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

  • 1985 - May: Dire Straits “Brothers In Arms”

    Although they had been steadily growing in popularity since their debut in the mid-70's, Dire Straits would become a household name with their fifth studio album, Brothers In Arms.  Between the catchy hooks accessible on both rock and adult contemporary radio, and the video-driven appeal of the group on MTV, DIre Strats became an arena group in 1985.

    This album found Dire Straits composed of John Illsley on bass, Terry Williams on drums, Alan Clark on piano and organ, Guy Fletcher on synthesizer, and of course the primary driver, songwriter, and co-producer for the album was Mark Knopfler.  Additionally, Jazz drummer Omar Hakim was brought in to re-record much of the percussion work, though Williams remained the drummer for the band.

    Knopfler was quite the perfectionist when it came to sound, and this album would be the first to be recorded entirely digitally.  It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first compact disc to sell a million copies.

    The success Dire Straits had with this album may have led to the groups undoing.  Knopfler was uncomfortable with the fame, thinking that people were coming to the shows for the celebrity rather than the music.  The group would take a hiatus following the "Brothers In Arms" tour, and would produce one more studio album before disbanding.  Knopfler would go on to produce solo work as well as collaborate with other artists including Eric Clapton , Thomas Dolby, and Bob Dylan.  Dire Straits was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

     

    So Far Away

    This is the opening track on the album and the lead single in the UK, released in April of 1985, ahead of the album.  It would be the third single in the US where it hit number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It is about carrying on a long-distance relationship.

    Your Latest Trick

    A melancholy deep cut, this song features Randy Brecker on trumpet and Michael Brecker on saxophone.  It is clearly referencing prostitution, but it has a feel of loneliness and emptiness.  Some say it is about a relationship and some say it is about society in general.  The night is over, everyone is going home, and the guy is left alone wondering what happened.

    One World

    Another deep cut, and more blues-oriented.  "Can't get no remedy on my TV, it's nothing but the same old news.  Well, they can't find a way to be one world in harmony.  Can't get no antidote for blues."  Tony Levin was brought in to play bass on this one. 

    Walk of Life

    This hit almost didn't make the album.  Co-producer Neil Dorfsman voted against its being included, but the band outvoted him.  It made it to number 7 on the US charts, and was one of their biggest commercial hits in the UK, peaking at number 2 there.  It is about the street musicians in London playing standards in the subways.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    This is Not America by Pat Metheny and David Bowie (from the motion picture The Falcon and the Snowman)

    This show about American kids turned Soviet spies was in the theaters in February 1985, and this song was on the charts in May.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Obsession by Animotion

    Wayne kicks off our staff picks with a synth pop hit that was a staple of every dance floor in 1985.  Animotion covered this song, originally performed by Holly Knight and Michael Des Barres in 1983.  The song was developed at first thinking about the obsession of drugs, but it transformed into an obsession with a person when it was done. 

    Smuggler's Blues by Glenn Frey

    Brian's staff pick was well known at the time from Miami Vice.  "You be cool for 20 hours and I'll pay you 20 grand."  One of the things that made Miami Vice such a popular draw was its use not just of cool actors in Miami, but also using cameos from the music world.  Glenn Frey appeared as a smuggler in the episode where "Smuggler's Blues" was played.

    Sussudio by Phil Collins

    Rob's staff pick is the lead track from Collins' third solo album "No Jacket Required."  The drum machine and horns made this a polarizing song, with lots of people loving it and lots hating it.  It was a big hit in the summer of 1985, and Phil Collins has mentioned that this song is the one most often sung to him when strangers approach.

    Marlene on the Wall by Suzanne Vega

    Bruce closes out the staff picks with a song inspired by Marlene Dietrich.  Singer songwriter Suzanne Vega heard Dietrich responding to a controversial statement, "You have lead many men to death with your body." with the perfect response, "Give me a kiss."  This was the lead track off Vega's debut album, dealing with loneliness and a strained relationship.

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    The Lady In My Life by Stanley Jordan

    Jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan covers a deep cut from Michael Jackson's Thriller album to close out 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.

    47 min
  • 1977 - November: Steely Dan “Aja”

    Quick!  Name a song by Steely Dan.  Chances are good that the song you picked is off this sixth studio album, the iconic Aja.  Steely Dan had already become a successful jazz rock group by this time, but Donald Fagen and Walter Becker created their most successful album by far with this one.

    By the time this album was produced, the group had been reduced to the duo who were responsible for the lion's share of the music.  Fagen and Becker assembled a large group of session musicians to make this album, including well known vocalists like Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles.  

    Donald Fagen has said that the album name was inspired by a high school friend whose Korean wife’s name was Aja.   

    Many consider this album and Gaucho, the following Steely Dan studio album, to be two of the founding albums to a genre that would become known as yacht rock.  However, the heart of this music is undoubtedly jazz.

     

    Black Cow

    The album starts with this song which has been interpreted a lot of ways, from a commentary on a troubled relationship to self-doubt, to  a track inspired by Thelonious Monk.  The song describes a girl sitting at a counter, and a Black Cow is a fountain drink like a Coke float.

