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 Three Dog Night Turned Harry Nilsson’s "One" into a Timeless Classic Dec 16, 2023

Show notes

In early 70s they were one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Some call them the first stadium rock band…they sold more records than anyone for a few years with 21 top 40 hits in a row and 11 top 10s…and most people don’t realize.. they were all cover songs! I’m talking about Three Dog Night! With 11 top ten cover songs, you could say they are the greatest cover band ever. But the thing is, their arrangements and vocals were so spectacular, it felt like they were their songs and many have never known the difference. Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton and the late Cory Wells were giants of the 70s. With hits like Joy to the World, Shambala, Black and White, Never Been To Spain, Easy to Be Hard, Eli’s Coming, Old Fashioned Love Song, Mama Told Me Not To Come and today’s classic ONE originally written and recorded by Harry Nilsson. These guys had a knack for breaking unknown songwriters. Several of whom would become industry giants. Like Randy Newman, Paul Williams, and Hoyt Axton...Truly one of the most successful groups of the 60s and 70s,. For this episode, we’re once again enlisting the help of two of their lead singers (two out of three) to tell the story Chuck Negron and Dany Hutton of what just may be the loneliest song ever written. Get the story straight from these icons themselves… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Why Rush’s "Limelight" Is One of Rock’s Greatest Compositions Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

Up next, the greatest band in the history of the planet… who NEVER had a top-20 hit. In fact, they only had one hit but to call them a one-hit wonder would be blasphemy…I’m talking about Rush... I’m pretty sure they would’ve been SHAKESPEARE's favorite band. Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and the professor Neal Peart make up a band so unorthodox they play time signatures that don’t actually exist but they’ve found a way to play them anyway… You’ll see what I mean with today’s song that seems to make me smarter every time I hear it. I’m talking about Limelight…from their masterpiece record Moving Pictures. With an incredible ability to connect with their fans, they were the Avengers of rock and today’s song might be their greatest composition. You decide. From their incredible lyricist's own brush with a fan. It’s all coming up. Plus How I got a rap fan to Love This Legendary rock band… Next on Professor of Rock.

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David Gates’ Journey from Soft Rock Icon to a Life Out of the Spotlight Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

His voice was the soundtrack for the groovy 70s. He wrote songs with a band that mesmerized the Me Generation, and ushered in the genre of ‘soft rock. I’m talking about David Gates and his mellow gold masters Bread’ He ruled the 70s with his soothing voice and charming charisma with classic hits like Make It With You, If, Diary, Baby I’m a Want You, Everything I own and Guitar Man... But after years of dissension and inevitable burnout, his group, bread broke up, and by the mid-80s this iconic vocalist, surprised his fans around the world… when he waved ‘goodbye’ to the music industry… and disappeared… Instead of wooing fans on stage at sold-out arenas, he went his own way…Find out where he went… Up next, the steady rise and sudden farewell of the man I like to call the “maestro of mellow” and one of his signature songs is NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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From Rock Bottom to Radio Dominance: Aerosmith’s Iconic Comeback Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

In the mid-80s one of the greatest bands ever couldn’t get arrested… They were down and out until, they had a hit with a rap group… Walk This Way was originally an Aerosmith tune but RUN DMC remade it and Rick Rubin had the idea of including Steven Tyler and Joe Perry and co and it turned out to the opening shot on one of the greatest comebacks ever… the Story of Aerosmith’s classic 1987 album Permanent Vacation including the 3 hit singles: Angel, Dude Looks Like A Lady and Rag Doll. Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and the Boston Calvary took over radio again with one of the biggest comebacks ever. nest on Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire: A History Lesson in a Song Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

