Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Run the Jewels recently took a (smoke) break while working on their fourth album at Shangri-La and taped this podcast with Rick Rubin. Killer Mike and El-P tell Rick about the music that first caught their imaginations as kids, how Run-DMC inspired their philosophy as a group, and who would be the court jester—and who would be a tribe leader—in their post-apocalyptic fantasy world. Learn more abou...

James Taylor's voice sounds sweet and carefree. It's a gift that hides the darker side to his lyrics and life. He and Malcolm Gladwell sat and uncovered some of the more troubling moments from his early life in this conversation. James also talks about it in his audio memoir, Break Shot, available now through Audible. They also discuss the beach music scene of the Carolinas and the music that got...

RUN DMC were the first rap group on the cover of Rolling Stone. The first to go gold, platinum and multi-platinum. They were true pioneers of Hip Hop in the 80’s, releasing classic albums like “Raising Hell” and “Tougher Than Leather” — both collaborations with Rick Rubin. But by the 90s Hip Hop and changed. RUN DMC were struggling to find their way and so was Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. The self-proc...

When Robbie Robertson turned a house perched above a Malibu beach into a home studio in the 1970's, he had no idea it'd remain a refuge for artists decades later. In this episode, Robbie returns to Shangri La—now the home of our own Rick Rubin—to discuss creating the studio, helping Bob Dylan go electric with The Band, writing "The Weight" and collaborating with Martin Scorsese on his films. "Once...

Just before the release of his first solo album in over a decade, Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon sat with Rick Rubin to talk about his tumultuous career that's spanned five decades. Friends since the early '80s, they discuss the early days of Black Sabbath, Ozzy's first encounter with his late guitarist Randy Rhoads, and how blown away Rick is by the power of Ozzy's voice at 71 years old. Learn...

Booker T. Jones—as leader of Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Stax record's house band—helped popularize the sound of Southern soul music. Working alongside Stax legends like Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Albert King and more, his finger prints were everywhere. He details it all in his new book "Time Is Tight: My Life, Note By Note." He sat with Bruce Headlam in Brooklyn to discuss his time...

Broken Record presents an episode of "Cautionary Tales": Bowie, Jazz and the Unplayable Piano It was the biggest concert of Keith Jarrett's career - but the pianist was in for a shock when he entered Koln's opera house. The only piano at the venue was a broken-down wreck. Should he risk humiliation and play anyway or simply walk out? The collaboration between pop superstar David Bowie and arch dis...

Lead singer of the Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard, talks to Rick Rubin about making her first solo album, Jamie. She shares a never before heard demo from the album and talks about her high school band days, The Shakes first live show, and how she's overcome serious bouts of writer's block with just about every project she's ever released. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpod...

Andre 3000 opens up to Rick Rubin in one of his most candid interviews ever. He talks about the early days of OutKast, how he first found his voice, how his mental health diagnosis has been both a blessing a curse, why it’s so hard for him to write new material, and why he would rather perform at flea markets these days than sold-out arenas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpo...

Justin Vernon and producer Chris Messina from Bon Iver, discuss the new album "i,i" with Rick Rubin. Listen as they bond over their love for remote recording spaces, the importance of self care while making music, Justin’s love for the Indigo Girls, and how the ‘90s cult classic TV show Northern Exposure helped inspire the creation of Bon Iver. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear...

FKA Twigs and Rick Rubin dive deep into the creative journey that lead to Twigs’ stunning new album, Magdalene. They cover the physical and emotional trauma that inspired the album, how she found solace in the brilliant musicians she collaborated with on the record, and how FKA Twigs’ tireless attention to detail led her to make some of the most exciting music of her career. Learn more about your...

Flea sat with Malcolm Gladwell to discuss his newly released memoir, "Acid For the Children," for the very first live taping of Broken Record! The book is a journey through Flea's childhood: from Australia to the seedy streets of 1970's and 80's Los Angeles to the earliest incarnation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Flea brings his book to life in this intensely intimate conversation about his frien...

