Get ready to strap in and take a mind-bending trip with the irreverent Jimbo and the quick-witted Mickster on their podcast, ‘Songs You Should Know.’ This week, they’re joined by legendary guitarist ‘Mr. G’ to reflect upon Jimi Hendrix’s classic album ‘Electric Ladyland.’ Together, they’ll explore the album’s psychedelic opus and iconic riffs, including such classics as ‘Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland),’ ‘Crosstown Traffic,’ and the haunting ‘All Along the Watchtower.’ Join them for a wild ride that’s sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most mind-bending masterpieces.

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Turn up the volume and rock out with Jimbo and the Mickster on this episode of ‘Songs You Should Know.’ This week, the dynamic duo takes a trip back to the late ’70s to explore what many consider to be the last GREAT album from The Rolling Stones – ‘Some Girls.’ Released in 1978, this album features some of the Stones’ most iconic tracks, including the disco-infused ‘Miss You,’ the soulful ‘Beast of Burden,’ and the raucous ‘Shattered.’ Join Jimbo and the Mickster as they dive into the rich history and musical genius behind this late ’70s classic. It’s a journey you won’t want to miss!

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Join Jimbo and the Mickster on this episode of ‘Songs You Should Know’ as they take a journey back to the late ’80s and explore the supergroup that rocked the world – The Traveling Wilburys. Comprised of music legends George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, this band came together through happenstance to create something truly magical. It all started when Harrison needed a B-side for a single from his Cloud Nine album and the participants collaborated informally on the song ‘Handle with Care’ at Dylan’s home. From there, they adopted alter egos as the five Wilbury brothers and recorded a full album, produced by Lynne and Harrison. The result was a commercial success and garnered critical acclaim. Join us as we dive into the musical genius behind The Traveling Wilburys and explore the magic that can happen when music legends come together.

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This one is for this Mickster, in tribute to one of the first bands he ever idolized (back when he was 12 years old.) Formed in New York City in January 1973, Kiss is about to embark on their “End of the Road” final world tour. Yes, we know they’ve done a final tour before (in 2000). But this time they really mean it. They promise. Probably. “People change their minds, and in this case that goes along with being a living, thinking person” said Paul Stanley back in 2002. This episode focuses on three songs from the original incarnation of the band, who were all inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley. Join us as we take a look at Rock and Roll all Night, Detroit Rock City, and Black Diamond, in addition to numerous other sound clips and curiosities!

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The Eagles were originally Linda Ronstadt’s backup band and had their first major hit with the first song on their first album in 1972 (“Take it Easy,” from their debut album, simply titled “Eagles.”) They went on to masterfully craft songs that have sold over 100 million albums. In fact, their 1976 “Greatest Hits” volume was the first LP ever certified platinum, and has sold 29 million copies to date. The band broke up in 1980, and multiple members pursued solo careers. They reunited in 1994 and toured throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Sadly, founding member Glen Frey passed away in 2016.

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Were they Glam Rock? Heavy Metal? What were these guys? They were an indescribable mutation of both, with a rich dash of opera, theatrics, and even rockabilly thrown in. Queen had eight gold and six platinum records. Their lead guitarist has a PhD in astrophysics. They were indescribably unique. In this episode, Mick and Jimbo talk about Killer Queen, Somebody to Love, and Bohemian Rhapsody. And, of course, so much more.

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Mick and Jim have discussed the pioneers of country western, punk, hard rock, disco, and everything in between. In this episode we tackle the Carpenters, icons of soft rock during the 1970s. Karen and Richard, brother and sister, carved out their own space in music history and owned the 70s as much as any other artist or group. They sold millions of albums and produced densely layered tracks that have come in time to be regarded as pioneering. Sadly, Karen died of cardiac arrest in 1983 after a long struggle with anorexia nervosa.

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Malcolm Young of AC/DC left us on November 18, 2017, from complications of dementia. He was only 64. He anchored AC/DC’s sound from the beginning, in 1973. His younger brother Angus may have been the public face of the band, but Malcolm was a key writer and leader. He was the guy the rest of the band watched for cues on stage. In this episode, Jimbo and the Mickster pull AC/DC songs from the vault that range from the early Bonn Scott era to the later Brian Johnson classics. The band name “AC/DC” was famously inspired by an emblem from the back of a sewing machine owned by their sister, Margaret.

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Punk developed in the early to mid-1970s and was rooted in 1960s garage rock and other forms of what is now known as “proto-punk” music. Punk bands rebelled against what they saw as the “excesses” of mainstream rock at the time, seeking to get back to the raw early roots of rock and roll, sometimes to the point that actually knowing how to play one’s instrument wasn’t that important . . . as long as you had something to say. In Britain, Punk often arose as a reaction to poor economic conditions. In this episode, Jimbo and the Mickster discuss some of the contributions of the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and the Clash . . . each of which helped define the initial era of punk.

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Rod Stewart’s distinctive raspy singing voice, showmanship, and songwriting have kept him in the musical spotlight for over fifty years. Stewart came to prominence in the late 1960s and the early 1970s with The Jeff Beck Group, and then with Faces, though his music career began in 1962 when he took up busking with a harmonica. Jimbo and the Mickster just touch the tip of the iceberg in our first look at Rod’s career on this Songs You Should Know podcast. We discuss such songs as Maggie May, Tonight’s the Night, and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy, as well as a fewer lesser known details of Rod’s career.

