my good friend thomas ventures deep into his collection for a stunning episode of soul, bossa, UK rock, and more. tracklist below:

0:00 - The Real Thing - Sergio Mendes and Brazil 77
4:39 - I Need Love (Promo Version) - Carrie Cleveland
6:52 - Love on a Summer Night - The McCrarys
11:20 - Tell Me Why Our Love Turned Cold - Willie Hutch
15:05 - I Like It - The Emotions
17:26 - I Like the Way you do Your Thing - Little Beaver
21:44 - You Won’t Feel So Proud - Cymande
24:53 - Feel Like Makin Love - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
30:02 - Asas - Domenico Lancellotti
33:19 - Dora / Saudade da Bahia  - Sebastião Tapajos & Pedro dos Santos
36:17 - O Samba da Minha Terra - Rosinha de Valença 
38:32 - Bubba Dub Bossa - Robby Poitevin 
40:17 - J vs. S - Pavement
41:26 - Phantom of Love (Bossa 3) - Riz Ortolani
44:57 - The Apartment (Number 2) - Duncan Lamont
46:43 - Blockheads - Ian Dury & The Blockheads
50:12 - The Mandrake Handshake - Brian Jonestown Massacre
53:40 - Culture Vultures (Peel Session) - Wire
55:29 - Gaymo - 12 Rods

gpr episode 4 - Thomas Forman

Hailing from San Francisco, my friend Danny Avins shares his impressive collection of hard mambo, guaguancó, boogaloo, and cha-cha rarities. Comprising what we know as Salsa, these subgenres stem from a complex web of Afro-Carribean influences, and carry with them a rich history of dance. While mambo, cha-cha, descarga, and guaguanco originate from Cuba and Puerto Rico, boogaloo rose to prominence in the dancehalls of melting-pot Spanish Harlem in the 1960-70s. 

These tracks are almost all performed by big-bands and do not feature any electronic instruments, and this episode was recorded entirely from Danny's personal vinyl collection.

In Danny’s own words: “It’s so intoxicating, the rhythms and rhythm sections that are so unbelievably locked in with each other alongside fantastic piano/flute/horn players and always a beautiful singer. It’s more stripped down and less electric than rock for example, it feels like you’re listening to some friends jam in a high school gym or something. It’s irresistible to not want to dance or feel happy listening to this stuff.” 

Fun fact: Danny and I played little league baseball together. Pay him a visit at Groove Merchant Records in San Francisco for a clinic on choice latin selections and more.

0:00 - La Banda Llego - Orlando Marin Y Su Orquesta
3:42 - Bilongo - Manolin Gonzalez Y Su Tribu
6:48 - Con Quien Andas - La Fantasticaa
10:26 - Alegre Guaguanco - Chacon Y Su Orquesta
14:20 - Goza Mi Guaguanco - Willie Rodriguez And His Orchestra
18:23 - Mambo Maxims - Bobby Matos And The Combo Conquistadores
22:12 - Up And Down - Manny Corchado And His Orchestra 
26:24 - Que Dichoso - Joe Pacheco Y Su Combo Brillante
29:24 - Tu Eres Mi Coco - Bobby Valentin
34:45 - Retorno del Mambo - Johnny Colon
37:18 - Guateque - Roberto Anglero Y Su Congregacion
40:14 - Pa'l Cielo - La Preferida De Felix Caraballo
43:58 - El Vidriero - Fruko y sus Tesos
48:40 - Guaguanco Corioco - Los Barbarians
53:07 - Malanga Amarilla - Cachao Y Su Ritmo Caliente
56:34 - Tambori - Hector Rivera And His Orchestra
59:05 - Por Las Nubes - Cabrerita Y Sus Ideas

gpr episode 5 - Danny Avins

My good friend and 90s alternative aficionado madeupthere aka Elle Davidson has blessed us with a smashing episode this week. In her own words, this episode is:

"90s alternative radio if major label promo guys didn’t exist"

"the sweet sound of 1994. geffen records. everything kind of centered on the weezer sound"

"this is pure 90s alt, not grunge. not shoegaze."

