The Complete Jonathan Coulton Recordings, Season One

Enlarge this image toggle caption Bill Wadman/Courtesy of Jonathan Coulton Bill Wadman/Courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Before he was a musician, singer-songwriter and Internet sensation, Jonathan Coulton wrote software — a career he quit to pursue his current professional full time in 2005. He's the musical director for Little Gray Books created and hosted by friend John Hodgman, and is the Contributing Troubadour for Popular Science Magazine.

Shortly after retiring from his day job, Coulton launched the "Thing a Week" project, producing a new song each week for a year that was released as a free. He reports having been unable to ensnare any girls while playing the snare drum in his high school marching band. This sad state of affairs led him to switch to guitar, and pen a number of bittersweet ballads steeped heavily in teenage angst. He says this didn't work, either.

Now, Coulton revels in his success as the house musician on NPR's Ask Me Another, where he wooed audiences with the following songs, played live during the show's inaugural season. Take a listen!

#101: How Much Does The Know It All Know?

Furry Old Lobster

Geek Jock Convergence

#102: What Not To Wear...On The Radio

She Works Hard For The Money (Donna Summer cover) Listen

Mr. Fancy Pants Listen

#103: They Had Me At Hello

Good Morning Tucson Listen

Millionaire Girlfriend Listen

#105: The Maverick of the Twitter Set

Big Bad World One Listen

Betty and Me Listen

Skullcrusher Mountain Listen

Enlarge this image toggle caption Steve McFarland/NPR Steve McFarland/NPR

#107: The "Too Many Editions" Edition

I Dream of Jeannie Theme Song Listen

Mandelbrot Set Listen

Washy Ad Jeffy Listen

#108: The Sporting Lifer

Ikea Listen

That Spells Dna Listen

#109: Secret Agent Man



Presidents Listen

Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance Listen

Nemeses Listen

#110: The Girl Who Played With Her Food

Je Suis Rick Springfield Listen

Shop Vac Listen

toggle caption Steve McFarland/NPR

#112: The Puzzle Master Takes On The Puzzle Grasshopper

I Lost On Jeopardy (Weird Al cover) Listen

I'm Your Moon Listen

Re: Your Brains Listen

#113: How To Be Black



I Feel Fantastic Listen