What the Riff Next Gen

What the Riff Next Gen

By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John LynchMusicMusic Commentary
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What the Riff Next Gen episodes

  • 1990 - July: Pink Floyd ”A Momentary Lapse of Reason”

    Folks, we're stretching a bit on this one.  Lynch noticed that Roger Waters performed "The Wall" at the Berlin wall in this month, and used that as an excuse to feature A Momentary Lapse of Reason, which was the latest studio album by Pink Floyd. Since that originally came out in 1987, we're asking you to squint a bit to see it's relevance to the summer of 1990.  That being said...

    A Momentary Lapse of Reason is the first Pink Floyd album released after bassist and primary songwriter Roger Waters left the band.  Waters had expected that Pink Floyd would simply disband, and was surprised when David Gilmour and Nick Mason decided to continue without him.  Acrimony and lawsuits appeared, but in the end a Water-less Pink Floyd continued on.

    Unlike many prior Pink Floyd albums, this one is not playing off a single concept.  Instead, it is a more traditional collection of songs.  Gilmour presented the album as a return to earlier Pink Floyd material, which was perhaps a reaction to common critiques of their previous album "The Final Cut" as a Roger Waters solo effort masquerading as a Pink Floyd album.  There are a number of well-known session musicians that participated in the making of this album.

    The album was a commercial success, debuting at number 3 on both the US and UK albums charts.  The US tour was the most successful of the year, selling out almost every venue it played in the States.  Roger Water's lawsuits would be overcome, and a settlement was reached between Waters and the band by the end of 1987.

    Lynch brings us this Pink Floyd reboot album for today's podcast and we’re joined by guest host Julie Doran joins us on this episode.

     

    On the Turning Away

    This power ballad was co-written by Gilmour and British experimental composer Anthony Moore.  It is an anti-war song, one of the more political Pink Floyd songs written since the departure of Waters. It begins with a solemn Gilmour vocal supported by understated keyboards, then builds to an almost orchestral conclusion.  

    Learning to Fly

    A surprisingly upbeat song for the group, the inspiration for this first single is David Gilmour's experience learning to fly airplanes.  At the time he would do practice flights in the mornings and work in the studio in the afternoons.  It is also a metaphor for the band coming back together after splitting with Roger Waters.

    One Slip

    The fourth US single discusses the long-term consequences of a one-night stand, and contains the lyrics that would become the title to the album as a whole.  Gilmour co-wrote this song with Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera.  Fans of bassist Tony Levin may recognize his work on a Chapman Stick in the instrumentation for this track. 

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Real Wild Child by Iggy Pop (from the motion picture “Problem Child”)

    This dark comedy starring John Ritter follows the trials of Ben Healy Jr. as he adopts a less-than-model child from a questionable adoption agency.  

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Stop by Jane's Addiction

    Wayne leads off the staff picks with a college radio hit off the "Ritual De Lo Habitual" album.  Lead singer Perry Farrell warns about apathy towards environmental disaster, telling people to turn off the smokestacks.  "And the water will run, come a day, the water will run, no man will stand for things he had done."

    Brave New World by Michael Penn

    Rob brings us a jangly deeper cut with a song with rapid fire lyrics off Penn's "March" album.  The song reflects confusion in where the singer is going, perhaps making a commentary on society as it heads into a "brave new world."  "This may not be my best day, but this ain't no golden age.  You looked pretty on the freeway.  Let's drive into the brave new world."

    Give It Up by Hothouse Flowers

    Bruce features a s song from an Irish group off their second album, "Home."  This song that went to number 2 on the US Modern Rock chart is summed up in the lyrics, "Well, this song's inspired by a good man and his tune doing good for others, sing 'Amazing Grace' for you." 

    Rub You the Right Way by Johnny Gill

    Julie's staff pick is an upbeat hip hop song, and Gill's first single after he left New Edition earlier in the year.  Despite the lyrics, Gill was the son of a minister and got his start in gospel music.  He signed with Motown as a teenager.  Gill had become very accustomed to performing live, and had a difficult time switching to studio work.  

    Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil

    Lynch closes out the staff picks with the first single off Midnight Oil's seventh studio album.  The inspiration for the song was the experience of workers in the Wittenoom asbestos mines in western Australia, where they contracted a variety of asbestos-related diseases.  The "blue" in the title refers to "blue asbestos," a form of the mineral considered most hazardous.

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Erotic Nightmares by Steve Vai

    Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai carries us out of this week's podcast.

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

    Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

    Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    45 min
  • 1967 - December: The Young Rascals ”Groovin’”

    The Young Rascals were one of the early groups which would define the genre of "blue eyed soul."  For a period of two to three years, this group would generate hit after hit.  Their third album, Groovin', would close out the era in which they were known as “The Young Rascals,” because follow-up albums would see them using simply the name "The Rascals."  

    Felix Cavaliere was a classically trained pianist, and joined a band called the Starliters, where he met David Brigati and his younger brother Eddie.  Cavaliere convinced Eddie Brigati and guitarist Gene Cornish to leave the Starliters and form a band, recruiting jazz drummer Dino Danilli to flesh out the band.  They called themselves "Them" until they found out that a group out of the UK was already using that name (Van Morrison's band).  They settled on "The Young Rascals" when comedian Soupy Sales used them as his back-up band when he toured the college circuit in 1965.

