Professor of RockAlright, we’ve done it three times before, and every time it was a Gas. I’m talking about the greatest television themes countdown. We’ve done the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s. So you know, we gotta dial up the 90s. And this is my favorite yet… You know all these themes by heart. We’ve got the Friends Theme I'll Be There For You that was recorded over a weekend & was only 40 seconds long so a DJ looped it a few times, making it a full song, and it hit #1 on 3 charts and made them 1-hit wonder Mega millionaires. Then there’s Seinfeld's anti-theme song that was made up of a bunch of weird mouth sounds and slap bass, and the songwriter had to play a unique version for every single episode. The show was such a hit that he had to do 200 different versions of the same song. Then there was the classic Law and Order theme that came from the footsteps of 500 monks on a hardwood floor, and the rockstar Danny Elfman who’s made tens of millions for singing three notes of The Simpsons Theme, and the eerie X-Files theme that came from a frustrated composer slamming his elbow on the keyboard. These are some of the stories you'll hear next on the Professor of Rock.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. You're going to dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below right now. I know you’ll dig it. We also have a podcast you'll want to check out on Apple and Spotify.
For today’s Top 10 TV themes countdown, it’s time to hit the 90s. The '90s were the last great decade of TV theme songs before streaming and skip buttons changed the game. And back then, a theme song told you everything you needed to know about a show before it even got started. Man, what a different time that was. Alright, get ready to go into nostalgia overdrive. The countdown begins now.
Starting off the countdown, I’ve got a TV theme to show that only lasted one season. It was the best show on TV at the time, like its theme song, it was STELLAR AT #10, I’ve got Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation, the theme to the cult classic Freaks and Geeks. Like I said, the show was tragically short-lived, running from 1999 to 2000… just barely making it into the decade. This coming-of-age drama was about two siblings navigating high school in early 1980s Michigan—Lindsay with the burnout crowd and Sam with the nerds. Created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, the series authentically captured the awkward, painful, and funny truths of adolescence. Though it only lasted one season, Freaks and Geeks earned cult status and launched the careers of stars like James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel.
And it’s only right that a show about high school outcasts in the early ’80s would open with a song that flips authority the bird. For Freaks and Geeks, Paul Feig and Judd Apatow cycled through potential theme songs—including Ted Nugent’s Great White Buffalo—before landing on “Bad Reputation.” Apatow admitted he had never heard the song until their music supervisor pitched it. But once he did, he was all in, saying, “It cemented the tone of the show.” No doubt. The song’s snarling chorus—“I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation!”—was a perfect rallying cry for a series that lived and died by its outsider cred. But getting the song was no small feat. Joan Jett wasn’t just licensing it to anyone.
So producers had to go directly through her team and negotiate its usage, with Apatow reportedly sweating it until they sealed the deal.
Rock Singer MADE Tens of MILLIONS of Dollars For Singing 3 NOTES for TV SHOW! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-19 | Alright, we’ve done it three times before, and every time it was a Gas. I’m talking about the greatest television themes countdown. We’ve done the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s. So you know, we gotta dial up the 90s. And this is my favorite yet… You know all these themes by heart. We’ve got the Friends Theme I'll Be There For You that was recorded over a weekend & was only 40 seconds long so a DJ looped it a few times, making it a full song, and it hit #1 on 3 charts and made them 1-hit wonder Mega millionaires. Then there’s Seinfeld's anti-theme song that was made up of a bunch of weird mouth sounds and slap bass, and the songwriter had to play a unique version for every single episode. The show was such a hit that he had to do 200 different versions of the same song. Then there was the classic Law and Order theme that came from the footsteps of 500 monks on a hardwood floor, and the rockstar Danny Elfman who’s made tens of millions for singing three notes of The Simpsons Theme, and the eerie X-Files theme that came from a frustrated composer slamming his elbow on the keyboard. These are some of the stories you'll hear next on the Professor of Rock.
Head to acorns.com/early/por or download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. You're going to dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below right now. I know you’ll dig it. We also have a podcast you'll want to check out on Apple and Spotify.
For today’s Top 10 TV themes countdown, it’s time to hit the 90s. The '90s were the last great decade of TV theme songs before streaming and skip buttons changed the game. And back then, a theme song told you everything you needed to know about a show before it even got started. Man, what a different time that was. Alright, get ready to go into nostalgia overdrive. The countdown begins now.
Starting off the countdown, I’ve got a TV theme to show that only lasted one season. It was the best show on TV at the time, like its theme song, it was STELLAR AT #10, I’ve got Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation, the theme to the cult classic Freaks and Geeks. Like I said, the show was tragically short-lived, running from 1999 to 2000… just barely making it into the decade. This coming-of-age drama was about two siblings navigating high school in early 1980s Michigan—Lindsay with the burnout crowd and Sam with the nerds. Created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, the series authentically captured the awkward, painful, and funny truths of adolescence. Though it only lasted one season, Freaks and Geeks earned cult status and launched the careers of stars like James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel.
And it’s only right that a show about high school outcasts in the early ’80s would open with a song that flips authority the bird. For Freaks and Geeks, Paul Feig and Judd Apatow cycled through potential theme songs—including Ted Nugent’s Great White Buffalo—before landing on “Bad Reputation.” Apatow admitted he had never heard the song until their music supervisor pitched it. But once he did, he was all in, saying, “It cemented the tone of the show.” No doubt. The song’s snarling chorus—“I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation!”—was a perfect rallying cry for a series that lived and died by its outsider cred. But getting the song was no small feat. Joan Jett wasn’t just licensing it to anyone.
So producers had to go directly through her team and negotiate its usage, with Apatow reportedly sweating it until they sealed the deal.Song from SERIOUS Band was BEGGING To Be MOCKED…Parody Made Band DIE LAUGHING! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-27 | What does a comedy legend like Weird Al Yankovic do after he’s conquered the 80s with some of the funniest take downs of classic songs with food and hospitals... of course he skewers the 90s by slamming its biggest icon Kurt Cobain and Nirvana and their huge song Smells Like Teen Spirit, a song so hilarious it made the serious artist laugh at himself? NEXT on Professor of Rock. The story of Weird Al's classic Smells like Nirvana.
#classicrock #90srock #vinylstory #weirdalyankovicEPIC SCREAMER Was AFRAID His PRETTY VOICE on SONG Would TURN OFF Fans…Was a SMASH!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-26 | Coming up, it’s the story of 10 classic songs from a tsunami year in music. Tsunami as in a year where 1 song wiped out the status quo on radio and MTV… With Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, but there were plenty of other great songs from that monumental year, including one that came from a story the songwriter read in a newspaper about a drunk guy who shot up his girlfriend’s car. The #1 song came from the simple response this man gave to a judge at his sentencing, and it was so heart-wrenching it’s not only unlistenable but the singer behind it sobbed through the vocal… talking about Bonnie Raitt with I Can’t Make You Love Me. There's the hit that the frontman James Hetfield of the legendary heavy metal band Metallica decided to actually sing instead of scream, which is what he normally did. In fact, his singing was so beautiful on the record, he was afraid it would make his fans hurl. Then there was the song that came from one line from a letter that Bono of U2 sent to the Dalia lama when he rejected an offer to play at his festival. And finally, a song so strange its singer sang it many different ways…with a mouthful of marbles, burping it, and also singing it underwater. Weird Al’s parody of Nirvana plus Ozzy Osbourne’s most poignant song... It’s a stellar countdown with iconic guests next on Professor of Rock.
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it was a year marked by historical volcanoes… Clinton was the President, Hurricane Andrew raged and the year of the LA Riots. in music it was A year of musical reinventions, the rise of grunge, that breathed life into rock and roll … Today we count down the best hit songs of 1992 Before we begin our countdown, I want to acknowledge three songs that had a big resurgence in ’92.
Beginning with Motley Crue’s remix of “Home Sweet Home” titled “Home Sweet Home ’91” that they included in their Decade of Decadence album. In its original release in ’85, it was largely unnoticed, but the remixed version brought the song its much deserved attention. The music video for the song was one of the most popular clips on MTV in ’92: which Followed the 1985 video that ruled MTV for so song MTV made a new rule called the CRUERULE meaning that 30 days after a video premiere, the song would be pushed out of rotation to give other bands a chance.
The 2nd coming of “Layla” is another notable reworking that hit in 92. “Layla” first came out in ’71 with Eric Clapton’s band Derek and the Dominos, but in ’92, Eric revisited his epic song when he was planning his set for MTV Unplugged. The man they call ‘Slowhand’ viewed it as a fresh opportunity to reinterpret and explore new musical avenues. Rather than sticking to the original intensity and blues-rock feel, Clapton experimented with the song’s arrangement, adjusting the tempo and infusing it with a jazzy vibe. It was a complete overhaul. The ’92 interpretation didn’t have the slide guitar parts, famously played by the late Duane Allman, instead, on the new “Layla,” Clapton was accompanied by Andy Fairweather Low on acoustic rhythm guitar, The re-imagining gave “Layla” a sophisticated take on a beloved masterpiece. ’92 also saw the renaissance of another classic, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The groundbreaking track was discovered by a new generation of fans when it was featured in a memorable scene in Wayne’s World.Turned His CRUSH on STEVIE NICKS Into Song..Became a SMASH & He Ended Up With HER!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-25 | Coming up, I had a blast with my guest today, Walter Egan… a man who many call a one-hit wonder, but that’s too easy... Sure, he created a huge hit in the late 70s, Magnet and Steel, that became a pop culture fixture with 2 legends who sang background vocals on this classic hit from a band that was rock’s big soap opera of the time. One of these backing vocalists, Lindsey Buckingham, is one of the great guitarists of his time and helped produce the song. And the other one, Stevie Nicks, was so enchanting that Walter Egan fell in love with her, and that was a good thing because it’s what inspired today’s classic song… That and a license plate he happened to see on his way home from the studio at 3 in the morning. A custom license plate inspired him to run into his house and finish Magnet and Steel in minutes… So the question is, did he get the girl? Find out next on the Professor of Rock.
#classicrock #70srock #vinylstory #onehitwonderI Thought Interview Would GET POLITICAL-My Focus Was Music-Heres What Happened...-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-25 | Coming up next, I have to admit, I was pretty intimidated to interview today’s guest, John McCrea of Cake. This witty singer is wicked smart. Cake's song The Distance was an instant favorite with an opening line that grabs you by the ears and never lets go, and also contains a word that has never been used like this in a rock song. I think it’s got to be the best opening line of the last 30 years easy… It’s a song that was extremely peculiar, and I mean that as a compliment, because it’s truly the coolest hit of its time. I’ve always wondered what the story behind it was, and I wasn’t disappointed when John used a hilarious analogy to explain it. This is one you gotta see, next on Professor of Rock.
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Hey Music Junkies, Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember waiting in line around the block for tickets to the great blockbuster movies of the 70s and 80s whether Star Wars, Indiana Jones or Back to the Future You’ll dig this channel of daily nostalgia Make sure to subscribe below right now and click the bell so that you always know when our new interviews drop click the bell. Also, check out our exclusive content on Patreon.
I’m excited to bring you another episode from our series Revelations, where featured artists go deep on their greatest songs and albums with fascinating insight you won’t find anywhere else. Today’s episode is pretty cool. Ya know, to me, mainstream music started to go downhill in the 90s. It pretty much went off a cliff after 1995. Well, just when I thought there was no hope, this band came out of nowhere in 1996… They weren’t grunge, they weren’t ‘pop, they really weren’t even alternative, though that’s where the tastemakers tried to categorize them. They stepped into a world full of post-grunge as Kurt Cobain had already passed away, and after a summer dominated by the Macarena and Mariah Cary the band Cake was a welcome arrival with their catchy and cool ditty The Distance.
