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Neil Diamond is one of the best-selling singer-songwriters of all time. In August 1972 he performed a series of 10 sold-out shows at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Recordings from this concert would be released as a live double-album entitled Hot August Night later that year in December.
Neil Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York, the child of a Jewish family. At the age of 16 he was inspired by seeing folk singer Pete Seeger perform at a camp for Jewish children in upstate New York, and received his first guitar shortly thereafter. This would set the direction of Diamond's career, starting with both taking guitar lessons and writing songs.
After some time barely scraping by as a songwriter, Diamond began to find some success by the mid-60's, most prominently with several songs for The Monkees, including the big hit, "I'm A Believer." Diamond moved to Los Angeles in 1969, where he recorded some of his bigger solo hits, including the iconic "Sweet Caroline."
Many consider "Hot August Night" to be Neil Diamond's best work, capturing the artist at his prime and at the top of his game. It went to number 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and was number 12 for the 1973 year-end chart. It was number 1 in Australia for 29 weeks in 1973 and 1974, and remains one of the highest selling albums in that country.
Neil Diamond retired from touring in 2018 toward the end of his "50 Year Anniversary World Tour" after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. However, Diamond did not retire from music, and continued writing and developing new projects.
Wayne brings us this soft rock singer-songwriter live album for this week's podcast.
Kentucky Woman
Cherry Cherry
Song Sung Blue
Cracklin' Rosie
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the animated series "Josie and the Pussycats"
STAFF PICKS:
Ventura Highway by America
Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu by Johnny Rivers
It Never Rains in Southern California by Albert Hammond
NOVELTY TRACK:
Crazy Horses by The Osmonds
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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.
Aretha Franklin got her start at an early age in Gospel music. As the granddaughter of Gospel great Mahalia Jackson and the daughter of a prominent Baptist preacher, Franklin was heard on her father's "gospel caravan" tours at the age of twelve. By the time she became an adult in 1960 she had decided that she wanted to go into more pop music, and moved to New York for this purpose. She signed a deal with Columbia Records, in 1960, but her career would not really take off until moving to Atlantic Records in 1966. By 1968 she was considered by many to be the most successful singer in the nation, and already crowned the "Queen of Soul."
Franklin toured outside the US for the first time in late April 1968 through May 1968. She performed in Paris on May 7, 1968, and this concert would be released as the live album Aretha in Paris in the fall of 1968. It was Franklin's second live album, and the first for Atlantic Records where most of her hits were recorded.
Some have criticized the backing band as not up to the task of supporting Franklin. However, this album captures Franklin at the top of her game at a time when she was cranking out some of the biggest hits of her career. It would be difficult for any supporting band to keep up, particularly one assembled for an overseas tour. Regardless, this is a great album to explore as a snapshot of Aretha Franklin at the height of success.
Lynch brings us a high energy live soul album from the Queen of Soul in her prime for today's podcast.
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
Chain of Fools
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the television comedy show “Laugh In”
STAFF PICKS:
Ride My See Saw by the Moody Blues
Harper Valley PTA by Jeannie C. Riley
Light My Fire by Jose Feliciano
Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
And I Love Her by Jose Feliciano
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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.
Many mark the start of the singer-songwriter genre to have begun when Carole King released her second studio album, the iconic Tapestry. As would be expected from a singer-songwriter, all of the songs on the album were either written or co-written by King. Tapestry is considered one of the greatest albums of all time in the soft rock genre.
Born Carol Joan Klein in Manhattan, King began piano lessons at four years of age. Her upbringing included friendship with Paul Simon and dating Neil Sedaka. In the 50's at the age of 17 she met and married Jerry Goffin with whom she would team up on songwriting through the 60's - King writing the music and Goffin writing the lyrics. They had several successful songs during the 60's including "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (The Monkees), "I'm Into Something Good" (Herman's Hermits), and "Up On the Roof" (the Drifters). King and Goffin divorced by 1968, and King moved to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles to re-start her recording career.
Tapestry features both new and old songs of Carole King's catalog. Several new friends from the Laurel Canyon area appear on the album, including James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. Fellow songwriter Toni Stern co-wrote two of the songs, including the hit "It's Too Late."