    Much of this album is a collection of singles rather than a cohesive piece of music.  Eight of the eleven songs are either A-side or B-side single releases.

    The Rascals moved into a more psychedelic direction after this album, and they would be largely done by the early 70's.  They were early inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, receiving that honor in 1997.

    Bruce presents this soulful album for this week's podcast.

    Groovin'

    This signature song from the group almost didn't make it as a single.  Atlantic Records pushed back on this track because it was very different from the sound of their other songs, having a more Latin influence.  The inspiration for the lyrics was Cavaliere's girlfriend Adrienne Buccheri.  He only got to see her on Sundays because he was so occupied with the group, music, and touring on other days. 

    You Better Run

    Many listeners who grew up in the 80's will be more familiar with Pat Benatar's cover of this song than the Young Rascals' original.  It was released a year before the album as a single, in May 1966.  The song has more of a garage band feel than other songs on the album.

    A Girl Like You

    This is the lead-off song for the album, and went to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Upbeat, feel good, this is the opening song of new love.  It starts off subdued with piano and vocals, then builds into the horns and percussion.  

    If You Knew

    This song was released as the B-side to the single "I've Been Lonely Too Long" from their previous album called Collections.  It is the only song on the album to be listed as written by all member of the band.  Most songs were written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati. 

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel (from the motion picture “The Graduate”) 

    Dustin Hoffman's got his breakthrough role in this coming of age film. 

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Green Tambourine by the Lemon Pipers

    Rob leads off the staff picks with the best known song from a short-lived Ohio band.  Unfortunately the success of this song would cause the record company to pigeonhole the group into doing more songs in the psychedelic genre.  The group was unenthusiastic about this direction, and would leave the label in 1969, dissolving shortly thereafter.

    Sunshine of Your Love by Cream

    Lynch brings us a signature song from the original supergroup.  The song arose out of a bass riff that Jack Bruce created after seeing Jimi Hendrix for the first time.  Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton take turns with vocals while Ginger Baker utilizes a tribal beat on percussion.

    I Can See for Miles by The Who

    Wayne features the only single from the Who album “The Who Sell Out.“  Although it went to number 9 on the US charts, guitarist and writer Pete Townshend expected it to do much better.  The Who made use of the studio as an instrument on this heavier, psychedelic song, using techniques similar to the Beach Boys and the Beatles at the time.

    I Second That Emotion by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

    Bruce closes out the staff picks with a song that originated from a trip Smokey Robinson and Al Cleveland took to a Detroit department store in search of a gift for Robinson's wife Claudette.  When Robinson told the salesman of a set of pearls, "I sure hope she likes them," Cleveland accidentally said "I second that emotion," rather than "I second that motion."  The two laughed about it and wrote this song which would go to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.  

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Hip Hug-Her by Booker T. & the M.G.'s

    We close out with a funky instrumental which was on the charts at the time.  

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

    Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

    Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    32 min
  • 1988 - December: Poison ”Open Up and Say...Ahh!”

    When it comes to hair metal of the mid to late 80's, no band discussion would be complete without bringing Poison into the mix.  The band consisted of front man Bret Michaels, guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett on drums.  Poison is a band out of Pennsylvania.  Originally named Paris when formed in 1980, the band drew a good following in local bars in Pennsylvania, but decided opportunities would be greater in Los Angeles.  The band moved there in 1983 and changed their name to Poison.  They attracted a lot of attention with their stage show, and saw surprising success with their debut album, "Look What the Cat Dragged In," released in 1986.

    However, Poison's most successful release would be their second studio album, Open Up and Say... Ah!, released in April 1988.  It would sport four hit singles, including their sole number 1 single "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."  The album itself would hit number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.  It would also stir controversy with its cover, a picture of a demonic female with an extremely long tongue.  An alternate cover was designed to address concerns which showed only the eyes of the model.

    Poison would see further success in the late 80's and early 90's, though their popularity would wane as the grunge movement took over music in the 90's.  However, Poison has seen a resurgence of popularity as a "classic" band, and front man Bret Michaels has achieved success both as a celebrity personality and as a solo artist.

    Lynch brings us this glam rock album for today's podcast, and friend of the show Mike Fernandez joins us in Bruce's absence.

     

    Fallen Angel

    While the lyrics describe a young girl moving from Ohio to Los Angeles to try to make it as an actress, the song is really more autobiographical of the path the band took from Pennsylvania.  This second single from the album went to number 16 on the Hot 100.

    Nothin' But a Good Time"

    The first single from the album reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is one of their best known songs.  It was built off a guitar riff by C.C. DeVille and a chorus penned by Michaels.  DeVille was largely selected for the band based on his cool riffs and party attitude.

    Your Mama Don't Dance

    Poison take the 1972 Loggins and Messina song and makes it their own in this fourth single released from the album.  The song's lyrics highlighting the generation gap of the 50's and 60's between parents and their rebellious teenagers was a perfect fit for Poison's image.

