I'm In Love With That Song Podcast

Never heard of Starbelly? You should have. But it's not your fault. There was a bit of a resurgence of "power pop" bands in the late-90's/early 2000's that generated a lot of GREAT albums, but, for some inexplicable reason, not much commercial breakthrough (Fountains Of Wayne being one of the few exceptions). Starbelly's debut album "Lemon Fresh" was simply brilliant, and it's one of my favorite r...

On this episode, we pay a little tribute to the great Tina Turner, with an exploration of the song she wrote about her humble beginnings in a little town called Nutbush, TN. Join us on a journey down Highway 19 to visit “Nutbush City Limits”. “Nutbush City Limits” (Words & Music by Tina Turner) Copyright 1973 EMI Blackwood Music Inc and EMI Unart Catalog Inc. — Our show is one of many great music-...

When The Shazam tumbled out of Nashville in 1994, they should've landed as one of the biggest rock bands in America. Instead, they merely left us with 5 fantastic albums of hard-rocking power pop that lodged them on my list of all-time favorite bands. If you've never heard them before, here's your chance to discover their greatness with a song called "On The Airwaves" - officially certified one of...

Gary Moore was never a household name, but among guitar players, he was a legend. He reinvented himself multiple times over his 40-year career: first as a hard-rocker with Thin Lizzy, then a jazzy prog-rocker with Colosseum in the 70’s; pioneering a modern heavy-metal sound in the 80’s, and playing the blues in the ‘90’s. On this episode, we delve into a track from his 1987 Celtic-flavored hard ro...

Thin Lizzy is known for their hard rockin’ songs and their trailblazing twin guitar sound, but vocalist/bassist/songwriter Phil Lynott had an ear for melody, a way with words, and could write a damn fine pop song when he wanted. “Dancing In The Moonlight” has everything you want in a great Thin Lizzy song: fantastic guitar playing, wonderful lyrics, and Lynott’s one-of-a-kind voice—he could sound...

If you're looking for a prime example of a hard-working, dues-paying, doggedly dedicated rock band, you won't find better one than Nazareth. Launching in 1968 and continuing through today, Nazareth rode the wave of success up and down over 50 years, peaking with their classic album "Hair Of The Dog" in 1975. The last time they hit the charts was with the song "Holiday" in 1980. On this episode, we...

We celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest live albums of all time, Deep Purple's "Made In Japan". This is a truly live album-- no doctored-up, overdubbed fixes here, just a killer band at the top of their game, tearing through a live set with little thought to the recording process. They thought this album would only be released to a limited audience in Japan... turned out to be a h...

In 1981, Rush had planned to release a live album, but riding a wave of good vibes & inspiration, they changed their minds and decided to record an album of new material instead. It turned out to be their best-selling album, and years later the band would still look back on it fondly. Most of their biggest hits are on this album titled Moving Pictures, but this episode we're turning our ears on a...

Back on Episode 25, we listened to 5 of my favorite guitar solos; here on Episode 125, we revisit that idea and listen to some more great guitar moments. As before, I’m not saying these are the greatest solos of all time-- a great solo doesn’t have to be flashy or technically brilliant, but it does have to be memorable, it has to fit the song, and it should take the song to another level. So let's...

Etta James lived quite a life; some incredible highs and heartbreaking lows throughout her 73 years. From hit songs to heroin addiction, from critical acclaim to violence and bad behavior & jail time, Etta experienced it all. And you could hear every bit of that experience in her voice. I've wanted to feature Etta on this podcast for a while; the easy choice would be to pick one of her early class...

The Beatles had many peaks in their career, but their August 15, 1965 concert at Shea Stadium may be the high point. It was certainly their ultimate live performance and the pinnacle of Beatlemania. On this episode, I'm joined by author Laurie Jacobson; her new book, "Top Of The Mountain", tells the story of that record-breaking concert. It's a behind-the-scenes look at the events leading up to th...

When Christine McVie passed away on Nov. 30, 2022, the tributes poured in from around the world. Deservedly so. We pay our respects to the legendary Christine Perfect the way we do best-- by taking an in-depth look at one of her biggest hits from the classic "Rumours" album, along with an overview of Fleetwood Mac's tortured history. Also in this episode, I recommend the "Fakewood Mac" episode of...

