Professor of Rock

Coming up… it’s a countdown of the Top 5 hit resurrections of the Rock Era! These are the songs that made it into the upper reaches of the charts not once, but twice—on separate campaigns. Our list includes a Queen song about a homicidal cowboy that lingered in a legend's mind for years before being recorded, a Righteous Brothers track where the lead vocal was decided by a coin toss, a controversial Benny Mardones ballad about a 16-year-old that had radio programmers sweating, a Prince song so ingeniously full of metaphors, it managed to slip by the moral majority, and a timeless classic sung by Chubby Checker who cut the session short because he to go race back to his house and do his homework. The countdown is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You won't believe today's story. The story of the hit rock classic Kryptonite straight from the band, 3 Doors Down. When today’s lead singer Brad Arnold was 15 years old, he was in the middle of his high school math class bored as could be. And so he wrote a song called Kryptonite. That song would later be recorded by his band 3 Doors Down, made up of his school chums. And then they would beg the local radio station for a year to play their rough demo. When the radio station finally did, Kryptonite blew up and went to #1. One day Brad was driving a forklift and virtually the next day he was at #1. And it would launch of the most successful rock bands of their time. And it all came from a silly song he wrote in math class as a freshman… Coming up next, the interview and story from two of the nicest guys in rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, interviews with two legends that we’ve lost over the last few years. One was one of the most successful songwriters in history: Lamont Dozier. Giving Lennon and McCartney all the competition they could handle at their peak. And another was Duke Fakir, the last remaining member of the hall-of-fame music group the Four Tops. Together they tell the story behind several of their biggest hits including their first #1 I Can’t Help Myself (Sugarpie Honeybunch), which came from this famous songwriter’s grandpa and the pet names he used to FLIRT with the women who would come by to get their hair cut by his wife…After it hit #1 the band’s former label put out their early material to capitalize on their popularity and steal their new label’s thunder. So The Tops needed a good follow-up single to head off the threat. And so they took this I Can’t Help Myself and played it backwards putting new lyrics to it. Then the named it The Same Old Song. It hit the top 5 and was almost a carbon copy! See what I mean next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a snapshot of international supergroup ABBA in 1976, with two massive hits on the horizon... Fernando and Dancing Queen. Yet they made a choice no one saw coming. Fernando was a reworking of a song originally written by ABBA's manager for one of their singer’s solo careers. The principal writers of ABBA wanted the band to record it but they didn’t care for his lyrics. So they rewrote it. The other song Dancing Queen was inspired by a smash that opened the gates for an entire musical movement and later science would prove that it is the happiest song ever recorded. … But Why did This Group pick one song over the other? And what impact did it have on their legacy? We explore the surprising decision to sit on a song that made one of their lead singers burst into tears because She knew would be their biggest hit in favor of another more complex one… that may have been code for a man who saved them from an earthquake …Huh? Don’t worry you’ll get it soon… It's next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Be sure to use my code ROCK100 to get free steaks for a year + $100 off your box! This offer expires soon, so don’t miss out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Support the amazing mission of Parks Project and be sure to check out the Red Hot Chili Peppers Collection here: https://bit.ly/ParksProject_ProfessorofRock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next… REO Speedwagon's I Can't Fight This Feeling was a classic #1 that took 10 years to get together. It sat on the shelf for a decade because today’s legendary guest Kevin Cronin had no clue how to finish it. He had no idea what the song meant.. so one day, desperate for a hit and desperate to finish it, Kevin decided to bring in another iconic singer-songwriter to help him. But right before he was supposed to come, this singer got pissed. What the hell does this song mean… And in that second, Kevin realized that the opening line should be the chorus and title of the song and it all came together…what had taken 10 years now took mere minutes to finish and it became a #1 smash…but Kevin admits that He has taken a lot of Crap over the years for a cheesy lyrics that still haunts him. Get the hilarious story straight from the icon next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next we’re going to Go Go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1987. One of my favorite years in music. 