Songfacts Podcast

Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA

Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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The Rolling Stones Episode with Author Lesley-Ann Jones

Songfacts Podcast

08/17/22 • 65 min

The Rolling Stones turned 60 this year, so today we speak with author Lesley-Ann Jones about her new book, The Stone Age: Sixty Years of The Rolling Stones. We talk about a few songs, clear up some of Keith Richards' most insane rumors, and go deep into the chaos surrounding the making of Exile On Main St.

Lesley's knowledge and in-depth research is remarkable, honed by her time touring with the band. So let's find out what it was really like on the road with the Rolling Stones. Hint: it's not all as glorious as you might think.

https://www.lesleyannjones.com/

Photo by Dave Hogan

Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA

Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ska Episode with Author Marc Wasserman

Songfacts Podcast

07/21/21 • 47 min

What do you think of when you think of ska music? If you're like me, you've heard of it, know it's in the realm of reggae, but might not be 100% sure what the differences are and which bands are playing it! Well, if that's the case then this episode of the Songfacts Podcast is for you.

Today I speak with Marc Wasserman, a musician, fellow podcaster, and author of the book Skaboom! An American Ska And Reggae Oral History, a tremendously detailed account of ska through the words of the band members that lived it.

Buy Marc's book here.

Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA

Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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AC/DC Author Jesse Fink

Songfacts Podcast

03/24/21 • 51 min

We're not a true crime podcast, but we dip our toe into those waters in this episode, where our guest asks, "What really killed Bon Scott?"

Jesse Fink is the author of The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC and Bon: The Last Highway. His extensive research has led him to conclude that Scott did not die from alcohol poisoning, as officially reported. He also thinks the Back In Black album, released just five months after his death in 1980, has at least some lyrics written by Scott, who is not credited as a writer on any of the songs.

Here, he makes his case and explains how he uncovered evidence by tracking down some folks with first-hand knowledge, including Scott's ex-girlfriend and the pizza-shop owner who played drums on AC/DC's first album.

https://jessefinkbooks.com/

Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA

Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Ken McNab on The Last Days of The Beatles

Songfacts Podcast

09/23/20 • 61 min

From the moon landing to the Stonewall riots, to Woodstock and Altamont, 1969 gave the world incredible highs and pivotal lows. Through it all, the most famous band in the world, The Beatles, struggled to keep it together while also putting together some of their most treasured music.

In his book And in the End: The Last Days of The Beatles, author Ken McNab details this historic year for the Fab Four on a month-by-month account. It opens in chilly London with the infamous rooftop concert, takes us through the painstaking recording of the songs that would form the albums Let It Be and Abbey Road, and gives us an inside look at the chaotic business side of the band.

In this episode, he posits on what broke up The Beatles and explains how Abbey Road could have been very different if George Harrison got the space on the album he deserved. The book is available here:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250758750

Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan

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Jock Bartley and Mark Andes of Firefall

Songfacts Podcast

03/10/21 • 56 min

Firefall didn't set their sights on soft-rock stardom, but they were stuck with it when "You Are The Woman," from their debut album, dug a trench on Adult Contemporary radio, enduring as a staple of at-work listening.

On this episode of the Songfacts Podcast, we welcome founding members Jock Bartley and Mark Andes. Jock, on guitar, is Firefall's mainstay, part of every iteration. Mark, their bass player, left in 1980 and returned in 2014. Pre-Firefall, Jock toured with Gram Parsons' band; Mark was a member of Spirit when they toured with Led Zeppelin in 1968 and 1969 - their song "Taurus" seeped into "Stairway To Heaven." He left Firefall in 1980 and picked up with Heart a few years later, just in time for their astounding resurgence.

The main songwriters in Firefall were Rick Roberts, last with the band in 1992, and Larry Burnett, who left in 1981. Roberts delivered "You Are The Woman" and the mellow follow-up "Just Remember I Love You"; Burnett came up with the fan favorite "Cinderella."

Firefall has been mostly a live act the last few decades, but they put together an album called Comet that was finally released in December 2020 following coronavirus-induced delays. The lead single, "Way Back When," is a trip through three distinct years: 1965, 1967, and 1969. Jock does an acoustic version at the end of show.

This Song is a part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary | Interview

Songfacts Podcast

11/20/24 • 33 min

Noel Paul Stookey is a legendary figure in American folk music. As one-third of the iconic trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, Noel helped shape the soundtrack of the 1960s, delivering timeless hits like "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and "If I Had a Hammer." Beyond the trio, his solo career has been equally impactful, notably with "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)," a piece that has become a staple at countless ceremonies worldwide.

In recent years, Noel has continued to innovate. His latest projects include "Neworld Sampler," a collection featuring collaborations with fellow artists, and "Fazz: Now & Then," an album blending folk and jazz elements—a style he's been cultivating for decades.

In this episode, Noel also talks with us about the process of working on his memoir, which offers an intimate look into his life, music, and the social justice commitments that have defined his career.

Join us as we delve into Noel's rich musical journey, his recent creative endeavors, and the stories behind the songs that have touched generations.

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Brothers Koren on Finding Your Musical Cosmology

Songfacts Podcast

12/09/20 • 75 min

There is a metaphysical side of music we rarely hear about. Consider the question: Will music survive if humans die out? The Brothers Koren - Isaac and Thorald - call this "musical cosmology."

The idea, which Isaac first explored at Northeastern University, is that we all have a unique way of hearing music (eardrums are as unique as fingerprints), and by understanding how we process it, we can understand ourselves. They've been teaching the concept for six years now on "Songwriter's Journey" retreats, which have produced some songs that might be on your playlists (we found out about them through Monique DeBose, who was on the podcast in September).

These Aussie brothers formed a group called The Kin in 2001, landed a deal with Interscope, and toured with Pink in 2013. These days, in addition to their duties as musical zen masters, they have a group called Fransancisco, which is set to release their first album in 2021. In this episode, we take a deep dive into our musical cosmologies and hear them perform a few songs. Excerpts from the transcript are below.

https://brotherskoren.com/

Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan