Tag: Morris Levy

PLEDGE WEEK: “Hanky Panky” by Tommy James and the Shondells

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
PLEDGE WEEK: "Hanky Panky" by Tommy James and the Shondells
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This episode is part of Pledge Week 2022. Every day this week, I’ll be posting old Patreon bonus episodes of the podcast which will have this short intro. These are short, ten- to twenty-minute bonus podcasts which get posted to Patreon for my paying backers every time I post a new main episode — there are well over a hundred of these in the archive now. If you like the sound of these episodes, then go to patreon.com/andrewhickey and subscribe for as little as a dollar a month or ten dollars a year to get access to all those bonus episodes, plus new ones as they appear.

Click below for the transcript

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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/

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

Episode 114: “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 114: "My Boy Lollipop" by Millie
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Millie Small

This week’s episode looks at “My Boy Lollipop” and the origins of ska music. 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 “If You Wanna Be Happy” by Jimmy Soul.

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 114: “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie” →

Episode 91: “The Twist” by Chubby Checker

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 91: "The Twist" by Chubby Checker
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Chubby Checker dancing the Twist

Episode ninety-one of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Twist” by Chubby Checker, and how the biggest hit single ever had its roots in hard R&B. 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 “Viens Danser le Twist” by Johnny Hallyday, a cover of a Chubby Checker record that became the first number one for France’s biggest rock star.

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/

Also, people have asked me to start selling podcast merchandise, so you can now buy T-shirts from https://500-songs.teemill.com/. That store will be updated semi-regularly.

Continue reading “Episode 91: “The Twist” by Chubby Checker” →

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 80: “Money” by Barrett Strong

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 80: "Money" by Barrett Strong
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Barrett Strong

Episode eighty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Money” by Barrett Strong, the dispute over its authorship, and the start of a record label that would change music. 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 “Alley Oop” by the Hollywood Argyles.

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 80: “Money” by Barrett Strong” →

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.

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

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 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 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
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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” →