Wikipedia / Cities 97 Sampler
Wikipedia / Cities 97 Sampler
The Cities 97.1 Sampler (also titled Cities Sampler and The Cities' Sampler) was a series of albums, cassette tapes and CDss containing "live in studio" recordings from Studio C located at radio station Cities 97.1, KTCZ-FM in Minneapolis at 97.1 MHz. It occasionally contained live tracks recorded from local concerts in the Twin Cities. It was released annually during the holidays from 1989 to 2018. New volumes would appear each November at local Target stores in time for Christmas gifts. In later years the sampler was also available on Target.com. Proceeds benefited Minnesota charitable organizations. The albums, cassettes and CDs usually generated over $500,000 every year for Minnesota charities. In the last several years, the recordings sold quickly, disappearing within minutes in many stores.
The 16th volume, released on November 11, 2004, had a print run of about 35,000 copies. In Forest Lake, Minnesota, the local Target store ran out of its shipment of discs in seven minutes.
On October 1, 2018, KTCZ-FM announced that the upcoming sampler (volume 30) would be the last. It sold out in stores the same day and online later that night after a technical glitch was resolved freeing the remaining copies for online purchase. Throughout the 30 years of its run, the sampler raised over $13 million for Minnesota non-profits and charities.
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 1: The Cities' Sampler (1989)
Pressings: 10,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD
Bruce Cockburn "If a Tree Falls"
Yanni "Street Level"
Oceans "Second Chance"
Peter Himmelman "It's Not in Vain"
Chris Daniels "When You're Cool (the Sun Shines All the Time)"
Marti Jones "Tourist Town"
'Til Tuesday "J For Jules"
David Lanz / Paul Speer "Behind The Waterfall"
Bruce Hornsby "Till the Dreaming's Done"
The Cities' Sampler Vol. 2: Collectibles (1990)
Pressings: 10,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD
Mannheim Steamroller "Skateboard"
Stan Meissner "One Chance"
Bobby Schnitzer "Summer Samba"
David Wilcox "Four Lane Dance / Saturday They'll Be Back Again"
Ottmar Liebert "Surrender 2 Love"
Gregson & Collister "This Tender Trap"
Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel "Immigrant"
Cowboy Junkies "Decoration Day"
Ralf Illenberger "Marimba (Rain Dance)"
The Cities' Sampler Vol. 3: Songs for the Earth (1991)
Pressings: 10,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD
Sting "We Work the Black Seam"
Merl Saunders featuring Jerry Garcia "Blues from the Rainforest"
Nils Lofgren "Silver Lining"
Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"
Hoopsnakes "The River Trail"
10,000 Maniacs "Poison in the Well"
Hothouse Flowers "Giving It All Away"
Ann Reed "Styrofoam"
Vinnie James "Here Goes Tomorrow"
Roger McGuinn "The Trees Are All Gone"
Midnight Oil "Antarctica"
David Arkenstone "Yosemite"
The Cities' Sampler Vol. 4: Keepsakes (1992)
Pressings: 12,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD
Gary Moore "Story of the Blues"
Del Amitri "This Side of the Morning"
Sarah McLachlan "The Path of Thorns (Terms)"
Modern Relics "Blue House"
Chris Isaak "Wicked Game"
The Rembrandts "Just The Way It Is, Baby"
Holiday Ranch "Separation"
Crash Test Dummies "Superman's Song"
The Cities' Sampler Vol. 5: Rarities (1993)
Pressings: 12,000 Format: Cassette tape & CD
Bruce Hornsby "Passing Through (Live)"
Melissa Etheridge "Yes I Am (Live)"
Sonia Dada "You Ain't Thinkin' (About Me)"
Widespread Panic "Wondering"
Jeff Arundel "No Escape"
Zachary Richard "Come on Sheila"
David Baerwald "China Lake"
David Lanz / Paul Speer "Out of the Shadows"
The Cities' Sampler Vol. 6: Gems (1994)
Format: Cassette tape & CD
Indigo Girls "Three Hits"
Billy Pilgrim "Get Me out of Here"
Freddy Jones Band "In a Daydream"
October Project "Bury My Lovely"
Bruce Cockburn "Tie Me at the Crossroads"
Sam Phillips "Baby I Can't Please You"
The Delilahs "Who's Gonna Stop Me"
David Arkenstone "Under the Canopy"
Peter Himmelman "Dixie the Tiny Dog"
The Cities' Sampler Vol. 7: Essentials (1995)
Format: Cassette tape & CD
Little Feat "Romance Without Finance"
Shawn Colvin "Window to the World"
Martin Zellar "East Side Boys"
Paula Cole "Happy Home"
Billy Pilgrim "Sweet Louisiana Sound"
Todd Snider "Alright Guy"
Tina and the B-Side Movement - "Paper Doll"
Big Mountain "Fruitful Days"
James McMurtry "Melinda"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 8 (1996)
Format: Cassette tape & CD
Keb' Mo' "That's Not Love"
The Why Store "Lack of Water"
Del Amitri "Tell Her This"
Anders Osborne "Pleasin' You"
Edwin McCain "Alive"
