What the Riff Next Gen

Rob riffs on the 11th studio album from Van Halen “Van Halen III” from March of 1998 (Without You / Fire in the Hole / One I Want / From Afar). STAFF PICKS: “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba — Wayne. "The Way” by Fastball — Lynch. “Brick” by Ben Folds Five — Bruce. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “Uninvited” by Alanis Morissette (from the motion picture "City of Angels"). 

Bruce riffs on the fourth studio album from Cake “Comfort Eagle” from July 2001 (Love You Madly / Comfort Eagle / Long Line of Cars / Short Skirt/Long Jacket).
STAFF PICKS: "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” by Train — Rob. “Bodies” by Drowning Pool— Wayne. "Smooth Criminal” by Alien Ant Farm — Lynch.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Acro Arena (Instrumental)” by Cake. 

Lynch riffs on the debut studio album from Matchbox 20 “Yourself or Someone Like You” on the charts in  November of 1996 (3AM / Push / Real World / Long Day). STAFF PICKS: “Big Chair” by Reacharound — Wayne.  “Rewind” by Better than Ezra — Rob.  "When You Love a Woman” by Journey— Clint Barrett.  ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “Space Jam” by Quad City DJ's (from the motion picture "Space Jam").  
**(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.)

Wayne riffs on the debut studio album by Jet, Get Born, released in September 2003 (Rollover DJ /Are You Gonna Be My Girl / Get Me Outta Here / Cold Hard Bitch).
STAFF PICKS: Weak and Powerless by A Perfect Circle — Lynch. In Da Club by 50 Cent — (Fan of the Show )Clint Barrett. One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket — Rob.
INSTRUMENTAL/ENTERTAINMENT/LAUGH TRACK: Main theme from the motion picture Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
Disclaimer: What the Riff?!? is a music commentary and review podcast that highlights rock music through historical context, personal insights, and artist appreciation. We do not claim ownership of the songs featured, which remain the property of the original artists and rights holders. All music is used under the Fair Use doctrine for purposes of criticism, commentary, and education. We encourage our listeners to support the artists by purchasing and streaming their music legally.

Friend of the show, Greg Lyon riffs on the debut album by Disturbed, “The Sickness” from March 2000 (The Sickness / Voices / The Game / Stupify). STAFF PICKS: "Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit — Wayne. “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down — Rob. "Everything You Want” by Vertical Horizon — Lynch. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “The Final Destination Suite” from the motion picture "Final Destination". **(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.)

Bruce riffs on the second studio album from Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? on the charts in November 1995 (Champagne Supernova / Wonderwall / Morning Glory / Don't Look Back in Anger). STAFF PICKS: "Name” by Goo Goo Dolls — Wayne. “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette— Lynch. "See You On the Other Side” by Ozzy Osbourne — Rob. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “The Memory of Trees” by Enya.
**(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.)

Rob riffs on the 13th studio album from R.E.M. “Around the Sun” from September of 2004 (Leaving New York / Wanderlust / Aftermath / Around the Sun). STAFF PICKS: “1985” by Bowling for Soup — Bruce. "Float On” by Modest Mouse— Lynch.  “I Go Back” by Kenny Chesney — Wayne.  COMEDY TRACK: “Goofy Goober Rock” by SpongeBob SquarePants.

Lynch riffs on the third studio album from the Smashing Pumpkins, “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” from October 1995 (1979 / Bullet with Butterfly Wings / Zero / Tonight, Tonight).
STAFF PICKS: “Downtown” by Neil Young — Rob. “Lump” by The Presidents of the United States of America — Wayne. “Hard as a Rock” by AC/DC — Gregg.
L/E/I TRACK: Main Theme from the motion picture "Strange Days". 

