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1981 - June: Billy Squier ”Don’t Say No” Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

This second studio album is the one that would put Billy Squier at the top of the arena rock world in 1981. Don't Say No would produce Squier's first breakthrough single, “The Stroke,” a critique of the music industry, and the album would continue to contribute singles and AOR hits as it remained on the Billboard album charts for over 2 years.

Billy Squier got his start in the Boston music scene in the late 60's, playing in locally successful groups through the 70's, and releasing a moderately successful solo album in the spring of 1980. Squier approached Brian May of Queen about producing his second album, but May had scheduling conflicts that kept him from working with Squier. However, Brian May suggested Squier work with Reinhold Mack who had produced “The Game” for Queen. Billy Squier would later continue his connection with Queen, opening for the band during their 1982 tour.

Billy Squier wrote his own songs and was a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, piano, and percussion.

Squier left the music scene in the early 90's with the advent of grunge, but he often tours with Ringo Star as a part of his All Star Band. He also does one-off concerts for charity, but spends much of his time in New York City with his wife.

Are you ready for some early 80's arena rock? Don't Say No!

In the Dark This song was the second single from the album, and the lead song for the album. Some think that this song is about lovers keeping their cheating relationships secret. This album is considered to bridge the hard rock sounds of the 70's with heavy metal of the 80's. It has a Zeppelinesque feel to it.

Don't Say No The title track is the last song on the album, and a deeper cut that was never released as a single. It has an interesting “fade in” effect to kick it off.

My Kind of Lover While this third single narrowly missed the top 40 (it made it to number 45), it was heavily played at the time. It has a pop sentiment to it, but is a pretty straightforward song about sex and chasing a woman.

Lonely Is the Night Surprisingly, this song was not released as a single, and did not make Squier's greatest hits album. It's about a guy watching streetwalkers. It was the B-side of “In the Dark,” and received heavy air play on rock radio.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The theme to “Raiders of the Lost Ark” This classic adventure film starring Harrison Ford as Dr. Indiana Jones made its debut in the summer of 1981. This iconic tune is instantly recognizable today.

STAFF PICKS:

I Missed Again by Phil Collins Rob's staff pick is from “Face Value,” Phil Collins' debut solo album. The original name of the song was "I miss you, babe," but the band convinced him to change the name and lighten it up. "Would you say if I was wasting my time or did I miss again? ...I think I missed again."

All Those Years Ago by George Harrison This tribute to John Lennon was originally intended as a song for Ringo Starr, but George Harrison brought it back to himself after the death of Lennon the previous winter. Brian brings us his favorite Beatle. Ringo, John and Linda McCartney played on this song, the first time they all appeared on a song together since 1970.

Snowblind by Styx Bruce's staff pick features baritone James Young and tenor Tommy Shaw trading lead singer duties in this song about the dangers of cocaine. It also created a stir when some groups insisted that there were backward masking messages from the devil embedded in the track. This upset the band, who would make an entire concept album about censorship with their next effort, “Kilroy Was Here.”

Nether Street by Bodast Wayne finishes us off with a song recorded by a prog rock group that broke up in 1969 when guitarist Steve Howe joined Yes. You'll recognize the riff because it is embedded in Yes's “Starship Trooper.” The album was not released until June 1981.

LAUGH TRACK:

The Spanish Inquisition by Mel Brooks The comedy “History of the World, Part I” by Mel Brooks brought us one of the most politically incorrect musical numbers ever penned. "The Inquisition! What a show!"

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

1975 - August: Bruce Springsteen “Born to Run” Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Born to Run was Bruce Springsteen's third studio album, and the first unarguably successful commercial album. While he had previously achieved critical success with many industry insiders comparing him with Bob Dylan, his two prior albums had been more of a regional hit. With Born to Run, Springsteen had both time and money to make the album, and went for a “wall of sound” approach. Wikipedia mentions that he wanted it to sound like “Roy Orbison singing Bob Dylan, produced by Phil Spector.” With regard to the lyrics, Springsteen said this album was “the album where I left behind my adolescent definitions of love and freedom - it was the dividing line.”

