What the Riff?!?

By: Rob Marbury Wayne Rowan Bruce Fricks and Brian Dickhute
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  • Summary

  • Every week, “WHAT THE RIFF?!?” takes a look at a ROCK AND ROLL album that debuted or peaked on the U.S. Billboard charts during a random month between 1965-1995. Four friends discuss the artists and 4 tracks from the album as it plays in the background. Then we riff on 4 “staff picks” of other artists that were also in the charts during that month and year. You’ll hear some familiar tunes as well as some deeper cuts and entertainment tracks as we share a little look into the culture and happenings of that day— having fun recalling that “old time rock and roll.” We hope to bring back memories for you — and we encourage you to find and purchase the tracks and albums from iTunes, Spotify or your other favorite music service. You’ll find each episode with a short blog on this site. Please subscribe so you don’t miss any release! We also invite you to follow us and learn more about us @whattheriffpodcast on Facebook.
    What the Riff ©2024
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Episodes
  • 1990 - October: Various Artists, Soundtrack for “Goodfellas"

    1990 - October: Various Artists, Soundtrack for “Goodfellas"
    Sep 9 2024
    This week we are taking an opportunity to explore some songs which would normally be outside our time frame by following the soundtrack to the movie “Goodfellas.” This Martin Scorsese film is a mafia story told from the view of Henry Hill in his book “Wiseguy: Life In a Mafia Family.”The movie follows Henry Hill as he looks back on his life beginning during a time when he looked up to the Wise Guys and gangsters who ran his neighborhood. Hill starts his narrative as a child in 1955 and continues until 1980 when Hill becomes an FBI informant on the Luccese crime family and enters the witness protection program.The songs from that film provide the backdrop of different times in Hill's life. Rat Pack hits reflect scenes with the gangsters, while songs from the Who and Cream reflect more disjointed times.Hill was paid $480,000 for his contribution to the movie. Hill passed away in 2012.Wayne takes us through this time spanning soundtrack this week on our podcast, because this gives us the opportunity to cover some songs which are not normally in our album "window," while still giving us a window into a popular film and into the happenings of the early 90's. Rags to Riches by Tony BennettThis crooner song is used as the backdrop when Henry Hill reflects on his childhood and states, "As far as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster - being a ganster is better than being the President of the US." This sets the table for the remainder of the film.Then He Kissed Me by The CrystalsPhil Spector co-wrote this song and was instrumental in increasing the popularity of the Crystals before he moved on to work with The Ronnettes. This track is used as the backdrop of a long take where Hill and his date go to the Copacabana restaurant through the back door to a table set on the dance floor for them.Ain't That a Kick In the Head by Dean MartinRat Pack member and ultra-cool crooner known for his roasts and singing with a martini glass, Martin's song is the perfect fit to a montage of mob life. Henry's wife Karen narrarates this montage. The inspiration for the song may have been a film starring Martin and Frank Sinatra, in which Sinatra's character says, "ain't that a kick in the head." during a poker game.Magic Bus by the WhoThis Who song is used in the movie during a scene of frantic, intoxicated driving where Hill believes that he is being tracked by the Feds. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Main theme from the motion picture “Troll 2”This film may be one of the best "worst" movies made, but it was in the theaters at the time, so we thought we'd brush off the theme and trot it out this week.STAFF PICKS:Cradle of Love by Billy IdolRob kicks off our staff picks this week with a single off Idol's fourth studio album "Charmed Life." Idol was in a near-fatal motorcycle accident earlier in the year, and his appearances in the David Fincher video include head shots and close-ups from the waist up, obscuring the fact that he was still recovering from his leg injuries. Praying for Time by George MichaelLynch features the lead single from Michael's second solo album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1." This somber, contemplative tone is a departure from his more pop-oriented hits. Michael addresses poverty, injustice, and the human condition, concluding that some things can only be healed with time.Tick Tock by The Vaughan BrothersBruce's staff pick is off "Family Style," the only studio album featuring brother Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The song lyrics about the need to recognize that time is short are more poignant, given that the album was released a month after Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash.Waiting for the Angels by The DarksideWayne brings us one of his Manchester sound groups. The Darkside is out of central England and have a neo-psychedelia sound with heavily distorted guitar and synthesizers. The song lyrics are about a guy seeing lots of women in life, but not making a connection. He's waiting for angels to bring the right one his way. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:Guitar Voodoo by The DarksideWe finish up this week's podcast by double-dipping on the Manchester sound with this instrumental. Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?” NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.
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    38 mins
  • 1992 - June: Rage Against the Machine "Rage Against the Machine"

