Shows
What the Riff Next Gen1966 - January: The Yardbirds ”Having a Rave Up”When you explore the music of The Yardbirds you are really observing the evolution of what would become hard rock. This group started in 1963 and over its time would engage the talents of three of the greatest guitarists of the rock world: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Additional musicians in the group through 1968 were Keith Relf on vocals and harmonica, Jim McCarty on drums, Chris Dreja on rhythm guitar, and Paul Samwell-Smith on bass. The group was founded in the blues, but over time would explore psychedelic rock, pop rock, and hard rock, with instrumental jams being a si...2025-05-2633 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1990 - December: AC/DC “The Razors Edge”1990 is an odd time for a hard rock band from the late 70's to make a comeback. Hair metal was declining rapidly, and music that would form the grunge movement was percolating up in the pacific northwest. But that is exactly what AC/DC did with their album The Razors Edge. The album reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 4 on the UK albums chart, and it would become AC/DC's third highest selling album behind “Back in Black” and “High Voltage.”
After concluding their 1988 world tour the band had some changes and interruptions. Drummer Simon Wright left...2025-03-2446 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1974 - July: Beach Boys “Endless Summer”By the mid-70's the Beach Boys appeared to be a band that had been left behind. Sales had been only moderate for their previous albums, and the band was struggling to determine their direction musically. In the summer of 1973 the movie "American Graffiti" featured several Beach Boys songs, creating nostalgia for the earlier surfing music.
Between the revived interest sparked by "American Graffiti" and the success of the Beatles "Red" and "Blue" compilation albums, the Beach Boys released a collection of hits from their early 60's catalogue called Endless Summer. This featured songs from their Capitol Rec...2025-03-1730 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1971 - April: Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers”Sticky Fingers is considered by many to be the greatest studio album the Rolling Stones ever created. This ninth studio album represented a return to a more basic sound for the Stones after several albums with less conventional instrumentation. It was also known for its cover artwork from Andy Warhol which featured a man in jeans with a working zipper. The album won a Grammy for “Best Album Cover” for this innovative design.
This was the first album that was released on their own label, Rolling Stones Records. It was also the first album the group produced without...2025-02-1842 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1974 - June: Lynyrd Skynyrd ”Second Helping”Lynyrd Skynyrd was a success with their debut album, and continued to build a fan base when they opened for The Who on their Quadrophenia tour. Many of the songs on their debut album were staples of their concerts in Jacksonville, Florida, where they had built their style over the years since the 60's. Therefore it was not a sure thing that they would be able to sustain their success over time. Those concerns were put to rest when they released their second album.
Second Helping, a southern colloquialism for getting more of the same thing at the...2025-01-2733 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1985 - December: Talking Heads “Little Creatures”The Talking Heads is known as one of the more quirky bands of the 70's and 80's, and terribly innovative in their approach to both music and performance. Consisting of Tina Weymouth on bass, Chris Frantz on drums, Jerry Harrison on keyboards and guitar, and fronted by David Byrne on vocals and guitar, the Talking Heads helped to shape the landscape of alternative and new wave rock through the 80's and 90's. They really hit mainstream consciousness with their fifth album called "Speaking in Tongues" in 1983. They followed this up with the live album "Stop Making Sense," which showcased the...2025-01-2044 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1978 - November: Kansas ”Two for the Show”Kansas was at the height of their prowess and popularity as a prog rock-leaning band in 1978 when they released their first live album, Two for the Show. Recorded during tours in 1977 and 1978, the double album gives the listener a glimpse into the energy of the band at the time. The songs span the first five studio albums released by the group, from the eponymously named "Kansas" to the highly successful "Point of Know Return."
Kansas would have a number of personnel changes over time, but this lineup would be the classic one. Steve Walsh is on keyboards and...2024-10-1445 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1972 - July: Leon Russell “Carney”One of the great underappreciated singer-songwriters of the rock era was Tulsa, Oklahoma native Claude Russell Bridges, better known as Leon Russell. Russell was a musician and songwriter with records spanning rock, folk, country, gospel, bluegrass, and blues who began playing piano at the age of four. He went to the same high school as David Gates (from Bread), and the two collaborated as a group called The Fencemen early on. Russell went to Los Angeles and worked as a studio musician. The list of folks he worked with is huge, including Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys, George Harr...2024-07-1533 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1981 - November: Rick James “Street Songs”Let's get this out of the way up front: when you think of rock albums, Rick James is not the artist that immediately comes to mind. But when former founding podcaster Brian Dickhute comes back and wants to do the album, we find it difficult to deny him.
James Ambrose Johnson, Jr. was born in Buffalo where he was in a number of groups and bands as a teenager. He joined the US Navy Reserves to avoid being drafted, then moved to Toronto in 1964 where he formed the rock band “The Minah Byrds.” Unfortunately he failed to let Uncl...2024-07-0836 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1986 - January: Michael McDonald ”Sweet Freedom”We've made a few jokes in past episodes about Michael McDonald popping up in unexpected places. It's an easy joke to make, because McDonald has a distinctive voice and has worked with a lot of artists covering numerous genres. But the man is talented - both vocally and on the keyboards - and his career has put him at the forefront of rock music for a long time.
Sweet Freedom is a compilation album that explores McDonald's work from his first two albums plus a number of collaborations. The album title is taken from the track he had...2024-06-0339 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1979 - June: Journey “Evolution”We've already covered a couple of Journey albums. Episode 250 profiled "Infinity," the introduction of Steve Perry to the group. And episode 26 delved into arguably the high water mark for Journey, the album "Escape." Here we take a look at the band as they are in their transition into one of the world's biggest rock bands.
The appropriately-titled album Evolution is Journey's fifth studio album. Here we find Steve Perry settling in as front man while still sharing lead vocal duties with keybaordist Gregg Rolie. They have also replaced drummer Aynsley Dunbar with Steve Smith, previously with Ronnie Montr...2024-03-1136 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1982 - February: Duran Duran ”Rio”Did MTV make Duran Duran, or did Duran Duran make MTV? Perhaps a little of both. What is beyond doubt is that Rio, the band's second studio album, would propel Duran Duran into a worldwide new wave and dance phenomenon, and would be a major offensive of the Second British Invasion in the United States.
Duran Duran had found success in the UK with their self-titled debut album in 1981, and expectations were high for the group. Rio would find the band leaning heavily on upbeat tracks, a couple of synth-heavy ballads, and more experimentation with musical sounds and...2024-03-0443 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1975 - May: David Bowie ”Young Americans”David Bowie would leave the glam rock genre of his previous albums for a more soulful sound with his ninth studio album, Young Americans. This album features blue eyed soul, or what Bowie would refer to as "plastic soul." David Bowie moved to the United States in 1974 during a time when tax concerns were driving many artists out of the UK. He was living in New York City at the time, and starting production on the album in Philadelphia where he worked with guitarist Carlos Alomar. A funk guitarist, Alomar had worked as a session musician at the Apollo Thea...2023-10-0942 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1969 - December: The Rolling Stones “Let It Bleed”The Rolling Stones released their tenth US studio album (eighth in the UK) entitled Let it Bleed at the end of November, 1969. The band had worked on the material in the studio off and on through most of the year, with recording beginning in earnest back in February of 1969 (though work on "You Can't Always Get What You Want" began in November of the previous year). The album would reach number 3 on the US album chart and number 1 on the UK charts, and would produce some of the best known standards of the Stones' collection.
