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It’s not unusual for bands to change their sound or style as they move through their career. We take a look at bands that changed their sound substantially (or started a completely new sound) for a whole lot of reasons - from The Beatles, Bowie and Dylan and Black Sabbath through to Japan, The Cure and Split Enz.
Our album you must hear before you die is Let it Bleed by The Rolling Stones. From the cover art to the great music it contains, this album from The Stones’ golden period leading into the 70’s - Sticky Fingers & Exile on Main Street - is a corker!
In Rock News, Jeff updates us on The Sex Pistols, Ritchie Blackmore and Cyndi Lauper, while our Ozzy Osbourne report has Sharon telling us that “If a bomb dropped there would be cockroaches, Keith Richards and Ozzy!”
Enjoy.
References: The Sex Pistols, Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple, Blackmore’s Night, Candice Night, Cyndi Lauper, The Police, Spotify, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, John Lennon’s guitar, Ozzy Osbourne, Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones, Let it Bleed, Jimmy Miller, Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, “Gimme Shelter”, “Midnight Rambler”, “Love in Vain”, “You can’t always get what you want”, “Honky Tonk Woman”, Beggars Banquet, The Beatles, The Quarrymen, Lonnie Donegan, Revolver, Sgt Peppers, Paul MacCartney, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, The Bee Gees, “New York Mining Disaster”, “Stayin’ Alive”, David Bowie, “Love you ‘til Tuesday", “The Laughing Gnome”, art-rock, glam, Bob Dylan, T-Rex, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Japan, Jimi Hendrix, Chitlin’ Circuit, Split Enz, Neil Finn, Tim Finn, The Cure, Billy Joel, Black Sabbath, “Black Sabbath”, The Animals, “The House of the Rising Sun”, Isaac Hayes, “Theme from Shaft”, Pixies, “Monkey Gone to Heaven”, Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Bush
Playlist
John Lennon on Dick Cavett Show
Hendrix Live on TV
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Nick Cave. After a career that would exhaust a lesser man, he’s still recording and performing breathtaking work. Mick’s just seen him live with only his piano, and a bass guitar, and can’t stop raving! We look at how he started and the difference between his performances and attitudes then and now.
In other news, Lenny Kravitz is still sticking to his vow of celibacy, The Police’s Andy Summers declares that they were total babes, and The Angels are still releasing new work. Hmmm.......
References: Jarrah McCleary, Panama, Jethro Tull, The Prince of Darkness, Nick Cave, Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Lenny Kravitz, The Police, Andy Summers, The Angels, Christine Anu, Mark E Smith, The Fall, “music for surly virgins”, Boys Next Door, Caulfield Grammar, Mick Harvey, Phill Calvert, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Grinderman, “Lawless”, “And the Ass Saw the Angel”, Dogs in Space, "Shivers", “a murder of crows”, John Cooper Clarke, Rowland S Howard, Colin Greenwood, Radiohead, “Fragments of a Rainy Season”, John Cale, “Mercy Seat”, “Balcony Man”, The Seekers, “The Carnival is Over”, “Kicking against the Pricks”, The Big Day Out, “The Weeping Song”, The Good Son, Blixa Bargeld, Live Seeds, Red Right Hand, “Into Your Arms”, “Mutiny in Heaven”, Order of Australia, Coronation of Charles III
Playlists:
Episode Playlist
Nick Cave Solo Setlist
Live Seeds
YouTube Links
Roy and RG Planet Norwich 1998 Cave on Roy and HG - part 2https://youtu.be/fiwlZgOeAHA?si=8iyIi8m1JmVcVfaG
https://youtu.be/MfPQZzTbVqU?si=z7X0Eb5ea9NhS7cJ
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Musicians love to collaborate. We thought we'd have a look at some that are just great, some that are weird, and some that are simply awful! As usual, some you'll know, and some you won’t.
Our “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is Pet Sounds, by The Beach Boys (1966). Long revered by musicians including The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, this album is a masterpiece of production and innovation.
This month, we farewell Graham Webb, an Australian pioneer of music videos – and Blind Date! We also say goodbye to Ignatius Jones, of Jimmy and the Boys, and Steve Albini, producer of The Pixies, PJ Harvey and Nirvana. Vale!How do we fit it all into an hour?
