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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

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All Episodes

00:35:09

1982 - June: Stray Cats “Built for Speed”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/08/09

While many bands of the 80's were focusing on the synth-heavy New Wave or screaming guitars of Hard Rock, one band was taking their inspiration from the 50's roots of Rock. The Stray Cats came out of New York in 1979 and developed a devoted following quickly, but moved to the UK after hearing of a revival of the 50's subculture there. Inspired by the Sun Records artists of the 50's, the Stray Cats combined Rockabilly and Punk genres to form their sound.The Stray Cats were a trio with Brian Setzer

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00:38:28

1973 - January: Elvis Presley "Aloha From Hawaii via...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/08/02

By 1973 Elvis had definitely not left the building. In fact, January 1973 would be the month that Elvis Presley would broadcast a concert live via satellite to 38 countries. The concert would air in the United States on NBC in April 1973, and would be the basis for the album we are featuring - Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite, the four-month delay being a result of a conflict with Super Bowl VII (which Miami Dolphin fans will recall as the culmination of Miami's undefeated season).Colonel Tom

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00:43:00

1994 - November: Dave Matthews Band “Under the Table...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/07/26

While Under the Table and Dreaming may have been released in September 1994 as the debut studio album by the Dave Matthews Band, songwriter and guitarist David John Matthews was working as a bartender in 1990 when a friend encouraged him to get together with drummer Carter Beauford and record a demo of a few songs he had written. Matthews also brought in saxophonist LeRoi Moore, and the trio began working on songs in 1991. Beauford recalled the three piece band was, according to Wikipedia “Awful

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00:43:15

1977 - March: Foreigner “Foreigner”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/07/19

It may not be surprising that the self-titled debut album from Foreigner was a hit, since all the members had previously worked with successful acts, making this collaboration a bit of a supergroup. British guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones came from Spooky Tooth. Multi-instrumentalist and fellow Brit Ian McDonalds had played in King Crimson. They were joined by another Englishman, drummer Dennis Elliott (from Ferris Wheel and The Roy Young Band). Other members were American, including Al

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00:42:08

1976 - September: Kansas “Leftoverture"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/07/12

Leftoverture is the fourth and most commercially successful studio album by Kansas. Formed out of a complex merger between a band called Saratoga and a prog rock outfit called White Clover, Kansas takes its name from the band's state of origin, as their start was in Topeka. The band consisted of Steve Walsh (keyboards, vibraphone, vocals), Kerry Livgren (electric guitar and keyboards), Robby Steinhardt (violin, viola, vocals), Rich Williams (electric and acoustic guitars), Dave Hope (bass), and

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00:37:00

1987 - October: Joe Satriani "Surfing with the Alien"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/07/05

New York native Joe Satriani had previously recorded an album in 1986, and ran up some credit card credit card debt in the process. He paid off the debt from his earnings as a member of the Greg Kihn Band, but stayed on a low budget of $13,000 when he recorded his second and all-instrumental studio album, Surfing with the Alien. This would be a break-out album for the guitar virtuoso.Satriani began playing guitar at age 14 under the inspiration of Jimi Hendrix. Supposedly he heard of Hendrix's

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00:39:43

1969 - April: The Who “Tommy”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/06/28

Believe it or not, many considered The Who to be a band in decline just before the release of their iconic rock opera Tommy. Their recent releases hadn't been as popular as expected. They had a popular stage show, but between Pete Townshend destroying his guitars and/or Keith Moon destroying his drums, the shows were expensive! The double album Tommy would change the trajectory of the group and make them superstars of the rock genre.Pete Townshend was looking for something different when he

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00:35:43

1976 - November: Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band ...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/06/21

If Bob Seger sounds like he's experienced it all on his breakout album Night Moves, well, he kind of has. Seger got his start in the music industry in 1961, and this album is his ninth studio album, though the first to credit the Silver Bullet Band on the album cover. Many of the songs reflect on earlier times, successes and failures of the past, with a wistfulness. Detroit native Robert Clark (aka Bob) Seger's music has been described as roots rock and heartland rock, and there are similarities

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00:48:01

1983 - February: Berlin “Pleasure Victim”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/06/14

Despite the fact that Berlin would be considered the standard for early 80's European new wave, the band actually originated in the Los Angeles area. The band had no actual connections with Berlin, but chose the name to make them seem more European and exotic than their own Orange County. Pleasure Victim is Berlin's second studio album and the one that was their breakout success.The group was formed after lead singer Terri Nunn put an advertisement in a musicians magazine that read, “Girl singer

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00:27:48

1965 - June: Tom Jones “Along Came Jones”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/06/07

This week we introduce you to the debut album from a 24 year-old lad from Wales. Thomas John Woodward - today Sir Thomas John Woodward - is better known as Tom Jones. He got his start as the front man for a beat group called Tommy Scott and the Senators, but they really didn't go anywhere beyond South Wales. Gordo Mills became his manager, took him to London, and renamed him Tom Jones after the Academy Award winning film of the same name released in 1963.Jones' first hit would be the one for which