    Deacon Blues

    The opening lines describing the "expanding man" may have been inspired from sci-fi author Alfred Brester's 1950's novel "The Demolished Man."  The song itself is about having a name for the nerds and the losers of the world, and compares football powerhouse Alabama and their name as "the Crimson Tide," to the proposed name for the loser.  Becker and Fagen considered this song somewhat autobiographical.

    Peg

    This track features backing vocals from Michael McDonald.  The song is about an actress in a photo shoot being promised fame.  While some speculated that the song referenced Broadway and Hollywood star Peg Entwistle, Donald Fagen stated that "we just wanted a dotted half note for that spot and Peg was short enough to fit with the music."  

    Josie

    This song finishes off the album and is a bit more influenced by Delta blues than the more jazzy tracks on the album.  This may be because the song was written well before the rest of the recordings for Aja.  The song tells about a popular girl from a blue collar town, who always creates excitement when she returns to town.  Timothy B. Schmit plays bass and is on background vocals for this track.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    “The Lonely Man” - theme from the television series “The Incredible Hulk”

    Long before the MCU, we were introduced to David Banner in this weekly show, who struggled to escape the curse of turning into the Hulk when he became angry.  Bill Bixby played David Banner, and Lou Ferrigno became famous as the green-muscled Hulk.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    “Free 'n' Easy” by Uriah Heep

    Wayne's rocking staff pick highlights an underrated prog rock/heavy metal group.  This is not a single, but a deep cut off Uriah Heep's eleventh album.  

    “Baby What a Big Surprise” by Chicago

    Rob brings us this well known tune with Peter Cetera taking his turn as lead vocalist of Chicago.  Cetera was attempting to repeat the success of "If You Leave Me Now" with this song.  Interestingly, this song is the only one on the album Chicago XI to feature Cetera on lead vocals.  

    “I Know a Little” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

    Bruce's staff pick was written by guitarist Steve Gaines, and features his talented picking.  This song is off the last Skynyrd album before the plane crash that killed several band members including front man Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines.  Gaines had just joined the band, so this would be his first and last studio album as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

    “Cold As Ice” by Foreigner

    Brian's pick is a great tragic song about a materialistic woman who will some day face the consequences of her selfish ways.  This is off Foreigner's debut and self-titled album.

       

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin

    Billy Dee Williams starred in the biographical film "Scott Joplin," which was released in November 1977.

    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
  • 1991 - October: Red Hot Chili Peppers “Blood Sugar Sex Magik”

    Today the Red Hot Chili Peppers are a well known by all as one of the alternative rock founders, and that fame began with Blood Sugar Sex Magik, their fifth studio album.  This was the first album created under their new Warner Brothers label, and was recorded at the Houdini mansion in Los Angeles.  Front man Anthony Kiedis, guitarist John Frusciante, and bassist Flea moved into the former house of Harry Houdini for the duration of the recording session, but drummer Chad Smith did not.  Kiedis claims that Smith wouldn't stay in the house because he thought it was haunted, through Smith denies this.

    Flea and Kiedis met in high school during a brawl, and eventually decided to form a band.  The original lineup consisted of Hillel Slovak on guitar and Jack Irons on drums.  Slovak died of a drug overdose after the group's third album, replaced by Frusciante.  Irons left the group in reaction to Slovak's death, not wanting to be in a group where his friends were dying.  Irons would be replaced by Chad Smith.  Unfortunately, drug use and abuse would plague the group long after Slovak's overdose.

    The band's fourth album entitled Mother's Milk would become a success, with the single cover of Stevie Wonder's “Higher Ground”  leading to mainstream interest.

    While Blood Sugar Sex Magik was the start of mainstream popularity for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it would mark the end for guitarist John Frusciante.  Frusciante enjoyed being in the underground music scene, and hated the popularity the group was experiencing.  He left the group in 1992 in the middle of their world tour.  Frusciante would eventually rejoin the group in 1998.

    Under the Bridge

    This is the track that put the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the mainstream map. Anthony Kiedis wrote this song about the hopelessness and loneliness he felt as a result of dependence on narcotics.  He was reluctant to share the lyrics with the group, because he didn't think it fit well with the rest of their repertoire.  However, the group took it in and it became a big breakthrough hit for them.

    Give It Away

    The first single from the album originated in an ongoing jam session between John Frusciante and bassist Flea.  The lyrics were inspired by selflessness that Kiedis observed from his girlfriend when she gave away clothes in her closet that Kiedis liked.  The idea of giving things away was new to him, as he expected from his upbringing that you had to take what you wanted, because no one would give it to you.

    If You Have to Ask

    This is a deeper cut from the album, with a funky guitar intro and stream-of-consciousness rap lyrics.

    Breaking the Girl

    The fourth single from the album was inspired by the turbulent relationship between Anthony Kiedis and his former girlfriend, Carmen Hawk.  Frusciante wrote the music under inspiration from Led Zeppelin's "The Battle of Evermore."  The video features a cameo by River Phoenix, and features guitarist Arik Marshall on guitar.  Marshall briefly replaced Frusciante, though he did not play on the track itself.  

