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What the Riff?!?

What the Riff?!?

著者： Rob Marbury Wayne Rowan Bruce Fricks and Brian Dickhute
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 Every week, “WHAT THE RIFF?!?” takes a look at a ROCK AND ROLL album that debuted or peaked on the U.S. Billboard charts during a random month between 1965-1995. Four friends discuss the artists and 4 tracks from the album as it plays in the background. Then we riff on 4 “staff picks” of other artists that were also in the charts during that month and year. You’ll hear some familiar tunes as well as some deeper cuts and entertainment tracks as we share a little look into the culture and happenings of that day— having fun recalling that “old time rock and roll.” We hope to bring back memories for you — and we encourage you to find and purchase the tracks and albums from iTunes, Spotify or your other favorite music service. You’ll find each episode with a short blog on this site. Please subscribe so you don’t miss any release! We also invite you to follow us and learn more about us @whattheriffpodcast on Facebook.What the Riff ©2024 世界 社会科学 音楽
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  • 1972 - December: Neil Diamond "Hot August Night"

    1972 - December: Neil Diamond "Hot August Night"
    2025/05/19
    Neil Diamond is one of the best-selling singer-songwriters of all time. In August 1972 he performed a series of 10 sold-out shows at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Recordings from this concert would be released as a live double-album entitled Hot August Night later that year in December. Neil Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York, the child of a Jewish family. At the age of 16 he was inspired by seeing folk singer Pete Seeger perform at a camp for Jewish children in upstate New York, and received his first guitar shortly thereafter. This would set the direction of Diamond's career, starting with both taking guitar lessons and writing songs. After some time barely scraping by as a songwriter, Diamond began to find some success by the mid-60's, most prominently with several songs for The Monkees, including the big hit, "I'm A Believer." Diamond moved to Los Angeles in 1969, where he recorded some of his bigger solo hits, including the iconic "Sweet Caroline."Many consider "Hot August Night" to be Neil Diamond's best work, capturing the artist at his prime and at the top of his game. It went to number 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and was number 12 for the 1973 year-end chart. It was number 1 in Australia for 29 weeks in 1973 and 1974, and remains one of the highest selling albums in that country. Neil Diamond retired from touring in 2018 toward the end of his "50 Year Anniversary World Tour" after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. However, Diamond did not retire from music, and continued writing and developing new projects.Wayne brings us this soft rock singer-songwriter live album for this week's podcast. Kentucky WomanThis song is a bonus track on the CD, and many will recognize this song from the remake performed by Deep Purple. It was written in 1967 and went to number 22 on the charts after its release. It appeared on the compilation album, "Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits" released in 1968 on Bang records after Diamond left that label.Cherry CherryThe inspiration for this song was an early relationship with a significantly older woman. This was Diamond's first hit, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The most familiar studio version of this song was released in mid 1966 on Bang records, and was the final track on Diamond's debut studio album, "The Feel of Neil Diamond."Song Sung BlueThis song was originally released on Diamond's eighth studio album, "Moods." It was his second number 1 song in the United States, and his last solo #1 song in America to date. The musical inspiration for the song is Mozart's Piano Concerto #21, second movement. The lyrics reflect on the power of music to heal when a sad mood is poured into a song. Cracklin' RosieOriginally released in 1970, this song topped the charts and sold over 1 million copies. The studio version appeared on "Tap Root Manuscript," Diamond's sixth studio album, and was recorded with instrumentation provided by session musicians from the Wrecking Crew. While the lyrics suggest that Rosie is a prostitute, there are tales that it actually refers to a cheap sparkling wine from Canada called "Crackling Rosè." ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Theme from the animated series "Josie and the Pussycats"The animated series "Josie and the Pussycats" and "Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space" concluded its run this month. STAFF PICKS:Ventura Highway by AmericaRob leads off the staff picks with a song inspired by a drive that vocalist and writer Dewey Bunnell took in 1963 on the Pacific Coast. While his father was changing a flat tire, he and his brother stood on the side of the road near a road sign for Ventura, watching shapes in the clouds, inspiring the lyrics "alligator lizards in the air."Superstition by Stevie WonderLynch brings us the lead single from Wonder's fifteenth studio album "Talking Book." It's lyrics mention many popular superstitions and their negative consequences. Stevie Wonder collaborated with Jeff Beck on the demo for this song, and Beck would include his version of "Superstition" on his "Beck, Bogert & Appice" album.Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu by Johnny RiversBruce features the song originally recorded in 1957 by Huey "Piano" Smith. The original version went to number 52 on the pop charts, but the version we all know went to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rivers was a member of the Wrecking Crew, and several musicians from that session group played on this single. It Never Rains in Southern California by Albert HammondWayne's closes out the staff picks with a storytelling song about a performer off to make it big. He fails in his efforts, but wants to hide the failure from those he left behind. Members of the Wrecking Crew also provide instrumentation on this song that went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. NOVELTY TRACK:Crazy Horses by The OsmondsThis surprisingly heavy performance from the Osmonds takes us out for this week. Thanks for ...
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    34 分
  • 1968 - September: Aretha Franklin "Aretha in Paris"