It grabbed you from the opening line and seduced you with Greg Brown’s crackling guitar and John McRea’s speak-sing one-liners…It was glorious. The Distance was unlike anything on the radio, and it has become a classic since. It was a hit across the globe, hitting #22 in the UK, #15 IN BELGIUM, #20 in Scotland, and #5 on the candid rock charts. Here in the US, it hit several charts. #38 on the rock charts, #4 on the Alternative charts, and #35 on the US Radio charts. Again, you couldn’t really categorize or label these guys. They did what they wanted…And they were beloved by all types, which is why their debut album Fashion Nugget went 2 x Platinum and was a hit clear into 97…and their follow-up was a hit as well, their cover of Gloria Gaynor’s hit I Will Survive. Well, I’m excited to share an interview I did with one of the most interesting frontmen in music, Mr. John McCrea of the band Cake, about this classic song and album. I was a little intimidated, I must admit… He’s a very smart guy. Well, let’s get into it.
Man, I gotta go listen to the distance again. It’s so good. This song will be a hit with every generation… My test is this. …I just let this song play while I was working in my office the other day, and within about 60 seconds, my son and his friends came in and said Who sings this? It’s a pretty cool song. That’s how The Distance is. It just hooks ya.
Leave us a comment about Cake and this cool classic. What do you remember about this song and album, and the end of 1996 going into 1997? To get more of this interview and many others, click on our Patreon link below.ICON Agreed To Famous SONG PARODY BUT WAS LIVID When It OVERSHADOWED HIS #1 HIT! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-24 | What does a comedy legend do after he’s conquered the 80s with some of the funniest take downs of classic songs with food and hospitals, and then skewered the 90s by slamming its biggest icon with a song so hilarious it made the serious artist laugh at himself? Well, he only got better. Today, we have more from the prince of parody, the sultan of satire, and the master of mockery, Weird Al Yankovic... including the time his parody White and Nerdy actually passed up the song he made fun of in the charts and online… It helped the artist behind it win a Grammy. Then there was the #1 hit Gangsta's Paradise that Coolio gave permission to be mocked but then after the parody Amish Paradise was a hit, he FLIPPED OUT & started a media firestorm. And finally, The Saga Begins, the song that spoofed one of the most respected rock songs ever, American Pie by Don McLean… It was so funny, Don said the parody had bettered his classic… WHAT? We’re covering some comedy gold today. So grab your accordion and throw on a loud Hawaiian shirt. It’s about to get real. We’re counting down Weird Al’s greatest parodies of the last 30 years NEXT on Professor of Rock.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. if you ever created your own Weird Al style parody back in the day , you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia subscribe below right now. I promise that you are going to love this channel. Also, check out our Podcast on Apple and Spotify. Well I can’t lie, I absolutely love Weird Al Yankovic. So it’s no surprise that we’ve covered a lot of Weird Al on this channel through the years. We’ve hit the 80s hard with the stories behind Eat It, Fat, and Like a Surgeon. We’ve also done episodes on the artists who rejected Weird Al’s parody proposals. We’ve jumped into the 90s with the story of Smells Like Nirvana. And last year, I even had the privilege of sitting down with Al to dive into the first leg of his career.
It’s one of my favorite interviews of all time. Not only is the man a legend, but he’s a class act, a genuinely kind human being. At the time he was on a really tight schedule, but was gracious enough to talk with me for over an hour in person.. It was so much fun.
But here’s the thing, Al has had such a prolific career that even with an hour we barely scratched the surface. By the time we were done we had barely gotten out of the 80s… concluding with his Teen Spirit parody “Smell’s like Nirvana.” Well, we’re supposed to get together again for Round 2. But in the meantime, I didn’t want to leave you guys hanging. So for today’s episode I’m bringing you five of Weird Al biggest parodies from the last 35 years. There’s so many great ones in between our top 5 I’m gonna sneak in some honorable mentions as well.
Which is where we start: Our First Honorable mention comes from the 90s and Al’s Permanent Record compilation. It’s the Crash Test Dummies parody “Headline News.” Al wrote "Headline News" especially for his Permanent Record compilation. The original song is the provocative 1994 hit "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm.” Here Al breathes new life into some of the most over-exposed news stories of the day: including the Tonya Harding / Nancy Kerrigan Scandal and the “detachable King Missile-like” tale of Lorena Bobbit. The other memorable part of the song is how well Al mimics lead singer Brad Roberts’ vocals, giving his the bottom end of his vocal chords an impressive workout. Definitely check this one out if you haven’t heard it.
To kick things off at #5, we got to this little ditty: 1996’s Bad Hair Day.OZZY Had his BIGGEST HIT By Toning Down the Metal & CONFESSING a REAL LIFE HELL! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-23 | Lita Ford shares the story behind her duet with Ozzy Osbourne "Close My Eyes Forever" . Where Ozzy toned down his normal metal vibe and confessed a true vulnerability when the lyrics portrayed that his marriage was in huge trouble but he and Sharon worked it out. But here Lita gives us a look into Ozzy's biggest hit and why he was so great.
#classicrock #shorts #80smusic #ozzyosbourneI PISSED OFF the WRONG People Covering This Song…3 CLAIMS and The FIGHT Goes On! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-23 | Today, we have one of those rare classic songs, Purple Haze, that has a multitude of stories and legends behind it. First of all, it’s the mother of all misheard lyrics… One that Jimi Hendrix himself started doing in his live shows as a joke. Then there was the first draft of this thing, which was an epic 1000 words that Jimi pared down for radio… then Hendrix risked being electrocuted to create it, and then there was the origin of the song… Some say Purple Haze came from a lucid dream. Others say it was from a waitress stalker who kidnapped a customer. We’re not sure because Jimi Hendrix passed away before we got the exact truth. And then to top it all off, there was the sensitive icon behind it. Jimi hated his own voice, especially on this song, but he was such a revelation that the Stones and the Beatles were at his first gig… Let’s get into a true classic next on Professor of Rock.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. if you remember the awkward days of summer camp in all it’s gloryYou’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia.. Make sure to subscribe below right now. I know you’ll dig this channel. Also check us out on Patreon for full interviews and other great content. That helps us keep it a daily channel.
Today, we have a very interesting story. It’s pretty hard to believe but completely true. So here goes: Although Jimi Hendrix was only 27 years old when he died on September 18th, 1970, there are heaps of debunked urban myths about the legend that won’t go away. For example, given the nature of his death, there is the myth that he was an interminable junkie who was always high on some kind of paraphernalia. The truth is... that near the time of his death, he had actually curbed his drug use to make sure that he was not controlled by a drug dependency.
Another drug-related myth about Hendrix was that he used to rub acid into the fabric of his headband and cut his forehead so the LSD would flow into his bloodstream when he wore the headband.
There was no evidence of that ever happening. On the lighthearted side, for a long time, it was believed that Hendrix was responsible for the proliferation of parakeets in the UK, when he released his two pet Parakeets, named Adam & Eve, in 1968, as a symbol of peace.
That, too, was proven to be fiction. There are thousands of fans that maintain that his highly publicized death was not an accident, but was actually a homicide. Yes, Jimi Hendrix remains a fascinating, somewhat mystical, rock icon. Even the origin & meaning of his songs are the source of wild speculation.
On this episode, we explore the provenance of one of Jimi’s most famous tracks…” Purple Haze.” A strange but true story for a mystical song.
Amidst many different accounts & theories about the inspiration behind “Purple Haze,” the genesis with the most credibility comes from Hendrix himself. When Jimi was asked how he came up with the lyrics for “Purple Haze, he responded that “imagination” was the key to his expression….the rest was "painted with a little science fiction.” He began writing “Purple Haze" the day after Christmas, back in 1966.
Jimi revealed that “Purple Haze” came to him in a technicolor, sci-fi dream, where he was walking underneath the sea, and suddenly engulfed in a thick haze of “purple smoke,” that obscured his vision and caused him to lose his way."
Hendrix stated that he fell asleep while reading from Night of Light, a science fiction novel, and began dreaming about the “Purple Haze.” He believed his mind was already in a 'supernatural state' when he fell asleep.Turned a CRUSH on STEVIE NICKS into THE 1-Hit Wonder of 1978 & ENDED UP With Her! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-22 | Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. 866-890-4844 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/professorofrock. NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org
Coming up, I had a blast with my guest today, Walter Egan… a man who many call a one-hit wonder, but that’s too easy... Sure, he created a huge hit in the late 70s, Magnet and Steel, that became a pop culture fixture with 2 legends who sang background vocals on this classic hit from a band that was rock’s big soap opera of the time. One of these backing vocalists, Lindsey Buckingham, is one of the great guitarists of his time and helped produce the song. And the other one, Stevie Nicks, was so enchanting that Walter Egan fell in love with her, and that was a good thing because it’s what inspired today’s classic song… That and a license plate he happened to see on his way home from the studio at 3 in the morning. A custom license plate inspired him to run into his house and finish Magnet and Steel in minutes… So the question is, did he get the girl? Find out next on the Professor of Rock.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember these toys, you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to Subscribe below right now to be a part of our daily celebration of the rock era. Also, check out our podcast
Today we have a hybrid show. Revelations where featured artists reveal rare stories about their greatest songs and bottled lightning about a song that ruled the roost for a time… Many call them one-hit wonders; we celebrate them as lightning in a bottle. Today, I have a man who rocked the late 70s with a classic song that has popped up in many iconic movies and shows, including Boogie Nights. And there’s a reason because it elicits a feeling of pure nostalgia, and it came from a license plate, and this artist’s crush on Stevie Nicks.
I’m talking about the 1978 soft rock lightning in a bottle smash Magnet and Steel by Walter Egan. Walter is hilarious, and I had a blast interviewing him…His song had backing vocals by Fleetwood Mac icons Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, with Lindsay producing… He tells a great story about his crush on Stevie and what happened after he showed her the song… Did he get the girl… We also have an interesting conversation about the term yacht rock..IT’s one you won’t want to miss. Here’s the interview.
e.It May Be the GREATEST STADIUM ANTHEM EVER & its Been ERASED From Our CULTURE! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-21 | So this was probably the most difficult episode I’ve ever made. But it’s one that I hope will provoke a real discussion… So one of the main reasons rock ’n’ roll hit so hard when it exploded in the ’50s was because… it wasn’t just music—it was rebellion. It shook off the stiff, clean-cut norm of the time and brought in something wild, loud, and full of swagger. The artists who lit the spark weren’t just entertainers—they were symbols of freedom, independence, and boldness. And that was magnetic, especially to a younger generation hungry for something that inspired them. The biggest stars didn’t just push boundaries—they dared people to react. Elvis Presley, with his swiveling hips and sneer, wasn’t just performing—he was shaking up an entire culture. And later, bands like The Beatles stirred controversy at nearly every turn, whether it was their long hair, their thought-provoking lyrics, or just the idea that they were bigger than pop music itself. Make no mistake about it, rock ’n’ roll was never meant to play it safe. That’s exactly WHY it mattered: Rock artists have always walked a fine line between rebellion and chaos, brilliance and self-destruction. It’s not just their music that had an edge—it was the way they lived: loud, unapologetic, and often dangerously close to the line society draws. But some crossed that line completely….
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For a few artists, the very traits that made them iconic also led them into controversy so deep, it overshadowed their talent. Some found themselves tangled in criminal allegations—others in full-blown legal battles. And whether or not they were ever found guilty in a court of law, the court of public opinion often delivered the harsher verdict. Doubt settled in. Reputations cracked. And in some cases, the music—once celebrated—was silenced, or as it is commonly referred to today, cancelled. In this episode of Professor of Rock, we dive into the stories of five artists whose legacies were stained by scandal. Artists who went from beloved to blacklisted. Including the song Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter, which used to be played as Bohemian Rhapsody or Don’t Stop Believing, but because of its creator’s actions, is gone forever. These artists went from chart-toppers to cautionary tales, plus Jerry Lee Lewis' show was on top of the world till he married his cousin.
Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you ever played mailbox baseball, you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Subscribe below right now. I promise that you are going to love this channel. Also, check out our Podcast on Apple and Spotify.
