By Mick and the Phatman
Join Mick and Jeff as they talk about artists, albums and music genres with passion that comes from personal connection. They’ve seen artists in concert at venues that don’t even exist today,
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The podcast currently has 84 episodes available.
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This episode, we look at what Rolling Stone magazine considers to be the best songs of the 80’s. We have been critical of Rolling Stone in the past for the quality of their lists, and this time is no different. However, there’s some good stuff in this list, which we’re happy to acknowledge. Of course, we point out their failings as well – it'd be no fun if we didn’t, would it?!
In Rock News, we look at a new album from Coldplay (as if anybody cares!), the trials of Sean “Puffy” Combs, and The Beatles.
Our “Album You Must listen to Before you Die” is 1985’s The Nation’s Saving Grace, by The Fall. Mick loves it, Jeff doesn’t think much of it. So, what’s new?
Another fun episode. Enjoy.
References: Rolling Stone magazine, 80’s, Coldplay, ‘Moon Music', No 1 album, Sean Diddy Coombs, Puff Daddy, Diddy, Cassie Ventura, Beatlemania, Beatles '64, David Tedeschi, Disney+, The Fall, The Nations Saving Grace, John Leckie, Mark E Smith, Can, German, krautrock, Damo Suzuki, DoubleJay, TripleJ, Prince, ‘Kiss’, Madonna, ‘Like a Prayer’, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, ‘The Message’, Michael Jackson, ‘Billie Jean’, Public Enemy, ‘Bring the Noise’, Whitney Houston, ‘How Will I Know?”, The Go-Gos, ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’, Duran Duran, ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, Kate Bush, ‘Running Up That Hill’, The Smiths, ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’, Husker Du, Minutemen, rap artists, Bowie, Depeche Mode, Culture Club, Clash, Neneh Cherry, U2, Joy Division, AC/DC, “Hell’s Bells”, INXS, “Never Tear Us Apart”, Apple music streaming, Leonard Cohen, Tower of Song, Sisters of Mercy, “This Corrosion”, “Floodland”, Jim Steinman, “New Big Prinz”, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, “Relax", Cher, “If I Could Turn Back Time”, Missouri, Bow Wow Wow, “I Want Candy”, Haysi Fantaysee, “Shiny Shiny”, Countdown, Falco, “Rock Me, Amadeus”, A-Ha, “Take on me”, Nena, 99 Luftballon, Kim Carnes, “Bette Davis Eyes”, Shriekback, “Nemesis", parthenogenesis, Samantha Fox, Africa, Toto
Playlist – Episode
This is our usual playlist, where we curate a list to play what we’ve talked about in the episode
Playlist – Spotify’s complete list
Africa – Mass band
Samantha Fox web site – purely for academic interest!
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This episode spends time with Nick Lowe, a British performer, who started out with pub rock band, Brinsley Schwarz, and Dave Edmunds’ Rockpile. Lowe’s solo career has produced a huge bunch of great songs – many of which you’ve heard, even if you’ve not heard of him - which have been hits for him AND covered by some amazing people! A suggestion from listener Nick from Victoria, this episode was the most fun we’ve had for some time!
Rock News features some standards – Oasis touring (yeah, right!), a new single and album from The Cure, Ozzy Osbourne inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and The Eagles playing a 10-week residency in Las Vegas. Yep, more of the same!
Our “Album You Must Listen to Before you Die” is Doggystyle (1993) by Snoop Doggy Dogg. We decide “Who cares?”. Instead, we talk about Snoop Dogg’s presence in TV and movies since the 90’s, including the 2024 Olympics!