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Theme from the animated television series “X-Men”

    The animated series for Marvel's X-Men premiered in October of 1991, ushering in a new era of superhero cartoons.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Rush by Big Audio Dynamite II

    Wayne starts the staff picks with the second iteration of a group headed by Mick Jones of The Clash after leaving that group.  The song mixes disparate styles and samples, including The Who's "Baba O'Riley."   "Somehow  I stayed thin while other guys got fat."

    Dreamline by Rush

    Bruce's staff pick is the lead track from Rush's Roll the Bones.  Dreamline is about being young and ready to test your mettle against the world, "learning that we're only immortal for a limited time."

    Shiny Happy People by R.E.M. 

    Brian features Athens, Georgia's favorite sons playing a piece inspired by a line from Chinese propaganda posters, “shiny happy people holding hands.”  It was used ironically, as this was only two years after the Tiananmen Square crackdown in which hundreds were killed. Kate Pierce of the B-52's, another Athens band, joins for the female vocals.

    Hole Hearted by Extreme

    Rob finishes out the staff picks with an acoustic driven song with great harmonies off the fourth single from Exreme's Pornograffiti.  Nuno Bettencourt wrote this - on the toilet - when he got his first 12-string.  Led Zeppelin's third album was an inspiration.    

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Wham! by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

    This blues instrumental is off "The Sky Is Crying," a compilation of songs released in November of 1991 after the death of Stevie Ray Vaughan.

    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.

    39 min
  • 1979 - November: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers “Damn the Torpedoes”

    Damn the Torpedoes is the third studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and is the album where the group truly broke out into serious commercial success.  They had done well with their first album, with "Breakdown" breaking into the top 40, and "American Girl" receiving some air play.  But this album took the group to a different level.  Damn the Torpedoes was their first top 10 album, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard album charts for 7 weeks.  They were unfortunately kept out of the number 1 slot by the release of Pink Floyd's The Wall.

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are Mike Campbell on guitars and keyboards, Benmont Tench on keyboards and backing vocals, Ron Blair on bass, Stan Lynch on drums and backing vocals, and of course Tom Petty on lead, rhythm guitar, and harmonica.  Petty also produced the album.

    Damn the Torpedoes takes its name from Admiral Farragut's famous Civil War quote, but also reflects an attitude that the band was feeling.  At the time ABC Records was their distributor and assigned the contract to MCA.  Petty said that they couldn't assign the contract without permission.  MCA sued, and Petty declared bankruptcy as a strategic move to keep MCA at bay.  They finally settled by signing a new contract with Backstreet Records, which was an MCA subsidiary.

    The times were good for Petty's style of throwback rock and roll.  Disco was quite commercial and beginning to wane, and New Wave was just beginning its run.  MTV would also be a couple of years in the future.  The rock world was starved of solid rock and roll, and Petty was ready to step into the void with tight, radio-friendly singles

    We think this album is a winner, but as you know, even the losers get lucky sometimes!

     

    Refugee

    This is the second single from the album, released in January 1980.  It went to number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Petty and Mike Campbell wrote this, and it was one of the first songs Campbell wrote.  The song reflects the band's reaction to the pressures of the music business, and the struggle they had with MCA.

    What Are You Doin' In My Life?

    A deeper cut, this track is about a stalker girl that the guy can't make go away.  "Well, you're the last woman in the world that thrills me.  Now you got my girlfriend trying to kill me.  Honey, my friends think that I've gone crazy.  Can't you figure out that you ain't my baby?"

    Even The Losers

    Believe it or not, this was not released as a single on the album outside of Australia.  There's a story behind this song.  Petty had a crush on a girl named Cindy in junior high school.  Years later in Gainesville, Florida, he hooked up with Cindy.  The next morning, Cindy told him their relationship consisted of only that night.  During that night, Petty realized that he needed to be in a rock and roll band, and this song sums up that night.

    Don't Do Me Like That

    This is the first single from the album.  Petty wrote the song back in 1974 with a band called Mudcrutch.  This was Petty's first top 10 hit, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The singer relays the story of a friend who got his heart broken, and asks that his girlfriend not do the same.  I really like the sound of the organ on this piece.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    The Rose by Bette Midler (Main Theme from the motion picture The Rose)

    The song was a huge hit for Midler.  She played the main character, Mary Rose Foster, in this movie loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    You're Only Lonely by JD Souther

    Rob starts off the staff picks with a track  from Detroit born, Amarillo raised JD Souther.  His former roommate, Glenn Frey, sings backup on this song, along with Phil Everly and Jackson Browne.  JD Souther co-wrote a number of songs for the Eagles, which explains why this song may have a bit of an Eagles sound to it. 

    Driver's Seat by Sniff N' The Tears

    Wayne's brings us a one hit wonder.  It maintains a simple chord structure throughout, but builds in intensity as the song progresses.  Although we think of it as a driving song, the lyrics are really about disjointed feelings following a breakup, and not understanding how things would be over with someone you had been with so long.

    Good Girls Don't by The Knack

    Brian's staff pick was the follow-up to the massive hit "My Sharona."  Lead man Doug Fieger wrote this song in 1972, but couldn't get anyone to pick it up at the time.  He hated it by the time The Knack tried it, and they got it right in one take. 