Alright, let’s get into today’s episode. And this will be tricky to talk about on this particular platform due to said platform punishing creators for saying a certain word, even though the way I am using it today is in a documentary news fashion, but if you’ll bear with me, I think we can make our way through these stories. First, we get into a legend who at one time was the biggest artist ever, and then he was a pariah… One of the most celebrated, yet controversial artists of the Rock Era is Michael Jackson, hailed as ‘the king of pop.’
After the release of the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which featured detailed allegations of major abuse against Michael Jackson, many radio stations around the world reacted swiftly, pulling his music from their playlists almost overnight. It was a stark reminder of how public perception can shift in an instant, even for one of the most iconic figures in pop history.
But Michael was no stranger to controversy, even before those allegations surfaced.Van HALEN Found WEIRD ITEM at a JUNKYARD & USED it to MAKE This BADASS 70s HIT! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-19 | Micheal Anthony the former bassist for Van Halen tells the story of coming up with the iconic opening of their 70s classic Running with the Devil. Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and Michael found a bunch of old Car horns at a junkyard to get the iconic opening sound.
#classicrock #shorts #vanhalen #70srockEDDIE VAN HALEN Wrote This Song as a JOKE...Became His HEAVIEST RIFF of the 70s! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-19 | Michael Anthony is arguably the greatest backing vocalist and bassist in hard rock history. He was the standard in the 70s and 80s in a band that lit the world on fire: Van Halen. This band was so great, legendary bands were scared of them. Especially when Van Halen were rookies and opened for them on tour.Michael Anthony tells the story of Van Halen's magnificent debut album that changed rock forever, and the story of Eddie Van Halen creating a simple 2 chord song to poke fun at Punk rock and it became the Heaviest Riff of the 70s! The story of the Van Halen Classic Aint Talkin' Bout Love!.
#classicrock #shorts #vanhalen #70smusic60s Classic Has REPUTATION of BEING The MOST IMMORAL HIT EVER—But Its FAKE NEWS!—Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-19 | Coming up—we're powering up the time machine to go back to a year of classic songs that will hit you with a powerful dose of nostalgia, including Roy Orbison, who turned the voices in his head into one of his most haunting masterpieces, In Dreams. A tale of forbidden love, as June Carter falls for Johnny Cash and sparks conflict behind the music. Plus, the story of a mythical dragon named Puff that had everyone convinced was truly sinister, and the song Walk Like a Man that was recorded during a fire burning in the studio. And what happened when the Kingsmen, a scrappy band with no money, no fame, and no idea, recorded one of the most controversial—and iconic—songs of the Rock Era: Louie Louie… a song that has been under investigation by the government for decades…The countdown of the Top 10 Songs of ’a pivotal year is NEXT on Professor of Rock.
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Today, we fire up the time machine and head to a year of innocence and controversy. The year that we lost our beloved President and the year the Brits started invading the American charts…It’s 1963. Kicking off the countdown of the Top 10 Songs of ’63, it’s an artist who often heard music in his sleep, including his legendary hit “In Dreams,” coming in at #10:
Roy Orbison’s aching ballad has such a surreal vibe to it, it almost sounds like it is drifting in from an imaginary world, and I guess it kinda did. One night in late ’62, Roy awoke in the middle of the night with a full melody and story in his head. Most songwriters might scramble for a tape recorder or scribble down a few lines, but Roy didn’t need to. He got up, sat down with his nearby guitar, and in just 10 minutes, the entire song was finished. Music, lyrics, arrangement- all from a dream! That strange, cascading melody, the build-up to the soaring high notes, and the emotional gut punch of a man who finds love in his dreams, only to lose it when he wakes.
It was the purest expression of longing, and Roy delivered it with such operatic drama that it broke all the rules of pop structure. There was no conventional chorus… No repeated verse. Just a linear story, straight from the subconscious. Roy came up with the song almost entirely in that dream, even motivating a radio DJ to pre-announce it as a “new song by Elvis Presley.” In Roy’s dream, he saw a “candy colored clown,” which he cleverly tied into the folklore of the “sandman.” The character that tiptoes into your room at night, sprinkling stardust and whispering that “everything is going to be alright.”
The narrator falls asleep in a blissful dream state where he is with his lover, but when he wakes up, his lover…is gone. When Roy Orbison recorded “In Dreams”, backed by lush strings and The Candy Men, his vocal range pushed from a deep baritone up to a near falsetto—a stunning display that few singers could match. The song became a Top 10 hit, but it didn’t fully reveal its strange power until decades later. In 1986, director David Lynch resurrected “In Dreams” for a key scene in his cult classic Blue Velvet, where Dean Stockwell lip-syncs it in a nightmarish moment that reintroduced the song to a new generation. Roy wasn’t thrilled about how the song was used—but even he couldn’t deny that the dream had returned, hauntingly vivid as ever.The Power of This COMMUNITY IS Mind-Blowing….That’s WHY We WONT Back Down! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-18 | It’s been such a crazy week as I’ve been fighting this music rights scam. At one point, I was about ready to give up hope. But I can’t believe how much good has come out of all of this. Right up front, I've got to say THANK YOU to this amazing community. You have flooded the comment section with love and support. And I’ve felt it. THANK YOU! I also want to thank Rick Beato, Justin Hawkins, and Rhett Schull for the videos they posted in response to what has been going on. I’m grateful not only for their kindness and encouragement but also for their thoughtful attention to this matter. Please take some time to watch Rick’s, Justin’s, and Rhett’s videos about this ongoing music rights scam. And be sure to support their channels as well. We’re all in this together. See below...
Also, if this content matters to you, make your voice heard! Tell these labels that you support YouTube creators. And that they have to stop threatening creators with fraudulent copyright claims, or they will lose your support. Start with the big three: Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music. You can email, call, or message them on social media. Thank you again!
Welcome to the revolution… Ha ha… I just wanted to quickly recount the last few days of a crazy week here in YouTube land. So on Monday, I put up a video of the Top 10 albums of 1985, and I got three copyright claims since I covered multiple songs in the video. This has followed countless problems I’ve had over the last month, where it felt like open season from labels and 3rd party entities on my channel. And so I changed my title and let everyone know that it would be my last video on Album Top 10s if I couldn’t get this sorted. Then, Tuesday morning, I put out my interview with Michael Anthony (formerly of Van Halen), and it got BLOCKED by a label for using 5 seconds of an AC/DC song. So I did a live stream later that day that for some reason took 3 or 4 tries to get to go live due to errors. It was hard not to feel like my channel was under siege. I finally got it to work, and I explained what’s been happening. I was astounded at the support from all of you. In the first hour alone, I had 6000 comments from you in the community and 20,000 likes.
There were so many positive messages… ”keep fighting” and “you got this,” and you told me how much you enjoy the content… many of you shared possible solutions and advice. I had quite a few comments of people saying I should talk to other YouTubers like Rick Beato who’s been through this and more. And I was just humbled… I still am. I am very grateful, as it gave me a second wind and a strong resolve to fight on no matter what! So from my heart… THANK YOU! Truly, you guys… are the best. Then later that night, I saw a bunch of notifications on my Instagram. And one was from guess who… Rick Beato. I was smiling from ear to ear… I have a great respect for Rick and his content. To me, his level of excellence is virtually unparalleled in his field, which is why he has such a huge following. He said Adam, I heard about your struggles and I think I can help you. So we texted back and forth and set up a time to talk… We spoke the next day for about 45 minutes, and he told me what he’s faced. He’s fought thousands of claims and won all of them.
In person, he’s exactly the way he is on his channel: passionate, gracious, and an expert. And I was truly grateful for that expertise. We had some laughs about life on YouTube and what we’re trying to do in honoring music. And I may have mentioned that we should do a collaboration at some point… Since I’ve received thousands of requests for it from you all. So we’ll see… but the important thing is that Rick couldn’t have been nicer. He’s one of the good guys, and his support and advice, along with your support as a community, have made me feel 20 feet tall.
Rick told me it’s Fair Use, and I know that. We actually worked with Michael Donaldson for years before I had a YouTube channel.ALRIGHT...Im TESTING Out of This Top 10 To See If It STAYS UP...FINGERS CROSSED! Professor of RocKProfessor of Rock2025-07-17 | Alright, for this episode, we’re flipping the record over to uncover some of the greatest surprise hits of the rock era… That’s right, it’s the revenge of the B-sides. You know, the red-headed stepchildren of rock… songs that were’t good enough to make it onto an album…only good enough to back a hit single. Well, as you’ll see, today’s entries can more than hold their own. In fact, we’ve got a story about Queen's drummer Roger Taylor, who believed in his song so much he locked himself in a cupboard and refused to come out until the band agreed to pair it with Bohemian Rhapsody. And it paid off royally. Then there’s the break-up ballad Silver Springs that Stevie Nicks wrote for her band’s blockbuster album… but her bandmates axed it-2 decades later, it climbed the charts and became on of their most beloved tracks. Then there’s an obscure Pearl Jam B-side Yellow Ledbetter with lyrics that changed every time it was sung. Fans loved it so much, they campaigned to get it airplay, and in the process made it one of its band’s most iconic songs. Next, it’s the Top 10 B-sides that defied the doubters and made it big. NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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It’s time to count down the Greatest B-Sides in Rock—those overlooked flip-sides that started in the shadows but found their way into the spotlight. Some were written off by record execs, others by the bands themselves. But these tracks outlasted the naysayers to become fan obsessions, live staples, and even chart toppers. Let’s get into it. So kicking things off at #10, we’re basically starting with a hostage negotiation scenario. The song? It’s Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody B-Side I’m in Love With My Car.
Here’s the story. “I’m in Love with My Car” was written by drummer Roger Taylor as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to roadsters and the gear-head lifestyle… supposedly inspired by Queen roadie Johnathan Harris and his Triumph TR4. Taylor played most of the instruments on the track himself and even sang lead vocals. The song revs up with engine sounds and explodes into a theatrical glam-rock anthem that could easily be a parody… if it weren’t delivered with such sincerity. Said Roger, “It was supposed to be a joke. But it wasn’t really—I really do love cars.” And Roger wanted to make it the B-side of their next single, which just so happened to be Bohemian Rhapsody.
But not everyone in Queen was on the same page. Compared to Freddie’s magnum opus, I’m In Love With My Car felt like a novelty track. Still, Taylor believed in the song so much that he locked himself in a cupboard at the studio… and refused to come out until the band agreed to release it as the B-side. in the end Taylor’s stubbornness paid off… big time. His car-obsessed rocker became the official flip side to one of the biggest hits in rock history. And because Queen split royalties evenly between A-sides and B-sides, Taylor collected a massive chunk of change, riding the coattails of Bohemian Rhapsody’s success.
The royalty split meant he earned just as much as Freddie did for the single. Understandably, that didn’t sit well with Mercury. The tension simmered for years, and “I’m in Love with My Car” became emblematic of the band’s internal rivalries. Freddie reportedly joked about it bitterly, and the incident was even dramatized in the 2018 Bohemian Rhapsody biopic.GUITARIST Wrote 2 CHORD Song to MOCK PUNK ROCK...Became an All-Time Classic! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-16 | Ya know, every now and again I do an interview and I have a pinch-me moment. All of a sudden, I have the realization that I’m talking to True Rock Royalty… somebody who laid the foundation and kicked open the door everyone is walking through right now. And today I’m excited to share one of those types of interviews. Michael Anthony is arguably the greatest backing vocalist and bassist in hard rock history. He was the standard in the 70s and 80s in a band that lit the world on fire: Van Halen. This band was so great, legendary bands were scared of them. Especially when Van Halen were rookies and opened for them on tour. Sometimes these iconic bands tried to sabotage them by messing with their equipment or lighting, but it didn’t matter; Van Halen was so electrifying that nothing could stop them. Michael Anthony tells the story of Van Halen's magnificent debut album that changed rock forever, and he has some hilarious stories about the charismatic ironman and atomic guitar hero Eddie Van Halen that you won’t believe… It’s next on Professor of Rock.