37 years ago. We are going to re-rank them based on their performance since then and you’ll be shocked at what artists we have interviews with trickled in. Who do you think has the #1 song? George Michael, Guns N Roses, Sting, or Belinda Carlisle, Let’s find out… Well, we’re going to find out that Payola stopped a couple of great bands from going top 10 like Pink Floyd’s Learning to Fly and the Cure's Just Like Heaven. But today we right that wrong and we see what the real top 10 is. Today on the Hit Song Redux. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Make sure to get Bad Company on vinyl and listen to it here: https://lnk.to/BCHifi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s episode is a bottled lightning two-for-one. Singer Freddy Curci had Two chart-topping tracks though his bands vanished into thin air shortly after. One with the band Sheriff called When I’m With You went to #1 in 1989 and one with Alias called More Than Words Can Say that hit #2 the very next year in 1990. So two massive hits with the same singer but two completely different bands.. He also set a Guinness World Record when he held the last note out for nearly 20 seconds. He had a #1 hit in 1989 and then another million seller the very next year. It’s a lot to unravel, but it’s really cool. We’re bringing you the rare story of two bands, one singer, and two-1 hit wonders, coming up... NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next iconic singer-songwriter Johnny Rzeznik shares the story of one of the biggest songs in history: Iris. He was going through one of the worst periods of his live. Johnny was in the middle of a heartbreaking divorce. He had a horrible case of writer’s block and he was so low he was on the verge of quitting his own band, the Goo Goo Dolls. He felt hopeless. So he left his home in New York and ran away to Los Angeles to hide away from it all, holding up in a hotel. Just then a major film, City of Angels, recruited Rzeznik to write a song for the soundtrack and that's when inspiration struck. He felt the song Iris coming through him when he broke 2 strings on his guitar. He just kept playing through the adversity because he knew he had something special. When it was done, Johnny knew he just written a smash… it was touched by a higher power especially when he recorded it. Iris would become one of the biggest songs ever and save his career and his life. Up next this legend shares the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In ’66, the Beatles introduced the world to a character so mysterious, that her name alone sparked curiosity and speculation... Eleanor Rigby. Who was she? Where did she come from? And why did she captivate the imagination of millions? This haunting, string-laden track from a seminal album wasn't just a song—it was the beginning of a musical enigma. Did Paul McCartney make up the name or did he steal it from a gravestone? And who wrote the song? The most famous songwriting duo ever - Lennon-McCartney - got into a nasty argument through the press about it. The story is coming up, NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get up to 47% off the best holiday gift using my link: https://ridge.com/professorofrock Sponsored by Ridge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Steve Miller's career was on the ropes before it even started… he had 7 consecutive albums that flopped… If his next one wasn’t a hit the label was gonna get rid of him and his career would likely be over. Miller was desperate for a hit. A short time later he would write a song that he thought was just ok… The Joker. But it was hilariously unique in its lingo… with words and phrases that we still sing today, and a guitar effect that truly set it apart. Steve Miller thought The Joker would be a decent album track, whereas the suits from his label were predicting it would be a smash… It went to #1 and had a lyric that Miller has sung incorrectly for decades because he took it from another song. But he misheard it and then 16 years after it was #1 it went to the top spot again after being used in a Levi’s commercial… It's the story of The Joker, the song that gave Steve Miller his first gold record which he put above his washing machine! Find out why next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the commercial world of music, not every great song gets the spotlight it deserves. Some tracks, though overshadowed by their chart-topping counterparts, stand the test of time just as powerfully… Songs that are ‘just as good,’ if not better, than the hits that stole the limelight… From underrated classics to fan favorites, today we are gonna uncover the magic behind these unsung songs from some of the greatest artists of all time like The Beatles, Don McLean, Crowded House, and the Beach Boys. Including a song that was on its way to #1 but the genius behind it had the song completely stop for 5 seconds and DJs hated dead air so they stopped playing it. AS WELL AS A SONG THAT had an iconic gruff male vocalist sing from the perspective of an old woman and it’s awesome, plus a song that makes women’s hearts swoon and grown men cry, including interviews with some of the artists. NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, one of the greatest singers of the rock era, Daryl Hall tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits. He was in one of the most famous twosomes in rock history, Daryl Hall and John Oates and he drops a bomb in the interview. Daryl Hall