Professor of Rock

Coming up… The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony was so mesmerizing, so ear-catching that it hypnotized an entire generation… It was on its way to becoming one of the greatest songs of its time, and yet the song's singer and writer Richard Ashcroft didn’t make a single solitary cent from it. In fact, Bittersweet Symphony basically ruined his young career and stunted The Verve's surge to the top of the charts. And it was all thanks to an obscure sample from a 1965 rock song by the Rolling Stones. Ashcroft had to give away 100% of his royalties and credit two songwriters who had nothing to do with the song’s composition… It was a brutal coup contrived by a true musical mob boss... And one of the most outrageous injustices in music history. Filled with cutthroat contracts and shady characters, today’s episode will have you rooting for the underdog to win back what was rightfully his. Find out if he does… 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, the story of the the most upbeat hit song ever Windy by The Association. IT’S ALMOST unfair how infectious and addicting this classic hit and yet at the same time it might be the most confusing song ever. It was written about a guy… and his name is the main hook of the song. But it’s not a name anyone would EVER associate with a guy so when today’s The Association recorded it, they changed the gender of the guy to a girl. But again the name repeated in the song would never be associated with a a girl or a guy or a human. But it became a smash #1 hit… This band would have a slew of hits over a couple of years, including 3 big #1 hits that are three of the most-played songs in history. Problem is nobody under the age of 40 remembers these guys and they may have had the best vocal harmonies of their time, right there with the Beatles and the Beach Boys. We have an interview with the band 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.

For decades, Mazzy Star has walked the line between obscurity and popularity… between camouflage and captivating the masses. Originating in LA’s Paisley Underground scene in the 80s, within a decade they were all over the radio dial thanks to their iconic sleeper hit Fade Into You. This “accidental anthem” was never meant to be anything special. In fact, Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval and David Roback had no aspirations for commercial success. For them, it was all about the inner world of their music. They could care less if anyone else liked it. But the problem was that a lot of people did. So to shed the spotlight they intentionally vanished… calling it quits and fading into the background. But even without any promotion on their part, Fade Into You track refuses to die. And over the past few decades it has become a pop culture mainstay. To the point where it may be one of the most overused songs in film and television. Get the story… 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.

The alleged feud between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young has long been a topic of fascination for Rock fans and pop culture enthusiasts. What began as a lyrical exchange in the early '70s soon spiraled into a highly publicized, and often misunderstood rivalry. When Neil Young critiqued Lynyrd Skynyrd's heritage, their home state, and their people, it sparked an immediate response from them in one of the most famous anthems of the 70s, Sweet Home Alabama. They were fighting their rivalry in the lyrics of their songs…This back-and-forth between the two iconic acts was perceived by many as a deep-seated feud, but was it really as contentious as it seemed?? Let’s get into the story behind this supposed conflict and uncover the truth behind the music and the myths that have surrounded it for decades…It’s 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.

Queen's Don't Stop Me Now is about the most fun-loving, let-it-all-go without-a-care in the world track in rock history. But it was not a hit when it first came out in the 70s… In fact, it didn’t even make the top 80 songs of the week that it peaked. But decades later Don't Stop Me Now is bigger than any hit that came out that year and has almost 4 billion streams, making it one of the biggest hits of the entire decade... and yet beneath this happy-go-lucky song is a very dark and sinister underbelly. Even key members of Queen were uncomfortable with it. And in hindsight, peeling back the layers on this one, you get some foreboding insight into the tragic death of Freddie Mercury, one of rock’s greatest frontmen. So, brace yourself, because today we’re are on a collision course between rock and roll fantasy and a cold dose of reality… with a song that was a total chart failure when it came out but is now one of the biggest songs ever. 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.

Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees is a song with a secret message. One that never would have gotten airplay if the music industry knew what this squeaky clean band was putting out. And though it seems pretty obvious in hindsight, not everyone got what Last Train was really about. The song’s controversial message was camouflaged by a jangly, upbeat sound and performed by a band that had been manufactured in a lab. The Monkees didn’t write any of their own music, at least not at first. Later though they would fight the power for a chance to write and record their own music. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on a protest song disguised as a happy-go-lucky singalong that came to be when its writer Bobby Hart heard a Beatles song and misheard the lyric. When he figured out he’d been singing it wrong he turned his misheard lyrics into a #1 smash. And coming up in an in-depth interview, Hart will tell you the whole story. You’re not going to want to miss this one. The story’s 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… Toto is currently the biggest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub this side of Boston. Especially since between the guitarist Steve Lukather and some of his bandmates in a roundabout way, they’ve sold over 500 million records, they’ve swept the Grammys... and even gave the middle finger to Rolling Stone when the snobbish magazine wanted to put them on their cover because they were the most popular band in music... even though the rag had ripped on their music for years. Up next, an interview with 2 of the principals from the original lineup on their biggest record Toto IV including the morning Steve Lukather hung up on the #1 artist in the world, who was calling to have him play on his album. But Lukather thought he was being pranked by his buddies. Stay tuned for an interview from Toto, the band that has been called "technically" the greatest collection of musicians on the planet. 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 interview with singer-songwriter Derek Holt who got axed from the Climax Blues Band for writing a huge hit. It’s pretty hard to believe but Derek wrote "I Love You", a song that became one of the biggest hits of 1980. And his band members hated it so much… they resented it so much that they basically forced him out of the band and, in one of the strangest stories I’ve heard in an interview, the Climax Blues Band NEVER performed the song live in America. But in one of the coolest redemption stories I’ve ever heard, decades later Derek Holt finally got to sing the song in concert… at a karaoke bar…but there’s a cool twist. Listen to this cool interview to find 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.

Coming up... John Denver is the last musical icon you'd associate with a violent tirade, with his golly-gee looks and squeaky-clean persona. But even John had a temper that could flare up unexpectedly. His famous marriage went through a series of separations and unimaginable ups and devastating lows… It was such an enduring relationship that he wrote what many feel is the GOAT OF LOVE SONGS called Annie's Song. It's one of the most magical and poignant songs of the time. But in the end, Annie's Song couldn’t save the marriage… It ended in a brutal divorce that got so bad at one point this boy scout took a chainsaw to their king-size bed… It’s a sad story, an inspiring story, and one that’s about as real as real life can get…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 have our Bottle Lightning show where we talk about the greatest one-hit wonders ever. But today I wanted to shake it up. What about those artists who actually followed up their huge hit with another one of equal impact? A second legitimate hit but then never had another one? The Two Hit Wonders. It’s a special countdown of the Top 5 '2 Hit Wonders' of the 80s! We're talking about tales featuring comedy legend Milton Berle in drag, a groupie who took her obsession with a radio DJ to a deadly level, an artist nicknamed "the Ant,” a civil lawsuit with Van Halen in the plaintiff's seat, and one band had a 50-second cameo in an 80s movie that will shock many of you… Get ready for some serious fun AND nostalgia…Our Top 5 '2 Hit Wonders' of the 80s are 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.

Coming up next, a sit down with one of my favorite artists ever Huey Lewis... about one of the best songs of the mid-80s: Hip to Be Square. I swear I've never met anyone who doesn’t love this guy…Turns out Huey was writing a fun little song about leaving rebellion behind to conform to a more traditional lifestyle… Not selling out but buying in. Then years later this happy-go-lucky 80s classic was stolen by a notorious serial killer! Then on another hit from Huey's record, I know What I like: everyone was in awe with the amazing backing vocals. Come to find out it was the offensive line and a quarterback from an NFL team…For about 5 years in the 80s, Huey Lewis and the News were as big as anybody in music. Right there with Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince Duran Duran, and the Police, and they were just a bunch of regular guys. They had 11 top 10 hits in 4 years but then everything changed because of a horrible disease. He hasn’t been able to tour, but in the end, they are still the only news source I trust. 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.

