Chronicles of Rock

In early 1975, Bruce Springsteen was in danger of being dropped by his record label. So he and the E-Street Band threw all their energy into creating something epic -- a marriage of Phil Spector, Bob Dylan, Jack Kerouac, and Marlon Brando all rolled into one. It would not only save his career, but it would become one of the quintessential albums in the history of rock. Randy Renaud has the story of the creation of Born to Run on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock. 

One hot and stormy weekend in the summer of 1969, a half a million people gathered at a pig farm in upstate New York to experience an incredible event -- one of the greatest collections of rock performers in history, and a remarkable example of collective harmony and cooperation. Randy Renaud revisits the story of the most famous music festival in history: the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, on the Chronicles of Rock. 

Image: AP Photo/File

15 summers ago, in July 2011, U2 came to Montreal on their 360 Degrees tour. But unlike their previous show in 1997, this time, they wouldn't be playing at Olympic Stadium. It was deemed unsafe, and there was nowhere else large enough to accommodate the band's massive stage structure, nicknamed "The Claw."  So the band spent their own money to adapt the old Blue Bonnets racetrack into a world-class concert venue. And the resulting shows would become two of the most memorable shows in Montreal concert history. Randy Renaud revisits that magical weekend on the Chronicles of Rock.

Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

At the start of 1982, the Glasgow band, Simple Minds, were deeply in debt and contemplating breaking up. But a surprise hit single in the spring of that year changed their minds and their fortunes. They then went into the studio that summer to record the album that would become their masterpiece. To herald the arrival of summer, Randy Renaud has the story behind an album that radiates summer warmth: Simple Minds' New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84. 

Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers came to Morin Heights, in the Laurentians, to do some skiing and to record their fifth album. It would become the most successful of their career, reaching number one on record charts around the world. But it would also prove to be their last. Randy Renaud revisits the story behind its creation and the tensions that pulled the band apart on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock. 

In early 1970, a quartet from Winnipeg released an album that would become an all-time rock classic. It raced up the charts in both Canada and the U.S., and was so successful that it earned the band an invitation to perform at the White House. Ironically, the inspiration for the title track came from an unpleasant encounter with American border authorities. To welcome the Guess Who back to Montreal, Randy Renaud has the story behind the great album American Woman on the Chronicles of Rock. 

For his fifth studio album, Peter Gabriel teamed up with Canadian Daniel Lanois to create the most successful album of his career. It went to number 1 here in Canada, and reached number 2 in the U.S. where it also earned numerous Grammy nominations, including for Album of the Year. It is now considered one of the defining albums of the 80's. Randy Renaud marks its 40th anniversary on the Chronicles of Rock. 

In the late 90's, the California band Weezer had, for all intents and purposes, called it quits. But Rivers Cuomo was coaxed back by fans, so he reformed Weezer and they recorded a third album that sparkled with sunshine and inescapable pop hooks. It was released on May 15, 2001 and became known simply by the colour of its cover -- the Green album. Thanks to hits like Hash Pipe, Photograph, and Island in the Sun, the album went to number 2 in Canada. And Randy Renaud revisits the story behind it for the Chronicles of Rock. 

In May 1969, with the Who on the brink of bankruptcy, Pete Townshend decided to risk it all with an extremely ambitious project -- arguably the most ambitious undertaking in rock to that point -- a 4-sided rock opera about a sight and hearing-impaired young man named Tommy who becomes a kind of messiah figure. The album became a true sensation, especially after The Who performed it at Woodstock. It would end being adapted into a movie, a stage musical, and even a ballet by a Montreal dance troupe. And it would influence the course of rock that followed. 

On the heels of a break-through album, Toys in the Attic, and three hit singles -- Walk This Way, Sweet Emotion, and the re-released Dream On -- Aerosmith sought to record an album that would capture the electrifying power of their live shows. So they brought a mobile recording studio to their rehearsal space outside Boston, and laid down the tracks for one of rock's greatest-ever albums, Rocks. Released on May 3, 1976, it proved to be a huge success, reaching number 3 on the Billboard charts and being named by James Hetfield, Slash, and Kurt Cobain as one of their all-time favouroite records. Randy Renaud marks its 50th anniversary on the Chronicles of Rock.