The Opus

Bob Dylan’s iconic 15th studio album  Blood on the Tracks  was released on January 20th, 1975. To celebrate the landmark record’s 50th anniversary, we’ve dug into the archives all the way back to 2018 to re-release the very first season of The Opus!  Hosted by journalist and author  Paula Mejía ,  The Opus: Blood on the Tracks  explores the legacy of both the record and Dylan himself, with special...

Bob Dylan’s iconic 15th studio album  Blood on the Tracks  was released on January 20th, 1975. To celebrate the landmark record’s 50th anniversary, we’ve dug into the archives all the way back to 2018 to re-release the very first season of The Opus!  Hosted by journalist and author  Paula Mejía ,  The Opus: Blood on the Tracks  explores the legacy of both the record and Dylan himself. On this epis...

Bob Dylan’s iconic 15th studio album  Blood on the Tracks  was released on January 20th, 1975. To celebrate the landmark record’s 50th anniversary, we’ve dug into the archives all the way back to 2018 to re-release the very first season of The Opus!  Hosted by journalist and author  Paula Mejía ,  The Opus: Blood on the Tracks  explores the legacy of both the record and Dylan himself, with special...

Bob Dylan’s iconic 15th studio album Blood on the Tracks was released on January 20th, 1975. To celebrate the landmark record’s 50th anniversary, we’ve dug into the archives all the way back to 2018 to re-release the very first season of The Opus!  Hosted by journalist and author Paula Mejía , The Opus: Blood on the Tracks explores the legacy of both the record and Dylan himself, with special gues...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up  The Opus  podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. Next up we revisit Cyrus Hills self-title record — a landmark of West Coast hip-hop that pioneered the “weed rap” movement. What’s more, Cypress Hill’s own  B-Real ,  Sen Dog , and  DJ Muggs  all joined us for the journey...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up  The Opus  podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. Next up we revisit Cyrus Hills self-title record — a landmark of West Coast hip-hop that pioneered the “weed rap” movement. What’s more, Cypress Hill’s own  B-Real ,  Sen Dog , and  DJ Muggs  all joined us for the journey...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up  The Opus  podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. Next up we revisit Cyrus Hills self-title record — a landmark of West Coast hip-hop that pioneered the “weed rap” movement. What’s more, Cypress Hill’s own  B-Real ,  Sen Dog , and  DJ Muggs  all joined us for the journey...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up  The Opus  podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. Next up we revisit Cyrus Hills self-title record — a landmark of West Coast hip-hop that pioneered the “weed rap” movement. What’s more, Cypress Hill’s own   B-Real ,  Sen Dog , and  DJ Muggs  all joined us for the journey...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up  The Opus  podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic  The Score , which comes in at number 15 on  Consequence ’s list of the  50 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time . You can see the full list on Consequence, and there will be loads of ar...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up  The Opus  podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic  The Score , which comes in at number 15 on  Consequence ’s list of the  50 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time . You can see the full list on Consequence, and there will be loads of ar...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up  The Opus  podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic  The Score , which comes in at number 15 on  Consequence ’s list of the  50 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time . You can see the full list on Consequence, and there will be loads of ar...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic The Score , which comes in at number 15 on Consequence ’s list of the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time . You can see the full list on Consequence, and there will be loads of artist...

While Billy Joel ’s last studio album was released on August 10th, 1993, it was The Stranger that catapulted him to the iconic, internationally renowned venue he is happy to call home: Madison Square Garden. He first played there in 1978 and has since played there a record-shattering 133 times. Playing MSG is an accomplishment for any artist, but Joel's legacy includes selling out the iconic v...

Many classic albums have their share of hits, but Billy Joel ’s The Stranger is simply full of them. How did this happen in just about three weeks? The truth is none of the songs' paths overlapped and truths are often stranger than fiction. On Episode 3 of The Opus: The Stranger , we explore each of these classic tunes to discover what made them such lasting contributions to American music. Pr...

The Stranger wasn't only Billy Joel ’s critical breakthrough, but it was the start of a decade-long creative partnership with producer Phil Ramone . Together, the two created some of the most lasting songs in music, and it all began with those first sessions in the summer of 1977. Joel had a specific vision for what would be his fifth studio album, and that meant finding the right person to wo...

The Stranger was Billy Joel 's fifth album, but in some ways, it felt like his debut because it’s the album that catapulted him to superstardom. Before its release, he’d had a radio hit with "Piano Man," but his genius was hampered by a string of overly slick producers who didn’t connect with his musical vision. But all that started to change leading up to The Stranger . With no hits t...

The Opus returns this holiday season with a true gift for music fans. Season 19 of the hit music history podcast from Consequence Podcast Network and Sony Legacy is set to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the album that made Billy Joel a world renowned star: The Stranger . The new season premieres on Thursday, December 22nd, with new episodes of the four-part season arriving every Thursday after...

To close out this season of The Opus   podcast, we explore how all the reasons Alice in Chains ’ Dirt is considered such a classic album -- its place in the '90s Seattle scene , unique sonics , deeply personal lyrics . -- have folded into a lasting legacy for this iconic collection that continues to impact music to this day. As the ‘90s grunge bubble burst, a new crop of bands emerged wearing...

This season on The Opus: Alice in Chains' Dirt , we've looked at how the band went against the grain of the Seattle scene and how they set themselves apart with their unique compositional approach. Now we peel back perhaps the most powerful layer of,  Dirt : its dark, personal lyricism. Alice in Chains ’ Layne Stayley and Jerry Cantrell packed Dirt with deeply personal lyrics full of emoti...

When you think of the Seattle Sound, certain sonic hallmarks likely come to mind. As we explore in Episode 2 of The Opus : Dirt ,  however, Alice in Chains occupied a unique space in this musical landscape. The band didn't ease its fans into the sound of Dirt. The opening notes of "Them Bones" jolt you directly into an aggressive energy and there’s barely room to catch your breath over...

Alice in Chains are seen as one of the bands that helped define the hard rock era that arose from early-1990s Seattle. But at a time when the entire music industry was laser focused on the rise of grunge music, Alice in Chains sat both at the epicenter of the global movement and on its periphery. Although Dirt emerged as the Seattle sound began to dominate the charts, it sat in the middle of a gru...

The Opus  podcast is rising out of the  Dirt  for a new season centered on the legacy of  Alice in Chains ’ sophomore album. Presented by the  Consequence Podcast Network  and Sony, the hit music history series is back to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the genre-changing classic. Launching on October 6th, Season 18 of  The Opus  travels back to 1992, a time when alternative music was being push...

The title of There's a Riot Goin On is a reference to an actual riot that broke out during a Sly and the Family Stone concert that never happened. On July 27th, 1970, Sly and his band were set to play a first-of-its-kind concert at the Petrillo Bandshell in Chicago's Grant Park. Before the Family Stone had even arrived, however, an unknown group called Fat Water had performed a three-song...

Sly and the Family Stone did more than just write "Family Affair" -- they lived it. On Episode 3 of The Opus: There's a Riot Goin On , we dive into the family dynamics of the band and similar relationships throughout music history. There were actually four Stone relatives in the Family Stone: siblings Sly, vocalist/guitarist Freddie, vocalist/pianist Rose, and background singer Vet. Wh...

Record scratch! We've loved diving into the story of Sly and the Family Stone's There's a Riot Goin On , but some production delays have us cryin' just like a baby. We'll return with Episode 3 on February 24th, followed by the 4th and final episode on March 3rd. We apologize for the hold up, appreciate your patience, and thank you for letting us talk to ya. Stay tuned! In the m...