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  • 1971 - September: Carole King "Tapestry"

    1971 - September: Carole King "Tapestry"
    2025/05/05
    Many mark the start of the singer-songwriter genre to have begun when Carole King released her second studio album, the iconic Tapestry. As would be expected from a singer-songwriter, all of the songs on the album were either written or co-written by King. Tapestry is considered one of the greatest albums of all time in the soft rock genre.Born Carol Joan Klein in Manhattan, King began piano lessons at four years of age. Her upbringing included friendship with Paul Simon and dating Neil Sedaka. In the 50's at the age of 17 she met and married Jerry Goffin with whom she would team up on songwriting through the 60's - King writing the music and Goffin writing the lyrics. They had several successful songs during the 60's including "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (The Monkees), "I'm Into Something Good" (Herman's Hermits), and "Up On the Roof" (the Drifters). King and Goffin divorced by 1968, and King moved to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles to re-start her recording career.Tapestry features both new and old songs of Carole King's catalog. Several new friends from the Laurel Canyon area appear on the album, including James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. Fellow songwriter Toni Stern co-wrote two of the songs, including the hit "It's Too Late."The album was a hit, spending 313 weeks on the Billboard Charts (second only to "Dark Side of the Moon" in time on the chart). It also was a critical success, taking the Grammy for Album of the Year at the 1972 Grammy awards. King announced her retirement from music in May 2012, but has done a few things since then, including a live performance of Tapestry in Hyde Park in 2016. Friend of the show Greg Lyon sits in for Wayne while Bruce presents this soft rock album for this week's podcast.TapestryThe title track to the album is a look back on life as a colorful combination of threads woven into a picture or pattern, but not one intended to last. This is a deeper cut which was not released as a single.Where You LeadSeveral songs became hits for other artists while the album was still on the charts, including this one. Barbara Streisand recorded this song for her 1971 album, and it reached number 40. The song takes its inspiration from the book of Ruth in the Bible. It was also the theme song for the television series "Gilmore Girls." Toni Stern collaborated with King to write this song. You've Got a FriendThis is another song which became a hit for another artist. James Taylor did this on his 1971 album, "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon," making it to number 1 on the US charts. The two albums were being produced concurrently, and Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and Danny Kortchmar perform on both King's version and on Taylor's version. King has said the song is a response to the line in James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" which says "I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend." So Far AwayJames Taylor is on acoustic guitar for this piece, and King is on piano. It went to number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was on the charts in September 1971. It starts with a focus on the physical distance between lovers, then moves on to emotional distance. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Main theme from the serial Danger Island (from the television series “The Banana Splits Adventure Hour”) This live action 10-minute adventure short appeared as a part of "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour," which concluded this month. STAFF PICKS:Ain't No Sunshine by Bill WithersLynch leads off the staff picks with Withers' breakthrough single from his debut album, "Just As I Am." The inspiration for this song was the 1962 film "Days of Wine and Roses," which portrays two characters who were alcoholics. The idea is that someone may not be right for you, but you miss them regardless. Signs by Five Man Electrical Band"And the sign said 'long haired freaky people need not apply!" Rob brings us a signature song from a Canadian band. The song originally appeared as a B-side to a less successful song called "Hello Melinda Goodbye," but became successful on its own. Frontman Les Emerson wrote this song after seeing so many billboards in Los Angeles which obscured the natural scenery.Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get by The DramaticsGreg features the title song from the debut album of R&B group The Dramatics. This song contrasting the fakeness of people with the authenticity of the singer went to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the R&B chart. It fuses a Motown feel with a Latin undertone.Thin Line Between Love and Hate by The PersuadersBruce brings us a cautionary tale about a guy who comes home late at night, finding his girl smiling and ready to cook him some dinner. He learns his lesson when he wakes up in the hospital, beaten to within an inch of his life. This song by a New York R&B group made it to number 15 on the US charts. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:The Rock by Atomic RoosterWe close out with an instrumental from a British rock band originally ...