    Every Rose Has Its Thorn

    This ballad is Poison's sole number 1 hit.  The inspiration for it came when Bret Michaels called his girlfriend from a laundromat and heard a male voice in the background.  He was crushed, but went back into the laundromat and wrote the song right then. 

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Pump Up the Volume by MARRS (from the motion picture “My Stepmother Is an Alien”)

    This comedy starring Dan Aykroyd, Jon Lovitz, and Kim Bassinger may have been a flop, but the song was quite popular.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Mystify by INXS

    Rob leads off the staff picks with the fifth and final single from the "Kick" album.  Backed by a honky tonk-style piano and prominent finger-snapping, the song starts with a bluesy riff followed by a more straightforward rock sound.  INXS originally was comprised of three Farriss brothers, but they were down to Andrew and Tim Farriss by this time.  

    I'm an Adult Now by Pursuit of Happiness

    Wayne's staff pick is a hidden gem from Canada.  This humorous single alternates between spoken verses and a sung chorus that capture the worries that plague the singer as he deals with becoming an adult and embracing adult problems.  It peaked at number 6 on the alternative music charts.   

    Wild Wild West by Escape Club

    Mike brings us an English band with a song written by eight different people, including Stevie Wonder and Bootsy Collins.  This song has the distinction of being the only British band to have a number 1 hit in the US without charting in the UK.  "Headin' for the nineties, living in the wild, wild west."

    Where Is My Mind by Pixies

    Lynch closes out with a signature song from the Pixies.  The inspiration for this grunge song began with an underwater diving experience, and the lyrics convey disconnection.  The Pixies were reintroduced to fans after this song appeared in "Fight Club."

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Silhouette by Kenny G.

    Bruce sneaks a soft sax piece from Kenny G. onto the playlist to exit this week's podcast.  

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

    Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

    Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    40 min
  • 1971 - April: Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers”

    Sticky Fingers is considered by many to be the greatest studio album the Rolling Stones ever created.  This ninth studio album represented a return to a more basic sound for the Stones after several albums with less conventional instrumentation.  It was also known for its cover artwork from Andy Warhol which featured a man in jeans with a working zipper.  The album won a Grammy for “Best Album Cover” for this innovative design.

    This was the first album that was released on their own label, Rolling Stones Records.  It was also the first album the group produced without Brian Jones, who had died two years earlier.  The members of the band were Charlie Watts on drums, Bill Wyman on bass, Mick Taylor on guitar, Keith Richards on guitar and backing vocals, and Mick Jagger on lead vocals and some guitar and percussion.  There were a number of session musicians and frequent collaborators involved in the album, including Bobby Keys on sax, and Billy Preston and Ian Stewart on keyboards.

    Sticky Fingers was the band's first album to reach number 1 on album charts in both the US and the UK.  It has since reached triple platinum status, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.    The album was also the first album to utilize the now-iconic “mouth”  for which the group would be known.

    Friend of the show Mike Fernandez joins us in Bruce's absence, while Rob brings us this amazing album from one of the giants of the rock world in this week's podcast. 

    Wild Horses

    This softer song with a country bent was first released in 1970 by the Flying Burrito Brothers, and subsequently recorded by the Stones after originally thinking the demo wasn't worth recording.  It was originally recorded over a three-day period at Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama in 1969.  The lyrics are about being on the road, and not being where you really want to be.

    Brown Sugar

    The opening track to the album was also the lead single, and reached the top of the charts in the US and Canada, while reaching number 2 on the UK singles chart.  The song sounds like a strong rocking one, but the lyrics discuss slavery and rape, a much more serious topic than most realized the lyrics covered.

    Bitch

    This track which leads off side two of the album was the B-side to the single “Brown Sugar.”  It has a strong brass section — the song originated in a jam, and features Bobby Keys on sax and Jim Price on trumpet.  The lyrics are describing love as a bitch but the title probably didn't help the band in its problems with women's groups.  

    Can't You Hear Me Knocking

    This is the longest song on the album, clocking in at over seven minutes.  The central part of the song lasts for 2:43, with an extended jam following.  The entire track was captured in one take, and the band continued with the jam, thinking that the recording was complete.  

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    One Tin Soldier (from the motion picture “Billy Jack”)

    This counterculture song was a prominent part of the soundtrack to the action drama "Billy Jack" a part Navajo Green Beret and Vietnam War veteran defending his Freedom School students from angry townspeople.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Get It On by Chase

    Wayne starts out the staff picks with a high energy song from an artist known for his jazz trumpet.  Bill Chase brought together a band including three other trumpet players, a rock rhythm section, and front man Terry Richards on lead vocals.  This jazz fusion rock piece peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.

    Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye

    Lynch brings us a track that has taken on a life of its own as the ultimate romance song.  Backed by the Funk Brothers, it is the most successful song Gaye produced on Motown Records.  It reached number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and the US Hot Soul Singles chart.

    Love Her Madly by the Doors

    Mike features the first single from the album “L.A. Woman,” the sixth studio album from the Doors, and the final album with Jim Morrison before his untimely death.  Guitarist Robby Krieger wrote this song while experimenting with a 12-string guitar.  