References: Brian Wilson, Beach Boys, Pet Sounds, Capitol Records, Billboard, Sgt Pepper, Rubber Soul, LSD, “Good Vibrations”, Led Zeppelin, Sandy Denny, The Battle of Evermore, Aerosmith/Run-DMC, Walk This Way, Rick Rubin, Confessions of Dr Dream and other stories, Kevin Ayers, Nico, “Irreversible Neural Damage”, “With a Little Help From my Friends”, Joe Cocker, Jimmy Page, Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, Bing Crosby, David Bowie, “Little Drummer Boy”, Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave, “Where The Wild Roses Grow”, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, “Raising Sand”, “Raise the Roof”, “Sentimental Hygiene”, Warren Zevon, Neil Young, The Party Boys, Peter Gabriel, “Don’t give Up”, Kate Bush, “So”, Melt, “Games without Frontiers”, “Screaming Jets”, Johnny Warman, The Sex Pistols, Ronnie Biggs, “No One Is Innocent”, The Great Rock’N’Roll Swindle, Pink Floyd, Roy Harper, “Have A Cigar”, Wish You Were Here, Nick Cave & Shane McGowan, “What a Wonderful World”, Freddie Mercury, Montserrat Caballe, “Barcelona", U2, Brian Eno, The Joshua Tree, “Miss Sarajevo”, “Passengers”, Johnny Cash, “Under Pressure”, Queen, Vanilla Ice, “Dancing in the Street”, Mick Jagger, Mike Garson, Aladdin Sane, Pete Townshend, “Because You’re Young”, Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart) & Lisa Simpson, The Simpsons, REM, “End of the World”, Sesame Street, “Shiny Happy People”, Ozzy Osbourne & Miss Piggy, “Born to Be Wild”
Playlist - You'll really enjoy this one!!
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Jethro Tull is one of the stranger turns taken by rock music over more than 50 years. Mick and Jeff look back at some of the band’s best work, and, maybe, some of their strangest.
The “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is Queen II, a sensational album released the year before Queen took over the world! Both Mick & Jeff love it!
Jeff takes a look at what AI is doing to music. We’re not worried, because, as Joe Walsh says, AI can’t even trash a hotel room! While he's at it, Jeff then looks at who is “knocking on Heaven’s door” this month.
Yet another very full episode!
Episode playlist
Professional Flautist watches Jethro Tull: https://youtu.be/0SCdFmSqcjk?si=gRbdG9nsk0rW4Od7
“Too Old to Rock & Roll / Too Young to die”
References: Queen II, EMI Records, Elektra Records, Trident Studios, Roy Thomas Baker, Jethro Tull, Marquee Club, flute, John Glasscock, Ian Anderson. Martin Barre, “Locomotive Breath”, “Aqualung”, “Loudermilk”, Ocean, “Thick as a Brick”, “Passion Play”, “Too Old to Rock & Roll / Too Young to die”, “Songs from the Wood”, “Heavy Horses”, “Broadsword and the Beast”, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album, Clive Bunker, John Glascock, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, salmon farming, Michael Stipe, Kirk Hammett, Nick Cave, Thick as a Brick 2: Whatever Happened to Gerald Bostock?, “Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera”, “RökFlöte”, Norse mythology, “The Zealot Gene”
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This week, something a little different for you – our first live interview!
Jarrah McCleary is an Australian musician - writer, songwriter & producer - whose music, a mix of synth-heavy sounds and beats to smooth electronica, is sometimes evocative of a smoky Fifties restaurant, and at other times, the coolest nightclubs.
Starting out in Western Australia around 20 years ago, Jarrah has toured Australia and Europe, played the festival circuit in Europe and the UK and played the Big Day Out. We talk with Jarrah about his history and how he creates his work with his band Panama and how, more importantly, a musician like him makes a living in this modern world that doesn’t have physical albums fans can buy, far fewer venues where fans can see him play, and, often, a more remote atmosphere for collaboration with other musicians.
Our “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse, and Jeff loves it.
Jeff also brings us some Rock News with legal action against Rod Stewart kicking soccer balls into the crowd.
We think you’ll like it.
