I'm In Love With That Song Podcast

If Motorhead is to be remembered for one song, it would be "Ace Of Spades". The title cut from their most commercially successful album, a track that encapsulates Motorhead-- fast, loud, defiant. Let's dig into this heavy metal classic to see what makes it work. "Ace Of Spades" (Ian Kilmister, Edward Clarke and Philip Taylor) Copyright 1980 Motor Music Ltd, All rights administered by EMI Intertrax...

George Harrison emerged from the rubble of The Beatles breakup with all cylinders firing. After years of working in John & Paul's shadow, George had amassed a stockpile of great songs. It all burst out in 1970 on his triple-album set, All Things Must Pass. One of the standout tracks was "Beware Of Darkness", a warning to everyone (including himself) to be wary of corrupting influences. Featuring a...

It's another episode of our "Albums That Made Us" series, where we explore how music has made a big impact on our lives. We'll be joined by a guest to discuss an album that shaped their lives in some way. On this edition, we're joined by Chris Porter, who's had a long career in the music business as a concert producer, even programmer, talent buyer, and booking manager. And he's also an old friend...

Inspired by David Hepworth's book, "Never a Dull Moment: 1971 - The Year That Rock Exploded" (and the forthcoming documentary based on his book), we take a quick look at the many great albums released in 1971. -- This show is one of the many great podcasts on the Pantheon Podcasts network. Check 'em all out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sugar Pie DeSanto (born Peylia Marsema Balinton) was a ton of dynamite in a tiny 4' 11" frame... and still is, at the time of this recording. Let's have a listen to this super-fun classic track, recorded with the great Etta James in 1966. "In The Basement (Part 1)" (Billy Davis, Raynard Miner & Carl Smith) Copyright 1966 Chevis Music Inc BMI Here's a few more episodes I think you'll enjoy: https:/...

Let's give some overdue respect to a band of 4 great players who knew how to rock. Here's a guitar-driven update on an old blues classic, from one of the best live albums of the '70's. As a bonus, we take a side trip to explore the origins of a familiar guitar riff. "Honey Hush" (Lou Willie Turner) Copyright 1963 Unichappell Music Inc If you enjoyed this episode, take a listen to these previous sh...

Here's the first episode of a new series that we'll be exploring occasionally here on the "I'm In Love With That Song" Podcast. I'm always interested to hear about music that made a big impact on other people's lives; in this series, I'm inviting some fellow podcasters and friends in the music industry to discuss an album that shaped their lives in some way. For this first episode, Podcaster Extra...

The Ohio Players paid their dues for 15 years before their first #1 Top 100 hit, but by then, they were on fire (pun intended). Built on an incessant groove that won't quit, they brought heavy funk to the top of the pop charts. On this episode, we take a look at all the elements that make up this funky classic. "Fire" (Ralph Middlebrooks, Marshall Jones, Leroy Bonner, Clarence Satchell, Willie Bec...

What's the difference between a "riff" and a "lick"? Between "reverb" and "slapback echo"? We try not to get too technical on this podcast, but occasionally some listeners get stumped by some of the terminology. So for our 75th episode, I thought I'd explain some of the terms we use on this show-- and why it's necessary to have this "language" to begin with. (Because there's no sheet music notatio...

Every once in a while you hear a song by a band you've never heard of and it knocks you out. This was one of those songs for me. A band from Ireland comes out of nowhere (as far as the USA is concerned), gets some radio play with a great song, and then is largely forgotten here. Same ol' story. Should'a been a big hit, if ya ask me. But what do I know? Listen to this track along with me and see if...

Sometimes, when times are tough and it seems like the world's against you, a song like this can keep you going. A stunning mix of jangling guitars, sparkling harmony vocals, and a heart-wrenching lead vocal by Alex Chilton, this is my favorite song from my favorite album by the band often referred to as "the greatest band you've never heard". "The Ballad Of El Goodo" (Alex Chilton & Chris Bell) Co...

I'll happily go out on a limb and say Deep Purple was THE hard rock band of the '70's. They could shift from monster guitar riffs to complex classical-influenced passages to outright improvised jams-- all within one song. Built around a trio of top-of-their-game players (guitar, organ & drums), with a series of distinctive, powerful singers & bassists -- the lineup changes so iconic they became kn...