    It Don't Come Easy by Ringo Starr 

    Rob finishes the staff picks with a non-album single from the drummer of the recently-disbanded Beatles.  Fellow Beatle George Harrison produced the single and helped Starr write the song which peaked at number 4 on the US and UK singles charts.

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Main Theme from the motion picture “The Summer of 42”

    We exit this week's podcast with the signature song from this Academy Award nominee and coming-of-age movie in the theaters in April 1971.

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

    Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

    Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    43 min
  • 1975 - January: Led Zeppelin “Physical Graffiti”

    By the time that Led Zeppelin was releasing their sixth studio album, they were solidly on top of the rock pantheon.  They had just switched to Swan Song Records, their own label, and had plenty of time to create this double album work, Physical Graffiti.  They had three sides-worth of new songs largely recorded at Headley Grange in Hampshire in early 1974, and they expanded it to a double album by including unreleased tracks from sessions for their previous three albums.  

    Physical Graffiti went to number 1 on the UK chart and number 3 on the US charts immediately.  They had planned to release the album in November 1974, but delays in producing the album's sleeve design pushed it back to February 1975.  Demand was so strong that it became the first album to go platinum on advance orders alone.

    The album itself reflects a diversity that runs from hard rock to prog rock to funk - even country and honky-tonk get represented.  The group never seemed too interested in creating single-friendly compositions, so many tracks run well over 6 minutes, along with some shorter instrumental numbers.  

    Led Zeppelin was considered the biggest rock band on tour during this time, and Physical Graffiti was the album that wrapped up this period.  Robert Plant was in a serious car accident with his wife in August 1975, and the group went on hiatus from touring until 1977.  Many consider this album to be the high water mark for the Led Zeppelin discography.  

    Bruce presents this monster double album for this week's podcast.

     

    Kashmir

    This is one of Led Zeppelin's signature songs.  It started as an instrumental recording from Jimmy Page and John Bonham.  Robert Plant wrote the lyrics while vacationing in southern Morocco (not Kashmir, as no band members had been there when this song was written).  John Paul Jones plays mellotron and added the orchestration which was played by session musicians.  All members of the band consider it one of their best tracks, and it has played in almost every concert since its debut.

    Trampled Under Foot

    This is a funk piece largely created by John Paul Jones.  The beat was inspired by Stevie Wonder's “Superstition,” and the lyrics are drawn largely from Robert Johnson's “Terraplane Blues.” Jones originally created this in the soul genre, but John Bonham convinced the group to add a more funky feel. 

    The Wanton Song

    Many Led Zeppelin songs have a title which does not appear in the lyrics, and this is one of those.  Jimmy Page developed the riff in 1973 and brought it to the Physical Graffiti sessions.  Page uses a backward echo on this, where the echo appears before the note.  It was played during the 1975 tour but was dropped from the setlist thereafter, making it perhaps a deeper cut.  

    Houses of the Holy

    This track is one of the unreleased tracks from previous sessions.  It was intended as the title track from their fifth album, but was considered too similar to other songs on the album and was dropped.  Led Zeppelin never played this song live.  

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Movin' On Up (Theme from the television series “The Jeffersons”) 

    This sitcom was a spinoff from “All In the Family” which got its start in January 1975. 

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Any Major Dude Will Tell You by Steely Dan

    Lynch kicks off the staff picks with the B-side from “Rikki Don't Lose That Number.” Donald Fagen says that the inspiration was hearing a lot of people using the term “dude” after they moved to L.A., finding the phrase funny and deciding to include it in a song.  The idea is that times will get better, and hope is around the corner.

    Cat's In the Cradle by Harry Chapin

    Rob brings us a folk rock story about a father who finds the tables turned.  He didn't have time for his son as he was growing up, and his son doesn't have time for his father when he is older.  The lyrics were inspired by a poem written by Chapin's wife regarding her first husband's strained relationship with his father.

    Angie Baby by Helen Reddy

    Wayne features another storytelling song, this one with some spookiness.  Angie is a girl of questionable sanity who lives in her own world at home with her parents.  When a neighborhood boy decides to make advances on her when her parents are gone, Angie causes him to disappear into the music of her radio…  It was a number 1 hit song.

    Changes by David Bowie

    Bruce closes out the staff picks with a song that largely flopped when originally released as a single in 1971.  Bowie's “Hunky Dory” album did not do well until it got a second look after his 1972 release “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.”  It was re-released in 1975 as a single and went to number 1 in the UK.  

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Bron-Yr-Aur by Led Zeppelin

    We close out with some double dipping from Physical Graffiti for this acoustic instrumental.  

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

    Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

    Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    41 min
  • 1992 - April: Soundgarden ”Badmotorfinger”

    Soundgarden emerged as a pioneering force in the Seattle grunge scene, bringing elements of heavy metal and alternative rock into what would come to be known as the Seattle sound.  The group originally found lead singer and primary songwriter Chris Cornell singing from behind a drum set where he was the group's percussionist, but it became clear that this would not work well in live concerts, so Cornell switched to vocals and rhythm guitar while turning over percussion work to Matt Cameron.  