    Jane by Jefferson Starship

    Bruce brings us a hit from Jefferson Starship while Georgia native Mickey Thomas was front man.  It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Bassist David Freiberg wrote the lyrics (along with Jim McPherson) inspired by an old girlfriend.

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Is There Anybody Out There by Pink Floyd

    When The Wall kept Damn the Torpedoes stuck at number two, Tom Petty told Westwood One, "I love Pink Floyd but I hated them that year."

    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.

    36 min
  • 1975 - March: Nazareth “Hair of the Dog”

    Scottish band Nazareth finally found international success with their sixth studio album, Hair of the Dog.  This album featured the well known (but often mislabeled) title track as well as an unusual but highly popular cover of the Everly Brothers song “Love Hurts.”

    Nazareth was originally formed in 1968 from the remaining members of a group called the Shadettes.  They took the name Nazareth from the town of Nazareth, Pennsylvania.  The classic rock song "The Weight" by The Band names this town in it's first lines, "I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead..."  The band members were Darrell Sweet on drums, Pete Agnew on bass, Manny Charlton on guitar and synthesizer, and Dan McCafferty on vocals.  They moved to London in 1970 and slowly built success over their first five studio albums and opening on tour for acts like Deep Purple.

    Although their success was building, Hair of the Dog was simply at a different level that gave the group the appearance of overnight success.  The album has a raw feel and attitude.  It was the first one produced by Manny Charlton, who would later produce the iconic album "Appetite for Destruction" for Guns N Roses.

    Nazareth continues to tour today, though Peter Agnew is the remaining original member.  Darrel Sweet died in 1999 of a heart attack while on tour.  Manny Charlton left the group in the 80's to focus on producing.  Front man Dan McCafferty retired in 2013 for health reasons.

    Folks, this is straight up mid-70's rock.  Enjoy!

     

    Love Hurts

    A surprising choice for a 70's rock band, this Everly Brothers cover was quite good, and was Nazareth's biggest hit, entering the top 10 in ten countries.  Somehow Nazareth tapped a raw emotion in this song, and Dan McCafferty's choice to sing it an octave higher contributes to that.  Perhaps it was a precursor to the hair ballads that were to come in the 80's. 

    Rose in the Heather

    This  deeper cut is a lower tempo instrumental that finishes off "Beggars Day" on side two, written by Nils Lofgren, a member of the E. Street Band.

    Whiskey Drinkin' Woman

    This is where this Scottish band takes inspiration from Southern Rock, and pulls it off well.  The song tells a story of blues, where a man is in love with an alcoholic and doesn't know what to do.  "That whiskey drinkin' woman is makin' a poor man out of me."

    Hair of the Dog

    An iconic track, complete with talking guitar and more cowbell!  This song is often assumed to be entitled "Son of a B***h," but the record label knew that no song with that title would sell in Sears and other stores.  The name chosen was a play on words, as it was originally spelled "Heir of the Dog."

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    The theme from the television series “Gunsmoke”

    This long running western finished it's television run in March 1975.  It began as a radio series in 1952 and the television series began in 1955, making it one of the longest running TV series in history.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    How Long by Ace

    Rob's staff pick has a distinctive bass opening, and is the debut single by Ace.  It might seem like a story of infidelity in relationships, but Ace's bass player Terry "Tex" Comer was found to be secretly playing for two other bands.  This is a favorite song for Phil Collins.  Lead singer Paul Carrack would have a further connection with Genesis when he joined Genesis guitarist Mike Rutherford in the band Mike and the Mechanics.

    Roll on Down the Highway by Bachman Turner Overdrive

    Bruce's staff pick channels the popularity of truckers and trucking in the mid 70's.  Fred Turner and Robbie Bachman wrote the song.  Randy Bachman had been contracted by Ford to do music for a commercial, but they didn't take the jingle.  The band worked it into a full song.

    Fire by the Ohio Players

    Brian cranks up the funk with this Billboard number 1 hit.  Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner wrote the lyrics about a woman so hit she's starting a fire.  Stevie Wonder heard an early demo of the song and predicted it would be a hit.  

    Long Tall Glasses  by Leo Sayer

    Wayne finishes off the staff picks with a song about a hobo looking for a meal in a fancy restaurant.  When he sits down, "then somebody grabbed me, threw me out of my chair, said 'before you can eat, you gotta dance like Fred Astaire.'"

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Constipated Duck by Jeff Beck

    The guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck closes us out this week with an interestingly-named instrumental piece from his album Blow by Blow.

    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.

    39 min
  • 1991 - November: U2 ”Achtung Baby”

    If "The Joshua Tree" was the album that propelled Irish band U2 to the stratosphere of rock success, Achtung Baby was the album that would cement them in that status permanently.  The band was coming off mixed success with their hybrid live/studio album "Rattle and Hum," and were struggling directionally.  The band felt that they were not prepared for the success they had received, or as drummer Larry Mullin, Jr. put it, "we were the biggest, but we weren't the best.”

