Free Form Friday

07/19/2025

Last night's Planes, Trains & Automobiles show on Free Form Friday and Lake Effect Radio, inspired by our recent trip to Kansas City, a multitude of Lyft rides, and crazy misadventures on the way home - including the full details of Wednesday's weirdness toward the end of the show, has been posted to SoundCloud. Check it out here:

https://soundcloud.com/dave-sarkies/free-form-friday-planes-trains-automobiles

Here's the playlist:
The Lift - Cut Chemist
Early Morning Cold Taxi - The Who
Jet Airliner - The Steve Miller Band
Long Train Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers
She Loves My Automobile - ZZ Top
Train, Train - Blackfoot
Jet Pilot - Son Volt
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Aeroplane - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Aeroplane - Psychedelic Furs
Aeroplane Blues - The Black Keys
Train Kept A Rollin' - Aerosmith
Drive My Car - David Crosby
Drive My Car - The Beatles
Jet - Paul McCartney & Wings
Here Come the Warm Jets - Brian Eno
Love Train - The O'Jays
Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
Lift - Love & Rockets
Airplane - Gary Numan
Cars - Gary Numan
Blues from an Airplane - Jefferson Airplane
She Has Funny Cars - Jefferson Airplane
What's New in Baltimore? - Frank Zappa
Butterflies and Airplanes - The Clarks

Free Form Friday: Planes, Trains & Automobiles # # # The Lift - Cut Chemist Early Morning Cold Taxi - The Who Jet Airliner - The Steve Miller Band Long Train Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers She Loves My

07/18/2025

We experienced some (mis)adventure traveling home from Kansas City this week. Things got so ridiculous Wednesday that at one point it felt like something out of the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles (one of my faves), and it occurred to me that this might make a good theme for a show.

So, tune in this evening for tales of travel involving said methods of transportation, plus a bonus track in (dis)honor of a particular city's airport (or at least their rental car options). It's the latest edition of Free Form Friday, tonight at 9:00 on Lake Effect Radio.

https://www.twitch.tv/lakeeffectradiostation



*NOTE: I've included a different link than usual, for Lake Effect Radio's Twitch broadcast, as it appears the station's website is currently offline, but the station is still broadcasting.

07/04/2025

Tonight on Lake Effect Radio, we’ll try to dodge the fireworks (no small feat in my neighborhood) and take a road trip around the States with two hours of songs honoring great American cities. I’ll add a few bonus cuts for a little current affairs commentary as well (sorry, not sorry), so join me for a fun 4th tonight at 9:00 on Free Form Friday.

https://www.lakeeffectradio.org/studio

06/28/2025

Last night's Sly Stone & Progressive Soul show on Lake Effect Radio has been posted to SoundCloud. Check it out here:

https://soundcloud.com/dave-sarkies/free-form-friday-sly-stone-progressive-soul

Playlist (all songs by Sly & the Family Stone except where noted):

I Want to Take You Higher
Hot Fun in the Summertime
Dance to the Music
Everybody Is a Star
Thankful N' Thoughtful
Freddie's Dead - Curtis Mayfield
Life
You Can Make It if You Try
Family Affair
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) - Marvin Gaye
Sing a Simple Song [Live]
Soul Power - James Brown
Power - Earth, Wind & Fire
Livin' for the City - Stevie Wonder
Hung Up on My Baby - Isaac Hayes
Hair - Graham Central Station
Everyday People
If You Want Me to Stay
M'Lady
Thank You (Felettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing - Funkadelic
Fun
Stand!

Free Form Friday: Sly Stone & Progressive Soul - Friday, June 27, 2025 # # # Playlist (all songs by Sly the Family Stone unless otherwise noted): I Want to Take You Higher Hot Fun in the Summertime D

06/27/2025

Let’s try this again…

I’d planned to do this show last week, then decided to postpone after a less-than-stellar Friday. Today was a bit wonky too, but all’s well that ends well, so I guess we’ll give it another go…

Two weeks ago on Free Form Friday we paid tribute to the genius of Brian Wilson. Tonight we’ll pay homage to a musical genius of a different type - an innovator who fused funk, rock and soul and challenged the stylistic conventions and racial barriers that separated them.

