Classic Rock Album Olympics

In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez enter Led Zeppelin’s 1973 album Houses of the Holy and award their gold, silver and bronze medals.  Medal Winners ⁠The Rain Song⁠ ⁠Dancing Days⁠ ⁠Over The Hills And Far Away⁠ ⁠D’yer Mak’er⁠ ⁠The Ocean⁠ This is the group’s fifth studio album, and notably, the first Zeppelin record to actually have a title instead of a number. Coming off the monumental success of Led Zeppelin IV, the band used Houses of the Holy to push outward creatively, exploring styles beyond the heavy blues-rock they were originally known for.  The album has a more colorful atmosphere compared to their earlier work. Jimmy Page layered acoustic and electric guitars with more studio effects; Robert Plant leaned into warm, expressive lyricism; John Paul Jones embraced keyboards, Mellotron textures, and early synthesizers; and John Bonham played with a powerful but increasingly varied rhythmic style. The result is an album that moves with confidence from epic rock to lush balladry, from funk-influenced rhythm experiments to playful reggae-inspired grooves.  Houses of the Holy quickly hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.  Although Led Zeppelin was famously resistant to the single-driven pop market, two tracks were released as singles in the U.S.: “Over the Hills and Far Away,” which reached #51 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “D’yer Mak’er,” which reached #20. Houses of the Holy reinforced the band’s reputation not only as the biggest hard-rock act of the era, but as a group constantly evolving and comfortable taking risks at the top of the mountain.  The album’s cover, designed by Hipgnosis and photographed at The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, features a series of golden-tinted children climbing the stone formations—an image loosely inspired by the science fiction novel Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke. The artwork has since become one of rock’s most recognizable visuals. Bonus Tracks The Rain Song (Live) The Ocean (Live) Side One The Song Remains The Same The Rain Song Over The Hills And Far Away The Crunge Side Two Dancing Days D'yer Mak'er No Quarter The Ocean Hashtags: #LedZeppelin #HousesOfTheHoly #ClassicRock #RobertPlant #JimmyPage #JohnPaulJones #JohnBonham #OverTheHillsAndFarAway #NoQuarter #TheOcean #RockHistory #1973Music #VinylCollection #MusicPodcast #AlbumDeepDive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dig into Paul Simon’s 1983 album Hearts and Bones. The album was written and recorded following Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert In The Park in 1981 and their world tour of 1982–1983.  Some of the songs intended for Hearts and Bones were performed on the tour.  Paul and Art began recording and intended that the finished product would be an all-new Simon & Garfunkel studio album.  However, tensions during recording led to the project being released as a Paul Simon solo album. Hearts and Bones peaked at #35 in the U.S.  Commercially, it was Paul Simon’s poorest performing solo album to date.  The initial single Allergies only reached #44 and the follow up single Think Too Much (A) did not chart.  To our ears, however, the album is innovative, insightful and deeply moving.  The case can be made that Hearts and Bones is an important transition album between Simon’s 1970s solo success and his 1986 smash Graceland.  With Hearts and Bones, Simon began experimenting with unusual rhythms, layered production, and a more adventurous studio approach.  This laid the foundation for Graceland’s fusion of pop and world music. Medal Winners Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War Think Too Much (B) Hearts And Bones Train In The Distance Bonus Tracks Allergies Cars Are Cars Think Too Much (A) Rene And Georette Magritte With Their Dog After The War with Art Garfunkel Song About The Moon Side One Allergies Hearts And Bones When Numbers Get Serious Think Too Much (b) Song About The Moon Side Two Think Too Much (a) Train In The Distance Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War Cars Are Cars The Late Great Johnny Ace Hash Tags #PaulSimon #HeartsAndBones #MusicPodcast #AlbumDeepDive #80sVibes #ClassicAlbum #SongwriterSpotlight #MusicLegends #BehindTheMusic #VinylVibes #LoveAndLoss #HeartbreakSongs #StoryBehindTheSong #MusicThatMovesYou #EmotionalLyrics #SoulfulSounds #FromHeartsToGraceland #PaulSimonFans #GracelandJourney #MusicHistory #CreativeEvolution #ArtistsJourney #NowPlaying #MusicRewind #PodcastLife #PopCulture #OnThisAlbum #ThrowbackTunes #IconicAlbums Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez discuss The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly.  