To call this commercially and critically successful is an understatement. Born to Run is a giant of an album. It produced two singles, "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out" and "Born to Run," and these are timeless rock classics. But almost the entire album can be heard on classic rock stations regularly.

The songs were all composed on piano instead of guitar, and the songs tend to reflect this in their introductory instrumentation. Each album side starts with a song about escape (Thunder Road, Born to Run), and ends with a song about defeat (Backstreets, Jungleland). And of course you get not only the monster sounds and lyrics of Springsteen, but also the instrumental virtuosity of the E. Street Band. This is another example of an album that should be heard from cover to cover to get the full experience of it.

Alright, folks, it's time to run with The Boss!

Jungleland This isn't really a song, but more of an opera or an epic tragedy. This track closes out the album and tells the tale of Magic Rat and the barefoot girl. It's got scenes of life on the streets and in the gangs in New Jersey in the city they call Jungleland. It was 19 months from the first rehearsal of this song until it's completion. Saxophonist Clarence Clemons' solo supposedly took 16 hours alone to record, and takes up 3 minutes of this 9+ minute song. That length is why we're only profiling three songs from the album this week.

She's the One This is a deeper cut with a Bo Didley Beat. It is the B-side of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out" and got a bit of air play on rock stations as a consequence. "There's this angel in her eyes that tells such desperate lies and all you want to do is believe her."

Thunder Road Bruce (the one profiling this album, not the songwriter) thinks this may be the song with the finest lyrics top-to-bottom that Springsteen ever wrote. It tells of a visit to Mary's house, and uses automobile and motorcycle imagery to describe a plea from the suitor for Mary to run off with him “if you're ready to take that long walk from your front porch to my front seat. The door's open, but the ride ain't free.”

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The Time Warp (from the motion picture “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”) Yes, that timeless classic from the midnight movies had its origin this summer. It's just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right!

STAFF PICKS:

Man on the Silver Mountain by Rainbow Wayne features the distinctive guitar riff of Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio's vocals from Rainbow, Blackmore's group after leaving Deep Purple. The original vinyl release was a gated gold sleeve, but the record company reduced it to a single sleeve.

Por Amor Viviremos by The Captain and Tennille Rob brings us the Spanish version of "Love Will Keep Us Together." The Captain and Tennille had both the English language and Spanish language versions on the charts this month. "Love Will Keep Us Together" was originally done by Neil Sedaka in 1973, but this cover became identified with The Captain and Tennille.

I'm Not In Love by 10cc Brian's staff pick incorporates the backing of a wordless choir, with 256 voices overdubbed. The song itself is about expressing love without saying "I love you." The song was almost discarded, but when they heard the secretary and window cleaner singing it they decided to keep it. The whispered voice was from the secretary at Strawberry Studios.

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) by James Taylor Bruce finishes on a lighter note with this cover of Marvin Gaye's original 1965 hit. Taylor would take this one to number 1, and it would be the most successful remake of the song (the original went to number 3). Taylor's then-wife Carly Simon is on harmony vocals, and David Sanborn joins on saxophone.

LAUGH TRACK:

I Like Beer by Tom T. Hall We finish off this week with a cold one in a polka genre.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

1966 - June: The Association “And Then...Along Comes The Association” Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

The Association released their debut (and most successful) album, And Then...Along Comes The Association in June 1966. They had received some success with non-album releases prior to this, but the album itself would become one of the best selling albums of the year.

The Association was known as sunshine pop, which incorporated elements of both folk rock and psychedelic music. The group was formed originally by Jules Alexander (guitar) and Terry Kirkman (wind instruments, percussion) who met in Hawaii in 1962, then reconnected in Los Angeles in the mid-60's. They joined with Russ Giguere (rhythm guitar, percussion), Brian Cole (bass, woodwinds), Ted Bluechel, Jr. (drums, rhythm guitar, bass), and Jim Yester (rhythm guitar, keyboards) to make this album. All group members contributed to vocals, and the group was known for their harmonies.

The Association was first known as The Men, and played as the house band for The Troubadour where they would play with musicians such as Mama Cass Elliot and David Crosby. The Association would continue touring for decades, though with over 20 members throughout the time.

