin' – Railroad Earth Save Your Soul – Kathleen Edwards Pick Up That Knife – Wednesday Frontrunner – Horsegirl  Gimme Time – Hannah Jagadu   All We Ever Do Is Talk– Del Water Gap Oh Dorian – Ben Kweller (feat. MJ Lenderman) Dancing in the Club – This Is Lorelei (MJ Lenderman Version)   Summer Seizures – The CribsHot Wheels – The Wedding Present Brassneck – The Wedding Present Therapy II – Viagra Boys   Heroes – David Bowie Warning Sign – Talking Heads  Miss Modular – Stereolab  Wreck – Neko Case   I Only Ever Wanted to See You Fail – The Reds, Pinks and Purples  Cruise Ship Designer – Dry Cleaning So Long – Fischer–Z   Popsicle – Juliana Hatfield Forgotten Dreams – Leroy Anderson

    1h 55m
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A show dedicated to unapologetically intelligent & melodic pop music that oft includes adventure, ambition, angst, bravura, catchiness, curiosity, dancability, deft dynamics, economy, glee, grace, hubris, forward momentum, minimalism/maximalism, passion, wit, wisdom and maybe more than a little nostalgia and melancholy.

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