References: Big Day Out, Rod Stewart, Back to Black, Tensnake
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This episode looks at Johnny Cash’s “The American Recordings”, a series of 6 albums released on American Records between 1994 and 2010. By 1994, when he signed to Rick Rubin’s American Records, it looked like Cash’s career was all but done. However, Rubin had other ideas and, over the next 10 years, worked with Cash to produce some of the most memorable work of his career.
Part of this process involved Cash covering songs by some of the greatest artists of the late 20th Century - U2, Nine Inch Nails, Nick Cave, Tom Petty and Leonard Cohen. He’s not performing the songs in his usual country style, but simply as Johnny Cash. It’s a great story, with a fabulous playlist!
Jeff's found 5 bands you would not believe exist, including Mac Sabbath, a parody of Black Sabbath with lyrics about fast food, and Shat, a band that is offensive in every possible way, whose lead singer’s costumes are draped with dildoes!
Our "Album you must listen to before you die" is “Arrival” by Abba. Reviewers weren’t convinced. Neither is Jeff. Have a listen and see what Mick thought.
References: Winny Puhh, The Residents, Mac Sabbath, Shat, TISM, Taylor Swift, Tortured Poets Department, Abba, Arrival, American Records, Rick Rubin, Def Jam, Shel Silverstein, “A Boy Named Sue”, “Solitary Man”, The Highwaymen, The Man in Black, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, June Carter Cash, “Bitter Tears”, “Ballad of Ira Hayes”, Bruce Springsteen, “Highway Patrolman”, U2, Zooropa, “The Wanderer”, “Personal Jesus”, “The Mercy Seat”, “Streets of Laredo”, John Cale
Johnny Cash American Recordings – Full albums
Johnny Cash – Our episode playlist
Discogs’ listing of all 6 covers
Interview with Rick Rubin re “Hurt”
Ten Bands you Won't Believe Exist
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“Songs for Drella”, Lou Reed & John Cale’s marvelous 1990 posthumous tribute to Andy Warhol, offers an intensely personal view of Warhol with songs and playing that rank among the finest in either man’s career. Their first collaboration since The Velvet Underground, nearly 20 years earlier, led to both artists vowing never to work with the other again.
Our album today, suggested by listener Nick Farmer, is “El-Rayo-X" (1981) by multi-instrumentalist David Lindley. We hadn’t come across this album before, and we both agree it’s a lot of fun - mainly reggae-influenced beat, but clearly Californian. Lindley sounds familiar, probably because of his presence on albums by so many others we love – Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt to name but a few.
In the segment, Lunacy, Legends and Lies we look at how Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi only stopped setting drummer Bill Ward on fire after Bill’s mum called Tony a "barmy bastard" who should "grow up", and recount how, in 1989, Slash ran naked and bleeding through a resort hotel after a hallucination.
This episode has lots of stuff you may not have known before, and isn’t that the fun of it?
References: The Factory, Banksy, Bowie, “Andy Warhol”, “15 minutes of fame”, Metallica, Master of Puppets, Stone Temple Pilots, MTV Unplugged, Valerie Solanis, Nico, “Waiting for the Man”, White Light/White Heat, “Words for the Dying“, Dylan Thomas, “New York”, The Church of St. Anne's Brooklyn, “Berlin”, Czechoslovakia, viola, “Fragments of a Rainy Season”, “Hallelujah”
Our email: [email protected]
Songs for Drella – Album
El-Rayo-x – David LindleyWerewolves of London - David Lindley; Late Night with Jules Holland
Song for Drella – The Movie
Fragments of a Rainy Season – John Cale
Nobody Like You Video
Interview Part 2 -
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We all know that rock and pop stars live in a different universe to us mere mortals. Many make strange demands for things that must be provided before they’ll perform a show.
Today, we look at stars’ demands – whether extreme or reasonable, or blindingly hilarious! You won’t believe some of them.
In Jeff's Rock News, Keith Richards has covered Lou Reed’s, “Waiting for the Man”, U2 has played a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, an unheard Jimi Hendrix song has been included in a time capsule placed on the moon, Deep Purple has released a 50th Anniversary video for “Smoke on the Water” featuring dragons and John Fogarty's Australian tour is cancelled.
Our “Album You Must Listen to Before You Die” is Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark’s “1981 debut, Architecture and Morality. We didn’t think much of it!
It’s fun episode. Enjoy.
