Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

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Norah Jones/Don Was Oct 15, 2024

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Blue Note is one of the first and longest standing institutions of Jazz music. Since its formation in 1939 the label has put out albums by Robert Glasper, Lee Morgan, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Gergory Porter, Bobby McFerrin, and so many more.

To celebrate 85 years of music from this iconic label, Justin Richmond and Blue Note’s current President Don Was recorded a series of interviews with the label’s past present and future: Ron Carter, Meshell Ndegeocello, Charles Lloyd, Julian Lage and today, Norah Jones.

Norah has been with Blue Note Records since releasing her juggernaut 2002 debut album, Come Away With Me. Her latest album, Visions, wascreated with New York’s Leon Michels of El Michel’s Affair. Their two distinctive sounds blend beautifully to make an album that stands out not only as a new texture in her discography, but some of her strongest work to date.

On today's episode, Norah Jones details her musical upbringing and what it was like striking it big with her debut album. She also performs for us, and talks about the musical freedom she's found as part of the Blue Note family.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Norah Jones songs HERE.

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Wesley Morris & Robert Margouleff on Stevie Wonder Oct 10, 2024

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We have a two-part episode for you today in honor of the great Stevie Wonder. First we will hear the Pulitzer Prize winning writer Wesley Morris talk about the making of his new Audible original, The Wonder of Stevie.

Then, Justin Richmond talks to the pioneering electronic music producer Robert Margouleff, who in 1968 together with Malcolm Cecil, built the world's largest analog synthesizer known as TONTO.

Over a four year period, Stevie Wonder worked closely with Robert, Cecil, and TONTO to record a string of albums now known as Stevie’s “classic period:” Music Of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, and Fulfillingness’ First Finale.

On today’s episode Robert Margouleff talks about recording those classic albums, and Stevie’s creative process. Robert also remembers how Stevie changed after surviving a near-fatal accident in 1973.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Stevie Wonder songs HERE.

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Lainey Wilson Oct 08, 2024

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At just 8 years-old, Lainey Wilson announced to her family that she was destined to become a country music star. There were no other musicians in her family to speak of—for five generations her people had been farmers in a tiny Northern Louisiana town with the population of 180.

After graduating high school, Lainey drove North to Nashville in a camper trailer that she lived in alone for three years. Success did not come easy. In those first three years, Lainey wrote over 300 songs, and it wasn’t until year eight that she finally signed a record deal. All of her hard work finally paid off in 2021, when her debut single “Things A Man Oughta Know” raced up the country music charts. Several radio hits followed, and last year Lainey swept the award season, winning a ton of trophies including the Grammy for "Best Country Album" and “Entertainer Of The Year” at the Country Music Awards.

In August, Lainey scored her first crossover hit with the release of her latest album, “Whirlwind,” which debuted at number three on Billboard, and became the highest-selling album of her career.

On today’s episode, Leah Rose talks to Lainey Wilson about how grit and determination became one of the central pillars of her success. Lainey also opens up about being physically objectified online, and the reality of playing alongside some of her musical heroes like The Rolling Stones and Dolly Parton. Check out the full video of this interview and other recent episodes atyoutube.com/brokenrecordpodcast.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Lainey Wilson songs HERE.

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Crowded House Oct 01, 2024

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Crowded House had one of the most enduring hits of the 80s with “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” The commercial and critical success of that song launched the Australian-New Zealand band and its esteemed Kiwi songwriter, Neil Finn, to pop stardom. The band made three more critically acclaimed albums before breaking up in ‘96. But over the years the band has come back together at various times to put out new projects including their latest, Gravity Stairs.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Crowded House songs HERE.

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Raphael Saadiq Sep 24, 2024

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Raphael Saadiq is one of the great R&B writers and producers of the last 30 years. He started out fronting and playing bass in the group Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother D’Wayne Wiggins on guitar. The Tony’s had an amazing four album run from ‘88 through 1996 with hit singles like "It Never Rains (In Southern California)," "Feels Good," "Anniversary," and "If I Had No Loot."

Raphael’s also released five solo albums starting with 2002’s Instant Vintage. His most recent album, Jimmy Lee, is a collection of very personal songs about the real traumas he and his family experienced growing up in Oakland, CA.

Raphael’s also done some amazing work behind the board. He’s produced and written for the likes of D’Angelo, TLC, Mary J. Blige, Solange, Earth Wind and Fire and just recently he worked on a handful of songs on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter. He’s also earned an Academy Award nomination for his work as a film composer.

