Rock's Backpages

E128: Robert Greenfield on the Rolling Stones + Jerry Jeff Walker


Listen Later

In this episode we welcome the great Robert Greenfield, beamed in from his home in Carmel, California, and ask him about his early '70s adventures with the Rolling Stones that inspired the seminal book S.T.P..

Robert recounts his journey from Fusion and Boston After Dark, via Rolling Stone's London bureau, to his stellar career as an author and biographer — including his celebrated books about Bill Graham, Jerry Garcia and Augustus "Owsley" Stanley III. He describes how he showed up at Keith Richards' Villa Nellcote in August 1971, during the recording of the now-50-year-old Exile On Main St.. After this we hear about the defining 1972 pieces he wrote for Rolling Stone about that album's final overdub/mixing stages in L.A., and about the start of the "Stones Touring Party" trek through North America. We also hear a 1997 audio clip of Keef looking back on Exile and its gradual rise to acclaim as the group's greatest album, plus there's a digression on photographer-filmmaker Robert Frank, whose Cocksucker Blues was (like S.T.P.) a key document of that triumphant 1972 tour.

From there we go to clips from the week's new RBP audio interview, which features John Tobler in a 1992 conversation with folk-country legend Jerry Jeff Walker, the object of veneration on Steve Earle's new album Jerry Jeff. The genial and engaging Mr. Walker talks to Tobler about the difference between Nashville and his adopted Austin, his beloved 1968 song 'Mr. Bojangles', and (in the episode's outro) his encouragement of fellow troubadour Guy Clark — another object of Earle's Texan veneration.

After valedictory reflections on Dylan crony and "stars' superstar" Bob Neuwirth, Microdisney/Fatima Mansions frontman Cathal Coughlan, and Greek prog-electronic deity Vangelisnews of the deaths of Depeche Mode's Andy Fletcher and former Yes drummer Alan White came in after the recording of this episode — Mark Pringle quotes from his favourite new additions to the RBP library. These include pieces about Scott Walker, the Wailers, choreographer Cholly Atkins and self-proclaimed "bedroom bore" Aphex Twin, after which Jasper weighs in with remarks on the Streets and Shontelle.

Many thanks to special guest Robert Greenfield. Find his books, including S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones, in all good bookshops.

Pieces discussed: Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones tour, Keith Richards audio, Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Jeff Walker audio, Al Aronowitz on Bob Neuwirth, Cathal Coughlan, Vangelis, Scott Walker, Cholly Atkins, The Wailers, Aphex Twin, The Streets and Shontelle.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Rock's BackpagesBy Barney Hoskyns, Mark Pringle, Jasper Murison-Bowie

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

41 ratings


More shows like Rock's Backpages

View all
Transmissions by Aquarium Drunkard

Transmissions

221 Listeners

Sodajerker On Songwriting by Sodajerker

Sodajerker On Songwriting

383 Listeners

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

303 Listeners

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST by ADAM BUXTON

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

1,331 Listeners

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds by Nate Goyer, Record Collector, Music Fan, Vinyl Maniac

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

501 Listeners

Rolling Stone Music Now by Rolling Stone | Cumulus Podcast Network

Rolling Stone Music Now

990 Listeners

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

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

4,119 Listeners

The Bob Lefsetz Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

The Bob Lefsetz Podcast

437 Listeners

Something About the Beatles by Evergreen Podcasts

Something About the Beatles

342 Listeners

Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt by Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt

Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt

320 Listeners

Beatles Books by Joe Wisbey

Beatles Books

58 Listeners

The Alexei Sayle Podcast by Alexei Sayle and Talal Karkouti

The Alexei Sayle Podcast

42 Listeners

Word In Your Ear by Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold

Word In Your Ear

61 Listeners

Kermode & Mayo’s Take by Sony Music Entertainment

Kermode & Mayo’s Take

317 Listeners

Strong Message Here by BBC Radio 4

Strong Message Here

31 Listeners