References: Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, Architecture and Morality, Keith Richards, The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed, U2 Sphere Residency, Odysseus Moon lander, Space Blue, Deep Purple, Smoke On The Water, Machine Head, Dweezil Zappa, John Fogarty, tour demands, tour riders, Rock mythology, Rose Tattoo, Canterbury Leagues Club, Angry Anderson, “Paper fucking towels!”, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Frank Sinatra, Grace Jones, Metallica, Guns’n’Roses, Justin Bieber, Eminem, Peter Gabriel, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Iggy and The Stooges, Bob Hope impersonator, Van Halen, brown M&Ms, The Foo Fighters, Weird Al Yankovic
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Bob Mould is the founding member of Husker Du, one of the most influential guitar bands of the 80’s. Husker Du’s wall-of-sound guitar approach was as influential as REM in creating alternative rock, and created an environment which allowed Nirvana, The Pixies and The Foo Fighters to succeed.
In the early-90's, Sugar, Bob’s next band, built on that with a thrash/melodic collection of songs, particularly on “Copper Blue”. Since then, Bob’s kept the flame alive for guitar-based rock with a solo career that is still giving us marvellous albums like 2012’s “Silver Age” and 2020’s “Blue Hearts”.
Mick saw Mould in Sydney on his Copper Blue 20th Anniversary tour, and it still ranks as one of the best he’s seen.
Our “Album you Must Hear before you Die” is Joan Armatrading’s self-titled 1976 gem. Unusually, both Mick and Jeff love this album.
In “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, the boys salute Melanie Safka, who has passed away after a career that stretched from being one of only 3 female acts at Woodstock to duetting with Miley Cyrus (it’s great!).
They also wonder why “Death by Shooting” is a major category of death for rappers!?
The playlist is pretty damn good, too!!
Enjoy.Episode playlist
Dead Rappers
Bob Mould; What's In My Bag
Melanie Live Netherlands -
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Have you ever NOT bought an album based on a poor review? You’re not the only one! Would it shock you to learn that the critics likely know less than you about music?
This episode, we look at how often (supposed) expert critics got it so wrong with some of the best albums of our time. Victims of such poor efforts include Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, AC/DC and The Beatles!
We also start a new segment we think we’ll call, “The Crazy World of the Rock Gods”, where we look at things rock stars have done that are so absurd, you couldn't possibly make them up!
Enjoy.
References: Billy Idol, Keith Moon, James Brown, Rolling Stone, Led Zeppelin, “Abbey Road”, The Beatles, “Something”, George Harrison, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, “Wish You Were Here”, AC/DC, “High Voltage”, “Ram”, Paul McCartney, “Exile on Main St.”, The Rolling Stones, “Low”, David Bowie, “Harvest”, Neil Young, “Blood on the Tracks”, Bob Dylan, “Never Mind the Bοllocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols”, Sex Pistols, “Pretty Vacant”, “Bad”, Michael Jackson, “The Kick Inside”, Kate Bush, The Velvet Underground and Nico
Playlist - Brilliant albums Badly Reviewed -
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This week, we talk about successful artists who blew it all with dumb decisions. Youth, fame and amazing amounts of money – what could go wrong?
Our “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is the wonderful Aladdin Sane, by David Bowie. The cover artwork, featuring a lightning bolt across his face is one of the best-known images in rock, while the album marks Bowie’s tougher, heavier attempt to conquer America.
In Rock News, we hear about Gene Simmons, The Eagles, Iron Maiden, Journey, Judas Priest, Kansa, Lynard Skynyrd and ZZ Top, and raise the age-old question, “Why can’t the members of KISS just get along?”
Enjoy
References: David Bowie, “Aladdin Sane”, Ken Scott, The Jean Genie, Globite bag, George Best, MC Hammer, David Crosby, TLC, 50 Cent, Lauryn Hill, Fugees, “Killing Me Softly”, Meat Loaf, “Bat Out of Hell”, Ted Nugent, Billy Joel, Leif Garrett, Willie Nelson, Mick Fleetwood, Harry Nilsson, Michael Jackson, Peter Green, Bill Nighy, Billy Mack, Love Actually, Warren Zevon
Episode Playlist - Fame is no guarantee against stupidity
Nickelback album ranking -
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Rolling Stone just released “The 250 Greatest Guitarists of all Time”. Naturally, we take issue with the list, who's on it, who’s been left out, the balance, and everything else!