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It’s time for another episode of our series Revelations, where featured artists reveal rare stories about their greatest songs. And if you haven’t guessed by now, today we have a founding member of my favorite rock band of all time… Van Halen. bassist and backing vocalist extraordinaire Michael Anthony. You gotta see this interview. Michael tells us the funny story of meeting Eddie and Dave for the first time, and they borrowed his PA for a gig, also how dozens of guitarists would go under cover to try to steal Eddie’s Genius… It got so bad they were sneaking around their rehearsal space, and Eddie had to turn his back to the audience to keep his secrets, and how the rookie band got sabotaged by other bands when they were coming up because they were afraid of this band’s ferocity and the story behind their perfect 1978 debut including, Running With the Devil, Aint talking Bout Love, Jamie’s Crying and Eruption. This one’s a can’t-miss next on Professor of Rock.
That was just part one… I actually got a chance to go in-depth on every Diamond Dave album with Michael Anthony, so stay tuned for future installments. Thanks for watching. Leave us a comment about Michael Anthony, and let’s have a great discussion. If you like our videos, we invite you to subscribe below to be a part of our community and to get even more content and insider access. Join us on Patreon. Help us keep the music alive until next time.GOING to KEEP FIGHTING But What Should I DO? | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-16 | I started this channel our of a love for the greatest rock songs and artists of the 60s, 70s , 80s and 80s. To tell the stories of the greatest artists like The Beatles, Van Halen, Boston, the Cars, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis, Phil Colilns, Kate bush etc. It's a bond I always shared with my dad and I grew up loving Casey Kasem, and wanted to honor that through this original content. But it's becoming almost impossible to create top 10 countdowns because of music rights. I am doing this video to discuss the future of my channel and possible solutions.Huey Lewis REACTS to His Classic Song in FAMOUS SERIAL KILLER FILM! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-14 | Coming up next, a sit down with one of my favorite artists ever Huey Lewis... about one of the best songs of the mid-80s: Hip to Be Square. I swear I've never met anyone who doesn’t love this guy…Turns out Huey was writing a fun little song about leaving rebellion behind to conform to a more traditional lifestyle… Not selling out but buying in. Then years later this happy-go-lucky 80s classic was stolen by a notorious serial killer! The story of Huey Lewis and the News hit Hip to be Square
#classicrock #shorts #80smusic #hueylewisI Loved Doing This VIDEO but Due to MUSIC RIGHTS It WILL Be My LAST ONE...Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-14 | Coming up, we're taking the time machine to the 80s and going on a shopping spree at the record store. We're gonna track down the ten best albums of 1985 including the best song and best hidden gem from each of these masterpieces and along the way we get the Tear for Fears #1 hit Everybody Wants to Rule the World that has an inside joke that almost nobody got that references another song from the same album…later that song they joked about went to #1 and settled a stupid argument with a label exec. Then there’s the conversation guitarist Mark Knopfler heard at a store…The banter was so entertaining he wrote it down word for word, and it became the #1 hit Money For Nothing, but because he used a slur that was said in the real dialogue, it’s still censored on radio. Plus, the record by Kate Bush that took 37 years to hit #1, a song where famous outcast Morrissey got even with all of his bullies with a guitar riff that most shredders could never dream of. And the Heart song These Dreams that was rejected by multiple female icons, including Stevie Nicks, but then Nancy Wilson took up the challenge and made it Heart's first #1 hit! It's all next on Professor of Rock.
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We’re gonna fire up the time machine and head back to the 80s to celebrate a great year in music. Reagan was our president, it was a turning point in the Cold War between the superpowers of the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., a worldwide effort to feed the world through a musical event called Live Aid, and some of the greatest albums of the Rock Era. The year was 1985. So as we got through these iconic albums, I’m going to give you the big hit from each one, my pick for the best song, and the best hidden gem…
Today, as we count down the 10 best albums of that year, we begin with R.E.M.’s Fables of the Reconstruction at #10: Fables of the Reconstruction has the deep substance that attracted me to R.E.M. in the first place, but that album was a little more focused on social roots and honest introspection than the previous R.E.M. material. The songwriting on Fables is particularly poetic and evocative. Michael Stipe’s lyrics delve into themes of Southern identity, history, and spirituality, often using imagery centered in the American South.
For me, the best song on Fables is the 2nd single from the record, “Driver 8.” Michael Stipe has mentioned that he was fascinated by the idea of trains as symbols of movement, connection, and sometimes escape. He was specifically singing about the Southern Crescent passenger train operated by the Southern Railroad. I definitely feel that freedom and sense of adventure when I listen to “Driver 8:” The Hidden Gem off Fables of the Reconstruction is "Life and How to Live It." That song is based on the true story of Brev Mekis, a schizophrenic man from Athens who went to extraordinary lengths to split his world into two separate realities.
He literally divided his home into two sides, each filled with its own distinct furniture, books, clothing, and even pets, creating a life where two completely different worlds existed side by side. The song captures the surreal, fragmented experience of mental illness, exploring themes of perception, reality, and the human desire for order amidst chaos. It’s a haunting reflection on the complexity of the mind and the lengths we go to find stability when everything feels… fractured.In MIDDLE of RECORDING-Rock ICON Just STARTED WHISTLING…It Was PURE MAGIC…Hit #1! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-12 | Coming up, it was a year of changes in radio and pop culture. A year that many tout as one of the greatest in music history, and rock made a big comeback, with several hard rock legends having their best years ever. Including 2 tracks influenced by the fall of oppressive regimes: Wind of Change by The Scorpions and Right Here Right Now by Jesus Jones. Plus, a groundbreaking hit by PM Dawn that kicked off the sampling revolution and actually might be better than the classic it sampled. Plus Moneytalks from AC/DC, who stopped performing it after an ‘epic fail’ in concert and has now gone 35 years without playing it. And Silent Lucidity, a song that everyone thought was Pink Floyd’s best song in years. Only it wasn’t Pink Floyd. In fact, people even called Radio Stations and requested it as the new Pink Floyd, find out what song, and then there was Enter Sandman, the heaviest rock song to hit the charts, where the band recruited their producer's kid to repeat the Lord’s Prayer. It’s all next on POR.
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Back in 1991, the big news stories were all about world-changing events. The Cold War was finally winding down, and the Soviet Union was breaking apart. At the same time, the Persian Gulf War—also known as Operation Desert Storm—came to a close, marking a huge moment in global history. It was a year of major shifts on the world stage, and a year of great music:
We’re opening our countdown of the Top 12 Songs of 1991 with “Walking In Memphis” by Marc Cohn at #12: Every now and then, an artist tells a story that is so unique, poignant, and heartfelt that the story enhances the song to an unparalleled level. It seems to deepen with every listen. This is the case with Marc Cohn’s hit Walking in Memphis... Most people thought this massive hit was a made-up homage to an artist, poetic license on steroids, but every part of this song actually happened. Marc Cohn was a struggling singer-songwriter trying to find that one hit that would get him his first big break, and he found it in one weekend. Here’s what he told me.
Marc won the Grammy for ‘Best New Artist’ and the single placed at #3 in Canada, #7 in Ireland, and on the U.S. Album Rock chart. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on Adult Contemporary.
Landing at #11 on our countdown of the Top 12 Songs of ’91, it’s Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with “Learning to Fly”: “Learning to Fly” was co-produced by Jeff Lynne, the legendary producer and ELO frontman. Jeff’s signature lush production style helped give "Learning to Fly" its soaring, expansive sound. It was originally conceived as part of a concept album that never happened, but it became a standalone hit after Tom & the Heartbreakers decided to release it as a single from the album Into the Great Wide Open:
Tom recalled that during the recording sessions, there was a lot of experimentation with the arrangement, including some improvisation on the guitar parts. That’s how the iconic opening riff was born—a simple yet powerful motif that captures the song’s essence of hope and discovery. The song’s chorus features a soaring vocal harmony that was achieved through a clever studio trick. Petty and Lynne layered multiple vocal tracks to create that epic, anthemic feel, making it sound like a song that’s meant to lift you up, even in the 4 walls of a recording studio:This is the MOST FRUSTRATING VIDEO Ive EVER DONE-How Could Someone Be SO STUPID!- Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-11 | Today’s story is one of the saddest in rock history. Creedence Clearwater Revival was a band that had as much potential as any who ever recorded a song… They were like a powerful Comet of Rock blazing so fast and bright they just as quickly imploded. CCR had an incredible 14 huge hits in a little over 2 years. They were on a Beatles-like trajectory. In fact, they outdid the Beatles in terms of hits before the demise of the Fab Four. They could compete with anyone, with John Fogerty, a lead singer with a raspy voice and a sound that redefined rock. But sibling rivalry, arguments in the band, and the battle for creative control decimated the band. Today’s massive hit Have You Ever Seen the Rain tells their story best. A classic of the rock canon, it also proved prophetic, predicting the collapse of this band, but only John Fogerty knew what it meant, and then some fans caught on… What a waste. Had the band held on, they may have been the biggest rock band in US history. Up next, it’s one of the great what-ifs of rock and roll on POR.
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So it’s time for another edition of our series, The New Standards. This show takes an in-depth look into songs that transcend genre, decade, and fads - songs that are monumental touchstones in our culture and society. Just to give you a taste of what this show is all about, on previous episodes we have covered Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin, Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot, and Hey Jude by The Beatles. All phenomenal songs.
Today, we are giving you the story behind what is effectively the swan song for one of the biggest bands from the late 60s and early 70s. It’s none other than Creedence Clearwater Revival and their unforgettable hit ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain?’ You know, during Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1968 and 1972 run, they notched fourteen Top 40 singles in the US and released 7 albums… all of which would ultimately certify gold or platinum. In 1969 alone, CCR dropped three legendary records—Bayou Country, Green River, and Willy and the Poor Boys. A record pace that no one has really equaled since…
For those of you who may not be familiar, Creedence Clearwater Revival was comprised of John Fogerty on lead guitar and lead vocals, his brother Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Stu Cook on bass, and Doug Clifford on drums. But as we’ll see later in today’s episode, it wouldn’t stay that way.
However, let’s get things rolling by going back to April 1970. Paul McCartney had just announced he was leaving the Beatles, which would in turn affect CCR. The Beatles’ shadow had loomed large over their shoulders throughout their career… As it had over everyone. But now with the breakup of the world’s biggest band, who would fill the void? For a hot minute, Creedence thought it could be them. And so did everyone else. They had already kicked out three Top 10 albums, and were racking up the Top 10 hits. And with the landmark success of Cosmo’s Factory, released just months later, could you blame him?
Cosmo's Factory hit the shelves in July 1970. And it would be Creedence’s commercial peak, featuring a stockpile of classic CCR hits…Bands EVIL HIT WAS SO CURSED-They HIT a BUS full of NUNS & the BILL was $666! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-10 | Coming up, it’s an episode that isn’t for the faint of heart. Today, we’re getting spooky as we explore the most cursed songs of the rock era and beyond. There are some really unbelievable stories here. One song, Kashmir, was born deep in the desert, built around an ancient-sounding riff. And it terrified Jimmy Page because he thought he was possessed when he was writing it. There’s also the killer karaoke track My Way that had to be banned because performing it led to a series of homicides. Another song, The Number of the Beast, put an entire recording studio on the fritz… making all the equipment malfunction. And then afterwards, the producer was so unsettled he crashed into a bus full of nuns. For real. You won’t believe how much the damages cost. From floating books and flying silverware to a jinxed song by The Who that foreshadowed the death of two band members… we’ve got a lot to cover. Don’t watch this one with the lights off. It’s the cursed songs countdown… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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So recently, I was reading an article on my feed about a song that was cursed… And it got me thinking about the most cursed songs of all time… And all these songs and stories started running through my mind. Songs like DOA by Bloodrock. It’s one of the freakiest songs I’ve ever heard… There were people who had seizures when they listened to the song… Fainting and panic attacks… paranoid late-night drivers pulling off the road after hearing it. Anyway, I went down a rabbit hole of cursed songs and their creepy stories. It was so fascinating… I gotta share it. I’m going to give you my top 5 cursed songs, plus a couple of honorable mentions.