    Badmotorfinger, the third studio album, finds the group just before it's breakout into grunge superstardom, an event that would occur with the release of their next album.  Taking its name from a spoof on a popular Montrose song, Badmotorfinger sports a strong heavy metal sound, but with tighter songwriting, and a bit of complexity in time signatures and tunings.  It would become the band's highest charting album to date, peaking at number 39 on the Billboard 200 chart, and going double platinum by 1996.  It was also considered a success by critics, and was nominated in 1992 for a Grammy award for Best Metal Performance.

    While the album definitely has grunge elements in it, as a whole it may be considered more alternative, heavy metal, or hard rock. The band's development makes this album more difficult to pin down into a single genre, and perhaps this makes for a more interesting listening experience.

    We hope you enjoy this foray into the roots of the grunge movement as Lynch brings us the album for today's podcast.

     

    Rusty Cage

    The opening track to the album was the third single released, and reflects a longing for freedom and a breaking out of the “rusty cage” that life can be.  The guitars are tuned down significantly, giving the riffs a jangling sound.  Johnny Cash would cover it a few years later, turning the song into a country anthem.  

    Outshined

    This track combines themes of self-doubt and internal struggle with appearances of external success and confidence, creating a clash within the singer.  Cornell creates depth and passion through his vocals.  “Show me the power, child.  I'd like to say that I'm down on my knees today.”

    Jesus Christ Pose

    Unlike many tracks, this first single released from the album is credited to all four band members.  The lyrics are a rant against the hypocrisy of religious leaders who turn belief into a means of acquiring power.  This track is an example of a Soundgarden song that is more metal than grunge at this point.

    Slaves & Bulldozers

    This song is often described as “doom metal,” and utilizes drop-tuned guitars to create a slow burn, darker sound.  The lyrics encourage the listener to consider how their situation may be turning them into either an obedient slave or a nihilistic bulldozer.  It was the last song Soundgarden played live before Chris Cornell's death in 2017.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Theme from the television series “The Cosby Show”

    This staple of 80's sitcom had their final episode and went off the air in April 1992.  

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    I Want to Touch You by Catherine Wheel

    Wayne kicks off the staff picks with the Manchester sound.  This post-psychedelic song deals with the raw emotions of a shy guy who is infatuated with a particular woman.  “It would really make my day if you'd only move away, 'cause I'm scared that if you stay, I'll want to touch you.” 

    Just Take My Heart by Mr. Big

    Rob brings us a power ballad that peaked at number 16.  It was the fourth single from the second album by Mr. Big entitled “Lean Into It.”  The song features some excellent finger picking on an electric guitar toned down to an almost acoustic consistency.  Eric Martin is the lead singer and co-writer of the song.

    Cold Day in Hell by Gary Moore

    Bruce features a guitar virtuoso from Northern Ireland.  Gary Moore got his start in an Irish band called Skid Row in the late 1960's but is better known as a member of Thin Lizzy.  This lead-off track to his ninth solo studio album called “After Hours” is a straightforward announcement that the man and his lover would never be getting back together. 

    Silent Lucidity by Queensryche

    Lynch closes out the staff picks with beautiful and epic piece off the Empire album.  Chris DeGarmo, guitarist and primary songwriter for the group, was inspired to write this song after reading a book about lucid dreams.  The first iteration of the song was acoustic guitar and vocals only, and instrumentation was added later.

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    The Simpsons by Danny Gatton

    A rock/blues guitar cover of the main theme of “The Simpsons” takes us out for today's session.  

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

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    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    47 min
  • 1974 - June: Lynyrd Skynyrd ”Second Helping”

    Lynyrd Skynyrd was a success with their debut album, and continued to build a fan base when they opened for The Who on their Quadrophenia tour.  Many of the songs on their debut album were staples of their concerts in Jacksonville, Florida, where they had built their style over the years since the 60's.  Therefore it was not a sure thing that they would be able to sustain their success over time.  Those concerns were put to rest when they released their second album.

    Second Helping, a southern colloquialism for getting more of the same thing at the dinner table, cemented Lynyrd Skynyrd as the flag bearer for the Southern Rock genre.  At a time when a number of British artists - most notably the Rolling Stones - were digging into the rock and blues music of the American South, Lynyrd Skynyrd was the real thing.  They rode the power of their triple guitar set and the wit of Ronnie Van Zandt's lyrics to a commercial success, with the album going to number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart and certified as gold by September 1974.  While contemporary critics were more lukewarm, those reviews have been revised way upward over time.  Second Helping also contains the biggest hit of the group as well, the Southern anthem "Sweet Home Alabama."

    Lynyrd Skynyrd would go on to produce many more hit songs and records in the southern rock genre before tragedy took front man Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines in October 1977.  But Second Helping is the album that solidified their standing as an internationally successful band.

    Wayne takes us through this album for this week's podcast, and Brian Dickhute joins us in Bruce's absence.

