What's that song I just heard?
The Car Talk Theme Song
- By:
- David Grisman
- Summary:
-
The bluegrassy theme song that opens and closes our show may be annoying to some of you, but laboratory tests have shown that it has statistically significant positive therapeutic effects for those suffering from PMS and hemorrhoidal flare-ups.
The music is called "Dawggy Mountain Breakdown." It was written and performed by a guy named David Grisman, who is perhaps the world's foremost jazz/bluegrass mandolin player (like he has a lot of competition in that field!).
Grisman refers to his particular blend of music as "Dawg" music, hence all the "dawg" references. Why "Dawg"? We have no idea (David, send us an e-mail and explain it to us!).
- How to listen:
-
"Dawggy Mountain Breakdown" appears on the 1983 Grisman album "Dawg Grass/Dawg Jazz," on Warner Brothers Records, which is now out of print. This song also appears on the album/CD "DGQ-20", which is available from Acoustic Disc Online [catalog # ACD-20]
If you'd prefer to download a copy, it's also available via Apple's iTunes music store.
Stump the Chumps Theme Song
- By:
- BJ Leiderman
- Summary:
-
Who could possibly write a tune as amusingly twisted as our Stump The Chumps theme music? BJ Leiderman, that's who. Who's BJ Leiderman, you ask? Well, the guy is a veritable fount of public radio tunes. BJ's practically written them all, including the theme music for Morning Edition, "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" and Weekend Edition.
And, finally, he's written music for Car Talk. Which means, what? He's now entirely unemployable. Smart move, BJ.
The Music in the Middle
- By:
- Randy Newman
- Summary:
-
Every week, we get about 25 calls from listeners saying "I know this is a really strange question, but what's the name of that beautiful little piano and guitar piece you play at the mid point of your show?"
Well, if that's such a strange question, how come 1,300 people a year call us to ask it?
The music is from a song called Dixie Flyer by songwriter Randy Newman. It's on his album "Land of Dreams" on Warner Brothers Records.
Tunes that Change Every Week
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Recent Car Tunes We've Used
It's Just a Car
- Episode
- #1952: Blow it Out
- Air date
- Dec 28, 2019
- Album
- The Cure of Folly
- Artist
- Bobby Darling
- Composer
- Joe Lada
- Length
- Publisher
(I Wanna) Drive
- Episode
- #1952: Blow it Out
- Air date
- Dec 28, 2019
- Album
- Listen
- Artist
- Jamie Anderson
- Composer
- Jamie Anderson
- Length
- 00:41
- Publisher
- Jamie Anderson (BMI)
Drinking & Driving
- Episode
- #1951: One Truck a-Dangling
- Air date
- Dec 21, 2019
- Album
- The Wheel Man
- Artist
- Watermelon Slim & The Workrs
- Composer
- William Homans
- Length
- 00:37
- Publisher
- William Homans (ASCAP), Southern Wick Music
Push My Car
- Episode
- #1951: One Truck a-Dangling
- Air date
- Dec 21, 2019
- Album
- Skin Size
- Artist
- Weatherheads
- Composer
- Jim Santoro
- Length
- 00:36
- Publisher
- El Toro Tunes
Carburetor
- Episode
- #1950: The Great Cow Magnet Caper
- Air date
- Dec 14, 2019
- Album
- Waiting For Rain
- Artist
- Gene Mills
- Composer
- Gene Mills
- Length
- 00:37
- Publisher
- Heart Pine Music
Truck Drivin Buddy
- Episode
- #1950: The Great Cow Magnet Caper
- Air date
- Dec 14, 2019
- Album
- Ringers
- Artist
- Watermelon Slim
- Composer
- Mary Wolfe and Brownie Wilder
- Length
- 00:42
- Publisher
- Fort Knox Music
Cars From Yesterday
- Episode
- #1949: Stop and Chat
- Air date
- Dec 07, 2019
- Album
- Driving to the Edge
- Artist
- Slant 6
- Composer
- Slant 6
- Length
- 00:44
- Publisher
- Clever Cockatoo Music (ASCAP)
Manifold Destiny
- Episode
- #1949: Stop and Chat
- Air date
- Dec 07, 2019
- Album
- Angel
- Artist
- Alan Svec
- Composer
- Alan Svec
- Length
- 00:33
- Publisher
- Alan Svec
King of Junk
- Episode
- #1948: Honesty Will Always Get You in Trouble
- Air date
- Nov 30, 2019
- Album
- Used Parts
- Artist
- Eddie Lawrence
- Composer
- Eddie Lawrence
- Length
- 00:52
- Publisher
- Eddie Lawrence (BMI)