We’re back for another season of opinionated comment on all things from the golden era of rock’n’roll. Hold on & enjoy the ride!
References: Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Guitarists”, Globite School Case, David Lindley, Mick Ronson, Shane MacGowan, Nick Cave, Wrecking Crew, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Bob Mould,
Shane McGowan’s funeral - YouTube
Playlist - Greatest Guitarists – well, some of them, anyway!
Rolling Stone Playlist Recommendations
Alan Holdsworth
Al Di Meola
Polyphia Fan Covers -
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We looked at some exceptional music this year, and Jeff inflicted some real crap on our listeners. Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Lou Reed, Ed Kuepper and Hallelujah – and that barely scratches the surface.
And we got a new Globite School Case!
And, in case you were wondering, we'll be back on Sunday 28 Jan 2024. Subscribe and get an automatic reminder!Books:
The Number Ones – Tom Breihan You Are Beautiful & You Are Alone – Jennifer Otter Bickerdike SAHB Story – Martin Kielty (authorised by the entire band – obviously NOT Alex!) Half Deaf, Completely Mad – Tony Cohen (with John Olson) Sound Man – Glyn Johns A Life – Deborah ConwayReferences: Dylan, Knebworth, The Doobie Brothers, Nico, New York, David Hurley, Yes, Jeff Buckley, Leonard Cohen, Kiss at Australian football grand final, The Smiths, Nirvana, Shane McGowan, Rod Stewart, Tracey Chapman, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before you Die, Robert Dimery, The Wall, Pink Floyd, So, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Remain in Light, Extreme Kayaking, Cookers, Influencers, Coachella, AI, Chat GPT, Bored Ape Yacht Club, Bitcoin, Donald Trump, Mr Beast, The Pixies, Steve Hackett, Sisters of Mercy, Underground Lovers, Nirvana, Nevermind, Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, John Cale, Angels, Mi-Sex, Leaves Me Blind, The Number Ones, Tom Breihan, You Are Beautiful & You Are Alone, Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, SAHB Story, Martin Kielty, Half Deaf Completely Mad, Tony Cohen, Sound Man, Glyn Johns, A Life, Deborah Conway, The 250 Greatest Guitarists of all Time, Bali, Bintang, Alam Kul Kul
Spotify playlist
Kiss at the AFL Grand Final
Gordon Ramsay
Loren Gray talks Cochella
Governor General's wife sings about invasive species -
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We look at songs from a few of the major protest movements in our lifetime – racism, Vietnam, Ireland, Margaret Thatcher!
From Woody Guthrie, through Springsteen and Dylan, to racism and Vietnam and the UK's Margaret Thatcher, to present-day Australia, we look at some of the great protest songs. Some of the stories behind those songs will take your breath away.
Our “Album You Must Hear before You Die” this time is Talking Heads’ awesome “Remain in Light” from 1980. This album has been hailed as Talking Heads' greatest statement, the last and most accomplished of the trio of albums they recorded with Brian Eno (another of our idols). Seemingly timed to coincide with our review, the live movie “Stop Making Sense” has been completely restored and is in 4K on the big screen - 40 years on!
We also talk about how Ed Kuepper achieves such a big sound in concert using a special edition Fender Stratocaster.
There’s sure to be stuff you didn’t know here!
References: Ed Kuepper, Fender FSR Stratocaster X, Talking Heads, “Remain in Light”, Brian Eno, “Once in a Lifetime”, “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts”, USA – Vietnam, Women's & Black rights, Woody Guthrie, Springsteen, Cisco Houston, Bob Dylan, “Hurricane”, “Eve of Destruction”, Barry McGuire, “A Change is Gonna come”, Sam Cooke, “People Get Ready”, Curtis Mayfield, Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck, “Strange Fruit”, Billie Holliday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, NWA, Public Enemy, Buffalo Springfield / Steve Stills & Neil Young, “I Feel Like I'm fixin’ to die Rag”, Country Joe and the Fish, Edwin Starr, Give Peace a Chance, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Aretha Franklin, The Smiths, Billy Bragg, Elvis Costello, Robert Wyatt, The Cranberries, Midnight Oil, Goanna, Warumpi Band, Archie Roach
Protest Playlist
18,000 sing Toto
Kiss mass Russian Group
Smells Like Teen Spirit
We Will Rick You -
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Matthew Sweet, an American guitarist, has had a criminally understated career, marked by a sensational solo album, “Girlfriend”, three terrific albums with Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles, “Under the Covers” (Vols 1, 2 and 3) and some very tasty soundtrack work, including the Austin Powers movies. In 2014, he also appeared as Apu’s singing voice in an episode of The Simpsons.