We covered the self-titled debut album from Crosby, Stills & Nash in episode 137.  Deja Vu is considered the second Crosby, Stills & Nash album, but it is actually the first album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, with Canadian songwriter Neil Young turning the trio into a quartet.
While the album continues to feature the signature harmonies associated with Crosby, Stills & Nash, it has a harder, more rocking edge to it. Some of this is undoubtedly due to the addition of Neil Young to the album, but it also reflects the challenges the group members were facing.  Both Stephen Stills and Graham Nash had gone through break-ups in their relationships, and David Crosby tragically had lost his girlfriend Christine Hinton in a car accident.
The album was highly anticipated, generating $2 million in pre-sales before its release.  It became a gold record only 14 days after release, and was on the Billboard 200 album chart for 88 weeks.  Contemporary critics provided mixed reviews, but the album has only grown in stature over time, with many reviews considering it amongst the top albums ever produced.  Deja Vu was inducted into the Grammy Hall of fame in 2012.
After its release, each of the principal members of the group would record solo albums, and the success of Deja Vu contributed to the individual success of these four solo projects.
Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young) would continue to produce albums over the decades with their last collaboration occurring in 2015.  The death of David Crosby in 2023 ended the possibility of full reunions.
Wayne brings us this soft rock singer-songwriter live album for this week's podcast.
 
Carry On
The opening track to the album was penned by Stephen Stills who also provides lead vocals.  It is a medley of two songs edited together with a jam session connector, and came together surprisingly fast during a time when most songs were taking a long time to finish.  The lyrics encourage the band members to keep going through times of struggle in relationships both within and outside the band.
Teach Your Children
Graham Nash wrote this song in 1968 when he was with The Hollies, but had not recorded it with that group at the time.  Nash has associated the song with a photograph exhibit showing a child playing with a toy hand grenade, and the lyrics encourage parents to be careful in how they teach their children.  Neil Young does not play on this song, but the steel guitar is provided by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. 
Woodstock
Unlike the other tracks on this album, this song was not written by any of the band members, but was penned by Joni Mitchell.  Mitchell had not attended the Woodstock festival, but was inspired to write this song told from the perspective of a concert goer after hearing her then-boyfriend Graham Nash relay the account.  It has become a signature song for the group and a staple of the 60's counter-culture.  
Our House
Graham Nash wrote this song as a description of a day spent with then-girlfriend Joni Mitchell and her two cats in their Laurel Canyon home.  The song was written in an hour on Mitchel's piano.  It went to number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.  
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the motion Picture "Patton"
This epic starring George C. Scott was playing in the theaters in 1970.  It won seven Academy awards, including Best Picture.
 
STAFF PICKS:
Let It Be by The Beatles
Lynch starts the staff picks with a song inspired by a dream.  Paul McCartney's mother, Mary Patricia McCartney, died of cancer with Paul was 14.  In the dream, his mother encourages her son by saying, "It's all right, just let it be."  This single and title song from the final Beatles album debuted at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 before topping those charts.
Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel
Rob brings us the third single from the fifth and final album by Simon & Garfunkel, "Bridge Over Troubled Water."  It was developed in a late night jam when the duo and friends were banging on a piano bench and recording the sound with a tape recorder.  The lyrics depict the heartbreak of a boy delivered from Cecilia his unfaithful lover.
The Rapper by The Jaggerz
Bruce features the most successful single from the band whose guitarist and primary songwriter would go on to be Donny Iris.  The song is a warning to the ladies not to be taken in by a smooth talking man telling them lies.  It went to number 2 on the charts.
Superlungs My Supergirl by Terry Reid
Wayne's closes out the staff picks with a cover originally written by Donovan about a 14-year old groupie.  Terry Reid was Jimmy Page's first pick to be lead singer of Led Zeppelin, but was unavailable at the time due to his touring schedule with Cream and the Rolling Stones.  Reid would acquire the nickname of Superlungs.
 
NOVELTY TRACK:
Pineapple and the Monkey by The Faces
This instrumental from The Faces debut album takes us out for this week. 

