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.

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Episode 40: “Drugstore Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Janis Martin

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 40: "Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll" by Janis Martin
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Janis Martin

Episode forty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Drugstore Rock ‘n’ Roll”, by Janis Martin, an early rockabilly classic by the woman known as “the Female Elvis”. 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 “Fever” by Little Willie John

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Episode 27: “Tweedle Dee” by LaVern Baker

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 27: "Tweedle Dee" by LaVern Baker
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LaVern Baker

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

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Episode 17: “Money Honey” by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 17: "Money Honey" by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters
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Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters

Welcome to episode seventeen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at “Money Honey” by the Drifters. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

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Episode 13: “Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean” by Ruth Brown

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 13: "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean" by Ruth Brown
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Ruth Brown, with tambourine

Welcome to episode thirteen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at “(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean” by Ruth Brown. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Continue reading “Episode 13: “Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean” by Ruth Brown”