References: Brinsley Schwarz, Dave Edmunds, Rockpile, punk, Oasis, Ozzy, The Cure, Robert Smith, The Eagles, Classic Countdown, Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Globite travel bag, Nick Lowe, Warren Zevon, ‘6 degrees of Kevin Bacon’, Carlene Carter, Johnny Cash, 1001 Albums You Must Listen to Before you Die, Robert Dimery, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle, “What’s So Funny (’Bout Peace, Love and Understanding)?”, Jesus of Cool”, “Labour of Lust”, “Marie Provost”, “Lifes Rich Pageant”, REM, Chrissy Hynde, Warren Zevon, alcohol problems, Producer, The Damned, “New Rose”, Elvis Costello, “Basher”, “Bay City Rollers, We Love You”,
Episode Playlist – the music we talked about during this episode
Spotify Playlist – Best of Nick Lowe
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Snoop Dogg’s Menulog ad
Snoop Dogg at the Olympics 1
Snoop Dogg at the Olympics 2
Snoop with Dr Dre
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David Bowie’s “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” is, for many fans, his last great album. Mick regards it as one of Bowie’s best, while “Ashes to Ashes” is his confession to a decade of hedonism. Mick and Jeff talk through what makes this album great, and look at the music environment as Bowie, along with many other 70’s greats, faced the changes in a new decade.
“Knockin’ on Heaven's Door” offers a long line of new entrants to Rock’n’Roll Heaven including Herbie Flowers, Tito Jackson, Kris Kristofferson and Liam Payne from One Direction.
Our Album You Must Listen to Before you Die, fresh from Robert Dimery’s book, is Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ “Don't Stand Me Down”, a massive failure on release in 1985 but receiving a fresh critical re-evaluation in modern times. We didn’t like it! Not least because of their complete rip-off of “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon.
Episode Playlist
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) - just the album
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More Trump!
One of those things – Dexy's
Bowie interview - “My Phil Collins Years”
Bowie – Ashes to Ashes live on Jools Holland
Pete Townshend
Glass Spider Live
Other References
Alt Rock Chick – fabulous insightful reviews across the rock spectrum
References: Angie Bowie, Eno, Lodger, Outside, Joy Division, Kate Bush, Gary Numan, New Romantic, “Are “Friends Electric?”, The Pleasure Principle, “Cars”, “It’s No Game”, Pete Townshend, “Because You’re Young”, Robert Fripp, “Heroes”, Carlos Alomar, George Murray, Dennis Davis, Tony Visconti, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Edward Bell, Pierrot, "Ashes to Ashes", Brian Duffy, Natasha Korniloff, Lindsay Kemp, Pierrot in Turquoise, Berlin Trilogy, Phil Collins, Let’s Dance, Nile Rodgers, “In the air tonight”, Alt Rock Chick, Major Tom, Fripp’s skronky guitar work, “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)”, “Fashion”, “Scream Like a Baby”, “Kingdom Come”, Tom Verlaine, Neil Young, “Hey Hey My My”
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As we grew up, music was the most important thing there was. As part of that, we bought some albums that weren’t great, and time has generally proven our assessments right! This episode, we talk about some of those "dud" albums, by artists like Bowie, U2, Led Zeppelin, Golden Earring, Neil Young, Alice Cooper, Phil Collins and Yes, to name but a few.
In Rock News, we talk about a Filipino family who perform Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love with uncanny precision and an auction of Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie’s memorabilia, wardrobe and belongings.
Our “Album You Must Listen to Before You Die” is Dire Straits’ monster 1985 hit, “Brothers in Arms”. Released at a time when Dire Straits could do no wrong, this album sold over 30 million copies worldwide and went 9 times platinum in the US alone. We damn it with faint praise.
A Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin Cover by Missioned Soulsyoutu.be
The Bridge: Neil Young Tribute Album
Playlist
References: Kenwood KA9800 amp, Pioneer PL518 direct drive turntable, Cerwin Vega 15-inch 2 way speaker, Ripper, Sounds of 79, Bowie Pinups, Diamond Dogs, “Candidate”, drugs, Spiders from Mars, “Sorrow”, Scarey Monsters (and Super Creeps), U2: Songs of Innocence, iTunes, Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, Neil Young, Trans, Geffen, “Mr. Soul”, Buffalo Springfield, “Computer Age”, Sonic Youth, “The Bridge”, Golden Earring, Moontan, “Radar Love”, Alice Cooper Goes to Hell, Yes, Yessongs Live, Phil Collins, Face Value, Lou Reed, Metal Machine Music, Pete Townshend, Psychoderelict, The Beatles, Naked, Led Zeppelin, In through the Out Door, “In the Evening”, “All my Love”
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In today’s episode, we look at how social media gives us a grab-bag of people’s memories of stars and some who weren’t quite so successful, or scarcely successful at all. Nonetheless, they are remembered by some and lionised on social media.
The other side of "on-line" is the channels that present video imagery of any and everything, such as YouTube, TikTok and so on. Jeff presents a bunch of interesting links for you to investigate.
In “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, we lament the passing of such greats as David Sanbourn, John Mayall, as well as a couple of guys who have played beneath the radar for most of their career but still worked with giants like Frank Zappa, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ray Charles, Steve Hackett, and many others.
Our “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is John Mayall’s “Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton” from 1966. The album featured John Mayall, Eric Clapton, John McVie (Fleetwood Mac) and Hughie Flint (Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band) and marks the start of Clapton’s legend as a British guitar god.
References: social media, Nick Cave, “Australian bands from the 60’s - 90’s”, music nostalgia, Mi-Sex, Graffiti Crimes, Kevin Stanton, “Computer Games”, Space Race, “Live at the Wireless”, Kransky Sisters, Second Thoughts, Split Enz, Mental Notes, “Stranger than fiction”, Husker Du, Bob Mould, Greg Norton, Tim Walz, The Angels, Selina’s, Coogee Bay Hotel, cost of stadium tours, Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Mick Conway, My Wahini in Wangaratta, Tamam Shud, The Dynamic Hepnotics, A Soul Kind of Feeling, Quora, Reddit, YouTube, "What's In My Bag?", Amoeba Music, Professor of Rock, Rick Beato, Playing For Change, the Needle Drop, Top 5 Record, Billy the Mountain, (Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention), Aynsley Dunbar, Howard Kaylan & Mark Volman, The Turtles, Anthony Amaratti, Muiris Mac Cartaine
Links:
Playlist (including “Billy The Mountain”)
Other Links:
Amoeba Music - What's In My Bag?
Professor of Rock
Rick Beato
Playing For Change
When the Levee Breaks
The Needle Drop
Top Five Record Lists
Billy the Mountain - Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
Computer Games – The Kransky sisters
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All bands need a name, but the process of getting that name is different for each band. This episode, we look at how a bunch of well-known bands got their names. Some are amusing, some are horrifying, some are dark or seedy – be ready for surprises!
Our “album you must listen to before you die” is Arc of a Diver, by Stevie Winwood (1980). This was a formative album during our youth, and with this million-selling album and its hit single “While You See a Chance”, Winwood was a major influence on other people we love, such as Marianne Faithfull.
In Rock News, the major story is that the Gallagher brothers have agreed to reunite as Oasis for a UK tour in 2025. We don’t like the odds of the brothers completing the tour without fighting and would like ringside seats!
In other news, we look at Nick Cave’s new album, Wild God, Bruce Springsteen back on tour, and Neil Young releasing Archives Vol. III, a 17-CD box set featuring 198 tracks. Wow!