    Achtung Baby draws its inspiration from German reunification, much like the Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum drew inspiration from America.  U2 began recording in Berlin at Hansa Studios.  They arrived just before German reunification.  Rather than being inspired by reunification, the band found places gloomy and neglected.  Morale continued to falter as they struggled with the direction of the album, and actually considered breaking up.  With the encouragement of producer Brian Eno, the band continued on, and recommitted themselves to the group after returning to Dublin during Christmas.  Recording was relocated to Dublin in February of 1991.

    Musically, the album has a more Eurocentric feel.  Bono and the Edge were gravitating to electronica and new sounds while Clayton and Mullin, Jr. preferred sounds more reminiscent of classic rock.  The synthesis created a sound that was less "over the top" than previous U2 works, and really opened up the commercial success of the group.  

    While the sound might be less "over the top," the forthcoming tour called "Zoo TV" was the epitome of "over the top."  By this time, U2 was performing not in concert halls, but in stadiums.

    This is an album that will definitely get your attention.

     

    Even Better Than the Real Thing

    This second track on the album was the fourth single released.  The song originated from a guitar riff created during the "Rattle and Hum" sessions.  The song is about the instant gratification of commercialism and its effects on society.  There's a more "techno" sound in this song, with the guitar delays and the double octaves throughout.

    Mysterious Ways

    What a great hook at the start of this song!  Jesus Jones was an influence on the group at the time, and you can feel it on this track.  The song itself is an idealization of women, and the trap of separating them into angels and devils.  The video was shot in Morocco and used a belly dancer to portray that "she moves in mysterious ways."

    One

    This is the song that brought the group back together when they were struggling in their recording sessions in Berlin.  The song itself is vaguely about relationships and may have been influenced by the dissolution of the Edge's marriage to Aislinn O'Sullivan.  

    Until the End of the World

    This deeper cut from the album is set in a Biblical setting with Bono singing as Judas in a conversation with Jesus.  "We ate the food, we drank the wine.  Everybody having a good time except you.  You were talking about the end of the world."  It was never released as a single.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Theme from the motion picture “The Addams Family”

    The movie based on the 60's television series was released in November.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    “Everything About You” by Ugly Kid Joe

    Wayne kicks off the staff picks with a song off the EP Ugly As They Wanna Be.  The song describes everything the singer hates.  The name of the group is a spoof on the name of the group "Pretty Boy Floyd," and they have been described as the last glam metal band.  

    “Lies” by EMF

    Rob takes us into the British alternative rock scene.  This is off EMF's debut album Schubert Dip.  EMF takes its name from a fan club of the band New Order called "Epsom Mad Funkers."  The album made it to number 3 on the UK charts, though it didn't do as well in the United States.  

    “The Sky is Crying” by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

    Bruce's Brings us a song posthumously released after Vaughan's helicopter crash in 1990.  It was originally recorded by Elmore James in 1959, and was performed by The AllmanBrothers Band at Duane Allman's funeral in 1971.  Jimmie Vaughan compiled the songs on this album, also called "The Sky is Crying," and all but one song had not been released previously.

    “Something to Talk About” by Bonnie Raitt

    Brian's pick is Bonnie Raitt's breakout single.  Originally written by Shirley Eikhard, the song is about friends in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business.  If everyone is assuming we're a couple, maybe we should give them something to talk about!

       

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    “Where's My Thing” by Rush

    This instrumental from Roll the Bones came after several songs started as instrumentals but became perfect for a particular lyric.  Finally, drummer and lyricist told the band “You keep promising to do this instrumental, and I'm not giving you any more lyrics until you write this thing.”

    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.

    39 min
  • 1984 - June: Night Ranger “Midnight Madness”

    Night Ranger was a reliable hit machine in the mid-80's and their second studio album Midnight Madness was the one that solidified this reputation.  The group originally started as a trio with Jack Blades on bass, Brad Gillis on guitar, and Kelly Keagy on drums.  Keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald came out of the group Montrose to join the band, and he recommended guitarist Jeff Watson.  The group was originally called Stereo, then changed their name to Ranger.  The name was modified to Night Ranger to avoid a trademark infringement with a country band of the same name.

    Night Ranger honed their skills opening for Sammy Hagar (Fitzgerald worked with Hagar in Montrose), Ozzy Osbourne, and ZZ Top.  Their popularity began to rise with the release of their first album “Dawn Patrol,” and exposure on MTV, although only one single appeared in the top 40 - “Don't Tell Me You Love Me” peaked at number 40.   

    Midnight Madness would move the group from opening act to mainstream success with three singles including the massive hit ballad “Sister Christian,” written about Kelly Keagy's sister Christine.  “Sister Christian” hit it's peak at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but was actually set to record back during their "Dawn Patrol" studio sessions.  Night Ranger held off on recording it at that time, wanting to establish themselves as a rock group rather than a ballad group.

    "(You Can Still) Rock in America" peaked at number 51 in June, and that is why we're featuring the album for this month although it came out in October 1983.  

    Night Ranger has been described as pop metal or glam metal, but it is straightforward 80's rock & roll.  One of the things that made Night Ranger unusual is that with their five members they had two lead guitarists, and two lead singers.  This may have given Night Ranger a depth of skill that wasn't common in rock groups at the time.

