Tag: racism

Episode 124: “People Get Ready” by the Impressions

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 124: "People Get Ready" by the Impressions
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The Impressions

Episode 124 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “People Get Ready”, the Impressions, and the early career of Curtis Mayfield.  Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a twenty-minute bonus episode available, on “I’m Henry VIII I Am” by Herman’s Hermits.

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 124: “People Get Ready” by the Impressions” →

Episode 118: “Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy” by Manfred Mann

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 118: "Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy" by Manfred Mann
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Manfred Mann

Episode 118 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy” by Manfred Mann, and how a jazz group with a blues singer had one of the biggest bubblegum pop hits of the sixties.

Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a thirteen-minute bonus episode available, on “Walk on By” by Dionne Warwick.

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 118: “Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy” by Manfred Mann” →

Episode 109: “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Peter, Paul, and Mary

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 109: "Blowin' in the Wind" by Peter, Paul, and Mary
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Peter, Paul, and Mary

Episode one hundred and nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Blowin’ in the Wind”, Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, the UK folk scene and the civil rights movement. Those of you who get angry at me whenever I say anything that acknowledges the existence of racism may want to skip this one. 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 “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by the Crystals.

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 109: “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Peter, Paul, and Mary” →

Episode 105: “Green Onions” by Booker T. and the MGs

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 105: "Green Onions" by Booker T. and the MGs
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Booker T. and the MGs

Episode 105 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Green Onions”, and how a company started by a Western Swing fiddle player ended up making the most important soul records of the sixties. 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 “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons.

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 105: “Green Onions” by Booker T. and the MGs” →

Episode 95: “You Better Move On” by Arthur Alexander

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 95: "You Better Move On" by Arthur Alexander
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Arthur Alexander

Episode ninety-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “You Better Move On”, and the sad story of Arthur Alexander. 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 “Mother-In-Law” by Ernie K-Doe.

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 95: “You Better Move On” by Arthur Alexander” →

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
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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 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 69: “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 69: "Fujiyama Mama" by Wanda Jackson
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Wanda Jackson with an unidentified Japanese woman, both wearing kimonos

Episode sixty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson, and the first rock and roller to become “big in Japan” 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 “Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley.

Continue reading “Episode 69: “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson” →

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.

Continue reading “Episode 68: “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters” →