The band ex...2023-10-0239 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1994 - October: Weezer “Blue Album”Weezer released their debut studio album in May of 1994, often known as the Blue Album due to its blue cover. The band formed in Los Angeles in 1992 as grunge was on its ascendency. Despite a sound that we identify with grunge today, singer/guitarist Rivers Cuomo, drummer Patrick Wilson, guitarist Jason Cropper, and bassist Matt Sharp struggled to find an audience in the midst of the grunge movement. They were signed to A&R after recording a demo late in 1992, and would find success in the alternate scene by the time their debut was released. Cuomo had asthma when he w...2023-04-2436 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1975 - June: War ”Why Can’t We Be Friends?”Defining a genre for the group War is a difficult process. There are elements of Latin, R&B, funk, soul, and rock mixed in. Some call it progressive soul. War came from Long Beach, California in 1969, and began as a backing band for Deacon Jones. The band was originally led by Eric Burden of the Animals and were known as Eric Burden and War for their first tow albums, then as War after Burden left the group.
Their seventh studio album, Why Can't We Be Friends? would continue a tradition of successful albums for the band, going to nu...2023-02-2042 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1980 - January: Pink Floyd “The Wall”Pink Floyd would score another big hit and some mainstream crossover success with their eleventh studio album, The Wall. Originally conceived by bassist Roger Waters, The Wall explores the self-isolation of a cynical rock star named Pink, and portrays events in his life from the loss of his father, to childhood trauma, to the pressures of rock stardom as bricks forming the wall. Parts of the story are autobiographical from Waters, and parts naturally are based on former front man Syd Barrett. The album was a commercial success, the most successful double album of all time, the second most pop...2023-01-3043 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1970 - September: Black Sabbath “Paranoid”Rolling Stone magazine ranked Paranoid, the second studio album by Black Sabbath, to be the number one of its "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time." Originally known by the name Earth, the band took the name Black Sabbath from a 1963 horror film starring Boris Karloff. The band members were Bill Ward on percussion, Geezer Butler on bass, Tony Iommi on guitar, and Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. It was originally a heavy blues band from Birmingham, England, but took on a darker complexion with lyrics of doom.
Much of the music on Paranoid was developed during jams while the...2023-01-2336 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1966 - December: Sam & Dave “Double Dynamite”Sam Moore and Dave Prater were known as Sam & Dave, a huge soul act from the late 60's. They were known as The Sultans of Sweat, The Dynamic Duo, and Double Dynamite. This album is their second studio album out of Stax Records, also called Double Dynamite.
Sam & Dave are considered one of the greatest live acts out of the 60's, and a lot of musicians cite their influence on their work, including some you would expect like Al Green and Michael Jackson. There are also a lot of musicians who were influenced who were significantly removed fro...2023-01-1628 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1978 - May: U.K. ”U.K.”The supergroup U.K. was founded by former King Crimson percussionist Bill Bruford (also a former founder of Yes) and bassist and vocalist John Wetton (also a former member of Uriah Heep, and Roxy Music). After failing to reform King Crimson, each of the two brought in a musician they thought would work well in the group. Wetton brought in Eddie Jobson, violinist and keyboardist from Frank Zappa's band. Bruford brought in Allan Holdsworth on guitars (who had worked on Bruford's prior solo project.
Their self titled debut album was released in May, 1978. Although a couple of songs...2023-01-0940 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1969 - July: The Easy Rider Motion Picture SoundtrackThe cult classic film Easy Rider was released this month. A landmark counter culture movie, the film traces the journey of Wyatt and Billy as they make their way on motorcycles from a successful drug deal in Los Angeles to the Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans. Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern wrote the film, and it stars Fonda, Hopper, and Jack Nicholson. Dennis Hopper directed the movie.
Originally the plan was for Crosby, Stills & Nash to do all the songs on the soundtrack. When the editor plugged in contemporary songs as placeholders, the sound convi...2023-01-0231 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1974 - March: Gordon Lightfoot “Sundown”Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot would see his commercial success zenith with this tenth studio album, Sundown. Lightfoot got his start in music at an early age, singing in the choir at St. Paul's United Church in Orillia, Ontario as a child. As a young man he lived in California for a short period, studying jazz composition and writing jingles to support himself, but he soon chose to return to his native Canada and never left. Gordon Lightfoot would inspire many artists - Bob Dylan considered him a type of mentor - and numerous artists would cover his songs, including ar...2022-12-2638 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1984 - December: Foreigner ”Agent Provocateur”Foreigner took some significant time between their fourth and fifth studio albums. Agent Provocateur was released in December of 1984 and made it to number 5 on the US charts. Interestingly it hit number 1 in the UK, the only Foreigner album to do so. It had a balance of heavier rock songs and lighter ballads, allowing the group to appeal to both male and female fans.
At the time, Foreigner consisted of Lou Gramm on lead vocals and percussion, Mick Jones on guitars and keyboards, Rick Wills on bass, and Dennis Elliott on drums. Jones and Gramm are the prima...2022-12-1940 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1994 - August: “The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”The superhero movie “The Crow,” released in 1994, will forever be known for two events. First, the tragic death of lead actor Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, during production of the film would cast a pall over the movie from then on. Second, the outstanding music of The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack would result in a chart-topping album. This soundtrack is a veritable who's who of alternative rock at the time, including artists like The Cure, Violent Femmes, Nine Inch Nails, and Stone Temple Pilots.
The Crow is based on a comic book series of the same nam...2022-12-1237 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1968 - April: The Monkees ”The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees”1968 was a year of disappointments for the Monkees. During this year their television series was cancelled, their first motion picture effort failed at the box office, and band member Peter Tork would leave the group at the end of the year. Despite all this they would still find success in their fifth studio album, The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees. This album would chart at number 3 in the United States and would sell over a million copies.
Members Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork had gained artistic control and the right to play their own...2022-12-0528 minWhat the Riff Next GenChristmas Songs that Rock V: A What the Riff Rabbit HoleWe at What the Riff!?! hope that y'all have a great Christmas — we hope these songs make your season a little more merry and bright.
“Deck the Halls” by Twisted Sister
This classic carol was probably not originally envisioned to be quite as rocking as this, but Dee Snyder and Twisted Sister took it up a notch! This is the sixth and last Twisted Sister studio album they would produce, and we’re sure they donned their gay apparel for this final outing.