Brian Setzer and His Orchestra "Rumble in Brighton"
Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans "Bright Night Train"
Lyle Lovett "Private Conversation"
Jackopierce "Trials"
The Freddy Jones Band "Hold on to Midnight"
Golden Smog "Ill Fated"
Jeff Arundel "Harmon Killebrew"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 9 (1997)
Format: CD
Widespread Panic "Hope in a Hopeless World"
Storyville "Bitter Rain"
Corey Stevens "It's Over"
Ugly Americans "Vulcan Death Grip (Of Love)"
Tim Mahoney "Talk to Me"
Chalk Farm "Lie on Lie"
Luther Allison "Move from the Hood"
The Honeydogs "Your Blue Door"
Semisonic "FNT"
Cities Sampler Vol. 10 (1998)
Format: CD
Sister 7 "Know What You Mean"
Everything "Hooch"
Barenaked Ladies "Break Your Heart"
The Connells "Crown"
Susan Tedeschi "You Need to Be with Me"
Martin Zellar and the Hardways "Time and Time Again"
Agents of Good Roots "Smiling up the Frown"
Sonia Dada "You Don't Love Me Anymore"
Cities Sampler Vol. 11 Radio Playlist Collection (1999)
Pressings: 27,000 Format: CD
Jeremy Toback "You Make Me Feel"
Shawn Mullins "Shimmer"
Kim Richey "Come Around"
The Push Stars "Minnesota"
Los Lobos "Oh Yeah"
Julian Lennon "It's Good to Be Lonely"
Fastball "Fire Escape"
David Wilcox "Never Enough"
Shannon Curfman "I Don't Make Promises (I Can't Break)"
Old 97's "Murder (or a Heart Attack)"
The Gufs "Surrounded"
Joe Henry "She Was a Hammer"
Mick Sterling "Soul of a Woman"
Tangletown "See Right Through"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 12 New Names + New Music (2000)
Pressings: 27,000 Format: CD
Jonny Lang "Breakin' Me"
Counting Crows "A Long December"
Daniel Cage "Sleepwalking"
Beth Hart "L.A. Song"
The Jayhawks "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
Lyle Lovett "What Do You Do"
Kevin Bowe "Sweeter World"
Bruce Cockburn "Last Night of the World"
Shelby Lynne "Life Is Bad"
Martin Zellar "Blown Kisses"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 13 (2001)
Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD
The BoDeans "Fadeaway"
Iffy "Double Dutch"
John Hiatt "Ridin' with the King"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 14 (2002)
Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD
Big Head Todd and the Monsters "Again and Again"
Rubyhorse "Sparkle"
Indigo Girls "Moment of Forgiveness"
David Pirner "Never Recover"
Suzanne Vega "Widow's Walk"
Bonnie Raitt "Fool's Game"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 15 15th Anniversary (2003)
Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD
Kathleen Edwards "Six O'Clock News"
Nickel Creek "Smoothie Song"
Tori Amos "Strange"
The Thorns "I Can't Remember"
Ben Harper "She's Only Happy in the Sun"
Ziggy Marley "True to Myself"
John Hiatt "Memphis In the Meantime"
Alice Peacock "Bliss"
The Suburbs "Life Is Like"
Eastmountainsouth "You Dance"
Peter Himmelman "Dixie the Tiny Dog"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 16 (2004)
Pressings: 35,000 Format: CD
Finn Brothers "Won't Give In"
Keri Noble "Talk to Me"
Trip Shakespeare "Snow Days"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 17 (2005)
Pressings: 35,000 Format: CD
Mike Doughty "Looking at the World..."
Blue Merle "Burning in the Sun"
Mindy Smith "Come to Jesus"
Carbon Leaf "Life Less Ordinary"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 18 (2006)
Pressings: 35,000 Format: CD
Amos Lee "Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight"
Bonnie Raitt "I Will Not Be Broken"
Shawn Mullins "Beautiful Wreck"
Dan Wilson "Baby Doll"
Sonya Kitchell "Let Me Go"
Honeydogs "I Miss You"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 19 I-35W Bridge Collapse (2007)
Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD
Shawn Colvin "Crazy"
Colin Hay "Overkill"
G. Love "Beautiful"
Mozella "Amnesia"
Romantica "Fiona"
Counting Crows "Anna Begins"
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 20 20th Anniversary (2008)
Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD
Disc One
Needtobreathe "More Time"
David Gray "Twilight"
Bell X1 "Eve the Apple of my Eye"
Jeremy Messersmith "7:02"
Landon Pigg "Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop"
Disc Two
Jack Johnson "Times Like These"
Brandi Carlile "Turpentine"
Tristan Prettyman "Madly"
Dave Barnes "Until You"
Brendan James "Hero's Song"
Newton Faulkner "Teardrop"
The Glad Version "Can't Wait For October"
Paolo Nutini "Everybody's Talkin'"
Album artwork designed by Jenny Plott at Spangler Design Team
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 21 Road Trip Tunes (2009)
Pressings: 30,000 Format: CD
Jason Mraz "1,000 Things"
Donavon Frankenreiter "Life, Love and Laughter"
