The Hustle

We are honored to bring back UB40 founding member Robin Campbell to talk about the band's latest album For The Many from 2019. This highly political piece of work is a perfect look at our current time in history and expresses the frustrations of many of us living in this turbulent period. UB40 have always had a knack for expressing the feelings of the politically oppressed and For The Many continues that tradition. It's their best album in decades and we need it now more than ever. 

Producer Chris Hughes has been behind the boards for some very important music, but you wouldn't have guessed it if you go back to the beginning. Chris started out as the drummer in Adam and the Ants. That burundi sound that made Adam so special? That was Chris! He began producing the early Adam albums which lead to other high-profile gigs like Tears For Fears' The Hurting and Songs From the Big Chair, Wang Chung, Howard Jones, Red Box, Ric Ocasek, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant and Peter Gabriel. Chris's own solo work hearkens back to artists like Steve Reich, so you can see his taste is diverse and exquisite. We hear the stories behind all of it. For my money, he's one of the best producers there's ever been. 

Suzi Quatro is the original rock chick and a stone-cold legend. She's currently celebrating 50 years in the rock world and finally getting her due as the pioneer that she is. This legacy makes her the perfect subject of an incredible new documentary on her life called Suzi Q. The film details her early years as a teenager singing with her sisters in Detroit, her global rise (though not in the States) as a glam rocker with hits like "Can The Can", "Devil Gate Drive" and "Stumblin' In", and her various changes in career like Leather Tuscadero on "Happy Days". Suzi Q will be released on VOD and DVD on July 3rd and there is a special virtual Q&A with Suzi hosted by Cherie Currie and Kathy Valentine on July 1st. Details are in the link below. We get into the specifics on all of these topics and many more. Let's get Suzi in the RnR Hall of Fame!

This week we welcome back one of our most entertaining guests, producer Alan Shacklock to deep dive Roger Daltrey of The Who's solo album from 1985, Under a Raging Moon. This chat includes stories like how bandmate Pete Townshend came to write the hit song "After the Fire", how songwriters like Jim Vallance and John Parr got involved, and how the epic title track, a tribute to Keith Moon that featured many of the greatest drummers of all time like Stewart Copeland, Roger Taylor, Martin Chambers, Mark Brzezicki and many more on the same song, was created. You're going to love this! 

Danny Kortchmar has built a wildly successful career that has lasted over 50 years. This career has included playing guitar for legends like his childhood friend James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and Carole King. It has also included producing people like Don Henley, Ivan Neville, Billy Joel, and Jon Bon Jovi. And, lastly, there was songwriting for artists like Hall & Oates and John Waite. Today, he's joined with other legendary session guys - Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, Waddy Wachtel and Steve Postell - to form the supergroup The Immediate Family. "Kootch" shares fun, juicy stories about all of these projects and more, you won't want to miss this! 

Some of the greatest session musicians in history have come together to form the hottest supergroup in the land - The Immediate Family. Made up of legends Lee Sklar on bass, Russ Kunkel on drums, and Waddy Wachtel, Danny Kortchmar and today's guest Steve Postell on guitar. Their first single, "Cruel Twist" drops today! To kick things off, Steve tells us how the band came together and how he, as the "new guy", joined the fray. We also discuss his career as a popular session guy in the NYC scene and his choice of gear! 

When someone we love passes away we do our best to pay tribute to them by having a discussion with a former guest that knows them. With the surprising passing of Rupert Hine we invited back Duncan Sheik to discuss his work with Rupert and our thoughts on his career. Please take a minute to enjoy the work of Rupert Hine by playing something wonderful that he worked on! 

Engineer Shelly Yakus is famous for having some of the "best ears in the business." And these ears have served him well for over 50 years. John Lennon's "Imagine"? That's him. BOC's "Don't Fear the Reaper"? Him too. Benchmark albums like Moondance, Berlin, Music From Big Pink and Rattle and Hum all pass through Shelly Yakus. Some of his greatest work might have been with Tom Petty, like Damn the Torpedoes, another Shelly project. We discuss all of these as well as Stevie Nicks, Bob Seger, the Raspberries and Eurythmics. When producers wanted something to sound perfect, they called on Shelly and now he shares some of his stories with us. Enjoy! 

What's it like being the frontman for the most popular cover band working today? Does it provide a nice life? Is it artistically fulfilling? These are some of the questions discussed with Nick Niespodziani, lead singer for the mighty Yacht Rock Revue. Nick discusses how a mid-life crisis birthed their new album of original, yachty, material called Hot Dads in Tight Jeans and how his band's success has eclipsed some of the bands they cover! We also countdown his top 5 yacht rock songs, and discuss how the quarantine is impacting them from rockin' and yachtin'. Nick comes from a unique segment of the music business and it's interesting hearing his perspective. Enjoy!