References: Oasis, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, INXS, Guns n Roses, Bee Gees, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Fleetwood Mac, Joy Division, Nazi camps, 10CC, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Steely Dan, The Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa, The Doobie Brothers, Rammstein, Ramstein air show tragedy, Husker Du, The Velvet Underground, Depeche Mode, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Boris Karloff, The Foo Fighters, The Angels, The Beatles, The Quarrymen, The Silver Beetles, Tony Sheridan & the Beat Brothers, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Pink Floyd, Pink Anderson & Floyd Council, “Oh by the way, which one’s Pink?”, Cheap Trick, Slade, ZZ Top, The Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Talking Heads, Shakespeare’s Sister, The Bay City Rollers, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Tim Staffell, “Smile”, Freddie Mercury, The Band, The Hawks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Barenaked Ladies, Jethro Tull, U2, The Hype, Beach Boys, The Pendeltons, "Surfin'", Blue Öyster Cult, “On Your Feet or on Your Knees”, Shetland Islands
Playlist – Band names
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It’s not unusual for bands to change their sound or style as they move through their career. We take a look at bands that changed their sound substantially (or started a completely new sound) for a whole lot of reasons - from The Beatles, Bowie and Dylan and Black Sabbath through to Japan, The Cure and Split Enz.
Our album you must hear before you die is Let it Bleed by The Rolling Stones. From the cover art to the great music it contains, this album from The Stones’ golden period leading into the 70’s - Sticky Fingers & Exile on Main Street - is a corker!
In Rock News, Jeff updates us on The Sex Pistols, Ritchie Blackmore and Cyndi Lauper, while our Ozzy Osbourne report has Sharon telling us that “If a bomb dropped there would be cockroaches, Keith Richards and Ozzy!”
Enjoy.
References: The Sex Pistols, Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple, Blackmore’s Night, Candice Night, Cyndi Lauper, The Police, Spotify, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, John Lennon’s guitar, Ozzy Osbourne, Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones, Let it Bleed, Jimmy Miller, Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, “Gimme Shelter”, “Midnight Rambler”, “Love in Vain”, “You can’t always get what you want”, “Honky Tonk Woman”, Beggars Banquet, The Beatles, The Quarrymen, Lonnie Donegan, Revolver, Sgt Peppers, Paul MacCartney, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, The Bee Gees, “New York Mining Disaster”, “Stayin’ Alive”, David Bowie, “Love you ‘til Tuesday", “The Laughing Gnome”, art-rock, glam, Bob Dylan, T-Rex, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Japan, Jimi Hendrix, Chitlin’ Circuit, Split Enz, Neil Finn, Tim Finn, The Cure, Billy Joel, Black Sabbath, “Black Sabbath”, The Animals, “The House of the Rising Sun”, Isaac Hayes, “Theme from Shaft”, Pixies, “Monkey Gone to Heaven”, Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Bush
Playlist
John Lennon on Dick Cavett Show
Hendrix Live on TV
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Nick Cave. After a career that would exhaust a lesser man, he’s still recording and performing breathtaking work. Mick’s just seen him live with only his piano, and a bass guitar, and can’t stop raving! We look at how he started and the difference between his performances and attitudes then and now.
In other news, Lenny Kravitz is still sticking to his vow of celibacy, The Police’s Andy Summers declares that they were total babes, and The Angels are still releasing new work. Hmmm.......
References: Jarrah McCleary, Panama, Jethro Tull, The Prince of Darkness, Nick Cave, Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Lenny Kravitz, The Police, Andy Summers, The Angels, Christine Anu, Mark E Smith, The Fall, “music for surly virgins”, Boys Next Door, Caulfield Grammar, Mick Harvey, Phill Calvert, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Grinderman, “Lawless”, “And the Ass Saw the Angel”, Dogs in Space, "Shivers", “a murder of crows”, John Cooper Clarke, Rowland S Howard, Colin Greenwood, Radiohead, “Fragments of a Rainy Season”, John Cale, “Mercy Seat”, “Balcony Man”, The Seekers, “The Carnival is Over”, “Kicking against the Pricks”, The Big Day Out, “The Weeping Song”, The Good Son, Blixa Bargeld, Live Seeds, Red Right Hand, “Into Your Arms”, “Mutiny in Heaven”, Order of Australia, Coronation of Charles III
Playlists:
Episode Playlist
Nick Cave Solo Setlist
Live Seeds
YouTube Links
https://youtu.be/fiwlZgOeAHA?si=8iyIi8m1JmVcVfaG
https://youtu.be/MfPQZzTbVqU?si=z7X0Eb5ea9NhS7cJ
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Musicians love to collaborate. We thought we'd have a look at some that are just great, some that are weird, and some that are simply awful! As usual, some you'll know, and some you won’t.