never really collaborated with his Duo partner John Oates. . Find out more in the interview also he tells the story of using a Boy Scout canteen to come up with the iconic percussion sound on the 80s classic, Method of Modern Love the same song that taught some of us how to spell! He also tells the story of being involved in the largest gathering of legends ever to sing a #1 hit WE are the World, that he described as like going back to the 8th-grade choir and the song that he gave away to an old school band but their producer gave it back saying to him: are you crazy you can’t give away this song in Out of Touch as It’s a smash…He was right it became this legend’s final #1 hit! The stories are coming up on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Eva Boyd wasn’t a singer, and had never earned a penny performing…She was a babysitter! And she hadn’t even been filling those duties for long. But when an emerging songwriting couple, Gerry Goffin and Carol King, handed her a song called Loco-motion that they’d written for somebody else and was rejected, she agreed to give it a try. What happened next was nothing short of remarkable. With one joyful, unpolished take, Loc-motion became an unstoppable hit, sparking a dance craze and launching an unlikely sensation. This song would not only hit #1 but It would be a hit over and over again for many different artists over the next few decades. Get this… Loco-motion was a #1 hit 4 times! A rock band and two foreign acts would all take it to the top of the charts. This is the story of how a household helper became star—and, ohhhh how quickly a star can fade. The chronicle of this bittersweet journey and the anthem that outlived it all is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready for a journey back to the '80s, when artists weren't afraid to join forces in unexpected and unforgettable ways. On this edition of Professor of Rock, we’re counting down the Top 5 Most Interesting Duets of the neon decade—From surprising combinations to boundary-pushing sounds, in one strange duet a legend thought the demo of the eventual #1 song was dreadful and had no desire to record the song within the same room as his counterpart… in another song the legendary duet partners only had a few hours to record their song working against a non-negotiable deadline…and then to make matters worse, a famous diva wanted the male singer’s part so he had to come up with a whole new take. and in yet another one a legend had to call his wife to get permission to hug his female partner. I’ll also give you make pick for the worst duet ever…Great stories coming up next! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Imagine a smoky studio… late in the evening. One of the most celebrated bands of the Rock Era the Rolling Stones are restless, searching for a sound, an edge that will take them into the next phase of their career. And then, all of a sudden they heard a ruckus out the window. It was the mysterious figure of a guy jumping in and out of view. Was it a criminal? Was it a peeping tom… Nope, it was the gardener. A strange dude who not only inspired the Stones' new sound but one of the great rock songs ever from that kooky gardener the song came to life—a track so raw and charged with mystery, it felt like it was conjured from another realm. Who was this shadowy figure, and how did he ignite a rock 'n' roll ritual that would leave an indelible mark? In this episode, we reveal the untold origins of the masterpiece... Jumpin' Jack Flash. But who really wrote the music? Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are credited, but a few others from the band have a different story. Also what happened to the gardener after? Find out next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s song Bette Davis Eyes was recorded several times and didn’t go anywhere… in 1974 it was released and was a total flop. It was written about an old-time movie star that the newer generation didn’t really know. 5 years later it was re-recorded with a completely different arrangement… adding an undeniable 80s synth line with a voice so raspy everyone mistook the singer for Rod Stewart… only it was a woman: Kim Carnes. With her distinct voice, the song spread like wildfire. It hit the #1 spot for 9 weeks and became the biggest song of the year and one of the biggest of the decade. It was so big. Its success was impossible to duplicate. A true bottled lightning classic. When it was on top of the world, the legendary actress Bette Davis had no idea about it, since she didn’t listen to the radio. The only way she found out was when her grandchildren told her. Even though she’d been in over 100 films it was this song that made her grandkids think she was cool! A great story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It finally happened! Seventeen years in the making, and 41 years after the song was released the search for the internet’s most notorious lost song has come to an end. Dubbed the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet, the song's real name is Subways of Your Mind. Song detectives have been chasing clues for this one for a long time. And I’m not going to lie, the reveal to this one completely lives up to the hype. If you’re in need of a feel good story with happy ending today, then