Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll Podcast

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Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_139 Jul 15, 2021

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R&SRNR_139 – "THE LOST TOP 40 HITS OF 1971"

This episode spotlights 40 lost Top 40 hits from the year 1971. 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.

Three of the 45s on our playlist are from a famous Hollywood romantic drama. We've also got a top 40 hit that sounded like it was done by the Bee Gees – but it wasn't. Then there's the only charted 45 we know of that ever dealt with the topic of cannibalism. And we'll recall a spoken word hit based on a poem that appeared on posters that were on the walls of a lot of teenagers' bedrooms and college dorms – and top 40 radio station announcer lounges.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_138 Jul 01, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_138 – "THE MANY SIDES OF PHIL SPECTOR" –

His remarkable career was a contrast of very good music and very bad behavior. But there's no question that Phil Spector's musical achievements across six decades beginning in 1958 and ending in 2003 earned him an indelible place in rock and roll history – and an in-depth retrospective on our little podcast series.

We'll salute artists who had hit singles that were produced and/or composed by Phil Spector. Plus hit 45s on which Phil Spector performed as a singer or a studio musician. In particular, Gene Pitney, Connie Francis, the Crystals, the Ronettes, Darlene Love, the Righteous Brothers, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, and George Harrison, among many others.

Phil Spector's trademark "Wall Of Sound." was one of the most innovative, complex, and successful record production formulas of the 1960s. Our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, will be along to explain how all that worked. And Radio Dave will have more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Hear it all here.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_137 Jun 15, 2021

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R&SRNR_137 – "Our 30 Nominees For The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame"

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame was founded in 1983, and its home is in Cleveland, Ohio. The honorees enshrined there are an honor roll comprising more than 300 of the greatest names in rock and roll history. And more are added every year. That said, we think there are many overlooked artists who deserve inclusion. These are especially performers who reached the heights of their fame during the first two decades of the "Rock & Roll" era – the 1950s' and 1960s, the years we frequently focus on during our little podcast series.

We'll count down our own list of 30 nominees for you to consider. These are artists who have neither been nominated nor elected. but they include a vocalist who many musicologists think recorded the first rock and roll hit record. Plus, another singer who was just as popular, if not even more so, than Elvis Presley in the late 1950s. And there's also the first female international rock and pop star.

Our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, joins our host, Radio Dave, with background on the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame selection process, as we bring you more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Hear it all here.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_136 Jun 01, 2021

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R&SRNR_136 – "THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES HISTORY OF THE GRASS ROOTS"

Hit songs credited to the Grass Roots were all over your radio dial in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Note that we said credited to rather than performed by. That's because for most of its existence, the Grass Roots has been a brand in search of a band.

The name Grass Roots was applied to anonymous studio musicians, until a formal group was recruited to tour under the Grass Roots moniker. Then that band was replaced by another group of musicians – with dozens of personnel changes to follow. We'll review every Grass Roots hit single. Several of those charted 45s were remakes of other artists' originals, and we'll sample them, as well.

Surprisingly, two Grass Roots hit singles were imported from Italy. Our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, joins Radio Dave with the provenance of those platters. Ken also will have some special tips for music collectors and fans on how to know if Grass Roots recordings you choose to obtain via vinyl, CD, or download are the genuine originals or just professionally crafted sound-alikes.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_135 May 15, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_135 – "BIG HITS & BIG LAW SUITS + PLATTERS ABOUT THE LEGAL PROFESSION" –

This episode spotlights some big hit records that were the subject of some great big law suits, plus assorted platters about the legal profession. These include musical testimonies by artists who were sued for copyright infringement and celebrated or criticized the results of their trials. We'll sample those tunes, along with hit records about lawyers and judges.

Featured artists include George Harrison, the Chiffons, Roy Orbison, 2 Live Crew, Jackson Browne, the Who, Stevie Wonder, and Prince, among others.

Our resident Rockologist Ken Deutsch and Radio Dave will spotlight two of the most litigious acts in music history – the Turtles and the Beatles.