     

    The Needle and the Spoon

    This song would not be the only anti-drug track in the Skynyrd discography.  The lyrics describe a man coming out of rehab, and makes use of a wah wah pedal effect that was not common to most of Skynyrd's music, but fit with the heroin subject of the song.  

    Swamp Music

    Although not released as a single, this song got plenty of air play on FM radio, as did most of the tracks on this album.  This fast -paced track describes life in the Florida swamps.  The members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were well acquainted with outdoor life, fishing for catfish, hunting, and other "redneck" activities.

    Sweet Home Alabama

    Everyone knows this anthem of Southern rock.  This song was written in response to Neil Young's "Southern Man," in which the band felt like the entire Southern United States was blamed for slavery.  Between the hook of the leading riff and the catchy lyrics, this song has become a staple of classic rock. This is Skynyrd's only top 10 hit, as it went to number 8 on the US charts.  Interestingly, none of the band members are from Alabama.

    Don't Ask Me No Questions

    Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zandt wrote this song during a fishing trip.  Many think this is about a relationship, but it was a message to the record managers who were apathetic towards the band during the early days, but who turned demanding after they were a success.  

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

     Main theme from the television series, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C."

    In this sitcom spin-off from "The Andy Griffith Show," Jim Nabors plays the lovable but naive Gomer Pyle, now enlisted into the Marine Corp.  Frank Sutton, who played Sergent Carter in this series, passed away in June 1974.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Help Me by Joni Mitchell

    Rob starts the staff picks with a single from Mitchell's sixth studio album, "Court and Spark."  This track is Mitchell's biggest single, and her only song to crack the top 10 in the US, going to  number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The lyrics describe a singer who knows she is falling for the wrong man, but is either powerless to stop it or doesn't want to call things off.

    Dancing Machine by the Jackson 5

    Brian brings us a song that hit number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a multi-year dry spell.  The Jackson 5 appeared on "Soul Train" performing this song, and Michael Jackson introduced the world to "the robot" dance routine.  The Jackson 5 had a Saturday morning cartoon which kept the group in the public conscious.

    Waterloo by ABBA

    Lynch features the song that made ABBA a household name when the Swedish group won the 1974 Eurovision Song contest singing this tune.  The lyrics compare falling in love to Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.  The name "ABBA" comes from the first letter of each of the singers' names.

    Tell Me Something Good by Rufus

    Wayne presents a funky song from a group featuring Chaka Kahn as lead vocalist.  Rufus is a one-hit wonder, with this song peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Stevie Wonder wrote this song about a woman looking for a deeper relationship, not just a one night stand.  It was the first hit song that utilized the vocoder. 

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Dance with the Devil by Cozy Powell

    We close out with a drum instrumental based on Jimi Hendrix' "Third Stone from the Sun." 

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

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    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    34 min
  • 1985 - December: Talking Heads “Little Creatures”

    The Talking Heads is known as one of the more quirky bands of the 70's and 80's, and terribly innovative in their approach to both music and performance.  Consisting of Tina Weymouth on bass, Chris Frantz on drums, Jerry Harrison on keyboards and guitar, and fronted by David Byrne on vocals and guitar, the Talking Heads helped to shape the landscape of alternative and new wave rock through the 80's and 90's.  They really hit mainstream consciousness with their fifth album called "Speaking in Tongues" in 1983.  They followed this up with the live album "Stop Making Sense," which showcased the elaborate stage setups and their visual presence, complete with Byrne's iconic "big suit" fashion wear.

    Little Creatures was their sixth studio album and the best selling album of the group's career.  The Talking Heads toned down their experimental tendencies on this one in favor of a more stripped-down, accessible approach.  While there are still elements of art music and new wave present in the tracks, they play a more whimsical role.  The songs blend in pop, folk, and country influences as well, giving the album a bright, catchy feel in addition to the wit and quirkiness for which the group was known.

    The album cover was created by artist Howard Finster, and incorporates themes of Americana and everyday life.  This complemented the songs well, and was selected by Rolling Sone magazine as the album cover of the year.

    The group would go on to produce two more studio albums before disbanding in 1991.  They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

    Show co-founder Brian Dickhute is back to present this album in Bruce's absence for today's podcast. 

     

    The Lady Don't Mind

    There's a certain amount of weirdness that is difficult to explain in the lyrics of just about every Talking Heads song, and this is no exception.  This reggae-tinged song talks about a lady who is hard to pin down or figure out.  "Last time she jumped out the window, well, she only turned and smiled.  You might think she would say something, but you'd have to wait a while."  

    Perfect World

    While most songs were written by David Byrne, this one features lyrics composed years earlier by drummer Chris Frantz.  It is a deeper cut, and a mini-love story. 

    Stay Up Late

    This track was the fourth single released from the album.  It is a song about Byrne's sister's baby, and describes an adult keeping the baby up late despite the consequences, just to have fun and enjoy this new life.  

    Road to Nowhere

    This song was released as a single, and went to number 25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.  Byrne describes it as "a song that presented a resigned, even joyful look at doom."  The gospel choir that leads off the track was added after the song was concluded to complete what is essentially a two-chord song.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Soul Finger by the Bar-Kays (from the motion picture Spies Like Us)

    Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd star in this spy comedy where novice spies are sent into the Soviet Union.