Enter the Young This deep cut is the lead song from the album. It gives a good sense of the harmonies of the group. The lyrics are an ode to the younger generation. "Enter the young, yeah. Yeah, they've learned how to think. Enter the young, yeah. More than you think they think."

Your Own Love Another deep cut seems representative of the sounds typical of television shows of the time. Russ Giguere takes the lead vocal duties on this one.

Along Comes Mary This is a hit from the album. The phrase itself was somewhat controversial, because "Mary" was a euphemism for marijuana, though the band never confirmed this. Either way, Mary improves the life of the singer - "When we met I was sure out to lunch, now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch." Jim Yester was on lead vocals for this hit.

Cherish A ballad would be the biggest hit off the album, and would have decades-long staying power. Kirkman and Giguere share lead vocal duties. The single runs 3 minutes and 13 seconds, but it was listed as "3:00" because radio programmers discouraged songs over the 3-minute limit.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from the television series “The Dick Van Dyke Show” This comedy would end its run in June 1966.

STAFF PICKS:

“Opus 17 (Don't You Worry "Bout Me)” by The Four Seasons Bruce features the Jersey Boys in their prime. This is the second single released after the title song from the album "Working My Way Back to You." The song was written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, who also wrote "Let's Hang On." There are 5 key changes in this 2-1/2 minute song.

“Dirty Water” by The Standells Wayne's staff pick mocks the city of Boston, Massachusetts and it's then infamously polluted Charles River and Boston Harbor. Some elements of this song from the Los Angeles garage band were inspired by a Mugging of their producer, the women's curfew at Boston University, and even a mention of the Boston Strangler. Fans of the Bruins and Red Sox will recognize this tune from hockey and baseball games.

“Red Rubber Ball” by The Cyrkle Rob's staff pick was written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley, and reached number 2 on the charts. Simon offered the song to the band when they were opening for Simon and Garfunkel on tour. It’s a fun, positive song - "The morning sun is rising like a red rubber ball."

“Kicks” by Paul Revere & the Raiders Brian finishes off the staff picks with a minor key song. This is the first anti-drug song of the rock era. It was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil as a warning to a friend about the dangers in drug use.

COMEDY TRACK:

“You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd” by Roger Miller This comedy track finishes off our session this week. Stay away from those buffalo herds, but you can be happy if you want to!

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

1979 - September: Blondie “Eat to the Beat” Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

Blondie had already established mainstream success by the time they released Eat to the Beat, their fourth studio album. Their previous album featured the hit singles “One Way or Another” and “Heart of Glass.” While not duplicating the commercial success of its predecessor, Eat to the Beat would nevertheless showcase Blondie's diversity while continuing to draw a mainstream audience led by the hit song “Dreaming.”

Blondie was an American band formed in 1974 by guitarist Chris Stein and vocalist (and former Playboy Bunny) Debbie Harry. The name of the group was originally called “Angel and the Snake,” but they changed the name to Blondie based on catcalls Harry often heard from truck drivers on the road. Blondie was a six person band for Eat to the Beat, with Harry and Stein joined by Frank Infante on guitar, Nigel Harrison on bass, Jimmy Destri on keyboards, and Clem Burke on drums.

The band came out of the punk and new wave genre originally, but had already achieved crossover appeal (and accusations of selling out) with the disco-influenced “Heart of Glass.” Eat to the Beat would see further diversity in genre and sound bringing rock, reggae, and disco-influenced tracks complementing the synth-heavy new wave sensibilities.

If your familiarity with Blondie is limited to the hits played on top 40 radio, you will be impressed with the variety of sounds and genres represented on this single album..

Dreaming This song was written by Harry and Stein, and was inspired by ABBA. There is a lot of energy in this song, and the drums are a big part of that. The drummer, Clem Burke, was "blowing through the song," and deliberately overplaying it on this fast-paced take — they ended up using this one for the track.

The Hardest Part The funky sound of this deep cut characterizes the diversity in the album. The song itself is about a heist. “The hardest part of the armored guard...big man of steel behind the steering wheel.”

Shayla Led by a synth prelude, this song depicts a woman who works in a factory. There's an alternative, almost “coffee shop” feel to this one, and it truly showcases Debbie Harry's range in vocal talents.

