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PODCAST

What the Riff Next Gen

Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

Every episode of “WHAT THE RIFF NEXT GEN” brings a ROCK AND ROLL album that debuted on the U.S. Billboard charts during a random month between 1995 and 2005. Four Classic Rock fans discuss the artist and 4 tracks from the album as it plays in the background. Then we riff on 3 additional “staff picks” of other artists that were also on the charts during that month and year. You’ll hear Classic Rock bands that were still producing new work, as well as some newer Alternative and Grunge bands that were

music music commentary

All Episodes

00:31:16

1965 - April: The T.A.M.I. Show

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/11/27

A concert was held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 28th and 29th, 1964 which would be released as a concert film called the T.A.M.I. Show. Free tickets were provided for local high school students to provide the audience. T.A.M.I. stands for either “Teenage Awards Music International” or “Teen Age Music International,” as both were used by the show's publicity team. The show included many of the top rock and roll and R&B musicians of the time, including the Beach Boys, the Rolling

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00:41:28

1985 - July: Phil Collins “No Jacket Required”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/11/20

Phil Collins wrapped up his commitments as front man and percussionist for Genesis and collaborative work with Eric Clapton in 1984, then commenced work on his third album, No Jacket Required. It was released in February 1985, and had hits on the charts in July. The name of the album was inspired by an incident where he was not allowed into The Pump Room restaurant in Chicago because he did not have the proper dress code jacket. His friend, vocalist Robert Plant, did have the correct attire and

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00:45:47

1990 - April: The Black Crowes "Shake Your Money...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/11/13

The Black Crowes got their start as “Mr. Crowe's Garden” when Chris and Rich Robinson formed the band while attending Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia. The name comes from the children's book “Johnny Crow's Garden” by Leonard Leslie Brooke. They changed their name after moving to New York City where they met producer George Drakoulias who introduced them to music like The Faces and Humble Pie, and signed them at Def American. Their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, gets its name from an

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00:38:12

1988 - May: Cinderella "Long Cold Winter"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/11/06

One of the big acts on the 80's glam metal scene was Cinderella. Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tom Keifer and bassist Eric Brittingham formed the band in suburban Philadelphia. Gene Simmons of Kiss tried to get the band a deal with PolyGram, but was unsuccessful at getting the label to take interest. Jon Bon Jovi was more successful with getting them a contract with Mercury/Polygram Records. Keifer and Brittingham added guitarist Jeff LaBar and drummer Jim Drnec to the band. Their

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00:42:08

1989 - December: Nine Inch Nails "Pretty Hate Machine"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/10/30

The industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails is the creation of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Trent Reznor. While living in Cleveland in 1987, Reznor worked as an assistant engineer and janitor at Right Track Studios. He had free access to the studio between bookings, and took inspiration from Prince to play all instruments himself to produce his material. The name Nine Inch Nails comes from a quote by Al Jourgensen, lead singer of the metal band Ministry - "Listening to Ministry is

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00:43:05

Rocking Halloween II - A What the Riff Rabbit Hole

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/10/23

What The Riff?!? makes another "stab" at Halloween with these theme songs, movie and TV music, and rock songs with a bent towards the macabre. We hope you enjoy this second "Halloween" special! Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran This is the breakthrough song off Duran Duran's Rio album. It was inspired by the Big Bad Wolf in the Little Red Riding Hood story. It is also wone of the first times where video popularity drove the success of the band, with Duran Duran on constant play for the new MTV

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00:42:20

1987 - April: Whitesnake "Whitesnake"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/10/16

While the album Whitesnake may not be the debut album from the band Whitesnake, this self-titled seventh studio album might as well be a debut, as only two members were present from the previous album. Known in the UK as 1987, and in Japan as Serpens Albus, this album featured returning members John Sykes on guitars and backing vocals, and David Coverdale on lead vocals. Additionally Neil Murray was on bass, Aynsley Dunbar was on percussion, and Don Airey was on keyboards.David Coverdale was the

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00:42:49

1975 - May: David Bowie "Young Americans"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/10/09

David Bowie would leave the glam rock genre of his previous albums for a more soulful sound with his ninth studio album, Young Americans. This album features blue eyed soul, or what Bowie would refer to as "plastic soul." David Bowie moved to the United States in 1974 during a time when tax concerns were driving many artists out of the UK. He was living in New York City at the time, and starting production on the album in Philadelphia where he worked with guitarist Carlos Alomar. A funk

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00:39:11

1969 - December: The Rolling Stones “Let It Bleed”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/10/02

The Rolling Stones released their tenth US studio album (eighth in the UK) entitled Let it Bleed at the end of November, 1969. The band had worked on the material in the studio off and on through most of the year, with recording beginning in earnest back in February of 1969 (though work on "You Can't Always Get What You Want" began in November of the previous year). The album would reach number 3 on the US album chart and number 1 on the UK charts, and would produce some of the best known

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00:36:37

1975 - February: Rush “Fly By Night”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/09/25