    STAFF PICKS:

    West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys

    Lynch starts the staff picks with a song about class and pressures of city life in London, inspired by a T.S. Eliot poem.  It was released twice as a single, once in April 1984 when it became a club hit, and this version as a re-recorded single in October 1985.  It went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

    It's Not Love by Dokken

    Wayne takes us in a more hair metal direction with a head banger tune from Dokken's third album, "Under Lock and Key."  This was the third single released from the album.  The video contains scenes where the band is playing from a flat bed truck, and was actually recorded on the road.  They received several tickets during the process, despite having permission to film.

    Magic Power by Triumph

    Rob features a Canadian power trio from their live double album, “Stages.”  Originally recorded on their studio album, “Allied Forces,” the song describes the healing power of music.  It is one of the group's signature songs, and the live  format gives a good sense of the band's chemistry on stage.

    Tonight She Comes by The Cars

    Brian closes out the staff picks with a previously unreleased song from the Cars' Greatest Hits album, released in October 1985.  Ric Ocasek wrote the song, and originally intended it for his solo album, but brought it to the group instead.   It was their fourth and last single to be a top 10 hit.

     

    NOVELTY TRACK:

    Strokin' by Clarence Carter

    We find out how Clarence Carter makes love in this concluding track from this week's podcast.  

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    45 min
  • 1987 - January: Beastie Boys “Licensed to Ill”

    It's not every day that we at What the Riff?!? review a rap album, but the Beastie Boys aren't your every day rap group either.  Hailing from New York City, Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Michael “Mike D” Diamond came out of an experimental hardcore punk band (think “punk” but faster) called The Young Aborigines.  After changing their name to the Beastie Boys, they saw some local success from a comedy hip hop single based on a prank call to a Carvel Ice Cream franchise.  They then began to incorporate more rap and hip hop into their sets, and ended up connecting with Rick Rubin, who formed Def Jam Recordings with Russell Simmons.

    Many of their songs were locally distributed, and led to uncomfortable situations when three white guys would show up to perform for a mostly black audience that had heard their music but never saw the group.  Their courage and live performance skills won the audience over.

    Shortly after supporting Madonna as an opening act on the Virgin Tour in 1985, the band recorded their debut studio and breakthrough album, Licensed to Ill.  It was released by Def Jam and Columbia Records, and became one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records, and had shipped over ten million copies in the United states by 2015.  It was also a critical success, and was selected as one of "The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums."  It was hailed for hits stylized rapping, and its combination of hip hop and punk sensibilities.

    The Beastie Boys would go on to greater heights of stardom in the mid to late 90's as they moved in a more alternative direction, but this is where it all started.

    Lynch brings us this illin' record for today's podcast.

     

    No Sleep Till Brooklyn

    The song that opens side 2 is inspired by an exhausting tour, and it chronicles many of the events that wear the band out along with their determination to not rest until they get back home to Brooklyn.  It is often the closing song at their concerts.  It also features a solo guitar riff by Kerry King of the heavy metal band Slayer.  

    Paul Revere

    This song is a fictionalized account of how the Beastie Boys met.  It was inspired by an incident when they encountered Joseph Simmons aka "Run" of Run-D.M.C. in a recording studio.  It features a reversed beat from an 808 drum machine.

    Hold It Now, Hit It

    This was the first single to be released from the album, and was ranked number 27 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.  The video switches between concert footage, and the band lip synching in front of a fish-eye lens.  

    Brass Monkey

    This is a later-produced song that takes its name from an alcoholic drink by the Heublein Company.  It samples Wild Sugar's “Bring It Here” in the song.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    If I Only Had A Brain by Ray Bolger and Judy Garland (from the motion picture “The Wizard of Oz”)

    Actor, dancer, and singer Ray Bolger who played the scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” died in January of 1987.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Still In Hollywood by Concrete Blonde

    Wayne kicks off the staff picks with the debut single from American alternative rock group Concrete Blonde's first and self-titled album.  This post-punk sound was bubbling up in the LA street scene at the time, and the lyrics portray a life in Hollywood where the town drags you down.  

    Right Next Door (Because of Me) by Robert Cray

    Bruce's staff pick is a song off Robert Cray's fifth studio album, “Strong Persuader.” The lyrics chronicle an infidelity breaking up a marriage as told from the man who had an affair with the next door wife.  Cray played with a number of artists, and was at the final concert with Stevie Ray Vaughan before his death in a helicopter crash. 

    Too Hot to Stop by Benjamin Orr

    Rob brings us a solo single from the second vocalist of The Cars.  This keyboard-heavy piece was off Orr's only solo album entitled “The Lace.”  After they released their Greatest Hits album in 1985, The Cars briefly split up to pursue solo projects, and both Orr and Ocasek hit the charts.

    Land of Confusion by Genesis

    Lynch closes out the staff picks with a rare political track from Genesis that questions global leadership and the threat of nuclear war during the cold war era.  It is famous for its video which uses puppets from Peter Fluck and Roger Law caricaturing political figures of the time, and the band members themselves.

