Episode 164: “White Light/White Heat” by the Velvet Underground

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 164: "White Light/White Heat" by the Velvet Underground
/

The Velvet Underground (in black) and Nico (in white)

Episode 164 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “White Light/White Heat” and the career of the Velvet Underground. This is a long one, lasting three hours and twenty minutes. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a twenty-three minute bonus episode available, on “Why Don’t You Smile Now?” by the Downliners Sect.

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 164: “White Light/White Heat” by the Velvet Underground”

Episode 153: “Heroes and Villains” by the Beach Boys

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 153: "Heroes and Villains" by the Beach Boys
/

The Beach Boys (plus Brian's dog Banana) lying on top of one another, with pillows, in a tent. smiling. Brian and Carl are on the bottom of the pile, Banana is at the top

Episode one hundred and fifty-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Heroes and Villains” by the Beach Boys, and the collapse of the Smile album. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a sixteen-minute bonus episode available, on “I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night” by the Electric Prunes.

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 153: “Heroes and Villains” by the Beach Boys”

Episode 152: “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 152: "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield
/

Buffalo Springfield

Episode 152 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “For What It’s Worth”, and the short but eventful career of Buffalo Springfield. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a twenty-five-minute bonus episode available, on “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” by Glen Campbell.

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/

Errata: I say Moby Grape never recorded the song “On the Other Side”, but someone in the comments has pointed me to a demo of it which was released under the name “Stop”. I also say Buffalo Springfield were the third white act to sign to Atlantic, after Bobby Darin and Sonny and Cher. They were the fourth, as the list I saw didn’t include the Young Rascals

Continue reading “Episode 152: “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield”

Episode 140: “Trouble Every Day” by the Mothers of Invention

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 140: "Trouble Every Day" by the Mothers of Invention
/

The Mothers of Invention (l to r Frank Zappa, Elliot Ingber, Ray Collins, Jimmy Carl Black, Roy Estrada)

Episode one hundred and forty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Trouble Every Day” by the Mothers of Invention, and the early career of Frank Zappa. 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 “Christmas Time is Here Again” by the Beatles.

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 140: “Trouble Every Day” by the Mothers of Invention”

Episode 135: “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 135: "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel
/

Paul Simon (in the foreground) and Art Garfunkel (in the background) in front of a wall covered in graffiti. Both men are wearing black sweaters. Simon is also wearing a shirt and tie. Garfunkel is holding a cigarette.

Episode one hundred and thirty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel, and the many records they made, together and apart, before their success. 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 “Blues Run the Game” by Jackson C. Frank.

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 135: “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel”

Episode 130: “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 130: "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan
/

Bob Dylan in 1965

Episode one hundred and thirty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan, and the controversy over Dylan going electric, 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 “Hold What You’ve Got” by Joe Tex.

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 130: “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan”

Episode 115: “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 115: "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals
/

The Animals

Episode one hundred and fifteen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals, at the way the US and UK music scenes were influencing each other in 1964, and at the fraught question of attribution when reworking older songs. 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 “Memphis” by Johnny Rivers.

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 115: “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals”

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
/

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”