Give her a follow for more quotable moments @madeupthere

1. In the Garage – Weezer
2. Santa Monica – Everclear
3. Poppies – Marcy’s Playground
4. Away - Toadies
5. Local God - Everclear
6. Seed - Sublime
7. Yeah Right - Dinosaur Jr.
8. American Typewriter - Braid
9. Vasoline - Stone Temple Pilots
10. Quiet - Smashing Pumpkins
11. F.N.T. - Semisonic
12. Tyler - Toadies
13. Just - Radiohead
14. Jimmy Olsen’s Blues - Spin Doctors
15. Tones of Home - Blind Melon
16. Shutterbug - Veruca Salt
17. 47 - Sunny Day Real Estate

gpr episode 6 - madeupthere

This week, Lewis Caldwell aka GORDON dances between genre boundaries fluidly and at times unexpectedly in an episode that gives a keen look into his creative sense and spirit. When not in the mix, Lew runs GORDON, a prominent brand at the intersection of cardistry* and fashion, while also a skilled and established cardist himself.

* Cardistry is the art of shuffling cards. For an example of what this looks like, check out one of GORDON's cardistry edits in the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTyq_Y5RTgE

GORDON website (high quality goods for sale here) - https://www.gordon.international/

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support independent music curation & radio, please consider sharing our soundcloud or instagram account with a friend :)

Tracklist:

0:00 - Hologram - Samuel Organ
2:21 - That Time Has Passed - Harpsichord Canvas, Orchard Mantis
3:21 - Mars and Its Moons - Gum.mp3, Harrison, 48thSt
5:07 - The World Couldn’t See Us - Nabihah Iqbal
7:11 - Pre-Munitions - Daedelus
8:50 - 9000 Degrees - Papo2oo4, Subjxct 5
10:34 - Third Coast - Teezo Touchdown
13:00 - Alichea Vella Amor - Leon Vynehall
15:20 - Heroin Chic (Dub Reprise) - Naked Music
17:39 - Endless - Freak Heat Waves
19:21 - Losing You - Solange
22:03 - Spring Is Coming With a Strawberry in the Mouth - Caroline Polachek
24:49 - I Care - Fabiana Palladino, Jai Paul
26:24 - Trashy Like TV - Laila France
29:21 - You’re Not the Only One - Aya
31:59 - Blissed - Suzy Sheer
34:07 - Tragic Surprise - Snow Strippers
36:46 - 2,e1 - La Timpa
38:44 - Seasons - Sam Austins
40:00 -In the Front - Vegyn, John Glacier
42:12 - No Amends - Realyungphil, Mike
43:35 - Hate Me - Lil Yachty, Ian
45:55 - Flatline - Bladee
48:01 - About You Now - Otto

gpr episode 9 - GORDON

This time of year, a lot of people go back to their home town. Sometimes, you need a sultry, nostaglic soundtrack to dredge up old memories on a long walk in the crisp fall/winter air. This episode was made ~specifically~ for this purpose, with collaboration from the GPR community.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support independent music curation & radio, please consider sharing our soundcloud or instagram account with a friend :)

Tracklist:

Oasis - Ashra
New Year - Mk.gee
Alison (Live) - Elvis Costello
Chomp Chomp - Friendship
Two Good Things - Modern Baseball
Boe Zaah - Mac Demarco
For Emma (Myspace Transmissions Demo Verison) - Bon Iver
Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
Jonathan - Adrianne Lenker & Buck Meek
Visions - Loving
Grey Skies - Kate Bollinger
IRL - Sonny Ism
Divina - Toro y Moi
Note to Self - Mild High Club
Fingerprints - Hiatus Kaiyote
Provider - Frank Ocean
Poe Mans Dream (His Vice) - Kendrick Lamar
The Border - Astronauts, etc.
If He - Mk.gee
Mobius Strip - Salami Rose Joe Lewis

gpr episode 10 - going back home

This week, prolific producer and dear friend TJ Wee p.k.a Jhune shares with us some of his favorite tracks ranging from eras modern and bygone, sonics accessible and obscure. In this episode he flaunts his diverse musicality with unexpected genre blending, and weaves together a fascinating musical junket, the influences of which clearly shine through in his own productions.