“Skynyrd Family” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Some southern charm was put on this song t...2022-11-2844 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1973 - March: Pink Floyd ”The Dark Side of the Moon”Arguably the biggest album of the entire rock era, Pink Floyd's eighth studio album would propel them to superstardom. The Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most acclaimed records in history, and it is commercially unmatched in its longevity. It topped the US Billboard Top LP's and Tape chart, and charted for 962 weeks in total!
Pink Floyd at this time was David Gilmour on guitar and vocals, Roger Waters on bass and vocals, Richard Wright on keyboards, and Nick Mason on percussion.
The Dark Side of the Moon was envisioned as a co...2022-11-2139 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1981 - January: the Who ”Face Dances”Face Dances is the ninth studio album from the Who, and the first release after the death of drummer Keith Moon three years earlier. During those three years the Who would release the film Quadrophenia and the concert retrospective film The Kids Are Alright. Front man Roger Daltry would try out acting, and Pete Townshend would release his second solo studio album. When the group got back together for Face Dances, Phil Collins expressed an interest in joining the band. However, Kenny Jones (Small Faces, Faces) had already been asked to join. John “Rabbit” Bundrick also contributed keyboard work on this a...2022-11-1438 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1978 - October: Styx “Pieces of Eight”Styx released their eighth studio album, Pieces of Eight, after achieving breakthrough success with 1977's “The Grand Illusion.” This album would also achieve significant critical and commercial success with this album. Two singles would break into the top 40, and one would land just outside it at number 41. All of these were written and sung by Tommy Shaw who had joined the group for the Equinox album in 1975.
In addition to guitarist and lead singer Tommy Shaw, other members of the band were Dennis DeYoung on lead vocals and keyboards, James "JY" Young on guitars and vocals, Chuck Panozzo...2022-11-0743 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1981 - December: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock-n-Roll”I Love Rock 'n Roll is the first album by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and the second solo album by Joan Jett. Born as Joan Marie Larkin, Joan Jett got her start in the music industry as a teenager when her family moved to the Los Angeles area and divorced shortly thereafter. She was a founding member of the all-girl band The Runaways at the age of 16.
Jett began her solo career in England in 1979, where she recorded songs with some of the members of the Sex Pistols. Later that year she returned to Los Angeles where she...2022-10-3134 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1989 - August: Bad English “Bad English”Bad English is a supergroup composed of members of Journey and The Babys. From The Babys comes John Waite on lead vocals, Rick Phillips on bass, and Jonathan Cain on keyboards. From Journey comes Neal Schon in lead guitar, and Jonathan Cain, the common thread between the two groups. Deen Castronovo is on drums and would later join Journey. The band was initially formed by Cain, Schon, and Waite. The name Bad English comes from a term in the game of pool. John Waite missed a shot, and Jonathan Cain made a comment on how bad his English was.
...2022-10-1743 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1972 - April: Deep Purple “Machine Head”Machine Head is the sixth and most commercially successful studio album Deep Purple ever produced. The band was coming off a two-year tour, and wanted to capture a sound closer to their live shows on the next studio effort. They booked the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio for the recording and booked time at the Montreux Casino. However, just before their studio time was to begin, a fire was started during a concert for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, and the casino burned to the ground. They then attempted to record at a nearby theater, but this had to b...2022-10-1042 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1987 - November: Bruce Springsteen “Tunnel of Love”After the overwhelming success of his “Born to Run” album, Bruce Springsteen's next studio album would take a dramatically different approach. First, Tunnel of Love would be a solo project, and the E. Street Band was not credited as a contributor, though many members of the E. Street Band would be credited individually. Springsteen plays many of the instruments himself, and made use of drum machines and synthesizers on the tracks. Second, the lyrics look inward as Springsteen explores aspects of lost love. Springsteen was reacting to his troubled marriage to actress Julianne Phillips from whom he would receive divorce...2022-10-0338 minWhat the Riff Next GenRECAST 1973 - SEPT - Elton John “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”RECAST: ( Episode #45)
Elton John — “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”
September, 1973
Elton John's seventh studio release is considered his best by many. The double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road contains many well known hits including the title track, the Marilyn Monroe-inspired “Candle in the Wind,” and the 11-minute epic “Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.” Elton John initially intended to record this album in Jamaica, but political instability and the upcoming Frazier/Foreman boxing match caused the production to be moved to Chateau d'Herouville in France.
Friend of the Show John Lynch returns to help us showc...2022-09-2637 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1982 - May: 38 Special “Special Forces”We've covered a number of underrated bands and albums, but perhaps the most underrated band of the 80's is 38 Special. Formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1974 by Donnie Van Zandt and Don Barnes, 38 Special had a string of hits in the late 70's through the 80's including "Hold On Loosely," "Rockin' Into the Night," and "If I'd Been the One." Special Forces is their fifth and most successful studio album, hitting number 10 on the Billboard 200.
In addition to Van Zandt and Barnes, 38 Special's lineup for this album included Jeff Carlisi on guitar, Larry Junstrom on bass, Steve Brookins on...2022-09-1940 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1990 - January: They Might Be Giants “Flood”They Might Be Giants is an alternative rock band that formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. They are known as an absurdist, surreal alternative band popular on modern rock charts and college radio. They are also known in the DIY music genre and in children’s music. Flood is their third studio album and has been certified platinum. It is their best selling album, and considered their signature work.
During the 80’s Flansburgh and Linnell started recording their songs onto an answering machine and advertised the phone number in The Village Voice and other newspapers as “Dial...2022-09-1235 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1968 - March: The Electric Flag “Long Time Comin’”The Electric Flag was the brainchild of guitarist Mike Bloomfield, and Long Time Comin' was their debut studio album. The core of the band was formed by Mike Bloomfield on guitar, Barry Goldberg on keyboards, and Buddy Miles (soon to be with Jimmy Hendrix's Band of Gypsies) on drums. Additionally, Nick Gravenites would sing lead on several tracks.
With "Long Time Comin'" Bloomfield wanted to create a sound that would feature what he called "American music." He would draw inspiration from many sources including traditional country, gospel, and R&B, and the result would be a fusion of...2022-09-0532 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1983 - April: Zebra “Zebra”Zebra is one of the great underrated bands of the 80's. Randy Jackson (lead vocals, guitars, synthesizers, piano), Felix Hanemann (bass, keyboards, backing vocals) and Guy Gelso (percussion, backing vocals) formed Zebra in 1975 in New Orleans before moving to Long Island. They were originally a cover band, playing rock with a prog rock bent from groups like Led Zeppelin, Yes, and Jethro Tull. The band took the name Zebra after seeing a Vogue magazine cover featuring a model riding a zebra.