This week Justin Richmond talks with Raphael Saadiq from his studio in Los Angeles about some of the incredible work he’s done recently. Raphael breaks down his collaboration with D’Angelo on the classic track “Lady,” and how Sly Stone bassist Larry Graham influenced a generation of musicians coming up in the Bay Area.

To see the full video version of this episode, visit:https://www.youtube.com/@BrokenRecordPodcast/videos

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Raphael Saadiq songs HERE.

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Suki Waterhouse Sep 17, 2024

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Suki Waterhouse started professional life as a model and actress in the UK. A full-fledged music career might’ve seemed far-fetched but she quickly found an authentic voice as a singer-songwriter. And put out some beautiful demos that caught the attention of the legendary Sub Pop label which put out her first album, I Can’t Let Go and her latest, Memoir of A Sparklemuffin.

Suki’s music first started catching on with audiences through TikTok. But her sophomore album wasn't made for social media audiences. It’s an eighteen song journey through the life of a thirty year old woman who had some wild times in her twenties, survived the sadness memorialized on her first album and has come to find happiness and even a family on the other side.

On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks with Suki Waterhouse from Amazon's Studio 126 about building an organic career in music, what it was like opening for Taylor Swift at Wembly stadium just last month and she tells a great Jack White story that inspired one of my favorite lines from her first album.

To see the full video version of this episode, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@BrokenRecordPodcast/videos

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Suki Waterhouse songs HERE.

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Introducing One Song: The Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock" Sep 10, 2024

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This week we're sharing an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, One Song. You'll hear hosts Diallo Riddle and Luxxury tackling “Cherub Rock” by The Smashing Pumpkins.

The guys go deep on the early 90’s indie rock scene, band frontman Billy Corgan’s quest for musical family, and the Pumpkins’ complicated relationship with the indie rock community.

On each episode of One Song friends Diallo Riddle (Emmy-nominated star and creator of HBO Max’s South Side and IFC’s Sherman’s Showcase) and Blake "LUXXURY" Robin (Music Producer & TikTok creator) hilariously break down one song from the pop music canon that you know - or need to know - but have never heard quite like this. Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

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Madeleine Peyroux Sep 03, 2024

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Madeleine Peyroux is a jazz-inspired singer songwriter who got her start singing in street bands in Paris as a teenager. In 1996, Atlantic Records released Madeline’s debut album where she covered tunes from the ‘30s and ‘40s by artists like Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday—and then later she recorded songs by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.

This year Madeleine Peyroux released Let’s Walk, her first album of all-original songs co-written with her long-time touring guitar player, Jon Herington.

On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Madeleine and Jon Herington about their creative process throughout the pandemic and they play a couple songs from their new album. Madeleine also remembers her early days busking with a bohemian ex-pat named Dan William Fitzgerald who became her musical mentor. And she explains how Dr. Cornel West became her guiding light during a recent bout of personal despair.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Madeleine Peyroux songs HERE.

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Remi Wolf Aug 27, 2024

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Singer, songwriter Remi Wolf burst out of the pandemic like a ray of light, spreading joy with her infectious production, capricious outlook and jaunty hooks.

She appeared to come to us fully formed. But Remi’s been working hard on her craft for the last decade. She started performing with local bands around the Bay Area during high school and she eventually wound up studying music in LA at USC where she met many of the people she still collaborates with.

On today’s Broken Record, Remi Wolf talks with Justin Richmond live from Amazon’s Studio 126about finding her musical footing in Los Angeles, walks us through the writing of her new album “Big Ideas,” and talks about her summer experience opening up for Olivia Rodrigo in Europe.

Check out the full interview on YouTube HERE.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Remi Wolf songs HERE.

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Captain Kirk Douglas Aug 20, 2024

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Captain Kirk Douglas is the longtime guitarist for The Roots. Over the past 21 years he’s seen the group evolve from a touring act, to the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, to having their own successful music festival in Philly. All the while continuing to record albums for themselves and others.

Between The Roots' many commitments, Kirk has also found time to record a solo project under the name Hundred Watt Heart. His most recent offering “New Unknown” was recorded in the basement of his childhood home on Long Island where he first fell in love with the music of Van Halen, Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, and so many others.

On today’s Broken Record Justin Richmond talks with Captain Kirk from the Roots’ green room in 30 Rock about the seductive pull he felt as a little kid seeing electric guitars on the cover of an old Kiss album. He also reminisces about his early days gigging around New York City in the ‘90s while also working as a preschool teacher. And he recalls the elation he felt when Prince played one of his guitars on the Tonight Show, only to smash it onstage at the end of the performance.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Captain Kirk Douglas & The Roots songs HERE.

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