Bruce riffs on the twelfth and final studio album from the Beatles “Let It Be,” on the charts in May 1970 (Two of Us / I Me Mine / I've Got a Feeling / Get Back). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Main Theme from the motion picture "Kelly's Heroes" STAFF PICKS: "Question” by The Moody Blues — Lynch. “Proper Stranger” by The Guess Who— Rob. "50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain” by Ten Years After — Wayne. “Baby Hold On” by The Grass Roots — Bruce. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Genesis” by Tangerine Dream.

Surprisingly, America was formed in London.  The trio of Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and Dan Peek met in London where their fathers were stationed at the United States Air Force base at RAF South Ruislip.  The three attended London Central High School and began playing together on borrowed acoustic guitars.  The name came from the Americana jukebox in the mess hall, and a desire to distinguish themselves from the British musicians around them who were trying to sound more American.
America is also their self-titled debut album released in the States in January 1972.  The album originally was released without “A Horse With No Name,” but when that single garnered significant commercial success it was added to a re-release of the album in early 1972.  The re-released album would top the US album charts and produce two top-10 singles.
The band would be a force in the folk-rock and soft rock genres for a generation.  With close harmonies similar to Crosby, Stills & Nash, and complex acoustic guitar arrangements, their first seven albums would be in the top 50 on the album charts, though this first debut would be their lone chart topper to date.  Their compilation album “History:  America's Greatest Hits” was released at the end of 1975.
America produced albums of original material up through 2015.  In 1977 Dan Peek left the group to pursue music in the Contemporary Christian genre.  Speculation regarding a reunion of the original members continued through the years until Peeks death in 2011.
Rob brings us a great debut folk rock album in this week's podcast.
Riverside
The lead off track is a good example of the original America sound.  It has a laid back message:  I don't want to take anything from you, and I don't want you to take anything from me.  It is a “live and let live” message using a metaphor of life on two sides of the river.
A Horse with No Name
This is the track that put the band on the map.  Originally entitled “Desert Song” the track takes inspiration from a Salvador Dali painting and an M.C. Escher painting.  Writer Dewey Bunnell created lyrics loosely based on his travels as a child with family through the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico.  
Three Roses
Bunnell paints a picture of both a quiet life and romantic uncertainty in this song inspired by his girlfriend, soon to be wife.  “Three roses were bought with you in mind.”  Dan Peek takes lead vocal duties on this one with subdued but complex chords and harmonies.
I Need You
The second single from the album was written by Gerry Beckley when he was 16 years old.  Beckley also takes lead vocals on this ballad which went to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.  You can sense the similarity to bands like the Beatles and Alan Parsons in this track.
 
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from the television series “Emergency!”
This first responder action series focused on Squad 51 in Los Angeles saw its debut in January 1972. 
 
STAFF PICKS:
Family Affair by Sly & the Family Stone
Bruce begins the staff picks with the most successful hit from Sly & the Family Stone.  This song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and the R&B Singles chart for five.  This track is a little different for the group, as the guitars are toned down, and the electric piano (with Billy Preston on keyboard) is brought up.  The lyrics talk about the ways a family can go wrong.
Roundabout by Yes
Lynch brings us a song written by singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Steve Howe.  The song originated from a trip the group took in Scotland in which they encountered a number of roundabouts.  The line, “in and around the lake” came from one of the lochs they passed.  This opening track from Fragile was drastically edited to produce a single coming in at 3:27 rather than the over 8-minute original.  It reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, the group's highest charting single until 1983's “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”
Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
Wayne's staff pick is a single off Browne's debut and self-titled album.  The lyrics discuss the feeling that the singer is becoming jaded about life by seeing all the wrong in the world, and now being unable to cry about it.  David Crosby and Graham Nash provide backing vocals to this song which went to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.  
Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zeppelin
Rob features a song which was the B-side to Zeppelin's “Black Dog.”  The lyrics take their inspiration from the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as the “Legalize Pot Rally” held in Hyde Park in July 1968.  It appeared on the massive Led Zeppelin IV album.  As Rob says, it is a “mixture of stoner idealism and Tolkien nerdery.”
 
COMEDY TRACK:
Pigeon Song by America
We exit with a little double dipping, and with gratefulness that none of us is a pigeon named Fred. 
Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”
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**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.

