Professor of Rock

Coming up… an interview with Howard and David Bellamy, aka the Bellamy Brothers… They’re a band that had 10 #1 hits and a top 10 hit in three straight decades on one chart and had one of the biggest #1 hits of the 70s on the pop charts with a song that Neil Diamond’s roadie wrote… “Let Your Love Flow.” Neil didn’t do the song and then it was passed over by others until the Bellamys stepped in and made it a standard. And then they followed it up with another huge hit: “If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me.” That one’s essentially a dad joke, but because of its title, everyone still remembers it. Coming up on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with one of the greatest guitarists of the rock era, Mike Campbell, from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a band that ruled the landscape for over 4 decades. Mike tells the story of Full Moon Fever, an album that he helped write and produce with 2 other legends that they were sure would be a smash… Unfortunately, their label had no such belief. In fact, the album was flat-out rejected. But that didn’t stop another major record label from signing a secret contract with Tom Petty. And it turns out the label was dead wrong as Full Moon Fever became Petty’s biggest seller ever and churned out 3 #1 hits, including today’s feature Running Down a Dream. But this was during the time when Compact Discs were replacing records and tapes so the singer. Ever a traditionalist, Tom left a little message for the CD buyers. Also, the amazing solo fell out in one take... A great interview is coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s a group that I swore I’d never feature on this channel. ABBA is one of the biggest bands of all time, with nearly 40 Top 10 hits across the world. After taking the 70s by storm, they broke up in the 80s. But by the 90s there was this pop culture campaign that put them right back in the spotlight. And today ABBA is stronger than ever. Honestly, I don’t know why but I’ve never liked their music. Call me crazy. But for today’s episode, I’m conducting an experiment… I’m doing a deep dive into ABBA’s career (along with one of their biggest hits Take A Chance On Me) to see if maybe I’ve been wrong all these years. But that’s a big “if.” ... Still, if any song has a chance to flip the script, Take A Chance On Me could be it. I gotta admit, this track is so catchy it just might be a gateway into the rest of their catalog. So, will I or won’t I change my mind? There’s only one way to find out. The experiment kicks off… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the story of a song that was written 4 times! Al Stewart and his 70s chart classic Year of the Cat - that ranked from late 1976 into 1977… and was produced by legend Alan Parsons who engineered Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon was a bit of a question mark for a while. With this 70s classic Al showed a very different side of his music. He wrote 4 different sets of lyrics for the song, that’s how badly he wanted to get it right! He put this 70s classic together like a 5000-piece puzzle. Up next We try to piece it together to figure out what Year of the Cat actually means, with interviews with singer/songwriter Al Stewart and iconic producer Alan Parsons. NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s a duo from Lincoln, Nebraska - Zager & Evans - who spellbound listeners everywhere with a prophecy that there will come a time when machines will completely take over…. humans won’t need teeth…legs…or eyes….that’s if man can even survive… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… an interview with hard rock singer Mark Slaughter on his band, Slaughter's biggest hit: Fly to the Angels. It’s one of the most gut-wrenching songs of its time that came from very tragic circumstances. Mark had come off tour and called up his friend to get his old girlfriend’s number. He was looking forward to seeing here after being out on the road. His friend called the next day, but instead of giving him her this girl's number, he conveyed the sad news that she had just passed away. Fly to the Angels came to Mark when he attended her funeral. Up next, it's a powerful story from Mark Slaughter on a song that became a classic on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, legendary band Depeche Mode created one of the greatest records from one of music’s greatest years… 1987. The name of the record was of course Music for the Masses, and it was meant as a big joke. A joke that the band laughed about until it actually came true. This shy and introverted foursome went from playing in front of 3 people to selling out stadiums and they never compromised their art to do it. The story of the song Never Let Me Down Again and the record that took ‘em to the masses is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let me be clear, I have never met anyone who doesn’t love his voice...Get ready to discover the humble origins of Dan Fogelberg, a beloved artist who penned some of the most heartfelt songs ever recorded. Surprisingly, Dan’s journey began in the most unexpected of places: a frat house filled with drunken college kids. Like a scene out of Animal House! The story of how this intensely talented musician caught the attention of a future industry titan Irving Azoff, paving the way for a remarkable career that included ‘Longer’, one of the most popular love songs of the Rock Era. The song went to #1 on the AC charts and #2 on the pop charts just behind Queen and Pink Floyd. Up next we celebrate the 70s and 80s icon through interviews with the song’s producer Norbert Putnam and horn player Jerry Hay is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

They’re Canada’s gift to the world! Even better than maple syrup, ice hockey, and Tim Horton’s… It’s Rush! This thinking man’s band has created some of the most intelligent rock this world has ever heard. And we’re all smarter for it. On today’s episode, we're taking a closer look at their album Permanent Waves and its key track Freewill. Both would defy all trends and expectations. Even though Rush’s rock contemporaries were embracing radio-friendly sounds and even kowtowing to the disco movement, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neal Peart remained true to their sound and the record proved to be a critical turning point… one that ushered in a new decade of innovation and even commercial accessibility, with one of the most ambitious songs the band ever tackled. The lyrics confused some listeners when they heard Geddy Lee singing the wrong ones. Turns out the factory misprinted them. Find out NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The insanely great story of the 70s #1 classic hit Hooked on a Feeling. It was done twice by Jonathan King and B.J. Thomas before Blue Swede took it to #1 in 1974 by combining elements of the first two versions in an original way. The tribal chant executed by Blue Swede perfectly turned this song into a one-listen classic. The song was then revitalized years later in Ally McBeal due to a dancing baby and then went global again after it was used to great effect in the superhero movie Guardian of the Galaxy, helping the soundtrack sell 1 million copies 40 years after it hit #1. The story of a classic song that has impacted every generation including an interview with BJ Thomas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.