Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Steely Dan's core members circled each other for a few years before finally assembling the band in LA to make their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill . The fellows discuss the Rat Pro Co guitar tone, Becker bass flubs, and Chevy Chase. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this ...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 133
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Pavement helped define early indie music and their influences reach all the way to the present day, and this shines through on their 2nd album Crooked Rain Crooked Rain . The team discuss guitars that sound like an airplane landing, purposefully off-key vocals, and the magic of not caring what other people think. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen ...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 132
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Jimi Hendrix landed in London an unsuccessful amateur but very quickly took the scene by storm. A band was hastily assembled around him and they went into the studio to cut a sea change album in Are You Experienced . The boys talk about horse meat, fake confidence, and (of course) 60s recording techniques. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our ...
Nov 13, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 131
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Radiohead had early success but was starting to get disillusioned with the music industry when they started writing the material for their 3rd album OK Computer . The team discuss mellotron, pinching ideas from The Beatles, and recording in Dr Quinn's castle. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the s...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 130
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Minutemen came roaring out of the SoCal hardcore scene and proved that musicianship and punk weren't incompatible. The team discuss the importance of overdubbing, the nature of "punk" music, and how sincerity shining through is almost always a good thing. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 129
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Jamiroquai wanted to make retro danceable music with a message and on this debut album they did just that while making a big splash in the UK. The boys discuss bass tone, the importance of song editing, and Greta Thunberg. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) h...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 128
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Snoop Dogg's solo debut was greatly anticipated after the massive success of The Chronic , but young Snoop takes it all in stride on Doggystyle . The boys talk about raunchy sound effects, complex chord changes, and Snoop's breezy songwriting. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenc...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 127
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Emerson Lake and Palmer met while touring individually in other successful groups, then formed prog rock's first supergroup. Tarkus is a concept album for a future that has yet to manifest. The fellows welcome a special guest and discuss virtuosity, over the top drum kits, and the history of progressive music. Check out Dave's podcast Discograffiti now: https://open.spotify.com/show/3gtZQOiXaLA72ez7gzFv...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 126
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. White Denim had made 3 full length albums before ever setting foot in a pro recording studio for D. The team talk about bass fuzz pedals, time signature switches that don't smack you in the face, and the evolution of prog rock. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episo...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 125
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Crosby, Stills, and Nash already had a smash hit when they decided to team up with Neil Young for Deja Vu , but in-fighting and personal troubles made for a rough recording session. The boys chat about perfect harmony, rock and roll singing voices, and Joni Mitchell. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation ...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 124
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Kinks came roaring out of the British rock scene but got waylaid by a ban from touring the United States - so they turned their attention and songwriting chops back towards home. The boys discuss key changes, indie rock production, and band fights - lots of them. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation ...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 123
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Karen Carpenter's tragic story is well known, but her upbringing and rise to fame is just as interesting as this brother and sister duo team up to have a breakthrough hit. The boys discuss an overabundance of harmonies (gasp), drumming while singing, and bank commercial jingles. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 122
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Cure decided to eschew their pop-punk roots in favor of a darker sound on Seventeen Seconds and set the course for the rest of their long career. The team discuss drum production, overplaying your instrument, and strange mixing decisions. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we reference...
Sep 04, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 121
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Incubus built a following in the 90s by touring extensively, then landed a major label deal and decided to write some deeply personal songs for 1999's Make Yourself . The boys welcome a special guest and discuss low harmonies, bass tones, and the gonkulator. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the so...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 120
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Hanoi Rocks was the biggest band to come out of the Finnish glam metal scene and was on their way towards conquering America when tragedy struck. The team discuss Spotify errors, pitchy singing, and sleeping on the Stockholm streets in winter. We're live together in the room today, face to face at last. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] By the way, the t...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 119
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The GoGos formed out of the LA punk scene as five friends who wanted to take over the world. They rose to worldwide stardom but fell apart in the years to come. Listen as we discuss pop production tricks that work, drum beats that elevate simple songs, and speeding up the tape. We're live together in the room today, face to face at last to discuss the Go Go's debut album Beauty and the Beat . Email us y...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 118
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Sly Stone assembled a family band in the 1960s and broke musical barriers for years before becoming a notorious recluse. The boys discuss goofy lyrics, a kicking rhythm section, and 60s mixing mistakes. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here: https://open.sp...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 117
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Supertramp went from being fully bankrolled by a European millionaire to being struggling musicians again...then their career started to take off. The boys talk Wurlitzers, yacht rock, and obscure British slang. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here: https:...
Jul 31, 2023•57 min•Ep. 116
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Missy Elliott had her mind set on stardom from an early age, and worked her way through the industry with childhood friend and mega producer Timbaland to get there. The boys discuss the the changing eras of hip hop, creative sound effects, and guest stars with varying success. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (co...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 115
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Talking Heads met at art school and took the 70s New York scene by storm. They honed their sound as a trio before adding a 4th member and heading into the studio to record their debut album 77 . The team discuss Spotify easter eggs, the melodic role of the bass guitar, and Lou Reed's sage advice to David Byrne. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 114
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Stooges were communists at home and anarchists on stage. The group that gave the world Iggy Pop flamed hot going into the recording of 1970's Funhouse , then crashed and burned in the years that followed. The boys welcome Rocker Conan Neutron as a special guest and discuss studio tracking strategies, stage presence, and scoliosis. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumCompla...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 113
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Grateful Dead had built a massive live following through incessant touring and long improvisations, but the early 1970s saw them begin to use the recording studio a bit differently. The boys come together for America's birthday week to discuss vocal harmony stacks, dueling lead singers, and 1970s song craft. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen t...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 112
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. T Rex was already topping the charts in the UK when Marc Bolan set out to conquer America with Electric Warrior. The team discuss rhythm guitar tones, vocal take asides, and boot stomping. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here: https://open.spotify.com/play...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 111
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Thundercat is an undeniable virtuoso on his chosen instrument (bass) - this week we listen to his most successful solo outing and venture deeper into the man's strange psyche. The boys discuss 6 string bass, falsetto harmonies, and yacht rock pioneers. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we...
Jun 19, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 110
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. KISS was building a live following but still searching around for a hit record when they paired up with a new producer and headed into the studio for Destroyer. The boys talk about face paint options, bass tone in the mix, and the Bachman-Turner Overdrive effect. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of t...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 109
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Van Morrison had a major hit record but almost zero name recognition when he assembled the songs for his cult hit Astral Weeks in 1968. The team discuss vibraphone, loose arrangements, and tasty jazz bass. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here: https://open...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 108
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Frank Sinatra shot to fame in the 1940s but his star was waning as the 1950s started off. Add a need to reinvent oneself artistically to a very public failing marriage and you get what might be the very first album as we now know it. The boys talk Celesta tones, 1930s songwriting, and singing at night. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our epis...
May 29, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 107
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Siouxsie and the Banshees were early post-punk darlings who simultaneously invented and eschewed a new genre called goth rock. The boys gather together live in the room and discuss Robert Smith, spitting at punk shows, and their latest cover band ideas. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs w...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 106
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Fun Lovin' Criminals were working as bar backs when they got their earliest club gigs in New York. They sampled extensively and smashed together genres to become a major hit in the UK. The boys discuss hip hop lyricism, sampling workarounds, and one hit wonders of the 1990s. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] Listen to our episode companion playlist (...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 105
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Adam and the Ants took the UK pop scene by storm, but then the entire band struck out on their own and frontman Adam had to start over. He searched for new players, writing partners, and an array of musical influences that led him to create Kings of the Wild Frontier . The fellas get together to talk about Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, Burundi beats, and the link to the Brian Eno production style. Emai...
May 08, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 104