For more, check him out on instagram at @___jhune

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support independent music curation & radio, please consider sharing our soundcloud or instagram account with a friend :)

No tracklist this time. Just listen and vibe.

gpr episode 11 - love, Jhune

Danny Avins returns to the airwaves with a second offering of latin flavors from his tasteful collection. Today's episode Danny taps into his Paolista roots and serves up a punchy plate of Brazilian Samba, Funk, and Boss from a host of iconic Brasileiros. As always, Danny's episode was recorded entirely on vinyl from his personal collection. **DISCLAIMER** this episode may cause you to enter a fugue state and book a spontaneous one-way flight to Rio De Janeiro. 

Pay Danny a visit at Groove Merchant Records in San Francisco for a clinic on choice latin selections, and give him a follow at @dannyavins_ to catch his next gig in SF. 

Sei Chorar - Cartola
Estrada Nova - Marília Medalha
Capoeira E Candomblé - Beto Scala
Agora Ou Nunca Mais - Ana Mazzotti
Saudosismo - Gal Costa
Saia Rota - Edson Conceição
Juliana - Quarteto Em Cy 
Gloriosa - Erasmo Carlos
Zana - Toquinho
Ponteio - Rogério Duprat E Sua Orquestra

gpr episode 12 - Danny Avins pt. 2

The Pedal Steel’s unmistakable, smooth glissando spreads a creamy, hazy, psychedelic glaze over any musical backdrop. Its sonic properties, both dreamy and driving, can command a rhythm even the most tone-deaf boot can’t resist stomping to, or bring a room to tears when paired with a proper country crooner. Whether coming from a steel guitar, lapsteel, pedal steel, or “frying pan,” the sound is shared across genres disparate as Hawaiian and Western Country, pop and jazz fusion, rock and Nigerian Juju. Its origins are intertwined with its more popular cousin who you may have heard of - the electric guitar (in fact, the electric guitar is a byproduct of trying to electrify the lapsteel, the pedal steel’s grand-daddy). 

On today’s episode we take a look at some of the music that drove the innovation of the pedal steel, and hear from the talented players keeping its sound alive today. 

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support independent music curation & radio, please consider sharing our soundcloud or instagram account with a friend :)

Cover: Paul Bigsby, motorcycle mechanic & inventor of the modern pedal steel 

Tracklist: 
I - Tyler Nuffer
Song of the Islands (Na Lei o Hawaii) - Lani McIntire & His Aloha Islanders
An Old Water Mill By a Waterfall - Milton Brown and his Brownies
Slowly - Webb Pierce
Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley
Tenderly - Noel Boggs
Cherokee - Buddy Emmons 
Lazy Summer Evening - Speedy West
Candy Kisses - George Morgan
Dire Wolf - Grateful Dead
Hickory Wind - The Byrds
As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings) - Ryan Richter
Gbogbo Wa L’Ope - King Sunny Ade
Lost My Mind - Will Van Horn
Joker Lips - MJ Lenderman
Better Distractions - Faye Webster
In My Mind - Color Green
II - Tyler Nuffer
Big Mike’s - Dijon

gpr episode 13 - a pedal steel diaspora

In this week’s episode, we take a deep look into an unlikely hotbed of some of the most talented rock artists the world has ever seen. The isolated city of Perth on the west coast of Australia has spawned acclaimed musicians of all genres, however the late 2000’s and early 2010s saw the rise of a tight-knit group of psych rockers, packing out local stages for years developing their sound before ultimately going worldwide. This scene not only produced one of my personal heroes, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, but incubated a community of players that went on to influence rock across the globe - Nick Allbrook, Cameron Avery, Shiny Joe Ryan, and more. In today’s episode we play several of these musician’s main projects, side projects, and some of the groups keeping the Perth psych rock sound alive today.

In this week’s episode, we take a deep look into an unlikely hotbed of some of the most talented rock artists the world has ever seen. The isolated city of Perth on the west coast of Australia has spawned acclaimed musicians of all genres, however the late 2000’s and early 2010s saw the rise of a tight-knit group of psych rockers, packing out local stages for years developing their sound before ultimately going worldwide. This scene not only produced one of my personal heroes, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, but incubated a community of players that went on to influence rock across the globe - Nick Allbrook, Cameron Avery, Shiny Joe Ryan, and more. In today’s episode we play several of these musician’s main projects, side projects, and some of the groups keeping the Perth psych rock sound alive today. 

