AllMusicPodcasts

From 2019, our convo with Ada Wolin presents a fresh new look into “The Golden Age of The Shangri-Las." Was the most idiosyncratic and influential girl-group of the 1960s also the “punkiest”? Tune in and find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer = Yacht Rock. That's a fact. Just what is "yacht rock," you ask? Is it AM gold? Soft, smooth 70s hits, come back to life? We're winding the clock back to Episode 19 so Greg Prato, author "The Yacht Rock Book" can lay it all out for you. Put your sunscreen and Ray Bans on, pop a Corona, and lie back and enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boy, has the music industry changed! It's almost irrelvant: no radio, no physical product, no sales. But is it? The Beatles were not only pioneers in music and popular culture, they were also the progenitors of the music merchandise phenomenon, which earned over $50 million in 1965! Author Terry Crain joined us early on to talk Beatles merch and other interesting side treks surrounding this nostalgic and trendsetting era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mott the Hoople was of the most important bands of the late '60s and early ‘70s — the rock act that made a stray Bowie song into an anthem for a generation and beyond, and a singer with recognizable hair and ever-present shades. And Mott The Hoople may be one of the UK’s greatest and most cherished bands, but what of their story? We speak with Chris Hall, the director of The Ballad of Mott the Hoople, about the feature length documentary that tells the bruised and battered, but triumphant, tale of glam rock ‘n’ rollers Mott The Hoople. The film brings the band's story to life through a stunning combination of rare and unseen archive footage, their magnificent music and the testimony of band members Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, and the rest of the crew, plus other associates 'and witnesses, including The Clash's Mick Jones, Queen's Roger Taylor and Mott fanclub president and author Kris Needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Equal parts myth and legend, the New Barbarians are one of the greatest bands many people have never heard — or heard of! Put together by Ron Wood, the band featured fellow Stone Keith Richards, the Faces’ Ian MacLagan, sax player Bobby Keys, and a legendary rhythm section of the Meters Ziggy Modeleste and jazz great Stanley Clarke. If you missed this the first time around, tune in to hear Rob Chapman tell wild and rollicking stories featuring behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the band members, dirt on its famous tour, and background on the widespread influence of the band's music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fanny might be one of the most influential bands ever that many people have never heard of. David Bowie called them “one of the most important female bands in American rock,” adding they had been buried without a trace. So who was Fanny? Bobbi Jo Hart’s documentary Fanny: The Right To Rock examines the first all-female rock band to release an album on a major label. Formed by two Filipina sisters, the Millington’s experienced racism and sexism at an early age, and found a band to be their doorway out. On five albums released by Reprise Records between 1970 and 1974, they rocked as hard as any of their male rock and roll peers. Their story, and Hart’s documentary on Fanny is a truly inspirational and overdue celebration of this hugely influential band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alice In Chains were major players within the burgeoning Seattle scene that would forever change alternative and rock music. They were also one of the most self-destructive. In this early episode, acclaimed journalist David de Sola tells us how drugs nearly destroyed them and claimed the lives of frontman Layne Staley and founding bassist Mike Starr, and the incredible resurrection of the band nearly fifteen years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Stir It Up: Reggae Album Cover Art" and "The Album Cover Art of Studio One Records" discuss the evolution, look and style of the the visuals and branding of reggae music. From Calypso, to bluebell rocksteady to roots reggae, and dub to dancehall, the music and visual output of this tiny island is enormous. SteveJ take a look at these two books that deal with two of his all-time favorite topics. Other Steve offers up his wisdom, humor and perhaps some guidance along the way. Like any genre, there is the good…the bad… and, of course, the ugly. But ultimately, writing about album covers is a bit like dancing about architecture, to steal a phrase. Sometimes you just have to see it to believe it. We cover it all in our latest podcast featuring these two books.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's go back and take a look at jazz at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Edward Allan Faine pulls back the curtain on the Nixon White House. Was Tricky Dick a jazz fan? After all, he did give Duke Ellington the Medal of Freedom in 1969. Who was in the band and who jammed at the “after-party”? Why did Sinatra almost get canceled, and just who that was playing piano behind some of Pearl Bailey’s set? We’ll touch on some of the more recent President’s and their bands of choice for “the best gig in town!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Johnny Thunders was the legendary hard-living rock'n'roll guitarist who inspired glam-metal, punk and the New York and London music scene's in general. Danny Garcia’s documentary film Looking For Johnny examines Johnny Thunders' career from the early 70's as a founding member of the influential New York Dolls; the birth of the punk scene with The Heartbreakers in New York City and London; Gang War and The Oddballs. It also explores Johnny's unique musical style, his personal battle with drugs, and the theories on his death in a New Orleans hotel in 1991 at age 38.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vinyl is back in a big way. According to Billboard magazine, over 43 million albums were sold in 2022, the 17th consecutive year vinyl album sales grew in the U.S., and the largest year for vinyl album sales since tracking data began in 1991. "Record Store Day" celebrates independently-owned brick-and-mortar record stores around the world and, this year it will be on April 22. We speak with Chris Anzalone, the owner of Stereo Jack’s Records in Ball Square, Somerville, Ma. about a day for the people who make up the world of the record store —the staff, the customers, and the artists — to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role they play in their communities.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's a crazy book on an even crazier musician and performer. Tiny Tim is best known for his wacky appearances on "Laugh In" and Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show." However, he also rubbed shoulders with Bob Dylan and Lenny Bruce. So, in case you missed it, author Justin Martell talks about one of the most phenomenal success stories in show business, Don't miss it...again! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We first had country music writer and aficionado David Cantwell on in 2019 to discuss his excellent book The Running Kind: Listening to Merle Haggard. The new edition expands on his earlier analysis and covers Haggard's death and afterlife as an icon of both old-school and modern country music; in fact, David considers it a whole new book! We talk about the appreciation, opinion and perception of Merle since his death and, of course, the many Merle Haggard songs that have been covered by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elvis Costello, Tammy Wynette, the Grateful Dead and many others! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we look back to our incredible chat with Galadrielle Allman and her deeply personal portrait of her father, Duane Allman, who was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of twenty-four. She was two years old. At the heart of Galadrielle's book is her journey to understand the man millions idolized, but she never knew. It's a story every bit as compelling, beautiful, sad, and singular as her father’s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Popsicko! was a band from the rich Santa Barbara music scene of the 90s. “If it was 1968,” penned a writer for the Los Angeles Times, “these guys would be rock gods and all over the radio.” Everything was going Popsicko’s way, but there’s a reason you’ve likely never heard of them.  With some of Popsicko!’s music set to be re-released for the first time in two decades along with an oral history book, now is the time for the band’s story to be told. Tune in to hear how the band and their songs have stood the test of time and tip your cap to the would’ve beens, should’ve beens, and could’ve beens that is Popsicko!… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our second episode, and we talk about "Ode To Billie Joe"with author Tara Murtha. This really set the tone for what we wanted to do with this podcast, so have a listen to the backstory of one of the all-time great songs and Bobbi Gentry, the woman behind this masterpiece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the annals of rock ‘n’ roll there have been a lot of strange characters, but there probably hasn’t been anyone as bizarre as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, He was larger than life as he emerged from a coffin with a skull on a stick singing “I Put A Spell On You.” He was a whirlwind performer, a lusty singer, a prolific songwriter and a man who was a total stranger to the truth. And with that one song, Screamin’ Jay, who also studied piano and sang opera, became the embodiment of the sexually insatiable, voodoo-empowered, black man feared by 1950s America.  We speak with biographer Steve Bergsman, whose book I Put A Spell On You: The Bizarre Life of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins explores the legendary bluesman’s life, work and influence on rock’n’roll music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking you back to 2019 and Episode 8, in case you missed it! Here we talk about the Black Power music movement with author and scholar Pat Thomas. We dig deep into how the it affected the popular music of the day, including Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye and Motown, Gil Scott-Heron, Nina Simone and others. Celebrate Black History Month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women have been kicking against the pricks of music patriarchy since Sister Rosetta Tharpe first played the guitar riffs that built rock-n-roll. The explosion of punk sent shockwaves of revolution to every girl who dreamed of being on stage. Hit Girls is the story of nearly 100 regional American bands who shattered stereotypes and eardrums and whose legacy would be otherwise lost. Despite the modern narrative labeling women as anomalies in rock music, the truth is: women played important roles in punk and its related genres in every city, in every scene, all over the United States. Author Jen Larson salutes their achievements that blazed the way for generations of women rockers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donny Hathaway Live is a soul classic and one of my all-time favorite records ever. We had the good fortune to interview author and cultural critic Emily Lordi in one of our earliest podcasts about her book on this record for the 33 1/3 series. We are proud to feature it again — “in case you missed it” — for Black History Month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Beatles are the biggest band in the history of pop music. James Bond is the single most successful movie character of all time. They are also twins. Dr No, the first Bond film, and Love Me Do, the first Beatles record, were both released on the same day: Friday 5 October 1962. Most countries can only dream of a cultural export becoming a worldwide phenomenon on this scale. For Britain to produce two iconic successes on this level, on the same windy October afternoon, is unprecedented. Love and Let Die: James Bond, The Beatles and The British Psyche presents us with opposing values, visions of the British culture, and ideas about sexual identity. Author John Higgs joins us to explain why James Bond hated the Beatles, why Paul McCartney wanted to be Bond, and why it was Ringo who won the heart of a Bond Girl in the end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're taking you back to Episode THREE, recorded nearly four years ago! Luckily, Van Halen is evergreen and author Greg Renoff reveals the untold story of how the legendary band began, playing backyard parties in Los Angeles, This unique pre-history takes you from those high school bashes to funky dive bars with wet t-shirt contests, and, eventually, to the Sunset Strip and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beginning with his 1969 debut LP, Elton John is regarded as one of the most influential musicians and performers of the previous five decades. In examining 75 touchstones, author Gillian Gaar provides a unique presentation of Elton’s career arc, from his first steps as a solo artist to the breakthrough album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to his flamboyant stage presence, and beyond. In this series, every page is illustrated with stunning concert and candid offstage photography, including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, and more. This incredible package also includes a gatefold Elton John timeline, previously unpublished gatefold artwork, an 8×10-inch glossy print, and a pullout poster. The result is a stunning tribute to one of the most admired stars in rock—in a milestone year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final episode recorded 2022, Other Steve and I talk about where this podcast is, where it has been and some of where it's going! We also talk about www.allmusicbooks.com, and our brand new, mobile friendly website And FYI…our New Year's resolutions include paring down some of the music stuff we’ve both collected over the years. Find out what and where on this episode.

