Riffs on Riffs

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Evil Beep Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

Back in the day, children would read stories at school during story time and would often hear the "beep" that would signify when the page should be turned. ELO's Evil Woman and The Pussycat Dolls' "Beep" are generations apart but both illustrate how they worked to turn the page in creativity, impact, and style. Join Joe and Toby as they wind through the connections between these tracks.

Ms. Jackson is OUT of Strawberries Mar 11, 2020

Show notes

Truth be told, there is a bit of confusion about what exactly was sampled from Shuggie Otis' "Strawberry Letter 23" to help create Outkast's "Ms. Jackson"... But one thing that isn't up for debate is that both of these songs are hits and there's no time like the present to discuss these artists and their impact. Join Joe and Toby as they wind through the connections between these tracks.

I'd Rather Have Whiskey Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

If given a choice between sipping whiskey and going blind, the answer is pretty clear. But when listening to Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" and Chris Stapleton's cover of "Tennessee Whiskey", things get a little fuzzier. Join Joe and Toby as they wind through the connections between these two tracks.

We Have Bobby in Common Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

Bobby Caldwell is a longtime crooner and someone that can rightfully say he's big in Japan. Bobby's classic track, "What You Won't Do for Love," is his most recognizable hit, but in this episode Joe and Toby show how Common sampled another Caldwell track, "Open Your Eyes," for his iconic song "The Light".

The Shape of a Scrub Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

Ed Sheeran is a gifted songwriter and performer, but that hasn't prevented him from getting into hot water around sampling and interpolating other artist's material. Join Joe and Toby as they explore the similarities between Sheeran's "The Shape of You" and TLC's "No Scrubs." Along the way we'll take a look at the "Stairway to Heaven" copyright case and see how it impacts Ed Sheeran's financial future. Don't worry, he's going to be ok.

All Night Around The Way Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

Before he went looking for an around the way girl, LL Cool J was just a boy with his radio, needing a beat. He became a legendary hip hop pioneer and entertainment mogul. The Mary Jane Girls were the brainchild of Rick James, and he lent his prodigious musical talents to tracks like All Night Long and In My House. Join Joe and Toby as they connect the dots between these artists.

My Brother Jonas is a Chicken Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

You may know it as the chicken dance, but The Dance of the Little Bird was originally about ducks. Joe and Toby take a look at the origins of this oom-pah classic and demonstrate how it may have inspired The Jonas Brothers to create their latest hit, Only Human.

Everybody Loves My Life Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Roy Ayers Jr. has been called the Godfather of Neo Soul, and his Roy Ayers Ubiquity project was aptly named, as the track Everybody Loves the Sunshine has been a ubiquitous sample in hip hop history. Joe and Toby connect the dots to Mary J. Blige's second album and its title track, My Life.

Now That We Found Heavy Love Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

Heavy D and the Boys had a smash hit in 1991 with Now That We Found Love, and Joe and Toby examine how this track interpolates the 1973 hit from the O'Jays with the same name. Join us as we follow Heavy D's career to full-fledged entertainment mogul and learn more about the soul group that had an enormous influence on future generations.

Born to Express Yourself Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

Back long before Stefani Germanotta became Lady Gaga, Madonna was, well, Madonna. Joe and Toby examine how the Madonna song "Express Yourself" was inspiration — and some might argue more than that — for Lady Gaga's "Born This Way". Both artists have made an enormous impact on the pop culture landscape, extending their reach far beyond music. Madonna has done it for decades, and time will tell if Lady Gaga has the same staying power.

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