Professor of Rock

The story of Van Halen’s 5th studio record: Diver Down inducing the story of Eddie and Alex Van Halen, Micheal Anthony and David Lee roth’s romp through the hit covers Oh’ Pretty Woman and Dancing’ In the Street and stand out tracks Little Guitars and Hang ‘Em High. The story of Van Halen’s most underrated album from the 80s 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 story of Steve Miller Band’s classic rock standard from 1973, Fly Like An Eagle. The story of how this 70s hit came about is very interesting, Steve Miller wrote it for Native Americans as protest song. It was part of a legendary top 5 that included Bob Seger’s Night Movies and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s remake of Blinded by the Light. 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 go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1976. 45 years ago. Then we re rank them based on their legacy since that week. including songs by Heart, Chicago, the Bee Gees, Gordon Lighfoot and Steve Miller band, as well as one of the worst songs ever? Take a walk down memory lane and find out what happened to music! 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.

Before Adele, another blockbuster music queen was Norah Jones. Here we celebrate the 20th anniversary of her amazing song Don’t Know Why from her multiplatinum record Come Away with Me. An excessive interview that goes through the history of this jazz phenomenon... 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 story of the biggest tv soundtrack of the 1980s: Miami Vice from the Theme by Jan Hammer to the two Glenn Frey tracks You Belong to the City and Smuggler’s Blues… cowritten by frequent Eagles collaborator Jack Tempchin who tells the story of writing them. Get ready for a showstopper we’re going back to 1985. 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 count down the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1981. 40 years ago and then we rerank them based on their performance since, with your stories and artist commentary. Including hits from hall and Oates, Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks, Journey, Lionel Richie and Diana Ross The Rollins Stones and Christopher Cross. Drake has nothing on these artists. 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 unbox 2 live albums: Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live 2 LP and Donald Fagen's The NightFly Live LP. We tell the story behind their 80s hit HEY NINETEEN as well as Donald Fagen’s solo masterpiece The Nightfly including the story of IGY (What A Beautiful World). Both of these live albums capture flawless performances by Donald Fagen and Steely Dan, as a tribute to the late Walter Becker. 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.

Rock and Roll hall of famer Jon Anderson tells the story of the band Yes and their 70s progressive rock classic hit Roundabout. In a zoom interview he takes us through the process of writing it and recording a song that is beloved by generations including being used as a meme. 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 story of Led Zeppelin’s rock masterpiece, Kashmir from their 70s double album Physical Graffiti. How Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham all came together to create metaphysical song that scared Page and brought Plant to tears. 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 story of Pearl Jam’s breakthrough classic 90s song Alive form their Multi-platinum album TEN. Eddie Vedder was brought in after Mother Love Bone’s singer Andrew Wood tragically died. Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Jeff Ament forged on and changed their name to Pearl Jam and their new singer Eddie Vedder recorded a personal song about finding out who his real father, was having been lied to for years... 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.

Toto tells the story of their epic #2 classic rock hit Rosanna from 1982. Steve Lukather, David Paich and Steve Porcaro tell the details behind creating it and how actress Rosanna Arquette was the Muse. Arquette inspired two of the greatest songs of the 80s In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel and Rosanna By Toto. 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.

- Try CleanMyMac X for free https://bit.ly/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.

The touching story of Solitaire, the 70s hit that fueled Neil Sedaka’s big comeback. Covered by everyone from Johnny Mathis to Elvis Presley Andy Williams and the Carpenters this emotional interview is one for the ages with one of the last remains legends from the famous Brill Building. 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 story of the top ten 60s smash You Really Got Me by the Kinks, later covered to great effect by the Mighty Van Halen in the 70s. The first major hit to feature distorted guitar by the brothers Davies. Ray Davies and Dave Davies. How this song changed everything in 1964 and how Eddie Van Halen reignited it in 1978. 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 story of the Byrds legendary #1 hit Turn! Turn! Turn! (to everything there is a season) from 1965. Originally released by protest folk singer Pete Seeger, the song’s lyrics are from the Holy Bible from Ecclesiastes. Roger McGuinn and David Crosby tell the story of how the Byrds met and began to perform including recording this classic song. 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 story of Michael Jackson’s life changing #1 HIT Man In the Mirror. Every once in a while, a song changes the way you look at the world. The exclusive story of this incredible song by co-writer and frequent MJ collaborator Siedah Garrett. It’s a tale that includes the incomparable touch of the great Quincy Jones and co writer Glen Ballard 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 story of Asia’s other big hit from their legendary debut album from 1982, the #17 hit Only Time Will Tell from cowriter and keyboardist Geoff Downes. Geoff tells us of creating the song with the late John Wetton. 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 same week from the year 1983. We'll recalibrate them based on their performance up to now and with your memories and artist commentary! Including Tell Her About It By Billy Joel, The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats, Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, Mainiac by Micheal Sembello, True By Spandau Ballet, Making Love out of Nothing at All by Air Supply and Total Eclipse Of The Heart by Bonnie Tyler. 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 our exclusive interview with Multiplatinum artist Peter Frampton, he tells us how he made it guitar talk on his 70s hit Show Me The Way and his thoughts on Yacht Rock, Dave Grohl, and the Beatles George Harrison 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.

5 Rock Hall Of Famers and another icon tell the story of the #1 motown hit Baby I Need Your Loving by the Four Tops including the last remaining member Duke Fakir, as well as producer/writer Lamont Dozier of Holland Dozier Holland and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil who were inspired by the song to write You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling with an appearance by Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers and Johnny Rivers who remade the song and took it too the top 3. 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 this week’s Hit Song Redux we look at this same week from the year 1979. Where we count down hits from the year including Electric Light Orchestra, Earth Wind and Fire, Little River Band, the Commodores and The Knack just to name a few. With your memories and dedications as well as artist commentary. 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 the Police including Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland took over the 80s as the biggest band in the world through their hits Every Breath You Take, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Don’t Stand so Close to me and King of Pain. The stories of their greatest songs 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.

Nick Laird Clowes of The Dream Academy tells the exhilarating story behind the moving and hypnotic 1985 song Life in A Northern Town and How David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and Paul Simon helped him reach his full potential with the hit. This interview is a beautiful example of the magical muse that transpires when a song is born and raised in greatness.. On professor for 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 story of AC/DC’s hard rock classic Back In Black from there 1980 album of the same name. Bon Scott has just passed and Angus Young and brother Malcolm brought in Brian Johnson who helped AC/DC rise to the top of the album charts. including an interview with Phil Carson. 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 story of Side 2 of Def Leppard Hysteria, the blockbuster of 1987 and 1988 including the story of Pour Some Sugar On Me which was inspired by the Archie’s hit Sugar, Sugar and saved the album from being a failure. Also the stories of how Mutt Lange, Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage and Rick Allen created Armageddon it, Hysteria the title track and others from side 2. 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.

KT Tunstall tells these unbelievable story of her #1 HIT, Black Horse and A Cherry Tree. This Interview blew me away, as I wasn’t expecting such a cool story and a cool artist…KT explains how because of a freak cancelation on Jools Holland, KT was able to perform her song with a Loop Pedal and overnight here song scaled the charts. She plays the song and tells the story of writing this Bo Diddley/ Bonnie Raitt like pop hit from the 2000s. 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.

Paul Rodgers is a legend’s legend, He is many legendary singer's favorite vocalist including Ann Wilson of Heart, Freddy Mercury of Queen, Robert Plant, and Lou Gramm formerly of Foreigner. Up next we celebrate Paul Rodgers and his days in Free, Bad Company and the Firm and we get the story of the 70s classic Alright Now with an exclusive interview with Paul. 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 story of 90s hit The Freshmen by The Verve Pipe. Lead singer and songwriter Brian Vander Ark tells the story of creating the #1 alternative rock song and the true meaning behind this 1997 hit that has perplexed many with its mysterious lyrics. 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.

Celebrating 80s synth pop legend Howard Jones by counting down his top 5 songs including Things Can Only Get Better, The Prisoner, No One Is to Blame and What Is Love with commentary from the new wave legend himself. 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 story of the Romantics classic power pop 80s smash “What I Like About You”. It actually wasn’t a hit when it first came out, but got a lift from a beer commercial 10 years after it’s first release to become one of the biggest classic rock song’s ever. Wally Palmer and Mike Skill tell the story of the band who had another 80s smash a few years later with Talking In your Sleep. 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 Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the 1970s classic rock standard Tiny Dancer and why it should’ve been a #1 Hit. From the masterpiece album Madman Across the Water, Tiny Dancer became a hit years later when it was used in the iconic scene from Cameron Crowe’s Oscar winning film Almost Famous. 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 story of the Beatles biggest hit, Hey Jude. Written by Paul McCartney for John Lennon’s song Julian Lennon after his mom and dad got divorced. It was one of the longest songs to hit #1 on the Billboard charts at over 7 minutes and ushered in a new phase for the Fab Four. 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 tell the story of one of the smoothest voices ever and a man who had 9 straight years with a #1 hit. Lionel Richie. We break down his top 5 songs both solo and with the Commodores including Sail On, Three Times A Lady, All Night Long, Penny Lover and so many more. 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 unbelievable story of the 1987 blockbuster Hysteria by Def Leppard. How Joe Elliot, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Rick Allen and Phil Collen created an album for the ages with Mutt Lange and the battle to finish a classic. With commentary by Joel Elliot 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.