Holiday songs are in the air and everywhere these days! Some are classics, some are new, some are shiny and some…well. Nevermind. Last year, Other Steve pulled out a classics with Morphine’s “Sexy Christmas Baby Mine. We even got to have a final conversation about it with drummer Billy Conway. We also added a unique mashup of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” to our conversation about that now standard with author Ray Padgett. Once again, Other Steve has played Santa this year, and unearthed a classic medley of John Lennon’s "Happy Xmas (War Is Over) and "Give Peace a Chance" from Melissa Etheridge. He also tells a great tale about what it’s like to dress a stage for Christmas, and record a classic holiday tune. In Ohio. In July.

Today, we’re going to introduce a new angle to the show, and have a look at some of the book reviews on AllMusicBooks.com. Reviews by music fans is the backbone of the community site, and we hope this will be of interest to readers, and provide encouragement for you to weigh in on these, or any music books you’ve read. AllMusicBooks provided the backbone and opportunity for our podcast. So…looking for a unique present for that very special music fan in your life? Or maybe for you to put on your holiday list. Oh. You say you want a Bob Dylan book this Christmas? That’s super popular right now and, in fact, in the news a lot! So you better watch out. Here are a couple of books on Dylan that I’ve read, written a review for on AllMusicBooks.com, and would heartily recommend. And...no auto-pen signatures or vertigo to worry about!

Martin Popoff has written over 100 music books. "Bowie@75" is his first on David Bowie. Timed to tie in with what would have been Bowie’s 75th birthday, Popoff recounts 75 fascinating and significant career achievements and life events for the legendary singer. Illustrated with live concert and candid offstage photography as well as memorabilia including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, and more, this incredible package also includes a gatefold timeline, a gatefold painting depicting "A Party of Bowies," a previously unpublished 8x10 glossy print, and a pullout poster by famed gig poster artist Frank Kozik. It is a stunning tribute to one of the most influential and admired stars in rock history — in a milestone year.

Joe Milliken, author of "Let's Go: Benjamin Orr and The Cars" joins us to chat about the legendary Boston music scene, clubs like The Rat and The Paradise, and more!

Boston is a town known for rock’n’roll; J. Geils Band, Aerosmith, Boston, and, of course The Cars. There were few bands bigger in the late 70s and MTV ‘80s. Benjamin Orr was the co-founder, co lead singer and bassist for the group, and possessed a voice made for radio. Veteran music journalist Joe Milliken joins us to talk about his book “Let’s Go!: Benjamin Orr and The Cars. From Max’s Kansas City to The Rat, from MTV to LiveAid, Joe’s book provides insight into Orr’s life, which ended tragically young, as well as shows, sessions, and the dynamics behind a one-of a-kind band.

Today, we celebrate Tom Petty on his birthday, with some bonus chat with Christopher McKittrick, author of "Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles." We talk about favorite songs, favorite albums, most underrated albums and more from this iconic songwriter and musician. If you want to know which Tom Petty song Chris feels it's impossible to drive the speed limit to, tune in!

Denny Tedesco, the director of “The Wrecking Crew” joins us again to chat about his brand new rock documentary. “The Immediate Family” follows the work and lives of The Section, the legendary band of 1970s session musicians who were featured on some of the most iconic singer/songwriter recordings of the era.

You may not know the musician’s names, but The Wrecking Crew was a group of studio musicians in Los Angeles in the 1960s who played on hits for the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, The Monkees, Mamas and Papas, Herb Alpert and who were Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound." Director Denny Tedesco, son of guitarist Tommy Tedesco, talks to us about these unsung stars who played on so many records that everyone knows by heart. Tune in to hear more about these amazing, funny, and charming men and women who defined rock’n’roll in Los Angeles in the '60s and '70s.