One day Billy Joel was working on material for a new album he would later call Storm Front, when a famous friend came by with a guest, grumbling about how hard it was to be coming of age in the 80s, but Joel, nearly 25 years older, recalled similar challenges when he was a teenager, the young man dismissed his empathy, saying Nothing bad happened in your day… When the obstinate young man left, The piano man was compelled to write a song that covered all of the stuff that had impacted the world during his lifetime. From the H Bomb to the Aids epidemic... The song became an international pop culture commemorative called WE Didn’t Start the Fire. yet the author regarded it as one of the worst compositions of his career. It was so wordy this artist said if he missed one word in concert it became a total train wreck… It was a novelty song that became one of the biggest #1 hit of the year 1989. The story of this smash… and all of its irony… is NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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When Paul Rodgers Teamed Up with Jimmy Page for The Firm’s Radioactive Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Coming up an interview with one of the greatest rock singers in the history of our planet… Paul Rodgers who fronted Free, Bad Company, and Queen at different times... tells a story that will leave you dumbfounded. He once formed a supergroup called the Firm with arguably the greatest guitarist of all time in Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, and they were working on their first single Radioactive and this guitarist told the singer he should play the guitar solo? or was it the other way around? Find out in our exclusive interview. Also, we have another special guest on today’s episode. Bob Rock, A legendary rock producer who did some of the biggest records ever including Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and Metallica. Find out why he did this legendary singer’s album for free! Next on Professor of Rock.

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How Creedence Clearwater Revival Outsold The Beatles with Fortunate Son in 1969 Dec 10, 2023

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The incredible story of the Creedence Clearwater Revival “CCR” 1969 classic rock hit Fortunate Son. Written and performed by lead singer John Fogerty during the traumatic time of Vietnam when young men were being drafted to fight in a war where there were no clear answers. The song was written to protest more than the war though… it was the ultimate middle finger against the establishment and put CCR in a place where they outsold the Beatles in that same year.

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The Enigma of Question Mark and the #1 Hit 96 Tears Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

Today’s featured artist is one of the most mysterious frontmen you could ever meet. Legally changing his name to a symbol and he did it before Prince! He claimed to be a time traveler from another planet… And he also says that he’s lived a past life on prehistoric Earth, back when the dinosaurs were roaming around. So I guess it’s no surprise that the name of his band came from a cult classic 1950s Japanese science fiction film featuring aliens in capes. It’s one of the biggest one-hit wonders ever… Question Mark and the Mysterians with the 1966 classic 96 Tears. Lead singer Question Mark was always hidden behind dark sunglasses, he led his band out of nowhere to the top of the charts with one of the most unexpected songs of the rock era… Paving the way for an army of garage rockers ever after and even inspiring the phrase punk rock… This #1 hit has an inescapable organ riff that defined an era. No one knew who the singer really was for decades… Let's try to find out next on Professor of Rock.

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How Prince Took Back "Kiss" and Turned It Into a Funky #1 Hit Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Today, we’re dropping the needle on a track that a revolutionary artist wrote as a favor for his bandmate’s side project. When Prince and the Revolution bassist Brown Mark asked Prince to write him a song for his side project Mazarati Prince picked up his acoustic guitar and whipped up the song “KISS” in a few minutes. He didn’t think anything of it. But when Prince checked on the song’s progress a day later, he realized it was vastly improved… He knew it was a hit and it was too good for this band... he wanted it back. So he locked himself in the studio for four hours and wrote the funkiest #1 hit of 1986. Then promising to give his bandmate Brown Mark a co-writing credit, he tacked it on his album Parade… sending it to the top of the Billboard charts. The only thing is, he never shared the writing credits. It’s the story of how a stolen song became one of the biggest hits of this Prince's career, and how was really the catalyst behind the break up of one of the biggest bands of the 80s… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Kiss and the Ballad They Didn’t Want: The Saga of "Beth" Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

Coming up…the band who taught us how to rock KISS…like many band before them, hated their biggest hit. The ballad “Beth" was allegedly written by drummer Peter Criss. Though Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons don’t believe he actually composed it. The band loathed Beth. They hated it so much they didn’t even show up to record it, so half the band didn’t even play on it, including Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Then they tried to keep it off their album. Ace Frehley was to busy playing poker to care. They buried it on a b-side until a random DJ turned the record around and made Kiss’ biggest hit. The saga behind the People’s Choice for “Favorite Song” in 1977... is NEXT on Professor of Rock.”

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