Chris K's Colorado Playlist

How the Show is Built

I’ve been mixing music for parties, dance clubs and radio since I was in high school in the 70s. I was the kid with the music and the stereo, and then the mixer and then eventually in radio.

I am often asked how I pick the songs for the show. Each hour contains 12-13 songs. 2-3 are brand new never before played titles. Another 1 or 2 are (C) “currents,” meaning it came out since the prior November and I’ve played it at least once before.

Currently, I play 2 from the Caribou Ranch Classic Album collection from the 70s-80s and another two are from the 20th Century Classics Collection from the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s. The rest come from 2000-2019.

If you’re following along, it might look something like this.

1. Caribou Ranch Classic Album track or 20th Century Classics Collection
2. Caribou Ranch Classic Album track or 20th Century Classics Collection
3. Exclusive Premier (P), Debut (D) or New Track (N)
4. 2018 or 2019
5. 2016-2017
6. Current (C) or (N)
7. (C)
8. 20th Century Classics Collection or 2000-2015
9. 20th Century Classics Collection or 2000-2015
10. (P) (D) or (N)
11. 2018-2019
12. 2000-2017
13. Jazz track out (or instrumental)

Exactly what song I pick to play? Most of the time it boils down to a song length issue, unless it’s a (P) (D) or (N). I rarely pick a track over 5:40 in length. Nearly all are in the 3 to 5 minute range.

I get HUNDREDS of submissions a year. What I choose to play boils down to this: Can I play this song next to the biggest hits and award winners in Colorado music history? Voice matters, recording matters, songwriting matters. Style matters (nothing that screams or is vulgar).

The rest simply boils down to my ear and 50 years of mixing music for people to enjoy.

CP S14 EP24 2020

It’s not often I introduce a new feature on the. In fact I can’t recall the last time. I’ve wanted to showcase albums from Caribou Ranch for some time now. Caribou Ranch stands out as one of the crown jewels of the Colorado music scene throughout the seventies and eighties – and many of the records recorded there are considered true classics. I hope you enjoy the segment called Classics From the Caribou Ranch Collection.

The week’s MMMM (Monday Morning Music Meeting) has only two songs for you to rate. I was very lucky to secure two radio only premiers from Boulder’s Trevor Hall and Fort Collin’s Johnny & the Mongrels, both from upcoming releases.

We got to head up into the Poudre Canyon this weekend to visit my friend Dani Grant and her team at the Mishawaka. You need to call ahead for a table. Yes, there is live music on the Poudre on this summer.

I am happy to support FOCOMA (Fort Collins Musician Association) Drive and Jive – a weekly series showcasing some of Northern Colorado’s popular acts – including upcoming shows from The Beeves with Slow Caves, and Cary Morin with Del Shamen featuring John Magnie and Steve Amadee from the Subdudes along with Nick Forster (E-Town) and Jock Bartley (Firefall).

TOP 5 WK ENDING JUNE 20

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COLORADO RADIO (14 stations tracked)

1. NATHANIEL RATELIFF – And It’s Still Alright LP (Feb-20)
2. WHIPPOORWILL – The Nature of Storms LP (Dec-19)
3. GABRIELLE LOUISE – The Unending Alteration of the Human Heart LP (Apr-20)
4. ADAM ANGLIN – Am I Gonna Die Now?LP (June-20)
5. TREVOR HALL – Put Down What You Are Carrying f. Brett Dennen SINGLE (May-20)

ROOTS MUSIC REPORT (inc international, national and Internet radio; irrespective of date / year of release)

For the third week in a row the TOP 5 has remained the same at RMR.

1. REVEREND FREAKCHILD– The Bodhisattva Blues LP (Mar-20)
2. NATHANIEL RATELIFF – And It’s Still Alright LP (Feb-20)
3. MOJOMAMA – Red White and Blues LP (May-18)
4. THE LUMINEERS – III (Spt-19)
5. LEE SIMS – A Few More Miles to Go (Dec-19)

Our longest running sponsor, the Mishawaka is a legendary music venue, restaurant and bar located 13.7 miles up the Poudre Canyon Highway (CO 14) in the stunning Poudre Canyon in Bellvue, CO. NOW OPEN for food, music and movies.

MONDAY MORNING MUSIC MEETING (MMMM)

You make a big difference in what gets played on the show. Every week I share some or all of the new music played on the show with you, here in the MMMM. Your rating gets factored into my decision in what to maintain in the show’s “for airplay” library.