Erin McCarley "Pitter Pat"
Adele "Right as Rain"
Jakob Dylan "Something Good This Way Comes"
Tyrone Wells "More"
Amos Lee "What's Been Goin' On"
The Jayhawks "Two Hearts"
Meredith Fierke "Train's Song"
Ray LaMontagne "You Are The Best Thing"
Album artwork designed by Jenny Plott at Spangler Design Team
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 22 Live From Studio C (2010)
Pressings: 33,000 Format: CD Retail: $24.97
One eskimO "Kandi"
Brandi Carlile "That Year"
Amos Lee "Learned A Lot"
The Avett Brothers "I & Love & You"
Sarah McLachlan "Forgiveness"
Rogue Valley "Rope Swing Over Rogue Valley"
Big Head Todd & The Monsters "Broken Hearted Savior"
Court Yard Hounds "The Coast"
Cedar Avenue "7 Years"
Ingrid Michaelson "Ode to Mexican Food"
Bonus tracks for Frequent Listener Club Members (free digital download):
Cedar Avenue "After All"
Big Head Todd & The Monsters "Beautiful"
One eskimO "Amazing"
Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Spangler Design Team
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 23 (2011)
The Head & The Heart "Lost In My Mind"
Fitz and the Tantrums "We Don't Gotta Work It Out"
Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs "For the Summer"
Scars on 45 "Heart on Fire"
O.A.R. "Heaven"
David Gray "Only the Wine"
Farewell Milwaukee "Always Be Your Man"
Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Spangler Design Team
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 24 (2012)
Tyrone Wells "Freedom"
Tristan Prettyman "My Oh My"
Mayer Hawthorne "The Walk"
Eric Hutchinson "Watching You Watch Him"
Dessa "Dixon's Girl"
Bonus tracks for Frequent Listener Club Members (free digital download):
Meiko Leave the Lights On
Ben Howard Black Flies
Album artwork designed by Jeff Kaphingst at Spangler Design Team
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 25 25th Anniversary (2013)
Pressings: 40,000 Retail: $32.97
Disc One
Tristan Prettyman "Say Anything"
Alpha Rev "Sing Loud"
Amos Lee "The Man Who Wants You"
Bomba De Luz "Starting to Choke II"
ZZ Ward "Put the Gun Down"
Vicci Martinez "Come Along"
Charlie Mars "I Do I Do"
The Airborne Toxic Event "Timeless"
The Wild Feathers "The Ceiling"
Chastity Brown "Slow Time"
Disc Two
Family of the Year "Hero"
Matt Nathanson "Mission Bells"
The Mowgli's "San Francisco"
Farewell Milwaukee "Can't Please You, Can't Please Me"
Matt Hires "Restless Heart"
Lissie "They All Want You"
The Kopecky Family Band "Heartbeat"
Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Spangler Design Team
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 26 (2014)
Pressings: 35,000 Retail: $25.97
Ben Rector "Beautiful"
Sleeper Agent "Waves"
Jillette Johnson "Torpedo"
Scars on 45 "Crazy For You"
Eric Hutchinson "Tell the World"
ZZ Ward "Last Love Song"
Brett Dennen "Out of My Head"
Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Spangler Design Team
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 27 (2015)
Pressings: 30,000 Retail: $22.97
Matt Hires "Hold You Up"
ZZ Ward "Love 3X"
O.A.R. "Peace"
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness "Cecilia and the Satellite"
Jamie Scott "Story of My Life"
Matt Kearney "Billion"
Meiko "Be Mine"
Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Schmitt Creative
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 28 (2016)
Ben Rector - "Brand New"
High Dive Heart - "Vintage"
Dessa - "Skeleton Key"
Blue October - "Home"
Brendan James - "Bring My Love Home"
Cobi - "Don't You Cry For Me"
Hailey Knox - "Awkward"
O.A.R. - "I Go Through"
LÉON - "Tired of Talking"
George Ezra - "Budapest"
Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Schmitt Creative
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 29 (2017)
Joseph - "White Flag"
Andy Grammer Feat LunchMoney Lewis - "Give Love"
Maggie Rogers - "Alaska"
Andrew McMahon - "Fire Escapes"
Alternate Routes - "Safe Haven"
James Blunt - "OK"
LP - "Lost on You"
Muna - "I Know a Place"
John Rzeznik - "Use Me"
Julia Brennan - "Inner Demons"
Tom Odell - "Magnetised"
Phillip Phillips - "Miles"
Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Schmitt Creative
Cities 97 Sampler Vol. 30 The Final Chapter (2018)
A dedication to all of the Minnesota charities that have been helped by Sampler sales over the past 30 years.
Retail: $14.97
Leon Bridges - "Beyond"
Matt Nathanson – "Used to Be"
Ocean Park Standoff – "If You Were Mine"
ZZ Ward – "Domino"
Ben Rector – "Drive"
Tim Mahoney – "Lucky Ones"
Bad Wolves – "Zombie"
Plain White T's – "Your Body"
Rozzi – "Never Over You"
A Great Big World – "Younger"
Imagine Dragons – "Destination"
Album artwork designed by Melissa Schmitt at Schmitt Creative
References