     

    COMEDY TRACK:

    Ronnie's Rap by Ron and the DC Crew

    Ronald Reagan was a hot commodity for comedy in 1987, as this satirical rap shows.  

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

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    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    40 min
  • 1973 - May: the Beatles ”1962-1966” and ”1967-1970”

    Echoes of the trajectory of the Beatles still reverberate through music today, and they loomed quite large over the rock scene in the early 70's.  In 1972 a bootleg 4-album set of Beatles songs was produced called "Alpha Omega" which sold well when marketed on TV.  In response - in addition to suing - Apple and EMI/Capitol Records produced an authorized collection in two double albums.  The first was called 1962-1966, also known as the Red Album, while the second was called 1967-1970, also known as the Blue Album.    

    The Blue Album was a compilation of Lennon-McCartney original songs, avoiding many of the successful cover songs the early group had recorded.  Unfortunately it also did not contain any George Harrison compositions from this time period.  The Red Album did not contain any covers, as the Beatles were immensely popular on their own by this time.  However, it did contain songs from George Harrison and Ringo Starr along with the numerous Lennon-McCartney originals.

    The album covers are notable, as they are similar photos of the group at different points in life.  The cover to the Red Album used an image of the group looking down over the stairwell inside EMI's London headquarters.  This was a photograph taken for the group's 1963 debut LP.  The Beatles had recreated that shot in 1969 for their planned "Get Back" album, but did not use the image when the album was released in 1970 as "Let It Be."

    The compilation project was a success, and convinced other groups to release similar retrospective compilations.  It is also a terrific way to see the progression of the band in seven short years of their activity.  

    WSB Radio's Eric Von Haessler joins us to highlight these two influential albums in this week's podcast. 

    Love Me Do

    The very first single released by the Beatles was this track and the lead-off track from the Red album.  John Lennon and Paul McCartney provide duet vocals on this song, and Lennon is the harmonica player.  While it is credited as a Lennon-McCartney song, John Lennon provides the bridge, and has stated that it was a McCartney song before they began working together.

    Tomorrow Never Knows

    The concluding track from "Revolver" is the concluding track for the Red album, and shows how far the Beatles have taken their music in four short years.  They are utilizing techniques like looped drums, reverse guitar, and processed vocals that were new to the music scene at the time.

    Strawberry Fields Forever

    This track opens the blue album.  The inspiration for this song was a park in which Lennon played as a child, and evokes a childlike innocence.  The music style was a departure from the Beatles' previous style, and is considered the introduction of the psychedelic genre.

    Let It Be

    A profound piece after the psychedelic period, "Let It Be" is often considered the swan song for the Beatles, because it was the final single released before McCartney announced his intention to leave the band.  The  inspiration of the song was a dream Paul McCartney had about his mother.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Knocking on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan (from the motion picture “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”)

    This western movie had a revisionist history and starred a number of celebrities, including James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, and Bob Dylan himself. 

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Kodachrome by Paul Simon

    Bruce starts out the staff picks with the lead single from Simon's third studio album "There Goes Rymin' Simon." While it did well in the US, it received little airplay in the UK due to strict rules the BBC had in place regarding product endorsements.  The idea of the song is that we fit our memories to our worldviews like we frame shots in a camera.

    Money by Pink Floyd

    Rob brings us the lead single from the monster album "Dark Side of the Moon."  A rare song in 7/4 time with a 4/4 guitar bridge, the lyrics describe the desire and material trappings that cause people to chase after riches. 

    Peaceful Easy Feeling by the Eagles

    Lynch features an iconic song from the Eagles.  It was written long before this time by Jack Tempchen, a prolific singer-songwriter, but appeared on the Eagles debut album. Glen Frey is on lead vocals, and the harmonies are provided by Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. 

    Right Place, Wrong TIme by Dr. John 

    Eric finishes the staff picks with a funky tune from New Orleans-influenced Dr. John.  It was the first single from "In the Right Place," Dr. John's sixth studio album, and was also his biggest commercial hit, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

     

    COMEDY TRACK:

    The Cover of "Rolling Stone" by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show

    Wayne presents the comedy single this week, as Dr. Hook seeks validation by appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

    Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

    NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

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    **NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

    38 min

About What the Riff Next Gen

From the publisher's feed

Every episode of “WHAT THE RIFF NEXT GEN” brings a ROCK AND ROLL album that debuted on the U.S. Billboard charts during a random month between 1995 and 2005. Four Classic Rock fans discuss the artist and 4 tracks from the album as it plays in the background. Then we riff on 3 additional “staff picks” of other artists that were also on the charts during that month and year. You’ll hear Classic Rock bands that were still producing new work, as well as some newer Alternative and Grunge bands that were gaining momentum during this Millennium Y2K Period. We encourage you to find and purchase the tracks and albums from Apple Music, Spotify or your other favorite music service. Please subscribe so you don’t miss any release! In addition to “Next Gen” you can search our ORIGINAL “What the Riff?!?” episodes (1-373) covering 1965 - 1995. We also invite you to follow us and learn more about us @whattheriff on Facebook.

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