From "Firebird Blues" to "Fisherman's Blues," from "Necks and Feet" to "Two Hearts," and from "Gotta Find Her" to "Drive All Night." Radio Free Earth sings about what's been draggin' us down and what's lifting us up. Recorded in the moment.

16 MP3 Songs
POP: Pop/Rock, FOLK: Folk-Rock

Show all album songs: Available Light Songs


Details:
Radio Free Earth is a shuffle band that plays crossover music. You never know what you'll hear next. In this incarnation Radio Free Earth is Josh Wachtel on acoustic guitar and vocals, Kim Wachtel on lead and backing vocals, Mike Stanley on electric guitar, Ben Wachtel on keyboards and backing vocals, Allen Heppe on drums and Matt Koch on upright electric bass. Radio Free Earth has three previous CDs: Crossover and Fortune and Death are acoustic albums; And Don't Forget It! has the same lineup as Available Light.

Read about the songs and most of all, give a listen!

FIREBIRD BLUES A blues about our animal friends. The spark for this one came from Cliff Carlisle, and from a story we heard called "The Firebird, the Horse of Power and the Princess Vasilissa."

NECKS AND FEET There's no accounting for tastes. We got this song about unusual cravings from the Texas band, The Juke Jumpers.

LIKE A HURRICANE It's about time someone besides Neil Young did this just to see what it sounds like.

IN THE SUMMERTIME This goofy song was our introduction to Roger Miller.

GOTTA FIND HER Sometimes what you're looking for is also looking for you.

TO RAMONA Ben and Josh turn some brother harmony on a Dylan song about someone who's gotten bent out of shape trying to be like everybody else.

CRYING TEARS FOR NEW ORLEANS Fats Domino said: "We've lost everything. I don't know what we're going to do." ...And the malign neglect, exploitation and greed that led to the disaster go on.

PAPA'S ON THE HOUSETOP Leroy Carr wrote this in the Twenties. We heard it from the Jim Kweskin Jug Band who did it in the Sixties. Our version is different.

JIM DANDY When everything seems hopeless, Jim Dandy to the rescueâhe don't need no 'chute. La Vern Baker had a hit with this in 1956.

STILL SEARCHING The Bible says, "Seek and you will find." We found this song by Bongos Ikwue and the Groovies in a collection called Black Star Liner: Reggae from Africa.

DRIVE ALL NIGHT The first time the band tried this one, Josh said to Mike Stanley, "Play it with atmosphere." Mike said, "What atmosphere did you have in mind?" "You'll know," said Josh. And Mike did. The song is by Bruce Springsteen.

WAY DOWN DEEP Leonard Cohen had a hand in writing this song, but never recorded it. But Jennifer Warnes sure did.

LIGHTS "The lights on the city look so good." This song is by Victoria Williams, who sees like nobody else.

FISHERMAN'S BLUES There are times when you wish you could just leave the dry land behind and become a fisherman tumblin' on the sea. We learned this from The Waterboys.

TWO HEARTS Chris Isaak wrote this once, and recorded it at least twice.

BYE BYE The German group Trio, who did a lot with a little, is responsible for this barebones classic.