The album was a hit, spending 313 weeks on the Billboard Charts (second only to "Dark Side of the Moon" in time on the chart). It also was a critical success, taking the Grammy for Album of the Year at the 1972 Grammy awards.
King announced her retirement from music in May 2012, but has done a few things since then, including a live performance of Tapestry in Hyde Park in 2016.
Friend of the show Greg Lyon sits in for Wayne while Bruce presents this soft rock album for this week's podcast.
Tapestry
Where You Lead
You've Got a Friend
So Far Away
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from the serial Danger Island (from the television series “The Banana Splits Adventure Hour”)
STAFF PICKS:
Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
Signs by Five Man Electrical Band
Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get by The Dramatics
Thin Line Between Love and Hate by The Persuaders
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
The Rock by Atomic Rooster
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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.
U2 released a part-live, part studio album in October 1988 called Rattle and Hum. This album accompanied a filmed “Rockumentary” of the band which was filmed in Denver and Arizona. Originally intended to be entitled “U2 in the Americas,” the album and film instead take their name from lyrics in the song “Bullet the Blue Sky’ from their album “The Joshua Tree.”
Studio sessions for Rattle and Hum included time at Sun Studio in Memphis, and include collaborations with other musicians including Bob Dylan and B.B. King. The intent of Rattle and Hum was to explore more American blues rock, and folk, and roots music of the 50's and 60's, and includes both original and cover songs.
Critics were divided on the album at the time of its release. Some felt that U2 was not celebrating blues rock and artists as much as they were attempting to insert themselves into higher echelons of rock celebrity. Over time the criticisms of egotism would fade, as U2 has indeed proven to be a major force in the Rock pantheon. In retrospect, both Bono and The Edge have found Rattle and Hum to be a bit of a side excursion for the band, more of a “scrapbook” than a true direction. The new direction of U2 would be set beginning with their next studio album, “Achtung Baby” in 1991.
Regardless, Rattle and Hum is a great album, well worth a listen. The collaboration with other artists is worth special attention, as is its examination of the way that modern rock finds its roots in the delta blues.
Friend of the show Greg Lyon sits in for Wayne, while Rob brings us this hybrid album for today's podcast.
Angel of Harlem
When Love Comes to Town
All Along the Watchtower
Pride (In the Name of Love)
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Iko Iko by The Belle Stars (from the motion picture “Rain Man”)
STAFF PICKS:
Kiss by Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones
She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals
Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Great White
What I Am by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Sunset Road by Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
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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.
Every Picture Tells a Story is a great name for Rod Stewart's third solo studio album. The songs consist of solid storytelling, using mixture of original and cover tracks to paint a mosaic of life, love, and loss. This album would mark the transition of Stewart from a solid rock vocalist to an A-list performer. Every Picture Tells a Story hit the top of the album charts in both the US and the UK, and its blend of rock, blues, and folk music would have a staying power over the decades. Supposedly the album was compiled on a shoestring budget, and consists of a number of songs paired with extended jams.
Stewart compiled this album during his tenure as front man for the Faces, and all five members of that group appear on the album. Because of contractual obligations at the time, the personnel listing on each track is a bit vague, but it is possible that all five members were on the recording of "(I Know) I'm Losing You."
The first single released from the album was "Reason to Believe," which was a cover of Tim Hardin's 1966 song. But the B-side of that album would be the one that would cause Rod Stewart to become a breakthrough success. That song, written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, was "Maggie May." The album would top the charts, and would be a noticeable success on the year-end charts of the Billboard 200 albums in 1971 (#35) and 1972 (#65), while taking the number 2 spot for the UK album charts in 1971. Not bad for a soccer player who wasn't able to go pro!
Rob brings us the bluesy album for this week's podcast.
(I Know) I'm Losing You
That's Alright/Amazing Grace
Every Picture Tells a Story
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from the television comedy "Green Acres"
STAFF PICKS:
Don't Pull Your Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
It's Too Late by Carole King
Charity Ball by Fanny
If Not for You by Olivia Newton John
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Milky Way by Weather Report
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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.
