Episode 82: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” by Elvis Presley

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 82: "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" by Elvis Presley
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Elvis Presley in 1960

Episode eighty-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” by Elvis Presley, and the way his promising comeback after leaving the Army quickly got derailed. This episode also contains a brief acknowledgment of the death of the great Little Richard, who died just as I was recording this episode. 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 “Muleskinner Blues” by the Fendermen.

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 79: “Sweet Nothin’s” by Brenda Lee

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 79: "Sweet Nothin's" by Brenda Lee
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Brenda Lee

Episode seventy-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Sweet Nothin’s” by Brenda Lee, and at the career of a performer who started in the 1940s and who was most recently in the top ten only four months ago. 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 “16 Candles” by the Crests.

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 79: “Sweet Nothin’s” by Brenda Lee”

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 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.

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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 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.

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Episode 23: “Pledging My Love” by Johnny Ace

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 23: "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace
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Johnny Ace

Welcome to episode twenty-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at “Pledging My Love” by Johnny Ace Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Also, remember I’m three-quarters of the way through the Kickstarter for the first book based on this series.

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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.

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Episode 5: Rosetta Tharpe and “This Train”

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 5: Rosetta Tharpe and "This Train"
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Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Welcome to episode five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. Today we’re looking at Sister Rosetta Tharpe and “This Train”

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