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/

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Episode 126: “For Your Love” by the Yardbirds

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 126: "For Your Love" by the Yardbirds
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The Yardbirds

Episode 126 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “For Your Love”, the Yardbirds, and the beginnings of heavy rock and the guitar hero.  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 “A Lover’s Concerto” by the Toys.

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 83: “Only The Lonely” by Roy Orbison

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 83: "Only The Lonely" by Roy Orbison
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Roy Orbison

Episode eighty-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Only the Lonely” by Roy Orbison, and how Orbison finally found success by ignoring conventional pop song structure. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have two bonus podcasts — part one of a two-part Q&A and a ten-minute bonus on “Walk Don’t Run” by the Ventures.

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 83: “Only The Lonely” by Roy Orbison”

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 72: “Trouble” by Elvis Presley

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 72: "Trouble" by Elvis Presley
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Elvis Presley in uniform, with his mother Gladys

Episode seventy-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Trouble” by Elvis Presley, his induction into the army, and his mother’s death. 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 “When” by the Kalin Twins.

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 72: “Trouble” by Elvis Presley”

Episode 66: “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 66: "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis
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Jerry Lee Lewis

Episode sixty-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode. This one comes with a bit of a content warning, as while it has nothing explicit, it deals with his marriage to his thirteen-year-old cousin.

Patreon backers also have a ten-minute bonus episode available, on “Rumble” by Link Wray. Continue reading “Episode 66: “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis”

Episode 59: “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” by Jerry Lee Lewis

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 59: "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis
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Jerry Lee Lewis at the piano

Episode fifty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” by Jerry Lee Lewis. 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 “So Long I’m Gone” by Warren Smith.

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Episode 57: “Flying Saucers Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Billy Lee Riley and the Little Green Men

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 57: "Flying Saucers Rock 'n' Roll" by Billy Lee Riley and the Little Green Men
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Billy Lee Riley

Episode fifty-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Flying Saucers Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Billy Lee Riley and the Little Green Men, and at the flying saucer craze of the fifties. 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 “Silhouettes” by the Rays, and the power of subliminal messages.

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Episode 51: “Matchbox” by Carl Perkins

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 51: "Matchbox" by Carl Perkins
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Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash

Episode fifty-one of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Matchbox” by Carl Perkins, and at the session that turned into the historic Million Dollar Quartet jam session. 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 “Blue Yodel #9” by Jimmie Rodgers.

Continue reading “Episode 51: “Matchbox” by Carl Perkins”

Episode 42: “Ooby Dooby” by Roy Orbison and the Teen Kings

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 42: "Ooby Dooby" by Roy Orbison and the Teen Kings
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Roy Orbison and Sam Phillips

Episode forty-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Ooby Dooby” by Roy Orbison and the Teen Kings, and the time when Sam Phillips got things badly wrong.. 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 “Blue Yodel #9” by Jimmie Rodgers.

Continue reading “Episode 42: “Ooby Dooby” by Roy Orbison and the Teen Kings”