The idea of a cursed song dates way back into history. But today, I want to set things up with the story of Robert Johnson, a legendary blues pioneer who lived hard and died young. Born in early 1900s Mississippi, Johnson shunned the life of a field worker to pursue music… to the dismay of his religious in-laws. When Robert’s wife died in childbirth, her family blamed his “devil’s music.” And then the stories began. Fellow bluesmen like Son House remembered Johnson vanishing for a time—only to return with supernatural guitar skills. As the legend goes, Johnson met a “dark man” at the crossroads, who tuned his guitar in exchange for his soul.
Johnson’s 1936 song “Cross Road Blues” sealed the myth—and may have passed along more than just licks. Musicians who have covered the song seem to be followed by misfortune. Eric Clapton lost his son shortly after recording the song. Robert Plant’s 5-year-old son died not long after Led Zeppelin tackled Johnson’s material. Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers Band perished in crashes near literal crossroads after performing them. Even Kurt Cobain, who reportedly planned a cover, died at 27—like Johnson. Now, those all could be strange Coincidences but…Wow. Today, Robert Johnson's death remains a mystery. But what’s certain is that he died at 27, long before fame caught up with him. That placed him at the eerie forefront of what would later be dubbed the “27 Club.” And whatever the explanation, Johnson's music—and the shadow that trails behind it—still haunts those who follow his path to the crossroads. So here’s my list of bands and musicians who tried to tap into a power bigger than themselves. And may have been.I GOT CUSSED OUT By This LEGEND Before Our INTERVIEW...Then It Got AWKWARD | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-09 | In the middle of this interview with CROSBY STILLS AND NASH It Got Awkward with STEPHEN STILLS when we talked about the Southern Cross. This was part of a larger video on the evolution of CSN thought the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Crosby, Stills, and Nash. SO many great stories here in our Evolution series. Including their first album that blew up radio with harmonies that moved the soul, including the Suite: Judy Blue Eyes about a torrid love affair that’s break up was so painful the singer can’t even say the famous woman’s name and then there was the vinyl cover where the photographer set the band members up in the wrong order while sitting on a couch in front of a house…They were supposed to correspond with the group name that would appear above them on the album.. No big deal, he said, we’ll just go back after the weekend and re-shoot the cover shot. Problem is that when they went back to the house, and couch was gone… over the weekend, it had been demolished! And then there was the guy who bet band member Graham Nash 500 bucks he could write a song in a few minutes… Not only did he win the bet, but the tune Just a Song Before I Go became the famous group’s biggest hit. It’s an all-star episode… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
#classicrock #shorts #vinylstory #80smusic3 MUSICAL GENIUSES in 1 BAND...Which is WHY They ALMOST KILLED Each Other! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-09 | Coming up next, its 2 of the 3 principles of one of Rock’s Greatest trios on a few of the greatest songs of the 80s. And some all-time Myths are busted in this episode, include the oft reported story that the drummer hated one of the bands’ biggest hits… It’s a TOTAL LIE. He didn’t hate it, in fact, he says the song had a perfect demo one that the band tried to recreate hundreds of times. But in the end, they just overdubbed the drum part over the original 7 year old demo. Then there’s the hit song that has the most complex baseline of it’s time that would be impossible for a mere mortal to sing and play at the same time, luckily this bands singer was up to the task. Then there’s the song that is the most eloquent, simple singer ever recorded, where one of rock’s greatest lyricists drafted a nonsensical song with made-up words… and then the song that had a word that you couldn’t rhyme with anything.. You’ll have to hear what they finally did. It’s all next on Professor of Rock.
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It’s time for another episode of our series Revelations, where featured artists go deep on their greatest songs and albums. And get insights into the biggest hits of all time that you won’t find anywhere else. And we have two legends today… 2 of the 3 members of the police Lead singer and bassist sting, and Drummer Stewart Copeland on several of the The Police’s Best song, including the Most Eloquent Simple song ever that’s silly lyrics made it a classic. and the most complex bass line that would be impossible for any other singer to play and belt out at the same time. But hey, this is Sting we're talking about…. Plus, the Drummer that Stewart Copeland Always Finished second to when fans approach him. Great stories in these interviews… Let’s get into it.
Thanks for watching. Leave us a comment about Eagles. What are your memories of their music?Band STOPPED Playing #1 Hit Cuz They Were SICK OF IT Till Legend LAMBASTED EM!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-08 | Up next, Nuno Bettencourt, who may have taken over as the GOAT of all guitarists, tells the story of Extreme's biggest hit, More Than Words… Nuno and Extreme were hard rock and could outplay just about anyone in their day, but it was a heartfelt ballad that took them to the top of the charts. It’s the story of a song the label didn’t want to release, and this guitar hero nearly quit the band in protest! More Than Words sounded more like a singer-songwriter classic than a hard rock showstopper and didn’t sound like anything on the radio, but Extreme fought for it. And they were right as it became one of the biggest songs of its time. But it got so big later on the band began to resent it, even refusing to play it on a big tour with Aerosmith until Steven Tyler wrote them a scathing message that forced them to add it back into their set. It’s the story of a classic from a guitar legend next on Professor of Rock.
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I’m excited to bring you another episode from our series Revelations, where featured artists go deep on their greatest albums and songs. Insight you won’t find anywhere else. Today we are going to take to a finalist for the greatest living guitarist. He came of age as the 80s were ending and the 90s were beginning, and became a household name with an acoustic song instead of an all out rocker . I’m talking about Nuno Bettancourt of the band Extreme and their biggest hit More Than Words.
Up next Nuno tells us how the song was born and that he now it was something special even though the record label didn’t support it because it didn’t sound like anything on the radio at the time of Big Power Ballads and Dance Pop whereas this song sounded more like the Everly Brothers or the Beatles. He also tells us bout playing guitar on his other big #1 hit of that year. You’ll be schocked when you hear what it is. Plus a hilarious story about touring with Aerosmith and what Steven Tyler ripped the band about. Here’s the story from Nuno. Thank you for watching
Leave us a comment about Nuno and extremest and this all time classic. They release a new album a few years back and it was Mindblowing. What are you memories of this song and this band. to get more of this interview and many others, click on our Patreon link below. If this content resonates with you, Join our community by subscribing below. help us keep the music alive until next time.Icon Wrote This 1982 Classic for Her DYING FRIEND...Then She MARRIED the WIDOWER! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-07 | Coming up, we’re counting down the most distinctive, unique, one-of-a-kind voices of the rock era: “Female singer edition.” The list includes Alanis Morissette, a Canadian pop princess who burned her past to the ground and turned the ashes into one of rock’s most fearless records. There’s also a rock siren, Dolores O'Riordan, who started out quieter than a mouse. In fact, when she auditioned for a band, 9 guys mocked her appearance until she opened her mouth and blew them to the moon. Then there’s Stevie Nicks, the songstress who wrote the song Gypsy that was in part inspired by her best friend, and she married her friend’s husband! And we’ve also got Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval, who intentionally sabotaged her entire career because she was getting too famous. Stick around as we pay tribute to the most distinctive female singers and the songs that made them timeless, NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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Hey Music Junkies Professor of Rock Always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. You'll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below right now to be a part of our music history daily, straight from the artists. And to become an honorary producer on our Patreon, click on the link in the description.
A few weeks ago, we talked about the most haunting songs from female vocalists. And it got me going down a rabbit hole of the most unique female voices of the last few decades. So today, we’re diving into some of the most distinctive female voices of the last 50 years… These are voices that cut through the noise, across those decades and genres. From whispering mystics to powerhouse belters, I’m going to give you my top 10. Let’s do it.
So, starting off the countdown at #10, I’m going with the Canadian firebrand Alanis Morissette. In 1995, Alanis’s Jagged Little Pill hit the airwaves like a Molotov cocktail. It was one of the biggest-selling albums of the 90s, checking in with 33 million copies sold. At only the age of 21, Alanis unleashed a torrent of rage and heartbreak. Her voice cut through the day’s formulaic pop like a serrated blade. “Ironically,” before Jagged Little Pill, Alanis was a teen pop star in Canada. And she was churning out dance tracks like a pop princess. Her singles “Too Hot” and “No Apologies” both reached #14 on the Canadian RPM Chart. But beneath the bubblegum beats, Alanis craved authenticity. Moving to Los Angeles, she teamed with producer Glen Ballard to strip away the varnish and craft an alt-rock confessional. Jagged Little Pill’s raw storytelling resonated worldwide. And here in America, the album topped Billboard’s albums chart for 12 weeks, and earned her four Grammys… including Album of the Year.
As Alanis told Rolling Stone in ‘95, “[She] was done hiding who [she] was.” Morissette’s unfiltered honesty turned her into a voice for Gen-X’s angst and disillusion. The LP’s lead single You Oughta Know reached #6 on the Hot 100, and it's my pick as the showcase of her voice. The song is pure breakup fury. Incidentally, it’s rumored that it targets Alanis’s former boyfriend, Dave Coulier (of Full House fame). She has never publicly confirmed this, but Dave has said that the lyrics and the timing fit. It was definitely the first huge hit to hint at movie theater sexcapades and an F bomb had to be bleeped out. No female singer had ever out-Madonnaed Madonna. Following You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette released five more “Jagged” singles, including US Top 10s You Learn and Ironic. But what really set Alanis’s voice apart was its versatility. She wrestled with her lyrics, stretching out syllables like taffy and then spit them outHis IMPERSONATION of OZZY is SO GOOD He Pulled a HILARIOUS PRANK on His DAUGHTER!Professor of Rock2025-07-05 | IN tribute of Black Sabbath's last live show and to honor Ozzy Osbourne here is a short about a famous Voice actor who pulled off a hilarious prank on Ozzy's Daughter Kelly.
#classicrock #shorts #70smusic37 Years After It HIT #2 This Song was OUTLAWED For BEING LYRICALLY INSENSITIVE!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-05 | Coming up, we're telling the story of 11 songs that truly defined one of the most pivotal years in the Rock Era, starting with The Beatles, a band so big they controlled the top 5 spots on the charts, a record that no one has ever come close to. Plus, there was the songwriter Wayne Cochran who told an epic and sad story behind what inspired his massive hit Last Kiss that moved everyone who heard it. Then, decades later, everyone found it was a total lie. Then there was the Do Wah Diddy Diddy that the lead singer of Manfred Mann thought was downright silly... with made-up words, he refused to sing it until his manager forced him to, and even then he sang it as a total joke… It became one of the biggest songs ever, and the silly words became part of the pop vernacular. There was The Animals' House of the Rising Sun that has made tens of millions in royalties but remains unpaid because no one knows who the hell wrote the song. Plus, there’s Marvin Gaye who wrote Dancing in the Street, a song he knew was a smash, but he gave it to his secretary Martha Reeves, who made it an all-time smash. Our countdown of the Top 11 Songs of a special year is NEXT on Professor of Rock!
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Hey Music Junkies Professor of Rock Always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember stuffing your hand or arm down the cereal box to find the every elusive prize inside You’ll dig this channel of deep music nostalgia…Make sure to subscribe below right now to be a part of our music history daily, straight from the artists. Make sure to check out our podcast.
Let’s jumpstart the time machine to take us to one of the most pivotal years in our civilization. Can you guess the year… It was a time of healing, just months after the king of camelot was taken from us, a little band of working class mop tops took over television and solidified rock and roll forever. Let’s go back to 1964 and count down the 11 best songs of that historic year.
