I'm In Love With That Song Podcast

The "I'm In Love With That Song" Podcast - Music Commentary, Song Analysis & Rock History.

Welcome to the “I’m In Love With That Song” Podcast. Each episode, we’ll take one of my favorite songs and dive deep into it, listening to all the nuances that make it a great song. You may be unfamiliar with some of these songs, while others you’ve probably heard a hundred times, but I bet if we listen closely, we can discover something new. Of course, there’s no definitive answer to what makes a great song—beauty is in the ear of the beholder—these are just my personal favorites, but I hope you love these songs, too. We're proud to be a part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.

Music Commentary
Music History
126
5 Favorite Guitar Solos
Welcome to the 25th episode of the "I'm In Love With That Song" Podcast! I thought we'd do something a little different for this episode: I've picked a handful of my favorite guitar solos and we'll take a listen to what I think makes a solo great. In my book, it doesn't have to be flashy or technically brilliant, but it does have to be memorable, it has to fit the song, and it should take the song to another level. I'm not saying these are the greatest solos of all time, they're just a few that I think are pretty special.
18 min
127
Thin Lizzy - "Rosalie"
Why this song? Simple: because Thin Lizzy was as good as a 4-piece rock band could be and this song has everything you want in a rockin' song-- a killer guitar riff, a singable chorus, a great hook for the lyrics, and a perfect performance. Written by Bob Seger, Thin Lizzy took it to another level and added some of their special sauce to make this song their own. I truly love this song!
15 min
128
Todd Rundgren - "Cliche"
This is the episode where I try to explain why I think Todd Rundgren's "Cliché" is the most beautiful song ever written. Of course it's all subjective, but I don't know how anyone could deny the beauty and emotional resonance of this song. I probably can't do it justice, but here's my attempt anyway. .
16 min
129
Aerosmith - "Seasons Of Wither"
By the time Aerosmith recorded their 2nd album, they had refined their sound, improved their songwriting chops, and Steven Tyler had found his authentic voice. "Seasons Of Wither" is one of the moodiest tracks Aerosmith ever committed to vinyl. Still sounds every bit as great today.
13 min
130
Superchunk - "Me & You & Jackie Mittoo"
Do we expect too much from music? A great song can do a lot, but it can't fix everything. This song is 2 minutes of joy... sometimes, that's enough.
10 min
131
The Who - "The Naked Eye"
Let's start the year off with one of the Greatest Rock Bands Of All Time. There is simply no other band like The Who. Genius and violence, vulnerability and madness... all words that can be used in equal measure to describe The Who. Four larger-than-life characters that created a dozen indelible classic albums; a band that recorded so much great music that a song like this was tossed aside, eventually released on a ramshackle album of leftovers & outtakes. Most bands would give an arm & a leg for a song this good.
12 min
132
B.B. King - "There Must Be A Better World Somew...
See "Description" for details. His career spanned over 60 years; he toured around the world (playing 200 shows a year, well into his 70's), and released more than 50 albums. But B.B. King will be remembered primarily as one of the most influential guitarists in history. His impact is so embedded in the DNA of the guitar that no player is untouched by his influence. This is one of many great songs in his vast catalog; a great example of his powerful voice, his ability to embody a song, and his mastery as a guitar soloist.
15 min
133
Graham Parker & The Rumour - "Stupefaction"
Graham Parker arose from the UK Pub Rock scene, a back-to-basics sound that was a precursor to Punk. Along with his band, The Rumour (which included guitarist Brinsley Schwarz, a legend in his own right), he recorded a handful of essential albums in the '70's and has released a string of great records throughout his long career. A notable songwriter with a distinct edge and a wonderfully biting voice, he's influenced many artists that followed. Here's one song that represents everything I love about Graham Parker.
8 min
134
The Band - "Whispering Pines"
When the band released their first 2 albums in 1968 & 1969, they set off a musical revolution; the psychedelic sounds of the '60's were out and a return to the roots was back in style. "Whispering Pines" is their most haunting, beautiful ballad, with a lead vocal from Richard Manuel that's so vulnerable it makes you ache to hear it. The Band were at their peak during this time, with every member writing & performing at their best.
11 min
135
XTC - "That's Really Super, Supergirl"
I will admit that I can be prone to hyperbole, but I'm convinced this is The Best Album Of The 1980's and one of the greatest albums of all time. It is a perfect album. A magnificent song cycle that reveals something new each time you listen to it. A masterwork of songwriting and production. I could go on... This song is a blast of pure pop; catchy, clever and concise-- 3 minutes and 20 seconds of pop genius.
16 min
136
Sass Jordan - "Head"
Forget talking about "women who rock", Sass Jordan is one of the best rock vocalists out there, male OR female. This Canadian singer & songwriter is not well known in the USA, which is a shame because she's got a voice that's unique, powerful and compelling. This song is from her 1994 album, "Rats", which is her hardest-rocking album (and, in my opinion, her best). Check out this song, then go find more music by Sass Jordan.
9 min
137
Cheap Trick - "If It Takes A Lifetime"