Before the grunge movement of the 90's, and before the punk movement of the 70's, there was the garage band phenomenon of the 60's.  One of the forerunners of both punk and grunge from this garage band period is Tacoma Washington's The Sonics.  Their classic lineup consisted of Rob Lind on harmonica, vocals, and sax, Gerry Roslie on organ, piano, and lead vocals, Larry Parypa on lead guitar and vocals, Andy Parypa on bass, and Bob Bennett on drums.  The Sonics had a fast, hard-edged sound similar to The Kinks, and performed with a speed that would inspire punk rock.
Boom is their second studio album from the band, released in February 1966.  As with many songs from the mid-60's, all the songs are short.  But with a non to the future punk movement, many songs are even shorter, clocking in at just over 2 minutes.  The Sonics take their name from Boeing, the aviation company also based in Tacoma.  The name of the album is likely a play on words for the "sonic boom," the thunderous sound produced by an aircraft exceeding the speed of sound.  The music on this album is energetic and abrasive, and while some fuzzy guitar distortion is included the overall feel is raw with little extra production.
The classic lineup would fall apart by 1968, with members leaving to join other bands, attend college, or in saxophonist Rob Linds' case - become a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War.  Gerry Roslie would be the sole remaining original member with new members jumping in and out of the band until 1980.  
Wayne brings us this forerunner of punk and grunge for this week's podcast.
 
Cinderella
The lead-off song from the album was an original piece written by Gerry Roslie.  The lyrics relay a boy meeting a girl at a bar, having a great time drinking and dancing, and just when things start to get going well, the girl is gone by midnight.  
He's Waitin'
This song starts the B-side of the album, and was also a Gerry Roslie original.  This "boy loses girl" song is not a happy one!  The lyrics reflect the boy's thoughts on being burned by a girl.  Now he is telling her that Satan is waiting for her.  "It's too late, you lied, now you will fry." 
Louie, Louie
Richard Berry wrote and performed this song in 1957 with The Pharaohs, and covers of this song are common with garage bands.  The Sonics' version is quite fast, and modifies the pronunciation from "Lou-ee Lou-ee" to "Lou-eye Lou-way" in the chorus.  It is hard to separate this song from the thoughts of fraternity parties and the comedy movie "Animal House." 
Shot Down
The song that closes out the album laments about striking out when approaching a girl.  "I play a guitar.  I even drive a brand new car.  Big man in town, I've been shot down."  
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the motion picture "The Rare Breed"
This western starred James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara and was one of the first films scored by the now-legendary composer John Williams. 
STAFF PICKS:
Crying Time by Ray Charles
Bruce leads off the staff picks with the lead single and starting track to Ray Charles' album of the same name.  The song was originally performed by Buck Owens in 1964, and Charles kept the country feel while taking the cover to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.  He won the Grammy Awards in 1967 for Best R&B Recording and Best R&B Solo Performance for this track.
It's a Man's Man's Man's World by James Brown
Lynch brings us a song that takes its name as a play on the name of a 1963 comedy film, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."  The minor key track has lyrics decrying the chauvinism of society where all the work of modern civilization are attributed to men, but it would all "mean nothing without a woman or a girl."  Brown recorded the song in only two takes, and it would become a staple of his live shows for the rest of his career.
Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers
Rob features a surf rock song originally developed as the opening intro to the U.S. spy television series "Secret Agent," which aired from 1964 to 1966. The ditty became popular, and Rivers developed it into a full single.  The song would go to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming both a signature song for Rivers and a rock standard for future bands and shows.
Lies by The Knickerbockers
Wayne's closes out the staff picks with a song from an American band deliberately trying to mimic the sound of a British Invasion song.  The trio harmonies definitely give it a Beatles quality.  As you might expect from the band name, the Knickerbockers got their start in New Jersey as a garage band.  The track came together in about a half hour.
 
