Sound Opinions

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by returning guest and favorite music writer Jimmy McDonough. Jimmy recently released a biography 40 years in the making, Gary Stewart: I Am From the Honky-Tonks, and joins the show to help Jim and Greg run down five essential tracks from the cult country artist. The hosts also review new albums from Jill Scott, Mandy, Indiana, and Aldous Harding.

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Featured Songs:
Gary Stewart, "Honky Tonk Man," Honky Tonk Man (Single), RCA, 1981
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Jill Scott, "Offadaback," To Whom This May Concern, Blues Babe, 2026
Jill Scott, "Liftin' Me Up," To Whom This May Concern, Blues Babe, 2026
Jill Scott, "Pay U on Tuesday," To Whom This May Concern, Blues Babe, 2026
Mandy, Indiana, "Sevastopol," URGH, Sacred Bones, 2026
Mandy, Indiana, "Magazine," URGH, Sacred Bones, 2026
Mandy, Indiana, "I'll Ask Her," URGH, Sacred Bones, 2026
Aldous Harding, "Venus in the Zinnia," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026
Aldous Harding, "Train on the Island," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026
Aldous Harding, "I Ate the Most," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026
Aldous Harding, "Coats," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026
Aldous Harding, "One Stop," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026
Gary Stewart, "Sweet Tater and Cisco," You're Not The Woman You Used To Be, MCA, 1975
Gary Stewart, "Drinkin' Thing," Out of Hand, RCA, 1975
Gary Stewart, "Flat Natural Born Good-Timin' Man," Steppin' Out, RCA, 1976
Gary Stewart, "Pretend I Never Happened," Your Place or Mine, RCA, 1977
Courtney Barnett, "Scotty Says (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Mom + Pop Music, 2015
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In this bonus Desert Island Jukebox episode, Greg shares a cult favorite from Milwaukee's psychedelic scene.
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This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot dig into Willie Nelson’s vast catalog of 150+ albums. Along with author Geoffrey Himes, they highlight the “five essential” albums people should hear. They also review the latest album from Kacey Musgraves.
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Featured Songs:
Willie Nelson, "Stardust," Stardust, Columbia, 1978
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Kacey Musgraves, "Dry Spell," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026
Kacey Musgraves, "Middle of Nowhere," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026
Kacey Musgraves, "Horses and Divorces (featuring Miranda Lambert)," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026
Kacey Musgraves, "Uncertain, TX (featuring Willie Nelson)," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026
Willie Nelson, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," Red Headed Stranger, Columbia, 1975
Willie Nelson, "Phases and Stages (Theme) / Washing the Dishes," Phases and Stages, Atlantic, 1974
Willie Nelson, "Bloody Mary Morning," Phases and Stages, Atlantic, 1974
Willie Nelson, "Help Me Make It Through the Night," Sings Kristofferson, Columbia, 1979
Willie Nelson, "Georgia On My Mind," Stardust, Columbia, 1978
Willie Nelson, "I Guess I've Come to Live Here in Your Eyes," Spirit, Island, 1996
Willie Nelson, "On the Road Again (Live)," Live! At The US Festival (June 4, 1983), Shout! Factory, 1983
Willie Nelson, "Last Man Standing," Last Man Standing, Legacy, 2018
Willie Nelson, "Always on My Mind," Always on My Mind, Columbia, 1982
Gary Stewart, "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)," Out of Hand, RCA Victor, 1975
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In this bonus Desert Island Jukebox, Jim pays tribute to legendary American songwriter Chip Taylor, whose pop and country songs were recorded by countless artists— including one of Jim’s favorites, The Troggs. Taylor died on March 23, 2026, at the age of 86.
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This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by author Nic Brown for a classic album dissection of the debut from The Violent Femmes. They delve into the unexpected staying power of songs like "Add It Up" and "Blister In The Sun" and Brown shares new insights into the album from his recent interviews with the band members.
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Featured Songs:
Blister In The Sun, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Please Do Not Go, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
Confession, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
Kiss Off, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
Add It Up, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
Gone Daddy Gone, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
Good Feeling, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
American Music, "Violent Femmes," Why Do Birds Sing, Reprise, 1991
Willie Nelson, "On The Road Again (Live)," Honeysuckle Rose, Columbia, 1980
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