The Blog for the Classic Concertgoer

Jul 26, 2011

05:08 PM

Philadelphia Radio DJ Turns Singer: WMGK’s Michael Tearson Releases His First Album

(page 1 of 2)

Disc jockeys. You’ve heard our voices for years. For the most part, we only talk about the music that others make. Veteran Philadelphia DJ Michael Tearson is changing the game by releasing his first record, Stuff That Works. You might’ve seen him onstage here and there, singing along at a Hooters or Robert Hazard show. In fact, this project was directly inspired by Tearson’s close friendship with Robert Hazard—and what a shame that Hazard didn’t live to see it come to life. It was Hazard’s intention to do a slowed-down version of “I Want You” on his next album (per Tearson’s suggestion), but there never was a next album. So this record's about fixing unfinished business.

Although Tearson sang a bit in a pre-radio folkie incarnation, his eloquence has been exercised most rigorously in an illustrious radio career spanning six decades. From WMMR to WXPN, to WMGK, to SiriusXM, to his online radio outfit radiothatdoesntsuck.com, Tearson’s superior music knowledge and succinct presentation style have endeared him to audiences who understand that he’s a breed apart. However, no matter how diligent his efforts, he has never been able to translate his command of language into songwriting. Consequently, Stuff That Works, which was named after a Guy Clark song, features works that resonate personally with Tearson.

Among the 13 tracks, there are several songs penned by Bob Dylan, including the aforementioned “I Want You,” which opens the record. Tearson is quite the Dylan authority, having written and produced a Dylan show on SiriusXM for many years. Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man” closes the album, and it’s great to see Steve Noonan’s “lost” classic, “Buy for Me the Rain.”
 

Continued on page 2 ...

 Email  Print  Feed

Subscribe to StageSide : stageside