Merry Clayton never had a big hit, but her voice can be heard in dozens of songs you know (we've listened to one of them here before-- see episode #42). One of the legendary background singers profiled in the documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, most of her solo work is largely unknown-- which is a shame, because there's some great music on those albums. Take this example from her first album, Gimme...

It's our annual BONUS HOLIDAY EPISODE - This time, we travel back in time & around the world for a truly psychedelic Christmas trip with the He 5. See you on the other side! THis show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some songs call for you to speak out & demand action. Some songs explore the deepest depths of your soul. Some songs are timeless expressions of love. This song... it just kicks ass. Humble Pie was a guitar riff machine, and Steve Marriott was 5' 5" of vocal dynamite. Add a trio of the finest backing singers-- Venetta Fields, Clydie King and Sherlie Matthews-- and you've got a party. "Thunderbox"...

It's been 40 years since the death of John Lennon, a senseless loss that still stings. Here's one of my personal favorite Lennon tracks. We'll follow it from its early stages through to the final album version. "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out)" (John Lennon) Copyright 1974 Lenono Music (BMI) All rights controlled and administered by EMI Blackwood Music Inc If you enjoyed this show, ple...

There's never been any shortage of drama with Fleetwood Mac... long before the soap opera of Rumours, there was the psychodrama of Peter Green (and Jeremy Spencer, and Danny Kirwan...). The saga of how Peter Green-- one of the brightest guitarists to come out of '60's Britain, right up there with Clapton/Beck/Page-- was lost to a drug-fueled spiritual black hole is one of the great "if only..." ta...

Rare Earth's sound was equal parts funky soul and straight-up rock. For decades, when there's cause for celebration, folks have been crankin' up this chunk of funk rock. Let's take a closer look at how Rare Earth carved their place in history with this track. "I Just Want To Celebrate" (Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris) Copyright 1971 Jobette Music Co., Inc (BMI) -- This show is one of many great music-r...

When Alice Cooper recorded "Elected" in 1972, it was a satire about a rich, grandstanding, self-obsessed celebrity running for president. He's a "yankee doodle dandy in a gold Rolls Royce". We all laughed. That kind of thing could never happen in real life, right...? "Elected" (Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith & Glen Buxton) Copyright 1973 Ezra Music Corporation, administere...

When Matthew Sweet, Shawn Mullins & Pete Droge (aka The Thorns) recorded "No Blue Sky" almost in 2002, they had no idea that the skies over the Western US would be thick with smoke, or that a global pandemic would isolate us in our homes. "It ain't right, it feels like forever..." pretty much sums up the year 2020. I'm fascinated in how songs can find new relevance years later. Let's listen to thi...

Some bands take time to develop a unique sound, but Queen sounded like Queen right from the beginning. "Keep Yourself Alive" was the opening track on their first album, and it contains all the requisite Queen elements: the heavy riffs & orchestrated guitars, the vocal harmonies, dramatic musical shifts and Freddie's powerhouse voice. The band would go on to scale bigger heights, but the magic was...

Hard to believe now, but Motown resisted releasing this song as a single. Marvin's version sat on a shelf for months before being relegated to an album track-- until some DJ's discovered it, and the rest is history. It became Motown's biggest selling hit at that time. And it's a true classic. In this episode, we'll look at how the track was put together and marvel at Marvin's performance. One of t...

Emitt Rhodes had an extraordinary gift as a songwriter, a fantastic voice and was a remarkable musician-- he was one of the first artists to record by himself, playing every instrument on his albums. He passed away in July 2020, leaving behind a small but significant collection of albums. In tribute to this under-appreciated talent, I've selected a song from his most successful band, The Merry-Go-...

Picture this: You're a successful chart-topping band, but your managers are writing all your hits and ignoring the songs you're writing. You wrote a track on your latest album that has potential, but the record company thinks you can improve it. So, without your managers knowing about it, you re-record it & release it as a single-- and it's a hit. That's the story of Sweet and "Fox On The Run". "F...

It Came From Boston (Vol. 3): MIT graduate/Polaroid employee Tom Scholz recorded an album's worth of songs in his basement in Watertown, MA after work, and somehow the record eventually sold 25 million copies worldwide. Along with Brad Delp, Sib Hashian and some other guys (maybe?), were they the inventors of Corporate Rock, or the most successful DIY debut of all time? You decide. "Hitch A Ride"...