Friday, June 30, 2023

Episode 19: Hanging On The Telephone - Jack Lee/The Nerves

Earlier this month, it was announced that at the end of last month, another rock and roll legend left us and ascended to the rock and roll heavens.

While this legend may fall into the often overlooked category we like to focus so much on here, it doesn’t make him any less of a legend. In fact, I think it makes him even more of a legend because he has that cool air of mystery floating about him. Jack Lee penned many great songs over his musical career, and while not all of them were big commercial successes, his songwriting and music styling have been hugely influential on many who have come after him.


Featured:

The Shadows - Man Of Mystery

Lost In Alaska

The Beatles - Ed On Sullivan 

Bob Dylan - I Was Young When I Left Home 

The Nerves - Hanging on the Telephone

Scott Mckenzie - San Francisco

 The Nerves - When You Find Out 

The Weirdos - Life Of Crime

Blondie - Hanging on the Telephone

Paul Collins - Many Roads to Follow

The Nerves - Many Roads to Follow 

Jack Lee - Come Back And Stay 

 Extras:

Jack Lee Interview

Peter Case Interview

 The Nerves - One Way Ticket

Chris Morris Article 

 

Monday, May 29, 2023

EPISODE 18: Rock Island Line - Lead Belly/Lonnie Donegan/The Beatles

Our story today will highlight a song that is ingrained in the DNA of rock and roll. It may even fall into the often overlooked category because, these days, it seems people have forgotten this song.

That’s  strange to someone like me or you, but when you look around, it's easy to see that this style has sadly fallen by the wayside. But I guess the times they are  a changing... Anyway, this song played a massive role in shaping rock and roll as we know it today, and so it should be celebrated. This little diddy is known as  

"Rock Island Line."

Lead Belly

Featured:

Kansas City - Mr. Guitar Billy Strange

Arkansas 1934

Rock Island Line - John Lomax And the Prison Gang

 Rock Island Line - Lead Belly

Lonnie Donegan

 

Rock Island Line - George Melly 

The King Is Still In London - Sam Brown

Frankie and Johnny - Ken Cooke

Isle of Capri - Ken Colyers Jazzmen 

Armed Forces Radio 1949

Live Instrumental - Lonnie Johnson 

South Side Shake - Dan Burley & His Skiffle Boys

John Lennon Playing Skiffle With The Quarrymen

Rock Island Line - Lonnie Donegan

Rock Island Line - Johnny Cash 

Rock Island Line - Lennon/McCartney

 

 


 

 

 

Friday, April 14, 2023

EPISODE 17: Hitsville USA - Motown/Berry Gordy

Today's episode is about the tale of how one of the most important record labels in not only rock and roll history, but all history came to be. In fact, I think it’s pretty safe to say that this just might be Thee very top top most important label of all time.

This label produced hit after hit and launched the careers of some of the most iconic artists of all time this label also transformed the music industry and left an indelible mark on popular culture. The label I’m talking about, of course, is Motown.

 
Featured:

 

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

EPISODE 16: Rumble - Link Wray

 Todays story follows the tale a Native American Man, who by wielding an electric guitar managed to roughen up the course of rock and roll history by making the genre dangerous, sexy and even more notorious than ever before.. And he did it by only strumming 3 simple little guitar chords. Amazing right?

Garage Rock, Punk rock, heavy metal all the rocks all the metals all owe this man their respect and beer..a man named Link Wray and the big little song he came up with called 

RUMBLE

 

Featured:

The Shadows - Apache 

Merle Johnston - If I Had My Way

Mike Scott - Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Thomas Ramsay - If I Had A Hammer

Chet Atkins - The Entertainer

Curtis Gordon - Mobile Alabama

Link Wray - I Sez Baby

Jimmy Dean - I Found Out 

Chuck Berry - Carol

The Diamonds - The Stroll 

Link Wray - RUMBLE

Link Wray - Aint That Lovin You Baby 

Link Wray - Rawhide 


References:

Eastwood Guitar Blog - Legend of Link Wray

Vinyl Me Please - Link Wray Went to the Chicken Shack

Pop History Dig

Guardian - Rumble: The Story of Link Wray

Classic Rock on MV - Interview

 


Extras:

The Diamonds on American Bandstand

Link Wray on FreshAir in 1997

Carolina Finds - NC Legends

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World


 

Monday, February 6, 2023

EPISODE 15: Shattered - King Louie Bankston

Todays episode will be slightly different than our regularly scheduled programming.Yes Todays show is A different flavor….maybe even Tony Cacheres flavored as Today we are Honoring the life of King Louie Bankston! 1 Year since his passing..I am aware that many of you might not be familiar with who King Louie is, or why he’s Cajun flavored, but that is precisely why I decided to do this episode today. If you love or care about ..or even just enjoy rock and roll, then you should certainly know about this dude. Royal Pendletons, Persuaders, Bad, Times, Jay Reatard, Exploding Hearts..Its All in here! 

RIP King Louie!

Featured:
 
Hes a One Man Band!

 
References: 
Joes Facebook comments (Thanks Joe!)
 
 

Extras:
 
 
 

Monday, January 2, 2023

EPISODE 14: Podcast B. Goode REDUX

This being the First episode of the New and Improved Series, I can’t think of a better place to start than with this standard classic. This song is the Epitome of Rock and Roll. The sound and style of this number, would go on to shape rock and roll music and change the way people not only play guitar but even the way they LOOK at a guitar!
It’s an absolute game changer..
This song I’m talking about.. is of course.. none other than...JOHNNY B. GOODE by the one and only.. Chuck Berry.

THE TRUE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL


Featured:

Bo Diddley/Chuck Berry - Chucks Beat

The Ventures - Night Drive

Guitar Training Method - Flying Home (Charlie Christian) 

Charlie Christian - Swing to Bop 

The Hit Co. - Maybelline (Instrumental)

Johnny B. Goode (Alternate Takes 2 & 3)

Louis Jordan - Aint that Just Like a Woman (1946) 

T-Bone Walker - Strollin' With Bones 

Beach Boys - Surfin USA

Tom Conlon - Johnny B. Goode

Chuck Berry - Wee Wee Hours (Instrumental)

Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode

Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry - Hail Hail Rock and Roll

abcnews


References:

The Story of Johnny B. Goode - The Guardian

The Johnny B. Goode Sessions - Dietmar Rudolph 

The Best Chuck Berry Website

The Story of Maybelline - NPR 

The Original King of Rock and Roll

Factual America - John Brewer interview

Chuck Berry - The Autobiography 


Extra:

Great Interview of Chuck Berry

First recording of Chuck Berry - Joe Alexander and the Cubans