Podcast
Snap, Crackle, POP! with Alec Cumming
Hosted by Alec Cumming, WPKN · EN
A show dedicated to unapologetically intelligent & melodic pop music that oft includes adventure, ambition, angst, bass shenanigans, bravura, catchiness, cynicism, curiosity, dancability, deft dynamics, economy, forward momentum, glee, grace, hubris, irreverance, irony, love, maximalism, melancholy, minimalism, modesty, naïveté, overreaching, passion, prettiness, proselytizing, protest, questioning, repetition, ribaldry, sarcasm, sexiness, sincerity, specificity, swoon-worthiness, temerity, understanding, vagueness, wisdom, wit and maybe more than a little nostalgia.
23episodes
Episodes
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Breaking Up (and Fundraising) is Hard To Do
1w ago01:54:41Tap to summarizeSigh. This was supposed to be a "Catch a Wave" week fundraiser for WPKN, with the great Dawn Eden Goldstein joining me for the first half and the legendary Rob Silber joining me for the second half. Dawn came up with the idea of playing break-up songs as a theme within the "we need money" theme. Well, I mean, it was a fundraiser, but we didn't get a single donation during my shift, though. It would do me (and our brilliant radio station!) a tremendous amount of good if you donated to WPKN here in honor of Snap Crackle POP... so: Please? ---------------------------------------------Catch A Wave – The Beach BoysYou're Gonna Miss Me – The 13th Floor ElevatorsOff and Running – Lesley GorePartially Awesome – Edward O'ConnellAlone Again Or – The DamnedShake Hands and Walk Away Cryin' – Lou ChristieValentine's Day – Wild HaresFuture Me Hates Me – The BethsSo You Say You Lost Your Baby – Gene ClarkI'm Not Living Here – SagittariusThe Breakup – Art GarfunkelAll I Know – Art GarfunkelBye Bye Love – The CarsIf I Didn't Love You – SqueezeI Summon You – SpoonLovers Who Wander – DionBoth Sides Now – Judy Collins
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Happy (belated) 70th Birthday, Richard Butler!
2w ago01:52:39Tap to summarizeSong for Hal – U2 A ? of When – Panda Bear & Sonic BoomFeelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y. D.O.O.) – The ArchiesLost & Alone – Aaron Lee Tasjan Blowin' Up – Kiwi Jr. All This Disaster – Sarah McLachlanIf You Change – Widowspeak Pretty In Pink – Psychedelic Furs Radio Free Europe (Jackknife Lee 2025 mix) – R.E.M.Wu-Tang – They Might Be Giants Eat at Home – Paul & Linda McCartney Momma Gets By – Paul McCartneyIt's Over Now – The Beach Boys What Is Left to Say – Thundercat (feat. The Lemon Twigs)2 or 3 – The Lemon Twigs Forgotten (Alternate Version) – Neil DiamondMichigan – Margret Glaspy Rainbows – Allison Russell Real Deal – EndearmentsPink Lemon – Elder Island Aht Uh Mi Hed – Shuggie OtisStrawberry Letter 23 – Shuggie Otis
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A belated Memorial day radio show, and a tribute to Cynthia Louise Harden (1957-2026)
3w ago01:44:58Tap to summarizeThis show was kind of a "memorial 2-fer". First, it was a belated tribute to Memorial Day; Dawn Eden Goldstein and I were going to co-host the Snap Crackle POP! WPKN show on the Memorial Day morning of 5/25/26, but due to a family issue we had to re-run the 1/27/26 Beatles REVOLVER special.Secondly, this show served as a memorial of sorts to the memory of Cynthia Louise Harden, who passed on 5/26/26 - and yes, that was the family issue. Cynthia was the mother of my amazing daughter Julia Cumming, my partner and co-leader of the '90s pop-rock-rap duo Bite the Wax Godhead, and... my ex-wife. I am still extremely sad and in shock, even as I write this.I'm not sure I did her memory justice (much less to the brave and women who lost their lives to war) but here it is anyway. I meant well. ===========================================The Way We Were / Try to Remember – Gladys Knight Reflections of My Life – The MarmaladeDo You Remember Walter? – The KinksRemember – John Lennon Here Today – Paul McCartney As You Lie There – Paul McCartney Soho Square – Kirsty MacCollNever to Be Forgotten – The Bobby Fuller FourI’ve Got a Broken Heart – The Lemon TwigsTill We Meet Again – The Cheepskates Galveston – Glen CampbellRuby, Don't Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and the First EditionPowderfinger (acoustic) – Neil Young I Can’t Write Left-Handed (live) – Bill WithersThe Green Fields of France – Dropkick Murphys Between the Wars – Billy Bragg Old World – The Modern LoversRivers of Babylon – The Melodians Keep On Movin' – Soul II Soul The Captain of Her Heart – Double Starlight – Nick Kivlen Only Love Can Break Your Heart – Neil Young
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SEDAKA IS BACK! (again!)
