Backtracking

BAND LINKS:

- Asia Official Website | Facebook | X (Twitter)

Don't cry, it's only an email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Asia "Alpha" (1983): Interview with Asia Producer Dax Kimbrough Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Asia's 1983 album "Alpha", with Dax Kimbrough, a producer on a number of Asia albums, on Wetton, Downes and 80s prog.

We cover a brief history of Asia, how Dax discovered the band, "Alpha" and the 1980s prog rock transition, the John Wetton and Geoff Downes partnership, album and song sequencing, and a touching personal tale.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

- Asia “Alpha”

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: What happens to the heat again?

- 0:18: Nihau, Asia!

- 1:24: The Barenaked Asian Dynamic

- 2:30: A Brief History of Asia, The Band

- 4:01: Dax Kimbrough, an Asian Producer, Friend, & Guest

- 7:05: How Dax Discovered Asia

- 13:47: “Alpha” and the 1980’s Prog Rock Transition

- 30:27: The Wetton and Downes Partnership

- 34:45: A Teachable Moment

- 39:45: Albums & Song Sequence

- 47:10: A Touching Personal Tale

- 59:36: Until the Sun Rises in the Far East

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

- Barenaked Ladies “Gordon”

BAND LINKS:

- Asia Official Website | Facebook | X (Twitter)

It was the heat of the email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Barenaked Ladies "Gordon" (1992), Side B: If I Had $1000000, The Flag Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Barenaked Ladies' 1992 album "Gordon", Side B: "The King of Bedside Manor", "Box Set", "New Kid (on the Block)" and "If I Had $1000000".

Plus "I Love You", "Blame It on Me", "The Flag" and "Crazy", JW's "Gordon: Dressed Up" retrack, and the best and the worst.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: You Are What You Eat

- 0:04: Excellent Editing, Not Technical Problems

- 3:02: Michael Presents: Cover the Cover

- 9:14: Side B, Track 1: The King of Bedside Manor

- 12:50: Side B, Track 2: Box/Set

- 17:53: Side B, Track 3: I Love You

- 20:30: Side B, Track 4: New Kid (on the Block)

- 26:40: Side B, Track 5: Blame It on Me

- 31:06: Side B, Track 6: The Flag

- 35:50: Side B, Track 7: If I Had $1,000,000

- 42:10: Side B, Track 8: Crazy

- 46:10: “Gordon: Dressed Up,” A Backtrack Retrack®

- 55:27: The Best and the Worst

- 59:09: The Naked End

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

- Barenaked Ladies “Gordon”

BAND LINKS:

- Barenaked Ladies Official Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook

I love email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

Barenaked Ladies "Gordon" (1992), Side A: Enid, Grade 9, Brian Wilson Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Barenaked Ladies' 1992 album "Gordon", Side A: "Hello City", "Enid", "Grade 9", "Brian Wilson", "Be My Yoko Ono" and more.

We place BNL on the comedy music continuum, cover the production, get to "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" and "What a Good Boy", and survive a major technical error.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: Herzog on Schwarzenegger

- 0:18: Hello Podcast

- 1:18: A Major Technical Error

- 2:30: Nein Hauskeepen

- 2:44: Barenaked Ladies, & the Comedy Music Continuum

- 7:32: The Basics

- 25:33: The Production & Overall Impressions

- 36:33: Side A, Track 1: Hello City

- 44:02: Side A, Track 2: Enid

- 55:08: Side A, Track 3: Grade 9

- 1:01:25: Side A, Track 4: Brian Wilson

- 1:12:35: Side A, Track 5: Be My Yoko Ono

- 1:20:42: Side A, Track 6: Wrap Your Arms Around Me

- 1:27:08: Side A, Track 7: What a Good Boy

- 1:31:05: A Million Dollar Cliffhanger

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

- The Chameleons “Strange Times”

BAND LINKS:

- Barenaked Ladies Official Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook

If I had a million emails, I’d buy you a green dress (but not a real green dress, that’s cruel): backtrackingrox@gmail.com

The Chameleons "Strange Times" (1986), Side B: Swamp Thing Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

The Chameleons' 1986 album "Strange Times", Side B: "Swamp Thing", "Time / The End of Time", "Seriocity", "In Answer" and more.

Plus "Childhood" and "I'll Remember", why "Strange Times" is out of print, another Backtrack Retrack, and a eulogy for the Columbia House Record and Tape Club.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: Social Cohesion

- 0:48: Intro Cathedral

- 1:51: Why is “Strange Times” Out of Print?

- 4:23: Cover the Cover

- 15:18: Side B, Track 1: Swamp Thing

- 25:47: Side B, Track 2: Time / The End of Time

- 34:10: Side B, Track 3: Seriocity

- 39:45: Side B, Track 4: In Answer

- 43:40: Side B, Track 5: Childhood

- 49:50: Side B, Track 6: I’ll Remember

- 56:00: Another Backtrack Retrack

- 1:03:03: RIP Columbia House Record and Tape Club

- 1:07:40: Die Bestenwurst

- 1:12:00: The End of Time

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS:

- The Chameleons “Strange Times”

BAND LINKS:

- The Chameleons Official Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook

Alive in here, I’ll email in here: backtrackingrox@gmail.com

The Chameleons "Strange Times" (1986), Side A: Soul in Isolation Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

The Chameleons' 1986 album "Strange Times", Side A: "Mad Jack", "Caution", "Tears" and "Soul in Isolation".

Plus the basics, a Chameleons anecdote, and a post-mortem on our interview with Mark Burgess and Reg Smithies.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

CHAPTERS:

- 0:00: Elias Was a Waterwalker

- 0:16: Intro Delirium

- 1:20: The Plagues of God

- 3:33: The Basic Basics

- 6:24: Housekeeping

- 12:32: A Chameleons Anecdote

- 18:50: An Interview Post-Mortem

- 23:30: Overall Impressions

- 1:00:05: Side A, Track 1: Mad Jack

- 1:14:46: Side A, Track 2: Caution

- 1:21:10: Side A, Track 3: Tears

- 1:28:23: Side A, Track 4: Soul in Isolation

- 1:38:25: Until Side B, You Will Be in Isolation

BACKTRACKING SOCIALS: