Professor of Rock

Coming up, we’re going to go behind the Top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1970. 52 years ago. This top 10 has one of the greatest most revered tracks gracing its ranks. Will The Beatles be crowned #1? Not if the Jackson 5, The Guess Who or solo John Lennon have anything to say about it. Plus, we have some surprise underdogs and one of the most successful one hit wonders of all time looking to make their mark. Find out how it all shakes down, next on our latest edition of 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.

Coming up a british new wave paragon of the 80s Cy Curnin of the Fixx takes us behind his band’s haunting first album. Released in 1982, the 2 biggest singles form the record Stand or Fall and Red Skies not only became their first charting hits in America, they captured the atmosphere of the cold war 80s in eerie fashion. The song still resonate today and have the ability of hypnotizing you as a listener. Find out what inspired the music and why they are more relevant today then they were back then. 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.

This nerdy 80s rocker gave me some much needed motivation as I stood at the highest diving platform at the massive community pool trying to get the nerve to the impossible. With a beautiful lifeguard looking on and the bullies razzing me, it was dive or die. The soundtrack of this conquering day in my life was Ah Leah by Donnie Iris. the 80s classic that should’ve been a #1 hit. Up next I tell the story of both sides of the equation… the diving board and the charts... 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.

To many in the US, today’s international artist is simply known as the “balloon chick.” That’s in no small part thanks to her #2 US hit about lighter-than-air party favors. And though this song is only a small part of Nena's career, she doesn’t mind the label One Hit Wonder. Because believe it or not, 99 Luftballoons is a masterful anthem speaking out against Cold War fear and paranoia. It’s the ultimate pop contradiction song, a light-hearted ditty with a heavyweight message.and Nena took it all the way to the top of the charts in 1984 and decades later it still resonates 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.

Known to many as hard and heavy rockers, Led Zeppelin has written some of the greatest pulse-pounding classics of the past half-century. But at one point they were actually called out by George Harrison for rocking too much. Challenged to bring it down a few notches, guitar virtuoso Jimmy Page composed a sonic soundscape so lush and surreal that one of rock’s premiere producers said it defied classification.WHEN Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bohnam wrote the 70s album track the rain song, they put the greatest poets on notice. 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 we talk with the lead singer and co-writer of one of the best British new wave duos of the 80s… The soul surviving hit making group, Go West. Go West was formed by the soulful new wave crooner Peter Cox and the smooth voiced Richard Drummie in the 80s and were successful in the UK first with the hit We Close Our Eyes. Which went top5 on the british charts while getting radio play in America and barely missing the top 40, peaking at 41. Peter Cox tells us the story of writing it and the first time he heard it on the radio as well AS WORKING WITH FAMED music directors Gooley and Creme. 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.

Legendary Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell grew up stealing clothes from a thrift store and even stole from a commercial airline This is the hilarious story of Been Caught Stealing the 90s alternative rock classic from Ritual De Lo Habitual which signified Jane’s as the Godfathers of Alternative 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.

While driving home from rehearsal one day, Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers was in a melancholy mood. Flashing back to his former drug-induced days, he saw himself strung-out on a dirty mattress beneath an overpass. Surrounded by junkies and gang-bangers, it was a miracle that he was still alive. Suddenly, in the midst of his sorrow, he started singing... And for the rest of the ride, he freestyled a song that not only his soothed his trauma, but inspired a generation cope with theirs as well. UNDER the BRIDGE the classic anthem of the early 90s. So get ready, we’re taking you to the place you love, we’re taking you all the way… with Flea, John Frusciante, Chad Smith and Anthony Kiedis of the Chili Peppers 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.

Up next we’re going to go go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1983 39 years ago. This top 10 has a very unique event… Michael Jackson was at #1 the week previous to this and would have a chance to replace himself at #1 Will he do it or will Styx, Prince, Dexy’s Midnight Runners or the Police stop him?With your stories and the artist’s commentary from exclusive interviews We'll Find out next on our latest edition of 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.

If there was ever a cautionary tale about a rock group making a deal with the devil to hit the big time, it would be the story of the rise and fall of SWEET. A saga of talent, fame & excess, followed by violence, frustration, alcoholism, disaster, poverty, and death. Along this bumpy journey, there are a lot of GREAT songs that will make you stand up and cheer. I want to warn you….it’s gonna be electric and frantically hectic.. the story of their biggest american hit Ballroom Bltiz from the 70s 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.