    1968 - September: Aretha Franklin "Aretha in Paris"
    2025/05/12
    Aretha Franklin got her start at an early age in Gospel music. As the granddaughter of Gospel great Mahalia Jackson and the daughter of a prominent Baptist preacher, Franklin was heard on her father's "gospel caravan" tours at the age of twelve. By the time she became an adult in 1960 she had decided that she wanted to go into more pop music, and moved to New York for this purpose. She signed a deal with Columbia Records, in 1960, but her career would not really take off until moving to Atlantic Records in 1966. By 1968 she was considered by many to be the most successful singer in the nation, and already crowned the "Queen of Soul."Franklin toured outside the US for the first time in late April 1968 through May 1968. She performed in Paris on May 7, 1968, and this concert would be released as the live album Aretha in Paris in the fall of 1968. It was Franklin's second live album, and the first for Atlantic Records where most of her hits were recorded.Some have criticized the backing band as not up to the task of supporting Franklin. However, this album captures Franklin at the top of her game at a time when she was cranking out some of the biggest hits of her career. It would be difficult for any supporting band to keep up, particularly one assembled for an overseas tour. Regardless, this is a great album to explore as a snapshot of Aretha Franklin at the height of success.Lynch brings us a high energy live soul album from the Queen of Soul in her prime for today's podcast. (I Can't Get No) SatisfactionThis Rolling Stones cover is the lead-off track to the album and to the concert. The Stones had released this song in 1965, and it had become their first number 1 song in the States. Franklin takes the tempo up for this cover.(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural WomanCarole King and Gerry Goffin wrote this song for Franklin based on an idea from producer Jerry Wexler. It originally appeared on Franklin's album "Lady Soul", and went to number 8 on the U.S. charts. It would make history when it hit the UK charts a week after Franklin's death in 2018, 51 years after the single was first released. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been GoneThe original single for this live song was released on the "Lady Soul" album, and reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was written by Franklin and her then-husband Teddy White. The studio version of this song utilized the talents of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, who were flown in from Alabama to record in a New York City studio.Chain of FoolsSongwriter Don Covay wrote this song in his youth, and presented it to producer Jerry Wexler as a song for Otis Redding. Wexler decided to have Franklin record it instead of Redding. It was a big hit, taking the number 1 slot on the R&B charts for four weeks, number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and delivering Franklin a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Theme from the television comedy show “Laugh In”This sketch comedy show would capture a lot of American counter-culture of the time from Tiny Tim to "sock it to me!" STAFF PICKS:Ride My See Saw by the Moody BluesWayne kicks off the staff picks with a psychedelic song from the second Moody Blues album, "In Search of the Lost Chord." The song is about leaving school and finding that the world isn't what you thought it would be. On the album, the song is preceded by a spoken word introduction called "Departure."Harper Valley PTA by Jeannie C. RileyRob's staff pick is a storytelling song written by Tom T. Hall about a widow named Mrs. Johnson and her tangle with the PTA. When her teenage daughter received a note from the Harper Valley PTA criticizing the way she is living, Mrs. Johnson attends the next meeting and reveals some indiscretions of the other PTA members.Light My Fire by Jose FelicianoBruce features an acoustic cover of the Doors hit single with a Latin twist. Jose Feliciano is best known for the Christmas song "Feliz Navidad," but this Puerto Rican artist also had a hit with this cover that peaked at number 3 on in late summer 1968. His album "Feliciano!" is a selection of acoustic cover songs, and his most successful one. He won "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" at the 1969 Grammy Awards for this cover.Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty SpringfieldLynch closes out the staff picks with a song that writers John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins wrote with Aretha Franklin in mind. When Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler heard it, he thought it would be a good fit for Dusty Springfield who was recording her "Dusty in Memphis" album at the time. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:And I Love Her by Jose FelicianoWe double up on the Latin acoustic stylings of Feliciano as this Beatles cover takes us out of this week's podcast. Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?” NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, ...
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    30 分
  • 1971 - September: Carole King "Tapestry"