Kicking off the countdown, it’s a heartbreaking song by J. Frank and the Cavaliers. Here’s “Last Kiss” at #11: A real-life tragedy inspired Wayne Cochran to write “Last Kiss.” The story of a young couple involved in a fatal car greatly moved Wayne He said it was based on a tragic accident about 15 miles from his home when 5 teens were riding 1954 chevy… the driver was a 16 yearly named JL Hancock was dating a girl name Jeanette Clark who’s was in the front seat next to him and then 3 tother kids, it was foggy so when the driver JL saw a flatbed truck on the side of the road it was too late..
The crash killed all five of the teens, Cochran said the response from the community fueled the lyric… the only problem was the accident took place December 22, 1962, well after the song was released, so he got away with the story back then because nobody could fact check it… It wasn’t until a year later that everyone found out the truth. But he did write “Last Kiss” as a tender farewell—a heartfelt plea to a loved one who is gone, emphasizing the pain of losing someone too soon. The track captured the heartbreak of saying goodbye…forever..
Wayne Cochranwas the first to record “Last Kiss,” but his version garnered very little attention. It was J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers rendition in ’64 connected with listeners and quickly became a hit. The emotional delivery, combined with the haunting melody, touched a nerve across the country. And it became an instant classic… And then part of the song came true in tragic fashion for the band that made it a hit. Not long after the release of “Last Kiss,” the band that made the song famous hit some hard times.The EAGLES Tried to GET HOT ROOKIE in the Band…He Said NO…Went on to Have 16 HITS!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-04 | Dan Fogelberg was asked to be in the Eagles. He was close with Don Henley and Glenn Frey even having them sing on several of his own hits. but Dan Turned them down, wanting to blaze his solo career that included hits like Leader of the Band, Longer and Same Old Lang Syne which were all top 10 hits and made him one of the premiere singer songwriters of his time. The Eagles went on to dominate for decades becoming the biggest American band of all time.
#classicrock #70music #vinylstory #danfogelbergBand RULED the 70s…Then RADIO SHADOW BANNED Them for 10 Yrs-Till This MASSIVE HIT!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-04 | COMING UP next, the Bee Gees were the biggest band of the 70s with 8 #1 hits in under 4 years… they were everywhere until they weren’t. What a difference a few months make. One month they were on top of the world, a few months later, they couldn’t get radio to play their music. They had to hide out… in fact, in the early 80s, the Bee Gees wrote for other people because their brand was extinct. They disappeared from the charts for 10 years. Then, at the end of the 80s, the Bee Gees made one of the biggest comebacks ever. They had a #1 in the UK a year earlier and then blew up the American charts again with a smash that put them back in the game, You Win Again... and they’ve never looked back. The band that beat astronomical odds to go from hero to zero to hero again. It's the greatest perseverance story in music up next on Professor of Rock.
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#classicrock #80smusic #vinylstory #70smusicIcon SOLD 33 MILLION Copies of a SONG He ONLY Played ONCE & Made NO MONEY From! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-03 | In music, trends come and go, chart-toppers rise and fall—but every once in a while, an artist or a band does something that is completely untouchable. I’m talking about milestones that will never be shattered. For today’s episode, we’re tipping our hat to the Guinness Book of World Records and counting down the Top 10 greatest music records That Will Never Be Broken. From the Elton John that sold a record 33 million copies and was only performed one time… when it was recorded, and Elton it didn’t make a dime off it... to The Dark Side of the Moon that spent almost 20 years on the charts, to The Beatles who had 20 #1 hits in just 6 years, to Frank Sinatra, the only artist to have a hit song in 7 different decades. These are the most awesome feats ever. Get ready to have your mind blown… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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Hey Music Junkies Professor of Rock Always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you were ever stumped trying to figure out what kind of animal Snuffaluffagus was on Sesame Street, you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below right now to be a part of our music history daily, straight from the artists. And to become an honorary producer on our Patreon.
So the other day, my son walked up to me with a book order from school. He asked if he could order some books, and of course, it took me back to the early 80s when I was doing the same thing with my own dad. He said Dad, can I get the Guinness Book of World Records? It's really cool. My friend has one and it has all these cool facts like the tallest man and the oldest person, and of course, I said Buddy, I used to buy the Guinness book of world records every single year. It was a rite of passage for any child of the 80s, and apparently it still is! So we both got into a long discussion about Records and it got me thinking about the greatest records or feats in music history So I went down a rabbit hole of unbeatable record in music history so Here’s my own Guinness book of world records …a top 10 of the greatest record in music history that will never be topped.
For the #10 record, I’m going with the most words ever packed into a hit song. Now the previous record for this was Bob Dylan’ Subterranean Homesick Blues with 360 words. That record stood for over 20 years until REM blew it away with It’s the End of the World as we know it and I feel Fine which also happens to be one of the longest song titles ever. REM fit 600 words into a hit song in 1987, and that record stood for 26 years and then got obliterated by… Who else? A rapper. Back in 2013, Eminem released “Rap God”—a six-minute lyrical hurricane that nearly tripled REMS count with 1,560 words. Yeah, you heard me right. The lyrics in this one are delivered at warp speed. One stretch of the track even clocks in at 6.46 words per second, another record, and even more impressive, performed live without missing a beat. It was an elite showcase of breath control, pacing, and articulation.
Rap God isn’t just about density—it’s also about dexterity. Eminem fires off complex rhyme schemes, rapid internal rhymes, and tongue-twisting patterns that would leave anyone else gasping for breath before the first chorus. And yet, this wasn’t some underground mixtape—“Rap God” was a mainstream hit. The track peaked at #7 on the Hot 100 and went multi-platinum. And that’s what makes this record so untouchable—Rap God combined elite technical skill with some serious commercial success. Sure, there have been other high-word-count songs, but nothing on this level of precision and popularity.When He PASSED AWAY…The Media IGNORED It…But MUSIC Has NEVER BEEN the SAME... | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-02 | There’s No Teaser Today…We have a very special episode of Professor of Rock today covering a legendary singer-songwriter who we lost. To me, it was one of the most devastating losses ever. And it got very little fanfare. There weren’t a bunch of tributes, it wasn’t front page news, it wasn’t covered in the media almost at all. But it should have been. To me, he not only wrote some of the most beloved songs of the 70s and 80s, but he wrote modern standards with the purest tenor voice of his time. Songs like Part of the Plan, Longer, Leader of the Band, Same Old Lang Syne, Run for the Roses, and great album tracks like There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler, and he influenced so many artists that came after. His songs have been like checkpoints of our personal histories; his songs have become our songs and have connected multiple generations, fathers, sons, mothers, and daughters. If you haven’t figured it out today, we are honoring Dan Fogelberg...
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Today we are celebrating Dan's breakthrough album Souvenirs, which included several standards, and we have some amazing guests, including his bass player, engineer, and photographer for the record and you’ll hear never before told stories and insights into Dan as an artist and as the teller of some of our favorite songs… I did a video years ago where I said if I could interview any artist, living or dead, it would be Dan Fogelberg… he was a special artist and deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest ever to do it. This album is appropriately titled Souvenirs because that's what Dan’s Music has always been… a time machine that takes us back to our fondest memories, that make us ache with joy.
Make sure to get your copy of Souvenirs at the link here or in the description below and celebrate his breakthrough album. Let’s have a great discussion below celebrating Dan Fogelberg and his incredible catalog.80s Band was HUMILIATED @ the OSCARS When They Had To WATCH BAD Cover of Their HIT-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-01 | In the early 80s, this Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik came home for Lunch and checked his answering machine. He couldn’t believe his ears, Sylvester Stallone asked him to call him right back. He thought it was someone trying to prank him. but when he called back it was really him… Sly Stallone wanted unknown band Survivor to write the Anthem to a sequel to one of the greatest franchises ever, Rocky 3-apparently Queen had turned down the use of their #1 hit Another Bites the Dust… In a very cool interview, Jim tells us how he and guitarist Frankie Sullivan wrote Eye of the Tiger for the opening montage of Rocky 3 when he went up against Clubber Lange (Mr. T) and went to #1 for 6 weeks because Stallone was willing to give his rookie band the chance even though they’d never had a hit. They couldn’t get the lyrics down so they ended up stealing a line from the movie and it became a classic! How they created the perfect 80s classic rock anthem that still rules.
#classicrock #shorts #80smusic #80srockWe ALL PRETEND TO HATE This SONG…But In PRIVATE—We Sing At the TOP of OUR LUNGS! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-01 | Coming up—we’re counting down the songs we’re not supposed to like… Some call them guilty pleasures, others call them bad. Some call them cheese. But when nobody’s looking, most of us sing every word when they come on. I’m gonna get REBUKED FOR THIS but here it goes… We all love the song I Want It That Way, written by a Swedish songwriter who didn’t know English. And it was so confusing that even the band, the Backstreet Boys, didn’t know what it meant. And honestly, neither do WE. But 80s rock producer Mutt Lange who produced Def Leppard and AC/DC worked on it. even helping craft some of the lyrics.
#classicrock #shorts #softrock #80smusicCRAPPY DISCO Hits Ruled #1 for 34 STRAIGHT WEEKS-Till This Classic KNOCKED IT OUT!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-07-01 | The incredible story of What a Fool Believes. We have interviews with both Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald who both wrote it. It became a huge hit for the Doobie Brothers but divided fans when Michael McDonald took over for an ailing Tom Johnston and it changed the Doobies sound. We also have guitarist Skunk Baxter who brought Michael over from Steely Dan where he sang back up. a great story of a hit that stopped 34 straight weeks of a disco song going to #1. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal
Honorary Producers Steve Maddox, Thomas French, John Tanner, Robert Coen, Mark Austin, Andrea Drake
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HICON Didn’t SPEAK ENGLISH WELL & ACCIDENTALLY Sang a PROFANITY…Made it a CLASSIC! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-30 | So many so-called one-hit wonders have a quirky, unexpected charm—sometimes playful, sometimes totally bizarre, but always endearing. They’re like musical mysteries or fun trivia sparks, making us wonder what could’ve been if the artists had kept it going. We call these songs bottled lightning… Artists that had that one blazing firework that took over the world and we count down the 5 craziest listening in a bottle classics including the rock band Wild Cherry who hated disco but when a fan yelled out a catchy song title, Play that Funky Music in concert they wrote a disco song as a joke and it became a smash… but it became their one and only it when they vanished faster than disco. Then there was the guy M (Robin Scott) who wrote a Pop Muzik to mock a genre and it became a bigger hit than any the songs he was ripping on, plus the band Shocking Blue who sang the wrong lyric in Venus because of a typo on one verse. And then because the singer didn’t speak english accidentally sang a profanity in the next verse... and it became a #1 hit TWICE. But that’s nothing because Tony Burrows was a one-hit wonder with 5 different bands! A great one is next on the Professor of Rock.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you ever made a Snow Cone with the snoopy son cone maker you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below right now. I know you’ll enjoy taking a Daily ride in the time machine. Make sure to check out our podcast!
Back in the day when I first started this channel I used to do top 5 countdowns and called them fivers… So I’m going back to that tradition. For today’s fiver we are counting down the top 5 Craziest Origins of Famous one hit wonders… the process of their creations is a big part of what makes these songs such rare treasures—they’ve left a mark on our lives in the most unexpected ways.
Today I’m going to start with an honorable mention: And this one’s pretty funny. a rock band hated disco that scored one of most beloved disco hits ever. It’s “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry: Remember back in the day when nightclubs were thick with cigarette smoke? You’d go see your favorite band, and no matter what you wore, you’d come out smelling like cigarettes for weeks—even after washing. It was just part of the scene, and honestly, it kind of added to the whole vibe, I guess, even if the smell was terrible.