Are we in the "Golden Age" of rock and music documentaries? Chris Epting certainly thinks so! Epting, the author of many music bios and some very entertaining reads on pop and pop music culture joins us to talk about some of them. Have you seen these?

Pat Simmons and Tom Johnston, the leaders of the Doobie Brothers, offer up a tag-team oral history with writer Chris Epting on the legendary rock band in "Long Train Runnin'." Their five decade journey, the longevity, success, drama and even the biker bars are all here. Chris joins us to recount their history, including the events that shelved Johnston and brought in Michael McDonald for The Doobies second wildly successful lineup. Chris has also worked with a number of musicians on their memoirs, including John Oates, Leif Garret, and members of Tesla and Def Leppard, as well as an upcoming book on and with Dave Mason. If that’s not enough. Epting has also written several great reads on pop culture, and pop music culture. They are the road map to many a great road trip, particularly if you’re curious where many a rocker were born, lived, slept and died, and just where Madonna’s bra currently resides.

Legendary A&R man, author, star of "Who The F**ck Is That Guy?" and fabulous photographer returns to talk who he's digging today, his favorite live bands, the Nina Simone documentary and finds one degree of separation with "the Other Steve!".

“Who The Fuck Is That Guy'? The Fabulous Journey Of Michael Alago” tells the astonishing story of a gay Puerto Rican kid growing up in a Hasidic Brooklyn neighborhood, who got on the subway one day and began a musical odyssey that helped shape the musical landscape across N.Y.C. and around the world. From rubbing elbows with NY scene makers at Max's Kansas City and CBGB, to being the19 year-old talent booker at the legendary Ritz, to making history as a 24 year-old A&R exec, signing the biggest metal band in a generation in Metallica, Michael Alago was on fire. Passion and excess would bring Alago crashing into the twin reapers of substance abuse and AIDS, but surviving them both he reinvented himself as an art photographer...healthy, sober, and as passionate as ever. Michael joins us to talk about the early New York City scene, Metallica, Public Image Limited, Nina Simone, and his photography. It’s an incredible journey. Join us!

Brad Schreiber, author of "Music Is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change" returns to talk about his favorite albums, music books and music documentaries!

In the first part of our chat with S. E. Feinberg about his book “Southern Man: Music and Mayhem in the American South,” which he co-authored with Alan Walden, we focused on the legendary work Walden did with R&B artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Percy Sledge.. It wasn’t always peaches and cream: the music business is tough. But after following his passion for R&B and building the careers of many of the legends in the genre, Alan Walden needed a break. In Act Two, author S.E. Feinberg tells us how Alan was renewed by the music of The Allman Brothers Band. Listening to hundreds of bands, he discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Outlaws, amongst others and helped define the sound of what would become known as “Southern Rock.”

Anyone who was alive during the golden age of R&B remembers the music, but Alan Walden and SE Feinberg’s book “Southern Man: Music and Mayhem in the American South” invites the reader to the centre of the story, into the studio and on the road, to backroom deals and backroom brawls. In Act One, S.E. Feinberg talks about Alan, his best friend Otis Redding, his brother, — the legendary producer Phil Walden — the juke joints in Macon, Georgia, The Apollo in New York City’s Harlem, and the tragedies of loss, disappointment, and betrayal in racially turbulent times.

"Nightclubbing" is the first-ever documentary about the renowned New York City nightclub Max's Kansas City) which had an massive impact on the worlds of music, fashion, art, culture and the creation of the city’s punk rock. The famous back room, where Andy Warhol held court and artists, actors, filmmakers, models, writers, assorted criminals and countless musicians — from Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground to David Bowie and the New York Dolls — made an indelible mark on music and the world. Director Danny Garcia joins us from the NYC premiere of his film to talk Max's, CBGBs, New York City in the swinging ’60s and filthy ’70s, the birth of punk rock and making a movie during Covid times. As legendary singer and Max’s veteran Alice Cooper, who is featured in the film , and who signed his contract with Warner Bros. Records at the club, says, "A million ideas were launched in Max's."

Bradley Morgan, author of "U2 Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America" comes back for a lightning round of his thoughts and favorite songs from legendary Irish bands.

U2 planted the seeds for "The Joshua Tree" during an existential journey through America. As Irishmen in the 1970s, the band grew up with the belief that America was a place of freedom and prosperity, a symbol of hope and a refuge for all people. However, global politics of the 1980s undermined that impression. Bradley Morgan joins us to explore the political, social, and cultural themes rooted in "The Joshua Tree" when it was originally released in 1987 and how those themes resonated as a response to the election of Donald Trump when U2 toured for the album's 30th anniversary. He juxtaposes the band's journey through America with his own journey by becoming an Irish citizen in the age of Trump and places the album's relevance in context with the current political climate.

Author Doug Brod spends a few more minutes with us, highlighting some of his favorite albums, music books, and music documentaries. Do you have any crossover with the man who wrote"It Just Seems A Little Weird: How KISS, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz Remade Rock and Roll"? Tune in and find out!

Rock documentaries are everywhere these days and, thankfully, that includes ska music from Jamaica and America. We ask "Ska Boom" author where he thinks fans of the genre should start.

Marc Wasserman is the author of Ska Boom: An American Ska and Reggae Oral History. He’s also played bass in a number of Ska bands, and backed some of the genres legends in the historic1998 Skavoovee tour. Marc joins us with stories, anecdotes, history, gossip, and, most importantly, the feeling of what it was like to be there as groups of young, ska-crazed acolytes spread their passion and ignited a fiercely loyal dedication to a burgeoning culture. Included are interviews with members of some of these seminal bands and fans who witnessed the birth and spread of a uniquely American version of ska and reggae and a forward penned by Horace Panter of The Specials.

We ask Jay Bergen, author of "Lennon, The Mobster & The Lawyer" about Lennon's album "Rock 'N' Roll,"  his favorite  Lennon and Beatles tunes, and  his favorite memory of his friendship with John.

Before John Lennon retreated peacefully into private life in 1975,he fought a major legal battle that went under the public radar. Just as his "Rock and Roll" oldies record hit the market, Morris Levy the mob-connected owner of Roulette Records, released "Roots," an unauthorized version of the same record. Levy had used rough mixes of John’s unfinished rock and roll recordings and claimed the former Beatle had verbally agreed to the arrangement. The clash led to a lawsuit and countersuit between Levy and Lennon. Attorney Jay Bergen, a partner in a prestigious New York City law firm, represented John in this epic battle to his own recordings. Millions of dollars were at stake. Jay joins us to tell how he worked closely with John to rebut Levy’s outrageous claims. He also recounts how John explained his recording process in poetic exacting terms to a judge., who know little about The Beatles, and John’s solo career. It also paints a detailed personal picture of John and his world in 1975 and ’76, when he was to have a new son and go into happy seclusion to be a husband and father.

We spend “a few more minutes" talking about the days when album cover graphics were a dominant part of the industry. Now...is it merch?