To help us understand the law and the lawsuits for this episode, we've asked well known Chicago trial lawyer Robert Berger to be our special guest. Not only has Rob handled a wide variety of legal disputes during his 45-year career, he was also the host of the "Ask A Lawyer" show on Chicago Radio. And we've got some fun legal questions for him, such as how can different songs get away with using the same title. It's a truly precedent-setting podcast.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_134 May 01, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_134 – "THE LOST TOP 40 HITS OF 1977"

This episode spotlights 40 lost hits from the year 1977. 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.

Three of the songs on our playlist are title tunes from blockbuster Hollywood movies. Another one is a dance version of the theme from one of the most beloved situation comedy shows in television history. We've even got a sex-rated hit single that a lot of radio stations refused to play. But we will.

Our potpourri of platters ranges from hard rock and soft rock, to disco, rhythm & blues and even semi-classical. Our array of selected artists includes a teen idol, a TV police show star, a symphony orchestra, several singer-songwriters, and even some feathered farm animals.

They're all part of "Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll" show #134 – "The Top 40 Lost Hits Of 1977." As always, our resident Rockologist Ken Deutsch will be along to give us a little historical perspective. And Radio Dave will have more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_133 Apr 15, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL – "HIT SINGLES COVER VERSIONS OF BEATLES ORIGINALS – PART 2"

Although they were only active for a little over a decade – from 1960 to 1970, the Beatles remain to this very day the most covered band in rock and roll history. By covers, we mean new versions of their originals recorded by other artists. There are thousands and thousands of such takes on Beatles tunes in virtually every known musical genre. For instance, rock, rhythm & blues, pop, easy listening, country, jazz, and even classical.

We've identified 64 Beatles originals that were remade into 130 hit singles by other performers around the world. The "Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll" Medley Department has assembled those Beatles originals and those hit singles covers in 63 custom mixes that we've divided up for two editions of our little podcast series. We played 33 in our previous episode #132. We'll review the remaining 30 in this show #133.

Our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, has factoids about each song, and Radio Dave has facts about the chart performances of these platters.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_132 Apr 01, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_132 – "HIT SINGLES COVER VERSION OF BEATLES ORIGINALS – PART 1"

It's an ambitious presentation that we're very sure no other broadcasters or podcasters have ever attempted.

Our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, has factoids about each song, and Radio Dave has facts about the chart performances of these platters.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_131 Mar 15, 2021

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RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_131 – "THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES HISTORY OF THE FOUR SEASONS – PART 2"

This is the second installment in our two-episode salute to a group whose incredible career has been celebrated on stage and screen in "The Jersey Boys." They're the Four Seasons. We'll continue our chronicle comprising all of their hit singles. As we track the remainder of their hit tunes and other significant recordings – collectively as a group – and individually as soloists from 1967 to 2020.

We're joined once again by one of our frequent guest experts – Nay Nassar – a leading authority on rock and roll vocal groups. Nay and our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, will showcase some of the Four Seasons extra-curricular activities as record producers and song writers for other artists. Plus, you'll hear some other groups you'll swear are the Four Seasons, but who really were just great soundalikes.

There's more of Ken Deutsch's customary factoids, including the future trademark tune that Motown Records discarded and sold to Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli for a rock bottom price. And Radio Dave have more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record.

Rare & Scratchy Rock 'N Roll_130 Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

RARE & SCRATCHY ROCK 'N ROLL_130 – "THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES HISTORY OF THE FOUR SEASONS – PART ONE

This is part one of our two-part salute to a group whose incredible career has been celebrated on stage and screen in "The Jersey Boys." They're the Four Seasons. We'll chronicle all of their hit singles, as we track their tunes – collectively as a group – and individually as soloists from the 1953 to 2020.

On this episode, we'll cover their music through the year 1966. We're joined by one of our frequent guest experts – Nay Nassar – a leading authority on 1950s and 1960s vocal groups. And our resident Rockologist, Ken Deutsch, has sage perspectives on how the Four Seasons developed their distinctive sound. Plus, more of Ken's customary factoids, including the Four Seasons unique connections with the Beatles and the Beach Boys. And Radio Dave will have more of the greatest rock and roll stories on record. Including some truly rare and scratchy answer songs by other artists who pressed platters in response to some of the Four Seasons greatest hits. Then there's also the genesis of Frankie Valli's solo career while simultaneously serving as the lead singer on almost all Four Seasons hit singles. Hear it all here.

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