Podcasts by Let It Roll
"Let it Roll" is a podcast about the history of popular music from the 19th Century to the 21st. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.
Further podcasts by Pantheon Media
Podcast on the topic Musikgeschichte
All episodes
Andrew Loog Oldham broke The Rolling Stones in the USA from 2023-11-27T19:56:14
We're continuing our telepathic interview series with a follow up with original Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham to discuss his memoir "2Stoned." Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OU...
ListenPhil Spector's rise and fall was a rock 'n' roll nightmare from 2023-11-20T18:00
We're continuing our Nightmares series with a re-casting of Nate's 2019 interview with Mick Brown author of "Tearing Down the Wall of Sound: The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector." Buy the book and sup...
ListenAndrew Loog Oldham made The Rolling Stones the band Britain loved to hate from 2023-11-16T18:11:58
We couldn't book Andrew Loog Oldham to discuss his book "Stoned: A Memoir of London in the 1960s" so Nate's doing the interview with telepathy. Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT THE NEW ...
ListenWhy Altamont went so wrong for the Rolling Stones and everyone else from 2023-11-13T18:00
We're recasting Nate's 2022 interview with Joel Selvin author of "Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day" in which he details who was at most fau...
ListenMarianne Faithfull got too close to the fire with the Rolling Stones from 2023-11-09T18:00
Nate concludes his telepathic interview with Marianne Faithfull or her co-author David Dalton to discuss their book "Faithfull: An Autobiography" with a discussion of her time as part of the Rollin...
ListenThe Rolling Stones' journey to Altamont from 2023-11-06T18:00
We're recasting Nate's 2019 conversation with the great Stanley Booth who witnessed Brian Jones' 1968 trial and toured with the surviving Rolling Stones in 1969 and was on stage at Altamont and liv...
ListenMarianne Faithfull abandoned her pop career to be Mick Jagger's muse from 2023-11-02T17:00
Nate wasn't able to book Marianne Faithfull or her co-author David Dalton to discuss their book ""Faithfull: An Autobiography" so he dialed them in telepathically for this discussion. Buy the book...
ListenBrian Jones got everything he asked for when he formed the Rolling Stones from 2023-10-30T17:00
As part of our "Let It Roll: Nightmares" mini-series we're recasting host Nate Wilcox's 2018 interview with Paul Trynka, biographer of the ultimate rock 'n' roll nightmare: Brian Jones, founder of ...
ListenLiving with the Rolling Stones in 1963 from 2023-10-26T17:36:55
Nate wasn't able to book James Phelge to discuss his book "Nankering With the Rolling Stones" so he dialed him in telepathically for this discussion. Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT TH...
ListenJerry Lee Lewis bounced back at the Star Club from 2023-10-23T17:00
We're recasting Nate's 2019 interview with Joe Bonomo about his book "Jerry Lee Lewis: Lost and Found." Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT THE NEW LET IT ROLL WEB SITE -- We've got all 3...
ListenVernon Dalhart: The forgotten first superstar of country music from 2023-10-19T18:44
Host Nate Wilcox summons the spirit of the late Jack Palmer to discuss his biography of Vernon Dalhart, the first star of country music. Unfortunately this book is out of print but I recommend int...
ListenLet Motown Roll 9: Rick James was the last great Motown star from 2023-10-16T17:00
We continue our Let Motown Roll mini-series with a recast of Nate and Brooks Long's 2022 discussion of "Glow: The Autobiography of Rick James" (co-written by David Ritz). Buy the book and support ...
ListenGenre, instruments, the meta-history of 20th century music: Reader's Mailbag from 2023-10-12T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox answers questions from Let It Roll readers. Topics include "What do you think is the most important era of music over the last 100 years?", What is your personal favorite era and w...
ListenLet Motown Roll 8: Smokey Robinson fulfilled Berry Gordy's vision from 2023-10-09T17:00
We continue our Let Motown Roll mini-series with a recast of Nate and Brooks Long's 2022 discussion of the autobiography "Smokey Robinson: Inside My Life" (co-written by David Ritz). Buy the book ...
ListenThe 90s Austin underground scene that produced Spoon, The Cherubs and many more from 2023-10-05T18:54:06
Today Nate welcomes Greg Beets to discuss his book “A Curious Mix of People: The Underground Scene of '90s Austin” this is a special episode for Nate as he was a participant in the scene as a fanzi...
ListenLet Motown Roll 7: The epic tragedy of Marvin Gaye from 2023-10-02T17:00
We continue our Let Motown Roll mini-series with a recast of Nate and Brook Long's 2021 discussion of David Ritz's classic biography "Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye." Buy the book and suppo...
ListenEugene S. Robinson's journey from disco and no wave to hardcore and finally post-hardcore from 2023-09-28T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Eugene S. Robinson to discuss his new memoir "A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight Into Murderer's Row" which covers his live during the period he went from dancing at S...
ListenLet Motown Roll 6: Holland Dozier Holland perfected the Motown approach from 2023-09-25T17:00
We continue our Let Motown Roll mini-series with a recast of Nate's 2021 interview with Dave Thompson, the co-author of "Come and Get These Memories: The Story of Holland-Dozier-Holland." Buy the ...
ListenLou Reed's Transformer came out in a big way from 2023-09-21T17:00
This week host Nate Wilcox welcomes Simon Doonan to discuss his book "Transformer: A Story of Glitter, Glam Rock, and Loving Lou Reed" and what it was like to be young, gay and glam in London in 19...
ListenLet Motown Roll 5: The Funk Brothers rocked in the shadows of Motown from 2023-09-18T17:00
We continue our Let Motown Roll mini-series with a recast of Nate's 2021 interview with Dr Licks aka Allan Slutsky author of "Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bass...
ListenSeance Roll 3: Questioning Ed Ward's History of Rock N Roll from 2023-09-14T17:00
As part of our Let It Roll Seance series, Nate is invoking the spirit of series co-founder Ed Ward for a discussion of his History of Rock n Roll part one and two. Buy the book and support the sho...
ListenLet Motown Roll 4: The women of Motown from 2023-09-11T20:03:40
As part of our Motown Roll series we're re-presenting Nate's 2020 conversation with An interview with Susan Whitall, author of "Women of Motown: An Oral History" Buy the book and support the show....
ListenSeance Roll 2: The agony of mid-20th century classical music from 2023-09-07T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox continues our Let It Roll seance series with a discussion of the late Henry Pleasants' 1955 book "The Agony of Modern Music." Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT THE NEW L...
ListenLet Motown Roll 3: The man who sold Motown's records from 2023-09-04T17:00
As part of our Motown Roll series we're re-presenting Nate's 2019 conversation with Adam White, co-author with the late Barney Ales of "Motown: The Sound of Young America." The book is the definiti...
ListenSeance Roll 1: The Beatles messed with listeners' heads and ultimately paid the price from 2023-08-31T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox communes with the spirit of the late Ian MacDonald in a solo discussion of MacDonald's seminal "Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties." Buy the book and sup...
ListenLet Motown Roll 2: Berry Gordy's mastery at Motown from 2023-08-28T17:00
In this encore presentation host Nate Wilcox welcomes Andrew Flory to discuss his book "I Hear a Symphony: Motown and Crossover R&B." Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT THE NEW LET IT ROL...
ListenThe Butthole Surfers, Big Boys, Dicks and Scratch Acid led Texas' crazed punk scene from 2023-08-24T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Pat Blashill to discuss his book "Texas Is the Reason: The Mavericks of Lone Star Punk." Pat was part of the Austin, Texas punk scene that lured Nate to Austin and the two...
ListenThe KLF triggered the cosmic when they burned £1 million pounds from 2023-08-17T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Brooks Long to discuss David Ritz' oral history "The Brothers: An Autobiography" co-written with the Neville Brothers. Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT T...
ListenThe Neville Brothers took New Orleans R&B to a whole new audience from 2023-08-14T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Brooks Long to discuss David Ritz' oral history "The Brothers: An Autobiography" co-written with the Neville Brothers. Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT T...
ListenThe Neville Brothers took New Orleans R&B to a whole new audience from 2023-08-14T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Brooks Long to discuss David Ritz' oral history "The Brothers: An Autobiography" co-written with the Neville Brothers. Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT T...
ListenPeter Asher scored in the British Invasion and ruled in the Singer-Songwriter Era from 2023-08-10T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes David Jacks to discuss his book "Peter Asher: A Life In Music." Buy the book and support the show.CHECK OUT THE NEW LET IT ROLL WEB SITE -- We've got all 350+ episodes l...
ListenLatin Roll 3: The most popular American musician of the 19th century connected Cuba and New Orleans from 2023-08-07T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Ned Sublette to continue the discussion about his book "Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo." This episode looks at Louis Moreau Gottschalk, the mo...
ListenBeethoven freed music from the tyranny of patronage from 2023-08-03T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes Norman Lebrecht author of "Why Beethoven: A Phenomenon in One Hundred Pieces." Nate asks Norman about Beethoven's innovative business practices, his conflicts with royalt...
ListenLatin Roll 2: Clave and the contradance in the colonial Caribbean from 2023-07-31T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Ned Sublette to continue the discussion about his book "Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo." This episode looks at the musical developments in the...
ListenMambo hit New York hard in the 1930s, 40s and 50s from 2023-07-27T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Tony Fletcher to discuss the opening chapters of his book "All Hopped Up and Ready to Go: Music from the Streets of New York 1927–77." Buy the book and support the s...
ListenLatin Roll 1: The musics of Europe and Africa collided in Cuba from 2023-07-24T17:56:16
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Ned Sublette for the first of several conversations about his book "Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo." Buy the book and support the show.CHECK O...
ListenChick Webb's Big Beat Style of Swing Led Directly to Rock 'n' Roll from 2023-07-20T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes Stephanie Stein Crease, the author of "Rhythm Man: Chick Webb and the Beat that Changed America" to discuss the great swing king, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan, Benny Goo...
Listen80s Roll 20: Queen, Bowie&Jagger and other highs and lows of Live Aid from 2023-07-17T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a discussion of the composition and recording of "We ...
ListenBeginning the Jazz Age: Vaudeville, Minstrelsy, Spirituals and Louis Armstrong's Signifying on the Old Songs from 2023-07-13T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back Gary Giddins to discuss the opening section of his classic book "Visions of Jazz" including discussions of vaudeville greats Al Jolson and Bert Williams, Louis Armstr...
Listen80's Roll 19: Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones led "We Are The World" from 2023-07-10T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a discussion of the composition and recording of "We ...
ListenBlack Sabbath invented heavy metal with Ozzy Osbourne and perfected it with Ronnie James Dio from 2023-07-06T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Mike Stark to discuss his oral history of Black Sabbath. Nate and Mike discuss the two classic iterations of the definitive heavy metal band. CHECK OUT THE NEW LET IT ROL...
Listen80s Roll 18: British stars came together wrap up a huge 1984 with "Do They Know It's Christmas" from 2023-07-03T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a discussion of the composition and recording of "Do ...
ListenHipgnosis designed iconic album covers for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and many more from 2023-06-29T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes author Mark Blake to discuss his book “Us and Them: The Authorised Story of Hipgnosis: The visionary artists behind Pink Floyd and more.” It's a fascinating look at the in...
Listen80's Roll 17: Classic Rockers Like Don Henley, Foreigner and Steve Perry Had a Big 1984 Too from 2023-06-26T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the surprisingly strong year had by older p...