COMEDY TRACK:
The One on the Right is On the Left by Johnny Cash
This comedy song about a band with incompatible political leanings amongst its members takes us out for this week's podcast.
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.
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**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.

Flesh & Blood, the third studio album by Poison, finds the group at the top of their form.  The team of Bret Michaels on lead vocals, C.C. DeVille on lead guitar, Bobby Doll on bass, and Rikki Rockett on drums had been quite successful in the glam metal genre of the mid-80's, and had developed a reputation for a "work hard, play hard" mentality.  While they had a legendary stage presence, they also were plagued with fights both within and outside of the band.  A number of lawsuits in various cities were predicated on Michaels' tendency to get into fights at parties and other events.  Despite these issues - or perhaps because of them - their reputation only grew over time. 
Flesh & Blood is an album that is more challenging musically than the earlier ones.  The band is toning down their glam metal persona and taking on more serious lyrical themes.  Songs cover a wide range from sex and motorcycles, to struggles with long term relationships, to frustration with the struggles seen in society.  The band would drop the excessive makeup of their earlier career, and found the songs on a more blues-oriented rock.  More piano work is included, with keyboardist John Webster contributing to the album sessions.
The result was a success, reaching triple platinum status by 1991.  The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 3 on the UK albums chart. 
This album would be a kind of high water mark for the group, as the industry was moving away from the metal sound of the late 80's and into the grunge sound of the mid-1990's.  However, the group would go on to record and tour into the new millennium, and Bret Michaels would become both a solo act and a celebrity with his MTV reality show "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels."
Lynch brings us a look at a somewhat more mature Poison on this week's for today's podcast.
 
Unskinny Bop
Not every song has deep or significant lyrics.  This hit single from the album started as a nonsense lyric, a placeholder that stuck.  The catchy repetition would make it a crowd favorite at concerts, and it was a top 10, going to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Valley of Lost Souls
A deeper cut, this song lyrics talk about the life of a rock artist struggling to make it in a place without compassion.  It is a slower piece, but definitely not a ballad.  
Life Goes On
C.C. DeVille brought the original draft of this song to the band.  The lyrics were inspired by a girlfriend of DeVille who was shot and killed in a California bar fight, and describe the quest for light at the end of a dark period in life.
Something to Believe In
This ballad was the second single released from the album, and went to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Bret Michaels dedicated this song to his friend and bodyguard James Kimo Maano who had died previously.  The lyrics reflect the frustration in the failures of society, from poverty, to the treatment of Vietnam veterans, to the hypocrisy of televangelists.
 
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
You're In the Doghouse Now by Brenda Lee (from the motion picture “Dick Tracy”)
This action movie based on the comic series from the 1930's starred Warren Beatty in the title role, along with Al Pacino and Madonna.
 
STAFF PICKS:
Ball and Chain by Social Distortion
Wayne kicks off the staff picks with a more alternative rock song penned by a punk rock band from their third and self-titled album.  The lyrics describe a hard luck story of a man who can't escape his difficulties.  It could be about a relationship, a rut in life, or about any vice that holds you down.
Way Down Now by World Party
Rob's staff pick is the first single from World Party's second studio album, "Goodbye Jumbo."  If you hear echoes of "Sympathy for the Devil," that is deliberate - though the song is much more upbeat.  It reached number 1 on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart.  World Party is primarily a one-man project from multi-instrumentalist Karl Wallinger from the Waterboys.
Tie Dye on the Highway by Robert Plant
Bruce brings us a song off plant's fifth studio album "Manic Nirvana."  The spoken line, "What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000." is from Wavy Gravy and the Hog Farm Collective, delivered at the Woodstock festival in 1969 announcing the intention to provide free breakfast to the crowd.  
Kool Thing by Sonic Youth
Lynch closes out the staff picks with a song critical of the over-the-top masculinity of LL Cool J.  It was the first single from their sixth studio album, "Goo."  The track never mentions LL Cool J personally, but references a number of his works.  Chuck D. of Public Enemy provides the spoken vocals to the song.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Mildred Pierce by Sonic Youth
We double up on Sonic Youth as we end today's podcast with their instrumental based on a 1945 film noir starring Joan Crawford.  
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.
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**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.

