Before there was Ziggy Stardust, there was Arnold Corns... Thanks to a legendary performance on "Top Of The Pops", "Starman" was Bowie's first hit since "Space Oddity" and proved he wasn't a one-hit wonder. In this episode, we dig into the history of this song and the origin of Ziggy Stardust.

After almost 2 years of COVID-19 shutdowns, live music is beginning to return. Let's celebrate the power & importance of live music by looking back at a critical moment in history. April 5, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated the day before. America was on edge and riots were breaking out in cities across the country. But the city of Boston, MA held it together. Why? Because the Godfather Of Soul-- James Brown-- was in town.

In our previous episode, we looked at the history of instrumental songs that topped the pop charts. For my money, there's never been a more unlikely hit instrumental than the synth-infused, riff-heavy stomper that is Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein". This episode, we break down this instrumental classic featuring Edgar Winter on keyboards, sax and drums.

Years ago, instrumental songs were everywhere-- on the radio, the jukebox, and the Billboard Hot 100 chart. But over time, the instrumental faded from mainstream popularity. When was the last time you heard a new instrumental, or saw one topping the charts? In this episode-- our 100th show-- we explore the history of the pop instrumental as we ask the question. "Whatever happened to the instrumental hit song?"

The "Albums That Made Us" series continues as Brian Jacobs joins us with a look at two central albums that have grown with us over the years. The older we get, the better these albums get: "Shoot Out The Lights" by Richard & Linda Thompson, and Bob Dylan's "Blood on The Tracks".

Nothing came easy for Badfinger. Though they had success with their first few albums (all of them must-have classics), they soon had a tough time, thanks to terrible management, record label indifference and bad timing. In 1974, worn-down & exhausted from the non-stop touring/recording/touring again grind, they dragged themselves into the studio... and, with help from producer Chris Thomas, made one of their best albums. Many fans say it IS their best. Unfornuately, few people heard it as it was withdrawn from stores shortly after its release, thanks to legal shenanigans. Things only got worse after that. But this record is a masterpiece; let's celebrate it with a look at the song "In the Meantime/Some Other Time".

Aerosmith was a band on the brink of self-destruction when they set up in an old convent to record their next album in 1977. But despite the tension, drug abuse and general bad behavior, they managed to lay down a few classics, including "Kings And Queens". Let's dig into this Aerosmith classic.

Wilson Pickett only recorded 9 songs during his time at Stax in Memphis, but they were defining records. "Ninety-Nine And A Half (Won't Do)" is the last of those singles, released in May 1966. Though not as well-known as "In The Midnight Hour", "634-5789" or "Mustang Sally", this song is still a stone-cold classic in my book. Let's see what it's made of.

After 50 years locked away in a vault, the world finally got to see and hear some of the abandoned footage from the Beatles "Let It Be" sessions. The new documentary "Get Back" gives us almost 8 hours of never-before seen film and an unprecedented look at The Beatles at work. It was worth the wait. On this Special Edition of the podcast, we're joined by 3 of the biggest Beatle fans I know-- Ken Mills, Craig Smith and Brian Jacobs-- to discuss this fascinating look at the most important band in rock history.

When Frank Marino announced his retirement in 2021 due to a medical condition, his fans were shocked. "Tales Of The Unexpected", indeed. So let's take a few minutes to appreciate this great guitar player with a look at one of his funkiest tracks.

It's our annual Bonus Holiday Episode - This year, we're celebrating Hanukkah with a song that also doubles as a great Power Pop song. Happy Holidays. everybody!

We're back with another Albums That Made Us episode; this time my guest is author Christy Alexander Hallberg, who's new novel "Searching For Jimmy Page" is a must-read for any Led Zeppelin fan. On this episode, Christy shares how discovering "Led Zeppelin IV" was a life-changing moment, how the music has brought comfort over the years, and inspired her book. We also discuss one of my first album purchases, Queen's "Day At The Races".

