Professor of Rock

Coming up, the story of one of the most emotionally charged hits of the rock era- Raindy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters was written by a budding songwriter Paul Williams with music by Roger Nichols, and performed by the Sister and Brother duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter. This duo was constantly ridiculed by journalists for their squeaky-clean image. I admit that I absolutely Despised their music for a quarter century. But then in a transcendent moment, today’s song converted me for good. It was Karen’s soothing voice that changed me. Today’s song, Rainy Days and Mondays is a "no doubt about it" masterpiece with one of the best lyrics of its day. But A decade after the song’s peak on the pop charts, the lives of the lyricist Paul Williams and lead singer Karen Carpenter were thrown into turmoil. It’s yet another interesting tale of what goes on behind the fame…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 crazy rock story…Code words and mystery lyrics, a decades-long feud with a rival band, sweet stolen dance moves, the parting of the Red Sea, and oh yeah, the most controversial fish in all of music video history. And somehow all of this is connected to this one Amazing song. EPIC by Faith No More. This song is so legendary in fact, that it’s even in the name., we’ll get into this song’s riddle-like lyrics. They refer to the word “IT” throughout the song. SO WHAT, or WHO IS IT? Let’s find out. The song came right after they fired their singer… Chuck Mosely a new singer came right in and wrote the lyrics to this band’s killer riff. Mike Patton Killed it with EPIC’s lyrics. They knew it was a hit but the record label didn’t care… they chose the band’s first single and when it flopped they told this group they could pick the next single…it not only ignited this band’s fortunes, some argue it invented a new genre Rap Metal but so many styles we’re represented here they had everything in this song… even the kitchen sink…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.

Coming up next the two key members of the rock and roll chapter of one the world’s greatest classic bands: the Doobie Brothers tell us a truly funny story. Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons were the principals of the Doobies' phenomenal 70s radio hits… Tom Johnston believed that if they could get all the politicians together, all the world’s leaders together on a grassy hill with the sun shining and let the music play, they would figure out they all had a lot more in common than they thought... And we could work toward a utopian world. Well as Tom will admit, it was foolish thinking and would never happen but it made for a great song. It became the fruit of “Listen to the Music” the Doobies' first massive hit. He wrote it as an afterthought and in his own words it wrote itself… All of a sudden he had this great song… coming up a masterclass in classic riffs. 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 bringing you an entirely new show on Professor of Rock. I’m really excited about this one. And I think you’re going to Dig it too. It’s a new way for this channel to go in-depth into some of the most influential bands and exceptional tracks that have ever graced the pages of rock history. And in the process, we’re featuring five defining tracks that capture the essence of the most iconic rock band in the history of iconic rock bands. Led Zeppelin. That’s right, we’re starting big. These 5 songs will rearrange anyone’s mind. The Evolution of the Lords of Rock through 5 songs that define them including one so powerful it made the singer weep after he sang the vocal From Stairway to Heaven to Kashmir the best of Led Zeppelin from the late 60s to the early 80s… 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… a 70s classic that had 624 voices that originated from only 3 singers…. I’m Not In Love by 10CC. First of all the song came from an awkward conversation the songwriter had with his wife… she was upset that he didn’t say I love you often enough. He ended up turning that awkward conversation into arguably the greatest anti-love song ever. Then in the middle of the recording sessions, the band had an idea. it involved having a receptionist reciting some of the strangest lyrics ever. and it made this song a bonafide classic. the story of the yacht rock/soft rock classic I’m Not in Love by 10CC. Written by Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart. Later the team of Godley and Creme became award-winning music video directors. 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. Let’s dive into the bizarre and sensational era of the Satanic Panic, a time when songs were accused of harboring "evil" hidden messages, and bands faced relentless scrutiny as alleged corruptors of society. While heavy metal bands were the primary targets, even the likes of today’s squeaky clean band ELO, the Electric Light Orchestra, found themselves entangled in the fanatical crusade. Today we break down the hidden messages in ELO’s music including the doubled-sided hit Sweet Talkin’ Woman and Fire On Hight. We unravel the stories behind these cryptic songs, their secret messages, and the mysterious woman who cast her spell on an unsuspecting rock star named Jeff Lynne and how Fire On Hight might be the most bizarre and creepy B side of the entire 70s… 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 we’re literally giving you three chords and the truth with a song that has left an indelible mark on rock history… Wild Thing by the TROGGS... Written and recorded under the gun, The songwriter Chip Taylor had to write the song and record a demo in just a few hours to hit a deadline. Otherwise, he might miss his date with destiny. After he finished recording it. it was so corny he fell on the floor laughing! He had written the song as a joke as a code word for Sex. Turns out, the song completely flopped the first time around. And then feeling embarrassed by the track’s sexual undertones, this writer tried to hide it from his publisher. But someone found it and it was picked up by today’s famous group, The Troggs. Piggybacking on someone else’s recording session, the band laid it down in something like 20 minutes. But as fast as it took to record, this song was no flash in the pan. The song was all a big joke and it made its writer so rich he was gambling 10 grand a day in Vegas… The story is 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, an interview with one of the greatest drummers in rock and roll history, Stewart Copeland of the Police on their first two #1 hits, Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon. These two songs put Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland on the map. Walking on the Moons is definitely a candidate for the most atmospheric hit of its time and it came to Sting when he was sloppy drunk. He said he came up with the worst song title ever -- Walking Round the Room -- for it, so he changed it up when he was sober... and it somehow ended up with an even worse title he says! And Message in a Bottle is one of the most played in rock history and Stewart says he has one big regret about it decades later. Get the story of 2 classics 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.

Up next, the story of the most famous grammatically incorrect rock solvo in history. and The Legendary riff came to the guitarist in a dream… I Can’t Get No Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards dreamt the famous riff and then rolled out of bed and recorded it. Funny thing is he meant for the riff heard round the world to be a horn section and he was worried he may have inadvertently ripped it off. Thank goodness the horns didn’t take. When he showed it to singer Mick Jagger. The frontman went nuts. He wrote the lyrics and they became the greatest middle finger to the man lyrics in the rock canon and then to top it all off The song got banned for being too suggestive! Pirate Radio stations started playing it and then it blew up! The story of a true 60s 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.

Coming up an interview with one of the 70s most prolific and successful bands… America! They blazed onto the scene as rookies with a #1 hit with A Horse With No Name and their debut album also hit #1 and then they won the cursed Grammy for Best New Artist. History has not been kind to many of the winners of that award but this America blew UP THAT CURSE with several hits IMMEdiately after including today’s smash Sister Golden Hair that had a very depressing opening line. The song originally sat on the shelf for a year not getting a release on their previous album. But the timing was right when they went to work with the biggest producer in the world, George Martin and they rewarded him with his 1st #1 hit outside of producing the Beatles. They got some flack for a pretty tame swear word in the song and admits he borrowed from another #1 song of the time which is funny because that particular song would lose a lawsuit for ripping off another song. The interview 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.