    We hope you have fun remembering this rocking group and album!

     

    (You Can Still) Rock in America

    This hard rocking anthem would miss the top 40, peaking at 51.  The song originated during a tour with Sammy Hagar.  The rock magazines were trending towards New Wave, and the covers inspired Jack Blades to write about it.  Hey!  You can still rock in America!

    Why Does Love Have to  Change

    A deeper track, this song is a good example of their dual lead guitars.  Jeff Watson and Brad Gillis both were capable of holding the lead.  Brad Gillis' training began with a 12-string, and many of their pieces show a crisp picking style.  Gillis is the only Night Ranger member to appear at every Night Ranger live performance.

    Let Him Run

    Another deep track, this final song on the album is more of a rock ballad with a 12-string feel.  It is about letting someone go in a relationship and moving on.  "Let him run, let him see what he has done."

    When You Close Your Eyes

    This fast ballad was a hit at the time, and hearkens back to an early relationship - trying to figure things out.  It's wistful but positive at the same thing.  The video is classic 80's.  "I remember when we learned about love in the back of a Chevrolet, when it felt so good to be young.  Feels like yesterday."  

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Theme from the motion picture “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

    This is the movie where you found out just how dangerous the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man could be.  Don't cross the streams!

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Eyes Without a Face by Billy Idol

    Bruce's staff pick starts us off with a hit single inspired by a French horror film from the 1960's.  The song itself is about the end of a hopeless love affair.  Idol's then-girlfriend Perry Lister sings the French part, "Les yeux sans visage" meaning "eyes without a face." 

    Oh Sherrie by Steve Perry

    Brian features Journey front man Steve Perry with his hit single as a solo artist off the album "Street Talk." The song was written about his then girlfriend, Sherrie Swafford, who also appeared in the music video.  Many think the success of Perry's solo project was a foreshadowing of his exit from the band, though he remained in Journey for several years afterward.

    Two Tribes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    Wayne's staff pick was bigger in Europe than America, and bigger than his hit "Relax" on the continent.  The song is an anti-war protest, and the video features portrayals of American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Chairman Konstantin Chernenko  in a fight with onlookers gambling on the fight and eventually joining in.

    I'll Wait by Van Halen

    Rob brings us a fast ballad off the hugely successful album 1984 - the last appearance of Van Halen with David Lee Roth as front man for many years.  The song is about getting the girl, and waiting for the right opportunity.  An interesting bit of trivia is that Michael McDonald (from the Doobie Bros) collaborated with Van Halen for this track.

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Close (to the Edit) by Art of Noise

    New Wave/electronica finishes us out this week.  The song takes samples from several Yes song.  The Art of Noise had a well known and somewhat controversial video.

    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
  • 1969 - March: Blood, Sweat & Tears “Blood, Sweat & Tears”

    Jazz-rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears waited until their second studio album to eponymously name it Blood, Sweat & Tears.  This band would defy convention in many ways.  It was a large band, boasting nine full-time members, and adding a tenth in trumpet player Alan Rubin for one song.  They also played a complex mix of progressive music that would come to be called "jazz-rock."  This album would be the first with David Clayton-Thomas on lead vocals, and would spend seven weeks at the top of the album charts.  It would also be a critical success, netting the band a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1970.

    Al Kooper, the original band leader and rock legend, started the group.  The sound was inspired by the sound of the Buckinghams and Maynard Ferguson.  Kooper left after the second album, and David Clayton-Thomas came in as front man.  There were over 100 members in Blood, Sweat & Tears over the years, including Bo Bice of "American Idol" fame.  The group name came from a Winston Churchill speech.

    Blood, Sweat & Tears was the number 1 album at the time that the Woodstock music festival was held in August of 1969, and at $15,000 they were the highest paid band to appear at Woodstock behind Jimi Hendrix.  For some reason, they decided not to get filmed for the gig, and as a result they are not seen in all the documentaries and retrospectives on that historic concert.  It is almost as if Blood, Sweat & Tears were erased from history.  On top of that, they didn't get their $15,000 at the end of the concert either!

    A couple of other factors cause Blood, Sweat & Tears to be overlooked.  Their songs tend to be longer during a time when singles were no longer than 3 minutes for radio.  They also toured eastern Europe in 1972 to show off rock and roll music, sponsored by the U.S. State Department.  The counter culture considered this a sell out, and many of their Vietnam-era protest fans abandoned Blood, Sweat & Tears because of it.

    Get ready to ride a painted pony and let the spinnin' wheel spin!

     

    Smiling Phases

    This very jazzy track is a cover of a song originally done by Steve Winwood and Traffic.  The idea is of the song is that you put a smile on no matter what life throws at you.  Keep on smiling and moving forward - don't let the obstacles get you down.

    You've Made Me So Very Happy

    This well known track peaked at number 2, and is a cover of a Motown song done originally by Brenda Holloway in 1967.  They tried to do this song with Al Kooper on their first album, but Kooper's voice wasn't well-adapted to it.  They tried it at a live show with David Clayton-Thomas, and it worked.

