Springsteen plays songs of sex, pays tribute to Charlie Watts on SiriusXM (TRANSCRIPT, VIDEOS)

by JAY LUSTIG
springsteen sex songs

Bruce Springsteen played the title track of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 album “Let’s Get It On” on SiriusXM satellite radio, Oct. 13.

Bruce Springsteen played songs by everyone from Donna Summer to The Rolling Stones, as well as two by Marvin Gaye (“Sexual Healing” and “Let’s Get It On”) and two of his own (“Reno” and “I’m On Fire”) on his 29th DJ show on SiriusXM satellite radio, titled “Let’s Talk About Sex.”

He also paid tribute to the Stones’ Charlie Watts, calling him “rock’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll drummer.” Watts died Aug. 24, at the age of 80.

The show debuted Oct. 13 on the SiriusXM’s E Street Radio channel (channel 20).

The show was part of Springsteen’s “From My Home to Yours” series. You can see an index of all songs previously played (with links to what he said and videos for the songs), here.

Here is today’s transcript and videos. In some cases, a version of the song may have been played that is different from what is embedded in this post.
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“Sexy Coffee Pot,” Tony Alvon & the Belairs

Hello, hello, friends, fans, lovers and listeners from coast to coast and around the world. Hello from Stone Hill Studios and Vol. 29 of “From My Home to Yours,” titled “Let’s Talk About Sex.”

“Let’s Talk About Sex,” Salt-N-Pepa

All right, all right. We opened with “Sexy Coffee Pot,” by Tony Alvon & the Belairs, and followed that with the wonderful and classic Salt-N-Pepa’s “Let’s Talk About Sex.” Salt-N-Pepa, out of New York City in 1985. Salt, Cheryl James — Pepa, Sandra Denton — and DJ Spinderella, Deidra Roper. Their first album was Hot, Cool & Vicious and it sold a million copies in the United States. (Their) fourth album, Very Necessary, sold five million, making them the highest selling female rap act at that time. The song “Let’s Talk About Sex” has a humor and an underlying sweetness that is simply irresistible. “Let’s talk about sex, baby! Let’s talk about you and me! Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be.”

Slim Harpo, let’s talk about sex.

“Baby Scratch My Back,” Slim Harpo

That was Slim Harpo with “Baby Scratch My Back,” out of Lobdell, La. And here’s the great one, Marvin Gaye, with the greatest song ever written on today’s topic.

“Sexual Healing,” Marvin Gaye

“Sex on Fire,” Kings of Leon

All right. That was the Followills with their big smash, “Sex (Is) on Fire.” Our next artist, Hank Ballard, cut this immortal R&B record in 1954. It was immediately opposed by the FCC due to its salacious lyrical content, which was deemed, simply, too overtly sexual for the tender ears of modern America’s radio listeners. However, you cannot keep a hit record down! Despite attempts to restrict it, it went to No. 1 on the R&B charts and stayed there for seven weeks. Hank Ballard, please, “Work With Me, Annie.”

“Work With Me, Annie,” Hank Ballard & the Midnighters

That record sold one million copies and so did its answer record, “Annie Had a Baby (Can’t Work No More).” Our singer’s lament is every time he starts to work she has to stop and walk the baby ‘cross the floor! “She walks with the baby, instead of me/She talks with the baby, instead of me/She sings to the baby, instead of me/And she clings to the baby, instead of me/Now I know it’s understood/That that’s what happens when the gettin’ gets good.”

“Annie Had a Baby,” The Medallions

“Honky Tonk Women” (alternate version), The Rolling Stones

We started with The Medallions’ version of “Annie Had a Baby,” and segued, of course, into “Honky Tonk Women.” That was the Rolling Stones; rest in peace, Charlie Watts. There is no better tribute to rock’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll drummer than the vicious groove he digs on “Honky Tonk Women.” “Whoo!,” Mick says at the end of The Stones’ masterpiece, and he is correct.

Here comes Jimmy Reed, swearin’, “Damn, he’s a good lover.”

“Good Lover,” Jimmy Reed

“Sex and Candy,” Marcy Playground

That was Marcy Playground, from 1997, with “Sex and Candy.” And before that, “Good Lover,” by Jimmy Reed. And here’s the king of ’em all, Muddy Waters, having a problem with “My Dog Can’t Bark.”

“My Dog Can’t Bark,” Muddy Waters

“Reno,” Bruce Springsteen

That was yours truly, with “Reno,” from Devils & Dust, preceded by the greatest, Muddy Waters. This is Rodney Crowell, with “Sex and Gasoline.”

“Sex and Gasoline,” Rodney Crowell

That was Rodney Crowell, born in 1950 in Houston, Texas, played in Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band. He’s another of the great line of singer-songwriters that Texas seems to produce unfailingly. Great writer, great artist.

Here’s the Queen of Disco.

“Love to Love You Baby,” Donna Summer

“Let’s Get It On,” Marvin Gaye

And we have bookended our program with another great record by Marvin Gaye, who, without a doubt, made some of the sexiest recordings of the ’70s. And that’s about our show for today. I hope you’ve enjoyed our time together. And until we meet again, may your life be filled with sex, love and rock ‘n’ roll! Go in peace.

“I’m on Fire,” Bruce Springsteen

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Springsteen has been doing “From My Home to Yours” shows since April of 2020. Click here for an index of all the songs played in the series, as well as links to videos for the songs and transcripts for each show.

The shows have lasted from about 45 minutes to about two hours each, with repeats and on-demand availability following the initial broadcasts. “Let’s Talk About Sex” will be rebroadcast Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.; Oct. 14 at 6 a.m. and midnight; Oct. 15 at 4 p.m.; Oct. 16 at 9 a.m.; Oct. 17 at 1 and 10 p.m.; Oct. 18 at 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Oct. 19 at 10 a.m.

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