    1971 - September: Carole King "Tapestry"
    2025/05/05
    Many mark the start of the singer-songwriter genre to have begun when Carole King released her second studio album, the iconic Tapestry. As would be expected from a singer-songwriter, all of the songs on the album were either written or co-written by King. Tapestry is considered one of the greatest albums of all time in the soft rock genre.Born Carol Joan Klein in Manhattan, King began piano lessons at four years of age. Her upbringing included friendship with Paul Simon and dating Neil Sedaka. In the 50's at the age of 17 she met and married Jerry Goffin with whom she would team up on songwriting through the 60's - King writing the music and Goffin writing the lyrics. They had several successful songs during the 60's including "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (The Monkees), "I'm Into Something Good" (Herman's Hermits), and "Up On the Roof" (the Drifters). King and Goffin divorced by 1968, and King moved to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles to re-start her recording career.Tapestry features both new and old songs of Carole King's catalog. Several new friends from the Laurel Canyon area appear on the album, including James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. Fellow songwriter Toni Stern co-wrote two of the songs, including the hit "It's Too Late."The album was a hit, spending 313 weeks on the Billboard Charts (second only to "Dark Side of the Moon" in time on the chart). It also was a critical success, taking the Grammy for Album of the Year at the 1972 Grammy awards. King announced her retirement from music in May 2012, but has done a few things since then, including a live performance of Tapestry in Hyde Park in 2016. Friend of the show Greg Lyon sits in for Wayne while Bruce presents this soft rock album for this week's podcast.TapestryThe title track to the album is a look back on life as a colorful combination of threads woven into a picture or pattern, but not one intended to last. This is a deeper cut which was not released as a single.Where You LeadSeveral songs became hits for other artists while the album was still on the charts, including this one. Barbara Streisand recorded this song for her 1971 album, and it reached number 40. The song takes its inspiration from the book of Ruth in the Bible. It was also the theme song for the television series "Gilmore Girls." Toni Stern collaborated with King to write this song. You've Got a FriendThis is another song which became a hit for another artist. James Taylor did this on his 1971 album, "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon," making it to number 1 on the US charts. The two albums were being produced concurrently, and Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and Danny Kortchmar perform on both King's version and on Taylor's version. King has said the song is a response to the line in James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" which says "I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend." So Far AwayJames Taylor is on acoustic guitar for this piece, and King is on piano. It went to number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was on the charts in September 1971. It starts with a focus on the physical distance between lovers, then moves on to emotional distance. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Main theme from the serial Danger Island (from the television series “The Banana Splits Adventure Hour”) This live action 10-minute adventure short appeared as a part of "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour," which concluded this month. STAFF PICKS:Ain't No Sunshine by Bill WithersLynch leads off the staff picks with Withers' breakthrough single from his debut album, "Just As I Am." The inspiration for this song was the 1962 film "Days of Wine and Roses," which portrays two characters who were alcoholics. The idea is that someone may not be right for you, but you miss them regardless. Signs by Five Man Electrical Band"And the sign said 'long haired freaky people need not apply!" Rob brings us a signature song from a Canadian band. The song originally appeared as a B-side to a less successful song called "Hello Melinda Goodbye," but became successful on its own. Frontman Les Emerson wrote this song after seeing so many billboards in Los Angeles which obscured the natural scenery.Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get by The DramaticsGreg features the title song from the debut album of R&B group The Dramatics. This song contrasting the fakeness of people with the authenticity of the singer went to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the R&B chart. It fuses a Motown feel with a Latin undertone.Thin Line Between Love and Hate by The PersuadersBruce brings us a cautionary tale about a guy who comes home late at night, finding his girl smiling and ready to cook him some dinner. He learns his lesson when he wakes up in the hospital, beaten to within an inch of his life. This song by a New York R&B group made it to number 15 on the US charts. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:The Rock by Atomic RoosterWe close out with an instrumental from a British rock band originally ...
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    35 分

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