The Traveling Wilburys comprised George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Their first album was released in October 1988 to commercial success and critical acclaim. Although Harrison had long planned to start such a band, the project came about through happenstance. Harrison was in Los Angeles and in need of a […]

Songs You Should Know

Episode 21: Traveling Wilburys

This one is for this Mickster, in tribute to one of the first bands he ever idolized (back when he was 12 years old.) Formed in New York City in January 1973, Kiss is about to embark on their “End of the Road” final world tour. Yes, we know they’ve done a final tour before […]

Episode 20: KISS Songs You Should Know #20: Kiss

The Eagles were originally Linda Ronstadt’s backup band and had their first major hit with the first song on their first album in 1972 (“Take it Easy,” from their debut album, simply titled “Eagles.”) They went on to masterfully craft songs that have sold over 100 million albums. In fact, their 1976 “Greatest Hits” volume […]

Episode 19: The Eagles Songs You Should Know #19: The Eagles

Were they Glam Rock? Heavy Metal? What were these guys? They were an indescribable mutation of both, with a rich dash of opera, theatrics, and even rockabilly thrown in. Queen had eight gold and six platinum records. Their lead guitarist has a PhD in astrophysics. They were indescribably unique. In this episode, Mick and Jimbo […]

Episode 18: Queen Episode 18 - Queen

Mick and Jim have discussed the pioneers of country western, punk, hard rock, disco, and everything in between. In this episode we tackle the Carpenters, icons of soft rock during the 1970s. Karen and Richard, brother and sister, carved out their own space in music history and owned the 70s as much as any other […]

Episode 17: The Carpenters Episode 17 - The Carpenters

Malcolm Young of AC/DC left us on November 18, 2017, from complications of dementia. He was only 64. He anchored AC/DC’s sound from the beginning, in 1973. His younger brother Angus may have been the public face of the band, but Malcolm was a key writer and leader. He was the guy the rest of the […]

Episode 16: AC/DC Episode 16 - AC/DC

Punk developed in the early to mid-1970s and was rooted in 1960s garage rock and other forms of what is now known as “proto-punk” music. Punk bands rebelled against what they saw as the “excesses” of mainstream rock at the time, seeking to get back to the raw early roots of rock and roll, sometimes […]

Episode 15: Pioneers of Punk The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and the Clash

Rod Stewart’s distinctive raspy singing voice, showmanship, and songwriting have kept him in the musical spotlight for over fifty years. Stewart came to prominence in the late 1960s and the early 1970s with The Jeff Beck Group, and then with Faces, though his music career began in 1962 when he took up busking with a […]

Episode 14: Rod Stewart Songs You Should Know: Rod Stewart

Tom Petty was the soundtrack to so many of our lives. His unique songwriting capabilities captivated generations of rock and roll enthusiasts. He wasn’t the prettiest. He wasn’t the smoothest. But, dang if he didn’t have what it took to be a rock and roll star. In this episode, Mick and Jimbo talk about his […]

Episode 13: Tom Petty Episode 13 - Tom Petty

Glen Campbell spent over 50 years in the music business. He recorded scores of record albums and starred in a hit TV show. He also made history in 1967 by winning four Grammy awards in two different categories . . . two for “Gentle on My Mind” in the Country and Western category, and two […]

Episode 12: Glen Campbell Songs You Should Know: Glen Campbell

Joe left us in December of 2014, but he left a legacy of gritty, spasmodic performances. He was one of a kind. He came to our attention with his cover of “A Little Help From My Friends” in 1968, and continued popping up in the public consciousness for years, culminating in a 1983 Grammy Award […]

Episode 11: Joe Cocker Episode 11 - Joe Cocker

Jimbo and the Mickster return after after a short summer hiatus to explore one country music legend with whom every rock and roll lover should be familiar: Hank Williams, Sr. In his short 29 year life (and only 6 years of major label recording,) Hank managed to pen and/or record a long list of classics, […]

Episode 10: Hank Williams Sr. Songs You Should Know: Hanks Williams Sr.

Prince underwent the transformation from “rock star” to “media superstar” in 1984, with the release of Purple Rain, both as a movie and an album. This is the same year Michael Jackson wins a record eight Grammy Awards, and Ronald Reagan nearly runs the table in his re-election bid. Of several hit singles spawned by […]

Episode 9: Highlights from 1984

By the end of 1981, the Rolling Stones were launching the era of corporate sponsored touring, with their Tattoo You album and tour, spearheaded by their last great end-of-summer single, Start Me Up. In this episode Mick and Jim discuss the influence of Start Me Up, as well as the first appearance of Rap in […]

Episode 8: Highlights from 1981 Highlights from 1981: The Stones, Blondie, and the Buggles

In 1978 we saw the collision of Punk, Disco, and Rock. John Travolta appeared in not one, but two iconic movies, both filled with music. This episode opens with the Rock/Disco fusion of the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You,” the segues into the Rock/Punk/Jazz fusion of the “Roxanne,” by the Police, and finishes with one of […]

Episode 7: Highlights from 1978

The stories behind the music, hosted by Jimbo and the Mickster

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Songs You Should Know

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