Alright, this one’s going to blow your mind. Today we’re featuring the iconic hit Jamie's Cryin' that never so much as placed on the Billboard Hot 100… even though there’s no doubt it should have. Jamie's Cryin' was released as a single by one of the most badass bands around, Van Halen, as part of their debut album in the late 70s. But it got no love. Fast forward a decade later, and to add insult to injury, Jamie's Cryin' was sampled without Van Halen’s permission for the #2 rap hit Wild Thing by Tone Loc. Later the two parties almost came to blows over it. So was this straight-up thievery? Or is there some possible explanation for using another band’s song without their consent? You be the judge. The story is 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… rock icon Pete Townsend of The Who delves into his feelings of angst in Behind Blue Eyes... grappling with the pressures of being a celebrity put on a pedestal and confronting the reality that he's not WHO he appears to be. It all began when Pete was tempted by a beautiful fan backstage after a live performance. And being a famous rock star we know how this story goes… but in actuality… Pete resisted her advances. Instead, he returned to his hotel room, where he channeled his emotions into writing a song about the struggles of being a public figure. In a moment of clarity, Pete Townsend realized he wasn't the person everyone thought he was. Behind Blue Eyes became one of the most beloved songs ever with one of the most poignant vocals of the 70s. And there's a reason it was so heartfelt. Singer Roger Daltrey's dog died hours before he put down the vocal. We go behind the artifice to uncover what it's really like to be… the bad man… 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.

From KISS to Bon Jovi, Today's blues-rock outfit Cinderella caught the attention of some of the industry’s biggest icons before they were signed. And though their story sounds like something out of a fairytale, the reality is that these guys went triple-platinum with their debut record, all thanks to their hit single Nobody's Fool which climbed the charts to lucky #13 in the mid-80s... with lead singer Tom Keifer whose distinctive voice stood out in a sea of Glam Metal. And get this, the band formed because they were all taking a wizz at a urinal all at the same time. Then after 3 huge records, they disappeared for a very good reason. An outside force derailed them… Find out what happened 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. Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega was a 1987 album track that wasn’t even released as a single in America. Then years later the song would make history several times… First, it was remixed by the underground duo DNA and released as a bootleg that got play all over. In fact, when Suzanne heard her song she wasn’t sure whether to congratulate them or sue them for using her song without permission. But she decided to help them promote Tom's Diner and it became one of the biggest hits of her career and her biggest worldwide. And then it was used as the track to develop the MP3 maker. Suzanne is the mother of the format…And to think it came from eating breakfast at a restaurant that was later the one you see in Seinfeld. This Suzanne Vega tells this crazy story 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 prime of his life, Fee Waybill of the Tubes, one of rock’s wildest frontmen was lured into a seedy parlor in the underbelly of San Francisco’s notorious red light district. The rocker was captivated by a young exotic dancer who slinked around inside an enclosed booth with hardly any clothes on. … Falling into a scam, Fee kept shelving out dollar bills, trying to engage in a conversation with the dancer, but she ignored him until he finally wised up and realized he was being a sucker! Fee Waybill eventually paid enough money for the woman to converse with him, and he asked her if she would like to be a dancer with his band. She refused to answer his question, and his session abruptly ended. They say ‘Curiosity killed the cat,’ but in this story…curiosity birthed the smash hit She's a Beauty. You’ll never believe what happened next… Seriously, this is one of those rock and roll song stories that’s stranger than fiction… and I’m gonna tell you all about what happened…free of charge, of course…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 have a killer show today. Celebrating Top Gun, one of the biggest soundtracks of the 80s with half a dozen of the artists who made this record one of the biggest ever... including the main song Danger Zone which was a major bitch to get down. The movie needed a major adrenaline rush anthem for the opening of the film to get audiences locked in and over 300 songs were tested and used for the scene but nothing worked. Then when they finally got Danger Zone, they had six major bands and artists turn down the chance to record it. So in an act of desperation, the producer called in a favor from Kenny Loggins, who was not necessarily known as a rocker, but he came in and slayed it. And not only did Danger Zone go to the top of the charts, it went back to the top 35 years later and became Kenny's most streamed song ever. The story of this blockbuster 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, they were the hottest group in music. The Bee Gees were coming off a decade where they had 14 top 10 hits and 9 #1 songs. And then pretty much overnight the band couldn’t buy a hit. The Bee Gees were poison and radio wouldn’t play them. They were totally uncool. So they hid…their lead singer Barry Gibb went undercover and wrote a song for somebody else called Islands in the Stream. It was recorded by one of the hottest singers of the time… Kenny Rogers. But a few days after Kenny cut it, he started having second thoughts. In fact, he started to despise it. But out of nowhere a solution came in the form of a beautiful blonde named Dolly Parton who turned the song into a duet that became one of the biggest hits of its time... Giving this legendary singer-turned-writer a comeback hit that most still don’t know he even wrote…It’s a tale of fantastic serendipity… and a master class in creative collaboration including an interview with Kenny Rogers, 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.