Let’s go back to that smoky time, in the mid 70s…. A small rock band called Wild Cherry, again the key here is that they were a rock band. they hated disco.. Keep that in mind.. They were playing a gig in one of those smoke-laden clubs, in Pittsburgh. It started off as nothing special, just a typical one-night stand to make a little bit of money. Wild Cherry, named after a box of cough drops, was a straight-up rock band, not a hint of funk or disco in their repertoire (rep-er-twar). But, in the middle of their set on that night, something unexpected happened. In between songs, an African American in the audience shouted out from the crowd, "Play some funky music, white boy!” It was the only thing the band heard from the crowd, and for a moment, the club went quiet. The band didn’t have a comeback…at least not yet:
Frontman Rob Parissi was taken aback, but instead of dismissing the bold request, he scribbled the phrase quickly on a bar order pad—an impulsive, off-the-cuff response to the moment. Little did he know, that scribbled note would become the springboard for one of the most iconic party anthems of all time: Rob and the band decided to craft a song around what ...ONLY 1 Artist in HISTORY Has Had 7 TOP 5 HITS from 1 ALBUM & Its NOT Who U THINK!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-28 | You requested it, so here it is. It was the dawn of a new decade with some of the most intriguing music of the rock era, and some of the most interesting stories... including Nothing Compares 2 U, an incredible song that hit #1, and Sinead O'Connor was livid when it did. She was so pissed, she made a blatant decision right then and there to do everything in her power to be a one hit wonder even though she could’ve had dozens of hits. Plus a Song by Depeche Mode that MTV forced a band to edit because it showed a horse's butt during a controversial sound Then there was the Motley Crue icon who died of an overdose and then came back to life and immediately wrote the band’s best song: Kickstart My Heart. Plus, the heart-wrenching song that came when a Supermodel broke up with Billy Joel, an average-looking rocker. But then he wooed another Supermodel right after. Plus, Fly to the Angels, which was written when Mark Slaughter came home from a tour and tried to call his girlfriend and got devastating news… It became a haunting epic. So many classics on our top countdown of a special year next on POR.
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Our countdown of the Top 12 Songs of 1990 begins with Concrete Blonde’s“Joey” at #12: Concrete Blonde lead singer Johnette Napolitano avoided writing the lyrics to "Joey" until the last possible moment due to the difficult nature of the subject matter. You see, the song was about her stormy relationship with Marc Moreland, the former lead guitarist for the band Wall of Voodoo. Marc was a heavy alcoholic, and Johnette tried desperately to help him, but couldn’t. She had the words she wanted to express in her head, and wrote the song in a cab on her way to a photo shoot. Tragically, Marc Mooreland died of liver failure in 2007.
Marc & Johnette became a couple when Concrete Blonde & Wall of Voodoo played gigs together in the LA area during the 80s. The two eventually severed their romantic ties, but they collaborated on an album together called Pretty & Twisted in 1995. “Joey” was the last song written and recorded for Concrete Blonde’s 3rd album, Bloodletting. It was the 2nd single from the album, and the only Concrete Blonde song to make the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #19. It was a #1 track on the Alt Rock chart.
Slinking in at #11 on the Top 12 Songs of 1990 countdown, it’s “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles. Near the 10th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. Christopher Ward, a talented songwriter and music enthusiast, was visiting Memphis as a VJ for MuchMusic, Canada’s premier music channel. But what started as a routine assignment quickly turned into something much more profound. While in Memphis, Christopher immersed himself in the city’s rich musical history and the fervor of Elvis fans gathered there. Everywhere he looked, he saw fans mourning, celebrating, and revering the King of Rock and Roll. Their passion was contagious, and it made him think about what Elvis represented—not just as a star, but as a symbol of hope, struggle, and identity for those who grew up in the South. Christopher put the song together with David Tyson, and gave it to his then-girlfriend, Canadian singer Alannah Myles. Yes, Christopher was her Guy, but She delivered an EPIC vocal on “Black Velvet.”Band Saw a HOT GIRL on a DATE with an OLD FAT RICH GUY-TURNED it INTO a 70s SMASH!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-27 | 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. It’s all next on Professor of Rock.
#classicrock #shorts #70smusic #eagles
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It’s time for another episode of our series Revelations, where featured artists go deep on their greatest songs and albums. And get insights into the biggest hits of all time that you won’t find anywhere else. And we have a true legend today… Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk, who helped transform their soft rock country sound to straight-ahead Rock, took them from the Take It Easy/peaceful easy feeling sound of the early 70s to the Already Gone/Hotel California sound of the mid to late 70s. Today, he gives us the behind-the-scenes blow-by-blow of On the Border and One of These Nights, two albums that gave us multiple Eagles classics.
And then there's Lying Eyes and a great one liner that came from Glenn Frey seeing a supermodel with an old fat rich guy, and he wrote the line down on a napkin, it became a smash, plus the song that DON Henley wished would not have been put on any Eagles album… Written by out the door member Bernie Leadon and a US president’s daughter, plus the pressure of Take it to the limit where the normally tried and true back up singer Randy Meisner was front and center with one of the greatest high notes ever recorded and the pressure that came with trying to nail it every night and lastly Bill explains how the biggest selling album ever was a spot decision that took an afternoon to do and sold 40 milion copies it’s a scorcher next on professor of rock
Thanks for watching. Leave us a comment about Eagles. What are your memories of their music?100 INTERVIEWS In 4 MINUTES! The Last 5 Years of This Channel the NEW Professor of Rock TrailerProfessor of Rock2025-06-27 | A channel celebrating the power of music - featuring stories of the greatest songs and artists of the Rock Era, as told by the artists themselves. Channel trailer with Sting, Brian Wilson, Journey, Styx, Foreigner, Huey Lewis, Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins, Michale McDonald, Heart with Ann Wilson, The Byrds, Crosby Stills and Nash, Daryl Hall, etc Make sure to subscribe to the Professor of Rock podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts to be able to listen on the go.
#classicrock #80smusic #vinylstory #vanhalen
YouTube - youtube.com/@ProfessorofRock Apple - apple.co/445fVov Spotify - https://spoti.fi/42JpfvU Amazon Music – amzn.to/44b5D6m iHeartRadio – bit.ly/444h8MOThis HAS To Be MY LAST VIDEO on This SUBJECT...Im SICK of GETTING CENSORED! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-27 | Today, we are taking the time machine back to a shocking hit from the 70s: School's Out. It was from Alice Cooper, a rock star who defined the words SHOCK and AWE, and caused some real trouble with teachers across America. There are some insane stories behind this one…from CREEPY urban legends like the band getting their name from the ghost of a 16th-century witch, to schools getting shut down for playing this song. Plus, School's Out was so dangerous that the physical record came with a switchblade, a slingshot, and was wrapped in actual underwear! Find out why they banned it and why it became an all-time anthem…Next, on Professor of Rock.
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I’m excited to return to another one of my favorite shows that we do on this channel. It’s called Breakthrough. In this show, we break down songs, albums, or events that kicked open the door to an artist or band’s career and gave them the momentum to rocket to long-term success. On previous episodes we have covered Good Times Bad Times by Led Zeppelin, Cum On Feel The Noise by Quiet Riot, and She Sells Sanctuary by the Cult. Today, we are getting into a true rock classic! Alice Cooper’s 1972 breakthrough smash, School’s Out.
So Alice Cooper, whose birth name is actually Vincent Furnier, began writing songs as early as junior high. By 1964, Furnier was dreaming of becoming as big as the Beatles. No doubt that had something to do with their Ed Sullivan performance. Furnier recruited some classmates to form a band and they dubbed themselves the Earwigs. Dressed in Beatles attire, they played the Letterman’s Talent Show at their high school, Cortez High in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1965, the guys had changed their name to The Spiders, and in 1967, they went by The Nazz. But after discovering Todd Rundgren also had a band called Nazz, they settled on the name Alice Cooper. This was in 1968. So there are some urban legends surrounding this name. For instance, it's long been rumored that the moniker came from a Ouija board session.
Reportedly, Furnier made contact with a 16th-century witch named Alice Cooper and adopted the name thereafter. The truth, however, is less dramatic, but still a little creepy. The name came out of a band brainstorming session. In his autobiography Golf Monster, Cooper wrote that they had resolved to come up with something spooky. The band had a penchant for horror, and the first name out of his mouth was Alice Cooper. In his mind, it conjured up the image of a little girl holding a lollipop in one hand and a butcher knife in the other. Years later, Furnier would legally adopt the name for himself.
In addition to Vincent, the band’s roster included guitarists Michael Bruce and Glen Buxton, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith. In time, they moved to LA, where they routinely repelled audiences with their shows. Their future manager, Shep Gordon, said, “I saw people streaming out of a club as soon as the band began to play, and I knew I had a winner… I’d never seen such a strong negative reaction. People hated Alice, and I knew that anyone who could generate such strong negative energy had the potential to be a star…”
In 1969 Shep introduced the band to Frank Zappa, whoIt’s THE SONG We ALL PRETEND TO HATE…But in PRIVATE—Sing At the TOP of OUR LUNGS! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-26 | Coming up—we’re counting down the songs we’re not supposed to like… Some call them guilty pleasures, others call them bad. Some call them cheese. But when nobody’s looking, most of us sing every word when they come on. I’m gonna get REBUKED FOR THIS but here it goes…One track, To Be With You, is a ballad from a band of shredders that sounds like a camp counselor campfire song that somehow hit #1. Then, there’s the song I Want It That Way, written by a Swedish songwriter who didn’t know English. And it was so confusing that even the band, the Backstreet Boys, didn’t know what it meant. And honestly, neither do WE. Then there’s one of the PMRC’s most wanted, Sugar Walls, an infamous Filthy Fifteen track that gave the phrase “guilty pleasure” a whole new meaning. Plus, there’s a literal boy band Hanson who wrote MMMBop, a song with a chorus so catchy it’s still stuck in our heads 28 years later, and it’s been mocked mercilessly even though it’s 1 of the most emotionally mature songs of the time. They’re all songs we secretly love, but won't admit it… But when no one else is around, all bets are off. It’s the latest edition of our Guilty Pleasures countdown, NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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I’m gonna take a lot of crap for this one but let’s be honest most of the people that will scorch me in the comments probably secretly love these song more than me. And truthfully, we’ve all got those songs. You know what I’m talking about. Those tracks you can’t quite admit you listen to, at least not in public. But when there’s no one else around and the shades are pulled down, we’ve got no problem cranking up the volume on these bad boys. And you're singing every word. No shame. That’s the thing about so-called guilty pleasures. They’re shamelessly catchy and completely irresistible. And so for today, I’ve lined up six of my top so-called guilty pleasures or my no shame countdown. From boy band bubblegum to hair metal ballads, this is the latest edition of Guilty Pleasures. Let’s go!
Kicking off the countdown at #6, it’s LA’s own Warrant with a 2 for 1 the rocker Down Boys and the power ballad Heaven. Down Boys was Warrant’s debut single, and it arrived like a neon warning shot from the Sunset Strip. It was pure hair metal ambition. Formed in Los Angeles in 1984, Warrant cycled through multiple members until vocalist Jani Lane and drummer Steven Sweet joined in ’86. That version of the band, featuring Erik Turner and Joey Allen on guitars and Jerry Dixon on bass, became the definitive lineup. By 1989, Warrant had clawed their way into the spotlight with their first album, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich—a title that spelled out their rock 'n' roll aspirations.
The album dropped right as glam metal hit its peak saturation point, but Warrant carved out a niche with a sound slicker than Poison and poppier than Ratt. “Down Boys” led the charge, with its chunky guitars, stomping groove, and a title that was built to stick. Lane once joked that the phrase referred to the guys who always got the girl. But for a band trying to break through on the Strip, the better question was how to be one of those guys. Jani Lane penned most of the band’s material, and “Down Boys” was like a mission statement.Saw Hot Girl DATING a FAT RICH GUY & It SPAWNED this 70s Classic!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-25 | 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.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember the misadventures of UnderDog, you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below by clicking the white button. I promise that you are going to love this channel. Also, make sure to check out our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Make sure to rate us and leave a comment!