ListenDavid Bowie 75 years after his birth from 2023-06-22T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes author Martin Popoff the author of "Bowie @ 75" a beautiful coffee table big summarizing Bowie's career and impact just in time for the 75th anniversary of his birth. CHE...
Listen80s Roll 16: Bruce Springsteen broke all the way through with Born in the USA from 2023-06-19T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at Bruce Springsteen's breakthrough to nationa...
ListenThe Complicated Legacy of Chuck Berry, the Inventor of Rock 'n' Roll from 2023-06-15T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes author R.J. Smith to discuss his new book "Chuck Berry: An American Life." Nate and R.J. discuss Berry's creation of the rock 'n' roll myth, the dichotomy between Berry's ...
Listen80s Roll 15: Tina Turner, ZZ Top, Cyndi Lauper&Madonna at the First Ever MTV Awards from 2023-06-12T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the 1984 inaugural MTV Awards and some of t...
ListenThe Beatles vs James Bond: Two Very Different Visions of Britain from 2023-06-08T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes author John Higgs to discuss his book "Love and Let Die: James Bond, The Beatles, and the British Psyche." It's an in-depth cultural analysis that compares and contrasts 0...
Listen80s Roll 14: The Olympics, Lionel Richie, Etta James, Marvin Gaye and R&B Radio from 2023-06-05T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and some of t...
ListenLiving Colour led the early 90's alt metal charge from 2023-06-01T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Kim Mack, author of the 33 1/3 series title "Living Colour: Time's Up" to discuss the 90's alt metal/funk metal band and their decision to follow up their multi-platinum d...
Listen80s Roll 13: Madonna comes out of the NYC club scene, 1st House records come out of Chicago, Hi-NRG is go, Electro becomes Freestyle from 2023-05-29T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the dance club scene that produced Madonna,...
Listen3 Kings of Emo Rap: Juice WRLD flew high and fell fast from 2023-05-25T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Let It Roll intern Ivan DeHaas to continue our mini-series on the Three Kings of Emo Rap: XXXTentacion, Lil Peep, and Juice WRLD all of whom let a movement that reac...
Listen80's Roll 12: R.E.M., Black Flag, Husker Du, the Minutemen and the Meat Puppets charted an alternative course from 2023-05-22T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at a historic year for indie rock, post-punk a...
Listen3 Kings of Emo Rap: Lil Peep Couldn't Protect Himself from 2023-05-18T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes back Let It Roll intern Ivan DeHaas to continue our mini-series on the Three Kings of Emo Rap: XXXTentacion, Lil Peep, and Juice WRLD all of whom let a movement that reac...
Listen80's Roll 11: Prince's Purple Reign from 2023-05-15T18:15
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the rise of Prince through the early 80s an...
Listen3 Kings of Emo Rap: XXXTentacion Sowed the Wind and Reaped the Whirlwind from 2023-05-11T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox welcomes Let It Roll intern Ivan DeHaas to kick off a mini-series on the Three Kings of Emo Rap: XXXTentacion, Lil Peep, and Juice WRLD all of whom let a movement that reached mil...
Listen80s Roll 10: The Jackson's Victory Tour was anything but from 2023-05-08T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the biggest tour of 1984: The Jackson's Vic...
ListenHoly Roll 6: Mahalia Jackson and the Black Gospel Field from 2023-05-04T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Mark Burford to discuss his book "Mahalia Jackson and the Black Gospel Field" with a focus on Mahalia's days at Apollo Records and how she navigated the music business whi...
Listen80s Roll 9: Run-DMC revolutionized hip-hop in the year of "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" from 2023-05-01T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at hip-hop in 1984 from the deluge of quickie ...
ListenHolyRoll 5: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel and Mainstream American Star from 2023-04-27T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back Garrett Cash to continue our discussion of gospel history with a look at the Mahalia Jackson chapter of Anthony Heilbut's classic "The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad...
Listen80s Roll 8: Willie Nelson ruled the country music roost but George Strait and the Judds were coming up fast from 2023-04-24T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at country music in 1984 from Willie Nelson's ...
Listen3 Kings of American Pop: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley from 2023-04-20T17:00
We're re-presenting host Nate Wilcox's second 2020 discussion with the TCBCast's Gurdip Ladhar and Justin Gausman of Peter Guralnick’s "Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley" and the HBO doc...
Listen80s Roll 7: Bob Marley's Legend album was the biggest reissue of 1984 from 2023-04-17T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at Island Record's success with Bob Marley's L...
Listen3 Kings of American Pop: The Making of Elvis Presley from 2023-04-13T17:00
We're re-presenting host Nate Wilcox's first 2020 discussion with the TCBCast's Gurdip Ladhar and Justin Gausman of Peter Guralnick’s "Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley" and the HBO...
Listen80s Roll 6: Talking Heads' Movie Stop Making Sense Topped the Field of Rock n Roll Movies in 1984 from 2023-04-10T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the musical movies of 1984: Talking Heads' ...
Listen3 Kings of American Pop: Frank Sinatra, the Chicago Outfit and the President of the USA from 2023-04-06T17:00
We're re-presenting host Nate Wilcox's second 2021 interview with Frank Sinatra biographer James Kaplan as part of a new series focused on Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. This discussion f...
Listen80s Roll 5: Michael Jackson, Annie Lennox, Boy George and Cyndi Lauper at the Grammy Awards from 2023-04-03T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the incredibly glamorous 1984 Grammy awards...
Listen3 Kings of American Pop: Frank Sinatra Made the Bobby Soxers Swoon and Made the GI's Boiling Mad from 2023-03-30T17:00
We're re-presenting host Nate Wilcox's first 2021 interview with Frank Sinatra biographer James Kaplan as part of a new series focused on Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. This discussion fo...
Listen80s Roll 4: Van Halen, Def Leppard&Motley Crue Led the Heavy Metal Charge from 2023-03-27T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the glam metal scene on Hollywood's Sunset ...
Listen80s Roll 3: Culture Club, The Eurythmics, The Human League, Duran Duran and The Police Led the 2nd British Invasion from 2023-03-20T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the so-called "second British invasion" of ...
Listen3 Kings of American Pop: The Young Bing Crosby Reinvented Singing for the Microphone Age from 2023-03-16T19:42:37
We're re-presenting host Nate Wilcox's 2020 interview with Bing Crosby biographer Gary Giddins with a new introduction as part of a new series focused on Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Bu...
Listen80s Roll 2: How the Late 70s Disco Implosion and Early 80's Stagnation of AOR Radio Made 1984 Possible from 2023-03-13T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge continue their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with a look at the pair of music biz downturns that create...
ListenThe Great Brill Building Songwriting Teams: Lieber&Stoller, Goffin&King, Pomus&Shuman, Bacharach&David, Sedaka&Greenfield, Mann&Weill and Barry&Greenwich from 2023-03-09T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Ken Emerson, author of "Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era." Buy the book and support the show.Have a question or a suggestion for ...
Listen80s Roll 1: How Great a Year Was 1984 for Pop Music? from 2023-03-06T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ed Legge open their discussion of Michaelangelo Matos' book "Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year" with an overview of what made 1984 so special for pop mus...
ListenSurf Rock, Motown, Girl Groups and a Second Wave of Doo-Wop Were on the Rock 'n' Roll Vanguard in JFK's America from 2023-03-02T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox talks to Richard Aquila, author of "Rock&Roll in Kennedy's America: A Cultural History of the Early 1960s," about the four cutting edge trends in rock n' roll in the early 1960s. B...
ListenAlice Cooper Combined Proto-Punk and Vaudeville to Shock the World from 2023-02-27T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and Cooper biographer Gary Graff discuss his new book "Alice Cooper @75", the cloud of rumor and myth that swirled around the band in the early 70s, and draw distinctions between t...
ListenThe Holy Trinity of Texas Gospel and a Devilish Businessman from 2023-02-23T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox asks Michael Corcoran to share the stories of Texas gospel greats Arizona Dranes, Blind Willie Johnson and Washington Phillips as well as the notorious Don Robey, owner of the Duke...
ListenSteppenwolf's John Kay Came to Hard Rock from the Toronto Folk Scene from 2023-02-20T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox asks John Einarson about John Kay, Steppenwolf and how the group came together out of the Toronto folk and R&B scene but had to move to California to make it in the record business...
ListenSun Records Presided Over the Dawn of Rockabilly With Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis from 2023-02-16T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox asks Peter Guralnick to tell the story of Sam Phillips and Sun Records. From the early days as a blues studio recording Ike Turner, B.B. King, and Howlin' Wolf to the bright yellow...
ListenBettye LaVette Took Her Time to Get to the Top from 2023-02-13T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Brooks Long discuss the unlikely career path of Bettye LaVette from having a top 10 R&B hit at age 16 on Atlantic Records to recording with the Memphis Fliers and the Muscle S...
ListenJohn Lennon's Political Activism Got Him Targeted By the U.S. Government from 2023-02-09T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox interviews David Leaf, co-writer&director of "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon" which tells the tale of a rock star targeted for deportation by the FBI, the INS and the White House. SAVE ...
ListenMelvins and TAD Were at the Forefront of Seattle's Grunge Wave When It Was Still An Indy Phenomenon from 2023-02-06T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Chris Duncan discuss the documentaries "The Colossus of Destiny: A Melvins Tale" and "Tad: Busted Circuits and Ringing Ears" and try to parse out the relationship of grunge to...
ListenThrash Metal Rose and Fell, Led by Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth from 2023-02-02T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Chris Duncan discuss the documentary "Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal." SAVE THE LET IT ROLL PODCASTWe're over 5/6th to our goal to fund a year's worth of production ...
ListenThe Peppermint Lounge Took the Twist to the Top from 2023-01-30T18:00
An interview with Joel Selvin and John Johnson, Jr. co-authors of "Peppermint Twist: The Mob, the Music, and the Most Famous Dance Club of the '60s." Host Nate Wilcox asks them about the connection...
ListenDoc Pomus Wrote Classic Songs for Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Dion&the Belmonts and Many More from 2023-01-26T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and Anthony Tusler of AboutDisability discuss the life and accomplishment's of America's foremost disabled songwriter. The discussion draws on the book Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely ...
ListenDavid Crosby, Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman on Founding the Byrds from 2023-01-23T18:00
An interview with Scott B. Bomar co-author of "The Byrds 1964-1967" with Roger McGuinn, David Crosby and Chris Hillman. Host Nate Wilcox asks Scott about the book, the formation and amazing run of ...
ListenDavid Crosby, Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman on Founding the Byrds from 2023-01-23T18:00
An interview with Scott B. Bomar co-author of "The Byrds 1964-1967" with Roger McGuinn, David Crosby and Chris Hillman. Host Nate Wilcox asks Scott about the book, the formation and amazing run of ...
ListenIron Maiden and Def Leppard Emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal from 2022-04-07T17:39
After punk rock took over Britain in the late 1970s, a new wave of heavy metal bands emerged in response. Have a question or a suggestion for a topic or person for Nate to interview? Email letitrol...
ListenThe Cultural Blend That Made New Orleans Music Unique from 2022-02-21T18:00
Sublette's book is "a tale of imperial war, religious conflict, the search for treasure, the spread of slavery, the Cuban connection, the cruel aristocracy of sugar, and the very different revoluti...
ListenThe Let It Roll Mission Statement - The Insanely Ambitious Music History Podcast from 2022-02-21T17:30
A brief and belated introduction to the Let It Roll podcast. Five years and twelve seasons in and we've finally figured out what we're doing.
Have a question or a suggestion for a topic or pers...
TechnoRoll 2.21: Electroclash Was the 'It' Sound from Brooklyn to Berlin at the Turn of the Millennium from 2022-02-17T18:00
Nate and Ryan discuss the electro revival that began in the early 90s, got a lot of attention as electroclash when it moved to Brooklyn around the turn of the millennium and has had a surprising am...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.20 Speed Garage and 2Step Evolved Out of the UK Garage Scene from 2022-02-10T18:03:32
Ryan and Nate discuss the sounds that pushed jungle aside and briefly ruled the English charts, airwaves and dance floors at the turn of the millennium.
Have a question or a suggestion for a t...
Grunge Bands Like Nirvana Drew All Eyes to the Seattle Music Scene from 2022-02-07T18:00
Nate and Justin discuss the masterful telling of what happened when Seattle's happy little underground scene became an international pop culture sensation, attracting thousands of wannabes and hund...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.19 Paul Van Dyk, DJ Tiesto, & Ferry Corsten Take Trance to the Top as the PsyTrance Underground Goes Global from 2022-02-03T18:00
On this episode, Nate and Ryan discuss the evolution of trance in the second half of the 1990s: psy-trance, progressive trance, and Euro or uplifting trance.
Have a question or a suggestion for...
The Time Nirvana Opened For Sonic Youth and Made a Movie About It from 2022-01-31T18:00
Just before the release of Nevermind and "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Nirvana toured Europe opening up for mentors Sonic Youth. Nate and Justin look back on this iconic moment from their youth.
H...
TechnoRoll 2.18: Leftfield, Moby, Green Velvet and Underworld Pushed the Boundaries of House in the 1990s from 2022-01-27T18:00
House evolved down multiple paths in the 1990s as producers and DJs from Chicago to New York to London gave it their own personal twist.
Have a question or a suggestion for a topic or person fo...
TechnoRoll 2.17: The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim Brought Big Beat to Massive International Success from 2022-01-20T18:00
For many Americans Big Beat was the first style of electronic dance music that they saw in concert, purchased on CD or heard in TV ads and movie soundtracks. We discuss this briefly popular genre, ...
ListenThe New York Dolls' Punky Glam Was Too Much, Too Soon from 2022-01-17T18:00
New York Dolls bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane was the focus of Greg Whiteley's 2005 documentary which told the story of his final months in Los Angeles and an unexpected Dolls reunion in London. Nate...
ListenThe New York Dolls' Punky Glam Was Too Much, Too Soon from 2022-01-17T18:00
New York Dolls bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane was the focus of Greg Whiteley's 2005 documentary which told the story of his final months in Los Angeles and an unexpected Dolls reunion in London. Nate...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.16: DJ Spooky, Atari Teenage Riot, Mouse on Mars and Drill & Bass Producers Got Arty Post-Rave from 2022-01-13T18:00
This week the conversation turns toward the avant-garde of late 90's post-rave, post-rap, post-rock artists who abandoned the dance floors and strived to advance the boundaries of the form.
Hav...
ZZ Top Took Marshall Amps and Remade Boogie-Blues as Heavy Rock from 2022-01-10T18:00
The alchemy of ZZ Top is studied and analyzed in this episode.
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TechnoRoll 2.15: Drum & Bass Fought to Differientiate Itself from Ragga Jungle & Techstep from 2022-01-06T18:00
As Jungle rose to prominence the scene fragmented into competing subgenres
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The MC5's Combination of Hard Rock and Radical Politics Was Too Volatile to Last from 2022-01-03T18:00
The MC5 pioneered punk, heavy metal and high energy mid-western rock in late 1960's Detroit and paid a heavy price.
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TechnoRoll 2.14: Tricky, Portishead and Massive Attack Took Trip-Hop Straight Out of Bristol from 2021-12-30T18:00
This week Nate & Ryan talk trip-hop and how the 1990s Bristol sound emerged from a city not much known for innovative music until the 1980s.
Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts...
Leon Russell Spotlighted in Les Blank's "A Poem Is A Naked Person" from 2021-12-27T18:00
We're launching a new mini-series this week featuring the return of SXSW CTO Justin Bankston to join Nate in discussing some of their favorite music documentaries. The series debut looks at filmmak...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.13: American Rave Stayed Underground In the 90s from 2021-12-23T18:00
This week Nate & Ryan discuss "America The Rave: US Rave Culture 1990-1997" an era when rave became a significant underground youth music in the US but never reached the mainstream nor did American...
ListenHow Jazz and Rock and Roll Came to Be Seen As Completely Separate Genres from 2021-12-13T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox asks Matt about the role of music magazines such as Downbeat and Rolling Stone in the creation of a strict separation between the genres of jazz and rock which were so closely rela...
ListenRock's Back Pages Makes Historic Rock Writing Available from 2021-12-08T18:44
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The Kinks' Class-Consciousness Made Them Wary of the Promises of Swinging London from 2021-12-06T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and Mark discuss Ray Davies and the Kinks and their unique status among British Invasion artists.
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Black Flag Pioneered Hardcore Punk from 2021-11-29T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Black Flag biographer Stevie Chick to discuss the band's emergence from the suburbs of Los Angeles and the vicious resistance they faced every step of the way.
Let It ...
TechnoRoll 2.9: Underground Resistance, Carl Craig & Richie Hawtin Led Detroit's Second Wave of Techno from 2021-11-25T18:00
This week hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness talk about the second wave of Detroit Techno -- artists like Underground Resistance, Richie Hawtin’s +8 label and Carl Craig.
Let It Roll is proud ...
The Birth of Jazz in New Orleans: Buddy Bolden & Jellyroll Morton and Others Combined Brass Bands with Ragtime and Blues from 2021-11-22T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Ted Gioia back to the show to discuss the latest edition of his "History of Jazz." The conversation is focused on the origin of jazz in New Orleans, the key influences and...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.8: Goldie's Rufige Cru, Doc Scott and DJ Hype Led Breakbeat Hardcore's Turn to Darkcore from 2021-11-18T18:00
As Ecstasy lost its charm for many in the UK dance scene, some producers and DJs led an evolution that saw the music's themes get grimmer and the sounds get stranger. Let It Roll is proud to be par...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.8: Goldie's Rufige Cru, Doc Scott and DJ Hype Led Breakbeat Hardcore's Turn to Darkcore from 2021-11-18T18:00
As Ecstasy lost its charm for many in the UK dance scene, some producers and DJs led an evolution that saw the music's themes get grimmer and the sounds get stranger. Let It Roll is proud to be par...
ListenBert Berns' Songs Were Immortalized by The Beatles, The Isley Brothers, Janis Joplin, Van Morrison and More from 2021-11-15T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back Joel Selvin to discuss the short but eventful life of Bert Berns, one of the greatest Brill Building songwriter/producers.
Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pant...
TechnoRoll 2.7: Aphex Twin, The Orb, The Black Dog and Sven Vath Create Intelligent Techno, Ambient and Trance from 2021-11-11T18:00
This week the conversation turns to the chapter called “Feed Your Head: Intelligent Techno, Ambient and Trance” and the attempt by some producers and DJs to push the music into a serious album-orie...
ListenAretha Franklin Brought Gospel Fervor to the Top of the Charts from 2021-11-08T18:00
Nate and Brooks talk about Ritz’ biography of Aretha Franklin: "Respect" and the autobiography he wrote with Aretha “From These Roots”.
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TechnoRoll 2.6: Spiral Tribe Went Big at Castlemorton and Triggered a Backlash from 2021-11-04T17:00
This week, Nate and Ryan talk about The Spiral Tribe, the 1992 Castlemorton Common Festival and the crusty-raver alliance that saw the last gasp of mass illegal raves in Britain.
Let It Roll is...
Frank Sinatra Ruled Post-War America, Until He Didn't from 2021-11-01T17:00
Frank Sinatra biographer James Kaplan returns, to discuss “The Chairman” which covers the peak years of Sinatra’s career, his incredible run of albums for Capital Records, the Rat Pack, and how he ...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.5: Rave Goes Hardcore in Europe and the UK from 2021-10-28T17:00
This week our series turns to Reynolds' chapter "'Ardkore, You Know the Score: The Second Wave of Rave 1990-92." Nate and Ryan talk about the Northern bleep and bass sound of Warp and Unique 3, the...
ListenMusic as a Magical, Subversive Power: What Have We Learned from 2021-10-25T17:00
Nate and Yuri look back at Nate's discussion with Ted Gioia and what we learned about the uncontrollable, dangerous power of music, music as magic and how authorities always try to tame musical rev...
ListenThe Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Phil Spector, Nancy Sinatra and Kim Fowley exploded out of early 60's Hollywood from 2021-10-18T17:00
Nate and Joel discuss the tightly interconnected LA pop scene of the early and mid-60s, an era when R&B was superseded by surf music and then folk rock.
Let It Roll is proud to be part of Panth...
TechnoRoll 2.3: DJs Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway and Danny Rampling Break Acid House Big in the UK from 2021-10-14T17:00
This week Nate and Ryan discuss Reynolds' chapter "Living A Dream: Acid House and UK Rave 1988-1989." Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts.Have a question or a suggestion for a topi...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.3: DJs Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway and Danny Rampling Break Acid House Big in the UK from 2021-10-14T17:00
This week Nate and Ryan discuss Reynolds' chapter "Living A Dream: Acid House and UK Rave 1988-1989."
Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts.
Have a question or a suggestion f...
TechnoRoll 2.3: DJs Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway and Danny Rampling Break Acid House Big in the UK from 2021-10-14T17:00
This week Nate and Ryan discuss Reynolds' chapter "Living A Dream: Acid House and UK Rave 1988-1989." Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts.Have a question or a suggestion for a topi...
ListenJoan Jett's Years With the Runaways Laid the Groundwork for Solo Stardom from 2021-10-11T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox asks Joan Jett's biographer about Kim Fowley, the rise and fall of the Runaways, the metal vs punk split that divided the band, her alliance with bubblegum creator Kenny Laguna and...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.2: Modern EDM is Born with Detroit Techno, Chicago House, and New York Garage from 2021-10-07T17:00
Today Nate and Ryan take a look at the Techno scene in Detroit, the House scene in Chicago and the garage scene in New York and New Jersey and how African-Americans in those three cities invented a...
ListenTechnoRoll 2.2: Modern EDM is Born with Detroit Techno, Chicago House, and New York Garage from 2021-10-07T17:00
Today Nate and Ryan take a look at the Techno scene in Detroit, the House scene in Chicago and the garage scene in New York and New Jersey and how African-Americans in those three cities invented a...
ListenSolving the Mysteries Behind Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" from 2021-10-04T17:00
Nate and Tony talk Col. Tom Parker, Hank Snow, the songwriting team behind Elvis’ first #1 and the murder mystery behind the song.
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TechnoRoll 2.1: A Journey Through Rave Music & Dance Culture from 2021-09-30T17:00
In this episode we introduce the new series, discuss author Simon Reynolds' background and perspective and why this is a definitive take on the UK dance scene of the 1990s.
Let It Roll is proud...
Lil Wayne, T.I. and 50 Cent Triumph in the Mix Tape Era: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2021-09-27T17:00
This episode covers the mix tape phenomenon and artists like 50 Cent, TI and Lil Wayne who thrived in the medium.