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    35 分
  • 1989 - February: U2 "Rattle and Hum"

    1989 - February: U2 "Rattle and Hum"
    2025/04/28
    U2 released a part-live, part studio album in October 1988 called Rattle and Hum. This album accompanied a filmed “Rockumentary” of the band which was filmed in Denver and Arizona. Originally intended to be entitled “U2 in the Americas,” the album and film instead take their name from lyrics in the song “Bullet the Blue Sky’ from their album “The Joshua Tree.” Studio sessions for Rattle and Hum included time at Sun Studio in Memphis, and include collaborations with other musicians including Bob Dylan and B.B. King. The intent of Rattle and Hum was to explore more American blues rock, and folk, and roots music of the 50's and 60's, and includes both original and cover songs. Critics were divided on the album at the time of its release. Some felt that U2 was not celebrating blues rock and artists as much as they were attempting to insert themselves into higher echelons of rock celebrity. Over time the criticisms of egotism would fade, as U2 has indeed proven to be a major force in the Rock pantheon. In retrospect, both Bono and The Edge have found Rattle and Hum to be a bit of a side excursion for the band, more of a “scrapbook” than a true direction. The new direction of U2 would be set beginning with their next studio album, “Achtung Baby” in 1991. Regardless, Rattle and Hum is a great album, well worth a listen. The collaboration with other artists is worth special attention, as is its examination of the way that modern rock finds its roots in the delta blues.Friend of the show Greg Lyon sits in for Wayne, while Rob brings us this hybrid album for today's podcast.Angel of HarlemThe second single from the album is an original studio release which was written as an homage to Billie Holiday. Songwriting took place during the tour for ”The Joshua Tree,” and the lyrics take inspiration form various landmarks around New York City. The track reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 9 on the UK Singles chart. When Love Comes to TownRecorded in Sun Studios, this U2 original song features collaboration with blues guitarist B.B. King. Live performances included B.B. King and his band during the “Lovetown Tour” in 1989. U2 would discontinue playing the song in concert over time, but revived it in 2015 as a tribute to B.B. King after his death. King plays lead on this song written by The Edge, who takes on rhythm guitar for this track.All Along the WatchtowerThis live cover is of a song written by Bob Dylan and made famous by Jimi Hendrix. The lyrics are of a conversation between a joker and a thief, and several lines echo lines of scripture from the book of Isaiah in the Bible. U2 performed this live cover in San Francisco at the “Save The Yuppie Free Concert.” Some of the lyrics were altered, which irritated Dylan. Pride (In the Name of Love)A live version of the studio song from the 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire, this was recorded in Denver. The popularity of this song can be heard in the audience call-and-response. The lyrics were inspired by elements of the civil rights movement, particularly the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Iko Iko by The Belle Stars (from the motion picture “Rain Man”)Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman turned in stellar performances in this dramatic film exploring autism. STAFF PICKS:Kiss by Art of Noise featuring Tom JonesBruce leads off the staff picks with a cover of a Prince song performed by an unusual pairing of art rock group the Art of Noise with Vegas crooner Tom Jones. This became the biggest hit for the Art of Noise to that point, reaching number 5 on the UK charts and number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young CannibalsLynch brings us the most successful single from the British pop trio, off their second and final album, “The Raw & the Cooked.” The band formed from two previous bands, one Ska, and one Punk. The track was composed at Prince's Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis.Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Great WhiteGreg features a rocker. Great White covered a song originally written and performed by Ian Hunter in 1975. This song went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Great White had a more blues-oriented sound than many of the hair metal bands of the late 80's. Lead singer Jack Russell passed after a battle with Lewy body dementia in August 2024.What I Am by Edie Brickell & New BohemiansRob closes out the staff picks with the signature song off Edie Brickell & New Bohemians' debut album, "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars." The inspiration for the song was Brickell's frustration with the dogma exhibited in a world religions class in college. Brickell would meet her husband and fellow musician, Paul Simon, when she performed this song on Saturday Night Live. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:Sunset Road by Bela Fleck & the FlecktonesThis jazz fusion piece with an unusual banjo lead was on the group's debut album, ...
