Tag: doo wop

Episode 107: “Surf City” by Jan and Dean

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 107: "Surf City" by Jan and Dean
/

Jan and Dean

Episode 107 of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs looks at “Surf City” and the career of Jan and Dean, including a Pop Symphony, accidental conspiracy to kidnap, and a career that both started and ended with attempts to get out of being drafted. 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 “Hey Little Cobra” by the Rip Chords.

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 107: “Surf City” by Jan and Dean” →

Episode 103: “Hitch-Hike” by Marvin Gaye

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 103: "Hitch-Hike" by Marvin Gaye
/

Marvin Gaye

Episode one hundred and three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Hitch-Hike” by Marvin Gaye, and the early career of one of Motown’s defining artists. 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 “Any Other Way” by Jackie Shane.

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 103: “Hitch-Hike” by Marvin Gaye” →

Episode 99: “Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 99: "Surfin' Safari" by the Beach Boys
/

The Beach Boys in 1962

This week there are two episiodes of the podcast going up, both of them longer than normal. This one, episode ninety-nine, is on “Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys, and the group’s roots in LA, and is fifty minutes long. 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 “Misirlou” by Dick Dale and the Deltones.

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 99: “Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys” →

Episode 92: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 92: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens
/

The Tokens

Episode ninety-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens, and at a seventy-year-long story of powerful people repeatedly ripping off less powerful people, then themselves being ripped off in turn by more powerful people, and at how racism meant that a song that earned fifteen million dollars for other people paid its composer ten shillings. 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 “Tossin’ and Turnin'” by Bobby Lewis.

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 92: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens” →

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
/

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 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
/

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.

Continue reading “Episode 65: “Maybe” by the Chantels” →

Episode 39: “Please Please Please” by James Brown and the Famous Flames

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 39: "Please Please Please" by James Brown and the Famous Flames
/

James Brown at a piano

Episode thirty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Please Please Please” by James Brown, and at the early rock and roll career of the Godfather of Soul. 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 “Come Go With Me” by the Del Vikings.

Continue reading “Episode 39: “Please Please Please” by James Brown and the Famous Flames” →

Episode 35: “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 35: "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
/

Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers

Episode thirty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, and at the terrible afterlife of child stardom. 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 “Space Guitar” by Johnny “Guitar” Watson.

Continue reading “Episode 35: “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers” →

Episode 31: “Only You” by the Platters

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 31: "Only You" by the Platters
/

The Platters

Welcome to episode thirty-one of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. This one looks at “Only You” by the Platters. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Continue reading “Episode 31: “Only You” by the Platters” →

Episode 28: “Sincerely” by the Moonglows

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 28: "Sincerely" by the Moonglows
/

The Moonglows

Welcome to episode twenty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at The Moonglows and “Sincerely”. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Continue reading “Episode 28: “Sincerely” by the Moonglows” →