Our “Album you Must Hear Before you Die” is “Rid of Me” by P J Harvey. We hated it and can't pretend otherwise! She was, at one point, in a relationship with Nick Cave, who admitted that he “still had a certain amount of work to do on (his) understanding of the concept of monogamy.”
Jeff is totally impressed that Kid Rock’s built his own personal copy of The White House, with a gold elevator right in the middle. Of course, Kid Rock’s claim to fame is that he had a hit single which sampled Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London”.
We also try some of Mr Beast’s chocolate – pricey but available at your local supermarket. Not very good, really.
Enjoy.___________________________________________________________
References: Michael Stipe, “Girlfriend”, “Evangeline”, “I’ve Been Waiting”, Girlfriend – musical/stage show, Robert Quine, Richard Lloyd, Television, Tuesday Weld, Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers, “How Soon Is Now?”, “Austin Powers in Goldmember”, Lloyd Cole, "Chelsea Hotel", I'm Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, “The Simpsons”
P J Harvey Rid of Me
GirlFriend
Under the Covers Mathew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs -
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REM is often viewed by casual listeners as a lighter-style rock band. This is deceptive, with the band offering complex songs with obscure lyrics, brilliant playing, covers, and an incredible refusal to compromise. Mick and Jeff talk through REM's development from their rock cliche start – the singer, Michael Stipe, met guitarist Peter Buck in the record shop where Buck worked - to their becoming one of the biggest-ever bands in the world – all without selling out.
MOJO Magazine called them "an ensemble growl adorned with heavenly harmonies" which describes perfectly how their beautiful melodies, with disaffected, jaded lyrics, were influenced by The Velvet Underground. In turn they influenced such key bands as Nirvana and Pavement, as well as Radiohead, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, The Pixies and The Smiths.
Our “Album You Must Hear before You Die” is 1971’s “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull. It’s a special album full of brave variations – from gentle acoustic breaks to Martin Barre’s power chords and Ian Anderson’s tough vocals. The Dickensian quality of many of the lyrics challenges organised religion. Mick & Jeff both have great memories of this album, including the night that Jeff’s keyboard player from his band, Ocean, blew the crowd away with the piano intro lifted from “Locomotive Breath” during a show south of Sydney.
We look at The Stones' new album, “Hackney Diamonds”, their first in 18 years. Jeff thinks it’s pretty good, but Mick still keeps comparing every new Stones record to “Exile on Main Street”.
Jeff brings some bad news. The Bored Ape Yacht Club, famed distributor of NFTs (as credible as digital currency!) has gone belly-up, driving another nail into the digital con artist industry.
References: Rolling Stones, ‘Hackney Diamonds’, ‘Angry’, ‘A Bigger Bang’, Bored Ape Yacht Club, “1001 Albums You Must Hear before You Die”, Robert Dimery, Jethro Tull, “Aqualung”, Martin Barre, Ian Anderson, “Locomotive Breath”, “Hymn 43”, REM, Athens Georgia, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Wuxtry Records, Patti Smith, Television, The Velvet Underground, Dr. William Dement, Mandolin, “Out of Time”, Hofner bass, "Monster”, “Lifes Rich Pageant”, “Document”, “Femme Fatale”, “Pale Blue Eyes”, "So. Central Rain", alternative rock, Don Gehman, “The Flowers of Guatemala”, “Strange”, “Murmur”, “Fables of the Reconstruction”, "The One I Love", "Exhuming McCarthy", “Finest Worksong”, “The End of the World As We Know it”, “Green”, “World Leader Pretend”, “Out of Time“, “Automatic for the People”, John Paul Jones, "Everybody Hurts", "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?", "Bang and Blame"
Rolling Stones Angry
Start Me Up
Episode Playlist
Tony Martin REM
David Essex V REM -
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Cover versions – always fascinating!! Occasionally, an artist will cover an obscure song, or a deep cut by another artist and make it their own. But what about when the song has ALREADY been a hit? Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t; sometimes it ends up in court! This episode, we’re looking at examples of all three.