this is your episode. You’ll be smiling from ear to ear when you hear about the origins of this famous undiscovered track. And you’ll fall in love with the band who wrote it, they are called FEX. These guys are the real deal. It’s a comeback story the likes of which has never been told before. The details of a lost band, their lost drummer, and the identity of an unknown mixtape track recorded in the 80s have all finally been revealed. You’re going to love this one… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1984 two Brothers Neil and Tim Finn found themselves at a crossroads. Their band Split Enz, which had a bit of success on one side of the ocean broke up coming short of the goals they’d set to make it in the States. They were ready to quit the business, but a year later they formed a new band called Crowded House and dug down deep to create their debut album. They knew they had something special but when the first 3 singles flopped, failing to chart, they thought it was over… but then a funny thing happened, their record label put out a fourth single Don't Dream It's Over and it scorched the charts becoming one of the biggest songs of 1987 with a message so unifying and enduring, many legends have since said it’s the one song they wish they’d written. Up next the singer and writer of the song Neil Finn tells me the story of this classic song that has a shocking double meaning and made this band arguably the greatest 2 hit wonder of the 80s in America at least. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On his way back from Europe, one of rock’s greatest icons Bob Dylan was emotionally drained—disillusioned to the point of nearly quitting music altogether. When Dylan got back home, he started pouring those raw emotions onto paper, not thinking about a song, just scribbling his frustrations across 10, maybe 20 pages. He stashed it away, thinking it was just scattered ramblings. But those words didn’t stay hidden for long. They took shape, emerging as an unfiltered, six-minute epic: Like a Rolling Stone. A song too explosive to fit the industry’s clean-cut molds. Radio stations and record execs were baffled, but then… something completely unexpected happened. The artist had created more than just a song…He had created a cultural earthquake! This song made Bob Dylan an unlikely inspiration for Jimi Hendrix, who before hearing it considered himself a guitarist but not a singer. Dylan proved you didn't need a conventional voice to sing rock and roll. later the original lyrics sold for 2 million... The story is next, on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next… the second part of my interview with everybody’s favorite jokester Weird Al Yankovic! This time around he tells the story of doing weeks of research on a funny animal to nail a classic 80s parody I Want a New Duck. As well as the time he tried to get legendary guitarist Mark Knopfler to approve a comedy version of his famous 1985 hit Money for Nothing. Mark hemmed and hawed and finally agreed to it if he got to come in and play the guitar part and as it turns out, his own guitarist played it better.. find out why next. As well as how Madonna begged Al to make fun of her song even giving him the song title Like a Surgeon and how a pizza delivery guy talked him into letting him be his famous 1988 music video. All of these great stories are coming up next in our exclusive interview next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COMING up next, the last extensive interview iconic 80s singer Tony Lewis of The Outfield gave before he passed away. I was fortunate to speak to him about one of the most beloved songs of the 80s Your Love. He said when he and his guitarist wrote the opening line they knew life was about to change in a big way. It might be the most memorable opening line of the entire decade sung by one of the most under-appreciated singers of the 80s. After they wrote that line the song came effortlessly in about 15 minutes, and the song took them to the top of the charts. A couple of working-class buddies were soon surpassing the Madonnas, Whitney Houstons and ZZ Tops of the chart... the story is coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, today we’ve got something of an unusual show lined up for you. This one is going to be a little weird, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun. You know in the past we’ve told plenty of stories of songs that started off in unexpected and unconventional ways. From vampires to pillow fights to hymn books and kung fu confrontations… the inspiration for a hit song can really come from anywhere. And for this episode, we’re leaning into that idea as we feature three solo artists, Tina Turner, Kate Bush, and Cyndi Lauper who broke out in the 80s thanks to some really off-the-wall inspirations… I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but be ready for a role-reversal stripper, some flatulence used for sound effects, and a trip to the grown-up section of the magazine rack to write a song no female had ever attempted. We’ve got the top 3 strangest 80s song stories coming your way … NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up one of rock greatest vocalists Ann Wilson of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Heart tells the first-hand account of