Aqualung was the album that made Jethro Tull famous, and features 3 songs that became classic hits. But the song at the heart of the album is “My God”, Ian Anderson’s very personal statement on religious institutions. It’s the most instrumentally adventurous track on the album and features great guitar by Martin Barre and a flute workout from Anderson.
“My God” (Ian Anderson) Copyright 1971 Chrysalis Music, Ltd.
Another overlooked song in the McCartney catalog, “Little Lamb Dragonfly” is an emotional piece, composed of 3 sections in different keys that effortlessly moves between each segment. A wistful, haunting song about loss and the struggle to accept it. How does this song affect you? Let me know– write a review, post on Facebook, and share this episode with your friends.
“Little Lamb Dragonfly” (Paul & Linda McCartney) Copyright 1973 Administered by MPL Communications Limited
On this episode, we revisit the Destroyer album and take a look at the song “King Of The Night Time World” to see how it evolved from an obscure track by a short-lived LA band into a teenage anthem by larger-than-life rock legends. We’ll listen to both versions and hear what changed & what remained. Come live your secret dream!
“King Of The Nighttime World” (Kim Fowley/Mark Anthony/Paul Stanley/Bob Ezrin) Copyright 1976 Cafe Americana, Inc/Kiss Songs, Inc (ASCAP)/Bad Boy Music/Eighth Power Music/All By Myself Publishing Co Ltd. (BMI)
Why this song? Simple: because Thin Lizzy was as good as a 4-piece rock band could be and this song has everything you want in a rockin’ song– a killer guitar riff, a singable chorus, a great hook for the lyrics, and a perfect performance. Written by Bob Seger, Thin Lizzy took it to another level and added some of their special sauce to make this song their own. I truly love this song! Let me know your thoughts — write a review, leave a comment, share with your friends.
“Rosalie” (Bob Seger) Copyright 1972 Gear Publishing Co.
This is the episode where I try to explain why I think Todd Rundgren’s “Cliché” is the most beautiful song ever written. Of course it’s all subjective, but I don’t know how anyone could deny the beauty and emotional resonance of this song. I probably can’t do it justice, but here’s my attempt anyway.
“Cliché” (Todd Rundgren) Copyright 1976 Warner Publishing Corp.
By the time Aerosmith recorded their 2nd album, they had refined their sound, improved their songwriting chops, and Steven Tyler had found his authentic voice. “Seasons Of Wither” is one of the moodiest tracks Aerosmith ever committed to vinyl. Still sounds every bit as great today.
“Seasons Of Wither” (Steven Tyler) Copyright 1977 Music Of Stage Three and Song & Dance
Welcome to 2019! Let’s start the year off with one of the Greatest Rock Bands Of All Time. There is simply no other band like The Who. Genius and violence, vulnerability and madness… all words that can be used in equal measure to describe The Who. Four larger-than-life characters that created a dozen indelible classic albums; a band that recorded so much great music that a song like this was tossed aside, eventually released on a ramshackle album of leftovers & outtakes. Most bands would give an arm & a leg for a song this good.
“The Naked Eye” (Peter Townshend) Copyright 1974 Fabulous Music Ltd/Towser Tunes Inc.
A great hard rock & power pop band that somehow fell through the cracks in the late ’70’s, Starz had all the ingredients to make it big– a band of seasoned professionals with a charismatic frontman, a big-name manager, and a record deal with Capitol Records… but while bands like Foreigner, Styx & Boston sold millions of records, Starz just couldn’t break thru to a larger audience. Too bad, because these guys had some great rock tunes. Here’s one of their power-pop tracks that serves as a great example of how to write a catchy, memorable song.
Special thanks to the RockNPod Expo for connecting me with the guys in the band.
“She” (Peter Sweval, Joe X. Dube, Michael Lee Smith, Brendan Harkin & Richie Ranno) Copyright 1978 Starzongo Music, Inc/Rock Steady Music, Inc/ASCAP
Who’s the greatest singer in rock history? You could make an argument that it’s Glenn Hughes. He’s played & recorded with Trapeze, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore, KLF… and released a collection of great solo albums. He’s an amazing hard rock vocalist & bass player, but my favorite stuff is when he’s getting funky– real funky. This track combines the funk with the hard rock – the best combo since Reese’s put peanut butter in their chocolate. (Do you have to be a certain age to get that reference?) Regardless, Crank It Up!
“Crave” (Glenn Hughes) Copyright 2008 Ponce Songs (BMI)
Living under The Beatles’ shadow was a blessing and a curse for Badfinger. One of the greatest Power Pop bands of all time, they crafted a catalog of great songs that defined the genre. “Day After Day” is one of the greatest singles of all time, featuring a beautiful melody, great performances, and a guest appearance by a Beatle. What more could you want? This song deserves a place in history.
“Day After Day” (Pete Ham) Copyright 1971 Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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