Professor of Rock

Up next the maestro of music Alan Parsons who engineered the Beatles Abbey Road, Let It Be and Dark Side of the Moon for Pink Floyd takes us through the stories behind crafting his own albums with the Alan Parson’s Project. It’s a can’t miss exploration through his work with Pilot, Ambrosia as well as Tales of Mystery and Imagination, I Robot, Pyramid, Eve, and the Turn of a Friendly Card on Profe...

Up Next on Professor of Rock, we explore in-depth the story of one of the 80s BEST Kiss-Off songs ever recorded. This song's impact spans more generations than many of the songs being written today. In our interview with the Artist Patty Smyth, the Professor learns the story of how this powerful song, Goodbye To You by Scandal, came to be and the meaning of it's lyrics. Turns out, it's not what we...

Up next the story behind one of the bonafide classic songs of the 1970s Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) straight from the singer and songwriter of Looking Glass, Elliot Lurie, including an acoustic performance. This song has attracted every generation since it’s release and conquered pop culture through it’s use in Guardians of the Galaxy. You won’t want to miss this one... Learn more about your ad ch...

No Jacket Required by the great Phil Collins is one of the all time Top 50 selling albums ever got its title from a real life incident where the Phil was denied access into a restaurant because he was “improperly dressed.” A breakdown of the inspired tracks, inducing Inside Out, One More Might , Don’t Lose My Number, Take Me Home and the angry episode that led to the making of a masterpiece NEXT o...

Up next the story of true lost art. Before the days of Spotify, Remember the good ol' day when you heard a song from an artist that you didn’t know and you wanted to hear more but you couldn’t stream their music, you had to buy it. We revisit our take on the Greatest hits album that was the gateway to the great records including a top fiver including Billy Joel, The Beatles, Fleetwood Macs, Prince...

From 1967 to 1972, Creedence Clearwater Revival was a juggernaut. Pumping out 6 multi-platinum albums, and one gold record- yielding ten Top-20 pop hits. During their 5 year dominance, CCR, or simply “Creedence” as their most ardent fans call them, set a record for having the most #2 singles by a group on the Billboard Hot 100. CCR reached the #2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 FIVE times, and each...

From the NCAA championship fencing team to rock legend, Neil Diamond, often imitated, never duplicated. There are two kinds of people in this world, those who love Neil Diamond and those who are lying through their teeth. The master of that amazing, incomparable voice, and the brilliant writer of some of the most endearing songs of all time. This video celebrates his majesty with his top 5 songs i...

Despite its eventual historic significance, there was a moment when the band’s iconic lead singer contemplated scrapping one of the greatest albums ever recorded, because he had second thoughts about the quality of the record. The story of what led to the creation of U2’s astonishing achievement The Joshua Tree NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/a...

As the calendar turned from 1989 to 1990 the Black Crowes came out of nowhere to keep rock and roll alive with a throwback sound that was fresh and lively with the voice of Chris Robinson and Guitar of Rich Robinson brothers in arms. The album Shake your Moneymaker was a revival of good old time rock and roll. Up next lead singer Chris Robinson relates the story behind their hit She Talk To Angels...

It was a track intended to be part of the second rock opera after one of rock’s greatest bands, the Who hit with Tommy. It was going to be called LIFEHOUSE. Pete Townshends’s project almost broke up the group, and nearly took his life. With a fiery vocal by Roger Daltrey and the usual magic of John Entwistle and Keith Moon. The story of Baba O’Riley by The Who NEXT Professor of Rock. Learn more ab...

Led Zeppelin conquered the world in the 70s. they also inspired two sisters who by the mid 70s proved they could rock as hard as any band in music. Up Next Ann Wilson of Heart shares a few personal stories about Led Zeppelin and her experiences meeting her heroes through her career including their performance of Stairway to Heaven at the Kenned Center Honors. Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more...

The story of how the poet Laurette of the rock era Morrissey and the jangle pop practitioner Johnny Marr co-created the saddest 80s Vinyl Song with Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want and Why the Smiths were the greatest band of their time on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...

One of music’s most mercurial heroes, Roger Waters wrote lyrics for a progressive rock masterpiece with music by David Gilmour inspired by a tranquilizer shot back stage- big enough for an elephant to provide relief from painful stomach cramps brought on by a serious virus the artist DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HE HAD. The compelling story of the all time Pink Floyd classic Comfortably Numb NEXT on Professor...

Up next the story of one of the biggest songs of 1989 from the queen of pop Madonna that would breed controversy and complete the transition from star to serious artist. An interview with co-writer Patrick Leonard on the incredible pop symphony, Like A Prayer with Prince on guitar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy...

When you listen to the modern day standard "Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, you may not immediately hear the sadness. You may not recognize that it is song about a failing relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

It’s time for a new segment that we’ll be bringing to you called 80s Mixtape, featuring multiple artist on some of the memorable stories of their songs. We’ve released hundreds of hours of content over the last year on this channel and we picked out 5 of our greatest hits if you will, with some new commentary to make a little POR mixtape, funny stories from the likes of Toto on working on Michael...

The 70s were the golden decade of classic rock. If you turn on any classic rock radio station you’ll likely hear a lot of the great bands and songs over and over, but up next we are going to countdown 5 songs from legendary rock artists that don’t get the airplay they deserve. Yep it’s our first edition of 70s hidden gems with commentary from key members of the 70s biggest bands including Burton C...

The collaborative genius of Lennon & McCartney created many of the most celebrated compositions ever recorded- including two heartfelt & evocative pieces of musical theater that demonstrated why The Beatles were the most impactful group of the Rock Era. The story of the powerful double-A side masterpiece- “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more ab...

Up next the story of a song that resonated strongly with soldiers who were sent to fight in the Vietnam war. Let’s Live For Today Written by a classic songwriting team PF. Sloan and Steve Barri for the Grass Roots who were put together by the legendary music man Lou Adler comforted many who were drafted to go to war. Let’s Live for Today went to the top 10 in 1967.The story of this poignant compos...

It’s a song that virtually everyone can sing a long to, but it’s also one of the most controversial and misunderstood tracks of the Rock Era. The colorful & traumatic story of Lynyrd Skynyrd & their eternal American rock classic “Sweet Home Alabama” and why Ronnie Van Zant was one of the greatest frontmen of his time NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...

It's very rare that a song peaks on the charts where it bookends one decade and a few weeks later starts another where it seems like the feeling of the song itself is both look back and looking forward. Escape (the Pina Colada song) by Rupert Holmes has become a pop culture phenomenon. The story is up next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at...

Up next, one of the most haunting songs of the 1980s Under the Milky Way by The Church. Lead singer and writer of this classic song Steve Kilbey tells us what influenced the song and if you guessed a million times, you would never come close to what the answer is. The story of this mysterious 1988 hit from their gold album Starfish next on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

All of us at Professor of Rock were deeply saddened by the recent passing of Mary Wilson- one of the founding members of the legendary & ground-breaking act The Supremes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In the 80s Glam metal ruled radio and MTV, we’re all aware of the biggest songs of the genre and decade but up next we count down 5 of the best 80s hidden gems, glam metal including interviews with key members of some of the groups including Warrant and Great White. As well as songs by Mötley Crüe, Dokken and Cinderella. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Priv...

The aftermath of the original Van Halen lineup is compelling Eddie, Sammy and co hit #1 with 5150 and Diamond Dave recruited young virtuoso Steve Vai for the multiplatinum Eat and Smile. Next up the story continues with the history of their next releases in 87 and 88 from OU812 to Skyscraper with exclusive commentary by Sammy Hagar and Steve Vai on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad choic...