Atomic We're getting a western or surf music-influenced sound with this fourth track. Destri and Harry were attempting something similar to “Heart of Glass,” and there is a definite dance feel to the song. The bass solo in the middle of the song is a nice touch.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The theme from the animated television series “Scooby-Doo” The character "Scrappy-Doo" was introduced to the Scooby-Doo lineup...beginning the start of a long line of mediocre to horrible cartoons.

STAFF PICKS:

Pop Muzik by M Wayne leads off the staff picks with a one hit wonder from a new wave and synthpop music project from London. M was musician Robin Scott, his brother Julian bass, and his wife Brigit on backing vocals and other backing musicians known as "The Factor." It is sung from the perspective of a disc jockey spinning records at a dance club..

Lonesome Loser by the Little River Band Brian brings us the distinctive harmonies of the Little River Band. While the band is from Australia, the founding members were from the UK. The song is about a guy who is "unlucky in love," but keeps trying rather than taking a hard look at himself and realizing that he won't find love without getting himself right first.

Sail On by The Commodores Bruce's pick features the close harmonies and excellent piano work of Lionel Richie and company from The Commodores and their seventh studio album. The song itself is a break-up song, but it is more resigned than angry or sad. "It was plain to see that a small town boy link me just-a wasn't your cup of tea, I was wishful thinking."

Goodbye Stranger by Supertramp Rob's staff pick is off Supertramp's sixth and fantastically successful studio album “Breakfast In America.” Surprisingly, this song did not do well in the UK, but made it to number 15 in the States. "And I will go on shining, shining like brand new, and when I look behind me my troubles will be few." Davies and Hodgson wrote the songs, and wrote separately.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Regatta de Blanc by The Police Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers, and Sting make their third appearance as our instrumental track with the title track to their second studio album.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

1980 - July: AC/DC “Back In Black” Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

Fresh off their success with Highway to Hell, Australian band AC/DC was planning a follow-up when tragedy struck. Front man Bon Scott was found “dead by misadventure” after a drinking binge. The group would have to audition a replacement for their seventh studio album, and Brian Johnson was brought in on lead for Back In Black.

The new album was recorded in Nassau in the midst of a batch of tropical storms - a fact referenced in the opening lines of “Hells Bells.” In addition to front man Johnson, the group was comprised of lead guitarist Angus Young, his brother Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, Cliff Williams on bass, and Phil Rudd on drums.

Back In Black was an immediate commercial success. It is considered one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time. The group deliberately avoided using any of Bon Scott's lyrics for the album — not wanting to be perceived as profiting from their band mate's death. The album's all black cover was done in mourning for Scott. The album was so successful that many of their previous albums entered the charts, riding the coat tails of Back In Black.

Shoot to Thrill "Shoot to thrill, play to kill, too many women with too many pills." This high energy song is typical of the album as a whole. The song itself was inspired by a story Johnson read about a drug dealer selling narcotics to depressed housewives.

What Do You Do For Money, Honey Folks, let's face it: there's just not a lot of subtlety in AC/DC lyrics. It's pretty much all about sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. "You're lovin' on the take and you're always on the make/Squeezin' all the blood outta men. Yeah, we're standin' in a queue just to spend the night with you. It's business as usual again."

Have a Drink On Me This track was the B-side to the single "Shook Me All Night Long." and followed that song on the album. The song is about (get this) having a drink on me. ;-)

Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution While the song takes a slow blues start, it kicks in with straightforward, head banging rock. This is the final track on the album, and the fourth and final single released from the album. The B-side to this single was "Hells Bells," the lead-off track for the album.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

I'm Alright by Kenny Loggins (from the motion picture "Caddyshack") You have to have the dancing groundhog in your head for this one! Caddyshack and Airplane were both released in the summer of 1980. Actor Bill Murray's riffs throughout Caddyshack are legendary.

STAFF PICKS:

“Boulevard” by Jackson Browne Rob's staff pick is inspired by Hollywood Boulevard and the runaway kids on the street. Life is hard on the Boulevard, but that doesn't mean this is where you will always be. This song from the album "Holdout" was one of Browne's most successful songs. "Everybody walks right by like they're safe or something. They don't know."