Often considered the most important rock album ever made, it saw The Beatles abandon touring to focus on studio recordings.  Adopting the alter-ego of a fictional Edwardian-style band, they experimented with new sounds, orchestration, and studio techniques, pushing rock into the realm of art. Released during the “Summer of Love,” it became a cultural touchstone of 1967 and stayed atop the US Billboard charts for 15 weeks.  It was a cultural phenomenon.  Everyone was playing it.  Everyone was talking about it. Sgt. Pepper won 4 Grammy Awards in 1968, including Album of the Year (first rock album to do so) and paved the way for albums (not singles) becoming the coin of the realm in pop/rock music. The album is also credited with expanding the artistic scope of rock music and influencing generations of musicians to come.  As Rodger Waters from Pink Floyd said “It gave me and my generation permission to branch out and do whatever we wanted.”   Medal Winners Good Morning Good Morning Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Lovely Rita A Day in the Life   Hash Tags TheBeatles #SgtPepper #SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand #ClassicAlbum #1967 #SummerOfLove #PsychedelicRock #RockHistory #MusicLegends #BeatlesForever #VinylCommunity #NowSpinning #OnTheTurntable #IconicAlbum #GreatestAlbum #FlowerPower #SixtiesVibes #Counterculture #JohnLennon #PaulMcCartney #GeorgeHarrison #RingoStarr #George Martin #BritishInvasion #AlbumOfTheYear #MusicHistory #TimelessMusic #LegendaryBand   Something About The Beatles Podcast with Robert Rodriguez 259: Sgt. Pepper Olympiad – SATB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez go deep on Badfinger’s Straight Up.  Badfinger’s story is one of great songs and huge heartbreak.  Formed in the mid-1960s in Wales, the group began as The Iveys, playing a mix of British rock and pop. In 1968 they became the first band signed to The Beatles’ Apple Records. Paul McCartney gave them “Come and Get It” to record which became a worldwide hit in 1969 and they changed their name to Badfinger. Under Apple, Badfinger released — Magic Christian Music (1970), No Dice (1970), and Straight Up (1971).  But their success was marred by disastrous management and legal disputes. After leaving Apple for Warner Bros. in 1973, the band recorded two more excellent albums, but financial mismanagement — particularly by manager Stan Polley — left them unable to access royalties from their hit records. In April 1975, overwhelmed by despair, lead singer and songwriter Pete Ham took his own life at age twenty-seven.  In 1983 Tom Evans did the same. Straight Up is Badfinger’s third studio album with production support from Todd Rundgren, George Harrison and Geoff Emerick. It is their most commercially successful release.  Two singles were released from the album Day After Day (US Billboard Hot 100 #4) and Baby Blue (US Billboard Hot 100 #14).  Baby Blue’s popularity peaked again in 2013 when used in the Breaking Bad finale   Medal Winners Perfection Baby Blue Name of the Game Day After Day Sweet Tuesday Morning   Bonus Tracks Without You No Matter What Take It All Name of the Game (Geoff Emerick version) Carry On Till Tomorrow Suitcase (Live)   Hashtags   #Badfinger #StraightUp #PowerPop #ClassicRock #1970sMusic #AppleRecords #DayAfterDay #BabyBlue #ToddRundgren #GeorgeHarrison #Leon Russell   Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Who by Numbers is the seventh studio album by The Who, released in October 1975.  It follows an impressive run of deep, successful, and respected work by the band: Tommy, Who’s Next and Quadrophenia.  Understandably, Pete Townsend and company might have felt spent.  That said, the album contains great performances by Pete, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon with straight-forward production by Glynn Johns.  On Who By Numbers principal songwriter Pete Townsend grapples with disillusionment, midlife anxiety, and questions about The Who’s future.  Though not as thematically grand as Tommy or Quadrophenia, The Who by Numbers is respected for its honesty and stripped-down rock sound.  It’s often seen as an underrated gem in The Who’s catalog.  The album peaked at #8 on the US Billboard 200, becoming a solid commercial success despite its darker tone. The lead single “Squeeze Box” hit #16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.  Surprisingly, the second single “Slip Kid” did not chart in the US. Bassist John Entwistle drew the album’s whimsical connect the dots cover art. Medal Winners (Click title to hear the song) Dreaming from the Waist Squeeze Box However Much I Booze Blue Red and Grey Bonus Video Squeeze Box on Freaks and Geeks #TheWho #TheWhoByNumbers #ClassicRock #PeteTownshend #RogerDaltrey #KeithMoon #JohnEntwistle #1970sRock #VinylRecords #MusicHistory https://classicrockalbumolympics.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylan’s sixth studio album and a defining moment in rock history. Released in 1965, it marked Dylan’s full embrace of electric instrumentation after his transitional album Bringing It All Back Home. With its biting lyrics, surreal imagery, and raw rock-and-roll energy, the album reshaped popular music’s sense of what a song could be.  The album reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #4 on the UK Albums Chart.  Its lead single, “Like a Rolling Stone,” became Dylan’s biggest hit, peaking at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.   The opening track “Like a Rolling Stone,” is an acknowledged masterpiece - a six-minute single with a sneering vocal and memorable organ riff that shattered expectations for what could succeed on AM radio. With this album Dylan abandoned the folk revival’s acoustic purity, using a full rock band to create a hard-edged, blues-infused sound.  The songs weave satire, absurdity, and social commentary into dense, cinematic narratives—ranging from carnival-like chaos (“Desolation Row”) to biblical-blues parables (“Highway 61 Revisited”). Highway 61 Revisited is widely hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time, regularly appearing near the top of “best album” lists. It set the template for ambitious rock records, proving popular music could be literate, confrontational, and epic in scope. Medal Winners (Click to the hear the song) Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues Highway 61 Revisited Ballad of a Thin Man Like a Rolling Stone It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry Bonus Tracks (Click to hear the song) Highway 61 Revisited – Johnny Winter Twist and Shout – The Beatles #BobDylan #Highway61Revisited #LikeARollingStone #1960sRock #ClassicRock #FolkRock #MusicHistory #VinylRecords #RockLegends #AlbumAnniversary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of CLASSIC ROCK ALBUM OLYMPICS, music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez pull Steely Dan’s Can’t Buy A Thrill off the shelf and discuss which songs earn their gold, silver and bronze medals.  Can’t Buy A Thrill was the band’s 1972 debut.   It reached #17 on the album charts and placed two songs in the Top Twenty: Do It Again and Reelin’ in the Years.  Songwriters Walter Becker and Donald Fagen delivered a gender-bending album with jazz and Latin rhythm tones, pop/rock hooks and cryptic lyrics.  Steely Dan made pop music for people who did not think they liked pop music.    Medal Winners: Reelin’ In The Years Only A Fool Would Say That Midnite Cruiser Do It Again Dirty Work   Visit: classicrockalbumolympics.com for more information and episodes     #Hashtags: #SteelyDan #CantBuyAThrill #DoItAgain #ReelinInTheYears #DirtyWork #ClassicRock #1970sMusic #AlbumDeepDive #VinylCommunity #NowPlaying #MusicHistory #RockPodcast #SteelyDanFans #WalterBecker #DonaldFagen #StudioMagic #YachtRockOrigins #DebutAlbums #BehindTheMusic #PodcastRecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez tackle one of the most iconic albums of the 1980s—Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.. Packed with 7 (!) Top Ten hits and stadium-shaking anthems, this summer of 1984 release cemented “The Boss” as a global superstar. The album hit #1 and it stayed there for almost 2 months.  Besides its popularity, the album had social commentary too as evidenced by the tension of the patriotic perception and political reality in the title track.  But which tracks stand tallest in this blue-collar masterpiece? The hosts dissect the album’s legacy, lyrical contradictions, and sonic evolution—then award gold, silver, and bronze medals to the top three songs. Medal Winners: Cover Me Downbound Train My Hometown Born in the U.S.A. I’m On Fire   Hashtags: #BruceSpringsteen #BornInTheUSA #SoundtrackStandings #TheBoss #80sRock #ClassicRock #SpringsteenPodcast #MusicPodcast #EStreetBand #MaxWeinberg #DancingInTheDark #GloryDays #GoldSilverBronze #GaryWenstrup #RobertRodriguez #NowPlaying Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics, music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dive deep into the legendary Rolling Stones' 1971 masterpiece, Sticky Fingers. With its raw energy, soulful ballads, and iconic riffs, this album is packed with timeless gems. But which three tracks will earn their gold, silver annd bronze medals?  