Radio Bla Bla

By Radio Bla Bla Hosts

Eavesdrop on our conversations about songs. Each episode John and Brendan discuss a new song, exploring the style, lyrics, sounds and the time in place of the song, sometimes with interesting discover... more

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FAQs about Radio Bla Bla:

How many episodes does Radio Bla Bla have?

The podcast currently has 9 episodes available.

Radio Bla Bla episodes:

December 19, 2019 9 - " splice, splice baby " - The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
The one where ... we realise Brendan has an unhealthy fear of disco.
We listen to The Chain.
• Release in 1977
• Album: Rumours
• the song that has become a show opener for the Fleetwood Mac
• the only song on the album credited to all the members of Fleetwood Mac
...more
22min
December 01, 2019 8 - " don't start the talking, I could talk all night ... " - Olivers Army - Elvis Costello
The one where ... we realise it's a protest song disguised as a pop song.
We listen to Elvis Costello's most successful single release in the UK.
• Release in 1979
• Album: Armed Forces
• Take some time to check out producer Nick Lowe
• The Famous 50's progression, common to doo-wop songs from the 1950's
...more
20min
November 29, 2019 7 - " shhhhhh, I'm listening " - Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
The one where we ... force ourselves to stop listening;
• it took 3 years to write
• Learn how to use a sitar in a song
• Jon Bonham was understated in this one.
• They use 2 different time signatures.
...more
29min
November 10, 2019 6 - " they're doing it for the right reasons " - Midnight in Harlem - Tadeschi Trucks Band
The one where ... we mellow out and chill after being in the 80's.
We listen to a smooth and melodically layered song by Tadeschi Trucks Band.
• Band formed from the merging of two bands
• He's playing slide guitar
• She's playing the "Tele"
• The Hammond Keyboards
• They have a horn section
• 2 drums
...more
15min
November 04, 2019 5 - " They made squillions of dollars " - Photograph - Def Leppard
The one ... where we start out discussing Photograph by Def Leppard.
We got stuck in the 80's again
This time however;
• we got more synth than guitar
• heard more reverb than snare
• connected the dots from producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange to Michael Bolton - AC/DC - Celine Dion - Bryan Adams ...
• finally ending up discussing Peter Gabriel's, Sledgehammer.
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Dedication and thanks to Andrew "Pomy" Mason - R.I.P.
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...more
31min
November 03, 2019 4 - " Is that like not the best intro to a song you've ever heard? " - Love Song - Simple Minds
The one about "... the best intro to a song you've ever heard ..."
This song can take you back to your High School Formal, or remind you of movies.
Welcome back to the 1980's.
In this episode we discuss;
• Synth-pop
• effects
• there never was an extended mix
• early trance
• Alive and Kicking, Don't Forget About Me.
...more
24min
October 27, 2019 3 - " It's more Stones than The Stones " - Street Fighting Man - The Rolling Stones
We've chosen to launch Radio Bla Bla with our discussion of Street Fighting Man by The Rolling Stones.
This was our 3rd recorded conversation and we felt less awkward than the first two recordings we made.
We're considering those earlier recordings as "pilot episodes', which will be used in some format at a future time of shorter, or composite conversations.
In this episode we discussed;
• the suitcase drum kit
• Keith the composer
• Mick's vocal chant
• and conclude that the song is "... more Stones than The Stones ..."
...more
28min
October 27, 2019 2 - " short and sharp, its just a punch in the face " - Kick out the Jams - MC5
Episode 2 sees Brendan introduce John to this MC5 classic. Kick Out The Jams! Motherfuckers!
In this episode we discussed;
• It's not some version of The Jackson's
• It's a short, sharp punch in the face, the birth of punk - Kick Out The Jams Motherfuckers!
Kick_Out_the_Jams! @ wikipedia
...more
18min
December 02, 2018 1 - " Is that a sitar? " - My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
My Sweet Lord, was written by George Harrison.
Originally offered to Billy Preston who recorded and released his version in September of 1970, while George Harrison's version was released in November of the same year.
Brendan and John explore the George Harrison version.
In this episode we discuss;
• George Harrison the person
• 6, 18 or 24 strings
• the "rip off"
• the use of the bell
• and answer the question of "the sitar".
...more
19min

FAQs about Radio Bla Bla:

How many episodes does Radio Bla Bla have?

The podcast currently has 9 episodes available.