“Snortin' Whiskey” by the Pat Travers Band Wayne's staff pick cranks the volume up to 11 on a high energy blues-tinged rock anthem. There's little doubt about what the song means when it leads off with the lyrics "Snortin' whiskey, drinkin' cocaine."

“Emotional Rescue” by the Rolling Stones Bruce gets himself in trouble this week by picking this less-than-popular disco-influenced song. Although Keith Richards contributes backing vocals, it is said that he did not like the whole disco vibe. Although it was a number 1 rock song, the Rolling Stones never played it live until 2013.

“All Night Long (live)” by Joe Walsh Brian redeems the staff picks by bringing this Joe Walsh live classic. It made it on both the rock and country charts. This song appeared on the soundtrack to the motion picture "Urban Cowboy."

LAUGH TRACK:

“Gimme Some Lovin'” by The Blues Brothers Another motion picture comedy that hit the theaters in 1980 featured lots of cameos from blues and soul icons.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

What the Riff Remembers Eddie Van Halen Oct 10, 2020

Show notes

Join What the Riff as we take a moment to reflect on the music and impact that Eddie Van Halen had on our lives as teenagers in the late 70s and early 80s. Eddie lost his long battle with cancer on October 6, 2020. He will be missed, but his mastery of the guitar will undoubtedly continue to inspire artists through eternity. We only feature 4 tracks in this bonus episode: “Eruption” from Van Halen 1, “Source of Infection” from OU812, “Girl Gone Bad” from 1984, and “And the Cradle Will Rock” from Women & Children First. Let us know how this affects you in a comment or review — or share your thoughts on our Facebook page. Eddie, we miss you. Rest in Peace, and may God bless your family. (Please check out Episode 17 - Fair Warning, and Episode 86 - Van Halen 2 for more awesome Van Halen tracks). Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?” NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel. Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share. Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform! **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

1971 - November: Harry Nilsson “Nilsson Schmilson” Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Sometimes called "the American Beatle," Harry Nilsson was cited by the Beatles as their favorite American group during a 1968 press conference. Nilsson Schmilsson was Harry Nilsson's (known professionally as Nilsson) seventh and most commercially successful album.

Nilsson grew up without a father and was poor. He began working early in life, and worked on computers in a bank by night, pursuing songwriting by day. Nilsson would come to work for Phil Spector and would write for a number of artists including the Monkees and Little Richard before going out on his own. He established a solid reputation as a songwriter through hits such as "Everybody's Talkin'" from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack, and through pieces such as "Best Friend," the theme from the television show "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." Nilsson was one of the few major artists of the era to achieve commercial success without ever touring.

Nilsson also established a different type of reputation, indulging in excessive drinking and drug use, and instigating with famous people to do the same. One of the more infamous occasions was Harry Nilsson's involvement with John Lennon's "lost weekend" in the 1970's.

Nilsson was connected to virtually everyone in the music industry and his funeral was attended by some of the biggest names. If you haven't been acquainted with Harry Nilsson before, you may be surprised by how familiar his songs are to you.

Jump Into the Fire This song has a more hard rock style than is typical of Nilsson's other work. It gained further recognition following its inclusion as the soundtrack to a pivotal scene in Martin Scorsese's 1990 film "Goodfellas."

Without You This slower track was written by Badfinger and shows off Nilsson's 3-1/2 octave singing range. Nilsson's cover went to number 1. Mariah Carey also took a cover of this song to number 1.

Gotta Get Up The transition from a carefree youth to adult responsibility can be a difficult one, and this song discusses that dread of facing responsibility. You may recognize this as the "reset" song in the Netflix series "Russian Doll."

Coconut This calypso number was a novelty song featuring four characters (the narrarator, the brother, the sister, and the doctor) al sung in different voices by Nilsson. The entire song is played using one chord, C7. Nilsson wrote the word "coconut" on a matchbook during a vacation in Hawaii, thinking it would make a great lyric for a song. He wrote the song in his car after finding the matchbook while driving in Los Angeles.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Finale from the motion picture "Fiddler On the Roof" This musical comedy film was based on the Broadway musical of the same name about life in a Jewish community in pre-revolutionary Russia.