One of the most underappreciated bands in rock. Undaunted by the ups & downs of the fickle music business, Cheap Trick have played over 5000 shows and released 20 albums, including "Rockford" in 2006, one of their best albums ever. I could've picked any song from this album-- it's that good-- but I settled on "If It Takes A Lifetime". If you don't have this album in your collection, don't wait-- Go get it now.
12 min
138
Starz - "She"
A great hard rock & power pop band that somehow fell through the cracks in the late '70's, Starz had all the ingredients to make it big-- a band of seasoned professionals with a charismatic frontman, a big-name manager, and a record deal with Capitol Records... but while bands like Foreigner, Styx & Boston sold millions of records, Starz just couldn't break thru to a larger audience. Too bad, because these guys had some great rock tunes. Here's one of their power-pop tracks that serves as a great example of how to write a catchy, memorable song.
12 min
139
Aretha Franklin - "A Change Is Gonna Come"
Aretha Franklin recorded over 40 albums during her career; this episode, we revisit a song from her breakthrough album, "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You" from 1967. This was actually her 11th album (!), but it was the first one recorded for Atlantic Records and it's the one that made her a legend. Aretha Franklin was probably the single most influential singer of our time-- just listen to any episode of American Idol for proof. Aretha was not only a great vocalist, she was one of the greatest interpreters of songs in history. She didn't just cover a song, she made it her own. "A Change Is Gonna Come" was Sam Cooke's finest moment, but Aretha strips it down to its purest form and imbues it with pain, world-weariness, and hope - one of the greatest emotionally cathartic moments on record.
11 min
140
Glenn Hughes - "Crave"
Who's the greatest singer in rock history? You could make an argument that it's Glenn Hughes. He's played & recorded with Trapeze, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore, KLF... and released a collection of great solo albums. He's an amazing hard rock vocalist & bass player, but my favorite stuff is when he's getting funky-- real funky. This track combines the funk with the hard rock - the best combo since Reese's put peanut butter in their chocolate. Crank It Up!
11 min
141
The Replacements - "Alex Chilton"
Every artist wants to pay tribute to the people who inspired them. No one's ever done it better than The Replacements' tribute to Alex Chilton. This song has a great hook and a chorus that stays with you... It's stayed with me so long that I named this podcast after it.
11 min
142
Badfinger - "Day After Day"
Living under The Beatles' shadow was a blessing and a curse for Badfinger. One of the greatest Power Pop bands of all time, they crafted a catalog of great songs that defined the genre. "Day After Day" is one of the greatest singles of all time, featuring a beautiful melody, great performances, and a guest appearance by a Beatle. What more could you want? This song deserves a place in history.
10 min
143
The Bears - "As You Are"
Adrian Belew is best known as a brilliant sideman & guitar foil (Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Talking Heads) and a member of King Crimson, but most people are unaware of his "band on the side", The Bears. The other 3 members are no slouches either-- this was really a band of 4 equal members that could all write great songs. The Bears blend Art-Rock and Power Pop in their own distinctive way. This song features lead vocals by 3 members, and packs plenty of substance & meaning into a 4:53 pop song. If you're unfamiliar with The Bears, this song provides a great entry point.
11 min
144
Al Green - "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart"
When a great soul singer meets a song by one of the great pop songwriting teams, magic ensues. Al Green takes a song by the Bee Gees and turns it into one of the classic singles of all time. Let's nurse our broken hearts together as we dig into this amazing song.
13 min
145
The Raspberries - "Overnight Sensation"
Writing a hit song about writing a hit song? Genius! This song has everything a great pop-rock song needs-- a memorable melody, great chorus, smart lyrics and killer vocals. This song always makes me smile.
9 min
146
Kiss - "Flaming Youth"
Kiss was the band that turned a generation of kids -- including me -- into rock & roll obsessives. Love 'em or hate 'em, Kiss became huge stars after the release of the "Destroyer" album in 1976. This is one of my favorite songs on the album, and features some off-the-wall moments like circus instruments, odd time signatures and a mysterious guitar solo.
12 min
147
Utopia - "The Road To Utopia"
Utopia is back together for a reunion tour this Spring (2018), so there's no better time to revisit one of their great songs. I think this era of Utopia pretty much invented "Progressive Pop" and this song is a great example of their songcraft and musical skills. See you on the road to Utopia!
9 min
148
David Bowie - "Time"
With this song, David Bowie practically invents the Goth-Punk-Cabaret genre. It's an epic song with brilliant piano by Mike Garson. Let's explore the track and see what makes this masterpiece tick.
13 min
149
Tom Petty - "Even The Losers"
Tom Petty always knew how to write an anthem, and this is one of his best. A rallying cry for anyone who's been rejected or on the losing side of love.
10 min
150
Paul McCartney & Wings - "Daytime Nighttime Suf...
Let's start things off with one of my favorite McCartney songs - a tune most people haven't heard but should've been a big hit. This song has everything I love about McCartney-- a terrific lead vocal, great bass part, an arrangement that keeps evolving and cool production. Enjoy!
10 min