Tag: Johnny Otis

Episode 140: “Trouble Every Day” by the Mothers of Invention

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 140: "Trouble Every Day" by the Mothers of Invention
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The Mothers of Invention (l to r Frank Zappa, Elliot Ingber, Ray Collins, Jimmy Carl Black, Roy Estrada)

Episode one hundred and forty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Trouble Every Day” by the Mothers of Invention, and the early career of Frank Zappa. 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 “Christmas Time is Here Again” by the Beatles.

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 140: “Trouble Every Day” by the Mothers of Invention” →

Episode 137: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” by James Brown

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 137: "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" by James Brown
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James Brown (r) dancing with Johnny Carson (l)

Episode one hundred and thirty-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” by James Brown, and at how Brown went from a minor doo-wop artist to the pioneer of funk. 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 “I’m a Fool” by Dino, Desi, and Billy.

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 137: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” by James Brown” →

PLEDGE WEEK: “Farmer John” by Don and Dewey

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
PLEDGE WEEK: "Farmer John" by Don and Dewey
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This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, and to support the podcast, please visit patreon.com/andrewhickey to sign up for a dollar a month or more.

Click below for the transcript.

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PLEDGE WEEK: “Papa Oom Mow Mow” by the Rivingtons

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
PLEDGE WEEK: "Papa Oom Mow Mow" by the Rivingtons
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This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, and to support the podcast, please visit patreon.com/andrewhickey to sign up for a dollar a month or more.

Click below for the transcript.

Continue reading “PLEDGE WEEK: “Papa Oom Mow Mow” by the Rivingtons” →

Episode 76: “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 76: "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price
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Lloyd Price

Episode seventy-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price, and how a barroom fight 125 years ago led to a song performed by everyone from Ma Rainey to Neil Diamond. 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 “That Crazy Feeling” by Kenny Rogers.

I have also beeped out some expletives in the song excerpts this week, so as not to be censored by some podcast aggregators, and so I’ve uploaded an unbeeped version for backers.

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 76: “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price” →

Episode 71: “Willie and the Hand Jive” by Johnny Otis

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 71: "Willie and the Hand Jive" by Johnny Otis
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The Three Tons of Joy by a street sign saying "London", with Johnny Otis running up to them carrying a guitar

Episode seventy-one of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs continues our look at British music TV by looking at the first time it affected American R&B, and is also our final look at Johnny Otis.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Short Shorts” by the Royal Teens, a group whose members went on to be far more important than one might expect.

Also, this is the first of hopefully many podcasts to come where 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 71: “Willie and the Hand Jive” by Johnny Otis” →

Episode 68: “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 68: "Yakety Yak" by the Coasters
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The Coasters

Episode sixty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Yakety Yak'” by The Coasters, and at the group’s greatest success and split, and features discussion of racism, plagiarism, STDs and Phil Spector. 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 “Tears on My Pillow” by Little Anthony and the Imperials.

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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.

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Episode 55: “Searchin'” by the Coasters

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 55: "Searchin'" by the Coasters
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The Coasters

Episode fifty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Searchin'” by The Coasters, and at the lineup changes and conflicts that led to them becoming the perfect vehicle for Leiber and Stoller. 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 “Raunchy” by Bill Justis.

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Episode 50: “Honky Tonk” by Bill Doggett

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 50: "Honky Tonk" by Bill Doggett
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Bill Doggett

Episode fifty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Honky Tonk” by Bill Doggett, and uses his career to provide a brief summary of the earlier episodes of the podcast as we’re now moving forward into the next stage of the story. 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 “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Continue reading “Episode 50: “Honky Tonk” by Bill Doggett” →