a song that has become part of classic rock folklore, the 70s classic Barracuda. Her record label Mushroom set up a publicity stunt that and a radio promoter harassed her about implying a sexual relationship with her sister Nancy Wilson. She was so outraged. She was so livid she went straight to her hotel room and wrote this seething rock masterpiece. This rocker tells us the story as well as several original members Steve Fossan and Michael Derosier and how guitarist Nancy Wilson pissed the band Nazareth off when she admitted to borrowing their riff when Heart was opening for them early on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with one of the greatest, most legendary singer-songwriters of the rock era, Elvis Costello… on his breakthrough Watching the Detectives, a song that took him to the masses, and an in-depth look at one of his finest albums My Aim is True. Costello stayed up for 36 hours straight to write this iconic song coming from insomnia, a lot of coffee, and a debut album of a band that would be his inspiration but was also a rival. It would jumpstart the career of one of music’s greatest writers culminating years later when he would sit eyeball to eyeball with Paul McCartney and write over a dozen songs that impressed the former Beatle so much he said it was the closest he’d felt to writing with John Lennon since his death. You gotta see this interview, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next two principals from the classic Reggae group UB40, original singer Ali Campbell and toaster the late Astro tell us the compelling story of a song that took 5 years to get to #1! Red Red Wine was originally composed and sung by Neil Diamond. In 1983 Red Red Wine went to the top of the charts in the UK but stalled at #34 in America then 5 years later a DJ played it by accident confusing this band with another one and people started requesting it. Other stations followed suit and it went viral before the internet. Word of mouth took it to #1. Now all these years later UB40 has broken up into two different bands using the same name! Ali’s brother took over the other group and they’re rivals. Find out the story of the song and the latest from this legendary group who had another #1 hit in the 90s with the Elvis cover, Can’t Help Falling in Love next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the story of Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, a song that was featured in the blockbuster movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves... despite efforts by the record company and the film studio to bury it. The label warned Bryan Adams that the song would ruin his career, and the film studio tried to hide it, tucking it away in the end credits like a guilty secret. Yet somehow, this single defied all the naysayers to become one of the most successful tracks of the Rock Era. One that I have loathed since I first heard it, but I’m listening to it with an open mind… Let’s see if I can be converted as I tell the history and listen to it from a new perspective. The ironic and remarkable journey of this smash hit is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Tommy James had dabbled in a lot of different styles to great effect. But then he rolled out of bed one day with an incredible song idea that would turn into Crimson and Clover. He would take the idea down a road of musical experimentation, unlike any song before it... from an ethereal vocal that sounded like it was from another dimension. Tommy put his two favorite words together for the chorus which people thought had a profound message even though it meant nothing. As he created layers of immaculate sounds and off-the-wall lyrics it all came together around a cool guitar effect that’s the grand result was a sound unlike anything that had ever been on the radio. What’s crazy is that Tommy made the demo in a couple of hours, but it was raw and uneven. He planned to finish it later but he was so excited about it that he showed it to a New York DJ. When Tommy got in his car to leave the station, he was shocked to hear his song coming out of his speakers The DJ was playing his rough demo without his consent. Turns out the DJ had recorded it, unbeknownst to Tommy, and played it. Well, the cat was out of the bag and it immediately went crazy, hitting #1 overnight. Up next icon Tommy James tells the story of Crimson and Clover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up. We’re going back to the days of the cassettes and compact discs to feature a mammoth-sized band. One that has delivered some of the most ramped-up rockers of the 20th century as well as six multi-platinum albums to start their career. I'm talking about Van Halen. Only after that, the band lost their larger-than-life frontman, David Lee Roth. But resilient as they were brilliant, Eddie Van Halen and crew recruited a new lead singer, Sammy Hagar, who took them higher and higher with hits like “Finish What You Started, Dreams, Love Walks In, the Best Of Both Worlds, When it’s Love and Right Now Van Halen is a textbook case of how to thrive after losing your main man behind the mic. Not many bands have done it. But this version 2.0 outfit did. Today we’re telling the stories behind the most compelling tracks from Van Halen’s second life. Get ready for