Our “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is, believe it or not, “And other bits of material” by Paper Lace, the most successful band to come out of Nottingham, UK. The hit single from the album, “The Night Chicago Died” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over three million copies! Who’d have thought it?
Jeff also follows up with some rock news looking at Ozzy Osbourne and Bruce Springsteen's efforts to stay on the stage.
References: Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, Lennon & McCartney, cover versions, “Blowin’ in the Wind”, Peter Paul and Mary, Leonard Cohen, “Suzanne”, The Great American Songbook, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis, All Along the Watchtower, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Mr. Tambourine Man, Tainted Love, Soft Cell, Gloria Jones, Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin, “Pearl”, “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay”, Otis Redding, Kris Kristofferson, I Love Rock 'n' Roll, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Arrows, Sex Pistols, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Without You, Badfinger, Harry Nilsson, Mariah Carey, Led Zeppelin, Nobody’s Fault but Mine, Joan Baez, Anne Bredon, “In my time of dying”, Blind Willie Johnson, “Dazed and Confused”, Jake Holmes, Inspired by Jake Holmes, David Bennett Piano, Whole Lotta Love” Muddy Waters, You Need Love, Willie Dixon, The Small Faces, “You Need Loving”, “Rock’n’Roll”, Little Richard, “Keep a-Knockin'”, Stairway to Heaven, Taurus, Spirit, back-payment of royalties to the original artist, Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen, John Cale, “I’m Your Fan”, Jeff Buckley, I Will Always Love You, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, The First Cut is the Deepest, Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens, Reason to Believe, Tim Hardin, The Man Who Sold the World, David Bowie, Nirvana, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper, Robert Hazard, Love Hurts, Nazareth, Everly Brothers, Turn the Page, Jon English, Metallica, Bob Seger, A Hazy Shade of Winter, Bangles, Simon & Garfunkel, I'm a Believer, The Monkees, Neil Diamond, RESPECT, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Moonlighting, Bruce Willis, David AddisonBob Dylan, cover versions, Peter Paul and Mary, Leonard Cohen, Tainted Love, Without You, Led Zeppelin, Jake Holmes, Hallelujah, John Cale, RESPECT, Aretha Franklin
Episode Playlist
YouTube Links:
Jake Holmes - Dazed and Confused
Trump
I Live Rock and Roll - Joan Kirner
Once in a Lifetime
David Bennett Pian - 8 Led Zeppelin songs that "rip off" other songs
The Man Who Sold the World - Nirvana -
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Everyone has heard of Leonard Cohen, but not so many know much about him. With this episode, we look to give you a taste of Mr Cohen – his views on life, women and songwriting; his extraordinary influence on modern songwriting; his legacy, and, of course, “Hallelujah”! A world that never had Leonard Cohen in it would be a much lesser place indeed.
Jeff gives us his holiday report on a visit to the only Museum in the world dedicated to penises, whose prime exhibit is a plaster cast of Jimi Hendrix’ tackle. (It’s true!!)
We give an update on our Ed Kuepper episode, with a report on his live concert in Sydney in September, which was fantastic!
We take a quick look at a few of the icons we’ve lost so far this year including Tom Verlaine (Television), Burt Bacharach, Andy Rourke (The Smiths), Francis Monkman (Sky, 801), and Sinead O’Connor. In honour of Sinead, our Album You Must Hear Before You Die is her “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” (1990), which we both agree is an absolute cracker of an album. Haven’t heard it? The link is in the show notes.