It would be eight years from their founding before this eponymously named album would be their debu...2022-08-2944 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1972 - March: Jethro Tull “Thick as a Brick”For it's fifth studio album, Jethro Tull decided to satirize the concept album which was popular amongst prog rock acts like themselves, Yes, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Thick as a Brick is a single piece of music spread across two album sides, and takes inspiration from Monty Python, poking fun at the critics, the audience, and the band itself. Ian Anderson wrote much of the album, but the entire band contributed to the songs.
The "concept" of this concept album is that the lyrics are written by an 8 year-old genius named Gerald Bostock, and the album is a m...2022-08-2246 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1985 - January: Tears for Fears “Songs From the Big Chair”Tears for Fears comes from Bath, England, and were formed by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Their first album, "The Hurting" was released in 1983 and was successful with songs like "Mad World" and "Pale Shelter." However, their second album entitled Songs from the Big Chair, a title taken from the motion picture "Sybil" would be the one to propel them to super-stardom. It peaked at number 2 in the UK and number 1 in the US. In addition to Orzabal and Smith, Ian Stanley is on keyboards, and Manny Elias is on drums and drum arrangement.
Orzabal and Smith were...2022-08-1546 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1986 - December: The Georgia Satellites “Georgia Satellites”Atlanta, Georgia's own The Georgia Satellites released their debut and self-titled album in 1986. Dan Baird was their primary songwriter and lead vocalist on most songs. Guitarist Rick Richards, bassist Rick Price, and dummer Mauro Magellan complete the band. Originally formed as Keith and the Satellites in 1980, the band saw a number of personnel changes and a name change to The Georgia Satellites soon thereafter. They honed their craft playing at a Buckhead bar called Hedgens on Monday nights.
The Georgia Satellites signed with Elektra Records in 1986 and released this debut album to significant commercial success. The single "Keep...2022-08-0836 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1972 - May: Uriah Heep “Demons and Wizards”Formed in London in 1969, Uriah Heep released their fourth and (to this point) most successful album, Demons and Wizards in May 1972. This album would also see the debut of what is considered the classic lineup of Uriah Heep as bassist Gary Thain and drummer Lee Kerslake joined vocalist David Byron, guitarist Mick Box, and keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Ken Hensley to form the group for this album. While the album cover and title suggest medieval fantasy, Hensley has stated that it was just a collection of songs, not a concept album. It is hard to deny the prog rock fee...2022-08-0134 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1987 - February: Steve Winwood “Back in the High Life”Steve Winwood was a well known vocalist and guitarist throughout the rock era due to his contributions to the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith. His solo career would hit its high water mark with his fourth studio album, Back in the High Life. It was originally released in June 1986, and we are featuring it in February 1987 when the last single, “The Finer Things” was released and was headed up the charts.
Winwood had seen success as a soloist previously, but his last US album hit had been in 1980 when “Arc of a Diver” hit number 3 on the Bil...2022-07-2548 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1982 - August: Judas Priest ”Screaming for Vengeance”One of the founding groups of heavy metal is Judas Priest, and their eighth studio album entitled Screaming for Vengeance would be their commercial breakthrough album for North America. In addition to the distincive vocals of Rob Halford, the Judas Priest lineup for this album included K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton on guitars, Ian Hill on bass, and Dave Holland on drums.
Judas Priest was formed in 1969, but did not issue a record on a major label until 1977 and their third studio album. Their sixth studio album, British Steel, was the first to feature Dave Holland on...2022-07-1835 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1970 - November: Derek and the Dominos “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs”Today Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is considered Eric Clapton's best work. However, at the time that this double album debut by Derek and the Dominos came out it was considered both a commercial and critical failure. Clapton met fellow Derek and the Dominos band members Bobby Whitlock (keyboards), Carl Radle (bass) and Jim Gordon (drums) when working with Delaney & Bonnie. Whitlock and Clapton got together at Clapton's house and composed most of what would become the original songs on the Layla album.
The name Derek and the Dominos was chosen by Eric Clapton because he was...2022-07-0440 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1989 - May: The Cult “Sonic Temple”Some of the most popular songs from The Cult come from Sonic Temple, their fourth studio album. They garnered some attention in 1985 when the single “She Sells Sanctuary” off their second album hit the US charts, and they had established a solid following as a “post punk” or “goth rock” band, but Sonic Temple would put them over the top with its more hard rock appeal.
The band lineup for this album consisted of Ian Astbury on vocals and percussion, Billy Duffy on guitar, Jamie Stewart on bass and keyboards, and newcomer Mickey Curry on drums. Prior to Curry, the...2022-06-2740 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1968 - February: The Moody Blues “Days of Future Passed”One of the earliest examples of a prog rock record was Days of Future Passed, the second studio album by The Moody Blues. Originally a rhythm and blues band, The Moody Blues were in difficult financial straits when they convinced the record company to combine their music with orchestral elements and interludes in a single album. The group recorded much of their sessions first, then provided these to conductor Peter Knight, who directed the London Festival Orchestra (the house orchestra for Decca Records) in arrangements and orchestral interludes.
The Moody Blues for this album are Justin Hayward o...2022-06-2035 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1993 - May: Brother Cane “Brother Cane”At a time when most music was coming out of the Seattle grunge scene or the Athens, Georgia college environment, Alabama's own Brother Cane is a reminder that good rock music can originate anywhere. The band was formed by front man and guitarist Damon Johnson and bassist Glenn Maxey, and they were joined by guitarist Roman Glick and drummer Scott Collier. Their self-titled debut album would peak at number 14 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.
Johnson wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on the album, but writing credits would be received by all band members for at le...2022-06-1342 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1973 - April: James Gang ”Greatest Hits”The James Gang originated in Cleveland, Ohio, and is best known as a power trio consisting of Jim Fox on drums, Dale Peters on bass (Tom Kriss on bass for their first album) and Joe Walsh on guitars and lead vocals. This Greatest Hits album captures work done on the first three James Gang albums where Joe Walsh is the principal songwriter and is front and center of the band.
Walsh joined the group just prior to their signing with a record label. They produced "Yer' Album" in 1969. This would be followed by "James Gang Rides Again" and...2022-06-0638 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1966 - May: Beach Boys “Pet Sounds”Pet Sounds was the eleventh studio album by the Beach Boys. The album revolutionized music production, helped establish the album as the dominant form of music, and made the recording studio an instrument. The Beach Boys at this time are Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, and Mike Love.
Some consider Pet Sounds to be a Brian Wilson solo project. He stopped touring with the Beach Boys a year prior to producing this album, and most of the Beach Boys had not heard the songs until they came into the recording session after the...2022-05-3028 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1992 - January: Nirvana “Nevermind”The album that would bring grunge into the mainstream is Nevermind by Nirvana. While it was Nirvana's second album, it would be their first on a major label. It would also see the introduction of Dave Grohl to the band as drummer joining Krist Novoselic on bass, and the iconic and troubled Kurt Cobain who was front man, guitarist, and songwriter for the band.