Lamborghini’s, naked songwriting sessions, interrupted intimate moments, and long walks on the beach. Plus, we’ll hear these stories straight from Sammy Hagar himself… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the middle of the most innovative time in music history, today’s classic hit White Room by Cream composed of Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce was 5 years ahead of its time. And the amazing lyrics came from one of those ‘gut check’ moments in life when a person faces great adversity or despair. This episode is about one of those critical life-changing events... With one foot in the grave, professional lyricist Pete Brown was in the midst of fighting a chemical addiction when He wrote a poem about his apartment. A poem about real estate. Then one of rock’s greatest trios Cream took that poem, cut it down, and added their heavy touch to the song to make a smash in the late 60s... influencing both Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, pretty much inventing heavy metal. The problem is the three members of Cream could not stand each other. In fact, the singer was fired one night on his way to the stage and the band secretly broke up before White Room was even a hit. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the story of Wooly Bully, a song that has conquered every aspect of our culture. From movies to TV to cover songs by some of the biggest artists in history to bringing humor to U.S. soldiers escaping from the drudgery of the Vietnam War. It’s a track from a band that many of us wrongly assume is a one-hit-wonder: Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. It’s a song loaded with hilarious, off-the-cuff moments from the recording studio and many listeners and DJs thought the song was code for sex or something even dirtier. But the singer claims the strange title was his cat’s name... Wooly Bully was what the business calls a “novelty track,” but even without lyrical substance, it was the first single to sell over a million copies during the British Invasion and the first song in history to barely miss the #1 spot and yet still finish ahead of every band and artist of that year including the Beatles and the Stones as the #1 song of the year. Details of this tantalizing party ditty that shockingly outperformed some of the biggest songs in music history are NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with one of the most underrated singers of his time… Peter Cox of the band Go West. He fronted Go West since the 80s and this duo killed it on the other side of the Atlantic while making some inroads here in the States with their 1985 hit We Close Our Eyes. But then at the turn of the decade, they blew up the charts with a heart-wrenching vocal performance on a song that came from the biggest movie of that year 1990. The song was King of Wishful Thinking for the Pretty Woman soundtrack and to think that the song title came from a random comment they heard at a bar! The second he wrote the song, I mean the moment Cox put his pen down he knew it would be a smash hit. Then they immediately had another huge hit and then they never touched the charts again. This is one you gotta see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, ee go behind the TOP 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1976. 48 years ago. Then we re rank them based on their legacy since that week. including songs by the babd Heart, Chicago, the Bee Gees, Gordon Lighfoot and the Steve Miller band, as well as one of the worst songs ever ? Let's take a walk down memory lane! What do you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, a special episode of The Professor of Rock. We have 2 legends on today’s show, Elvis Costello and Paul Carrack, telling the story of one of the greatest songs of all time: Tempted by Squeeze. It’s one of the most well-known classics of the 80s but… it wasn’t actually a hit. It stopped just sort of the top 40. Tempted was recorded by Squeeze's longtime lead singer Glen Tilbrook and then out of nowhere a legendary artist, Elvis Costello, who the band brought in to produce the record felt the song wasn’t quite right. So, Costello, had the whole thing re-recorded and used a newcomer to the band who was hired to replace their long-time keyboardist… and maybe add some background vocals from time to time: Paul Carrack. Tilbrook was Pissed. Not only had he co-written the song but he had a great voice. But Elvis took a chance on Paul and he nailed it. And one iconic line from Tempted became so popular that fans threw toothbrushes on stage at the band whenever it was performed. We have the story from the legendary producer icon who made the controversial decision and the backup singer-keyboardist who made the song iconic next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the unpredictable story behind the Monkees feel-good anthem that almost didn’t happen: Daydream Believer. The songwriter nearly gave up on finishing it, nobody wanted to record it, and when The Monkees finally did, the vocalist Davy Jones was so frustrated with multiple takes, he almost told the producer to shove it. The only reason Daydream Believer became a single in the first place is because the intended A-side wasn’t ready for release! And then Davy had such a hard time reading the