Scared of Chaka – Bated Breath – 45 – [N] Al-Qasar (feat. Sibel) – Kişisel İsa (Personal Jesus) – Uncovered – Depeche Mode cover. Moon Orchids – The Gospel Tree – Moon Orchids – 🚨🚨🚨 PREMIERE! 🚨🚨🚨 Jeff Parker ETA Ivtet – Freakadelic – The Way Out of Easy – [N] Hoodoo Gurus – Death-Defying – Mars Need Guitars! Hot & Sassy – Let’s Funk It Up – Christmas Strutt – Originally released in 1980. Wussy – Inhaler – Cincinnati Ohio – [N]
Tower Defense – Repeat – Repeat / Girl U Want Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 – Mistake (Live at the Berlin Jazz Festival, 1978) – Zombie Kid Millions and Sarah Bernstein – Mirage – Forest Park Live – Recorded September 18, 2021 at the George Seuffert Sr. Bandshell, Queens, NY. Exek – Parricide Is Painless – Advertise Here Whatitdo Archive Group – Wild Man – Wild Man – [N] The Schizophonics – Black To Comm – Black To Comm – MC5 cover.
Memorials – I Have Been Alive – Memorial Waterslides – [N] – One of the year’s best records. Verity from Electrelane and Matthew from Wire. Next stop Christmas Eve! Mike Adams At His Honest Weight – Skeletons in the Cloner – Oscillate Wisely (10th Anniversary Edition)
Here are the first half of the Christmas Stories recorded exclusively for the 2023 marathon on 103.3 fm WPRB. They’re posted in the order they originally aired.
Part two will appear here on December 17th!
Please follow the links provided to support these musicians, artists and incredible folks who were gracious enough to create original pieces to debut during the show.
May these recordings – many of which are “name your price” downloads for charitable causes – encourage you to record something for this year.
The submission deadline is December 20th! Don’t be late!
You can explore a complete archive of stories recorded from 2011-2022 here.
The Brixton Riot – “All My Friends (Winter Coat)”
We begin with the 10th (!!!) contribution to the marathon by The Brixton Riot, a rock band from right here in New Jersey.
Outer World – “Rain, Sleet, Snow”
An ace Paul Revere & The Raiders cover courtesy Richmond’s retro-futurist crate diggers Outer World.
Aux Caroling – “10 p.m. Midnight Mass, Christmas 2007”
A terrific paean to frequent Hallmark Christmas movie star Lacy Chabert was the Deth Elf contribution to last year’s marathon.
Jake McKelvie – ’It’s Either Christmas or It Isn’t”
Have you heard “A New Kind of Hat,” the latest full-length for sensational songsmith Jake McKelvie? Well, check that out right after you press play on his holiday gem.
JJK a/k/a Captain Automatic also makes their marathon debut with a song not just about the broadcast itself, but also about when we first met 40+ years ago. We didn’t see each other again until this summer. What a world.
Snow Contagion – “High Tech”
An original story by a listener / author that completely floored me. Perhaps they’ll permit me to share more information here, perhaps not.
The Claussies – “Frosty”
A raucous nod to The Chats by WPRB’s own Commie Francis and Pethie, plus their extended families for good measure. All proceeds from this track will be donated to Doctors without Borders.
Tobias Carroll – “Faces in the Window”
Great to have author Tobias Carroll back with another story! You can also read his piece here.
Ken Forbes and Walter Greene – “On Delta, On Comet”
A surprise holiday rocker from members of New Jersey’s Eastern Anchors.
SAVAK – “I Want Noise For Christmas”
The prolific powerhouse SAVAK offer up a drum machine, distorted guitars, a bass, a deadpan vocal and lots of swirling, echoed and reverberated stereo effects resulting in “I Want Noise For Christmas.”
(Big) Black Christmas – “Holiday Cheer Where You Need It”
From Chicago’s finest forges, the remarkable Neal Markowski turned four different Big Black tracks into festive, family-friendly (!) chestnuts. All proceeds will be donated to the One Tail at a Time Pet Mutual Relief Fund. Incredible.
The Brown Christmas – “Pavuchky”
New Jersey’s The Brown Christmas are proprietors of ambient noisescapes and improvized electronics.
Whole lotta good stuff over on the Bandcamp of friend to music Bret Saunders for you to snag.
Cardboard ’93 – “Rusty Roll of Quarters (Live)”
Members of West Jersey Airport, Human Adult Band, the Ergs! & Crystal Violet blasted and blown out live at Flemington D.I.Y in December 2023. That’s who Cardboard ’93 are.
Emily – “Light Transmission”
Made for the marathon and also found on the album “everything,” this piece was written, recorded, performed, produced & engineered by Indiana’s emily.
Plaza – “The Tomb of Santa Claus (version)”
Bec (drums, vox) and Mike (bass, vox) are Plaza, Cape Cod’s #1 band. They want to play your town.
The Effigies – Silent Burn (2024 Mix) – For Ever Grounded (40th Anniversary Edition) – [N] Funmilayo Afrobeat Orquestra – Upside Down – Upside Down – “An 11 piece Brazilian orchestra formed to highlight the lack of black female representation in Afrobeat, named for Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti, mother of Fela Kuti. The orchestra is a mix of female and non-binary musicians.” Fela tune. With Seun Kuti & Egypt 80. CAN – Keele 77 Fünf – LIVE IN KEELE 1977 – [N] The Bret Tobias Set – Dishonest Guy – Butter Valley Malcontent – He of The Bigger Lovers. Record release show Saturday night at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia. Attarazat Addahabia & Faradjallah – Moulate Salef – Habibi Funk 011: Al Hadaoui Kim Deal – Come Running – Nobody Loves You More – [N] Death – Politicians In My Eyes – …For the Whole World to See – As heard repeatedly in “Detroiters.”
Delivery – The New Alphabet – The New Alphabet – [N] Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers – Soul Clap (Radio Edit) – Soul Clap The Happy Somethings – Pretty Pants – Lollipop Licks EP Joshua Wayne Hensley – c h e c k p o i n t (power nap) – A Checkpoint – [N] SACRED PAWS – Another Day – Another Day Sani Danja – Muna Cikin Sanyi – Harafin So (Bollywood Inspired Film Music from Hausa Nigeria) – [C] Variety – Skeletal Offerings – Subtropical – [N]
Chris T-T – 100,000 Turkeys – Best Of – Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Alan Courtis & David Grubbs – Varsovia y Esparta – Braintrust of Fiends and Werewolves
Being Dead – Firefighters – EELS – [N] Banda Los Cenzontles ft. David Hidalgo – Powderfinger – Powderfinger – Neil Young cover. Water Damage – Reel LE – Reel LE Squid – Crispy Skin – Cowards – [N] – Full album out February 2025. Sidibou ould Siyed – Karr (I) – Nouakchott Wedding Songs – [C] Outer World – Coming Down – Coming Down – The United States of America song. Thine Retail Simps – Prismic Dangle – Strike Gold, Strike Back, Strike Out – [N]
The Hard Quartet – Earth Hater – S/T – [N] – Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney, Jim White and Emmett Kelly. Karamin Lilisco – Fashion – Harafin So (Bollywood Inspired Film Music from Hausa Nigeria) – [C] Julie Beth Napolin – Only the Void Stands Between Us – Only the Void Stands Between Us – [N] Last Exit – Panzer Be-Bop – The Noise of Trouble: Live in Tokyo – Sonny Sharrock, Peter Brötzmann, Bill Laswell and Ronald Shannon Jackson with Herbie Hancock and Akira Sakata. Quivers – Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind – Split single with Superchunk – [N] – Yo La Tengo cover. Zdenek Liska – The Sixth Sister – Malá mořská víla (The Little Mermaid) Checkpoint – Checkers – D R I F T
E – Living Waters – Living Waters – [N] – Jason Sanford (Neptune), Thalia Zedek (Come, Live Skull) and Ernie Kim. Wau Wau Collectif – Nécessaire – Mariage Sassyhiya – Thank You and Goodbye – Take You Somewhere METZ – Superior Mirage – Up On Gravity Hill – [N]
“Good news this week feels like finding $20 in your pocket during a bear attack.”
