History in Song, Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, Clay Frankel of Twin Peaks
By Jim DeRogatis, Greg Kot, Alex Claiborne, Andrew Gill

History in Song, Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, Clay Frankel of Twin Peaks
By Jim DeRogatis, Greg Kot, Alex Claiborne, Andrew GillSometimes 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 |