lyrics sheet, he sang the wrong words…It’s another crazy journey of twists and turns that was the legacy of one of the biggest hits of the Rock Era, NEXT… on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… we’re counting down the Top 5 Most Overplayed Rock Songs—the ones we all know by heart, are tired of, but we still love them whether we want to or not. We’re not stopping there. We’re also introducing the 5 underrated gems from Journey, Zeppelin, Queen, Eagles, and Bon Jovi to replace the old guard at least for a little while... These are songs by the same artists that deserve their shot in the spotlight and can give those overplayed tracks a well-deserved break. Including a song that’s the most played song in FM Radio history but was never released as a single being replaced by a song that a legendary band did after a rival legend said all they do is heavy rock songs. This is gonna be a fun, spirited discussion on a topic that we’ve all thought about, but maybe felt it was sacrilege to say out loud. We’re gonna start a rock n’ roll revelation NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, it’s the story of Tom Petty, a songwriter who risked everything to take down a cheating record company... His finances, his reputation, his future in music, even his mental health… a corrupt label had stolen all of it. Tom took a major risk that could’ve cost him his career. But the alternative was something much worse, working under a dishonest contract that was more or less musical servitude. Going bankrupt in the process, Tom Petty took his label to court while at the same time writing and recording what many consider to be his masterpiece album: Damn the Torpedos. And along with it Refugee, the scorching rocker that history would never forget. It took 80 takes to get down right. Find out how it all played out…with a special interview NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up we’re talking about some strange bedfellows… There have definitely been some unusual collaborations throughout the Rock Era. And this one between Rush and Aimee Mann definitely qualifies. During the 70s progressive rock and punk were at polar ends of the musical spectrum. But by the 80s, both genres were evolving… with Prog-rock becoming more bite-sized and punk going post-punk and new wave. Still when today’s Prog-rock titans Rush invited rookie new wave singer-songwriter Aimee Mann of Til Tuesday to collaborate with them on their song Time Stand Still… it was a match no one could have predicted. In fact, this was the band's first and only collaboration with another lead vocalist. Ever. Very out of character for Rush. And even better Aimee Mann had never heard the band before… And yet, the collaboration was a smashing success. Aimee's vocal cameo was phenomenal and she took this song to another level, which leads to the real discussion. Rush might be the only band with ZERO FEMALE FANS. Find out why NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For years rock legend Ozzy Osbourne had been fighting a losing battle against alcoholism and substance abuse. He was always a controversial figure in rock, but in the late 80s, his personal demons took over. In a drunken act, he would forever regret, Ozzy went completely off the rails and almost killed his wife. The next thing he knew, he was waking up in a jail cell charged with attempted murder. How can anyone come back from something like that? Well, today we’re telling the unbelievable story of how he did. And how it all relates to Mama I'm Coming Home, a hit song he wrote for his wife that launched an impossible comeback. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next an interview with one of the greatest, most legendary singer-songwriters of the rock era... Sting! We discuss a few of his biggest hits ever and he’s had a lot of them with both The Police and his solo career. We separate fact from fiction on some of the stories that have circulated about them... including one of the first songs he wrote about a girl he was in love with, but didn’t know he existed... the song would take many years to finally get a release and it went to the top of the charts and then many years after that Sting actually married the song’s muse! We also get the story of the massive hit Wrapped Around Your Finger, a song that used several words that have never been used before or after in a hit song... Plus If You Love Somebody Set Them Free, the song he wrote as an antidote to his earlier #1 hit Every Breath You Take. It’s a great interview and it’s next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re telling the tale of a misunderstood sibling rivalry between Paul McCartney and John Lennon. We’re talking two legendary singer-songwriters who were the driving engines behind one of Music’s most legendary bands The Beatles… until it all fell apart. And yeah, it was one hell of a fallout. And that’s where we’re going with today’s episode, the aftermath and all its wreckage. As Paul and John went solo, a war of words ensued through their music… songwriting skirmishes and potshots launched via lyrics. Including some low blows. But was it really as bad as it seemed? The answer may surprise you. Today, it’s an all-out, free-for-all, “tell us how you really feel” songwriting slugfest and a multi-song episode