    And When I Die

    Another cover that peaked at number 2, this song was written by 17 year-old Laura Nyro and was originally performed by Peter, Paul & Mary.  Blood, Sweat & Tears picked up this song when Nyro was dating the bass player.  Their cover version went to number 2.  It is about recognizing the limited time you have on this earth and making the most of it.  That's pretty profound lyrics for a 17 year-old!

    Spinning Wheel

    The big single of the album was this well known hit, peaking at - you guessed it - number 2.  It compares life to riding on a carousel.  Things come and things go, "what goes up must come down."  Enjoy the ride.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Main Theme to the television series “Marcus Welby M.D.”

    Robert Young of "Father Knows Best" fame would star in this long-running series that would take on several controversies during its 7-year run.  The pilot for the series aired in March of 1969.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Day after Day (It's Slippin' Away) by Shango

    Rob starts our staff picks with this calypso one-hit wonder.  It is known as a novelty act about how the earthquakes in California will cause the whole coast to slide into the Pacific - "you better get ready to tie up the boat in Idaho!" 

    Everyday People by Sly & The Family Stone

    Brian features a big hit from the fusion group Sly & The Family Stone.  Everyone is essentially the same and we need to learn to live together.  The group was known for combining musical styles and its members' ethnic diversity during a time of racial tensions. 

    Time of the Season by The Zombies

    Bruce's staff pick was a surprise hit by the group led by keyboardist Rod Argent and vocalist Colin Blunstone.  It took about a year to catch on before hitting number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1969.  It has become sort of a counterculture anthem in pop culture, and is frequently used in Vietnam-era scenes and flashbacks.

    Rock Me by Steppenwolf

    Wayne's staff pick is a deeper cut, though it hit the charts and peaked at number 10 at the time.  Lead singer John Kay wrote this one.  It has a deeper meaning as a kind of protest song.  Canadian band Steppenwolf was nominated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, though they didn't make it in.    

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    Variations On a Theme by Erik Satie (1st Movement) by Blood, Sweat & Tears

    We're once again double dipping on our featured album.  Blood, Sweat & Tears had a number of instrumental pieces on their albums, and this one is the opening track.

    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.

    33 min
  • 1994 - September: Blues Traveler “four”

    Blues Traveler formed as a high school garage band in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987, and their fourth studio album, aptly named four, was their true breakout album.

    Blues Traveler is composed of guitarist Chan Kinchla, bassist Bobby Sheehan, drummer Brendan Hill, and front man, harmonica player, and primary songwriter John Popper.  Sheehan would die in 1999 and be replaced by Tad Kinchla.  The group would add Ben Wilson on keyboards in 2000.  This group is hard to define from a genre standpoint, as they have a little prog rock, a little psychedelic, a little funk, and surprisingly for a band originating in New Jersey, a little Southern rock.  The name was inspired by a character from the movie "Ghostbusters."  They were called Blues Band at the time, and became Blues Traveler after getting the idea from Gozer the Traveler.

    The group moved to New York where they shared an apartment with their high school friend Chris Barron.  Barron, Popper and Hill were briefly in a band called The Trucking Company.  After Popper and Hill left The Trucking Company to focus on Blues Traveler the group changed their name - to the Spin Doctors.

    Like the Grateful Dead, Blues Traveler is known as a jam band, and they encourage fans to record their live performances.  They also started the H.O.R.D.E. festival (Horizons of Rock Developing Everywhere).

    The album four is a great showcase of the talents of this band, and there is a lot of variety in the tracks.  We think you'll be "hooked" on this funk/rock/psychedelic jam session.

     

    Hook

    This is the second single from the album, and it peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The song is a tongue in cheek critique of the music industry.  A "hook" is a riff or phrase in music that becomes a sort of earworm in your mind.  The lyrics make the case that the artist can basically sing anything as long as the hook is good.  In fact, the chord progression is built on Pachelbel's Cannon in D, one of the oldest music hooks around. 

    Stand

    A funky deep cut, Stand is about making a decision to move forward despite obstacles.  Popper wrote this song shortly after a motorcycle accident had him on stage performing in a wheelchair with the band.  Despite the difficulty of both being overweight and recovering from injury, John Popper pressed on.  By the way, Paul Shaffer of David Letterman Show fame is playing keyboards on this piece.

    Look Around

    A softer deep cut, this track is about carrying on after setbacks and heartbreak, and not giving up.  "If you want peace then live alone.  If you want to hide then find a stage.  Each a brief but perfect home to accommodate your rage." 

    Run-Around

    This is the big hit from the album.  The song is about being stuck in the friend zone, and was inspired by a crush John Popper had on a female bass player who briefly worked with the band.  The video is a great parody of "The Wizard of Oz," where Blues Traveler is secretly playing a set behind a curtain while a more photogenic band is on stage.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    Main Theme from the television series The Magic School Bus

    The children's educational series featured teacher Ms. Frizzle (voiced by Lily Tomlin)

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    Stay (I Missed You) by Lisa Loeb

    The movie Reality Bites had a killer soundtrack, and this may be the most famous song from the film.  Brian tells about how Lisa Loeb was brought to the film soundtrack by actor Ethan Hawke while she was unsigned to a recording contract. 