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    44 分
  • 1971 - May: Rod Stewart "Every Picture Tells a Story"

    1971 - May: Rod Stewart "Every Picture Tells a Story"
    2025/04/21
    Every Picture Tells a Story is a great name for Rod Stewart's third solo studio album. The songs consist of solid storytelling, using mixture of original and cover tracks to paint a mosaic of life, love, and loss. This album would mark the transition of Stewart from a solid rock vocalist to an A-list performer. Every Picture Tells a Story hit the top of the album charts in both the US and the UK, and its blend of rock, blues, and folk music would have a staying power over the decades. Supposedly the album was compiled on a shoestring budget, and consists of a number of songs paired with extended jams.Stewart compiled this album during his tenure as front man for the Faces, and all five members of that group appear on the album. Because of contractual obligations at the time, the personnel listing on each track is a bit vague, but it is possible that all five members were on the recording of "(I Know) I'm Losing You." The first single released from the album was "Reason to Believe," which was a cover of Tim Hardin's 1966 song. But the B-side of that album would be the one that would cause Rod Stewart to become a breakthrough success. That song, written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, was "Maggie May." The album would top the charts, and would be a noticeable success on the year-end charts of the Billboard 200 albums in 1971 (#35) and 1972 (#65), while taking the number 2 spot for the UK album charts in 1971. Not bad for a soccer player who wasn't able to go pro!Rob brings us the bluesy album for this week's podcast. (I Know) I'm Losing YouThis Motown hit originally recorded by The Temptations in 1966 is a lament of a relationship going bad. Stewart's cover went to number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Motown rock group Rare Earth had a cover of this song a year earlier in 1970. Rod Stewart has several members of the Faces playing on this track.That's Alright/Amazing GraceAnother outstanding cover, this one is of the debut single from Elvis Presley in 1954. However, the original goes back to blues singer Arthur Crudup in 1946. But even that long time period is dwarfed by the pairing of the traditional hymn "Amazing Grace" which dates back to 1772. This deep cut shows some of the diversity of the album. Every Picture Tells a StoryThe lead-off and title track to the album was an original co-written by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. The lyrics are told from the perspective of a musician on tour who finds adventure with women in multiple cities before returning home to think back on his travels. The lyrics are more free-form in this song, not following a consistent pattern of rhymes. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Main theme from the television comedy "Green Acres"This sit-com featuring city dwellers who move to the country went off the air this month in 1971. STAFF PICKS:Don't Pull Your Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank & ReynoldsBruce starts out the staff picks with a song often attributed to Elvis Presley. After performing with the T-Bones and having an instrumental hit with the song "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" based on a popular jingle from an Alka-Seltzer TV commercial, this group went to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Pull Your Love."It's Too Late by Carole KingLynch brings us a song with music by Carole King and lyrics penned by songwriter Toni Stern. This breakup song is considered to be a feminist song by many, given that the woman is breaking up with the man. Stern completed the lyrics in a single day after her breakup with fellow singer songwriter James Taylor. This track would top the Billboard Hot 100, and would win the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1972.Charity Ball by FannyWayne's staff pick is the single release and title track from Fanny's second studio album. Fanny was one of the first all-female rock bands playing their own instruments, and the first to record an entire album. They got their start in Sacramento after sisters June and Jean Millington (guitar and bass) moved there from the Philippines. The group was completed with Nickey Barclay on keyboards and Alice de Buhr on drums.If Not for You by Olivia Newton JohnRob features a cover originally penned by Bob Dylan. Olivia Newton John would make this her first international release and her breakthrough song. Her cover closely follows George Harrison's cover, including prominent use of the slide guitar. Olivia Newton John took this track to number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and to number 7 on the UK singles chart. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:Milky Way by Weather ReportThis Avant-garde jazz instrumental takes us out of this week's podcast. Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?” NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or ...