“The Album” is a documentary on the evolution of the record industry told from the perspective of art directors and photographers who created the most memorable art in music history. Veteran Art Director and director Kevin Hosmann speaks to top creators of their day to discuss the development of the art synonymous with the music you know and love. From “Abbey Road”, “Hotel California,” and “Dark Side of the Moon” to “Breakfast in America” and Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” hear the stories behind the music. Starting in the analog past of the 60's — how rock and roll began catering to the teenagers and their disposable income, to the introduction of the CD through it's digital disruption of file sharing, to online sales, streaming and the dominance of social media--the vehicle of new music discovery has radically changed. And through it all, the love of music has never been stronger because the audience’s desire for that emotional connection to the music they love remains unchanged. Join us and for a fascinating look into a bygone visual era and what has replaced it.

Legendary guitarist, producer and activist Stevie Van Zandt joins us for a few more minutes to talk about "the unwritten book," nicknames, The Beatles, and their recent documentary film "Get Back" Tune in!

Pearl Jams’ "vs." is the sound of a band on fire. The same confluence of talent, passion, timing, and fate that made “grunge” the world's soundtrack also lit a short fuse beneath Pearl Jam. The band combusted between late 1992 and mid-1994, the span during which they planned, recorded, and supported their sophomore record. The spotlight and pressure nearly turned the thriving act to ash. "vs." roils and is a thrashing testament to Pearl Jam's urgent creativity and greater-good interests. Author Clint Brownlee takes us inside the making of this classic album with little-known details, and band members recollections of just what was going on with the band, their concerts, the music industry, and their place in grunge and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Film director, podcast host, and lead singer of Antidote Drew Stone talks about his favorite and the most influential hardcore bands in Boston, New York City and the West Coast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Stone's "xxx All Ages xxx" film documents the early Boston hardcore music scene from 1981 through 1984. “The New York Chronicles Film” is an incredible journey though the community and culture of the iconic New York hardcore scene. The hardcore culture, straight edge and D.I.Y. (‘Do It Yourself’) ethics of the time are also explored, as is, of course, Boston versus New York. Director Drew Stone is also the lead singer for New York City’s Antidote and hosts a podcast that focuses on hardcore music and its community. Join us for an incredible look into 40+ years of this highly influential and vibrant music scene that is still going strong to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Annie Zaleski talks about her favorite Duran Duran side projects, song covers, and the best — and worst — covers of the their songs by other bands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the '80s, the Birmingham, England, band Duran Duran became closely associated with new wave, an idiosyncratic genre that dominated the decade's music and culture. No album represented this rip-it-up-and-start-again movement better than the act's breakthrough 1982 LP, "Rio." However, the album was not a success everywhere at first; in fact, "Rio" had to be buffed-up with remixes and reissued before it found an audience in America. The album was further buoyed by colorful music videos, which established Duran Duran as leaders of an MTV-driven second British Invasion, and the group's cutting-edge visual aesthetic. Author Annie Zaleski joins us to talk about how and why Rio became a landmark pop-rock album, and examines how the LP was both a musical inspiration-and a reflection of a musical, cultural, and technology zeitgeist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The director (and reluctant star) of "Roadie: My Documentary" talks about the devastating effects of COVID on the live music industry, the people it depends on, and where we are now, and where it all might go... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unapologetically indie, “ROADIE: My Documentary” spans the 20 year career of roadie turned filmmaker, TJ Hoffmann as he takes you behind the scenes and on the run with rock-n-roll road crews. Filmed in a handful of countries over the course of ten years, "ROADIE" begins as a quest to find out why anyone would want to become one, but over time another narrative is discovered as TJ, the man behind the camera is forced to confront his inner demons. TJ interviews the road dogs and techs who worked behind Motley Cure, KISS, Madonna, Guns “n: Roses, Elton John, Skid Row, and many others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our first easily-digestible short take, with author Paul Sexton. Favorite Prince tune? Favorite song? And in career chock full of iconic moments, you have to pick one of two. Tune in to hear what Paul has to say... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prince Rogers Nelson was a musical phenomenon who constantly reinvented himself throughout his long and colorful career, changing his style and even his name to keep his artistic output fresh and funky. Author Paul Sexton joins us to talk about his unique book “Prince: A Portrait of the Artist in Memories and Memorabilia,” including stories from those who knew Prince best, and some of the incredible photographs of the artist. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For 30 years, the Grateful Dead were the most unlikely success story in rock and roll. At the peak of their popularity, they were the highest-grossing concert act in America. Director Amir Bar-Lev joins us to talk about his remarkable film “Long Strange Trip” that explores all aspects of this beloved band, a tribe of contrarians who made art out of open-ended chaos, and inadvertently achieved success. Longtime heads will happily tune in and drop out, of course, but casual or even non-fans shouldn't fear Long Strange Trip, the definitive and unprecedented look at the life of the Dead. Join us and Amir to hear more about this one-of-a-kind documentary film. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary independent roots label Rounder Records was born in 1970. Founder and author Bill Nowlin said “it was a hobby that got out of control.” His new book is the story of three people with no background in business who took an idea and, through hard work and passion, built up something of lasting cultural significance. Bill joins us to take us through those fifty years, with stories about the music business, and his partners, roots music, George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Studio One and Jamaica, 15-year -old prodigy Alison Krauss, her record with Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, and the role of record labels today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Journey of Dreams" is the story of the iconic genre-busting 1990s 'Low Rock' band Morphine. Director Mark Shuman joins us to talk about the trio's unique and mesmeric sound. that continues to resonate with its fans and music lovers worldwide following the death of its singer, songwriter and two-string bassist Mark Sandman onstage at an Italian music festival in 1999.  Morphine's story is told by its surviving members and the coterie around them, sans narration, and made palpable through saxophonist Dana Colley's tour journals. Rare live performances from throughout the group's career are woven into the tale, along with interviews with Joe Strummer, Steve Berlin, Henry Rollins and The Blasters hornman Steve Berlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Philip Lynott packed a vast amount into his 36 years. An instantly identifiable singer, charismatic stage performer and supremely gifted songwriter, the guiding spirit of Thin Lizzy combined the instincts of a wild man with the soul of a poet. Author Graeme Thomson joins us and talks about Lynott’s unique childhood, his embrace of Irish history and mythology, and his fascinating contradiction between rock star excess and the shy, sensitive “orphan” raised in working-class Dublin. And, of course, Thin Lizzy. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Bob And The Monster" is a documentary film that follows Thelonious Monster lead singer Bob Forrest, through his life-threatening struggle with addiction, to his transformation into one of the most influential and controversial drug counselors in the US today. The film, directed by Keirda Bahruth, crafts contemporary footage, animation and compelling interviews with archival performances and personal videos from Bob's past to reveal the complex layers of this troubled, but hopeful soul.  Part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1972, director Perry Henzell released the film “The Harder They Come.” Its story revolves around a rural Jamaican musician who journeys to the city of Kingston in search of fame and fortune. Ivan, the central character is played by a young Jimmy Cliff. The film was an immediate hit in Jamaica and eventually the US via midnight shows, running weeks and sometimes years in some cities. Reggae historian Roger Steffens joins us to talk about this highly influential film, which turns fifty next year! We’ll also discuss the soundtrack that features Cliff, Toots and The Maytals, Desmond Decker and many others, and would virtually establish reggae music outside of Jamaica. Join us! Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On May 5, 2019, we published our very first podcast, speaking with authors about their books on music in various genres. And now, we are 58 episodes and two years in, and we’re still at it. Thanks to all of you who follow us, comment, makes suggestions and tune in. And in fact, we’re still growing. Or about to anyway… One thing we’ve noticed is the incredible increase in music documentaries and films. There are so many classics and, these days, there seems to a new music movie every week. . So….what to do when you’re super busy, and still growing? Cast a bigger, wider net, of course. Veteran documentary filmmaker Peter Spirer joins us to talk about this phenomenon, and reggae historian Roger Steffens gives a taste of what's coming to AllMusicMovies. Have a listen and find out more! Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Jamaica, the music world was rougher than rough. The record men took monikers of royalty and machismo, like Duke and King and Lord. These boastful ringleaders fired guns into the air after descending a throne, and violent gangs stormed dances to "mash up" competing sound systems. The Jamaican music business was a man’s world. How was a little girl with a sweet song in her soul to have a chance?  In “Songbirds: Pioneering Women in Jamaican Music” author Heather Augustyn joins us to bring to life the stories of these inspirational women who found a way. These are the never-before-told stories of the women singers who persevered and made it – no matter the struggle— so that their music can be savored, and their lives finally celebrated. Tune in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nipsey Hussle was a hip hop mogul, artist, and activist whose transformative legacy inspired a generation with his motivational lyrics and visionary business savvy — before he was tragically shot down in the very neighborhood he was dedicated to building up. Join us and Vibe magazine’s Rob Kenner as we dig into his book on Nipsey Hussle, and trace the life and work of an extraordinary artist, placing him in historical context and unpacking his complex legacy. Hussle was determined to win the race to success on his own terms, and he wanted to see his whole community in the winner’s circle with him. Sadly, it all ended too soon. Part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Robert Duncan was barely out of his teens when he started writing for the influential music magazine Creem, becoming its managing editor at 22. He worked alongside legendary rock critic Lester Bangs, witnessed his tragic spiral, and finally discovered him dead of an OD in the apartment next door. He went on to write for Rolling Stone, Circus, Life, and dozens of other publications, interviewing hundreds of rock stars at the top of their game. These experiences, and many others, provide the fuel for his debut novel, Loud Mouth, a rock ‘n’ roll coming-of-age novel about sex, drugs, attempted murder, successful arson, love, hate, faith, fraud, family, Springsteen, Clash, Stones, Creem magazine, Lester Bangs, the Seventies, New York, Detroit, Memphis & buck teeth. Duncan promises that “Some of it is factual. All of it is true.” Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Tom Petty arrived in Los Angeles in 1974 the Gainesville, Florida native found exactly what he was looking for in L.A.,rom the earliest Heartbreakers concerts in Los Angeles at the legendary Whisky a Go Go and the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, to the band’s final concerts at the iconic Hollywood Bowl, Petty aimed to continue the tradition of the Southern California rock and roll. At the same time, Petty’s career often coincided with seismic shifts in the music business, such as Tom’s refusal to back down to label management, industry conventions, and the changing courses of music platforms such as rock radio, MTV, and MP3s and streaming. Author Christopher McKittrick talks to us about the artistic life of Tom Petty through his career-long relationship with Los Angeles and the many colorful characters and venues that inspired him and his music. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone’s most cherished childhood record―be it a battered piece of vinyl, torn cassette tape, or scratched CD―has a story, and those stories can be more revealing about their owners than you might expect. Eric Spitznagel joins us to tell first-hand tales by artists of all ages, backgrounds, and musical influences, remembering the meaning behind the records that mattered most to them. Hear from Ian MacKaye to Cherie Currie, from Suzi Quatro to Donny Osmond , Fishbone’s Angelo Moore and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former music exec, collector and author Jeff Gold returns with the almost unbelievable story of The Stooges, the band that virtually invented punk rock. Jeff spent two days with Iggy Pop at his Miami home, sharing with him an extensive Stooges collection and interviewing the legendary singer.  Gold's book is the uncensored history of this most extraordinary band, in the words of the man who willed The Stooges into existence and somehow kept them alive in the face of disaster — again and again — and against all odds. Three historic albums, and one crazy story, you don't want to miss this one! Part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The myth of the outlaw has informed many of the great songs in music. From folk and blues, to country and rock, to reggae and rap, bad men and bandits have endured. A Friend of the Devil tracks the true story of these legendary bandits behind the songs that deify them, while looking at society's role in both creating outlaws, and our perpetual need for a new hero. John Kruth talks us about why we have continued to romanticize criminals in song, raising them to heroic figures. We’ll go behind such legendary songs — and characters — by Townes Van Zandt, the Grateful Dead, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Warren Zevon and many others, whose hits idolized the outlaw and its myth. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1968, Elvis Presley walked down Sunset Strip in broad daylight. No one recognized him. He was worse than dead, he was irrelevant. Changes had to be made. So Elvis staged rock's first and greatest comeback in "Elvis '68," widely known as The Comeback Special. With this show, he resurrected himself— at the age of 33, no less — from the ashes of a career mired in bad movies and soundtracks. So where to go from here? Back home, of course. Author Eric Wolfson joins us to break down "From Elvis In Memphis." The music and cultural landscape had changed, and bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys were now all the rage. But, as Wolfson tell us, The Memphis Boys and Chips Moman give the King a kick in the behind, and he delivers one of his greatest albums ever! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the fiftieth episode of our Deep Dive podcast and we’re going to use this occasion to stretch out a little bit. Today, we’re going to talk about a real-life music story that is unfolding before our very eyes. In real time. COVID has decimated the music industry, and nowhere moreso than the men and women behind the scenes of live concert performances. The lighting guys, the techs, the sound guys, the people who build the stages — the roadies. Sandy Espinoza formed roadiecare.com to try and help the millions of people out of work. While we may not be able to enjoy concerts, these people have no jobs and few places to turn. Tom Weber was Eddie Van Halen’s long-time guitar tech and recently lost his guitar repair shop because he couldn’t pay the rent. Their stories are sometimes hard to listen to — and not because we were “Zoom Bombed" by a rogue accordion playing “My Way.” But it’s a story that needs to be told and heard. Hopefully, we can all help write a better ending for these unsung heroes of live music.  This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was the age when heavy-footed, humorless dinosaurs roamed the hard-rock landscape. But that all changed when these four dazed and confused mid-'70s flamboyant bands that reveled in revved-up anthems and flaunted a novel theatricality. Author Doug Brod seamlessly interweaves the narratives of KISS, Cheap Trick, and Aerosmith and Starz, taking us back to a time when rock became fun again and a gig became a show. We talk about each band's birth, rebirths, and where they belong in music history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The question of control for Black women is a costly one. From 1986 onwards, the trajectory of Janet Jackson's career can be summed up in her desire for control. Control for Janet was never simply just about her desire for economic and creative control but rather an existential question about the desire to control and be in control over her bodily integrity as a Black woman.Ayanna Dozier talks about Janet's quest for control as heard in her sixth album, The Velvet Rope, an emancipatory act of self-creation that allows her to reconcile with and, potentially, heal from trauma, pain, and feelings of alienation. Dozier tells us how this album stands out as a revelatory expression of emotional vulnerability by the singer, one that many other artists have followed in the 20-plus years since its release. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his new book "Sittin' In," Grammy Award-winning record executive and music historian Jeff Gold brings to life the renowned jazz nightclubs of the 1940s and 1950s in an astounding visual history of American music.Gold talks to us about this explosive moment in the history of Jazz and expounds on these spaces as the center of artistic and social change. These clubs formed a profoundly inclusive and communal scene in American culture and music during a time of otherwise widespread segregation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone loves cover songs. And a great cover often makes a song stronger. Why is that? Author Ray Padgett, of the website www.covermesongs.com, lets us in on the origins of classic covers — and tells the larger story of how cover songs have evolved over the decades.The Beatles made “Twist and Shout” famous, but who did it first? Where did the Righteous Brothers "Unchained Melody" come from? Aretha Franklin demanded “Respect,” Patti Smith blew up "Gloria," DEVO deconstructed "Satisfaction," and Talking Heads recast Al Green's "Take Me To The River." Hear more from Ray in this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two Steves thank you for your support. We'll be back in January and here's a sneak peak as to what's coming! Plus a *great* version of a Holiday classic from our friends Frankie and The Poolboys! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Becoming Jimi Hendrix traces “Jimmy’s” early musical roots, from a harrowing, hand-to-mouth upbringing in a poverty-stricken, broken Seattle home to his stint as a reluctant recruit of the 101st Airborne who was magnetically drawn to the rhythm and blues scene in Nashville. As a sideman, Hendrix played with the likes of Little Richard, Ike and Tina Turner, the Isley Brothers, and Sam & Dave — but none knew what to make of his spotlight-stealing rock guitar experimentation, the likes of which had never been heard before.Author Brad Schreiber walks us through these formative years, as Hendrix developed his style in the rough and tumble clubs of Nashville, New York, and London, where he would break through and become the world's greatest rock'n'roll guitar player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger Steffens is one of the world’s leading Bob Marley and reggae music experts. His book So Much Things To Say is a revelatory, one-of-a-kind oral history on the life and music of the legendary Rasta prophet, told in the words of those who knew him best.Part 2:Steffens takes us on Bob's journey from Kingston slums to Madison Square Garden, through the major controversies of Marley's life, examining who actually ordered the assassination attempt on his life, scrutinizing claims of CIA involvement and investigating why Bob Marley’s fatal cancer wasn’t diagnosed sooner. And, of course, the incredible music Bob Marley left behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger Steffens is one of the world’s leading Bob Marley and reggae music experts. His book "So Much Things To Say" is a revelatory, one-of-a-kind oral history on the life and music of the legendary Rasta prophet, told in the words of those who knew him best.Part 1:Roger takes us through Bob Marley’s early days, and the formation of the original Wailin’ Wailers. Bob, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer were a unique combination, and we learn what each brought to the table, to their music, and what led to the dissolution of this classic trio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leonard Cohen's record label refused to release his 1984 album Various Positions —which included the song "Hallelujah" — in the United States. Luckily, Velvet Underground founder John Cale was one of the few who did hear "Hallelujah," and he covered it for I'm Your Fan. Jeff Buckley would hear that version, and take the song into the stratosphere.Author Ray Padgett talks about that album and about tribute albums as a whole and what they mean to the record business. Good, bad, and worse, Ray goes deep into this unique and very popular subset of the industry.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Adam Steiner joins us to talk about the creation and cultural impact of Nine Inch Nails' album "The Downward Spiral," one of the most influential and artistically significant albums of the twentieth century.Steiner goes deep into Trent Reznor and his state of mind during the recording process, the deeply disturbing music and videos he created, and the chilling location where the album was recorded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Brad Schreiber takes us on a guided tour through the past 100 years of politically-conscious music, from Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan to the Bob Marley, the Dead Kennedys and NWA. Covering a wide variety of genres, including reggae, country, psychedelia, rap, punk, folk and soul, Schreiber tells fascinating stories about the origins and the impact of dozens of world-changing songs, while revealing political context and the personal challenges of these legendary artists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we stretch out a bit and examine "Gunning For Hits," a music-based graphic novel series. Set in the shady New York City scene of the mid-80s, this music business thriller stars Martin Mills, a record company talent scout with an inscrutable past, and his attempts to sign a rock band that will conquer the world.Author and creator Jeff Rougvie knows his stuff. He was the former Director of A&R for Rykodisc, one of the great independent music labels. He worked with both David Bowie, Elvis Costello, and Frank Zappa, amongst many other artists, to bring their catalog reissues to compact disc on the innovative label. Rougvie takes us inside the the music business, his Gunning For Hits series, and the world of graphic novels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every song tells a story, but every song also has its own story — the ideas or events that inspired it, the songwriters who created it, the artists that recorded it, and the impact that it made.Fiona McQuarrie tells us some fascinating tales that will appeal to music lovers, readers interested in popular culture, and anyone who wants to find out more about songs that they love. And who knows? You just might end up discovering a new favorite tune. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Often called "the bible of alternative rock," Trouser Press was a highly influential music magazine in the '70s and 80s. We speak with Ira Robbins, who was a founder, writer, editor and publisher with the magazine and the series of "Trouser Press Record Guides" that followed.Robbins has recently put all 94 issues — in their entirety — online at www.trouserpress.com, and is adding new content as well. He's recently authored a new novel, based in the glam-rock music world, called "Marc Bolan Killed in Crash." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highway To Hell was AC/DC's infamous last album recorded with singer Bon Scott, who died of "death by misadventure," in London in February of 1980. Scott's demise has forever secured the album's reputation as a partying primer and a bible for lethal behavior, branding the album with the fun chaos of alcoholic excess and its flip side, early death.Author Joe Bonomo talks with us about this album, the power of adolescence, the durability of rock & roll fandom, and the transformative properties of memory. Why does Highway To Hell matter to anyone beyond non-ironic teenagers? Find out here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Bessie Smith and The Supremes to Joan Baez, Madonna, Beyonce, Amy Winehouse, Dolly Parton, Sleater-Kinney, Taylor Swift, and scores more, women have played an essential and undeniable role in the evolution of popular music including blues, rock and roll, country, folk, glam rock, punk, and hip hop. Today, in a world traditionally dominated by male artists, women have a stronger influence on popular music than ever before.Editor Evelyn McDonnell talks to us about “Women Who Rock,” an all-out celebration of 104 of the greatest female musicians. McDonnell takes us into the selection process, how the book was organized, and the profiles and illustrations of the musicians, all written and composed by women writers, journalists, and artists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his 30 years in the photography business, Jimmy Steinfeldt has worked with everyone from Miles Davis to the Ramones. Jimmy was first published in 1985 in SPIN magazine. Rolling Stone soon followed, publishing a classic photograph of Madonna from the “Like A Virgin” tour.Jimmy tells us about the Minneapolis music scene in the '80s, and the difference in shooting in LA, the biggest market in the world. He also takes us backstage to give us the backstory on his shoots, including Johnny Cash, Dee Dee Ramone, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and many others! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singer, songwriter, and producer Wayne Warner details his relationship with country music’s major record labels, the common practices in making hit records, and tell us about his experiences with great artists he has worked with, including Taylor Swift and Bonnie Tyler, as well as many country legends. But how did Nashville react to his fierce independence, and his adoption of two African American sons? A brutally honest conversation with the man whose hit, “Turbo Twang” reached the top of the country charts, gives us a look behind the curtain of Nashville's famous Music Row. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roy Christopher traces the story of how hip-hop invented the twenty-first century and tells us how the hallmarks of hip-hop — allusion, self-reference, the use of new technologies, sampling, the cutting and splicing of language and sound — would come to define the culture of the new millennium.Christopher takes in the ground-breaking work of DJs and MCs such as Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and Rammellzee, alongside writers like Philip K. Dick and William Gibson, and links graffiti and DIY culture to present a fascinating continuum of music of the past, present, and future— all tied to hip hop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take a trip back in time, as Van Morrison arrives in Boston to begin writing what would become his masterpiece, "Astral Weeks." Author Ryan Walsh joins us to unearth the album's fascinating backstory — along with the untold secrets of the time and place that birthed it.Walsh paints an incredible picture that includes Peter Wolf (of the J. Geils Band), the "Bosstown" sound, Jonathan Richman, the Velvet Underground, and James Brown. Join us for a look into this unique history of 1968 Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music takes us into the studio during the recording sessions for some of the most talented and successful artists in rock music history, including Van Morrison, The Doobie Brothers, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Little Feat, Sammy Hagar, and Van Halen.Author Greg Renoff recounts Ted's memories and the behind-the-scenes dramas and reveals the inner workings of Ted's professional and personal relationships with some of the most talented and successful artists in rock music history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