    All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow

    Rob's staff pick is from Crow's debut album, and this single was on the charts this month.  The lyrics originate from a poem called "Fun" by Wyn Cooper.  The lyrics chronicle what life might look like from a bar stool, sitting around drinking all day.  Sheryl Crow became a celebrity after the release of this album entitled "Tuesday Night Music Club."

    Seether by Veruca Salt

    Wayne takes the tempo up with this rocking staff pick.  Nina Gordon and Louise Post front this alternate rock band, and sing about rage and animalistic instincts that build up over time.  "Can't fight the seether, I can't see her till I'm foaming at the mouth."

    Lucas With the Lid Off by Lucas

    Bruce brings us a track from Danish rapper Lucas Secon built on a tune from Benny Goodman's "When Buddha Smiles," originally penned in 1935.  The video was a complex shot done in one continuous take with no edits, cuts, or enhancement.

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    L.A. by Widespread Panic

    Jam band Widespread Panic takes us out on this podcast with this instrumental track.

    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.

    42 min
  • 1968 - December: The Beatles “The White Album”

    By the time the ninth studio album was put out, The Beatles had achieved astounding critical and popular success.  Their only double-album was self-titled.  However it has become known as The White Album because, unlike the color and art of the prior Sargent Peppers album, this one was entirely without color, white, with simply the name "The Beatles" on the cover.  Much of the songs on the album were created while the band was on a Transcendental Meditation retreat in India, and that influence can be felt in the scaled down, often acoustic feel of the songs.

    The band was also beginning to fragment, and arguments or hurt feelings would cause some of the songs to be recorded by just part of the group.  Yoko Ono would become a constant presence with Lennon in the studio, contributing to the tension.  

    Despite the iconic status the album achieved virtually from its release, there were still detractors.  Some criticized songs like ”Back in the U.S.S.R.” to be too sympathetic of communism and accused the group of trying to brainwash American youth.  Those on the left found the non-activist message of songs like “Revolution” to be a betrayal of leftist ideology during a period of intense social upheaval.  And perhaps most famously, Charles Manson claimed inspiration for his violence in many songs from the album.

    Today, The White Album is rightfully considered one of the greatest albums of the rock era.  We hope this podcast will encourage you to explore the album more fully.

     

    Back In the U.S.S.R.

    Mike Love of The Beach Boys was one of the participants in the Transcendental Meditation retreat.  McCartney was encouraged by Mike Love to create a Soviet version of "California Girls." with this song.  The name of the song was inspired by Chuck Berry's "Back In The U.S.A."  McCartney plays drums on this single, as Ringo Starr briefly quit during this time.

    Dear Prudence

    The inspiration for this Lennon-penned song is Prudence Farrow, Mia Farrow's sister, who was also at the TM retreat.  Prudence took the meditation so seriously that she fell into a catatonic state, which obviously worried the entire group.  The song was written to lift her spirits.  McCartney also played drums on this song in Starr's absence.

    While My Guitar Gently Weeps

    George Harrison matured greatly as a songwriter on this album, and this is one of his more famous contributions.  Lennon and McCartney were not enthusiastic about including this song, but relented when Harrison brought his friend Eric Clapton in to play (uncredited) on this song.  The members of the Beatles were at each others throats at the time, and Clapton's presence exerted a calming influence on the band.  This was also the first song in which Ringo Starr played drums after his return to the group.

    Helter Skelter

    After reading an interview of Pete Townshend in which he described a Who track, Paul McCartney was inspired to write the "loudest, nastiest, sweatiest rock number we could."  This track is infamously associated with Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca murders.

     

    ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

    “Baby What You Want Me to Do” by Elvis Presley

    This month saw the release of Elvis's TV Comeback Special, "If I Can Dream."  It was the highest rated show for the year of 1968.

     

    STAFF PICKS:

    “Hooked on a Feeling” by B.J. Thomas

    Bruce gets the staff picks started this week with a song made famous by the motion picture "Guardians of the Galaxy."  Written by Mark James, B.J. Thomas did the original in 1968.  The track would be covered by Jonathan King in 1971, and then by Blue Swede in 1974, the Blue Swede cover being the one with which most are familiar.

    “Cinnamon” by Derek

    Rob's upbeat staff pick was designed so that singer Johnny Cymbal could avoid being pigeonholed as a novelty singer.  As a result, he went by the name, “Derek” for this release — which was his brother's name,  Derek Cymbal.  

    “I Got a Line on You” by Spirit

    Wayne's pick is another upbeat track, this one from the Spirit album "The Family That Plays Together."  The album got its name because lead guitarist was playing with his stepfather as drummer.  Jay Ferguson was also in this band, who wrote the score for the American version of the television series "The Office."  This track peaked at number 25.

    “Kentucky Woman” by Deep Purple

    Brian features an unusual cover of Neil Diamond's 1967 original in a style that some call the first heavy metal song.  The song was on the psychedelic and Arthurian album entitled "The Book of Taliesyn."

     

    INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

    “Joy of a Toy” by Soft Machine

    This prog rock/psychedelic instrumental takes us out this week.

    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.

    36 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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