Let's kick off our first episode of 2023 with a look back 50 years to 1973. I'm joined on this episode by Andrew Grant Jackson, author of 1973: Rock At The Crossroads for a discussion of the music and history of the year that was 1973. Andrew Grant Jackson is the author of 1973: Rock at the Crossroads, 1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music, Still the Greatest: The Essential Songs of the Beatl...

Join me and my special guest Mike Wagner to celebrate the holidays with his song "Christmas With You", as performed by Sheila Swift. It's time for some end-of-year thank-you's as well. Happy Holidays! "Christmas With You" (Michael Wagner & Sheila Swift) Copyright 2018 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The “Paisley Underground” scene birthed a lot of great bands in the ’80’s, but few went on to be as commercially successful as the Bangles. That success came with a price, as they were pulled away from the British Invasion and Power Pop sound that inspired them. But their first full-length album, All Over The Place, is one of the best records of the era. Before they were swayed by Prince or walked...

At the time they released their 2nd album in 1978, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were a struggling band hoping to break through. They had plenty to prove, and there was still a punky edge to their sound-- clearly evident on the first single from the album, "I Need To Know". At a tight two-minute-and-twenty-six-seconds, there's no fat on this track-- just a great song, a taste of the brilliant musi...

It's time for another episode in our "Albums That Made Us" series: this time, I'm joined by Craig Smith from the Pods & Sods Network to discuss a much-maligned album that happens to hold a special place in his heart-- the soundtrack to the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" movie. This was how Craig discovered The Beatles. We also discuss "Wings Over America", which was my entry point into Be...

Norman Whitfield turned The Temptations from a typical Motown vocal group into Psychedelic Soul pioneers. Their collaboration reached its zenith with "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", a dark, atmospheric, orchestral showcase for both the Temptations and Whitfield's genius. This would be the last #1 hit for The Temptations, and they would stop working with Norman Whitfield soon after. But they left behin...

Perhaps the most influential compilation album of all time, the original Nuggets album was lovingly assembled by guitarist/author Lenny Kaye in 1972. Collecting some of the greatest psychedelic garage rock onto one collection was no small feat, but the album went on to inspire tons of musicians in the US and the UK. On this episode, we honor the 50th anniversary of this landmark collection with a...

"See Emily Play" was only Pink Floyd's 2nd single, but it was a watershed moment in psychedelic rock history. Though Syd Barrett's body of work was relatively small, he left behind a huge legacy that's still influencing people today. This song is one of the highlights of his short and tragic career. "See Emily Play" (Syd Barrett) Copyright 1967 Westminster Music Limited  -- This show is just one o...

B.B. King created a sound with his electric guitar that changed the world and made him a legend around the world. In this episode, I'm joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Daniel De Vise, author of "King Of The Blues: The Rise & Reign of B.B. King" to share 5 songs that encapsulate the story of this iconic musician. Order your copy of Daniel’s book here: https://danieldevise.com/product/kin...

Yes were at their peak when they released their Close To The Edge album in 1972. This episode, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of what many consider to be the greatest Progressive Rock album of all time with a deep dive into the song "Siberian Khatru". "Siberian Khatru" (Jon Anderson; Themes by Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Rick Wakeman) Copyright 1972 Topographic Music Ltd  If you enjoyed this episod...

Cheap Trick is one of the great American bands. The new book, "This Band Has No Past: How Cheap Trick Became Cheap Trick" by Brian Kramp details their history from the very beginning up to their breakthrough album, "Cheap Trick At Budokan". It's an incredible story of hard work & dedication. On this edition, Brian joins me to discuss 5 songs that reveal how unique and special Cheap Trick was in th...

Few albums in history have had the cultural impact as Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On". Universally loved by music fans around the world, it's an album like none before it. Few records have captured the zeitgeist and remained as relevant as this album -- Marvin's crowning achievement. On this episode, we take a deep dive into the title cut to discover the elements that make up this masterpiece. "Wh...

The Angels (aka "Angel City", as they were known in the US) are one of those fantastic bands that made it big in their home country-- in this case, Australia-- but never caught on in the US. A shame, because these guys had it all: big riffs, great hooks, and clever lyrics. Let's check out this great track from the band I like to think of as "the thinking man's AC/DC". "Look The Other Way" (Rick Br...