STIFF Records was a maverick of an independent label. Founded by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera, their motto was "If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a F*ck!" One word sums up why Stiff Records came into being: frustration. Their brash and humorous takes artwork, marketing, and the music itself changed the industry. While Stiff tongue-in-cheek called itself "the undertakers to the industry," they would bring the world Elvis Costello, Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Nick Lowe and Madness, among many others. Author Richard Balls takes us through the story of one of the most unique and influential labels in the history of music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our second season opener, author Faith Pennick takes on D'Angelo's epic album Voodoo, where the singer puts his own pleasures and insecurities up front. However, the sonic expansiveness of Voodoo proved too nebulous for airplay and was nearly overshadowed by a four-minute music video featuring D'Angelo's sweat-glistened six-pack abs. Ms. Pennick takes us deep inside the sessions, the band, the late-night listening parties and what it was about D'Angelo that "almost made black women in particular and women in general, collectively pass out." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host SteveJ and engineer Steve Folsom fill listeners in on who they are and what they've done in past lives. This episode also expounds on AllMusicBooks.com and the creation of that website, as well as the story behind the "Deep Dive" podcast, with a little help from some of our guests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things have changed. Quickly. Everyone will adapt. Here's where the AllMusicBooks podcast "DEEP DIVE" is at this moment...all good, and we hope you all are as well... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1960s and 1970s, nothing symbolized the rift between black and white America better than the seemingly divided genres of country and soul music. In the legendary studios of the "country triangle" — Memphis, Nashville, and Muscle Shoals, Alabama — integrated groups of musicians like Booker T & the MGs and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section produced music that both challenged and reconfirmed racial divisions in the United States.Author Charles L. Hughes tells us how this country-soul triangle gave birth to new ways of thinking about music, race, labor, and the South in this pivotal period. Artists from Aretha Franklin to Willie Nelson to the Allman Brothers became crucial contributors to the era's popular music and American racial politics during the turbulent years of civil rights protests, Black Power and white backlash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Modern Lovers is the essential document of American alienation, an escape route from the cultural wasteland of postwar suburbia. But The Modern Lovers was never meant to be an album; it is a collection of demos, recorded in fits and starts as Jonathan Richman and his band negotiate modernity and the music industrySean L. Maloney talks with us about one of punk rock's foundational documents, the archetype for indie obsession, and why Pablo Picasso just might have been called an asshole. All but disowned by its author, The Modern Lovers was an album doomed by its own coolness from day one. Hear why... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his two books on jazz at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, author Edward Allan Faine pulls back the curtain on the Nixon White House. Was Tricky Dick really a jazz fan? After all, he did give Duke Ellington the Medal of Freedom in 1969. And wait 'til you hear who was in the band, and who played the “after-party.” As always in politics, there’s a backstory and Faine fills us in on the behind-the-scene machinations in "Ellington At The White House."In his second book “The Best Gig In Town,” Faine focuses on the thirteen additional jazz-related performances Nixon would hold between 1969 and 1974. Hear the inside accounts of why Sinatra almost got canceled, and who that was playing piano behind some of Pearl Bailey’s set. Did Peggy Lee perform "Fever" at the White House? We’ll also touch on some of the more recent presidents and their bands of choice for “the best gig in town!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just a few years after he almost died from a severe addiction to cocaine and alcohol, a clean and sober Stevie Ray Vaughan was riding high. His last album was his most critically lauded and commercially successful. He had fulfilled a lifelong dream by collaborating with his first and greatest musical hero, his brother Jimmie. His tumultuous marriage was over and he was in a new and healthy romantic relationship. Vaughan seemed poised for a new, limitless chapter of his life and career.Instead, it all came to a shocking and sudden end on August 27, 1990, when he was killed in a helicopter crash following a dynamic performance with Eric Clapton. Author Alan Paul gives us the unadulterated truth about legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In April 1998, legendary southern jam band Widespread Panic held a free open-air record release show in downtown Athens, Georgia, its homebase. No one involved could have known that the predicted crowd of twenty thousand would prove to be nearly five times that size. Author Gordon Lamb talks about how the show, now known as “Panic in the Streets” was a decisive moment in Athens music history.Lamb also takes us back into the rich Athens musical history, discussing how the small Southern college town birthed a highly influential and diverse music scene, including The B-52s, R.E.M., Pylon, Flat Duo Jets, Drive By Truckers, and, of course, Widespread Panic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just what is "yacht rock," you ask? Is it AM gold? Soft, smooth 70s hits, come back to life? Perhaps the easiest description is music that would not sound out of place being played while carousing aboard a yacht back in "the good old days." Unsure if you've heard "yacht rock?" Well...if you've heard anything featuring Michael McDonald or members of Toto, you have! Author Greg Prato takes us through its birth in the early 70s (Seals & Croft, The Eagles, Steely Dan), its second act later in that decade (Player, Pablo Cruise, Firefall), as well as its current revival, which includes touring outfit The Yacht Rock Revue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For You Original Stories and Photographs by Bruce Springsteen's Legendary Fans is a limited edition book first published in 2007. The book, published by Lawrence Kirsch, puts the fans front and center, focusing on the personal stories of a little-documented but essential segment of the world of popular music —the fans. It is packed with incredible photos taken by those fans.We spoke with Lawrence about this incredibly unique and beautiful book. It has been sold out since 2009, but there is a limited edition of 1100 copies available for a short time! Hear what Lawrence has to say about the book, the fans and their stories, Kirsch's first Bruce concert and favorite Bruce song, and much, much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Were The Replacements one of the last great bands, or a bunch of drunken f*ckups? Depends on who you ask. Or could they have been both? Author Bob Mehr reveals the primal factors and forces that shaped the Minneapolis band, their troubled early years, and their rise — and their often self-inflicted falls — within the early '80s American underground. Join us as Mehr delves into the personalities, the albums, the war stories from the road, and whether The Replacements belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of the many girl-groups that came out of the 1960s, none is more idiosyncratic and influential than The Shangri-Las. They were together only five years, but within that time they subverted pop standards and foreshadowed a generation of tough women in music.Author Ada Wolin examines the still-elusive validation of 1960s girl-groups as a whole, but also aims to free The Shangri-Las from that category, viewing them instead with the individuality traditionally afforded to rock groups. In fact, says Wolin, they were the “punkiest” of the girl-groups. Our conversation with Ada presents a fresh new look into “The Golden Age of The Shangri-Las.