How Eagles Became Rock Icons: Producer Bill Szymczyk Tells All
Coming up next, one of the greatest producers of the 70s and '80s, Bill Szymczyk, gives us the lowdown on working with one of the greatest bands of the rock era: Eagles… He got recruited to help the band when their sound was softer and more acoustic, and they wanted to rock, so he helped take them to the next level, where they not only became legends but also one of the biggest bands ever. And this interview is a treat…He tells the stories behind helping craft some of their biggest hits, including the classic Lyin' Eyes that the band wrote after seeing a beautiful young woman with an old fat rich guy, and the great one-liner came from that. Plus, the song this band regrets putting on their album because it was written with an outgoing member of the group and his girlfriend, who happened to be a US President's Daughter. Plus, Take It to the Limit, that was sung by back up singer Randy Meisner, who had immense pressure to hit a certain high note every night after it became a hit, and one revelation you’ll never believe… The biggest-selling album ever took an afternoon to put together. It’s all next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Inside the Greatest Supergroup Ever: The Untold Story of “We Are the World”
Oh man, we got a great one for you next… Brand new interviews and insights on the biggest selling #1 hit of the 80s: We Are the World. And the group USA For Africa was only together for a couple of hours… They put the super in supergroup… The greatest supergroup ever assembled, and I got many of those legends telling the story today. A group that had so many legendary singers, some had to sit out singing lead. So many great stories here, including one about a legendary singer who was supposed to be there but was a no-show, which opened the door for another singer to step up. And then every radio station in AMERICA played the song at the very same time.. The only time that’s ever happened… That’s just the tip of the iceberg… this is one show you don’t want to miss out on. Man, oh man, buckle up for some pure, unadulterated joy and nostalgia next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Van Halen, The Beatles & More: The Most Misunderstood Songs in Rock History
You know, sometimes, songs that become classics aren’t quite what we think they are. Hidden meanings, mistaken lyrics, or misunderstood messages. All of those things. These are tracks that have fooled listeners for decades. We’re going to count down and share the crazy backstories behind the most misunderstood songs of all time… Including Van Halen's feel good party anthem Jump that we all sing, but it was actually inspired by a chilling live news broadcast about a man ready to leap off the roof of a building, then there was the obsessed fan that stalked Sarah McLachlan, sending deranged letters which she used as the basis for one of her biggest songs Possession, only to have the crazy fan sue her claiming his obsessed meanderings inspired the song, find out what happened. And finally, The Beatles wrote the most complicated nursery rhyme ever recorded, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, with a very adult theme that is so creepy it still gives us nightmares…It’s Top 6 Most Misunderstood Songs of the Rock Era is NEXT… on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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27:38
1968’s Greatest Songs: Janis, Otis, The Beatles, and a Chilling Surprise
Up next is our final countdown of our top song of each year countdown…We’ve covered every year from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and we have one left. Can you guess the final year? It was a monumental year, including Janis Joplin, a nervous legend who vomited every take she did while recording a song that out did any male rocker of the time…also the last great song, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay from Otis Redding who died in a plane crash just after releasing his signature tune, as well as a psychedelic classic Pictures of Matchstick Men that wouldn’t have happened if the lead singer liked his mother in law... even a little bit. Then there’s the famous song by The Beatles, Hey Jude, with a secret cuss word that I got in big trouble for even mentioning on my radio show, for fear of getting FINED by the Big boys. As well as the creepiest song of all time, Tiptoe Through the Tulips, sung by the weirdest pop star of all time, Tiny Tim. It’s the countdown of the Top 11 Songs of 1968…NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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35:19
FROM THE VAULT: Why Beastie Boys Hated Their Own Hit "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)
FROM THE VAULT: On this day in 2004, The Beastie Boys' album "To The 5 Boroughs" debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. To celebrate, we’ve got the story of those three mischievous New Yorkers who disavowed one of their biggest songs… Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA otherwise known as the Beastie Boys hated (You Gotta Fight) for Your Right (to Party). This breakthrough track became a legendary music video on MTV but for all the wrong reasons. A rebellious party anthem they wrote to make fun of party anthems in general but in the end, it painted the trio as immature frat boys. But the thing is, it was all a big joke… a throwaway track. Their producer however loved it and pushed for its release. After that things got out of hand real quick with the song blowing up on radio and MTV. And yeah, these guys were no angels… but when fans demanded they live up to the song’s raucous lyrics, they turned their backs on the track… and License To Ill in general. It almost broke up the band. Still, fans couldn’t get enough of it. And even today it is one of their most popular songs. It’s an all-out brawl for this band’s identity and a fight you’re not gonna want to miss… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The ultimate rock music history podcast for fans of the greatest era of music. If you’ve ever wondered about the true stories behind your favorite songs, or wanted to hear directly from the legends who made them, Professor of Rock is your new go-to podcast. Hosted by music historian and superfan Adam Reader, this show brings the golden era of music back to life with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and deep dives into the songs that shaped our lives. This podcast uncovers how timeless tracks were made, the creative breakthroughs, the near-breakups, and the powerful moments that defined music history. Each episode is a masterclass in rock culture and nostalgia—whether it's a chart-topping ‘80s anthem, a one-hit wonder with a wild backstory, or a candid conversation with the legends themselves. Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.
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