Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll Podcast

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Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_149 Dec 15, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_149 – "THE GREATEST ROCK & ROLL CHRISTMAS ALBUM OF ALL TIME"

This is our sixth annual Xmas episode. We're celebrating the season with a unique presentation of the LP that's universally regarded as "The Greatest Rock & Roll Christmas Album Of All Time." Musicologists, music critics, authors of books about rock and roll history, famed composers, and world-renowned performers are in general agreement that it's the late record producer Phil Spector's 1963 masterpiece – "A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records."

We'll sample each and every cut on "A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records." All of those songs will be accompanied by the original versions by other artists that inspired Phil Spector to create his holiday opus. This is definitely a "Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll" exclusive.

We're joined on this episode by a special guest expert who truly knows a thing or two about Christmas music – yes, you guessed it – Santa Claus.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_148 Dec 01, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_148 – "THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES HISTORY OF BOBBY DARIN, PART 2"

This is the second of our two editions saluting Bobby Darin – one of the most dynamic show business talents of the twentieth century. Our prior program – show #147 covered the years 1956 to 1962 and his incredible rise to superstardom. Now on this episode #148 of our little podcast series, we'll cover the rest of his amazing career from 1963 to 1974.

At the outset of this time period, he experienced a lowered level of hit music popularity for a few years as his repertoire rambled among country-tinged laments, Broadway show tunes, and cabaret-like recordings. Then he achieved an amazing comeback and returned to the top of the charts as a folk-style entertainer.

We'll sample the remainder of all his hit singles, ranked remakes of his tunes, and original versions of songs that inspired Bobby Darin to record them in his own unique style. As always, our resident, Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, will be along with fascinating factoids. And Radio Dave will have more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Hear it all here.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_147 Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_ 147 – "THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES HISTORY OF BOBBY DARIN, PART 1"

This is part one of our two-part salute to one of the most dynamic show business talents of the twentieth century. During an all-too-brief career that spanned from 1956 to 1973, he waxed nearly 50 hit singles – mostly penned or co-written by him. He acted in 13 motion pictures and was nominated for an Academy Award. This artist also hosted his own highly-rated network television show. He was a performer with one foot in the pop world and the other in the universe of rock and roll. A distinction few singers ever successfully achieved. He was the incomparable Bobby Darin.

On this first of two installments of our little podcast series, we'll chronical his career from 1956 through 1962. All his hit singles, charted remakes of his tunes, and original versions of songs that Bobby Darin was inspired to record in his own unique style. As always, our resident, Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, will be along with fascinating factoids. And Radio Dave will have more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Hear it all here.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_146 Nov 01, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_146 – "THE TOP 20 ROCK & ROLL COMPOSING TEAMS DURING THE GOLDEN AGE OF 45 RPM RECORDS" –

This episode spotlights "The Top 20 Rock & Roll Composing Teams During The Golden Age Of 45 RPM Records." We've based our survey on the research of acclaimed popular music statistician, Bill Carroll, Ph.D. He's our featured guest.

Our resident "Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll" Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, and Radio Dave will count down the most successful composing teams, which also include individual songwriters who penned charted 45 RPM platters. Our time period for this tabulation is the golden age of that format for rock & roll singles.

And we'll sample the two strongest-charted hit singles for each entry on our ranking. These include the only husband-wife team on our roll-call, plus the only family of record labels with four of the top 20 entries on our list. And just for fun, we've asked a valued member of our staff, Mr. Announcer, to reveal some of the famed rock and roll songwriters who were among the tops in their profession – but not among our top 20. It's all by the numbers, and you'll hear it all here.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_145 Oct 15, 2021

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R&SRNR_145 – "THE TOP 40 LOST HITS OF 1959"

This episode spotlights "The Top 40 Lost Hits Of 1959." It was a vintage year for music, including some great records you never seem to hear on the radio, or the satellite or on anyone's live stream anymore.

These include a song with the same title as a book written by the super star singer who sang it. Plus, the mostly-instrumental 45 that's been featured in numerous major motion pictures, as well as national ad campaigns starting four decades after it was an international sensation.

