Episode 122: “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 122: "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke
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Sam Cooke in a dinner jacket

Episode 122 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs is a double-length (over an hour) look at “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, at Cooke’s political and artistic growth, and at the circumstances around his death. This one has a long list of content warnings at the beginning of the episode, for good reason…

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 “My Guy” by Mary Wells.

 

Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by doing a first-pass edit, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. For this episode, he also did the re-edit of the closing theme. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/

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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 75: “There Goes My Baby” by the Drifters

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 75: "There Goes My Baby" by the Drifters
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The Drifters

Episode seventy-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “There Goes My Baby” by the Drifters, and how a fake record label, a band sacked for drunkenness, and a kettledrum player who couldn’t play led to a genre-defining hit. 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 “Rebel Rouser” by Duane Eddy

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 75: “There Goes My Baby” by the Drifters”

Episode Sixty-Four: “Reet Petite” by Jackie Wilson

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode Sixty-Four: "Reet Petite" by Jackie Wilson
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Jackie Wilson

Episode sixty-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Reet Petite” by Jackie Wilson, and features talent contests with too much talent, the prehistory of Motown, a song banned by the BBC, and a possible Mafia hit. 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 “Get a Job” by the Silhouettes.

Continue reading “Episode Sixty-Four: “Reet Petite” by Jackie Wilson”

Episode 58: “Mr. Lee” by the Bobbettes

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 58: "Mr. Lee" by the Bobbettes
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The Bobbettes

Episode fifty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Mr. Lee” by the Bobbettes, and at the lbirth of the girl group 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 “Little Bitty Pretty One”, by Thurston Harris.

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Episode 17: “Money Honey” by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 17: "Money Honey" by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters
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Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters

Welcome to episode seventeen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at “Money Honey” by the Drifters. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Continue reading “Episode 17: “Money Honey” by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters”