Alan Peter Kuperschmidt - better known as Al Kooper - is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician who throughout much of the 1960s and 1970s was a prolific studio musician, playing organ on Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", French horn and piano on the Rolling Stones song "You Can't Always Get What You Want", and lead guitar on Rita Coolidge's "The Lady's Not for Sale". He also formed and named Blood, Sweat & Tears, produced a number of one-off collaboration albums such as the Super Session album with guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills, and was a successful manager and producer, recording Lynyrd Skynyrd's first three albums. This week's guest, singer, songwriter and retired record exec Glenn Morrow (Bar/None Records, Glenn Morrow's Cry For Help) brings us Kooper's second solo album, 1969's 'You Never Know Who Your Friends Are' Great guest and GREAT conversation!

Songs discussed in this episode: Plans For Nigel (XTC cover) - Al Kooper; Beatle Bones, That's That - Glenn Morrow's Cry For Help; Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan; You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones; Brand New Day - Al Kooper; Albert's Shuffle - Mike Bloomfield/Al Kooper; Spinning Wheel - Blood, Sweat & Tears; Magic In My Socks, Lucille - Al Kooper; Time Of The Season - The Zombies; Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Marvin Gaye; Too Busy Thinking About My Baby, First Time Around - Al Kooper; Begin Again - Glenn Morrow's Cry For Help; Loretta (Union Turnpike Eulogy), Jolie, Blues, Part IV - Al Kooper; This Diamond Ring - Gary Lewis & The Playboys; You Never Know Who Your Friends Are - Al Kooper; Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends - Phil Ochs; Care Of Cell 44 - The Zombies; The Great American Marriage/Nothing - Al Kooper; I Don't Know Why I Love You - Stevie Wonder; I Don't Know Why I Love You - Al Kooper; Love You 'Til I Don't - Otis Ball; She's A Rainbow - The Rolling Stones; In Love With Love - Glenn Morrow's Cry For Help; Mourning Glory Story - Harry Nilsson; Without Her - Blood, Sweat & Tears; Mourning Glory Story, Anna Lee (What Can I Do For You), I'm Never Gonna Let You Down - Al Kooper; In Love With Love - Glenn Morrow's Cry For Help

Like many music lovers who came of age in the mid-70s, returning guest Oscar Herrera (The Sleep Of Reason, Halo, El Duende, Black Tape For A Blue Girl) first encountered Queen upon hearing their unlikely smash-hit single Bohemian Rhapsody on the radio. That song - and the album it came from, 1975s 'A Night At The Opera' - got him - and countless others - high. Including the host of this podcast. "Nothing really matters, anyone can see..."

Songs discussed in this episode: Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen Cover) - We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It/Flaming Lips/Pink/Weasel Walter/Panic! At The Disco/The Muppets; St. Elmo's Fire, Calling You (From The Edge Of The World) - Oscar Herrera; We Will Rock You (Fast version, Live 1979) - Queen; Beth - Kiss; Killer Queen, Death On Two Legs, Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon - Queen; Martha My Dear - The Beatles; I'm In Love With My Car, You're My Best Friend, '39 - Queen; Bron-Y-Aur Stomp - Led Zeppelin; Sweet Lady, Seaside Rendezvous - Queen; Fat Bottomed Girls (Live) - Queen + Paul Rogers; The Prophet's Song, Love Of My Life (Live, Rock in Rio 1985), Love Of My Life - Queen; Winchester Cathedral - The New Vaudeville Band; Good Company - Queen; You're Driving Me Crazy - The Temperance Seven; Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen; Alexander Hamilton - Hamilton-Original Cast Recording; Father Whiskey - Oscar Herrera; God Save The Queen - Queen; Birdman, Nuclear Apathy (Crack The Sky cover) - Oscar Herrera

A member of the world-famous Wrecking Crew studio band, drummer Hal Blaine was thought to be among the most recorded studio drummers in the music industry, claiming over 35,000 sessions, 6,000 singles,and 150 US top 10 hits - 40 of which went to number one! This week's guest, drummer Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Lydia Lunch Retrovirus), brings us Hal's bonkers 1967 release, 'Psychedelic Percussion'. Dig it!

Songs discussed in this episode: Be My Baby - The Ronettes; A Little Less Conversation - Elvis Presley; Mr Tambourine Man - The Byrds; Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys; Let The Sunshine In - The 5th Dimension; Beach Bongo Bloodbath - Bob Bert; This Diamond Ring - Gary Lewis & The Playboys; Monday Monday - The Mamas & The Papas; Mrs Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel; Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille; A Paper Suit - Knoxville Girls; Goo Goo Muck - The Cramps; Love In (December) - Hal Blaine; By Your Grace - Beaver & Krause; Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan; Mississippi Queen - Bob Bert; Flashes (February), Kaleidoscope (March) - Hal Blaine; Cavern - Liquid Liquid; The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (Main Theme) - Ennio Morricone; Flower Society (May), Trippin' Out (June) - Hal Blaine; Superstition - Stevie Wonder; Soulful (September), Inner Space (October) - Hal Blaine; Dish It Out - James Chance and the Contortions; Wiggy (November) - Hal Blaine; Attractive People - Genre Is Death; Foggy Notion (Velvet Underground cover) - Bob Bert

This week, Austin-based guitarist, singer-songwriter, composer, and recording producer Don Cento (Cento Threeo) brings us Elvis Costello's second studio album - and the first with his crack new band the Attractions - 1978's 'This Year's Model' Always a singer-songwriter in spirit but a punk in attitude, this collection of songs proved Costello's stunning debut 'My Aim Is True' was no fluke.

Songs discussed in this episode: No Action (Elvis Costello cover) - The Muffs; The Judy Valve, Halfway To Mellowtown, Filibuster in E Minor - Cento Threeo; Kids In Japan - El Cento; Alison, The Other End Of The Telescope, No Action - Elvis Costello; Stupid Girl - The Rolling Stones; This Year's Girl, Watching The Detectives, Radio, Radio - Elvis Costello; Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard; The Beat, Pump It Up - Elvis Costello; Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo; Little Triggers - Elvis Costello; The Last Time - The Rolling Stones; You Belong To Me, Hand In Hand - Elvis Costello; Seven Year Ache (Rosanne Cash cover) - Cento Threeo; (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea, Lip Service - Elvis Costello; Radio Soul (Demo take 2) - Flip City/Elvis Costello; Living In Paradise, Lipstick Vogue, Night Rally - Elvis Costello; Make The Silence Louder - Cento Threeo

As far as debut albums go, there's some that seem to appear out of nowhere as a fully-formed, perfectly realized statement-of-purpose. New Jersey-based drummer, blogger, and lawyer Steve Kirsch makes the case that Hoodoo Gurus 1984 debut 'Stoneage Romeos' is just such a record. Chock full of pop culture references AND hooks for days, these Australian pop/garage gurus came out of the gate swinging with a stone cold classic.

Songs discussed in this episode: I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement (Ramones cover - Live Australia, 1997) - Hoodoo Gurus; Nothing Can Bring Me Down - Mondo Topless; Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth - Minutemen; Television Addict - The Victims; Bittersweet, (Let's All) Turn On - Hoodoo Gurus; Shake Some Action - Flamin' Groovies; Shake Some Action (Live, 1982) - Charlie Pickett and the Eggs; I Want You Back, Arthur, Death Ship - Hoodoo Gurus; Human Fly - The Cramps; Dig It Up, Be My Guru, My Girl, Zanzibar - Hoodoo Gurus; Leilani (1982 7" version) - Le Hoodoo Gurus; Leilani, Tojo, In The Echo Chamber, I Was A Kamikazi Pilot, I Heard Her Call My Name (Velvet Underground cover) - Hoodoo Gurus

While other punk/hardcore bands of their time seemed to be in a race to be the heaviest AND fastest, San Francisco's Flipper slowed things down to a crawl, and imbued their brand of existential nihilism with a healthy dose of detached irony. Hoboken New Jersey musician Dan Cuddy (Hypnolovewheel, The Special Pillow) brings us their landmark debut, 1982's 'Album - Generic Flipper', in all its ragged glory. Strap in!