that proves that the pen is mightier than the sword… Would there be a happy ending? Find out NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an underrated treasure of the 70s and 80s, Dan Hartman, who wrote and performed one of the most ear-candied, hook-laden classics of 1984: I Can Dream About You. This song might be the best-kept secret of that year. It’s the one song that takes me right back to the 80s more than about any song from the decade, a true sonic time machine. And interestingly Dan Hartman actually wrote it for one of the biggest acts of the decade, Daryl Hall and John Oates. But they had to turn it down because it missed the deadline for their new album. So Dan basically impersonated this group and recorded it the way he thought they would. And I tell you, I Can Dream About You was so spot on to that to this day many people mistake it for Hall and Oates. It ended up being the main song for a film that flopped in its theatrical run but has become a cult classic. Stay tuned for the story of a classic on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the story of a band that just might be the greatest rock group you’ve never heard of… Often compared to Led Zeppelin, and sometimes Triumph, this band called Zebra had a unique blend of rock influences that set them apart and gave them their own unmistakable edge. For nearly a decade, Zebra battled to make their mark, and when they finally broke through, it seemed like luck was on their side. With a debut album that sold 600K with rock hits like Who’s Behind the Door and Tell me What you want. Everyone thought they’d be the next great rock band. But as the plot thickened… a sudden turn of misfortune changed everything for this band, and their ascension was cut short. A slow rise to fame followed by a swift fall from greatness—is coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The J. Geils band paid their dues for over a decade on the road. They released 9 albums and not one was a hit, 11 singles with not one MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH… By the early 80s this hard-working, well-respected band was overdue for a breakout. Then all of the sudden in 1982 they were the toast of the charts with one of the biggest hits of the year: Centerfold. But the song wasn’t without controversy. Centerfold spent six weeks at the high-water mark and it was about a dirty magazine... yet it was so catchy everyone was singing it. Hell, I even got kicked out of Church for singing it. Then the band had a second straight smash hit Freeze Frame before completely disappearing from radio! Up next the story of the mysterious The J. Geils Band and their risque hit... and what the heck happened to them next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…we uncover the story of the New Radicals' "You Get What You Give" a 1998 hit that took shots at healthcare giants, the banking industry, and corporate oppression. A PROVERBIAL middle finger aimed at the man… Maybe the last great mainstream song to do so. The song even railed against the artificiality of celebrity, with the singer threatening to kick the butt of some of the hottest musical stars of the time. The frontman of this group Gregg Alexander despised the flashy, superficial side of pop stardom. After just one hit song and one successful album, he walked away, disbanding the group because he couldn’t fake it anymore… he headed to London to rediscover his passion. It’s the story of an artist who captured bottled lightning, only to become disillusioned by the very success he worked so hard for... NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Doors were coming off a year that included their breakthrough to the masses with one of the most iconic songs of the rock era, Light My Fire hit #1 and it didn’t sound like anything or anyone. Then they had another strange song that was a major hit from their second album that killed the sophomore jinx... People Are Strange. When they released their third album in 2 years Jim Morrison wanted one thing and the record label wanted another. The label pressured the band to release another hit single. Well, it just so happened that they had been sitting on a no-doubt-about-it hit song for years: Hello, I Love You. But they thought it was a sellout and felt the lyrics were too shallow. But with the pressure on they put it out. And just like the band thought… it became a #1 hit. Up next one of the last living members of the band Robby Krieger, tells the story as well as the fact that the band tried to recruit Paul McCartney to be their lead singer when the Beatles broke up. The stories are next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've been singing this 1983 classic all our lives and come to find out it's about a couple hooking up during nuclear war? I Melt With You by Modern English was written by all of band members...Robbie Grey Gary McDowell Richard Brown Michael Conroy Stephen Walker and produced by Hugh Jones and actually only hit #78 when it was first released but it became an MTV New Wave Classic and re charted in the 90s when the song became a smash all over again. Singer Robbie Grey tells the incredible story of this classic in an exclusive interview. One of the greatest one hit wonders ever! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.