November 2021 marks 60 years since the first issue of "Fantastic Four", the comic book that launched the Marvel Universe. Rock music has had a love affair with comics for years; on this episode, we take a look at a handful of songs from the crossroads where Rock and Comics meet. I'm joined by 2 legendary podcasters, Ken Mills (PodKISSt, Zilch, Cheap Talk with Trick Chat, Pop!) & Eric Miller (Pods & Sods, The Daily Bern), who are equal fans of both comic books and rock 'n' roll.

Join us for this Halloween Episode where we take a deep dive into one of the spookiest songs to ever hit the charts. There's a reason why this song has shown up everywhere from TV shows like "Supernatural", to films including "Halloween", the videogame "Ripper"-- its lyrics are even quoted in Steven King's "The Stand": because few songs are able to create a mood as deep and rich as this one. And it features one of the best guitar parts of all time. (And yes, we mention the cowbell.)

In the novel Lost Horizon, Shangri-La is the mystical, hidden paradise of legend. In the The Kinks song, it's the name given to the humble home of Arthur, the main character in Ray Davies' concept album/rock opera Arthur (Or The Decline and Fall of The British Empire). Written as the accompaniment for a TV movie that was never produced, Arthur still stands as one of The Kinks' best works, and "Shangri-La" is the stand-out track from this album.

The "Albums That Made Us" series returns to explore the ways in which music has impacted our lives. This episode, we're joined by Jon Lamoreaux, host of The Hustle Podcast. Join us for a conversation about Jethro Tull, David Bowie, and the power of music to send us in new directions.

1971 was a banner year for great rock albums, and one of the best of the best that year was "Sticky Fingers" by The Rolling Stones. On this episode, we take a dive into a key track from that album, "Can't You Hear Me Knocking", where the Stones begin with a killer Keef riff and end up 7 minutes later in a completely different place. How did they get there? Let's take the journey with them… and along the way, we'll pay our respects to the late, great Charlie Watts.

The Who released a string of classic albums, but many consider Quadrophenia to be their best. It's certainly one of their most ambitious. Pete Townshend wrote the songs, but the stunning performances by Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon & John Entwistle bring the songs to life. Nowhere is that more evident on "The Real Me", which features all four members in top form, showing why they were one of the all-time great bands.

Sure, everyone knows "Stairway To Heaven", but "Achilles Last Stand" may be Jimmy Page's greatest masterpiece. Layers of guitars intertwined & augmenting each other in a virtual guitar orchestra, with stellar performances from the rest of the band. In this episode, we take a closer look at this underrated classic.

For another episode in "The Albums That Made Us" series, I'm joined by Chris Czynszak, co-host of the "Decibel Geek" podcast and the organizer of the RockNPod Expo, to talk about how the same band, about 10 years apart, had a huge affect on both our lives.

If Motorhead is to be remembered for one song, it would be "Ace Of Spades". The title cut from their most commercially successful album, a track that encapsulates Motorhead-- fast, loud, defiant. Let's dig into this heavy metal classic to see what makes it work.

George Harrison emerged from the rubble of The Beatles breakup with all cylinders firing. After years of working in John & Paul's shadow, George had amassed a stockpile of great songs. It all burst out in 1970 on his triple-album set, All Things Must Pass. One of the standout tracks was "Beware Of Darkness", a warning to everyone (including himself) to be wary of corrupting influences. Featuring an all-star band, wall-of-sound production, and the introduction of George's slide guitar playing, which would define his sound for the rest of his career. Let's listen to the song many consider George's masterpiece.

It's another episode of our "Albums That Made Us" series, where we explore how music has made a big impact on our lives. We'll be joined by a guest to discuss an album that shaped their lives in some way. Join Chris Porter & myself join us for a discussion on "Aftermath" by The Rolling Stones and The Who's "Who's Next".

Inspired by David Hepworth's book, "Never a Dull Moment: 1971 - The Year That Rock Exploded" (and the documentary based on his book), we take a quick look at many of the great albums released in 1971.

Sugar Pie DeSanto (born Peylia Marsema Balinton) was a ton of dynamite in a tiny 4' 11" frame... and still is, at the time of this recording. Let's have a listen to this super-fun classic track, recorded with the great Etta James in 1966.