Ethan Teaches You Music Podcast

Music in this episode:Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” (1981)Aretha Franklin - “I Say A Little Prayer” (1968)Jimi Hendrix - “Hey Joe” (1967)Grateful Dead - “Jack Straw” (1972)Bing Crosby - “Clementine” (1941)Lightnin’ Hopkins - “My California” (1948)JS Bach - Violin Partita No 3 in E Major - Prelude (1720) - performed by Viktoria MullovaThe Allman Brothers Band - “Blue Sky” (1972)Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique” - II. Adagio cantabile (1798) - performed by Daniel BarenboimThe Beatles - “A Day in the Life” (1967)Little Simz - “Venom” (2019)References:The Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs corpus studyDavid Temperley, The Musical Language of RockTrevor de Clercq, The Practice of Popular Music: Understanding Harmony, Rhythm, Melody, and Form in Commercial Songwriting Get full access to Ethan teaches you music at ethanhein.substack.com/subscribe

Music in this episode:The Band - “The Weight” (1968)Bob Dylan - “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” (1965)The Canadian Squires - “Uh Uh Uh” (1965)Ronnie Hawkins - “Mary Lou” (1959)Peter, Paul & Mary - “Puff, the Magic Dragon” (1963)The Staple Singers - “The Weight” (1968)The Band feat. The Staple Singers - “The Weight” (1976)James Carr - “The Dark End of the Street” (1967)The Band - “Up On Cripple Creek” (1969)The Band - “Ophelia” (1975)Aretha Franklin - “The Weight” (1970)The Chambers Brothers - “The Weight” (1973)Mavis Staples - “You Are Not Alone” (2010)Norah Jones and Mavis Staples - “I'll Be Gone” (2019)Lottie Kimbrough - “Wayward Girl Blues” (c. 1924)Jimmie Rodgers - “Blue Yodel No. 9” (1930)Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - “Steel Guitar Rag” (1936)I learned a lot of my background material from the excellent episode of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs about “The Weight”. There’s further background in this Rolling Stone article.Here’s a good guitar tutorial for the song.Corrections: at one point, I refer to Ronnie Hawkins as Roger Hawkins, who was his cousin. Also, the Bob Wills song uses tenor sax, not alto sax. Get full access to Ethan teaches you music at ethanhein.substack.com/subscribe

Music in this episode:Fleetwood Mac - “Dreams” (1977)The Temptations - “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” (1972)The Bee Gees - “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)Deee-Lite - “Groove is in the Heart” (1990)Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude No. 1 in C major from The Well-Tempered Clavier performed by Glenn Gould (1722)A Tribe Called Quest - “Can I Kick It?” (1990)The Fugees - “Ready or Not” (1996)Sabrina Carpenter - “Espresso” (2024)Gloria Gaynor - “I Will Survive” (1978)Grateful Dead - “Fire On The Mountain” (1977)BSlick - “Dress Up Theme” from Dress To Impress (2024)Brooklyn Duo - “Canon in D (Pachelbel’s Canon)” (2020)Hear all of the remixes in their entirety:Here’s the sheet music for my jazzy reharmonization.Read more about melodic-harmonic divorce. Get full access to Ethan teaches you music at ethanhein.substack.com/subscribe

Music in this episode:Miles Davis - “In a Silent Way/It’s About That Time” (1969)Joe Zawinul - “In A Silent Way” (1971)Miles Davis - “Directions I” (1968)Frankie HI-NRG MC - “Faccio La Mia Cosa” (1993)Les Sages Poètes de la Rue - “Ne Cours Pas” (1995)Neffa e I Messaggeri Della Dopa - “Dopamina” (1996)Akotcha - “Sound Burger” (1997)Miles Davis - “It’s About That Time” (1970)Miles Davis - “Sivad” (1971)Miles Davis - “Blow” (1992)Jazz Transcript Authority has a chart that Miles wrote for “Shhh/Peaceful,” which have been intended as a sketch of the entire album. Few of the ideas on this chart made the final cut, but check out measures 28, 29 and 30: they show a simplified version of groove 2 from “It’s About That Time.”I quote a passage from Daniel Grimley’s chapter on form in The Oxford Handbook of Critical Concepts in Music Theory.A commenter on the last episode pointed me to this review by Martin Booth of every recording Miles Davis made in his first electric period, it’s an excellent guide to this music.See also the previous episode on the album’s side A:Learn more about fourths chords. Get full access to Ethan teaches you music at ethanhein.substack.com/subscribe

Music in this episode:Miles Davis - “Shhh/Peaceful” (1969)Charlie Parker - “Donna Lee” (1947)Miles Davis - “Four” (1954)Miles Davis - “Milestones” (1958)Miles Davis - “Freedom Jazz Dance” (1967)Mahavishnu Orchestra - “Birds Of Fire” (1973)Donald Byrd - “Fufu” (1969)Miles Davis - “Shhh/Peaceful (Early Version)” (1969)Subterra - “Celestial” (2009)Lala Sinephro - “Space 1” (2021)Here’s a transcription of Miles’ trumpet solo from “Shhh/Peaceful”.For more background on the album, I recommend Paul Tingen’s book Miles Beyond: The Electric Explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991. A commenter also pointed me to this review by Martin Booth of every recording Miles Davis made in his first electric period, it’s an excellent guide to this music. Get full access to Ethan teaches you music at ethanhein.substack.com/subscribe

Music in this episode:Grateful Dead - “Beautiful Jam (Live in Port Chester, February 18, 1971)”Update: after recording this, David Gans informed me that he named the Beautiful Jam, and also recommended its inclusion on the So Many Roads box set. You can hear David play the recording for Phil Lesh on the Grateful Dead Hour in 1997; it was the first time Phil had heard it since performing it. Hear more of Bob Weir’s finest moments: Get full access to Ethan teaches you music at ethanhein.substack.com/subscribe

Music in this episode:Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - “Dancing In The Street” (1964)The Beatles - “The End” (1969)Santana - “Oye Como Va” (1970)Pink Floyd - “The Great Gig In The Sky” (1973)The JBs - “Doing It To Death” (1973)Bob Marley - “Lively Up Yourself” (1974)Stevie Wonder - “I Wish” (1976)Grateful Dead - “Fire On The Mountain” (1977)Parliament - “Flashlight” (1978)Michael Jackson - “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (1979)Frankie Beverley & Maze - “Before I Let Go” (1981)Janet Jackson - “When I Think Of You” (1986)A Tribe Called Quest - “Can I Kick It?” (1990)Deee-Lite - “Groove is in the Heart” (1990)Lauryn Hill - “Everything Is Everything” (1998)Mary J Blige - “Family Affair” (2001)Migos - “Versace” (2013)Tom Tom Club - “Genius of Love” (1981)Related:More about “Genius of Love” and nonsensical chord loopsAndrea La Rose - Two Chords Get full access to Ethan teaches you music at ethanhein.substack.com/subscribe

RIP Bob Weir, who sang the Grateful Dead’s cover of this song.Music appearing in this episode:Martha Reeves & the Vandellas - “Dancing in the Street” (1964)Sly & the Family Stone - “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (1969)Grateful Dead - “Dancing in the Street” (1977)David Bowie & Mick Jagger - “Dancing In The Street” (1985)Ramsey Lewis Trio - “Dancing in the Street” (1967)For background on Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and on Motown generally, see Andrew Hickey’s excellent 500 Songs podcast episode on “Heatwave.” For the story of the song’s role in the 1960s civil rights movement, see Ready for a Brand New Beat”—“How ‘Dancing in the Street’ Became the Anthem for a Changing America by Mark Kurlansky. You can also read a review of it here. Get full access to Ethan teaches you music at ethanhein.substack.com/subscribe

Dive into an exploration of D'Angelo's influential musical legacy as the host reflects on four iconic tracks. Discover the intricate grooves of "Brown Sugar" and its captivating instrumentation. Get into the off-kilter charm of "Playa Playa" and its unique timing. Uncover the collaborative essence of "The Root" alongside Charlie Hunter's guitar mastery. Finally, revel in the rich arrangements of "Really Love" from Black Messiah. The conversation artfully bridges D'Angelo's artistry and his lasting impact on music.

A nine-year-old superfan shares her love for David Byrne, describing how she fell for his music through 'American Utopia.' The duo recounts their thrilling family experience at Radio City Music Hall, highlighting the concert’s energetic atmosphere and unforgettable choreography. Bernadetta discusses her favorite songs, critiques the concert's sound, and expresses disappointment over a missing track. They also explore how younger fans connect with Byrne's present-day persona and how Bernadetta is inspired to create her own music and performances.