The Rub – The Death of Pop – Bikini Gospel
Superchunk – Fire in the Western World – Split single with Quivers – [N] – Dead Moon cover. Fela Kuti and The Africa 70 – Mr. Grammarticalogylisationalism Is The Boss – Monkey Banana / Excuse 0 – Orginally released in 1975. Holger Czukay – Ode to Perfume – On the Way to the Peak of Normal – CD of a 1981 album by this member of CAN. Electrelane – The Valleys – BBC Radio Sessions Vol. 1 – Recorded at The Old Market on 29th October 2003. Black Sabbath – Children of the Grave – We Sold Our Soul for Rock ‘N’ Roll Kind of Like Spitting – Warm Springs Night – SOON – [N] – Joel R.L. Phelps + The Downer Trio cover! Amyl and The Sniffers – Some Mutts (Can’t Be Muzzled) – S/T
Bad Moves – Let the Rats Inherit the Earth – Wearing Out the Refrain – [N] Abubakar Sani & Fati Niger – Tofi – Harafin So – Bollywood Inspired Film Music from Hausa Nigeria – [C] Songs: Ohia – Nobody Tries That Hard Anymore – Live Vanquishers – [N] The Fall – Impression of J Temperance (Live) – Grotesque (After The Gramme) ‘Live’ Yoo Doo Right – Spirit’s Heavy, But Not Overthrown – From the Heights of Our Pastureland – [N] Mary Timony – Curious Tides – Curious Tides Detention – Anti A – Dead Rock ‘N Rollers – [N]
Induced Geometry – Org Neg – S/T Chad Fowler, Zoh Amba, Ivo Perelman, Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Steve Hirsh – Occupation Day – Alien Skin Dick Slessig Combo – Wichita Lineman – Wichita Lineman / Guinnevere – Written by Jimmy Webb. Congregation of Drones – No Spinning (excerpt) – Twenty Twenty Lazy Salon – Boot Magna (Set 1) – Boot Manga Mary Lattimore – A Unicorn Catches A Falling Star In Heaven – A Unicorn Catches A Falling Star In Heaven 75 Dollar Bill Big Band – WZN#3 / verso – Live At Tubby’s Trinitron – A Quiet Echo – Where Numbers Meet
Get fired up, because year 36 of THE MARATHON will be here soon!
The 2024 edition of Jon Solomon’s 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show on 103.3 fm WPRB starts on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm ET and goes steady until Christmas Day at 6:00 pm ET.
No repeats, no naps.
We’re LIVE FROM HOME for a fifth time, because there’s no going back once you’ve hosted a extended broadcast like this surrounded by your family with ample sunlight coming through numerous windows, not to mention zero heavy lifting!
All the best traditions are slated to return this year.
That means…
Snaildartha! Lindstrom’s Little Drummer Boy! Ramones-o-Clock! Sets inspired by The Misfits, New Order / Joy Division, Black Sabbath, Beastie Boys and The Fall! Joel RL Phelps! Maggie’s Reindeer Rumble! All these faves plus hours upon hours of material new for 2024. Hopefully a couple thematic ideas will happen for the first time too…
Find a fresh line of marathon-inspired shirts here, plus all the prior years’ graphics.
Press folks, let’s talk.
Now, let’s get to my absolute favorite marathon tradition…
Each of the last 13x years I’ve asked friends, musicians, comedians, fellow DJs and others I admire to record their definition of an original “Christmas story” to be interspersed throughout my marathon, alongside other annual favorites.
These pieces then premiere hourly (if not more frequently) thought the marathon. Surprise submissions and pieces by listeners / strangers are often the best of the lot. That’s why I’m counting on YOU!
My lone request is that you do not post your piece elsewhere before it airs during the show! Please! Afterwards go loco, just mention the show when you do share on Bandcamp / Soundcloud / etc.
If you wanted some extra direction…pieces inspired by Neil Youngcould potentially put a bow on a thematic set I’ve wanted to try…
Please spread the word and have a safe holiday season.
The WPRB Fall Silent Drive is underway! 🤫 To celebrate I’m joined in-studio by Jake McKelvie and his New Old Band for an exclusive live performance! Make a one-time or recurring tax deductible donation at pledge.wprb.com.