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    34 分
  • 1991 - May: Guns N' Roses "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II"

    1991 - May: Guns N' Roses "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II"
    2025/04/14
    Guns N' Roses had established themselves as top tier Rock artists in the mid through late 80's, and it had been three years without an album release by the time we rolled around to 1991. The band got its start in 1985 when members of the band L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose decided to combine. They released their debut album, "Appetite for Destruction" in 1987, which originally received disappointing sales, but which built over the next year to mainstream success. Their second album, "G N" R Lies" was a short album released at the end of 1988 which combined an earlier E.P. with some acoustic tracks.The anticipation for Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II was incredibly high by the time these albums dropped simultaneously in September 1991. Over 500,000 copies of the albums were sold in the first two hours of their release. With each album having a run time of over 70 minutes, the quantity of material dwarfs that of their previous 33-minute album. Use Your Illusion I is generally considered the heavier rocking album of the two, as guitarist Izzy Stradlin contributed more of the songwriting to that album than to Use Your Illusion II.Many speculate that the two albums were recorded and released simultaneously because the band was on the verge of falling apart at any time, and it was important to get the material out quickly before the band "blew up." Whether this was true or not, the band certainly did have their share of problems staying together. They would release an album of punk covers in 1993 called "The Spaghetti Incident?" before much of the band - including Slash and Izzy Stradlin - would depart. Lynch brings us a double helping of Guns N' Roses with these simultaneously-released albums for today's podcast. November RainAxl Rose wrote this epic symphonic power ballad which appears on the "Use Your Illusion I" album. Clocking in at 8:57, it was the longest song to enter the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, peaking at number 3. The song was divisive, with most of the band not wanting to pursue it, and with both Slash and bassist Duff McKagan particularly opposed to the drift towards symphonic pieces.Knockin' On Heaven's DoorThis Bob Dylan cover had been performed by the group before landing on the "Use Your Illusion II" album. The 1987 "Welcome to the Jungle" 12" single had a live version of this song on its B-side, and a studio version of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" was released on the soundtrack to the film "Days of Thunder" in 1990. You Could Be MineThis track was originally used in the soundtrack for the mega-hit movie "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." It was the first single released from "Use Your Illusion II," and came out in June 1991. The video features an Arnold Schwarzenegger T-800 Terminator sent from the future to kill the band members. At the end of the video the Terminator concludes that killing the band would be a "waste of ammo."Don't CryThis power ballad appears on both "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" in slightly different versions with different lyrics. This song reached number 8 on the UK charts and number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 US chart. Stradlin and Rose wrote the song back in March 1985, and Axl Rose claims that it was the first song ever written for Guns N' Roses. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Theme from the motion picture “The Addams Family”This catchy riff from the cartoon television sitcom of the 60's also appeared in the dark comedy motion picture of the same name, which came out in 1991. STAFF PICKS:The Only One I Know by The Charlatans UKWayne kicks off the staff picks with the Manchester sound. This song is the one that truly started the career of the band, including their use of the Hammond organ as a central part of the sound. The organ riff in this song was heavily inspired by Deep Purple's 1968 song, "Hush." The lyrics reflect the feelings a guy has for a girl, while the girl might or might not know that the guy exists.Why Should I Cry for You? by StingBruce brings us a track from Sting's third album, "The Soul Cages." Sting encountered writers block after the death of his father in 1987, and this is the song that broke through that block. Sting had a difficult relationship with his father, and the lyrics of the song articulate the struggles he had with the grieving process, along with images from his childhood home of Newcastle. Texarkana by R.E.M.Rob features an unusual song from the Athens group, because front man Michael Stipe is not singing lead on it. Bassist Mike Mills takes lead singing lyrics on this song for which he was the primary songwriter and lyricist. It went to number 4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart despite not being released as a single.Into the Great Wide Open by Tom Petty & The HeartbreakersLynch closes out the staff picks with a story about Eddie, a rocker who moves to L.A., gets a girlfriend, and lands an album. He always has with high hopes the record ...