May 1101:55:00Tap to summarizeThis is a repackaging of two live Snap Crackle POPs from March 2nd and 3rd of this year. The lovely and brilliant Eden Dawn Goldstein joins me for the first half.[All songs performed by Neil Sedaka unless otherwise noted.]That's When the Music Takes MeStupid Cupid – Connie Francis The DiaryI Go Ape One Way Ticket (To the Blues)Oh! CarolOh! Neil – Carole King Calendar GirlBreaking Up Is Hard to DoI Can't Stay Mad at You – Skeeter Davis Magic Colors – Lesley Gore When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door) – The MonkeesWorkin’ on a Groovy ThingBeautiful You Laughter In the RainBad Blood Anywhere You're Gonna Be (Leba's Song)(Is This the Way To) Amarillo – Tony ChristieI'm a Song, Sing Me Superbird – Neil Sedaka Solitaire – Neil SedakaIt Hurts to Be in Love – Gene Pitney Donna – 10cc Love Will Keep Us Together – The Captain & TenillePuppet Man – The 5th Dimension The Hungry Years Beginning to Breathe Again
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WAAAAAH! it's the TWEEEEEEE! episode!
May 401:53:47Tap to summarizeMy guest co-host Dawn Eden Goldstein proposed we do a show based on early '90s UK "twee" music, with an emphasis on the 1991 "The Waaaah! CD", and I quickly agreed... Because Dawn always brings the obscure yet utterly fantastic pop songs to the world of Snap Crackle POP! So get into your pajamas and bring out your kittens and let's (politely) TWEE out! Who Loves the Sun – The Velvet UndergroundWalking My Cat Named Dog – Norma TanegaI'd Like to Walk Around in Your Mind - Vashti BunyanFill Your Heart – David BowieThink Of Rain – Margo GuryanDream Lover – The Paris SistersGoing Downtown – PianosaurusI Don’t Want to Back – Riff DoctorsFlowers Through the Air – Tiny LightsThe Sunday Way of Life – Smalltown ParadeSeptember's Not So Far Away – The Field MiceAshlands Road – Strawberry StorySunny Tuesday Afternoon – The DufflecoatsJames – Fat TulipsPerfect Day – Ric MenckAir – The OwlsSeems So – The Apples in StereoVoice In My Head – The SneetchesI'll Be Gone – Papas FritasDisconnect the Dots – Of MontrealStop Buying Things – Swan DiveWalk The Way You Talk – Dionne Warwick
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The Emotional Labor of Doing It All Again
Apr 2702:16:57Tap to summarizeJulia Cumming finally released her long-awaited solo album last Friday, April 24th 2026, and I played a couple of songs from it, as well as other songs that were a part of the inspiration for it, plus other good songs. Save It for Later – Eddie VedderBest Friend – The English Beat All This Disaster – Sarah McLachlanOne Stop – Aldous HardingThe Sofa – Wolf Alice No More Tearstained Makeup – Martha & the VandellasAll I Do Is Think About You – Tammi TerrelYou'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) – Dionne Warwick I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself – Dusty Springfield Here You Come Again – Dolly Parton Free Man in Paris – Joni Mitchell Kites Are Fun – The Free DesignDo It All Again – Julia CummingDays We Left Behind – Paul McCartmey Baby Don't Go – Ringo StarrWantcha Baby – Cryptic SoupIdiots Delighted – Damfino Let Her Dance – The Bobby Fuller Four Searching For Heaven – Swamp Dogg Man Of His Word – Kashus Culpepper Emotional Labor – Julia Cumming Amoureuse – Véronique Sanson Abducted By Love – The Tall Pines Freeing Wheels – Souled American (Snap Crackle EXTRA!) I'd Like To Talk to You – Mark EricHow She Boogalooed It – The Beach BoysTeenage News – Syl SylvainFeelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.–D.O.O.) – The ArchiesI Don't Like Hockey No More – The ZamboniAfter the Fox – The Hollies feat. Peter Sellers
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The show in which Dawn Eden Goldstein and I talk about and listen to the legendary UK songwriter John Carter
Apr 2002:00:00Tap to summarizeDawn Eden Goldstein is a badass. There, I've said it. Both a deeply respected Catholic theologian and pop music historian! I really like when she comes on my morning Snap Crackle POP! shows and I hope we do it again and again. She suggested a tribute/exploration of sorts into the career of British songwriter John Carter, and I was game, and this is what it sounded like. Chelsea Morning – Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 I Wish You Hadn't – Benjamin MorrenShe Is Today – Bergen White Sweet And Tender Romance – The McKinleys Lonely Room – The Ivy League I Can't Explain – The Who Tossing and Turning – The Ivy League Can't You Hear My Heartbeat – Herman's HermitsMy World Fell Down – SagittariusBeyond the Railroad – The Pen Friend Club Annie Almond – The Junipers Let's Go To San Francisco – The Flower Pot MenJangleheart – Novelty Island This Whole World – The Beach Boys Beach Baby – The First Class Winchester Cathedral – The New Vaudeville BandWestchester Hadassah – Allan ShermanPaper Trail – Caper Clowns In The Beginning – The Autumn Defense Little Bird – Famous GroupiesSadie – Aggie Miller
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God, PLEASE, Let Us Go On this Way...