Join in as they debate, dissect, and ultimately crown the top songs that define this rock 'n' roll classic. From the swaggering groove of "Brown Sugar" to the electrifying energy of "Bitch," the bluesy brilliance of "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," and the haunting beauty of "Moonlight Mile," they’ll explore the stories, emotions, and unforgettable sounds crafted by Mick Jagger’s charismatic vocals, Keith Richards' iconic guitar work, and Mick Taylor’s extraordinary playing. Medal Winners Brown Sugar (https://youtu.be/Bar7SzNLnY0) Bitch (https://youtu.be/VH2LipXrKkQ) Moonlight Mile (https://youtu.be/qpB8XyFSY5E) Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (https://youtu.be/nkQ0LhcTNsY) #RollingStones #StickyFingers #RockAndRoll #BrownSugar #MoonlightMile #MusicPodcast #RockMusic#ClassicRock #CantYouHearMeKnocking #Bitch #MickJagger #KeithRichards#MickTaylor #AlbumReview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez return to the mic for a deep dive into Stevie Wonder’s 1974 classic Fulfillingness’ First Finale. As part of Stevie’s “classic period,” this 4x Grammy-winning album blends soulful introspection with social consciousness and studio innovation. Gary and Robert unpack the album’s cultural context and lasting influence—then award gold, silver, and bronze medals to its three greatest tracks.  Released in the summer of 1974 the album peaked at #1 on Billboard and both “Boogie On Reggae Woman” and “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” hit #1 on the Billboard singles chart.   Medal Winners: Boogie On Reggae Woman Creepin’ You Haven’t Done Nothin’ They Won’t Go When I Go       Hashtags: #StevieWonder #FulfillingnessFirstFinale #SoundtrackStandings #MusicPodcast #ClassicSoul #70sSoul #AlbumOfTheYear #MotownMagic #GoldSilverBronze #BoogieOnReggaeWoman #YouHaventDoneNothin #GaryWenstrup #RobertRodriguez #DeepCuts #NowPlaying #They Won’t Go When I Go #Creepin’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Classic Rock Album Olympics we dust off a cornerstone of classic rock: Neil Young’s After the Gold Rush (1970). Blending folk, country, and a whisper of psychedelic surrealism, the album captures Young at his most introspective and influential. The album peaked at #8 on Billboard. Two singles were released from the album: “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” peaked at #33 and “When You Dance I Can Really Love” peaked at #93.  Take a listen and see which songs music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez awarded their gold, silver and bronze medals. Medal Winners:  When You Dance I Can Really Love Don’t Let It Bring You Down Southern Man Only Love Can Break Your Heart After The Gold Rush     #NeilYoung #AfterTheGoldRush #ClassicRock #FolkRock #VinylVibes #70sMusic #AlbumReview #MusicPodcast #SoundtrackStandings #NowPlaying #RockLegends #DeepCuts #When You Dance I Can Really Love #Only Love Can Break Your Heart #Southern Man #Don’t Let It Bring You Down Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dive deep into Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 album — the one that launched the band into a new era with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joining the lineup. It marked a major turning point for the band. Founding members Mick Fleetwood (drums) and John McVie (bass) remained the rhythmic heart of the group, while Christine McVie (keyboards and vocals) continued to shine as a songwriter. The addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in 1974 transformed the band’s sound, blending their California folk-rock style with the band’s British blues roots.  It’s Fleetwood Mac’s 10th album and its first to reach #1.  Gary and Robert listen, debate, and ultimately crown three songs with their gold, silver, and bronze medals.  Will it be a Stevie classic like “Rhiannon,” a Buckingham guitar masterpiece like “I’m So Afraid,” or a Christine McVie gem like “Over My Head?”  What about “Landslide?”  Tune in for a spirited discussion and plenty of love for this iconic album. #FleetwoodMac #FleetwoodMac1975 #MickFleetwood #JohnMcVie #ChristineMcVie #StevieNicks #LindseyBuckingham #ClassicRock #AlbumRankings #MusicPodcast #PodcastEpisode #FleetwoodMacFans #Rhiannon #SayYouLoveMe #OverMyHead #MusicLegends #RecordOfTheYear #BillboardTop #MedalistsofMusic #PodcastLife #NewEpisode #Landslide #Monday Morning #Warm Ways #World Turning Medal Winners:  Warm Ways Monday Morning Over My Head World Turning Landslide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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