“Troubled” could be a good description of the album as well. While more polished than their debut album, the songs exhibit a raw emotion, often dark, disturbed, or alienated, but also containing some humor a...2022-05-2339 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1968 - August: The Jeff Beck Group “Truth”Jeff Beck left the Yardbirds in 1966, and recorded several singles in 1967. In 1968 Beck released his first solo studio album, Truth, which would come to be regarded as one of the first heavy metal albums released. It would also feature a number of talented artists in his band called The Jeff Beck Group, including Rod Stewart on vocals, Ronnie Wood on bass, and Mickey Waller on drums, all of which would go on to achieve stardom as rock soloists and/or musicians in other groups.
Beck started this group as a means to expand his guitar interests, and th...2022-05-1630 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1984 - July: Nik Kershaw “Human Racing”Nik Kershaw's debut studio album, Human Racing, would also be his most commercially successful album. He would find more popularity in the UK where his album hit number 3 on the album charts than in the United States, where it would appear at number 70 on the Billboard 200. Kershaw wrote all the songs, performed lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, and percussion. Other personnel on the album would include Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards, Charlie Morgan on drums, and a slew of session musicians including his wife Sheri Kershaw on backing vocals.
Nicholas David “Nik” Kershaw came from a...2022-05-0240 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1977 - December: Jackson Browne “Running On Empty”Running on Empty was the fifth album by Jackson Browne. The album revolves around the theme of life on the road, and it is a live album, but with a couple of twists. First, none of these tracks had previously appeared on a Jackson Browne studio album. Second, while some of the songs were recorded on stage during concerts, others were recorded backstage, or in hotel rooms, or on the tour bus. This gives the album more of a concept feel than would be present for a typical "live" album.
Browne got his start as a songwriter as a...2022-04-2541 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1993 - October: Cracker “Kerosene Hat”The California band Cracker would have its greatest success with its second studio album, Kerosene Hat. Cracker is David Lowery on lead vocals and guitar, Johnny Hickman on lead guitar and vocals, Davey Faragher on bass and vocals, and Michael Urbano on drums. The name of the album comes from a time when Lowery and Hickman lived together in an old run-down house whose only heat source was a pair of kerosene heaters. They had to walk to a nearby gas station to buy more kerosene and would bundle up with a wool cap that came to be known as...2022-04-1841 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1988 - March: Robert Plant “Now and Zen”If Now and Zen, the fourth studio album by Robert Plant, sounds like Led Zeppelin, there's more reason for that than just the fact that Plant was the lead singer for the band. In addition to continuing use of computerized technology in the album, Plant also incorporated more blues and Middle Eastern elements into his music. He also had his Led Zeppelin band mate Jimmy Page contributing guitar to a couple of tracks.
Plant wanted to create an album that created electronic music with a more soulful sound than was typical at the time. He also benefitted fro...2022-04-1144 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1986 - November: Paul Simon “Graceland”Paul Simon was in a slump in the early 80's. His relationship with Art Garfunkel was at a low point, he was recently divorced from his second wife, Carrie Fisher, and his 1983 album “Hearts and Bones” was considered a commercial failure. This album would change his fortunes. Graceland would become his highest charting album in over a decade, his most successful studio album, and would win the 1987 Grammy for Album of the Year.
Simon lived next door to Lorne Michaels, creator of Saturday Night Live. Michaels introduced Simon to a singer-songwriter names Heidi Berg, and Simon agreed to produc...2022-04-0443 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1971 - February: Yes “The Yes Album” Episode 200!It's our 200th episode! And to celebrate, we are going to cover a group we reference frequently in other episodes - “all roads lead to Yes.” The third studio album by Yes was simply entitled The Yes Album, and it was both a critical success, and a much-needed commercial breakthrough, hitting number 40 on the US album charts. It was the first album not to contain any cover songs, and was also the first album to feature guitarist Steve Howe in the group.
This iteration of Yes consisted of Jon Anderson on vocals, Chris Squire on bass and vocals...2022-03-2847 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1979 — May: Blackfoot “Strikes”While they may hail from Jacksonville, Florida, the southern rock group Blackfoot gets its name from the Native American tribe in recognition of the Native American heritage of multiple members of the band. Strikes was their third studio album, and would go Platinum. Blackfoot is Rickey Medlocke on lead vocals and guitar, Charlie Hargrett on guitar, Greg T. Walker on bass, keyboards, and vocals, and Jakson Spires on percussion and vocals. Rickey Medlocke was an early member of Lynyrd Skynyrd where he played drums and contributed vocals.
After touring as the backing band for Ruby Starr, Blackfoot met...2022-03-2137 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1967 - February: Cream ”Fresh Cream”British rock supergroup Cream debuted their first studio album entitled Fresh Cream in January 1967 in the United States, following the December 1966 British release. Eric Clapton was on guitar and vocals, Jack Bruce was on bass, harmonica, piano, and vocals, and Ginger Baker was on percussion and vocals.
Clapton had come out of the Yardbirds, and both Baker and Bruce had been in the Graham Bond Organisation together. Ginger Baker approached Clapton about joining a new band, and Clapton agreed with the condition that Bruce be used as the bassist. Baker and Bruce had a tumultuous relationship, with Bake...2022-03-1432 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1993 - November: Pearl Jam “Vs.”It is no surprise that Pearl Jam was under intense pressure to follow up their debut album "Ten" with another success. What may be surprising is that the band's second studio album, Vs. (pronounced "versus") did indeed live up to the success for their debut. Vs. started at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart, sold almost a million copies in its first five days, and in its first week outperformed all other albums in the top 10 combined.
Pearl Jam did a number of things differently with this album. First, they recorded the songs one at a tim...2022-03-0738 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1966 - November: Simon & Garfunkel ”Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme”Many consider Simon & Garfunkel's third studio album to be the breakthrough album. The tracks on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme were written primarily by Paul Simon during his time as a visitor in England in the prior year. The songs maintain the folk feel of previous albums, and are heavily tilted towards acoustic instrumentation.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met in elementary school in Queens, New York, in 1953. They had their first minor hit as teenagers in 1957 under the stage name Tom and Jerry. They began by emulating the sound of The Everly Brothers, but moved towards a fol...2022-02-2826 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1984 - August: The Alarm ”Declaration”Welsh band The Alarm formed in 1981 out of a previous punk band called The Toilets. After extensive touring, the band would release their debut studio album entitled Declaration — released in February 1984 in vinyl and cassette, and the release on then-new compact disc (CD) format was in June of 1984. The album was on the charts in August when we feature it.
The band consisted of Mike Peters on lead vocals, harmonica, and acoustic guitar, Dave Sharp on backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, Eddie MacDonald on bass guitar and vocals, and Twist (aka Nigel Buckle, aka Nigel Twist) on p...2022-02-2136 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1982 - November: Missing Persons ”Spring Session M”One of the staple groups of the early 80's New Wave genre was Missing Persons. Their debut album with Capital Records was Spring Session M, an anagram of the band's name.