Here’s one for ya. Golden Earring was a band that had 47 hits in their homeland but struggled to break through in America… They finally did in 1973 with Radar Love. But it was one and done. They would be known as a one-hit wonder until 9 years later when they shook off that label and had another massive hit with Twilight Zone. But today’s song Radar Love is about a tragic car accident where someone lost their life and a misheard lyric that made it a classic. It’s been covered over 500 times and may have caused more speeding tickets than any other song. Get ready for a great story 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 1967 a mere few months before the summer of love.. This top 10 has some of the greatest songs of all time that we still hear today from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones to The Mamas and the Papas to Buffalo Springfield and as usual we have the actual artists telling us the stories first hand.? What song is the ACTUAL #1 all of these years later ? Is it the The Beatles, The Stones, The Doors or A Rookie or one hit wonder? You’re going to be Shock next on the Hit Song Redux 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.

Wow! Where Do I even start with this one? The Police's Blockbuster record Synchronicity DEFINED IT’S TIME AS MUCH AS any album could with 4 huge hits… including Every Breath You Take, a song that has become the most-played in the history of recorded music. But all in all Synchronicity is pretty dark. In fact, its main themes are obsession, surveillance, control, murder, jealousy, revenge, and ownership. I’ve got Rock Hall of Fame Stewart Copeland to help tell the story of this album that broke up a band and even brought them to full-on fistfights, but the producer of the album said that tension made it the masterpiece it is. The story of a classic with one of its creators 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 behind Ac/DC's Big Balls, a song with a dual meaning that makes the puritans blush, and even the most uptight fuddy daddy truly fall on the floor laughing! It was written by rock icon Bon Scott who was always the life of the party to his detriment. In a drunken daze, Bon turned his fascination with one of his body parts into a song meant as filler for an album, but Big Balls became a surprising classic rock standard. One that everyone who has come of age since the 70s has laughed about with their friends for days on end! We’re gonna loosen up the shackles of self-righteousness, and have some fun telling the story of this “ballsy” track. 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.

Download Opera for free: https://opr.as/Opera-browser-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.

How many bands would give their right arm to hit the big time and have their song played everywhere? To tour the world and take their music to the masses? Well, Counting Crows did. Their singer Adam Duritz wrote a hit song called Mr. Jones about hitting the big time. And then when the very song he wrote pulverized radio and made them huge stars, Adam hated it. He detested Mr. Jones and at the peak of selling millions of records and playing sold-out shows… he cracked. Adam Duritz quit music and took a job as a bartender… hiding out. Could anything pull him back into music? Find out next with one of the craziest stories of a band 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.

17 seconds. That’s all anyone had to go off of. Just a few years back an anonymous user uploaded a clip of a mystery track from the 80s to a song discovery site. The audio was low quality, and the lyrics were hard to decipher. Some people claimed to have heard it before. But no one knew who sang it. And when pressed for more information the uploader refused to talk about it. But people had to know. So social media users sprang to action looking for clues in improbable places. And for three years no one could figure this song out… But then someone found it in the most unlikely of places. And you’re not going to believe where. My mind was blown when I heard this. It’s the story where the truth is definitely stranger than fiction. It's Ulterior Motives by Who's Who and Christopher Saint Booth… 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, the controversial song about female self-love… was written by a dude? Ha ha. It's I Touch Myself by the Divinyls. This story is almost too good to be true, and yet it is. I have an interview with a Hall of Fame songwriter Billy Steinberg who wrote 5 #1 hits with his songwriting partner Tom Kelly. And all five #1s were for female artists. All 5 songs were huge in the 80s, but at the end of the decade, Billy met with a prolific Australian band and sheepishly gave them his private notebook of lyrics and asked what song they wanted to work on. And today’s iconic female rocker Chrissy Amphlett chose a song that was about self-love. I Touch Myself wasn’t quite finished so the band and the songwriting team tackled it. It’s pretty straightforward forward, and though it was controversial it became a global smash. Up next the story 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.

Oh man… today’s song Sara by Fleetwood Mac is epic. Clocking in at over 15 minutes long, the original version of this breathtaking song once had a total of sixteen verses. And even that might not have been enough to contain the true story its author Stevie Nicks intended. After all was said and done Sara was edited down to a radio-friendly four-plus minutes. It still alludes to more misadventure and drama than the human mind can grasp. Best friend betrayals, covert love affairs, cocaine abuse, mystical muses, and band breakdowns… Sara is rock’s great soap opera… so lyrically complex, a famous band took their name from the song… but they misheard the lyric! 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 two of the most enigmatic artists of the rock era, linked by the classic track Everybody's Talkin that wasn't fully appreciated until it became the theme song for a groundbreaking, provocative film—an X-rated film... Midnight Cowboy was a smash hit and won a Grammy. The original creator of Everybody's Talkin' Fred Neil was a cult hero who retreated from the spotlight, while Harry Nilsson who turned it into a pop smash was a brilliant yet erratic singer-songwriter whose recklessness ultimately derailed his promising career. Both artists grappled with intense, personal demons, yet they captivated the rock era by sharing a song that brought us infinite joy and a sense of sweet freedom. Then this cerebral artist Harry Nilsson turned around and wrote a funny novelty song. The story of one of the most interesting singer-songwriters of the rock era 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.

No doubt about it. Heart is one of the defining acts of the rock era. And their catalog is filled with essential entries in the rock canon. Today, we’re telling the start-to-finish story of Heart who rose to prominence in the 70s, fell from grace in the early 80s, and then put together one of the greatest comebacks of the neon decade. And we’re doing it via five vital tracks that capture what they are all about. And there’s plenty of drama and epic moments along the way… from chasing their breakout hit to fighting sleazy promoters to hitting one of the most badass notes of all time. Plus you’re going to get an inside look into all five of these songs from singer Ann Wilson. It’s a story you’re not going to want to miss… 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, we've got Devo and a song that is not at all what it seems: Whip It. For over 40 years everyone has thought this all-time hit was "Dirty." It was such a catchy ditty it became a slogan of the 80s and it was one of the first major hits where the main riff was from a synthesizer from one of the funniest bands ever.. Whip It was actually pieces of three different songs that were all in different time signatures and different tempos but Devo combined them into one composition…. the Whip It music video ruled MTV and it was made for a little over 10 grand... Today we have one of its co-writers and singers telling us the real story. Next of 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 featured song Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas will have you kicking some serious butt while moving to the groove. A smash hit from the 70s, Kung Fu Fighting was inspired by a dance fight at a pinball arcade. As Carl Douglas watched what was taking place, the lyrics and melody started flowing into his head. However, the song wouldn’t resurface until later on. In the studio, Carl was recording what was supposed to be his break-out hit. And he had three hours to do it. But when he was done, his producer told him they also needed a B-side. With just A COUPLE OF minutes left on the clock, Carl rushed a recording of Kung Fu Fighting... after all, it was just gonna be a throwaway track. But as it turns out Kung Fu Fighting was the one that got all the attention. It became a monster 70s hit, tapping into two cultural phenomenons with expert timing. It’s one of the biggest-selling singles of all time. 11 million sold. The story is 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.

So I gotta ask… Is this the most tortured track of the 80s? I mean we’re talking about With or Without You by U2, a song that is physically painful to listen to. And really, that’s a good thing… This song is so agonizing, you can’t “not” listen to it. It pulls you in every time… Written at a crucial time in Bono's career, he was being pulled in two opposite directions at once… between his music and the woman he loved. And it was tearing him apart. Was there any hope? With or Without You had the potential to change everything for Bono and U2. The only thing is, they couldn’t finish it. And after repeated attempts to arrange it, they just kept coming up empty. So they were about to abandon it. That is until an unexpected secret weapon saved the day. It was kind of a miracle. Find out what that secret weapon was and if this tormented artist ever made his peace… 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... Tipsy from some serious ‘day-drinking,’ two members of one of England’s premier bands, The Hollies, composed a song about the Prohibition Era when alcohol was illegal. Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress was a rock epic that evolved into a mystery about a beautiful woman in a sexy dress. The Hollies purposely mimicked Elvis’s sound on the song using a vocal effect to give it some pop. It became the band’s biggest hit in the States, as well as one of the most played songs in classic rock radio history. But then The Hollies got sued for plagiarizing the song. But they didn’t get sued by ELVIS who they were deliberately trying to sound like… They got sued by a rival band Creedence Clearwater Revival. Then they found out that the song was used by the FBI on their two-way wrist radio to solve crimes. Find out what happened to the band 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.

Imagine a time when one man's voice was heard on about every other song on the radio. Dubbed "the man of a thousand voices," Tony Burrows holds the unique distinction of being the lead vocalist on FIVE hit songs from the 70s including Let's Go to San Francisco, My Baby Loves Lovin', and Beach Baby… In fact all five songs were one-hit wonders and four of them were on the singles chart at the same time! You’d think that a musician who sang on so many big hit singles during the same year would’ve been all over the television, yet Tony Burrows's pervading success on the airwaves got him banned from appearing on Top of the Pops for 4 years! Let’s jump into the fascinating story of this 'go-to' singer who made a significant mark in the annals of popular music history, all while remaining a mystery to the world outside of the recording studio. You’ll have to pay close attention, but you’re gonna have fun just singing along to the songs featured in our story that 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.

Up next, a Hall of Fame Songwriter Billy Steinberg who wrote five #1 hits for Madonna, Whitney Houston, the band Heart and the Bangles tells the story of working with one of the Founding Fathers of Rock and Roll.., the great Roy Orbison. Roy has electrified everyone from Elvis to Bob Dylan. He passed away in 1988 but Roy had always been Billy's hero and so he wrote a song for him called I Drove All Night. SO had and his songwriting partner Tom Kelly tracked Roy down. They found him playing old supper clubs. It seems he'd been forgotten. So Billy and Tom talked Roy Orbison into recording their.song. It was the first domino to fall in Roy's full blow comeback right before he.passed away. He went on to have several more solo hits and hits with the supergroup Traveling Wilbur's. Cyndi Lauper made their song a hit in 1989 but then after Roy Passed, , Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra used special technology to reconstruct Roy's vocal and music to release the recording after his passing. A great tribute to the great Roy Orbison. 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 $5 off your next order through my link: https://sponsr.is/magicspoon_professorofrock_0724 or use code PROFESSOROFROCK at checkout. Or look for Magic Spoon in your nearest grocery store! 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.

I’m telling you won’t believe this story. Today’s rocker Jim Peterik used to give this beautiful girl a ride home from school… He was head over heels in love with her. But she had no idea. He wanted this girl to notice him but he was already stuck in the friend zone so he wrote a song about her called Vehicle and brought it to his band Ides of March. They put some relish on it, and it blew up… it became the fastest-selling song in Warner Brothers history. Unfortunately, Vehicle would be a one-hit wonder.. but Jim was a fighter… He not only won over the girl’s heart with this song, he married her and he rose from the ashes to form Survivor, a band that would become one of the biggest rock acts of the 80s and he even got to the top of the charts again. Up next, the interview and story 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.

