Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Today is the start of a month-long run of episodes in celebration of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ newest album, Unlimited Love. We kick things off with Rick Rubin in conversation with the Chili Peppers' guitarist, John Frusciante. If you’re a diehard fan you know why the release of their new album is so exciting. Unlimited Love is their first record with John in 16 years.In this episode, you’ll hear John tell Rick about his deep musical exploration as a young guitar player. He also talks about how he fell in love with the Chili Peppers as a teenager, and what it was like joining the band he’d become such a big fan of at just 18 years-old. And in the end, John and Rick are joined by a very special guest.Part Two of this conversation continues on the next episode . . .Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comHear a playlist of all of our favorite Red Hot Chili Peppers songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Missy Elliott is one of popular music's greatest innovators. This year is the 25th anniversary of Missy’s classic debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. When that album dropped, Missy’s unconventional rhyme schemes paired with her childhood friend Timbaland’s futuristic production set a precedent for what was creatively possible in hip-hop. And throughout her career, Missy’s maintained that same level of playful creativity.This year Missy broke records when she was recognized as having more platinum albums than any other female rapper. She’s also the first female MC to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for songs she's written for Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child and Aaliyah’s biggest hits: “One In A Million,” and “If Your Girl Only Knew.” Today Rick Rubin talks to Missy Elliott about her wide-reaching influence and creative process. She explains what it was like writing for Aaliyah, who was one of the first artists to embrace Missy and Timbaland’s unique style. She also talks about why she and Timbaland made a pact not to listen to any other music while recording her debut album.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comHear a playlist of all of our favorite Missy Elliott songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we have the one and only Patti Smith on the show. Patti is the prototypical downtown, New York City artist. Her 1975 debut album Horses is credited as one of the masterpieces of its time. It also cemented her as one of rock n roll's great lyricists. But her writing extends far beyond music. Her 2010 memoir, Just Kids, won the National Book Award for its brilliant portrayal of the ‘70s bohemian art scene in New York, and Patti’s experience living in the Chelsea Hotel with the famed photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe. Today Patti publishes near-daily offerings of poems, songs and serialized fiction on her Substack newsletter. It’s a journal of sorts that she started during the solitary days of the pandemic. On today’s episode, Malcolm Gladwell talks to Patti Smith about her writing in the studio Jimi Hendrix built, Electric Lady. It was there, she tells Malcolm, that she met Hendrix in 1970—just weeks before he passed away. Patti also talks about hanging out with and writing lyrics for Janis Joplin, and she recalls the fun she had during a failed attempt to cover Adele in concert.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comHear a playlist of all of our favorite Patti Smith songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonnie Raitt is many things—a Rock ‘n Roll Hall-of-Famer, an incredible blues guitarist, an underrated songwriter, and a fierce advocate for social justice. Bonnie was offered her first record deal as a college student in 1971 after a reporter saw her play an early gig in NYC, but it took almost two decades before she peaked commercially with her tenth album, Nick Of Time. Throughout her long career Bonnie has helped preserve American blues music by recording songs from little-known but classic songwriters.On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Bonnie Raitt about her meticulous song-selection process and the inspiration behind the tunes she wrote for her new album, Just Like That. Bonnie also talks about a somewhat awkward dinner she had with Prince. And how her slide guitar technique will forever be tied to giving her brother the bird.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comHear a playlist of all of our favorite Bonnie Raitt songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beach House is a psych-pop band with a die-hard cult following. Since their 2006 debut album, their lush, cinematic sound has been sampled by artists like Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd. And Kanye recently posted a picture on Instagram collaborating with Beach House in the studio. In January, Beach House began releasing their most ambitious project yet—a double album that debuted at number one. It’s called Once, Twice, Melody and it’s their first entirely self-produced album and the most dynamic in scope. On today’s episode Broken Record producer Leah Rose talks to Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally of Beach House about the inner-workings of their unique creative partnership. They also talk about how the warmth of Bob Marley’s music has indirectly inspired the band, and they explain why sometimes you have to just get over yourself for the sake of show business. Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comHear a playlist of all of our favorite Beach House songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To kick off our month long celebration of Women's History Month, today we are featuring an interview with the great Judy Collins. At 82 years-old, Collins is in the midst of a creative shift. She first made a name for herself in the 60’s folk revival covering songs by artists like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. But this year, for the first time in her career, she’s released an album written entirely by herself. The album’s called Spellbound. And the music feels right at home with some of the best in her catalog.On today's episode she tells tells Bruce Headlam about her recent burst of activity, which includes six albums in the last six years. They also talk about her working relationship with Leonard Cohen, and how she actually lived the rugged life that peers like Dylan could only sing about.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comHear a playlist of all of our favorite Judy Collins songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Plant is arguably the most iconic rock vocalist of all time. As the frontman for Led Zeppelin, his dynamic, soaring vocal style was the perfect lead for the band’s unparalleled musicianship. After Zeppelin broke up in 1980 following the death of drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham, Plant set out on his own and recorded songs that drew inspiration from North African music, psych rock, and the Blues. In 2007 Plant began collaborating with Alison Krauss, the famed bluegrass singer and fiddle player. Under the guidance of producer and Broken Record alum, T Bone Burnett, their first album, Raising Sand, sold over a million copies in the US and won five Grammys, including Album of the Year. On today’s episode, Rick Rubin talks to Robert Plant about recording his latest release with Krauss, Can’t Let Go. Plant also talks about how a trip to the Sahara in the early ‘70s with Jimmy Paige inspired them to write “Kashmir.” And he remembers the first time he met John Bonham as a teenager and Bonham declared himself, “the best drummer in the world.”Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Batiste is an overachiever. Batiste is the bandleader on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and an Oscar-winning composer for the Pixar animated movie, Soul. He also received the highest number of Grammy nominations this year, with eleven, including Album of the Year for his most recent release, We Are.On today’s episode, Bruce Headlam talks to Jon Batiste about what it was like coming up as a young musician in legendary New Orleans bar rooms. Batiste also reminisces about setting up a piano in the midst of Brooklyn protests after George Floyd’s murder. And he explains what it meant to have Obama call him personally after hearing his new album.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comCheck out our favorite Jon Batiste songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stevie Van Zandt is the ultimate underboss. His first big break came in the mid-70s as Bruce Springsteen’s right-hand man, guitarist, and occasional co-producer in the E Street Band. Later he seamlessly made the jump to acting as one of Tony Soprano’s key consiglieres, Sil, on The Sopranos. Van Zandt recently released his memoir, Unrequited Infatuations, which details his career over the past 50 years. On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Van Zandt about the budding New Jersey rock n’ roll scene in the ‘60s, and what it was like recording with legendary R&B singers like Ronnie Spector and Darlene Love. He also reminisces about first meeting Springsteen—who Van Zandt says he saw go from a shy kid who was too timid to speak, to one of the greatest entertainers of our time.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comCheck out our favorite Stevie Van Zandt songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Rundgren is a multi-talented musician who has made a name for himself both as a solo artist and a visionary music producer. Rundgren’s crowning achievement though was producing Meatloaf’s album Bat Out Of Hell, which is to this day one of the highest-selling albums of all time. In addition to recently being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rundgren has been busy working on a new album of collaborations called Space Force with artists like Sparks, Rivers Cuomo, and Ben Folds that’ll be out later this year.On today’s episode we’ll hear a conversation Rick Rubin had with Rundgren just weeks before the start of the pandemic. They talk about why he was the only producer who would work on the debut album for Meat Loaf, who just recently passed away. Todd also talks about engineering the third album for The Band when the group was in the midst of turmoil, and why he always turns off Taylor Swift’s music.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecordYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.comCheck out our favorite Todd Rundgren songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.