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    46 分
  • 1972 - February: Neil Young "Harvest"

    1972 - February: Neil Young "Harvest"
    2025/04/07
    Neil Young's most successful solo album is also considered his signature album. Harvest was Young's fourth solo studio album, and it topped the Billboard 200 chart in the US for two weeks while also spawning two top 40 singles. Young grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, and began playing and songwriting there in several groups. His first success as a songwriter came for a song he wrote for The Guess Who which made it to the top 40 in Canada. He was in the Mynah Birds, a Toronto group fronted by a young Rick James. The Mynah Birds were attempting to get signed by Motown when James was arrested for being AWOL from the Navy reserves. Shortly after this, Neil Young and bassist Bruce Palmer sold the group's equipment, bought a hearse, and used it to move to Los Angeles. He then worked as a session musician and a member of Buffalo Springfield before striking out on his own solo work while also joining Crosby, Stills & Nash.Harvest was written after an acoustic tour the previous year, a tour prompted by a back injury Young sustained that required him to play sitting down for an extended time. The album contains significant acoustic elements, as several tracks he played on that tour would appear on the album. Many of the lyrics are related to Young's growing relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress. Young was a success before recording this album, and was able to bring in a number of session musicians on several tracks including Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, and the London Symphony Orchestra.Surprisingly, the album met mixed reviews when released, though over time the critics' assessments would turn much more positive. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015.Wayne brings us this California country-tinged album for this week's podcast. Heart of GoldOne of the tracks that arose from Neil Young's acoustic tour, this song topped the charts in the United States and Canada, and went to number 10 in the UK. Despite its success, Young had mixed feelings about the popularity he gained from the song. Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor provided backing vocals on this track. The lyrics talk about a man who may be overthinking life, searching for something just beyond his grasp.Old ManThe origin of this song was an encounter that Neil Young had with the caretaker of the Broken Arrow Ranch, which Young purchased in 1970. The old caretaker was not pleased with the young (literally) hippie-looking Young purchasing the place, and this song's lyrics talk about how the two of them were not that different.AlabamaA continuation of a diatribe from Young's “Southern Man,” this track condemns the racism of the white people in Alabama specifically, and the southern United States in general. Neil Young would eventually come to see the lyrics as too accusatory, and too easy to misconstrue as a general condemnation of all Southerners.The Needle and the Damage DoneThe inspiration for this song was a number of musicians whom Young had observed as they fell apart due to heroin addiction. More specifically, Young wrote this song about bandmate Danny Whitten, whom Young had to let go from his tour due to his heroin use. Whitten would die of an overdose shortly thereafter.ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Cabaret by Liza Minnelli (from the motion picture “Cabaret”)Minnelli stars in this period musical drama based on the Broadway show, set in Germany before World War II. STAFF PICKS:Mother and Child Reunion by Paul SimonRob leads off the staff picks with a one of the earlier rock songs with reggae influences. The song was written in response to a Jimmy Cliff song in which a mother receives a letter that her son had been killed in battle in Vietnam. It was also inspired by Simon's loss of his dog. The title was inspired by a menu item in a Chinese restaurant in New York - chicken and eggs - entitled “Mother and Child Reunion.”I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony) by the New SeekersBruce brings us a hit song which originally appeared as a commercial jingle. Coca-Cola produced an ad called “hilltop” featuring young people of various races coming together over a Coke. The success prompted a rewrite of the jingle into a full-length song, dropping the product references. It became a big hit for both the New Seekers who recorded the radio jingle, and the Hillside Singers who recorded the television commercial.Let's Stay Together by Al GreenLynch features the song which hit the top of the US singles charts, and was named number one R&B song on the Billboard Year-end chart for 1972. It has been covered by a number of artists, with Tina Turner being the most prominent. It was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Do You Know What I Mean by Lee MichaelsWayne's closes out the staff picks with a song about a girl that a guy lost to his best friend after taking her for granted. It reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Lee ...
