Sam Cooke's popularity didn't stop him from trying to improve himself and his music, from an intellectual standpoint. nbsp; Having started with traditional hymns and adding new lyrics, he had attained success and kept challenging himself intellectually, reading everything from Aristotle to James Baldwin. nbsp;In this podcast, author Peter Guralnick, Sam's brother LC Cooke and musicians Bobby Womack and Hal Blaine describe the man's motivations as he created Night Beat, the blues recording literally recorded in the middle of the night. nbsp;Recording engineer Al Schmitt, who worked on some of Cooke's best known music: "He was really hands on in the studio... just amazing."

Songs included: "What A Wonderful World" "For Sentimental Reasons" "Trouble Blues" "Fool's Paradise" and "Bring it on Home to Me"

Producer:nbsp; Joyride Media

Producer: Joyride Media

Recommended: Kind of Blue -50th Anniversary Legacy Edition (2-cd)

In this episode, PIR artist Jean Carne describes the Philly sound as one that made you want to dance with its grooves, and was filled with positive lyrical messages as well.

"If you sing with emotion, the better the audience will love you. nbsp;And I wanted to be loved" - Bunny "Mr. Emotions" Sigler, who Gamble and Huff found in their now exhaustive talent-search. nbsp;As the label worked with an ever increasing number of artists, its songwriters now included Linda Creed and Thom Bell, and Gene McFadden and John Whitehead, who kept the love train rolling along with in its distinctive style of great music and positive messages.

Songs Included: nbsp;"TSOP" (MFSB); "Picture Us" (Bunny Sigler); "Sunshine" (The O'Jays); "Bad Luck" (Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes)

Producer:nbsp; Joyride Media

Recommended:nbsp; Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia Concert DVD

"I look cool but on the inside I'm a nervous wreck" - Nick Ashford. nbsp;As they began their career as performers, Nick and Valerie found some challenges in appearing on stage, as Nick details in this podcast. nbsp;"In the early years, I was just uncomfortable. nbsp;They would put towels around me I'd sweat so much before I'd even go on." nbsp;But they also found they enjoyed meeting most anyone could help with songwriting, as Nick explains "I get inspiration from the people I meet. nbsp;Seems like everybody's got a story. nbsp;What people are feeling, that's what we want to write about." nbsp;Their longevity and success may be built on this simple idea, and may be why President Barack Obama has a special version of one of their songs. nbsp;As Nick says, "You can do it, if you have the energy and the will to do it."

Songs included: "Found A Cure" "I'm Every Woman" "Solid (as Barack)"

Producer: Joyride Media

Recommended: Ashford #38; Simpson: The Real Thing

nbsp;In this podcast, the living legend of blues guitar describes his start in Louisiana, his relationship with the instrument and the move to Chicago. nbsp;Once there, he established himself at the 708 Club, which lead tonbsp;his first encounter with the "MF"s at Chess, including "Muddy, Wolf and Walter" (as in Waters, Howling and Little!). nbsp;Buddy's excitement at his first recording session with Cobra Records, and the way he tells the story is the same excitement he had after seeing Guitar Slim perform. nbsp;"I want to sound like BB King and act like Guitar Slim." nbsp;Noting the man had a fishing line instead of a guitar strap, "That's what you call PLAYING a guitar. nbsp; He didn't baby it and I don't now. nbsp;People want to know how come you break so many strings. nbsp;If you don't break 'em, you aren't playing."

Songs included: "Let Me Love You Baby" "Mustang Sally" "Stone Crazy"

Producer: Joyride Media

Reccomended: Buddy Guy - Canrsquo;t Quit the Blues

The story of Bill Withers continues with the artist, himself, thinking back to the the making of his debut album.nbsp;nbsp; The record was produced by legendary R#38;B keyboardist Booker T Jones.nbsp; In an odd twist, the backing band was most of the Booker T #38; the MGs, but with Steven Stills subbing for Steve Cropper.nbsp; The combination was perfect for Bill Witherrsquo;s acoustic soul.nbsp; Critic Anthony DeCurtis adds some of his own insights about these sessions.

Producer: Joyride Media

Reccomended: Bill Withers catalog

Fats Waller's famous compositions of the 1930s and 40s have attained an immortal, standard-level of recognition and have stood the test of time. But what is lesser known is that Fats Waller was also an entertainer par excellence, bringing the music he performed to life with jokes and asides to the audience. nbsp;As historian Dick Hyman explains, "he was engaging in signifying - critiquing something while you are actually performing. nbsp;Satirizing what he is singing in very sophisticated ways." nbsp;Playwrite and critic Murray Horowitz calls Waller "one of the greatest jazz musicians of the first 50 years of the music, but also one of the great comedians of the golden age of American comedy"!

Music included: "Ain't Misbehavin'" "Bessie Bessie" "Christopher Columbus" "A Change in Me" "It's a Sin to Lie" and "Your Feets Too Big"

Producer: Joyride Media

Reccomended:nbsp; Fats Waller:nbsp; If You Gotta Ask

Producer:nbsp; Joyride Media

In this podcast, musicians Herbie Hancock, David Amram and Jimmy Cobb address the music theory behind Kind of Blue, and how the feeling of the musicians was equally as important as the compositions themselves in its creation. nbsp;Considered "Modal Jazz" as it is written from a few basic notes that form the structure of the song, it is as Herbie Hancock says "a new use of an old technique." nbsp;David Amram expounds: "Miles knew that music from India, the middle east and native music around the world would have a basic scale, and the sophistication would be in HOW you did it." nbsp;Herbie Hancock concurs with Amram on his interpretation of this historic album: "Musicians could easily learn the songs, of course the challenge was playing them."

Songs included: "All Blues" "Blue in Green" and "Freddie Freeloader"

Producer: Joyride Media

Recommended: Kind of Blue -50th Anniversary Legacy Edition (2-cd)

Philadelphia International takes over the airwaves of the 70s: the incredible O'Jays are featured in this podcast, with founding member Walter WIlliams, who talks about growing up with Eddie Levert in Ohio, where they were REQUIRED to sing gospel. nbsp;After an encounter with Gamble and Huff during and Intruders show at the Apollo Theatre, The O'Jays joined Philadelphia International as the label hit its creative and commercial peak. nbsp;Gamble and Huff showed their prowess with established artists (The Spinners, Lou Rawls and Denice Williams) and with new groups such as The Three Degrees, as part of a Motown-like string of hits.

Songs included in this podcast:

"For the love of Money" "Backstabbers" (O'Jays) "Then Came You" (The Spinners featuring Dionne Warwick) "Gonna Take a Miracle" (Denice Williams) "Enjoy Yourself" (The Jacksons) "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" "When Will I See You Again?" (The Three Degrees)

Producer:nbsp; Joyride Media

Recommended:nbsp; Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia Concert DVD