References: Iceland, Icelandic Phallological Museum, Jimi Hendrix' penis, Cynthia Albritton, Cynthia Plaster Caster, Ed Kuepper, Steve Harwell, Smash Mouth, Tom Verlaine, Television, Burt Bacharach, Tim Bachman, Cliff Fish, Paper Lace, Gordon Lightfoot, Andy Rourke, Francis Monkman, 801, Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, Sinead O'Connor, Rodrigeuz, Robbie Robertson, Jimmy Buffett, Globite store Sydney Airport, “1001 Albums You Must Hear before You Die”, Robert Dimery, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, “Nothing Compares to You”, The Young Ones, Alexei Sayle, Tom Waits, “There’s a crack in everything / That’s how the light gets in”, “The Future”, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Janis Joplin, Kris Kristofferson, “Chelsea Hotel #2”, “Tower of Song”, "Famous Blue Raincoat", "Everybody Knows", Concrete Blonde, “Bird on a Wire”, Willie Nelson, “Hallelujah”
___________________________________Other References
This episode's playlist
I’m Your Man - Leonard Cohen
Songs of Love and Hate - Leonard Cohen
I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got - Sinead O’Connor
Rare on Air - Amazon - Tori Amos/Leonard Cohen spoken word intro
Rare on Air Vol 1 – all songs
Ed Kuepper – Live Song List 21 Sep 23
Ed Kuepper - Live Sep 2023
The Young Ones – Leonard Cohen vampire reference
YouTube Links
Bon Jovi Hallelujah - O2 Arena June 24th 07
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Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” – one of the biggest hit albums of all time - also marks a quantum change in how rock music was marketed and sold.
Brought up as part of The Jackson 5, Michael saw himself as an entertainer crossing musical genres and categories. He almost single-handedly made music videos into a serious art form.
In those days, with typical video budgets around $50k, the video for “Thriller” had a budget of $1m and a top Hollywood director in John Landis. Total recording budget for the entire album was $750k!
Our “Album you must hear Before you Die” is “So”, Peter Gabriel’s 1986 blockbuster, produced by Daniel Lanois, an Eno disciple who’d just produced U2’s “The Unforgettable Fire”. The hit single from this album, “Sledgehammer” also had a dynamite film clip featuring state-of-the art stop-motion photography.
In Jeff’s Rant, he is surprisingly gentle to Justin Bieber. Who’d have thought it possible?
There’s lots in this episode to enjoy. We hope you do!
References: Justin Bieber, Ricky Gervais, Peter Gabriel, Daniel Lanois, So, world music, Manu Katché, Youssou N’Dour, Sledgehammer, Redeye Records, Don't Give Up, Kate Bush, Big Time, Tony Levin, In Your Eyes, Red Rain, Jerry Marotta, Number Ones, Tom Breihan, Billie Jean, I want you Back, The Wiz, Off The Wall, Quincy Jones, Beat It, biggest-selling album of all time, Singing in the Rain, John Landis, An American Werewolf in London, Moonwalk, Vincent Price, Welcome to my Nightmare, The Black Widow, Steve Lukather, Toto, Eddie Van Halen, Bad, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, George Michael, Weird Al Yankovich
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Eat It
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Marianne Faithfull's journey from 60's elfin-voiced beauty to grande-dame of rock music has given us some wonderful music, including Broken English, inspired by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist gang. We look at her career, focusing on what this album meant for her. Many may know the title-track single, but the album brings a bunch of stunning tracks we know you’re going to really enjoy discovering, including, “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” and Lennon’s “Working Class Hero”.
Our “album you must listen to before you die” is Pink Floyd’s gloomy masterwork, “The Wall”, a stunning vision of British society said to be “so unremittingly dismal.... that it makes gloom-mongers such as Randy Newman or Nico seem like Peter Pan and Tinker Bell”. Needless to say, we love it, not least for the wonderful production by Bob Ezrin. (“Berlin”, Peter Gabriel”, and “Billion Dollar Babies” )
In “Rock News”, Jeff brings us up to speed with upcoming tours by Roger Waters, Bruce Springsteen, Yes, and Kiss, Oh, goody!
References: Roger Waters, Frankfurt, Germany, Brian Johnson, Bruce Springsteen Day, Yes, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Kiss, The Wall, Pink Floyd, Enmore Theatre, Countess Eva Von Sacher-Masoch, Steve Vizard, Paul McCartney, Here, There and Everywhere, Rolling Stones, Keef, Wild Horses, heroin addiction, Broken English, Island Records, Chris Blackwell, 1001 Albums you must listen to before you die, Robert Dimery, Working Class Hero, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, Shel Silverstein, Dr Hook and the Medicine Show, Stevie Winwood, Richard Lowenstein, Dogs in Space, Dangerous Acquaintances , A Child’s Adventure, Intrigue, Kissin’ Time, Before the Poison, Blazing Away
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