Our “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is Pet Sounds, by The Beach Boys (1966). Long revered by musicians including The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, this album is a masterpiece of production and innovation.
This month, we farewell Graham Webb, an Australian pioneer of music videos – and Blind Date! We also say goodbye to Ignatius Jones, of Jimmy and the Boys, and Steve Albini, producer of The Pixies, PJ Harvey and Nirvana. Vale!
How do we fit it all into an hour?
References: Brian Wilson, Beach Boys, Pet Sounds, Capitol Records, Billboard, Sgt Pepper, Rubber Soul, LSD, “Good Vibrations”, Led Zeppelin, Sandy Denny, The Battle of Evermore, Aerosmith/Run-DMC, Walk This Way, Rick Rubin, Confessions of Dr Dream and other stories, Kevin Ayers, Nico, “Irreversible Neural Damage”, “With a Little Help From my Friends”, Joe Cocker, Jimmy Page, Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, Bing Crosby, David Bowie, “Little Drummer Boy”, Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave, “Where The Wild Roses Grow”, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, “Raising Sand”, “Raise the Roof”, “Sentimental Hygiene”, Warren Zevon, Neil Young, The Party Boys, Peter Gabriel, “Don’t give Up”, Kate Bush, “So”, Melt, “Games without Frontiers”, “Screaming Jets”, Johnny Warman, The Sex Pistols, Ronnie Biggs, “No One Is Innocent”, The Great Rock’N’Roll Swindle, Pink Floyd, Roy Harper, “Have A Cigar”, Wish You Were Here, Nick Cave & Shane McGowan, “What a Wonderful World”, Freddie Mercury, Montserrat Caballe, “Barcelona", U2, Brian Eno, The Joshua Tree, “Miss Sarajevo”, “Passengers”, Johnny Cash, “Under Pressure”, Queen, Vanilla Ice, “Dancing in the Street”, Mick Jagger, Mike Garson, Aladdin Sane, Pete Townshend, “Because You’re Young”, Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart) & Lisa Simpson, The Simpsons, REM, “End of the World”, Sesame Street, “Shiny Happy People”, Ozzy Osbourne & Miss Piggy, “Born to Be Wild”
Playlist - You'll really enjoy this one!!
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Jethro Tull is one of the stranger turns taken by rock music over more than 50 years. Mick and Jeff look back at some of the band’s best work, and, maybe, some of their strangest.
The “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is Queen II, a sensational album released the year before Queen took over the world! Both Mick & Jeff love it!
Jeff takes a look at what AI is doing to music. We’re not worried, because, as Joe Walsh says, AI can’t even trash a hotel room! While he's at it, Jeff then looks at who is “knocking on Heaven’s door” this month.
Yet another very full episode!
Episode playlist
Professional Flautist watches Jethro Tull: https://youtu.be/0SCdFmSqcjk?si=gRbdG9nsk0rW4Od7
“Too Old to Rock & Roll / Too Young to die”
References: Queen II, EMI Records, Elektra Records, Trident Studios, Roy Thomas Baker, Jethro Tull, Marquee Club, flute, John Glasscock, Ian Anderson. Martin Barre, “Locomotive Breath”, “Aqualung”, “Loudermilk”, Ocean, “Thick as a Brick”, “Passion Play”, “Too Old to Rock & Roll / Too Young to die”, “Songs from the Wood”, “Heavy Horses”, “Broadsword and the Beast”, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album, Clive Bunker, John Glascock, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, salmon farming, Michael Stipe, Kirk Hammett, Nick Cave, Thick as a Brick 2: Whatever Happened to Gerald Bostock?, “Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera”, “RökFlöte”, Norse mythology, “The Zealot Gene”
The podcast currently has 84 episodes available.