Guns N' Roses had established themselves as top tier Rock artists in the mid through late 80's, and it had been three years without an album release by the time we rolled around to 1991. The band got its start in 1985 when members of the band L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose decided to combine. They released their debut album, "Appetite for Destruction" in 1987, which originally received disappointing sales, but which built over the next year to mainstream success. Their second album, "G N" R Lies" was a short album released at the end of 1988 which combined an earlier E.P. with some acoustic tracks.
The anticipation for Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II was incredibly high by the time these albums dropped simultaneously in September 1991. Over 500,000 copies of the albums were sold in the first two hours of their release. With each album having a run time of over 70 minutes, the quantity of material dwarfs that of their previous 33-minute album.
Use Your Illusion I is generally considered the heavier rocking album of the two, as guitarist Izzy Stradlin contributed more of the songwriting to that album than to Use Your Illusion II.
Many speculate that the two albums were recorded and released simultaneously because the band was on the verge of falling apart at any time, and it was important to get the material out quickly before the band "blew up." Whether this was true or not, the band certainly did have their share of problems staying together. They would release an album of punk covers in 1993 called "The Spaghetti Incident?" before much of the band - including Slash and Izzy Stradlin - would depart.
Lynch brings us a double helping of Guns N' Roses with these simultaneously-released albums for today's podcast.
November Rain
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
You Could Be Mine
Don't Cry
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the motion picture “The Addams Family”
STAFF PICKS:
The Only One I Know by The Charlatans UK
Why Should I Cry for You? by Sting
Texarkana by R.E.M.
Into the Great Wide Open by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Trademark by Eric Johnson
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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.
Neil Young's most successful solo album is also considered his signature album. Harvest was Young's fourth solo studio album, and it topped the Billboard 200 chart in the US for two weeks while also spawning two top 40 singles.
Young grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, and began playing and songwriting there in several groups. His first success as a songwriter came for a song he wrote for The Guess Who which made it to the top 40 in Canada. He was in the Mynah Birds, a Toronto group fronted by a young Rick James. The Mynah Birds were attempting to get signed by Motown when James was arrested for being AWOL from the Navy reserves. Shortly after this, Neil Young and bassist Bruce Palmer sold the group's equipment, bought a hearse, and used it to move to Los Angeles. He then worked as a session musician and a member of Buffalo Springfield before striking out on his own solo work while also joining Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Harvest was written after an acoustic tour the previous year, a tour prompted by a back injury Young sustained that required him to play sitting down for an extended time. The album contains significant acoustic elements, as several tracks he played on that tour would appear on the album. Many of the lyrics are related to Young's growing relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress. Young was a success before recording this album, and was able to bring in a number of session musicians on several tracks including Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Surprisingly, the album met mixed reviews when released, though over time the critics' assessments would turn much more positive. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015.
Wayne brings us this California country-tinged album for this week's podcast.
Heart of Gold
Old Man
Alabama
The Needle and the Damage Done
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Cabaret by Liza Minnelli (from the motion picture “Cabaret”)
STAFF PICKS:
Mother and Child Reunion by Paul Simon
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony) by the New Seekers
Let's Stay Together by Al Green
Do You Know What I Mean by Lee Michaels
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Joy (feat. Tom Parker) by Apollo 100
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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.
Nothing Like the Sun, or as it is written on the album, "...Nothing Like the Sun," is the second solo studio album by former Police bassist and front man Sting. The title comes from Shakespeare's sonnet number 130 which contains the lines, "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun." Sting was met on the street one evening, who asked him, "How beautiful is the moon?" Sting responded with this line from the sonnet.
Two events play a lot of influence on this album. First, Sting's mother died in 1986, inspiring the lyrics to the opening track, "Lazarus Heart." Second Sting joined the Conspiracy of Hope tour for Amnesty International, and through this tour was exposed to victims of government oppression in Latin America. He was particularly moved by people in Chile for whom loved ones had "disappeared" in government actions, and wrote "They Dance Alone" as a description of the mourners who would dance the traditional Cueca by themselves with a picture of their loved ones pinned to their clothes.
