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:

How ELO’s Don’t Bring Me Down Became Their Biggest Hit – Jeff Lynne’s Bold Experiment Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

How Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra created a song that was louder and different than anything they had done before and was rewarded with their biggest hit ever. In the 70s ELO ruled the charts on both sides of he Ocean, but this risk was one the band mates fought against since Jeff decided to record and play all of the instrument alone. The story of the 70s smash Don’t Bring Me Down.

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Boston’s Meteoric Rise with Don’t Look Back – What Happened Next? Jan 08, 2022

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After releasing a historic debut album that shocked the record industry, the pressure WAS ON for CLASSIC ROCK ACT BOSTON AND Tom Sholz to deliver the group’s highly anticipated follow-up, Don’t Look Back in late summer of 1978. It shot to #1 and Brad Delp’s majestic Tenor was at the forefront of Tom Sholz beautiful composition with his signature guitar harmonies. Up next the story of this song and time period.

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Revisiting the Top 10 Songs from This Week in 1970 – Who Holds Up Today? Jan 07, 2022

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Up next we’re going to go go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1970. an amazing 52 years ago Where we had on of the most diverse charts ever with Creedence Clearwater Revival vs newcomers Led Zeppelin, Motown was well represented with the Jackon 5 and Diana Ross and The Supremes as well as Dutch Rock act Shocking Blue, . Who is the new #1 based on all time streams? Once again we will re rank them based on the all time performance and tell your stories...

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How Duran Duran’s Ordinary World Became Their Emotional 90s Comeback Hit Jan 06, 2022

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The heart wrenching story behind Duran Duran’s masterpiece hit, Ordinary World. Everyone wrote Duran Duran off after the 80s, especially after their 1990 album Liberty failed to catch on and had no real hits. Their label wouldn’t even give them the full money to make another record. That’s when Simon LeBon John Taylor Nick Rhodes and new comer Warren Cuccurullo combined to write one of the greatest songs ever. A song that Simon wrote after the death of this good friend..

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Alan Parsons on Working with The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and His Legendary Career Jan 05, 2022

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Legendary Producer and Songwriter Alan Parsons tells the story of working at Abbey Road Studios under the tutelage of George Martin, helping to engineer both The Beatles Let It Be and Abbey Road albums and his adventures along the way, including helping set up the mics and equipment for the fab four’s legendary rooftop concert. and how those opportunities led to producing Pink Floyd, Al Stewart, Pilot The Hollies and Paul McCartney solo in an incredible run in the 70s and 80s to now with the Alan Parson’s Project.

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Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. on Up, Up and Away – A Grammy-Sweeping Classic Jan 04, 2022

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Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. formerly of the 5th Dimension tell the wondrous story of the Jimmy Webb penned 60s classic Up, Up and Away with the Wrecking Crew that became one of their 1st hits and swept the Grammys that year!

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Peter Hook on Blue Monday – The 80s Hit That Became the Best-Selling 12-Inch Single Ever Jan 03, 2022

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The complicated story of the best selling 12 inch single of the 1980s. New Order’s Blue Monday from 1983 was would become the stuff of legend. Up next former bassist and co-founder Peter Hook

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How Pink Floyd’s Money Turned Sound Effects into a 70s Rock Anthem Dec 31, 2021

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The compelling story of Pink Floyd’s first Hit Single of the 70s, Money from one of the biggest selling albums in the history of planet earth, Dark Side of the Moon. From it’s origins to it’s sonic mastery Engineer Alan Parsons tells the first hand story of how Roger Waters vision and David Gilmour’s blazing vocal made it a song for the ages.

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When In Rome on the Story Behind The Promise – An 80s One-Hit Wonder That Endures Dec 28, 2021

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Released in 1988, The Promise was When In Rome’s debut single. It was written by all three band Members Clive Farrington, Andrew Mann and Michael Floreale. It’s a song that has only grown in status since that day and it still mesmerizes me as one of the greatest love songs of a decade known for great love songs. I was very fortunate to interview 2 of the 3 writers Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann about it. Here they are with the story behind The Promise, and how movies like Napoleon Dynamite introduced it to a new generation

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The Story Behind the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Soundtrack – 80s Icons Reflect Dec 25, 2021

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80s Icon John Hughes created so many great teen movies. He mastered the genre and seemed to understand generation X to the tee. Up next the story behind the soundtrack to his 1986 comedy masterpiece Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. In exclusive interviews Dave Wakeling of the English Beat and Nick Laird Clowes from the Dream Academy tell the stories behind their songs from the soundtrack including Edge of Forever to March of The Swivel heads. Also Oh Yeah by Yello, Please, Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by the Smiths and Twist and Shout by the Beatles Including deep insight into John Hughes as a person.

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