We've also got hit records by two different groups of tree-dwelling rodents. Then there's the hit record dedicated to a singer/songwriter who's been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in two different categories.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_144 Oct 01, 2021

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R&SRNR_144 – "THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES HISTORY OF HERMAN'S HERMITS"

This episode spotlights the complete hit singles history of one of the most popular groups of the 1960s "British Invasion." In fact, Billboard Magazine ranked these performers the "number one U.S. singles act of 1965" – with the Beatles placing number two. No, it wasn't the Dave Clark Five, Rolling Stones, Animals, or the Kinks. The correct answer is Herman's Hermits, a group whose signature sound comprised simple melodies and instrumentation combined with romantic lyrics intended to appeal to younger female teenagers, especially those who were living in the United States.

We'll cover Herman's Hermits' complete hit singles discography, and the original versions of songs they were inspired to re-record in their own distinctive style. Plus, their major motion pictures – one of which was based on and took its title from a Herman's Hermits trademark tune.

As always, our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, will be along with his customary collection of fascinating factoids. Ken also will join Radio Dave as we present more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Hear it all here.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_143 Sep 15, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_143 – "THE HISTORY OF 'LOUIE LOUIE'"

This episode spotlights the fascinating history of just one song. And it's one of the most widely performed rock and roll tunes of all time. I'm talking about the immortal "Louie Louie."

We'll trace the musical roots that inspired Richard Berry to compose it. You'll also hear samples of every hit single version of "Louie Louie," along with details about the alleged obscenity and the subsequent FBI investigation involved with the Kingsmen's definitive rendition.

Our rockumentary also includes representative samples from the nearly two thousand remakes of "Louie Louie" that have been recorded in the seven decades since the Richard Berry & The Pharaohs original debuted on your radio and in record stores in 1957. Plus, artists who rewrote the "Louie Louie" lyrics. And answer tunes that continue the saga of this song.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_142 Sep 01, 2021

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R&SRNR_142 – "THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES HISTORY OF THE DOORS"

One of the most popular and influential bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s made an indelible mark on rock and roll history by applying electric blues arrangements to dark musical messages about sex, obsessive excesses, and death. Their charismatic lead singer adopted the persona of "The Lizard King," and his usually substance abuse-induced lewd live performances frequently resulted in arrests for obscenity and disorderly conduct. We're talking about the Doors and that group's front man, Jim Morrison. Their music was all over your AM and FM dials beginning in 1967, and their tunes remain a staple on the playlists for radio, Internet streams, and satellite stations to this very day.

We'll cover all of the Doors hit singles, along with charted remakes by other artists. Our rockumentary also spotlights selected Doors albums cuts of particular significance. Our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, will be along with his customary collection of fascinating factoids. Ken also will join Radio Dave as we as we present more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Hear it all here.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_141 Aug 15, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_141 – "TWENTIETH CENTURY TOP 40 ANGELS & DEVILS"

We're spotlighting every Top 40 hit song with angel and/or devil in the title that charted during the first five decades of the rock and roll era – from 1955 through 1999.

How many angels and devils songs can you name? Although there have been hundreds of such rock and roll songs, we were surprised to discover that only 45 of these tunes reached the Top 40 during the time period we're reviewing. The angels outnumber the devils 37 to 7 – with one tie – the only Top 40 hit with both angel and devil in the title.

As always, our resident Rockologist Ken Deutsch will be along with fun factoids. He'll join Radio Dave as we present more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Hear it all here.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_140 Aug 01, 2021

Show notes

R&SRNR_140 – "THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES HISTORY OF THE RASCALS"

This episode spotlights the Rascals – one of the most popular groups in the U.S. and Canada during this act's peak years in the late 1960s. The Rascals impact was significant enough to earn them induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Also, a successful Broadway musical which celebrated their history and saluted their songs.

As we always do on our "Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll" tributes to a specific group or individual performer, we'll sample every Rascals hit single. Plus, the original versions that inspired Rascals remakes. And the artists who also achieved hit singles with records first recorded by the Rascals.

Our retrospective also includes remembrances from a special guest – attorney and former disc jockey, Jonathan Shimberg. He'll tell us why the Rascals originally had to call themselves the Young Rascals before they could revert to their chosen name several years after they became stars.

As always, our resident Rockologist Ken Deutsch will be along with fun factoids. He'll join Radio Dave as we present more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Hear it all here.

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