Sting's first solo album leaned into jazz. This second album continues to have a jazz influence but reaches across a number of other genres including reggae, funk, acoustic rock, soft rock, and world music. He brought in a number of solid musicians into the recording sessions including Gil Evans, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Branford Marsalis, and even his fellow Police alumnus Andy Summers
Sting would continue to further success after this album, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart. In the UK, ...Nothing Like the Sun debuted and peaked at number 1 on the UK albums chart.
Bruce presents this adult contemporary album for this week's podcast.
Be Still My Beating Heart
Little Wing
Rock Steady
Fragile
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
That's Amore by Dean Martin (from the motion picture “Moonstruck”)
STAFF PICKS:
The Promise by When In Rome
Got My Mind Set On You by George Harrison
Dude (Looks Like a Lady) by Aerosmith
Mission by Rush
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Bailando/Aquatic Park by Carlos Santana
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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.
1990 is an odd time for a hard rock band from the late 70's to make a comeback. Hair metal was declining rapidly, and music that would form the grunge movement was percolating up in the pacific northwest. But that is exactly what AC/DC did with their album The Razors Edge. The album reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 4 on the UK albums chart, and it would become AC/DC's third highest selling album behind “Back in Black” and “High Voltage.”
After concluding their 1988 world tour the band had some changes and interruptions. Drummer Simon Wright left the group to join Dio, and was replaced by Chris Slade who would be with the group until 1994. Front man and songwriter Brian Johnson took some time off to finalize his divorce, which left brothers Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar and backing vocals) and Angus Young (lead guitar) to write all the songs for the album. They would continue to be the songwriters for the band through 2020.
Critical reviews of the album were mixed, with negative comments revolving around the idea that this album was nothing new for the band. With the benefit of hindsight it may be that the consistency with AC/DC's previous works is actually a strength of the album. In a period of big shifts in rock music, AC/DC provided a point of stability and a return to hard rock origins.
Friend of the show Julie Doran joins us to bring us this high energy hard rock masterpiece with Rob.
Are You Ready
Thunderstruck
Moneytalks
The Razors Edge
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Mel Torme (from the motion picture "Home Alone")
STAFF PICKS:
Keep On Loving Me Baby by Colin James
Chain of Fools by Little Caesar
Diabolic Tastemaker by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies
If You Needed Somebody by Bad Company
Been Caught Stealing by Jane's Addiction
COMEDY TRACK:
Do the Bartman by The Simpsons
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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.
By the mid-70's the Beach Boys appeared to be a band that had been left behind. Sales had been only moderate for their previous albums, and the band was struggling to determine their direction musically. In the summer of 1973 the movie "American Graffiti" featured several Beach Boys songs, creating nostalgia for the earlier surfing music.
Between the revived interest sparked by "American Graffiti" and the success of the Beatles "Red" and "Blue" compilation albums, the Beach Boys released a collection of hits from their early 60's catalogue called Endless Summer. This featured songs from their Capitol Records days, 1962-1965. It was a near-instant success reaching the top of the charts in the United States four months after its release, and becoming their second number 1 album on the US charts.
After the success of Endless Summer, the Beach Boys would reposition themselves as an oldies act, continuing in this vein for many years. Brian Wilson would pen one further Beach Boys studio album in 1977 which would meet with meager sales. Afterwards the band would focus on their classics until seeing a resurgence in the late 80's generated from another popular film, Tom Cruise's "Cocktail"
Wayne brings us this surfin' themed compilation for this week's podcast.
Catch A Wave
Little Deuce Coupe
Shut Down
Fun, Fun, Fun
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Uptown Saturday Night by Dobie Gray (from the motion picture “Uptown Saturday Night”)
STAFF PICKS:
The Joker by the Steve Miller Band
The Air that I Breathe by the Hollies
Hollywood Swinging by Kool & the Gang
Rock and Roll Heaven by The Righteous Brothers
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Chameleon by Herbie Hancock
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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.
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.
Disclaimer: What the Riff?!? is a music commentary and review podcast that highlights classic rock music through historical context, personal insights, and artist appreciation. We do not claim ownership of the songs featured, which remain the property of the original artists and rights holders. All music is used under the Fair Use doctrine for purposes of criticism, commentary, and education. We encourage our listeners to support the artists by purchasing and streaming their music legally.

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