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00:43:17

1976 - May: Peter Frampton “Frampton Comes Alive”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/05/31

When you think of the greatest live albums of all time, the one at - or very near - the top of the list will be Frampton Comes Alive!, the double album that was the best selling album of 1976, and Rolling Stone magazine's choice for "Album of the Year." While Peter Frampton was well known in rock circles for his guitar work and his previous stints with Humble Pie and the Herd, his solo work was catapulted into the stratosphere with this live album.Much of the album was recorded in the summer and

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00:39:38

1979 - December: Cheap Trick “Dream Police”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/05/24

Dream Police is the fourth and most successful studio album from Cheap Trick. It hit number 6 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, and was certified platinum only a few months after its release. Robin Zander (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick Nielsen (lead guitar, backing vocals), Tom Petersson (bass, backing vocals), and Bun. E. Carlos (percussion) would get more complex on this album, incorporating orchestration and lengthening the tracks.Cheap Trick formed in 1973 by Tom Petersson and Rick

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00:28:13

1966 - March: The Standells “The Live Ones”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/05/17

The Standells were a Los Angeles garage band formed in the early 60's, often referred to as an early punk band. The lineup was Larry Tamblyn on organ and vocals, Tony Valentino on guitar, Gary Lane on bass, and former Mouseketeer Dick Dodd on drums and lead vocals. The name came from Tamblyn and Valentino, and referenced their standing around booking agents, trying to get a job.The group made use of their Los Angeles roots by appearing in several low budget films in the 1960's including “Get

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00:46:35

1985 - May: Dire Straits “Brothers In Arms”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/05/10

Although they had been steadily growing in popularity since their debut in the mid-70's, Dire Straits would become a household name with their fifth studio album, Brothers In Arms. Between the catchy hooks accessible on both rock and adult contemporary radio, and the video-driven appeal of the group on MTV, DIre Strats became an arena group in 1985.This album found Dire Straits composed of John Illsley on bass, Terry Williams on drums, Alan Clark on piano and organ, Guy Fletcher on synthesizer, and

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00:40:29

1977 - November: Steely Dan “Aja”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/05/03

Quick! Name a song by Steely Dan. Chances are good that the song you picked is off this sixth studio album, the iconic Aja. Steely Dan had already become a successful jazz rock group by this time, but Donald Fagen and Walter Becker created their most successful album by far with this one.By the time this album was produced, the group had been reduced to the duo who were responsible for the lion's share of the music. Fagen and Becker assembled a large group of session musicians to make this

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00:38:39

1991 - October: Red Hot Chili Peppers “Blood Sugar...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/04/26

Today the Red Hot Chili Peppers are a well known by all as one of the alternative rock founders, and that fame began with Blood Sugar Sex Magik, their fifth studio album. This was the first album created under their new Warner Brothers label, and was recorded at the Houdini mansion in Los Angeles. Front man Anthony Kiedis, guitarist John Frusciante, and bassist Flea moved into the former house of Harry Houdini for the duration of the recording session, but drummer Chad Smith did not. Kiedis

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00:35:49

1979 - November: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/04/19

Damn the Torpedoes is the third studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and is the album where the group truly broke out into serious commercial success. They had done well with their first album, with "Breakdown" breaking into the top 40, and "American Girl" receiving some air play. But this album took the group to a different level. Damn the Torpedoes was their first top 10 album, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard album charts for 7 weeks. They were unfortunately kept out of the

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00:38:05

1975 - March: Nazareth “Hair of the Dog”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/04/12

Scottish band Nazareth finally found international success with their sixth studio album, Hair of the Dog. This album featured the well known (but often mislabeled) title track as well as an unusual but highly popular cover of the Everly Brothers song “Love Hurts.”Nazareth was originally formed in 1968 from the remaining members of a group called the Shadettes. They took the name Nazareth from the town of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The classic rock song "The Weight" by The Band names this town in

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00:38:59

1991 - November: U2 "Achtung Baby"

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/04/05

If "The Joshua Tree" was the album that propelled Irish band U2 to the stratosphere of rock success, Achtung Baby was the album that would cement them in that status permanently. The band was coming off mixed success with their hybrid live/studio album "Rattle and Hum," and were struggling directionally. The band felt that they were not prepared for the success they had received, or as drummer Larry Mullin, Jr. put it, "we were the biggest, but we weren't the best.”Achtung Baby draws its

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00:42:47

1984 - June: Night Ranger “Midnight Madness”

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2021/03/29

Night Ranger was a reliable hit machine in the mid-80's and their second studio album Midnight Madness was the one that solidified this reputation. The group originally started as a trio with Jack Blades on bass, Brad Gillis on guitar, and Kelly Keagy on drums. Keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald came out of the group Montrose to join the band, and he recommended guitarist Jeff Watson. The group was originally called Stereo, then changed their name to Ranger. The name was modified to Night Ranger to

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