Norah Jones sits with Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam at The Bridge Studio in New York to talk about — and play through — her latest album, Begin Again. The album is the result of a new way of working in the studio that's invigorated her. She discusses this new process, working with Jeff Tweedy and Danger Mouse and more! Oh, and her voice and playing are angelic. Visit: https://brokenrecordpodc...

Leonard Cohen died three weeks after releasing his last record, You Want It Darker, in 2016. It was the first album he worked on with his son, Adam. In mourning, Adam turned his attention to poems of his father's that he recorded while putting that last record together. He then decided to set those poems to music. The result is Leonard Cohen's new album, Thanks for the Dance. Adam talks with Rick...

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney join Rick Rubin at Shangri La to talk about their first tour in five years, scalpers screwing fans out of tickets, their new album—"Let's Rock"—and play some never before heard songs from their vault. Visit https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ to listen to our playlist for this episode Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystud...

Brandi Carlile grew up adoring Tanya Tucker for her rebellious spirit. But it's that same nature that almost derailed Tanya's comeback album, "While I'm Livin," co-produced by Brandi. Tanya quit the album multiple times during its making. Leaving Brandi no choice but to summon Rick Rubin to help right-ship. You'll hear this story and tons of great road stories from one of country music's living-le...

Rick Rubin sits with 21 year old British songwriter Rex Orange County to discuss his major label debut, "Pony." While Rex is still mostly performs solo on the record (aside from some expert bass playing by Pino Palladino and some vocals courtesy of his girlfriend), the album is a departure from the DIY sound that earned him his following on his early, self-released records Learn more about your ad...

Wyclef Jean, who's had solo hits and with the Fugees, and produced hits for Destiny's Child, Shakira, and Carlos Santana came back this year with a new project, "Wyclef Goes Back To School." Every song is a collaboration with college-aged musicians—his way of giving back but also appealing to a whole new generation of kids. Host and producer Justin Richmond \talks to Wyclef about his latest effort...

After years honing her craft in the UK Yola finally lands with her beautiful album, "Walk Through Fire." Produced by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, the album combines classic country, soul and rock and roll. Bruce Headlam talks to Yola about her journey to this album. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyler, the Creator spent three days this summer in Italy with Rick Rubin. At the end of the three days they sat down to record a conversation about Tyler's new album, "Igor". They play through some tracks off the album and Tyler even plays some piano. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack White and Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs play through some songs off their new record, "Help Me Stranger" and talk with Malcolm Gladwell from Jack's Detroit home. Rick Rubin joins by phone. Jack talks through his theory that references to modern technology don't work in modern Rock and Roll, what they've picked up as a band by living in Nashville, how perfect performances can sometimes be u...

From Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam: Conversations. Stories. Remembering old music. Discovering new music. Broken Record Season 3: Coming to your podcast feed on October 1st. Featuring: Jack White, Tyler, the Creator, Brittany Howard, Jason Isbell, Andre 3000, The Black Keys, Bon Iver, Kenny Beats, the xx, Norah Jones, Glen Hansard and more! Learn more about your ad-choices at http...

Bruce Headlam discovered J.S. Ondara listening to his car radio late last year. And with a great showing at South By Southwest and a spot opening for Neil Young this summer, it seems like the rest of America is  discovering him too. In this episode of Broken Record, J.S. Ondara talks about leaving his native Kenya six years ago for Minnesota — the home of his idol, Bob Dylan — and creating his deb...

Linda Perry is one of the only women considered a go-to producer in the music industry. After finding success with her band 4 Non Blondes and their ubiquitous single, "What's Up?" (1992) Perry went on to write and produce for other artists. She’s worked with Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Adele, James Blunt, Britney Spears. And reinvented the careers of Pink and Christina Aguilera. Most r...

T Bone Burnett helped launch the careers of Los Lobos, Counting Crows, Gillian Welch; revive the careers of Roy Orbison and Robert Plant; course-correct Elvis Costello’s career in the mid-eighties and just recently produced a beautiful record by Sara Bareilles. Of course, there’s all of his film work as well. But while visiting Rick Rubin, himself a legendary producer and co-host of Broken Record,...