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CountyRoll 8: George Strait, Reba McEntire, & Dwight Yoakum Re-Center Country in the 80s, Garth Brooks Blows the Doors off in the 90s from 2021-09-23T17:00
This episode covers the emergence of country music's neo-traditionalists like Randy Travis and Ricky Skaggs and the brief golden period they kicked off before the economics of superstars changed th...
ListenHow The Neptunes, Timbaland & Missy Elliott, J Dilla and Kanye West Became Hip-Hop's Super-Producers from 2021-09-20T17:00
In this episode, Nate, Eugene & Alexei look at a new generation of producers who emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s: Virginia's The Neptunes and Timbaland & Missy Elliott, Chicago's Kanye We...
ListenCountryRoll 7: Willie Nelson&Waylon Jennings Outlaw Country and Dolly Parton's Pop-Crossover from 2021-09-16T17:00
In this episode Nate&James talk about the triumph of Outlaw Country practitioners Willie Nelson&Waylon Jennings outside the Nashville system, the massive crossover success of Dolly Parton, Emmylou ...
ListenCountryRoll 7: Willie Nelson&Waylon Jennings Outlaw Country and Dolly Parton's Pop-Crossover from 2021-09-16T17:00
In this episode Nate&James talk about the triumph of Outlaw Country practitioners Willie Nelson&Waylon Jennings outside the Nashville system, the massive crossover success of Dolly Parton, Emmylou ...
ListenHouston's DJ Screw, Memphis' Three 6 Mafia and Atlanta's Lil Jon Innovated New Directions in Hip-Hop from 2021-09-13T17:00
This week we look at the innovations of Houston’s DJ Screw, the Three 6 Mafia from Memphis and Atlanta’s Lil Jon. Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts.Have a question or a suggestio...
ListenCountryRoll 6: George Jones&Tammy Wynette Were Mr&Mrs Country Music from 2021-09-09T17:00
Nate and James discuss episode episode six “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” which covers the rise of Kris Kristofferson and a new generation of Nashville songwriters, Mr&Mrs Country music George Jone...
ListenBounce, Master P&No Limit and Cash Money's Mannie Fresh&Juvenile Brought New Orleans Hip-Hop to the Fore from 2021-09-06T17:00
This week we discuss New Orleans hip-hop from bounce to No Limit&Cash Money Records. Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts.Have a question or a suggestion for a topic or person for N...
ListenCountryRoll 5: Charley Pride Integrates Nashville, Buck Owens&Merle Haggard Bring the Bakersfield Sound from 2021-09-02T17:00
Host Nate&James covers Charley Pride’s efforts to integrate country music, the rise of Roger Miller, Buck Owens&Merle Haggard’s Bakersfield Sound, Loretta Lynn and the new wave of female singers sh...
ListenOutkast&Goodie Mob Took the Dirty South National After TLC and Kriss Kross Laid the Foundation in Atlanta from 2021-08-30T17:00
This week hosts Nate Wilcox, Eugene S. Robinson and Alexei Auld look at the birth of the Atlanta hip-hop scene from the early commercial breakthroughs of Jermaine Dupri with Kriss Kross and LaFace ...
ListenCountryroll 4: Johnny Cash and the Rockabilly Revolution Were Answered by Patsy Cline and the Nashville Sound from 2021-08-26T17:00
Nate and James talk about the sudden emergence of rockabilly from Memphis, the new generation of stars like Johnny Cash and the Nashville Sound that producers Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley came up f...
ListenEminem, Mos Def&Black Star Emerge from Hip-Hop's Cypher&Battle Rap Cultures from 2021-08-23T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox returns with cohorts Eugene S. Robinson, lead singer of the art-punk band Oxbow and veteran entertainment attorney Alexei Auld to continue their discussion of Netflix’ Hip Hop Evol...
ListenCountryroll 3: Hank Williams, Eddy Arnold, Lefty Frizzell and Kitty Wells Lead a Post-War Country Music Boom from 2021-08-19T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox and music writer James Porter talk Hank Williams, the living avatar of honky tonk, his closest rival Lefty Frizzell as well as Eddy Arnold, who offered a pop-country alternative, a...
ListenAfter The Notorious B.I.G.'s Reign, Puff Daddy, Lil' Kim and Jay-Z Step Up In The 'Jiggy Era' from 2021-08-16T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox returns with his cohorts Eugene S. Robinson, lead singer of the art-punk band Oxbow, and veteran entertainment attorney Alexei Auld, to continue their discussion of Netflix’ Hip Ho...
ListenCountryroll 2: Roy Acuff, Bob Wills, Gene Autry&Woody Guthrie Lead Country Music Through Hard Times According to Ken Burns from 2021-08-12T17:00
Nate and James discuss Country Music during the Depression and World War 2 and the artists, like Roy Acuff and Bob Wills, and the Maddox Brothers and Rose who dominated the era. Let It Roll is prou...
Listen2Pac&Suge Knight Ignite the West Coast-East Coast Feud Against B.I.G and Puff Daddy: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2021-08-09T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox returns with his cohorts Eugene S. Robinson, lead singer of the art-punk band Oxbow and veteran entertainment attorney Alexei Auld to continue their discussion of Netflix’ Hip-Hop ...
ListenCountryroll 1: The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers&the Beginnings of Country Music According to Ken Burns from 2021-08-05T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and James Porter kick off their discussion of Ken Burns' "Country Music" documentary series with a look at episode one, “The Rub.” They talk about the musical sources of country m...
ListenThe Kingsmen's 'Louie Louie' and The Rolling Stones' 'Satisfaction' were built on Cuban Mambo&Cha-cha-chá from 2021-08-02T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Cuban music historian Ned Sublette to discuss his essay "The Kingsmen and the Cha-Cha-Chá" which connects the dots between the 1950s mambo explosion in New York and the th...
ListenTechnoroll 22: Interview with Bill Brewster&Frank Broughton, Historians of the DJ from 2021-07-29T17:00
After discussing the book for 21 weeks, hosts Nate Wilcox&Ryan Harkness get the opportunity to ask some questions of the authors. Bill Brewster&Frank Broughton describe their motivation for writing...
ListenThe Triumphs&Tragedy of Marvin Gaye, Motown's Greatest Male Solo Singer and First Album Artist from 2021-07-26T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back musician and historian Brooks Long for the second installment of their David Ritz book club covering “Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye.” The conversation covers ...
ListenTechnoroll 21: Did EDM Sell Out the Values that Made Disco Great? from 2021-07-22T17:00
In this week’s episode hosts Nate Wilcox&Ryan Harkness debate the questions raised in the final chapter of the book about the values of clubbing and whether or not the current mass success of super...
ListenJeff Beck, Rod Stewart&Ron Wood Nearly Perfected Hard Rock Before Led Zeppelin Even Formed from 2021-07-19T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox and Dave Thompson try to puzzle out how a group that was barely a band nearly perfected the hard rock album in spite of themselves under the watchful eye of their manager Peter Gra...
ListenTechnoroll 20: Superstars Like DJ Tiesto and Fatboy Slim Change the Game from 2021-07-15T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses o...
ListenFrom The Supremes to The Four Tops, Holland-Dozier-Holland Made Motown's Biggest Hits from 2021-07-12T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Dave Thompson to discuss Holland-Dozier-Holland and his book “Come and Get These Memories: The Genius of Holland-Dozier-Holland, Motown’s Incomparable Songwriters.” Nate a...
ListenTechnoroll 19: UK and US Authorities Crack Down on Raves in the 1990s from 2021-07-08T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses o...
ListenEasy Listening Absorbed Psychedelia in the Late 1960's from 2021-07-05T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back author Joseph Lanza to discuss his latest book “Easy Listening Acid Trip: An Elevator Ride through Sixties Psychedelic Pop” the surreal landscape where the Beatles me...
ListenTechnoroll 18: The KLF Trolled the Pop World and Brought Ambient to a Mass Audience from 2021-07-01T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses o...
ListenThe Lost Art of Elevator Music From Mantovani&Jackie Gleason to Brian Eno's Ambient Music from 2021-06-28T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Joseph Lanza to discuss his classic and definitive book “Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-Listening, and Other Moodsong.” The conversation ranges from the ...
ListenTechnoroll 17: After Acid House Came Hardcore, Jungle, Drum&Bass, and UK Garage from 2021-06-24T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkenss continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses o...
ListenIntroducing David Bowie to Stardust, Choosing Between Hendrix and The Who from 2021-06-21T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes music biz veteran Michael Oberman to discuss his book “Fast Forward, Play, and Rewind” a chronicle of the touring musicians of the late 1960s including some legendary anec...
ListenTechnoroll 16: The Acid House Revolution Shakes the UK to its Foundations from 2021-06-17T17:00
Today Nate and Ryan continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses on the massive cu...
ListenRay Charles Combined R&B with Gospel to Invent Soul Music from 2021-06-14T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox is joined by musician and music historian Brooks Long to kick off their David Ritz book club with a discussion of his first book “Brother Ray: His Own Story” the classic autobiogra...
ListenTechnoroll 15: Ibiza's Balearic Beat Modeled Modern Dance Music in the 1980s from 2021-06-10T17:00
Today hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode foc...
ListenRhythm and Blues Exploded Out of 1940s Los Angeles Led by Nat "King" Cole&Big Jay McNeely from 2021-06-07T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox is joined by R.J. Smith to talk about his book "The Great Black Way: L.A. in the 1940s and the Last African American Renaissance." It was a pivotal place and time in American music...
ListenTechnoroll 14: Trance Connected Berlin with Goa, India from 2021-06-03T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses o...
ListenNine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor Took Trangression to a Mass Audience from 2021-05-31T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox is joined by Adam Steiner, author of "Into The Never: Nine Inch Nails And The Creation Of The Downward Spiral," to talk about Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor and the unique nexus of ...
ListenTechnoroll 13: The Belleville Three Create Techno in Detroit from 2021-05-27T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses o...
ListenFrom Surf Rock to Folk Rock to Freak Out, the Studio Scene in 1960s Los Angeles Captured the Moment from 2021-05-24T17:00
Today Andrew Hickey, author of “California Dreaming: The LA Pop Music Scene and the 60s,” joins host Nate Wilcox to talk about 1960s Los Angeles and the long, strange trip from surf rock to folk ro...
ListenTechnoroll 12: Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy and the Birth of House Music in Chicago from 2021-05-20T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses o...
ListenWhy Discuss Music History? What's the Point of Let It Roll? from 2021-05-17T17:00
Today Let It Roll blogger Ed Legge joins Nate to get meta and talk about the method, mission and meaning of Let It Roll. This might be the most important show in the series. Let It Roll is proud t...
ListenTechnoroll 11: Larry Levan Kept the Dance Music Torch Burning at the Paradise Garage from 2021-05-13T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses o...
ListenICYMI: The Lessons of Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2021-05-10T17:00
Nate Wilcox and musician&scholar Yuri Campbell look back on the first volume and the Let It Roll series covering it. We talk about Ward's cultural scholarship and what lessons we can learn from his...
ListenTechnoroll 10: Afrika Bambaataa Distils Electro and Hip-Hop Matures in the Recording Studio from 2021-05-06T17:00
Today Nate and Ryan are joined by hip-hop ringer Steve Juon continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This ...
ListenICYMI: Otis Redding Broke the Pop Market Wide Open in his Final Months from 2021-05-03T17:00
We're re-casting part 2 of Nate's 2019 conversation with Otis Redding biographer Jonathan Gould about his book “Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life.” In this episode, Jonathan and Nate cover Otis Redd...
ListenTechnoroll 9: Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash,&Afrika Bambaataa Invent Hip-Hop from 2021-04-29T17:00
Nate and Ryan get back to their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. This week’s episode focuses on the birth of hip-...
ListenICYMI: Otis Redding Led Stax to the Forefront of Soul from 2021-04-26T17:00
We're re-casting Nate's 2019 conversation with Otis Redding biographer Jonathan Gould about his book “Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life.” In this episode, Jonathan and Nate cover the youth of Otis R...
ListenTechnoroll 8: Before Hip-Hop Disco DJ's Like Grandmaster Flowers&DJ Hollywood Set the Stage from 2021-04-22T17:00
Today Nate and Ryan pause their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton to welcome a special guest, hip hop writer Steve ...
ListenHow The Memphis That Spawned Elvis&Stax Also Birthed The Box Tops&Big Star from 2021-04-19T17:00
In this episode, author Robert Gordon and host Nate Wilcox discuss Memphis music in the 1960s, the cultural collisions that produced so much amazing music, Chips Moman and American Sound Studios, D...
ListenTechnoroll 7: Hi-NRG Kept the Dance Going In the Early 80's from 2021-04-15T17:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton with a look at how Hi-NRG, the...
ListenHow Jerry Lee Lewis, Howlin' Wolf,&Col. Tom Parker Helped Peter Guralnick Get Lost from 2021-04-12T17:00
This week host Nate Wilcox welcomes author Peter Guralnick to discuss his newest book, "Looking To Get Lost: Adventures in Music&Writing." In this episode, Peter and Nate discuss the nature of crea...
ListenTechnoroll 6: Disco Blows Up in the Late 70's from 2021-04-08T17:00
Today Nate and Ryan continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton with a look at the high water mark of disco --...
ListenYoung Frank Sinatra Polarized Wartime America from 2021-04-05T17:00
In this episode, author James Kaplan and host Nate Wilcox discuss the youth of Frank Sinatra, his childhood and parents, his early struggles, his rise to fame singing for Harry James and Tommy Dors...
ListenTechnoroll 5: Disco Begins In New York from 2021-04-01T16:44
Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. Today's topic is the early days of ...
ListenMegaforce Records Brought Metallica, Anthrax, Manowar to the Masses from 2021-03-29T17:00
Today author Harold Claros-Maldonado joins Nate to discuss his book “Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As lived by Jon Zazula.” In this episode, Harold and Nate discuss Jon Zazula’s c...
ListenTechnoroll 4: Jamaica's Sound System Culture Birthed Ska, Reggae, Dub from 2021-03-25T17:00
Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. Today Nate and Ryan take a look at ...
ListenMotown's Power Came From the Funk Brothers from 2021-03-22T17:00
Author Allan “Dr Licks” Slutsky joins Nate to discuss his book “Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson.” In this episode, Allan and Nate discuss t...
ListenTechnoroll 3: UK DJ Culture Develops With Northern Soul from 2021-03-18T17:00
Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. In this episode, Nate and Ryan dis...
ListenThe Bee Gees Rose, Fell, Rose Again, Fell Again Then Helped Invent Modern Pop from 2021-03-14T17:00
Author David N. Meyer returns to discuss his book "The Bee Gees: The Biography" with host Nate Wilcox. Dave and Nate discuss the Brothers Gibb's Australian apprenticeship, their sudden rise in late...
ListenTechnoroll 2: The First DJs On the Radio and In the Clubs from 2021-03-11T18:00
Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. In this episode, Nate and Ryan go ...
ListenFreddie Mercury and Queen Earned Rock Immortality from 2021-03-08T18:00
Author Mark Blake returns to tell host Nate Wilcox about his books “Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen” and "Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic." In this episode, Mark and Nate discuss...
ListenTechnoroll: The History of DJ-Based Music - Reggae, Disco, Hip-Hop, House, Techno, EDM and Beyond from 2021-03-04T18:00
Today hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness are joined by producer Stephie Haynes to introduce the series and our main source book “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by ...
ListenNew Edition&New Kids On The Block Perfected It, *NSYNC&Backstreet Boys Capitalized On It: The Boy Band Formula from 2021-03-01T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox speaks with Maria Sherman author of "Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS" for a discussion of the history of Boy Bands from Franz Listz, Frank Sinatra, The B...
ListenICYMI: Isaac Hayes, The Bar-Kays, Staple Singers and Al Bell Boom and Bust with Stax Records from 2021-02-25T18:00
Here's the conclusion of Nate Wilcox's discussion about Stax Records with Robert Gordon author of "Respect Yourself: Stax Records and the Soul Explosion." Today's conversation focuses on Al Bell's ...
ListenJimmy Page Before Led Zeppelin: Session Man&Yardbird from 2021-02-22T18:00
By the time he formed Led Zeppelin in 1968, Jimmy Page was a rock and roll veteran with years of touring, gigs as a hired gun session man and a member of The Yardbirds under his belt. He applied th...
ListenICYMI: Booker T.&the MGs, Sam&Dave, Otis Redding All Brought to us by Stax Records from 2021-02-18T18:00
In this re-cast from 2019, host Nate Wilcox and Robert Gordon discuss the birth and rapid rise of Stax Records, the early hits of Booker T&the MGs, Otis Redding, and Carla Thomas, as well as the po...
ListenHow Willie Nelson, Doug Sahm, Stevie Ray Vaughan, SXSW and ACL Fest Turned Austin into the ATX from 2021-02-15T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back author Joe Nick Patoski to tell us how musicians like Doug Sahm, Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Butthole Surfers kicked off the transformation that turned ...
ListenICYMI: Ice-T, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre Triggered a Media Backlash from 2021-02-11T18:00
We're re-casting Nate Wilcox's second 2019 interview with Dan Charnas about his book "The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop.” In this episode, Dan tells Nate about the emergence o...
ListenChess Records Brought Chicago Blues, Rock&Roll and Soul to the World from 2021-02-08T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Nadine Cohodas author of "Spinning Blues Into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records" to discuss the storied label. They cover the Chicago Blues and Rock...
ListenICYMI: Jerry Lee Lewis Got a Second Act at the Star Club from 2021-02-04T18:00
In this re-cast of our 2019 interview, host Nate Wilcox talks with author Joe Bonomo about the rise, fall and comeback of rockabilly icon Jerry Lee Lewis with a particular focus on his album “Live ...
ListenGram Parsons' Disastrous Career Made Him a Legend from 2021-02-01T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Gram Parsons biographer David N. Meyer to discuss Parsons' tragic life and innovative music. Nate and David discuss Gram's unique family circumstances, his beginnings as a...
ListenHouse of the Rising Sun Before Bob Dyland And After The Animals from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This week host Nate Wilcox talks to author Ted Anthony about his book "Chasing the Rising Sun" which unearths the history of one song from its roots as a folk song to the top of the charts.
ListenIrving Berlin Defined American Music from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Nate welcomes author James Kaplan to discuss his book “Irving Berlin: New York Genius.” James tells Nate about the legendary song-writer’s 50 year career from “Alexander’s Rag-Time Band” to "Annie ...
ListenThe Devil, Daniel Johnston and Documentary Film from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back Jeff Feuerzeig the director of “The Devil and Daniel Johnston”, to discuss the late singer-songwriter and Austin, Texas legend, the line between genius and madness, t...
ListenEmperor Moguls of Rap: Dr Dre, Diddy and Jay-Z from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Forbes senior Editor Zack O’Malley Greenburg joins host Nate Wilcox to discuss his book “3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Hip-Hop's Multibillion-Dollar Rise.” They talk about how hip hop’s 90’s ...
ListenHouse of the Rising Sun Before Bob Dylan And After The Animals from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This week host Nate Wilcox talks to author Ted Anthony about his book "Chasing the Rising Sun" which unearths the history of one song from its roots as a folk song to the top of the charts.
ListenStanley Booth on Adventuring with the Rolling Stones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Host Nate Wilcox speaks to author Stanley Booth about his classic "True Adventures of the Rolling Stones." Booth recalls knowing Brian Jones, hanging with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on the 1969...
ListenThe Indie Underground of the 80's from Black Flag to Beat Happening from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Host Nate Wilcox talks with Michael Azerrad about "Our Band Could Be Your Life" and how a wave of bands emerged from the hardcore punk scene and managed to reach an audience, record great music, en...
ListenThe Cool: A 20th Century Phenomenon from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Host Nate Wilcox talks with Ted Gioia about the birth of "the cool" in the jazz scene of the 1920s and 30s, its explosion into the mass consciousness in the 1950s, its reign through the rock era an...
ListenRobert Christgau on the Role of the Rock Critic from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
In this episode, Robert and host Nate Wilcox discuss the role of criticism in popular music, the concept of semi-popular music, YouTube vs Spotify, blackface minstrelsy and more. This show is part ...
ListenScreamin Jay Hawkins Put a Spell On the Music Biz from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Let It Roll host Nate Wilcox talks to Steve Bergsman about his book "I Put A Spell On You: The Bizarre Life of Screamin Jay Hawkins." Nate and Steve talk about the creation of the Screamin Jay pers...
ListenHistory of a Song: House of the Rising Sun from the Appalachians to New York to London to the World from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This week host Nate Wilcox talks to author Ted Anthony about his book "Chasing the Rising Sun" which unearths the history of one song from its roots as a folk song to the top of the charts.
ListenWriting the Life Stories of Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This week author David Ritz -- rock's greatest ghost writer -- tells Nate about his memoir "The God Groove: A Blues Journey to Faith” and how a life time of loving gospel and R&B and getting to kno...
ListenBarney Ales Helps Berry Gordy Build the Motown Empire from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This week author Adam White tells Nate about his book "Motown: The Sound of Young America” and his co-author Barney Ales who was Motown's head of sales, collections and Berry Gordy's right-hand man...
ListenWhich One's Pink (Floyd)? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
his week author Mark Blake returns to tell Nate more about his book "Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd”, which can be found at: https://amzn.to/2STyyoQ In this episode, Mark tells ...
ListenJames Brown Hits The One from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This week author RJ Smith joins Nate to talk about his book “The One: The Life and Music of James Brown.” In this episode, RJ tells Nate about James Brown's rise from extreme poverty in the racist...
ListenThe Rise of Michael Bloomfield from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Today features the return of Ed Ward to discuss his book Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero which is coming out in paperback this summer. This week, Ed and I talk abou...
ListenDavid Bowie: Starman from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Today we’re bringing back biographer Paul Trynka to talk about Starman, his biography of the late, great David Bowie. This week, Paul and I talk about Bowie's amazing career and surprisingly sympat...
ListenThe Rolling Stones Road to Altamont from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Host Nate Wilcox speaks to author Stanley Booth about his classic "True Adventures of the Rolling Stones." Booth recalls knowing Brian Jones, hanging with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on the 1969...
ListenICYMI: Sugarhill&Def Jam Brought Us Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy from 2021-01-28T18:00
We're re-casting host Nate Wilcox's 2019 interview with author Dan Charnas about his book “The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop.” Dan and Nate talk about two of the legendary rec...
ListenICYMI: John, Paul, George&Ringo Couldn't Escape the Beatles from 2021-01-25T18:00
We're re-posting host Nate Wilcox's 2019 interview with Peter Doggett author of, “You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup.” In this episode, Peter tells Nate about Allen Klein, ...
ListenICYMI: Phil Spector - The Music and the Madness from 2021-01-21T18:00
In our first ever two hour episode, host Nate Wilcox interviews Mick Brown to get the story of Phil Spector, a man who had reached the pinnacle of the music world by age 23, went on to produce the ...
ListenICYMI: Muddy Waters, His Life&Times from 2021-01-18T18:00
A re-casting of Nate Wilcox's interview with author Robert Gordon, discussing his book "I Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters." In this episode, Robert and Nate discuss the epic ...
ListenICYMI: The Beatles ended Rock & Roll and began Rock from 2021-01-14T18:57:59
Elijah Wald makes the case for the role of the Beatles (and other leading musicians of their generation like Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys) in inadvertently ending the process of synthesis and cross...
ListenICYMI: The Beatles ended Rock&Roll and began Rock from 2021-01-14T18:57:59
Elijah Wald makes the case for the role of the Beatles (and other leading musicians of their generation like Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys) in inadvertently ending the process of synthesis and cross...
ListenWu-Tang Clan, Nas and Notorious B.I.G. Brought NYC Back: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2021-01-11T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and his cohorts Alexei Auld and Eugene S. Robinson discuss season 2, episode 4 of Hip-Hop Evolution "A New York State of Mind" which covers Nas, the Wu-Tang Clan and Biggie Smalls ...
ListenICYMI: The Biz Was Quick to Exploit Kurt Cobain's Death with an Army of Nirvana Clones from 2021-01-07T18:00
This is a re-broadcast of Nate Wilcox's 2018 interview with author Adam Caress, to discuss his book, “The Day Alternative Music Died: the Struggle between Art and Money for the Soul of Rock”. Adam ...
ListenTribe Called Quest&De La Soul Led the Native Tongues: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2021-01-04T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and his cohorts Alexei Auld and Eugene S. Robinson discuss season 2, episode 3 of Hip Hop Evolution "Do The Knowledge" which returns to New York to cover The Bridge Wars and Native...
ListenICYMI: Robert Johnson Stood Outside the Mainstream of 1930s Blues from 2020-12-31T18:02:21
This is a re-posting of Nate Wilcox's 2018 interview with author Elijah Wald about his book “Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues” In this episode, Elijah explains his ...
ListenToo $hort, MC Hammer, E-40, Digital Underground&2Pac Brought the Bay: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2020-12-28T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and his cohorts Alexei Auld and Eugene S. Robinson discuss the second episode of Hip Hop Evolution’s second season, “Out The Trunk: The Bay" which takes us to Northern California t...
ListenICMYI: Michael Bloomfield, Monterey Pop, Electric Flag, Al Kooper's SuperSession and Tragedy from 2020-12-24T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and Ed Ward spoke in 2018 about Ed's book Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero. Ed tells Nate about The Electric Flag, Bloomfield's attempt to build a "...
ListenThe 2 Live Crew, Geto Boys and UGK Come Out of the South: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2020-12-21T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and his cohorts Alexei Auld and Eugene S. Robinson discuss the first episode of Hip Hop Evolution’s second season, "The Southern Way", which looks at the first Southern rappers to ...
ListenICYMI:Michael Bloomfield, Bob Dylan and Paul Butterfield Helped Invent Rock from 2020-12-17T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and Ed Ward spoke in 2018 about Ed' book Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero. Ed tells Nate about the rise of Michael Bloomfield, his legend, his uniqu...
ListenIce-T, Eazy-E And N.W.A. Bring Gangsta Rap To The Masses: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2020-12-14T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and his cohorts Alexei Auld and Eugene S. Robinson discuss the fourth episode of Hip Hop Evolution "The Birth of Gangsta Rap" which takes us from Schooley D in Philly to Ice T, Eaz...
ListenICYMI: Iggy Pop And The Stooges Pioneered Punk Rock from 2020-12-10T18:00
This week host Nate Wilcox is joined by Paul Trynka, author of Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed. Paul and Nate discuss the dichotomy between the erudite and charming Jim Osterberg and his wild man stage...
ListenRun-DMC, Def Jam and Public Enemy Herald The Golden Age: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2020-12-07T17:22
Host Nate Wilcox and his cohorts Alexei Auld and Eugene S. Robinson discuss the third episode of Hip Hop Evolution "The New Guard." The show focuses on the dawn of hip-hop's golden age and the emer...
ListenICYMI: David Bowie, Starman from 2020-12-03T20:00
We're rebroadcasting Nate's 2018 interview with David Bowie biographer Paul Trynka. Paul and Nate talk about Bowie's amazing career and surprisingly sympathetic personal life of Davy Jones aka Davi...
ListenThe Sugarhill Gang&Afrika Bambaataa Put Rap On Wax: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2020-11-30T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and his cohorts Alexei Auld and Eugene S. Robinson discuss the second episode of Hip Hop Evolution "From the Underground to the Mainstream." The episode covers the early New York r...
ListenHip-Hop Is Born In The Bronx: We Dig Hip-Hop Evolution from 2020-11-23T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox is joined by Alexei Auld and Eugene S. Robinson to talk about the first episode of Netflix' Hip-Hop Evolution: The Foundation. The conversation covers DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaata...
ListenICYMI: Brian Jones and the Making of the Rolling Stones from 2020-11-16T18:00
In this 'In Case You Missed It' edition of Let It Roll, we reprise one of the highlights of our 2nd season. Paul and Nate discuss the achievements and tragedy of Brian Jones, his vision for the Rol...
ListenICYMI: Brian Jones and the Making of the Rolling Stones from 2020-11-16T18:00
In this 'In Case You Missed It' edition of Let It Roll, we reprise one of the highlights of our 2nd season.
Paul and Nate discuss the achievements and tragedy of Brian Jones, his vision for the...
ICYMI: The History of Music is Subversive, Not Respectable from 2020-11-09T18:40:04
ICYMI: A re-broadcast of Nate Wilcox's December, 2019 interview with Ted Gioia about his book ”Music: A Subversive History.” Ted's ideas about the nature of vital, new music as magic that is inhere...
ListenYo La Tengo Surfed The Indie Rock Wave from 2020-11-02T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and Yo La Tengo biographer Jesse Jarnow discuss the Hoboken band's relentless touring, massive repertoire and how independent radio, record labels and record stores helped them mak...
ListenBing Crosby Ruled The 1940s from 2020-10-26T17:00
Bing Crosby biographer Gary Giddins joins host Nate Wilcox to discuss Bing Crosby’s incredible run during the World War 2 era. The 1940s were a period when Crosby set still-unbroken records for sin...
ListenThe Beatles' Story Changes With The Teller from 2020-10-19T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox talks to historian Erin Torkelson Weber about the meta-narrative of Beatles history. Weber is the first to apply the methods of modern historiography to the books about The Beatles...
ListenDolly Parton Had A Vision Of Superstardom Beyond Nashville from 2020-10-12T17:00
Author Alanna Nash joins host Nate Wilcox to talk about her book “Dolly: The Biography.” Nate and Alanna discuss Dolly Parton’s humble origins, almost supernatural talent and precocious drive as we...
ListenMarley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie&The Juice Crew Perfected Hip-Hop In The 1980s from 2020-10-05T17:00
Author Ben Merlis joins host Nate Wilcox to talk about his book “Goin’ Off: The Story of the Juice Crew and Cold Chillin’ Records.” Ben tells Nate the story of one of the top hip-hop crews of the G...
ListenElvis Presley: Decline And Fall from 2020-09-28T17:00
Today Gurdip Ladhar and Justin Gausman of the TCBCast join host Nate Wilcox to wrap up their discussion of Elvis Presley’s life and career based on Peter Guralnick’s “Careless Love: The Unmaking of...
ListenSoundgarden Was The Alpha And Omega Of Grunge from 2020-09-21T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox and author Greg Prato discuss how Soundgarden helped build the nascent grunge scene in Seattle, rode it to the top of the charts, broke up, finally reunited and only to endure the ...
ListenGlen Campbell, Jimmy Webb And The Greatness Of Wichita Lineman from 2020-09-14T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox and author Dylan Jones discuss how Glenn Campbell and Jimmy Webb, two young men from the Midwest, created one of the world’s classic pop songs. This show is part of Pantheon Podca...
ListenLondon Nurtured Classic Rock, Prog Rock, Blues Rock And Folk Rock from 2020-09-07T11:00
Nate and Stephen discuss how London suddenly emerged as an incubator of rock music in 1963 and nurtured trends from R&B to Psychedelia to progressive rock. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.Le...
ListenCount Basie, Charlie Parker, Big Joe Turner: How Kansas City Vice Birthed Kansas City Jazz from 2020-08-31T15:11
Today Chuck Haddix joins Nate to discuss his book “Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop--A History.” Nate and Chuck talk about the corrupt Kansas City machine and how the vice it fostered produc...
ListenLieber&Stoller Wrote Songs, Produced Records And Helped Create Rock&Roll from 2020-08-24T17:00
Josh Alan Friedman joins Nate to discuss his book “Tell the Truth Until They Bleed: Coming Clean in the Dirty World of Blues and Rock 'n' Roll”. Nate and Josh talk about Jerry Lieber and his incred...
ListenAC/DC Perfected Hard Rock While Flirting With Punk from 2020-08-17T17:00
Author Joe Bonomo returns to discuss his 33 ⅓ book on AC/DC’s Highway To Hell with Nate Wilcox. Nate and Joe talk about the Aussie band’s mastery of the hard rock format, the tragic death of Bon Sc...
ListenWhat Have We Learned From Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll Part 2? from 2020-07-27T17:00
Today special guest scholar and musician Yuri Campbell returns to review the key lessons we learned from Nate’s discussions with Ed Ward about his book “The History of Rock&Roll, Volume 2: 1964-197...
ListenThe Beatles As The End Of Rock&Roll: What Have We Learned From Elijah Wald's Alternative History Of American Popular Music from 2020-07-20T17:00
Special guest scholar and musician Yuri Campbell returns to review the key lessons we learned from Nate’s discussion with Elijah Wald about his book “How the Beatles Destroyed Rock 'n' Roll: An Alt...
ListenRobert Johnson Revised: What Have We Learned From Elijah Wald's Escaping The Delta? from 2020-07-13T13:03
Today special guest scholar and musician Yuri Campbell returns, to review the key lessons we learned from Nate’s discussion with Elijah Wald about his book Escaping The Delta: Robert Johnson&the In...
ListenThe Pre-Punk Seventies: Ed Ward's History Of Rock&Roll from 2020-07-06T17:12
Ed Ward and host Nate Wilcox talk about the bloating of the music biz in the early 70s and the feeling that everyone was waiting on something to happen, Bob Dylan vs David Geffen, the New York Doll...
ListenHard Rock Vs. Soft Rock, AM Vs. FM: Ed Ward's History Of Rock&Roll from 2020-06-29T17:00
In this episode, Ed Ward and Nate talk about the splits between AM and FM, hard rock and soft rock and John, Paul, George and Ringo. Visit our sponsor Adam&Eve for 50% off almost any item, get tons...
ListenThe Birth Of Reggae&The Funk Revolution: Ed Ward's History Of Rock&Roll from 2020-06-22T17:00
Ed Ward and host Nate Wilcox go into the origins of reggae in Jamaica and survey the funk scene as it stood when James Brown was king and Sly Stone was emerging as his biggest rival. Visit our spon...
ListenThe Invention of 'The Sixties': Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2020-06-15T17:00
Ed Ward returns to tell host Nathan Wilcox about 1969, Woodstock and the invention of “the sixties.” Visit our sponsor Adam&Eve for 50% off almost any item, get tons of free gifts AND receive free ...
