Tag: white cover versions

Episode 107: “Surf City” by Jan and Dean

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 107: "Surf City" by Jan and Dean
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Jan and Dean

Episode 107 of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs looks at “Surf City” and the career of Jan and Dean, including a Pop Symphony, accidental conspiracy to kidnap, and a career that both started and ended with attempts to get out of being drafted. 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 “Hey Little Cobra” by the Rip Chords.

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 92: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 92: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens
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The Tokens

Episode ninety-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens, and at a seventy-year-long story of powerful people repeatedly ripping off less powerful people, then themselves being ripped off in turn by more powerful people, and at how racism meant that a song that earned fifteen million dollars for other people paid its composer ten shillings. 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 “Tossin’ and Turnin'” by Bobby Lewis.

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 92: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens” →

Episode 69: “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 69: "Fujiyama Mama" by Wanda Jackson
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Wanda Jackson with an unidentified Japanese woman, both wearing kimonos

Episode sixty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson, and the first rock and roller to become “big in Japan” 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 “Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley.

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Episode 60: “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 60: "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke
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Sam Cooke smoking a cigarette and playing a guitar

Episode sixty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke 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 “Little Darlin'” by The Gladiolas.

Also, an announcement — the book version of the first fifty episodes is now available for purchase. See the show notes, or the previous mini-episode announcing this, for details.

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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 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 35: “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 35: "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
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Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers

Episode thirty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, and at the terrible afterlife of child stardom. 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 “Space Guitar” by Johnny “Guitar” Watson.

Continue reading “Episode 35: “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers” →

Episode 34: “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 34: "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard
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Little Richard

Episode thirty-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard, and at the rather more family-unfriendly subject the song was originally about. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Also, a reminder for those who didn’t see the previous post — my patreon backers are now getting ten-minute mini-episodes every week, and the first one is up, and I guested on Jaffa Cake Jukebox this week, talking about the UK top twenty for January 18 1957.

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Episode 30: “Bo Diddley” by Bo Diddley

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 30: "Bo Diddley" by Bo Diddley
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Bo Diddley

Welcome to episode thirty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. This is the last of our three-part look at Chess Records, and focuses on “Bo Diddley” by Bo Diddley. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

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Episode 29: “Maybellene” by Chuck Berry

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episode 29: "Maybellene" by Chuck Berry
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Chuck Berry and Alan Freed

Welcome to episode twenty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. This is the second of our three-part look at Chess Records, and focuses on “Maybellene” by Chuck Berry. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

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