Fly By Night is the album where Rush takes its final form. Original drummer John Rutsey left the group shortly after their eponymously named debut album was released. Health problems related to diabetes made it difficult for Rutsey on tour. He was replaced on bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee's 21st birthday by the soon-to-be legendary percussionist, Neil Peart. Together with guitarist Alex Lifeson, the trio would become icons in the prog rock genre. Most of the material for this album was written

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00:34:24

1973 - June: Dr. John “In the Right Place”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/09/18

Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr.,better known by his stage name, Dr. John, was a singer-songwriter who blended funk, R&B and New Orleans blues into a distinctive sound. Dr. John was well known for his stage shows which were inspired by an eclectic mix of medicine shows, voodoo ceremonies, and Mardi Gras costumes. Dr. John got his start as a session musician in the 1950s, and continued doing session work throughout his career playing keyboards for Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, and Van Morrison

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00:50:02

1982 - December: Donald Fagen "The Nightfly"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/09/11

The Nightfly is the debut solo album from Donald Fagen. Fagen and his Steely Dan partner Walter Becker had released the Gaucho album in late 1980, and Becker was having a lot of trouble. His girlfriend died of a drug overdose in their apartment, and he was sued for several million dollars. Shortly after that he was hit by a taxi, which shattered his leg. Steely Dan disbanded in 1981, and Becker moved to Maui. Fagen wanted “The Nightfly” to be autobiographical, and without the irony and biting

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00:23:36

1965 - May: The Dave Clark Five "Having a Wild...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/09/04

The British Invasion of the mid-60's is best known for The Beatles, but there were more groups than just the boys from Liverpool. In fact, just a month after The Beatles played on Ed Sullivan the Dave Clark Five would take that stage, the first of 12 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. The quintet consisted of Dave Clark on drums and backing vocals, Rick Huxley on bass, Mike Smith on vocals and keyboard, Lenny Davidson on lead guitar, and Dennis Payton on Sax, Harmonica, and vocals.The British

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00:32:33

1989 - November: Bad Religion "No Control"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/08/28

While the late 80's were the high water mark for overproduced hair bands, there was an undercurrent flowing below the mainstream popularity which would surface in the 90's as the punk revival. Los Angeles-based Bad Religion is a group which would not only benefit from that revival, but many consider the band to be a founder of the movement. The band formed in 1980 and released a couple of albums before going on hiatus in 1983 and splitting up shortly thereafter. After a slowly getting back

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00:37:26

1984 - January: The Nails "Mood Swing"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/08/21

If you are not familiar with The Nails don't feel bad. They were not a hit on commercial radio, but this punk rock/new wave outfit from Boulder Colorado was much better known on college radio in the mid to late 80's. Although Mood Swing is their debut album from 1984, the band originally formed in 1976 as a five-piece band. They moved to New York and built both their musical chops and their following on the club circuit before their major label debut.At the time that Mood Swing was released the

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00:40:58

1990 - March: Michael Penn “March”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/08/14

Most people are familiar with the actor, Sean Penn. His older brother, Michael Penn went in a more musical direction, becoming a singer, songwriter, and producer. His debut album, March, would achieve both critical and commercial success, peaking on the US album charts at number 31. This would be his most successful album commercially, though his follow-up albums were received positively by the critics.Manhattan native Michael Penn was the first son of actor/director Leo Penn and actress Eileen

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00:46:54

1991 - August: Metallica "Metallica (the Black Album)"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/08/07

Metallica was a big deal well before the release of this album. Singer and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich had formed the band a decade prior to this fifth studio release, technically called Metallica but most commonly referenced as The Black Album due to its all-black cover. Hetfield and Ulrich, together with lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Jason Newsted were successful commercially and critically on the strength of previous albums, particularly their third (Master of

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00:38:20

1980 - March: Molly Hatchet "Flirtin' with Disaster"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/07/31

Many folks know that the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd came out of Jacksonville, Florida. But they weren't the only big southern rock band to arise from that city. Molly Hatchet was another southern rock band from Jacksonville, also sporting three guitars. The band formed in 1971 and shares a lot of the inspiration and influence of Skynyrd. their best selling album was their second one, Flirtin' with Disaster, which peaked at number 19 and became a 2x platinum seller in the United States

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00:36:40

1970 - May: Van Morrison "Moondance"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/07/24

Moondance is the album that established Van Morrison as a solo artist. However, he was an accomplished musician before this, first as a multi-instrumentalist in Irish show bands of the late 50's, then as the lead singer of the band Them. Moondance is either Morrison's second or third solo album…depending upon how you count it. The first album entitled “Blowin' Your Mind!” was put out without Morrison's permission — or even knowledge, and he does not consider it to be a proper album. However, he

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00:38:03

1978 - August: REO Speedwagon "You Can Tune a Piano,...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2023/07/17

Aside from having a terrific title, the seventh studio album by REO Speedwagon would be the one which would bring them mainstream success. You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish was the first album to be co-produced by guitarist Gary Richrath and lead singer Kevin Cronin, and was the first to break into the top 40 on the Billboard 200 album charts in the US, peaking at number 29. It also was the first on which Bruce Hall was a part of the group, replacing Gregg Philbin on bass. The rest of

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