The founding trio was vocalist Dale Bozzio, drummer (and Dale's husband) Terry Bozzio, and guitarist Warren Cuchunullo. The Bozzio's were working with Frank Zappa and met Cuchunullo when he contributed to a Zappa album. The trio worked with session musicians, created an EP, and established a successful presence in Los Angeles. They added bassist Patrick O'Hearn and keyboardist Chuck Wild to the band before producing their debu...2022-01-3138 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1971 - January: Janis Joplin ”Pearl”Texas born Janis Joplin died on October 4, 1970, and Pearl was posthumously released in January. Producer Paul A. Rothchild created a more polished sound on this album than her previous solo work or her work with other bands. The Full Tilt Boogie Band, Joplin's touring band at the time, also participated in this studio album. It would be her best selling album, peaking at number 1 on the Billboard 200, and being certified quadruple platinum.
After leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company at the end of 1968, Joplin moved away from the psychedelic sound towards a more R&B orientation wit...2022-01-2433 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1986 - September: Bon Jovi “Slippery When Wet”This is the album that turned heavy metal into pop, or started the hair metal genre of the 80's. Slippery When Wet was the third studio album by Bon Jovi, and would be their best selling album to date.
The band was David Bryan on keyboards, Tico Torres on percussion, Alec John Such on bass, Richie Sambora on guitar, and Jon Bon Jovi on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.
Bon Jovi deliberately targeted a mainstream audience with this album. They wrote 30 songs and auditioned them to teenagers in New York and New Jersey. The album's son...2022-01-1745 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1967 - October: Buffalo Springfield “Buffalo Springfield Again”Buffalo Springfield was a fusion of Canadian and American musicians, and was also a fusion of folk, country, and psychedelic rock. The band lineup included Canadians Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Americans Stephen Stills and Richie Furay. While their debut album was recorded quickly, their second album, Buffalo Springfield Again, would be recorded over a period of nine months. This was due to Young frequently departing from the band, and to bassist Bruce Palmer being deported and having to sneak into the country illegally to record the album.
Young and Stills had met in 1965 in...2022-01-1033 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1983 - August: The Fixx ”Reach the Beach”While The Fixx had already experienced success on the charts with their debut album in 1982, their sophomore studio album entitled Reach the Beach would be this London New Wave group's most successful effort. This album was released in May 1983, and was heading up the charts in August.
The Fixx was led by singer/songwriter Cyril Jon "Cy" Curnin on vocals. Other members of the band included Rupert Greenall on keyboards, Jamie West-Oram on guitar and Adam Woods on percussion. Bassist Alfie Agius was with the band at the start of the recording but left partway through the ses...2021-12-2739 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1971 - December: Led Zeppelin ”IV”A case could be made that Led Zeppelin IV is the biggest heavy metal album of all time. However, "IV" isn't really the name of the album. The actual title was four symbols, one selected by each band member. The record company hated the idea for obvious reasons, but what they thought was "professional suicide" turned out to be the best selling album for the band and one of the top rated Rock albums of all time.
The rollout of Led Zeppelin IV without a pronounceable title and without written information on the album sleeve was a rea...2021-12-2043 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1977 - April: The Clash ”The Clash”The Clash got their start as a punk band, though they would move through elements of reggae, ska, funk, and new wave over time. The debut album eponymously titled The Clash would stay solidly in the punk movement which began trending the year before. Lead vocalist Pete Strummer and lead guitarist Mick Jones would write most of their original songs. Other personnel on this album included bassist Paul Simonon and drummers Topper Headon and Terry Chimes (listed as Tory Crimes).
The debut album was recorded in three weeks in February 1977 for a cost of 4,000 pounds. It was rele...2021-12-1333 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1982 - October: Squeeze “Singles - 45 and Under”Squeeze came out of the mid-70's New Wave scene in the UK, but would cross genres into Rockabilly, R&B, and Psychedelia by the early 80's. In 1982 they released Singles - 45's and Under as a compilation album of their biggest hits. Squeeze was led by two singer songwriters, Chris Dilford (rhythm guitar and vocals) and Glenn Tilbrook (keyboards, lead guitar, vocals) who composed most of their material. At the time of the release of this “greatest hits” album, the band had broken up, leaving only Dilford and Tilbrook as a duet. The pair would normally work with Dilford...2021-12-0644 minWhat the Riff Next GenChristmas Songs that Rock IV - A What the Riff Rabbit HoleEpisode NotesYes indeed, folks, Christmas time is here again! We at What the Riff!?! want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and here are a few rocking songs of the season for you to put on your playlist.
“Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)” by the Ramones
The founders of the punk movement offer this take on a Christmas song, with the rapid tempo and rough lyrics we've come to know and love as a classic Ramones style. Christmas is a time to be together with family, but some families are a l...2021-11-2945 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1994 - February: Green Day “Dookie”Although Dookie is the third studio album by Green Day, it is their first release on a major label. This may explain some of their seemingly overnight stardom. The trio consisted of Billie Joe Armstrong on vocals and lead, Mike Dirnt on bass and backing vocals, and Tre Cool on percussion, and they had been in the underground scene in the San Francisco Bay area since before 1988 (Tre Cool replaced original drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990). The band changed their original name from Sweet Baby to Green Day, a slang phrase for spending the day smoking cannabis.
Dookie was...2021-11-1538 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1976 - June: Steve Miller Band “Fly Like an Eagle”Believe it or not, Fly Like an Eagle is the ninth studio album by the Steve Miller Band. Guitarist, lead singer, and founder Steve Miller got his start in Chicago playing the blues. He formed the Steve Miller Blues Band after moving to San Francisco in 1966, and shortened it to the Steve Miller Band not long after its formation. The band started with a psychedelic rock feel in their first albums, transitioning to a more straightforward rock sound with the 1973 album The Joker, and continuing with their 1976 release, Fly Like an Eagle.
This album was largely written by M...2021-10-0442 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1975 - November: Queen “A Night At the Opera”Queen's fourth studio album is the one that would launch them into super stardom and bring them personal financial success as well. A Night at the Opera got its name from the Marx Brothers film, and many consider it to be the best album Queen ever made.
The band lineup was Freddie Mercury on lead vocals, Brian May on guitar, John Deacon on bass, and Roger Taylor on drums. Backing vocals were performed by May and Taylor - John Deacon was the only band member who didn't sing.
The first three Queen albums were produced un...2021-09-1340 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1982 - June: Stray Cats “Built for Speed”While many bands of the 80's were focusing on the synth-heavy New Wave or screaming guitars of Hard Rock, one band was taking their inspiration from the 50's roots of Rock. The Stray Cats came out of New York in 1979 and developed a devoted following quickly, but moved to the UK after hearing of a revival of the 50's subculture there. Inspired by the Sun Records artists of the 50's, the Stray Cats combined Rockabilly and Punk genres to form their sound.
