Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles

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Bruce Springsteen wrote "Hungry Heart" for who? Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

When Bruce Springsteen decided to double up on songs for his 1980 album, The River, he also decided to keep its biggest hit for himself instead of giving it to the punk rock band he originally wrote it for. With a title inspired by a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, this song about the wanderlust of a traveling man resonated with fans so much that it became his first chart-topping hit, going all the way to number five on the Billboard Hot 100. Unpack the history of “Hungry Heart” in the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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How “Sweet Emotion” helped put Aerosmith on the Mount Rushmore of Rock Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

They’re not exactly as wholesome as apple pie, but they have been anointed “America’s Greatest Rock Band” for good reason. Aerosmith have sold more hard rock albums than any other American band, and they went from being an opening act to stadium headliners with the release of their third album, Toys In The Attic, released in 1975. The lead single from that album, “Sweet Emotion” marked important firsts: it was their first song to hit the Top 40 chart, and it was the first co-write credit that bassist Tom Hamilton got on the scoreboard. Steven Tyler’s lyrics are full of daggers aimed at Joe Perry’s then-girlfriend, and there is even a hidden message buried in the song. Dig in to the history of this classic tune in the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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The Bob Dylan song that Jimi Hendrix made his own Jun 08, 2022

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Bob Dylan wrote “All Along The Watchtower” for his 1967 album, John Wesley Harding, after realizing he was getting swindled by his own management and record label. Jimi Hendrix immediately covered the song for his final album, Electric Ladyland, and did such a mind-blowing job of interpreting it musically and lyrically that Bob Dylan has long admitted it to be the better version. Find out the history this classic in the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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How The Romantics went from Motor City Rockers to MTV darlings May 25, 2022

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Straight out of Detroit Rock City, The Romantics made their first entry into the Billboard chart with a high-energy tune sung by their drummer. That song, “What I Like About You,” later became the subject of a high-profile lawsuit when it was used in a TV commercial…which made the band even more popular than when the song first was released in 1980. Get into the story of this great Motor City band in the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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Judas Priest's "Living After Midnight:" Metal Gods riding the razor’s edge of British Steel May 11, 2022

Show notes

When Judas Priest released their classic British Steel album in 1980, it paved the way for metal music to really hit the mainstream, and is one of the reasons the band were finally given the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction honor. “Living After Midnight” exemplifies the greatest thing about metal to metal fans: providing an escape from the norm for a fist-pumping few powerful minutes. Get into the story behind it in the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell”: from punk rocker to pop star Apr 27, 2022

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“Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol is now a classic for good reason. It showcases his unique ability to put a hard edge on a pop song, and it was one of the reasons his 1983 Rebel Yell album went double platinum. His success paved the way for a mainstream embrace of the aesthetics of punk rock, heralding a turning point in 1980’s music at large. One listen to this song and you want more more more…dig in to the story behind it in the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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The Cars’ biggest hit was a pop oddity Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

“Drive” by The Cars was their biggest hit, with a video that sparked a long marriage for Ric Ocasek and supermodel Paulina Porizkova, but the song touches on unusual questions. Cruise through the history of this classic tune in the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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The Thrill Ride of Van Halen's "Panama" Mar 30, 2022

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Van Halen’s rip-roaring “Panama” from their classic album 1984 is a song about a car, and a girl, and it represents a joyful, pedal-to-the-metal breakout moment for the band just before frontman David Lee Roth left to find his own groove on another track. Take a ride through the history of this song in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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Investigating Elvis Costello’s “Watching The Detectives” Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

Elvis Costello’s first song to chart in the US was “Watching The Detectives,” a song born out of a night spent listening to The Clash with lyrics that tell two tales. Find out all about it in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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How Deep Purple’s classic song was born out of flames Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

“Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple is a true account of a horrific fire that the band witnessed in Switzerland while waiting to record the Machine Head album in 1971. Find out the insane story of how the band’s most well-known song came to rise out of those flames in the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Watch the video episode and subscribe to the Behind The Song Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/2DBF4wJ

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