A REMINDER: Please listen to ALL of the songs and rate them. Thanks 🙂

(D) = debut LP/EP or single
(N) = new track from previously debuted LP/EP
(P) = Colorado Playlist premier / not available online

HOUR 1

Rick Derringer – Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo – All American Boy (1973)
Rick Derringer – Cheap Tequila – All American Boy (1973)
(P) Trevor Hall – My Own (2020)
Kid Reverie – Afraid – Kid Reverie (2018)
Megan Burtt – The Bargain – The Bargain (2015)
Kyle Emerson – Are You Lonely – Only Coming Down (2020)
Caitlin Cannon – Toolbag – TrashCannon (2020)
Sweetwater Well – Zoeology – More Than Mountains: Benefit for Colorado (1996)
The Czars – Paint the Moon – Goodbye (2004)
(D) Fifty Dollar Friend – Not Thinking About You – In Black and White (2020)

Greensky Bluegrass – Do It Alone – All For Money (2019)
The Knew – Bang the Drum – Man Monster (2012)
Wayne Wilkinson Trio – Mr. Super Cool – Proceed to Route (2019)

HOUR 2

Elton John – The Bitch Is Back – Caribou (1974)
Elton John – Dixie Lily – Caribou (1974)
(P) Johnny & The Mongrels – Music Man – Creole Skies (2020)
Movers & Shakers – She Treats Me Right – Live at Sun Studios (2019)
The Yawpers – Burdens – American Man (2015)
Alexa Wildish – Weightless – Alexa Wildish EP (2020)
Andy Frasco – Keep On Keeping On – Keep On Keepin On (2020)
Dan Fogelberg – Phoenix – Phoenix (1980)
Zephyr – The Radio Song – Going Back To Colorado (1971)
(D) Lane-O – Beautiful Mutha ft. Bri Bryant B(2020)

The Wood Brothers – Happiness Jones – One Drop of Truth (2018)
Leftover Salmon – Western Skies – High Country (2014)
Emily Takahashi – Chicken Feather Blues – Not Spoken (2017)

THIS WEEK ON YOUTUBE

VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK

I gotta say – the only reason you don’t hear something like this on the regularly aired program is the FCC ban on f-bombs and other inappropriate language. Otherwise… this shit kills, and this man brings it old skool.

CP S14 EP 23 2020

MONDAY JUNE 15 2020 – A friend asked “What do you consider “Colorado Music?” That’s a great question.

The Colorado Playlist is expressly and explicitly Colorado from the sixties to today: from the biggest hits by the biggest hit-makers and award winners to some of the freshest new music emerging from around the state.

Colorado musicians can include those who were born here and moved away at some point, to those who moved here. It may include those who play the smallest of venues around our state on a regular basis to those who rarely appear at all. Basically anything I can connect musically to our state.

And while there is no style of music that does not exist in Colorado, there are some styles of music you won’t hear on this program – but that I might include on my Spotify Playlist or my YouTube collection.

I hope you’ll explore all that is Colorado with me on the radio show, or on Spotify or Youtube.

Please help Rocky Mountain Music Relief feed musicians. Donations of $15 or more receive a #COmusic COVID mask as a thank you. Proceeds will benefit food needy musicians and their families. Please make sure to provide your address so we can mail your mask. If you want more than one do a larger donation and mention how many you want in your PayPal donation slip.

FOCOMA (Fort Collins Musician Association) and ODell Brewing have teamed up with the Holiday Twin Drive-In Fort Collins for Drive and Jive – a weekly Tuesday night series showcasing some of Northern Colorado’s popular acts – including upcoming shows from The Beeves with Slow Caves, and Cary Morin with Del Shamen featuring John Magnie and Steve Amadee from the Subdudes along with Nick Forster (E-Town) and Jock Bartley (Firefall).

TOP 5 WK ENDING JUNE 13

COLORADO RADIO (14 stations tracked)

1. NATHANIEL RATELIFF – And It’s Still Alright LP (Feb-20)
2. GABRIELLE LOUISE – The Unending Alteration of the Human Heart LP (Apr-20)
3. BOOT GUN – That What You Got EP (May-20)
4. WHIPPOORWILL – The Nature of Storms LP (Dec-19)
5. GHOST GNOTES – Ghost Gnotes LP (May-20)

ROOTS MUSIC REPORT (inc international, national and Internet radio; irrespective of date / year of release)

Nothing changed among the TOP 8 spins at RMR this week. Andy Sydow‘s new EP Wicked Dreams debuts on the charts at #20, while Audible‘s May 2019 release First Contact debuts at #13.