Listen1968 Rock, Riot, Revolution: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2020-06-08T17:00
Ed Ward and host Nate Wilcox discuss 1968: the year of riots and revolution, the year of newcomers like Led Zeppelin and Sly&the Family Stone and The Band who led a musical counter-revolution. Visi...
ListenOtis Redding Meets The Love Crowd: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2020-06-01T17:00
Today Ed Ward and host Nate Wilcox talk about 1967, the year of Monterey Pop, when the Beatles lost Brian Epstein and gained the Maharishi, Brian Wilson blew it and Otis Redding died. Visit our spo...
ListenBob Dylan Rocks Folk: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2020-05-25T17:00
Ed Ward returns to talk with host Nate Wilcox about rock&roll's second miracle year when America responded to the Beatles by blending folk and blues with rock&roll. They discuss how Michael Bloomfi...
ListenThe Beatles Invade And The Rolling Stones Follow: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2020-05-18T17:00
Ed Ward is back to continue his telling of the history of Rock&Roll. This episode focuses on The Beatles' conquest of America, the other British bands that followed in their wake and the American r...
ListenWhat Have We Learned From Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll? from 2020-05-11T17:00
As we get ready to start discussing volume 2 of Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll, Nate Wilcox and guest Yuri Campbell look back on the first volume and the Let It Roll series covering it. We talk abo...
ListenHow The Beatles Got Signed from 2020-04-27T17:00
Nate welcomes world Beatles authority Mark Lewisohn to discuss his epic biography of the Beatles “All These Years Volume One - Tune In.” Mark and Nate dive deep into the Beatles signing to Parlopho...
ListenThe Subversive Side of Classical Music from 2020-04-20T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back Ted Gioia to continue their discussion of his book “Music: A Subversive History.” Nate and Ted talk about the less than perfect realities of the lives of the great co...
ListenThe Women Who Built Berry Gordy's Motown Empire from 2020-04-13T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes back Susan Whitall to discuss her book “Women of Motown: An Oral History.” Nate and Susan talk about the competitive yet familial atmosphere nurtured by Motown patriarch B...
ListenHardcore Punk Ignored Corporate America from 2020-04-06T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes author Steven Blush to discuss his book “American Hardcore: A Tribal History.” Nate and Steven talk about the angry, loud and disaffected scene of the early 1980s which ma...
ListenHow Elvis Presley Rose To The Top from 2020-03-30T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes fellow podcasters Gurdip Ladhar and Justin Gausman of TCBCast to discuss Peter Guralnick’s classic “Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley.” Nate, Gurdip and Jus...
ListenThe Jim Morrison Biography That Kicked Off The Doors Revival from 2020-03-23T17:00
Host Nate Wilcox welcomes Shelly Sorensen and Christian Swain of The Rock N Roll Librarian to discuss one of the first best-selling rock biographies “No One Here Gets Out Alive” which titillated mi...
ListenPolitics Boxed Merle Haggard Out Of Crossover Superstardom from 2020-03-09T17:00
Today host Nate Wilcox welcomes author David Cantwell to discuss Merle Haggard and his book “The Running Kind.” Nate and David grapple with the factors that made Haggard one of the great country su...
ListenBing Crosby's Swing Brought Him Superstardom from 2020-03-02T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox talks to Bing Crosby biographer Gary Giddins about Bing Crosby's jazz credentials, his rise to fame with Paul Whiteman, his conquest of radio, early days in Hollywood and mastery o...
ListenBuck Owens Conquered the Country Music Business from 2020-02-17T20:20
Host Nate Wilcox interviews Randy Poe, the man who edited Buck Owens' autobiography. They discuss Buck's golden run of great country hits in the 1960s, his incredible business acumen, his place in ...
ListenWe Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus: RJ Smith Interview from 2020-02-13T18:00
Nate and Justin interview James Brown biographer R.J. Smith about his involvement in the creation of Mike Judge's Tales from the Tour Bus Check out all the great Podcasts over on Pantheon.Learn mor...
ListenPop Music's Past Is Crowding Out Its Present from 2020-02-10T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and Simon Reynolds look at "Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past" almost a decade after publication of Reynolds' "Retromania." Part of The Pantheon Podcast Network.Learn more ab...
ListenBetty Davis: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2020-01-30T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Justin Bankston discuss Mike Judge's brilliant Tales from the Tour Bus season 2: Funk. This episode covers Betty Davis, muse of Miles Davis and a funk queen in her own right. ...
ListenMorris Day: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2020-01-23T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Justin Bankston discuss Mike Judge's brilliant Tales from the Tour Bus season 2: Funk. This episode covers Morris Day, leader of The Time and rival to Prince himself. This sho...
ListenJames Brown: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2020-01-16T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Justin Bankston discuss Mike Judge's brilliant Tales from the Tour Bus season 2: Funk. This episode covers The Godfather of Funk, James Brown. This show is part of Pantheon Po...
ListenBootsy Collins: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2020-01-09T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Justin Bankston discuss Mike Judge's brilliant Tales from the Tour Bus season 2: Funk. This episode covers funk bassist Bootsy Collins. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts....
ListenRick James: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2020-01-02T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Justin Bankston discuss Mike Judge's brilliant Tales from the Tour Bus season 2: Funk. This episode covers the two-parter on punk funk king Rick James. This show is part of Pa...
ListenGeorge Clinton: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2019-12-26T18:00
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Justin Bankston discuss Mike Judge's brilliant Tales from the Tour Bus season 2: Funk. This episode features legendary P-Funk leader George Clinton. This show is part of Panth...
ListenThe History of Music is Subversive, Not Respectable from 2019-12-09T18:00
Ted Gioia returns to discuss his latest book ”Music: A Subversive History.” Ted and Nate discuss the tension between the social outsiders who’ve always been the source of musical innovation and the...
ListenGrunge Exploded Out of Seattle and Fell Back to Earth from 2019-12-02T18:00
Host Nate Wilcox and grunge oral historian Mark Yarm discuss the incredible rise and brutal fall of grunge, the blend of punk and metal that finally put alternative rock on the top of the charts. T...
ListenAmerica Awaited the Beatles from 2019-11-18T18:00
Host Nathan Wilcox speaks to cultural historian and "Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America" author Jonathan Gould about the America the Beatles found in 1964 and the whys and hows of...
ListenElectronic Music From the Avant Garde to Top of the Pops from 2019-11-11T18:00
Today, music historian David Stubbs joins Nate to discuss his book “Future Sounds: The Story of Electronic Music from Stockhausen to Skrillex.” The discussion ranges from the first conceptual begin...
ListenThe Tragic Legend ofLittle Willie John from 2019-11-04T18:00
The most gifted of the original generation of soul singers, covered by Elvis and the Beatles, Little Willie John couldn't get out of his own way. Host Nate Wilcox gets the tragic tale from biograph...
ListenThe Rise&Fall of Phil Spector from 2019-10-28T17:00
In our first ever two hour episode, host Nate Wilcox interviews Mick Brown to get the story of Phil Spector, a man who had reached the pinnacle of the music world by age 23, went on to produce the ...
ListenRod Stewart&the Faces: A Complicated Alliance from 2019-10-21T17:00
From 1970 to 1975 the Faces were a top touring act in America, packing theaters, then arenas and even stadiums but they were fated to lose their competition with Rod Stewart's solo career. This sho...
ListenBarney Ales Helped Berry Gordy Build the Motown Empire from 2019-08-05T17:03
This week author Adam White tells Nate about his book "Motown: The Sound of Young America” and his co-author Barney Ales who was Motown's head of sales, collections and Berry Gordy's right-hand man...
ListenWe Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus: Interview With Producer Jeff Feuerzeig from 2019-08-01T17:04
Nate and Justin Bankston finish our appreciation of Tales from the Tour Bus season one with an interview with Jeff Feuerzeig, the writer&producer of the Johnny Paycheck, George Jones and Tammy Wyne...
ListenBlaze Foley: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2019-07-26T04:03
Nate and Justin Bankston appreciate the season 1 finale of Tales from the Tour Bus featuring undersung Austin music legend Blaze Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ListenTime Warner Can't Handle The Ice T Cop Killer Backlash from 2019-07-22T16:59:13
This week author Dan Charnas returns to tell Nate more about his book "The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop.” In this episode, Dan tells Nate about the emergence of West Coast ga...
ListenWaylon Jennings: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2019-07-18T17:03
Nate and Justin Bankston continue the new Let It Roll mini-series in which we comment on a great music animated documentary series. In this episode, Justin and Nate discuss Mike Judge's treatment o...
ListenBilly Joe Shaver: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2019-07-11T17:06
Nate and Justin Bankston continue the new Let It Roll mini-series in which we comment on a great music animated documentary series. In this episode, Justin and Nate discuss Mike Judge's treatment o...
ListenJohn, Paul, George & Ringo Couldn't Escape The Beatles from 2019-07-08T17:01
This week author Peter Doggett returns to talk about his book “You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup.” In this episode, Peter tells Nate about Allen Klein, Yoko Ono, Apple Cor...
ListenJohn, Paul, George&Ringo Couldn't Escape The Beatles from 2019-07-08T17:01
This week author Peter Doggett returns to talk about his book “You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup.” In this episode, Peter tells Nate about Allen Klein, Yoko Ono, Apple Cor...
ListenGeorge Jones&Tammy Wynette: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2019-07-04T16:32
Nate and Justin Bankston continue the new Let It Roll mini-series in which we comment on a great music animated documentary series. In this episode, Justin and Nate revel in the epic tragicomic tal...
ListenThe Grateful Dead Builds Psychedelic America from 2019-07-01T17:14:58
This week author Jesse Jarnow joins Nate to talk about his book “Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America.” In this episode, Jesse tells Nate about the links connecting the LSD black market, the G...
ListenJerry Lee Lewis: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2019-06-27T17:04
Nate and Justin Bankston continue the new Let It Roll mini-series in which we comment on a great music animated documentary series. In this episode, Justin and Nate struggle with the charismatic ye...
ListenJerry Lee Lewis: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2019-06-27T17:04
Nate and Justin Bankston continue the new Let It Roll mini-series in which we comment on a great music animated documentary series. In this episode, Justin and Nate struggle with the charismatic ye...
ListenDewey Phillips, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding and Memphis music from 2019-06-24T17:00
This week author Stanley Booth joins Nate to talk about his book “Red Hot and Blue” In this episode,Stanley shares some of his many Memphis music stories with Nate including watching Otis Redding w...
ListenJohnny Paycheck: We Dig Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus from 2019-06-20T17:00
Nate and Justin Bankston kick off a new Let It Roll mini-series in which we comment on a great music animated documentary series. In this episode, Justin and Nate revel in the hilarious and touchin...
ListenCSNY Tried to Have It All from 2019-06-17T22:32:38
This week author Peter Doggett joins Nate to talk about his book “CSNY: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.” In this episode, Peter tells Nate about the late 60's soft rock supergroup and how it all fe...
ListenBerry Gordy and the Making of Motown from 2019-06-03T17:00:17
This week author Andrew Flory joins Nate to talk about his book “I Hear A Symphony: Motown and Crossover R&B.” In this episode, Andrew and Nate talk about the man behind the biggest independent lab...
ListenManaging Led Zeppelin, the Biggest Band on Earth from 2019-05-27T17:00:36
This week author Mark Blake joins Nate to talk about his book “Bring It On Home: Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin, and Beyond--The Story of Rock's Greatest Manager.” In this episode, Mark and Nate talk ab...