The Stray Cats were a trio with Brian Setzer on guitar and lead vocals, Lee Roc...2021-08-0935 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1981 - June: Billy Squier ”Don’t Say No”This second studio album is the one that would put Billy Squier at the top of the arena rock world in 1981. Don't Say No would produce Squier's first breakthrough single, “The Stroke,” a critique of the music industry, and the album would continue to contribute singles and AOR hits as it remained on the Billboard album charts for over 2 years.
Billy Squier got his start in the Boston music scene in the late 60's, playing in locally successful groups through the 70's, and releasing a moderately successful solo album in the spring of 1980. Squier approached Brian May of Que...2020-11-0938 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1966 - June: The Association “And Then...Along Comes The Association”The Association released their debut (and most successful) album, And Then...Along Comes The Association in June 1966. They had received some success with non-album releases prior to this, but the album itself would become one of the best selling albums of the year.
The Association was known as sunshine pop, which incorporated elements of both folk rock and psychedelic music. The group was formed originally by Jules Alexander (guitar) and Terry Kirkman (wind instruments, percussion) who met in Hawaii in 1962, then reconnected in Los Angeles in the mid-60's. They joined with Russ Giguere (rhythm guitar, percussion), Bria...2020-10-2625 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1980 - July: AC/DC “Back In Black”Fresh off their success with Highway to Hell, Australian band AC/DC was planning a follow-up when tragedy struck. Front man Bon Scott was found “dead by misadventure” after a drinking binge. The group would have to audition a replacement for their seventh studio album, and Brian Johnson was brought in on lead for Back In Black.
The new album was recorded in Nassau in the midst of a batch of tropical storms - a fact referenced in the opening lines of “Hells Bells.” In addition to front man Johnson, the group was comprised of lead guitarist Angus Young...2020-10-1242 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1980 - November: The Police “Zenyatta Mondatta”Power trios were unusual in the punk and new wave scene of the late 70's, but The Police were a notable exception. By November 1980 they were putting out their third studio album, Zenyatta Mondatta which would be the second of four albums to hit the number 1 slot in the UK, continuing their meteoric climb to super stardom on both sides of the pond. The Police only put out five albums, a surprisingly small discography for how famous the band would become.
Drummer, Stewart Copeland formed the band with Sting and guitarist Henry Padovani originally; with the more expe...2020-09-2136 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1970 - March: The Guess Who “American Woman”Who is the finest rock band to come out of Winnipeg, Canada? That's right, The Guess Who. In January 1970 they released their sixth studio album, American Woman, and were riding the wave of one of their most commercially successful albums in March. This album took a harder rock direction from their formerly psychedelic and pop sound, and would produce their only number 1 hit in the US, making them the first Canadian band to top the American Hot 100 chart.
The Guess Who got their name in 1965 when their record label, Quality Records, released a single under the name “Guess...2020-08-2436 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1965 — February: Herman’s Hermits “Introducing Herman’s Hermits”Introducing Herman’s Hermits is the the debut album for the band Herman’s Hermits. Front man Peter Noone was an actor on "Coronation Street," a British TV soap opera. The resemblance between Noone and a character named Sherman (from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon) was noted, and this name was shortened to "Herman." The group would start using the name "Herman and His Hermits," and this was also shortened to "Herman's Hermits."
Herman's Hermits were a part of the British Invasion of the early 60's, which included acts like the Dave Clark 5, The Merseybeats, and of course...2020-08-1025 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1976 - March: Bad Company “Run with the Pack”English supergroup Bad Company continued their successful streak with their third studio album, Run with the Pack. Frontman/guitarist/panist Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke came out of the band Free, guitarist/keyboardist Mick Ralph came out of Mott the Hoople, and bassist Boz Burrell was originally with King Crimson. Paul Rodgers' voice is quite distinctive, and you can tell a “Bad Co.” song just from that voice.
The name of the group came from a book of Victorian morals. It showed a picture depicting a child looking up at a ruffian leaning against a lamp post. ...2020-06-0138 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1974 — February: The Doobie Brothers “What Were Once Vices are Now Habits”The Doobie Brothers were already a commercial success by the time their fourth studio album, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits, was released in 1974. This iteration of The Doobie Brothers features mainstream rock and roll with a folk harmony bent, and the vocals of singer-songwriters Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. Tim Porter is on bass, and "Little" John Hartman and Michael Hossack round out the group in the unusual position of dual drummers.
The group got the name The Doobie Brothers from Keith "Dyno" Rossen, who suggested it to Johnston, "because you're always smoking pot." Everyone agr...2020-03-3036 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1990 - September: Depeche Mode “Violator”Depeche Mode made a decision to minimize their pre-production work when they created their seventh studio album. It must have worked, becauce Violator would become their breakthrough international album. Keyboardist Andy Fletcher, keyboardist and vocalist Martin Gore, also keyboardist and drum machinist Alan Wilder, and lead man Dave Gahan had previously hit the charts with their 1984 single “People Are People.” This album would see crossover success led by the monster hit “Personal Jesus.” While the album was released in May of 1990, the last single from the album came out in September 1990.
Depeche Mode is best known as a keyboard...2020-03-2345 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1966 - July: The Rolling Stones “Aftermath”In 1966 The Rolling Stones were not the giants that they would come to be in the rock world, but their third album, Aftermath would start their transformation. While their two previous albums had consisted of a significant volume of cover songs (much like the Beatles' early work), Aftermath would be the first album with all original material, primarily written by Mick Jagger and/or Keith Richards, and is considered the group's breakthrough album. Brian Jones would be a multi-instrumentalist on this album, though the estrangement from the rest of the band was already beginning to set in. He would...2020-03-0928 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1968 - July: Pink Floyd “A Saucerfull of Secrets”In its second album, Pink Floyd would begin its transition from a psychedelic 60's era band to what would become an icon of the rock genre. A Saucerful of Secrets is a strange album, and the only one in which Pink Floyd would consider themselves to be a five piece band. Frontman Syd Barrett had begun his slide into insanity, and was too unstable for the band to rely on him for concerts and recordings. They brought in David Gilmour to supplement Barrett on guitar, while Nick Mason (drums) Roger Waters (bass) and Richard Wright (keyboards) continued in their...2020-02-1036 minWhat the Riff Next GenChristmas Songs that Rock (II)When we did our Rock-and-Roll Christmas "rabbit hole" episode last year we realized that there are just too many Rocking Christmas songs to be held in a single podcast. So we're coming back to you this year with another selection of Christmas songs that rock!
“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” by- Ronnie James Dio
This selection from the former Rainbow and Black Sabbath front man puts a metal twist on a 16th century carol.
