Music

Professor of Rock

The ultimate rock music history podcast for fans of the greatest era of music. If you’ve ever wondered about the true stories behind your favorite songs, or wanted to hear directly from the legends who made them, Professor of Rock is your new go-to podcast. Hosted by music historian and superfan Adam Reader, this show brings the golden era of music back to life with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and deep dives into the songs that shaped our lives. This podcast uncovers how timeless tracks were made, the creative breakthroughs, the near-breakups, and the powerful moments that defined music history. Each episode is a masterclass in rock culture and nostalgia—whether it’s a chart-topping ‘80s anthem, a one-hit wonder with a wild backstory, or a candid conversation with the legends themselves. Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.

Latest Episodes:

Buffalo Springfield's 'For What It's Worth': The Supergroup That Didn't Know They Were One Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

Up next an interview with 2 rock hall of famers who were in the 60s band Buffalo Springfield. Stephen Stills, who also went on to form Crosby Stills and Nash and Ritchie Furay. Both share their experience of creating a historic hit that defined its time. They were part of a supergroup and at the time nobody was aware that it was a supergroup…This rookie band actually recorded this classic secretly under their producers' noses because they wouldn’t allow the band to play together, they had been recording them separately and then combining the tracks into one mono track, making their sound weak. Ironically one of the band members Neil Young would spend his career lashing out at commercials using rock music and years later this song would be used in a beer commercial. The song was written in a 10-minute car ride after the Stephen Stills had witnessed something very troubling and originally the song didn’t even make it onto the debut album but after it was an accidental hit and they added it onto a second pressing. The interviews are coming up next.

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James Taylor’s 'Fire and Rain': The Desperate Prayer That Became a 70s Classic Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

Coming up it’s one of the most heart-wrenching stories of a classic song from real life… Fire and Rain by legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor...It's a song we all sing today. James Taylor (JT) was dealing with serious mental illness, and he had voluntarily checked himself into an institution at 18. He dropped out of school and formed a band. That band failed…. He began to sink further into darkness trapped by a vicious heroin addiction. Then he found out a good friend Suzanne had taken their own life. It left this 20-year-old future superstar homeless, destitute, and at the end of his rope… again checking himself into an institution to get clean where he wrote a desperate 'cry for help… a solitary prayer called Fire and Rain. It became a breakout smash that started a hall-of-fame career...The story is…. NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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Motley Crue’s 'Home Sweet Home': The Epic Music Video MTV Had to Stop Playing Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

Today, it’s an epic track from a throwaway album… Or at least that’s what the band called it. This song though, it set a new standard for how rock bands wrote and released singles in the 80s, and in the process became one of their signature hits. Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue… Unfortunately, it never got its due on the charts. In fact, because their label hated it and refused to promote it, Home Sweet Home Tanked …So to keep the song alive, the Motley Crue, including Vince Neil, Mick Marrs, Tommy Lee, and Nikki Sixx funded a music video out of their own pockets. And you know what? People went crazy for it. It set MTV records and was so popular the network pulled the plug on it to give other videos some screen time. They made up a rule??? How does that make any sense? This is a story you’re not gonna want to miss. So get ready, it’s coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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AC/DC’s 'Moneytalks': The Biggest Hit They’ve Never Played Again Apr 22, 2023

Show notes

In 1980 AC/DC was on top of the world releasing one of the biggest-selling rock records in history Back in Black…Then they had years of dwindling sales, in fact, their next three records drastically underperformed and with rock bands like Guns N Roses, Def Leppard, and Bon Jovi coming on strong in the charts. Some thought this best band’s best days were behind them. but those who thought that didn’t understand this group’s grit and determination. Rushing toward a new decade they released one of the biggest rock albums of the time The Razor’s Edge while delivering their highest charting hit ever Moneytalks A true head-banger with a classic riff And yet today it’s been all but forgotten. How could the highest charting song of this band’s career become their most underrated hit that the band hasn’t played live in 32 years and been overshadowed by the other big song from the record, Thunderstruck? Stick around, the story is coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Earth, Wind & Fire’s 'September': The Classic Written by a Struggling Songwriter on Food Stamps Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, we’re showcasing a song that boasts the most recognizable date ever used in a lyric. September 21st! For decades people have wondered why the band who wrote this 70s classic chose this particular day. Earth Wind and Fire and their classic hit September made that date famous but the truth may not be what you think it is. Earth Wind and Fire or EWF, is known for the pure positivity that they infuse into all of their music. Any time you drop the needle on one of their records it's a guaranteed good time. And September is the epitome of all of that...Written by the band’s leader Maurice White and a songwriter he called up out of the blue who was on food stamps at the time and struggling mightily. Maurice Alle Willis her shot at the title and together they authored the 1978 smash September.. one of the most joyful jams of the era. So get ready, we’ve got the story… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Adam Ant’s 'Goody Two Shoes': The 80s Classic Misunderstood as a Critique on Prudery Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Coming up the story of a very unique rockstar. Adam Ant... First of all his mother was Paul McCartney’s Housekeeper and he in turn got to walk Paul’s Dog and even snuck into his music room. later he and his band Adam and the Ants had 7 songs in the top 40 at the same time. Then in 1983, he was voted “World’s Sexiest Man” in the MTV viewer’s poll. His odd image was envied by many, including the King of Pop, while his music dominated the New Wave landscape of the 80s taking him to the top of the charts and the face of early MTV… Today we break down his career including his MTV new wave classic Good Two Shoes. There were dark times.. After a maniacal episode in 2003...he was found by police- curled up in a ball & sobbing in the basement of a North London cafe. It’s the story of a post punk icon, and his breakout solo smash Goody Two Shoes that was confused by some as a critique on righteous living but was actually a manifesto about exploitative journalism is NEXT…on Professor of Rock.

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Jackson Browne’s 'Somebody’s Baby': The Hit He Hated That Cost Him a #1 Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne was asked to write a song for the 80s teen movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. It was a Huge Departure for him and it took a few famous friends to convince him to do it. When he finished the song known as Somebody’s Baby, everyone KNEW it was a smash and told him to put it on his new album. He REFUSED the song saying it was a meaningless pop tune. It ended up being his biggest hit and an 80s classic and by not putting it on his new album it probably cost him platinum status and the #1 spot… He ragged on the song for years until his therapist of all people told him he was DEAD WRONG and that the song was about the most fundamental thing in life. Find out what song it is… Why this legend at first despised it and how he learned to love it next on Professor of Rock.

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Huey Lewis’ 'Do You Believe in Love': The Rookie Music Video He Couldn't Bear to Watch Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

After hitchhiking across America and stowing away on a plane and bumming around Europe as a youth, Huey Lewis toiled in band after band trying to make it in music for almost a decade. He actually dropped out of Cornell University to chase his music dreams and formed the bar band Huey Lewis and the News. They broke into the Billboard Top 10 with a brilliant hit written by Mutt Lange called We Both Believe in Love which Huey turned into Do You Believe in Love that became his first top 10 hit. Up next Huey tells the story in an exclusive interview where he admits that the music video for Do You Believe in Love was excruciatingly awful and the pain of watching it for the first time with label execs. Next on Professor of Rock.

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The Story of Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” and Its Unexpected Rise to #1 Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

Coming up….Jim Croce was an emerging superstar whose promising career started to enter its peak when he made a decision to quit the business altogether to spend time with his wife and newborn son. But a fatal moment would tragically change it all. At that point, after years of futility, he became a hit parade, marching off 5 consecutive Top 40 singles, including I Got A Name, Don’t Mess Around with Jim, Bad Bad Leroy Brown and today's classic song: Time in A Bottle. this was a song he buried on his new album that shot to the top of the charts after it was used in an ABC movie of the week.. the 70s pop classic would prove to be a beautiful and endearing omen. The story of a timeless song and career is next on Professor of Rock.

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How Sting’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” Divided The Police Apr 15, 2023

Show notes

Throughout the late 70s and early 80s THIS BAND WAS ON fire. Between the US and the UK, The Police had 14 Top 20 hits and for a while they were easily the biggest band in the world. Today we’re checking out one of their highest charting hits. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic. And it almost never happened. The song was ignored by two out of the three band members for years. So the lead singer Sting finally recorded it in secret. He steamrolled them to get it on the new album Ghost in the Machine…but in the process it alienated the others namely Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers and even though it became a monster hit, the song ultimately caused a rift that ended the band. Its a compelling story about a song that the singer believed in so much he searched for the Perfect rhyme for a word in the chorus for years and the song was definitely magic … the story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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