ListenFrank Sinatra, Mitch Miller and the Great American Song from 2019-05-20T17:00:43
This week author Ben Yagoda joins Nate to talk about his book “The B Side: The Death of Tin Pan Alley and the Rebirth of the Great American Song.” In this episode, Ben and Nate discuss the golden a...
ListenThe Weavers: Folk music vs the Black List from 2019-05-13T16:59:37
This week author Jesse Jarnow joins Nate to talk about his book “Wasn’t That a Time: The Weavers, the Blacklist and the Battle for the Soul of America.” In this episode, Jesse tells Nate about one ...
ListenBenny Goodman, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and the Swing Era from 2019-05-06T16:58:41
This week author Peter Doggett returns to discuss his book “Electric Shock: 125 Years of Pop Music.” In this episode, Peter and Nate discuss the joyous music that dominated the years of world war 2...
ListenBing Crosby and the Age of the Crooner from 2019-04-29T17:00:11
This week author Peter Doggett returns to discuss his book “Electric Shock: 125 Years of Pop Music.” In this episode, Peter and Nate discuss how the invention of electric recording, microphones and...
ListenThe Entrepreneurs of Early Hip Hop: Sugar Hill&Def Jam from 2019-04-22T18:55
This week author Dan Charnas joins Nate for a discussion of his book “The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop.” In this episode, Dan and Nate talk about two of the legendary record ...
ListenOtis Redding: Supernova from 2019-04-15T16:59:21
This week Nate and author Jonathan Gould conclude their discussion of Otis Redding. They cover Redding's breakthrough with audiences urban, English and anglo and his tragic death. Learn more about ...
ListenThe Rise of Otis Redding from 2019-04-08T17:00:01
This week author Jonathan Gould joins Nate for the first of two episodes discussing his book “Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life.” In this episode, Jonathan and Nate cover the youth of Otis Redding i...
ListenStax Records Blows Up in the 1970s from 2019-04-01T17:01
Nate and author Robert Gordon finish their discussion of Robert's "Respect Yourself" with a focus on Al Bell's years at the helm of Stax. From the dizzying highs of Shaft and WattsStax to the sad e...
ListenStax Records and the Soul Explosion from 2019-03-25T17:12
This week Nate is joined by author Robert Gordon to discuss his book “Respect Yourself: Stax Records and the Soul Explosion.” In this episode, Robert and Nate talk about the birth and rapid rise of...
ListenJerry Lee Lewis Starts His Come Back at the Star Club from 2019-03-18T17:02:32
This week Nate is joined by Author, Joe Bonomo, to discuss his book, “Jerry Lee Lewis: Lost and Found.” In this episode, Joe and Nate discuss the rise, fall and comeback of rockabilly icon Jerry Le...
ListenMuddy Waters: The Life and Times from 2019-01-14T17:44
This week, Nate is joined by author Robert Gordon, to discuss his book "I Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters." In this episode, Robert and Nate discuss the epic life story of pe...
ListenHow 19th Century American Music Got Hot from 2019-01-07T19:50:55
This week Nate is joined by Author, David Wondrich, to discuss his overlooked classic: “Stomp and Swerve: How American Music Got Hot 1843-1924.” In this episode, David takes Nate way way back into ...
ListenThe First Recording Stars: Enrico Caruso, Al Jolson and Bert Williams from 2018-12-31T23:53:56
n this episode, Peter continues the tale of the first format wars with radio’s sudden mass market emergence in the 1920s and discusses three of the early superstars of recorded music: Enrico Caruso...
ListenEdison's Phonograph vs. the Gramophone from 2018-12-24T17:58:22
In this episode, Peter explains how he came to take on such an ambitious project, why he started with the advent of recorded music rather than the advent of sheet music, the first format wars betwe...
ListenThe Death of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain Changed The Music Biz from 2018-12-17T18:05
This week Nate is joined by Author, Adam Caress, to discuss his book, “The Day Alternative Music Died: the Struggle between Art and Money for the Soul of Rock”. In this episode, Adam makes the case...
ListenRobert Johnson: Escaping the Delta from 2018-12-03T17:59
This week, Nate is joined by author Elijah Wald for a discussion of his book “Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues” In this episode, Elijah explains his ground-breaking...
ListenLegends Of Memphis Music From Charlie Feathers To Jeff Buckley from 2018-11-26T18:00
In this episode, Robert tells Nate some of his favorite stories about the undersung musical legends of his home town of Memphis, including chewing tobacco with rockabilly legend Charlie Feathers, s...
ListenWillie Nelson Superstar from 2018-11-19T18:07
This week Nate is joined by author Joe Nick Patoski for the final of three episodes discussing his biography of Willie Nelson: An Epic Life In this episode, Joe Nick tells us about the years when W...
ListenWillie Nelson: Nashville's Not Enough from 2018-11-12T17:56
You can read all about this 3 part series in Joe Nick Patoski's "Willie Nelson: An Epic Life". In this episode, Joe Nick tells us why Willie wasn’t satisfied as one of Nashville’s top songwriters a...
ListenWillie Nelson's Honky Tonk Wilderness Years from 2018-11-05T17:59
You can read all about this 3 part series in Joe Nick Patoski's "Willie Nelson: An Epic Life". In this episode, Joe Nick tells us how a country boy from Abbott, Texas grew into a hard-core honky to...
ListenChasing the Blues Legends John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy,&Hubert Sumlin from 2018-10-29T17:16
This week author Paul Trynka returns to discuss his first book, “Portrait of the Blues” a classic that’s unfortunately out of print but widely available online for a slight premium. In this episode...
ListenThe Moby Grape Story Part 2 from 2018-07-30T15:25
This week special guest Dr. Cam Cobb returns to finish the story of Moby Grape. Cam’s the author of “What’s Big and Purple and lives in the Ocean - The Moby Grape story” This week, Cam and I conclu...
ListenThe Butthole Surfers&the 80's Underground from 2018-07-23T14:44
Host Nate Wilcox is joined by author James Burns to discuss his book “Let’s Go to Hell: Scattered Memories of the Butthole Surfers.” This week, James and I talk about the unique circumstances of th...
ListenBob Wills&Western Swing: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2018-07-16T15:18
Ed Ward is back for a discussion of Bob Wills and Western Swing. This week, Ed and I pick up the history of country music where we left off after the Carter Family&Jimmie Rodgers episode and carry ...
ListenThe Moby Grape Story Part 1 from 2018-07-09T13:45
This week I’ve got a special guest: Dr. Cam Cobb author of “What’s Big and Purple and lives in the Ocean - The Moby Grape story.” This week, Cam and I begin the amazing and tragic story of Moby Gra...
ListenRhythm&Blues from Bessie Smith to Louis Jordan: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2018-06-29T13:50
Today Ed Ward and I will be filling in a gap in our discussion of his epic History of Rock&Roll Part 1, 1920-1963 by discussing the evolution of African-American music from blues&jazz thru swing to...
ListenJimmie Rodgers&The Carter Family: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2018-06-22T20:25
Ed Ward and host Nate Wilcox fill in a gap in our discussion of his epic History of Rock&Roll Part 1, 1920-1963 by discussing the foundation of commercial country music and its first superstars, Ji...
ListenThe Fall of Michael Bloomfield from 2018-06-18T14:15
Today features the conclusion of our discussion of Ed Ward’s book Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero. Bob Dylan listed the book as one of his favorites in a recent web...
ListenDavid Bowie: Starman from 2018-06-04T12:05
Today we’re bringing back biographer Paul Trynka to talk about Starman, his biography of the late, great David Bowie. This week, Paul and I talk about Bowie's amazing career and surprisingly sympat...
ListenIggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed from 2018-05-29T18:53
This week host Nate Wilcox is joined by Paul Trynka, author of Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed. Paul and Nate discuss the dichotomy between the erudite and charming Jim Osterberg and his wild man stage...
ListenRock Pre-History the 1920s&30s: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2018-05-16T19:34
This week is a prequel to last season that covers the period from 1920 to 1945. It’s a fun one as Ed Ward and Nate Wilcox talk rock and roll’s prehistory in the era of Victrolas, live radio and swi...
Listen1963 The British Invasion is Coming!: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-12-26T16:39
This week we’ll be concluding 1963 and hearing about the Lebanese Restaurant that birthed surf music and saved Fender guitars, how Murray Wilson’s failed musical career laid the groundwork for his ...
Listen1963 Brill Building pop is perfected: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-12-18T01:18
We’ve got so much to talk about on 1963 that we’re splitting it into two episodes. This week we’ll be talking about how Berry Gordy perfected his Motown assembly line, Phil Spector and the wrecking...
Listen1961-1962 The Quiet Years: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-12-09T15:10
1961 and 1962 are often written off as “the dark ages” of the first rock and roll era -- the original rock&roll revolution was over and the Beatles hadn’t yet come along -- and yet as Ed Ward point...
Listen1960 The Fire of Rebellion Has Been Snuffed: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-12-02T17:30
This week Ed Ward and Nate talk about 1960, a year when the American corporate brass thought they had tamed the rock and roll rebels of the 1950s. We’ll talk about how Ray Charles and Sam Cooke too...
Listen1959 Death and Soul: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-11-26T20:52
This week Ed Ward and Nate Wilcox discuss 1959, a year that started with tragedy for rock n’ roll and went on to see the first flowerings of soul music and the Brill Building pop that would dominat...
Listen1958 The Year the Music Didn't Quite Die: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-11-19T22:46
This week Ed Ward and Nate Wilcox talk about 1958, the backlash year. This was the year that Elvis got drafted and Jerry Lee Lewis ruined his career with a bigamous marriage to his 13 year old cous...
Listen1957 The Miracle Year of Rock&Roll: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-11-12T22:33
It’s time to talk about 1957 -- what Ed Ward calls the “Miracle Year” of rock and roll. The year when Elvis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and others were at the peak of their powers and dominating the ...
Listen1956 Rock&Roll in Full Flower: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-11-05T17:19
This week Ed and Nate discuss rock and roll in 1956 with a focus on the rocky and yet productive relationships between African-American recording artists and the Jewish entrepreneurs who brought th...
Listen1955 Rock and Roll is Born....Maybe: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-10-28T20:24
The preliminaries are over and now we’re well into the first flower of rock and roll as we talk with Ed Ward about 1955 and 1956. These are the years when the “American Prometheus” brought forth El...
Listen1953-1954 Rock, Meet Roll: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-10-20T17:22
In this episode I’ll be talking with Rock and Roll historian Ed Ward about the period when Rock and Roll really got started. We’ll hear about the woman who discovered Elvis Presley, a pair of Jewis...
ListenThe Early 1950s and Good Rockin Tonight: Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-10-14T15:09
In the second episode Nate talks to rock historian Ed Ward about the early 1950s and the emergence of Rhythm and Blues. They discuss the legendary song “Good Rockin’ Tonight” and the two simultaneo...
Listen1945-1950 The Post-War Years Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-10-03T19:10
Nate Wilcox and Ed Ward discuss some of the factors that made the first five years after World War II so critical to the evolution of Rock and Roll. Buy the book and support the podcast.Download th...
Listen1945-1950 The Post-War Years Ed Ward's History of Rock&Roll from 2017-10-03T19:10
Nate Wilcox and Ed Ward discuss some of the factors that made the first five years after World War II so critical to the evolution of Rock and Roll Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
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