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Cantwell takes us on a revelatory journey through Merle Haggard’s music and the life and times out of which it came. Focusing on the music “the Hag” created, Cantwell breaks down albums, songs, and the growth of Haggard’s songwriting.Cantwell deftly weaves together Merle’s story and his songs, with the story of America — clearly in its growing pains stage — and how they fit together. If you’re a newcomer to “the Hag," or if you don’t think Merle Haggard is one of the bedrocks of American and country music, have a listen. David Cantwell will convince you otherwise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We set out to speak with David Cantwell on his Merle Haggard book "Merle Haggard: The Running Kind," but got tangled up in a lot of very cool stuff in our on-air intros and warm-ups, and thought it an episode unto itself!David dove into Ken Burns’ recent (and excellent!) PBS series “Country Music” in great and fascinating detail. He also talked about his recent piece in The New Yorker on Tanya Tucker’s new album and why she deserves to be in the company of women country artists who need no last name. Legendary singer Charley Pride, and the false ”war“ between “hat” and alt-country are also dissected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January of 1979, Donny Hathaway fell fifteen stories from a window of Manhattan's Essex House Hotel in an alleged suicide. He was 33 years old and at the peak of his career. Hathaway was a composer, pianist, and soul singer committed to exploring “music in its totality,” whose influence on generations of singers and musicians.Author Emily Lordi breaks down his essential "Live" album — one of the all-time great live albums — and offers up the story of Hathaway's life, from his beginning in the church, to his numerous musical collaborations, his tragic death, and his uncanny ability to amplify the power and beauty of his songs in the moment of live performance.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk to acclaimed journalist David De Sola about his comprehensive biography of Alice In Chains, one of the bands within the burgeoning Seattle scene that would forever change alternative and rock music.De Sola tells us how drugs nearly destroyed them and claimed the lives of singer Layne Staley and founding bassist Mike Starr. He tells us of guitarist Jerry Cantrell's solo career, and the incredible resurrection of the band nearly fifteen years later with new lead singer William DuVall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the history of The Rolling Stones through the prism of New York City. Author Chris McKittrick takes us on a highly detailed tour of the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between the world’s greatest rock'n'roll band and the world’s greatest city. From The Ed Sullivan Show, to Madison Square Garden, to "Saturday Night Live", the Stones have often reflected the cultural changes of the city. McKittrick tells us the tales of the band that never sleeps and their adventures in turbulent “Fun City!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Washburn talks about “Southern Accents,” Tom Petty’s deeply flawed concept album about the South, and its artistic failure and public controversy. Petty made extensive use of the iconography of the American Confederacy — something he soon came to regret. We’ll discuss how the record both grew out of, and reinforced enduring but flawed assumptions about Southern culture, and break the album down track by track. We'll also throw in our favorite and least favorite Tom Petty records. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Galadrielle Allman joins us to talk about her deeply personal, revealing, and lyrical portrait of her father, Duane Allman, who was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of twenty-four. She was two years old.Galadrielle shares some wonderful stories of her father and his music. At the heart of her book is her journey to understand the man millions idolized, but she never knew. It's a story every bit as compelling, beautiful, sad, and singular as her father's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, we talk to author, noted music producer, and scholar Pat Thomas, who spent five years researching Listen, Whitey! We dig deep into how the movement affected the popular music of the day, including Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye and Motown, Gil Scott-Heron, Nina Simone and others.Thomas also talks about how bands like The Last Poets and The Watts Prophets foreshadowed and influenced rap music, as well as the musical and cultural world we live in today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Beatles were not only pioneers in music and popular culture, they were also the progenitors of the music merchandise phenomenon. In fact, the Fab Four earned over $50 million in merchandise sales in 1965!Author and researcher Terry Crain joins us to talk about Beatles merch — everything from games, dolls, toys, wigs and bubble bath — and other interesting side treks surrounding this trendsetting and nostalgic era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tiny Tim represents one of the most phenomenal success stories in show business, rubbing shoulders with Bob Dylan and Lenny Bruce. The forty-something falsetto-voiced, ukulele-playing Tiny Tim landed a recording contract with Sinatra's Reprise label and regular appearances on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” and “Laugh In.” Author Justin Martell brings those stories and more to life on our podcast discussing one of the most fascinating yet misunderstood figures in popular music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Equal parts myth and legend, the New Barbarians are one of the greatest bands many people have never heard — or heard of! Put together by Ron Wood, the band featured fellow Stone Keith Richards, the Faces’ Ian MacLagan, sax player Bobby Keys, and a legendary rhythm section of the Meters’ Ziggy Modeleste and jazz great Stanley Clarke.Author Rob Chapman details how the band came about, it’s singular tour, and how this unique ensemble of incredible talent played — both onstage and off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, musician, producer, manager, rock journalist, and indie label executive Bruce Duff talks “The Smell of Death.” A pre-cellphone indie punk rock van tour of Europe is the stage for music, hijinks, and hilarity, with a memorable and unique cast of characters.Take a trip back in time with Duff…you won’t be disappointed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Greg Renoff reveals the untold story of how the legendary Van Halen began, playing backyard parties in Los Angeles, This unique pre-history takes you from those high school bashes to funky dive bars with wet t-shirt contests, and, finally, to the Sunset Strip and beyond.Renoff discusses the extraordinary talent and focus of Van Halen, and tells some incredible stories that include Gene Simmons of KISS, Rodney Bingenheimer, and those wild and crazy parties that launched the band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July, 1967: It seems the entire country stopped to listen to a husky voice steeped in the simmering secrets of the South tell a tragic tale of teenage suicide. So much for the Summer of Love.In our “Ode to Billie Joe” podcast, author Tara Murtha talks about the the real-life mysteries of that song, Bobbie Gentry's career and influence, and how —and perhaps why — she vanished from sight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Memory Songs is a testament to music's power over the imagination, and the way it punctuates our past and shapes our future.Author and musician James Cook explores the role music has played in his — and in everyone's — lives, and the songs we all carry within us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices