Podcasts - Page 3
When Santana recorded ‘Oye Como Va‘ in 1970 for their landmark album Abraxas, they weren’t just covering a song—they were helping to change the course of popular music. Originally written and recorded in 1962 by Tito Puente, the Cuban-American bandleader and percussionist often called the “King of Latin Music,” the track was a cha-cha infused […]
Eric Clapton’s recording of ‘After Midnight‘ in 1970 became one of the first defining tracks of his solo career. The song, however, didn’t start with Clapton—it was written and first recorded by Oklahoma-born songwriter J.J. Cale in 1966. Cale’s original version had a raw, bluesy charm but went largely unnoticed. Producer Delaney Bramlett later introduced […]
In 1972, Joe Walsh stood at a crossroad. Freshly departed from the James Gang and having declined an invitation from Humble Pie, he relocated from Cleveland to Boulder, Colorado—drawn partly by his James Gang producer Bill Szymczyk and a community of supportive friends. There, surrounded by the breathtaking Rockies, he formed the band Barnstorm and […]
When The Moody Blues entered the studio to record Long Distance Voyager in 1980, the band found themselves at a crossroads. Founding keyboardist Mike Pinder had departed, and his replacement, Patrick Moraz—best known for his work with Yes and Refugee—brought a more modern, synthesizer-heavy style to the sessions. The result was a fresh, contemporary sound […]
In 1984, Billy Idol released one of the most unexpected and haunting songs of his career—‘Eyes Without a Face.’ Known up to that point for high-energy punk-influenced rock anthems like ‘Rebel Yell’ and ‘White Wedding,’ Idol surprised both critics and fans by showcasing a softer, moodier side. The track became a defining moment in his […]
By the late 1980s, Alice Cooper had already secured his legacy as the “Godfather of Shock Rock.” Yet his career had hit a lull earlier in the decade as he battled personal struggles and released albums that didn’t connect with the mainstream. That changed dramatically in 1989 with the release of ‘Poison‘—a song that not […]
When Stevie Ray Vaughan released In Step in June 1989, it marked both a personal and professional rebirth. After years of struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, Vaughan had completed rehab in 1986 and returned with a renewed sense of clarity. The album’s title symbolized his sobriety—he was literally “in step” with a healthier, more […]
When you think of rock radio in the early ’80s, Billy Squier is a name that can’t be ignored. After the massive success of Don’t Say No in 1981—with hits like ‘The Stroke‘ dominating both radio and MTV—Squier had the weight of expectation on his shoulders. His next move needed to prove he wasn’t a […]
Sometimes, the songs that almost slip away end up becoming the biggest hits. That’s exactly what happened with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance,‘ a track that wasn’t even meant to see the light of day when it was first recorded. Back in 1991, during the sessions for Into the Great Wide […]
When The Black Crowes stormed onto the music scene in 1990 with their debut album Shake Your Money Maker, they quickly gained a reputation for channeling the gritty swagger of the Rolling Stones and the Southern blues of the Faces. But amidst the album’s fiery riffs and swaggering grooves was a haunting ballad that revealed […]
By the early 1980s, Sammy Hagar was no stranger to the rock world. As the former frontman of Montrose, he had already proven his chops with tracks like ‘Rock Candy.’ But his solo career, while building steadily, hadn’t yet delivered the defining anthem that would push him into arena headliner territory. That changed in 1982 […]
By the early 1980s, Scorpions had already carved out a reputation as one of Europe’s premier hard rock exports. But in America, they were still chasing that one big breakthrough that could launch them into the upper tier of arena rock acts. That moment arrived in 1982 with the release of Blackout—and front and center […]