“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” by The Barenaked Ladies
A more mellow take on the same song features stripped down acous...2019-12-0950 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1968 - January: Small Faces “There Are But Four Small Faces”One of the most famous of the British "mod" groups, Small Faces was founded by Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston (although Winston had been replaced by Ian McLagan by this album). Small Faces was solidly in the psychedelic rock category. Small Faces toured with The Who, a group also known as a "mod" group. The name comes from the fact that all the members were under 5' 9". There Are But Four Small Faces was an international alternative to their eponymous second album released in 1967 in Britain.
Talk to You
This song was...2019-10-2827 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1994 - March - Soundgarden - SuperunknownBrian has us riffing on Soundgarden. If they were “superunknown” at the time, it wouldn't last past the release of this fourth studio album. Soundgarden would break into super stardom with this heavy hitting, 5-time platinum effort. The strength and distinctiveness of Chris Cornell's vocals are obvious. Sometimes called Stoner Rock, Soundgarden would be a key element in solidifying the "grunge" sound of Seattle. They won two Grammy awards for "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman." The album cover is a distorted image of the band members and is known as "the screaming elf."
Black Hole Sun
This...2019-08-1239 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1965 - December - The Byrds - Turn Turn TurnBrian presents the second album by The Byrds as they continued their folk rock mix of vocal and twelve-string guitar harmonies originally explored in their debut album released earlier in the year. There are two songs from Bob Dylan - "The Times They Are A-Changin' and "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" - along with a number of other covers.
Join us as we explore the album Turn! Turn! Turn! as well as the famous title track and several other excellent songs from The Byrds.
“Oh! Susannah”
This Stephen Foster cover was originally intended as a jo...2019-05-1329 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1973 - February - Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar BabiesFebruary 1973 — “Billion Dollar Babies” by Alice Cooper
Brian presents one of the biggest early 1970's glam rock groups — Alice Cooper. Their sixth studio album entitled “Billion Dollar Babies” was released in 1973, and was their most successful album to this date. Detroit native and front man Vincent Furnier took on the “Alice Cooper” persona for this highly theatrical act, complete with makeup, tuxedo, and top hat. The title of the album is a tongue in cheek look at the rise of the band itself — referring to themselves as "Billion Dollar Babies."
Come along as we dig into this exceptionally ente...2019-02-0439 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1986 - May - Peter Gabriel - So“So” by Peter Gabriel
Bruce is excited about this blockbuster hit album. After four solo albums without a name, the record company finally persuaded Peter Gabriel to name this fifth album. So is a synthesizer-heavy album influenced by world music. It shows Gabriel's experimental side, but it was a more approachable album than his other releases, and it was a huge hit in the mid-'80s both on radio and MTV. Gabriel went from a cult star to a mainstream star in the rock genre very quickly with this five-fold platinum album. There's really not a bad track on this...2018-12-3146 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1970 - October - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III“Led Zeppelin III” by Led Zeppelin
Brian presents this CLASSIC album, “Three” — by Led Zeppelin. Giants of the rock genre and precursors to the heavy metal sound, Led Zeppelin would set the standard for decades as one of the big four (along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who) super groups of Rock and Roll. Powered by Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, Robert Plant on vocals, and John Bonham on percussion, Led Zeppelin was a household name in the rock world by 1970 when they released their third album, simply known as Led Zeppelin III. This...2018-12-2443 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1988 - August - Jane’s Addiction - Nothing’s Shocking“Nothing’s Shocking” by Jane’s Addiction
Wayne presents this album, “Nothing's Shocking,” — the first studio album by Jane's Addiction. This alternative rock band from Los Angeles had released a self-titled live album in 1987. Perry Farrell was the lead singer and writer for the group. The group would break up in the early 90's over how to split the money. Although tensions in the band would drive the split, their heavy, angry, wall-of-sound approach would lead the way for the grunge music to come a few years later.
We hope you enjoy this heavy hitting feature.
“Idiots Rule...2018-12-1741 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1981 - July - Escape - JourneyJULY of 1981 “Escape” by Journey
Brian hosts this seventh album from JOURNEY — Escape, which catapulted the rock group into the stratosphere on the strength of Steve Perry's soaring vocals, Neal Schon's hook-laden guitar riffs, and newcomer Jonathan Cain's keyboards and songwriting. The album artwork featured a stylized scarab spaceship breaking out of a sphere.
This album transitions from a straightforward hard rock vibe with "Keep on Runnin'" to a more mellow rock sound with Perry's well-known ballad "Open Arms." You just can't go wrong with this classic album.
“Escape ”
The title track from the album is f...2018-11-2641 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1978 - July - Some Girls- The Rolling Stones“Some Girls” by the Rolling Stones
By the time that “Some Girls” was released The Rolling Stones were a household name. This was their 14th British and 16th Studio album, and was both a commercial and critical hit. Many reviewers consider this the best album since "Exile on Main Street." Rock music was taking a back seat to punk rock and glam rock, and the late '70's was dominated by disco. “Some Girls” represents a return to Rock's roots, and focuses on the vibe of New York.
We hope you enjoy this installment focused on the supergroup k...2018-10-2244 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1981 - APRIL - Fair Warning - Van Halen“Fair Warning” by Van Halen
Eddie and Alex Van Halen moved to America from the Netherlands as children of a musician father. Eddie and Alex formed their band along with front man and perennial showman David Lee Roth and bassist/vocalist Michael Anthony, and were known as a hard working band in Pasadena. It wasn't long before they developed a following of several thousand in the area, and Gene Simmons of Kiss fame connected them with a record label.
Join us as Brian brings us this hard charging third album from Van Halen, Fair Warning.
Mean S...2018-09-2440 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1966 - APRIL - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears - The Mamas and the PapasIf You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, by the Mamas and the Papas
Brian hosted this Album.
Monday Monday
California Dreamin'
Hey Girl
Go Where You Want to Go
Got a Feelin'
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from Flipper.
STAFF PICKS:
"Five o'clock World" The Vogues
Wayne's pick.
“Groovy Kind of Love” - Wayne Fontana & the MindBenders
Rob's Pick.
"Shapes of Things" - The Yardbirds
Bruce's Pick.
“19th Nervous Breakdown” - Rolling Stones
Brian's pick.
LAUGH TRACK:
Spanish Flea - H...2018-07-3030 minWhat the Riff Next Gen1991 Feb - Queen - InnuendoFEATURE: Queen - Innuendo from FEBRUARY 1991
Freddy Mercury - the iconic lead vocalist for Queen - was nearing the end of his battle with AIDS as the band was putting together their 14th album. This would be the last album of all-new material with Freddy Mercury, as he would die in November of that year.
This is a great album, and a poignant one, as Mercury's health was deteriorating. Join us as we explore this album and other great songs from February of 1991.
The Show Must Go On
Written primarily by Brian May...2018-06-1141 min