Songs discussed in this episode: Problem Child (AC/DC cover) - Flipper; Secret Star (Demo), I Dream Of Jeannie - Hypnolovewheel; Love Canal, Sex Bomb (7" version) - Flipper; Mercenaries - Negative Trend; Ever - Flipper; Call Me - Chris Montez; Life Is Cheap - Flipper; A Medical Man - Renaldo & The Loaf; No Feelings - Sex Pistols; Shed No Tears, (I Saw You) Shine - Flipper; Confusion Is Next - Sonic Youth; Fishing - Public Image, Ltd.; The Way Of The World (Peel Session) - Melvins; The Way Of The World - Flipper; Gut Feeling - DEVO; Life, Nothing, Living For The Depression, Sex Bomb - Flipper; Sex Bomb (Flipper cover) - R.E.M.; Bridget Because - Hypnolovewheel

It might be easier to mention the bands this week's guest Dan Bonebrake HASN'T played with - his bass playing has graced the likes of Lightworkers, The Honest Liars, Manta Wray, Dashboard Confessional, Grey & Orange, John Ralston, War Generation, Vacant Andys, Enablers, Seville, Quit, Fay Wray, Pivot, Anchorman, Where Fear and Weapons Meet, Cori Elba, The Stiff and on and on... This week, Dan, brings us Washington D.C. post-hardcore iconoclasts Shudder To Think and their 1992 release 'Get Your Goat'. The band's brand of genre-bending 'art rock' might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those brave enough to climb onboard, it's a decidedly heady ride!

Songs discussed in this episode: Animal Wild (Victoria Williams cover) - Shudder To Think; In Time - The Enablers; Nikki - The Stiff; Sleepwalking - Lightworkers; X-French Tee Shirt, Rag, White Page (Live, Germany 1992) - Shudder To Think; Grace - Jeff Buckley; High and Dry - Radiohead; Love Catastrophe - Shudder To Think; Lonely Woman - Ornette Coleman; Gnutheme - All; Shake Your Halo Down, White Page, Goat, Red House, Pebbles - Shudder To Think; Higher And Higher - Craig Wedren; Hot One - Shudder To Think; The Rite Of Spring (Introduction) - Igor Stravinsky; Baby Drop, The Hair Pillow, She Wears He-Harem, Rain-Covered Cat, Funny - Shudder To Think; Kingdom's Coming - Bauhaus; Full Stop - Cori Elba

For this special BONUS episode we asked our Patrons to send in some of their favorite songs by a band featuring someone OTHER THAN the usual front person. Let's show the sidemen (or side-women) some love!

Songs featured in this episode: I'm Sticking With You - The Velvet Underground; Sleeping On The Sidewalk - Queen; Coffee & TV - Blur; Where's The Money? - French, Frith, Kaiser & Thompson; Broken Chair - Luna; Years Long Ago - The Long Ryders; Rats - The Kinks; I Never Glid Before - Gong; OOh La La - The Faces; Stanztrigger - Yello; Making Plans For Nigel - XTC; Careful Boy - The Blue Aeroplanes; Omega Man - The Police; Let's Dance - David Bowie; Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan; Whiskey Man - The Who; My Wife - John Entwistle; I Know What I Want - Cheap Trick

Soundly maligned upon its release in 1971, Paul (and Linda) McCartney's whimsically pastoral 'RAM' has only grown in stature over the years, with some insisting that this joyfully strange collection of songs basically invented indie-pop. This week's guest, musician Nick Estes (The Parts. Wonderful Smith), joins known Beatles agnostic Rob to unpack this post-fab-four classic. Ram on!