It’s time for another episode of our series Revelations, where featured artists go deep on their greatest songs and albums. And get insights into the biggest hits of all time that you won’t find anywhere else. And we have a true legend today… Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk, who helped transform their soft rock country sound to straight-ahead Rock, took them from the Take It Easy/peaceful easy feeling sound of the early 70s to the Already Gone/Hotel California sound of the mid to late 70s. Today, he gives us the behind-the-scenes blow-by-blow of On the Border and One of These Nights, two albums that gave us multiple Eagles classics.
And then there's Lying Eyes and a great one liner that came from Glenn Frey seeing a supermodel with an old fat rich guy, and he wrote the line down on a napkin, it became a smash, plus the song that DON Henley wished would not have been put on any Eagles album… Written by out the door member Bernie Leadon and a US president’s daughter, plus the pressure of Take it to the limit where the normally tried and true back up singer Randy Meisner was front and center with one of the greatest high notes ever recorded and the pressure that came with trying to nail it every night and lastly Bill explains how the biggest selling album ever was a spot decision that took an afternoon to do and sold 40 milion copies it’s a scorcher next on professor of rock
Thanks for watching. Leave us a comment about Eagles. What are your memories of their music?Prince Didnt SHOW UP to Sing on TRACK-So ROOKIE SUBBED in & KILLED IT & HIT #1!- Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-24 | 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. When PRINCE didn't show up, Kenny Loggins told Michael Jackson to sub in Huey Lewis and he killed it. 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.
#classicrock #shorts #vinylstory #80smusicONLY TIME in HISTORY That EVERY Radio Station Played the SAME SONG @ the SAME TIME-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-24 | 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.
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I’m excited to bring you another episode from our series Revelations, where featured artists go deep on their greatest songs and albums. Stories and tidbits from rock and pop history that you won’t find anywhere else. This is one for the ages. It was a night unlike any other night before, there was the internet, 24-hour news, and AI. The date was January 28th, 1985, and a legendary producer would gather the greatest legends of rock and pop music underneath he same roof to assemble the greatest supergroup in the history of the world, but it would only be for one song and only take place over one night…
Every 80s kid remembers this event…it was a key part of our childhood. I’m talking about the group USA for Africa and the multiplatinum #1 smash We Are The World. The charity single that was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian. the song would go on to sell over 20 million copies making if one of the biggest selling singles ever and today I’ve got a half dozen interviews with legends sharing some of the key experiences from that magical night.
Inspired by Band Aid, who had just released Do They Know It’s Christmas just a month before. The late musician activist Harry Belafonte wanted to help, and he enlisted fundraiser and humanitarian, and artist manager Ken Kragen to help implement his vision. They got hold of Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, who had been a client in the past, and they started to write the song. It was finished a mere 7 weeks after Do They Know It’s Christmas and just before they assembled the superstars and legends to record the song. In fact, they were still trying to put the finishing touches on the song as people were arriving.
They carefully planned the session to be right after the American music awards so that many of the artists would be able to make to the studio right after the show’s taping. Harry Belafonte deserves a lot of credit for putting together the initial idea or organizing the recording of the song, and for having the best-known artists participate. He would have the proceeds donated to an organization called United Support of Artists for Africa, known as USA for Africa. The non-profit would, in turn, get food to starving people in Ethiopia where a famine was taking place.Most Dont Know #1 Singalong Is REALLY DIRTY-Even Band was SHOCKED It was a HIT! Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-23 | 3rd Eye Blind singer Stephan Jenkins says that their #1 singalong classic Semi-charmed life is so dirty he was shocked Radio played it. The story of the classic hit is told in this interview with professor of rock.
- #classicrock #shorts #rock #90smusicI KNEW If I COVERED This HIT I’d GET CENSORED…& I DIDN’T EVEN SAY it…I SPELLED IT!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-23 | 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.
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It’s time to go into detail on the songs that many think are one thing and are another thing entirely…. The most misunderstood song of our time… Which leads me to the question I ask all the time.. Does anyone actually listen to the lyrics… Let’s do it.
“Our countdown of the Top 6 Most Misunderstood Songs of the Rock Era kicks off with “Crash Into Me” by the Dave Matthews Band at #6: at first listen “Crash Into Me" sounds like a gentle, romantic plea—an invitation to be close, to connect and share a moment of vulnerability. It’s got that sweet, tender vibe to it, like a sentimental love song. It’s been used as a prom theme for scores of high schools. I’ve said it at least a half dozen times…Does anyone listen to lyrics anymore? But “Crash Into Me” is primarily about voyeurism, specifically from the perspective of someone watching a woman through her window. Dave’s lyrics contain unsettling imagery related to observing someone without their knowledge or consent.
Like this part: ”Hike up your skirt a little more / And show the world to me," and "I watch you there through the window and I stare at you / Wear nothing but you wear it so well." Those lines in the 4th verse are clearly about a peeping Tom, which makes the song's romantic sweetness feel musch darker, and creepier when you really think about it: Whether you let the creepiness overwhelm you, or just listen to the song for its delicate, romantic charm, ”Crash Into Me" remains one of the band’s most beloved Dave Matthews compositions. Dave really wants the song to represent the universal human experience of longing, about the tension between intimacy and independence, and the delicate dance of love and vulnerability. But let’s be honest, the lyrics and the way it’s sung sound more like a predator…. For me, as the years go by, it gets more and more creepy…It’s like Springsteen’s song I’m on Fire.
“Crash Into Me” was written during a period of emotional upheaval for Dave, who was grappling with feelings of love, longing, and sometimes insecurity. The song’s hypnotic melody disguises the complex emotions behind it—desire, caution, and the recognition that love can be both beautiful and fragile.Something We Can ALL Agree On-This is The CREEPIEST Song EVER! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-21 | 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.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If your first record player came from Fisher-Price, you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below right now. I know you’ll dig it. We also have a podcast you'll want to check out on Apple and Spotify.
It was an intense year with the deaths of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy…Richard Nixon shockingly winning the Presidency, and the infamous Tet (rhymes with pet) Offensive escalated the war in Vietnam. At the movies, Planet of the Apes and 2001: A Space Odyssey fascinated film goers, and in music, it was a year of wild improvisation and psychedelia, and some of the greatest tracks of the Rock Era. Can you guess the year? We're taking the time machine back to 1968….
Our countdown of the Top 11 Songs of 1968 begins with “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel at #11: The summer of ’68 was a time of social upheaval, cultural shifts, and rock bands pushing boundaries. It was during that vibrant era that Simon & Garfunkel released "Mrs. Robinson," a song that would become one of the most iconic tracks of their career—and a staple of American pop culture: “Mrs. Robinson” was originally written for the soundtrack of the film The Graduate, a movie that perfectly embodied the anxieties and rebellious spirit of its time. Director Mike Nichols approached Simon & Garfunkel to create a song that reflected the film’s themes of youthful disillusionment and societal change. They initially penned "Mrs. Robinson" as a playful, slightly satirical tribute to the film’s character, Mrs. Robinson—an older woman who symbolizes temptation and societal expectations.
“Mrs. Robinson” was actually recorded very quickly—just a few days before the film’s release. Paul Simon famously said that the lyrics were inspired by a mix of personal observations and the cultural atmosphere of the late '60s, with lines that subtly referenced the movie's characters and themes but also carried deeper meanings about rebellion and disillusionment. One of the most memorable parts of Paul’s composition is the “koo koo kachoo, Mrs. Robinson” line. Paul actually lifted that from “I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles, except he misheard John Lennon’s lyric, mistaking “goo goo goo joob” as John wrote it, for “koo koo achoo”.
He turned a beatles misheard lyric and turned it into a number one hit, if you remember, Bobby Hart did the same thing with Paperback writer think they were saying take the last train…and turned that into the #1 smash Last Train to Clarksville… 2 #1s from misheard lyrics from rival bands…This Has to be the MOST INFECTIOUS Song In History! | Professor Of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-20 | Coming up next, the story of the the most upbeat hit song ever Windy by The Association. IT’S ALMOST unfair how infectious and addicting this classic hit and yet at the same time it might be the most confusing song ever. It was written about a guy… and his name is the main hook of the song. But it’s not a name anyone would EVER associate with a guy so when today’s The Association recorded it, they changed the gender of the guy to a girl. But again the name repeated in the song would never be associated with a a girl or a guy or a human. But it became a smash #1 hit… This band would have a slew of hits over a couple of years, including 3 big #1 hits that are three of the most-played songs in history. Problem is nobody under the age of 40 remembers these guys and they may have had the best vocal harmonies of their time, right there with the Beatles and the Beach Boys. We have an interview with the band coming up next.
- #classicrock #shorts #60smusic #60srockONLY Had a HANDFUL of ACTUAL HITS & NEVER Won a Grammy-SOLD 300 Million Records! | Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-20 | When Led Zeppelin released their debut album, it literally made the entire world shake. Nobody had ever heard a band like this… They took over America, touring nonstop in support of their earth-shattering LP. Their Label begged them to get one album #2 ASAP… Their sophomore record came out just months after their debut. Unheard of in music at that time… But in the hurried pace to get that second album out, the label kept them on the road…they were so slammed they had to record it in 13 different studios all over the world. Out of this second record came a masterful feel-good classic, Ramble On, that was inspired by a classic novel. Ramble On was an instant classic with a scorched earth vocal and blazing guitar and percussion…played on.. well, Nobody is exactly sure what the drummer was playing… We’ll try to solve that today… Ramble On is one of the band's most beloved, but they NEVER actually played it LIVE until they did a one-off concert after they broke up almost 40 years later, and it was the one time! They were so big, they said no to Woodstock. It’s a great one next on Professor of Rock.
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Today, we’re bringing you another entry from our ongoing Led Zeppelin series, where we pay homage to the great ones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham… and give you an inside look at their monumental catalog. In past installments, we have told the stories of Kashmir from Physical Graffiti, The Rain Song from Houses of the Holy, and Rock and Roll from IV, or Untitled, or The Runes, or whatever you prefer to call it. This time, we’re dropping the needle on Led Zeppelin II and taking an in-depth look at their classic track Ramble On.
So on January 2, 1969, Led Zeppelin kicked off their first American tour at West Hollywood’s iconic Whisky A Go Go, setting the stage for the landmark release of their eponymous debut record ten days later. Within months of its release, Led Zeppelin would ascend to the #6 spot in the United Kingdom and #10 in the United States. And throughout 1969, the band would keep up a steady barrage of tour dates, playing their way across North America and England. It was during this time of intense touring that they began work recording their follow up album, Led Zeppelin II.
In view of all the full houses and sold-out shows, Atlantic Records’ founder Ahmet Ertegun was chomping at the bit to get a second Zeppelin record out to the public asap. And the initial target date he had in mind was in the summer of 1969, roughly six months after the release of Zeppelin I. It was a pretty ambitious goal, especially considering just how much touring the band was doing. Ertegun would ultimately relent on the summer release date, settling for October instead. But even so, Page and company had their work cut out for them. Releasing two albums in less than a year while touring full time… that was a formidable task.
Having been informed of Ertegun’s plans in April 1969, Led Zeppelin’s manager Peter Grant talked the foursome into returning to the studio… specifically Olympic Studios in London, where the initial sessions took place.Greatest FEMALE ROCK SINGER Says It Was TOUGH Covering This Song Cuz Its So HOLY!-Professor of RockProfessor of Rock2025-06-18 | Today, we have a very special episode of Professor of Rock, and I’m going to get right into it. We lost a true musical Genius recently. But Ya know.. I’ve been thinking a lot about it. And GENIUS simply doesn't cover it. For Brian Wilson, there should be a higher word or title for him that could never be bestowed up on anyone else in music history... Only him. In my opinion, He composed the highest vibrations in popular music-period. He was a light in a sometimes very Dismal world, and his music will continue to cut through the darkest times. I’ve mentioned this before, but when I started doing interviews, I made a list of 15 legends I wanted to have a deep conversation with before I left this earth, and at the top of that list was Brian Wilson. Ann Wilson of Heart pays tribute to Brian and Heart's cover of Good Vibrations