Next up, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, a timeless anthem of liberation from a suffocating romantic entanglement. Fashioned by Paul Simon, one of music's master lyricists following the breakup of his Simon and Garfunkel along with the end of his first marriage. Paul Simon dismissed it as nonsense, a song that was just a joke… a game he was playing with his toddler to teach him how to rhyme simple words. It made his son giggle and somehow it turned into a song he recorded as an afterthought. It was even the last song released from his album…and it became a #1 SMASH… THE BIGGEST OF HIS SOLO CAREER. THE AMAZING STORY IS coming right 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… an interview with iconic singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega who climbed up from the underground and had one of the biggest hits of 1987 with Luka. This hit song was one of the most unlikely hits of the decade because of its subject matter. When Suzanne played it for live audiences they never really liked it because it was sad and made them uncomfortable. So when her manager told her it should be her lead-off single she was shocked. She argued that it would never be hit, but he talked her into it. He was right… ASCAP awarded Luka the most performed song of the year and it went to the top of the charts…The thing is, Luka was written about another person, but many would find out decades later that the secret in the song was about Suzanne Vega herself. The story 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, an interview with the band Animotion, which was somehow a one-hit wonder TWICE. In 1985 they released Obsession, a song that had a killer hook that will be in your head for days and that’s a GOOD thing. Obsession Blew up the top 10 and then a few years later principals Astrid Plane and Bill Wadhams were FIRED and replaced with another duo. And they had a top 10 hit in 1989 only to break up soon after. Find out what happened and how in the end the original group had the last laugh in a compelling interview with Astrid Plane and Bill Wadhams 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 Can't Take My Eyes Off You, a song that has had a huge impact on pop culture since its release over 50 years ago. Before it dominated the global pop charts, it had to overcome fierce resistance from a record label that feared a solo transition by frontman Frankie Valli would destroy their golden goose Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons—a four-piece pop group that had been America's biggest act for years. Frankie wanted to perform the song in a style that was completely different from what had made him a household name… Namely, he wanted to sing in a whole new way What to do, what to do? Let’s dive into the drama 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.

They’re brash, they’re cocky, and completely full of themselves… And today’s featured bandmate brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis were as likely to punch each other in the mouth as they were to kick out chart-topping hits. But for whatever reason the dynamic worked. And this sibling rivalry captured the imagination of a nation propelling Oasis to heights not seen in decades. For this episode we’re zeroing in on their most iconic track: Wonderwall. A song that was supposedly written about Noel’s girlfriend… only the thing is… He had to lie to the world and to her about it’s meaning. Later, after they split up, he told the real story. And in time, Wonderwall become so popular that Liam could NOT stand to sing it, saying it made him want to gag. And what’s ironic is that Noel always regretted giving it up to Liam to record… He wished he’d kept it for himself. It’s the story of an overnight sensation turned train wreck… 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.

Today’s Legendary band Aerosmith killed in the 70s, faltered in the early 80s, and then made one of the biggest comebacks in rock history in the late 80s and leveled up in the 90s… with 3 massive #1 hits, Cryin', Amazing, and Crazy, that... well… kind of sounded like the same song with different lyrics! Let’s go behind the scenes and investigate a rich time for Aerosmith…You’ll find everything from song-doctored singles and music video muses. We’ll listen to three huge hits that have different titles and we’ll find out if this band ripped themselves off several times 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… the story of one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the rock era, Carol King. Ironically, Carol despised her own voice and, when she started composing songs without her famous husband, she doubted anyone would care. It took the friendship of another emerging superstar of the singer/songwriter world, James Taylor, to encourage her to open for him at an iconic nightclub in West Hollywood. During Carol's set, literally shaking from nervousness, she sang You've Got a Friend, a song that mesmerized James, who was watching from the club balcony. Enchanted by her performance, Taylor felt compelled to record the song for his upcoming album. Little did he know that Carol King had written the song as a response to his first big hit. To her surprise, his cover of her song became a #1 smash… Let’s relive the magic of this heartwarming classic and the musical icons that brought it to life…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, icon John Oates tells the surprising story of the classic Maneater. This all-time hit came to John after he sat next to a famous actress in a restaurant and she began to cuss like a sailor telling dirty joke after dirty joke… Oates was no prude, but he was SHOCKED. All of a sudden, one of the most familiar lyrics of the 80s came into his head, and within a few minutes, he was jotting down Maneater… His musical collaborator Daryl Hall made some tweaks the next day and they recorded it. It became a #1 smash. Who was the actress and what was the change that made this a hit? 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.

