Booth notebook

Session notes from the booth.

The lineup logic, the song notes, and the things I want you to hear, saved one session at a time.

Stored notes
120
Artists
18
Genres
18
Special turns
0
2 saved turns
Lineup logic first. Song notes right behind it.
Jazz slow burn / soft ignitionPlaylist noteMay 28, 20268:16 AMOpen set

And I Love Her is the thesis, and Tonight is the answer waiting on deck.

The playlist builds a cohesive arc from David Bowie's 'Tonight' (1984) as the thesis, through a series of carefully chosen contrasts and continuities (Miles Davis, R.E.M., Marvin Gaye, etc.) that honor both the request line and Ian's curated instincts. The sequence moves from 1980s to 1950s to 1990s to 1970s to 2020s, creating a rich emotional landscape while keeping the hour feeling authored and intentional. The final choice, Marcus Miller's 'Just What I Needed,' brings the set to a satisfying close with its jazz ensemble dynamics and subtle lift, landing cleanly after the full emotional range of the set. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in. Tonight is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
And I Love Her
The Beatles
A Hard Day’s Night · 1964 · Rock
Programming
Open set

Mr Rassy is shaping the next turn from the records already on the deck.

The Prophet Returns · fullTonight · fullNightbird (Remastered) · full
Lineup note
And I Love Her into Tonight

The playlist builds a cohesive arc from David Bowie's 'Tonight' (1984) as the thesis, through a series of carefully chosen contrasts and continuities (Miles Davis, R.E.M., Marvin Gaye, etc.) that honor both the request line and Ian's curated instincts. The sequence moves from 1980s to 1950s to 1990s to 1970s to 2020s, creating a rich emotional landscape while keeping the hour feeling authored and intentional. The final choice, Marcus Miller's 'Just What I Needed,' brings the set to a satisfying close with its jazz ensemble dynamics and subtle lift, landing cleanly after the full emotional range of the set. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context
A Hard Day’s Night · 1964

Hearing it against A Hard Day’s Night matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. And I Love Her by The Beatles off A Hard Day’s Night (1964) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With The Beatles, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for
What to catch in the arrangement

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) instead of crowding the next move.

The BeatlesDavid BowieMiles DavisRockArt RockJazzjazz slow burn / soft ignitionblue hoursoft ignitionRock
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
And I Love Her
The Beatles
Why it fits

The playlist builds a cohesive arc from David Bowie's 'Tonight' (1984) as the thesis, through a series of carefully chosen contrasts and continuities (Miles Davis, R.E.M., Marvin Gaye, etc.) that honor both the request line and Ian's curated instincts. The sequence moves from 1980s to 1950s to 1990s to 1970s to 2020s, creating a rich emotional landscape while keeping the hour feeling authored and intentional. The final choice, Marcus Miller's 'Just What I Needed,' brings the set to a satisfying close with its jazz ensemble dynamics and subtle lift, landing cleanly after the full emotional range of the set. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against A Hard Day’s Night matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. And I Love Her by The Beatles off A Hard Day’s Night (1964) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With The Beatles, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) instead of crowding the next move.

02next
Tonight
David Bowie
Full play
Why it fits

Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) cools the temperature after And I Love Her by The Beatles off A Hard Day’s Night (1964) and lets the turn breathe. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Well You Needn't (From The Album Steamin' With The Miles Davis Quintet) by Miles Davis off INTEGRAL MILES DAVIS 1951-1956 (2024) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Tonight matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With David Bowie, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Well You Needn't (From The Album Steamin' With The Miles Davis Quintet) by Miles Davis off INTEGRAL MILES DAVIS 1951-1956 (2024) instead of crowding the next move.

03later
Well You Needn't (From The Album Steamin' With The Miles Davis Quintet)
Miles Davis
Why it fits

Well You Needn't (From The Album Steamin' With The Miles Davis Quintet) by Miles Davis off INTEGRAL MILES DAVIS 1951-1956 (2024) lifts the pressure after Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) without snapping the thread. Reach for it when the set needs lift, conversation between parts, and something that can move without turning blunt.

Track context

Hearing it against INTEGRAL MILES DAVIS 1951-1956 matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Well You Needn't (From The Album Steamin' With The Miles Davis Quintet) by Miles Davis off INTEGRAL MILES DAVIS 1951-1956 (2024) works when the set needs collective motion and color instead of blunt force. Miles Davis makes the most sense here as an ensemble proposition: the interest is in how the parts talk to each other, not just one lead line. This one earns its space through moving parts: sections shifting roles, rhythm pushing from underneath, and an arrangement that keeps relocating the center.

Listen for

Listen for how the lead line, horns or keys, and the rhythm section keep trading weight instead of sitting in fixed roles.

Open saved booth copy

Mr Rassy is lining up Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984). Hearing it against Tonight matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Tonight by David Bowie off Tonight (1984) cools the temperature after And I Love Her by The Beatles off A Hard Day’s Night (1964) and lets the turn breathe. The transition is earning its place instead of skating by on vibe. The playlist builds a cohesive arc from David Bowie's 'Tonight' (1984) as the thesis, through a series of carefully chosen contrasts and continuities (Miles Davis, R.E.M., Marvin Gaye, etc.) that honor both the request line and Ian's curated instincts. The sequence moves from 1980s to 1950s to 1990s to 1970s to 2020s, creating a rich emotional landscape while keeping the hour feeling authored and intentional. The final choice, Marcus Miller's 'Just What I Needed,' brings the set to a satisfying close with its jazz ensemble dynamics and subtle lift, landing cleanly after the full emotional range of the set. The request line is whispering "I need a dusky slow-burn lane with warm low end tonight.".

