A little about Country, a little about Soul, and more about how they are really just the same thing. And why it’s not at all surprising that a big Pop-Soul star like Beyoncé is releasing a Country album.
For this RNRA Short, we tapped the expertise of Professor Charles Hughes of Rhodes College in Memphis, author of “Country Soul: Making Music and Making Race in the American South.”
We’ll look at the origins of the Alt Country Revolt, and name-check some great artists working very loudly and deliberately outside the Nashville Pop Country machine.
Y’all keep up the rockin’ now, hear?
Producer and Host: Christian Swain
Head Writer: Richard Evans
Sound Designer: Jerry Danielsen
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Mar 25
30 min
To mark the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' inaugural performance on U.S. soil, we decided to do a quick compare-and-contrast. We’ll revisit that watershed moment in music and culture, and talk about something recent that actually comes close to matching that moment: the ongoing Eras Tour from Taylor Swift.
Not “Bigger THAN The Beatles,” but in our not-so-humble opinion, “Biggest SINCE The Beatles.”
Listen in and let us know what you think! www.rocknrollarchaeology.com/listen
Producer and Host: Christian Swain
Head Writer: Richard Evans
Sound Designer: Jerry Danielsen
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Feb 7
30 min
The Soul of the 1970s. First, Marvin Gaye kicked the door open with “What’s Going On,” and then Stevie Wonder barged in.
The Wonder Years spanned 1971 to 1976; when the transcendent, diverse talent of Stevie Wonder was in its fullest flower. That five-album span is one of the most successful and impactful creative runs in the history of recorded music.
Our podcast offers immersive storytelling, insightful commentary, and a stellar musical playlist. Join us as we delve deep into the lives and musical genius of these iconic Soul-Music luminaries.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7s4Vyw1FLb4XpJnANduFPs?si=14746e9dd53049b1
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Dec 25, 2023
1 hr 18 min
Welcome back to Rock N Roll Archaeology! Got another RNRA Short Podcast for you. This one is named after the Kinks song “Celluloid Heroes.”
Rock N Roll goes to the movies (and television) in this one. We’ll take a look at three shows that feature fictional Rock bands: the movies “Almost Famous” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” and the television miniseries “Daisy Jones & The Six.”
Visit our website for more about this and all our other podcast episodes, and for links to our Patreon and Social Media. Keep up the Rockin’!
Dramatis Personae
Kellen Reiche played Danny Failson
Lynly Ehrlich played Liz Limer
Jerry Danielsen played Joe Conrad
Courtney M. Anderson played Heller Joseph
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Aug 21, 2023
42 min
RNRA Shorts: Disco Demolition!
Take us back to the Distant Days of Disco, Summer of 1979. Steve Dahl, a brash young DJ at WLUP- FM (“Chicago’s Best Rock!”), has declared war on Disco.
On July 12, 1979, he took the fight to Comiskey Park, in between games of a doubleheader between the home-team Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Things…got out of hand.
Since then, the “Disco Demolition” at Comiskey has achieved no small amount of notoriety, and at least according to Steve Dahl, it was a turning point, the beginning of the end for Disco.
Was it really? Well, yes and no. In our view, the Disco trend was already on the decline; it had pretty much run its course. But there was a powerful backlash to Disco, that’s undeniable. What motivated that backlash? And what was the fallout from the actual event?
Let’s discuss! For sources and show notes, visit rocknrollarchaeology.com !
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Jun 7, 2023
34 min
We want the airwaves, baby! Chapter 23 of Rock N Roll Archaeology tunes into radio and radio culture in America and elsewhere. There was a brief moment in the 70s and early 80s where FM Rock Radio was something pretty special.So what was that like, and where have all the good times gone? Some storytelling in this one, but it’s a little heavier on the commentary…and of course we’re featuring some killer songs, because that’s how we roll.
“Begin the day with a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive, Plays that song that’s so elusive”
For full show notes and to support Rock and Roll Archaeology visit www.rocknrollarchaeology.com.
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May 3, 2023
57 min
Remembering the late great Jeff Beck, the guitarist’s guitarist. An innovator and an iconoclast with a bold experimental spirit, Jeff left his unique stamp on hundreds of great songs.
Songs
Jeff Beck: “Diamond Dust,” from Blow By Blow
Jeff Beck: “Blue Wind,” from Wired
The Yardbirds: “Stroll On,” from the soundtrack to Blow Up
Jeff Beck with Bones UK: “The Revolution Will Be Televised” from Loud Hailer
Jeff Beck: “Freeway Jam,” from Blow by Blow
Bill Haley and The Comets: “Rock Around the Clock,” single released 1955
Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen: “Hot Rod Lincoln” from Lost in the Ozone
Stevie Wonder: “Looking for Another Pure Love,” from Talking Book
Jeff Beck, “Thelonius,” from Blow by Blow
Jeff Beck, “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers,” from Blow by BlowCredits
Author Dennis Hartley voiced by Doug Herzog
In Memoriam
Chip Isaac tribute charity: Bay Area Border Relief. https://www.bayareaborderrelief.org/
Podcasts
Rock N Roll Archaeology, Chapter 21: Guitarmageddon
Rock N Roll Archaeology, Chapter 8: Meet the Beatles, Part 2
Deeper Digs in Rock: Bones UK
Books
Martin Power, Hot Wired Guitar:The Life of Jeff Beck, 2014
Online Sources
The Alchemist: RIP Jeff Beck – Digby's HullabalooJeff Beck's favourite guitar solos
How Jeff Beck made Stevie Wonder go No. 1 with 'Superstition'
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Jan 17, 2023
25 min
Examining–and reconsidering–The Rocky Horror Picture Show. At the time, it was transgressive, outrageous; but now it seems a little bit tame. And…a bit problematic, when taken in a modern context. But it's still the ultimate midnight movie, and it's still…just a jump to the left!
Songs:
RHPS Cast: “There’s a Light,” from the soundtrack album
RHPS Cast: “The Time Warp,” from the soundtrack album
Tim Curry: “I Do The Rock,” from Fearless
RHPS Cast: “Sweet Transvestite,” from the soundtrack album
Frank Zappa and the Mothers: “Cheepnis,” from Roxy & Elsewhere
RHPS Cast: “Science Fiction Double Feature,” from the soundtrack album
RHPS Cast: “Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul,” from the soundtrack album
RHPS Cast: “Rose Tint My World,” from the soundtrack album
RHPS Cast: “Super Heroes,” from the soundtrack
Online Resources:
First, we want to give a warm and appreciative shoutout to the blogger Alex Mell-Taylor; we leaned heavily on their post for this chapter:
Gently Ripping Apart ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ | by Alex Mell -Taylor
Here’s a link to more by Alex Mell - Taylor at Medium.com.
The Rocky Horror Wiki
How I learned to stop worrying and love the Rocky Horror Picture Show
Rock's Back Pages: It's only a movie
The 50 Best Sci Fi Movies of the 1970s
Golden Age of Science Fiction Books: 11 of the Era's Most Influential Titles
Tim Curry
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Cult Classic that Challenged Sexual Mores | The Artifice
Rocky Horror Picture Show – a How-To Guide for Audience Participation
We Live in the World ‘Rocky Horror’ Created
Written by Richard Evans and Christian Swain
Produced and hosted by Christian Swain
Sound Design by Jerry Danielsen
Partners: Rock's Backpages
Voice Actors: Drew H as Alex Mell-Taylor
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Oct 30, 2022
29 min
Bands in the van, and a band at the crossroads. In this episode of RNRA Shorts, we’ll get into the early days of Pink Floyd, and the latest from a Pink Floyd member: Nick Mason’s 2022 Saucerful of Secrets tour.
Written by Richard Evans and Christian Swain, Sound Design by Jerry Danielsen.
Sponsors and Partners
Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets
Rock’s Backpages
Songs
Pink Floyd, “Echoes,” from Meddle
Pink Floyd, “See Emily Play,” from Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Pink Floyd, “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” from A Saucerful of Secrets
Pink Floyd, “Interstellar Overdrive,” from Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Pink Floyd, “Bike,” from Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Pink Floyd, “Fearless,” from Meddle
Pink Floyd, “One of These Days,” from Meddle
Pink Floyd, “Jugband Blues,” from A Saucerful of Secrets
Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets: “Arnold Layne,” from Live at the Roundhouse
Books
Mason, Nick. Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd Chronicle Books LLC. Kindle Edition.
Cutler, Sam. You Can't Always Get What You Want: My Life with the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead and Other Wonderful Reprobates . ECW Press. Kindle Edition.
Films, Documentaries, and TV Shows
“What Drives Us,” Directed by Dave Grohl, 2021
"Omnibus" Syd Barrett: Crazy Diamond (TV Episode 2001) - IMDb
Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (Short 1973) - IMDb
Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets: Live at the Roundhouse (2020) - IMDb
Online Sources
Pink Floyd | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Why Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason Finally Went Solo at 75 – Rolling Stone
How Pink Floyd Carried on With 'A Saucerful of Secrets'
Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets Concert Setlist at Zagrebački velesajam - Paviljon 9, Zagreb on May 31, 2022
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Sep 23, 2022
31 min
Content warning: Here at RNRA, we don’t hide our views. At all. But when it comes to politics, we try not to be in-your-face about it either. Our little slogan is “Just tell the story, and the point will get made.”This time though, we’re a little more overt, we’re letting it rip just a little bit. This particular burr has been under our saddle for a while now.Now: on with the show.
Summer Time is Shorts Time! RNRA Shorts, that is!
So…here’s a thing. Sometimes we visit Right Wing World online, that’s usually how it starts.On these expeditions we’ll sometimes run into some whinging about “Woke Progressives” cancelling right wing culture and entertainment, or just griping in general about perceived left/liberal bias in popular culture.They’re not totally wrong about that. They’re right, just for the wrong reasons, and we’ll explain why.It’s not just complaining they do. We also see a lot of co-opting and outright stealing. And when they take Rock music and culture and dishonestly try to repurpose it, try to make it serve the conservative agenda, well…unintentional hilarity ensues.So we’ll do some roasting, but we’ll also do some thinking out loud, talk a little about the how and why, and even delve into the deeper history of…the Art of the Steal.
Enjoy!
Sponsors and Partners
BetterHelp
Rock’s Backpages
Boldfoot
Songs
Parliament Funkadelic: “One Nation Under A Groove”
Thomas Dolby: “Pulp Culture”
Ted Nugent: “Stranglehold”
Ted Nugent: “Hey Baby”
They Might Be Giants: “Your Racist Friend”
Neil Young: “Rockin’ in the Free World”
Woody Guthrie: “This Land is Your Land”
Trey Parker and Matt Stone: “America, Fuck Yeah”
Toby Keith: “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue”
Living Colour: “Cult of Personality”
Stevie Wonder: “He’s Misstra Know It All”
Green Day: “American Idiot”
Sources
Apocalypse Now: “Mangoes and Tigers” Scene (Retrieved from YouTube)
Roy Edroso Breaks it Down Substack (Paywalled. Roy writes a lot about this issue, and we think he’s really astute–and hilarious.)
The Five Most Repellent Things Ted Nugent Has Ever Done | Rocks Off
Music News: Why can't musicians get politicians to stop playing their songs?
The President’s Shock at the Rows of Empty Seats in Tulsa - The New York Times
American Cringe: Why can’t the contemporary right make art?
Episode 5: The Ballad of Bob and J.R. — Pantheon Podcasts
A Defence of Poetry
Voice Talent
Darryl Alber as blogger Cameron Summers
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Aug 11, 2022
27 min
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