One of the more underrated - some might say virtually lost - bands of the early rock era is Delaney & Bonnie.  This singer-songwriter duo is made of session guitarist/vocalist Delaney Bramlett and his wife and former Ikette Bonnie Bramlett.  Just as important as this founding couple is the number of talented musicians they brought into their recordings, with albums often being referenced as recorded by "Delaney & Bonnie and friends."  These "friends" included luminaries such as Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Duane Allman, Greg Allman, Steve Howe, and Rita Coolidge.  
D&B Together is the sixth and final album from Delaney & Bonnie.  Originally entitled "Country Life," the album was delivered to Atco/Atlantic Records behind schedule and rushed into distribution.  Although Atlantic executive Jerry Wexler was a friend of the duo, he didn't think the quality was where it needed to be and withdrew it from the market.  He later sold the contract and the album's master tapes to CBS, who reordered the running sequence and re-released it in March 1972.  In addition to frequent collaborators Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, and Duane Allman, this album also contains the work of "friends" like Dave Mason, Billy Preston, and Tina Turner. 
Despite the title, Delaney and Bonnie would divorce shortly after the album came out.  Drugs were taking their toll on the couple and their relationship could not survive it.  However, they did have a daughter named Bekka Bramlett, who was a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1993-1995 and had a long career as a backing vocalist in the music industry.
Bruce presents this underrated rock/soul album for this week's podcast.
Comin' Home
This song was released in December 1969 by Atco Records (US) and Atlantic Records (international).  It was co-written by Bonnie Bramlett and Eric Clapton, and features Eric Clapton.  It went to number 84 on the US pop charts.  The lyrics are about being on the road and getting ready to come home to the one the singer loves.  
Only You Know and I Know
Dave Mason originally wrote and recorded this song in 1970, and it became his first charting single, going to number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Delaney & Bonnie re-recorded it and took it to number 20 on the same chart.  This single was released in 1971, another single that came out before the album.  
I Know Something Good About You
This is a deeper cut on the album with an upbeat, funky sound.  It was written by Delaney Bramlett and Joe Hicks.  
Groupie (Superstar)
Most people recognize this as a hit from the Carpenters, but this is the original.  Rita Coolidge came up with the idea after observing female groupies with rock starts in the late 60's, and the song was written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell.  It was the B-side to "Comin' Home."  Richard Carpenter picked it up for the Carpenters, and changed some of the lyrics to be less risqué.  
 
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from the television series The Rookies
This police action series debuted in October 1972.
 
STAFF PICKS:
And You and I by Yes
Wayne leads off the staff picks with an excerpt of the 10+ minute work written by Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, and Chris Squire. The entire song consists of four parts, but the first two were released as a single edit which hovered just outside the top 40 on the Billboard charts.   
You Wear It Well by Rod Stewart
Rob brings us the first single from Stewart's fourth studio album, "Never a Dull Moment."  It went to number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 on the UK singles chart.  Many consider this an arrangement of Stewarts hit "Maggie May."  As with his previous album, members of the Faces join in as musicians on "Never a Dull Moment."
Lean On Me by Bill Withers
Lynch features a song written and performed by Withers.  It was inspired by his experience growing up in a mining town in West Virginia. The community ethic of that town was something Withers missed when he moved to Los Angeles.  It was the first single from Withers' second album, "Still Bill." 
Turn to Stone by Barnstorm
Bruce brings us a song inspired by frustration over the Vietnam War, the Nixon Administration, and the protesting that was going on at the time.  Joe Walsh left the James Gang and formed a group called Barnstorm.  The group put out three albums including one with the wonderful title "The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get."  This song is off the group's self-titled debut album. 
 
COMEDY TRACK:
My Ding-a-Ling by Chuck Berry
We close out this week's podcast with Berry's double entendre masterpiece, on the charts in this month.  
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.
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**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.