Part 1: "She couldn't help thinkin' that there was a little more to life somewhere else”

Hosts Allison Zatarain and Richard Gottehrer dig into the Tom Petty classic “American Girl.” They share the original and compare its meaning to the moody new version by Catey Shaw sung woman to woman. Resident musicologist Richard Barone and Richard G. explore Tom Petty’s transformative journey from Florida to L.A. and the mysterious girl he portrays in the song.

Part 2: “She had something breakable just under her skin”

Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain tell the story behind reimagining the Counting Crows' song “American Girls” for Instant Love. They play the original pop tune and their new ballad version sung woman to woman by Alice Pisano. Live from London, Alice Pisano shares her thoughts with Allison on how changing the pronoun shifts the message. Resident musicologist Richard Barone and Richard G. explore what happens when a rock song is transformed into a deep and rich ballad about love and loss.

"She may come, I know not when, but when she does I lose, so baby until then, lock me away."

 Hosts Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain travel back to 1964 for "A World Without Love," a Peter and Gordon song written by one of the Beatles! They share the original track as well as the new version sung woman to woman by UK artist Lola Coca. Allison talks to Lola in London about living in a time where "empowered women are more accepted, and the importance of dedicating a space to it without labels." Resident musicologist Richard Barone tells Richard G. why the track wasn't "good enough for The Beatles," and how it went on to become a number 1 hit.

Part 1: "Kind woman won’t you love me tonight."

Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain head back to the 60’s with the Buffalo Springfield song “Kind Woman,” sharing the original track as well as the new version by Erin Durant sung woman to woman. Resident musicologist Richard Barone clues Richard G. in on the woman that inspired Richie Furay to write the song, and why he feels the title makes it gender-free. ” Allison and illustrator Rebecca Morehiser chat about the cover art influenced by Picasso’s “Girl In The Mirror.”

Part 2: “I’ve been saved by a woman. ”

Richard and Allison get into the Ray Lamontagne song “Trouble” sung woman to woman by Adrian Louise. They play the original plus the new Instant Love version recorded in The Orchard Studios. Swagg r’ Celious returns to the podcast to tell Richard how he approached the remix. Allison and Rebecca Morehiser reflect on the cover art that portrays a woman being saved, and coming out of the darkness.

Part 1: "And I found out a long time ago what a woman can do to your soul."

Hosts Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain turn their ears to “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” sharing the original track by The Eagles as well as Nashville artist Tristen's new version, now sung woman to woman. Tristen talks the power of love and music, and why this song has special meaning.  Resident musicologist Richard Barone reveals to Richard G. that the song was a cover, and how the writer “wanted to distill all the women he knew into it's lyrics.” Allison and illustrator Rebecca Morehiser chat about the cover art that reflects the lyric “I want to sleep with you in the desert tonight.”

Part 2: “I love you Amy, do you still love me?”

Hosts Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain dig deep into Ryan Adams' “Amy.” They play the original plus the fiery new Instant Love version by Nashville's Nicole Atkins. Nicole tells Allison how she visualized singing about Ryan’s garden of love, and the thrill of working with Nashville strings. Resident musicologist Richard Barone tells Richard G. that Ryan’s first album was completely dedicated to his breakup, and why he thinks a woman singing to another woman adds so much more to the story. Allison and Rebecca Morehiser reflect on visualizing “she loves me, she loves me not” for the cover art.

Part 1: “She’s got a way about her.”

Hosts Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain explore the early Billy Joel song “She’s Got A Way” as re-imagined for “Instant Love.” They share the new recording by Lolo Zouai sung woman to woman as well as the original track. Lolo talks about not having to change the “she” pronoun, and her friend who was the muse for the recording.” Swagg R’celious talks with Richard G. about how he got his name, and producing the track for Lolo without “stepping on the song.” Allison and illustrator Rebecca Morehiser chat about the beachy/breezy vibe of the cover, and the importance of self-love.  Resident musicologist Richard Barone and Richard G. agree that this new version makes the song “fresh again, and introduces it to a whole new audience.

Part 2: “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone.”

Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain talk about bossa nova reinterpretation of the classic Bill Withers track for “Instant Love.” They play the new version by sung between women by Karen Souza, as well as the original. Allison and Rebecca Morehiser about the sensuality of the new version and transforms it the version sung by “old dudes on the subway!” Resident musicologist Richard Barone and Richard G. discuss how twenty six “I knows” was a marker for lyrics, and Booker T. said to “keep it that way’ on the finished recording!”

“She says don’t worry baby, everything will come out alright.”

Hosts Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain reminisce about the time Richard was “stood up” for a dinner date in L.A. by the free-spirited singer Rachel Fannan, and how she made things alright with her “Don’t Worry Baby” recording sung woman to woman for Instant Love years later. You’ll hear her version as well as the original by The Beach Boys. Richard and Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes geek out about recording the track together in his Venice, CA studio. Resident musicologist Richard Barone shares Beach Boy Al Jardine’s love for the new version, and how Brian Wilson calls the song an homage to a legendary writer/producer.

Part 1: “Girl we couldn’t get much higher.”

Hosts Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain explore the Danish singer Fallulah’s obsession with California and selection of “LIght My Fire” for Instant Love. You’ll hear her new recording sung woman to woman as well as the original track by The Doors. Fallulah shares her thinking behind adding tenderness to the song, and why women must “level the playing field.” Resident musicologist Richard Barone and Richard G. recount the moment The Doors were banned from TV, and how our culture has since evolved. Alison and Rebecca Morehiser chat about the racy cover art. 

Part 2: “Something in the way she moves.”

Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain talk about reimagining the iconic George Harrison hit “Something” for Instant Love. They play the new version by Hunter sung woman to woman as well as the original by The Beatles. Resident musicologist Richard Barone and Richard G. talk about how the Beatles band members originally didn’t “get” the track. Allison and Rebecca Morehiser get abstract and reveal how the song is “more than the sum of its parts.”

“If you want a lover, I'll do anything you ask me to.”

Hosts Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain dig deep into the seductive Leonard Cohen song, “I’m Your Man” for Instant Love by Holly Miranda. You’ll hear the original and the new recording, now sung woman to woman. Holly discusses her inspiration for the recording and the new meaning of “manning up,” as well as how a siren on 2nd Avenue in NYC made a fiery contribution to her rendition. Resident musicologist Richard Barone and Richard G. realize that the lyrics “I’m Your Man” aren’t really gender-specific. Allison and Rebecca Morehiser get into the influence of the film noir in the cover art. Engineer Alonzo shares how he loved the original “whispered vocal” recorded in Holly’s apartment and how he fleshed out the track at The Orchard studio.

“Mellow is the feeling that I get when I see her.”

Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain bring you a heartfelt version of the Donovan classic “Colours.” Hear both versions and how the track brought out singer Erika Spring’s (Au Revoir Simone) inner “flower child,” self-love, and the peace she feels with her young child. Resident musicologist Richard Barone sings the Scottish folk song to Richard G. that inspired Donovan’s lyrics. Allison and Rebecca Morehiser visualize a vibe inspired by the first morning rays of the sun. Engineer Alonzo explains how boom bap drums took the track from mellow to anthemic in the Orchard Studio.

“Girl, you really got me going.”

Richard Gottehrer and Allison Zatarain have the British Invasion in their veins as they play the Cavale recording of “You Really Got Me” as well as the original by The Kinks. Singer Cavale talks about her electronic pop transformation that “hits so much harder” when she sings the song from a woman, to a woman. Resident musicologist Richard Barone tells Richard G. a surprising story about how the iconic riff in the song was born. Alison and Rebecca Morehiser ponder the art of curly bangs. Engineer Alonzo remembers mixing and matching vocals to a kinetic beat in the Orchard Studio.