Art Alexakis of Everclear tells the story of their biggest hit, Wonderful and get extremely personal on being a Father and his experiences with his own Father. 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 story of Steve Winwood From the Spencer Davis Group to Blind Faith to Traffic and Solo. From child prodigy, to a Hall of Fame rock n’ roll troubadour, Steve Winwood has shared his elite gift & passion with a lifetime of timeless R&B, Folk, Jazz, Progressive Rock, and pop classics with the world. , Steve Winwood truly brought us all a higher love of the arts because of his boundless gifts. This is the story of his career and his top 5 songs. including Higher Love and While You See a chance. One of the greatest voices 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.

The unbelievable story of the Doors 1967 #1 Hit Light My Fire. How Robby Krieger wrote it at only 18 and how Jim Morrison took it to new heights and made it a legend. 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 Story of Van Halen II the band's spectacular sophomore album. They only had a few weeks to create it. The Hijinks of Eddie and Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony as we breakdown the album including classic cuts like Beautiful Girls, Dance the Night Away, D.O.A. and Bottoms Up. 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.

80s pop freestyle dance band Nu Shooz who are now Husband and Wife tell the story behind the 1986 smash hit I Can’t Wait which went to #1 on the dance club charts and crossed over to many charts. Valerie Day and John Smith tell the story of creating the song that would take their album Poolside to the masses. 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.

Canadian legend Burton Cummings who was the lead singer of The Guess Who tells the story of the 1969 classic top 10 hit, These Eyes with some interesting insight into composing it and funny commentary on how it was used in the comedy Superbad. 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 count down 3 80s cult classics including artist interviews. A Forest by the Cure from their 1980 album Seventeen Seconds Private Idaho by the B52’s from their 1980 album Wild Plant and The Downtown Lights by the Blue Nile from their 1989 album Hats 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 in depth story of the Rolling Stones 1966, #1 hit Paint it, Black and how the sitar started a new chapter in their glorious history including a power shift that took place marking the rise of the band’s chief composers Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and the inevitable exodus Brian Jones 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 story of Canadian band Glass Tiger’s biggest hit, the 1986 #2 smash Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone, with lead singer Alan Frew and Sam Reid. It was one of those tubular radio songs that were the backbone of our coming of age years. It also had an 80s legend who sang background vocals on it, Bryan Adams. 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 compelling story of how Morrissey and Johnny Marr created one of the greatest epics in modern history: How Soon Is Now by The Smiths from 1984. Armed with One of the most arresting guitar riffs of the Rock Era inspired by an innocuous bubble gum pop song.. The story of how it became a touchstone for disaffected use 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.

Stephen Bishop tells the hilarious story of his 1977 Hit On and On. He is a California singer-songwriter who had many hits in the 70s and 80s including Save it for a Rainy Day, and It Might Be You from Tootsie, etc tells us the story of his genre defining 1977 hit that captured the nation and is now a bona fide Yacht Rock classic. You’ll get a kick out of the guy. 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.

Lzzy Hale of hard rock band Halestorm tells the story of their #1 rock hit Love Bites (So Do I) and winning a Grammy in the same category as her Heroes. When Lzzy was growing up, she didn’t fit in with here classmates who were listening to boy bands while she was listening to Black Sabbath, Dio and Alice Cooper. How she took those influences and created a multiplatinum rock 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.

Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music crafted his own distinctive singing style- developing a beautiful voice that matches his sophisticated flair- elegant, charming, and gallant. He has quietly become one of the most influential artists of the Rock Era- deeply affecting many notable performers, including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Morrissey and David Bowie- particularly his Serious Moonlight phase. If David Bowie is the ’thin white duke’, then, at 6 foot one inch, Bryan Ferry is the ’tall suave chevalier. We cover his top 5 songs, that we call a fiver, songs like Love is the Drug, More Than This, and Slave to Love. 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.

A surviving member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group the Flamingos tells the magical story of creating I Only Have Eyes for You from 1959. Terry “Buzzy” Johnson arranged, sang and played guitar on this wondrous oldies hit of all time. He tells the rare and authentic story 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.

Scorpions were one of the first rock bands to play behind the iron curtain, and the experience inspired the creation of Wind of Change the 1991 song that was the soundtrack to the fall of the berlin wall and the Soviet Union. Come take a boat ride down the Moskva River in 1989- whistling along to the melody of the “Wind of Change”... 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.

How Sting and the Police created the 1978 hit that put them on the map “Roxanne” as song inspired by strolling through the seediest part of Paris France from their amazing debut album “Outlandos D’ Amour” and how it ignited worldwide domination for the multi-platinum band. 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.