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    30 分
  • 1988 - January: Sting "...Nothing Like the Sun"

    1988 - January: Sting "...Nothing Like the Sun"
    2025/03/31
    Nothing Like the Sun, or as it is written on the album, "...Nothing Like the Sun," is the second solo studio album by former Police bassist and front man Sting. The title comes from Shakespeare's sonnet number 130 which contains the lines, "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun." Sting was met on the street one evening, who asked him, "How beautiful is the moon?" Sting responded with this line from the sonnet. Two events play a lot of influence on this album. First, Sting's mother died in 1986, inspiring the lyrics to the opening track, "Lazarus Heart." Second Sting joined the Conspiracy of Hope tour for Amnesty International, and through this tour was exposed to victims of government oppression in Latin America. He was particularly moved by people in Chile for whom loved ones had "disappeared" in government actions, and wrote "They Dance Alone" as a description of the mourners who would dance the traditional Cueca by themselves with a picture of their loved ones pinned to their clothes.Sting's first solo album leaned into jazz. This second album continues to have a jazz influence but reaches across a number of other genres including reggae, funk, acoustic rock, soft rock, and world music. He brought in a number of solid musicians into the recording sessions including Gil Evans, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Branford Marsalis, and even his fellow Police alumnus Andy SummersSting would continue to further success after this album, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart. In the UK, ...Nothing Like the Sun debuted and peaked at number 1 on the UK albums chart.Bruce presents this adult contemporary album for this week's podcast. Be Still My Beating HeartThis second single from the album went to number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The lyrics are quite mature, describing the head telling the heart to settle down in the midst of an intense romance. The title was likely inspired by a 19th Century poem from Mary Elizabeth Coleridge. Andy Summers is playing guitar on this track. Little WingMost of this album is original music written by Sting, but this one is a deeper cut and a cover. Jimi Hendrix wrote "Little Wing" in 1967, and it appears on his "Axis" album. Gil Evans did a jazz arrangement of this piece in 1974, and provided this arrangement and backing with his orchestra for this cover. Sting's version runs just over 5 minutes, giving it a run time just over double that of the original Hendrix version. Rock SteadyAnother deep cut, this song is Stings humorous look at a couple who have volunteered to join a cruise, and later find out that they are joining Noah on the Ark. "Life may be tough, but we're sailing with the Lord." FragileThis is the fourth single from the album, and is a gorgeous acoustic piece. This anti-war song was likely inspired by Sting's work with Amnesty International. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:That's Amore by Dean Martin (from the motion picture “Moonstruck”) This romance comedy starring Cher and Nicolas Cage delivered a Best Actress Oscar to Cher and a Best Supporting Actress Oscar to Olympia Dukakis. STAFF PICKS:The Promise by When In RomeRob starts this week's staff picks with the only hit from a British new wave trio. This track went to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a popular song to play at weddings later on. It gained a revival in popularity when it was used in the soundtrack to "Napoleon Dynamite" in 2004. Got My Mind Set On You by George HarrisonLynch brings us a cover of a song originally written by Rudy Clark and recorded by James Ray in 1962. It is off Harrison's comeback album, "Cloud Nine." Harrison worked with Jeff Lynne on the album because he wanted a producer who wouldn't be intimidated by working with a Beatle. The teamwork went well, and the two would go on to form "The Traveling Wilburys" supergroup shortly thereafter.Dude (Looks Like a Lady) by AerosmithWayne features one of many hits from Aerosmith's monster "Permanent Vacation" album. The lyrics tell the tale of a man finding out that the "girl" he has bee pursuing at a club was a man dressed up as a woman. The idea for the song came from Motley Crue singer Vince Neil being mistaken frequently for a woman with long blonde hair.Mission by RushBruce closes out the staff picks with a song which arose from a conversation between Neal Peart and Geddy Lee about the perception people have that the rich and famous have easier lives. The lyrics reflect how every life has its own difficulties, and perhaps those who are highly successful would often wish for a more plain and settled life at times. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:Bailando/Aquatic Park by Carlos SantanaGuitar virtuoso Carlos Santana takes us out this week with a track from his solo album, "Blues for Salvador." Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?” NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger ...