STAFF PICKS:

“Sunshine” by Jonathan Edwards Rob brings us a country-folk song off Jonathan Edwards debut album. Originally, this song was not going to be on the album, but the engineer accidentally erased the master of another song and put this one on the album instead. It was fortuitous, because it would go to number 4 on the charts.

“Imagine” by John Lennon Brian's staff pick is perhaps the most iconic John Lennon song. Inspired by Yoko Ono, the song asks the listener to imagine the absence of all the things that divide us. .

“Where Did Our Love Go” by Donnie Elbert Bruce features this cover of a Supremes hit from 1964. Elbert took the song to number 15 in 1971. Donnie Elbert was a soul singer and songwriter who grew up in Buffalo. This was one of his biggest songs. You may also be familiar with a cover by Soft Cell, done as an outro to "Tainted Love."

“Get It On” by T. Rex Wayne's staff pick is from the glam rock group T. Rex. This was their only hit in the United States. Front man Marc Bolan claimed to have written this song out of a desire to record Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie," and said that the riff was taken from that tune.

COMEDY TRACK:

“Shanty” by Jonathan Edwards If you grew up in Atlanta in the 80's you will recognize this song from the 96 Rock "5 O'clock Whistle."

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

1994 - July: Hootie and the Blowfish “Cracked Rear View” Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

While Cracked Rear View is the debut studio album for the band, Hootie and the Blowfish had been a fixture of the Columbia, South Carolina college scene since the mid 80's. Guitarist Mark Bryan was attending the University of South Carolina, and heard Darius Rucker singing in the dorm room showers. They started a band called the Wolf Brothers, playing cover songs. Bassist Dean Felber went to high school with Bryan, and original drummer Brantley Smith completed the group. Smith would later leave the group to go into music ministry, and was replaced by Jim Sonefeld on percussion. The group got their name from two college friends' nicknames.

Cracked Rear View is the 19th best selling album of all time in the United States, and would reach its first platinum status by January 1995, a feat that would become 21-times platinum by 2019. The group self-published a couple of cassette demos in the early 90's, and self-released a small batch of EP's called Kootchypop in 1993.

It is difficult to pigeonhole the genre of the band. Some call it roots rock, some alternative rock. It has been called jangle pop, folk rock, heartland rock, and even country. Perhaps that last reference alludes to Darius Rucker's decision to go solo in country music later (because it was not the sound of the band). Whatever you call it, the sound was incredibly popular in the mid-90's. As a result, Hootie and the Blowfish won "Best New Artist" in the 1996 Grammy Awards.

There's really not a bad track on this album, folks. The songs are tight, melodic, and well-produced, almost “anti-grunge” in comparison to another popular genre at the time. We hope you enjoy this exploration of South Carolina's finest - Hootie and the Blowfish!

I Only Wanna Be With You This is the third single from the album, and the biggest hit, peaking at number 6 on the US charts. All of the band members are credited as songwriters. Bob Dylan is also credited. The song references several Dylan songs and in fact includes the lyrics, “putting on a little Dylan.” Apparently after the song became a hit, Dylan's publishing company pushed legal action and settled out of court — even though they had been made aware of the lyrics beforehand and had no issues.

I'm Goin' Home This is a deeper cut about a boy losing his mother. "And the angel sing, sha la la la, sha la la la, I'm going home." There's a wistfulness in a lot of these songs despite the sound being rather upbeat.

Time The fourth single off the album peaked at number 14 in February 1996, showing how long this album remained relevant on the charts! The lyrics are about time not being a friend. “Can you teach me 'bout tomorrow and all the pain and sorrow running free. 'Cause tomorrow's just another day and I don't believe in time.”

Let Her Cry Darius Rucker described writing this song to KDFI Studios. After listening to “She Talks to Angels” by The Black Crowes for the first time, and listening to a record by Bonnie Raitt, the lyrics to the song came to him in one stream of consciousness.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Rebel Rouser by Duane Eddy (from the motion picture “Forrest Gump”) Tom Hanks would solidify his status as A-list and celebrity talent with his second Best Actor Oscar in a row for his role in this film.