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Tom Petty was the soundtrack to so many of our lives. His unique songwriting capabilities captivated generations of rock and roll enthusiasts. He wasn’t the prettiest. He wasn’t the smoothest. But, dang if he didn’t have what it took to be a rock and roll star. In this episode, Mick and Jimbo talk about his influence on their lives, and on the lives of so many who were touched by the music he and the Heartbreakers created.

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Glen Campbell spent over 50 years in the music business. He recorded scores of record albums and starred in a hit TV show. He also made history in 1967 by winning four Grammy awards in two different categories . . . two for “Gentle on My Mind” in the Country and Western category, and two for “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” in the Pop category. He subbed for Brian Wilson in the Beach Boys, and then almost immediately went on to become a sensation in his own right. Unfortunately, we lost Glen to complications from Alzheimers this year, at the age of 81. In this episode, Mick and Jimbo discuss such hits as “Galveston” and “Wichita Lineman” and “Rhinestone Cowboy,” among many others.

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Joe left us in December of 2014, but he left a legacy of gritty, spasmodic performances. He was one of a kind. He came to our attention with his cover of “A Little Help From My Friends” in 1968, and continued popping up in the public consciousness for years, culminating in a 1983 Grammy Award for the number one “Up Where We Belong.” He is listed at #97 on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Singers” list. In this episode, Mick and Jim talk about “A Little Help…” as well as Joe’s take on “The Letter” and “Feelin’ Alright.”

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Jimbo and the Mickster return after after a short summer hiatus to explore one country music legend with whom every rock and roll lover should be familiar: Hank Williams, Sr. In his short 29 year life (and only 6 years of major label recording,) Hank managed to pen and/or record a long list of classics, including Move it on Over, Your Cheatin’ Heart, and Hey Good Lookin’. We discuss those songs and others in this special look at “Country Songs Every Rock and Roller Should Know.” Consider this “Volume 1,” since once we delved into Hank Sr. we realized this was too big a topic for one show!

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Prince underwent the transformation from “rock star” to “media superstar” in 1984, with the release of Purple Rain, both as a movie and an album. This is the same year Michael Jackson wins a record eight Grammy Awards, and Ronald Reagan nearly runs the table in his re-election bid. Of several hit singles spawned by the Purple Rain, Mick and Jimbo discuss “Let’s Go Crazy.” We also take a look at the genesis of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” her #1 followup to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” from her debut album She’s So Unusual. Finally, we dig into some “Ratt and Roll” with Ratt’s “Round and Round” because . . . well, just because. It was the Mickster’s graduation year, and it was part of the soundtrack of his life 🙂

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By the end of 1981, the Rolling Stones were launching the era of corporate sponsored touring, with their Tattoo You album and tour, spearheaded by their last great end-of-summer single, Start Me Up. In this episode Mick and Jim discuss the influence of Start Me Up, as well as the first appearance of Rap in a #1 hit (Blondie’s Rapture), and the first song to kick off the MTV era, The Buggles’ Video Killed the Radio Star. Als in 1981, Walter Cronkite signed off as the anchor of CBS Evening News after almost 20 years of hosting, shortly after Ronald Reagan was inaugurated President of the United States and the 52 Americans in Iran were released after being held hostage for 444 days. The Space Shuttle Columbia made its first trips into space, just in time to be used in the graphics that helped launch a new concept called “Music Television.” Sit back, relax, and revisit 1981 with Jimbo and the Mickster.

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In 1978 we saw the collision of Punk, Disco, and Rock. John Travolta appeared in not one, but two iconic movies, both filled with music. This episode opens with the Rock/Disco fusion of the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You,” the segues into the Rock/Punk/Jazz fusion of the “Roxanne,” by the Police, and finishes with one of the anthems of the year, the flat out disco of “Stayin’ Alive,” by the BeeGees. It was a heck of a year for recording and composing in France and singing in falsetto.

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1975 saw the fall of Saigon, the Energy Crisis, and two assassination attempts on the President of the United States. On a more positive note, we also witnessed “The Thrilla’ in Manilla,” and the inaugural episode of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” In this episode, we take a look at three groundbreaking music releases from the same year: Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” and . . . yes . . . “Get Down Tonight” from KC & the Sunshine Band.

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Today we both mourn and celebrate the life of Chuck Berry. We are all Chuck’s children.

We also talk about 1972, and the emergence of Alice Cooper, Jackson Browne and Neil Young. “Alice” would go on to have multiple lives, Jackson would take a while to come back to the top of the charts (even while writing for and influencing many artists), and Neil would never achieve the same commercial success, even as he “steered for the ditch” and became a legend while doing so.

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1969 was an eventful year in politics and music. Richard Nixon became US President, the Beatles played their last show, and the Rolling Stones lost the legendary Brian Jones, only to find a twenty year old phenom named Mick Taylor. From the Zip to Zap to Altamont, the year saw the birth of the Woodstock generation and the loss of its innocence.

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