Sly Stone passed the same week as Wilson at the age of 82, and while there was a distinct contrast in their styles, they had several things in common too. Most notably, they were both ahead of their time.

So tonight we pay tribute to Sly Stone, along with a bonus of highlighting some of the progressive soul - a genre he helped define - of not only Sly & the Family Stone, but many of his peers.

So join me for Hot Fun in the Summertime with Sly Stone and Progressive Soul, tonight at 9 on Lake Effect Radio.

https://www.lakeeffectradio.org/studio

06/14/2025

Last night's Brian Wilson Tribute on Lake Effect Radio, focusing on the Pet Sounds album and the abandoned Smile record, along with a selection of Beach Boys classics, has been posted to SoundCloud.

Check it out here:
https://soundcloud.com/dave-sarkies/brian-wilson-tribute

Playlist:
Surfin’ Safari
Fun, Fun, Fun
I Get Around
409
Little Deuce Coupe
In My Room

Selections from Pet Sounds:

Wouldn’t It Be Nice
You Still Believe In Me
Let’s Go Away for Awhile
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
I Know There’s an Answer
Hang on to Your Ego
I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times
Pet Sounds
Caroline No
Unreleased Backgrounds

Good Vibrations

Selections from Brian Wilson Presents Smile:

Heroes and Villains
Roll Plymouth Rock
Cabin Essence
Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine
Surf’s Up
Vega-Tables
Wind Chimes
Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow
In Blue Hawaii
Good Vibrations

Surfin’ U.S.A.
California Girls
Shut Down
'Til I Die

Free Form Friday: Brian Wilson Tribute - Friday, June 13, 2025 # # # Playlist: Surfin’ Safari Fun, Fun, Fun I Get Around 409 Little Deuce Coupe In My Room Selections from Pet Sounds: Wouldn’t It Be

06/13/2025

It's been quite a week in the music world, with the loss of two true legends - both musical geniuses ahead of their time - and the tributes are still pouring in. I had a specific show in mind for this week's Free Form Friday, but plans changed with the passing of Sly Stone, then changed again with the death of Brian Wilson.

I considered a three-hour tribute to both, featuring a distinct contrast in styles (albeit with some personal similarities), but alas, it's been a day (and a week), and I'm not sure I have it in me to do a three-hour show. So tonight on Lake Effect Radio, we'll focus on the brilliance of Brian Wilson. Most specifically, highlights from the Beach Boys' legendary Pet Sounds album, followed by selections from the abandoned Smile record, later released as a Brian Wilson solo project.

We'll fill in the gaps with more Beach Boys classics for an evening of stellar arrangements, unique experimentation, and unrivaled vocal harmony, from surf rock to baroque pop and beyond, tonight at 9:00 on Free Form Friday.

https://www.lakeeffectradio.org/studio



Note: As a Sly Stone tribute seems appropriate in coordination with Juneteenth, we'll hold that in reserve for next Friday, perhaps with the bonus of selections from some of Sly's progressive soul peers.

06/07/2025

Last night's Free Form Friday show on Lake Effect Radio, The (Sometimes) Shining Sun, featuring sets starting with songs longing for sunshine followed by several celebrating the sunshine, has been posted to SoundCloud. Check it out here:

https://soundcloud.com/dave-sarkies/free-form-friday-sun-shine

Here's the playlist:
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In - The 5th Dimension

Waiting for the Sun - The Doors
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Good Day Sunshine - The Beatles
Sunshine Superman - Donovan
Sunshine of Your Love - Cream

Waitin' on a Sunny Day - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crow
Blue Sky - The Allman Brothers Band
Soulshine - The Allman Brothers Band

Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Everybody Loves the Sunshine - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Sunshine - Proxima Parada
Shine On - Peter Frampton
Liquid Sunshine - Parliament