STAFF PICKS:

Cruisin' for a Bruisin' by The Reverend Horton Heat Wayne's staff pick showcases the rockabilly style of this group who is still out touring. The lyrics are about a couple of guys about to fight over a girl. There's a little bit of a surfing music and a little blues style to this as well.

Prayer for the Dying by Seal Rob brings us the haunting sound of Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, better known as Seal. His song “Kiss from a Rose” would appear on the soundtrack to Batman Forever. Producer Trevor Horn handled both this second album and Seal's debut album.

You Better Wait by Steve Perry Brian's staff pick is a solo effort from Journey's iconic front man. This is from his second solo album “For the Love of Strange Medicine.” The song is about a girl who runs away and loses herself in the city.

Come Out And Play by The Offspring Bruce finishes our staff picks with this breakout hit from Smash, the third album by The Offspring. "Gotta keep 'em separated" came from when front man Dexter Holland was in med school experimenting with bacteria in a cooling flask. The phrase came to him when the samples were interacting with each other.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Big Sky by The Reverend Horton Heat We go back to the rockabilly genre for this instrumental number from “the Right Reverend” to finish off this week's episode.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

1980 - November: The Police “Zenyatta Mondatta” Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

Power trios were unusual in the punk and new wave scene of the late 70's, but The Police were a notable exception. By November 1980 they were putting out their third studio album, Zenyatta Mondatta which would be the second of four albums to hit the number 1 slot in the UK, continuing their meteoric climb to super stardom on both sides of the pond. The Police only put out five albums, a surprisingly small discography for how famous the band would become.

Drummer, Stewart Copeland formed the band with Sting and guitarist Henry Padovani originally; with the more experienced and successful Andy Summers joining from a group called Strontium 90 a bit later. Padovani left to join another group, and the trio began their rise to stardom.

The Police were powered by the frenetic drumming of Stewart Copeland, guitarist Andy Summers, and front man and bassist Sting. The band was influenced by reggae and punk origins, but also took a turn towards new wave and progressive sounds that found a substantial commercial audience

Zenyatta Mondatta was recorded quickly (in a three-week period) and released in October 1980 just before the start of their world tour. While the band felt it rushed - they actually laid down the last track at 4:00 a.m. the day of their tour - it was received well by both critics and the public.

De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da “That's all I want to say to you.” Sting wrote this as a comment on how people like simple songs. This was the first single off the album, and actually had some interesting lyrics despite the simple sounding name - “poets, priests and politicians have words to thank for their positions. Words that scream for your submission and no one's jamming their transmission.”

Canary in a Coalmine This frenetic reggae song is a deeper cut, though it got its share of play on rock radio at the time. The lyrics seem appropriate today. “You say you want to spend the winter in Firenza. You're so afraid to catch a does of influenza. You live your life like a canary in a coal mine. You get so dizzy even walking in a straight line.” — could be about today!

Driven to Tears This political song chronicles the divide between the rich and the poor, and has a jazz influence. This is the first politically-themed song written by Sting for the group. Sting saw a program about starving children in Africa, and the idea that people can afford televisions but not food for children drove him to tears.

When the World Is Running Down (You Make the Best of What's Still Around) Also written by Sting, this song reached number 3 on the Billboard charts in 1981. It is about making lemons from lemonade in a post-apocalyptic world.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The theme from the television series “Bosom Buddies” Tom Hanks got his start on this brief series about two men who dress as women to get a spot in an all-girls' apartment complex.

STAFF PICKS:

Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads Bruce features a well known piece co-written by David Byrne and producer Brian Eno. It is about life passing you by. The music reflects Afrobeat jam sessions, and the lyrics were inspired by Byrne listening to preachers delivering sermons. The music video was created by Byrne and Toni Basil.

Stop This Game by Cheap Trick Wayne brings us a deeper cut with a more progressive rock feel. George Martin (known as the 5th Beatle) produced the album from which this song is pulled. Cheap Trick was a very popular live act in the late 70's and early 80's.

The Logical Song by Supertramp Brian's staff pick is a live version of Supertramp's hit from the album "Breakfast In America." It chronicles the disillusionment of higher education that teaches lots of things but leaves out important aspects of identity. And of course, you can't go wrong with a sax!