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    43 分
  • 1990 - December: AC/DC “The Razors Edge”

    1990 - December: AC/DC “The Razors Edge”
    2025/03/24
    1990 is an odd time for a hard rock band from the late 70's to make a comeback. Hair metal was declining rapidly, and music that would form the grunge movement was percolating up in the pacific northwest. But that is exactly what AC/DC did with their album The Razors Edge. The album reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 4 on the UK albums chart, and it would become AC/DC's third highest selling album behind “Back in Black” and “High Voltage.”After concluding their 1988 world tour the band had some changes and interruptions. Drummer Simon Wright left the group to join Dio, and was replaced by Chris Slade who would be with the group until 1994. Front man and songwriter Brian Johnson took some time off to finalize his divorce, which left brothers Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar and backing vocals) and Angus Young (lead guitar) to write all the songs for the album. They would continue to be the songwriters for the band through 2020.Critical reviews of the album were mixed, with negative comments revolving around the idea that this album was nothing new for the band. With the benefit of hindsight it may be that the consistency with AC/DC's previous works is actually a strength of the album. In a period of big shifts in rock music, AC/DC provided a point of stability and a return to hard rock origins.Friend of the show Julie Doran joins us to bring us this high energy hard rock masterpiece with Rob. Are You ReadyThe anthem that leads of side 2 of the album reached number 16 on the US charts, and became the band's only number 1 hit in New Zealand. It is used in a number of sports events and is also familiar as the official theme for WWE SmackDown on Fox.ThunderstruckThe lead off track and lead single to the album is a signature song for the band. It started as a "little trick" Angus Young played on guitar, and Malcolm built the rhythm guitar behind that riff. It has been performed in almost every live show the band has performed since its release. MoneytalksThis track reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first top 40 hit for AC/DC since Back in Black in 1981. Interestingly, the song has not been performed live since the band toured The Razors Edge. Part of the appeal of AC/DC on this album could have been the downturn in the economy at the time, striking a cord with blue collar employment struggles. If so, money really does talk!The Razors EdgeWhile this song is the title track it was not released as a single. This dark track talks about the fine line between success and failure, good and evil, life and death. "You're running out of lives, and here comes the razor's edge." ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Mel Torme (from the motion picture "Home Alone")This Christmas classic saw its debut from Judy Garland in the motion picture "Meet Me in St. Louis". Mel Torme's version was used in the Christmas movie "Home Alone" which was in theaters in 1990. STAFF PICKS:Keep On Loving Me Baby by Colin JamesWayne starts out the staff picks with a Canadian blues singer-songwriter. This cover from James' second album, Sudden Stop, is a high energy cover of a tune originally written by Otis Rush in 1958. James benefitted from the blues revival of the time, as well as the soon-to-come swing revival in the early- to mid-90's.Chain of Fools by Little CaesarLynch brings us another cover originally performed by Aretha Franklin and written by Don Covay in 1967. Little Caesar is a hard rock band formed in the late 80's which had a short career before problems with their label, and the eclipsing of hard rock by grunge contributed to their decline. This cover from their debut single was their most memorableDiabolic Tastemaker by the Cherry Poppin' DaddiesBruce's staff pick is a deep cut off the Daddies' debut album "Ferociously Stoned." This horn-heavy track first appeared on their 1989 demo tape before it was added to their album. The band at the time was an amalgam of punk, funk, jazz, ska, and swing at the time, thought future albums would move heavily towards swing.If You Needed Somebody by Bad Company Julie features the second single off Bad Company's ninth studio album, Holy Water. It was their first top 40 hit since “Rock and Roll Fantasy” back in 1979. The rock ballad hails from BadCo's days with Brian Howe as the front man, as Paul Rodgers had left the group in 1982 and was performing solo at the time. Been Caught Stealing by Jane's Addiction Rob finishes off the staff picks with the third single from Ritual de lo Habitual, and the biggest single, topping the Billboard Modern Rock charts for four weeks. The dog barking is Perry Farrell's pet Annie, who was brought to the studio. The barking was not planned, but the coincidence was included on the track. COMEDY TRACK:Do the Bartman by The SimpsonsBart Simpson closes us out this week with this lost epic. Thanks for listening to “What ...
