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Join Mick and Jeff as they talk about artists, albums and music genres with passion that comes from personal connection. They’ve seen artists in concert at venues that don’t even exist today, bought albums when they were released on vinyl and, in some cases, met the artists.
Sometimes they love the artist or music they're talking about. Sometimes they don’t. But, without fail, you'll always hear something you didn’t know.
75 Episodes
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Send us a Text Message. Jethro Tull is one of the stranger turns taken by rock music over more than 50 years. Mick and Jeff look back at some of the band’s best work, and, maybe, some of their strangest. The “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is Queen II, a sensational album released the year before Queen took over the world! Both Mick & Jeff love it! Jeff takes a look at what AI is doing to music. We’re not worried, because, as Joe Walsh says, AI can’t even t...
Send us a Text Message.This week, something a little different for you – our first live interview! Jarrah McCleary is an Australian musician - writer, songwriter & producer - whose music, a mix of synth heavy sounds and beats to smooth electronica, is sometimes evocative of a smoky Fifties restaurant, and at other times, the coolest nightclubs. Starting out in Western Australia around 20 years ago, Jarrah has toured Australia and Europe, played the festival circuit in Eur...
Send us a Text Message.This episode looks at Johnny Cash’s “The American Recordings”, a series of 6 albums released on American Records between 1994 and 2010. By 1994, when he signed to Rick Rubin’s American Records, it looked like Cash’s career was all but done. However, Rubin had other ideas and, over the next 10 years, worked with Cash to produce some of the most memorable work of his career. Part of this process involved Cash covering songs by some of the greatest artists of th...
Send us a Text Message.“Songs for Drella”, Lou Reed & John Cale’s marvelous 1990 posthumous tribute to Andy Warhol, offers an intensely personal view of Warhol with songs and playing that rank among the finest in either man’s career. Their first collaboration since The Velvet Underground, nearly 20 years earlier, led to both artists vowing never to work with the other again. Our album today, suggested by listener Nick Farmer, is “El-Rayo-X" (1981) by multi-instrumentalist David Lindl...
Send us a Text Message.We all know that rock and pop stars live in a different universe to us mere mortals. Many make strange demands for things that must be provided before they’ll perform a show. Today, we look at stars’ demands – whether extreme or reasonable, or blindingly hilarious! You won’t believe some of them. In Jeff's Rock News, Keith Richards has covered Lou Reed’s, “Waiting for the Man”, U2 has played a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, a...
Send us a Text Message.Bob Mould is the founding member of Husker Du, one of the most influential guitar bands of the 80’s. Husker Du’s wall-of-sound guitar approach was as influential as REM in creating alternative rock, and created an environment which allowed Nirvana, The Pixies and The Foo Fighters to succeed. In the early-90's, Sugar, Bob’s next band, built on that with a thrash/melodic collection of songs, particularly on “Copper Blue”. Since then, Bob’s kept the flame ...
Send us a Text Message.Have you ever NOT bought an album based on a poor review? You’re not the only one! Would it shock you to learn that the critics likely know less than you about music? This episode, we look at how often (supposed) expert critics got it so wrong with some of the best albums of our time. Victims of such poor efforts include Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, AC/DC and The Beatles! We also start a new segment we think we’ll call, ...
Send us a Text Message.This week, we talk about successful artists who blew it all with dumb decisions. Youth, fame and amazing amounts of money – what could go wrong? Our “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is the wonderful Aladdin Sane, by David Bowie. The cover artwork, featuring a lightning bolt across his face is one of the best-known images in rock, while the album marks Bowie’s tougher, heavier attempt to conquer America. In Rock News, we hear about ...
Send us a Text Message.Rolling Stone just released “The 250 Greatest Guitarists of all Time”. Naturally, we take issue with the list, who's on it, who’s been left out, the balance, and everything else! We’re back for another season of opinionated comment on all things from the golden era of rock’n’roll. Hold on & enjoy the ride! References: Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Guitarists”, Globite School Case, David Lindley, Mick Ronson, Shane MacGowan, Nick Cave, Wre...
Send us a Text Message.We looked at some exceptional music this year, and Jeff inflicted some real crap on our listeners. Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Lou Reed, Ed Kuepper and Hallelujah – and that barely scratches the surface. And we got a new Globite School Case! And, in case you were wondering, we'll be back on Sunday 28 Jan 2024. Subscribe and get an automatic reminder! Books:The Number Ones – Tom Breihan You Are Beautiful & You Are Alone – Jenn...
Send us a Text Message.We look at songs from a few of the major protest movements in our lifetime – racism, Vietnam, Ireland, Margaret Thatcher! From Woody Guthrie, through Springsteen and Dylan, to racism and Vietnam and the UK's Margaret Thatcher, to present-day Australia, we look at some of the great protest songs. Some of the stories behind those songs will take your breath away. Our “Album You Must Hear before You Die” this time is Talking Heads’ awesome “Rem...
Send us a Text Message.Matthew Sweet, an American guitarist, has had a criminally understated career, marked by a sensational solo album, “Girlfriend”, three terrific albums with Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles, “Under the Covers” (Vols 1, 2 and 3) and some very tasty soundtrack work, including the Austin Powers movies. In 2014, he also appeared as Apu’s singing voice in an episode of The Simpsons. Our “Album you Must Hear Before you Die” is “Rid of Me” by P J Harvey. We hate...
Send us a Text Message.REM is often viewed by casual listeners as a lighter-style rock band. This is deceptive, with the band offering complex songs with obscure lyrics, brilliant playing, covers, and an incredible refusal to compromise. Mick and Jeff talk through REM's development from their rock cliche start – the singer, Michael Stipe, met guitarist Peter Buck in the record shop where Buck worked - to their becoming one of the biggest-ever bands in the world – all without selli...
Send us a Text Message.Cover versions – always fascinating!! Occasionally, an artist will cover an obscure song, or a deep cut by another artist and make it their own. But what about when the song has ALREADY been a hit? Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t; sometimes it ends up in court! This episode, we’re looking at examples of all three. Our “Album You Must Hear Before You Die” is, believe it or not, “And other bits of material” by Paper Lace, the most successf...
Send us a Text Message.Everyone has heard of Leonard Cohen, but not so many know much about him. With this episode, we look to give you a taste of Mr Cohen – his views on life, women and songwriting; his extraordinary influence on modern songwriting; his legacy, and, of course, “Hallelujah”! A world that never had Leonard Cohen in it would be a much lesser place indeed. Jeff gives us his holiday report on a visit to the only Museum in the world dedicated to penises, whose pri...
Send us a Text Message.Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” – one of the biggest hit albums of all time - also marks a quantum change in how rock music was marketed and sold. Brought up as part of The Jackson 5, Michael saw himself as an entertainer crossing musical genres and categories. He almost single-handedly made music videos into a serious art form.In those days, with typical video budgets around $50k, the video for “Thriller” had a budget of $1m and a top Hollywood director in Joh...
Send us a Text Message.Marianne Faithfull's journey from 60's elfin-voiced beauty to grande-dame of rock music has given us some wonderful music, including Broken English, inspired by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist gang. We look at her career, focusing on what this album meant for her. Many may know the title-track single, but the album brings a bunch of stunning tracks we know you’re going to really enjoy discovering, including, “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” and Lennon’s “Working Class He...
Send us a Text Message.In 1975, “Pampered Menial” was released to 5-star critical ratings. It was not a commercial success. However, in the years since, it has become a gem, possibly one of the greatest albums of the 70’s! David Surkamp’s surreal 4-octave voice has been compared to Robert Plant. Matched with Siegfried Carver's violin and Steve Scorfina's guitar, it creates a stunning work of art – intricate and majestic with guts and delicacy in equal measure. With this episode, w...
Send us a Text Message. As a special treat, this episode features four tasty albums from the golden age of Rock. Rick Wakeman’s “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”, accused of hastening the arrival of punk, and of justifying the need for it, ultimately sold over 14 million copies. Go figure! “Not Fragile” by Bachman Turner Overdrive, topped the charts in USA and Australia proclaiming that “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet”! The pick of the crop, the self-titled “B...
Send us a Text Message. Nico – one-time member of The Velvet Underground - is an enigma in modern rock music. Despite her wide-ranging influence, her music is not for the faint-hearted. Mick saw Nico at the Sydney Trade Union Club in 1986 and it was a concert unlike any other. She's not for everybody, or even most people, but have a listen, you’ll hear something new and might just broaden your view on the rest of the music you listen to. We discuss why we don’t play actu...
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