Today’s Top Tune Flashback! Download Live Tracks from Radiohead, Underworld, Flaming Lips and More

Written by
Wayne Coyne by Larry Hirshowitz

KCRW recently launched a brand new website with a super dreamy search function that allows you to dig into our archives like never before (as well as a totally custom HTML5 media player, for those tech-minded music lovers out there).

To celebrate, we gathered a week’s worth of KCRW exclusives – five songs performed live on Morning Becomes Eclectic – as our Today’s Top Tune offerings.

TTT is our daily download show, which you can subscribe to here.

I highly suggest you do as we have some great stuff lined up for next week and they are only available as a download for 24 hours!

***Editor’s note:  Each TTT show appears on the day it is offered as a download and you need to click through to the show and click on the downward facing arrow to get the track!

KCRW history lessons from TTT curator and longtime MBE producer Ariana Morgenstern

Monday, June 16, Beck  “MTV Makes Me Want to Smoke Crack – Live on KCRW”
MBE Host Chris Douridas — 1993

Back in ’93, we started playing an artist that no one had heard before. Beck’s sound was unlike anything else at the time.  Chris was attracted to his cut and paste kind of lyric, his swampy slide guitar, hip hop swagger and slacker attitude funneled through tons of humor.

Within two weeks of his first radio airplay, we invited him to play live on MBE, where he performed a set that included this track, “MTV Makes Me Want to Smoke Crack“.

Full Session

Tuesday, June 17, Radiohead “Subterranean Homesick Alien – Live on KCRW”
MBE Host Chris Douridas — 1997

A month before “OK, Computer” was released, Radiohead returned to MBE (they had already been on to perform songs from “The Bends”) as Guest DJs.

That same day, they performed a short set for us. We’re offering a standout track from that session as Today’s Top Tune.

It’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues“!

Full Session

Wednesday, June 18, Cesaria Evora “Miss Perfumado – Live on KCRW”
1995

When Tom Schnabel hosted MBE, his focus was to bring the world to our little radio station.

Through the years, he introduced us to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Buena Vista Social Club and the barefoot diva Cesaria Evora. Few had heard the music of Cape Verde before. The songs were so beautifully melancholy, they transcended the language barrier.

Today’s Top Tune is a stunning live version of “Miss Perfumado” performed in our studio.

Full Session

Thursday, June 19, Flaming Lips “Do You Realize – Live on KCRW”
MBE Host Nic Harcourt — 2002

Anyone who walks through the doors of KCRW is greeted by a giant photo of one of our favorite guests, Wayne Coyne.

The Flaming Lips have visited MBE many times over the years but one session stands out in particular. In 2002, they had just  released the album “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” and Nic was in awe of them.

Today’s Top Tune is this unique version of “Do You Realize“.

Full Session

Friday, June 20, Underworld  “Always Loved A Film – Live on KCRW”
MBE Host Jason Bentley – 2011

It took many months to confirm an MBE appearance by the dynamic duo known as Underworld, but it was worth it!

Their 2011 live session with was something special and included the dance-floor favorite “Always Loved A Film“.

Full Session

RR