In the wake of a 1978 Genesis World Tour, Phil Collins found himself alone and without his family - having been left by his then-wife who took their two children to Canada. Amidst the heartache and the uncertainty, Collins wrote and executed one of the most honest and emotional pop albums of the 80s. ‘Face Value’ utilises great production, genre-blending and emotional lyrics to portray Phil Collin’s feelings of the time - and what we got was one of the most introspective and heartfelt pop albums of the 80s that set a lyrical and musical standard for generations to come.

Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/40RxSaKqRyitFdDH5j02vm?si=71b2264765de4096

#PhilCollins #Genesis #FaceValue #InTheAirTonight #IMissedAgain #PopRock #Pop

As Britpop began to wane, certain British bands started to abandon the emphatic, polished sound that we were used to from Blur and Oasis in favour of a more gritty, energetic rock style. ‘Word Gets Around’ by Stereophonics is a very easy to listen to album that transcends both Rock and Pop individually and was one of those transitional albums that kept the ideals & attitude of the 90s, but added a raw and melodic personality that became synonymous with early 2000s British Rock. 

APOLOGIES: Laz's microphone was intermittently cutting out so we switched to the camera microphone whilst we get the normal mic sound sorted!

Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4EravPaw49EJeEYVkO4Hs2?si=52a9c2987a2d4e11

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

#Stereophonics #WordGetsAround #IndieRock #Britpop

In these episodes, we aim to determine which type of song rules supreme: The Cover or The Original!

Does writing the music and lyrics grant you immortality in having come up with the initial work? Or is it how you take those lyrics/music and develop it into something special that matters more?

In our next battle of the ‘Covers vs Originals’ war, we take a look at 3 more covers chosen by ourselves and our listeners and discuss & debate whether it is better than the original.

And so continues the game for many ‘Cover vs Original’ episodes to come to determine… which is better - the cover or the original?

Going into Part 4… Covers: 14 Originals: 10

This episode:

1. ‘Hound Dog’ - Elvis Presley
2. I Only Wanna Be With You - Volbeat
3. Simple Man - Deftones

Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4mr89piiRK3p1oBn0nczI7?si=2d7ad3aaf0364afe

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Following the success of ‘Californication’ and its corresponding world tour, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were in a good space when they began writing ‘By The Way’. John Frusciante was said to be back to his normal self and brimming with confidence as he co-wrote and collaborated with Anthony Kiedis.

‘By The Way’ took a more accessible approach containing a lot more musical diversity than the Chili’s previous releases - departing from that heavy funk sound in favour of a more melodic and produced approach with lots of emphasis on guitar work and vocal harmonies. The versatility and willingness to try out new styles opened them up to a much wider audience and cemented their legacy as one of the world’s leading Rock bands at the start of the 2000s. Joining me to discuss…

Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3MV7vUpCPgrBfKUAV9cez6?si=6100f225e7a648e4

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

#RHCP #ByTheWay #RedHotChiliPeppers #Flea #ChadSmith #JohnFrusciante #AnthonyKiedis #Funk #Rock #FunkRock #AltRock

Delving into longer and more sophisticated music, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker experimented with various band lineups for each song on ‘Aja’ to craft and perfect their Jazz, Pop, Rock hybrid of an album. Mixing their own songwriting skills with the jazzy prowess of the likes of Wayne Shorter and Tom Scott legitimised Jazz in Rock and marked a significant moment in the relationship between the two.

Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5lMwSaREPbFf2eWm9plmWv?si=32e6859344e04e28

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

In 1991, Guns N’ Roses brought in a new drummer and keyboard player and, in an ambitious and confident statement to the music world, released ‘Use Your Illusion I & II’ on the same day. Following immense anticipation from the Rock world, ‘Use Your Illusion’ impressively spans multiple styles and genres; including: Rock, Blues, Metal, Punk and Classical elements - veering away from their dedicated, established Hard Rock sound of previous releases.

In this episode, we take a dive into the mindset of GnR with these monumental releases and focus on the first of these two albums and ask if this is Guns N' Roses' most impressive and extensive album!

Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5lo3G5i893LLwDU6brfLcO?si=a68829af62634933

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

The Solo. A single performer showing off his/her musical talent and skill. Adding an interesting, alternative part to a song’s structure and, potentially, giving the audience a passage of music unlike what the rest of the song entailed.

Whether it’s a short-but-sweet 8 bars or an extended showcase that takes the listener on a long journey, a lot can be said in a short space of time with a talented human operating their instrument at the highest level.

In these new topical discussion episodes, we take a look at some of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s most iconic virtuosic moments and discuss what makes them so good, how significant they were and what legacy they left.

In this episode:

1. Sultans Of Swing (Mark Knopfler) - Alchemy: Dire Straits Live - Dire Straits (1984)
2. Heartbreaker (Jimmy Page) - Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin (1969)
3. The End (Ringo Starr) - Abbey Road - The Beatles (1969)

Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7elrTXqh3w0CqQ8qXDtZVh?si=3c9d085d1d4d48e3

• 'The End' drum solo, Drum Duet - Gregg Bissonette and Chris Whitten.

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Following the introduction of Bruce Dickinson and his success on ‘Number Of The Beast’ and ‘Piece Of Mind’, Iron Maiden were the ones to watch in the early 80s. Progressing and developing Heavy Metal from its British roots in the 70s into the newly established New Wave Of British Heavy Metal that the likes of Maiden, Saxon and Angel Witch were pioneering.

In 1984, they presented us with an album boasting the same musical prowess as their previous albums, but with a maturity in the thematic concept and a developed complexity in their songwriting, arrangements and musicianship. ‘Powerslave’ remains a cornerstone of Iron’s Maiden discography and Heavy Metal in general - blending intricate musicianship, fast-tempo songs and captivating storytelling with themes of ancient Egypt, mythology and historical narratives!

Episode 71 Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wYpgP4qxGBl4lLE2tEEIt?si=c77039371cd14108

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

'21st Century Progressive Band'

In 1969, a new Progressive Rock band stormed onto the scene. King Crimson made several appearances throughout the year and exposed themselves to large, attentive and accepting audiences with big, impactful live shows.

Following this success came an album that would pioneer, innovate and lay down the foundations for Progressive Rock. ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’ showed to the world exactly what this fresh, new Progressive Rock was and how you could take all the external elements and amalgamate them into a singular, connected, seamless piece of art.

Is ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’ the definitive Prog Rock album? We discuss!

Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2vAkHj1QJRrTg76aqA3TiI?si=7b47f002f8f84f17

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

‘Winging It’

Welcome to another episode of The Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll Podcast - where we dive deep into the world of music and dissect iconic albums that have left an indelible mark on the industry. In this episode, we're turning our attention to one of the most celebrated albums of the 1970s: ‘Band on the Run’ by Wings.

Having lost some of his musical credibility for his work post-Beatles amongst critics, Paul McCartney travelled to Nigeria, 2 band members down, to record an album that would restore any faith that fans and critics had (foolishly!) lost in him and his songwriting abilities!

‘Band On The Run’ is full of intricate songwriting, lush production and catchy melodies that have become staple McCartney songs - making it one of Paul’s most respected and renowned works. From the infectious title track to the soulful "Let Me Roll It" and the anthemic "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five," we'll explore the album's diverse mix of rock, pop, and experimental sounds as well as the concept-style lyrics exploring themes of escape, liberation and resilience!

So join us as we celebrate the work of McCartney and explore why this album remains a cornerstone of Paul’s post-Beatles career and a beloved masterpiece in the annals of rock music history.

Episode 69 Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4gAX93zYMxDhoJoI41dJdP?si=61590e807f684248