Episode 164: “White Light/White Heat” by the Velvet Underground

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 164: "White Light/White Heat" by the Velvet Underground
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The Velvet Underground (in black) and Nico (in white)

Episode 164 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “White Light/White Heat” and the career of the Velvet Underground. This is a long one, lasting three hours and twenty minutes. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a twenty-three minute bonus episode available, on “Why Don’t You Smile Now?” by the Downliners Sect.

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 141: “River Deep, Mountain High” by Ike and Tina Turner

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 141: "River Deep, Mountain High" by Ike and Tina Turner
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Ike Turner (sat down, shadowed) and Tina Turner standing behind him

Episode 141 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “River Deep Mountain High’”, and at the career of Ike and Tina Turner.  Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Also, this episode was recorded before the sad death of the great Ronnie Spector, whose records are featured a couple of times in this episode, which is partly about her abusive ex-husband. Her life paralleled Tina Turner’s quite closely, and if you haven’t heard the episode I did about her last year, you can find it at https://500songs.com/podcast/episode-110-be-my-baby-by-the-ronettes/. I wish I’d had the opportunity to fit a tribute into this episode too.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Wild Thing” by the Troggs.

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 141: “River Deep, Mountain High” by Ike and Tina Turner”

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 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 49: “Love is Strange” by Mickey and Sylvia

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 49: "Love is Strange" by Mickey and Sylvia
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Mickey and Sylvia

Welcome to episode forty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. This one looks at “Love is Strange” by Mickey and Sylvia, and how a reluctant bluesman who wrote books on jazz guitar, and a failed child star who would later become the mother of hip-hop, made a classic. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a bonus episode available. This one’s on “Ain’t Nobody’s Business” by Jimmy Witherspoon, and is about blues shouting and the ambition to have a polyester suit.

Continue reading “Episode 49: “Love is Strange” by Mickey and Sylvia”