Take 5

35 years ago, we met a band called Smashing Pumpkins. Rising in the wave of American grunge, the Chicago band were led by the iconic voice of Billy Corgan and would rise and rise like all their contemporaries, over the coming years. 
If you know anything about music history, you know the story of the Pumpkins is a tumultuous one. But Billy has continued through it all. 
Back in 2012, Billy was in Australia to play Splendour in the Grass with the latest incarnation of Smashing Pumpkins. With a new album under their belt, he was in a buoyant mood and up for an epic conversation when he joined Zan to Take 5
Billy is always good chat, but if you've ever wondered about the music that made him, this conversation is a dream. So settle in, don your flanny, and discover the songs that make Billy Corgan feel good.
Billy Corgan's song choices:
Yes - And You and I
UFO - Love to Love
Neil Young - Ambulance Blues
David Bowie - Space Oddity
Lou Reed - Berlin
00:23 Introduction to Billy Corgan
01:43 Creating music during difficult times
04:25 1972 and guitar supergroup Yes
05:50 Yes - 'And You and I'
07:38 When Billy discovered music
11:43 British Hard Rock inspirations
13:08 UFO - 'Love to Love'
14:30 Moving away from mainstream needs
15:23 Neil Young - 'Ambulance Blues'
16:40 Sad music making you feel better
18:50 The definitive anthem of alienation
19:24 David Bowie - 'Space Oddity'
20:40 Technology and disconnection 
28:10 Lou Reed - 'Berlin'
29:47 Next weeks guest

Alexei Toliopoulos is a lifelong cinephile. Known for his excellent podcasts including The Last Video Store, he’s a writer, comedian, filmmaker and loves talking about the movies that made us who we are today. The way he speaks about cinema invites everyone into the conversation. But what are the songs that soundtrack his life? And why?
Dig into a joyful convo that will have you curating a playlist of songs and movies, for your weekend.
Alexei Toliopoulos' song choices:
Stewart Copeland - Don’t Box Me In 
George Dalaras - Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou
Mikis Theodorakis - Theme from Serpico 
Buena Vista Social Club - Dos Gardenias
Grace Jones  - La Vie En Rose
00:26 Alexei Toliopoulos introduction
01:38 When did Alexei fall in love with movies?
05:29 Francis Ford Coppola deep cuts
13:54 Stewart Copeland - 'Don’t Box Me In'
15:40 Coming of Age and George Dalaras 
21:40 George Dalaras - 'Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou'
24:05 Mikis and the hero of Greek music 
30:02 Mikis Theodorakis - 'Theme from Serpico'
31:15 Seeing the world through cinema 
36:41 Buena Vista Social Club - 'Dos Gardenias'
37:36 How cinema helped Alexei with communication
45:20 Grace Jones  - 'La Vie En Rose'
47:32 Show notes and next weeks guest!
Check out Alexei's podcast and live show details, via his Instagram.

Thirty years ago the world met Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Their debut album Revival introduced us to two incredible storytellers, singers and guitarists, and in the three decades since they’ve swept us away in song.
It's long been on my bucket list to have them Take 5, and finally here it is. When thinking on a theme, I landed on time. Time, and their ruminations on time, have always swirled in their songs. They love old-time music, and take their time in getting your own songs right. How they responded to the theme, is one for the ages.
Settle in for a deep, insightful, and intoxicating conversation with two of music's best.
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' song choices:
Robert Johnson - Love in Vain 
The Stanley Brothers - Rank Strangers
Townes Van Zandt - Pancho and Lefty (Live at the Old Quarter)
The Carter Family & Johnny Cash - Will the Circle Be Unbroken
John Prine - Angel From Montgomery 
00:55 Gillian Welch and David Rawlings introduction
01:52 Three decades since the release of 'Revival'
08:44 Choosing Robert Johnson
12:32 Robert Johnson - 'Love in Vain'
13:22 O Brother Where Art Thou
18:07 Working with The Stanley Brothers
17:59 The Stanley Brothers - 'Rank Strangers'
26:13 Raw versions of songs
28:10 Townes Van Zandt - 'Pancho and Lefty (Live at the Old Quarter)'
32:35 Recording things as live
34:32 The Carter Family & Johnny Cash - 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken'
40:37 Gillian and David finding their harmony
44:33 Hope for something better
48:48 John Prine - 'Angel From Montgomery'
51:33 Show notes and next weeks guest!