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    47 分
  • 1974 - July: Beach Boys “Endless Summer”

    1974 - July: Beach Boys “Endless Summer”
    2025/03/17
    By the mid-70's the Beach Boys appeared to be a band that had been left behind. Sales had been only moderate for their previous albums, and the band was struggling to determine their direction musically. In the summer of 1973 the movie "American Graffiti" featured several Beach Boys songs, creating nostalgia for the earlier surfing music.Between the revived interest sparked by "American Graffiti" and the success of the Beatles "Red" and "Blue" compilation albums, the Beach Boys released a collection of hits from their early 60's catalogue called Endless Summer. This featured songs from their Capitol Records days, 1962-1965. It was a near-instant success reaching the top of the charts in the United States four months after its release, and becoming their second number 1 album on the US charts. After the success of Endless Summer, the Beach Boys would reposition themselves as an oldies act, continuing in this vein for many years. Brian Wilson would pen one further Beach Boys studio album in 1977 which would meet with meager sales. Afterwards the band would focus on their classics until seeing a resurgence in the late 80's generated from another popular film, Tom Cruise's "Cocktail" Wayne brings us this surfin' themed compilation for this week's podcast. Catch A WaveA true surfing song, this tune is about being on a surfboard, waiting for the right wave to come along. This song was originally released on the 1963 album "Surfer Girl," and a rewritten version was recorded by Jan and Dean as "Sidewalk Surfin."Little Deuce CoupeThis track is about a 1932-vintage Ford model 18 hot rod used in drag racing on the streets of California. "American Graffiti" had featured the deuce coupe prominently, along with the Beach Boys song. The lyrics were written by local radio DJ Roger Christian.Shut DownAnother song about drag racing, "shut down" means you are about to beat the person in the race. The phrase "tach it up" may have lost some meaning in the era of automatic transmission, but the tachometer would run high for a drag race. The song is told from the perspective of the driver of a 1963 Corvette Sting Ray in a race against a 1962 Dodge Dart.Fun, Fun, FunThe inspiration for this song was a story the Beach Boys heard during a radio interview. The station owner described his daughter "borrowing" his 1963 Thunderbird to go to a drive-in hamburger shop. The opening riffs were inspired by Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Uptown Saturday Night by Dobie Gray (from the motion picture “Uptown Saturday Night”)Sidney Poitier starred in and directed this action comedy which co-starred Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte, Richard Pryor, and Flip Wilson. STAFF PICKS:The Joker by the Steve Miller BandLynch leads off the staff picks with a well known song from Steve Miller. The names in the first line reference several of Miller's previous songs, as well as the made-up word "pompatus." It barely cracked the top 40 in the US, hitting 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. Miller borrowed some lyrics from the song "Lovey Dovey" when he talks about wanting to "shake your tree."The Air that I Breathe by the HolliesRob brings us a slow burning but iconic ballad that the Hollies covered. The original was from Albert Hammond, and previously covered by Phil Everly. The Hollies version was the most successful, going to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Alan Parsons was the engineer on this song.Hollywood Swinging by Kool & the GangBruce's staff pick is the first number 1 R&B Single from Kool & the Gang. It was a crossover hit as well, going to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rick Westfield is the keyboardist for it and sings lead. The song is a true story of the keyboardist wanting to become "a bad piano-playing man" with the group. Rock and Roll Heaven by The Righteous BrothersWayne's features an ode to the rock stars who had died at an early age. This song is another example of a song that was covered, and did better than the original. Climax performed this song in 1973 but did not chart, while the Righteous Brothers took it to the top 10 in the United States. Lyric would be added in the years to come as more rock stars passed. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:Chameleon by Herbie HancockThis jazz funk instrumental track closes out the podcast for the week. Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?” NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can ...
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    31 分