Episode 135: “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 135: "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel
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Paul Simon (in the foreground) and Art Garfunkel (in the background) in front of a wall covered in graffiti. Both men are wearing black sweaters. Simon is also wearing a shirt and tie. Garfunkel is holding a cigarette.

Episode one hundred and thirty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel, and the many records they made, together and apart, before their success. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Blues Run the Game” by Jackson C. Frank.

Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by doing a first-pass edit, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/

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Episode 89: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” by the Shirelles

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 89: "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" by the Shirelles
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The Shirelles

Episode eighty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” by the Shirelles, and at the beginnings of the Brill Building sound. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Tom Dooley” by the Kingston Trio.

Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by doing a first-pass edit, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/

Continue reading “Episode 89: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” by the Shirelles”

Episode 81: “Shout” by the Isley Brothers

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 81: "Shout" by the Isley Brothers
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The Isley Brothers

Episode eighty-one of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Shout” by the Isley Brothers, and the beginnings of a career that would lead to six decades of hit singles. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Tell Laura I Love Her” by Ray Peterson.

Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by doing a first-pass edit, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/

Continue reading “Episode 81: “Shout” by the Isley Brothers”

Episode 74: “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” by Buddy Holly

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 74: "It Doesn't Matter Any More" by Buddy Holly
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The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly

Episode seventy-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” by Buddy Holly, and at the reasons he ended up on the plane that killed him. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Chantilly Lace” by the Big Bopper.

Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by doing a first-pass edit, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com

Continue reading “Episode 74: “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” by Buddy Holly”

Episode 67: “Johnny B. Goode”, by Chuck Berry

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 67: "Johnny B. Goode", by Chuck Berry
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Chuck Berry and Alan Freed

Episode sixty-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry, and the decline and fall of both Berry and Alan Freed. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Splish Splash” by Bobby Darin.

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Episode 66: “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 66: "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis
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Jerry Lee Lewis

Episode sixty-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode. This one comes with a bit of a content warning, as while it has nothing explicit, it deals with his marriage to his thirteen-year-old cousin.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Rumble” by Link Wray. Continue reading “Episode 66: “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis”

Episode 65: “Maybe” by the Chantels

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 65: "Maybe" by the Chantels
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The Chantels

Episode sixty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Maybe” by the Chantels, and covers child stardom, hymns in Latin, and how to get discovered twice in one day. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Don’t You Just Know It” by Huey “Piano” Smith and the Clowns.

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Episode 53: “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 53: "I Put a Spell on You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins
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Screamin' Jay Hawkins, holding a skull, with bones through his nose.

Episode fifty-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and the career of a man who had more than fifty more children than hit records. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Since I Met You Baby” by Ivory Joe Hunter

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Episode 46: “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man” by Chuck Berry

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 46: "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" by Chuck Berry
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Chuck Berry

Episode forty-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man” by the Chuck Berry Combo, and how Berry tried to square the circle of social commentary and teen appeal. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Rock and Roll Waltz” by Kay Starr..

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Episode 44: “Train Kept A-Rollin'”, by Johnny Burnette and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Trio

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 44: "Train Kept A-Rollin'", by Johnny Burnette and the Rock 'n' Roll Trio
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The Rock 'n' Roll Trio

Episode forty-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Train Kept A-Rollin'” by Johnny Burnette and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Trio, and how a rockabilly trio from Memphis connect a novelty cowboy song by Ella Fitzgerald to Motorhead and Aerosmith. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Jump, Jive, an’ Wail”, by Louis Prima.

Continue reading “Episode 44: “Train Kept A-Rollin’”, by Johnny Burnette and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Trio”