Coming up… the story of Eagles, one of the biggest-selling rock bands ever... and their all-important third album On the Border, as told by 2 great interviewees J.D. Souther and Jack Tempchin who co-wrote the 2 hits that transformed Eagles into rock royalty: Already Gone and Best of My Love. Their first 2 albums established them as a force to be reckoned with but it also typecast them as soft rock…Glenn Frey wanted to harden up their sound so they fired their producer and shelved all the songs from the session but two. They got a third guitarist and were sent Already Gone, a song that would end up being their heaviest rocker yet. But they also had a ballad from their previous session, Best of My Love, that was written in a booth at a restaurant in the middle of dinner that had promise. But they were reticent to release it and went with the rocker first. It did pretty well. hitting #32, defiant against releasing the ballad they had another rocker as their second single… it wasn’t a hit. Finally, Eagles reluctantly released the ballad… To their shock the label edited the hell out of it without their permission…but it became their first #1 hit. Up next, Jack Tempchin and J.D. Souther, the co-writers of these hits, give us the inside scoop about how the band got even with the label for editing their song, 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, a tale of one of the most misjudged, underrated, and overlooked tracks that evolved into a classic rock favorite, Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. This song was sent to Hall of Fame rocker Bob Seger by a legendary group of session musicians searching for the perfect performer to bring it to life. When Seger recorded Old Time Rock and Roll, he says he rewrote all the verses and only kept the chorus, but refused a writing credit because he thought it would be a deep track. Seger never thought it would be a hit or even be released as a single. The problem is Old Time Rock and Roll became a hit after his band played it to standing ovations in concert and the song skyrocketed in popularity thereafter due to an iconic movie scene. Bob Seger didn’t receive any royalties. In fact, he likely lost millions upon millions of dollars. We take those old records off the shelf and reminisce 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.

Just a word of advice. Don’t rush this guy. Today we’re telling the story of Boston's perfectionist rock savant Tom Scholz whose attention to detail is the secret ingredient to some of the rock era’s most iconic tracks. After spending six years working on demos in his basement studio, Tom Scholz and Boston released one of the best-selling records of the 70s. Its lead single More Than a Feeling blew everyone away. Two years later, Boston kicked out another blockbuster album. Only Scholz didn’t think the record was ready. So he vowed to take his time with the next record. It would be 8 years before it was released… which led to a contentious legal battle. But when this LP was released it went to #1 even though the musical landscape had completely changed. Now with six studio albums to their name, Boston averages about a decade between records. Get the story behind this musical mastermind and this legendary band and their evolution told through five essential tracks… 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, an interview with Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom of Blue Oyster Cult, a band that haunted radio in the 70s with the CHILLING ROCK CLASSIC Don't Fear the Reaper. It was written as a spiritual song, but its hypnotic guitars, thrilling percussion, and stirring harmonies led to so many urban legends and false narratives about its real meaning. Don't Fear the Reaper was unfairly painted as wicked and satanic. Then decades later it captured the zeitgeist again after its iconic use on a Saturday Night Live segment. The band had no idea, and they happened to catch it on TV in their hotel room while they were on tour. Don't Fear the Reaper became a hit all over again, but today we get the real story of this mesmerizing rock classic 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, get this. So in an effort to perfect today’s featured song All Night Long (All Night), Lionel Richie stalked his wife’s gynecologist. That’s right, you heard me. Lionel repeatedly called up his wife’s doctor because he wanted to learn how to emulate a Jamaican accent for All Night Long. Finally, this doctor had to tell Lionel to stop calling because it was interfering with his work. But that’s not the only crazy piece of trivia connected to this track. All Night Long (All Night) also includes a completely made-up language that sounds like it's real… but it's 100% gibberish. Later on, All Night Long would also headline on one of the world’s biggest stages, with over 2 and a half billion people tuning in to catch the performance. All these stories and more are coming up. So get ready to raise the roof and have some fun… 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.