Invisible Sun - The Police
Sunrise Redeemer - Frank Zappa
Catching the Sun - Spyro Gyra
Let the Sun Come In - The Pretenders
Shine - Collective Soul

Waiting for the Sun - The Jayhawks
You Are My Sunshine - Ray Charles
Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra

Free Form Friday: Sun & Shine - Friday, June 6, 2025 # # # Playlist: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In - The 5th Dimension Waiting for the Sun - The Doors Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles Good Day Sunshine

06/06/2025

Following a two-week stretch of mostly miserable weather, we've finally had a little sunshine this week. Hard to imagine such weather serving as inspiration for a show, but the longing for sunshine (and being sick during a week off work last week) did just that. So tonight on Lake Effect Radio, a playlist of songs both searching for and celebrating the sunshine. Alas, the next few days may see more gloomy skies and lack of sun, so perhaps the music will wish away the weather.

Tune in tonight at 9:00 for songs of the (sometimes) shining sun on the latest Free Form Friday.

https://www.lakeeffectradio.org/studio

05/24/2025

Last night's Prog Night show on Free Form Friday and Lake Effect Radio has been posted to SoundCloud. Check it out here for two hours of prog tracks classic and obscure, with a slight emphasis on Yes and the iconic voice of Jon Anderson:

https://soundcloud.com/dave-sarkies/free-form-friday-prog-night

Playlist:
Shine On - Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks
Wot Gorilla? - Genesis
The Spider - Kansas
Lunar Sea - Camel
The Talking Drum - King Crimson
Kiev - Renaissance
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys - Traffic
Five Miles Out - Mike Oldfield
Awaken - Yes
The Steppes - Steve Hackett
(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether - The Alan Parsons Project
Ringtone - Stick Men
Earthshine - Rush
Night Festival at Rhodes - Mannheim Steamroller
Changes - Yes

Free Form Friday: Prog Night - Friday, May 23, 2025 # # # Playlist: Shine On - Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks Wot Gorilla? - Genesis The Spider - Kansas Lunar Sea - Camel The Talking Drum - King Crimso

05/23/2025

Tonight on Lake Effect Radio inspired by a concert I attended a few weeks back, it's Prog Night. It'll be two hours of Prog, with a slight emphasis on Yes and the iconic voice of Jon Anderson. Tune in for some choice Prog Rock tonight at 9:00 on Free Form Friday.

https://www.lakeeffectradio.org/studio

05/18/2025

Last night's Free Form Friday has been posted to SoundCloud. For two hours of cutting edge rock touching on art rock, electronic, new wave, goth rock, shoegaze and punk, check it out here:

https://soundcloud.com/dave-sarkies/free-form-friday-cuts-on-the-edge

Playlist:
Nonalignment Pact - Pere Ubu
Sonic Reducer - The Dead Boys
John, I'm Only Dancing - David Bowie
I'm Waiting for the Man - The Velvet Underground & Nico
Here Comes Your Man - Pixies
Friction - Television
Radioactivity - Kraftwerk
Are 'Friends' Electric? - Tubeway Army
Uncontrollable Urge - Devo
Baby's On Fire - Brian Eno
Very Very Hungry - David Byrne & Brian Eno
Memories Can't Wait - Talking Heads
Anarchy in the UK - S*x Pistols
Big Take Over - Bad Brains
Ghetto Defendant - The Clash
God In an Alcove - Bauhaus
Temple of Love - Sisters of Mercy
East of Eden - Dead Can Dance
Hazel - Cocteau Twins
Sour Times - Portishead
Twisterella - Ride
Superblast! - Lush
The Story of My Life - Pere Ubu

Free Form Friday: Cuts on the Edge - Friday, May 16, 2025 # # # Playlist: Nonalignment Pact - Pere Ubu Sonic Reducer - The Dead Boys John, I'm Only Dancing - David Bowie I'm Waiting for the Man - The