Are you ready for some incredible stories? Take 5 always gifts us with some cracking yarns, but this week’s episode takes the cake. In fact, I’ve had more responses to Ed Le Brocq’s Take 5 than any other, in ages.
Ed used to be Eddie Ayers, a legendary ABC Classic FM broadcaster who has shared his life of adventure with us over the past two decades. Ed is a cellist, viola, and violin player, and has gifted his talents to others; teaching school kids in Afghanistan, and playing for Uyghurs in the remote deserts of China.
We’ll get to those stories soon… but this might give you a sense of why I asked Ed to Take 5. Across four books, Ed has shared his stories of travel and self-discovery with us, and music has always been at his centre. From Joni Mitchell to shredding violas to Ry Cooder, this is an extraordinary conversation about the power of love, self-belief, adventure and of course, music. 
Ed Le Brocq's song choices:
Joni Mitchell – A Case of You
Maria Theresia von Paradis – Sicilienne
Elton John – Your Song
Paul Hindemith - Viola Sonata, Op. 25, No. 1: IV. Rasendes Zeitmass
Ry Cooder and V. M. Bhatt – Isa Lei
00:33 Ed Le Brocq introduction
01:52 Having a restless spirit
04:55 Memories of the seventies and Joni Mitchell
07:21 Joni Mitchell - 'A Case of You'
07:55 Ed's love of the Cello
14:30 Travelling the world with music
17:59 Maria Theresia von Paradis – 'Sicilienne'
18:50 Interpreting music in your way
20:20 Listening to music as a musician
28:10 Elton John - 'Your Song'
29:10 Music as the universal language
32:30 Classic music with an edge
35:42 Paul Hindemith - 'Viola Sonata, Op. 25, No. 1: IV. Rasendes Zeitmass'
36:45 Classic FM audience and shredding
42:30 Depression and "the cover of grey silt"
44:08 Ry Cooder and V. M. Bhatt – 'Isa Lei'
44:06 Show notes and next weeks guests!
Show notes:
If you need someone to talk to, call Lifeline on 13 11 14

Where do you begin with Tim Rogers? For more than 30 years he has been the soundtrack to our lives. As frontman for You Am I, an acclaimed solo artist and keen collaborator, an actor, author and once even a Double J broadcaster.
He's made a living in more ways than one, and his approach to living has shifted over the years. A long time coming, I invited Tim to Take 5 and explore this idea of a living; what makes a good life, and what it means to be alive. 
And he didn't disappoint.
Tim Rogers' song choices:
Magic Dirt – Ice
Jake Thackray – The Bull
Joni Mitchell – Just Like This Train
NRBQ – I Want You Bad 
Martha Wainwright & Linda Thompson – Or Nothing At All
00:39 Tim Rogers introduction 
01:30 Memories of watching Magic Dirt on Rage 
04:21 Magic Dirt — 'Ice'
07:45 Making a living as an artist & mowing lawns
10:31 Jake Thackray explainer
15:00 Jake Thackray— 'The Bull’
21:41 Tim’s later in life love of Joni Mitchell
26:07 Joni Mitchell — 'Just Like This Train'
32:08 Rewriting and revisiting your own songs
33:55 NRBQ explainer & Tim’s obsession
36:27 NRBQ — 'I Want You Bad'
39:05 You Am I ‘Hourly Daily’ anniversary and going pop
46:30 Linda Thompson explainer & inspiring songwriting
53:41 Martha Wainwright & Linda Thompson  — 'Or Nothing At All'
55:20 Conclusion + next week's guest!
Show Notes
To see Tim perform live, check out his tour dates here: https://tim-rogers.com.au/