Songs discussed in this episode: Too Many People - Tim Christensen, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham with The Damn Crystals; Another Day - Paul McCartney; How Do You Sleep - John Lennon; My Little House - Wonderful Smith; Corpus Christi - The Parts; Too Many People, 3 Legs, Ram On, Dear Boy - Paul and Linda McCartney; Band On The Run - Paul McCartney & Wings; Uncle Albert, Smile Away - Paul and Linda McCartney; Oh! Darling - The Beatles; Heart Of The Country, Monkberry Moon Delight, Eat At Home, Long Haired Lady, Ram On (Reprise), Back Seat Of My Car - Paul and Linda McCartney; Shortwave - The Parts

When Chicago blues pianist, singer and songwriter Johnny Iguana (The Claudettes) discovered bands like Minutemen and Husker Du as a teen in Philadelphia, it opened up a world of musical possibilities he's STILL unpacking. He eventually came into possession of The Roxy London WC2 - a live album of recordings taken from various punk bands that played at The Roxy club in Covent Garden, London between January and April 1977 - and the raw, unfettered performances of bands like Wire, Buzzcocks and X-Ray Spex captivated him like nothing else at the time. Turn this episode UP!

Songs discussed in this episode: (Stage patter, The Roxy London 1977) - Johnny Moped (Paul Halford); Touch You Back - The Claudettes; Oh Bondage Up Yours! (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - X-Ray Spex; I Love Living In The City (Live from The Decline of Western Civilization) - Fear; I'm On Fire (Live from Urgh! A Music War) - Chelsea; Tom Sawyer (Piano version) - Ian Hanson Piano; Viet Nam - Minutemen; Big Boss Man - Jimmy Reed; Show Me The Way (Live) - Peter Frampton; Turn The Page - The Streets; Runaway (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Slaughter & the Dogs; Action - Oh My God; Boston Babies - GBH; Boston Babies - UK Subs; Boston Babies (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Slaughter & the Dogs; Freedom (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - The Unwanted; Dot Dash, Lowdown, 1.2.X.U. (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Wire; Gary Gilmore's Eyes, Bored Teenagers (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - The Adverts; Hard Loving Man (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Johnny Moped; Don't Need It, Waiting For The Man (Velvet Underground Cover), 15 (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Eater; Oh Bondage Up Yours! (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - X-Ray Spex; Dreaming - Poly Styrene; Everybody's Happy Nowadays, Breakdown, Love Battery (Live at The Roxy London 1977), Why Can't I Touch It? - Buzzcocks; Evidently Chickentown, Health Fanatic (Live from Urgh! A Music War) - John Cooper Clarke; (You Are My) Whole World - The Claudettes

Author Chris Connelly (Cargo Recording Studios 1977-1985) joins us to unpack criminally underrated UK band The Chameleons and their 1983 debut album 'Script Of The Bridge'. Cargo Studios, though only active from 1977 to 1985 in Rochdale, quickly became the epicentre for post-punk and independent recording bands across the UK, including The Fall, Joy Division, OMD, Gang Of Four, Felt and many many more. Chris was THERE for some of the 'Script Of The Bridge' sessions, and offers keen insight into this fantastic record - AND this special place/time.

Songs discussed in this episode: View From A Hill (acoustic version) - The Chameleons; Atmosphere - Joy Division; The Fan and the Bellows, Things I Wish I'd Said - The Chameleons; The Cutter - Echo & The Bunnymen; I Will Follow - U2; Don't Fall, Here Today, Monkeyland, Second Skin, Dreams In Celluloid (Demo), Second Skin (Live, 2000), Up The Down Escalator - The Chameleons; Untitled - Interpol; Less Than Human, Less Than Human (Demo), Pleasure and Pain - The Chameleons; Psykick Dance Hall - The Fall; Electricity (Martin Hannett Cargo Studios version) - OMD; Thursday's Child, As High As You Can Go, A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days, Paper Tigers - The Chameleons; Damaged Goods, Love Like Anthrax - Gang Of Four (Damaged Goods EP 1978); Atmosphere - Joy Division; View From A Hill - The Chameleons; Raindance - The Last Seven Days; Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles cover) - The Chameleons