Sometimes musicians double as historians, documenting the world around them. This week, Jim and Greg share some of their favorite tracks about historical figures, events and places.

Then producer Alex Claiborne has a conversation with Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino about sobriety and how it has affected her music. And finally producer Andrew Gill talks with Clay Frankel of Twin Peaks about how the music documentary Dig! got him “hooked on sonics.”

Greg’s History Song Picks

• Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
• Nena “99 Luftballons”
• System of a Down “P.L.U.C.K.”
• Lil Wayne “Tie My Hands”

Jim’s History Song Picks

• Robyn Hitchcock “Cynthia Mask”
• Uncle Tupelo “New Madrid”
• Peter Gabriel “Biko”
• Pere Ubu “30 Seconds Over Tokyo”

Listen on Pocketcasts / Spotify / Apple Podcasts

Featured Songs

Best Coast, “For The First Time,” Always Tomorrow, Concord, 2020

Crosby Still Nash and Young, “Ohio,” (Single), Atlantic, 1970

Gordon Lightfoot, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” Summertime Dream, Reprise, 1976

Robyn Hitchcock, “Cynthia Mask,” Eye, Twin/Tone, 1990

Nena , “99 Red Balloons,” 99 Luftballons, Epic, 1984

Uncle Tupelo, “New Madrid,” Anodyne, Sire, 1993

Portastatic, “Josephine,” Naked Pilsners, Matador, 1994

System of a Down, “P.L.U.C.K.,” System of a Down, American Recording & Columbia, 1998

Peter Gabriel, “Biko,” Peter Gabriel, Mercury, 1980

Lil Wayne, “Tie My Hands (feat. Robin Thicke),” Tha Carter III, Cash Money, 2008

Pere Ubu, “30 Seconds Over Tokyo,” 390° of Simulated Stereo, Rough Trade, 1981

Best Coast, “Master Of My Own Mind,” Always Tomorrow, Concord, 2020

Best Coast, “Wreckage,” Always Tomorrow, Concord, 2020

Best Coast, “Everything Has Changed,” Always Tomorrow, Concord, 2020

Best Coast, “Graceless Kids,” Always Tomorrow, Concord, 2020

Best Coast, “Rollercoaster,” Always Tomorrow, Concord, 2020

Twin Peaks, “Lookout Low,” Lookout Low, Grand Jury, 2019

Twin Peaks, “Better Than Stoned,” Lookout Low, Grand Jury, 2019

The Brian Jonestown Massacre, “Servo,” Give It Back!, Bomp!, 1997

The Nerves, “Hanging On The Telephone,” The Nerves, The Nerves, 1976

The Kinks, “Oklahoma U.S.A.,” Muswell Hillbillies, RCA Victor, 1971

Guy Clark, “L.A. Freeway,” Old No. 1, RCA Victor , 1975

Arlo Guthrie, “The City Of New Orleans,” Hobo’s Lullaby, Reprise , 1972

The Weakerthans, “One Great City!,” Reconstuction Site, Epitaph, 2003