The Rub – The Death of Pop – Bikini Gospel
The Effigies – Guns or Ballots – Burned – [N] – Studio recording of a 1981 song. First new album in 17 years! Frankie Cutlass feat. Ray Boogie & The Evil Twins – Puerto Rico (1994 Radio Mix) – 12″ Advance Base – Brian’s Golden Hour – Horrible Occurrences – [N] – New single from an album out in December! Endless Boogie – The Savagist On Point – FULL VERSION – Tout S’Arrange Mais Mal Jennifer O’Connor – Dancing in the Dark – Dancing in the Dark – Springsteen cover. Ahmed Mahmoud & Hussein Moktar – Karr N’Temass – Nouakchott Wedding Songs – [C] Good News – Orange Juice in the Shower – Small Forms – [N]
The Tubs – Freak Mode – Cotton Crown – [N] Sammy Obot – Edue Ukot Akpa Itong – Nigeria Special Volume 3: Electronic Innovation Meets Culture And Tradition 1978-93 – [C] Delivery – Only A Fool – Only A Fool – This will also be on their 2025 album “Force Majeure!” The Necks – Bleed – Bleed – [N] Beastie Boys – An Open Letter To NYC (Instrumental) – An Open Letter To NYC – Samples “Sonic Reducer.” Government Issue – Public Stage (Live at the Marble Bar, Baltimore Maryland, March 20, 1987) – You
The Fluid – Cold Outside – Clear Black Paper (Full Session Edition) – Remix / remaster / reissue of a 1988 album. Boogie Down Productions – I’m Still #1 (Numero Uno Re-Recording) – By All Means Necessary (Expanded Edition) – Had no idea this existed until recently. Rosali – Hey Heron – Hey Heron – [N] Bird People – The Hyperborean Portal – Terma The Otolith – Crossway – LEGENDS of the DESERT: Volume 4 Featuring EAGLE TWIN and THE OTOLITH – [N] The Only Ones – The Whole of the Law – S/T La Sécurité – Detour – Detour – [N]
Volcano Suns – White Elephant – All Night Lotus Party – RIP Jon Williams. Mai Dawayya – Harafin So – Harafin So (Bollywood Inspired Film Music from Hausa Nigeria) – [C] Kalamazoo Drone Society – Five (Bonus Track) – Six & Seven Voice Imitator – Of How Hits – Of How Hits – [N] Jane Weaver – Univers (MEMORIALS Remix) – Univers (MEMORIALS Remix) – Dream team team-up. Alemayehu Eshete – Yeweb Dar – Éthiopiques, Vol. 9: Alèmayèhu Eshèté (1969-1974) Tropical Fuck Storm – Chameleon Paint – Tropical Fuck Storm’s Inflatable Graveyard – [N]
SPRINTS – Swimming – Manifesto EP Fela Kuti & The Africa 70 – Go Slow – Roforofo Fight / The Fela Singles – Originally released in 1972. Water Damage – Gonerfest 092924 – Gonerfest 092924 – Joined by Bobby Matador and Kid Millions of Oneida, plus Ryan Davis. Michel Jonasz – You Kill Me I Kill You – Clara et Les Chics Types OST – [N] 1980 film score. Eagle Twin – Horn vs. Halo – LEGENDS of the DESERT: Volume 4 Featuring EAGLE TWIN and THE OTOLITH – [R] Mai Dawayya – Ololufemi – Harafin So (Bollywood Inspired Film Music from Hausa Nigeria) – [C] MEMORIALS – Book Stall – Memorial Waterslides – [N]
Yo La Tengo – The Story of Jazz – New Wave Hot Dogs Idoumou ould Jeich – Vagho (II) “Bëndieu – Nouakchott Wedding Songs – [C] Green Milk From The Planet Orange – When Every Colour Turns Black – He’s Crying “Look” Sassyhiya – Boat Called Predator – Take You Somewhere – [N] – Out next month! Nan Mayen – Mumude – Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In the Diaspora (1980-93) – [C] BEEF – I’ve Got To Find Out – Il Manzo 7″ – [N]
Jon Solomon can be heard every Wednesday evening across the Delaware Valley from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET on 103.3 fm WPRB.
A veteran, award-winning DJ with over three decades of experience, Solomon is also available to DJ parties, weddings or private events. Just ask him nicely.
