Want to win some great Outlaw Music Festival merchandise? Have you seen the beyond cool gear they put together to celebrate Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, Lucinda Williams, Wilco and more? Just send me an email at the address below and I will enter you in to win. Three lucky Rock Talk Studio winners will get a chance at some Outlaw Music Festival 10th Anniversary Branded Merchandise. 

Check out the 10th Anniversary swag-Outlaw Music Festival 

Springsteen's Born To Run was made under the presence of a ton of record label pressure. It was do or die time for Bruce. This is the story about how after selling roughly 50K of his first two records, he created this career defining masterpiece. 

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Want to win some great Outlaw Music Festival merchandise? Have you seen the beyond cool gear they put together to celebrate Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, Lucinda Williams, Wilco and more? Just send me an email at the address below and I will enter you in to win. Three lucky Rock Talk Studio winners will get a chance at some Outlaw Music Festival 10th Anniversary Branded Merchandise. 

Check out the 10th Anniversary swag-Outlaw Music Festival 

This episode is all about Billy Joel! Is 5 hours enough for you? Maybe too much? Tune in for the answer that just might surprise you.

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This book is equal parts technical chronicle and counterculture memoir dives deep into the Grateful Dead, and the massive, brain-bending machinery used to build their iconic sound system- The Wall of Sound. 

*This episode is sponsored by the Outlaw Music Festival 10th Anniversary Merchandise. 

Want to win some of that great Outlaw merchandise? Just send me an email at the address below and I will enter you in to win. Three lucky Rock Talk Studio winners will get a chance at some great gear. 

Check out the 10th Anniversary swag here-Outlaw Music Festival 

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When you think of rock ‘n’ roll hotspots, Princeton, New Jersey probably doesn’t make the list. But according to Sharing in the Groove, maybe it should.
This episode dives into the surprising and sprawling history of the jam band movement through the lens of this compelling oral history. 

What you'll hear in this episode:

• How the jam band scene exploded in the late ‘80s and ‘90s—from Princeton to Athens (Widespread Panic), Vermont (Phish), and Charlottesville (Dave Matthews Band).
• Why the culture of taping live shows was both a gift and a headache for bands and labels alike.
• How record companies struggled to understand, and market bands that didn’t move units but packed venues.
• What happened when Jerry Garcia died and how it shifted the jam band ecosystem almost overnight.
• Candid memories and quotes from Trey Anastasio, John Popper, Derek Trucks, Steve Lillywhite, Dave Matthews, Karl Denson, John Medeski, and more.

*This episode is sponsored by the Outlaw Music Festival 10th Anniversary Merchandise. 

Want to win some of that great Outlaw merchandise? Just send me an email at the address below and I will enter you in to win. Three lucky Rock Talk Studio winners will get a chance at some great gear. Check out the 10th Anniversary swag here-Outlaw Music Festival 

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The book is equal parts parody and love letter to the excess’s of 1980s music culture. I've never reviewed a book like this on the podcast, but now that I have, I am glad I did!

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Looking for a doc that is artsy, gutsy and very real. A doc that is meaningful, clever, and deep. Bono does something in 86 minutes that most documentaries struggle to do-he grabs your attention, sparks your emotion and delivers on a very high level.  

*Want to win a free copy of Guns N' Roses at 40 book?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link to my email address below. *Reminder this is for US citizens only*

*Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox?  That's also easy- sign up for the Monthly BLAST!! the newsletter that comes out on the last Friday of the month that features book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and more. Just shoot me over an email at the address below and say Big Rick, send me over that Blast!!

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Guns n Roses at 40 is a hardcover beast—sleek, embossed, and packed with full-color photos, gatefold timelines, and handmade Sunset Strip flyers. It’s pure class with just the right amount of dirt under the nails. 

 *This episode is sponsored by Motorbooks—one of my favorite sponsors because they always hook up the Rock Talk Studio audience with a chance to win great books! And with this sponsorship, they’re taking it one step further by giving away two copies of Guns N' Roses at 40. All you need to do to enter is send me an email, and I’ll enter you into the drawing. Good luck! 

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Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio chronicles how two men (with a little help from Hendrix) built the go-to recording hub of the decade. Over-the-top partying, tight deadlines, all-night sessions, and egos the size of hotel suites — this is the 1970s music scene in full throttle. 

*This episode is sponsored by Thames & Hudson - the world's great publisher of illustrated books on Art, Architecture, Design, Photography, Fashion, Lifestyle, Music, History.

 *Authors David Goggin and Martin Porter created a Spotify playlist to go with every chapter— Listen here 

*Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox? 

Sign up for the Monthly BLAST!! the newsletter that comes out on the last Friday of the month that features book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and more. Just shoot me over an email at the address below and say Big Rick, send me over that Blast!

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Looking for a great new rock n roll documentary to check out? Here's the Top 5 rock n roll docs that have been released so far in 2025.

This episode is sponsored by Thames & Hudson Publishing, who were kind enough for hooking one lucky reader up with a free copy of the new book Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio. 

*This episode is sponsored by Thames & Hudson who is sending me over a new book to give away!! Want to win a free copy of the new book Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link to my email address below. *Reminder this is for US citizens only*

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Looking for a new great rock n roll book to check out? Here's the Top 5 rock n roll books that have been released so far in 2025.

*This episode is sponsored by Thames & Hudson who is sending me over a new book to give away!! Want to win a free copy of the new book Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link to my email address below. *Reminder this is for US citizens only*

Support the show

email Big Rick at:
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