Apr 1301:54:43Tap to summarizeYes, that's me and Al Jardine. (And he's a pleasure to talk to.) I talk about meeting him on this radio show, and hearing him and Darian Sahanaja and his brillint Pet Sounds band perform ALL of the tracks from THE BEACH BOYS LOVE YOU live, the night before, which also just happened to be the 49th Anniversary of the album's release (!). Thank you, Al, thank you Darian, and thank you Brian - I am thrilled, honored, and deeply moved. I love this music SO much. Let Us Go on This Way – The Beach Boys Solar System –– The Beach BoysI Wanna Pick You Up – The Beach BoysBe Like Him – Darian Sahanaja, Probyn Gregory & The Lemon Twigs (Ronnie D'Addario cover) 2 or 3 – The Lemon Twigs Baby, Let's Stick Together – The Paley BrothersCome On Let's Go – The Ramones & The Paley Brothers Black and White – The dBs Red Lights – The Marbles We Deliver – The MiamisSee No Evil – Television The Book I Read (CBS/Columbia demo) – Talking Heads Lotus Bridge – The Monochrome SetWhy Don't You – Squeeze The Crystal Ship – Robyn HitchcockVenus in the Zinnia – Aldous Harding (w/ H. Hawkline)One Thing at a Time – Courtney Barnett Idiots Delighted – DamfinoAmerican Obituary – U2City of Heroes – Billy Bragg Rust & Wire – Anjimile In The Middle of It – Hiss Golden Messenger The Logical Song – The Philistines Jr.Diggin’ In the Coal – Leah Blevivs Hanging Out to Dry – Florence RoadCome To God – Indigo de Souza
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I Know a Place (an Astor Place) Where We Can Go
Apr 601:41:46Tap to summarizeOn yesterday's Snap, Crackle POP! I was delighted to have legendary raconteur and man about town Edward Rogers as a guest as we talked about his splendid new(-ish) album ASTOR PLACE. We talked about the fine art of songwriting, Birmingham homecomings, Sidewalk (sigh) and the Losers Lounge and the never-ending comings and goings of the East Village and htray rock 'n' roll and... well, it was a really fun and informative chat. And Edward's beautiful, deeply felt and finely wrought music really hits home. Cheers to Ed and Melani Rogers for making this happen and for being patient with me! I Know a Place – Petula ClarkMove In a Little Closer – Harmony Grass (for Joseph)Build Me Up Buttercup – The FoundationsNext Plane to London – The Rose GardenLondon Life – Anita HarrisMy Baby Loves Lovin' – White PlainsYou've Got Your Troubles – The FortunesMy Baby Loves Lovin' - White PlainsLong Cool Woman in a Black Dress – The Hollies Romeo – Edward RogersOld Town – Phil Lynott Tears In My Martini – Edward RogersStreet Life – Roxy MusicThe Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead – Edward Rogers, Loser’s Lounge Caroline Goodbye – Colin Blunstone15 Eldon Road – Edward Rogers All the Way from Memphis – Mott the HoopleWhat You Do to Me – Teenage Fanclub I've Got a Broken Heart – The Lemon Twigs No Milk Today – Herman’s HermitsHeadline Hustler – 10cc The Monsters of Pig Alley – Morrissey Long Way to Fall – BedouineOh My Love – John LennonOh Yoko! – John Lennon
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Bachelor Pad Chess Music
Mar 3001:52:06Tap to summarizeBreathe (4square mix) – Telepopmuzik Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes – Thievery CorporationIn the Waiting Line – Zero 7, Sophie Barker Kiss From a Rose – Seal Billions – Caroline PolacheckThe Captain of Her Heart – Double Come to God – Indigo De Souza Real Thing – Drugdealer, Weyes BloodPlease Let Me Remember This – Julia Cumming(It Takes All Kinds) To Make a New World – Gail Ann Dorsey Lebanese Blonde – Thievery CorporationHere's That Rainy Day (Koop Remix) – Astrud GilbertoWaltz for Koop – KoopWhere Do I Begin (Away Team remix) – Shirley Bassey The Sofa – Wolf AliceRust & Wire – Anjimile Days We Left Behind – Paul McCartneyJenny Wren – Paul McCartneyFebruary Sky – Ringo Starr Doomscrollin' – The Gershwin BrothersTears In My Martini – Edward RogersYours (If You Want Me) – The Bug ClubForgotten Dreams – Leroy Anderson
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