Dusky slow burn / slow brighteningPlaylist noteMay 27, 202612:26 PMOpen set

You is the thesis, and Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) is the answer waiting on deck.

The sequence opens with Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band to anchor the set in folk-rock, then transitions to Untitled by AFX to introduce the requested dusky slow-burn lane with warm low end, followed by Tonight by David Bowie to breathe and shift color into the 80s. The set deepens with Epistrophy (theme - Sunday set one) by Thelonious Monk and continues with Thank You Girl by The Beatles, Heal The World by Michael Jackson, and I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 1) by Miles Davis & Gil Evans. The sequence concludes with Yours Is No Disgrace by Yes, The Passenger by Iggy Pop, and Switch Opens by Soundgarden, providing a full arc of emotional motion from patient warmth to gentle lift, ending with a strong, grounded landing that honors both the request line and the hour's emotional momentum. Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band off The Basement Tapes (1975) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in. Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
You
Marvin Gaye
Live in Tokyo 1979 · 2025 · Soul, Funk, R&B
Programming
Open set

Mr Rassy is shaping the next turn from the records already on the deck.

Long May You Run · full
Lineup note
You into Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood)

The sequence opens with Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band to anchor the set in folk-rock, then transitions to Untitled by AFX to introduce the requested dusky slow-burn lane with warm low end, followed by Tonight by David Bowie to breathe and shift color into the 80s. The set deepens with Epistrophy (theme - Sunday set one) by Thelonious Monk and continues with Thank You Girl by The Beatles, Heal The World by Michael Jackson, and I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 1) by Miles Davis & Gil Evans. The sequence concludes with Yours Is No Disgrace by Yes, The Passenger by Iggy Pop, and Switch Opens by Soundgarden, providing a full arc of emotional motion from patient warmth to gentle lift, ending with a strong, grounded landing that honors both the request line and the hour's emotional momentum. Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band off The Basement Tapes (1975) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context
Live in Tokyo 1979 · 2025

Hearing it against Live in Tokyo 1979 matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. You by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Marvin Gaye, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for
What to catch in the arrangement

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward. Notice how it hands the weight to Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band off The Basement Tapes (1975) instead of crowding the next move.

Marvin GayeBob Dylan & the BandAFXSoul, Funk, R&BFolk Rockelectronic, ambient, experimentaldusky slow burn / slow brighteningdaybreakslow brighteningSoul, Funk, R&B
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
You
Marvin Gaye
Why it fits

The sequence opens with Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band to anchor the set in folk-rock, then transitions to Untitled by AFX to introduce the requested dusky slow-burn lane with warm low end, followed by Tonight by David Bowie to breathe and shift color into the 80s. The set deepens with Epistrophy (theme - Sunday set one) by Thelonious Monk and continues with Thank You Girl by The Beatles, Heal The World by Michael Jackson, and I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 1) by Miles Davis & Gil Evans. The sequence concludes with Yours Is No Disgrace by Yes, The Passenger by Iggy Pop, and Switch Opens by Soundgarden, providing a full arc of emotional motion from patient warmth to gentle lift, ending with a strong, grounded landing that honors both the request line and the hour's emotional momentum. Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band off The Basement Tapes (1975) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Live in Tokyo 1979 matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. You by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Marvin Gaye, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward. Notice how it hands the weight to Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band off The Basement Tapes (1975) instead of crowding the next move.

02next
Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood)
Bob Dylan & the Band
Why it fits

Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band off The Basement Tapes (1975) lifts the pressure after You by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) without snapping the thread. Reach for it when the hour needs the human voice or acoustic grain to reset the emotional scale. It leaves Untitled by AFX off Analogue Bubblebath 5 [As AFX] (EP) (1995) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against The Basement Tapes matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band off The Basement Tapes (1975) pulls the room inward and lets voice, phrasing, or acoustic grain do the heavy lifting. With Bob Dylan & the Band, phrasing and vocal or acoustic grain do most of the emotional work, which is why the record can reset the scale of the hour. The cut lives or dies on phrasing and vocal or acoustic grain, which is why it reads as a human choice instead of wallpaper.

Listen for

Listen for phrasing, breath, and the way tiny changes in delivery make the emotional pressure jump. Notice how it hands the weight to Untitled by AFX off Analogue Bubblebath 5 [As AFX] (EP) (1995) instead of crowding the next move.

03later
Untitled
AFX
Why it fits

Untitled by AFX off Analogue Bubblebath 5 [As AFX] (EP) (1995) stays related to Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) by Bob Dylan & the Band off The Basement Tapes (1975) through electronic, ambient, experimental, but changes the pocket enough to matter. Untitled by AFX off Analogue Bubblebath 5 [As AFX] (EP) (1995) opens space, decay, and atmosphere without letting the air go limp.

Track context

Hearing it against Analogue Bubblebath 5 [As AFX] (EP) matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Untitled by AFX off Analogue Bubblebath 5 [As AFX] (EP) (1995) opens space, decay, and atmosphere without letting the air go limp. On Analogue Bubblebath 5 [As AFX] (EP) (1995), it reads as part of a larger album world instead of a stray file in the crate. The detail is in the air around the sound as much as in the notes themselves: sustain, echo, and how long each element hangs before the next one arrives.

Listen for

Listen for the negative space: tails, echoes, and the way the sound keeps moving even when the surface feels still.

Open saved booth copy

We're building on that dusky slow burn, starting with a folk-rock anchor, then diving into the 90s ambient textures of AFX, before shifting into some late-night Bowie. The crowd's really into the vibe, so we're keeping it warm and patient with some classic 70s and 80s textures. That's our thesis, our hinge, and our landing.