Touch and Go by The Cars Rob's staff pick is the synth-heavy debut single from the album Panorama. John Lennon mentioned "Touch and Go" in his final interview. He suggests that the song is a 50's song with 80's style.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

The Other Way of Stopping by The Police Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers, and Sting take us out with this instrumental track from "Zenyatta Mondatta." The name comes from a Bob Newhart comedy skit.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

1994 - April: Hole ”Live Through This” Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

Courtney Love's band Hole released their second album, Live Through This one week after the death of Kurt Cobain, Love's husband and front man for the grunge giant Nirvana. Hole originated in the punk rock scene, but are often identified with the grunge movement due to Love's relationship with Cobain and their move to Washington to write this album.

In addition to frontwoman Love, the band consisted of Eric Erlandson on lead guitar, Kristen Pfaff on bass, and Patty Schemel on drums. Love and Erlandson wrote the songs, and Pfaff and Schemel were newcomers to the group, replacing bassist Jill Emery and drummer Caroline Rue who had left over creative differences.

The album was noted for a toned-down and more melodic approach to things than their debut effort. Themes of the album would revolve around aspects of Courtney Love's personal life, including relationships, motherhood, and post-partum depression. A controversy that plagued the album was that much of the work was ghost-written by Kurt Cobain. Band members and producers have consistently denied this, though it is perhaps understandable how a rumor like this would get legs, following on the heels of Cobain's suicide. The only connection between Cobain and the album was that he sang backing vocals on a couple of songs when they were in the recording studio. In fact, many of the tracks were performed during Hole's previous tour.

While Live Through This is considered more melodic than their previous album, that is a relative measure - the album itself is still quite raw and gritty. That didn't keep it from becoming a critical and popular success, going multi-platinum by December 1994. Unfortunately, drummer Pfaff would not live to see this feat, having died of a heroin overdose in June, just before Hole was supposed to embark on a world tour.

Courtney Love would continue through several iterations of Hole, and pursue songwriting, acting, a writer of multiple manga volumes and a memoir.

Violet This song is the opening track for the album. It was inspired by Love's relationship with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, just prior to her relationship with Cobain. Love said this song was "about a jerk, I hexed him, and made him lose his hair."

Miss World The second track on the album was the first single. It is about a person who is loved by everyone, but is empty inside and drowning in depression. "I'm Miss World. Somebody kill me."

Asking For It This deeper cut is about rape. Love talked about a time when she would stage dive, and found her clothes ripped off. Love felt like she was raped by the audience. Love's life and upbringing was a tumultuous one, with rebellion, drugs, and broken family relationships.

Doll Parts The second single from the album is likely the best known one. It reflects her insecurity with Kurt Cobain. Love and Cobain both went into rehab when Love was pregnant. Unfortunately Cobain would run away from the rehab center shortly before his suicide.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from Space Ghost for “Space Ghost Coast to Coast” This comedy spoof of a late night talk show was the first original series produced by the Cartoon Network.

STAFF PICKS:

“Player's Ball” by OutKast Brian brings us Southern Rap from Atlanta's own OutKast. The song discusses living in the south and living in the hip hop culture. This is off OutKast's debut album entitled "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik."

“Rocks” by Primal Scream Bruce's staff pick is off Primal Scream's fourth album "Give Out But Don't Give Up." Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie originally formed this Scottish rock band with a psychedelic sound, but went more classic rock and blues with this album.

“Found Out About You” by the Gin Blossoms Rob's staff pick features the fourth single from the Gin Blossoms' second album, “New Miserable Experience.” The Gin Blossoms formed in Tempe Arizona in 1987, and were identified as alternative rock and “jangle pop.” The name comes from a picture of W.C. Fields describing his ruddy complexion.

“Because the Night” by 10,000 Maniacs Wayne's pick features a cover originally performed by The Patti Smith Group from 1978. Natalie Merchant fronts 10,000 Maniacs in an Unplugged version of this classic written by Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Main Theme from the motion picture “Bad Girls” This instrumental was the soundtrack from a western featuring Madeliene Stowe, Andie MacDowell, and Drew Barrymore.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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