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.

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

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.

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

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”

Episode 38: “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 38: "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley
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Elvis Presley

Episode thirty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley, and is part three of a trilogy on the aftermath of Elvis leaving Sun, and the birth of rockabilly. 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 “The Flying Saucer” by Buchanan and Goodman.

Also, it came too late for me to acknowledge in the episode itself, but I have to mention the sad news that Dave Bartholomew died today, aged 100. He will be missed.

Continue reading “Episode 38: “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley”

Episode 37: “I Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 37: "I Walk The Line" by Johnny Cash
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Johnny Cash

Episode thirty-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “I Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash, and is part two of a trilogy on the aftermath of Elvis leaving Sun, and the birth of rockabilly. 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 “Don’t Be Angry” by Nappy Brown.

Continue reading “Episode 37: “I Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash”

Episode 36: “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 36: "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins
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Carl Perkins

Episode thirty-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins, and is part one of a trilogy on the aftermath of Elvis leaving Sun, and the birth of rockabilly. 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 “Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots” by the Cheers.

Continue reading “Episode 36: “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins”

Episode 33: “Mystery Train”, by Elvis Presley

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 33: "Mystery Train", by Elvis Presley
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Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker

Welcome to episode thirty-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. This one looks at “Mystery Train” by Elvis Presley. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Continue reading “Episode 33: “Mystery Train”, by Elvis Presley”

Episode 19: “That’s All Right, Mama” by Elvis Presley

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 19: "That's All Right, Mama" by Elvis Presley
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Elvis Presley in 1954

Welcome to episode nineteen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at “That’s All Right Mama” by Elvis Presley. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Continue reading “Episode 19: “That’s All Right, Mama” by Elvis Presley”