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support independent music curation & radio, please consider sharing our soundcloud or instagram account with a friend :)

Cover: Perth 2013 Band Map found on Nick Allbrook’s Facebook Page

Track List: 
Whatitis, Whatitisnt - Space Lime Peacock
Light up, turn on, Get down and Look Around - Space Lime Peacock
Lonely Words - Dee Dee Dums
Hands off the Mannequin, Charlie - Mink Mussel Creek
Leaving in the Sunrise - The Novocaines
Half Full Glass of Wine - Tame Impala
The Old Man and the Sea - Shiny Joe Ryan
Double Ride - HAMJAM
The Man’s Not Me - Allbrook/Avery
Minor Setback - GUM, Ambrose Kenny-Smith
Alter Ego - Tame Impala
Sweep me off My feet - Pond
Why Won’t They Talk to Me? - Tame Impala Growing’ Up - GUM
By Your Side - Erasers
Also Gesellschaft - Methyl Ethel
Sun’s Coming Up - Tame Impala

gpr episode 14 - perth, australia

GPR contributor Graeme Ashley rifles through his bag once again for a tasteful selection of Bay Area psychedelic sounds. From locally grown to globally known, this all-vinyl episode showcases bands and artists that sculpted one of the most important musical scenes in American history. Give Graeme a follow on his record-sharing account, @kingswell_spins

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support independent music curation & radio, please consider sharing our soundcloud or instagram account with a friend :)

Tracklist: 

Threshold - Steve Miller Band
Fresh Air - Quicksilver Messenger Service
Death Sound - Country Joe & The Fish
Singing Winds, Crying Beats - Santana
Funky On My Back - Cold Blood
Gold & Silver - Quicksilver Messenger Service
That's It For the Other One - Grateful Dead
Bass Strings - Country Joe & The Fish
Get High - The Sons of Champlin

gpr episode 15 - Bay Area Psychedelia

In February-May 2025 I traveled around Europe and this is a selection of music I listened to along the way. 

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support independent music curation & radio, please consider sharing our soundcloud or instagram account with a friend :)

Tracklist: 
Vicente - ZAMPA
Falling Down a Well - Jack J
Why May I Not Go Out and Climb the Trees - Daniel Norgren
With Balance - Metronomy, Naima Bock, Joshua Idehen
10 WAYS (TO LOSE A CROWN) - Saya Gray
You're so Good to Me - Curtis Mayfield
Love Will Bring Us Back Together Again - Roy Ayers
Music for All People - New World Music
A.E.I.O.U. - Dub Version - Di Melo, Cotonete
Without Your Love - Spen & Thommy Heavy Vibes Mix - Spencer Morales, Randy Roberts, DJ Spen, Thommy Davis
Tu Sei Pazza - Original Mix - Daniel Monaco
Sauce Soja - Mangabey
Two Wrongs Making It Right - Kevin Yost
Babalú Ayé - Digital Afrika
Hershel - Lauer
Picnic Attack - I:Cube
Unwind - Shanti Celeste
The Rising Sun - Afrodub
Yes, Ok? - Beep Tzt
The Whisper (Kelbin VIP) - Kelbin, Kinoteki
Forest Run - Joseph Shabason

gpr 16 - europe 2025

Griffith Park Radio listeners, float into a haze of dubby goodness with V. Slim’s latest mix Afterglow. Perfect for slow mornings, late nights, or long walks on the beach.

The mix dances gently between dreamy atmospheres, low-end grooves, and pulsing rhythms. Afterglow is a clocked-out blend of the best and brightest in ambient, dub, tek, and step. 

Press play and carry yourself into soft dub summer.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support independent music curation & radio, please consider sharing our soundcloud or instagram account with a friend :)

Tracklist: 

Plateau – Eden Aurelius
Static – Pugilist
A4 – Paperclip Minimiser, John Howes
Dozen Sunbeams – Purelink
frosty morning – Martin Schulte
Super Si – Aspen
Hemisphere Pt. 2 – Orson Wells
Feel – Xyla
Solid Air City – downstairs J
Muster – Cousin
Echo Chamber – Robert Fleck
Hand it Over – Guava, Breaka
Remembrance – Sigha
Springing Daisy’s – Pub
Dust – Merv
Joint 2 – Unsolicited Joints
Puro Rosaceae – Parris
AD Dub – Skee Mask
Slows The Pace and Goes Farther – Mammo
Qawwali – Pinch

gpr 17 - Afterglow by V. Slim

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