    1992 - June: Rage Against the Machine "Rage Against the Machine"
    Sep 2 2024
    Rage Against the Machine recorded their eponymously named debut album in May-June of 1992 and released it in November 1992. The Los Angeles-based group consisted of Zack de la Rocha on vocals, Tom Morello on guitar, Tim Commerford on bass, and Brad Wilk on drums. The group was known for their anti-establishment and politically charged lyrics. Rage Against the Machine combined a lot of genres of music into a single hard-hitting sound. The influence of hard rock and metal is clear, and elements of rap, funk, hip hop, and punk rock are clearly infused into the sound.This group was not just political in nature, every song is laced with revolutionary rants. The group draws inspiration from mondern revolutionary groups such as the IRA and the Black Panthers, and is highly critical of the policies of the United States, both foreign and domestic. RATM's debut album is largely based on their demo tape released a year before, which contained seven of the ten songs appearing on the album. That demo tape was recorded prior to the group's first live show, and was used as a means to build awareness of the group in the days before their signing with Epic Records.The album was a quick critical success and a slower commercial success. The group began to really take off on the strength of the single "Killing In the Name," and after their performance at the Lollapaloosa festival in mid 1993.Lynch brings us this high energy album in this week's podcast. BombtrackThe opening track starts with a strong guitar riff, and deals with themes of social injustice and resistance against oppression. Bullet In the HeadMedia manipulation and control of information are the issues dealt with in this track, which became a staple of the band's live shows. "Just victims of the in-house drive-by / They say jump, you say how high."Wake UpThis song will be familiar to fans of the 1999 film "The Matrix," as it is used at the conclusion when Neo calls the Matrix announcing he will reveal their existence. They lyrics are a critique of racism, the CIA and government corruption.Killing In the NameThe big single from the album addresses police brutality and institutional racism. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Face to Face by Siouxie & the Banshees (from the motion picture “Batman Returns”)This movie finds Michael Keaton reprising his role as the caped crusader, facing Danny DeVito's "Penguin" and Michelle Pfeiffer's "Catwoman." STAFF PICKS:Empress of Pop by Insane JaneWayne starts the staff picks with an underrated local Georgia band. This song is a screed against Sinead O'Conner. Insane Jane produced two albums, the first called "Each Finger," and the second (which contains this song) entitled "Green Little Pill."Let's Get Rocked by Def LeppardDuring a time when hard rock was on the downswing, it is nice to hear a solid rocker which would have been at home on any of Def Leppard's 80's albums. Rob's staff pick shows that there was still some solid rock music going on in the midst of the grunge movement.57 Channels (and Nothin' On) by Bruce SpringsteenBruce features a Springsteen song which reflects the proliferation of cable television, but not necessarily good content on the tube. While Springsteen considers this sone a bit of a "playful misfire," the song did go to number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the Mainstream Rock charts.Would? by Alice In ChainsLynch closes out the staff picks with a song written as a tribute to Andrew Wood, the late lead singer of Mother Love Bone, who died of a heroin overdose in 1990. The lyrics deal with the aftermath of rehab and the uncertainty of the future. NOVELTY TRACK:Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray CyrusLong before his daughter began her career in "Hannah Montana," Billy Ray Cyrus was all over the charts with this cheesy country song. Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?” NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.
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    44 mins
  • 1980 - May: Devo “Freedom of Choice”

    1980 - May: Devo “Freedom of Choice”
    Aug 26 2024
    While Devo is known as an early 80's new wave synth pop band, their history goes back to 1973. The classic lineup of Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, Gerald Casale, Bob Casale, and Alan Myers developed the name Devo from "De-evolution," the idea that mankind is regressing to a herd mentality. This was a bit of a joke idea that Gerald Casale and co-founder Bob Lewis formed while at Kent State University. The band gained some local fame in 1976, and were signed to Warner Brothers in 1978 with recommendations from David Bowie and Iggy Pop.Freedom of Choice is Devo's third studio album and their breakout commercial success. While their first two albums had generated some following, the commercial success was not at the level Warner Brothers sought, and the third album was considered a "make or break," one with the studio ready to drop the group. Success did follow this album, with Devo exploiting the upcoming popularity of new wave while drifting a little bit towards R&B and funk sensibilities within their synth-pop framework.The album was recorded and mixed in six weeks, with bass, guitars, and drums being recorded together live, and with synthesizers and vocals being overdubbed later. The album peaked at number 22 on the Billboard 200, and the big single, "Whip It," reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.Rob brings us this synthisizer-driven new wave album for this week's foray into the early 80's.Freedom of ChoiceThie post-punk title song initially sounds like it is about freedom of choice. However, it is really about people not really having freedom of choice. Consumerism - choosing between green sneakers and blue sneakers for example - isn't really choice at all. "Freedom of choice is what you got. Freedom from choice is what you want."Whip ItEveryone knows this signature Devo song. Mark Mothersbaugh has stated that the song was written as a subtle Dale Carnegie-esque message to Jimmy Carter, saying "you can do it." The song benefitted greatly from airplay on the fledgling cable channel MTV, where their strange video involving a guy knocking the clothes off a girl with a bullwhip received continual play.Gates of SteelThe lead song from side 2 is a bit of a commentary on the mechanization of humanity. No matter how much we believe mankind has accomplished, we're not far removed from the ape. "A man is real, not made of steel."Girl U WantThis was the first single released from the album, though it did not chart well. The song was supposedly inspired by The Knack, though the track reminds us more of The Cars. "She's just the girl, she's just the girl, the girl you want." ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Fame by Irene Cara (from the motion picture “Fame”)Irene Cara sings the theme song and stars in this teen musical drama about students auditioning to study at the High School of Performing Arts. STAFF PICKS:Crazy Little Thing Called Love by QueenLynch's staff pick is a song inspired by Elvis Presley. Freddie Mercury wrote the song lyrics in about 10 minutes, and the band created the song in about 30 minutes. Mercury played lead guitar for the original stuido recording. It was the first number 1 hit that Queen had on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Cars by Gary NumanWayne brings us the signature song from Gary Numan. It was inspired by an incident of road rage Numan experienced in London, where he had to lock his doors and drive on the sidewalk to avoid getting attacked. He was safe in his car, and inspired to write a song in about 30 minutes. It is a signature song of the New Wave genre, and there are no guitars in this track.Two Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer) by Roky EricksonBruce features a strange hard rock song with lyrics inspired by Soviet scientist Vladimir Demikhov. Demikhov's research focusted on organ transplants, and he conducted dog head transplants in the 1950's. This song is off Erickson's debut album with his band the Aliens, and is considered a cult classic. Call Me by Blondie Rob finishes the staff picks with a hit that feaured in the film "American Gigolo." It went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, the biggest hit of Blondie's career. Lead vocalist Debbie Harry wrote the lyrics from the perspective of the main character in the film, a male prostitute. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:Airlane by Gary NumanWe close out with a double dip on new wave synth artist Gary Numan this week. Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?” NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not ...
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    35 mins
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Profile Image for John Daily

Still great fun!

While I still would like to hear a female perspective amongst the guys, the truth is, this podcast is just great fun to listen to for us older guys. I like to bank a few episodes and then mow the lawn! Terrific accompaniment to the task, and it's even better if you don't spoil what music is coming up by reading the summary. Keep it up guys!

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