I'd Buy That For A Dollar

Musician, producer, and radio host Ben Vaughn joins us to celebrate songwriter and poet Rod McKuen. A household name a half century ago, McKuen is largely forgotten today. Vaughn shares his lifelong passion for McKuen's work, which includes visiting the singer at his Beverly Hills mansion and teaming up with Aaron Freeman (Gene Ween) to record a tribute album.  

Co-host Jeremy takes us into the fascinating life and incredible music of blues singer Alberta Hunter. We look at the various phases of her music career, which spanned most of the 20th century, with some time out for another occupation before returning with a final run of releases in the late Seventies and early Eighties.  

Guest Melonie Bayl-Smith returns to discuss the 1975 Australian film Picnic at Hanging Rock and some pieces featured in it. Romanian panpipe player Gheorghe Zamfir is at the center of the discussion. We examine how some viewers find the film frustrating while others find it poignant, but few can deny Zamfir's panpipes.  

Co-host Peter pulls the surprisingly uplifting soundtrack to the decidedly unpleasant 1970 American motion picture Joe. This low-budget film captured the country's polarized mood and became a surprise hit, introducing the world to actor Peter Boyle. Its soundtrack introduced the world to Exuma and features a couple choice cuts by Jerry "The Ice Man" Butler, among others.  

Co-host Jeremy plays us selections from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. A highly formative soundtrack from his youth, we learn that Jeremy has never seen the movie, nor does he ever want to.  

Co-host Sean introduces us to David Mansfield's magnificent score to the 1980 motion picture Heaven's Gate, a film which carried a negative reputation for many years. We offer some reasons to reconsider both the film and its soundtrack.

Returning guests Mark T. Weathersby and Taylor Rowley help us kick off season 6 with a one of the best-selling albums of all time: the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack! As we explore the contents of what we believe are some of the less-played grooves of this double LP, we also learn about the artists behind our chosen selections as well as how the film and soundtrack came to be. 

Season 6 of IBT kicks off on October 1, 2024. The classic trio fills you in on the special theme for the opening month.

On this unlocked Patreon bonus episode from 2022, we explore the striking gospel sounds of the Consolers.  

This ReWind takes us all the way back to season 1 with a classic trio discussion on the great flutist Herbie Mann and his turn toward an electrifying fusion of jazz and soul.